Fool For The Tools

I'm all for a bit o' product chit chat - almost agressively in favour, in fact - but today's post is all about the bits and bobs I've been liking for making what ever products I'm using sing... Fingers crossed you might find something you end up loving too!

Leighton Denny's Crystal Nail File
You may have heard a lot about crystal/glass nail files, but if you have yet to try them, I am here to say that I think they're worth your money. At £12.50, this guy may seem expensive at first, but I've quickly become convinced that buying their cheaper, emery board siblings is a completely false economy. These are far more gentle on your nails, and word on the street is that they are designed not to go blunt; I've had mine for about six months now so I can't quite confirm that, but  he has certainly held up brilliantly thusfar. These are the only files that can be used to file in both directions, rather than from one edge to the centre like other cheaper options. In short, this fella is great.

Brow Scissors
Before you go mad overplucking your brows, I urge you to consider picking up a pair of brow scissors first. Those of you not ready to spend, find a pair of uncarved, sharp nail scissors to tide you over (but if you are after amazing brows, the real deal is worth it). Flick the long hairs up, trimming carefully, making sure to stroke them back into their natural position as you go, so as to make sure you're not overdoing it. Your brows will thank you.
I can't find the pair I have sold individually (the kit is available here) but the pair above are Tweezerman, who have never let me down yet!

Brow Razor
These were in the same kit I bought above and I love them... I even mentioned them in my November  Favourites. As I mentioned back then, they are so great for getting rid of hair fast, especially those too small for tweezers. Honestly, if you're a lazy lady with hyperactive/quick growing brows like yours truly, these are a MUST.

Sainsbury's Double Faced Cotton Wool Pads
My only wish is that these were textured on both sides, as I tend to split these in half like the thrifty mo'fo' that I am. I like the idea behind them though - you can sweep on with the soft, normal side, then sweep any excess product away with the textured face. Plus the convenience of picking these up mid supermarket shop is something not to be sniffed at.

Cotton Buds
DON'T GET ANGRY I'm not going to tell you to put them in your ears (for real, some people are far too emotionally invested in this subject). I'm liking these instead for dotting spot treatments onto offending blemishes; it localises the hit of active ingredients, letting them work on just the problem area, and it is more hygienic than going in with fingers. I just think it is genius.

Body Brush
I've already mentioned this guy in this post, so I will be brief. EXCELLENT on ingrowing hairs and lovely for making your legs feel soft and smooth. Some speak of their circulation benefits; I've not noticed any, but for me the two points I just mentioned are wonderful enough!

That's me done! Now to you - have you tried any of these? And are there any tools you reckon I'd be into? Let me know in the comments!

SHARE THIS POST

A Clarins Instant Light Dupe?

 I'm gonna preface this by warning you that an exact dupe, this is not... but I think these two really do resemble each other enough for me to feel I needn't splurge on another Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector for a good while!

(Funnily enough, Carla also wrote about her love of Clarins Instant Light Lip Perfectors... read her review here as our thoughts are incredibly similar!)

Now the Nyx Butter Glosses get a lot o' press in the beauty blogging world and I'm here to say rightly so! They smell divine (just like their Clarins cousins), apply beautifully and come in a shade range far superior than that of Clarins, all for a third of the price. The only downside to these is that they are hard to find in person; most of us Brits will have to order from their UK site.

I love both, and the Clarins do have that edge of luxe... but truth be told, Nyx will see me through the rest of my impoverished student days!

Have you guys tried either of these lovelies? If so, what do you think?

SHARE THIS POST

A Goodnight Playlist

It has been a wee while since I shared a playlist... here are the last ones in case you missed them (they are pretty solid, though I say so myself!)

Today's playlist is designed to get you chilled out for sleep. I am not one for listening to music in bed - it usually sees me leaving my bed to dance if Sean Paul comes on, or scrolling through my iPod for hours rediscovering tracks from my youth (!). This is the kind of music I like to relax to in the hour or so before bedtime, just to get my mind on the wind-down. If I listen to it enough, my brain will associate the songs with sleep and just hearing them will get me sleepy.

Let me know what you guys think, and if you have a go with this before bed! I'd also love to hear about any chillout tracks you recommend to my ears ;)

SHARE THIS POST

In My Handy Skincare Basket

In a recent trip to the supermarket with Tieran (always a great companion during my endless trips to Sainsbury's excellent home section) and my latest purchase was a lush little wicker basket to keep all my skincare in. This lovely lady sits on my desk, perfect for when I need to get my skincare done whilst watching Brooklyn Nine Nine... I'm classy, guys, what can I say.

