ASOS Wishlist

My 'Saved Items' list on ASOS grows by the day at the moment. ASOS is my all time favourite online shop and I dread to think of the hours I've spent scrolling and scrolling on their site. The sheer variety and quantity of products on there is unrivalled and being an ASOS Premier member it makes it almost too easy to order something and have it arrive the following day, me and the courier who delivers my ASOS parcels have an amazing relationship now!

I wanted to share with you a few of the things that are currently sitting in my Saved Items just begging me to place an order. Some of the items are ASOS own brand and some are other brands which ASOS stocks. All images are from the ASOS website.

New Look Short 2 Embellished Heel Chunky Heel Sandals - £29.99

Whistles Bolt Cuff Bracelet - £30.00

ASOS 90s' Style Dungarees - £45.00

ASOS Top with Long Sleeves and Scoop Neck in Textured Rib - £14.00

ASOS Metallic Cross Front Cutout Skater Dress - £45.00

ASOS T-Shirt with Christmas North Pole Dancer Foil Print - £18.00

I have a sneaky suspicion I would be able to hold off getting the long sleeve top but I am trying to be less spendy in the run up to Christmas!

Thanks for reading,
Laura x

Find me on:
Twitter: @laurasivers
Instagram: @laurasivers_
Tumblr: helloenvy-o

Winter Skincare & Body Essentials

As soon as the temperature drops my skin tends to go a bit haywire. The combination of the cold air outside and central heating inside causes so many dry patches and flakiness, it is not a pretty sight! I know I'm not alone with this so here are the skincare and body products I have added to my routine to combat this.

No. 1 - Ultrabland from Lush

This is a beautiful cleansing balm with so many moisturising and calming ingredients so it's almost guaranteed not to upset your skin. I apply a small amount of this to dry skin and massage it in then remove with a damp face cloth and it removes all traces of make up and leaves my skin feeling really clean but still super nourished. It has no scent whatsoever which I definitely prefer from my cleansers and it says it is suitable for all skin types. This is also a super affordable cleansing balm compared to others that I've tried and it does the same job for a fraction of the price.

No. 2 - Intensive Glow Pads Brightening Treatment from Bare Minerals

As my skin has been so dry is was seriously lacking in any radiance and was looking so dull I needed to seriously inject some life back into it. I was in Boots with my Mum one day and was having a pretty loud moan about my horrible skin to her and the girl from the Bare Minerals counter grabbed me and showed me these. Bare Minerals isn't a brand which I would usually pay much attention to and I haven't heard much about their skincare but I am so impressed with these. They come in a tub and contain pads already soaked in the solution so they're really quick and easy to use. After cleansing you just sweep the more textured side over your skin (avoiding eye area) then repeat with the smoother side then dispose of the used pad and you're done. Even after just one use I noticed a huge difference, my skin was a much even texture and a really stubborn dry patch on my forehead had almost completely gone. After a few more uses my skin was considerably brighter and radiant. They are an acid exfoliator so not to be used more than 3x a week and I was at first worried they may upset my skin a little but so far I haven't had any problems. The only downside it the price as they are £34, but the tub does contain 60 pads so really it's not too much money compared to how many uses you will get from one tub.

No. 3 - Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream

I think this moisturiser featured in a Favourites post this time last year. If I could only use one moisturiser for the rest of my life it would be this one. For me it offers unbeatable hydration which lasts throughout the entire day or night without feeling heavy or greasy on the skin. For such an intensive moisturiser it is so lightweight and sinks in so quickly, my skin absolutely loves this stuff. It doesn't have any SPF in it so I usually just use this as my night time moisturiser but if I know I am having a day inside then I sometimes use this in the morning too as it sits really nicely under make up. As with Ultrabland it is completely unscented so won't upset any skin sensitive to fragrance.

No. 4 - Rose Hydrate Intense Moisture Mask Superfacialist by Una Brennan

This mask is very heavily rose scented so this will either be a love it or hate it product. If I'm using a face mask I like it to have a nice fragrance and I am a big rose fan so I adore this. It's not thick in texture which makes it very easy to apply to your skin. Once applied it instantly feels calming and moisture boosting and is just a lovely experience. I leave it on for 5-10 minutes then rinse the majority of it off with a splash of warm water then I take a damp face cloth and remove the rest of it properly and continue with the rest of my skincare routine. It leaves your skin feeling so plump and hydrated and a nice addition to my winter skincare routine a couple times a week. I also like the fact it comes in a tube as it makes application much less messy compared to masks in a pot.

