The Autumn Tag

Hello muffins!

So, it's here.. It's officially Autumn, literally in the past week it's got very cold and all the leaves have started falling off the trees, I swear it was warm and I was sunbathing in the garden like 3 weeks ago??

Anyway, to mark the start of the season I decided to do the Autumn Tag! 

As you can probably guess I've got really into Tags but I find them really interesting to read and you always find out something new about someone and I really like that!!

So, let's go!

Ok we're talking coffees - what is your favourite seasonal drink from Starbucks, Costa or Cafe Nero etc?

Not necessarily a seasonal drink, but it's something I started drinking about this time last year and it's quite a heavy one so I don't like it during the Spring/Summer but it's a White Chocolate Mocha.. I've had these from Starbucks and they're delish! I'm not the biggest white chocolate fan but these are just so good. I can't wait to have one now I've started thinking about it!

Next up is accessories - what do you opt for, scarfs, boots or gloves?

I'm a scarf and boots girl, I love a good boot all year round but it's hard to escape the sweaty feet situation in the warm weather - yes I went there sorry! I've already bought these Suede Knee high boots from New Look and I can't wait to wear them! And pretty much the same to scarves, I'll just alternate between heavy scarves in the winter - i.e. my Forever 21 men's tartan scarf from last year to light scarves like the little cotton ones that Primark sell! Scarves really make an outfit, and sometimes when you can't find a nice top to match something, I'll go for a plain top and stick on a scarf. Easy peasy. 

Then onto music - what is your favourite songs to listen to during autumn?

I don't have favourite songs to listen to during different seasons, to be fair I'm still listening to the same music from approx 5 years ago since I resurrected my old iPod, and whatevers currently in the Topsify Top 40 list on Spotify.. I used to be really good with new music but I just don't have time now, I stick to the classics/mainstream!

What is your favourite perfume during this time of the year?

Oh in my opinion you just can't beat Thierry Mugler's Alien at this time of year.. That really musky scent just sums it up perfectly, it's nice and strong and distinctive, so even if you're wrapped up in approx 10 layers you can still smell it and recognise it instantly!

Which candles will you be burning this season?

I'll be pulling out my Yankee Candle giftset that I got last year and burning the ones I haven't got through yet and going out to repurchase the Salted Caramel one, it's just so good, you can't beat that filling up a room!

What do you love most about autumn?

I love the anticipation that it's almost winter? I feel like Autumn is just the prequel to winter, and it generally goes by in a flash! I also love it because it's my birthday during Autumn (October 15th - a week to go!) so I'm always usually quite excited! I'm not looking forward to turning 22 this year so it's my 21+1 birthday and I'm having lots of different celebrations! I'm sure there'll be pics popping up soon after all the festivities have ended!

Favourite make-up look?

Favourite make-up look of winter has got to be a strong dark lip, particularly a berry but this year I think I'm going to be leaning more towards a dark brown! I've been loving that browny pink lip all summer so this seems like the perfect step forward! The lipstick I'm currently most looking forward to wearing is Illamasqua's Growl which I picked up over the summer and haven't really had the chance to wear yet! I'm also looking forward to getting back into my blushes, I've been rolling with bronzer a lot this summer so I'm gonna step away from the bronzer, embrace the paleness and pick up my blushes again :) 

What are you looking forward to most this year?

Well I'm looking forward to heading off to Switzerland with work at the end of October for training (exciting!!) and just continuing to work hard at my job! This year is really important to me and I really want to get as much out of it as possible so I really am busting a gut to work hard! Also, I've got 3 and a half weeks at home for Christmas as I'm working from home so it'll be really good to work but get to see my family too! All very exciting but I'm just looking forward to taking each day as it comes and seeing what life throws at me next!

Hope you enjoyed reading this!
I tag everyone to take part if you read this! 

Leave me the link to your response when you've finished!

Thanks for reading xxx

London Days...

Hey guys! 

It's Sunday again, where does the week go?

But only one more week and it's a bank holiday.. Which means one thing..  4 day week!!

Yesterday, Alice and I went into London for some shopping, food, and just to chill! 

I've just got a few pictures of what we got up to, what we ate, and what I bought!

We bought a deal on Wowcher for Blocks Cafe which has locations in Soho & Charing Cross! We got 2 waffles and icecream and Bubble tea each for £8 which was actually so good! I had a banana waffle with vanilla icecream, and a lychee & passionfruit bubble tea! Bubble tea was weird, it was strange to drink and all of a sudden swallow a little ball, I nearly choked! But the flavours were great!

