Flawless Skin In Seconds

Make up egg sponges and applicators are all the rage right now so in keeping with that, I thought I'd share with you my review of Barely Cosmetics sponges which I was luckily enough to have sent to me. I've been intrigued for a long time now what the hype about these applicators have been and I finally know what it is. Barely Cosmetics claim that 'these all-in-one products cut makeup application time in half by replacing the need for a range of brushes'. Barely Cosmetics also claim to 'have managed to get there absorbemcy rate down by 7%' which means less makeup waste and more money saved and how can you not love that.

The first sponge I was lucky enough to try was the Prep, Blot and Blend sponge. This sponge is the perfect 'tool for prepping your skin' with lotions, primers and foundation.  I have always used a basic round sponge from your typical drugstore but have always found that I never got enough coverage, it never blended in enough and I ended up rubbing the rest of the foundation in with horrible make up lines. But this sponge takes all that trouble away; the edges eliminates lines and blotches. Before using your meant to add a little bit of water to the sponge and then apply your foundation which helps stop the sponge from absorbing your product and get more on your face. I've used this sponge every day since I received it and if im honest I don't know what I did without it. I find I don't have to rub any excess foundation into my face and end up with a really flawless finish.

The second sponge I tried was the Definer Sponge (hard version). This sponge is used to 'put definition back into the face' and is 'ideal for highlighting, contouring and guiding'. With the sharp lines on this sponge it makes it super easy to contour with and what I used it for was applying foundation around the tricky bits of the face like eyebrows and eyes. As I put my eye make up first and foundation on second so this tool makes it so easy edging round without messing up your eye makeup. I genuinely cannot recommend this enough, especially if your looking for that flawless look. I'll leave the links below so you can have a cheeky look yourself and let me know how they work for you. Don't forget you can follow me with the social media links to the right of you. Have a lovely Monday.

Prep, Blot and Blend Sponge

Definer Sponge

All my love,

Over and out.

S.Mx

Steal Their Style: Alexa Chung

She's best known for her unique and edgy style so I would be crazy not to feature her in my first 'Steal Their Style post'. Alexa Chung is the Queen of fashion in my eyes so I've pulled together one of her looks from late last year's London Fashion Week. If you want Alexa's look for a fraction of the price then carry on below and enjoy.

I love how she teams unconventional pieces together and makes it look so effortless. Who'd have thought that gold, yellow, animal print and pink would look good but with her amazing eye she makes it work and it looks fabulous. Yellow is bang on trend right now so dare the lemons and mustards. I hope I did the look justice for you so you can get your Alexa Chung on (in the least creepy way possible). Enjoy the rest of your Wednesday.

All my love,

Over and out.

S.Mx

Oasis nude clutch
£26 - asos.com

Lipstick Queen sheer lipstick
£15 - beauty.com

Eyeko thick liquid eyeliner
£11 - beauty.com

Vero Moda | Vero Moda Oria Leopard Print Above The Knee Skirt at ASOS
asos.com

Metallic Strappy Block Heels Sandals - Shoes - Missguided
missguided.co.uk

Spring Trend: Gingham

Autumn/Winter may have brought us plaid but Spring is all about smaller checks; not only that but it's a bit more sexy with a cute swing vibe and body shaping cuts. From the 50's to 60's to The Wizard of Oz to your nan's tablecloth, gingham is back...with vengeance.

I literally cannot express to you how excited I am to FINALLY be blogging about Motel Rocks; the love I have for them is unreal. I have a few Motel Rocks pieces but I thought this was the ideal time to share this cracker with you. If you've been living under a rock and aren't aware of Motel Rocks then they are an online clothing store like no other. They are my Kings and Queens of vintage clothing and give us all the chance to release our inner edgy diva. This dress is absolutely perfect for Spring/Summer and one of my holiday must haves! Super easy to just chuck on when chilling around the pool and then ideal to dress up for an evening out. Babydoll dresses are so cute and quirky that I had to have this. Admittedly the babydoll cut isn't perfect for me as the waist line goes out as far as my boobs and then just drops so it does make me look bigger than I am so if you do have bigger boobs then do be wary of that but I wasn't deterred and it can easily be scooped in with a belt.

