Fiction Friday: Before I Go To Sleep

You may remember a previous Fiction Friday post where I informed you that I was beginning to indulge into the thriller side of fiction, and boy has the continued. When I gave my aunt back her books she lent me a couple more, and amongst them was S J Watson's Before I Go To Sleep. 

This book has been one of those that I've found myself racing home from work and staying up past my bed time to read. It just had me hooked so I knew I had to share it again.

Just like with the other books, it wasn't a scary thriller, but one that left you on edge wanting to know what happened. It's hard to find a character you can trust, and sometimes you find yourself even doubting the protagnoist too; which is what makes it such a page turner. I just found myself desperate to know what happens next.

Unlike with Gone Girl, which did have quite a few dramatic twists, the twists in this book are constant and actually 'gasp' worthy. It really shocks you at so many different points.

A little about the plot, without spoilers. It's based around a woman called Christine who has amenisa after an accident, and each morning she wakes up either thinking she's a child or in her early twenties with no current memories. She then has to be reminded each day who she is and who she lives with etc. As the book goes on you see how she tries to remember past events and comes to terms with things that have happened in her life since the accident.

Really interesting, really gripping and I highly recommend it.

Have you read this? What do you think?

Laura

Friday Find: Pinterest

Ok, I admit, I am totally late to the Pinterest party. I originally tried to sign up when you still had to be invited to join. I finally set it all up to see what all the fuss was about, and left a little confused so began to neglect it.

I've always had a bit of a thing for Tumblr. I don't know why, I think it's due to the endless scrolling and re-blogging of anything that takes your fancy without needing to place it in a category. But boy have times changed. I now find myself becoming anxious for re-blogging an image with out placing it on a certain board first. (I lead a very sad life, I'm fully aware.)

My Pinterst addiction began around Christmas. I use Pinterest for work, and after a few months of working on the company one, I began wondering if it was time to work on my own. Enter Christmas and Christmas images and I was hooked. Now I love Christmas, a lot, and Pinterest helped further my love and give me new and exciting ideas for decorations, gifts and most importantly, FOOD.

Now that Christmas has come and gone (sob) I thought Pinterest would lose its charm, but no, my love has stayed firm. I tend to have a good old pinning session right before bed, or peruse the popular page whilst watching the TV.

Are you addicted too? Leave me your boards below!

Laura xoxo

You can follow my boards here: http://www.pinterest.com/callofbeauty/

Best of the Bronzers

When writing this post, the sun is shining and summer appears to be on it's way, but I am scheduling it for the future, so who knows what the weather is doing. Anyway, due to the nice weather, I've been digging out my bronzers, trying to pretend I've just spent the week in St Tropez (a girl can dream!)

First up Clarins Bronzing Duo in Light. I bought this hoping it would be a nice contour colour, but it definitely a bronzing shade. What I love about it is the fact it is quite light, which is nice as I'm of the paler variety, and it has hint of shimmer in it that leaves a lovely healthy glow on the skin. Perfect for days you want a healthy sunkissed glow.

Next, my favourite 'bronzer' bronzer; Benefit Hoola. For me this tops Nars Laguna and is great for an all over colour to my cheeks. It is slightly orange, rather than brown, but blended out nicely it looks lovely.

Finally, a mixture of the two, but from the highstreet, Collection Mosiac Bronzer. This swatched the best, and is so pigmented. On the skin it looks so glowy and bronzed and just basically summer in a pan. Perfect if you're on a budget. 

For a full review on each, just click the name (it's a link)

What are your favourite bronzers?

Laura xoxo

Cream of the Crop

I seem to have a thing for cream blushers at the moment. I don't know why, the powder ones haven't done anything wrong, I just seem to be reaching past them for something with a more blend-able formula. I also think that cream blushers give your skin a glow that powders can not achieve. So this post is focused on my favourite three.

I'm not very adventurous with colours am I?

Max Factor Miracle Touch Blush - This is such a good little blush, it should be having its own post soon, but it applies so effortlessly and gives a lovely pop of colour to the cheeks. The formula is brilliant, spot on for a cream blush.

Maybelline Dream Touch Blush - I've recently featured this in a Throwback Thursday. I bought it ages ago, before I was properly into make-up, and it's so good. It is really pigmented and blends so well.

Nars Multiple - I love these multiples. I think I may have mentioned them once or twice on this old blog! They are just the best. Shame they're so bloomin' expensive.

