August Favourites

September is here, and not only does this mean we're getting closer to Winter, but it's time for me to show you my August favourites! Also, I don't know whether I'm happy or sad that we're approaching Autumn/Winter. On one hand I love the summer because of the light nights, BBQs, beer gardens and garden parties, but I also love so many things about Winter. But let me add that along with the things I love about Winter I also have an equal amount of things I strongly dislike about that time of year. Which season is your favourite? Anyway, back to what you came here to see; my August favourites!

I don't have a massive amount of products to write about as I didn't get overly excited about a lot in August. However, below (and in the image above) are my top 5 favourites and the reasons why I love them so much.

1. Tangle Teezer - £10.99

For some reason, my hair can go from completely tangle-free to very knotty in a matter of minutes, especially if I've been outside. It's an absolute nightmare and it gets especially bad when it's wet. Tired of spending ages viciously getting rid of tangles with a normal hair brush and just watching my hair break off, I decided to buy a Tangle Teezer. I'd seen these all over the internet but I guess I just always thought it wouldn't give me fantastic results. I WAS SO WRONG. This has literally been a life-saver for my hair since I purchased it. It glides so smoothly through my hair (wet and dry) and I can see a considerable decrease in hair breakage. Before using it for the first time, I did think the design of it would be quite hard to use. I imagined it slipping out of my hand, especially when brushing the back of my hair. However, it fits snuggly into my hand and it is so easy to use. I chose the pink one because there wasn't a large selection of colours when I purchased it in Boots, but they do come in all sorts of colours and sizes. At £10.99 it may seem slightly more expensive than your average hairbrush, but trust me, it's so worth it. I honestly don't think I'll be looking for another hairbrush again!

2. LUSH Bubblegum Lip Scrub - £5.50

Recently, I've become a major lipstick lover, but the worst thing ever is applying lipstick to dry lips. It just ruins the whole application and finish. To avoid this, I purchased the Bubblegum Lip Scrub from LUSH, with a hope that it would leave me with soft and smooth lips. After one use I noticed a huge difference. My lips weren't overly dry before, but after using the scrub they were extremely smooth and applying lipstick has been an absolute dream. The main ingredients are caster sugar and jojoba oil; a combination which helps exfoliates the lips and remove dead skin whilst infusing them with moisture. It comes in a small pot, but it lasts for ages as you only need a small amount for each application. Also, let me just warn you, if you like Bubblegum, you will probably want to eat this. It tastes amazing, and after you've scrubbed your lips you can either wash off with water or lick it off! 

3. Elie Saab Le Parfum 90ml - £76

When it comes to perfumes, I'm not a massive fan of sweet, girly fragrances. An all time favourite of mine is Thierry Mugler's 'Alien', and if you've ever smelt it, that is the type of fragrance I prefer. However, I wanted another perfume to add to my collection and whilst on holiday I went on a major fragrance hunt. I probably smelt over a hundred perfumes in the hope of discovering a new obsession. I finally came across Elie Saab Le Parfum and it is amazing. I'm not going to pretend like I know exactly what I'm talking about when it comes to perfumes, so this description is from The Perfume Shops website:

The top note opens on a sun-kissed, radiant orange blossom, as an ode to light.

The middle note develops into a jasmine absolute, a legendary flower in perfumery, imparting voluptuousness and elegance to the fragrance. It combines with a pure, modern patchouli heart.

The base note unfolds into a cedar woody accord adding character and a lingering trail, while the honey rose envelops the composition in a beautifully addictive note.

It is definitely know one of my favourites along with Alien, and every time I wear it I get a compliment and that's always a good thing surely!

4. MAC Amplified Creme Lipstick in 'Up The Amp' - £15.50

I used to stick to nude lipsticks with the occasional red, but I'm trying to experiment with different colours. This colour seemed quite scary when I first opened it, but when I wore it once, I couldn't stop. It's such an amazing colour, and the finish is beautiful. It lasts for ages and I don't need to keep reapplying like I find I have to with cheaper brands. It's also great if (like me) you wear a lot of monochrome outfits, as it helps to give a pop of colour! I'd definitely recommend this lipstick and the finish means it doesn't dry out your lips.

5. MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in 'Medium Deep' - £23

When my old bronzer smashed, I decided to purchase one from MAC. This shade was matched to my skin tone, and it is the perfect shade to contour with. I use my MAC 168 brush (large angled contour brush - £27) to contour my cheeks, temples and chin and the shade looks really natural. It's also a matte finish, with no shimmer, which is exactly what I like in a bronzer. I've used it every time I apply my makeup and still looks brand new so I'm hoping it will last me for a while!

