Pinning my time away - Pinterest tips and tricks.

Pinterest is a huuuuuge love of mine. I pin whenever I can, and I must be doing something right, as for the year or so that I've been pinning, I've amassed over two thousand followers. That may not be too amazing for some that have tens of thousands of them, Pinterest, just like my blog, is a hobby, so I never really expected a great amount of people to pay attention to it, let alone follow. So I've been thinking about what tips and tricks I can give, to help everyone and anyone build up their following whether you pin casually, or professionally. And what about my first shameless plug of this post? Well, my Pinterest is here if you were wondering, haha. 

Profile.

Include an email address, your blog and/or business address as well your social media handle. For this I would just include @ohkalukalay as that's my handle for all of my social media, such as Twitter, Instagram etc plus a few short words sharing what you're about. For me, it's 'Beauty, Fashion and Lifestyle' because those are the three things that I care most about, and feature on my blog. The thing I try to remember about my profile, and all profiles really, is that it's free publicity. If someone comes across a picture you've made and/or pinned, and they click on your profile, whether on purpose or by mistake, they need to know what you're about. That's how I've gained numerous followers. Followers that don't just follow a board or two, but follow my entire profile (all of my boards). 

       Plus I think using the same image as your profile picture, as you do on other social media accounts creates a sense of flow. Anyone else feel slightly lost when bloggers/accounts change their name and profile picture at the same time? I get so easily confused, as I'll either remember the picture or the name - so if an account has the same picture, but a different name, or vice versa, then I'll remember that and most probably follow their account. 

          Another thing which is very important, is linking your blog, to your Pinterest account, which can be shared via Bloglovin, or through widgets, such as the one of the right of this blog. It shows recent pins, and I do love to nose at what bloggers are up to/pinning. 

Onto boards...

I really enjoy making numerous boards, naming them, pinning and changing the profile images once a week. I do that because I enjoy it; I love having my boards updated either once or twice a day with a few pins, and I always try and change my board images as they are what your perhaps future followers will see when they click on your profile, or if your board is suggested to them. If I pin a really inspirational or beautiful picture, then I'm going to remember that - the impact that it had, and then change my board profile picture to reflect that. I always go for images that catch my attention, and make me want to click on it. Whether it's perfectly done eyeliner, amazing shoes or an inspirational space - there needs to be an impactful photo to draw the eye. That's the thing about Pinterest, it's extremely visual and people are drawn to eye-catching photographs. 

        I don't really have a style, although so many pinners do - I just pin whatever catches my eye and my followers seem to enjoy that, as they're something for everyone. I do however, try and be creative with my board names. Boards like Makeup Inspiration and Desk Inspiration rather speak for themselves, and in those cases they're two of my most popular boards, but names such as Sharing the blogger love, Makeup forever and ever and The wedding tales display exactly what I need them to, but in a fun way. I love boards with catchy titles, and I do understand the appeal of big bloggers with their 'S T Y L E' and 'T R A V E L' board titles, as it's quite aesthetically pleasing, but their followers  mainly come from their blog, so I try and create titles that grab you, create interest, make you want to click and see more.

Staying Active.

I try and pin twice a day, at the very least. Once in the morning, and once in the evening, although sometimes I do go on a full hour long pinning session, as it's just so obsessive. I try to post at least one new pin, to each board every other day, but some boards are very seasonal, such as ones relating to New Years or Easter, so I only tend to use those in those seasons. Christmas is used every once in a while, as there is always someone wrapping a present so beautifully, that it has to go into that board! I sometimes even pin in themes; such as with certain colours, designs or in terms of style, certain items. One of my most recent themes has been the styles of actresses that I admire, mainly Blake Lively and Diane Kruger, two blondes who have certainly got it going on! I'll pin their casual looks mixed with their high fashion, straight of the runway appearances, and this not only opens up my 'fashion and style' board to new pinners, but to the people who already follow me, it opens them up to new profiles and new inspirations. Total win-win, right? 

