As I’ve mentioned previously I’m moving to Australia, and it’s now only 50 days away! It’s come around so quickly and dragged at the same time, but it’s almost here and I’ve finally putting things in place for my departure. One of these is sorting out my wardrobe; it’s unreal how many items of clothing you actually have when you have “nothing to wear”. A few years ago I used eBay as a means of selling clothing but when PayPal started charging fees too, I totally gave up on it. Around 2 months ago I started looking at other ways to sell my clobber and came across Depop, I didn’t know anything about it but I thought I would give it a shot.

For anyone that isn’t aware of the app it’s almost like Instagram meets eBay. You upload photos of your items and can crop/add filters and other users can literally just press a ‘buy’ button to purchase your item. If you’re unsure of how much your item is worth you can disable instant buy and users will have to message you to make an offer. You decide how much you want for postage and when an item has been bought, Depop automatically takes 10% of the overall sum in fees. Once you ship an item it takes 14 days for the funds to be released in your wallet and it can then be debited to your bank account or you can use it to buy items from the app.  

So far I’ve sold 36 items and made a grand total of £422, which I’m over the moon with! I also started receiving weekly emails telling me I’m Depop Famous and ranked 887 of over 2 million users worldwide which is pretty cool! The app also selects random items to be shown in the explore section which helps you get your item exposure. The majority of Depop users are under the age of 25 making it a far younger platform than the likes of eBay, and I think that has helped me sell my items massively; over 68% of eBay users are over the age of 35. In the time I’ve been using the Depop I’ve actually became addicted and a few friends have also started depoping, so, If you’re looking to make some extra cash give it a go, here are some tips.

- Take good photos – Images in natural light always sell quicker and give a better representation of your items. 

- Don’t use filters – Although you can use filters (and they’re great on Instagram), on Depop it looks like you’re trying to hide what the item of clothing actually looks like.

- Refresh your items – Once you’ve listed your items edit and save them once in a while, it will put your item back at the top of search results so they’re easier for people to find.

A few months ago a friend of mine mentioned she was going for a ‘non-surgical bum lift’, which was something I’d never heard of and didn’t think was possible in all honesty. The non-surgical bum lift apparently moves fat from other parts of your body down to your derriere to give you a real Kardashian booty. A few weeks later I asked my friend how it went and she said she had seen a difference and the person she went with had seen a massive difference. It got me interested so I looked into the company.

They’re called PureRise and they’re the first non-surgical bum lifters to hit up the UK, currently based in Liverpool.

How it works

Their website states:

“The combination of technologies melts the fat pockets that cause dimpled and lumpy skin, repositioning some of malleable fat for a more appealing buttock contour. Broken down fat is then deposited naturally through the body, via the lymphatic system.

This pioneering new technology has several effects: reducing loose skin, treating stretch marks and cellulite from the thighs and saddlebags, while simultaneously lifting and shaping the buttocks for the bum you have always wished for. The result: a shapely silhouette.”

Does it actually work?

Well, I wouldn’t know from experience (although I’ve been considering trying it out for a while), but the friends I know have tried it swear by it, and by the looks of their Instagram page… they’re pretty popular. This is also the same type of treatment the Kardashians are reported to have had although obviously with a different company, you even see Khloe undergoing this treatment in an episode of Keeping up with the Kardashians.

Prices

You would assume treatment like this would cost an arm and a leg but actually it’s not that expensive – their ‘Brazilian Bum Lift’ starts at £95 and I’ve noticed they have offers that they publish on Instagram too.

Click here to find out more about PureRise

So I’ve known about the Back to MAC programme for literally about 10 years, but until recently not in much detail. I’m moving away to Australia at the end of the year so I’ve been really watching my money, and since I use MAC every day I thought I’d put the programme to use and get some free lippy.  

What is it?

It’s MAC’s recycling programme whereby if you return 6 items of ‘primary’ packing you receive a free MAC lipstick of your choice.

What can you return?

