20 Facts About Me

I've really enjoyed reading everybody's posts from this tag. If I could think of more facts I would have gone for 50, but to be honest I lack enough imagination and as soon as I sit down to think of some, my mind goes blank!

1. I'm left handed.
2. My favourite animals are giraffes and owls.
3. I strongly dislike rose scented things.
4. I'm a very fussy eater, and it's still a big deal for me to try new food.
5. I love black and white photography, especially of architecture.
6. Danny is the boyfriend that I've had.
7. When I was younger I had a horse riding accident that caused me to almost break my neck and since then I have developed a fear of horses.
8. I am a messy person, no matter how hard I try to keep on top of mess it always catches up to me.
9. My favourite colour is green.
10. I'm an only child.
11. I listen to Harry Potter audio books when I go to sleep.
12. I don't drink tea or coffee, I only drink squash. I don't even like drinking water by itself.
13. 13 is my lucky number.
14. I still don't know what direction I want to go in career wise.
15. I have to have the flu jab every year because my immune system is so rubbish.
16. People are normally surprised that I've not seen Dirty Dancing.
17. I was bullied quite a bit at school for having oily skin and spots.
18. When I was 11 I won a makeover by Andrew and Liz Collinge.
19. I'm always cold.
20. My family call me Catherine, but everyone else calls me Kate. 

Kate x

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FOTD #2

Face: Indeed Labs Hydraluron, Yonka Protective Cream, Benefit Porefessional, YSL Touche Eclat Foundation in BR30, Clinique Line Smoothing Concealer in 02 Light, 17 Miracle Matte Powder in Natural Fair, Benefit Dallas Blush. Eyes: YDK from Naked 2 Palette, Clinique High Impact Curling Mascara (Black), UD Primer Potion, Barry M Blink Precision Eyeliner. Brows: UD Brow Box in Brown Sugar. Lips: Clinique Chubby Stick in Mighty Mimosa. 

I'm currently finding myself reaching for my YSL Touche Eclat foundation over my Garnier BB Cream. I've fallen back in love with it, although today I feel as though it hasn't applied as well as it usually does. Weekends are the days when I have time to experiment with my makeup and so I've been experimenting with liquid eyeliner - I've always loved eyeliner flicks and I'm trying to master it. Practice makes perfect.

Reviews of many of these products to come!

Kate x

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Chanel Rouge Coco Lipstick in Mademoiselle

Chanel Rouge Coco in Mademoiselle is one of my all time favourite lipsticks. This also happens to be one of my first ever high end make up purchases. The packaging is very understated - black with a gold band around the middle and the tell tale Chanel logo on the top. 

This is what Chanel says about this lipstick:

A modern interpretation of classic creme lip colour as an homage to the rich life and legacy of 'Coco' Chanel. Lightweight lip colour glides on for easy application, and features a Hydratendre complex to help soften, soothe and condition lips - even boosting their ability to hold in moisture - for a plumper, smoother and healthier-looking appearance. A range of wearable shades with full-coverage finishes, from matte to pearl to soft shimmer.

This is a really lovely everyday lipstick that I often carry around in my bag. It's not quite as bright as in the photo, but is what I'd describe as a plummy pink. I've had this lipstick coming up to three years now (I'm sorry but I'm not going to throw out a Chanel lipstick after 18 months, regardless what the advice is) and it's still going strong.

Chanel Rouge Coco lipstick is as Chanel describe it, hydrating. I usually wear a lip balm under this but I've never found it to dry out my lips when worn alone. This isn't a statement lipstick like some I own, and I think it's quite understated so you could definitely get away with doing more with your eyes.

I would definitely recommend trying a Chanel lipstick from this range. I truly love this lipstick and even my Mum has it! The reason I chose this colour in particular was because it looked rather lovely on Vanessa Paradis in the ad campaign:

The price tag of this lipstick is what puts me off 'investing' on more colours from this range at £24.00 a pop and can be bought online, here.

Having said that, after a quick look on Debenhams' website today I have noticed that they have 10% off across their beauty range and free delivery making this currently £21.60.

Their promotion ends tomorrow, but if you're looking to purchase any high end items I'd recommend doing it this weekend!

Do you own any lipsticks from Chanel Rouge Coco? What do you think of them?

Kate x

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Molton Brown Protecting Vitamin Lipsaver

I received the Molton Brown Protecting Lipsaver as a Secret Santa present back in December as part of my works Christmas meal, and I was really chuffed to receive it! I have been using this quite regularly since receiving it, as well as my usual lipbalms.

On application (I use my finger, the tube curves in slightly and doesn't have rounded edges so doesn't make for a good application straight to the lips) a little goes a long way and I find that this lasts quite a long time. This is a good lip balm I've found to wear under lipstick as it doesn't just transfer onto the lipstick rather than the lipstick applying to your lips.

There is no tingling sensation, it's most comparable to vaseline and is quite thick which is something I quite like. I often apply this before bed and wake up with it still on, so it really does last a long time.

The only downside I've found to this is that rather than being a "cure" - that is to say something that will help my lips improve over the long term so I won't need to use lip products half as much, it feels very much a bandaid that provides instant relief to sore lips.

Kate x

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A beauty blogger that doesn't want to spend her money?

Despite reading beauty blogs on a regular basis and having a wish list longer than my arm of makeup and various skincare products I'm finding myself putting off buying any of these products in favour at looking at other kinds of products.

And do you know what they are? Travelling "essentials". I've gone from looking at MAC lipsticks online trying to work out which shade to buy to looking up rucksacks and trying to shop around for the best price.

01. Microfibre travelling towel.

02. Large Berghaus rucksack.

03. Karrimor walking boots.

04. Samsung W150 camera (I don't want to take my SLR with me)

05. Visa costs for the countries we'd like to visit.

I mentioned in my New Years Resolutions post that I would be trying to save more money this year ready to go travelling with Danny, my boyfriend. I kept it quite vague as we haven't really had any set plans until the last couple of weeks. Even now, we don't have anything booked yet, but we have ideas of where we'd like to go, and how much certain things will cost. 

Travelling can be quite a vague term, anything from 4 weeks Interrailing round Europe to 12 months on another continent. Our plan is to go to South East Asia, then onto Australia with the working holiday visa, then onto New Zealand and then either back to the UK or maybe Fiji on the way. We haven't said "we'll be back in 12 months" we're going to take it as it comes, and if we stay the full 12 months (or more) then that's great, if we come back before then then that's great too. 

I'm currently researching what there is to see and do in Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and possibly Laos and Cambodia too as well as visa requirements. I am getting ridiculously excited and despite still buying a few beauty bits here and there, I am trying to be very controlled with my spending in favour of things I will need to buy over the next few months in preparation of leaving and generally for money while I'm out there! 

If anybody has already been travelling around Asia and Oceana and has any handy tips or bits of advice on places to avoid/places definitely worth seeing I'd really appreciate it!

Kate x

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Hair Product Hoarding

One of my worst habits, is buying new hair care products before I have finished my last lot. This has resulted in a fairly large accumulation of products - more styling and finish products than say shampoo and conditioner. My aim is to reduce this collection to almost 0 before I go out and buy another product. (Shampoo is excluded as I will need to buy replacements as is heat protection spray as that is something that I don't hoard).

When I get hooked on a product, all others get forgotten about and I keep buying my new favourite product. However, my hair products are all stored in a wicker basket together with my Mum's products and it's gotten to a point where they are overflowing. Some will be thrown out straight away because they are just that old, and the rest I will aim to finish off before buying anything new.

Does anybody else have this habit with hair products?

Kate x

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