We then dandered around MOST of London, once again I swear we walked the whole Monopoly board and did some 'sightseeing'! Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square, Pall Mall, Westminister, we did the lot! There was a Festival going on in Seven Dials so the whole area around there was buzzing, such a good atmosphere! We loved the guy in Trafalgar Square with his 'You should be here sign'!  

'Bufalo' Pizza from Cafe Vergnano 1882 - YUM.

When it came to shopping, we didn't specifically go anywhere, we just walked and seen where we ended up! We made it to Illamasqua on Beak Street (just off Carnaby St) and they had the sale in store rather than just online which was amazing! I picked up a few things, 'Speckle' Nail Varnish (keep an eye out for a Manicure Monday post to see what it's like on the nails!) and 'Growl' Lipstick. Both of these were £5 in store so a lot cheaper than online!! Swatches of Growl further below :) It looks like quite a deep brown colour in the bullet but on the lips I'd say the colour is more like the lip stain you get after drinking a big glass of red wine! It's beaut but it is a bit tricky to apply, a lipbrush is the easiest way!

I also popped into MAC (cheeky, I've not been in in a while!) and discovered they had 'Whirl' lip liner in stock, Whirl is the lipliner that Kylie Jenner has been apparently wearing to perfect those huge lips! It's been sold out everywhere so it was pretty lucky to discover it! It's a dusky pink shade and it's gorgeous on, typical MAC lip liner, it's quite drying to apply but once it's on, it's on. I definitely think it's what Kylie's been wearing now I've tried it! It's so easy to overexcentuate your lips with!! Pics below:

MAC - Whirl

Illamasqua - Growl

The eyeshadow I'm wearing in both shots is Vernau by Illamasqua, I got it, Vapour and the sealing gel as well! Vernau has definitely become my new go to easy eyeshadow, it's a warm yellowy brown and it's SO easy to blend out. It's going to get a lot of wear! Vapour is a Tangerine orange and it's got the same easiness to blend as Vernau, I'm loving it under my eyes with Vernau on my lid!

L-R - Vernau, Sealing Gel & Vapour

Hope you've enjoyed reading this and seeing what I've been up to in London this weekend!
What do you think of 'Whirl', do you think it is what Kylie Jenners been wearing??

Best Beauty Offers!

Hi again!
Sorry for posting twice in one day but my phone is dead and therefore I can't play the Kim Kardashian game anymore for a while, and by chance I've stumbled across some amazing beauty products on offer while I've perused the internet!
I thought it would be better to post them incase these offers are ending soon!!

1. Benefit 'The Real Steel' - £17.50 - £15.75***

You get a full-size They're Real Mascara (which is usually £19.50 alone), a mini version of their new They're Real Push Up Liner, and a sample of the They're Real Remover. This is an amazing bargain, especially good if you've never tried the They're Real section of Benefit and wanna give it a go! I love They're Real, it's such a good mascara and really does make your lashes look amazing. I tried the Push Up Liner in a Benefit store and hated it, it smudged on my eyes! But a lot of people are raving about it, so if you wanna try it, you might as well for a bargain price!! 

*****IF YOU USE THE CODE 'HOT10' YOU WILL GET ANOTHER 10% OFF IT AS WELL - £15.75!!! OFFER VALID UNTIL 8AM 4TH AUGUST 2014 (BST)*****

2. Illamasqua Paranormal Palette - £15.00

I love this palette, I don't have it but I've searched so many makeup looks using it, I've lusted for so long! The colours are gorgeous and perfect for any season, such a good mix! And when it's reduced from £34.00 to £15.00 it's a total bloody bargain!

3. L'Oreal Infallible Lip Duo Compact - £3.49

I have one of these Duo's and I love it, you apply your colour and let it dry for one minute, and then you apply the moisturising balm on top of it, it's perfect - and plus, that lip colour ain't going anywhere! These retail for £11, and yes I paid it *shh* but it is so worth it, so for £3.49, you should just buy 'em all!

4. No7 Illuminated Make-up Mirror - £19.99

Yes, it's a light up mirror. I know it's nothing particularly exciting, and yes it's probably cheaper on certain online retailers named after rainforests, but this is only £19.99 and it's down from 50 quid. Plus when you buy from boots you get advantage points so in theory you're actually giving yourself MORE money to spend at Boots. Logic yeaaaaaaaaaah!

