What's in my Make up Bag?

I'm so nosy and love seeing what other people have in their make up bags, so here's a peek at all of the products (I know it looks like a lot) that I like to take with me if I'm going away for the weekend. These are products that I enjoy using on a regular basis to create an everyday make up look and I was visiting Ben the weekend I took this lot with me so thought it would be the perfect opportunity to put this post together. 

Starting with face products, my favourite foundation is the Bourjois Healthy Mix. I love everything about it, the way I can apply it so easily with a Real Techniques Buffing Brush, the way the shade is such a good match to my skin and the great amount of coverage that it gives. For concealer I use either Rimmel Wake Me Up (I'm also a big fan of the foundation) or the Maybelline Dream Touch Lumi. Both of these are great highlighters for using under your eyes. I also take my Revlon Nearly Naked powder with me, although I haven't really been using powder recently. There's also a Soap and Glory pen liner that I used to create a winged effect.

I'll usually take one or two of my favourite lipsticks of the moment. I've really been enjoying using the Rimmel Kate Moss lipstick in shade 03.

My go to bronzer is the Bourjois Delice de Poudre, but I am looking for another one to try so if anyone can recommend a good bronzer that would be great! I use the MUA Pro-Brow kit every day to fill in my eyebrows and the white coloured powder from the Collection Shimmer Shades to highlight my cheekbones. A blush I've really been enjoying recently is a  No7 Powder in Cool Pink. It's such a pretty, rosy pink with the tiniest bit of shimmer.
I probably mention the Maybelline Colour Tattoos way too often, but I just love them...a lot. I usually wear the shade Pink Gold with some shades from the Urban Decay Naked Palette.

As for brushes, I've really been enjoying using the Real Techniques Core Collection. I also have a couple of trusty elf brushes, which aren't amazing but do the job nicely and a DirtyWorks brush for my eyebrows which I picked up in Sainsbury's. I probably could get away with taking less brushes and would if I was just packing up my make up bag for the day, but it's nice to have the choice if you are away for a weekend or longer.
As well as using the MUA Pro-Brow kit I also like to use the Rimmel brow pencil in 002 Hazel, which I will either use alone or with a powder. I highly recommend this, it's great if you are doing your make up in a hurry.

I change my mascara a lot but have been using this travel size Benefit Bad Gal Lash recently...I'd forgotten how brilliant this mascara is. I also have my much loved MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study which I would say is my holy grail product. It's brilliant and I often use it over an eye primer before I apply powder or cream eyeshadow. Last but not least is an eye crayon from Topshop in the shade Equinox, which I purchased a while ago. It's a beautiful gold and I like to use it in the inner corners of my eyes to make them look a bit brighter. 

So there you have it, that is everything in my make up bag. I know it looks like a lot but I really do use every single product if I'm applying a full face of make up. I feel like all of the things I take are really versatile and can be worn throughout the day but also used to create a different look in the evening.

What's always in your make up bag?

Fortnight in Photos #9

Souvenirs, cat highlighters from Paperchase, daily update of my cat from my dad, swing ball on a Sunday morning, new desk buddy, came home to my crazy cat this weekend. 

I've spent the last two weeks settling into my new job and looking for somewhere permanent to live. I finally feel like a real adult and spent half the time embracing this amazing opportunity but the other half has been spent feeling pretty stressed. I have come for a couple of days to spend the Bank Holiday weekend with Ben, my cat and some friends from home which has been really lovely. 


Instagram @hannahcelder 


What have you guys been up to recently?

Nail Polishes | Current Favourites

Here are a few of the nail polishes I've found myself reaching for a lot recently...

I really like the Maybelline Colour Show and Barry M Nail Paint polishes, especially as they are only £2.99 each. I've been loving blue (Cyan Blue 294) or green on my nails recently because I like how they make your hands look tanned in summer! I much prefer the formula of the Barry M Nail Paints to the Maybelline polishes but the colour range for both is brilliant.

