Falling for Mustard and Suede

Mustard is a colour that I've never had much of in my wardrobe (I think this might be my first piece actually) but it's the perfect colour for Autumn, so when I spotted this Ribbed Roll Neck Top from Urban Outfitters I snapped it up! It's so comfortable and effortlessly stylish, I couldn't quite believe it only cost £19 as clothes from Urban Outfitters can be more on the pricey side.

I wore this outfit last week on  a day trip to Edinburgh. I teamed it with my trusty Zara bag, Dr Martens and new black suede skirt. I think this might be my favourite skirt of all time, which is a pretty big statement to make! The shape and fit are just so flattering and it goes perfectly with so many other tops and shoes in my wardrobe. 

What do you think of this outfit?

The New Autumn Wardrobe Staples

It's that time of year again when I spend more money than I'd like to admit on filling my wardrobe with new pieces for the autumn and winter months. I am so over summer and have never been the biggest lover of summer style, so I'm more than happy with the recent change in the weather.

If you read my blog regularly, you will know that I was in Amsterdam recently for my boyfriends birthday. Despite treating myself to several new outfits for our trip, I only managed to shoot one outfit post while I was there due to the weather. It was very wet with downpours of rain, but thankfully it stayed dry long enough for me to get these shots!

I have been wanting a denim borg western jacket for months, so when I spotted this cute one in Topshop I just had to have it! My trip to Amsterdam was my chance to wear it out properly for the first time, it's beautifully warm and cosy lining is so comfortable and is the ideal jacket for the colder months ahead. Priced at £58, it's not the most affordable jacket but I know I will get so much wear out of it as it goes with everything in my wardrobe.

I teamed my new jacket with a grey crop top that I picked up in the states a few months ago, and my new high waisted black suede skirt from Urban Outfitters. The best thing about this skirt is that it can be worn casual like in the outfit above, or can be more dressed up depending on the occasion. It's certainly made the perfect addition to my wardrobe. 

What do you think of this outfit?

Amsterdam Photo Diary

It's been far too long since I last updated and I can only apologise! As you can see I am just back from my first trip to Amsterdam, it was my boyfriends 30th and I wanted to surprise him with a present that he would never forget. We have always talked about going so I treated us to three days in the picturesque city.

Amsterdam has to be one of my favourite cities; it has lots of character, the people are so friendly and it has a much more relaxed vibe compared to the other cities in Europe I've been to. I didn't take as many photos as I normally do when I go on a city break, it rained most of the time we were there but it didn't stop us from doing all the things we wanted to do. We spent our time there exploring the city by foot, wandering up and down the pretty streets and taking it all in. We also squeezed in a visit to the Van Gogh museum and decided to live like the locals and cycle too which was fun.

We stayed in the most adorable Airbnb apartment in De Pijp, a lovely neighbourhood in the south of the city that is full of locals and has the best selection of restaurants, cafes and bars I've ever seen!  We really were spoilt for choice. A lot of cheese, Dutch pancakes and wine were consumed during our time there. If you are going to Amsterdam and staying in De Pijp I recommend checking out Omelegg, United Pancakes and CT Coffee and Coconuts for a delicious breakfast or brunch, and Boca's, The Butcher and Paper Planes for dinner.

It was a much needed and relaxing city break. I've had a serious case of the holiday blues since I've been home!

Have you been to Amsterdam?

Date Night Make Up

Date nights are my favourite kind of nights to get all dressed up for and experiment with different make up looks. At the moment this look is my absolute favourite and I can't see myself getting bored of it anytime soon. I usually keep my eye make up pretty minimal, but I've finally mastered the feline flick after months of practise and I just love how it looks with red lips - it's such a classic look. I've listed all the products I used to create this look below, let me know what you think in the comments!

