My #beautystoptober Challenge

Hello there, lovely folks. Now, around this time of year, there's numerous adverts on tv for 'Stoptober' and 'Stay Sober for October', for smoking and alcohol, respectively. Now, I don't smoke, and nor do I drink that much, so giving up either of those for a month didn't seem like a great deal of effort, but I do however, have something I need to give up. I need to stop buying makeup and skincare. I am obsessed with it, to the point that I'm spending a good £150+ a month on it, which isn't something I can generally afford to do each month. Enter this idea. It popped into my head one day last week, and I made a snap decision to do it. No makeup or skincare purchases for the month of October. Quite a rash decision, but I'm determined to do it. For even more of an incentive, I've decided that everyday I go without buying makeup or skincare, I will donate money to Cancer Research UK. Not only will this give me that 'No, I can't buy this product, as that's less money to give to Cancer Research' feeling, but even if I only pop a £1 or £2 in a jar a day, it's money better spent; as not only does it allow me to prove to myself that I can go without buying products for myself, for a month, but also, that I don't need to keep up to date with new products to make my blog interesting.

I've got my Cancer Research UK form all ready for me to fill out at the end of the month, and I think it'll strengthen my resolve, so I don't spend anything on makeup/skincare, as to be honest, I have far too much of it anyway. I hate to admit it, but my Mum is right, I do have too much makeup (which I don't think is that bad for a beauty blogger... but, oh well). This will not only allow me to use up what I already have, but who doesn't like a good 'Shopping the stash' post? I certainly do, especially if there's a certain look that someone is trying to create. My hashtag #beautystoptober will be in use throughout the month of October, and will be featured on this blog at least once a week, just so you guys know how i'm coping. If I use a lot of sad, crying face emojis on Twitter, then the challenge is not going well. But money spent on me, is less money for Cancer Research, so I'm going to try my best. For the month of October, expect to see a few posts on the challenge, me shopping my stash, and talking about products that I've been trying out for the past few weeks or so. I'm really trying to be positive about this month, as I think, if I can go for the entire month of October not buying makeup or skincare, then I can do it in the future, should I need to save some serious money. I'll be thinking of my future tiny flat, and my future sausage dog for inspiration to get me through the month, as well as the money I put into my #beautystoptober jar, helping those fighting cancer. Actually, i'm ready for it now. Let's do it. C'mon October, I'm not afraid of you. 

Ciaté Haute House Nail Polish Collection

Who doesn't love a good nail polish collection? Especially when it comes to Ciaté, who do collections that I continually lust over, I mean, c'mon, look at this! It's a Haute House. How kitsch is that?! I think it looks the part, without even opening the front door to look inside, I was impressed. I was even more impressed by the price (all hail TKmaxx for the cheeky £6.99 sticker) and I continued to be impressed, all the way to the till. I felt quite smug with myself for finding such a little treasure, as I'm a huge fan of a bargain, and saving about £15 is a huge plus for me. Tkmaxx are full of bargains, some good, some not so good, but I would definitely recommend popping in there when you have the chance, as you never know what you're going to find. But enough about that, let's talk about the collection. First of all, cutest packaging ever. It's just so sweet, and it's perfect for this time of year, as it's so Autumnal in its colours, which is very appropriate considering the colours inside. 

It houses five wonderful, inky polishes: Can Can, a deep burgundy red, For the Frill of it, a golden bronze, Sass Pot, an dark amethyst purple, Knee Highs, the colour of blue glass and Tickle my Fancy, a glorious bottle green. These shades were described as 'inky, date night shades' which were seductive 'one stroke shades to unleash your inner sex kitten - inspired by luxe lingerie labels, perfect pairing with lace'. I'm all for a good 'date night' shade, although, surely any colour you choose to put on before going on a date, is a date night shade? Or they may just be implying that something vampy is more likely to get you into that seductive mindset. Well, does that mean we're all channelling our inner seductress during A/W because that's when I wear a lot of dark shades, as I know others do too? Hmm, well, it's very exciting, anyway. For me, stepping away from their seductive nature, are pretty much Autumn at its best, as I'm moving from bright, pastel shades and into something a bit darker; the changing of the seasons always seems to equate a change in mood for nail polish colours, so what seems more appropriate then a new nail wardrobe, or a new nail house? Enter, Ciaté with their Haute House. 