      If I have ten minutes or so to spare, I'll use the Pinterest app to do some pinning and update my boards, so it allows me to be more active on the go. So if I'm not by my laptop, or waiting for work/my partner/a friend then I'll have a few minutes of pinning, just to keep my profile active. 

Analytics. 

I know it doesn't sound fun, but Pinterest analytics for businesses are not only really eye opening in terms of knowing what pins are most seen/clicked/liked/repinning (Breakfast Egg Muffins, Must haves for a Girly Makeup Lover and Preppy Garden Wedding), but also the boards that gain the most attention. For me, The Wedding Tales, Makeup Inspiration #1 and Coffee Table and Living Room dreams have been my most popular within the last 30 days. There isn't really a correlation between the boards, as they're all very different, as well as the repined pins - they all belong to different categories. One tip I would suggest was a wide variety of boards if you don't have a theme in mind for your Pinterest, as I find that it not only keeps my board fresh, but it appeals to a wider audience. Yes, you pin that amazing cat eyeliner tutorial, as well as how to make the best brownies ever using coconut oil! I love diverse boards on profiles, so I totally recommend not only doing that, but signing up to Pinterest analytics for a break down of audience, popularity of pins and of boards. It's a really interesting read, not only for bloggers, but for businesses too. 

    I hope you enjoyed my few little tips and tricks - if any go these have helped, please let me know! And you can find my Pinterest here. 

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Lancome Juicy Shakers in Vanilla Pop and Great-Fruit

When these arrived at my door, I was intrigued. I'm not generally a fan of glossy lips. Matte lips, yes. Satin sheen? Yes. Gloss... um, no. But I was determined to give these little pots a go, mainly because they're so damn cute! I love the idea of 'shaking them up' to not only mix the product but to 'shake up' the lip product industry. The tag line is to ban the boring! and these definitely do that! What're more fun than having a shake shake shake? Not a lot! For a sheen of gloss and a hint of colour, you'd shake the product a few times, but for a bigger colour hit, that's when you want to have a little dance going on. Shake shake shake, shake shake shake, shake your booooty, shake your boooty... well, you get the idea. In their packaging, they have a lovely little metal top, with a clear plastic section, perfect for checking the consistency of the lip product. For a hydration hit, then minimal shaking is needed - just slick on the oil. Without getting your shake on, the product can look slightly congealed.. but trust me, a good little shake is all you need to discover some serious colour payoff!

With three natural oils (cranberry, sweet almond oil and omega 3) these help to nourish lips and keep them looking happy, healthy and fabulous whilst you're on the go! I have two shades: Vanilla Pop* and Great-fruit*, a dusky mauve pink and a bright coral orange. For my first impression, the main thing that struck me was the lack of stickiness. Gloss, to me, always implies stickiness, and this Lancome Juicy Shaker does not have any of that. The next thing that occurred to me whilst I was wearing Vanilla Pop was that the formulation wasn't at all drying on the lips either, making me think that the mix between oil and pigmentation was really well balanced. One shake just applied a slick of natural, nourishing oils, a few more shakes gave a wonderful tint, and some serious shaking brought out the brighter shades; which makes the perfect product for day to night wear. A soft, muted tone in the morning can be amped up, layered and made into the ideal evening lip. Or vice versa can be said as well. A bright shade in the morning can be worn as a neutral in the evening. These Juicy Shakers really are quite diverse in how they can be used, so what's not to like so far? 

I've found that they last for a good four/five hours, maintaining the moisturising properties, so my lips didn't feel dry or anything throughout my shift in work, despite lots of talking to customers, and having a small hydration break. I applied it with a hint of colour, just enough to give an even sheen of pigment to my lips and found that it lasted surprisingly very long. I'm really impressed with these Juicy Shakers even though I didn't think that I would be. Aside from the formula, the packaging is seriously beautiful! The beautiful embossed Lancome rose sits at the top of every product, but within is where I want to draw my attention, The application sponge is like a little cloud that applies the oil/pigment combination to your lips, and it's just so wonderful and relaxing. I don't think I've ever said that about any other lip product, so I highly recommend that you go and look at these! But please, if you have one, don't shake them without their sponge in/the lid screwed on. It will go everywhere... just think of all the beautiful product that you want to keep inside! 