5. Illamasqua Lipstick in 'Magnetism'

I love Illamasqua's lipsticks, I think they're amazing.. The consistency, the colours, the smell (mildly smell like Krispy Kreme doughnuts!!) but the one thing I don't love is the price, £18.50 is expensive, like megaaaa. So whenever the lipsticks get reduced in the sale, angels from the heavens above rejoice and send happiness into the world. Magnetism is a beautiful colour and for £10.00, well it would just be rude not to.

Hope these offers help in case you were thinking about buying any of these products.

I've been waiting for that No7 mirror to come down for ages, so I think I'll definitely be purchasing!

If you've stumbled upon any other offers, please let me know in the comments or tweet me @RachelVennard :) 

Thanks for reading!xxx

Latest In Beauty: The Glamour Edit

Evening guys!

I've been very active over here the last week haven't I? I hope I can keep this momentum up!

I'm back again with my third Beauty Box purchase from Latest in Beauty, and it's another Glamour Edit! 

I really like purchasing from Latest in Beauty, there's no contract and you can buy the ones you want and generally avoid all the rubbish bits they send out when you subscribe to regular boxes! 

This box is £16.95 and free delivery at the minute, and when you see what you get inside it, you'll realise how much of a bargain it is! I haven't tested everything yet but I wanted to get this post up ASAP so you could purchase it if you wanted to!

You can find the box on the Latest in Beauty website!

Firstly, I love the packaging of these boxes, so simple but so effective! It always feels like you're getting a present!! 

So what did I get? 

Let's start!

Crabtree & Evelyn Nail Lacquer in - Apple

Toni & Guy Volume Plumping Whip

Crabtree & Evelyn Nail Lacquer

This is a gorgeous blue toned red, so vibrant in the bottle and even more so on nails! I've just repainted my nails with a heck load of glitter on top so I don't want to take it off and do a full repaint with it, but when I get my acrylics infilled, this little beauty will be coming with me! This is the full 15ml size of the nail lacquer and it retails for £6.00.

Toni & Guy Volume Plumping Whip

This is the 90ml size which retails for £7.19 in Boots at the minute! It's a really strange consistency, I expected a thick gloopy gel, which do not work on my hair at all! But when I opened it I was pleasantly surprised, the product looks as if it's kind of been 'whipped' (which now seems stupid to write after re-reading the name of it!)! It's quite airy for a hair product and really easy to use - work it into your roots and then blowdry it to add lots of volume! So easy to do and works a dream, really impressed with this product!

Hawaiian Tropic Satin Protection Sun Lotion

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil

Hawaiian Tropic Satin Protection Sun Lotion SPF30

Now, sun protection is something I generally forgo, I don't like buying it! It's pretty expensive for all the sun we generally get so I usually just end up burnt! It's stupid of me and I know it's unsafe to be so lazy! Whenever I seen this I was actually pretty happy, it's been very warm and sunny the past week in Surrey and I thought it was about time I started using something on my face at the very least! It's the 100ml size, so perfect for handbags and obviously it's carry on luggage friendly if you're jetting off anywhere! It smells beaut - it's a mix of coconut and jojoba oil, not your typical horrible suncream smell! It costs £5.99 for the 100ml size, but there are larger sizes available on the Hawaiian Tropic website if you're actually going abroad!

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil

Now, I don't love cleansing oils, my skin is so oily at the minute that I don't really want to add to the problem! So this probably isn't something I'm going to use so much so it might go to my landlord! The oil does smell lovely though but it's just not really my cup of tea! It's £4.50 for the 30ml size you get in the box.

Rimmel Sun Shimmer Instant Tan BB Skin Perfector

Velvotan The Original Tanning Mitt

Rimmel Sun Shimmer Instant Tan BB Skin Perfector in 'Light Matte'

I love fake tan, I love the slightly odd biscuity/bacon smell that you get when you wake up in the morning after tanning the previous night, and I love getting to try new tans out! Now I haven't had the opportunity to completely try this but I have rubbed it on my arm and oh my god I'm excited! This is basically a combination of fake tan and a BB cream, so it corrects the shade of your skin and makes you look tanned all at the same time! Wowza! Now the shade is pretty light, so good for day wear but I do generally prefer a darker tan but still a really good product to get in the box! It's £6.99 in shops for the 125ml version.

Velvotan The Original Tanning Mitt

And when you get a new fake tan, what else do you need? A new fake tan mitt of course! It's essential to keep your tan mitts fresh, it doesn't take long for them to go hard and turn a slightly strange shade of green.. Velvotan are my favourite brand for tan mitts as well so I was so happy! Primark and Superdrugs own brands offerings are good, but the inner plastic splits so easily and I always end up covered, I think for a few extra quid it's worth spending the money to get a good non-streaky tan! These are £2.99 on feelunique!