I first tried one of the Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paints a few months ago and really didn't like the formula. I used the shade Watermelon a couple of times and found it to be too thick and gloopy. So many people kept on raving about how amazing these polishes are so I decided to give them another chance and try one of the more summery shades. I'm still not a massive fan of the formula but I love the shade (Passion Fruit) and can see myself using it quite a lot because I do like the shiny effect it gives once dry. The Essie polish in Capri is one of my all time favourite polishes (I'm wearing it on my nails right now). I love the formula because Essie polishes are slightly thinner so I find them easy to apply and this colour in particular is just beautiful.

I got the bright pink nail polish on the left in a set from Boots at Christmas and love the colour. The Sinful Colours (Easy Going 300) is a recent addition to my ever growing nail polish collection and I really like it. I've never tried Essie's Fiji but had heard that this one is a great dupe and it's only £1.99! They started selling Sinful Colours in my local Boots a couple of months ago so I decided to pick one up and give it a try and I absolutely love the shade. The formula is a tiny bit on the runny side but I'd definitely recommend this brand because the quality is good for the price and the colour range is great. 

What summer shades have you been wearing on your nails? Got any favourite brands?



Disclosure: The views expressed are based on my own experience.

Cambridge Satchel

I finally took the plunge at the beginning of July and bought a Cambridge Satchel. I'd been looking at different bags and knew I didn't want to spend a tonne of money but wanted a leather bag that was good quality and would last after it had been used every day for a long period of time. I went for the 15" Cambridge Satchel...and I'm so glad that I did. 

After looking at all of the different colours I decided that I would go for a neutral colour so that It would be suitable all year round and would go with any outfit. I really like the cream coloured bag but realised that it would probably get dirty quite quickly. I read a lot of reviews before I bought one and people were saying that the coloured bags run and transfer which put me off even more. I'm so happy with the colour that I chose as it's very traditional and timeless, just like the style of the bag. My grandma and my boyfriends grandma have even commented on the bag, saying that they had similar satchels when they were my age. 

One thing that is very annoying about the bag is the way that it closes. The buckles can be quite fiddly and tedious, especially if you are trying to close it in a hurry. Although, I do leave the buckles undone a lot of the time as the top of the bag comes right over, meaning that nothing will fall out. But, it is unfortunately a very annoying feature of the bag. The strap also has a buckle feature meaning that you can adjust the length of it. I like this feature because it means you can adjust the bag depending on your height or how much you are carrying in the bag. 

These bags are so sturdy. To start with the material is pretty rigid and the bag is difficult to open, but with time the leather soon softens especially if you are using it on a daily basis. I also quite like the way that the leather wears away after time, however some people might not like this effect.

The trusty logo embossed onto the back of the bag.

This is what will fit into the 15" bag. However, my 13" laptop only just fits length ways and I'm not too sure why. It's funny because I was so worried that the 15" bag would be way too big but I carry so much stuff around that it's actually only just big enough! Some people may find this size too large and heavy when it's filled to the brim so I think if you are looking for a good sized everyday bag then the 14" Cambridge Satchel would be ideal for you. It would also be great as a school bag as you can fit all of your folders in it. 

The bag has one main compartment and then a smaller one at the front. I don't use the smaller compartment and if I do I will only use it for flat things like my Oyster card or receipts. I keep everything else in the main part of the bag. The good thing about the shape and size is that you will never have to rummage around for things. 

Overall I am so happy with this bag and it's made me want to get a coloured one in the smaller size. I originally chose this bag because I thought it would be perfect for commuting to work and so far, it's fulfilling it's purpose very well. Hopefully the leather will age well and I will be able to use this bag for years to come...maybe I'll do an update in a couple of years time to let you know how it's holding up. 

Do you have a Cambridge Satchel or are thinking of getting one? 


Disclosure: The views expressed are based on my own experience.

