Like many people, Clinique was my first foray into 'higher end' make up and skincare. It all started when I was in Boots just wandering around aimlessly and I was approached by one of the women who worked on their counter, asking if I would like a makeover.

Normally I just politely said no when asked, but I had nothing better to do and I had always been curious about the counters of expensive things. So off I went and had my skincare and make up done. I left with some trial size products and a new interest in make up and skincare.

Over the years I've tried a lot of the products in their range. Some I didn't get on with, some have ingredients that I never use on my skin (SLS and mineral oil) but others have remained firm favourites.

Clinique have always been a brand that is better known for their skincare than their make up and I personally think while there are hits and misses in both, there are definitely some stand out products.

1. Take the day off balm - £24.00

The one you now hear every beauty blogger talk about. I have been using this for years and I have only just finished my first tub. I don't use it exclusively and switch it up with other products but I know I can rely on this to remove the most hardcore of waterproof make up.

It's extremely gentle on the eyes and leaves skin beautifully soft without stripping it. A little goes a long way, so it lasts a long time.

Basically if you can only buy one thing from Clinique, make it this. You need this in your life!

2. Moisture surge moisturiser - £36.00

Another staple and I have gone through multiple pots of this. I've never met anyone who doesn't get on with this product.

The reason I love it is it's an oil free gel type mosituriser which is suitable for all skin types. Gel type formulas are my favourite for my combination skin as they keep it hydrated without making it greasy.

3. Lip pop lipsticks - £17.00

These got loads of hype when they first came out and I think they're still some of my favoutite lipsticks of all time. I have 7 of these but my most worn colours are Cherry Pop, Plum Pop and Sugar Pop.

You only need one application for maximum pigmentation and they stay put for a surprisingly long time, with minimal touch ups needed.

There's a huge range of colours so there's something for everyone.At £17 they're not exactly cheap but I think these compare to far more expensive lipsticks (Chanel, NARS, Charlotte Tilbury etc).

4. Colour pop blush - £17.00

These have to be some of the prettiest blushes available. Who doesn't love their adorable little flower design? But more importantly they're actually really good.

These apply really smoothly and give a soft, natural glow. I have the shade Heather Pop and it's a really pretty pink that blends beautifully.

5. Chubby sticks intense - £18.50

I like the original chubby sticks, but personally find them a little underwhelming and overpriced for essentially a tinted lip balm.

The intense versions though are far more unique. These are lipsticks in a twist up crayon and the pigmentation and staying power is remarkable. These are so perfect for popping in your handbag as they can be applied in an instant.

Curviest Caramel is easily my most worn lip product ever but the whole range of colours is lovely and there is definitely a colour in the range that you would like.

6. Fresh bloom blush - £26.00

One of my very fist Clinique purchases that I never once seen anyone else talk about.

The peony pattern on this blush is stunning. Can there be anything more classically beauty blogger than pretty make up combined with peonies?

More importantly this blush is actually really good. It does have a slight shimmer and very subtle shimmer which personally I like. But it blends nicely and is easy to apply. 

Do you have any favourites from Clinique? Let me know as I'm always looking for new things to try. 

Clinique Take the Day off Range

I've spoken about it a lot on this blog but Clinique have to be one of my favourite brands. I like that their products are a mid price point and that they do what they say on the tin with no fuss.

While I don't love all of their products, my favourite range of theirs has to be the least glamorous: the Take the Day off range.

Let's face it, taking your make up off isn't exciting and is at a best a mildly annoying chore. But for those of us that are lazy when it comes to face washing, then the Take the Day off products are life changing.

There is a product for every need, they don't contain any fragrance, don't irritate my eyes and most importantly? They work. 

They last for ages and although they aren't the cheapest in the world, I've found them to perform either as well or better than more expensive alternatives.

On top of all of this, I love the packaging. While it is most importantly functional and practical I really like the purple and silver theme, which makes it seem a lot more luxurious than the price suggests.

Even the make up wipes from this range are pretty good. I haven't included them in this post because I don't use make up wipes as part of my usual routine, but as far as make up wipes go, they are the best I've ever tried.

As a disclaimer, this post is not in anyway sponsored, I just really love this range!

