New York Make Up Haul

So just over a month ago I set off to New York with my Mum

It felt like we had been waiting so long for this holiday (well it was just under a year..)

I had a pretty good idea of a few products I wanted to pick up whilst in the states

Mostly stuff we can't get easily in the UK or are a lot cheaper in the US

The above haul is all the makeup goodies picked up, there was also a trip to Bath and Bodyworks (why don't we have that here!!!???) and to the beauty section in Victoria's Secrets.

I've also discovered the perfect skincare routine for my troublesome skin...it may or may not include the addition of a Clarisonic Mia to my arsenal

As you can see from the photos I went a little crazy for nail polishes

The Essies were only $7 and the OPI's were $9 on the cruise so I couldn't resist them

I also finally picked up the feather effect Nails Inc polishes, only $9, and the Illamasqua Speckle polishes which I'd been lusting after for so long

There are a few things missing from the photos as they are already well and truly implemented in my everyday make up bags but I will be reviewing everything I purchased

Hope you're all good :)

Don't forget to follow me via Bloglovin with GFC going down tomorrow

Love

Belle

xoxo

Fashionista Custom Blusher Palette

Custom Blusher Palette
£5.00 for Palette
£4.00 (or 4 for £10.00) for blusher pans
Fashionista at Superdrug 
Colours in palette: (clockwise from top left) Amber Glow, Milan, New York, London

I'd been contemplating getting a Fashionista blusher palette for a while now but for some reason never got round to it...but I bit the bullet and am so glad I did!
Such a bargain for £15.00 you get a compact palette and four different blushers of your choice.
What I love the most about this idea is you can take something only marginally larger than a bulky blusher with you on holiday and you've got four completely different blushers with you to enable you to achieve any look you fancy..brilliant!
It's the same idea as the MAC blusher palettes but immensely cheaper.
The choice of blushers for the palette is fairly extensive with thirteen different colours to choose from with a variety of finishes and also bronzers 
I chose three of the merged, baked blushers in Milan, New York and Milan
And also a mono blusher (which I assume just means a normal blusher) in Amber Glow
All the colours are really pigmented as you can see in the swatches
Out of the four colours I chose I don't think there are any duds, which is pretty good going considering I ordered them blind online!
My favourite has to be Milan, the only non coral toned blusher out of the bunch
It's a gorgeous, warm pink with shimmer running through it
The shimmer doesn't translate too obviously to the cheek which is fab as too much can look like a glitter overload which isn't good when your 22 and work in an office, not 7 at a school disco
The other three colours are all stunning as well and are all different, even if they are all from the same coral coloured family
I will definitely get so much use from this little palette 
it's so easy to just have everything in one place

Very tempting to get another and fill it with another four beauties

Love
Belle
xoxo

New York Non-Beauty Lust List

In comparison to my beauty list for New York this is quite short

I don't really need any clothes as half my wardrobe doesn't fit me right now and I don't see the point in buying too many more clothes in a larger size as I intend to shift this weight again but I will probably pick up a few bits...knowing me!

I have a weakness for handbags and want to pick up a new designer bag on holiday, I think I've settled for one now but there's so many to choose from

1. Marc by Marc Jacobs Phone Case ~ A little bit of designer for my iphone, I love Marc by Marc Jacobs designs and this phone case is cute and I love the colour 

2. Ugg Boots Black Short ~ I live in my Ugg boots come winter and this year I realised I need a black pair as sometimes the brown ones look funny, there is no way I'm willing to pay the UK prices though so I'll try and find some in New York but it's not the end of the world if I don't

3. Abercrombie and Fitch Hoody ~ Everytime I go to the states I go over board in the A&F shops, it's just so cheap compared to the UK but I really don't need the majority of what I end up buying. But I can't not buy anything, I'll limit myself to just the one hoody though. 

4. Mulberry Continental Wallet ~ We're flying from London Heathrow which has a Mulberry shop in the terminal, I bought my Alexa bag from duty free Mulberry and I do believe it needs a friend in the shape of a Mulberry purse. I think the Continental design is classic and gorgeous, perfect for something you use on an everyday basis.

