Goodbye 2013...

Happy New Year everyone! I know everybody says ''hasn't it gone so quickly?!'' but I don't think it has, really. I'm looking forward to 2014 and all the new memories it will bring, hopefully good ones. I'd love to say that I've already got everything organised and sorted out for a 'new year, new me' but I haven't. If I'm honest, I still haven't put all my Christmas presents away yet... whoops. The only thing I have done towards getting ready for the new year is buying a new calendar and I've begun to write a list of future blog posts.

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2013 has been a good year and I've learnt a lot. I don't feel like anything really major has happened, this year, but I've made changes to my life that I'm glad I have done. Yes, 2013 has had it's ups and downs - as every year does - but it's also full of memories that I shall cherish.

I wish you all a fantastic 2014 and, before things get a little boring here, thank you to everyone that has been reading my blog in 2013. It really does mean a lot.

Thanks for reading x

What I got for Christmas 2013.

I hope all of you had a fabulous Christmas! I enjoyed taking a short break from blogging to enjoy Christmas with my friends and family. I wasn't actually going to do this particular post but, after seeing many YouTubers and bloggers doing them, I thought I may as well jump on the bandwagon. I didn't get anything really expensive/extravagant this year because I didn't ask for anything huge and I was happy receiving small gifts and some money. Just to put it out there, I'm not trying to show off in any way and I'm so grateful for everything I received from my family and friends.

 As always, I get al LOT of chocolate and sweets at Christmas. I would've taken a photo of all of them together but my family and friends have already started helping me eat them!

Lush 'Snow fairy' shower gel // Burt's Bees gift set // Lush 'Sweetie pie' shower jelly // Vanilla scented hand wipes // Bath and body works 'Winter candy apple' hand sanitizer // Yankee candle in 'Merry marshmallow' // Impulse body sprays in 'Sweet smile' and 'True love' // Blue floral blanket/throw

Diary of a wimpy kid 'Hard luck' // Percy piglets // Home sign // Floral pen set // Cath Kidston soap 'Honeysuckle' // Milkybar polar bear // Various nail polishes (Rimmel 'Purple reign', Maybelline 'Ceramic blue' and L'Oreal 'Crystalissme')

My mum bought Marc Jacobs 'Honey' as more of a shared present between me, my mum and my sister and it smells amazing! 

 Batiste dry shampoo // Soap and glory 'Clean on me' shower gel // Soap and glory 'The righteous butter' body butter // Flower pharm 'Orange flower' body scrub // Balmi 'Coconut' lip balm // Milani Glimmer stripes // Chocolate coins in a bauble // 2  hand creams (these came in a set of four between me and my sister: so we divided them)

 I got this really cute doughnut cushion/toy thingy which I think I'll put on my bed.

When I opened this present I was so shocked and surprised! I'd been asking my dad for a Jack Wills book bag for ages and I was so pleased that he had got me one.

I did get other things for Christmas but it was mostly just more body creams, body sprays etc and food so I didn't think there was much point in taking pictures of them all. Again, I hope you had a good Christmas, thanks for reading! x

Christmas stocking fillers #3

This is the last Christmas stocking fillers post I write, but I wanted to fit one more in before Christmas, for those of you who still have a few bits and bobs to pick up, for friends and family.

Baylis and harding beauticology mini trio - boots

Daisy studs - forever 21

Barry m glitter nail paint - boots

Burt's bees gift set - sainsbury's

Laptop case - asos
This works dream team - feel unique
Cranberry joy body butter - the body shop
Tangle teezer - feel unique
Victoria's secret body mist - ebay


I think all of these are great for stocking fillers of as a little gift to a friend. The Body Shop's Cranberry joy body butter really does smell amazing: I've added one to my Christmas wishlist now! I've seen loads of other beauty bloggers talking about the This Works Dream team set and, even though it's small, it's said to work wonders. As for that laptop case, I don't think it could be any more beautiful and I think it would be a great present for any students. I've heard tangle teezers last a long time and are very good quality so, for your best friend or your sister, this would make a great gift. So that's all my picks, I hope you've enjoyed these posts!
What's on your Christmas wishlist?

The Sunshine Award.

Although the sun may not be shining right now, it's actually really cold, I was nominated by Maddie to do this award and thought it was a good post for you to find out a little bit more about me. So here we go...

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Here's the rules for each nominee:

• Share 11 facts about yourself.
• Answer 11 questions by the nomination blogger.
• Nominate 11 other bloggers.
• Include 11 questions to ask your nominees.

11 facts about me...

1. I'm in love with the band Hurts.

2. Cats are my favourite animal.

3. I hate my things being untidy/messy, I'm pretty sure I must have OCD!

4. Christmas is my favourite time of the year.

5. I must own, at least, 30 nail polishes and yet I still buy more.

6. I took business studies for one of my GCSE options.

7. I'm good at saving up my money.

8. I love vintage/shabby chic things!

9. I used to play the recorder, when I was at primary school.

10. I hate creepy crawlies, especially spiders.

11. When I was younger, I used to have a huge collection of my littlest pet shop toys.

My 11 questions were...

1. How is the weather where you live and what are your current favourite clothes to suit it?

The weather where I live isn't great, it rains quite a lot. My current favourite clothes to suit the weather are either super cosy tights and a skater skirt with a top or some jeans with a plaid shirt.