Primark August 2013

I started my new job on Monday and I'm really enjoying it so far! However, it means that I'm going to have to make some sort of schedule for posts because otherwise I'll never end up posting anything as I'll feel like "I don't have time". I really don't want that to happen so i've decided to write on here every Wednesday and then one day of the weekend and see how it goes. 

So today's post it all about Primark. I picked up a few things this month over the space of about three trips to different stores and wanted to share the things I got with you because I got some great bargains.

Dress- I love the print on this dress and think it will be perfect for Autumn. They have a few different prints and it's only £8.00!

Sweatshirt- I got this in the sale for £5. My friend got the blue version a couple of months ago and I couldn't believe it was from Primark when she told me. It's so nice! So when I saw the cream one also in the sale I snapped it up.

Baseball T- I love the casual style of these t-shirts and love it because i've never seen one with patterned sleeves before. It was also only £4 which is just amazing.

Make Up Bag and Earrings- I'd been looking for a large make up bag to take lots of the make up with me to London and knew that Primark sold ones that would be the perfect size. I found this bag and love the cut out heart detailing. I also got these earrings because they should go with everything. The earrings also come in a variety of colours so definitely check them out if you can. 

Have you bought anything from Primark recently?


Disclosure: The views expressed are based on my own experience.

Fortnight in Photos #8

I've spent the past two weeks enjoying the summer and making the most of the time I had off before I start my new job tomorrow. I'm moving to London today and it's so weird because I lived at home while I was at Uni so this will be the first time I've lived away from my home town as well as my family and best friend (and my cat!!). I'm really excited and can't believe how quickly it's come around! I will miss home though and plan to visit at weekends, but I also can't wait to get settled into my new job in The Big Smoke. I feel so... grown up. 

 Made a dinosaur pin board as a birthday present for my brother, BBQ with friends, matching pjs, bridge in Plymouth, cat toy and cola bottles soap, Biggie being naughty. 

Mum giving Bigs cuddles, walk on the beach, made cupcakes for last day of summer job, beautiful flowers, tried the new Orange Refresha at Starbucks and it was so good, Biggie and his little friend. 

Instagram @hannahcelder 

What have you been up to?

Summer Jacket | Charity Shop Find

Firstly, I just want to say a massive thank you to everyone who reads this blog. I reached 100 followers on GFC yesterday and it means so much to me that so many (to me 100 seems like a lot) of you enjoy reading what I write on here. I've only been posting since April and never thought that I would end up chatting to so many of you so quickly. So, thank you so much! Since April, I've also really enjoyed coming across new blogs to read and can't wait to discover even more. 

I found this jacket in a charity shop recently and it reminded me that sometimes you can find absolute gems hidden away on the clothes rails. You can pick things up for such amazing prices too. This cream jacket cost me £7, which I think is a bargain for something that's such good quality and from Jaeger. OK, it might look a bit dated as it was probably originally purchased about ten years ago...but I guess that's what I like about it. What do you think? 

If you are stuck for things to do this weekend or the weather is a bit rubbish, then you could always have a search through your local charity shops and see what you can find. Even if you don't end up buying anything or don't want to spend money, you can have so much fun trying on some weird and wonderful things. You never know, you may even stumble upon that 'must have, bargain' item along the way. 

Have a lovely weekend everyone!

July Favourites

How is it August already? I know this post is a bit late but my brother took the DSLR to Hungary with him and so I've been camera-less for a couple of weeks. But here are the things I was loving during July, better late than never! 

I have so many body lotions and butters. But I guess you can never have too many because you moisturise every day right? Well that's my excuse anyway. I've been loving the Nip & Fab Pistachio Sundae Body Butter recently because it's just such a great product all round. I love pistachio scented products (Including the Laura Mercier Crème de Pistache Soufflé...but I can't justify the price) and originally wanted to get the smaller sized tub, but when I saw that the 200ml one for half price on the Nip & Fab website, I knew it was a sign. I'm so glad I decided to try it because everything about this body butter feels really luxurious. It smells so good and has a lovely thick texture which absorbs into the skin beautifully, meaning that it isn't greasy at all. In fact, if you compare it to body butters from The Body Shop it feels more like a thick cream than a butter. It's just lovely. 
I've since discovered that the reason this product was half price is because it was been discontinued. But if there are still any left in the world then I would encourage you to get your hands on them, or try out some of the other lovely sounding scents. 