This baby is super convenient, makes my desk look far fancier and can be helpfully carried over to my bed if I am really knackered.

Today I wanted to walk you through all the lovely things that I have deemed worthy of being in this little box... let's get to it.

Garnier Micellar Water
A great dupe for Bioderma's more famous micellar lotion, I am loving this as an excellent value first cleanse. I've a few other things I'd like to try before repurchasing this guy, but if you like Bioderma, I think this is just so much better.

La Roche Posay Serozinc
If you've been anywhere near the blogosphere over the last twelve months, you'll have no doubt heard the rave behind this blue tube! So far, I've been using this for two weeks and I've yet to see a crazy difference... But I will keep you posted either way!

Clarins Gentle Exfoliator
I confessed in this post that my view on this exfoliating toner had radically altered (see the post for a more lyrical version of my thoughts!) I'm currently using this around once a week and it's working out really well for me.

Guerlain Super Aqua Lotion
This guy was my toner of choice until I started trying Serozinc... I love it, it was my first toner love, but I am thinking I need to break up once this bottle is done (I'm so sorry Super Aqua, it's not me, it is you). I think I need to explore a cheaper and more natural option!

Sainsbury's Double Faced Cotton Pads
I actually really vibe with these - they're a great, robust option that work even when split in half (I'm a shameless cheap skate student, guys). I just wish they were ridged on both sides!

La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo+
Your girl is just hella into LRP, simple as. How I've not splurged on French skincare lately I really do not know! I rave about this because it's one of the most gentle and effective spot fighters out there - a mild amount of salicylic acid means spots are prevented in a wonderfully kind way. I recommend it for your face space.

Clinique Anti Blemish Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel
My current breakout buster of choice. This contains salicylic acid in a higher quantity than Effaclar, and this is what I apply on active breakouts. I've started looking into alternatives to this simply because the alcohol content is too high - it leaves my face feeling sore and tight and I'm no longer convinced this is worth the reduction in blemish size... So I am open to any and all recommendations you may have!

Avene Hydrance Optimale Hydrating Serum
Yet another winning recommendation that came to me via That Grace Girl, this is a lovely lightweight serum that sinks in quickly, without an irritating (for skin and nose) scent. I think it is far more expensive feeling than its £17/18 price tag.

Soap & Glory Dr Spot Breakout Clearing Gel
A slightly cheaper (in terms of ml per pound) version of the Clinique Clearing Gel, this one is much milder and less stinging but still has a high alcohol content. Salicylic and lactic acid team up to get the spot busting done in this product, but again, it does the job but won't get repurchased.

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate
I just don't get on with this guy! I feel like I'm letting down the beauty world at large by not raving about this, and my own dear housemate Beth. I just didn't see a positive reaction in my skin and I am waiting till I am breakout free again to check if this is the thing that broke me out before Christmas.

Balmi Coconut Lip Balm
Now that my Nuxe Rêve de Miel is no more, I turned back to this little lad for my chapped winter needs. He's about a B - and I do miss my Nuxe offering, truth be told... but he'll do for now. (That'll do Balmi, that'll do...)

Clarins Instant Light Lip Perfector in Rose
Another space-saver while I await the glorious repurchase of Nuxe RdM, this is my daytime lippy and a beautiful product it is too... Gorgeously buttery and lightweight, these glosses are somethin' special in my opinion. (Grab a set at the airport, you won't regret it.)

Origins Drink Up Intensive Mask
This gorgeously scented mask is utterly packed with hyaluronic acid and one of my favourites to apply, either as a mask or super gorge night cream. I adore this and it has seriously convinced me of hyaluronic acid's powers... Well worth the hype for me!

Oral B Essential Floss
To encourage me to floss! I've discovered where you put things has the hugest impact on how much you use them and having this in my basket has really made me reach for it far more.

Basic Cod Liver Oil
...because I'm in my nineties and I need my fish oil. Nope, in all seriousness I think this was a Sali Hughes suggestion and so far I've yet to see crazy results. Watch this space.

The Body Shop Africa Spa Wisdom Honey & Beeswax Hand and Foot Cream
I bought this as part of a special and I'm not wicked keen. Nice but not £10 worth of nice (but I will no doubt reuse the pot in some capacity).

Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Skin Protectant
I actually purchased this tube - with the older packaging - in TK Maxx for a complete bargain. I'm not sure I'd pay full price again (has anyone found a cheaper alternative!?) but I do love this for restoring the softness back to the soles of my feet. The smell is quite awful however...

The Body Shop Hemp Hand Cream
A very decent, convenient tube of rich hand cream. It absorbs quickly but does a good job of moisturising when needed... I would consider buying this again if I weren't such a hand cream floozie!

Body Brush (not pictured)
I've fallen for this big time over the last month. My legs feel so smooth whenever I shave them after a week or so of using this guy. Also works wonders on areas prone to ingrowing hairs.

White Wicker Basket
Well it would be rude not to, wouldn't it?! I've linked a random one as my Saino's beauty is not available online. I like the convenience of this guy the original cost me a fiver - a price I was super happy with!

So that's my skincare basket emptied and shared... You guys know I am a sucker for a recommendation, so are there any products you think I would like? Let me know down below as per!

SHARE THIS POST

Carla's 7 Holy Grails

Hey friends! I reached out to my girl Carla to give me a hand and write a guest post while I get through the next few weeks and being the GOLD STAR BABE that she is, my girl stepped up. Her wonderful blog, Blush Parade, always has me in stitches and I really vibe with her taste too. I'm gonna stop rambling and hand over to my lovely lady and let her share her 7 Holy Grails with you!

_____________

Hey there, lovely peoples of the internets! Wow, this place looks… unfamiliar. It’s definitely not Blush Parade. What’s going on here?! Where am I? What’s my name?

Oh yeah, silly Carla. You’re writing a guest post for lovely Anna, that’s all. No need to panic. Keep writing.

This post is not easy to write for me. You know, I’m not very faithful when it comes to cosmetics. I haven’t found many holy grails yet; maybe because I feel like there’s too wide of an offering out there to settle with an specific set of products, maybe because I haven’t find the right ones yet. In any case, the search continues!

With this said, there are some products that I’ve been consistently loving for some time, despite sometimes trying new things. After much thinking and going through my makeup drawers (and rediscovering some products on the process, score!), I’ve put a list of seven for you all to enjoy (or not. You’re free, don’t let me tell you how to live your life).

Original Naked Palette

This was my first proper makeup palette (let’s forget about that 88 eyeshadows palette from Coastal Scents, shall we?), and it always had (and will have) a special place in my heart. I own Naked 3 as well, but nothing beats the original one. Sorry, not sorry. It’s probably the makeup item in my collection that has travelled with me the most, and that’s saying something. Plus it has my all-time favourite transition shade: Naked.

Tarte Off the Cuff Blush Palette

In 2013 I had the pleasure of visiting the States (please, pretty please, take me back to San Francisco). Apart from sightseeing, road tripping, and happily nerding around at Blizzcon, Sephora was my particular heaven. I really wanted to try Tarte’s blushes, and it was that time of the year where the Holiday Collections pop up everywhere… so I fell in love with this. No regrets, seriously. Tarte has my favourite blush formulation ever: pigmented, long lasting, easy to blend… I love this palette to pieces, and tend to travel with it a lot as well.

KIKO Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadow

I have very oily lids. Even the infamous Mac Paint Pots crease on me after couple of hours. I’m serious. Somehow (and I would say magically), the KIKO Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadows don’t do that. At all. When I did some tests and found out this, you can imagine I was VERY impressed. The price and the colour range make them extra holy grail. Either as a base or (depending on the shade) a quick swipe of colour all over the lid for a quick makeup look they are amazeballs.

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion

As I was saying, almost nothing lasts on my lids more than 2-3 hours without creasing to oblivion. The day I discovered the concept of eyeshadow primers (around 4-5 years ago) I was totally blown away. I ran to my local Debenhams and snatched a tube of Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion; haven’t looked back ever since. I really want to try some others just to compare and so on, but for now I stay loyal to this.

Mac 217 / Zoeva 227 LuxeSoft Definer

As every blogger and their moms say, this kind of brush is really a game changer. They make blending easy and you can put together a nice eye makeup pretty fast; take a neutral-ish shadow all over the lid using the fluffy brush and you’re done. Literally. You can also use them for blending more complicated looks. I find out that it’s a very nice brush both for beginners and advanced eyeshadow users; it just suits everyone.

