Lipstick Review - Limecrime's 'Cashmere'

Hello lovelies! 

I recently purchased the 'Cashmere' velvetine from Lime Crime and thought I'd do a review.

Firstly, the whole buying process. So, I missed the first stocking of this beautiful lip gloss and could not wait to hear when it would be back. It was finally spilled on Instagram that a full restock would occur in the first week of January and so I checked back constantly as I was dying on a few items. Lime Crime is amazing but they rarely restock so you need to get items when they're there. 

On January the 5th (I think) I checked online at 12am (California time, where the company is based), and nothing. I checked continuously throughout the day and finally around 5pm (UK time), there appeared to be a restock. However it was only on Velvetines which to me is not a 'full restock' so disappointment number one, and then it got worse as the whole website crashed. It had crashed for about 6 hours when I eventually gave up, some people managed to get orders through and I refreshed a lot but couldn't get past the 'do you have a discount' option. So I then went and managed to grab the main one I wanted, Cashmere, from NastyGal. 

I've heard all relaunches are like this, however, I was shocked that an apology wasn't posted until the next day. No one knew the time of the restock and instead of shutting the website down during the restock it was done whilst people could still gain access, hence the crash. So in terms of the website and company, I was very disappointed. I realise they are a small company but, they know the interest in their products is very high and so should be prepared for that, or, at least apologise and keep customers up to date through social media.

Anyway, now I will review the actual product I bought and I can say, everyone needs it! The packaging is beautiful firstly, as you can see below. It came within a week which I was very impressed with (thank you NastyGal) and the colour of the lipstick was even more perfect in real life. 

I adore nude colours and love them for everyday so knew I needed this when I saw it and I was not disappointed. As you can see from the photos below it's a pink, grey, purple colour which I feel sits so well on my skin tone. Nudes can be risky when your skin is as pale as mine but this is bang on. 

Its incredibly easy to apply, like a gloss, before it dries matte which means it great for those 'got to go' moments. Plus, it does not move, mine stayed on all day and only needed a top up after I had a messy Chinese for dinner which I wouldn't expect it to withhold anyway.

Overall I'm very impressed and have recently ordered 'Salem' from Lime Crime so look out for another review on that! However, for restocks, try elsewhere to save yourself a lot of frustration on the Lime Crime website.

Lipstick review - MAC 'Velvet Teddy'

Hello guys! So another wee lipstick review today, yes another nude, if you can't tell I currently have an obsession with nude/brown tones at the minute. I feel that not only do they compliment all skin tones, but they are great for winter and keeping looks toned down for day to day. 

My go to lipsticks are always MAC as they are long wearing, well pigmented and the selection of colours is almost endless. I have seen 'Velvet Teddy' everywhere due to the Kylie Jenner lip obsession and instantly fell in love. It's a dark nude with pink and brown undertones so you just can't go wrong. 

Its very easy to apply and feels quite moisturising which is a must in the winter! I love lipsticks and always wear one so for everyday going to uni this is perfect and lasts a long time but does need topped up after eating. I expect this of every lipstick though, the only one not to that I've tried is Limecrimes velvetine's.

For £15.50 I do think its a great price as I get lots of use out of it and the quality is very good although I know that since the Kylie Jenner lip phenomenon started, many cheaper brands have brought out similar shades so have a look! Buying cheaper isn't always a bad thing and is definitely something I want to try harder at. 

I do want some lip liners to go with my nude shades however MAC is constantly sold out so any suggestions would be very helpful! 

Found here (select shade 'Velvet Teddy') - £15.50

Thanks for reading guys!
xox

Another Night Out - Gingham Jeans and Studded Crop Top

Hello everyone! So today's post is on an outfit I wore out recently that is comfortable, edgy and simple. 

As I've said in previous posts, going out on a Saturday after work is interesting as I want to be comfortable after a long, busy shift. In winter this is especially true and so this is one outfit which was ideal for me.

