Saturday 25 January 2014

This or That tag







I thought I would do the 'This or That' tag as I have seen so many bloggers doing it and it looks like fun!

Makeup
Blush or bronzer? 
Bronzer- I look so pale without it!

Lip gloss or lipstick? 
Lipstick

Eyeliner or mascara? 
Mascara

Foundation or concealer? 
Foundation

Neutral or colour eye shadow? 
Neutral

Pressed or loose eye shadows? 
Pressed, I make too much mess with loose colours

Brushes or sponges? 
Brushes

Nails
O.P.I or China Glaze? 
O.P.I

Long or short nails? 
Short

Acrylic or natural? 
Acrylic

Brights or dark's? 
Dark's

Flower or no flower?  
No flower

Body
Perfume or body splash?  
Nothing can compare to perfume

Lotion or body butter? 
Lotion

Body wash or soap? 
Body wash

Lush or other bath company?  
We dont have many other bath companies in the UK so I would have to say Lush, also I am currently obsessed!
  Fashion
Jeans or sweat pants? 
Jeans

Long sleeve or short sleeve?  
Short

Dresses or skirts? 
Dresses

Stripes or plaid?  
Stripes

Flip flops or sandals? 
Sandals

Scarves or hats?
 Scarves

Studs or dangly earrings? 
Studs

Heels or flats? 
Heels, for the right occassion that is!

Cowboy boots or riding boots? 
Riding boots

Jacket or hoodie? 
Jacket

Hair 
Curly or straight? 
Straight

Buns or ponytail? 
 Bun

Bobby pins or butterfly clips? 
Bobby pins

Hairspray or gel? 
Hairspray

Long or short?  
Both!

Side swept bangs or full bangs?  
Side swept

Up or down?  
Down

Random 
Rain or Shine?

Shine,  I love Summer 

Summer or Winter? 
As you may have guessed from my answer above Summer for sure. Although I do love wrapping up when its so cold outside. 

Autumn or Spring?
Spring, its so pretty.  

Chocolate or Vanilla?

Chocolate!
Let me know in the comments if you have done this tag or plan to do it so I can have a look at your answers! 

Thursday 23 January 2014

The Sacred Truth- Lush face mask review





I have never been a massive Lush fan but recently went a little bit crazy in-store and oh boy have I been missing out!

I had a chat with a lovely shop assistant and decided that as I have combination skin with a mix of dry and oily patches  I needed the 'Sacred truth' face mask. This mask is designed to enhance and revive your complexion whilst the enzymes found in it strip away dead skin cells leaving you with a wonderful glow. Apparently this product is often used by older customers with ageing skin but it is also great for more youthful complexions.

The mask smells amazing, it is made out of  wheatgrass, green tea and papaya and the light scent seems to linger after you take it off which I really like. I tend to apply this product straight out of the fridge as it is so refreshing. After about ten minutes it is dry and I then use a face cloth and some warm water to take it off. It leaves my skin feeling clean, fresh and glowing and I would recommend this product wholeheartedly to anyone looking for a bit of a winter pick me up.


The one thing to note with this mask is that it must be kept in the fridge as it is made of entirely fresh ingredients and it will go off after about 3 to 4 weeks. If it is used a couple of times a week though you will easily be able to use it all up before it goes off. The smalls tubs cost 5.95 each so they are not the cheapest of masks but they are definitely worth it.

Even better, if you take back 5 empty pots of any face mask to a lush store they will give you a new one for free. What else could you ask for?!

Wednesday 22 January 2014

Cute storage ideas

Having moved home from university I suddenly realised I had enough stuff to live comfortably in two cities and now had to get it all into one fairly small room. My clothes have been packed like a game of Tetris however for my makeup and jewellery I have managed to find some very cute, affordable storage options.

