Life Lately

Argh! It's December already! How the frick did that come about so quickly? Time is just whizzing by and before I know it it will be 2015. Here's a little of my life lately.

Prepping For A Job

Spending many hours on Pinterest putting together mood boards for the many jobs I have coming up before Christmas. Pinterest is genius and you can follow my boards here.

The Divine Dessert List At Balthazar

Meeting up with friends for dinner at Balthazar. I've wanted to visit this restaurant ever since Carrie Bradshaw tried to get in during an episode of Sex & The City. I ate about a week's worth of calories, sipped too much prosecco and had a fantastic evening.

Stella McCartney Phone Case BUY HERE

This has been my best purchase recently, a phone case in the shape of a shark with fins and eyes and teeth! Anyone who knows me knows how fascinated I am with sharks, I am terrified by them, but I respect that they are incredible creatures. This phone case brightens my day and is quite the talking point.

Homemade Pizza

Now that we are in winter I am craving lots of yummy carb-ey food and tried making homemade pizza recently. The base is stupidly easy to make and I've been experimenting with lots of different toppings, my favourite being spinach, goats cheese and sun-dried tomatoes.

Grenson Sample Sale Bargains

We went to the Grenson sample sale this weekend and it was filled with flat shoe wonderfulness. Sadly I didn't find anything in my size, but the boyfriend lucked out with all of these for a bargain-ous £100.

Care Bear Stare!

I recently collected my old toys from my parents home and while lots of them have since been donated or were too damaged to keep I've managed to salvage some, including my beloved Roald Dahl books and some Care Bears.

Wreath of Dreams at Albion

When getting my weekend hot chocolate at Albion I came across the most beautiful Christmas wreath greeting you as you enter the establishment. I really need to start thinking about getting a tree soon.  

Hope you have a wonderful week and happy December!

Sx

The Beauty Review

Here's a round up of the beauty products I've been using recently.

L'Oreal Nutri-Lift Gold Foundation £14.29 BUY HERE

Now that my summer tan has faded and my skin has gone a little beserk with the change of seasons I need to use a heavier foundation. I was given some L'Oreal products on my trip to Australia back in the summer and dug this foundation out recently. It's a thick but not heavy formulation which looks dewy on my skin without setting in my laughter lines. Plus it provides good even coverage, so much so that I don't even require concealor for my lesser blemishes. One squirt easily covers my entire face and it's super easy to blend in with my fingers. It contains gold micro-particles to add 'radiance' to the skin and 5 anti-ageing ingredients; pro-retinol, pro-lastyl, pro-xylane, hyaluronic acid and vitamin C to help keep those evil signs of ageing away. It comes in 7 different shades (I'm using 150 creamy beige) and if it had an SPF it would be a 5 star product.

Noble Isle Sa of Green Hand Wash £18 BUY HERE

There's something about a luxurious hand wash in the bathroom that just lifts my day. It's like a cashmere sweater or a decadent candle, it just makes you feel better. Nobel Isle, a British company specialising in bath and body products, have created a range of divine hand washes. I'm using the Sea of Green hand wash and love the wonderfully fresh botanical fragrance that lingers on my hands long after I've washed them. It contains notes of lemon, thyme and rosemary and samphire extract rich in antioxidant minerals and vitamins to regenerate the skin. At £18 it's not for the kiddies to use, but we all need a little treat sometimes and this would make a fantastic Christmas stocking filler (hint hint!)

Dr Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief Soothing Face Cream £50 BUY HERE

I've been using this little pot of goodness for over a month now and am only half way through. I use it as my day cream (I prefer to use oils at night) but you can use it for PM too. The formulation is designed for sensitive skins and those that suffer from redness. While I suffer from neither of those thankfully, of late my skin has been developing mean little hormonal spots and I've found this cream certainly calms them down. It contains sea buckthorn extract which has anti-imflammatory properties, and chaga and reishi mushroom extracts to help calm the skin. It also boasts narcissus lily bulb extract to help the skin's defences, thus preventing further environmental damage. It has a delicious herby scent and moisturises without feeling greasy. I just wish it came in a pump dispenser rather than a pot, such is my desire for hygiene.

What I Wore

Here's a little round up of a few outfits I've worn recently.