FACE :

- Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer Light (£25)

- Jouer Matte Moisture Tint in the shade Porcelain (£30)

- NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in the shade Chantilly (£22)

- Soap & Glory One Heck Of A Blot (£12)

- MAC Pro Longwear Blush in the shade Rosey Outlook (£20)

EYES :

- Benefit They're Real! Mascara (£19.50)

- Soap & Glory Supercat Eyeliner Pen Carbon Black Extreme (£6)

- Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo in the shade Ebony (£17)

- Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler (£20)

LIPS :

- NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dragon Girl

What make up do you love to wear on a date night?

Origins Original Skin Renewal Serum

I was really excited when Origins announced they would be releasing a serum targeted as us girls in our mid to late twenties. There doesn't seem to be that many skin care products out there specifically aimed at our age group, and at an age when you are thinking about taking the first steps towards anti ageing but don't want or need anti ageing lotions, this is a great product to get on board with.

The Origins Original Skin Renewal Serum (£32) aims to gently restore the skin, minimise the appearance of imperfections and add a dose of radiance to the complexion. The formula is made up of skin loving ingredients such as Persian Silk Tree, Willowherb and Chestnut Seed Extract, which work to de- stress, brighten and smooth out the texture of the skin, while Algae reduces oil production and makes pores appear less visible. Perfect for me as my enlarged pores are my biggest skin complaint. 

I apply this serum morning and night shortly after cleansing and before I use moisturiser. It's very light and has a smooth, gel like consistency which absorbs quickly and feels lovely and fresh on the skin. A pump or two is all that's needed to dispense the perfect amount to cover my whole face - I love how I instantly see a difference in my complexion, my skin glows with health and appears so much smoother!

My expectations of Origins products are always high as they are one of my favourite skin care brands, and this product does not disappoint. I have been using this everyday for the past three weeks and I have noticed such an improvement in the texture and tone of my skin; my pores look smaller and my complexion looks smooth and brightened.  The scent is lovely and pleasing too, and I have to say I adore the cute pink packaging!

Have you tried this? 

Make Up For Oily Skin

After clearing out my muji drawers recently, I realised I've gathered quite the collection of make up aimed at controlling my oily skin. Here are a few of my favourites...

Urban Decay De-Slick Oil Control Make Up Setting Spray (£21)

This is the only setting spray I have tried so I can't compare it to any others, but it's become a staple in my make up routine. The formula aims to prevent make up from fading over the course of the day, while controlling oil and shine. I spray this all over my face in a criss cross style three or four times after applying my make up; it feels really light and refreshing on the skin and only takes a few seconds to dry. My make up still looks freshly applied, even after hours of wear and in warm weather too. I've had this bottle for almost a year and it's still going strong, I highly recommend investing in a bottle of this if you have oily skin.

Jouer Cosmetics Matte Moisture Tint (£30)

This has to be one of my most loved and talked about products, it really is perfect skin in a tube! I'm a big fan of light formulas that offer buildable coverage when it comes to my choice of base, it blends seamlessly into the skin to even out imperfections, resulting in a dewy matte finish that lets my actual skin show through. The oil free formula keeps my complexion shine free and contains antioxidants that allow my congested skin to breathe. I have just purchased my fourth tube of this, no other moisture tint has impressed me as much as this one!

Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay In Place Make Up (£29.50)

If you prefer a bit more coverage but without the cakeyness, you can't wrong with this foundation. The long wearing formula offers medium to full coverage that looks natural and stays fresh all day - I don't have to touch up my make up as often when I'm wearing this. When I really need my base to last this is what I always reach for as it let's my skin breathe while managing to keep my complexion looking fresh all day. The formula is oil free and non-comedogenic too so it won't clog your pores. 

NARS Radient Creamy Concealer  (£22)

Even though I mainly use this to cover the dark circles under my eyes, I also use this to mask any imperfections such as redness. I didn't give in to the hype when this was first released, but it really is as incredible as everyone says. The coverage is second to none but doesn't look heavy on the skin and lasts all day on my oily complexion. The doe applicator make touch ups effortless too, so it's a perfect handbag essential. 