1. Take the Day off Cleansing Balm

If you buy one thing from this range, make sure it is this. I've had my tub of it for YEARS and use it frequently. I've just purchased my first replacement, so that should give you some idea as to how cost effective this product is. You only need a small amount but it is always my weapon of choice for dealing with the thickest of make up. Particularly gel eyeliner and waterproof mascara as it just melts these away.

Like most cleansing balms this has a solid texture that melts into an oil when you massage it into the skin and then remove with a damp flannel. As with all Clinique products this does not contain any fragrance and I find that this makes it exceptionally gentle, particularly on the eyes. I always use this as a first cleanse to remove makeup and it's so simple and fuss free I even manage to use it after a night out.

If my skin isn't looking so great, I revert to using this daily because I know it will remove every last scrap of make up. Just try it, you won't regret it. 

2. Take the Day off Cleansing Oil

This is my most recent addition to my collection but it is already a firm favourite. I prefer to use oil based cleansers to remove my make up and like the cleansing balm, I only ever use this as a first cleanse to remove makeup. It is actually remarkably similar to the melted texture of the balm, which is probably why I like it so much. It removes make up easily and doesn't sting my very sensitive eyes. You only need a small amount for it to do an effective job.

Do you need this and the cleansing balm? Probably not, one or the other would be fine. I just wanted to give it a try mostly and I am as equally impressed with it as I am with my beloved cleansing balm.

The only downside to this product (as opposed to the cleansing balm) is that a liquid oil is messier to apply and riskier to travel with. Although the pump has a locking feature, I would make sure to pack it very carefully as I once had a very big mess (and a lot of product wasted) with the cream version of this product which has an identical pump.

3. Take the Day off Cleansing Lotion

This is the cream cleanser in the collection and was the first part of the range that I had ever tried. It's also by far the most versatile product in the range. I use this as  a first, second  and morning cleanse depending on my mood, how my skin feels and how much make up I am wearing. You can also take this product off using cotton wool instead of a damp flannel. While I always prefer to wash my face with actual water there are times when this isn't practical and this can be a good alternative to the dreaded make up wipe.

While this does remove make up well, it doesn't melt make up off like the balm and the oil do, so I tend to use this as a first cleanse on lighter makeup. It will take eye make up off but it isn't as effective as the other products so I tend to use a separate eye make up remover if I'm going to use this as a first cleanse. The lotion texture is extremely soothing so I often use this as a second cleanse after using the oil or balm if I've been wearing a lot of make up.I also reach for it a lot if my skin is being problematic or feeling irritated.

Will I repurchase this when I finally use it up? Probably. I do love it, but I also have a lot of other cream or lotion style cleansers that cost less but none of them are as effective at actually removing make up. I tend to use other ones for strictly second or morning cleaners whereas this is a jack of all trades.

As mentioned above, though, I am super careful when I travel with it now after it exploded all over my bag despite having the pump locked. Just something to bear in mind.

4. Take the Day off Eye Make Up Remover

I bought this after receiving so many samples of this during bonus times and loving them. I always try to save the sample size ones for traveling so having the full size is great. I've tried many of the two phase style eye make up removers that need to be shaken and this is one of the few that I actually like.

The oil part of this actually does melt eye make up off just like the cleansing balm/oil does which makes it perfect for traveling or situations where removing make up properly is difficult.

Like all the other products in the range, a little goes a long way and I find it cuts through even my Bobbi Brown gel eyeliner (by far my hardest eye make up to remove) with ease. It also does not irritate my eyes which many dedicated eye make up removers do.

It is also excellent for removing lipstick. Particularly matte red lipstick which always stains every little crevice of your lips so you look like an extra in a low budget vampire film the next day. This product though melts it off without you having to resort to scrubbing your lips.

The good thing is if you time your Clinique purchases right you can almost always pick things up during bonus time and chances are a little bottle of this will likely be in there, so you can try it for free. 

Have you tried any of the Take the Day off Range? Which one is your favourite?

 

Skincare - The Cleanser Edit

In the past year or so I have upped my cleansing game considerably. Gone are the days of make up wipes and foaming cleansers. Like practically everyone else on the internet I stumbled upon Caroline Hirons blog and have never looked back. To say this has worked miracles for my skin is no exaggeration.