Magnifibres Brush-On False Lashes

Bourjois Cream Blush 

Bourjois Cream Blush in 'Healthy Glow'

This is a laaavly orangey peach shade that literally will give you a 'healthy glow'! It's a really creamy consistency that glides straaaaight onto the skin. I don't particularly like cream blushes but this is such a tiny handbag size that is gonna be so handy to bring to work for that 3pm makeup slide touch-up! These are currently on offer at Superdrug for £5.99 from £7.99!

Magnifibres Brush-on False Lashes

Now, first things first.. This name is a litttle bit misleading, if you're expecting to end up with Eylure 145 fake lashes, don't get your hopes up! Now I would say this is more for those who prefer natural fake lashes! This is a strange activity, you apply your mascara on your eyes, and immediately after brush the Magnifibres on. It's a strange texture, kind of resembles as if you were brushing tiny bits of cotton wool on your lashes! Then you wait 30-60 seconds and reapply more mascara to cover the white fibres! I used it today, it hasn't particularly lengthened my lashes, but it has definitely made them look thicker! The mascara is £21.00 to purchase online.

Now, this is the big one...

Illamasqua Glamore Lipstick

Illamasqua Glamore Lipstick in 'Minx'

I loveeee Illamasqua, their products are amazing! I almost prefer them to MAC *shuusssh*! But their colour range is just so much more exciting and daring! I already have two of their original formula lipsticks in 'Kontrol' and 'Eurydice' but this is my first of their new Glamore formulation! The formulation is so creamy and moisturising, and unlike other buttery lipsticks it actually LASTS on the lips! It doesn't shift! These lipsticks are £18.50 each, and now consider that the box itself is £16.95 it made sense to order it and get everything else as well for less than I would have paid at Illamasqua! Minx is a beautiful rose pink and kind of a 'your lips but better'! It's perfect! I feel like this will be staying in my work handbag a lot!! Check it out in my selfies below! I also used the Magnifibres mascara and Bourjois blush in these selfies!

One last thing - Latest in Beauty do samples of other beauty products that you maybe would want to try out before you maybe shell out a large amount of money.. The thing I wanted to try was the Therapie Roques Oneil Himalayan Detox Bath Salts! I've been lusting after these for a long time after I seen Fleur de Force review them! I've been knackered since I started working and I thought these might be perfect to help! You take a bath with them for 20 minutes approx., and then when you get out you basically just pass out! I love to sleep so I thought these would be perfect, I haven't had the chance to use them yet but I can't wait until I do! These cost me £4.00 but the full size is £37.00 so I thought it would definitely be a good idea to try the sample first!

Anyway, that's my haul from Latest in Beauty!

What do you think of this Beauty Box? Have you bought it?

Let me know if you've tried anything above!

Thanks for reading!

xxx

"Shopping Is My Cardio" - Pt. 2.

I'm back with Part 2 of my rather large Christmas Sales haul!

I'll get stuck straight in, and once again I'll try and post links to anything that's still available online!

New Look Blue Platform Shoes, No7 'The Eyes Collection', Origins 'Make A Difference Rejuvenating Set', Soap & Glory 'Powder Trip', Muse Neon Green Chain Necklace & New Look Blue Double Ankle Strap Heels.

The loveliest, most beautiful thing that has EVER touched my skin. I tell no lies, this is amazing!! I stumbled upon this in Boots the sale section, not expecting it to BE in the sale, but it WAS! £19.33 for ALL of this!! That is a FULL SIZE moisturiser that costs £34.00 alone!! It smells beautiful and refreshing on your face! It contains the 'Make A Difference Plus + Rejuvenating Moisturiser', 'Make A Difference Plus + Rejuvenating Treatment Lotion', 'Make A Difference Rejuvanting Hand Treatment' and the 'Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask'.  I'm just head over heels in love with it all. The overnight mask is my favourite, I just want to use it everyday, my face is loving it! If you can, go to Boots, nosey about and I hope you will stumble across this beauty. :) 

This little lovely kit was £6, I really couldn't leave it behind! It has 3 Limited Edition No7 eyeshadows, a No7 eye colour brush (A MAC 217 BRUSH DUPE - HOLY SHMOKES) and a No7 smokey eye brush! The shadows don't have names but check out the swatches below :) The eye colour brush  and the smokey eye brush are £7.25 each so the full kit with 3 additional eyeshadows for £6 is a steaaaaal. 