2. How did you come up with your blog name?

I just wanted a very simple and easy to remember name for my blog, sometimes I wish I had a more creative name though. Although I quite like the name 'Amy's Beauty Journal' because it's like I'm writing a diary of products I've tried out.

3. Name something on your bucket list?

The thing right at the top of my bucket list would be to travel around various places in the world and just explore new places. 

4. What is your favourite brand of clothing?

The main places I buy my clothes from are Newlook and Primark, with the occasional thing from Topshop or River Island. I know Primark is Atmosphere but I'm not sure about Newlook?

5. Jeans or leggings?

It depends on what kind of day's ahead but, if I had to pick one, I'd go for leggings.

6. Do your family and friends know about your blog? If so what do they think?
No, actually, my friends and family aren't aware of my blog but if I told them, I'm sure they wouldn't mind.

7. What is your favourite candle scent?
Hmm, this one is tricky because candles are one of my obsessions. I'm loving the merry marshmallow and fireside treats Yankee candles at the moment.

8. If you could pick any three make up items to get for free what would they be?
Firstly, I'd pick a MAC foundation because I'd feel so guilty buying one for myself. The second would be one of the Hourglass ambient lighting powders, after seeing Anna (from ViviannaDoesMakeup) rave about them so much, I would love to get my hands on one! And finally, I'd pick the Ciate mini nail polish advent calendar, it looks amazing plus I just couldn't spend £42 on an advent calendar.

9. What is your favourite pair of shoes? Why?
My favourite pair of shoes are my white high top converse because they go with anything and are great to wear any time of the year. They also last for ages.

10. Heels or wedges?
I don't really wear either of these but I think I'd go for wedges because I think they look gorgeous and wedges go with a lot of different outfits, even on casual days.

11. Mac or Urban Decay?
Even though Urban Decay have the famous Naked palettes, I'd plump for MAC because I like a lot of their products for face, eyes and lips. Whereas with Urban Decay, I only really use their eyeshadows.

The nominations...

1. kkkiranxoxo
2. Ros Tinted
3. Ashleigh Beauty
4. A Day in Beauty
5. A touch of velvet...
6. A Is For Ayla
7. Style & Starbucks
8. Carrie:Brighton
9. Talk Pretty
10. My Vintage World
11. Laura Through The Lens

My 11 questions...
1. What's your favourite TV program?
2. What's one thing you can't stand?
3. Who's you favourite singer/band?
4. What is at the top of your Christmas wishlist, this year?
5. Do you have a pet? 
6. Do you love or loathe marmite? (random question there!)
7. What's your favourite shop to buy from?
8. What's your favourite perfume?
9. If you could pick one piece of technology to use, for the rest of your life, what would you pick? (For example: iPad, laptop, camera)
10. What made you want to start blogging?
11. Who's your favourite blogger?

Thanks for reading this, incredibly long, post!

Monthly Favourites | October/November

First of all, happy December everyone! I missed out on posting my monthly favourites for October, so I thought I'd add in October's favourites to November's too.

NYC Applelicious Balm in 'Applelicious Pink'
NYC isn't really a brand I've tried out before but when I spotted these in Superdrug, I had to give it a try. This particular shade is a deep-ish pink and, once applied, leaves a smooth glossy finish to your lips. I think these are good for Winter because they come in a few deep shades but also moisturise your lips. So if you're one of those people who feel they can't wear lipsticks in the Winter, due to chapped lips, then these are for you. And lets not forget the price, for £2.49, you can't go wrong.

Barry M Nail Paint in 'Black with Multi Glitter'
When the seasons change, so does my choice in nail colour. In Spring/Summer I'm all about bright, bold and pastel shades but once it's Autumn/Winter I'm all over deep, dark and glittery polishes. Well, of course, the odd pastel shade will sneak in at some point but most of the time, I'll be sporting 'Autumn/Winter' shades. This nail polish is what it says on the tin: black with multi glitter. You only need one coat and I was very pleased with how quickly it dried too. Once it's dried it does have a textured feel and look, which I know some people hate, so I thought I'd mention it. Although, in my opinion, it isn't as bad as their textured nail paint range.

Panda Jumper £14
I have been living in this jumper, from Primark, recently. I've just been finding it too cold for t-shirts at the moment and this jumper has kept me nice and toasty - yes, that is a word - and I'm currently stocking up on them to make sure I survive these cold months, haha!

The Christmas Penguin Bubble Bar 
This isn't in the picture because I've already used it all up but it has been one of my favourite things I used last month. Aside from looking adorable, this smells delicious with Sicilian lemon oil as it's featured fragrance, this is one for lovers of citrus scents! It also smells similar to the olive branch shower gel, which is a permanent lush product.

Soap & Glory Peaches and Clean Cleanser
This is a thick and creamy cleanser that removes makeup brilliantly. I use this daily and it works wonders for my skin. I like to use a couple of pumps and massage it on my face, then rinse with water and it leaves my face feeling clean and fresh. This is one of my all time favourite face cleansers I've used.

Lady Gaga Perfume
This is one of my favourite perfumes to use in the Winter time. I'd describe it as quite a heavy perfume, which I why I only use it around this time of year. It contains notes of saffron, apricot, jasmine, honey, incense and more. The thing that really attracted me to this perfume, in the first place, is the fact it's actually a black liquid but it doesn't leave a black stain on your skin.