I've always struggled with spot prone combination skin and I didn't realise I was probably creating a nasty cycle of using cleansers that were too harsh, which caused my skin to produce more sebum and in turn created more spots.

I now have quite a ridiculous collection of cleansers. Seriously I know one person probably doesn't need this many but I do use them all.A fair bit of this collection is made up of the Caroline Hirons x Cult Beauty box that came out last year and I discovered some of my favourites through this.

As you can see from the pictures I've used a considerable amount of a lot of these products. Some of them are repeat purchases, others will be when I finish them.

Balm Cleansers

Emma Hardie Amazing Face Moringa Cleansing Balm - £38

This is the absolute best product. The one I reach for over all others. It strips make up very effectively but it pains me to use it for this when it costs so much money and feels so luxurious on the skin. I only use it as a second or morning cleanse. This can also be used as a mask if you leave a thick layer on for 10 minutes. It smells like you're at an expensive spa and a little goes a long way. It never fails to calm my skin when it is being troublesome and the scent of it also helps me feel relaxed. If you buy one cleanser make it this one.

Clinque Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm - £22

Destroys make up with no effort at all. This is the total opposite to the Emma Hardie one. No frills, no fuss, it just does the job. There is no fragrance to this and its just plain white in colour. But despite its unassuming appearance I've yet to come across something it can't remove. Red lipstick? No problem. Thick night out foundation? Easy peasy. Waterproof gel eyeliner? Gone in a flash. I personally think this is a seriously underrated product from Clinique and although it might initially seem pricey it lasts a seriously long time.

Pixi Nourishing Cleansing Balm - £18

Removes make up really effectively and smells like delicate roses. I always think that this is like a hybrid of the first two. It removes make up effectively but also melts into a gorgeously soft oil that feels great on your skin. I use it anytime of the day and I've actually almost finished it. The price is very good considering how long it lasts and how versatile it is.

Oskia Micro Exfoliating Balm - £48

The only scrub based cleanser I use. This has very fine silica (no microbeads) and gently polishes skin. I like that its in a balm formula as it feels more nourishing and doesn't strip the skin. It smells expensive and has an eye watering price tag to match. I prefer to use it in the mornings because it feels refreshing but it could be used as a second cleanse as well. I tend to use it once or twice a week and my only complaint is for your money I wish the pot was a bit bigger.

Cream Cleansers

Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Milk - £21

The first non foaming cleanser I ever bought. This is specifically designed to take off make up so I like its balm based sister I only use it as a first cleanse. As I mentioned above this is another underrated product (actually the whole Take the Day Off line doesn't get shouted about as much as it should). Again it contains no fragrance but feels lovely and cooling upon the skin. I always loved using this after nights out at uni as its so gentle when you're not at your best!

Amie Morning Clear Facewash - £4.95

A seriously underappreciated brand that offers excellent value for money. Although it sounds like it might be a foaming product this is a cream based cleanser. And it works brilliantly for a bargain price, leaving skin feeling smooth, soft and nicely hydrated. I use it either for a second cleanse or in the morning. It has a delicate scent and the tube packaging is nice and convenient.

MV Organic Gentle Cream Cleanser - £35.50

Really nice cleanser that smells incredible but has pretty much the same results as some cheaper ones I've purchased. I didn't find the results to be any better or worse than other cream cleansers I've tried. If you're in the market for a high end cleanser I would recommend this one as I found it to be excellent at reducing redness and irritation. However if you're looking to save some pennies there are ones that do a similar job for a fraction of the price.

Soap & Glory Peaches and Clean Deep Cleansing Milk - £8

Almost always on offer from Boots this is a real multi tasking product. It removes make up effectively but is also effective at actually cleansing the skin. Really good value for money as the bottle is huge and lasts ages. I'm on my 3rd bottle as I use it all the time and also let my sister borrow it. It actually does smell like peaches (with some vanilla) but unlike other Soap & Glory products it isn't too overpowering. This one product that I know I'll keep buying over and over again.