What are your favourite cream blushers?

Laura xoxo

What's in my Basket?

I kept the product I was using the same over Christmas, but I am putting the festive season firmly behind me along with the Christmas tree. I am totally getting ready for spring now. With that in mind, I've tried to work in some dewy glowy products into my basket.

Rimmel Wake Me Up

Loreal the minerals 

Loreal Lumi Magique Base

Witch Primer

Nars Multiples in South Beach and Portofino

Laura Mercier Coral Red Quad

MAC The Perfect Cheek Blush

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder

Collection 2000 Mosaic Glow

Benefit Watts Up

Tan De Chanel

MAC MSF in Soft and Gentle

What are you using this month?

Laura xoxo

What's in my Basket? #2

So I thought it was time I got around to switching up my basket again. I think it's so easy to get into a rut, and plus I may have got a few new products, but shhh, don't tell my mom!

Loreal Lumi Magique Base

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation

Dior Forever Skin Foundation

Collection 2000 Foundation

Smashbox Primer

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder

No7 Vital Enlightening Highlighter

Jemma Kidd Dewy Glow

Benefit Hoola Bronzer

Nars Multiples in South Beach and Portofino

MAC Lovejoy

Chanel Bronze Universal

No7 Art Deco Palette - Review Soon

Urban Decay Half Baked

MAC Painterly 

Have you switched up your products lately?

:Laura xoxo

Top Five Lust Haves

I thought what better way to end my Top Five series than with one all about the current products I'm lusting after. To be honest I could've made this a Top 100 list, I'm always wanting something, shamefully, but thought I'd leave it at five.

Nars Laguna - I don't feel like I can call myself a Beauty Blogger if I don't own this. I hear it is the best. Is it?

Alpha H Liquid Gold - Again, I hear this thing does wonders, and who doesn't want perfect skin?

Jemma Kidd Dewy Glow in Iced Gold - I need, yes need a cream highlighter, and this one is calling to me.

Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner - I have a Maybelline one and it has dried up, I didn't use it enough 'cause I didn't like the brush, but now I have the right brush I wanna try this little guy.

MAC Peaches - Kind of wanna build a blush palette, and really want this one!!!

What are you lusting after at the moment?

Laura xoxo 

Top Products - Top 5 Blushes

So I've seen a lot of people doing Top Ten or Top Five posts, so I thought why not give it a go. I was going to do a top five of everything, but I don't actually have that much make-up for all the categories haha, so some may be five and the other maybe three! I hope you like see what my favourite products are.

L-R Clockwise: Rimmel London Winter Glow//MAC Dainty//The Balm Cabana Boy// Benefit Hervana// MAC Lovejoy

Now at the moment I'm a bit blush crazy. So these are my favourites at the moment. They're pretty much the same, but slightly different.

Order, same as above!

Rimmel, Winter Glow: This is one of the first blushes I got and it's just a nice red toned almost plum blush. I also love the whole concept of mixing colours to get a new one, that is my favourite type of blush. 

MAC Dainty: This is a gorgeous pinky peachy shimmery colour that I find perfect for a light summer look. It is just a nice light, dainty (I had to do it, I'm sorry! My inner Chandler Bing made me!)

The Balm, Cabana Boy: This is a nice plummy raspberry colour which is super pigmented with a tiny bit of shimmer. It looks so pretty on, and I really love it. Plus, how amazing is the packaging?

Benefit Hervana: I love this pale pink colour, and it smells amazing! Another swirl all the colours together blusher. 

MAC Lovejoy: I've banged on about this product so many times. But is such a good all rounder colour, and a firm favourite. A lovely warm brown colour that is just so easy to wear!

What's your favourite blush?

Laura xoxo

P.S If you want to see these blushes on, the title is a link :)

Fave Face

So if you follow me on Twitter you will know that I have finally handed in all of my coursework for Second Year (early 'cause that's just how I roll) and, as I have no exams, I have now finished for summer. YAY. Therefore I did not schedule a post for today, and thought I'd have a chilled out morning, type up my post, watch a little youtube and read some blogs. Cue no internet!!!  Gutted. But I have now got it fixed (yay) so all is not lost, and the house is looking nice and sparkly (good daughter points) so, my post is just a little later than normal, which probably won't bother you, but annoys my OCD ways.

