♥ Beauty Travel Essentials

Short Stay Beauty Travel Essentials 

Since I am only staying in Sweden for four days, I am travelling without luggage (because with Ryan Air that costs extra, and this way I can get away with a really cheap flight). So I thought I'd show you what I packed beauty wise, in a tiny tiny suitcase!

Skin care:

• Shower Gel: Mini travel size Original Size Lemon Tea Tree Shower Gel (50ml)
• Face Wash: CLINIQUE 7 day scrub cream (50ml)
• Almond Oil: To use as a hair sealant, makeup remover, body and nail oil.
• Bodyshop Sample: Bodyshop Pomegranate firming day cream

! A great, but cheeky tip if you are travelling: Go to Bodyshop and ask for a sample for your face cream, you could also do hand cream, foot cream or anything that goes in a small jar.

Makeup:

• Base: Concealer, and the day cream above (If you use foundation, get a small sample from BS)
• Cheeks: Sleek Face Form with a contouring shade, highglighter & blusher
• Eyes: Loreal Telescopic mascara and Viva La Diva eyebrow pencil
• Brushes: Real Techniques Multi Task Brush, Real Techniques Base Shadow brush & Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow Brush

Hair:

• Water Bottle: Will add a tiny bit of conditioner & water to this, as a leave in conditioner/detangler. (Oil to seal with is in the skin care pic above)
• Small Roller sets; for curling my fringe like in my flat twist/curly fringe hair style, tutorial here.
• Hair Clips & Bobbi Pins
• Brushes: Wide tooth comb & a slick brush

Are you a heavy or light packer :) ?
I am only here to see family & friends so I don't see the point in bringing anything other than
the essentials.


xx





Twitter  || Facebook || Bloglovin || Hello Cotton || Pinterest

Read more »

♥ iPad Guide: Beauty & Fashion Bloggers iPad Guide

iPad Guide: Beauty &Fashion Bloggers iPad

 Guide

I am so excited to share this post. I came up with the idea a while ago, but I've been too lazy to post it as I knew I wanted this post to be quite thorough and organised as well as contain a lot of pictures. I realised that even though some apps are an absolute must have for myself, that doesn't mean everyone knows about them or how to use them.

I will cover:

• Photo editing on iPad
• Socialising/Social media on iPad
• Blogging on the iPad
• Reading blogs on the iPad

Before I start I just wanted to share some basics first. To start with, an internet connection to your iPad is essential. If you have an iPhone I am sure you know that you can share your phone's internet with your iPad or iPod. If you didn't know how to do this: 
Go to settings || Personal hotspot || on || then choose to connect via bluetooth/usb/wifi ||

Also, I wanted to share a great buyer for iPad cases. I got mine for only £6.99 or so from this buyer, and I also got the Stylus pen with it (the "pen" you can use on an iPad screen) and a free screen protector. 

Social Media on the iPad

Padgram: Instagram on your iPad, only with a bigger screen. I actually prefer this to the iPhone version. You can also subscribe to hashtags and "follow" them.

Pinterest: A really great app with amazing design. It works just as good as on the laptop, and I definitely prefer the iPad version.

Google+: I am still not very into Google+ but I do share my posts there and occasionally browse for hashtags. Really great layout!

Twitter: Another app I prefer on the iPad. It's just like the iPhone app but obviously with a bigger screen. 

Tips: You can "separate" your iPad keyboard into two small keyboard, which allows you to type the same way as on your phone, vertically. 

Reading Blogs

Now to the best part. I constantly read blogs on the iPad, I actually don't read any blogs on the laptop, I just don't think it is convenient. Here are my favourite apps.

G-Whizz: I only use this app for the Google Reader, but it has got Facebook, Twitter etc built in as well, as you can see in the picture. Plain layout and great keeping up with your unread posts.

Flipboard: This is my favourite app ever! I used this in my iPhone, I use it in my bf iPad before I got my iPad as well. You can add feeds like Google Reader (your blogs), news or any website to your Flipboard. It allows you to flick through your content in a nice magasine looking layout (see bottom pic on the right) 

1 Photo editing

So first of we've got the photography and photo editing apps. All of the apps in the picture are free except for iPhoto & iMovie. You are definitely able to do quite a lot, and some quite good on the iPad. For me, it's enough for some pics, and not enough for some. However, I have understood that everyone isn't big on/good at editing and doesn't use editing programs such as Adobe Photoshop- if this is you, this might be perfect for you! For me it's great for products review pictures and I've done a lot of editing on the bus to save some time.