The first one and something I must say I am quite obsessed with are stackers. If you haven’t heard of these before they are basically a brand of jewellery boxes which you can buy extra  levels for and stack them up, (available here). I have the duck egg blue colour and so far have the small section lid and the deep base. They are so perfect as I keep all my big chunky jewels in the bottom and my more delicate bits up the top. I think they are very well priced and also make great presents!



 









The second thing I am totally obsessed with is acrylic storage. I am sure if you don’t have these already you have heard of them as every blogger and her cat seems to have the ones from Muji but I just can’t get enough. Mine are actually from French Connection and I have filled them with some of my nail varnishes, yes I have loads, blog post coming soon I promise! Very similar storage boxes are  available in Muji in store and online here and are perfect for all sorts of makeup, brushes, jewellery and other girly essentials. As well as buying the boxes you can also get inserts for them such as this ring holder and jewellery tray which are so cheap!





I've also got these cute little Ikea buckets which I use for spare make-up brushes and lipsticks, they are a bit overfilled but do the job and I kinda like it. I can't find the exact links for these but there are some similar ones here and here.





My final storage method is this adorable box that my work colleague bought for me when he went on holiday to Pakistan... not very helpful if you want to get your hands on one I know but I have seen them around in markets. Alternatively put 'handcrafted jewellery chest' into google and lots of similar ones come up. I have put all my left over nail varnishes that don't fit in my muji storage box in here and I think it looks like an exploding treasure chest.





What do you use to store all your make-up and jewellery in? Am I missing out on any spectacular storage solutions?






Monday 20 January 2014

Liebster Award

I woke up the other day to a very exciting comment from Andrea on one of my posts saying I had been nominated for the Liebster Award. This award is a way of discovering new blogs which don't have a lot of followers yet and gives bloggers the chance to nominate people they feel deserve it. Since then I have also been nominated by Nisha and Daniela and so it is now time to get on with it and keep this lovely award moving!





There are a few rules which have to be followed, you have to mention the person who nominated you, answer 11 questions written by them, nominate 11 other bloggers with less than 200 followers and provide questions for them to answer.

So here are my answers to Andrea's questions:

Why did you start your blog?

I started my blog because I spend so much time reading other people's blogs that I thought it was time to try it out myself. If loads of bloggers say a product is amazing I will go out and buy it straight away so I thought it was about time I shared my experiences with other people. It is also of course a fantastic way of keeping an online diary and record of what’s going on in my life. 

What inspires you?

The idea of learning and experiencing new and exciting things.

What is your biggest ambition/wish in life?

To travel to every continent and see lots of amazing wonders of the world. I have been very lucky to have already been to Asia, Africa, America and of course Europe but I would love the opportunity to travel and see more of the world. Watch this space! 

What is your favourite piece of clothing to wear and why?

My unicorn onesie, it is SO cosy. 

Name 3 qualities you love about yourself.

I am a confident, ambitious and happy person and I love that.

What is your favourite style and why?

Anything and everything that Zoella wears because she just always manages to look so stylish.

Do you prefer new clothes or vintage clothes?

New clothes, I’m not so good at the whole edgy vintage thing.

Do you believe in "all natural" beauty?

Of course! I can be very self-conscious at times and I am not the sort of person to leave the house on a daily basis without make up but I think it is very important to embrace the real you sometimes.

What is your favourite brand and scent of candle?

Yankee candle, fluffy towels. This honestly smells like heaven has been grabbed and locked in a jar. When I have had a rubbish day I put my pyjamas on, light this and make a big creamy hot chocolate and then everything is okay again.

Describe the feeling you get when you press "publish" button

Ahhhhhh!

What would you like to accomplish this year?

Having graduated and moved back home in July I feel like I have a lot to achieve in the next couple of years. By this time next year I would like to either be working in a job with great progression opportunities or have moved abroad to explore the world for a year or two. I would also like to save as much money as possible and make people happy :).


Nisha's questions:

Why did you start blogging?

Answer in Andrea's set of questions

Heels or Flats?

It depends on the occasion because it’s great being comfy in flats. I do love getting a good pair of heels on and getting dressed up though.

