Flower Power

Finding an outfit for both dining out and a bar can be tricky, you don't want to feel overdressed for the restaurant or underdressed for the bar. A smart/casual dress is perfect for this type of occasion. 

I came across this gorgeous flower ensemble in a small boutique called Dizzy in Romford, Essex... pot luck! I teamed it with blue floral print shoes from River Island and a white clutch from Primark. Jewellery was minimal with a flower necklace from Oasis and earrings and a Bracelet Tresor Paris. 

I usually wear my hair big and bouncy for a night out, however I didn't want the pink to be overpowering. Putting it up in a bun took away some of the attention from my hair. 

What would you wear for this type of occasion? I would love to know.

Monday's Miracle

bareMinerals Ready Bronzer, £24.00

Are you looking for a bronzer that offers a matte natural looking finish? bareMinerals Ready Bronzer could be the answer.


Having used Burberry Beauty Warm Glow Bronzer, £31.00, and Mac Bronzing Powder, £20.00, consistently for the past year. I decided it was time to broaden my horizons and discover a new bronzer. Little did I know I was going to find a new love - bareMinerals Ready Bronzer! 

With a vast range of bronzers on the market it was a little daunting to know where to start. My research consisted of flicking through magazines and looking at online beauty blogs for reviews. Before now I hadn't used the bareMinerals brand before. It's one thing trying a new product, another trying a completely new brand.   

It was when I read the bareMinerals bronzer contains: "antioxidants with cold-pressed carrot oil... and lasts for up to 8 hours" I had to try this! I was enticed in by the natural ingredients because my skin can be sensitive. It also claims: "this silky long-wearing formula delivers skin-nourishing benefits and firmer-looking skin."

Indeed it does live up to it's claims. It leaves my skin with a silky finish and a subtle warm glow. The longevity of this bronzer is amazing! The only time I have to reapply it is after a hardcore gym session. 

There are three shades available to choose from. I was recommended by the sales assistant to use the "skinny dip, light tan." As you can see above it looks very light on my finger, worried it was going to be too light, the sales assistant assured me it's a product that's buildable. Meaning the colour can be built up to the desired shade. So unless you spend ages applying coat after coat of bronzer, there's no chance this bronzer will ever leave you looking like an oompa loompa.

It comes with a handy mirror, perfect for carrying around in your handbag. It's £24.00 here: http://www.bareminerals.co.uk/bareMinerals-READY-Bronzer/Masterreadybronzer,default,pd.html  


If there's anything that will perk up your complexion on a Monday morning it's this bronzer!

Have you tried this bronzer? Do you rate it? I would love to know.

It’s not you...it’s your red trousers!



Attention men! Never dress like this for a date.

There’s always that one ‘thing’ – whether it’s his shoes, hair, jeans or moustache that turns you off, it can completely ruin the date before it’s even begun.

For me it was his bright RED trousers.

Groomed and preened he stood at the entrance of the station waiting for me to arrive. As I walked towards him the first thing that caught my attention was his bright RED trousers. Too late to turn around I greeted him with a wide smile. 

“You look lovely,” he said.

“Thank you,” I replied.

Call me vain and materialistic but I couldn't respond "so do you” because it would have been a lie. Admittedly he looked great from the waist up, but a tragedy on the bottom half.

I had met red trouser guy once before. Good looking, charming and very funny, I was ecstatic when he asked me on a date. But I didn’t fancy him the second time around. The red trousers had immediately put me off.

Honestly I consider myself an open-minded and down to earth person, so a pair of trousers should not have stopped me from fancying him. Cliché as it sounds; it’s what’s on the inside that counts, right? Plus the exterior can be changed.

During the date the conversation flowed satisfactorily. The spark wasn’t there and I knew I wasn’t going to see him again. The trousers killed the conversation, if you get what I mean?

During the course of our conversation bizarrely he asked: “What do you think of my outfit, do you like my trousers?” 

Was he psychic? Did he notice my eyes wondering to his legs more often than his face?

Ironically he said: “My sister (who works in fashion) told me not to wear these trousers, but I like them and wanted to wear them tonight.”

“THEY ARE BLOODY HIDEOUS! WHY WOULD YOU IGNORE YOUR FASHIONISTA SISTERS ADVICE?” I wanted to scream.

Unfortunately I’m not a mean person and replied: “It’s very brave of you to go against your sister’s advice, but they’re nice.” 

Sometimes lying is the only option.

The red trousers had completely put me off. What a bitch?

And In case you’re wondering? Indeed that was the last time I saw the red trousers.

I know I’m not alone on the subject of dating and that ‘one thing’. A friend of mine solely looks at guys shoes first before looking at his face. Has anyone else experienced a date like this? What puts you off? I would love to know and it would help confirm that I’m not a total cow!

Comment below or tweet me https://twitter.com/CharlotteJonsie

Is squatting the new selfie?

