It's Beginning To Look A lot Like Chirstmas

It comes and goes so quickly, you prepare weeks, some people even months in advance for the perfect day...Christmas is of course what i am talking about. Just as quickly as it comes around, it leaves.

I thought i would do a different Christmas style post. I wanted to share some pictures from what i've been up to leading up to Christmas and my Christmas day itself. Enjoy 

needed to get my Christmas home wear out along with the tree and all the lovely decorations.

winter wonderland - thought i would enjoy this ride, how wrong was i!

this one, not much better, very deceiving

Bicester Village, just outside Oxford 

CATS Oxford Theater - was amazing

Christmas day itself

I hope you have all had and are having a lovely Christmas and New Year's break

follow me on twitter @lndgirlblogging or @ella1993

and my instagram @ellar_93

Xx

The Beauty of Testers: Try Before You Buy

In my time I have received my fair share of free samples, mainly food or perfume, but beauty samples is something that has recently come to my knowledge with the help of my trusty Boots card. (If you don't have a Boots card, and if you live in the UK, get you hands on one!).

From my boots card I have received many offers for free samples and testers of Estee Lauder products, what more could you ask for?!

My most recent trip to the Estee Lauder counter got me two free samples of their double wear, and double wear light foundations. The lady who served me was so nice, and not only did she give me two different shades, despite the offer only saying one, she gave me two different types of foundation. As from the picture above, you can also see that my Boots card has also been given the chance to acquire a Mascara sample from Estee Lauder as well. 

Along from Estee Lauder most makeup counters will give you testers for foundation, or even loose powders. During one of my many trips to the MAC counter, I was given a tester pot of a loose powder that I was looking at. You can only ask!

And even better, this was from a limited edition collection as well, so I was surprised to be given a sample pot. 

I have to say, the only place I found to be a bit stingy with testers when I wanted to try out Giorgio Armani's Luminous Silk Foundation.

Not only is there a plus in trying out the testers of free makeup products, but of perfume and skin products as well. Most of the perfume testers are either freely handed out to you, or they slip some in your bag once you have made a purchase, again, like the makeup is a good way to test out new and classic fragrances along with the little tester bottles making for handy on the go perfume to throw in your bag.

Like previously mentioned, with certain shops, offers, or even if they are just feeling nice you will receive a free gift, like i did the other day, at the Models Own Stall, where they were giving away free eye liner pencils, and you didn't even have to purchase something, I however did!

Where do you find good samples, or freebees, I would love to know!

tweet me @lngirlblogging and follow me on Instagram @ellar_93

Xx

Brand Loving: Essie

I am a nails girl through and through, and a pet peeve of mine is having un-painted nails. I am a big fan of bio-gels, but these can rack up to be quite pricey having them done every month. So a good old fashion paint them yourselves is what you need. This is also just an excuse for me to buy more polishes.

About a year ago I discovered Essie, this was just after it had been launched in the high street stores (Boots and Superdrug). At £8 per polish it is at the higher end of the high street nail brand spectrum. Despite the higher pricing, I love Essie, their colours are endless in shades, great for colour pay off. With the polishes I own, with some of them I only need one coat and then a top coat and I'm ready to go! What more could you ask for!

Not only do I highly rate Essie polishes for their colour pay off, but for their staying power as well. No other polishes I have tried (aside from the bios) have the staying power of Essie. With a base coat, two coats of colour, and a top coat my Essie nails are good to go for at least 4-5 days, surviving my love for piping hot baths, diet coke cans, work and general every day life. 

Here are my most used colours, ps. Bahama Mama is great for the quickly approaching festive season!

Bahama Mama

Mint Candy Apple 

Muchi Muchi

what nail polish brands do you love?

tweet me @lndgirlblogging or follow me on instagram @ellar_93

xx

Great Friend: Great Lash

I have been in need of a new mascara for about two months, and more recently the ones I have been trying just are not doing what I need them to, so much so I have been debating throwing in mascara for the winter months and investing in getting a half set of 3D lashes done, to stop with the hassle! (I'm still pondering this for my trip to nyc, in January).