Most things, including any:

-  Compacts -  Pots -  Bottles -  Tubes

You can find out more information on specific items you can return here. It may sound obvious but you can’t return samples, applicators, tools, accessories or secondary packaging such as paper boxes or plastic bags.

Can I only get lipsticks?

Yes. The UK website shows only lipsticks to be available. I know a lot of Bloggers and YouTubers from other countries say they’ve had eyeshadows and lip glosses available to them but that doesn’t seem to be an option in the UK. You can also only get lipsticks from the standard MAC lines - no Viva Glam or limited edition lipsticks are included.  

What do I need to do?

So, I’m not sure if you’ve noticed but in the last few months Primark have released a new line of handbags that look EXTREMELY similar to River Island’s. Ladies, we all know about River Island bags - we’ve been all over the pom-poms for a while now and we’ve got used to spending our entire life savings on an everyday bag. However, with a budget option coming on the market it’s only right that we investigate and take a closer look, so here goes.

River Island

The River Island collection this season features so many tans, nudes, greys and pinks. At the moment stripes, patchwork and suede are all proving popular in terms of design, the suede is particularly popular with black handbags at the moment (yay!). They have tons of different styles available but as always at least £20+ for a small satchel, or £35+ for a good size handbag… but as they say you get what you pay for.

  Primark

The new range at Primark is extensive, they have EVERY BAG you could imagine in different styles, sizes and colours. Fortunately with everything being so cheap, they cater to all budgets. They’ve taken massive ‘inspiration’ from the River Island collection with their array of winged bags with patchwork or striped design. Some bags start from just £7 for satchels and £9+ for a good size handbag. Unfortunely Primark still haven’t got their act together and opened an online store, but you can check out the whole range here. 

The Verdict

One thing I did notice in Primark when I was checking out the collection was how many bags on display were broken. For bags this cheap you can’t expect the best quality so it comes down to what you really want from a bag. If you’re the kind of girl who likes to change her bag on a daily basis or according to outfits then definitely go for Primark, they have so many gorgeous bags and in so many styles, if money is no object buy them all! Personally I’m the kind of girl that buys a bag and uses it every day until it’s in pieces, I don’t have the time (or energy) to switch my bag around all the time, so for those reasons I’m happy to spend more on my bag knowing that it will last me a solid 6 months.  Realistically it comes down to whether you prefer quality or quantity.

Tips:

- Always think about the practicalities – there’s no point carrying a satchel if you need a hairbrush and half your make up collection in there.

- Think about your wardrobe, as nice as that navy blue bag is, will it go with your outfits?

So in one of my blogs from summer last year I mentioned JustFab, and I actually recommended the company as I got an amazing deal on some incredible shoes. Little did I know at the time how much of a pain in my derriere this company were going to be.

As I mentioned in my previous blog when you buy from this company they decide for you that you have become a VIP member, which in turn means they debit £35 from your bank account each month in return for 1 credit, which enables you to purchase something from their online store.

As much as I totally love having money taken from my bank account without my permission they do offer a ‘skip the month’ option, so you just have to remember to skip each month and no money will be debited – sounds like a commitment in itself, right?

Well, late last year I was on holiday and couldn’t access Wi-Fi to skip the month and the money was debited from my account, when I called to ask them to reimburse my money they told me that wasn’t going to happen because when I made my initial order with them I had subscribed to these monthly payments, which was news to me. In the end I managed to get the money back by staying with them and remembering to skip the month.

Here we are 8 months later and this month I didn’t receive a reminder to skip the month so the money was debited from my account again. When I called I asked to close my account and got about 10 minutes of spiel from the ‘fashion consultant’ asking me to give them another go – sugar, I did not sign up for a long term relationship.

In the end I got my money back and my account was closed but to summarise, they aren’t worth the earache. I’m not the only one who’s had bad experiences with this company, there are a ton of blogs (listed below) saying the exact same thing, so avoid like the plague!