PS Express (I've used this for editing in these posts)

 This app is perfect for auto sharpening a pic that is a bit blurry, and it is also very easy to quickly edit contrast, brightness, temprature etc.
My favourite thing is the border, as you can see in the picture of the Magnifibre Brush on Mascara, I've added a white round border. You might have noticed I use this for all my pictures but I usually do it on my laptop in photoshop, this is soo much easier!
Handy Tip: Edit your pictures on the go using this app, on the bus for example. Then enable "Photo Stream" and they will automatically get upload to your lappy when you are home. Alternatively, upload them to the blogger app as a draft and then finish off the post when you get home.

iPhoto*


If you own a MacBook you are probably familiar with this app. However, this is the iPad version. It is pretty similar to the PS Express app where you can make quick fixes like contrast etc. This is also a photo viewing app just as on the MacBook and has got a pretty nice layout. As you can see on the right picture, one of the albums is Photo Stream, this means that in this album, your most recent photos (from the last 30 days) will be available on all chosen devices.
Next in line is iMovie* which I will not show a picture of, nor explain as I haven't used it. However, I am sure this will come in handy for Vloggers.

If your wondering what that Cartoon like drawing is in the PhotoStream album, it was my boyfriend playing about with a drawing app on my iPad lol :)

Pic Stitch , Touch Blur & Collage:

1 Pic Stitch. This is a great app! It is really easy to use and works really well. Perfect for creating a sleek collage style picture for a makeup looks. That is exactly what I did in  my Pretty Purple FOTD. Some of you might have this on iPhone as well, but it works just as well on the iPad. A must have!

2. Touch Blur: Well this is an obvious one, great for blurring out text you want unseen, or for just blurring out backgrounds.

3. Collage: This is amazing and so easy to use, perfect for wish list or fashion collages.

Blogging from your iPad

This is the only downside, there doesn't seem to be a way to blog from your iPad, getting all the features you do when you blog on your laptop.

Blogger App: This is a very basic app (right pic) but it needs a lot of improvement. You can upload pictures, type but you can't see your pics while you are typing so they will all be position on after the other. I use it to create a draft if I've edited pictures on my iPad.
Homescreen bookmarks: Below the blogger app, you can see my bookmark which is for pending comments. This page works fine on the iPad and it has really helped me to manage to answer all my blog comments. Also use this feature to add your favourite blogs to your home screen! :) 

What are your favourite iPad apps for blogging?

xx

*Apps that are NOT free 

Twitter  || Facebook || Bloglovin || Hello Cotton || Pinterest

Read more »

♥ DIY: Valentines Day Chocolate Recipe Swedish Style

Valentines Day Chocolate Recipe Swedish Style

Happy Valentines Day Everyone!

I've always loved Valentines day, it's a great day for being extra positive and grateful for the people around you. And for the single people- Valentines day has got nothing to do with couples, so I've never understood when single people "complain" on Valentines. It's just a chance to show your loved ones some extra love, doesn't have to be a partner. ♥

Now, to my post. As you probably know if you follow me on Instagram I am in Sweden for a few days for me annual "surprise my little sister for her birthday". She is turning 10 and I've surprised her every year for 4 years now, and she still didn't have a clue I was coming lol.

The chocolate on the picture are what we call "Ischoklad" in Swedish which means Ice Chocolate. They are really Christmas sweets but me and my little sister decided to make some today- and she came up with the idea to create the cute heart shape. So I decided to share them as Valentines Chocolates :)

Check out this GIF for instructions :)

How was your Valentines Day?

Will you be trying this?

xx

Twitter  || Facebook || Bloglovin || Hello Cotton || Pinterest

Read more »

♥ Hooded Eyes Makeup Tips: The Arrow Eyeliner

Hooded Eyes Makeup Tips: The Arrow Eyeliner

You might or might not have noticed that I have hooded eyes, this is something I didn't really realise or pay attention to before I started to get more and more interested in makeup. If you are interested in makeup, either as a hobby or profession it is a good idea to figure out what your eye shape is. Otherwise you might struggle time after time to try to re create a pretty eye makeup look you've seen, wondering why yours will never look the same? Well, it's because you probably don't have the same eye shape as that person.

