Lip Lustre Review: Charlotte Tilbury Sweet Stiletto

Hiya and welcome back to my blog.

 I hope everyone is feeling excited about the kick-start of the Christmas countdown! I know that I certainly am - and most of all I can't wait to start buying Christmas prezzies for my nearest and dearest.
For me, finding the perfect gift for someone is one of the most fun and rewarding things about Christmas, but it's not always easy, especially when you have friends or family that are particularly difficult to buy for and seem to own everything already! Unfortunately, the struggle is real, so I thought I'd introduce you guys to a new favourite product of mine that also happens to make a great little stocking filler. Indeedy- for all my Charlotte Tilbury fans out there, low and behold the Sweet Stiletto Lip Lustre. 

Now, I'm sure anyone who enjoys treating themselves to Charlotte Tilbury products every now and then will have stumbled across these gorgeous Lip Lustres - BUT, the reason I can't stop raving about this product is due to the simply irresistible shade of pink that literally puts the 'sweet' in Sweet Stiletto. For those who may be wondering, 'how enthusiastic can this girl get over a bloody lipgloss?', I ask you this: Try find me a prettier pink that can be worn the entire year round, all day every day, that I will never get bored of. It is for this precise reason that Sweet Stiletto is a makeup bag essential and stocking filler must. This shade is subtle yet notable enough that you'll have admirers complimenting your perfect pout, but it will never feel too loud or garish upon your lips. Although everyone loves a bit of pop or vibrancy among their lipgloss collection, we all know that these shades are often limited to one season and a lil bit 'once seen never forgotten.' 

In fact, one thing I love about Charlotte Tilbury makeup overall is that you can wear her shades time and time again and still feel every inch as glamorous, just like a Hollywood classic that never gets old - and I can guarantee you'll be feeling like a movie star every time you have this luxurious lustre on your lips. 

Gone with the days that I am pondering over what lipgloss will look best, or picking an inappropriate shade that doesn't gel with the rest of my look. Since discovering this lip lustre it has become my ultimate go-to, who knew there was such thing as a lipgloss that could save lives? 

Lots of love from Lulu Xx

BODY SHOP REVIEW: Summer Essentials!

Hi there and welcome back to my blog. 

I'd like to start this post by saying I hope you guys are all having an amazing summer! I know I am, especially since this season happens to be my favourite time of year. For me there are ton of reasons as to why summer is so special: sleep, travel, sun, food (of course- the food!)...the list is endless. One of the not so obvious things that I enjoy about summer is it’s fragrance. I know that may sound a bit odd but let me explain: I love that feeling of stepping out the pool or shower, sunkissed, and having a generous spritz of your favourite tropical scent or delving into a pot of velvety body lotion. One place that indulges in a range of delicious summer scents (delicious scents of every season for that matter) is none other than the Body Shop. 

For a while now I’ve had this sort of silly tradition to help me feel summery by heading to the Body Shop and picking up some yummy products for my holiday abroad (can anyone else relate?) Seeing as I’m so fond of their products, I thought I’d write a review on two Body Shop items I picked up this year and why I would definitely recommend you try them out.   

One of the most divine scents of all time has to be the Body Shop’s pink grapefruit fragrance. It’s such a fresh and energising smell, perfect for summer. I simply couldn’t resist reaching for the Pink Grapefruit body lotion with it’s rosy coloured tint making the packaging ten times more adorable! It glides onto the skin beautifully and is super quick to sink in, giving a smooth and soft finish. 

Next I picked up the Body Shop’s Mango shower gel, this is both a scent and product that I constantly seem to return to as it smells sooo good. This sweet and citrusy fragrance is simply irresistible and lathers brilliantly, making the most perfect bubble bath you have ever seen. 

Overall I would totally recommend these products, feel free to head to the Body Shop and find a scent that fits for you- leave a comment down below of  Body Shop products or any bath time bits that you enjoy. 

I hope you liked this post and have a lovely weekend!

Love Lulu Xx

The prettiest place in London: Peggy Porschen Cakes

Hey everyone, welcome back to my blog! It feels like a while since I was writing my last post (mostly because it has been- my apologies), I've been pretty busy with finishing my first year of Sixth Form to than flying off for a weeks holiday in the Algarve, Portugal. However, upon arriving back to the UK I decided to organise a trip to London for a shopping spree in one of the swankiest, most picturesque areas (which also happens to be a favourite of mine)- none other than the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. 

After spending the morning mooching around Peter Jones and walking up and down Sloane Square, my Sister and I became peckish and decided to search for a bite to eat. After strolling across South Kensington we finally came to Elizabeth Street where the scrumptious cake haven that is Peggy Porschen Cakes stands. 

Peggy Porschen Cakes is not only recognised for its pastel pink exterior, adorned with blooming rosebuds and lilac waterfalls of wisteria vine- Peggy Porschen Cakes is also home to the most mouth-watering tray bakes, cupcakes and Victoria sponge across the whole of London. These tasty treats are not only delicious but every cakes delicate piping and rainbow fruit garnishes make them equally as instagramable as the cafe's outside. 