Other websites

-   Buzzfeed

-   Literally, Darling

-   A Spokesman Said

I used St Tropez Gradual Tan about a month before going on holiday. Like most British girls going abroad I had the dreaded moment where I realised I would have to expose my milk bottle figure, which just wasn’t an option! Some girls can work it; others can’t. I decided to opt for a gradual tanner because I thought there would be less chance of streaking, and since it’s an ‘everyday body lotion’ I thought it would be quite easy. The online reviews for this product are amazing, there are 55 reviews for this product on boots.com, all voting it 4.5/5 and comments saying it didn’t spell like fake tan (which is always a bonus). I decided to try out the medium/dark shade as I did eventually want a dark tan. So, here’s the truth about how it went…

TRIAL 1: FAIL.

So as the product is a body lotion I thought it would be pretty straightforward, apply it just like any other lotion, with no particular technique, and expect little change in the morning, right?

NO. I woke up extremely dark and streaky.

I spent the next 3 days scrubbing every last pore on my body trying to get the product off.

In my streaky situation I turned to my fairy tanmother and asked for advice on how to use the product, she recommended that I exfoliate thoroughly and should apply it using a mitt. I decided to give it a go – I used the mitt from head to toe, rubbed it in until dry, and I exfoliated like a pro beforehand.  

TRIAL 2: SUCCESS

The result? I became a sexy sun goddess overnight. Literally, with one application you can see the difference, so I repeated the process a couple of times before my holiday to get a nice golden look.

VERDICT

So whilst browsing YouTube a couple of days ago I came across a random video made by a beauty vlogger who I had never heard of before, Beautyybird (aka Yasmin). With the title being 28 beauty hacks I thought I’d give it a watch and unexpectedly I learnt a ton of new tricks!

I can’t say all of these tips are great, some of them are questionable but a couple have changed my life (slightly dramatic) and a few others are simply really good to know.

The tip on using sellotape to do your eyeliner has been a particular game changer for me, I used to spend like 15 minutes a day attempting to get my eyeliner even, now it’s a straight forward minute or two. The shampoo technique is also amazing, I have an issue with under conditioning/ over conditioning so just swapping the process round has helped me find the perfect balance and add volume. The other tips on lipstick, fake eyelashes and hair curling are not ones I would use every day but so handy to know and I definitely think I’ll be having to use at some point. Anyway, I don’t want to give the entire video away, so I’ll let you guys watch it for yourselves.

Whatever happened to Pamela Anderson? Well, we all thought she had fell of the face of the earth until a couple of days ago when she took over Missguided for their new Spirit Animal campaign! It was quite a surprise to see Pam gracing Missguided’s homepage but nevertheless… I think I’m in love.

Like most I grew up watching Pamela Anderson on Baywatch, I was probably too young to understand what was going on (I believed she was the real life Barbie for a moment), but back then she looked amazing, you would expect that some 20 years later things may have changed… but we couldn’t be more wrong. She looks INCREDIBLE in her new campaign, I love the fact she did a shoot in the classic red swimsuit, It’s so much more than just an advertising shot, it’s nostalgic and super empowering for women! it shows us all that beauty really is ageless!

The supporting quotes and video from the campaign reveal the true Pamela and it shows that even megababes like her have insecurities and don’t always feel like they fit the mould, but hey, fake it till you make it. In my opinion this campaign is everything and if you haven’t seen it GO SEE IT!

Well ladies, summer is just around the corner and I’m sure most of you have your next beach holiday booked! If you’ve kept your new year’s resolution of going to the gym then great, you’re well on your way to that beach body. If you haven’t then you’re probably in dire need of some extra motivation and what better way than window shopping for this summer’s bikini collection!