My friend got me the Organix Weightless Moroccan Argan Oil for my birthday in June and used it every time I've washed my hair since. It's even started to replace my V05 Miracle concentrate, which I thought was irreplaceable! I love the fact that the oil is in a spray bottle as it helps you to use the perfect amount of product. On the bottle it claims to "tame fly-away frizzies". If you have frizzy hair then this product might be good for you as it really does have a lovely effect on my hair and calms it down a bit. As well as applying it to wet hair I also apply it to my hair when it's dry, throughout the day to tame the frizz. This oil also smells gorgeous which is always a plus when it comes to hair products. 

The last two beauty products that I have been loving are from Maybelline. I've been so impressed with their products recently, especially the Dream Lumi Touch and Colour Tattoos. Before trying the Lumi Touch I'd never really tried a highlighting concealer before. I have no idea why because now I can't imagine not using it. I love the fact that it comes in a click pen because this means that you use up every last drop of the concealer. I even find that I don't have to click the product out every time. The one thing I was worried about was the fact that the shade looked very light. I went for 02 Nude and it has actually ended up being the perfect shade, so don't let this put you off if you are choosing one in the shop (there also seems to be more shades available in store than online). The concealer is gel-based and goes onto the skin very well, without creasing throughout the day. 

If you haven't tried the Maybelline Colour Tattoos yet then I highly recommend that you do. They are great for using as a base under powder and other cream eye shadows or using alone all over the lid. They are incredibly long lasting and do not crease what so ever. They are very creamy and smooth and haven't dried up in the pot, which is something I always worry about with cream shadows *touches wood*. The shade in the photo above is Pink Gold.It's incredibly pretty and my favourite shade from the range that they offer in the UK. 

Moving on from beauty products, I wanted to mention two necklaces that I picked up in the Topshop sale. I've really been enjoying wearing necklaces with large, statement pendants. The best thing about them is that they were only £3.50 each. You really can find some amazing bargains in the reduced jewellery section, you never need to pay £10 for one again!

Last but not least is my 15" Cambridge Satchel. I used it almost every day in July and can see myself getting so much use out of it throughout the year. It's so sturdy and timeless. My grandma even commented on how she had a satchel just like it when she was my age. I found reading reviews very useful when I was thinking of getting one, especially as they come in a variety of sizes and colours so i'll write my own review soon. 

Have you tried any of the products I've mentioned? What are your thoughts?





Disclosure: The views expressed are based on my own experience.

EcoKitty | Playhouse and Catnip Bow Tie

"We take great pride in the quality of our products and design them with the help of our expert kitty team. Everything is proudly made in Britain – in fact it is all made in our hometown, Plymouth! All of our products are made from recycled or locally sourced materials to keep our carbon footprint to an absolute minimum – we use recycled office supplies and an eco-printer too!" Quote from the Ecokitty webpage.

I've noticed that a lot of you also have some very cute cats that make regularly make appearances on your blogs, so I wanted to share with you a cute little company that I discovered recently. It started when I applied for a code on Facebook to get a free Catnip Bow Tie from EcoKitty, a family-run earth-friendly business who make lovely things for cats. I was so excited because the bow tie just looked so cute and I thought my cat would love it. When I contacted them I got a lovely reply from Ellie who runs the business along with, Arron, Sue and Matt. She suggested that I picked up the bow tie when I was down in Plymouth because that's where they are based and it would save me the postage. When I went to pick up the bow tie Ellie asked if Biggie (my cat) liked cardboard boxes, to which I replied "Yes! He just loves to sit in them." (he'll sit in anything) so she kindly gave me a 'Playhouse' for him, which is made entirely from recycled cardboard. 