Anyway, today I am sharing my favourite face of the moment, 'cause I don't really have an everyday face:

Base:

Chanel Tan De Solei

Estee Lauder Double Wear Light mixed with Loreal Lumi Magique Primer

Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer

Soap and Glory Trick & Treatment concealer

Eyes:

MAC Paint Pot in Painterly

Loreal Super Liner

Max Factor High Definition Mascara

And if I'm feeling daring some Front Cover Baked Bronze in the crease 

'Cause I over plucked my eyebrows, I kinda need to fill them in daily, enter MUA eyebrow pencil

Cheeks:

MAC Mineralise Blush in Dainty

No.7 Vital Brights Highlighter

Lips:

Revlon Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie, still haven't bought into the hype, but I like this colour!

Apparently I can't pull normal faces in pictures at the moment, but here is an idea of what it looks like all together.

I'm off to get ready and meet some friends now, I hope you're all having lovely days.

What's your favourite face at the moment?

Laura xoxo

February Favourites

Another month over, another lot of favourites to share with you all.

Real Techniques Brushes: I am so in love with these brushes. As soon as I spotted them in Boots I went ahead and picked up the Stippling Brush and the Blush Brush (pink handles.) One cost £9.99 and the other £10.99 (I can't remember which, I think the stippling was the more expensive.) I love how these apply my make-up, they are so soft and I couldn't imagine not using them now. I then went back and picked up the Core Collection for £21.99, pretty steep, but for the number of brushes worth it. I got this pack mainly for the Buffing brush because as much as I love the Stippling, it has to be cleaned properly after every use, and at uni I don't have the ability to do that, whereas the Buffing brush is much better at going a couple of days without needing to be washed. I know a lot of people don't really comment on the other brushes in that set, however I've only had them a couple of days and used all four. The contour brush is extremely good and I used the little one for applying lipstick and the foundation brush to blend in concealer.

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Anti Chip Top Coat: This little beauty appears in all of my NOTD's and I thought it deserved a place in my favourites. I don't know how I coped without it. For an avid nail painter this cuts drying time down ridiculously, I know longer have to wait, hands out like an idiot, waiting for it to dry. I have managed to convert some of my friends to it. I recommend it to anyone who paints their nails regularly or who doesn't have much time.

Max Factor High Definition Mascara: I know a lot of people rave about the Max Factor False Lash Effect, however I am obsessed with this one. I found it in November and have used it pretty much everyday since. It really elongates and seperates my lashes and gives such a natural, but better finish to my lashes. Couldn't recommend it enough.

Garnier Youthful Radiance Night Moisturiser: I am loving using this so much at the moment. It feels clean and fresh and really moisturises my skin over night. I did a post about this yesterday, here, if you want more details.

Clean and Clear Morning Burst: I'm loving using this in the morning. It smells gorgeous and leaves your skin looking fresh, bright and awake after a good nights sleep. It's a really nice way to start my day.

I also want to share with you my five favourite Blog's I've been reading this month:

http://www.ducklingtoswan.com/
http://www.blushworks.com/
http://www.icovetthee.com/
http://jemimaandted.blogspot.com/
http://www.thesundaygirl.com/

Hope you've all had a great month.

Laura xoxo

Breakfast anyone?

I thought I'd share a product that I am really loving at the moment and it is the Soap And Glory Breakfast Scrub. I was really tempted to put it in my January Favourites but I have only been using it for the last two weeks, so it'll probably go in my February Favourites instead.

I got this scrub from Boots for around £9, which for a body scrub I thought is quite a lot, however I can say it is worth every last penny.

I have suffered from really bad rough skin on my arms and no scrubs have managed to smooth it down enough for my liking, but this scrub is amazing. My arm feels so soft after using it and smells amazing. I follow it with my Garnier 7 day Hydrating Moisturiser and my arms stay soft for days. I use it every time I shower and it has made such a difference to my skin, I couldn't recommend it enough.

It is a really thick consistency, yet when you start to rub it into your skin it becomes much thinner and easy to manage.  It is a sugar scrub rather than a salt scrub which I thought would be too soft to sort out my skin but it actually works really well. It also has a gorgeous maple smell which reminds me of a cereal bar.

Overall I give this a 8/10 as I don't like how you have to scoop it out which is slightly annoying and because it comes out thick at first bits tend to drop off, and it is still £9. But apart from that can not get enough of this product.

What Soap and Glory products do you like?

Laura xoxo