Oil and Gel Cleansers

REN Everclam Gentle Cleansing Gel - £15

Really gentle and effective. I also had the cream version which I think I liked better but it disappeared while I was still at uni. I decided to try the gel version as I hadn't tried a cleanser this texture before. While it isn't too harsh, if you have dry skin I would buy the cream version instead as it is more hydrating. I like how simple this is and the pump is really convenient.

Tata Harper Nourishing Oil Cleanser - £54

This is so expensive it makes me want to cry a little. It does work extremely well, smells amazing and leaves my skin feeling soft. But at that price I'm unlikely to replace it once I've run out even though I will miss using it. As its an oil cleanser it removes make up as well but its too nice to waste on that. I tend to use it as a second cleanse after I've worn a lot of make up as I know that as well as cleansing my skin it will obliterate any last scraps of make up. If you have the money and want to treat yourself, absolutely go for it. As for me, I will just enjoy using every bit of this bottle and see if I can find something cheaper that works as well.

How to get the most out of Clinique including things for free!

I am a huge fan of Clinique. There's no hiding it. My bathroom and make up bag are littered with their products and I'm forever harping on about them. However it is a relatively expensive brand and as a poor student I can't really afford it. Below is a list of the ways I have used to make it as affordable as possible and get as much for my money as I can.

1. Get yourself a Boots and/or Debenhams card depending on where you most frequently shop. I personally prefer Boots and its more convenient and you get more points with every spend. Always use your card when you buy your Clinique products. You will be amazed how quickly they add up and it is an easy way to make the most of the money you spend. Download the app on your phone to keep track of points and take advantage of the offers that are frequently available. In a few months I earnt enough Boots points to spend £30 on Clinique. That's £30 worth of stuff I effectively got for free.

2. Spend a little time choosing a favourite counter. This is really important as if its in a convenient location that you are likely to go to frequently you are more likely to pop in. I would advise frequenting your local Boots counter so you can also build up your Boots points with every purchase.

3. Develop some loyalty. By repeatedly visiting the same counter you will get to know the staff that work there. The guy who runs my local Boots counter in Southampton is absolutely awesome and so helpful. I always go to this counter and as a result he now knows me well and I can use his expert knowledge of the products on offer to my advantage.

4. Get involved with their social media. Follow them on Twitter and Instagram, sign up for their newsletter and like them on facebook. By doing so you can keep up to date with all the promotions that are on offer. Clinique almost always have some sort of promotion running and if you make an effort to time your purchases you will always save some money or get some products for free. For example I got an email yesterday to say there was a 24 hour offer on the Clinique website where you got two freebies with every £30 spend.

5. Make the most of Bonus Time. I only buy things from Clinique when its Bonus Time so I can get as much for my money as possible. In the UK you usually have to buy two items (one to be skincare) so I keep an eye on the Bonus Time website and carefully time my purchases to take advantage of these offers. Another thing worth bearing in mind is the more exclusive department stores (eg. Harrods) usually have better stuff in their Bonus Time than say Boots does. If you happen to live near a larger department store it may be worth popping in there for a visit as the value of the products you receive is probably more than you would earn in reward points from Boots or Debenhams.

6. Choose your products carefully. This is why it is useful to always visit the same counter and get to know the staff. Only go in when you know it will be quiet so that the staff have got the time to advise you properly. The people who work at Clinique counters have a genuine passion for beauty and skincare so taking the time to chat to them will help you get the most out of your purchases. Don't be afraid to ask to try products either as trying before you buy is essential. You don't want to spend £17 on a lipstick only to find it doesn't suit you. Never buy a product that you haven't tried in store or received a sample of during a promotional offer. That way you know it will work for you.

7. Make the most of new launches as there is usually a free or promotional offer to go with it. For example when the new Beyond Perfecting Foundation launched there was a free colour matched sample for every customer in store. You need so little of this foundation to make it work that my sample pot is still going strong so a quick trip into store was well worth it.

8. Don't be afraid to shop around as there are often deals available online that aren't available in store. Check the Clinique website carefully for offers. Sites such as Fragrencedirect.com often have Clinique products at discount prices and is always worth a look. Feeluinique.com allows you to choose your favourite brand and you always get 10% off with free shipping on orders over £10. This is very useful if you are too busy to go into the store and need to stock up on essentials.

9. If buying online always use Quidco which is an online cashback website. So far I've earnt £80 using this site so its well worth doing.