But, despite my lash drama I was in need of a quick and cheap fix to tie me over, and there it was staring back at me , my old love., Maybelline Great Lash Mascara. I first bought this after I saw it about 6 years ago in my aunties makeup bag, for me this was the holy grail of all the best product in the high street of which I could afford with pocket money. 

It's such a classic product, the brush I find is a perfect size for bottom and top lashes, it's lengthens, adds volume, and is the blackest black you can find. What more could you want. Sometimes the oldies are just what you need, can r go wrong with a classic can you.  

Lush Lip Scrub in Bubblegum: Review

The other day I found myself wondering past a Lush store, and as most of us do, I could not help but go in and have a little look around. For  a long time I have liked their lip scrubs, this is the first one I've owned, I have always used friends. And there it was in front of me, the Bubblegum lip scrub, I don't mind the other flavours but this was the only one I was willing to pay money for.

At £5, there is no going wrong with this product. Like most Lush products, it is freshly made, along with being made with good wholesome ingredients. It is literally sugar, colouring and some bubblegum flavour.

I suffer from really bad dry and chapped lips as soon as the temperature drops. I have tried many a lip balm, but they have never really sorted out that horrible feeling, and look, of dried chapped lips. This does the trick like magic, a little bit of the scrub rubbed well over my lips takes off all the dead and chapped skin and leaves them soft, smooth and feeling great. Sometimes, I'll just use the scrub and leave them O'Natural, or I'll use my Kheil's Lip Balm #1 in Mango (£9.50).

Also just a little side note, the scrubs come in different flavours and scents, and they currently have Christmas edition out called 'Santa'.

Winter Wardrobe Wish List

As we are welcoming in November, so are we welcoming the cold weather (at least here in the UK!). Since all the Winter clothing catalogues are coming through my letter box, along with shop windows looking perfectly Christmassy along with getting you all excited for this winter and of course Christmas.

So here are my picks for my 'Winter Wardrobe Wish List', all the prices and links to the products will be listed, some may only be available in the UK however.

ZARA CHECKED SOFT SCARF (£19.99)
this was inspired by Lily Pebbles, I've seen it in the store and i can say you get so much material for your money, as well as the quality of it, so soft. 

H&M BLACK JERSEY DRESS (£14.99)

despite the cold we girls still love to rock a LBD, regardless of the weather. This is such a clever little dress from h&m the long arms will help to keep you a little bit warmer during those cold nights out!

H&M BLACK LEATHER BOOTS (£69.99)

these are a slight cheat as I bought these a few weeks back, but I think a black heeled boot are a staple for any girls winter wardrobe!

OASIS ELLE FAUX FUR LINED PARKER (£88.00) 

everyone needs a good coat for winter, and what better than a classic Parker

What is on your wish list for this winter? Tweet me @lndgirlblogging

or follow me on Instasgram ellar_93

Xx

Lip Lust's - Autumn/Winter

 

This is part two of my Autumn Winter Make-up Lust's. This week I am lusting over Lip products.
As we all know as the Winter draws in the weather changes and one of the worst affected things is our lips, I know for sure mine always become very cracked and dry, and then end up needing a lot of TLC. 

I am always on the look out for a great all around lip balm, so any recommendations be sure to leave them in the comments section, or tweet me them!

THE BODY SHOP: LIP BUTTERS IN COCONUT

REVLON LIP BUTTER IN TUTTI FRUITI

LOREAL CARESSES

BOURJOIS 3D LIPGLOSS

(this I bought a good few years ago, so i'm not sure if it is still stocked and the name of the shade)

MAC CREME CUP

JUICY TUBE 017 FRAISE

As well as creating the best lip looks for this winter season, they also need to feel healthy. Your must for a Winter make up bag are bases and balms which are always go to's during this time of year, and some all year round as well. As previous, these are a mix of high end and high street brands with varying prices.

VASELINE, BODY SHOP LIP BUTTER IN CHERRY, BOOTS ORIGINAL LIP-SALVE, JUICY COUTURE LIP BALM & MAC PREP AND PRIME LIP.

What do you love for your lips at this time of year? I would love to hear tweet me at @ella1993, or comment in the box below for any other ideas you would like to see on here.

You can also follow me on Instagram @ellar_93

Xx