Topshop shirt BUY HERE, Gap jeans, Zara shoes, Louis Vuitton bag BUY HERE

Doing double denim and wearing my new dark denim shirt from Topshop with some old ripped up Gap jeans (Gap do the best high street jeans!) with a dash of leopard print in the shoe for a day of press appointments.

Uniqlo sweater, ASOS trousers, Miu Miu trainers BUY SIMILAR HERE

Wearing a monochrome look for a day working from home. As much as I'd like to just wear pjs when I'm at home, I find I'm much more productive if I get dressed properly.

M&S jumper, Mango skirt, Topshop boots, Anya Hindmarch bag

Styling one of my favourite people for his next TV commercial I wore a chunky knit with leather skirt and my fringed Anya Hindmarch Bicester Village bargain bag I scored a few years ago.

Hope you all have a great week!

Sx

Fun Fur

Helen Moore Scarf £120 BUY HERE

Now that the Helen Moore faux-fur scarf of my dreams is part of my wardrobe and attracting complementary comments wherever it comes out to play, I've started looking at other furry accessories to add to my stroke-able collection.

Eugenia Kim beanie £215 BUY HERE

I love a beanie hat in winter and this cosy wool version with colourful fur pom pom will ensure you are easy to spot in a crowd.

Topshop sandals £58 BUY HERE

An easy way to add some fur into your life with these budget buy fluffy high heeled sandals.

Jigsaw pom pom keyring £19 BUY HERE

For a little while now I've spotted fluffs of pom pom dangling off of bags. Attaching a little puff of fur is a simple was to do the faux fur trend.

MissGuided Scarf £15.99 BUY HERE

Now I haven't seen this scarf in real life so can't vouch for the quality, but it is a pretty good looking scarf at an incredible price point. I love the mix of burgundy, grey and white.

Whistles Mittens £45 BUY HERE

These cute mittens also come in pink and leopard print, but being a lover of all things grey I think the above are the chicest colourway. I love the mixture of textures and would happily sport these on a freezing day with a navy or black coat.

Zara sweatshirt £29.99 BUY HERE

I know a sweatshirt isn't an accessory, but I tried this on in store when the weather was warmer and instantly fell for the strip of fluff running down each arm. It's a really easy way to wear the trend and would add instant fun to a weekend outfit of jeans and trainers.

Shrimps Pablo Clutch Bag £185 BUY HERE

Oh yeah! I adore this colourful clutch. The mix of orange and baby blue is just perfection and I'd love to give this bag a cuddle on a night out.

Images: Shrimps, Zara, Whistles, Miss Guided, Jigsaw, Topshop, MATCHESFASHION

In My Bag

Clothes wise I've been a little underwhelmed by what's in store at the moment (or am I just all shopped out because of work!?!), so with the exception of a sweater, I've been stocking up on accessories to update my autumn wardrobe.

Zara sweatshirt £19.99 BUY HERE

Do I really need another grey sweatshirt? No, however this basic offering from Zara has become a welcome addition to my wardrobe. It's the perfect shade of charcoal and works with jeans a tailored trouser or a midi skirt. 

Helen Moore Scarf £120 from Atterley Road BUY HERE

I've been coveting this fluffy scarf for months thinking the high street would bring out a less expensive option and even deluding myself that I could try to make something similar. In the end I caved and I'm so pleased I did as it elevates every outfit I pair it with, plus it feels like a furry cuddle. I adore this scarf and will be wearing it all winter long.

Whistles Fedora £55 BUY HERE

Something to protect my hair and stop it turning into a fuzzy mess in the rain is this felt fedora in navy with a grosgrain sash. 

Zara Scarf £19.99 BUY HERE

Another scarf made it into my bag, this oversized khaki and grey style from Zara. I'm clearly feeling the need for cosiness. 

Accessorize Earrings £4.50 BUY HERE

Ending on a cheap thrill, I love the simplicity of these Dior-esque double ball earrings which work equally well for day or evening.

Life Lately

Life has been incredibly busy recently, work is non-stop. In between prepping for photo shoots I've managed to squeeze in some spring summer press days. It's always weird seeing summer clothes just as I've dug out my winter tights and I'm already looking forward to bare legs and summer sandals again.

