2016 INTO 2017

It is safe to say, I've neglected this for quite some time. I posted copious amounts of update posts always promising to get back on track and I never did. There were two reasons for that; I've been extremely busy, and I just wasn't feeling it. 2016 was the busiest year to date, but guaranteed 2017 will be busier - although balance is something I need to work on and so hopefully posts will be far less sparse. In terms of not feeling it, I started to just feel like blogging was all too much the same, and felt forced, and in terms of myself I've changed a lot compared to the beginning of 2016 let alone to when I began this blog in about 2013.

This year is a big one, I've applied to uni and will be off somewhere in England to study History this September/October, and I've got so much planned to enjoy, with the best people I could ever ask for. Hopefully, this motivation keeps as high as it is now, because in all honesty, I really need it.

As I plan to be at least, I'll be back soon.

THE DUTCH BRAID

(Hair styled by myself)

Since I was young, I was never one to enjoy wearing my hair up and it was near enough only for the sake of PE in school where I would slick my hair back into a ponytail through gritted teeth and extreme reluctance. In terms of braids, I would only ever wear these overnight to achieve rather mad wavy hair in the mornings, but since the dutch braid has come into fashion and seems to take up 70% of my Instagram feed, I've become partial to the odd pair of plaits on a pretty regular basis.

For work I have to wear my hair up/out of my face for hygiene reasons, and I often opt for these braids for a more fashionable alternative than a regular ponytail that leaves me looking rather 'egg' like. I like the 3D effect a dutch braid gives, in comparison to the usual French braid. This is rather simply achieved by passing each strand under the others into the middle rather than on top.

I think what I like the most is that this works on any length of hair. My sister (pictured above) has a shoulder length chop and this still works just as well as those that have hair to almost their waist, and I personally find that its this versatility that makes it a go to style for so many. It also works a treat for when you don't have time to wash your hair; with the help of a few spritzes of dry shampoo.

Are you a fan of the dutch braid or are you yet to master it?

2015 IN REVIEW

Onika Perfume / The Chambray Shirt / DIY Ripped Knees #2 / Sunglasses Season / KIKO Smart Lipsticks / New Balance Black Sonic Trainers

For me, 2015 had been the biggest and busiest year to date - I completed my GCSEs, got my first job, started learning to drive, and began the pathway into A Levels. If you couldn't tell already, all of those were the priority aside from blogging, and it became extremely difficult for me to balance all those things happening in my life with regular posts. Hopefully, it can improve this year but secretly I'm hoping 2016 is just as exciting and busy as the last. I'll try my hardest.

I've got a gym membership (classic move in the new year, let's see how this plays out) and I'm reading to head into 2016. Hopefully on the blog this year I want to even out the fashion and beauty aspects, with more lifestyle posts too. There's a certain style of writing I want to convert my posts to in the future, but I'm not sure how it'll go down so I'm testing the waters bit by bit.

One thing I do plan for this year is to work on my Instagram more, which I have been doing more recently so if you don't already, follow @petitedecember. As I did last year, the most popular posts from this year have been listed above, but surprisingly my 2014 Kylie Jenner Lips post has remained the top post throughout the whole year consistently, so it'll be interesting to see whether that stays the same this year or not.

Another roundup for Petite December, who knows what will be in the 2016 installment...

SOAP AND GLORY GLOSS STICKS

Recently in Boots I was browsing the Soap and Glory stand and noticed that there were no longer the full size Sexy Mother Pucker balms and in their place were these Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Sticks in mini sizes and new shades and of course I couldn't resist, especially on a buy one get one half price I'm surprised I'm not writing about the whole collection. I don't know whether it was just my particular store that didn't hold both the full and mini sizes or whether the bigger ones are gone for good, but I thought I'd draw up a comparison post nonetheless.

I picked up Nudist and Pinkaboo, and I already have Nudist from the original formula, however this one is definitely a different shade entirely and does stick to a more brown/neutral nude rather than the peachy hue the original has. Pinkaboo is a medium pink and although nothing stand out, something I thought would become a staple in my collection.