So there's a quick round-up of my favourite things over the past couple of months, what have you been loving recently?

xxx

Christmas Stocking Fillers #2

Chunky knits pen pot - paperchase

Moustache party straws - etsy

Mini rabbit lamp - urban outfitters

Globe watch - ebay

Santa pocket mirror - cath kidston

Galaxy giraffe nail decals - etsy

Cat wearing glasses iphone case - etsy

The christmas penguin bubble bar - lush

Satzuma usb led spotlight - boots

Watermelon origami note set - liberty

So, as promised, here's another Christmas stocking fillers post! My favourite things from this list would probably have to be the rabbit lamp because I just know it would look so cute in my room. I recently bought The Christmas Penguin from Lush and it creates a crazy amount of bubbles, perfect for hot Winter baths.

xxx

Butter London dupe.

Butter London is a brand I've always wanted to try but their £14 price tag always puts me off. I could spend hours at the little stand, stocked full of bright, bold, shades, filling my basket with a handful. After reading about Butter London 'The Black Night' on Nouvelle Daily, I was sure I had something similar in my nail polish collection. Cue; Barry M 'Black with Multi Glitter'.

Barry M 'Black with Multi Glitter' - Superdrug £2.99

Both polishes are packed with multi coloured glitter and both are opaque with, pretty much, one coat. I was, pleasantly, surprised when I used the Barry M polish, to find it dried quite quickly. Once dry they do resemble a semi-matte textured polish, which, I know, isn't everybody's cup of tea. After adding a glossy top coat on afterwards really makes the glitter sparkle even more.

My favourite thing about this polish has to be how the light really catches the glitter and it's something a little different, rather than just a plain black. I wish I could say the lasting time was fantastic but, sadly, it isn't however that's nothing a good quality top and base coat can't solve. Overall, I'm completely in love with this polish right now and I think it would be perfect for the party season ahead of us.

Christmas Stocking Fillers #1

I know, I know, it's a tad early to be writing this type of post but I'm in such a Christmas mood already! I'm planning to do a few of these 'Christmas Stocking Fillers' posts, so keep your eyes peeled!

Yankee Candle Christmas Tarts £1.05
One thing everyone needs in the Winter: candles. They make any room feel so much cosier and there's over 10 to choose from too. These would be great stocking fillers for beauty lovers or people who just love to relax and pamper themselves.

Smencils 10 Pack £11.50
These smencils would be a perfect stocking filler for any budding artists or anyone that, simply, enjoys making lists! I'm always making lists for different things (blog posts, shopping, to-do lists etc...) and the fact they all smell just immediately makes them appeal 10 times more to me.

Piper the Pug iPhone Case £4.95 each
I have a slight obsession with Pugs and I just can't get over how adorable these cases are. I can't believe I've never come across them before either. At just under £5 each these are affordable and will make sure your phone is protected, as well as making it look incredibly cute.

Set of 6 Mini Kiko Frames £24.95
Now, I know, these are a pricey pick but I just couldn't not include these. Store a picture of you and friend in one or use it to house your little treasures - you know - those ones you simply cannot part with. I think they look quite dainty but would look cute attached to your keys.

'You Look Lovely Today' Canvas Pouch £18
If you have a friend who is forever misplacing their makeup then this would be their ideal gift. A nicely sized canvas bag and the font that 'You Look Lovely Today' is written in just adds that extra detail, making it even more special.

Macaron Trinket Box £6.95
I don't know about you, but I've always wanted to try a macaron. They just look so darn delicious! One of these macaron trinket boxes would look lovely on top of a vintage style dressing table. Trinket boxes are good stocking fillers because they come in very handy for storing tiny things, that are lost easily, for example; hair grips; hair bobbles; loose change or jewellery. In a selection of colours and not too expensive, I think these would make a perfect gift.


Thanks for reading, what do you think of my picks? :)

Instagram #2

Lush shopping // Birthday card from my friend // Newest addition to my RT family // Yankee candle lovin' // Pumpkin carving with my sister // Naughty...

Feel free to follow me on Instagram: @theperksofbeingamyy

Winter Knits, loungewear and Cosy PJ's.

1. Cath Kidston London Christmas pj bottoms -asos

2. Fairy lights loungewear top - topshop

3. Cream cherry print jumper - river island

4. Cat New York print t-shirt - river island

5. Mickey mouse t-shirt - asos

6. Mint green jumper - newlook

7. Grey dog fingerless gloves - dorothy perkins

8. Knitted hat - H&M

9. Fluffy rabbit slippers - newlook

With Winter well on it's way, I just love coming home after school and getting straight into some cosy over- sized tops and jogging bottoms. The other day I was just browsing some clothing websites and things kept catching my eye, so I decided to put them all in a blog post. What do you think of my choices? I simply adore everything here and I've already added some to my 'to-buy' list. Those rabbit slippers sure do look comfy...

Lush Cinders | Review

I don't really tend to shop at Lush all that often but when they bring their Christmas products out there's no stopping me. Lush really do have the best choice of bath bombs etc to choose from around this time of year and yes, I do go just a tad crazy.

Lush Cinders Bath Bomb £2.45

Cinders has actually been a Christmas product for a while now and pretty much everybody and their cat raves about it however (up until now) I'd never known what all the fuss was about. This just smells absolutely divine, it's basically Christmas in a bath bomb. It contains; almond oil; sweet orange and cinnamon leaf oils which blend together perfectly to make a spicy but fruity scent. On top of the bath bomb is some popping candy which crackles away whilst you're in the bath; Lush say it's to sound like a fire crackling away.
  This bath bomb is a little smaller than what you'd normally expect from Lush (I'd say Honey Bee is the perfect size for a bath bomb) but it is cheaper, so I guess you're not missing out.
  Cinders turns the bath water a yellow-ish colour and the popping candy on top begins crackling and snapping away soon after the bath bomb has fizzed away. As with all Lush products I've tried, the smell does linger in the bathroom but, unfortunately, not very well on my skin.
  Cinders is by far one of my favourite bath bombs I've tried from Lush and I can guarantee I'll be picking lots more up before Christmas!