What's your favourite season?

Summer, as much as I love layering up and being cosy in the winter there is nothing like throwing on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt and sitting outside in a beer garden.

Which one beauty product could you not live without?


A good lip balm, I can’t hack having dry lips. Oh and on that note my lush popcorn lip scrub too!

Are you an introvert or extrovert?


An extrovert, sometimes too much so.

What's your favourite clothes store?


ASOS. Does that count as a store?

Favourite lipstick?

Please Me by Mac. It’s such a good daytime colour and feels great.

What's your dream job?


Haven’t worked this one out quite yet!

What are you most proud of? 


My psychology degree. Three of the best years of my life that ended with a great qualification and a very proud family.

What's your favourite quote? 


Everything happens for a reason

Your favourite cocktail? 

A blueberry muffin from Be at One, holy macaroni these are good.


And last but not least, Daniela's questions:

Why did you start blogging?

Answer in Andrea's set of questions. 

When did you start blogging - and why did you choose that particular time to start up that blog?

I wrote my first couple of blog posts in December but decided to properly give it a go at the beginning of this year. One of my new year’s resolutions was to spend more time doing new and exciting things like blogging now I don’t have any uni work to deal with. 

What is your favourite make up brand?

MAC

Which do you make more of an effort on - hair, make up or clothes?

Make up

What is your favourite blog? Name and link :)
Cliche I know but it has to be The Londoner, her life is just so amazing.

What do you enjoy the most about blogging?

I love being a part of the blogging community!

Why did you choose your blog name?

Lucy locket is what I was called by my family when I was younger so it just stemmed from there.

Drugstore or high end make up? And why?

Drugstore where possible, high end for products that need to match my skin tone such as foundation and concealer. I am also a MAC lipstick obsessive, blog post coming soon. 

If you had £1000 to spend on make-up, what would be on your shopping list?

The entire MAC lipstick range, Chanel mascara, Daisy perfume.

Where would you like to go the most in the world?

Sydney, one of my best friends lives there and it would be amazing to go and visit.

 Give one weird and wonderful thing about yourself

A few years ago I got the chance to cuddle and feed baby tigers, it was incredible!



Finally here are the questions for my lovely nominees:

1) What do you love most about blogging?
2) What beauty product could you not live without?
3) Where is your favourite place in the world, and why?
4) If you could have anything in the world what would you have for a three course meal?
5) Tea, Coffee or Hot Chocolate?
6) If you could have a super power what would it be?
7) How and why did you pick your blog name?
8) What single quality do you appreciate most in people?
9) Who is your idol and why? 
10) What is your favourite store to shop in? 
11) Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

Thank you girls for giving me the opportunity to do this, my nominees are:
1) Hello my names Anna
2) No Rest for the Well Dressed
3) Blogs by Minnie
4) Olivia's notebook
5) Orchha Jewels
6) Eating, Wearing, Living
7) Fashion and Kiwi
8) Beauty + Books
9) Styled by Bunni
10) Tiana Robina
11) Just A Little Touch Of Me

Wednesday 15 January 2014

What's in my makeup bag?


I have seen a lot of people doing a 'what’s in my makeup bag' post and thought I would jump on the bandwagon. I am going to show you my day to day make up and the brushes I use. I am by no means an expert on makeup however I do spend a lot of time taking inspiration from other bloggers and vloggers such as the lovely Tanya Burr so thought I would show you guys what I use myself.

To start before putting my make up on I use the Lush Popcorn Lip Scrub, I love this product so much all you do is dip your finger in the pot and rub it across your lips, it removes all the dry skin which is amazing for this time of year and do you want to know the best bit about it? It’s edible and tastes EXACTLY like sweet and salty popcorn. Win, win... WIN! You do need to put a bit of lip balm on afterwards though as it isn't a moisturising product at all.



