SUNGLASSES OF THE YEAR

Topshop Waverly Wayfairer Sunglasses - £14

Usually, Primark sunglasses get me through the summer months mainly because I can't bare to spend more than £3 on a pair of sunnies that I'll probably leave in my bag to get scratched, lose, or even sit on and crush (talking from actual experience for that one). But, this year I happened to be looking in Topshop and fell in love with a frame I couldn't leave behind. 

I can't find the exact pair online but they are the Waverly Wayfairer frame style and there's a couple of other 'prints' if you will. I didn't think £14 was bad at all, and the fit of these is perfect. I have quite a slim face so I tend to get swamped by glasses but these are perfect. I had a pair similar last year but all black - this time I opted for still a black pair but they have a faint floral/palm print within the frame too which just adds an extra touch. 

To be quite honest, I've even been eyeing up another pair in this style online but I'm not sure I can allow myself to make the purchase, considering these are so loved anyway. I genuinely don't think it is possible for me to fall out of love with these, because they literally work with every item of clothing in my wardrobe. Never a complaint. 

I've found a similar pair here, just with a thinner frame, but to be honest I prefer these. Have a browse of the Waverly Wayfairer style and let me know your opinion. 

THE BASIC CHAMBRAY SHIRT

Neat Fit Chambray Shirt £29 // Topshop

This year, I want to start buying minimalist pieces for my wardrobe and begin to create a collection of investment items that I can style into multiple looks, so basically what I am saying is that I want a streamlined wardrobe rather than an overflowing one of bargains that I don't actually wear.

I had a £30 Topshop voucher from Christmas, and I was a bit unsure of what to get and spent a good week checking up online to see if I found anything, which I didn't. I left it and went into a Topshop store a while after, and saw a gorgeous shirt in the maternity section, pretty annoyed I wouldn't fit it, but then I found it hidden behind some other items after a rummage in my size and fit.

This was £29 which I think is a really good price, as the quality is outstanding. It's a chambray cotton shirt; giving the appearance of a light denim, just a lot less heavy and thick, which is why I love this so much. I was initially going to get the white version to satisfy my monochrome wardrobe but I surprised myself by filtering a slight element of colour in. I love the masculine baggy fit (I got a 10) with the only element of shaping being a single pleat in the back.

I am so pleased with this versatile purchase, it literally is love. I think I will find endless looks to pair this shirt with and just typing this makes me want to throw it on.

PRE-SPENDING BAN BEAUTY HAULING

Yesterday, I went shopping - bad idea, I know. But, in the next couple of weeks I am starting my spending ban in order to save for my trip to America in the next few months so that I can try out some of the beauty items from there, but of course I had to pick up a couple of things I could try out so I wasn't totally beauty purchase deprived up until I step into the airport (read: Duty Free).

I restocked on the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in the shades 1 Fair and 2 Cool Medium as I caught the sun a little recently and so I thought I could mix the two of these together to find a match. I also got a new Batiste for those bad hair days in the Floral & Flirty Blush scent.
Sticking with the hair products, I also thought I would give the VO5 Give Me Texture Dry Texturising Spray a whirl and on first impressions, I'm a little unsure - how do you use this product?

In the trusty Boots clearance I found the Botanics Face Brush which I plan to use occasionally to cleanse, and this was £2 anyway so I thought it'd be a good time to try it out. As well as this, I found the Soap and Glory Archery Brow Tint and Pencil in Brownie Points for £4 (after peeling back the sticker apparently it's expired but if it's unopened I don't see the issue - I'll report back), but this is something I have been wanting to try for a while now so when better than for when its selling for something short of a fiver.

In TkMaxx I found this Orly Nail Polish in Va Va Voom (a vibrant neon pink in which the picture just isn't doing it justice) but this was a bargainous £2.99 so I couldn't pass it up and I thought it'd be a good summer shade. Finally in Topshop I got these simple gold shape earrings in the sale for £2.50 and thought they would be nice to wear everyday.

What have you been buying recently, and what are your tips for saving money?

