Chanel Le Volume Mascara Review

If there's one thing I've learnt over the last week it's not to judge a mascara by it's first sweep...

Anytime a new mascara is released I have an uncontrollable urge to try it! Chanel actually released Le Volume Mascara in April but it has only recently come in my radar. I popped over to my local Chanel counter in John Lewis and picked one up. Priced at £24 it is definitely at the high end of Mascara's - luckily John Lewis had 10% off when I got this, it's always a good idea to keep an eye out for discount codes on House of Fraser, Debenhams etc.

The wand is made of stacked discs, shaped like snowflakes and it is supposed to coat, lengthen and separate the lashes with the quick-drying formula. When I first opened this, the only way I can explain it is that when you pull out the wand it's like there's not a neck that would usually pull all the excess mascara off - it comes out VERY wet and covered in mascara. I started to apply the mascara and hated it, I really couldn't get on with it... but the more I coated my lashes the better they were looking - thick, long and very 60's!

The mascara takes a little bit of getting used to and you need to be careful you don't get it everywhere (at first it was all over my eyelid) but I am really loving it now. It dispenses a lot of mascara on the first swipe but then it's really workable and coats the lashes like no mascara I've used before. I only ever need to use one pump and once finished they feel really thick and full.

Overall I would give this mascara 4/5 as much as I do love it I think £24 is very expensive, especially if you're the sort of person who get through one tube a month. I still love Benefit They're Real but I might repurchase this a few more times until I revert back. I just love how easy it is to get a 60's look!

This mascara is available in 4 shades 10 Noir (Black) 20 Bleu (Blue) 30 Prune (Purple) 40 Khaki Bronze.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW

Have you tried Chanel Le Volume yet?

Stevie

xoxo

Oh, relax it's only magic!

After TATU released 'All The Things You Said' I never thought I'd see a Tartan Skirt again... that was until me and my friends were watching The Craft last weekend and it hit me how frickin' on trend these 90's girls are!

Apart from The Craft being pretty freaky (the bathroom scene with all the bugs and snakes arrghhhhh) the film carries perfect outfit inspiration...  grungy and gothic pilled high with tartan and black.

Victoria Beckham was photographed in the most amazing Etoilé Isabel Marant Kilt yesterday but at £150 I think this is out of most of our budgets! I've therefore had a little spy around some more affordable shops to bring you a selection that I think are perfect for winter.

Tartan (or plaid) skirts looks great for both day and night. You can dress them up with cute camis and ankle boots, or layer up with tights and a big chunky jumper! I can't wait to pick one up but just yet I haven't decided what style/colour to go for!

ZARA CHECKED MINI SKIRT

MISS SELFRIDGE GREY CHECK PLEAT SKIRT

AMERICAN APPAREL PLAID FULL WOVEN SKIRT (CHARLES FLANNER PLAID)

Are you going to be rocking a tartan skirt this Winter?

Stevie

xoxo

Rowing, Punting and Picnics

On Bank Holiday Monday the weather was glorious so me and the boy jumped in the car and took a drive to Bath. Bath is one of the most beautiful cities in England, such stunning architecture and so much to do! I've been wanting to go on a rowing boat adventure for a while so when I found this hidden treasure online I added it to my 'To Do' List!

Bath Boating Station is just outside the main town and from the the minute you walk through the gate it's bloomin' beautiful! Bright and colourful flowers welcome you to the picturesque cottages along the river, one's even called Toad Hall! When you arrive you just need to pop your head through the office and ask for either a Rowing Boat, Punt, Canoe, or Kayak. 

We opted for a Rowing Boat as the Punting looked VERY hard and VERY wobbly... down the river we passed some people that had all fallen in! Our boat was one of the smaller Rowing Boats which needed only one person to row, and one person to steer with ropes. Obviously I opted for the steering which was super easy and I got to sit in a big comfy throne like The White Witch in Narnia!

The first couple of strokes take a little bit of getting used to...

Bath behind us creeping up the hills...

All the locals had their boats moored up and the end of their gardens.

Pulling the ropes was 'hard work'

So here's the photo evidence of me attempting to take the oars and have a go... as you can see I was pretty confused and couldn't work out which was to row. I eventually got it but then decided I was bored of it and wanted to steer again!

... and then the top had to come off!

YEYYY... we finally reached the weir!

Time to put our feet up and have a well earned bite to eat!

On the way back we passed a lot of happy rowers and even some people going for a dip! 

This was such a fun day out and it cost us £22 for 2 hours... money well spent considering you can take your own picnic and parkings free! It was nice to get out in the air and do something different and everyone is so happy bobbing along the river enjoying the warm rays!

If you're interested in having a family day out, a fun afternoon with friends, or a little adventure with your partner then check out the website here: BATH BOATING STATION

Stevie
xoxo

My Bank Holiday Weekend in Pictures

Greek Feast / Loving Life at Motion Bristol / SubFocus

Shopping on Saturday / Found a Cath Kidston Gromit / Bristol Museum Architecture

Egyptian Exhibition / Bathwick Boatman / Rowing in Bath (more on this tomorrow!)

How was you Bank Holiday Weekend?!

Stevie

xoxo

Orange & Nude Nails with Swarovski Crystals

I'm really enjoying experimenting with different nail looks at the moment and practicing my nail art. My mum has been a Nail Technician for over 20 years so I've always relied to her to give me the perfect manicure but as I delve more and more into the wold of beauty I can't help but get caught up in all the beautiful nail looks and want to recreate them myself!

Of course for this look I picked up Barry M Gelly - I opted for shade Papaya, For the ring finger I applied a Leighton Denny Nude that I received in a Glossybox last year and then on each nail I stuck a Swarovksi Crystal (I chose the iridescent shade).