The Lancome Juicy Shakers retail at £18 each, and I have my eyes on Apricute, Wonder Melon and Mangoes Wild. Which shades are you lusting after? #bantheboring

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From top right: Vanilla Pop and Great-Fruit. 

La Roche-Posay Effaclar BB Blur

The first thing that I noticed when I applied this, was that I felt like my eyes had gone funny. Like my eyes weren't focusing. Was I overtired? Couldn't focus? Nope, this product just blurred my skin, so the redness and blemishes that I was focused on, were simply buffed over, and my eyes hadn't seen anything like it before. The best way to describe the formula is a mousse. It's like one of those lovely light formulas that's super soft, and buffs into the skin like a dream. So my first impression was really good, despite the fact that I was questioning as to whether my cleansing oil was messing with my eyesight - haha, it's one of those amusing things that I'll think of whenever I use this product again. 

One thing I will say, that even though I have the shade 'Fair/Light' - this does look very dark when applied to the back of my hand, before I blend it onto my face. So much so I wasn't holding a lot of hope for it, but when blended, I was very pleasantly surprised. A dark, almost orange shade blended out and adapted to my skintone, covering blemishes, disguising darkness, redness and reducing the look of the enlarged pores on my nose. Win, right? The formula reminds me of the Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse, as you know, it's a mousse. It's super soft, super blendable and easy to build up coverage without it looking too heavy or cakey. Because doesn't apply very wet, it doesn't need to really dry on the skin, so it just blends in, leaving an even medium finish that's super easy to create. I can apply this, then apply concealer and I'd be done with my base products without a great deal of hassle or effort. It's perfect for a lazy-day look, or when you're in a rush. This is a great early morning look, where you want to get as much sleep as possible before getting out of bed and attempt to look presentable for the world. 

For someone with oily/combination skin, the oil absorbing properties from this is exactly what I need in products - as there's no midday shine, or end of day oil slick - nope, just a matte, healthy looking face without the need to reach for blotting papers or mattifying powders. This is suitable for even the most sensitive of skin, making this La Roche-Posay offering true to their skincare motto - kind to skin, but effective in what it wants to achieve. Effaclar BB Blur* sounds like a gimmick: a mattifying, oil controlling mousse that can blur imperfections away, keep you looking good all day, and even protect the skin with an SPF of 20. Is it too good to be true? Yes, in theory. But La Roche-Posay are known for delivering on amazing products - their skincare are some of my favourites (as I'm sure you've seen) and this Effaclar BB Blur is definitely one that I'm very excited about for Summer. Ahhhh Summer, where ice cream is melting down my hand, and my makeup generally melts off my face - so I'm holding high hopes for this when the sun and the heat arrive in Britain. Come on, La Roche-Posay, don't let me down! You have yet to! So with a formula that lasts all day, let's hope that it can do the same in the Summertime! This Effaclar BB Blur retails for £16.50 on Escentual, but is currently £11.

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La Roche-Posay Skincare Trio Haul

I had a desperate skin moment the other week. My skin was dry, flakey and all around not good. Really not good. My under eyes are still ridiculously dry and almost eczema esc, really red and flakey - not what under eyes should look like. But they're getting a bit better, less likely to burn when I apply anything to them - which I think means they're improving, yes? I'm not sure how it happened... I think maybe it was a reaction to a new product that I no longer use, but until it goes away, I'm not sure what to do. I've taken to just using coconut oil on my under eye area, which does help with moisturising - but as I work almost every day, wearing makeup and concealer is becoming a bit of a task. I know I had to prep my under eyes really well, otherwise noticeable flaking/creasing happens really easily - so noticeable that I can see it whenever I pass by any reflective surface. I know that I'm probably honing in on it, and no one else has mentioned anything, but I am very self conscious about it. 