A couple of months ago a lovely little online boutique called Bikini Hut started following me on Instagram, surprisingly enough they sell bikinis (and plenty of other beach related goodies). They’re a fairly new business that started up in April 15 and for the last few months I’ve kept my eye on their Instagram and fell in love with their cute, girly bikinis which are as cheap as £12 a set, and totally gorgeous! It’s not very surprising that I haven’t had chance to try their products yet because it’s absolutely freezing in the UK, but they’re firmly on my list of things to buy before my holiday. I have been going to the gym every (other) day to do their Monica Monochrome set some justice, and so should you! I believe their SS 2016 collection is due out pretty soon so check out their website and watch this space.

So recently I’ve fallen further and further in love with Lush products and it’s became a little bit addictive I can’t lie. There are a few products which I’m starting to find that I just can’t live without and I’m actually taking extra showers just to use them. Yes it’s becoming a little bit unhealthy (and pricey) but nonetheless it’s because they’re so god damn good. I’m fairly new to the whole Lush thing so these products may be well known already, but I thought I would share my recent findings with you just in case you’re looking for a new gorgeous smelling addiction.

3. Intergalactic  

If you haven’t tried this product already you should definitely do so, even if it’s just for the visual… it looks amazing. This was the first bath bomb I ever tried out and it’s by far the best. I remember the product smelling amazing but I couldn’t describe the scent (probably because I was too busy staring at the bathtub, see above). When the bath bomb is placed in water it immediately explodes and starts turning your water so many beautiful colours, once all of the bubbles have dissolved you will be left with a blue glitter bath which is perfect if you’ve had a hard day and you just want to be a glittering mermaid for an hour; who doesn't.

2. Prince Charming

I’m not sure if you can find this product all year round in Lush, I’m pretty sure it’s only available around Valentine’s Day so if you do want to try it out you will need to move fast! Seriously... this smells stunning, the initial scent in store doesn’t do it justice because when you actually use it there’s a whole new level of marshmallow and sweetness to it. It’s not a product that you can describe as subtle as it has a very strong scent, but it’s definitely one that I’m literally in love with.

1. Pink Fun

It’s that time of year again, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and whether you’re single or in a relationship, I think we can all agree it’s a great opportunity to get dressed up! Most of us only have two options of dress on Valentine’s Day, and that’s either the classic LBD or a little red number! This entire blog is based on my love for black clothing, but the only time I steer away from that is on Valentine’s Day…when I love to be the lady in red. I’ve noticed this year it’s been pretty hard to find a ‘wow’ kind of dress, they all seem to be so…basic. Nevertheless I’ve searched the net to find some dresses that will set yours (and his) world on fire.

KIKO are an Italian cosmetics brand that have been established since the late 90’s, they’re pretty huge in Italy but until recently have had little/no UK presence. A couple of years ago they made their products available to buy online in the UK, but in the last year or so have opened 12 UK stores including my shopping heaven – the Trafford Centre.

With a New Year comes New Year’s resolutions and undoubtedly every year you hear the same resolution, “I need to lose weight, I need to go to the gym”…which isn’t surprising considering most of us eat our body weight in food over the festive season. If you are feeling super motivated to shed some pounds and get fit it can be difficult to do in January as it’s a long month, and most of us end up being pretty damn poor. Regardless of finances we all want to look our best, especially in preparation for those summer beach holidays, so I’ve came up with a couple of ways to save you some pennies and start working out!

Clothing

Big brands like Nike and Adidas can be pretty damaging on your purse strings if you don’t already own workout clothes, but at the same time, nobody wants to be trailing though sale bins or wearing fluorescent colours, so what do you do? Well, a lot of online clothing retailers have started their own fitness ranges that are way more affordable than big brands, which could be a great idea if you are just starting out and don’t want to leave yourself bankrupt.

Boohoo launched their Boohoo Fit range around a year ago and they have a great range of products and designs. I’m personally not the biggest fan of this range because of the clothing quality, but if you are looking for super cheap and cheerful then they’re the one for you with their product cost varying from just £3 - £17.

My absolute recommendation has to be Missguided’s Active range, which also launched around the same time as Boohoo’s (which is no surprise). I massively prefer this range, I feel like the design and quality of their collection seems to be a little more exercise focused and built for purpose, whereas Boohoo’s range seems to be leisurewear essentially. Missguided’s range varies from £5 - £20 so there’s not a huge difference in cost between the two, so go with your preference!