Hey guys and gals, I write for an online publication called LoveThat Mag: http://lovethatmag.com/

I have written a feature about squatting being the new selfie and would love to know you what you think? 

Forget the thigh gap and self-proclaimed ‘look at me’ selfies because a new trend is taking the nation by storm and it’s called ‘She Squats’. The new craze exhibits images of women’s toned buttocks, bottoms, buns, arses (however you wish to call the rear end) are posted on social media sites to be celebrated.

Shapely behinds were being showcased online long before Miley Cyrus’ MTV VMA’s twerking performance, and the trend seems to be continuously growing. Facebook page ‘Yeh, She Squats’ was born October 2012 and now has a phenomenal fan base of 618,570 likes...

Check out the full feature here: http://lovethatmag.com/be-healthy/is-squatting-the-new-selfie/

Monday’s Miracle!

 

“I don’t have time” is probably the most common excuse used not to workout. But surprisingly these people find time to sit on the sofa and watch Eastenders of an evening or socialise over a glass of wine. And I’m not suggesting for one minute you shouldn’t be able to do these things, but if you’re consistently doing them and avoiding exercise not only your waistline will suffer, your health will too.

The NHS recommend “at least 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity such as cycling or fast walking every week, and muscle-strengthening activities on two or more days that work all major muscle groups.”

If you can’t possibly find the time to commit to this amount of exercise a week, an app called ‘Daily Workouts’ is perfect for busy people who don’t have the time. You can exercise in as little as five minutes, the first level is free and you can workout wherever you go. Try getting out of this one...

The app has six exercise options; Ab, Arm, Butt, Cardio, Leg and Full workout. You have the choice to workout for 5, 7.5 or 10 minutes. Alternatively if you wish to increase the length of your workout, I suggest doing each exercise option for 10 minutes giving you a total body workout.

There are three levels to choose from. Level one consists of basic moves and is perfect for beginners. However if like you’re a gym bunny like myself you will have to purchase level 2 and 3 for tougher exercises. If you’re already hitting the gym after work, this is a fab way to tone target areas and feel an immediate effect.

This app has been part of my daily morning routine. As much as I feel inclined to stay in bed for an extra 10 minutes, I decide against it and instead do 10 minutes of exercise. Thanks to this app I don’t feel like I’m dragging my arse up the tube escalators.

Everyone has a spare 5-10 minutes a day and I guarantee you it will lift your mood on a Monday morning. Start the week positive and download the app today!  

Do you use this app? How do you workout if you don't have time? Let me know below...

You can find out more about this app here: http://dailyworkoutapps.com/dailyworkoutapps/Daily_Workouts.html

Pretty Gets Gritty

As London Fashion Week kicks off, it can only mean one thing Autumn/Winter 2013 is here!Depressing as it is, we bid farewell to bright corals and rosy cheeks and say hello to punk purples and ‘Vunk’.

Fashion guru Donatella combined the spiky edge of punk and glamour of Versace for her A/W 13’ collection earlier this year, giving birth to a new trend ‘Vunk’. The colour palette black and red showcased gothicism, fetishism and danger with occasional bursts of yellow, white and deep purple.

It’s set to be the hottest trend this season. So be the first to rock the A/W 13’ ‘Vunk’ beauty look and here’s how to do it. Pretty gets gritty this A/W13'

Find out how to rock the A/W13' look here: http://lovethatmag.com/be-healthy/pretty-just-got-gritty/

Monday’s Miracle

Giorgio Armani Maestro Concealer

If the bags under your eyes this morning looked as if you’d done your weekly shop at Tesco, you could possibly benefit from using Armani’s Maestro Concealer.

A weekend of socialising and partying can leave eyes looking puffy and weary. This is the perfect pick me up on a Monday morning.  

Honestly it’s a god send!

Priced at £27.50 it’s not necessarily cheap, however I bought this in January and I use it every day, there are no signs of it running out. It’s definitely worth every penny in my opinion.

My eye before the Armani concealer is applied. Notice the blue/purple tone around my eye. 

Apply a small line under each eye (like above) and with a small brush or your finger, blend it in under your eye and over your eyelids. When blended the eye looks hydrated and brightened.

As you can see by the pictures, the concealer has corrected the purple tone and dark circle under my eye that can be seen in the first picture.  

The result - The under the eye area looks hydrated and revived. It moisturises tired eyes and fades any blue/purple tones. The longevity is it lasts all day.

The only problem I have with this product is the name. Although it has been labelled a concealer, I wouldn't necessarily call it this, rather a corrector, as it 'corrects' the eye. I also wouldn't recommend using this product anywhere else on the face other than under the eye, it wouldn't conceal a spot and would most probably cause breakouts because of the hydrating texture.

Hurrah - no more Monday morning baggage!

Have you tried this concealer? What's your Monday Miracle? I would love to know! 