My dry skin is the reason for these three from La Roche-Posay. Cicaplast, Toleriane and Hydrahase, all three meant to hydrate and repair the skin - and to be honest, I needed/need all the help I can get. Cicaplast is a repairing balm that I use for basically everything - from dry cuticles, to peeling skin, to sunburn and eczema, this cream does it all. I don't recommend this, as it says not to do this on the tube, but I do actually apply this to my eye area, once every few days, to take the edge off the dryness there. It completely cured it when this arose last time (there was even a blister when I tried a new eye cream last year - said eye cream shall remain nameless unless you want the name) but now, it hasn't completely healed my under eyes, which I didn't really expect anyway. I just knew that I needed this in my life once again, so I hastily made a trip to Boots on my lunch break one day and went a little mad in the LRP section - but who hasn't done that, right? I think Boots inspires that in all of us. 

Toleriane is a super light, moisturising fluid that I apply morning and night, just to boost the moisture in my skin. It's a really light, silky texture that my skin slurps up really fast, and it's proving to keep my skin looking healthy, and not at all dehydrated - which is a task in itself. My skin is oily/combination, so it walks a fine line between greasy and dry all the time. A shiny t-zone and dry cheeks is a horrible mix, as what products am I meant to use, that is appropriate for both? Well this fluid is. Light, but not too light - it locks in moisture without making my face look like a shiny beacon; those are two things that are really important to me right now. It can be used a moisturiser, but I apply it under one, as I need the hydration boost. This can, unlike Cicaplast, be applied to the contours of the eyes, which is aiding in hydrating my eyes, but I see this eye situation as more of a marathon than a sprint race, so anything that can aid in making them better, is going to get a thumbs up from me. I'll write a more in depth review separately, if you'd all like it. 

Hydraphase Intense Masque is a weekly treatment mask for boosting hydration and radiance, and this was a whim purchase, as I knew I wanted more hydrating masques in my life, and I trust La Roche-Posay with my skin, so I didn't think that this would be a terrible product. And you know what? It's not. It's not at all. You smooth the product on, after cleansing and the gel like consistency forms a seal over the skin, so that it can impart as much moisture into the skin as possible, before removing it. It's a quick 10 minute hit of hydration that will get a more thorough review, but I just wanted to give a first impression and give an update on how my dry skin situation is going. 

Currently, all three products are on offer on Escentual, due to their 1/3rd off French Pharmacy Month, so if you're fancying any of them, Escentual would be the best place to go for some major bargains. Cicaplast is on offer for £4.33 for 40ml, Toleriane is £11.66 and Hydraphase is £10.66. This post isn't sponsored by Escentual, they just have some amazing bargains right now.

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Diptyque Baies and Tubereuse

Ahhhhh Diptyque. It's not a brand that I had heard of, outside the bloggersphere, as I was quite content with my Yankee Candles and those lovely fruity ones that you get from Ikea in a glass jar, but now I know what a luxury candle can offer. Baies (here) and Tubereuse (here) were two of the scents that I knew most about from Diptyque - as it's very unlikely that you'll find a blogger that hasn't heard of them, lusted over them or even purchased one. I bought this cute little set from SpaceNK after Christmas in their sale (you can imagine how mad I went in that sale hahaha) and I was so so so happy when they arrived, looking all snug in some of the most luxurious packaging I'd seen. Diptyque is associated with luxury (hence the price tag) but I can see why they have legions of fan. Subtle scents at first, before they fill the room with such lilting layers of fragrance. 

