Naked 2

I gave in and bought the Urban Decay Naked 2 pallet. I loved the first one and seem to be a fiend when it comes to neutral eyeshadows at the moment so figured invested in the second one couldn't do any harm. So far I'm glad I did it! I've read a few posts on how this pallet leans more to the cool tones and if I'm honest I have no idea which should suit me more but being neutral colours I don't see how everyone can't rock them. One thing I will say is I think they should have included the usual mini primer potion rather than the lipgloss. I won't do swatches or shade comparisons considering the blogging world is awash with them at the moment.

 Love the double ended brush, great for when I travel 

 Foxy, Half-baked, Bootycall, Chopper, Tease, Snakebite

 Suspect, Pistol, Verve, YDK, Busted, Blackout

 The packaging is so much more practical on the new pallet, easy to keep clean and won't end up looking tatty like the older pallet with the flocking coming away. I wouldn't even say that I bash my pallet about too much for it to look so tatty. 

In the pallet my favourite colours so far are Chopper, Snakebite, Tease and Suspect.
I love Half-baked so was happy with the inclusion in the second edition.


Did you get naked again?


Belle
xoxo

Newest addition and whats in my bag...

For my 21st birthday I asked for money to go towards my dream handbag, the Mulberry Alexa. I just had to decide on a colour, I initially really liked the coral pink but waited for the AW11 collection and I'm glad I did as the little beauty came in Conker a rich burgundy toned brown, I love it! It goes with all my outfits. So this post is dedicated to my new love and I've added on a little 'whats in my bag' bit on the end. 

 I bought my little fluffy ball in China and I think  it gives it something a little more, plus it feels nice and reminds me of the movie Despicable Me (ITS SO FLUFFFFY) 

 Plaited detailing on the handle

 Imprinted golden hardware

 All the attention to detail shows just how much thought and work goes into each bag, to me their worth every penny

 What I keep in the beaut

 Louis Vuitton purse, Lush Ultrabalm, Hello Kitty notebook, Kindle, Hairbrush, Glasses cloth and my new toy the iPhone 4s

 Pink sparkly case, damaged on a recent night out :/ oops

 Current Dirty Dancing themed background

 List of blog posts to come

 Purse full of receipts and cards...no money of course

Contents of my little panda bag:

Carex hand sanitizer

Nivea mini deodrant

MAC lipstick in Creme Cup

Snow Fairy lip tint

Carmex lip balm

Kiehls Mango lip balm

YSL Rouge Volupte shade No. 1

MAC Concealer

Clarins hand cream

Chewing gum

Little mirror

Energy tablets

Well that's my new little baby and when I'm a wee bit intoxicated I do take to cradling it like a baby in a very over protective way...strange

Belle

xoxo

LUSH Review: Lemslip Soap

I love Lush and all the goodies they stock. Unfortunately they discontinue products to make way for new ones on a regular basis which sucks when it's a product you use religiously and actually works...Lemslip is such a product for me.

Like a lot of people I suffer from the occasional blemish on my body rather than face and using a block of soap is a much more cost effective way to combat this rather than using facial wash on the body. Since I've been using Lemslip I've noticed a massive difference and only get the occasional blemish if any. Hence being gutted they've discontinued it. I use it on a daily basis as a general body soap, the lemon smell is gorgeous especially first thing in the morning when your struggling to wake up. 


What Lush says about Lemslip:'Lemslip soap is the biggest bargain of all our Butter Cream Shower Soaps, but this is only one of the reasons why it's a best seller. The other is that sea salt and its antimicrobial lemon, lime and sweet wild orange scent help to clear up spots all over a body that gets a bit oily now and again. Who doesn't want a nice clear back, front, arms and legs? No-one. So who wants to slip a slice of Lemslip all over their bodies?' 


And according to the website I'm not the only one who will miss it, a lot of people disagree with the removal of Lemslip from the regular Lush line up. Here's hoping they make it into a retro product! Just glad I've got a large chunk of it left but once that's finished the hunt begins for a replacement. A staff member did recommend a few things, these being...

• Bohemian soap- the pure lemon oil in it is supposed to be good for clearing up skin along with the added glycerin 
• Sexy Peel soap- I think that may be more to do with the scent and orange peel in it
• Mask of Magnaminity- A rather pricey alternative compared to a soap but according to the website could be something to try out

Anyone else tried Lemslip or know of any alternatives to give a go?