I told myself I didn't need this palette, I reassured myself when I got home that I didn't need this palette.. A few days later I turned off a motorway on the way home from a shopping excursion at 7pm at night to get this palette. Some may say I have issues, I just say I'm dedicated. 

The Soap & Glory 'Powder Trip' was £10 down from £20, and contained 3 of their legendary face products, 'Solar Powder' (bottom left), 'Glow All Out' (top left) and 'Love at First Blush'  (top right) alongside a half-moon powder brush. Solar Powder was my FIRST ever bronzer and I adored it, even when I was a makeup virgin.. So I wanted it back in my life whenever I seen this kit! I was worried that it would be bulky but compared to having 3 individual powders it's actually a lot easier! The three individuals also have a hefty £33 price tag, so all three for £10 is a steal. It's still online, buy it now. You won't regret it. ;-)

This was my New Years Eve outfit! All sale bargains (except the shoes but that's okay!) 

Top - River Island Black Abstract Floral Turtle Neck Body - £5

Skirt - F&F Leather Mini Skirt - £5

Necklace - Muse Neon Green Chain Necklace - £5

Earrings - Topshop Chunky Chain Hoops - £4

Shoes - Blue Cross Strap Chunky Platform Shoes - £27.99

I'm pretty chuffed with this outfit, considering the top and skirt only cost me £10! The accessories are more expensive than I would generally buy but the shoes are so comfy I know I will get SO much wear out of them.

The other New Look shoes I bought aren't in the sale online but they were £8! I didn't think I could wear the strappy style shoes but they're so comfy. Perfect interview or night out shoes.. You'll last all day no matter what you're doing!

I also treated myself to my first online Illamasqua purchase! I bought the Light Liquid Foundation in Shade LF140. I did struggle to find the shade I should buy but I recommend googling swatches in comparison to other foundations you own, there's enough beauty bloggers out there someone will have what you're looking for! The foundation is so lovely!! And it smells like vanilla, I'm in love! Really good coverage for a light foundation and turned out it was the exact match for my skin! It's a bank breaker at £27 usually for 30ml, but for a tenner in the sale its great! Free p&p as well! Brilliant! 

Finally, just a pic of my nails that I rocked on New Years Eve, for approximately 1 hour because I'm pretty sure by the time it hit midnight I only had 3 left...

Hope you enjoyed my splurges!

I'm seriously considering cutting up my bank card.

NO MORE SHOPPING.

Everyone, say it with me!!!

Have a lovely week guys and I'll talk to you sooooon! :)

xxxx

What I got for Christmasssss...!!

It's 2014! Holy guacamoleeeee!!

Hope everyone has made their New Years Resolutions and all that jazz, I haven't! I never stick to these things so I'm not calling them resolutions, it's a lifestyle change..MOTIVATIONAL TIMES FOR RACHEL.

We'll see how long this lasts anyway!

This post has all the beauty bits and bobs that I got for Christmas from friends & family! I'm in no way trying to boast or anything by posting this, just wanted to point out what's gonna be appearing on my face over the next few weeks :-)

From my Auntie Sharon -
The Soap & Glory Eyes Box

Whats inside?

6 'Lid Stuff' eyeshadows, Thick & Fast Super Volume Mascara, Smoulder Kohl Waterproof Eye Liner, a brush & a huge mirror!

From my Auntie Lynn -

Be Enchanted Starlight Shadows Colour Palette

What's inside?

9 Eyeshadows, 4 Lip Glosses, 1 Blusher, 3 Brushes and a mirror!

From my step-sister Clare -
The Limited Collection Lip Gloss & Nail Duo

From my lovelyyyy best friend Becca -
Illamasqua Hydra Veil & Lipstick in 'Eurydice'

CAN WE JUST ALL TAKE A MOMENT AND SAY "WOW".
I was spoilt rotten by Becca!! Hydra Veil is a new holy grail, it is amazzzzzzing! So perfect on the skin and foundation goes on like a dreammmmm over it! Also, the lipstick is the perfect shade of hot pink! Blue toned so makes teeth pearly white and it's not too barbie pink!! I wore it on New Years Eve for Becca's 21st!
What do you think?!

I got loads of other amazing presents and I want to say thank you so much to everyone that bought me anything! You's are all the loveliest of people and thank you all for a beautiful wonderful Christmas at home!

Next post will be some of the bits and bobs I treated myself to in the Christmas sales!
Talk soon!
xxx