Baies (or baes as I like to call it haha) is described as having a 'bouquet of blackcurrent leaves and Bulgarian rose' both of which sound divine, as you'll all know how obsessed I am with anything rose scented. By combining fruit and floral, Baies makes for a light and uplifting fragrance that's neither too heavy, or too overwhelming... and believe me, it's really not. When I lit this for the first time, I was equally sad and excited. Sad because I had to mar the beauty of it, but excited because I had been waiting for this for a long time. As far as a candle goes, it burns evenly and I haven't experienced a glass crack yet (fingers crossed *knocks on wood*). I get really excited when I burn this candle, as it just feels so opulent and fancy - two things which I'm really not... unless I'm burning this candle, then I'll be there in silk pyjamas with a glass of champagne and a first edition Jane Austen (in my mind this happens). In reality I'm there in my mismatched grey loungewear, feeling like I should be in a dystopian novel, with a cup of mint tea, writing up a blog post. I dare to dream. 

Tubereuse is stronger than Baies, more potent and opulent, a 'dream inducing fragrance of tuberose - a Mexican white flower that's very sought after'. Tuberose is one of the most expensive floral perfume ingredients in the world, which I think is what makes this candle so opulent and exclusive; a 'heady and intoxicating fragrance' which I totally agree with. It's not for everyone, as it is a strong scent, which would be beautiful in a large room, or an open plan home, but in a small room this could be quite overwhelming. That doesn't make it any less desirable or beautiful in my opinion, but it can be a bit too much for some, so I would really recommend smelling them first before making a purchase, or acquainting yourself with the main scents before purchasing. Luckily for me, I happen to adore both of them. 

When I was in London a few weeks ago, in Liberty's they had an entirely stunning, ornate Diptyque section, where the women were lovely and let me browse, before my boyfriend had to pull me away lest I spend all of my money on candles and perfume; what a life that would be, right? I'd never seen a more beautiful place, and now that I know it's there, you can bet that I'll be revisiting whenever I'm in London again. It was a magical place, and perhaps the most Instagrammable store I've ever been in. That's the thing about London, everything is so beautiful. Anyway back to the candles! At £20 each for 70g and £42 for 190g, these candles aren't cheap and I'm sure my parents would have heart palpitations should they realise how much I actually spend on these kind of products, but everyone deserves a treat right? My motto tends to be 'treat yo' self' but only when I can afford it... so it's more of a save up, and treat yo' self kinda thing. Will you be saving up to treat yo' self?

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Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist Intense - Deluxe Edition

After three... one... two... three... *dreamy sigh*. That's basically my response to anything Jurlique related. Beautiful products encased in beautiful packaging, so what is there not to love? As you'll all know, I'm a huge huge huuuuuuge fan of Jurlique, as everything they do just agrees with my skin. With natural products I feel like my skin just breathes a happy sigh and it's no different with this Rosewater Balancing Mist Intense*. I have about four bottles of the regular Rosewater Balancing Mist but this is different. It's an intense hit of hydration, and something I cannot get enough of right now, with the weather heating up (or trying to). Whether sat writing a blog post, or in bed watching Netflix, or even after I've taken my makeup off, a spritz of a rosewater mist is always the answer to feeling refreshed and my skin looking just the same. 

With an exclusive blend of 'potent rose extracts' this mist is designed to deeply hydrate and restore the skin. It's everything I want for my skin as it's so damn dry right now... I need to do more for it, than just blame the changing weather. And as much as I do love talking about the weather (British and all) I've decided to keep spritzing myself and upping my water intake... this dry skin is going to have to put up a good fight against all these hydrating elements. I totally recommend this spritz or one of the regular Rosewater Balancing Mists for your skincare routine, as it's such a refreshing addition to my skincare routine, plus the bottles are so darn cute! Look at this peachy ombre bottle! It's a big bottle, but one that takes pride of place on my dressing table next to all of my skincare. It sits so nicely, dwarfing almost all of the other bottles with it's Spring esc beauty. Plus it's for a really good cause!

Jurlique are donating 5% of the profits of this Intense bottle to the Jurlique 'Ideas of Beauty Fund' which helps to support charities that help people and nature, to bloom. The Money raised by the fund is to be used to improve quality of life and make the world a more beautiful place to live in (x). I love this! I think it's such a fantastic idea to not only help people and nature, but to combine both and aid the world in being more beautiful. I think all of us want the world to be a more peaceful place of beauty, and by purchasing an item that you already need (because let's face it, this product is needed) you're helping the world. That is a fantastic reason. It not only helps others, but helps your skin too. This Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist Intense is £45 and available from Jurlique and LookFantastic. 