I gave Bigs his pressies as soon as I got home the next day. The playhouse took me a few seconds to assemble and Ellie had kindly given me some cute stickers to keep it together. It folds out into a triangular shape so that your cat can climb inside. Bigs walked straight into it, making himself comfortable so I knew we were onto a winner with this one. Ellie had told me that thirty percent of cats don't react to catnip. I was hoping that Bigs wouldn't be part of that percentage! But the bow tie had no affect on him and all he did was give it a quick sniff and then walk off. Oh well, at least it can still be used as a toy. 

I would definitely recommend this little company because the people behind it are just so lovely and provide excellent customer service. The Bow Tie retails at just £3.49, so if your kitty is a fan of cat nip and you are looking for a cute little present then i'd definitely recommend it. The playhouse however is a bit pricier at £9.99... I personally wouldn't usually spend that much, even though I do love my cat to pieces. Especially because (as you already know) cats will love sleeping or playing somewhere one day and then are not in the least bit interested the next! But, they do offer a 'Playtime Hamper' which includes the playhouse, the cat nip bow tie and a little limited edition, felt, hand made ball all for £13.99,  which would save you some money and would make a purrrfect present for your cat!

Here's Bigs testing out the goodies himself...

Disclosure: The views expressed are based on my own experience.

Guest Post | How to Get the London Look

Recently, Sarah Atkinson from London Boutiques, who offer a selection of womenswear brands such as Vivienne Westwood, Acne and Preen contacted me about writing a guest post for you. She suggested writing about 'How to get the London look'. I really liked the sound of this as I'm moving to London next week and I thought it would definitely be something that you would all enjoy reading. So, without further ado, here's the piece!

Whilst we all take inspiration from fashion trends from all over the world, there is no denying that the look most of us love the most is our very own London city vibe. London fashion trends provide garments that we can wear with confidence and pride. If you are a British babe and proud, then let the world know it! Show off that polished city look with the edgy finishing touches that make London fashion one of the best in the world.

So, how do you rock the London look? Let’s find out...

Rounded sunglasses

Oversized sunglasses have become a must-have for every single London lady. They are sophisticated, glamorous and stylish. As of late rounded sunglasses have really soared in the world of fashion. They are undoubtedly the top style accessory for 2013. They fit into the London look perfectly due to their rock ‘n’ roll edge. Rounded sunglasses were a popular fashion item for the late John Lennon. You can just imagine wearing these whilst you kick back in the sun and listen to some tunes by The Beatles.

Leather

If you don’t have some leather in your wardrobe then you can’t claim to have the true London look. From leather boots to leather skirts to leather jackets; we love it all. And don’t worry; you don’t have to go for full on biker chick to emulate this trend successfully.

Skinny jeans

Skinny jeans are a style staple for all. This garment is extremely versatile; it can be worn again and again to create an array of different looks. Team with grungy ankle boots, a satchel, and a buttoned up white blouse for a casual glam look. Finish off with letterbox red lipstick and a high bun. Dress up with a pair of barely there stilettos, a chiffon top, sweeping long curls and an envelope clutch for evening glam. When buying a pair of skinny jeans you should definitely invest in quality. After all, this is a piece of clothing you will get a lot of use out of. Buy a designer pair such as those available from London Boutiques.

Satchel

Satchels have grown in popularity over the past few years and are now well and truly ingrained in British style. They have a studious feel to them, yet they are not merely appropriate for workwear. A satchel bag can offer the perfect way of adding a quirky edge to day attire – especially if you opt for one in a bright colour.

Dr Martens

This is definitely the footwear of choice for any London girl. British style is well known for taking pretty trends and edging them up to create the perfect balance. Dr Martens present you with the opportunity to do this. Team with denim hot pants, a bralet and a daisy chain for the perfect festival look.