Thanks for reading, let me know in the comments what your favourite Christmas product from Lush is! :)

Halloween Nails!

I love Halloween, it's one of my favourite times of the year, so I thought I'd share a Halloween nail art tutorial with you. I don't really do nail art that often -apart from special occasions- but I thought I'd give these a go to get me in the Halloween mood! I decided to do two different designs: one that is very simple (if you're in a hurry) and one that requires just a tad more effort.

Design #1

Step 1: Paint your entire nails green.

Step 2: Using a, thin, dotting tool add some black dots for the eyes.

Step 3: Again, using a thin dotting tool add a smaller white dot on top of the black to finish off the eyes.

Step 4: Using a dotting tool, draw a black line for Frankenstein's mouth. 

Step 5: Then, add some little lines sticking out of the mouth, to make a stitching effect.

Step 6: Complete with a clear top coat, if you wish to, and you're all done!

Design #2

Step 1: Paint your entire nail white (make sure it's opaque before you go onto the next steps).

Step 2: Using a medium sized dotting tool, and some black nail polish, add the ghost's eyes and mouth.

Step 3: Finish with a clear top coat, if you want to, and you're done!

I hope you found these tutorials a little helpful and if you do have a go at some Halloween-inspired nails, be sure to take a picture of them and show me on Twitter! My Twitter is: @Amybfashion35

ASOS Wishlist #1

ASOS is, by far, one of my favourite online shopping websites and I'm forever wishing I was rich just so I could buy EVERYTHING on their website. So, every now and then, I'm going to put together an 'ASOS Wishlist' to show you some of my favourite picks.

Jelly Cat Purse £6 // Jack Wills Book Bag £12.50 // Mint Vans £47 // Fries Before Guys Sweatshirt £35 // Black Skater Dress £20 // Rabbit Onesie £50 // Wildfox Naughty Cat Face T-Shirt £60

What's on your ASOS wishlist right now?

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette | Review

Since I already own the Naked 2 palette, I was pretty sure I didn't need the Naked Basics palette but after days of drooling over pictures of it on Instagram and seeing it featured in peoples YouTube videos, I went ahead and bought it. Six, gorgeous, shades all housed in a dinky palette. What more could you want? 

UD Naked Basics Palette £20

Venus: Shimmery off-white

Foxy: Light yellowish beige

W.O.S (Walk Of Shame): Creamy seashell pink

Naked 2: Pale taupe

Faint: Warm brown

Crave: Plain black

The palette includes six shades; five of which are matte that are neatly packed into a dinky little palette. The packaging is very sleek and - as you can see in the picture above - there is a large mirror which makes this palette perfect for travelling or carrying around in your makeup bag.
  Usually, I like to use; W.O.S/Foxy all over my lids; Naked 2 in my outer corner; Venus on my brow bone and on the inner corner of my eye and Crave as an eyeliner. I do occasionally use Faint after Naked 2 just to darken the crease slightly and it's also a great shade for filling in eyebrows. Overall, I think this is a fantastic little palette that contains everything I need for a simple eye look. I don't think darker skin tones would probably like this as much but for paler skin tones - e.g: me - it's definitely worth the money.
  Now onto how much it costs. Well, this palette costs £20 and -unlike the other naked palettes- you don't get a free brush or lipgloss/primer. Personally, I think £20 is a good price to pay considering MAC single eyeshadows are £12.50 each!
  If you've always wanted to try one of the naked palettes but always found them quite pricey, then this palette is for you. It offers a selection of seductive nudes that are must-haves for everyday makeup.

Monthly Favourites | September

September has been a very busy month for me (hence why I haven't been blogging as much) due to starting back at school, but I'm beginning to get back into a routine now; so hopefully I'll be able to make more time for my blog! Also, I'm thinking of buying an iPad but I'm not completely sure whether I should take the plunge or not. Do you have an iPad? What do you think of it? (Let me know in the comments!)

The first thing I've been using a lot this month is my Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream; which I'm sure I've mentioned on my blog before. This is great for me to use on school days, when I want a little coverage, but nothing cakey or too heavy on my skin. I apply this evenly all over my face and it does a pretty decent job of concealing any redness and slightly covering spots, however, I do still apply a concealer afterwards. I would say this is brilliant for young girls who want to start wearing makeup but they still want it to look natural. The coverage isn't great (of course it's only a BB Cream) but works well for a natural makeup look. This is available for £6.99, which I think is a reasonable price considering how much product you get and how long it lasts.

Secondly, I've been hooked on the Maybelline Baby Lips but in particular: Hydrate. There isn't much to say about this really, apart from the fact it moisturises my lips incredibly well and that the packaging is super cute.

Another thing I've been loving this past month is my Victoria's Secret Body Spray in 'Love Spell'. I own a crazy amount of body sprays but this one has stood out to me the most, because it smells so darn good! It's a mix of; Cherry Blossom and juicy Peach so, as you can imagine, I've been spritzing myself with this all throughout the day.