Above is a snap of my younger sister enjoying a refreshing glass of pink lemonade and a slice of strawberry champagne sponge. I also opted for some pink lemonade and slice of raspberry sponge- my mouth is watering just thinking about it! I will definitely be planning another visit some time soon. 

(me posing outside the prettiest place in London! Who couldn't resist a quick photo shoot?) 

I hope you enjoyed this post, make sure to follow or leave a comment- lots of love...

Lulu Xx

Why embellished heels are an essential for every wardrobe + having the summer legs to pull them off!

Hi and welcome back to my blog! I'm going to kick off this post by saying I can't remember the last time my wardrobe was completely absent of 'embellished' clothing. From season to season this trend has grown: A-line denim skirts with rhinestones stitched across the hem, basic winter jumpers complimented with pearls along the cuffs, every clothing item 'embellished' for that added bit of charm. One high street store that has run with this trend, in particular, is Zara. Since Zara is also a favourite of mine, it is no wonder my wardrobe has become so swamped with embellished tops, jumpers, skirts etc. However, as much as I love a few pearls and beads to jazz up your bog standard bits of clothing, I can't deny that the novelty is beginning to wear off. Similar to the embroidery trend, there is no longer anything 'groundbreaking' about embellished tops or jeans as they are pretty much everywhere. Since the pacey world of fashion centres itself on re-invention, evolvement and finding the next big thing, it is easy for a trend to get very tired very quickly. With all that being said, there has been one item in the mist of this 'embellishment' trend that I believe can remain just as groundbreaking: Embellished shoes or more preferably heels. 

In my opinion, a pair of embellished heels can provide the perfect statement for an otherwise simplistic outfit. For instance, I would pair the shoes I've pictured above with a plain summery shift dress or white co-ord set/cullotes for a pop of texture and colour. The pair of sandal heels I've pictured above are from a super affordable shoe shop called Linzi and I have fallen head over heels for them (excuse the slight pun). The gold heel looks gorgeous against sunkissed legs whilst the embellished jewell flowers along the strap look incredibly classy, giving an iridescent sparkle if the light catches them. 

For me, the only problem that comes with owning a stunning pair of statemented heels such as these is a body confidence issue that some of you may be able to relate to. Whilst I'm dying to show these shoes off over the summer, I've also been dying for ever so many years for that pair of long, slender, naturally, sunkissed legs that strut Victoria Secret catwalks and grace summer T.V. commercials. Unfortunately, I was never blessed with these kind of legs but was given a very pasty prone to goosebump complexion pair of legs instead. As a result, when summer comes around its not long before I'm in Boots searching for the best self-tanning products. Although I do aim and advise others to stay positive and proud in relation to body image- when it comes to my legs I don't see anything wrong with a little bit of product for a confidence boost. This year I'm glad to say that I've never been more happy to get my legs out since frequently using the Sally Hansen Airbrush Leg makeup.

If you are in search of a water-resistant fake tan with a realistic glow, even application and instant results I could not recommend this range more. I'm not at all exaggerating when I say this leg makeup leaves my legs looking completely flawless: no freckles, no veins or any other imperfections that you may feel self-conscious of. The glow and even application of this fake tan form to the natural contours of your legs which creates a far more structured look, making you feel one step closer to those Victoria Secret Angel legs that we all dream of but can't be bothered to do the insane work out for! 

I hope you enjoyed this post! If so, don't forget to leave a comment and follow my bloglovin'. 

Lulu Xx 

Review Urban Decay Hi-Fi Shine Ultra Cushion Lipgloss: Midnight Cowgirl

Hi there and welcome back to my blog! I recently took a trip down to the lovely Covent Garden, one of my favourite areas in London, for a cheeky shopping spree. After wandering round and collecting plenty of shopping bags along the way, I found myself passing the Urban Decay store and couldn’t resist a look around. Needless to say within five minutes of taking a ‘look around’ I’d already headed straight to the till with a new product in hand: The Hi-Fi Shine Ultra Cushion Lipgloss in the shade Midnight Cowgirl. 

For me, a trusty lipgloss is always a must, I’m constantly looking for a high shine and long lasting bit of lippy to pop in my bag for the day. After buying this product a few weeks ago, I’m happy to say that I’ve been using it everyday since.

Aside from the gorgeous shade of this lipgloss, a cross between a coral pink and brown nude with a golden shimmer running through, one of my favourite things about this product is how it glides onto the lips so comfortabley. Although this lipgloss could do with a little more staying power, it definitely isn’t too tacky, sticky or smeary as some lipglosses tend to be. The overall colour pay off is amazing and it is perfect for everyday use. For now I feel I’d really have difficulty finding another product to beat it! 

I hope you enjoyed this post, if so make sure to follow or leave me a comment. 

Love Lulu Xx 

OOTD: Weekend at The Savoy

  

  

Hey everyone, welcome back to my blog. 

