My August Beauty Favourites

I think it's about time I did some more beauty posts to mix things up a bit so I plan to make a regular feature of posting about my favourite products. So, here are the items that I have been mostly using this month

2015 feels like the year of the highlighter. So much so that it has become a key part of my make up routine to give my face a glow and make my cheekbones stand out. Most of the time I just use it on my cheek and brow bones but a tiny bit on both the cupids bow and tip of the nose also helps create a flawless look which translate well in photos. I like to use both cream and powder formulations so thought I would try Topshop Glow in 'Polished' which has a pink iridescent sheen to it. It also looks good on the eyelids for days when you just want to go for a very subtle look. My go to highlighter is High Beam by Benefit but this is a warmer, more subtle alternative.

As I wear quite a bit of make up some days a good cleanser is really important to make sure all traces are removed. I often use Simple Micellar cleansing wipes followed by Garnier micellar water to remove as much make up as possible then before bed I use a cream cleanser such as Bee Good Honey and Propolis cream cleanser with a muslin cloth for a deep clean. The Bee Good range is made by British Bees and uses natural ingredients. The cleanser makes your skin feel very clean and soft and I love the smell

I have always had dark circles under my eyes so any concealer that hides them is a winner in my book. Mac's Studio Finish concealer didn't disappoint and it also lasts all day when set with powder. It has become my favourite concealer which I use most days but not all the time as I don't want to use it all up quickly!

SASS specialise in PH balanced intimate skincare and I've been using the Intimate Soothe & Smooth shave gel on my bikini area. It made shaving a much more pleasant experience and my skin doesn't feel irritated like it usually does after shaving. A day after using it for the first time it even got rid of a long term ingrown hair on my bikini line! It's available in Boots so I'll definitely be stocking up

I will leave you with my current favourite Lush product which is the Frozen bath bomb. It is probably my favourite bath bomb of all time as I love the fresh, uplifting smell, silver glitter and how it turns your bath into a blue, sparkly winter wonderland! 

My Autumn/Winter 2015 Wishlist

I'm so excited to pick up some new season pieces over the next few months, although I probably shouldn't as my wardrobe is currently bursting at the seams but I just can't help myself! I make sure that I hunt around for the best bargains and often give items I no longer wear to charity. I don't believe in throwing clothes away as there is always someone out there that will need them and make use of them.

Here are some of the items on my wish list from asos, Zara, River Island, Topshop, New Look and Dorothy Perkins but I'll probably only end up buying a couple of them as I need to be sensible. I'm still into the boho look, along with camel tones and high necked blouses. Please follow me on Pinterest if you don't already and I'll make sure I follow back. Has anyone else compiled their new season wish list yet?


Follow Chelsey's board AW15 Wishlist on Pinterest.

The Big Blogger Conference 2015

I'm signed up to the LDN Meet Up mailing list and when the email about The Big Blogger Conference came through I knew I had to go! I've been blogging for nearly 5 years now but over that time the digital and blogging world have changed considerably so I welcome any advice to improve my blog and keep up with the times. I also love meeting brands and fellow bloggers so this was the perfect opportunity to combine the two. The event was organised by Lauren (@Blonde_vision), Jenny (@_dreaminpink) and Abi (Abigail__Brown) and it took place in the Russell hotel on Saturday which was pretty easy to get to from where I live in east London. It was one of the hottest days of the year so I stuck to short sleeves but I wanted to get in on the autumnal colours early so I wore a camel skirt from Primark (£8) with a burgundy crop top from H&M (£5.99) and Camel sleeveless blazer from New Look (£19.99)

The day consisted of 3 talks from 10am to 12pm which felt like going back to uni and being in the lecture hall but was much more interesting and useful as the speakers were also bloggers. First on the agenda was a Pinterest seminar with Elizabeth Sellers which was definitely made me think about reviving my slightly abandoned Pinterest account and linking it to and from my blog. Next up Jasmin Charlotte educated me about the world of tech and SEO and I will certainly be taking her advice on board. I found the 'link juice' discussion particularly useful. Last but not least, Sarah Moody gave invaluable advice for contacting PRs, getting invited to events and reviewing products which I'll definitely put into practice in the near future

After the talks we had a break for lunch then went back to the hotel to walk around the different stalls and chat to the brands. There were some great brands there whose products I can't wait to try including Beaubronz, Bee Good, Heaven Skincare, House of Fraser, Made by Jade, Comb, Sass, Jewellerybox.co.uk, My Protein and Shoeaholics so keep your eyes peeled for some reviews over the next few weeks. 