RECENT WARDROBE ADDITIONS

First thing first, sorry for the lack of posts, I have been swamped with coursework and revision and so needed to prioritise. But, I have picked up a few fashion items recently and thought they would be worth a share considering I have been preferring fashion over beauty recently *gasps*

In Topshop (quite a fair while back) I found this slightly cropped blue checked light slouchy top. It was £10 in the sale I believe, and I have got so much wear out of it that I probably would have paid full price. Another sale item was this monochrome jersey gingham pencil midi skirt from New Look which I paid a mere £3 for. This is from the teen/kids section but it fits me so all is good.

Also from New Look came the chunky 'cleated sole' sandals that have featured in almost all of my outfit posts recently. They were £24.99 which isn't bad for this type of shoe, and the price is justified with how versatile they are anyways. As well as the shoes, I finally got my mitts on some 'Mom Shorts' after seeing Megan style them so well, and these cost me £19.99
In H&M I came across this light boxy mint green polka dot shirt for only £12.99 and practically threw it onto the till. I know they did have a pastel pink gingham version so I may have to go back and get myself that one too. Also from H&M came the necklace and the neon yellow 'aviator' style sunglasses, each totalling £1-£2 in the clearance.

More recently I went to London and had a spare half an hour nearby Westfield and so I had a quick look in Forever 21, and came out with 3 accessories items. I got another pair of sunglasses, these are all over black with two gold details and are fairly oversized. These were only £4.90 and I am hoping the sun arrives soon so I can wear them. I also got this star necklace for £2 and the pack of earrings for £2.50 - Forever 21 accessories are so affordable.

A bit of a rambly one today, but expect to be seeing a bit more of that in the upcoming week or two as I am going to do some major shopping with friends at the weekend, not that I need anything else...

BRIGHT BLUSHES FOR SPRING

Another Spring-based post today, as will be the majority of my upcoming posts over the next few weeks, but today I am focusing on the cheeks, and in particular - blush. When Spring comes along, I like to crack out the brighter shades and add some colour to my makeup.

One that I'm sure you all hate me for banging on about on almost a weekly basis is the Topshop Cream Blush Duo in Up In The Air - a duo of a bright orange and pink with a cream to powder finish. Another heavily mentioned one is the Revlon Photo Ready Cream Blush in Coral Reef, a red coral which blends out to something a little more muted, with the same powder finish.

For a budget offering, the MUA Cream Blush in Bittersweet comes in at £2 a pop, and has a nice range of neutrals and brights. I particularly love this one as it is so bright in the pan and it really translates that candy pink colour onto the cheeks. Another MUA product is the Powder Blush in Shade 1 (which I'm not sure is still available), is a muted, powder version of the pink in the Topshop Duo. 

Last but not least, not only does the H&M Spring Flowers blush get points for the stunning pink-coral colour, it also gets the award for the prettiest packaging of the bunch. It's mostly matte, but that centre pale pink adds a hint of shimmer, but often I just avoid that if I want a matte cheek.

Blushes are quickly becoming my weakness, so we will have to wait and see which will be my purchased next...

CURRENT JEWELLERY STAPLES

It isn't often that I write fashion related posts, unless I am really loving something or it is really worth rambling about and taking a post away from one of my much loved beauty products. But this, my friends, is worth the post. I love jewellery, it's one of those things that I feel completes any outfit, and so I will be sharing some of my favourite pieces of the moment.

This neon necklace from Topshop has really been lifting my general monochrome outfits. I like how the neon chain leans somewhere in between a green and a yellow, and the gold spike at the end hangs nicely to close of the neon-ness. Did that even make any sense? But this is a good'un nonetheless.

You may remember if you were one of my earlier followers I did a post on my Joules & James Rose Gold Watch, and I still wear it (even though the rose gold is fading a little to reveal a hint of silver in some lights), this is just my go two when I want some wrist-action. On the path of rose gold and wrist-action, this spike stud rose gold bracelet is by far one of favourites of the bunch, and I wear it with so many outfits.

Another necklace is this monochrome triangle one which I got in the sale in Dorothy Perkins a while back and I still love it. Sometimes, I like to wear a necklace to spice up a monochrome outfit, but other times, I add monochrome on monochrome and I like that option too.