Exercise

As simple as exercise sounds, it’s not always so easy to do, schedules can be busy and making time for the gym can be difficult. Cheap gym’s like Puregym aren’t always accessible and with the average gym cost in the UK being £32 per month, it can be pretty steep. In aid of helping you stick to that resolution, here are a couple of ways to get exercising without even having to touch your bank account.  

Running/ jogging is the obvious one, it’s free to do and burns more calories than many other exercise, what more could you want? Well, another free of charge option is YouTube videos. We all see the super fake workout videos that reality TV stars sell, but wouldn’t you rather workout for free with real people who actually look like the packaging? If so there are tons of videos online, so here’s one to get you started from fitnessblender.com

With Christmas just a day away I’ve pulled together some Christmas makeup inspiration to get you ready and prepared for Santa’s arrival! I’m no makeup artist myself but I do love to play around and learn new techniques, so I’ve pulled together a few tutorials and tips to get you feeling flawless and inspired this festive season!

Subtle

If you’re having a quiet family dinner then you probably don’t want to look super OTT on Christmas day. A classic year round look has to be winged eyeliner with red lipstick, it’s perfect for Christmas and is possibly one of the easiest and most effective looks to achieve. I’ve come across YouTuber Jessica Clement and her super simple tutorial on how to create a smoky winged eyeliner & red lipstick look.  

Tip: An amazing red lipstick that I tried out recently is L’Oreal Infallible 24 Hour Lip Colour. This lipstick really doesn’t budge, like, not even with makeup remover. It’s an awesome product for Christmas day as you can eat all you like and kiss granny Pat on the cheek without making any mess. 

If you’re not all about the red lipstick (not everyone is), then you can still do this look and ditch the red for a nude lip shade, it will look just as stunning!

Dramatic  

So if you are usually throwing (or going to) a party this Christmas then it’s likely that you’ll want a slightly more glamorous, dramatic look. Whilst looking for amazing MUA’s I discovered Carli Bybel who may have just become my new girl crush. Carli has created an amazing tutorial on how to create 2 dramatic Christmas party looks which I think are totally gorgeous! The green eye and nude lip look works really well and is perfect if you really want to stand out from the crowd. 

Tips: If you’re on a budget then you can replace the Mac Glitter pots Carli is using with Barry M Dazzle Dust, which is way cheaper.

It’s National Christmas Jumper day on Friday and so many companies are taking part to raise money for Charity and show their support. The idea behind the campaign is great but in reality Christmas jumpers are ugly (there’s no beating around the bush), the idea of wearing a giant reindeer across my chest all day really doesn’t appeal. Nevertheless, in aid of supporting a good cause I’ve searched high and low to find the cutest Christmas jumpers on the market and yes…they do exist. I’ve pulled together my top 5 cute Christmas jumpers so that you can show your support AND look chic as hell this Friday.

The works Christmas party is a great chance to let your hair down and have fun with the workmates you spend every day with. Whilst we all love a party it’s important to remember that you’re still around your colleagues and management so it’s important to make a good impression.

What you’re wearing to the Christmas party is usually the talk of the office for a month or so before the event and with that being said there’s a lot of pressure to look your best. I’ve pulled together some ideas for what you should (and shouldn’t) wear to your Christmas party.

An elegant event

Most of us rarely get the chance to REALLY dress up these days so it can be difficult to know where to start. It’s always important to know your body shape, if you buy something for the look rather fit it could be really unflattering and be a massive mistake. Once you know your body shape and type of dress you’re looking for then that’s where the fun really begins. This season sequins are in fashion and there are tons of different options available. ASOS has hundreds of sequin dresses so no matter what your style (whether you prefer simple or extravagant) they will have something you’ll love. If sequins really aren’t your thing and you fancy something a little different then then you need to head to New Look, they have some seriously quirky dresses in stock and tons of lace dresses too, including some by my favourite dress making underdogs John Zack.