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Mac x Charlotte Olympia lipsticks

Can we just spend a moment and just adoringly sigh over the beauty of this packaging? Chunky translucent packaging revealing a gold bullet underneath, and what should they reveal? Two matte lipstick shades that are just the perfect reds. You've got Retro Rouge Matte which is an old brick, burgundy matte red which swatches to show an almost blackberry without the purple merlot shade. It's a full bodied red wine in a bullet, and that may just be the coolest thing that I've ever written. But who can expect less than that? It's Mac x Charlotte Olympia, dahhhling. Leading Lady Red is exactly what is says that it is - the perfect shade for the screen siren, the heroine, the lady who leads the tale and isn't afraid to do what she wants (or maybe she is, but that depends on the story). It's a raspberry red that's described as a 'deep red' but I think with it's cool, almost pink undertones it's more of a medium red. It's not super matte, nor is it satin, I think it's somewhere in-between both and I love that - so it would neither be drying on the lips, nor hydrating - which is a good combination. Both of these lipsticks apply like a dream. They don't pull on the lips or 'skip' which I find some lipsticks tend to do, especially when they're somewhat matte. 

But before I talk about wear time and properly talk about the packaging (serious heart eyes) I wanted to share the inspiration, because if you've heard of Charlotte Olympia, or been a fan of her, then you'll know that she's all about the glamour. Think waves hair, matte red lips and a look that is so beautifully retro - it's the kind of look I love. This Mac x Charlotte Olympia Collection was inspired by 'Pinups, Silver Screen Sirens and the bygone era of Hollywood Glamour' which I can see so clearly. Even the names themselves speak of a bygone era of glamour, 'Leading Lady Red' and 'Retro Rouge' - they appeal to the time when cinema was all film noir and Lauren Bacall was heating up the screen with her pin-curled hair, seductive voice and straight talking charm. This can also be said of the brand, Charlotte Olympia, 'The British luxury shoe and accessory brand is known for a vintage aesthetic that embodies elegance and femininity with a hefty dollop of charm' - which is my favourite screen sirens down to a tee; Lauren Bacall, Maureen O'Hara, Bette Davies, Rita Hayworth, Vivien Leigh, Marilyn Monroe, Ava Gardner and Katherine Hepburn. There was a constant between these fabulous and inspirational women. They all wore red lipstick, regardless of hair colour or complexion - it's a range of shades that is accessible and suitable for all. 

'The unapologetically nostalgic allure of Charlotte Olympia is captured in a Mac collection of retro-glam colour, all packaged in Charlotte's signature gold spider's web and clear lucite'. Was there ever anything more beautiful, than the packaging and even the inspiration behind these? As soon as I knew that this collection was coming out, I knew that I had to make an order. So flash forward to when I got the email - I was sat in my car, on my phone, hastily adding two lipsticks and a mirror to my basket before it sold out (because that always happens with Mac and I am always so sad that I miss it). When they did arrive, I was so thrilled. Cue me cooing over the lipsticks and struggling for ten minutes to open the mirror before I realised that it slide open (such an idiot sometimes). It slides open, like a fan, to showcase a double sided mirror but I don't think I'll ever be able to get over the stunning packaging - gold with a signature spiderweb... it makes me feel like a fabulous female villain, with perfectly drawn red lips and winged liner so sharp that it could kill a man. 