Now onto more of a recent purchase but I've still been loving it the same, is my Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette. If you're a fan of the original Naked Palettes, then you're bound to love this. I am, actually, planning to do a more in-depth review of this, so I'll keep it brief for now but this is the palette I've been reaching for pretty much everyday. Containing six shades -5 of which are matte- it's great because you don't need to spend ages trying to match eyeshadows together because it's all in one palette. My favourite shade out of the palette is Walk Of Shame (or W.O.S for short), a creamy seashell pink shade that looks amazing on its own or paired with Naked 2.

And finally: my Dove Leave-In Conditioning & Care Spray. I find this is brilliant (especially for long hair) to spray through the ends of your hair, to leave them sleek and soft. As well as smelling divine, it does a fantastic job of keeping my hair smooth and nourished all day long. It's a bargain price too; at £3.59, how can you resist?!

So that's my September Favourites! Thank you for reading and I promise I'll get my next monthly favourites post published earlier!

Free Hand Cream From The Body Shop?!

Yes, you did read that title correctly. The Body Shop are giving out free 30ml hand creams worth £5 to people who bring in a voucher, which you can get here. You can either print off the voucher or just show it to them in-store; whichever is easiest for you.

There's four to choose from; Hemp Hand Protector, Wild Rose Hand Cream SPF 15, Almond Hand &Nail Cream and the Absinthe Purifying Hand Cream. I decided on the Hemp Hand Protector.
  The Hemp Hand Protector is The Body Shop's best-selling hand cream, that helps to soften and protect your hands. As it says on the website, it's been dermatologically tested for very dry hands and contains Community Trade hemp seed oil to keep your hands in good condition. Simply, squeeze a pea-sized amount onto your hands and massage into your skin.

So if you've ever wanted to try out one of The Body Shop's hand creams, then go ahead and get a voucher because, remember, it's while stocks last!

The Wishlist | Autumn

I noticed that I haven't done a wishlist post in a while so, seen as Autumns on it's way, I thought I'd share some things that I've been liking now that the colder weather's on it's way.

NW3 T-Shirt with Cat Print- ASOS £29.00
ASOS has got to be one of my favourite shopping websites. They have such a huge choice and variety all in one place. This awesome cat print t-shirt is simple, but the colours remind me of Autumn and it would look good with skinny jeans or even tucked into a skater skirt.

Black Tiger Face Graphic Leggings- Newlook £14.99
How amazing are these?! Bold, I know, but I think I could manage to wear them and not feel too stupid...

Scratch Spot Tea Dress- Topshop £29.00
Skater dresses are my absolute favourite! I'd wear this with some super cosy tights (from Primark), either some Winter ankle boots or my Converse and a warm coat. The monochrome theme is just my thing too.

Knitted Mix Stitch Jumper- Topshop £36.00
I've never had a big slouchy jumper before but this year, I feel like getting myself one. This Topshop one is pricey but I know it would last me for quite a while and the two different kinds of stitching make this stand out from other plain knitted jumpers.

River Island Gold Tone Twig Finger Top Ring- River Island £2.00
I'm forever struggling to find rings that actually fit me, due to my fingers being so small. But this is so darn cute, I don't think I could resist! Haha.

Black Handbag- H&M £14.99
I've been needing wanting a plain structured bag to go with all of my outfits for a while now. I usually always go for either black or brown because they're easy to style and H&M have some very good priced bags to choose from as well.

So that was a - mini version - of my Autumn wishlist, I hope you enjoyed reading! Tell me what's on your wishlist thing upcoming Autumn/Winter!

Victoria's Secret Fragrance Mists | Review

Whilst out shopping last weekend, I made my way into Victoria's Secret and bought some of their body mists and because they smell soo delicious I thought I'd do a little review on them.

Victoria's Secret Fragrance Mists £11 

I literally spent about half an hour wandering around the store sniffing every single perfume and body spray there was in sight. I went for "Pure Seduction", "Mango Temptation", "Hello Darling", "Love Spell" and "Pure Daydream". My mum actually loved "Pure Seduction" so much she went back and bought another one!

Pure Seduction- Red Plum & Freesia

Pure Daydream- Pearl Orchid & Pink Currant

Hello Darling- White Nectarine & Peony

Love Spell- Cherry Blossom & Peach

Mango Temptation- Mango Nectar & Hibiscus

 On the bottle it says "Refreshing formula is infused with conditioning Aloe Vera calming Chamomile. Spray on for a sexy touch of scent". I spray one on before I leave the house and it lasts so long, which I wasn't expecting from a body mist. They're all very light and fresh scents to wear and I would really recommend getting yourself down to Victoria's Secret as soon as you can to check these babies out. The packaging is very simple and it looks so pretty lined up with the rest of my body mists, and I completely understand why these are so talked about. They retail at £11 each but they do have offers on, and if you can't make it to the store, you can buy them on eBay.

Thanks for reading and if you have any blog post requests then please do ask me in the comments! :)

Life #1

I wanted to try and include some more lifestyle posts on my blog, so today I came up with the idea 'Life'. Plain and boring I know but it's simple and to the point, which is what I like about it! Sometimes writing things down can help clear your head so I thought I might give it a go!

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Whilst I'm sat here watching t.v. (The Great British Bake Off, if you must know) and writing this blog post I am also feeling quite nervous right now. -Why? I hear you ask- Because I go back to school tomorrow and although I am counting myself lucky because almost everyone I know has gone back to school already, I am also dreading it. Even though I've been at high school for three years already (starting my fourth) I'm really not looking forward to exams etc, but I'm going to start this school year with a positive attitude and make a fresh start, and most of all try not to worry too much! However, I am looking forward to having a good catch-up with my friends and learning new things.

