Anastasia Modern Renaissance Palette

Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette £41

I put off buying this palette for so long, I didn't think I would use it much as I generally reach for neutral palettes. I was put off by the pink tones and kept adding it to my basket and then deleting until I finally decided to just buy it. I am so glad I did because this has become one of my favourite palettes, ever. As I mentioned, I was unsure about buying this palette as I didn't know how much I would reach for it but since buying it I have used it everyday. There isn't a shade in the palette that I wouldn't use, I'm getting braver at trying the brighter pinks and each day I can create completely different looks. The consistency of these shadows is by far my favourite of any I have tried before, they blend so beautifully and there is no fallout so I don't have to worry about any products on the rest of my face. I love when palettes have a mix of both matte and shimmery shades as it allows you to create a number of versatile looks that are both wearable and slightly more dramatic for going out. The double ended brush that comes with the palette is decent quality too, the blending brush does shed slightly but nothing too bad and it works really well if you're traveling and don't want to pack lots of eyeshadow brushes.

Overall, I am absolutely in love with this palette and would 100% recommend you buy it if you are considering it. It has made me slightly more adventurous with my makeup and opened me up to a world that doesn't just consist of neutral palettes! It is one of the more expensive palettes I have bought but in my opinion, it is very much worth it so if you are looking for a payday treat, this is great! You can buy it here!

January Birchbox

Birchbox £12.95*

Merci Handy Hand Cream £4.90

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Shimmer £21

Nails Inc Nail Polish £15

Whish Shaving Cream £14.80

Lord and Berry Stick Concealer £12

This month's Birchbox theme is 'Sprinkle Happiness' which seems a perfect one for the start of the year when everyone is feeling slightly deflated! There are two full size products in the box this month, the Merci Handy Hand Cream and the Lord and Berry Stick Concealer. The concealer is not pictured as it went straight in my makeup bag to try out, it's a really creamy product so great for under eyes and as it is shaped like a pencil, it is really easy to use and apply. I was so excited to receive the Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Shimmer as I've tested a few Nuxe products recently. This is a shimmer you can use pretty much anywhere, it smells amazing and adds a really lovely glow to the skin. I always love receiving hand cream as I constantly use them, this one from Merci is full sized so it's one I can pop in my handbag and use on the go!

What do you think of this month's box?

Current Everyday Makeup

I've been having real issues with my skin lately, it's been incredible dry and hardly any of my foundations have looked good on it. The only one I have been able to use is the Maybelline Fit Me Foundation, this is perfect if you have dry skin as it glides on the skin and doesn't accentuate any dry patches. It also has great coverage and gives a dewy and luminous finish which is lovely on days where my skin is looking dehydrated. For Christmas I received another Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer as I had run out of my previous one, this is my all time favourite concealer as it works for both under my eyes and on blemishes. Before I powder, I use the Cover FX Custom Enhancer Drops in the shade Moonlight. I am undecided on this product, I haven't been wowed by it and I think I would have suited the shade Celestial more. Then to powder certain areas of my face, I use the Laura Mercier Translucent Powder which I am in love with! 

For my brows, as per, I use my Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade. This is perfect if you want your brows to stay looking immaculate all day, you can either go super natural with these or create a more dramatic look! For mascara, I have been loving the YSL Shocking Mascara, this is perfect for creating volume. I tend to prefer volumising mascaras over lengthening ones as I already have fairly long lashes. The eyeshadow palette of dreams is the Anastasia Modern Renaissance palette. I put off buying this for ages as I didn't think I would get much use out of it, however I adore it! I have a blog post coming very soon on this palette so keep a look out!

What products do you use on a daily basis?

Wow products of 2016

I discovered some beautiful products last year, a Space NK opened in my city so I definitely bought a few (read: a lot of) products! I discovered a new skincare brand half way through the year, I bought the cleanser from Eve Lom before falling in love and buying the mask as well. This cleanser makes my skin feel and look amazing, I definitely noticed a difference in my skin after using this product and I have recently got another pot! 2016 was the year I FINALLY got the hang of baking my makeup. I invested in the Laura Mercier Translucent Powder as I had heard so many good things about it and I have been obsessed with it ever since I bought it. I bake my under eyes, my chin and my nose. I have noticed such a huge difference in the way my makeup looks, it is much more flawless and definitely lasts a lot longer than just powdering normally.