Now let's get onto wear and weartime. They actually feel softer than most matte lipsticks when applied, and glide upon the lips, with no drag, making them easy for touchups on the go - although I would really suggest using a liner underneath and taking your time to get the right edges to your lipstick. I say that about all medium/dark lipsticks as once you make a mistake, it's difficult to fix without leaving a mark - so take your time to apply these silky mattes, you won'r regret it. As for how they lasted, these two wear away evenly and leave a stain behind them after about 5 - 6 hours of wear, although if you're eating, you'll need to touch up that little bit more. Retro Rouge I think would appeal to a lot of people as it echoes that brown red craze that a lot of people seem to be wearing, which then hashes back to the 90's grunge lip, which is brilliant - I love shades that can transcend the era they were in, and be worn regardless of skin colour. Leading Lady Red is a brighter, more playful look than Retro Rouge, which seems moodier and more restrained. Leading Lady is just what is says it is, a bright attention catching red that would be perfect on the red carpet, or for a night out - or even if you just fancy sprucing up your look with a gorgeous red - this shade is one for you. 

The entire collection is too luxurious for words, and I'm so pleased to have gathered some for my own use... I just feel that they make my Muji Storage look infinitely better. Gotta love Mac, right? Did you manage to get anything from the Mac x Charlotte Olympia Collection? 

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Below from left: Retro Rouge and Leading Lady. 

Step Into Spring with Boohoo

I'm so excited about Spring. Spring means warmer weather (hopefully), less rain (once again, hopefully) and the fact that I can now wear some open toed shoes without them getting really cold, or really damp (I'm hoping for a lot, I know). So when Boohoo challenged me to think of my favourite thing about Spring, I had to start thinking about more then the weather. Spring brings rebirth: for nature it's when all the flowers start to bud, ready for warmer climes, and when little lambs start frolicking on the countryside (I can confirm that this does happen, I live in a town with lots of farmland nearby). Who doesn't love new fluffy lambs anyway? They're so fluffy! Anyway... it means the bright sunshine shades of daffodils, the wearing of florals by a lot and like I said, the breaking out of Summery shoes. These gorgeous Orla two part wrap strap heels* are perfect with a floaty dress, jeans and a blazer or even shorts and a bohemian shirt - the options are endless, that's what I love about them.

As soon as they arrived on my doorstep, I felt like Spring has arrived too, and although it's not the start of Spring, this weather certainly feels like we've got a bit of time to wait until it does arrive (at least down here anyway). Currently they're being worn with blue jeans and a floaty cream top, with the straps of the shoes tied intricately into wonderful bows at the ankle - but I dream of the days when I can wear a dress, and lattice the laces up my calves, for a beautiful Grecian look. That's one of my favourite things about these shoes; they're playing on my serious love for lace up shoes, and the fact that they're a wonderful tan faux swede is all the better! They're perfect with a nude clutch bag, and I really cannot wait to wear them more frequently (as soon as it stops raining...). I think they're also inspiring me to book a holiday... mainly to wear them with white sundresses and wide brim hats, with a cocktail in my hand... ahhhh, dreamy sigh. I love the way that a good pair of shoes can transport you to a new place, and that new place is holiday planning. Spring may have sprung, but since it hasn't really stopped raining, I'll be springing into holiday planning... gotta give these shoes a European showcase. And you can bet that I'll be taking a lot of Boohoo with me, as they're new releases just scream holiday and warm weather to me. Check out my choices below and let me know what you'd wear these fabulous shoes with! 

This post was written in collaboration with Boohoo. 

March Favourites 2016

Hello my lovelies, sorry to have neglected you for the past few days or so, I've been so busy, and then had a really horrid migraine... basically, nothing creative was being done. But now, i'm back! And what better way is there to kick things off with March Favourites, even though it's April... but who's counting, right? It's always makeup and skincare time on this blog, so let's spread some loooove, and i'm going to start with a very recent favourite, Estée Lauder's Double Wear Brush on Glow BB which is a basically like YSL's Touche Eclat, as it has similar golden packaging but with a twist applicator, instead of one that it clickable. It's a light, glowy concealer/highlighter that is perfect for adding radiance to any look, as well as opening up the eye area and making it look brighter. Looking more awake than I am is a constant struggle for me, so faking it is generally the only option... as I tell you, these hereditary dark circles are going no where! Plus I love for quick, creamy highlighting whether on the go on just for a really natural glow. Another glow centric product is from Hourglass and it's the Blush in Dim Infusion, and just look how pretty it is! Baked blushes are always so beautiful, especially this one as it has streaks of Ambient Lighting Powder running through it, making it so illuminating whilst still packing some serious pigmentation. 