I think what I've noticed with these in comparison to the original formula is that they are a little less thick. I often found the original to be quite heavy feeling and although it still stands as one of my favourite lip products, I do like that these are slightly more lightweight, and a little bit closer to a 'gloss' formula. These are now £3.50, and although you don't get quite as much product, I'm near enough yet to finish any of the lip products I own, so not only is this perfect for handbag size it also helps me get through it a little better than other ones I'd pay more for.

Generally, although there isn't too much difference to the original, I really like the concept of these and I'll be taking them on holiday with me in my carry on as they are just the best size. I especially love wearing these with a matte strong lip liner just to give more of a youthful appearance to my look, and I kind of want to pick up the rest of the range, in particular Purple Rain as it draws closer to dark lip season.

AUSSIE DO SHOWER GELS

I've always loved the Aussie hair range; from the punny labels to the scents of the products, so when I found out that they were bringing out a range of shower gels/body washes I was over the moon. I chose the Shower Smoothie version, that literally smells like the bubblegum-ish shampoo, but still fresh and not sickly by any means. There's another 3 in the line I believe, and I hope to make my way through them all, but I chose this one for it's debut in my shower.

What I like is how well this lathers, as I need a small amount and there are endless bubbles. It's also pretty nourishing on the skin, and doesn't leave the skin feeling tight like some intense shower gels cam, but of course you still feel fresh and clean after using it. The moisture is probably thanks to the Macadamia Nut Oil, and each scent has a different addition to it, from Ginseng to Jojoba Oil. You can also purchase these in 2 sizes, and I've seen quite a few offers on since they launched, so definitely worth having a look.

I'm certainly not disappointed, and I'm looking forward to seeing where Aussie branch out to next.

THE PETITE DECEMBER 2014 ROUND UP

What. A. Year. It seems to have just flown by, especially in blogging terms. I started the year as 'The Beau Bow', progressing into the step of buying a domain under 'Petite December' and really getting to work with my layout, content and pictures, and I've had absolutely no regrets about that step.

This year I've really come to terms with blogging; thinking about my content as well as planning ahead. I've changed up my personal style rather dramatically as well as improved my makeup application alongside my knowledge and I feel far more capable of writing good quality posts (although a tight budget makes things a little more difficult). In the recent months I've fallen in love with fashion and can't wait to (hopefully) get a more 50:50 fashion and beauty regime going on post-wise.

My most popular post of 2014 was the 'Kylie Jenner Esque Lips' in which I explored the slightly overdrawn, staple pink-brown nude lip that Kylie has been coveting over the year. Following that is the 'Half Up Hipster Bun' show and tell in which I expressed my love for a hairstyle introduced to me by Lily Melrose. At the beginning of the year I declared a battle between some of the well known Drugstore Foundations around - some of which I still love today. And one of my favourite post titles of the year, 'On Wednesday's We Wear Pink', of course, exploring my pink beauty selection with a few harmless Mean Girls references.

I've recently got back into Intragram, so for more regular pictures and updates, follow @petitedecember . I've been so proud of my post consistency throughout 2014, and I hope 2015 will see the same, although it is my year for GCSE exams so we will see how things pan out, but scheduling will always be by my side.

I've already been planning plenty of posts for the new year (I have a notebook, and I'm being pretty bloody organised), and can't wait to see where 2015 will take Petite December.

THREE NEW CHEEK PRODUCTS

While in America I had a bit of a spending spree in CVS as well as having a browse and small purchase in Sephora. When I got home I realised my collection of cheek products had grown a little, some high end some drugstore, and I haven't actually used anything else since.

The first I got was the NXY Cream Blush in Natural. I really like the texture of these, they don't get to a powder and they are almost a little tacky to apply, so they look so natural and radiant. The colour is perfect for me too - blush often looks a little cray on me so I tend to go for the subtle offerings.

I managed to find the hyped NYC Sunny Bronzer for a minute price so picked it up right away. I like this one because it's entirely matte - something that goes quite hard to find in the drugstore, and it's also a really nice warm tone. Just go light handed with a duo fibre brush or something because it is pretty pigmented.