Where do I begin? I guess I'll start this post by saying that last weekend was truly fabulous. I took a visit to London with the rest of my family in celebration of my Grandparents 60th wedding anniversary at the oh so fancy Savoy Hotel. Not only did a venue so incredible as the Savoy make this event one to be remembered, but being surrounded with all my family and such amazing grandparents (who have been married for 60 YEARS...an insane milestone) meant every moment was one to be treasured. Needless to say, since arriving back at school this week I haven't stopped wishing I could do it all over again! However, with particularly special occasions always comes the pressure of wanting to look our absolute best. So when an invitation to the Savoy came through the post at the beginning of this year I have to be honest that one of my first thoughts was indeed: 'what the hell am I going to wear?' 

After months of scrolling through ASOS, tearing through numerous clothes racks and visiting almost every high street store imaginable, finally a trusty visit to the haven that is ZARA saved my outfit once and for all. 

  

    

As you can see in the pictures above, I wore a pair of three-quarter length wide leg trousers from ZARA. I'd also like to add how comfy and non-restrictive these were, which is a must when your spending the entire day in an outfit and eating a very large (but very delicious) three-course meal. The main aspect of my outfit was a subtly embroidered jacket, with ruffled sleeves and colourful stitching patterned horizontally across the jacket. The jacket was once again from ZARA, which I wore with a plain white vest body underneath. I accessorised this outfit with a slim lilac clutch designed by Lulu Guinness, this was super handy for keeping essentials such as my phone, lipgloss etc and also had a contemporary gold zip using the statemented Lulu Guinness lips logo. 

I hope you enjoyed this post! If you'd like to see more posts like this be sure to drop me a comment or follow my bloglovin'. 

Lulu Xx

Birthday Celebrations

Hi and welcome back to my blog. For those of you who didn't know, on the 7th June I celebrated my 17th birthday- Wooohooo! I want to open this post by saying how grateful I was and still am to have celebrated this day with my nearest and dearest- family, friends etc. I can't believe all the thoughtful and very generous gifts I received. I hate to sound cliche with these often sappy disclaimers but I genuinely wasn't expecting this much and definitely don't deserve it so thank you. 

Now, where do I begin? I guess I'll properly kick off this post by mentioning that my 17th was a pretty chill event, there was no HUGE party or anything which was exactly how I wanted it to be. Nothing better than a relaxing day with family and lots of birthday cake. I was also lucky enough to receive some special gifts and surprises which, of course, I'll be discussing throughout the post. Earlier this year myself and a bunch of friends booked a festival for the summer. My parents said they would pay for me and that this would be given as my main birthday gift. This gift is probably the most exciting as I usually find the best presents don't always come gift wrapped with a bow on top, but sometimes in the form of an experience. The festival takes place at the end of August (so keep your eyes peeled for a few festival themed posts) and I'm attending on a weekend ticket- literally can't wait! Another generous gift I received from my parents was to get some new and much-needed highlights in my hair. As you can imagine my frizzy, dull and mousy brown mop was absolutely dying for a blonde boost and some specialist treatment so I was especially grateful for this present.
♥

On the morning of my birthday, I woke up and honestly didn't expect too much considering the generous presents I'd already been given. However, to my complete surprise, my Mum had got me a new Kindle Fire (7th generation) which I'd recently been saving up for as a keen reader and English Literature student. I was so happy with this gift and spent most of the day setting it up. One of the biggest bonuses has to be that it is perfect for watching netflix in bed, as I found my laptop screen too big and annoying but my iphone screen too small. Perhaps I'll do a post of how I'm getting on with my kindle in a few weeks time in case any of you are interested- if so leave a comment below. 

Next thing I wanted to mention links to the photo above. I received this adorable card from one of my bestest friends along with a gorgeous MAC lipstick in the shade Hot Gossip. My friend had recently visited Austria and picked me up this cute little card that translates to 'All love and good'. I'm honestly in love with this card and its message. I've prioritised a little space for it on my desk, it genuinely brings a smile to my face every time I look up from my laptop. 

                                      

Some other gorgeous bits I received included books and clothes from my sisters and other members of the family. My amazing Granny gave me a pair of pretty silver Pandora heart studs as well a super cute makeup bag from Lulu Guinness filled with Estee Lauder makeup that I can't wait to try out. I also received a beautiful pair of rose gold-plated hoops that I haven't stopped wearing since I got them and probably won't for a long while yet!

The final part of my birthday celebrations that I've been wanting to mention is my meal out to the Ivy Brasserie. The day before my 17th, Mum and I headed out for a fancy lunch out where I enjoyed the most insane burger and these amazing Zucchini fries (my mouth is literally watering thinking about them right now- if anyone reading this ever goes to The Ivy I would definitely recommend). We also  ordered the most refreshing (and photogenic) drinks called 'English Spritz', a mix of prosecco watered down with grapefruit juice which needless to say also tasted delicious. After our wonderful meal, I spent the rest of the day shopping before driving back home to snuggle up for another episode of Love Island. Perfect. 

(English Spritz...so good, wish I had one with me right now) 

Thank you so much for reading this post, I hope you enjoyed and if you did feel free to leave a comment or follow my bloglovin. 

Love Lulu Xx