Marbled jewellery at the Arcadia press day

It's all about the botanical print for next season

I'll take both please! Super furry sliders from Topshop

Perfect pineapple loveliness for your next summer holiday

Ideal for beach strolling

A gorgeous beach bag from Fiorelli

I also attended my first baby shower and made my first nappy cake which I was pretty proud of!

The vital ingredients for my nappy cake

The finished article!

It's starting to feel a lot like Christmas in London with the colder weather and street decorations popping up everywhere. I can't wait to put my tree up now!

Giant baubles in St. Christopher's Place

I made these delicious peanut butter cookies to help me get through a weekend of work. Suffice to say there are none left now!

Peanut better cookie time!

I hope you all have a great week!

Sx

Tips From The Pros: Carrie Jones

I've had the pleasure to work with Carrie on many jobs both in the UK and abroad. She is a beautiful person inside and out and I've never seen her without a red lip! Carrie has been a make up artist for almost a decade working for clients including Reiss, Tatler, Clinique, Stylist Magazine and with celebrities including Gok Wan and Ollie Murs. 

Here Carrie shares with me her top make up tips including how to get the perfect red lip.

Nars Sheer Glow £31 BUY HERE

My favourite foundation is Nars Sheer Glow. I use it on myself and my clients. It gives fantastic coverage yet allows the natural glow of your skin to come through.

Bobbi Brown Face Touch Up Stick £21 BUY HERE

Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat £22.50 BUY HERE

The best concealor for covering blemishes has to be Bobbi Brown. However I find it a little too heavy for under the eyes so use the iconic Touche Eclat by YSL. It's an icon for a reason, containing light reflecting particles so dark circles vanish.

Lancome Hypnose £22.50 BUY HERE

L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes £10.99 BUY HERE

Lancome's Hypnose mascara is my favourite but at £22 is a little pricey so I've found L'Oreal's Volume Million Lash also does a great job on the lashes.

Mac Cremeblend Blush £18 BUY HERE

Without a doubt the best blushers are MAC's Cremeblend Blushers. They blend into the skin effortlessly and last all day. I like to apply them with a flat stipple brush (Mac also does a great one). My top tip would be to invest in some good quality brushes. The initial expense is well worth it as you'll be surprised by the difference they make to your make up routine and if you look after them they should last a lifetime.

Mac Studio Fix Powder £21.50 BUY HERE

I always have Mac's Studio Fix Powder in my make up kit. It's a multi-tasking product so can be used as a foundation, making it great for after work touch ups as it takes the shine away and provides good even coverage. Again, I recommend using this product with a brush and not the sponge provided as applying with the sponge can make the powder look a little heavy.

Dermalogica BUY HERE

As for moisturisers I swear by Dermalogica (a Sunshine & Stripes favourite too!) The products are effective whatever your skin type and I've never known anyone to react badly to them.

Maybelline Super Stay 24 Colour Lipstick £8.99 BUY HERE

I wear red lip stick every single day and the best one I've come across (and believe me I have tried a beauty counters worth of them!) is by Maybelline. Their Super Stay 24 Hour Colour Lipsticks do exactly as they promise. I swear, I put it on in the morning and it is still perfect when I take it off at night. If I'm working at a red carpet event I always use them because I know I won't have to worry about the colour smudging or coming off.

The Body Shop Honey Bronze Shimmering Dry Oil £16 BUY HERE

The best body product that I use on every single model I work with is Honey Bronze from The Body Shop. It's a dry oil that makes limbs glisten and glow.

Mac Nail Lacquer £11 BUY HERE

When it comes to nail varnish I use Mac. Their colours paint on beautifully and last longer than any brand I've tried; I always wear them myself. I just wish they'd do a wider variety of colours to choose from!

HD Brows Eye & Brow Palette £25 BUY HERE

The one product that I can't live without has to be my HD Brows Eyebrow Palette. The colour range suits everyone and they last all day. I've even used them on underwater shoots and believe me the  brow stays put! People often overlook the brows when doing their make up but they are so important to helping define the face.

Thank you so much Carrie, I'm off to buy the Maybelline lipstick now!

Carrie's work can be viewed here.

Images: Carol Hayes Management, ASOS, Bobbi Brown, John Lewis, Amazon, L'Oreal, Allure.com, House of Fraser, Dermalogica, Maybelline, The Body Shop, Mac, HD Brows