These adorable little mini polishes are perfect for a quick manicure before heading out, or even staying in, and although it claims 'high pigment in one stroke', which is partially true, I would say that they need two coats at least, to give the full impact of colour. For the Frill of it, that gorgeous bronze gold, was a bit wishy washy on the first coat, and the same could be said of Sass Pot, that lovely deep purple. They didn't apply as 'wow', as the other three did, which was a bit of a disappointment at the time - they're definitely the polishes that require a second coat before you apply a top coat. 

They do show their potential after two coats, with For the Frill of it, showcasing a cheeky shot of glitter running through it, making it catch the light and giving me some serious lust for it to go on my nails. Sass Pot has the same appearance when applied, with a slight glimmer to it, but much like its bronzy counterpart, it needs a second coat, maybe even a third if you're not too impressed with it - it's more of a personal opinion, but I wouldn't necessarily say no to a third coat if I felt it needed it. 

Onto my three favourites; Can Can, Knee Highs and Tickle My fancy. These three packed the best pigment punch, and it was adoration from first stroke. The brush, was actually rather large for a mini polish, and covered the nail in three easy swipes - another area that I was impressed by. These three give you the immediate idea of what colour they're going to be, just with the first coat, so much so, if you were in a rush, one coat and a top coat would do you really well - so keep these in mind, should you have to dash. These polishes all have something wonderful about them, something so Autumnal, it has me wishing for cold night, snuggly socks and hot chocolate, but I'm not going to say goodbye to sunshine and warmth just yet. I think my boyfriend would refuse to talk to me if he thought I was wishing it was colder (He's all about the sun). 

From left: Can Can, For the Frill of it, Sass Pot, Knee Highs and Tickle my Fancy. 

The wear on these, with my darling Seche Vite topcoat, is a good week - and can I just mention how much I love wearing dark colours on my toes? I can see a battle commencing between Can, Can and Tickle my Fancy for which one will be on my toenails most often. The other three I'm reserving exclusively for my fingernails, but who knows? They all may grace my nails at some point - taking about toenail exclusivity isn't how I roll, and I'm greedy. I want all the polished on my fingernails so I can parade them in front of people. Parading toenails requires taking off boots and socks, which is far too much effort in A/W considering how cold it gets. Anywho, what shades are you looking forward to wearing this season? Have any of these polishes taken your fancy? xx

The Bedside Table and what I reach for, Night or Day.

Who doesn't love a good snoop at someone's bedside table? I for one, am very nosy, and like to know what blogger keep by their bedside, as that's where all the 'must have' products are kept. It's not only housing my skincare, but those lovely little products that I take off when I get in my room, before flopping on my bed and turing on MTV to watch Catfish: The TV Show (I am obsessed with that show!!). It usually contains my current choice of nail polish, a cheeky topcoat and some jewellery, as well as my favourite lip balm ever, Nuxe's Reve de Miel. 

My tin of skincare products which I spoke about here, is a complete essential for me - as it's so easy to reach for, when i'm in bed, after I take my face off (not in the Roald Dahl Witches kinda way) but in the 'Ooooh double cleanse' way. It's in a sweet little tin that I bought years ago from Dunelm, and it's the perfect size for everything to be within arms reach. But there are also those little additions which didn't make it into my 'Nightly Routine' and they are the Bioderma for oily/combination skin, Liz Earle's Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion, which is more of a morning thing for me and The Body Shop's Hemp Hand Cream; it's the only hand cream for me that gives the really nourishing overnight care. 

Another few essentials are some kooky art work, courtesy of my best friend's creativeness and Laura Ashley, a Primark candle that smells like pineapple and a little plate full of rings and jewels. Nothing too fancy, just a mix of purchases from holidays abroad and the high street - the fancy jewellery has a pretty box dedicated to it. It's also a little storage section for future blog post ideas, such as nail polish swatches for an upcoming Ciate polish post, featuring their Haute House which is totally gorgeous and will have you wishing Autumn would arrive sooner. What do you keep on your bedside? Are you a fan of artwork right where you wake up? 