The final one is the Nars Laguna and Orgasm duo. I was eyeing this up for a while and I am glad I got it. The blush is similar to one I have from Sleek, just a little less in your face, and the bronzer is a lot more subtle than the NYC offering for me, just because it's slightly cooler (only just). This was $24 and I think it was pretty well spent.

DR LEWINN'S BASE ADDITIONS

I was a little skeptical when a package containing 2 Dr Lewinn's products dropped through my door as I'd never really heard a great deal about the brand, other than their nail products which have been hyped by the likes of Lily Pebbles, but I hadn't seen any raves about their skin products, so obviously I thought I'd give them a go and share the feedback.

They are both anti-ageing products, and this isn't something that really bothers me nor interests me, I just use the products for their other purposes other than diminishing the appearance of wrinkles etc. which I'm not really sure I show any of being the age of 15 going on 16.

The first product is the Skin Perfect Anti-Ageing Illuminiser*, which is basically a liquid highlighter. It's a stunning pale champagne colour, which adds a hint of candlelight sheen to the sheekbones, nose and brow bones (and wherever else applied). I tend to use this on these targeted areas using a contour brush or bigger eyeshadow brush, and buff it in, and I will tell you now, it the right light you get some serious glow. I'm yet to try mixing it in with foundation but that does interest me quite a lot so I'll report back on that one.

The second product is the Skin Perfect Anti-Ageing Primer*, which comes in luxurious frosted glass type packaging. It doesn't carry the silicon texture that a lot of my primers have in common, so it's a nice addition to my collection. Although I can't entirely nail what this does specifically for my skin, it makes my base apply far more evenly and it also fades slightly lower, at a more even rate too.

Over all, two pretty good products. In my opinion, I recommend the Illuminiser over the Primer if I were to pick one for you to pick up, but definitely look into it if you are tempted. Have you tried anything from this range before?

THE CHUNKY MONOCHROME JUMPER

The seasons are changing, and for me, that means buying more clothes. I was in the need for some new jumpers, and I had three ideas in mind; a monochrome option, a camel coloured one, and an oatmeal coloured one. In H&M I found the perfect 'salt and pepper' esque jumper and I cannot wait to get more wear out of this.

It cost me a mere £14.99 which is really affordable for a jumper, and it's just the right thickness - not too overheating, but not too thin that you need to wear something underneath for warmth in the colder months. I am picturing wearing this with ripped jeans, a leather jacket and ankle boots, or even some leather coated jeans if I can find any and a beanie - the looks are endless, which is why I really love it. It is a nice length, not cropped, but not oversized or long, and although it's not completely fitted, it isn't too baggy (I want an oatmeal one with these qualities instead).

I am hoping that H&M come out with some more jumpers of this style so that I can grab a couple more, but if you have been seeing any nice ones in any other stores, let me know.

5 STEPS TO AN ORGANISED WARDROBE

Recently I began to notice my (cheap and cheerful Argos) wardrobe was becoming a little crowded, unorganised, and just dull looking, and I decided it was time to sort things out - making mental notes as I went along of things I could compile into a post on how to keep your wardrobe looking fresh. Hold your horses, it's a lengthy one.

STEP 1: CLEAR OUT:
For some, this might be the most boring and time-consuming step, but for me, I think it really is what gets you motivated for the whole organising process. Now, clear up some floor space, and empty your entire wardrobe, Everything. All the hangers, the clothes, the folded (read: screwed) clothing at the bottom, get them out.

STEP 2: SORTING YOUR STASH:
For the hoarders among us, this might be a difficult step, but it basically consists of three piles: Keep, Unsure, and Get Rid. Go through all the clothing you just emptied, and place the things you definitely want to keep (so you can't imagine a life without these pieces, or you wear them all the time) into the 'keep' pile. For the unsure, put the ones you are sitting on the fence about, and we'll revisit them soon.
As for the 'get rid' pile, basically this is a stack of clothes that either don't fit, gather dust at the back of your wardrobe, or just don't fit your style anymore. This can be distributed among younger siblings, charity shops, or friends. You'll be surprised with how much space you'll free up during this step. Now, for the 'unsure', go through again and really think about how often you wear the items, then you will probably end up disposing a few more. A little tip I got from ViviannaDoesMakeup was to put the ones you are still unsure about out of reach, then if you forgot about them for months, they can go, and if you found yourself relocating the hidden pile for a certain item - keep it.