No. 5 Kiehl's Ultimate Strength Hand Salve

My hands probably suffer the most throughout winter, they get so dry the skin ends up cracking and becoming so sore. This Kiehl's hand cream helps so much. It almost creates a moisturising barrier against the cold which is exactly what I need. It contains avocado oil and sesame oil so it is very nourishing for poor dry skin and it smells gorgeous. It does take a while to sink in thoroughly but in winter I think that is actually a good thing as it provides longer lasting hydration and protection from the cold. I apply this to clean hands just before I'm about to go outside. This is a miniature version which is perfect handbag size, the full size version however is really huge and I would not want to carry it around in my handbag. 

No. 6 - E45 Intense Recovery Lotion

Not the most glamourous or exciting beauty product but for me it is such an essential. E45 is a magical brand and one that has been in my house my entire life. The original E45 cream was used on my skin throughout my childhood and I've used it on all my tattoos whilst they have been healing. During winter it's not just the skin that is exposed to the elements that dries out, it effects my whole body so I picked this up a few weeks ago after my friend with eczema said it helped his skin. I don't have eczema but this has definitely done a great job of hydrating the skin on my body after showering or bathing. As it's a lotion it is much thinner than the original E45 cream which makes it very easy to smooth over large surface areas and to my surprise it sinked in so quickly which is essential during cold months as standing around waiting for moisturiser to sink in before getting dressed isn't fun in winter! Again it's another unscented product and is hypoallergenic so is perfect for even the most sensitive skin. Also £5.99 for a big bottle is so affordable, you can't go wrong.

This definitely wasn't the most luxurious of posts but these few products really have been a saviour for my dry skin and I can't recommend them enough so anyone suffering with similar over the winter season.

Thanks for reading
Laura x

Twitter: @laurasivers
Instagram: @laurasivers_
Tumblr: helloenvy-o

This or That Tag | Laura Sivers

Happy Easter everyone!

I hope you're having a lovely bank holiday weekend and indulging in chocolate and other Easter treats. I made Hot Cross Buns on Good Friday and Chocolate Nests with a twist and they both went down a treat with my family (recipes and photos to follow in another post).

As it's Easter Sunday it's a day to chill out and enjoy time with your friends and family I thought I would do a fun This or That tag post for you.


Questions

Makeup:

Blush or bronzer - definitely blush.
Lip gloss or lipstick - currently I would have to say lip gloss which is a huge change for me!
Eye liner or mascara - mascara, always.
Foundation or concealer - concealer.
Neutral or colour eye shadow - neutral.
Pressed or loose eye shadows - pressed, I can't deal with the mess and fall out from loose pigments.
Brushes or sponges - brushes.

Nails:
OPI or china glaze - well, seeing as I don't own any China Glaze polishes I would have to say OPI (although I'm not a huge OPI fan either, it will chip instantly on my nails)
Long or short - long.
Acrylic or natural - natural.
Brights or darks - why is nude not an option here?
Flower or no flower - no flower.

Body:
Perfume or body splash - perfume!
Lotion or body butter - body butter.
Body wash or soap - body wash.
Lush or other bath company - I do love Lush products as they're so much fun although Soap and Glory are my most used body products.

Fashion:
Jeans or sweat pants - I would have to say sweat pants.
Long sleeve of short - long.
Dresses or skirts - dresses.
Stripes or plaid - stripes I guess.
Flip flops or sandals - flip flops, although I wear boots throughout the summer mostly.
Scarves or hats - I look horrendous in hats so it has to be scarves.
Studs or dangly earrings - A couple of years ago I had over 10 piercings in my ears and have gone from that to barely ever wearing any form of earring.
Necklaces or bracelets - necklaces.
Heels or flats - day to day flats but going out I will always wear heels.
Cowboy boots or riding boots - neither really. If I had to pick it would be riding boots.
Jacket or hoodie - jacket.
Forever 21 or Charlotte Russe - Forever 21.
Abercombie or Hollister - I own more Abercrombie than Hollister so I suppose Abercrombie.

