Under £10 Winter Beauty Saviours

I can’t possibly be the only one who suffers from dry skin, dry hair and pretty much dry anything else when winter hits. Admittedly, it is not even THAT cold out yet but my mama has always reminded me “better safe than sorry”, so as soon as the temperature hit the lower teens, my routines had to be adapted to include thicker and heavier duty products, aka my winter saviours. Without these little babies I don’t know what I would do! Keep reading…

Body Care

Palmer's Coconut Oil Formula Body Lotion | £4

Palmers lotion + coconut oil= match made in heaven! Made with a high concentration of natural ingredients, this aims to provide up to 24 hours moisture and whilst I haven’t worn this for that long, it really does make my skin look instantly amazing and well nourished. It is absorbed incredibly fast making applying body lotion an actually doable task in the winter. Coconut oil deeply moisturises and softens, monoi oil hydrates and sweet almost oil soothes the skin; all essential to keep the skin looking healthy and radiant. And if that wasn't enough, this has no parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, gluten, sulphates or dyes. Must have!

Soap & Glory Hand Food Hand Cream | £5.50

I recently talked about this cutie here so I won’t repeat myself too much. Make sure to check out my review of the Belle of the Ball gift set, but in short this hand cream is nourishing, non-greasy, fast absorbent and deliciously scented.

Lip Care

Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub | £5.50

Dry lips are the worst and the chilly air certainly doesn't help. This has been my staple ever since I purchased it at the beginning of the year and despite including it more than once in my past favourites, I had to include it in this list too! I do love a good matte lipstick, so this is essential to keep my chapped lips at bay and ensure that they don’t become dry or flaky after applying the lippie. I'm sure everyone has tried this at some point, but if you haven’t go get one. You won’t regret it. 

Carmex Moisture Plus Berry Lip Balm | £4.49

I received this godsend from the lovely Georgiana (aka Beauty Nerd in the first giveaway I ever won) and it hasn't left my handbag ever since. I love the hint of sheer colour and how soothing and nourishing my lips feel after use. It starts working as soon as I put it on and it is ideal for those days I don’t feel like wearing lipstick. Love, love, love!

Haircare

L'Oréal Elvive Extraordinary Oil Colour | £9.99

Currently on offer at Boots, this is a product I always go back to (mostly because my mum uses up all of it and I need to keep repurchasing). Given we both have coloured hair, it is no surprise that our ends can turn bristle and dry, enter this magic hair oil. Claiming to provide shine, moisture and softness, I can certainly vouch for all of these things. I usually apply it before and after blowdrying as a finishing touch and the result is smooth, silky hair and without any flyaways. This is versatile, non-greasy and all-round champ hair oil.

What are your winter staples? Let me know below, I’d love to hear about them!

Thanks for reading beauties and make sure you come back here on Thursday as I have a surprise for my lovely UK readers!

xoxo

Christmas Countdown: Decorating Ideas

Monday, I am not yet ready for you. Instead, I would have loved to have stayed in bed until late dreaming about Christmas because quite frankly, my countdown began as soon as November was coming to its end. Is there anything better than to celebrate the Saviour's birthday with the family and good food?  I think not. Christmas is by far my favourite time of year (if you haven't guessed it yet); the decor, the food, the love and the shopping are all things I love. I'm slowly but surely decorating the house, and these are some of my inspirations. Enjoy!

Photos: Pinterest

Have you decorated your house yet? Are you excited about Christmas?

Let me know below. Have a nice week ahead beauties!

xoxo

From Steal To Splurge: Christmas Gifts for Her at Every Budget

Stuck on what to get the important women in your life? I got you covered! No matter what your budget is, I am sure you will find something that will be of her liking. And if not, I hope this list (which I do confess, contains a LOT of the things I want for myself) gives you some kind of inspiration. Look out for my Secret Santa Gift Guide coming soon where I will include bargains of £10 and even under a fiver. Until then!

Clinique 3 Step Intro Kit £17 // Ted Baker Cracker £20.40

Soap & Glory Soaper Star £20 // Olaf Figurine £20 // Benefit Pucker Up & Party Kit £17.55

Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette £40 // Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium £45 // Olaf Sweatshirt £40

Topshop Faux Tonal Stole £28 // Jo Malone Cracker £32 // Suede Buckle Boots £49

Lush Under Mistletoe Kit £79.95 // Pandora Xmas Charm £60 // Polar Bear Pjs £69 // ghd IV Styler £89

Kate Spade Purse £90 // DIOR J'adore Jewel Box £77 // KG Lace-Up Heels £84

Ted Baker Dress £199 // Sigma Brush Kit £118 // DKNY Watch £187
Clarisonic Cleansing Brush £199 // Kate Spade Wine Bag £325 // Christian Louboutin Pumps £545

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, 

everywhere you go!

Happy shopping everyone and have a nice weekend ahead!

xoxo

A/W 2015/16 Trends: Winter Floral Dress

Can you wear floral in the fall? YES, YES, YES!

Summer style is full of brilliantly blooming floral designs that work for any warm weather occasion, whether you are off to a picnic, the beach or even a wedding. Sadly for us living on European soil, summer is now long gone and stores are all stocked up in cosy fall knits, which I do love but there is a side of me that envies the South American heat my family is currently enjoying. And even though things are to turn a lot colder in the next couple of months, one question that I get a lot is: do florals work for winter? Well, rest your fashion-addicted minds because yes they do! Florals shouldn't be kept hidden away until the sun shines brightly again. If you, like me, love your flowery patterns have no doubt that you do not need to part with your floral threads just because the weather outside is slightly more grey and chilly. 

Sporting winter florals however does require a few rules of thumb to be kept in mind to make sure you aren't choosing seasonally unsuitable prints; stay away from playful summer patterns, neon or pastel! Instead make sure your outfit shows that you are well aware of the season change by choosing the right colour palette, the right fabric and appropriate accessories.

Keep in mind 5 Basic Tips:

1. As tempting as it may be to walk out of the house wearing that floral mini dress you loved in the summer, frostbite for fashion is a no-go. For warmth, opt for Long-sleeved pieces as an alternative, they will keep you cosy and trendy.

2. As I said before, stay away from neon or any other colours that “pop” too much. Reach for Deeper Shades, colours that scream fall and that will make a seasonal difference in your closet. Plum, burgundy, ebony and dim grey for example are key fall shades that work extremely well with floral prints.

3. Want to wear that floral skirt? No problem! Never underestimate the power of a good (may I add) pair of Tights under florals. This is my favourite tip because a simple pair of black tights can really change your summer staples into pieces that will work just as well through fall.

4. Layers are your best friend! A thick fisherman sweater, a wool scarf, or an oversized coat can transform a summery look into a fall-ready getup. And if in doubt, grab that leather jacket you've had for years, because if Ralph Lauren is layering floral looks for fall with leather outerwear, then so can you!

5.  To help transition your florals into winter, Accessories are a safe bet. OTK or ankle boots are hot this season, as are leather clutches and metal jewellery. These are sure to take you straight to fall chic mode and I bet you already have all of these things sitting in your closet.

And above all, Have Fun and make sure you are comfortable in what you are wearing. These are tips only, after all rules are meant to be broken, especially when it comes to fashion!

Wine Floral Dress*: Shein (here) // Long Line Coat: Vero Moda (here)

Mocha Brown Suede Boots: Fashion Thirsty (similar here) // Lipstick: Nyx Matte in Alabama (here)

What do YOU think about florals for winter? Let me know below! 

Thanks for reading beauties!

xoxo

*Items sent by the brand. All opinions are my own (disclaimer here).