Once I have silky smooth lips I squeeze a small amount of the Rimmel Fix and Perfect primer on to my fingers and dot it around my face before gently rubbing it in. This primer has a really smooth consistency and goes on well, the only thing I would say is it tends to make my skin a bit oily later on in the day but other than that I would highly recommend it.



After I have prepped my face I move on to my foundation, for this I use the MAC Studio Fix foundation in NC25. I have been using this foundation for as long as I can remember, it’s not cheap at 21.50 but it is SO worth it and each bottle lasts me about 6 to 7 months which I think is pretty good. It also stays on throughout the day without any top ups which is always useful! To apply this product I use my Real Techniques foundation brush, this is a great brush as the angled cut allows you to build up the product really well.





For a concealer I use the Benefit Boi-ing in number 2. I was bought this as a present and although it provides great coverage for spots and blemishes I think it is a bit thick to use as well as the Mac foundation. Once it runs out I think I will be moving onto something a little less dense however for now I put it on using the concealer brush from Revlon, which works brilliantly and is so cute and small!




The next product I use is the Bourjois Delice de Poudre bronzing powder in 52. I have been using this powder for years and have always loved it; it’s cheap and cheerful and provides a light all over bronzed coverage. For this I use my Real Techniques powder brush, I think I could probably do with a harder brush as this powder can be quite difficult to loosen however I like that it provides a slight glow rather than being too heavy.



As a blusher I am currently using the Body Shop Baked-To-Last in Coral. I bought this product about 4 months ago and as you can see I have barely made a dent in it. It is fairly reasonably priced at 12 pounds and I love the dual colour pallet as the lighter colour has a really nice shine which mixes perfectly with the pink. The only thing I would say is that you don’t need a lot of this at it is very pigmented. I’m not complaining of course, this just means it lasts longer! To apply I use my Real Techniques blusher brush which works perfectly and is just the right size and shape.





If it’s an eye shadow kinda day, I will use the Sephora Primal Instincts Palette. I use the lighter colours on the insides of my eye lids and darker ones further out and build this depending on the desired effect. My favorite out of these are the creamy and pinky colours as they both have a really nice glow to them. I actually bought this palette in New York back in march and a trip to Sephora was one of the first things I did after dumping my suitcase! I have a few brushes I apply these with and they tend to just be drugstore ones as I think these work fine.





I rarely wear eyeliner unless I’m going on a night out but when I do I use the Mavala Liquid Eye Liner in noir. This product is great as it has a really thin brush end meaning I don't end up with huge thick black lines all over my eyelids! 



For mascara, I am currently using Inimitable by Chanel. I was given this for Christmas, it’s not something I would normally buy so it was a bit of a treat! It is great for length and volume and I really do love it but with a price tag of £24 I think I will have to be revering back to the drugstore equivalents when it runs out... until I become rich and famous that is. 



Eyebrows. I have an obsession with eyebrows; in fact you could probably go as far to say I have a problem. I don't have great natural eyebrows so when I came across the Benefit Brow Zings Kit I instantly fell in love. I have been using this product for about 11 months now and look how much I still have left. It costs £23.50 but it lasts so long I think it’s pretty good value. To use the product take the angled brush and dip it in the dark wax, the carefully use this over your natural brow. Then take the flat brush, place this in the powder and go over the top of the wax. The powder is brilliant as it fills in any little gaps and sets your brows in place. Da Duh, easy peasy! 



I use the Benefit Watts Up Highlighter right at the end of my make-up routine to add a bit of shimmer in the places I want. I don’t actually use the sponge as advised because it seems to just take the rest of my make-up off so with my finger I rub a small amount down the bridge of my nose, under my brows and dab a tiny little bit on my cheeks. I love the creamy texture of this product and much prefer it to highlighters such as Benefit's High Beam which I find a bit too wet.



That is it, well other than my lipstick but I think that is be something for another post as I seem to have rambled on a fair bit already. Let me know if you have any other products you would recommend me trying or if you use any of these too, I would love to hear from you!