Shoes, glorious shoes on the Shoeaholics stall

Made by Jade

Beau Bronz

SASS Intimate skincare

Bee Good skincare with a conscience

Heaven Skincare

I also got my hair done by one of the lovely ladies from The Parlour London. It was so intricate and something I could never do myself so I felt so glamorous and didn't want to take it all down at bedtime! 

There was also a raffle to raise money for Scoliosis Association (UK) which is a great cause to help the sufferers of Scoliosis and other spinal conditions. I had a fantastic day and thought that the event was very well organised. I connected with a few bloggers and brands and picked up lots of tips on how to improve my blog so I would definitely attend something similar in the future

Mini Primark Haul; August 2015

There have been times when Primark has been my go to place for on trend pieces but I definitely shop there much less than I used to. However, I occasionally get the urge to pop in and pick up a few bargains which I did yesterday before visiting my Grandad in hospital in Margate. I have a lot on my mind at the moment so stocking up on a few items to take me into the new season helped take my mind off things for a bit. Here is what I bought...

Camel is set to be a key colour for Autumn so I couldn't resist this faux suede skirt (£8) that will look great with a blouse or roll neck.

There's nothing like a pair of comfy trousers and the boho chick within me loves the vintage inspired print on this pair. (£8)

This printed blouse (£12) also appeals to my inner bohemian and I love the lace up neckline. This will look fab with flares and a fluffy gillet

I love a fringed bag so much that my last black version was falling apart due to overuse! This is a great replacement and also comes in tan and cream (£12)

How cute are these Winnie the Pooh PJs? (£8) I always feel hot when I'm trying to sleep so much prefer short sleepwear to long sleeves and bottoms. I also bought some jelly sweets for my grandad and two pairs of leggings for my sister. I had to be restrained seeing as I'm not working at the moment but there was so much more I could've bought!

Putting on The Ritz

It's not often that I get to go to posh places but to celebrate my uncle's 50th Birthday we went for afternoon tea at The Ritz today. The atmosphere was very enjoyable with a harp player in the background and very decadent, glamorous surroundings. It was nice to be somewhere with so much history and tradition. I don't eat sandwiches as I'm a fusspot but I enjoyed the raspberry macaroons, mini pastries, scones and mini chocolate cake, all washed down with the nicest cup of tea I've ever had and a few sips of champagne.

The dress code was formal so I opted for a rust coloured wide leg jumpsuit with a rope tie at the waist which I got from asos 5 years ago. I wore Primark wedges to add much needed height and a jacket from H&M as the top felt a bit low cut for me so I needed to cover up!

Unicorn Eyes

When it comes to anything shimmery, iridescent or sparkly I'm like a magpie but with make up, it can be difficult to strike the balance between shimmer and matte. If you overdo the sparkle you can end up looking too shiny so I find that a Matte shade in the socket helps to define the eyes and tone down the disco ball look. I used a matte purple from the Make Up Revolution Salvation palette in the crease, Topshop eyeshadow in Holograph on the lid and Topshop Glow Dome in Zephyr on the brow and cheek bones. I also used purple eyeliner on the lower lashline and contrasted with coral lips using a Ted Baker lip crown. The colours used on the eyes remind me of cartoon images of Unicorns. For further definition, either a purple or dark grey liquid liner on the upper lids would be perfect.

Topshop Glow Dome (£9)

Topshop Mono Eyeshadow in Holograph, £7