And that's it! I hope you enjoyed this blog post, and have seen something that you want to try! Thanks for reading!

Review: KISS Gel Dress in 'My Space'*

Hey! Today's post will be a review of KISS Gel Dress Nail Strips*. I was recently sent a sample of these gel strips and I was excited to give them a try as I have never used gel strips before! The design is called 'My Space', which is basically a gradient glitter design where the tips of the nails are dense with silver glitter which then fade down into a nude colour. 

To use these gel strips, and achieve the best results, it is recommended that the strips are used along side a gel top coat which is set with an LED Gel Lamp. This will ensure your gel strips will last considerably longer than if you used a normal top coat nail varnish.

When opening the product, you are provided with a variety of gel strips in different sizes. To make the whole process easier I found it helped to match which strip size you were going to use before starting. I decided to use the full strips, but the product also offers the option of having just french tips in the chosen design (the smaller strips). So basically there are two applications in each pack!

The image above shows the process of applying the gel strips to your nails. Apply the strip just above (not on) the cuticle and smooth away from the centre. Fold the strip over the edge of your nail and use the mini file (included in the box) to file away the excess! Simple! I found the whole process very quick and easy and was very pleased with how they look.

Woo! One hand finished! The instructions recommend that you apply the thumb nail strips last, but I did these first (whoops!). However, I didn't feel like it changed the outcome, but I guess if the instructions say that you may as well apply them last!

Once they were all applied, I used the KISS Double-up Top Gel*. One thing I recommend when using a gel top coat, or any gel nail varnish, is to not use too much. If you get excess gel at the sides and bottom of your nail it can really ruin the clean look that you want. It can also cause the gel to peel off more easily, so definitely use it very sparingly. The gel strips come with a small manicure stick so this is useful for cleaning up the edges.

Once I had applied my top coat, I cured the nails under my KISS Led Gel Lamp* for 60 seconds (I do the thumb nails separately).

And voila! We're finished! I really like the outcome and my nails look so pretty! Overall I found the whole process very easy, which was a relief because I thought I'd definitely do something wrong. I will definitely be purchasing some more of these in different patterns. They're great for special occasions, or if you just want to have jazzy nails! 

You can find all of the products mentioned in this post at:

http://www.kissusa.com/

Thanks for reading!

Music Favourites

Hello again! I thought I would do something a little different from my other blog posts today, and share my current favourite songs that are constantly on repeat! Let me know if you love these songs too and comment below with your favourite songs! Happy listening!

Tinashe - 2 On (Explicit) ft. SchoolBoy Q

Iggy Azalea - Murda Bizness ft. T.I.

Oliver Heldens X Becky Hill - Gecko (Overdrive)

Jhene Aiko - Sail Out (Full EP Stream)

The 1975 - Girls

I love their whole album but chose one of my favourites for you! (Can we also appreciate how beautiful Matt Healy is?)

Instagram - @laurenjanehunter

Twitter - @_laurenhunter

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Amsterdam Photo Diary

This was my first trip to Amsterdam and it definitely won’t be my last. I think a lot of people have visions of Amsterdam being quite seedy and unsafe in some parts, but this was definitely not the case. Yes, walking through the Red Light District is an experience and not what many people are used to seeing, but I never felt unsafe or that dodgy people surrounded me. Overall, the streets in Amsterdam were always bustling with tourists and the atmosphere was lovely. I was also pleasantly surprised with how full the streets were with shops and boutiques. If we had more time (and a bit more money), I would have definitely gone a bit crazy in the shops!

Unfortunately, we weren’t able to stay in the centre of Amsterdam due to the hotels being so expensive at the time of booking. We stayed in a hotel in Lelystad, which was about 40 minutes away from Amsterdam by train. Even though we had to take this return train journey every day it wasn’t that bad and the journey was so easy.

In terms of things to do, there are so many options! During our stay we visited the Amsterdam Ice Bar, Madame Tussauds, The Sex Museum and Anne Franks House and also went on a canal boat tour. We got some of these tickets at local tour guide shops and they were discounted! One of the highlights was definitely Anne Franks House, but here’s a tip: if you are visiting Amsterdam and want to go here, try and book tickets online beforehand. The queue is always ridiculously long and if you book online you get to skip it! We didn’t do this and ended up waiting for 3 hours!

All in all, Amsterdam is definitely one of my favourite places that I have visited. The cobblestone streets, canals, bicycles and cute cafes are such a lovely backdrop when exploring the city.

Thanks for reading!

Mini Beauty Haul

Here are a few beauty products that I have picked up recently with a couple of vouchers that I got for my birthday!