I am a little gothic but love to keep it girly so finding the balance between the two can be difficult. Black is my go to colour all day, everyday but I wanted to break it up a little. So, I opted for my gorgeous Topshop gingham skinny jeans - which I've recently sold on eBay - and a cropped black top with studded shoulder pads. 

The simplicity of the outfit, yet the way each piece stands out is amazing. The jeans make the outfit monochrome, a timeless fashion statement keeping it sophisticated and flattering. Joni jeans from Topshop are my go to high waisted bottoms for those who want to show off curves that aren't normally noticeable and in this print, my figure looks even better (I think). Plus these jeans completely elongate your legs and even at 5ft 9, I love this illusion high waisted items give you.

High waisted jeans and a crop top is the easiest outfit in the world but works every single time. It means only showing a little of your midriff which is more than enough for me on a winter night out! This one has shoulder pads covered in silver spikes (see photo below) which adds my gothic side and means there's no need to worry about accessorising. 

With messy natural hair and nude make-up this look is easy to pull off and at work I don't need to worry about getting ready in 10 minutes once I'm finished, a quick lipstick top up and your ready to go!

Studded shoulder pads from ASOS crop top

Thank you for reading, I'll be back with a few reviews in the next week on a couple of my recent make-up purchases!

xox

A Disney Steal in The Sale - Tesco

Hi guys! So as everyone who knows me knows, I adore Disney and constantly look online for merchandise to add to my collection. Being in the UK means there's not much available apart from kids clothing, toys, cups and stationary which I already have a lot of (not the kids clothing obviously!) and so I was delighted to find the cushion below. 

I was trailing the Tesco Direct sale page as I knew they had a lot of character cushions so figured it was worth a try to see if I could get a bargain. I saw the cushion below and instantly fell in love! 'Sleeping Beauty' is one of my top favourite films by Disney but there are few merchandising items based on it so I was ecstatic when this caught my eye. It cost £6 (absolute bargain) and I collected it in the store I work which meant free delivery.

The great thing about this item is that it seems to be one of the few things with an adult feel, that is, made more so for adults or so that adults can use as well. The picture is very sketchy which I love as obviously 'Sleeping Beauty' was all hand drawn and the quote is one of my favourites. The colours are beautiful, with the majority being pastel and can go with a variety of décor. The sizing is smaller than a typical cushion but big enough considering it's purely for decoration and therefore very much a great value for money. 

I would have happily paid around £12 for this item as it is not only actual Disney merchandise (as opposed to by Tesco) but the quality is very impressive and as I said, items like this are not common in the UK!

I shall definitely be keeping a closer eye on Tesco Direct for more home Disney items and if your a huge fan like me, its worth having a look. Prices are all justified by quality, free delivery is available and it's all authentic Disney so, you can't go wrong!

Thanks for reading,

xox

Night Out - Missguided Dress Review and Make-up overview

Hello!

This is a quite post about an outfit I wore on a night out last week! 

Below is the exact dress purchased from Miss Guided in 2013. It cost £19.99 which is cheap for a velvet dress and the initial draw in for me was the colour. I love maroon/burgundy as I feel it really flatter my red hair and this dress being velvet is so simple which means I can go to town with make-up and accessories! I bought this in a size 8 but could have went for a 6, some of MissGuided's clothes are bigger than the size and some are tiny, it's like Primark in the sense you just have to order two sizes and see which one fits best! 

Smaria Velvet Strappy Mini Dress in Burgundy

Below is me with the dress on, I couldn't get a full length photo but the dress is a few inches below my bum (I'm 5ft9 so dresses are always short on me) which was fine as I wore tights! The cut is beautiful and flattering however awkward if you would prefer to wear a bra. I went without as I didn't have one that you couldn't see with the dress on and I think I may invest in something that can be hidden as I felt slightly self-conscious.

The dress is very comfortable, which I must say I find with everything from MissGuided and it's almost two years old and in great condition. MissGuided is very much an online store with good products at cheap prices however quality is always impressive which makes it a great place to buy from!