For earrings, these triangle ones from Topshop have been floating my boat recently to add a little edgy-ness to my outfits. They are rather big, but I quite like the way they look. I also like these ones from Matalan which are round studs with jewels/diamonds in. I like these for a little more glamour to my lobes (how weird do I want to make my sentences sound?).

Writing this, gives me a craving to go and buy some more jewellery... statement necklaces are where I am headed....

 

BEST 5 OF 2013: FACE

Yep, another set of awards for the top products of 2013. This time, I'm am giving you the low-down on all things face related, so that goes for base, concealer, blush, highlight, etc. etc. And, I will tell you now, base products are my weakness, so are lips, and eyes, and basically makeup in general - oops.

Revlon basically rocks my world when it comes to foundations and bases.The shades match my pale skin perfectly, and the formulas work pretty well where things get quite oily on my face, but don't get cakey on my drier cheeks *claps*. So, for the higher coverage option, Revlon Colorstay in Buff (Oily/Combo) is the bomb dot com, literally. This covers all my blemishes, redness, and scars (with a tiny bit of help from a concealer), but still looks natural, and is pretty flawless. Then, for the lighter offering, Revlon Nearly Naked in Vanilla is perfect. This still covers most things, more so simply blurs the skin, but looks radiant, without being shiny.

Then, onto concealer. Of course, the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in Fair does it for me. Oh, how I wish this was the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer but my purse won't allow it, but for a mere £4.19, this covers everything. Sometimes people complain about it being cakey, and I have had some bad experiences, but on my combination skin, this just does so well at covering, and lasting all day. I have been through a good 3-4 of these in varying colours this year, and after buying the Bourjois offering, I think this one still wins that spot in my heart.

Blush. This was the year that I fell in love with cream blushes, and more so now that I own the Real Techniques Stippling Brush. This Topshop Cream Blush Duo in Up in The Air was purchased in the January sales last year, and I have been loving it all year through. The formula = perfect. The colours = perfect. The lasting power = perfect. What more can I say.

Finally, as you can see by the pan-hitting going on there, the Sleek Face Form in Light was obviously going to gain a spot in this post. The highlight and contour are the best parts of the palette, but the blush is lovey too. The contour is the perfect colour, so I'm getting any orange lines going on all up in my cheekbones, and the highlight adds the nicest pink/champagne glow you ever did see.

What were your favourite products of 2013?

 

Topshop Wishlist #2

I love Topshop, but I only own a couple of items. This is soon to change though, as hopefully I will pick up something when I go birthday shopping with Megan and her mum. Go wish her a happy birthday in around a month! So, with me saving, the second best thing then shopping, is a wishlist, and that's what this post is for today!

Look at all these beautiful things!

I tried to get a mix of all the categories. Most of these are from the 'new in' section, so they will all be available, if you are interested. Everything is linked, so you can go and have a look for yourself, and see everything on the models, because they look a lot nicer!

Lip Bullet in There She Goes £8.00

This is a new product in the Topshop makeup line. I think these are like the balm stains everyone and their mothers are coming out with, but more like a lipstick form. The colour is super pretty, and I would definitely wear it a great deal in spring!

Knitted Fluffy Crop Top £34.00

This. Spring/Summer in a top. I don't like to wear crop tops, but on the model this looked great, and with something high waisted (disco pants be mine), it wouldn't show of much skin at all. Because it is knitted, I think it takes the thought of it being cropped is out the window.

Disco Treggings £30.00

These disco pants, are the one thing I WILL be buying when I go shopping with Megan. She has ordered some online, so as long as I get the all-good from her, about the quality and the fit, they will be in my shopping bag in a matter of seconds. Fingers crossed they have my size!

Edge Paint Satchel £28.00

A satchel is something I always have me eye on, and this one is more summery than your common black/brown. They also had an orange, a white and an bright colbalt blue colour. I liked the yellow/lime, as it was a less harsh colour than the other ones. I often find myself watching the Cambride Satchel advert, and I think that inspired me to want to buy one for myself! I expect that this will be pretty good quality, and for £28 it's not bad!

 HOULA Fine Stud Sandal £28.00

Finally, some shoes. I really like the gladiator type sandals, but I don't think I could pull them off if they went up to/past my ankle, so these ones are a more dainty subsitute. On the model, they look so pretty, and I think I could wear them with skirts, dresses, and even jeans. They are a really versatile pair of shoes, and the studs add a nice bit of detail on them.