Hair:
Curly or straight - curly.
Bun or ponytail - ponytail.
Bobby pins or butterfly clips - bobby pins.
Hair spray or gel - hair spray every time.
Long or short - long hair, don't care.
Light or dark - dark.
Side sweep bangs or full bangs - no bangs preferable but if I had to chose it would be side sweep.
Up or down - both, but up for convenience.

Random:
Rain or shine - shine, but not scorching.
Summer or winter - summer.
Fall or spring - spring.
Chocolate or vanilla - chocolate.
East coast or west coast - west coast, I love San Francisco.

I tag anyone who wants to do this.

Have a very happy Easter!

March Favourites | Laura Sivers

And so it's suddenly spring, how did that happen? I know it's not just me who thinks this year seems to be going by ridiculously fast, I just can't get my head around that it's already April! I know I haven't written a blog post in so long but it just seems to always fall to the bottom of my list of things to do - I would say I'll try and post more regularly but I'm not making any promises!

Anyway I thought I would kick of with some of my favourites from the month of March.

I'll start with my most favourite product I've bought all year and it is theHourglass Ambient Lighting Blush and I have the shade Luminous Flush. I think I actually got this towards the end of February but it has been the only blush I've used throughout the whole of March. It is just an all round beautiful product. Luminous Flush is a warm pink toned coral shade with golden glowy finish and it applies like an absolute dream. It's been said in many other reviews that it's impossible to 'over-apply' the Ambient Lighting Blushes but for me I can over apply this and if I get a bit too heavy handed I do slightly resemble a clown but I think that's down to my super fair skin. I tend to apply it with my Stila blush brush which is a fairly small blush brush but it fits the apples of my cheeks perfectly and is so soft it lets me blend the blush into my skin really nicely. Luminous flush just gives the perfect lit from within pop of colour to your cheeks and I love it. I'm all about glowy radiant skin at the moment and it works perfectly with my next favourite.

I got cornered by a No7 lady in Boots right at the beginning of March and she was very excited to show me the Pop and Glow Cream Blush sticks but what caught my eye was the Instant Radiance Highlighter stick which alongside the Ambient Lighting blush I have used pretty much daily since I got it. It's so quick and easy to use. I tend to sweep a little onto the tops of my cheekbones, down my nost and on my cupids bow then blend it in with my ring finger after applying the rest of my base make up as it just gives that finishing touch. I definitely wouldn't describe this highlighter as a cream as as soon as it contacts your skin it turns to pretty much a powder and to be honest I wish it was a bit more creamier but apart from that I love this little stick. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who hasn't used a highlighter before and wants to add a subtle glow to their makeup.

The last make up product I have in my March favourites is the Maybelline Color Tattoo in 65-Pink Gold. I received a Color Tattoo in On and On Bronze in a Glossybox during the summer and I did not like it at all. I've never been much of a cream shadow fan and I tried On and On Bronze once when I first got it and didn't get on with it until I found it in my makeup stash when I wanted a strong metallic base to last me for a night out. I used On and On Bronze as a light base and and packed on YDK, Snakebite and Suspect from my Urban Decay Naked 2 palette and I've never loved a bronze smokey eye look on me more. After this I used it a lot more and knew there was a rose gold shade which I had to have as practically every day I wear a combination of eyeshadow shade from my Urban Decay Naked 3 palette so I picked up Pink Gold and the rest is history. I know understand the hype behind the Color Tattoos, they truly are a fabulous base shadow. I usually apply the Color Tattoo with my ring finger and pat it onto my lid and through my crease then apply whatever shadow I use on top with a Mac 217 brush then blend it out. My favourite shadow combination to wear over Pink Gold is Burnout, Liar and Factory all from the Naked 3 palette.

My perfume favourite for this month has been Chloe Roses de Chloe My brother bought me this for Christmas (love him) but I have only recently started wearing it as was saving it for Spring/Summer. I'm such a fan of everything rose scented so this is a dream perfume for me. It's top notes are most definitely rose but it has a gorgeous subtle vanilla musk base note which I adore. In the past i've tended to gravitate towards fresher fragrances but I am thoroughly enjoying wearing this and I'm sure I will continue to throughout Spring and Summer.