Sephora Contour Eye Pencil in Surfer Babe

I’ll never stop raving about Sephora Contour Eye Pencils. They have a decent price, they are pigmented, creamy, easy to blend and long lasting. My favourite shade is Surfer Babe, a lovely metallic teal; a colour that makes me think about mermaids. My favourite way to use it? Just put together a neutral look of your choice on the upper lid (I normally use Satin Taupe with this, don’t ask me why. I’m a creature of habits), and smudge Surfer Babe on your lower lash line. I adore that look, and I use the lower lash line often as a pop of colour; but this combination is by far my favourite!

Charlotte Tilbury LipCheat in Pillow Talk

You are probably tired of reading praises about this (sorry!), so I’ll keep it short: it’s the best neutral lip liner I’ve found to this day. The colour is right for me and I love the texture and lasting power. If you have a Charlotte Tilbury counter near you, I would definitely go and take a look. To this day I haven’t tried any makeup item from this woman that I didn’t love.

_________

Thank you SO MUCH for helping me out with a guest post Carla - can we all agree what a hun she is? Do check her out as I love her blog... Blush Parade is such a wonderful place to be! What pick are you coveting most? (For me it's got to be those Tarte blushes... damn!)

SHARE THIS POST

DIY: Simple Terrarium

Hello hello! First off, crew, my apologies - I've not blogged in a week and I can't promise I'll be back super regularly at the moment, for reasons I won't bore you poor things with. Over the weekend however, I decided to cheer myself up and finally film a DIY I've been hinting at for weeks... It is a super, duper simple terrarium and I think it would be the cutest, cutest gift to someone you know.

See below the video for links to the bits and bobs I used!

You will need

Fish Bowl
Succulent
Cacti
Protective Gloves
Gravel
Cactus Soil

SHARE THIS POST

ANNAGRAM #1

Hi there my crew... How are all you? If the answer is "good, and ready for a new By Her Mirror feature" then have I got a treat for you. I'm planning on a monthly/bi-weekly/just whenever the mood strikes round up, featuring the greatest pun on my own name since my entry into this world. (Annalog was a less attractive runner-up. Poo connotations were what ruled that one out.)

My Annagrams are going to be a little round up of what I've been loving from my Instagram, general life and also a little selection of blog posts and internet things I've enjoyed and want to recommend to you. It goes almost without saying that I am pumped.

This week in pictures...

1. Back in my favourite city: If you know me offline you will probably have already been treated to one of my rants about how amazing my uni city is (we have a pub themed around Lord of the Rings. Need a girl say more?) I love being home but I adore coming back to my student hub, full of some of my favourite people and favourite digs. I could bang on about it all day.
2. A Nutella addiction reaches new levels: I've moved from eating the stuff to cooking with it. This charming, turd like pastry is actually meant to be a Nutella croissant. I used the recipe in this book but as it's really not that good, I am considering perfecting it to actual useable instructions and sharing them with you... Does this idea appeal? Let me know below!
3. My new baby: A satchel with my name on it?! Does life get ANY BETTER? They say when one door closes another is opened, and this was how I justified the purchase of this amazing personalised satchel last week... my last satchel died and this was a spectacular replacement. It honks of leather and I well and truly love it.
4. Project365: I am literally amazed that I am on day 53 of my Project365... As the former queen of falling off bandwagons and giving up on things I promised I would do, this is major progress. Taking photos every day has been challenging but fun and I am starting to get better at it too! (Impressive given I am living in an essay based bubble at the moment!
5. Succulent amour: I just love this little guy. So much. I wish I had more places in my room to put plants, because my desk and bedside table look so much cheerier with my cactus children and flower vase... Stay tuned as I will be sharing a project involving this baby very soon!
6. A birthday celebration with some babes: It was my gorgeous housemate Tieran's birthday a couple of weeks ago and we celebrated last Saturday with an Italian feast (DELISH), Jamaican cocktails (DIVINE) and a Marvel-lous movie night complete with Guardians of the Galaxy. It rocked.

Some online favourites...

I adore great photography and the amazing shots on Lifestaljer are beauty blogging at its finest... I drool over each post, I really do! I suggest you go and drool too... and I love her honest reviews too.

My obsession with Carla's lovely blog, Blush Parade continues to grow and I cannot get enough of her hilarious and honest writing. She's a bae who hails from Spain but is now, in her own words, living the Emerald Dream in Ireland. I have loved chatting to her and her post on being a Spaniard in Ireland was actually one I requested and adored reading... She talks about celebrating the Epiphany, something I am pretty interested in!