To make one of the perfect long lasting red lips, I always turn to this amazing Sephora Liquid Lipstick, which goes from a cream to a soft, crisp matte shade and it's just so perfect. The applicator makes for very precise lines, although I do like to use a lip liner under it, because sometimes I cave under the pressure of a perfect red lip, and my lines go all squiggly. The best, and worst thing about this, is that it's so so pigmented, so it makes it really difficult to remove any mistakes. But, if you're having a mistake free day, guuuuurl you gonna look fiiiiine. This can easily last through meals and can be worn for about five to six hours, before minimal maintenance is needed. All in all, one of the longest lasting and most wonderful lipsticks ever. Sephora, I don't know how you do it. 

Moving onto skincare, and it's another relatively new product for me- this Toleriane Ultra Fluid for face and eyes from La Roche-Posay, which is something that I purchased because I wanted as many soothing products as possible for my skin, as it's being really odd at the moment. I love the fact that it can be used on the eyes, as well as the rest of the face, making it so gentle and soft on the skin. I don't want to give away too much before my review is posted, but I'm just gonna say that I really like it. Obviously, because why else would they be featured in this lovefest of a post? And now two little products that should really get more attention, and they're from Library of Fragrance and Sally Hansen, a perfume with the scent of Fresh Coconut, and a bright mint green shade named Jaded. These are two of my favourite brands, with long lasting formulas; the perfume is perfect for layering to create a cocktail of scents, especially with Pineapple or Fresh Rain, which makes everything smell so fragrantly like a holiday. I need a holiday, but I feel less needy when I'm wearing this scent. It's so wonderful. Another product that makes me want to go on holiday, but also stems my cravings, is this light green shade, and the formula is one of my favourites of all time. It beats Essie and pretty much everything else that I've tried. On me, this has the most minimal chipping and the range of shades are so vast that I take ages just standing, aghast, at all the options in my local Boots. Keep your eyes out for a Sally Hansen centric post coming soon on the blog. 

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow Pomade in Medium Brown.

When I say that this is basically the only eyebrow product that I use, I think some of you will understand why. A creamy gel like consistency that doesn't move or fade throughout the day, and it keeps my brows 'on fleek' 'on point' and all the other brilliant things people say about brows these days. This is a master product for shaping and filling in brows, whether they're full or sparse. The beginning of my brows tend to be sparser than the arches, so I always tend to fill in the shape, then focus on making my brows look as healthy and full as possible. It is really possible to overfill and have quite fake looking brows... I've done it before.. and I had to take it off and start again... because it was like scouse brows to the extreme! Not a good look on me. I generally go for a bold but somewhat natural looking brow, because I love it when my brows are looking good. I think it just adds a bounce to my step.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow Pomade (£16) is a cream, with the long lasting consistency of a gel, as I can draw my eyebrows on at 7am and they'll still be going strong until I take my makeup off at 9pm that evening. I may have faded quite a bit, but my gosh, my brows are looking fantastic. Which I think we can all agree is the most important thing, right? From day to night, this pomade (sounds so fancy hen you call it that) keeps me looking awake, and alert, as I've found that a good brow can not only lift and define the face, but it can make me look more alive and 'done', if that makes sense? If my brows are done, I feel that I could run out with just concealer on and some bronzer, and I wouldn't look too dishevelled. I think that, plus running a brush through my hair can make for an awake look when I have five minutes to get out the door. The concealer that of choice is from Amazing Cosmetics and it's their Amazing Concealer teamed with Too Faced's Milk Chocolate Soliel Bronzer, so if you're planning on sleeping in (or just accidentally sleeping through an alarm) these three are products that you need in your life, for instant impact and easy application. 

Have you tried any Anastasia Beverly Hills products? Any I should definitely purchase?