Obviously this is an old buy however MissGuided tend to bring out similar stuff year to year alongside new stock so have a look and even if not, at least you know you can trust them as their stuff is good quality especially considering the prices your paying! I've paid a lot more for a lot worse!

Now for my make-up! I decided to try something new as I'm currently addicted to the Glam and Gore channel on YouTube (MYKIE_ on Instagram) and she has amazing tutorials. I've seen the eyeshadow/tape thing done on Instagram but never paid much attention, however, now I'm experimenting more with eye-shadow I figured I'd give it a bash. I used a random selection of eye-shadows from my Naked 3 palette and you can see just how exact the line is coming out from my eye thanks to the tape. It's a great, cheap way of making you look more professional than you are BUT, remember to remove some of the stickyness by putting the tape on your hand FIRST (I almost ripped my skin off my face first time). I added MAC's gold loose glitter on my lid with Ardell demi-wispie lashes and that was me! My lipstick is beguiled by Topshop and a great alternative to MAC if your looking for cheaper, pigmented and long lasting shades!

Hope you enjoyed this post, keep an eye out for my next one which shall be a review!

xox

Tangle Teezer Aqua Splash Review

Hello lovelies, so today is another quick little review on an item I purchased last year. I wanted to use it properly before giving a review as you can quickly change your mind!

I used to have one of the original tangle teezers which was amazing and saved me a lot of sore brushing, however, my little brother stole it so I thought (years later) I should order a replacement. If you have seen my My Hair Tips! you will know my hair is much thicker and longer than it ever has been and thus brushing is a nightmare. I often wear my hair natural meaning in the Winter it gets super tuggy from my jacket collar and getting those tugs out is a huge, painful task. Even worse though is after a shower when my hairs tuggy from sleeping and that's the main reason I went for the Aqua Splash Teezer which is pictured below.

Black Pearl £12.95

It is supposed to help detangle your hair after you have showered and your hair is still wet. However, I wasn't too impressed. It hurt (unlike the other one I had) and only seemed to get to the top layers of my hair meaning the proper tuggy bits were awkward to reach or had to be done with my normal large brush. I must emphasise though that my hair is incredibly thick and long so that may have an impact on the use as years ago when I had thinner, layered, shorter hair, it worked a treat!

In addition, it is really quite awkward to hold and I dropped it multiple times when trying to get tugs out,

So for me this wasn't a good product at all, but I do put that down mostly to my super thick hair! Therefore, don't let it put you off fully although I do recommend the original one more so than this!

Thanks for reading 

xo

LUSH! Review - Snow Fairy

Hello lovelies, here's a quick post on Snow Fairy which I received for Xmas!

So I love Lush and have a good few products which I'll be reviewing in the coming weeks however my absolute favourite has to be the Snow Fairy shower gel. I was given the 250 ml bottle for Christmas and this is the first time I've even heard of this product.
The smell is very much like candy but not sickly so is absolutely amazing and actually stays on you for a good while, unlike many other shower gels. It's a lovely pink colour and comes in a plastic bottle with a pretty label so livens up your bathroom.
In terms of usage, this gel lathers up a lot which means you don't need a lot of product and therefore although it's quite expensive (around £7 I think?), it does last and the smell is definitely worth it! I've used it as a bubble bath which is just as great as the smell stays the whole time, I honestly cannot emphasise how good it is!

The only problem I have with this product is that it is limited edition and so only comes out during the festive period. Therefore I'll be buying myself he largest bottle next year as it's my new favourite! 

Thanks for reading this post, I'll be writing as much as I can on my blog as it will be a break from university work so keep an eye out!

xox

Topshop Mittens!

Hello everyone!

So I live in Edinburgh which means it's pretty damn cold during the Winter months! I managed until very recently without gloves however with going back to uni, I need to keep warm for walking around on cold mornings.