STEP 3: OPTIMISING YOUR SPACE:
This step might require some DIY, but trust me when I say it's worth it. I actually recruited my dad and his toolbox and together we inserted another rail onto my wardrobe. It was placed near the bottom so I could hang skirts, shorts and jeans/trousers on it - leaving enough room for jackets, dresses and tops on the first original hanger. I also put my hats, scarves (in the patterned hat box), and most worn shoes on top of my wardrobe to free up some more space.

STEP 4: REFILLING:
Here's the part that I enjoyed quite a bit. Basically, this is where you put everything you just got out the wardrobe and decided you should keep, back in your wardrobe. I went for a black to white organisation, with the coloured items being placed on the end (there wasn't as many of those being a monochrome lover). On the bottom rail, I went from skirts, to shorts, then to jeans and trousers.

STEP 5: REPLENISHING: 
I imagine that this'll be the most loved step of them all, as it involves looking through your newly organised stash of clothes and deciding which items you are lacking in your collection. Make a note of them, and then set some money aside and go and treat yourself to those items. I noticed that I am missing jumpers (which I'll definitely be getting as the weather changes), some flat boots, a coat, and some ripped jeans, as well as noticing I am lacking dramatically in the jewellery department.

So, although a lengthy post, I hope I've inspired you to get organised and as the seasons change, what better time to give your wardrobe some loving.

NEW LOOK, NEW START?

You may notice things are looking a little different here on what used to be known as 'The Beau Bow'. For a long time I wanted to tidy things up and get my own domain and finally get my blog how I wanted it, and this weekend was how things kicked off. I will now be known as 'Petite December', on www.petitedecember.co.uk, so I thought I'd do a little intro on what you can expect to see around these parts in the future.

Why the name change?
To be honest, I was getting a little tired of my old name, and I wanted something a little more unique. I am pretty small, hence the 'petite' and I was born in, you guessed it, 'December'. I think its pretty cool and a lot could be done with it banner-wise.

What will you be posting?
I had a strong routine of posting every other day for a solid 6 months or so, but I realised as my time to blog got cut shorter with school work, the quality of the posts was dropping quite dramatically. So, I will probably post 2-3 times a week balancing out beauty with fashion more or less and hopefully the pictures and content in general will be of a higher standard.

I hope you appreciate it might take me a week or so to get to grips with things and perfecting the layout may even take me a couple of months, so bear with the changes if you see any. If any of you know how I can change the URL on my bloglovin' account so I don't have to loose all my followers by claiming the new domain, that'd be very helpful too.

x

THE BODY SHOP CAMOMILE CLEANSERS

A few weeks back I started to run low of my Origins Clean Energy Cleansing Oil I was on the hunt for a replacement, as the price tag just wasn't selling a repurchase to me. Mum whipped out a £10 off body shop voucher so immediately I went and picked up two of their highly raved cleansing products.

The first was the Sumptuous Cleansing Butter, sort of like a balm. This one was £12 (but I only paid £2 and then the full price of the oil), for 90ml of product. I take this on dry skin and massage it in - it takes a matter of seconds to melt into an oil and then can take off all makeup (even waterproof) or just cleanses the skin really nicely if your makeup has already been removed. It's nourishing and just leaves my skin feeling clean, but by no means stripped.

The second offering is that of the Silky Cleansing Oil. This is quite a light consistency for an oil, not thick at all and one pump or so can cleanse my whole face - I did use waaaay to much the first use, but you get used to using the correct amount. This can remove all traces of waterproof makeup too, and seems to leave my skin feeling plumped and nourished too. This costs £10 for 200ml so is realy quite a good value product.

I was wary these would break me out as lots of new cleansers I try seem to do, but these actually have left me with no problems as it stands. I'm impressed, and could see these being repurchased in the future...