Belle 

xoxo

All that's beautiful travels...China: part one

I recently traveled to China with my Mum for my 21st birthday present. Whilst over there we visited Beijing, Xian, Chengdu, Yichang and Shanghai. I'm going to put the trip into six separate posts starting with Beijing.

First of all I know I am incredibly lucky to have been taken away to such an exotic place for my birthday and I really appreciate it all. This post is in no means me bragging just putting my thoughts and opinions out there whilst also sharing various shots I took, being a photography graduate and all that...

Holidays for me always start in duty free and this one was no different. After my Dad and boyfriend dropped me and the Mother off at Heathrow, and of course after a farewell caramel latte in Costa, we headed through all the departures procedures and were off. Many people said we were crazy, two women going to China alone but we had a tour booked with tour guides accompanying us every step of the way. I had saved all my 21st birthday money up to purchase one special handbag in duty free, the Mulberry Alexa in Conker, a gorgeous red wine colour. I had a permanent smile etched on my face knowing that little beauty was mine. Onto the cosmetic goodness, I always purchase at least one perfume when traveling abroad not being able to resist the slight discount of duty free prices. This time round I bought the Pacco Robanne One Million and I love it, such a me scent. I added to that a Kiehl's moisturiser, YSL Rouge Volupte in no. 1, YSL Shocking mascara, MAC paint pot in Rubenesque, MAC concealer and foundation.

3 hours after landing, very tired outside our first hotel sporting the lovely new handbag

I jumped straight in the bed for a quick nap 

(I'm aware this is sideways)

Mum and I at the summer palace

Gorgeous paintings at the Summer Palace

Being idiots at the Forbidden city

We flew with Air China and quite honestly it was the longest 10 and a half hours...very uncomfortable and not a great start to the holiday! when we arrived in Beijing it was interesting to say the least. I was expecting a massive culture shock but was surprised at how westernised everything was with exception of everything being in Chinese of course! We stayed in a Sheraton the first few nights and the beds were amazing! Literally like a cloud I was so exhausted I just wanted to pass out but with the time difference we had to try and stay awake, its 8hours ahead out there.

First proper day was spent in two places; in the morning we explored the Summer Palace a gorgeous place full of intricately painted structures and very peaceful even with masses of chinese tourists milling around. The afternoon we spent in the Forbidden City, very historic, learnt a lot especially that Chinese coffee, unless from Starbucks, is disgusting!! In the evening we watched a Kung Fu show, meaning I now want to learn Kung Fu and break wood with my head of course. 

Kung Fu fighting..

Our second day started with a walk/climb along the Great Wall of China. Its huge! Even bigger than I expected from what I'd seen on television. Being the strange person I am I donned my panda onesie and walked a couple of sections being stopped quite a few times by locals wanting pictures with the crazy western girl dressed as a panda...this was quite a frequent occurrence to be honest even without the panda suit. Chinese people deem my tallness, pale skin and blonde hair as extremely beautiful and wanted photos with me all the time. Wasn't something I could put up with all the time! I belong on the other side of the camera... The afternoon was spent walking around the grounds of the Ming warrior temple.

Mum and I with the Olympic Birds Nest stadium in the back ground

 Noms on our first day

 (Frustratingly I can't rotate these pictures!)

In the forbidden city grounds

On the Great Wall of China 

 Stone statues at the Ming Warrior Temple

On the Great Wall of China again

 Posing with the locals in my panda suit

 Some crazy person...

 More stone statue fun

The third day we visited the temple of heaven which was beautiful and pictures will say more than I can. After this we visited a local village called a Hutong and had lunch with a local family which was lovely, nicest meal so far actually. Then off to the airport to fly to our next destination Xian, which shall have another post to it's self. 

Local families home with a little doggy (yes he has orange ears)

I cannot for the life of me remember what these contraptions were called

Congrats if you made it this far!

Belle

xoxo

Long time....

I know its been months since I last posted but I've been insanely busy

Mostly with family and my personal life

A lot of stuff has been going on but I'm getting back on track

And of course back into blogging :)

So a little welcome back post for myself

I've got a lot of plans for the blog but unfortunately no camera 

to capture these ideas 

So bear with me and I'll get on it

This baby will be getting a post all of it's own 

I finally got my 21st birthday present on 5th November

Mulberry Alexa in Conker

It's love!

I'll be back with more soon

Belle

xoxo