10. Most importantly always take advantage of instore services such as the Foundation Fit or skin type assessment. The key to getting the best value for your money is to only buy the products that will actually work for you. The more time you invest into choosing your products the better.

These are the methods that have worked well for me, if anyone has any other suggestions or tips I would love to hear them!

Bronze Holiday Make Up

I always find packing for trips really stressful. No matter how good a list I make I always agonize over what to take and what to leave behind. This time for my trip to Crete I decided I was going to take as little make up as possible for minimal fuss. However since I got home I've been using the same products all the time to recreate that holiday feeling.

The look I was going for was a natural, glowing gold look as I tan very easily and I wanted to take products that would work with this.

For my base I wanted something light but with as a high an SPF as I could find so that I wouldn't have to layer too many products on my face. I went for the Clinique Anti Blemish solutions BB cream as its specifically designed for use on oily skin and has SPF 40. The formula of this is very thin and runny so you only need to use a small amount of product and it gives a lovely even coverage. My only issue with this is due to its thin consistency it can be quite messy and the inside lid of mine is covered in product. I have the colour medium and I find it to be an excellent match but the shade range is limited and could be too orange for those on the paler side. I am a massive Clinique fan and have always found their products to work well for me. If you are olive skin toned with oily or spot prone skin then this is well worth a try.

For my cheeks I used my Max Factor Creme puff blush in Seductive Pink combined with my Mac Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle. This gave a really soft golden glow and was perfect with a tan.

I get really bad bags under my eyes so used my Benefit Puff Off as a lighter alternative to concealer. This stuff is great because the gel is cooling but also has a slight pink shimmer to counteract the purple tones. The cool feel of the product combined with the salmon tint really does help to hide them. Most of the time the only other eye make up I wore was my Maybelline lash sensational mascara. When this first launched everyone was going on about how it was a dupe for Benefits Roller Lash and having tried both I have to say it is a pretty close match. If you're a fan of roller lash this is definitely worth a try as its so much cheaper.

There was only a few nights where I wore anything other than mascara as most of our evenings were very relaxed. I wanted a really simple eye look to continue with the gold theme so used my Urban Decay Naked 2 palette focusing on Suspect or YDK combined with other various shades to create a soft shimmery smokey eye.

I decided to pass on wearing anything on my lips other than my nivea lip balm as it was just too hot for sticky lipgloss or to have lipstick sliding about everywhere.

The thing I love best about this look is it takes a few minutes to create which also makes it perfect for wearing to work now that I am back in the UK. Now I am home I'm teaming this with a nude lip and my hair in a french braid to continue with the relaxed feel.

Things that have made me happy this week

Its been a long week that has mostly consisted of revision but I have managed to squeeze in some fun things to stop me going completely crazy. So here is what I've been up to this week. I'm one exam down now with only one left to go next week.

1. Abbi's birthday. So last Wednesday was my absolute BFF's birthday and shes a whole 21 years old. In the three years I've known her shes always insisted on us making no fuss for her birthday but this year I decided to just totally ignore her requests and go all out. My original idea was just to get a small group of our geology friends together for dinner to celebrate. But then I thought her flatmates might like to be involved so I contacted one of them and we hatched our plan. It soon grew to include her friends from halls and rugby friends as well. It took a lot of planning to get 4 separate groups totaling 18 people in the same place at the same time so a massive thanks to Felicity for all her help (you're amazing). It was 100% worth it for the look on Abbi's face when she walked in and we were all waiting to surprise her. Thanks for being the best mapping partner a girl could wish for <3

2. Cheeky Nandos. Ok after all the social media buzz surrounding #cheekynandos I remembered I had never actually been. So as a revision break Jared and I went to the one in Southampton and it was everything I expected. The food was good but not amazing and the banter was out in force. I don't know if I'll go again but I'm glad I experienced this part of British culture.

3. New Clinique bonus time. I recently discovered the site feeluinique.com (I know I'm about a million years behind the times) and used it to restock on some favourite facecream from Clinique. Partly because I was too lazy to go to town but mostly because you got a free bonus time gift with it. This included the Super Defense Day cream, Liquid Facial Soap, High Impact Mascara, Blush in bashful blush and a Chubby Stick in Roomiest Rose. I can't stop wearing it, its just too pretty! Plus the bag it came with is pretty cute. And you can never have too many little make up bags.