Why so interested? Because I baked this Galette des rois for my girl Tieran on her birthday and though I say so myself, I thought it tasted and looked jolly authentic. If you are after an easy, deliciously French pastry, this is for you - they're a big tradition at this time of year in France!

I cannot stop listening to London Grammar's album If You Wait at the moment... It's been out for a long enough but somehow passed me by! My favourite track is Strong but I also love the end of Metal and Dust. Y'all will lurve.

Last of all I super enjoyed my friend Emily's post on her minimal wardrobe additions - I have always loved her sense of style and it's so cool to see her trying a new direction whilst still owning it. Hers is a blog to watch this year as that girl has some amazingly creative ideas!

So that concludes the first ever Annagram... Let me know how often you'd like to see this kind of post down below and feel free to share any links for things you think I would love!

SHARE THIS POST

A "Pretty Honest" Review

Prior to reading Pretty Honest I hadn't been much of a follower of Sali Hughes... 300+ pages of sterling beauty writing later and I am a convert. Pretty Honest is a stylish and, you guessed it, refreshingly honest read that, spoiler alert, I adored reading. Some of you I know will be right there with me on the love for this book, but for those of you that have yet to buy your own copy, I thought I'd give you a run-down of why I love it so!

To fill you in on the layout of Pretty Honest, you'll find that it's broken into helpful chapters that can be read as stand-alone help sections, or can be enjoyed one after another (I'm guessing the repetition that occurs in each is down to the assumption many will deep into specific chapters and not necessarily read it cover to cover). The range of these is so thoughtful and indicative of Sali's broad range of cosmetic knowledge; there's a little bit of everything, from teenage makeup suggestions to the less glamorous side of motherhood to bridal beauty advice... Sali even covers significance of looking a little better even when very ill. Each subject is given its proper respect, but each remain an enjoyable, satisfyingly well researched read.

Sali's voice is very present throughout, with the odd snippet of her past thrown in where relevant, and reading this feels like a chinwag with a friend/cool aunt/mother/professional all at once. Her background as a journalist, beauty writer and makeup artist's assistant (at the age of 15!) gives the book a qualified, thorough feel, but I was also left with the impression she really wouldn't mind if you vehemently disagreed with any of her suggestions.

If you love makeup, you will adore this book. I've read a few "beauty bibles" in my time (recommendations for any more below, please?) and this has been the most informative - I imagine this will be just as useful for a novice as a fanatic... and who knows, maybe even the pros would enjoy this read too!

All in all, in case you hadn't yet guessed, it's a delightful read and one I highly recommend. Pick up your copy here, and if you've already read yours, let me know if you agree with me on this one! (Plus those beauty book recommendations would make my day...)

SHARE THIS POST

A Skincare To Do List

My last To Do List was a personal mission, but today's is going off in rather a different direction... Anyone that's stuck with me for a while (you poor things) will probably be aware that I adore skincare. It's what comes with having spent a year in France, mes amies. Having started reading Sali Hughes' wonderful Pretty Honest - I may well pen you a review of my thoughts upon finishing - I've been inspired to become far more hands-on and informed about what I slap on each morning and slather on each night.

Here's what I intend to work on:

1. Become obsessed with ingredients lists. I've started work on a little personal project that I may well share with you sometime down the road, all in an effort to become ingredient-savvy. Long story short, a buttload of research is going down.
2. Write a review when I dislike a product. Not simply on my own blog, but also on the company's own site. I rely on them myself and have not been nearly generous enough in giving back; plus no brand can ever improve without honest feedback!
3. Write a review when I do like a product. Good work deserves recognition after all!
4. Use cotton buds when applying spot treatments - currently I am slathering the areas surrounding blemishes with the same powerful potion that is meant to zap the spot, resulting in some very sore bits indeed. I've a hunch that applying with a smaller tool will localise the hit and hopefully reduce damage to a spot's healthy surroundings.
5. Read. Read. Read. Until this month I'd never spotted the Paula's Choice Ingredient Dictionary, which has been unbelievably helpful as a reading start point... Plus Pretty Honest has inspired me to delve deeper into beauty book reading. Now I've been treated to a Kindle, I have no excuse!

Hopefully this post will inspire you to get more involved with your own skincare... What would you put on your to do list?

SHARE THIS POST