 A highlighter I was obsessed with last year was the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in the shade Pearl, I absolutely adore this! I always get compliments when I wear it and it really suits my fair skin, I am definitely going to invest in more shades (Moonstone is next on my list) as I adore the finish of these. Finally is a product I have spoken about so much on my blog and on Instagram, the Gerard Hydra Matte Liquid Lipsticks. These stay put for hours and hours, I love products that I can apply and forget about. I don't have to worry about smudging or needing to reapply throughout the day so these are such a staple in my makeup bag! 

Which products were your favourite of 2016? 

The Perfect Wedding Attire from Simply Be

 I love getting dressed up at the best of times so weddings are my favourite! SimplyBe have a fabulous collection of clothing for the Bridesmaid, Maid of Honour or Wedding Guests and I thought I would share some of the pieces I am in love with. Even though the collection is mainly for weddings, their outfits and accessories are perfect for any occasion, so if you have a wedding to go to or are just looking for some new clothes for a night out, you have some fantastic options on their website.

Red Culotte Jumpsuit
I think this red jumpsuit is my favourite out of all these items, personally I love throwing on a jumpsuit with a pair of heels and being ready to go! They are comfortable while still looking smart and elegant; this would look perfect paired with a bright red lip!

Silver Clutch Bag
This is a super versatile bag, because it's silver, I find it goes with so many different outfits. As I mentioned earlier, this could be worn on a night out so it definitely does not have to be used exclusively for weddings!

Pearl and Diamante Clutch
The reason I love this bag is because it gives me a Great Gatsby vibe and I really love the pearl detail on it, it looks slightly more delicate than the Silver Glitter Clutch so could easily be worn with floaty casual dresses or smarter outfits too.

Lace Fit and Flare Dress 
This dress stood out to me immediately, it reminds me of a 'Self Portrait' dress with the lace detailing so it is definitely on trend at the moment. Like the Culottes, I love the red colour and think it would look beautiful with classic makeup looks like winged liner and a red lip. 

Printed Scuba Dress
I think this dress is a classic wedding guest dress. It's the kind of dress I would normally choose as it's feminine with the floral pattern and I find that these patterns make more fitted dresses look more elegant.  

Floral Tea Dress
This is the most casual of all the dresses but would be perfect if you were an evening guest at a wedding. It is more dressed down than the others so if you don't like dressing up quite as much, it would be perfect. This style is also really flattering if you are not as keen on the form fitting dresses.

Which item is your favourite? You can check out all the clothing pieces and accessories here!

  *This is a sponsored post 
   

My 2017 Resolutions

I always love doing these posts, while I don't necessarily always stick to my resolutions; it's nice to have something to aim for throughout the year. This year is an exciting one for me, I finally finish my degree after four long grueling years and I am beyond excited to leave and find myself my first proper job.

Don't work myself as hard

Last year, I worked ridiculously hard for absolutely no reason. Some weeks I had no days off and was just exhausted from both university and my job. This year I am going to try and focus more on 'me time,' not stressing myself out and relaxing when I get the chance to.  

Blog More and Be More Creative

On January 1st, I changed my blog design as part of a new start for my blog. This year, I want to blog at least once a week; although preferably twice a week. I would love for my blog to grow bigger and better and I definitely feel motivated to create new and exciting content this year.

Workout as much as I can

I want to get back into a workout routine, even if it just a yoga session. When I do workout, I always feel better about myself and would love to be able to do this more in order to de-stress!

Spend more time with friends and family

This links with the first resolution, when I work all time I feel like I don't get to spend as much time with my friends and family as I would like. So on my days off, I want to spend my time with them!

What are your resolutions for this year?