5. Michael Kors Handbag ~ I think this is the chosen handbag, I love the Michael Kors bags and I wanted a classic shape but it has to be large too as I carry my life around in my bag. I also wanted a lighter colour as my Mulberry is wine coloured and my Luella bag is black so there's a space for a light offering, some kind of brown I reckon.

6. I ♥ NY t-shirt ~ A must buy for any trip to New York, pretty self explanatory really. This would look cute paired with a shirt and leggings too 

7. Tiffany Infinity Necklace ~ I've been wearing my Mum's Tiffany necklace for so long now as my favourite necklace my fiance bought me broke again. I think it's about time I gave it back but it needs replacing with something just as pretty. Plus we have to visit Tiffany's in New York!

Any other shops I must visit?

Love

Belle

xoxo

New York Beauty Lust List

So I know I've been going on about it for quite some time but I fly off to New York in just over 2 months and I am INSANELY excited!

I've wanted to go for so so long and my Mum and myself are finally making it to the big apple for four days before setting sail on a nine day Caribbean cruise

Naturally as a beauty blogger I have quite a long list of make up and beauty related bits and pieces I want to get

I'm sure there will be other things I'll pick up as there always is

I wanted to mainly buy the products we can't easily get hold of over here, like the:

Kat Von D makeup range ~ I love liquid eyeliners and really want to try some of the Kat Von D makeup as you can't get it over here

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blushers ~ These pop up absolutely everywhere in blog world and they look completely amazeballs

Milani Baked Blushers ~ Again these pop up all over the place and you can't get them in the UK, plus their drug store so cheap

Physicians Formula ~ Ditto above!

Bath and Bodyworks ~ Something tells me I will be like a kid in a candy shop in here and expect to spend a lot of pennies...
And of course plenty of MAC!

I'm really looking forward to getting away for a bit and spending some quality time with my Mum 

It's been a tough year and this break will be just what we need before getting completely stuck into wedding planning on our return (EXCITING!)

Do you have any recommendations on what I should pick up on the other side of the pond?

Or any suggestions on must sees in NYC?

Love

Belle

xoxo

MUA Undressed Palette

Undress Palette MUA
£4.00 from Superdrug
MUA is a fantastic British drugstore brand with all the products amazingly cheap but still great products
Being an eyeshadow fiend, especially nude colours, I was drawn to this palette instantly when seeing it all over beauty blogs but everytime I was in a Superdrug they always had no stock available. 
All the colours in the palette are dupes for the shadows in the Urban Decay Naked palette

Top Row swatches
The shimmer finish shadows are really well pigmented whereas the matte colours are a bit on the subtle side, luckily only two out of the twelve shadows are matte
The pigmentation is great considering the palette only costs £4

Bottom Row Swatches
I kind of wish I'd waited for the inevitable dupe palettes to come out before buying the Urban Decay Naked palettes but then again it's nice to indulge in a bit of premium beauty sometimes...
I can definitely see this little wonder coming with me to New York next year, perfect shades for both daytime wear and evening 

Oh and if you have any recommendations for must sees in New York let me know!

Love
Belle
xoxo

'It's not all doom and gloom...'

Hi everyone

To be honest I've not had the greatest couple of days

My Mum owns her own leaded light business and it's not doing too great

I work this company too so if it goes under I'm screwed

Because of this the New York/Cruise trip has been cancelled until further notice

Great....

I wasn't too disappointed as I thought I was still going on holiday with my lovely best friend

Unfortunately Gavin has put his foot down and refuses to let me go

Even though I can get the money from other places he won't justify me any spending money

So I'm stuck in England all year

This hasn't happened in a long time

I love travelling, I want to see the world so one holiday a year isn't exactly greedy...

Eurgh I sound pathetic but I like to have something to look forward to and this has really put a downer on things at the moment

It feels like moving out means I can't do anything

I can't buy clothes, make-up, shoes NOTHING!

Right now I'm just so fed up and really don't know what to do

I think getting upset about something so petty is really my way of letting out all my frustrations about uni, careers and money

I'm someone who keeps it all bottled up and then just explodes

Anyway enough of the grumpiness

As Russell Howard says: 'It's not all doom and gloom'

After being so ill this week I got back to the gym Friday

I weighed myself and lost half a stone, after having a chinese takeaway Thursday night!