I kept this look really simple with a basic white shirt underneath and white platform sandals as the dress speaks for it's self really. Sadly Motel don't sell this beautiful anymore but they have such a brilliant collection of babydoll dresses which you must check out, they also have a fabulous range of gingham pieces so check out the links below and tell me what you think.

Shop Motel Gingham

Shop Motel Babydoll

All my love,

Over and out.

S.Mx

Spring Trend: Black and White

I guess there's no surprise that black and white, or monochrome, is 'in' this season as we see it everywhere and if I'm honest I don't think it's ever out! Like I said black and white is no ground breaker but this year it will be more focused on interesting patterns, silhouettes and textures. Black and White just looks so damn good it's impossible to ignore.

So admittedly I haven't used a lot of white in this outfit bit I'm pretty sure you'll get the gist of it ;) Black and white gives you the chance to create such a bold look however much of each colour you use. I kept it super simple but I absolutely love how chic it is with this Nike jumper, black skinnies and black tailored fit jacket. I'm such a sucker for black as it hides a multiple of sins and is super slimming. Both the jumper and jeans are very slim fitting; this jumper is one of my all time faves as I find it nice to also have a slim jumper as well as a big over sized jumper. Nike are obviously top of the sporting game and this jumper is no different; awesome quality and sooo comfortable.

As well as this jumper being one of my favourite things right now this beautiful tailored jacket is too. Not only does it match with everything but it's so soft and really flattering. This jacket will make any outfit look smart and sleek which is perfect when pulling a look together. This beauty is from Marks and Spencer and right now I really can't get enough of their Coat/Jackets; yes they can be more expensive than usual jackets but they are totally worth the investment. Finally if you follow my blog then you'll know how highly I rate these Gladiator Sandals but if you missed it just click HERE and enjoy.

Steal my style:

Jumper~ProDirect Select

Jeans~Missguided

Sandals~SoleWish

Jacket~Fashion World (Similar)

All my love,

Over and out.

S.Mx

Spring Trend: Military Green

So this week I will be showing you three spring trends for this year and today we have Military Green. Victoria Beckham, Ralph Lauren and Marc Jacobs have all taken inspiration from Military uniforms; whether it be cargo pockets, army green or khaki it's going to be all over the place this Spring. A 'Uniform' outfit is such a way of creating a real statement so stay tuned to see how I've done it.

So I don't usually wear the same colours in a full outfit other than black but as I used different shades of green it made this outfit really pop. I live in skinny jeans and if I'm honest with you these skinny jeans from H&M are the most comfortable jeans I've ever worn. They are super soft and stretchy but not like leggings at all, they also have pockets and extra stitching down the middle of the leg which adds a bit more detail.

I actually haven't worn this shirt in so long and I really don't know why, as I think it's fabulous. The different shades are so contrasting which gives you the chance to match it with a lot more things. Also the sleeves on this shirt are amazing as they are a thick jersey fabric and they are elastic at the cuffs which make this a really unique piece. I'll definitely be wearing this more shirt a lot more throughout the spring.

Steal my style:

Shirt~Asos (Similar)

Jeans~Boohoo (Similar)

Heels~SoleWish

Clutch~Michael Kors (Similar)

All my love,

Over and out.

S.Mx

Playing The Anxiety Game

For me anxiety and depression come in waves. For two weeks I can feel really positive, want to push myself and create new goals and the next two weeks I'll wake up with panic attacks for no reason, I won't want to leave the house or speak to anyone. Once your hit with a really shitty two or so weeks all the work you've put in previous goes completely out the window and your left with the thought 'What's the point'. No one wants to feel like they're getting nowhere when they're trying so hard so what is the point?

I have a few solutions for you that help me when the winds pick up and the waves start crashing. While I'm 'on a high' as like to call it I make the most of the time I have knowing I'm less likely to panic, so I'll start to do new things whether it be taking the dog for a walk in a different park, staying in Sainsburys that little bit longer or going to see a family member. I'll try and do all the things that I know I won't be able to do when the rain cloud appears over my head. Making the most of the good moods is key for me as like I said before when the low moods come in, that progress is wiped clean.