I don't know why but plain black gloves just do not boat well with me, I just think gloves are a way to add to an outfit when accessories can't always be seen with big jackets and jumpers so impress where you can.

Topshop always have beautiful faux fur items in Winter so I went their first and fell in love with the mittens below. 

Firstly, how cosy and cute do they look? In winter I like to be warm and don't mind dressing down more to ensure I am not catching a cold but as mentioned, outer garments don't need to be plain so these hit the spot. They look like their made for an Inuit they are so fuffy!

The mitten look is also brilliant in my book as I just think they are cuter and warmer. I realise it makes things a little difficult i.e. texting but, I can sacrifice that to keep warm and have cute gloves. 

Now, they get better, the main reason I got them is because of the underside (palm area) of the mittens, theres paw prints! So these actually look like animals paws which is just the sweetest and animals always look warm with their big fur coats so having their feet (in a sense) must be a good thing in freezing temperatures. I also regularly get referred to as a lion of sorts because of my red hair and its fullness and curlyness when left natural so I really did need these!

These beauties were not cheap, they cost £20, however all winter accessories seem to be getting more expensive. I already have a scarf and hats from previous years in amazing condition as well so as I didn't need to replace those I felt I could justify these more so. They are worth the money in terms of their primary use as well as they keep my hands ridiculously cosy which warms me right up and so were well worth the money. Plus I know these will keep until the winter of this year as well as Topshop's stuff stays in great condition providing it's looked after.

Thanks for reading,

xox

Making Some Money

Hello guys!

A quick little post based on a question I get asked a lot - how do you afford all your purchases? Now the blog is based on the fact that I am a student and therefore am unable to work full-time. I do get a student loan and bursary however have rent and 100 bills to pay. Therefore, I need to find ways to make extra money especially during term time when I don't have the time to take up extra shifts at work.
Ebay is a huge success for me in terms of making extra cash over longer periods of time. I have so many clothes that are in incredible condition but I've just outgrown them and want them to go to a good home. All items I sell are at least half price to what I paid, everything is in mint condition and that's how I am able to sell so much.
I also buy a lot of eBay and Amazon where prices are cheaper, like eyelashes for example. In boots a single pair of Ardell demi-wispies is £5.49. However, I can get 4 pairs off Amazon for £9.75 so I'm saving £10 there already. It's not always about saving lots of money so even a couple of pound will add up over time especially if you stick it into your savings!
For anyone wanting to have a look my eBay is - alisondavidson94 - I always have items on it in sizes 8/10 and shoe size 5.

My Hair Tips!

Hello everyone, so I thought I'd do a little post on my hair as I'm constantly asked how it's so long and full when not so long ago it was only shoulder length.

Below is a photograph of my hair the last time I got it properly cut (i.e not just a fringe trim) and was just under 11 months ago. As you can see its (when my arms down) resting just above my chest. I did have some layers put in and my hair looks particularly thin, especially at the ends and so I always straightened it because when natural it look particularly uneven.
I was dying on longer, fuller hair and contemplated micro-loop extensions after being told it could take two years for it to grow past my chest and be full all over. I didn't really have the money to get proper extensions though and knew cheap ones wouldn't help my hair and so was pretty disappointed. Thinking about what stopped hair being healthy I came up with a super simple solution. I was washing, blowing and straightening my hair every 2 days which is a lot when your hair is meant to experience it's natural oils. It was dry and so I decided to leave it partially untouched until I was happy with it.

I started washing my hair less and less and now can go 4/5 days without washing it, although my fringe needs washed every two but that's not an issue. I went about 8 months where I straightened my hair maybe once or twice during that time and would keep blow drying to a minimum i.e. would only blow dry my fringe and do a quick 5 minute blast of my hair to get it started. 

I noticed a sudden difference in my hair as the quality and softness of it improved almost instantly. It was shiny all the time, not just after using a hair treatment, and it was getting thicker and thicker. Then only just over 10 months later my hair has significantly changed.