Skincare I haven't really been using any new products as I am happy with my current skincare routine but I have whipped out my Kiehl's Ultra Light Daily UV Defence SPF 50+ moisturiser which now we actually have sun in the UK it will be a staple in my morning skin routine for the next 6 months or so. I have such fair skin I burn even if I look at the sun so as soon as it makes an appearance I have to use a high SPF. This Kiehl's one really is Ultra Light as so many high SPF facial moisturisers can feel so heavy and greasy on your face it's impossible to use under makeup but this just feels like a normal moisturiser and doesn't impact on the application of foundation which I love. It is on the expensive side but a little goes along way and it's so important to protect your skin.

I've been having real issues lately in trying to find a shampoo and conditioner for my hair which I like. I feel like I've tried so many different brands and I am still yet to find one I love - any suggestions for long thick hair are very much welcome. I have however found a hair mask which I have been loving! It's the Herbal Essences Bee Strong Strengthening Intensive Mask, this makes my hair feel a-ma-zing. It really is a fabulous hair mask and so affordable which is even more fabulous. If I can be bothered it works best when left on washed hair for an hour or so then rinsed out but it still gives a good enough effect when left on the hair for just a few minutes. It instantly makes my hair feel more repaired and smoother. Big thumbs up from me!

Finally as a bonus favourite I have a favourite drink for you. It's a Vanilla Macchiato from Starbucks. Oh my goodness I cannot get enough of these things. Seriously, they are to die for. I have no idea what special vanilla drizzle they put on top of these but I need to find out and bulk buy!

So there you have it, my March favourites! I was thinking about making a video of this but I know my voice sounds terrible on camera and it would just be mega awkward. I'll just stick to typing I think!

Thank you for reading

x x x x

40 Questions Beauty Tag | Laura Sivers

40 Questions Beauty Tag

Hi everyone, I thought I would do a fun Beauty tag post for you today for some light, easy reading and it was a bit of fun for me.

Hope you enjoy :)

The Questions:

SKINCARE

-How many times do you wash your face daily?

Usually twice a day; morning and night, however if I have a show in the evening and have been wearing normal make up during the day I will cleanse my fave before applying stage make up.


-What skin type do you have? (dry,oily,combo)
I have combination to dry skin, my cheeks and forehead are really dry but I can get a bit oily around my nose. 

-What is your current facial wash?
La Roche Posay Physiological Cleansing Gel is my standard facial wash. If I'm in need of a deeper clean I will use Estée Lauder Perfectly Clean wash/mask.

-Do you exfoliate?
Occasionally if I feel the urge to - you know sometimes your skin feels like a bit itchy and needs a bit of a scrub??

-What brand do you use?
La Roche Posay. My favourite skincare brand.

-What moisturizer do you use?
Day time I use Estée Lauder Day Wear over the top of Hydralauron gel and at night I use Kiels Ultra Facial Creamon top of Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair serum.

-Do you have freckles?
Nope. I wish I did though - freckles are so super pretty.

-Do you use eye cream?
No, although as I'm heading towards my mid twenties I feel like I should be using an anti-aging eye cream.

-Do you or did you have acne prone skin?
Yes and it is still so super prone to acne.

-Did you ever have to use Pro-activ?
No I haven't ever used it or been recommended to use it.

MAKE-UP

-What foundation do you use?
Totally depends on what sort of skin day I'm having or what I'm doing or what the occasion is. During the day I would tend to just wear concealer and powder, if I were going on a night out I would wear MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation - shade NW10, for going on stage I always wear Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse in shade Cameo. My most favourite foundation ever was a Benefit Play Stix in shade Jax but it was discontinued a few years ago and I am gutted. I have such pale skin I struggle to find foundation to match my skin.

-How about concealer?
Unsurprisingly it's the beauty blogger favourite Collection Lasting Finish concealer. I just love it.

-Do you know your undertone color?
Cool toned pink.

-What do you think of fake eyelashes?
I know I am rubbish at applying them. I only wear them if I'm on a big stage. I would never wear them in real life though - I am lucky and have naturally long and thick lashes.