So I'm more motivated now to keep that off and lose the rest. Hopefully another half a stone before Valentines day. I'll keep you updated

It was mine and Gavin's three year anniversary on Thursday (hence the takeaway) but being so skint we didn't really celebrate it, we might do something for V day instead

All my photoshoots for the next 3 months are planned so hopefully I'll get the motivation and inspiration I need to get out there and shoot till my hearts content 

We went out Saturday night and I had a good time, there were a few people in the pub from my past who would rather not see ever again but there will always be situations like that I guess, just have to deal with it.

Get my student loan tomorrow so I get to spend a little bit of money on myself

Not much but I think a treat is in order :)

I didn't manage to get a very good photo of my outfit as Gavin was un-co-operative (surprise surprise) with taking photos for me and I was rushed out the door so the self timer shots that I had were terrible!!

Shoes: Accessorize

Gavin said they look weird, like I have gills on my feet :/

I tried a new lipstick, quite a brave choice for me

Revlon 'Cherries in the snow'

I love it though, I felt good wearing it

Outfit

Black ruched top: Miss Selfridge 

Red Belt: Accessorize

Black Jeans: Torrid

Blazer: New Look

Well I'm off to internet window shop and try and cheer myself up

Expect a mini haul probably consisting of Primark, sale rejects and drugstore make up soon :)

Love 

Belle

xxx

New York

My Mum's taking me away to New York for my 21st Birthday next year

Any suggestions of things to do?

Places to see?

Places to shop?

Places to nom?

Let me know!

Belle x

Pandas, New York and Life....

It's been another crazy week.

My tutor for photography has had me pretty much change my project from twisted fairytales (which I've done a whole summer's worth of research on) to something more concept based...so now I have choice of women's struggle in being sexy (I can't explain it very well....) or child abandonment issues/attachment theory. I think I'll go for the latter.

Anyone know any photographers/theorists who have dealt with this theme???

Other than that I've started working on my first essay of the symester which isn't going too badly for the minute. For the media side of my degree I have to keep a surveillance journal for 24 hours recording how many times I'm watched etc. I know it's going to make me so paranoid!!

All I seem to do is uni work and work work. I've seen my Mum a lot this week which has been nice, went to see The Hole 3D, in no way is that kiddies film! I was scared and I love horrors!!! And I saw The life and death of Charlie St Cloud, which was rather good, sad but good....

I still haven't got round to putting together my review posts but when I get some more time I'll pop them up, to be honest I don't know if it's really worth it!

Anyway here's some photos of things I'm loving this week...

Pandas :D

I love Pandas so much

New York

My Mum's said that as I'm not really into the idea of a big 21st birthday party next year that we'll go on a holiday to celebrate my birthday and my graduation (possibly even engagement...) and I've wanted to go to New York for years :) So we're planning on spending a week in New York and then doing a cruise together for a week, I'm so excited!!! Even though it won't be until November next year :(

Gavin also wants to take me away near my birthday, I'm hoping somewhere hot and tropical :P but it will probably be Devon or Cyprus. He did say when we first started seeing each other that he won't propose until I'm 21 so I'm hoping next year....fingers crossed!!

Dachshund

I'm still waiting but patiently...

Excited! Maybe under the Christmas tree.......

Snow Fairy

I had to see what all the fuss was about Lush's limited edition Christmas goodies and have since fallen in love with this loooovely :)

I've already stocked up with another large bottle hidden away. I LOVE showers now, I don't mind getting out of bed early for uni for this little bottle of goodness. Nom nom nom!

Gossip Girl

Pretty Self explanatory....

I love it :)

Series 4 is awesome, just a shame Gavin doesn't like it so I can't watch it when he's around. I've even got my best friend hooked on it, woop :)

I've also gotten back to the gym and am well and truly into my Christmas shopping, well about halfway there. We've been car hunting too so like I said busy busy busy!!

Byeee

Belle x

p.s I don't know why this is all underlined!!! What happened!?!?!