A smart/casual event

So depending on what you’re actually doing for the event (whether it’s an Italian restaurant or drinks at a fancy cocktail bar) depends on the kind of outfit you’re looking for. The best thing to wear in this kind of scenario is something in the middle ground (that's appropriate for either) – not quite your day to day outfit but not too OTT either. A pair of jeans with a nice party top and dressy heels will be the killer ensemble for any kind of meal or drinks, the devil is in the detail. River Island are a brand that does sophisticated fashion (as I call it) so their going out collection has everything you could need to create that dressy (but not overdressed) look. If you are going somewhere a little fancier and you’re unsure on how to dress then you can never go wrong with a little black dress. Always ensure your LBD is appropriately lengthed and not too revealing; if you’re not sure if it’s dressy enough add some fashion jewellery to complete the look.

The Christmas party tends to be one of the biggest events in a company’s social calendar and can also be the source of gossip for months to come. Here’s a few tips on how to survive the night and avoid being the topic of conversation on Monday morning. 

Survival tips

- Don’t show too much skin! An extreme plunge top or mini dress won’t be appropriate for any work event and you definitely don’t want a wardrobe malfunction.

- Try to avoid massive high heels, it’s usually wet and icy outside in December and the last thing you want to do is fall over… if it’s not the weather that does it, it could be the G&T’s.

- Following on from my previous point...don’t drink too much!

- Take a coat, Nobody looks good with goose pimples.

- If you’re thinking twice about whether to wear it, leave it at home. You don’t want to feel insecure about your Christmas pudding necklace all night.

It’s that time of year again when the Christmas markets are setting up and everyone’s flooding to them to find some festive spirit! As much as we all love hitting up the markets, most of us girls hate dressing for them. Why? Well, because we all face the ongoing question of beauty or comfort. We all want to look great but it’s generally so cold that we would much rather dress like Eskimos. In these trying times I’ve put together a guide on what to wear to keep you as warm as possible, while maintaining your chic game.

 Clothing

Jeans are a girl’s best friend in the winter, it’s a well-known fact. Whatever style you prefer go for it, but I’ll always advise on super skinny jeans if you want to dress up your look. Skinny jeans show off your figure and they are so versatile they can be worn with pretty much anything (day or night)…they’re more of an investment. Surprise surprise jumpers are on the list; The winter essentials that we all love and need. For the Christmas markets dig out your thickest jumper – you’re going to need it. If you want a dressy jumper go for a fitted option, turtle neck jumpers are everywhere at the moment but they aren’t for everyone, they tend to only suit people with longer necks, so try before you buy. If you prefer a casual look then go for a long or baggy jumper, it’ll give you a laid back feel and will definitely help when you’ve eat your bodyweight in food! Whatever style you go for make sure the colour is right for you, dark colours generally suit tanned people and neutral colours look better against pale skin. When it comes to coats Faux Fur and Mac’s are in fashion at the moment, so if you’ve got one throw it on and you’ll be bang on trend and comfortable (Check out my previous blog for more on winter style)! Throw a scarf underneath to keep the cold out and to complete the outfit. If you’re wearing a fur coat a light/neutral scarf would be the best idea, if you’re wearing a plain Mac, mix it up!

 Footwear

Let’s be honest for Christmas markets heels should be a no go. Combining tons of people and bad weather is always going to be hazardous so wearing unstable shoes is not advised. Boots are always my footwear of choice in the winter so I would recommend a nice pair of Chelsea boots. If you really want to dress it up buy a pair of boots with a chunky heel and medium height, the perfect compromise! There’s also an added bonus with boots… you can wear any socks inside them. (shhh)

 Remember – This season is all about neutral tones mixed with bold colours (Camel, Burgundy & Brown in particular), so have a little fun and play around with your style…this doesn’t have to mean buying a whole new wardrobe.