Can I go back?

I'm back from Rome and would start to write about my experience there (as I really want to share it) but I'm still technically on holiday. At least I feel I should go on another holiday immediately. Who needs to earn a living? So I'm ever so sorry you will just have to wait until next week ;)

I spent today meeting my bud Andy at one of my favourite little cafés in town, dropping a birthday card around my friend's house for her birthday and then watching/napping through a friends marathon.

 I am currently in the garden drinking a ice cold bulmers and discovering some amazing new blogs. About to head inside and catch up with my soaps from the last week, yes, I am that type of girl. 

Also has anyone had gelish nails before? I love them and asked my partner in crime Chloe (who's a very talented nail technician) to do a bright colour with an aztec print for my trip. This is what she came up with. This picture was taken when I got back and as you can see no chips! I always go for gel over acrylics now as I find they help strengthen my nails and I'm not a fan off super long nails (well my eye isn't when I try to remove my contacts).

Have a good weekend people!

Essie's Olé Caliente

Essie's Olé Caliente is a beautiful orange/red colour which is just so summery you can't help but love it.  It reminds me of one of my favourite nail polishes, Models Own Hedonist from the Hed Kandi range, which is a neon orangey red. I like that this is a more subtle version of this as I feel it will go with more and it just looks amazing with a tan. I have decided this is going to be the colour I wear on my toes next week on holiday - this was a very hard decision as I'm not one lug bottles of polish with me and I have many many polishes to choose from. 

Olé Caliente is available on BeautyBay.com in the sale if you want to pick it up!

Topshop Tall Wish List

Being 5"10 I wish more shops would have a taller section. Topshop & New Look are perhaps the best ones but most of the stuff is only available online. I love online shopping but nothing beats trying on clothes in the shops. I really wish ASOS would do a taller section and MissGuided (their clothes are the shortest I've ever come across)! Looking on the Topshop website I found a few gems I wouldn't mind adding to my wardrobe but with their price tags I cannot afford all. My favourite pieces are the printed trousers and skirt - I don't have any bold printed bottoms (apart from my beloved aztec print Primark leggings for lounging in) so these are great for summer and the black in them would take them through to winter also. 

Do any other tall girls get slightly annoyed about the lack of clothes that cover our bums?

Flying High.

Ciao bellas

I'm currently writing this post on the aeroplane on my way to Italy!

I was rudely awoken by Mum at 3am after I had 3 hours sleep and was completely ignoring my alarm apparently. Oops. I got ready extra quickly and here we are on our way! It's my mum's 50th birthday which is why we are making the trip to Rome as it is somewhere none of us have ever been. 

So this mornings beauty routine was very minimal; some tinted moisturiser, mascara and eyebrow powder. I quickly took out my contacts and took off my make up and slathered Elizabeth Arden's Skin Optimising Serum all over my face; my skin just completed dries out on planes and i'm left with really noticeable patches! I think samples are really handy for travelling (thank God for the Glossybox) and you know you won't spill or lose any precious product.

I'm going to try and do minimal make up this holiday and just try and get my skin looking as good as I can. 34 degree heat and melting foundation is not a good look on anyone. 

I may have been a tad naughty and picked up a couple of MAC duty free purchases but hey, when in Rome (or on the way). A mineralise skin finish as I've been without one for over 9 months and realising I really miss it! I also got a beautiful lipstick called Coral Bliss which if course is a light coral in a creamsheen formula. I will swatch it for you when I get back! 

I only have about 30 minutes left on the flight so will retire to my reading of choice. 

I hear it is meant to be about 28 degrees in the UK this weekend so enjoy the hot weather!! 

I have a few posts for when I'm away but will add a few little snaps in to share and will write all about my trip when I get back!

Arrivederci! 

Loving the Mini's.

One of my favourite things before going on holiday is browsing the travel sized product aisle in Boots. It brings me great satisfaction. I also like knowing I can throw them all away at the end of my holiday and have room for all my souvenirs! I have a lot of samples I want to bring on holiday to try out but here's the every day bits I need...

I can't be faffing around with lipsticks and glosses in the day when I'm walking around. My lips burn really easily and I love high SPF's so picked up the Soltan Moisturising Suncare Stick; I will probably use the whole stick within the week!

Johnson's Baby Oil - My number one product of all time. I always use this before shaving my legs to get silky smooth pins.  The deodorant needs no explanation but I picked up a Sure Deodorant as I do like these to throw in my bag whilst I overheat in sun and I prefer their scents over other brands.

Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor - A lot of heat on my head definitely means I need to give it some extra care and this is one of the best cheaper conditioners out there. As you can see I also picked up the Aussie Miracle Moist Shampoo. 

I love my perfumes but it's not practical to carry a glass bottle when walking around a city for hours on end. This Impulse True Love Body Spray will leave me smelling freeeesh.

Finally I picked up a Cuticura Anti Bacterial Hand Gel in Passion Flower & Mango, one because it smells yummy compared to many other gels and two because God knows what germs I may be in contact with in Rome. I'm becoming slightly germaphobic lately...

Toothpaste is toothpaste it's just so cute because it's small so I wanted to share it! Lastly I got a Nivea Sun Pocket Size in SPF 30.  I have a big bottle but I know I'll need to top up throughout the day and I am obsessed with sun cream! I cannot stress enough how important it is to protect your skin in the sun.

I'm getting a bit impatient waiting to go away now. I just want to get to the airport...although I have to get a taxi there at 4am!

Essie's Fair Game

Another Essie polish for you!

Fair Game is a metallic grey/blue. I guess a gunmetal would be the right word for it. I'm not the biggest fan of metallics but this one would be really nice in winter especially against all the black I tend to wear come October!

Again like with Ballet Slippers I am so impressed with the formula, it was opaque within one coat and dried so flaming quickly. I think my Mum would really like this colour so may let her have this one as I know it's a colour I won't reach for that often. I like things super bright!

La Roche Posay Physiological Cleansing Milk & Soothing Toner

My love affair with La Roche Posay's Effaclar Duo is still going strong. So strong that I decided to ditch my other skincare products and try out some more of the brands.

I have started to get a little lazy with my skincare routine and I hate using make up wipes so wanted a quick fix to remove my make up without leaving my bedroom! The Physiological Cleansing Milk like all of the brands products are made with natural thermal spring water. Not that means much to someone like me. That fact it's paraben free is much more appealing! 

I just use one or two pumps of this on cotton pads and 90% of my make up is removed. I say 90% because no matter what I use my mascara always clings on for dear life. I use a different eye make up remover for this as the skin around my eyes can get very sore very easily. 

Some people have moaned about the smell about this - to be in just smells like most over make up removers. Which is what I want it to smell like. 

Very, very glad I picked this up.

Of course I had to pick up the toner too. The Physiological Soothing Toner is the next step the cleansing milk recommends so I thought I would try it. I never really know what effect toner has on the skin. It always seems to grab some hidden tiny amount of make up left on my face so at least it's cleaning it a bit more. As for soothing? I think all toners have a cold flannel effect on the skin so it doesn't win bonus points for that one. 

It's nice having a routine but I think toner is the one step I can afford to miss. Saying that we all know I'll still repurchase them all together!

What should I get for La Roche Posay next? I need your recommendations!