My Bedside Skincare Stash and Nightly Routine

I think skincare, especially bedside skincare is always something I like to have a good snoop at when other people post about them - call me nosy, but I'm always interested in what ladies (and gents) are putting on their skin before they head off to sleep. So, let's start with a good double cleanse, which I think is pretty essential after a long day, as I think it not only makes my skin look good, but it makes it feel good. Taking the day off your face is a very good feeling - it's like being fresh as a daisy, but for bed. Recharging and repairing, it's all about feeling and looking better. For my double cleanse, I start with my Una Brennan Vitamin C Cleansing Oil (£10.99, here) followed by Sanctuary Polishing Hot Cloth Cleanser (£10.50, here) and although any double cleanse is a good one, these are two products that I've found work for me really well. Combined with a good ol' Primark flannel, it's the start of that fresh skin feeling. 

After I've double cleansed and gently buffed away at my skin with the flannel, I splash my face with cold water two or three times, just to feel a bit more awake (which is weird, I know, since I do it before bed) and then, it's onto my products. First up, is La Roche-Posay's Serozinc which I use for double toning - the first spritz is removed with cotton wool, before spritzing again - which I leave to sink in for a minute or two, before I apply my eye cream. Now, as far as eye creams go, I've used quite a few, and I've found that I can't use anything too thick or fancy, as the skin around my eyes is so sensitive, I'll just break out into blisters. I know. Under eye blisters. Ew. So I just stick to my Una Brennan Vitamin C Dark Circles Eye Cream (£12.99, here) which I apply under the eye, and on the eyelid. It's moisturising, but a thin enough fluid to be used on the eyelid, which is a big seller for me. After that, it's straight in with La Roche-Posay's Effaclar Duo + (£15.50, here), it doesn't require a lot of product to do its job, so a tube can last a good while, when applied day and night. It's my main spot fighting treatment, as I find it just keeps my skin under control when teamed with my other super products. 

After Effaclar, it's all about Indeed Labs Hydraluron Moisture Boosting Facial Serum (£24.99, here) with its hyaluronic acid, which is a proven moisture booster - so basically, everything you apply after this, is going to sink into the skin and be drunk up, leaving you with plump glowing skin. After I apply about, a pea sized amount of this to the skin, I like to give an extra pow of a moisture boost, so I spritz on a bit of Caudalie Beauty Elixr (£10.90/30.40, here) and it just gives me that 'mmm, lovely skin feeling' which I adore - and it smells amazing, so what's not to love? After that, it's time for the oil. If you're a reader of my blog, then you know I do loooooove love love my Trilogy Organic Rosehip Oil (£16.50, here) because it does wonderful things to my skin, and I've almost finished the bottle, so i'm close to tears until I buy my new bottle. I apply two drops to my fingertips, then massage it into the skin before breaking out my Medieval implement of torture aka my Body Shop Facial Massager (£6.00, here) which I run over my face in downward motions. I start at the centre of my forehead, then go down the outside of my brows, over my cheekbones, down my jaw and neck. This removes the build up of toxins from the skin, and makes your skin glow with all the loveliness of circulation. After repeating the motion on the other side of my face, I then work out from my nose, and apply the same method, taking it down the neck. Then my chin, and et voila.

The next step, is not something I do every night, as Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair (On offer at £38.70, here) is quite rich for my skin, so I apply it three or four times a week, in order to aid my skin in its rejuvenation and just to give it something else to sink it's teeth into. Last facial product for the night, is Soap & Glory's Beauty Sleep Accelerator (£13, here) is the moisturiser that wraps it all up together. It's a thick, rich cream that leaves my skin feeling plump and looking wonderful when I wake up in the morning, as I know that thin creams in the night leave my skin looking dull - as even though I have oily skin, I need that moisture overnight. Two little additions to my bedside skincare, is the Korres Wild Rose 24 Hour Moisturising & Brightening Cream (£20, here) which is in the oily/combination option, and works wonderfully well as a day moisturiser for me, as it allows my skin to breathe and look healthy throughout the day, without my makeup sliding off, or making my skin look even oilier - which is a constantly struggle for me and my t-zone. Last, but not least, it my little wonder product from Nuxe, and it's their Huile Prodigieuse Multi-Purpose Dry Oil (£17, here) which is my all rounder, in terms of dry skin, dry hair and flaky patches on my legs. It just does it all, without feeling greasy or too heavy for the skin. It's almost all organic, so using it on your face isn't something to be overlooked, should your skin be going through a dry patch. It's a 'use it all over' oil, that I couldn't be without.