The only way to describe my hair is like a lions mane. It can take 25 minutes to dry due to the thickness and is just ridiculously soft. I can now straighten and curl my hair without feeling like I'm just burning it to a singe and it's just a lot more interesting to work with. Considering it's been so little a time period the difference is amazing considering all I did was stop burning my hair really.
Although many people don't want to go so long without straightening their hair I do recommend that if you want to improve on condition, length and fullness that you only use heat when it's necessary. Pony tails, fish tails, plaits and buns are great hairstyles that don't require straight hair so your not only helping your locks, but making things a little more interesting. Also, there's no need to wash your hair every day, nor every two days. It doesn't look greasy and your hair will gradually almost learn to stay clean! When I washed my hair every two days on day three it looks filthy but now on occasion I've went a week without shampooing it because it's making use of natural oils but without being greasy.
In addition to the already big list of pros, your also saving yourself a lot of time. No one enjoys washing, drying and straightening their hair! It's time consuming and boring so keeping it to a minimum makes your life a lot easier as well.
This method is easy, costs nothing and has very dramatic results so don't waste money on these vitamins and super shampoos when you don't need to!

Thanks for reading guys
xox

Naked 3 Palette Review

Hi guys! Today I'll be doing a review of the Naked 3 palette which I recently purchased so if you want to find out what I thought then please keep reading.

I've started to experiment more with make-up recently as I normally stick to wearing the same thing day in day out. I have always hated wearing eyeshadow as I was unable to blend correctly and nothing it worse than badly applied eyeshadow. Of course practise makes perfect and after buying a blending eye brush from MAC I figured I'd like to try wearing eyeshadow properly. 

I've heard and seen Naked by Urban Decay everywhere and knew it had to be added to my make up collection. With pale skin, red hair and the fact I normally opt for bright lipstick, I knew going from nude colours was definitely going to be for the best. I also adore nude lipsticks and browns really flatter my skin tone and you can never over do it with them.

Below is a photograph of the palette itself, I got the newest one simply because it did contain more colours that I would wear. As you can see there's a cream/pink colour, pinks and browns that gradually get darker. There's also a mixture of matte and shimmer shades which make it the perfect set to build up your eye shadow as if your like me, I love to use a matte base. 

The colours you see are exactly how they look on and are very easily applied. You do get a brush included which is quite fluffy like a blending brush at one end and more rigid at the other. This means one side is perfect for of course, blending and the typical over lid shadow with the other end useful for placing colour in more precise areas such as the inner corner. 

Since I got the product a couple of months ago I have used it on a good few occasions. Luckily though a little goes a long way as you barely need any product on your brush when applying it. Thus although it is £37, it does pay you back as these small sections last ages. Plus, they don't speckle all over your face causing a mess which makes life a lot easier when your in a rush. 

Below is a photograph of myself wearing a couple of the matte shades (very lightly) for a simple everyday look but you can see how the colour palette is perfect for my skin and hair colour. I'll be continuing to use this item and I honestly just use random concoctions as all the colours look brilliant together!

I highly recommend buying this product if you love nude shades as every one you need is in this product. The casing alone is gorgeous and very sturdy which keeps everything in peak condition. Very worth the money and a must have for every make up kit in my opinion!

Thanks for reading

xox

New Years Eve Outfit!

Happy 2015 everyone!
Hope you all had a brilliant night whatever you done and are looking forward to this year! This post is about what I wore, make-up and my antics on NYE.

First of all outfit! I wore a jumpsuit that is actually for over a bikini on New Years eve and I bought it in the Summer out of Topshop. It cost £34 which is pricey for just wearing at the beach, but, my intentions were otherwise. When I got the item and put it on I thought it was really flattering and would be great for a night out so after it laying in my wardrobe for months, I decided to wear it. The plunging neckline is what initially drew me to the jumpsuit as it's so flattering, especially for me whose small chested and thus I love wearing necklines like these. This is what makes it fit for a night out as it's a little risky but looks amazing so shouldn't be wasted over a wet bikini I don't think!
In addition, it's full length and the bottoms are wide leg meaning the plunge isn't too much and thus keeps the look sophisticated.
The material is comfortable and stretchy making it perfect for wearing whilst eating and drinking as if your like me, bloating is the worst part of a night out in a restricting outfit!