What are hooded eyes?
Hooded eyes mean that when looking straight at my face, or if I take a picture at a straight angle (something I avoid), my eyelid won't really be visible, as the skin above my crease "falls down" and covers my lid. This can be pretty annoying and quite a pain when you are working with eyeshadows. If I was to create a look with a yellow eyelid colour, and black above my crease, when looking straight at me- you would not see the yellow!

Check out this picture of me with no makeup on, to see exactly what I mean. Also notice that m right eye (left in the pic), is more hooded than the left one. 

 Hooded eyes also means that if drawing a straight, nice looking eyeliner flick, when looking straight at your eyes- half of the flick disappears and it just looks odd. I decided to try something I've heard of- the arrow eyeliner. I figured I could find a way to actually create the illusion of a straight eyeliner even on my hooded eyes- and it worked!
See this GIF for a mini tutorial. Bare in mind it was my first time trying this. I outlined my wing, making it thicker than usual, but not connecting the two ends, making the top part non parallel to the line on your upper lash line.
This will create the illusion of a straight line when you look straight at your hooded eyes.

Also, see this mini collage, with iPhone pics. I used my iPhone only because the front camera made it easy to show how strange the liner looks if looking at it underneath, then gradually shows the results from when looking straight at the eye.


Of course, anyone can try this type of eyeliner, but I find it particularly helpful for us with hooded eyes.

Have you got hooded eyes & 

have you tried an arrow eyeliner?

xx

Twitter  || Facebook || Bloglovin || Hello Cotton || Pinterest

Read more »

♥ 5 Strange Beauty Remedies

5 Strange Beauty Remedies. When I was on the bus, I randomly thought of this post. There are so many DIY beauty treatments and remedies out there, some stranger than the other. Although I have tried quite a lot of them- there are a few I've heard of but I will probably not try. I tried to come up with some more, but these are the 5 strange beauty remedies I could think of.

1. Oil Pulling: Oil pulling means gargling oil instead of your usual mouthwash. This is meant to draw wash out any dirt in your mouth as well as promoting healthy gums and dental health. You are meant to do this before brushing your teeth and for up to 20 minutes before spitting it out.
Will I try this? Probably

2. Banana Peel for white teeth: The banana peels contains potassium and other healthy minerals which are supposed to whiten your teeth. Rubbing the peel on to your teeth is suppose to make them whiter.
Will I try this? Maybe

3. Vaginal/Fungal Cream For Hair Growth: Now this is something a lot of people might have heard of. Personally, I think this is taking it a step to far. Especially after reading about side effects such as severe headaches. It is meant to work due to the active ingredient 'Miconazole Nitrate' which is anti fungal, and as it fights or bacteria in your scalp it is meant to promote maximum growth.
Will I try this? Not unless I am really desperate, balding or something*

4. Dry Brushing your skin: Brushing your skin with a skin brush when it is dry is meant to give super smooth and healthy skin. The brushing will stimulate blood flow and can help cellulites and tightening the skin. I am sure this will at least give soft skin, but why it is in this 'weird remedies' post is because the thought of brushing your skin dry makes me think dry, white flaky skin lol!
Will I try this? Working on it, been meaning to try it since I was about 13 and first heard of it (I am 19 now)

5. Beer for healthy strong hair: To me, this is the weirdest of them all. It is said to strengthen, moisturise and make your hair shiny- all due to the protein rich malt which is one of the main ingredients of beer.
Will I try this: Don't think so

Had you heard of all of these?

Which ones have you tried/will try?

xx

Twitter  || Facebook || Bloglovin || Hello Cotton || Pinterest

*Not saying your desperate if you do chose to try it, or have tried it. It's just that I personally would have to be really desperate to try something that might give me headaches, since I really hate them

Read more »

♥ Winter/Autumn Essentials

WINTER/AUTUMN ESSENTIALS  I would be lying if I said I was excited about winter slowly creeping up on us, what is there to be excited about? Snow, freezing cold, rain, rain mixed with snow..? Anyway it is quite cosy though to have a nice warm shower or both since it is so cold outside.. and inside.

It is also important to give your skin some extra nourishment when dealing with cold temperatures  as skin tends to get more dry. It might be a good idea to switch your products from "for normal skin" to "for dry skin". If you travel by public transport often or your just prone to get colds- double up your Vitamin C and other immune system boosting vitamins such as Omega 3.