What are your bedside essentials? Are there any here that have caught your eye?

Revlon Colorstay Moisture Stain in Barcelona Nights and Miami Fever

I was so excited by the release of these moisture stains. They're by Revlon, whom I have a massive love for anyway, but these little beauties, were drawing me in, and although I hadn't heard much about them over here, as I'd seen them being coveted by US bloggers, I knew I had to own one or two. I blame the amazing packaging. It just looks so chic. As soon as I saw them on Instagram, I just needed them. I came across them in Boots, and two colours really caught my eye. Barcelona Nights is a very vivid bright pink, that look so dazzling, it kind of smacks you in the face with the pow of it all. Miami Fever is just wow, an almost luminous orange red that is such an amazing pop of colour, it just lights up my entire face. So let's talk about them.

The packaging, as I already mentioned, is simplistic chic. It's completely gorgeous, and it's just one of those products that photographs so well - it makes me feel like a professional photographer, because they just look so damn good wherever I put them. These Moisture Stains (£7.99, here) go on very creamy and with such an intense punch of pigment, that you're like 'whooooa, do I apply more or just blend?' and that is a question which is totally your call. You can slick it on, or blend it in - it's basically an in-your-face or subtle look, there doesn't seem to be an in-between. Well, not that I've really found, although I'm sure that halfway ware is the not so subtle in-between look, but I've always seemed to miss it, I just pop a little bit more on and blend it out. 

The wands, are heart shaped and bursting with colour when you pull it out; it's so simple to apply to the lips, with a creamy formula that is so easy to blend, and after wear, it leave the most gorgeous stain - hence the name. It's completely non-drying, hence the name again, and leaves the lips feeling plump and non-sticky, which is a big selling point for me as I hate sticky glosses. It's the biggest reason as to why I don't wear lipgloss, or anything sticky. Ugh, sticky. When applying this, I know it may seem obvious, but you definitely need a mirror. It's not one of those 'apply in your reflection in a window', it's a take a good minute or so to get the perfect look, as I found Miami Fever did go a bit streaky when the product wasn't applied properly, and no one wants streaky gloss, do they? Nope. 

Barcelona Nights and Miami Fever are two gorgeous colours, and they're really bright, which isn't something I'd usually go for, post Summer, but they spoke to me, and I found myself walking away with these two amazing colours in a teeny tiny Boots bag (as well as some L'Oreal Colour Riche eyeshadows, but that's another post for another time). They remind me of Tropical holidays and I can imagine wearing a dress with palm trees and parrots on them - that's the power of a good lip product; the ability to take you to places in which you can dream and drink bright cocktails. These colours, I find, wear really well on me, and can be re-blended with a finger, just to give more even coverage should there be some wear in the middle of the lip. I just really adore the formula as well, as my lips just feel really moisturised throughout the day, which is a big thing when wearing a lip product. I think Revlon have knocked out another amazing product, and will stand alongside their other lip products as ones to definitely recommend, as they're glossy and moisturising, but not sticky. They tick all the boxes for me, and are something that I would definitely pick up in other colours. I think New York Scene and Cannes Crush are on my lust-list. What do you think of these colours? Which ones would you pick up?

Late August Favourites

I know it's late, but better late than never, right? Say hello to some August favourites of mine, and don't they look pretty sat on my 'Pugs not Drugs' notebook and my Cath Kidston purse, which was a birthday present from a very lovely lady. This month is a very face orientated group of products, aside from two things, but who doesn't like a sparkly nail polish and a good hand cream?