4. Malcolm in the middle. Such an oldie but I never watched it back when it was actually on TV. I'm currently on season 3 and it makes me so incredibly happy. Mostly because their crazy lives are remarkably similar to my own childhood except I am one of 4 girls instead of boys. Whether you've already seen them or not they are perfect for procrastinating as each episode is only 20min long.

5. Real Techniques brushes. I've always been a massive fan of Ecotools brushes but they don't have as large a range as Real Techniques. Everyone seems to love them and they are a similar price so I thought I would give them a try. I got the powder brush as I don't currently have a nice big fluffy brush and the Expert face brush. I've always used a flat foundation brush and find it leaves streaks so this is perfect for buffing in your base. Plus they were on offer in Boots. A girl's gotta take advantage of these things.

6. Sisters coming to visit. All three of my sisters came down to Southampton for a day out shopping followed by dinner at Turtle Bay. I was naughty and got three new dresses and had the juiciest steak for dinner. But shopping and good food soothes the soul right? That aside though it was nice to spend some quality time with them as now that two of us are at uni we don't get to see each other as much as I would like.

Things that have made me happy this week

Its been a really busy week for me and I'm pretty tired from it. I'm currently working every weekend and its really starting to take its toll, particularly as I am not very well at the moment with a really bad chest and throat. Poor little me I know.
However because its been a busy week theres been a fair bit going on and theres plenty of stuff thats made me happy.

1. On Wednesday I headed off to London with my Dad for a family party. I hardly ever go to London and its actually been two years since I was last there! The party was for my Dads cousins (so my second cousin?) 50th birthday and we went with my Grandad, two of my Aunts and one of my cousins and it was really nice to spend some time with them. I've never really met much of my Irish family and it was nice to meet some new people.
Also I always enjoy an excuse to get dolled up and I wore a black pencil dress with flats because I couldn't be bothered to walk all over London in heels. It was so much fun and I am really glad I made the effort to go.

2. This party seemed like a great opportunity to try out some of my newest beauty buys. I was so impressed with them that they made me happy enough to warrant their own point on this list. However I had to get ready to leave Southampton at midday and the party was from 7pm to 11pm. Therefore I needed my make up to stay put all day.  For anyone who is interested here is a quick rundown of my #MOTD. It felt odd putting all this slap on my face in the middle of the day as I don't really wear much during the day normally. 
After my usual Clinique skincare routine I used Clinqiue Universal Superprimer followed by Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation and Concealer in Alabaster. Not entirely sure how my olive skin is considered Alabaster but this is a surprisingly good match for me.
Over the top of this I used Clinique Stay Matt in 101 Invisible Matt. For my cheeks I used Clinique All Over Bloom blush in Peony and Seventeens Shimmer Brick in Pink Bronze. For my eyes I used Urban Decays Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Original, with my new Soap and Glory Supercat eyeliner alongside my Naked 3 eyeshadow palette. I finished this off with my Benefit Rollerlash mascara. Finishing touches were my eyebrows done in my Rimmel Pencil and my favorite Clinique Long Last Lipstick in So Sweet.
 Apart from lipstick touch ups and a quick repowder of my shiny nose my make up lasted ALL NIGHT. Yes thats right. I put it on at 12pm and and I took it off at 2am when I got home and it had not budged a bit. Thats 14 hours. Usually by the end of the night my make up is all over the place. I am crediting the two primers I used. You seriously need them in your life.
Excuse the poor quality of the selfie. There was wine involved by the time I thought to take a picture.

3. After this party on Wednesday I was feeling naughty and decided I couldn't be bothered to go back to uni. Yes I know, I'm a bad person. But I don't care. I spent Thursday just chilling on the sofa (nursing my hangover) and I've got to be at home for 4 lovely days with my crazy family. I literally love them so much.

4. Seeing our new kittens, they are just so cute! They've got their eyes open now and are just starting to try to walk around. Its impossible not to be happy while holding a newborn kitten in your hand. I've been taking so many pictures of them and sending them to my friends to make them jealous. Not feeling any guilt about it either, I mean can you even believe how CUTE they are?