The more you start to feel comfortable and truly accept yourself in the 'high times' is when the 'low times' become less frequent and easier to manage. Anxiety is something that can change so quickly and is really unpredictable so living with it becomes such a task when trying to lead a 'normal' life. Keep fighting guys, your Zen will come soon.

Top Tip:

Practice makes perfect, right? A great way of coping with panic attacks is to find a strategy that works for you whether it be deep breathing or listening to music...Practice it! Think of that scary panic attack coming as a big test, you revise for a test so you know how to answer the questions. Well that panic attack is the same, how do you expect to calm yourself during a panic attack when you haven't practiced what your mean't to do. It's not easy and I certainly don't have it mastered but we'll get there.

I hope this helps at least one of you and I'd love to hear all your successes, even if it is a bad day.

All my love,

Over and out.

S.Mx

Sole Wish

If you need a shoe thats cute but powerful then the Gladiator game is strong this year as you may have seen in my 2015 shoe trends post which you can check out HERE if you missed it. It's no shock that I'm absolutely in love with these stunning gladiator inspired heels sent to me by the lovely Donna from Sole Wish. Sole Wish is one of the leading fashion footwear retailers in the UK, they are best known for finding us the latest shoe trends at super affordable prices. Sandals fit with anything so here's how I've styled them.

I wanted the heels to do all the talking so I kept it super simple with a basic black top, skinnies and my favourite two toned jacket. This jacket is so versitly and ideal for Winter, Autumn and Spring as it's not a really thick jacket so your able to layer up underneath without not being able to move and it also makes it easy to just leave the house in when it's getting warmer. Sometimes a long black jacket can be too harsh so the grey lifts the outfit slightly and makes it less harsh. 

Apart from looking quite Aphrodite esque ;) these shoes are the definition of love! They do come up a little big as I'm usual a size 6 but the one's I'm wearing are a size 5 so when ordering do keep that in mind but other than that they are really comfortable and supportive with all the straps and bang on trend. So get your Soul Wish on guys and click HERE to head over to the website.

Steal my style:

Heels~Sole Wish

Top~Primark

Jeans~New Look

Jacket~River Island

Following me further and catch me on:

Instagram   Twitter    Bloglovin'   Google+ 

All my love,

Over and out.

S.Mx

Nail Envy

So with summer coming soon (well hopefully) there is no better time to get your nail on ;) While neutral colours are very in right now for Spring, Summer is the perfect time to whip out them bright colours. If you haven't guessed already I'm of course talking about nail vanish and it can be such a hassle for us girls...and boys to create real impact without smudging, chipping or just not getting that perfect finish we all want but I've found the answer. I was sent some beautiful bright OPI nail varnish from the lovely Holly at Look Fantastic; now I'm not a complete OPI virgin but I know they are quite expensive which is why I only really use the strengthener but after this I've been completely converted.

So first of all we have the 'You Are So Outta Lime' green. This is such a beautiful colour and it only needed one coat, of course if you add more coats you'll get a richer colour but I was super impressed with one. When I first saw the colour I was a bit sceptical as it's such a bright green but once applied it's really not as bold as you think it will be. OPI brushes make it so quick and easy to apply as they are really big; there's nothing worse than having a tiny brush as your just there for hours.

Secondly we have 'Can't Afjord Not To' which has to be my favourite. I'd say that this is more of a corally orange once applied and would be so perfect for toe nails too while on your holly bobs. If your bored of the average pinks then this colour is ideal to turn up the volume a and rock something different. This nail varnish honestly drys in seconds which is great for me as I always seem to paint my nails at the last minute. I must admit that I've been wearing orange on one hand and green on the other (all for reviewing purposes) for the last five days now, yes I got some funny looks but the vanish is still in mint condition as seen in the photos above. Usually when I apply nail varnish it's chipped in the first day so this was such a breath of fresh air. Like I said before OPI is more expensive than your Rimmel's or Barry M's but the quality you get with it your so much better off investing in OPI. You can check out Look Fantastic HERE which is full of OPI treats and many more essentials. Bring on summer 2015.