Let's start with some good ol' Soap & Glory products, such as Show Good Face (£11, here) and One Heck of a Blot (£12, here). The foundation is in the palest colour, called Fairest of them All, which, to be honest, makes me feel like Snow White. And who am I to complain about feeling like a Disney Princess? It's light, build able coverage that gives my skin the loveliest glow, and when teamed with the powder, which I use to set makeup on my T-zone, then this look is good to go, with minimal touchups for most of the day. I do need a cheeky bit of powder on my nose, now and again to keep shine at its minimum. These two, are some makeup essentials for me, and prove that S&G can not only bring it with skincare, but with their makeup. Keep it up. 

Next up, we've got some serious Seventeen love going on. Brow's That! Brow Kit (£6, here), Phwoarr Paint in Fair (£5.49, here) and Wild Metallic Eyes Cream Eyeshadow in Wild Nude (which I can't seem to find online anymore). These three have been saving me, as not only as they easy to use, but they've been in every makeup bag I've been carrying around with me, for months now. The brow kit I use with an angled eyeliner brush, so I've got maximum control over what's going on my brows; it has a creamy gel kinda product, then a matte powder, then a shimmery champagne esc highlight, that I use not only under my brows, but on the inner corner of eye, to give me that wide awake look. Phwoarr Paint is everything. I mean it. It's my concealer of choice and I love it so much, I cannot contain how much I love this product. It covers everything, and it's less than £6. Yes, less than £6. I keep two of these stowed away just in case, as you never know ... please don't ever discontinue this. Pretty pleaaaaaase. I will cry. Other bloggers will cry. Just don't do it, okay?

Maybelline's Colour Drama Lipstick in Nude Perfection (£4.99, here) and Eraser Eye Concealer in Nude (£7.99, here) are two saviours of mine, that, quite frankly, everyone should have. I've read that these Velvet Lip Pencils from Maybelline are being compared to Nars Matte Velvet Lip Pencil (£18, here), which I totally understand, as yes, they have similar names, but they do actually apply very smoothly, as well as giving good pigmentation and staying power. If you have both of these pencils, write me a comment down below, and let me know what you think of the comparison between them. I'd definitely say, that if you're thinking of trying out the Nars pencils, I'd go to Maybelline first, in order to see if the matte pencil texture, is one for you.

The Eraser Eye Concealer was something I bought inspired by Rougepout whose blog can be found here and her Instagram, which I have been obsessed with for as long as I've had an account on there. She's a complete and utter babe, and she's also on Youtube, so you should check her out. I remember seeing the concealer on her account, and being instantly interested, as I trust her opinion on makeup, as I've been speaking to her the longest out of all the bloggers I follow. It's a highlighting, covering concealer that I really love, as when used with the above Seventeen concealer, I don't feel like I need to wear foundation - I can just go without, and feel exactly as comfortable. 

Benefit's Gimme Brow in Medium/Dark (£17.50, here) is simply, a little bit of brow mascara, that sets your brows in place, all the whilst giving them a bit of oomph that I like in a good brow. If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram, then you'll known I'm all about a bit of brow love, so this product works so well in allowing my to brush my brows into place, as well as touching up the shape, just incase some hairs are being a bit naughty, and refusing to remain in their correct place. 

A product that I've had for a while, and only really just rediscovered, is No7's Natural Cream Blush in Pink Blush (£8, here) which is such an adorable pink, as it gives that really sweet, pinchable cheeks kinda look, which I think would look gorgeous on all skintones, as it can be built up in order to make the colour more pigmented - as if you've just had a brisk walk and the cold has been nipping at your cheeks. It has such a soft feels to it, so it can be applied with a brush, a stippling brush is my choice, or with your fingers. 