1. MAC Matte Lipstick in 'Mehr' - £15.50

Some of you may already know that I've got a major weakness for MAC lipsticks, so when I received a MAC gift card for my birthday I knew I had to add another one to my collection. I wasn't too sure on what colour to get so I showed one of the make-up artists in the store a picture of Kylie Jenner wearing a beautiful plum/nude lipstick. I pretty sure you'll have seen the picture if you're as obsessed with the Kardashians as I am! She said it had been a popular choice recently and found me the perfect match. What's even better is that the lipstick is matte (my personal favourite). The colour is absolutely gorgeous and I can't wait to try it.

2. L'Oreal Extra Black Telescopic Mascara - £10.99

This product is not new to my make-up bag as it is my favourite mascara, EVER. I'm near to finishing the one I'm using at the moment so wanted to re-stock. I've tried an obscene amount of mascaras in the past and this one definitely wins it for me as the applicator is a comb and not the typical brush that you get with most mascaras. I feel that the comb definitely helps to add a lot of product onto my lashes without it being clumpy or too thick. If you haven't tried this mascara and you're after one that gives you amazing length and volume then definitely give this one a go. IT'S ONE OF MY HOLY GRAIL PRODUCTS!

3. Essie Nail Lacquer in 'Master Plan' - £7.99

I've wanted a grey nail varnish for a while now, and when I saw this one by Essie I just had to have it. I've tried a couple of Essie products before and absolutely loved them, so I felt confident in purchasing another colour. 'Master Plan' is a beautiful soft grey which will go perfectly with monochrome outfits, especially in the dreaded upcoming winter months!

4. MAC Pro Longwear Eye Shadow in 'Fashion Fix' - £17

I purchased this eye shadow from MAC simply because I loved the colour and I normally go for nude colours when it comes to doing my eye make-up. I love MAC eye shadows as they are easily blendable and buildable and they last throughout the day without creasing. I'm also one of those people who is swayed into buying a product depending on its name. When I saw it was called 'Fashion Fix' I knew it belonged in my make-up bag (sad I know!).

5. Bleach London Swamp Spritz - £6

I am fighting a constant battle with my hair and it is always winning. I'm always looking for new products that can give my hair some volume and texture without spending, what seems like, hours in front of the mirror. When I saw this in Boots I decided to give it a whirl. This 'Swamp Spritz' is a lightweight surf spray which adds texture to all types of hair. Sounds perfect! This is the first time I have purchased a product from Bleach London so I will definitely be reviewing the product once I have tried it a few times! Keep your fingers crossed!

Hope you enjoyed this mini haul and let me know if you've tried any of the products mentioned!

Thanks for reading!

The Liebster Award!

Hey everyone! Jeez, it's been ages since I've posted on here, and for that I am very sorry *slaps wrists*. I do have an excuse though! I've basically been on 3 holidays in the last month, with occasional free days in between each one which were needed for packing again and stocking up on last minute holiday essentials. So hopefully you forgive me? I also have a long list of blog posts that I will be writing up in the next week or so, which include my holiday adventures and various hauls, so I will definitely make it up to you.

So, back to todays post! I have been nominated by the lovely Shonagh from Shonagh Scribbles for the Liebster Award! Thank youuuuu! Check out her fantastic blog at http://shonaghscribbles.blogspot.ie/ and make sure you follow her!

The Liebster Award Rules:

- Link back to the person who nominated you

- Write 11 random facts about yourself

- Answer 11 questions from the person who nominated you (so in this case Shonagh!)

- Nominate other blogs (newbies who have under 200 followers) and ask them 11 new questions

Simples!

So here we go!

11 Random Facts About Me:

1. I've never ordered chicken at Nando's! I'm not weird I promise!

2. I absolutely love cocktails and my favourite is Pina Colada.

3. Too much PDA really irritates me.

4. I plan to move to America at some point in my life!

5. I find anything to do with the Holocaust so interesting and I love movies based on it.

6. I've already picked out my kids names!

7. I have two tattoos, and want more!

8. I would do anything to own a little pet sloth. Awwww!

9. I'm becoming more and more of an emotional wreck as I get older.

10. I love mashed potato.

11. My dream job is being a fashion photographer for a well-known fashion magazine.

Shonagh's Questions:

1. What did you want to be 'when you were older', as a child? - For ages when I was younger I was certain that I wanted to be a Forensic Scientist! Even now, the idea of being a crime scene investigator and being able to use Forensics to solve a crime just fascinates me!

2. Favourite seasonal holiday of the year? - Out of them all, it's got to be Christmas! It just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy! Wrapping up and watching Christmas movies by the fire is definitely my thing. Although the fact that they start advertising Christmas stuff in September annoys me, because it takes away some of the magic!