Also quick plug for my first Q&A...I'm answering all questions so comment below with what you want to know and you can feature on my blog.

All my love,

Over and out.

S.Mx

W7 Make-Up Review

Hello my lovelies, I hope your week is going well. Today I have a cheeky review for you so get ready to fall in love and start shopping. Last week the lovely Olivia from AquaPr sent me a few W7 make up goodies to try out and I have great things to tell you about these beauties. 

So first of all I was sent the W7 Africa Bronzer including brush. So let's start with the good; the packaging and the product is very consistent with the colours and cute pattern's which makes it so indearing. The fact this comes with a brush makes it such an ideal purchase as sometimes it's difficult to know what brushes go with what make up as there is sooo many out there (the brush is super soft and really high quality). I have really fair skin so I find it hard choosing a bronzer that doesn't make me look like an oompa loompa but with the pink blush included it really suits my skin and is super subtle. The only thing I have to fault is that if you want to create an impact with your bronze you will have to use a lot of this, but I would still highly recommend it. Its Smooth, Subtle and Silky on your skin.

So this is the first Lip Paint I've ever used (in the colour Girlie) and I really wasn't disappointed. I always use nude and light pink lip sticks/glosses so it was really good to try something different. This lip paint is a great statement piece to have in your make up bag. The bottle colour is exactly the as the lip colour which is really helpful as with some products I find the colour of the product is different to the packaging. When you first open this lip paint you get a lovely smell of mint which is really luxurious. I found it quite difficult to apply without a brush but that really didn't make me think any different of this product. When applied you get a refreshing minty sensation on your lips which was one of my favourite things about the paint. It's not sticky or gloopy, its more glossy but a bit thicker. On the back of the paint it states 'This product may stain' and to make sure to 'use either a lip primer or lip balm before applying' which is really helpful. It's easy to remove but still very long lasting, I'll definitely be using this product again.

Finally we have the Absolute Lashes. This mascara is very different to the one I usually use; my go to mascara has a really big thick blush which gives a lot of volume but the W7 brush is very much thinner and the bristles are much more spread out, I found this mean't that the brush is able to tackle every lash and spread them out a lot more instead of having them in one bold clump. The mascara is not waterproof but I found it very durable (I secretly kept it on over night and it hadn't flaked and I didn't wake up with panda eyes...I'm not condoning leaving make up on all night! hehe). For me I'd use it as a day time mascara as it's subtle but flirty at the same time...again another winner.

This is me wearing all the products I've just reviewed so I hope your all heading over to W7 right now. Just click HERE.

If you want to follow me further you can catch me on:

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All my love,

Over and out.

S.Mx

Best of London Fashion Week

5 days, 79 designers, 177 UK and international emerging and established designers and countless celebrity appearances London Fashion Week is complete and inspiring us all with the latest trends and ideas for Autumn/Winter. Sadly I didn't get a chance to attend but of course I was watching with a thousand eyes at the live stream and have got my hot picks for you below. Enjoy and imagine your sitting front row with Alexa Chung one side and Cara Delevingne the other.

FELDER FELDER

Teatum Jones 

Julien Macdonald

I've been a massive fan of Juilen Macdonald for years now; watching him of course on Project Catwalk and Next Top Model so I was extremely excited to see what he was going to show and he really didn't disappoint. As seen on Taylor Swift at the Elle Style Awards and Kim Kardashian at the BRIT Awards, Juilen pulled these romantic grunge pieces out the bag and they are absolutely stunning.

David Koma

Issa

Issa's long fringing was the stand out piece with it being fashion's current obsession with the 70's. I can't get enough of these elegant cuts with a modern twist; the movement of the fringing just puts these pieces on another level.

Antonio Berardi



Ashley Williams

All these images are from the official London Fashion Week website so if you want to take a look at more designers then click here. What will be your favourite? 

All my love,

Over and out.

S.Mx