Vaseline launches a third limited edition lip tint!

Vaseline Paint The Town Red Lip Tint, £3.49

Embrace your inner socialite with Vaseline’s NEW Limited Edition ‘Paint The Town Red’ Lip Therapy, available exclusively at Selfridges.

Apply the rouge petroleum jelly to your lips with your index finger. Wear alone for a subtle red tint or on top of your lipstick for a glamorous sheen.

Honestly it smells good enough to eat, with a gorgeous spiced red berry scent. Not only does it add gloss to your lips but moisturises them too. This is a must-have for inside your handbag.

Don’t forget red lips are hot this A/W 13’ and party season is just around the corner, this is perfect for creating kissable lips.

It’s £3.49 and available exclusively at Selfridges. http://www.selfridges.com/en/Beauty/Categories/Shop-Make-up-colour/Lips/Paint-The-Town-lip-therapy_277-73029548-96095089/

Monday’s Miracle!

No one likes Monday’s, the weekend’s over and it’s only just the beginning of a long week ahead. Everyone’s already counting down the days until the next one. The morning commute is profoundly silent and the ambience is deadly! (I’m frightened to look at someone, because they look like they want to kill me).

Whether you’ve had a heavy alcohol fuelled weekend or over indulged in food, we’re all looking for a miracle on a Monday to restore ourselves back to normality.

This is where I come in. I’m going to try and help, by introducing a regular blog post called ‘Monday’s Miracle’ which will feature a product or a tip that in my opinion is a miracle worker.

Here’s my first Monday Miracle...

 

Benefit they're real! mascara, £19.50

 

If you haven’t already, you must try Benefit’s ‘they’re real! mascara’  It’s the UK's No.1 best-selling mascara! for a reason.

The reasons are;

·         It transforms short lashes into elegant long lashes.

·         No more panda eyes! This mascara is smudge proof and has honestly never left black residue under or above my eyes.  

·         The wand is a comb, which helps separates the eyelashes. I’ve never experienced any clumps with this mascara. It also has thin spikes at the top enabling you to reach the root, inner and bottoms of your lashes easily.

·         Only a few coats are needed for natural looking eyelashes.

·         People have complimented my eyelashes! That’s enough for me to never change mascaras again!

 

My eyelashes with Benefit's mascara 

 

   Opening your eyes on a Monday will have never have felt so good. And next time someone gives you a dirty look on your commute, flutter those lashes!   

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Battle of the bases

Are you waking up an extra half an hour daily to apply your make up before work? (Admittedly I do, guys have it so much easier, right?) Only to get on the tube, bus or car and sweat like a P.I.G. By the time you've reached your destination, you're several tissues down (from mopping your top lip and forehead) and look like an ice cream that has been sitting in the sun all day.  

Help I'm melting...

You have two choices ladies. Stay in bed for an extra half an hour or purchase a primer. If you're reading this beauty blog I expect you'd choose the latter.

With so many primers available today, it's becoming all the more difficult to choose one. I've done the hard work for you and tested my fair share of primers - here's my edit of the best bases.

Oil-free

Smashbox are renowned for their fantastic range of primers. Photo Finish Light, £25.00, is an oil-free, 60% water based primer. This is a great choice for acne prone or oily skin, as it contains an oil absorbing formula to reduce shine and keep your face matte all day.

This is my favourite primer by far! I have an oily t-zone and regularly breakout, I have found this controls both and doesn't aggravate my skin like other primers have done. The texture is silky and glides on smoothly.

If in doubt about purchasing this primer? You can buy it in a travel size version, £12.50, test it before making a commitment.

Blemish control

                                                              Introducing Smashbox's latest edition. Photo Finish Blemish Control, £28.00, is a little more expensive than the average Smashbox primer. However this is justified by it's a multi-purpose benefits. Not only is it a primer, it's a breakout treatment too. It contains Saliciyc acid to treat acne and claims to give you clearer skin in two weeks.

I found this product was a little drying on my face, however I did notice my spots appeared reduced after using it for a little while - which in my opinion, makes it a worthy investment. 


Get the glow 

My primer virginity was popped by Mac Prep and Prime, £20.50, and honestly it was love at first sight. It's a silicone based primer and the texture is a little creamy. Everytime I apply this under my foundation, my face looks flawless. It contains light diffusing particles, great for hiding imperfections and works as a great base for normal, dry skin in need of a glow.

However if (like me) you have combination skin this primer is slightly shimmery and doesn't control the oil on the t-zone area, which is why I only opt for this one on a night out. 

Bargain buy 

On a budget? Revlon PhotoReady Perfecting Primer, £11.99, is fab for creating a smooth base for your foundation to sit on. This primer is creamy and a thicker texture than the primers above. However I love how soft my skin feels after applying this. This is a purse-friendly option for creating the perfect canvas.

What are your favourite primers? Do you think the above are any good? Let me know your thoughts!