5. Its Bonus time at Boots at the moment and I've grabbed myself some great Clinique Products. I love the chance bonus time gives you to try new products that you might not have necessarily chosen for yourself. I am loving the blusher and the Chubby stick eyeshadow and I think they make a great spring look. I wore them both to work on Friday and they made me feel so on it. I mean get me, coordinating my make up to the seasons. My only complaint is I wish Clinque would let you tailor the products to your skin type. The Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion is just too rich for my oily skin and I wish I had the option of exchanging it for the gel version (which I LOVE). But overall I love the bag that this came in and I was also really impressed with the mascara. Its the perfect size for my handbag too. Get yourself down to Boots and get one for yourself, you won't be dissapointed!

6. This weekend I managed to drive Jasper for the first time since Christmas and he was such a good boy. I think I should get extra dedication points as I was feeling really poorly and going outside in the cold was the last thing I wanted to do. This sport has been such a big part of my life over the last 13 years and its makes me sad that because of uni I can't devote as much time to it. It was so nice to get back to it though and I'm going to make a determined effort to try and squeeze it in around work and uni.

Things that have made me Happy this Week

Its been a busy week this week what with juggling work and being at uni. My little blog has hit some small milestones this week as I reached my first viewing milestone. I also had someone tweet me with some positive feedback to say they really liked my weekly happiness posts. Now that made me happy!

Pulled BBQ Chicken

1. Having a nice nap. This is a seriously underrated past time that is only really acceptable if you are a toddler or a student. For some weird reason I’ve been really tired all week and I had a much needed afternoon nap. It made me feel so much better. I think I need to listen to my body on this one and accept that I need a little bit more sleep then I’ve been getting recently. Working early shifts for a few weekends in a row probably hasn’t helped as it doesn’t give me a chance to catch up. This magical nap left me feeling like a brand new person. If you feel like crying because you are too tired then I would suggest grabbing a nap when you can. 

Salted Caramel Milkshake in Hipster Mason Jar (note:fake drink rings haha)

2. Went with some of my old friends from halls to a new restaurant that’s opened up in Southampton called Shrimp and Burger. With that name the contents of the menu don’t hold many surprises as this is a burger bar. What makes it interesting is the fact it’s clearly trying to compete with the infamous 7Bone which in my opinion is both highly overrated and overpriced. If you are looking for the same hipster atmosphere as 7Bone but vastly superior quality food then look no further. I was extremely impressed with the value for money and the taste of the food. I ordered a Salted Caramel milkshake and a pulled chicken burger with fries. It was all delicious and the service was great. Plus you can actually get a table unlike in 7Bone where the staff are also exceptionally snotty. 

An exceptionally drunk pizza selfie after Wild Lime

3. This week was my friend Naomi’s 21^st birthday and I met up with my girlies at Wild Lime to celebrate. Copious amounts of wine, cocktails and Prosecco were consumed and I had such a lovely time. I love spending time with these girls and its even better if theres an excuse to get dressed up involved. Happy Birthday Naomi! You are literally so adorable and I love you!

4. A few weeks ago I popped into my local Clinique counter to grab my free trial of their new Beyond Perfecting Foundation. As a massive fan of Clinique I am super keen to try anything new they bring out. I am very impressed with this foundation. I normally use their Superbalanced Foundation in Beige Chiffon as it gives a sheer coverage and is oil free. While I still love my Superbalanced, the advantage of the Beyond Perfecting is it offers heavier coverage for days when my skin is not looking so great. Plus you only have to use the tiniest amount so I think my free sample might last be a really long time.

5. This week my boyfriend and I had a super cosy night in with PJ’s, the duvet and Dominos two for Tuesday. Literally my idea of the perfect date which is tragic I know.

Its just too pretty

6. In my Pink Parcel which I wrote about last week there was a MUA eyeshadow palette in Romantic Effervesence. I’m in love with it and I wore it every day last week. The best thing about it is it only costs £4 and considering its price tag it is very high quality. I’ve got designer eyeshadow that does not stand up to this. As it costs so little it is definitely worth giving it a go as it’s great for everyday use.