So, that's my wishlist, let me know if there is anything you are lusting after be it from Topshop or somewhere else! I would love to know - it might make me want to get it!

Thanks for reading, don't forget to follow, via Bloglovin' and GFC, and also on twitter.

Bye! Lauren x

Topshop Up and Away Cream Blush Duo | Swatches and Review

Hi everyone! As you may have already seen in the blogging world, Topshop Cream Blushes are very much raved about here. I thought I would hop on the bandwagon (a little late) as this was purchased after Christmas in the sale, for £6 instead of £12. The packaging isn't my favourite, as the green is a little unpractical, but I do like the pattern on it.

Ooh Pretty! Sorry, it's a little bit used, but it just shows how much I love it! :)

Wowiie! Once blended, it definitely isn't this bright on the cheeks!

 These cream blushes are flawless to apply, and with a cream to powder finish, they are very easy to blend across the cheek. There is a lovely peachy/coral colour, and then there is a bright fuchsia pink colour, which I also love. I have tried mixing the two before, and it actually looks really pretty on the skin!

How pretty is that!? Once blended, these can be made really subtle!

After buying this, I really want to try some more of these Topshop cream blushes, as they are such great quality products and really worth the money! I think they are worth either £6 or £8 when you buy the ones that are in the permanent and they have 4-5 lovely shades to choose from. I really recommend you pick them up!

Do you own any of these? Let me know in the comments!

Thanks for reading, come again soon! Don't forget that you can follow me on GFC and Bloglovin' (buttons to the right) and also on twitter! ; www.twitter.com/thebeaubow

Bye! Lauren x

Topshop Wishlist #1

Hi there! Today is a wishlist post, of entirely Topshop pieces. It seems that I have a little outfit going on in this wishlist, and it makes me sad knowing that there is no way on earth that I can afford to buy these things...but a girl can dream! :) Everything is linked below to the Topshop website if you want some more info on anything! :)

1. ACCOMPLICE Double Zip Boots £65.00 - I have been wanting some cute little ankle boots for a while now, after seeing many of Zoellas vlogs and thought that they looked wonderful on her, and I saw these and thought that they were perfect, and I love the studded detail at the back!

 

2. Petite Collar Tip Dog Shirt £34.00 - Ok, so recently I have been obsessed with two things; one being flowy sheer shirts, and the other being anything with animals printed onto it. This little gem carries both of those things. Loose fitting and cool to wear when it *hopefully* warms up soon here in the UK! I can't really say much more...I'm in love.

 

3. Bow Stud Cuff £8.50 - I thought his lovely little bracelet is perfect for Spring in my eyes, I think it would match with anything and everything. I love the cold detailing, and I think the cream

leathery type material really compliments this. Not such a bad price for a statement wardrobe piece like this!

 

4. Medium Flat Chain Bowling Bag £35.00 - Ok, get on my arm...like everyday. I love this bag; the style, the colour, the size, and if the colour isn't your number 1 choice, it's also available in black, but I just thought that this would be a nice pastel bag for Spring, and will match with plenty of outfits.

 

5. Petite Structured Blazer £50.00 - This blazer looks so easy to throw on over any outfit this season, possibly with a blouse, or a pretty lace dress. I saw that Zoella was wearing this in a DailyMix video (see how much of an influence youtubers and bloggers have on my wardrobe choices!), and it looked stunning on her and somehow it magically crawled its way onto my wishlist!

 

6. Pale Grey Petite MOTO Skinny Leigh Jeans £38.00 - I have been eyeing up the famous leigh jeans for a while now, and I thought these grey ones would be a softer colour to wear this season, rather than your navy or your black pairs. They look so flattering, and so comfortable to wear! I think leigh jeans will be on my wihslist for a long time..:)

 

So that was my first wishlist post! Did you enjoy reading it? Let me know of the items you have been lusting over recently!

I'm popping to the shops later on, into Primark and some other places. Let me know below if you wouls like me to post a little 'haul' later on of anything I picked up! :)

Thanks for reading,

Lauren x