3. Who are your style icons? - I have so many! I love The Olsen Twins and their style, and how effortless their looks can be. However, I mainly just take snippets of loads of peoples style and look at how I can incorporate it into my wardrobe. I do have a major style crush on YouTuber Claire Marshall. Her clothes, her hair, her tattoos... I'm seriously in love.

4. Trends you are currently loving for SS14? - I know this isn't very appropriate for spring and summer in some peoples eyes, but I just can't get enough of monochrome fashion! My wardrobe at the moment is very black and white, with splashes of grey. Not very girly!

5. Go-to make-up brand? - Even though it is pricey, it's got to be MAC. Everything I use from there never disappoints me, and I think it's worth the price tag.

6. Ultimate celebrity crush? - I'm going to be generic here and say Ryan Gosling. But do you blame me? He's a hot piece of ass! I'm also going to throw in a couple of major girl crushes I have; Iggy Azalea, Ellie Goulding and Shailene Woodley.

7. Any hobbies outside of blogging? - You may have already guessed due to what course I study at University, but I love fashion photography and anything fashion related. I'm also a pretty dedicated YouTube follower, I can spend hours watching my favourite fashion/beauty YouTubers.

8. Biggest fear? - SPIDERS. Without a doubt. I hate everything about them. But it's weird because if a money spider is on me I don't flinch; probably because they're so cute and small. But if I see a house spider, I literally have a mini panic attack and cry like I'm being chased by a murderer. Not cool when you're surrounded by people!

9. Dream vacation spot? - The Hilton Hotel in Bora Bora. It is my aim to visit and stay at this hotel at one point in my life. It is absolutely beautiful and truly is paradise.

10. Favourite designers? - I have quite a few, but at the moment a firm favourite is definitely Balmain. I love everything in their collections and I have a major weakness for tailoring and structured fashion so it definitely floats my boat!

11. If you were granted one wish, what would it be? - This is a tough one! If I was being selfish I would wish that I could be a size 8 and eat anything I wanted without putting any weight on! But realistically, I would probably wish for something a bit more thoughtful. Something like, wishing that everyone could live in a world where their lives weren't dictated by money and problems; where everyone could be equal and carefree with no hate or war. Woah, did I go a bit deep there? Sorry! Haha!

My Questions:

1. If you had a dinner party and could invite any 5 guests (dead or alive) who would they be?

2. What is your favourite song?

3. What is your favourite movie?

4. What beauty product could you not live without?

5. What past/current trend do you really dislike?

6. Any phobias?

7. Where do you hope to see yourself in 10 years time?

8. Favourite TV shows?

9. Name one fashion/beauty item that you desperately want.

10. Best childhood memory?

11. What inspired you to start a blog?

I was nominated by Shonagh and you can find her blog here: http://shonaghscribbles.blogspot.ie/

I nominate these fabulous bloggers:

Charlotte - http://charlottesweboffashion.blogspot.co.uk/

Olivia - http://livbehindlenses.blogspot.co.uk/

Sophie - http://thestylehutch.com/

Let me know on Twitter when you've done it girls! (@_laurenhunter)

Thanks for reading!

Mini Haul!

This time next week I will be on holiday! Hooray! So I've been excited to add some new pieces to my wardrobe which I can take with me. However, my bank balance wasn't thrilled with this idea. So I opted to try and get a few pieces on a budget. I recently bought a floral jumpsuit from Matalan, and was so happy with it (and it was only £20!). Surprised with what they had to offer, I went back and had a more thorough look. I found a black jumpsuit and a pastel blue palm print skirt, perfect for those summer evenings. I also treated myself to a new MAC Lipstick, and chose the shade 'Please Me' (a mid-tone pink). The shade is perfect for summer make-up as it isn't too intense. I've also needed a few new rings and found a lovely set in Primark for only £1.50! I personally prefer midi rings with a minimalistic style and these are perfect.  

Matalan Black Jumpsuit, £20

Matalan Palm Print Skirt, £14 (Not on website)

Primark Silver Midi Rings, £1.50

MAC Matte Lipstick 'Please Me', £15.50

Overall, I am very happy with my purchases and I was very surprised with Matalans collections. I never really considered Matalan as a store which I would naturally choose to shop in. However, I have definitely reconsidered and I will always pop in from now on to see what occasional gems they have! It's how you style it at the end of the day! They also have a current dress collection in their stores by Abbey Clancy which is gorgeous and very affordable!

Stay tuned for my holiday blog post in a few weeks with some pictures of my travels and what I get up to!

Thanks for reading!