As always I had a lot of fun doing my make-up and was able to go a little over the top as my outfit was all black. So I opted for my usual make-up base and build up eye shadow using a variety of colours from the Naked 3 until I was happy with the colour. I added Red Cherry Lashes in number 43 which are lightweight and look extremely natural so perfect for me as I like my eyes to pop but don't want the eyelashes to overpower the rest of my make-up. I then put loose gold glitter (reviewed in a previous post) under my waterline and attached it with eyelash glue so it went from under my tear duct, to the outer edge of my eye. I have been loving glitter recently and NYE is the perfect time to get use out of it, it completely jazzed up my outfit and stayed put all night. Then with coffee (MAC) eye kohl on my waterline to finish, my eyes were made very dark and dramatic which went with the outfit perfectly.

On my lips I used MAC's Myth matte lipstick which is a beautiful matte colour and kept my eyes as the focus point. 

I also done some contouring using the Sleek make-up 2 colour contour palette and Benefit's 'Watts Up' highlighting stick. This emphasised my bone structure and kept the look fierce, making it one of my favourites!

For NYE I was supposed to be working until 10pm however my manager kindly let me away an hour early as she knew I was going out. My hair and make-up was already done and so I quickly got changed before heading to a friends house in Kirkliston where he lives on a farm. The house was lovely and really big meaning there was plenty of room to mingle with everyone, the host kindly provided food (SCORE!) and I had way too much to drink.
It was an absolutely amazing night though spent with great friends and my amazing other half just being drunk and silly. I managed to call my family members just after midnight which was a first as normally getting through is an absolute nightmare so was happy to be able to wish them all a happy new year!
A bunch of us crashed and got a taxi home on the 1st where I napped and ate a lot of Chinese food which tastes so good when your not hungover from the night before!

Thanks for reading what I got up to this New Year, I'm excited to keep up to date with this blog and I have so many plans for this year. It's going to be a great one!
xox

Out for the Night - Stuck Between Two!

Hello again :)

So today I'm going to show you two outfit ideas for one top that I was stuck between recently. I have so many going out clothes and love mixing and matching so getting ready is a nightmare as something I forgot I had always catches my eye.

Outfit number one is the cagey style bralet from Topshop which was purchased last year at £25. I'm sure you would find one on eBay or Depop if you had a look though. I hadn't worn this item until this outing and so was determined to put it on as its edgy, flattering and comfortable. I originally paired it with the tartan midi skirt seen below which was also bought from Topshop last year. I don't know the price however similar items can be purchased from other stores at a variety of price ranges. I love a midi skirt as it's sophisticated, elongates your legs and in this pattern, just livens up the outfit. If I had chosen this combination it would have been paired with my silver studded Jeffery Campbell platform heels.

Outfit number two features the same bralet as above, but, paired with high wasited super ripped Ragged Priest jeans. I bought these through Topshop in a size 10 and they cost £55. The size 8 was ridiculously small, I struggled to get them over my thighs but these are a little too big - ironic I know. BUT, with a belt and a fitting top, they look like mom jeans. The rips I love as again they add to the edgy look and the all black means you can go all out with make up. I paired this outfit with black chunky cleated boots.

I chose to wear the jeans and bralet combo because I was working until 10 that night and was not in the mood to walk around a club in huge heels. Midi skirts/dresses in my opinion look a lot better with larger heels and so the jeans meant I could have a low heel comfy boot on. Also, who doesn't love an all black outfit?

Above are a couple of photo's from the night out itself!

I'll be posting my NYE outfit up soon for you all to see so keep your eyes peeled!

xox