-Did you know that you are suppose to change your mascara every 3 months?
Mascara would never last me 3 months. I go through A LOT of mascara.

-What brand of mascara do you use?
Benefit They're Real has been my go-to mascara for ages but I got a sample of Lancome Hypnose Star the other day and oh my I love it. Will definitely be purchasing a full size tube of that next.

-Sephora or MAC?
MAC.

-Do you have a MAC Pro-card?
No I don't.

-What makeup tools do you use in make up application?
A varied collection of Real Techniques, MAC, Body Shop, Estée Lauder and Benefit brushes.

-Do you use make-up base/primer for the eyes?
Yes, I'm currently using a Soap and Glory one I picked up called Eye Bright and I'm really liking it.

-For the face?
Yes I love the Laura Mercier Radiance primer.

-What is your favorite eyeshadow?
Urban Decay Tease.

-Do you use pencil or liquid eyeliner?
Depends what look i'm going for, more often than not I use liquid though.

-How often do you poke your eyes with an eyeliner pencil?
Not as often as I poke my eyes with my mascara wand, ouch!

-What do you think of pigment eyeshadows?
I think they're messy and much prefer pressed eyeshadows.

-Do you use mineral makeup?
I don't own any.

-What is your favourite lipstick?
MAC Rebel.

-How about lipgloss?
I'm really not a lipgloss kind of girl. I don't own any that I actually like.

-What is your favourite blush to use?
Benefit Dandelion.

-Do you buy your makeup on ebay?
I never have.

-Do you like drugstore makeup?
Yes, I buy too much high street make up and it's usually stuff I never use.

-Did you ever consider taking make-up classes?
Yes I would so love to go on a make up course!

-Are you clumsy in putting on makeup?
On other people yes. I really struggle doing other people's make up. I'm not clumsy really when applying it on myself.

-Name a makeup crime that you hate?
Over plucked eye brows.

-Do you like colourful shades of makeup or neutral ones?
I love colourful lipstick but would always tend to stick to neutral shades on my eyes.

-Which celebrity always has great make up?
Mila Kunis' make up always looks flawless and perfect on her.

-If you could leave the house using just one make up item,what would you use?
Brown pencil eye liner.

-Could you ever leave the house without any makeup on?
Yes of course, but it's not enjoyable and definitely not a pretty site!!

-Do you think you look good even without any makeup on?
Haha not at all!

-In your opinion, what is the best makeup line?
No make up line is perfect but for the sheer amount of options, shades, products, tools it would have to be MAC.

-What do you think of Makeup?
I bloody love it! 

Thanks for reading guys and I hope you enjoyed :) 

Love Laura x 

Autumn has arrived!! | Laura Sivers

Today marks the official first day of Autumn and I am so happy. Autumn is my most favourite time of the year. I love how it's starting to get colder but not quite freezing temperatures and you can later up with jumpers and cardigans and tights.

Autumn fashion has always been a real love of mine which I think I picked up from my mum as she loves it too. I've recently bought a lot of new seasonal clothes and I'm hoping to do a haul video on my YouTube channel this week so keep an eye out for that! It will include lots of long sleeve skater dresses and pinafores as that is going to be what I'll be wearing throughout Autumn/Winter. 

Beauty wise Autumn for me means one thing - berry toned lips! I recently picked up MAC Rebel satin finish lipstick which I've had my eye on since Coleyyyful swatched it on her blog (www.coleyyyful.com - check her out, she has an amazing blog and YouTube channel and is just a lovely lovely person). It is a gorgeous shade, MAC describes it as mid tonal plum, and it's really build able. I like to wear a more subtle smudge during the day then later it up for night. As I've said before I love purple toned lips and this rich, deeper shade is absolutely perfect, and as with all MAC lipsticks it's staying power is second to none. 

Next week in the UK is very exciting as Starbucks bring back the Pumpkin Spice Latte back to their menu! Anyone who knows me personally knows I am a big coffee fan and love seasonal drinks and Starbucks PSL is just my absolute favourite. It comes to UK branches on Thursday 3rd October.

I hope everybody else is looking forward to the colder and snuggly months ahead of us, let me know in the comments below what your favourite things about Autumn are - I'd love to hear from you! 

Lots of love

Laura x x