Here is what I use to ensure my skin never feels dry during winter times :)

1. Holland & Barett Vitamin E Oil, to take extra care of your skin, add this to lip balm, cuticle oil, hand cream or wherever needed. Buy it here

2. Oils, oils, oils! Definitely make your own oil mix, it could be one, two or ten oils. For a nice smell add an essential oil. Use it as a bath oil, hair or or instead of a body lotion after you've showered.

3. Body Shop Hemp Hand Protector, read my review here. This is amazing for anyone who suffers from super dry hands or eczema or other skin conditions. Buy it here 

4. Neal's Yard and Remedies Bee Lovely Bath & Shower Gel, read my review here. Ahh, the more I use this the more I love it. It's so non-drying and smells like fresh oranges! You can just feel that it isn't harsh on your skin. It is of course sulfate free, skip the Sulfates this winter and you'll see that your skin won't be as dry. Buy it here

5. Tesco Slow Release Vitamin C, to combat those runny noses! Having colds can be really annoying and I often tend to get many throughout the winter. Continue to eat healthy and take your multivitamins but take Extra Vitamin C daily!. Omega 3 fish oil capsules can also help. This one is allergen free and only £1.99. Buy it here.

6. DIY Facial Oil, check out the recipe/DIY here. This is a must for winter. Use your normal face cream in the morning, but use this in the evening before you go to bed.

7. Burt's Bees Coconut Foot Cream, don't forget your feet guys. Cracked heels and dry feet are not a good look. Don't forget to apply lotion to your feet every day after you shower and use a foot cream like the one pictured ever so often.

What are your winter essentials? 

And how do you change your skin regime for the winter :) ?

x

Twitter  || Facebook || Bloglovin || Hello Cotton || Pinterest

Read more »

♥ Your guide to pretty nails

YOUR GUIDE TO PRETTY NAILS

1. Vitamins Make sure you body gets enough vitamins. Biotin is known to make your nails and hair grow faster, but taking multivitamins everyday and having a healthy lifestyle will do. Even though you eat super healthy you might want to consider taking multivitamin since a lot of food these days are processed and doesn't contain as much vitamins as they originally would.

2. Nail Buffer Even if you constantly wear nail varnish or get acrylic nails, don't neglect your own nails. For super shiny nails use the "flatter" side and to even out a broken nail use the harsh side. If you have a problem with ridges on your nails, you can use the semi harsh side to gentle smooth them out. Do not overdo it though since it can cause your nails to get thinner!

3. Nourishing Nail Polish Remover Choose one that is Acetone Free & contains Vitamin E. Acetone is really harsh for your nails, and unnecessary since an acetone free works just as well. When removing your polish, generously pour some remover onto a cotton bud and then dab it onto your nail and keep it thee for 5 seconds. After that, begin to "wipe" the polish of. It's more gentle, and quicker than rubbing it back and forth on your nails.

4. Base Coat Always apply a base coat to your nails before using your normal nail varnish. If you don't, your nails can get stained. That is not the look you want to go for- yellow infected looking nails :/ The base coat in the picture is a two in one base & top coat and I am yet to review it.

5. A cuticle stick Once a week or two times a month might be a good idea to push your cuticles down. Some places sell "cuticle remover gels" and these are not necessary unless you don't leave your cuticles untouched for Months. Use the sharp side to gentle remove dirt from under your nails daily or as often as needed.

6. Hand Cream Your saviour on the go! Anytime during the day that you wash your hands, don't forget to use your hand cream afterward. Dry cuticle is the worst look ever and you want to keep your hand itself moisturised too. Using a hand cream with SPF might be a good idea as you are getting older. The hand cream in the picture is yet to be reviewed..

7. A Super Pretty Nail File Just for one reason- it's pretty! I don't even use this often, as I said, I only have it because it's pretty lol. This super glittery one is from The BodyShop and I think I got it on sale a while ago, see what else I bought from BodyShop in this post.

8. Cuticle/Nail Oil Last, but not least- the most important of them all. Your nails need to be nourished daily to not become dry and break off. If you nails tend to split easily, it might be a good idea to use one containing Vitamin E. Remember, the Vitamin E molecule is too big to get absorbed on its own, so make sure you mix it with the right oil. I've explained it all in this post: DIY- Vitamin E- Jojoba & Sweet Orange Nail Oil

What are you best tips for healthy nails?

x


Twitter  || Facebook || Bloglovin || Hello Cotton || Pinterest

Read more »