Let me know in the comments if you like these sort of posts, I won't be doing them 24/7, just once every couple of weeks or something like that.

Have you gone back to school yet? 

Monthly Favourites | August

Well I can't quite believe that August is over - It seemed to last ages - so of course that means it's August Favourites time! With the Summer holidays, I've been off school all of August and still haven't returned to school yet (I am dreading the 9th of September) so I've had lots of time to try out new products and see whether I like them or not.

Victoria's Secret Body Mists (review coming soon!) £11
I have quite a large collection of these (5 to be exact) and I can't get enough of them, Victoria's Secret is definitely the place to go if you're looking for a long-lasting body spray and a huge selection to choose from. In the Summer I don't tend to wear much perfume because body sprays are much lighter and more refreshing in my opinion. Even with Autumn/Winter coming up I will still be wearing these because they are just too good (and pretty) to be hidden away at the back of my drawers.

Palmers Cocoa Butter Gradual Tanner (full review here) £5.35
Although I don't find it impossible to get a bit of a tan in the Summer, I always still manage to look a bit pale, so I've been using this gradual tanner everyday to give my skin a glowy and healthy look. I will warn you though, even though it's only a gradual tanner it will leave you with cheesy wotsit fingers if you don't give your hands a wash after application. Yes, I've been there.

Maybelline Baby Lips (full review and swatches here) £2.99
As I'm sure EVERYONE knows by now, Maybelline Baby Lips were finally released here in the UK, Superdrug and Boots were selling out so quickly I found it hard to find them at first. My favourite out of the four I own is 'Peach Kiss' because it's only a little bit tinted so it's great for school and days when you don't feel like wearing too much makeup. They do a great job of keeping your lips moisturised and soft and they're such an affordable price too, because sometimes I think tinted lip balms are a little bit over-priced.

Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub £4.99
I always like to use a lip scrub before applying any lipstick, to make sure my lips are soft and there aren't any dry patches, that the lipstick could cling to. This bubblegum one from Lush is my favourite because of it's sweet scent, I'm not too keen on the taste of this but I'm willing to overlook that. It smells just like the Snow Fairy shower gel and the Cotton Candy bubble bar too, and this lip scrub is available in different flavours if bubblegum isn't your thing.

Rimmel Blush in 'Santa Rose' £3.99
This has been one of my go-to blushers over August, a light peachy shade that adds just a hint of colour to my cheeks. Perfect for those 'no makeup, makeup days' and it's in the tiniest packaging too. This is such a bargain price and is worth it if you're on the hunt for a neutral blush for school.

And there's my August Favourites! Thanks for reading and tell me in the comments what you've been loving this past month!

Back To School Series #3 | What's In My Makeup Bag?

The third post in my 'Back To School' Series is what I keep in my makeup bag, I don't like to carry too much around with me, just the essentials really so it's only small but it does the job for me. So lets see what's inside...

Lip Balm- This is a must for me because my lips can get dry and chapped sometimes (especially in the colder months). At the moment I'm trying to use up some of my lip balms, so I'm using my Balmi Lip Balm in 'Raspberry', it smells so good!

Face Powder- If your read my 'School Makeup' post you'll know I used the Rimmel Stay Matte Powder to set my face with, so that's what I carry around with me for school. Face Powder - again - is a must have to 

help prevent oily skin.

Bobby Pins and Hair Bobbles- I hate it when my hair bobble decides to snap so carrying a few spare is always a good idea, plus you never know when one of your friends might need to borrow one for P.E.

Body Spray (not pictured)- I always carry a cheap body spray with me for school because then if I lost it or it got broken it wouldn't matter. I really like the Impulse body sprays because they're cheap but smell nice, my favourite is 'Sweet Smile'.

Tissues- For obvious reasons. 

Hand Sanitizer- I always have a hand sanitizer in my bag just in case I can't wash my hands, and there's lots of germs in school too. (eeeww I know)

4Head- This comes in so handy because it's the worst feeling ever having a headache when you're at school.

So that's what I carry in my makeup bag for school! Tweet me a picture of your makeup bag and it's contents, my Twitter is: @Amybfashion35

Back To School Series #2 | Natural School Makeup

Going back to school after the Summer holidays can be nerve racking, so it's best to plan out a simple everyday makeup look, so you're not late for your first day back because of a makeup mishap. So for the second post in this 'Back To School' Series I'm going to share a natural, everyday makeup look with you that you'll - fingers crossed - be able to complete in 10 minutes.

For your base you're going to want to use a light/medium coverage BB cream -I really like my Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream at the moment- it's better to use a BB cream rather than a heavy coverage foundation because it will look so much more natural, and more appropriate for school. As for concealer, I'm sure you'll all have your favourite but I'd recommend the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer, because it does a great job of concealing under-eye circles and any blemishes you may have too! Finally set your base with a powder, I love my Rimmel Stay Matte Powder because it looks natural and doesn't make your face look cakey, plus it helps to stop you getting an oily face throughout the day.

 For blush you'll need a soft and easy shade to wear, so a light pinky-peach is perfect! I really like Benefit Hervana blush for more neutral days. If you have time you could use a little highlighter too such as MAC MSF in 'Soft & Gentle' or -as a cheaper alternative- MUA Undress Your Skin Highlighter.