Just the nail varnish before the gems...

 I bought my Swaovski Crystals from eBay HERE

Add a tiny dot of nail glue - I wanted the crystals towards the bottom of the nail. Using a wooden stick pick up the crytal and carefully place this on the glue

Once you have placed the crystal if there is any excess glue quickly absorb this with a folded piece of tissue

Once all the crystals are applied finish off with top coat and admire your 'handy' work!

Aussie Aussome Volume Shampoo & Conditioner Review

For the last year I have sworn by Lee Stafford Hair Products but when I saw 2 of my best friends hair looking glossy, healthy and thick I had to ask what their secret was... they confessed they both used AUSSIE so the next day I rushed out and purchased Aussie Aussome Volume Shampoo & Conditioner.

First of all I had to tell you how amazing this product makes your hair smell - literally like Heaven topped with a cherry! The conditioner is smaller then the shampoo but I guess most people use more shampoo then conditioner?

I won't go into too much detail about how I wash my hair because it's going to be the same as most - shampoo, rinse, conditioner... waste a few minutes in the shower... rinse.

As you can see from the pictures the shampoo had a great froth! I like to proper scrub my hair clean and there was bubbles flying round! The shampoo left my hair feeling super clean. With the condition I applied it all over, then put an extra dab on the roots and let it soak in for 5 minutes!

You really start to see the magic of these products when you style your hair. I always blast dry my hair upside down to get as much lift and body as possible - I then use GHD's to straighten out that mane!

As you can see from the finished picture my hair looks full and bouncy (please ignore the ends... I need a trim!). It felt really soft but not horrible and slippy, it still felt like it had some grip. As I said at the start it smells INCREDIBLE and anyone I'm near once I've washed my hair compliments me on the delicious scent.

I'm super impressed with Aussie Products - I have just bought the 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor so there will be a review on that very soon!

AUSSIE AUSSOME VOLUME SHAMPOO 300ML £4.49

AUSSIE AUSSOME VOLUME CONDITIONER 250ML £4.49

Have you tried any Aussie Products?

Stevie

xoxo

Bourjois Color Boost Lip Crayon Review

Every beauty company and their dog have Lip Crayons to offer. I originally wanted a Clinique Chubby Stick about a year ago but when the Sales Assistant told me it was £16 I took a large gulp and walked off - I couldn't fork out £16 for what is practically a tinted lip balm.

Now if you walk down the glorious aisles of Boots you can pick up many different versions, all for under £10! As my love for Bourjois continues (especially as it's on 3for2) I picked up their newest offering - BOURJOIS COLOR BOOST.

This product is described as a Glossy Finish Lipstick but I don't think it's that much like a 'lipstick'. Lipsticks for me are often quite dry whereas this product is so smoothing and moisturising. It is well pigmented but also quite a sheer look to it when on, so it's a lot more natural for everyday use. The packaging of Color Boost is great, the brightness makes it easy to spot in a cluttered handbag. It's so easy to apply and could even be done with a mirror (does anyone else turn the camera round on their iPhone to put lipstick on when on the go?!)

There are 4 shades available and I have picked the colour Peach on the Beach - this is the more natural shade of the 4 and is like a soft pink with a hint of peach. I have already got my eye on Fuchsia Libra, as you can imagine from the name it's a gorgeous bright pink!

Since I've got Color Boost I've only picked up one other lipstick and that was for a night out. I'm loving it for a more natural look but still with a flush to the lips. As you can see from my pictures I really do have small lips... and practically no top lip! This makes it very hard to do good photo's for lip products so I hope you can get an idea of the product applied from the below pics!

What Lip Crayons do you like?

Stevie
xoxo

You're Making Me Blush

1. As soon as I spotted this gorgeous cosy sweater on the Topshop App (a VERY dangerous app) I wanted it in every colour! It looks just perfect for Autumn to chuck on with a cute dress or pair with skirt

Topshop Pale Pink Fluffy Sweat £29


2. This denim skirt from Topshop is so versatile for summer, autumn and nights out. Big cosy sweaters for a Sunday afternoon or a cute girly crop top with heels for Saturday night

Topshop Denim Look Mini Skirt £22


3. Cream Blushers are my absolute favourite, I always use the Bourjois & Topshop ones but really want a YSL one, I mean look at the packaging, such decadence!

Yves Saint Laurent Creme de Blush, 1 Velvety Peach £29

4. I keep being attracted to really structured bags and this Messenger Bag from Zara is perfect. It reminds me of the sort of bag my nan would of had in the 60's!

ZARA MESSENGER BAG WITH METALLIC FASTENER £29.99

5. Midi Rings are everywhere at the moment, they just add an on trend look to any outfit or manicure! These 3 can be picked up for £10 at Urban Outfitters

URBAN OUTFITTERS MIDI RING PACK £10

6. I don't think I know anyone without a cami top this season! Topshop have also bought out these cute Cropped Camis. Will look fab with denim shorts of Disco Pants!

Topshop Crop Strappy Cami £15



What are you lusting over this week?

Stevie
xoxo

Bright Mix 'n' Match Nails

Happy Hump Day Everyone!!! Hope your weeks are all going well!

I've got a little summer nail look to share with you, I love a mix 'n' match nails but usually I use pastel shades - this weekend I wanted something a bit brighter so I dug through all my polishes and picked out 3 that I thought would look fab together. Obviosuly 2/3 are Barry M Gelly's as I LOVE THEM!!!

I applied 2 coats of each except the mint which I applied 3 coats of as it was a lot thinner. Once dried I finished it off with some top coat to make it nice and glossy.

Nail Varnishes Used:

Barry M Gelly Pink

Bary M Mint Green

Barry M Gelly Lilac

What nail colour are you loving for summer?

Stevie
xoxo