Benefit POREfesional  (£9.99)
I got really excited when I spotted the mini version of this in Boots - not only is it super cute but the smaller tube makes it more handbag friendly and much more affordable to repurchase. This is my favourite primer for minimising the appearance of my pores; the pores on my nose are my biggest skin complaint, but a few dabs of this completely diminishes their appearance and smooths out my skin, whilst controlling oil and making my skin look flawless. It's a product I never leave the house without and is perfect for touch ups throughout the day. 

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer Light (£25)
This offering from Smashbox is the answer to all my primer needs! I've tried and tested several primers, but this is the one I always come back to. It's incredibly smoothing and only a pea sized amount is needed to create a smooth matte finish that lasts all day. The gel like texture feels cooling when applied and my complexion looks balanced and perfected. This is one of the best primers I've come across in terms of oil control and it keeps my make up looking fresher for longer.

Soap & Glory One Heck Of A Blot (£12)
An oil controlling powder is one of my most essential products and my make up never feels complete without a dusting of powder. This oil free powder works to remove excess oil and shine, leaving the skin looking beautifully matte and fresh. It's so light and feels weightless on the skin, so you don't have to worry about a chalky finish with this powder as it gives a smooth, natural finish. The price tag is also equally pleasing. 

Have you tried any of these products? What are your top make up picks for oily skin?

Disapointing Products

It's not often that I come across make up and skin care that I really don't like- mainly because I do a lot of research into products before buying them and read lots of reviews, so most of the time I'm left more than happy with my beauty purchases. Everyone is different though and not every product is going to please every person that uses it, so while I was having a clear out recently and came across this handful of products, I thought it would be a good idea to share with you all why they left me feeling unimpressed.

The first of two primers that have left me disappointed is the MAC Prep+Prime Skin (£21). I bought this online as I thought it would be similar to the brands Prep+Prime Skin Refined Zone Treatment, which works incredibly well to smooth out the texture of my skin and keep my complexion shine free for hours. I was expecting the same results (if not better) from this primer, but what I didn't know is that it leaves your skin looking glittery and shimmery, which just looked ridiculous on me! When it comes to my base I love a natural looking finish, so even though it smoothed over my skin and provided a good base for my make up, the glittery-ness (is that a word?) of this product ruined it for me.

I was similarly let down by the Jouer Essential Matte Touch (£18), a colourless balm-like skin perfecter that aims to degrease the skin and diminish the appearance of pores. I am always on the look out for products that will control shine and give my skin a natural looking matte appearance, so the idea of a balm intrigued me. Unfortunately though this is such a difficult product to use - because it's a balm it's such an effort to apply to the skin and it barely did a thing for my pores. I would say this works in the same way as oil blotting paper, it does absorb oil but that's about it- there are so many other products out there that work so much better than this. 

Despite Origins being one of my favourite skin care brands, I wasn't that keen on their Clear Improvement Mask (£23) - I swear I think I'm the only person out there that doesn't like this! Even though the product description sounds perfect for my congested skin, I never seen much of a difference to my complexion at all - my pores still looked clogged and overall my skin didn't look any healthier either. I've used this mask several times as I really wanted to love it, but it just doesn't work nearly as well as other face masks I've used where I see results instantly. 

Another product that didn't agree with my skin is the The Body Shop Seaweed Mattifying Moisture Lotion (£12). As someone with oily skin, I can be very picky when it comes to moisturisers and sadly this one just didn't impress me. It sounded perfect for me, but I didn't like the texture or the scent of this at all. I found the texture quite thick for a moisturiser that claims to be lightweight, and it didn't absorb well into my skin either. It's not often that skin care from The Body Shop disappoints me, but this is one product I won't be purchasing again. 

Lastly, as much as I love Topshop nail polishes and have quite the collection of them, I thought the Matte Nails in Prince Blue Blood (£6) was just terrible. It didn't apply properly and I had to apply quite a few coats of this for the colour to show up on my nails. To top it off, the finish looked horrible and cheap- it looked like I had painted my nails with blue tipp-ex! I didn't even give this a second chance because I hated the results so much the first time round.  I don't think matte nails are for me. 

Have you been disappointed by any of these products? Or have you tried any of them and loved them?