Nyx Gel Liner and Smudger in Charlotte (£8, here) is one of my lesser used products, as in order to achieve a brown cat eye, or even smudge the colour all over the lid, it doesn't require a lot of product, which is wonderful for longevity of use. It's a soft, creamy texture, that sets to a smudge proof look, whether smudged or applied in a flicked line with an eyeliner brush. The brush that I use, is generally a thin tapered one, but to apply all over the lid, I use my finger, as after all, it does say smudge. Next up, is Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream (£3.85, here) which I hurried into Boots one day and purchased, as my hands were so horrifically dry after work, so this was a grab and go kinda situation. My Soap & Glory Handfood wasn't with me, and Norwegian Formula was something I'd never tried, but I'm very glad that I did. It's a quick absorbing, moisturising formula that I quite happily slap onto my hands before and after work, as I do work in Retail, in which my hands take a beating, with all the dust and handling of clothes/items/boxes. 

Essie Luxe Nail Polish in Stroke of Brilliance (£7.99, here) is a gorgeous, gorgeous glitter polish that has this beautiful blue/purple/violet glimmer to it, that give your nails that gorgeous 'I can't stop looking at my fingernails' look. It's a horror to get off, like all glitter polishes, unless you know that you have to soak your nails, or leave them, for a good five minutes, wrapped up with nail polish remover covering the entire nail - pretty sure it's called ...something to do with foil. Glitter foil method? But back to the appeal of it. I saw the glittery goodness in Boots one day, and I just had to have it. It's part of their Luxe collection, which contains four other glitter polishes, but this one just spoke to me. I think it's because it was blue and beautiful, a combination that I cannot say no to. I posted some serious love for it on my Instagram (@ohkalukalay) on top of Barry M Hi Shine Gel Polish in Huckleberry (£3.99, here). All in all, it has that glorious Essie formula, which I adore, with the staying power we expect from them, as they didn't chip for a good few days, or show any too noticeable wear. 

So, this is the end of everything for this month's favourites, folks, let me know what you've been loving this month xx

Finding Inspiration from Tumblr, Sweden and Not on the High Street.

I'm a massive Tumblr addict, so much so, I have the app on my phone, and scroll when I have a few moments to spare - but it never really occurred to me that Tumblr was a place to indulge my love for Scandinavian homes, and the simplicity of their beauty. It was on the site that I stumbled across a post for Fantastic Frank Real Estate site, with perhaps, one of the loveliest, airiest flats I've ever seen; not only that, but it has those quirky little elements that I love. I switch between wanting beautifully spaced clutter and sheer simplicity, and I think the Swedish always do it very well, hence the lust I always encounter whenever I make a trip to Ikea. 

I think it's the light floorboards which have been introduced to me through the wonders of Pinterest and blogging, and the vastness of natural light which make it seem like the perfect place in which to blog about anything. With their neutral colours, it just appears to be the kind of place that you'd blog in, and sigh happily, because you have a wonderful place that's just your own. The kind of magical place filled with white furniture, wall decals and amazing finds from little known shops that no one else has. It's like a little dream flat. Dreaming about my little fantasy flat, complete with boyfriend and Sausage Dog led me to some random googling (we all do it, just admit it) and that led me to Not on the Hight Street. I know, it's weird how it happened, seeing as I knew about the site, but I'd never really looked at it before, however it was kind of just what I wanted.

It's awash with everything I never really knew I needed, and I love it when that happens. Because that's when inspiration strikes. It's all perfectly styled, and although I don't think that's generally liveable 24/7 for me, because I am a bit untidy, it's pretty fabulous, and is definitely something to aspire to have in the future. Below, are just a few pictures that have sparked my interest, as who doesn't love a good wall decal? I like a bit of quirk as well as simplicity, but I also love tons of sentimental items and books, so my flat would be nothing that like the chic bloggers we all see. There'd be crumbs and books everywhere, rings and hair slides left on any flat surface, Formula 1 prints and black/white film posters on the walls, soft rugs, lots of mirrors and pictures of important people to me. It would be the kind of flat that you wouldn't photograph without tidying first, but that's what I'm really looking forward to. The less than perfect days.

Below are my few picks from the site, as to be honest, I could buy everything, but check below and let me know what's taking your fancy. This isn't a sponsored post, or even a post that was prodded at, I just wanted to write a blog post about what I'd be searching over the past few days. I think I have a weakness for cute cushions, quirky prints and faux-foilage.