Now onto eyes, you're going to want to use either a shimmery neutral shade -like MAC 'All That Glitters' / MAC 'Naked Lunch'- or an almost-skin colour matte shade -like Urban Decay 'Walk Of Shame' / Urban Decay 'Foxy'- it's up to you weather you go for a shimmer or a matte as long it's natural-looking. You don't want to go over-board on eyes, so a little slick of eyeliner and a few lashings of a mascara should do you just fine.

For your lips, a light pink lipgloss or a glossy lipstick will be perfect. The Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfectors are great for a neutral gloss, and Revlon's Lip Butter in 'Strawberry Shortcake' would be great to use for shiny healthy-looking lips. And of course if you don't fancy a lipgloss or lipstick then you could use a lip balm of your choice to help prevent dry, chapped lips. I'm really liking the Maybelline Baby Lips right now.

So that is my natural school makeup look! Thanks for taking the time to read through this lengthy post and if you give this look a go yourself be sure to send me a picture on Twitter! My Twitter is: @Amybfashion35

Will you be using any of these products mentioned in this post? What do you think of my 'Back To School' Series?

Back To School Series #1 | Supplies Haul

I wasn't really intending to do a 'Back To School' Series but after seeing so many of them I thought I may as well jump on the bandwagon. The 1st in this little series is a stationary and supplies haul, I know there isn't much but we don't have to buy our own paper/books or anything like that, so on with the haul...

What I bought;
-Sainsbury's Felt Tip Pens (thin)- These are great for taking notes during class, and doing homework projects.

-Bic Felt Tip Pens- Again, great for taking notes and homework.

-Bic Black Pens- These are some of my favourite writing pens and for some reason, I prefer black to blue.

-Folder(not pictured because it's plain and boring)- I've made a promise to keep my homework more organised this year so a homework folder is the perfect thing for housing all of my projects etc.

-Paper Highlighting Tabs- I've never really needed to use these before but I thought they'd be helpful for keeping track of certain pages when I'm revising etc.

-Floral Pencil Case- I saw this in Sainsbury's and just couldn't resist! Floral print is just my absolute favourite thing and it's just so pretty for school.

And that's it! I do have a huge box of pens and pencils already so I tried not to go over board with new ones, but I simply couldn't resist a bargain! I'm still currently on the hunt for a new school bag too (I know bad, especially because this time next week I'll be at school!) Let me know what you thought of this haul and remember to leave me some links to your blogs if you've done a Back To School series as well :)

What's on your 'To Buy' List for school?

The Makeup | Currently Coveting #2

I'm revealing my hot new must-haves for the up-coming months, and showing what's been on my beauty radar recently...

UD Revolution Lipsticks £15
Urban Decay have re-vamped their lipsticks and ,from what I've heard, the quality too. These new lipsticks come in a range of shades so there's bound to be one to suit everybody. Urban Decay claim them to "deliver insane colour payoff with creamy shine" so they sound right up my street! I particularly like the look of 'Native'.

Revlon Lip Butter Autumn/Winter Shades £7.99
Revlon are releasing two new Lip Butter shades for their Autumn makeup collection: Invite Only and Provocative. They're very natural shades - considering their for an Autumn collection - but I'd quite like to get them to add to my collection - haha!

Revlon Lash Potion Mascara £9.99
Yes, another Revlon product, but I definitely think it's the packaging that gets me with this mascara. It just looks so magical and lovely - strange I know. I've read a couple of reviews and they've all said good things so once I've got some of other mascaras used up I might give this a go.

MAC Lipstick in 'Angel' £15
This wouldn't be a makeup wishlist without something from MAC on here, and I'm always wanting a new lipstick too. Angel is a soft pink shade and it's a great daytime colour to wear on your lips. Plus Kim Kardashian wears it.

L'Oreal Paris Brow Artiste Eyebrow Pencil £5.49
Usually I prefer to use an eyeshadow to fill my eyebrows in, but it's the double-ended pencil that does it for me. One end has the coloured eyebrow pencil and the other end has a clear wax to set them in place, so it's super quick and easy.

Rimmel Scandaleyes Shadow Paint £4.99
After seeing Lily (from Lily Pebbles) use these I've been eyeing these up in Boots but I think it's about time I got around a bought one. My favourite shade is 'Rich Russet', a shimmery bronze/brown shade, which would be good to use as a base or just on its own.

The Body Shop Camomile Cleansers £?
These aren't actually on The Body Shop's website at the moment but I have seen them in-store already. Their new camomile range consists of; makeup removers, cleansing butter and a silky cleansing oil, all of which sound heavenly and I'd love to try. I'm not sure of the prices but I think they're around £9-£12 :)


What's on your beauty wishlist right now?

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in 'Soft & Gentle' | Review

'Soft & Gentle' has been on my wishlist for ages, and whilst browsing the MAC counter at the weekend I went ahead and bought it, and I am so glad I did. On MAC's website it's described as; "a glided peach bronze" which is just my kind of shade for a bronzer/highlighter. It retails for £22 which I do think is over-priced but it's such a gorgeous product.

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in 'Soft & Gentle' £22

A stunning shimmery highlighter with chunks of glitter to add some sheen and colour to your face. I like to apply this - lightly - like blusher and blend it out over my cheeks, but people with a darker skintone could use this more heavily. 

 You can use this product in a few different ways, as an eyeshadow, a subtle highlight or you can create a very bronzed look by using it a bit more heavy handed. Another thing I adore about 'Soft & Gentle' is how well it catches the light and makes your skin look so glowy and healthy.

 This product is huge, weighing in at 10g (the amount of product) and I'm sure it's going to last me a long time. The packaging is very simple - which I love - and it looks so pretty on my dressing table or stored in my makeup collection.
 The powder feels very smooth but as I said it does contain some chunks of glitter, which would usually put me off but it looks lovely on and I just love using this!

What do you think of the MAC MSF's?

New In | Maybelline Baby Lips

It's unbelievable how excited I actually got when I heard that Maybelline Baby Lips were being released in the UK, and I went a little crazy in Superdrug when I saw them. I picked up 4 of them; Pink Punch, Cherry Me, Minty Fresh and Peach Kiss. Everyone is going crazy for these and Superdrug were selling them like hot cakes, plus they're currently on offer, 3 for 2 so they're an absolute bargain!

Maybelline Baby Lips £2.99

(apologies for the bony hand)

Pink Punch
A bright bubblegum pink shade, that is surprisingly quite pigmented with a few swipes on the lips.

Peach Kiss
This is my favourite of the bunch, it just adds a subtle peachy tint to my lip which is perfect for everyday wear.

Minty Fresh
There isn't much to say about this really, as it doesn't tint your lips in any way but I love the minty smell! It's very refreshing and makes your lips look glossy too.

Cherry Me
I can see myself wearing this a lot in Autumn/Winter time as it's a beautiful cherry red shade which will go perfectly with a smokey eye look around Christmas time. It looks a bit darker on your lips in my opinion as well.

Overall I'm very impressed with these lip balms considering they're only £2.99 each! I love the colourful packaging of each of them as well. All of them are so soft to apply and feel lovely and smooth on your lips, and Minty Fresh has an added bonus of SPF 20. They claim to moisturise your lips for a full 8 hours, which I haven't tested out myself but they sure do make your lips feel hydrated.


Have you tried the new Maybelline Baby Lips?

Liebster Award!

Today I won't be writing about anything beauty, but I'll be sharing some more personal things with you as I was very kindly nominated for the Liebster Award by Maddie from that place called here.

The award is for bloggers with less than 200 followers and all you need to do is follow these instructions;

1. Answer the 10 questions you've been asked from the person who nominated you.
2. Think of 10 questions of your own to ask some other bloggers.
3. Choose 10 other bloggers to nominate and make sure you let them know you've nominated them (remember they must have less than 200 followers!).

Here's the 10 questions I was asked...

1. If you had to wear just one make-up product on your face for a day, what would it be and why?
Hhhmmm... Tricky one, but I think I'd go for mascara because it just makes such a difference to your face and I never feel ready until I've got my mascara on!

2. What is your favourite High Street/Drugstore make-up product and why?
I absolutely love Rimmel's Stay Matte powder because it does an amazing job of keeping the shine at bay, and stops my face from look sweaty - nice! haha

3. Favourite colour to wear on your nails?
Either mint green or a very pale milky pink. I love Essie Mint Candy Apple and Essie Fiji.

4. If you had your own make-up range what would it be called?
I really don't know for sure, but something along the lines of "Amy's Beauty" or something simple like that.

5. Favourite way to wear your hair?
I pretty much always wear my hair down, but there's nothing more I love that wearing my hair in a messy bun on a lazy day!

6. If you could swap wardrobes with any celebrity who would it be?
Definitely either Kylie or Kendall Jenner. They are both so stylish and have such good taste in clothing and accessories.

7. Who inspires you?
People like Anna (from Viviannadoesmakeup) and Lily (from Lilypebbles) because they both have brilliant blogs and I love to get blogging inspiration from them.

8. What is your favourite motivational, positive or inspirational quote?
I don't have a favourite quote, but one I always think of when I'm feeling a little down is "Don't Cry Because It's Over, Smile Because It Happened". Life has it's ups and downs but it's best to look back and think of happy memories rather than get upset about the bad ones, because what's done is done, and concentrate on your future!

9. What is your guilty pleasure?
My guilty pleasure would have to be makeup shopping, I just love buying new makeup and creating different looks with it when I get back home, haha!10. Who or what inspired you to start and blog and why do you enjoy writing it?
Well I began watching beauty gurus on YouTube a few years ago and since then I've always wanted to make my own channel or write a blog. Lots of people have inspired me to write my own blog though and I really do enjoy writing it! I just love hitting the 'publish' button and of course receiving lovely comments!

People I'm nominating...

1. Loves of Lucy

2. Fashion Etc.

3. Beena's Blog

4. lolajaneloves

5. Clo's Beauty Spot.

6. LollyLou

7. Claire does beauty

8. a tartan tale

9. BeautyLifeMichelle

10. Victoria Jane

My 10 questions...

1. What's one food that you can't stand?

2. Do you have any brothers or sisters?

3. What's your favourite high-end makeup brand?

4. If you were given £100 to spend in one shop, which shop would you choose?

5. Have you ever dyed your hair?

6. What's your favourite kind of book/magazine to read?

7. What's the name of your first ever best friend, and what's one of your best memories together?

8. What would be your dream ice-cream flavour? (It can be as crazy as you like!)

9. What do you love most about blogging?

10. What's at the top of your wishlist right now?

Thanks for reading - I know it's been another long post - and I hope everyone can take part, please leave me a link below to your post if you do take part :)