Hello 2014!

Happy new year everyone! I for one am rather glad that 2013 has finally come to an end. I didn't think my year could possibly be any worse than 2012 was but the past few months have been quite difficult for me. My parents have had lots of relationship issues, my laptop broke, we've all been ill (& we still are), I had an abnormal smear result and my anxiety & stomach issues have spiraled lately. Worst of all there was a death in the family. My family aren't close but it was so upsetting to hear that my cousin had died, he was only 46. As silly as it might sound to some people I consider a new year to be a new start. I want to put all my past troubles behind me and focus on all the positive things in my life. I've always been a fairly pessimistic person but being negative doesn't get you anywhere, it just makes you feel worse. I need to appreciate the things I do have & stop being jealous of others. Chloe is the best thing in my life & I don't want any negativity to rub off on her. After the heartache I suffered in 2012, Andy & I got back together last year. I think it's generally considered a bad idea to get back with an ex but it's a different ballgame when there's a child involved. We're happy together & Chloe is happy that we're together so I guess that's all that matters right now. I don't think my resolutions are too different from last years but I always think it's good to have some kind of reminder of the person you want to be. So here are my new year's resolutions:

Be healthier
I managed to lose some weight at the beginning of 2013 by following the Tone It Up diet but I couldn't keep it up. I ended up gaining everything back & more. I really need to make an effort with my diet and exercise this year. Any day that I have to take Chloe to preschool I will get on with either going to the gym or doing an exercise DVD right away. I need to remember to drink more water & stop eatings Greggs doughnuts all the time. Food prep seems like an important thing to try because if there's a chocolate bar in the cupboard I'll go straight for that. But if there was a nice chicken salad readily prepared in the fridge I'd eat that instead. I might try doing the 5:2 diet because I could easily live off crumpets & miso soup for two days a week. I really would like to get back to 9st this year.

Take care of myself
I did pretty well with this last year. I kept up a consistent skincare routine, took my supplements and looked after my hair & teeth. My skin was horrendous for a while but I think I finally have it under control (touch wood!). I got a bit lazy with my skincare towards the end of the year & just kept taking my makeup off with Bioderma. This needs to stop because my skin only behaves if I look after it properly. So I'm going to try to take my makeup off just before I put Chloe to bed. That way I won't suddenly think to do it at midnight & whack out the Bioderma again. I need to learn to switch off my laptop & go to bed earlier too. I totally failed at washing my makeup brushes. I know I need to do it more often but once a week is just unrealistic for me. I'm gonna aim for once a month because even that rate will be better than before!

Stop procrastinating
I am so lazy & I really need to stop it. I put off everything & it's just such a silly thing to do. I think I might've been a bit depressed lately & obviously that's affected my motivation. This resolution links in with some of the other ones. I think this one is something many people can relate to. I need to be more organised & stop wasting my time. If there's some washing up to do, go & do it. If you need to hoover, get on with it. If there's clean clothes to put away, put them away. If there's an email in your inbox, reply to it. If you have documents to shred, shred them. If you buy or receive a new product, take photos of it right away. If you need to remove your makeup, get in the bathroom. I could go on but the point is just get on with things basically.

Save more money
I think I did okay with this last year. I didn't waste too much money on makeup & clothes (in my opinion anyway!) but I didn't manage to save that much either. This year I want to put a set amount into my savings account & Chloe's savings account every month. I waste a lot of money on food. Feeding Andy is an expensive job. I want to try shopping in Aldi & Lidl more often. I also plan to batch cook food & freeze it for later. As I mentioned last year the Spending Tracker iPhone app has helped me immensely with my finances. I think I need to stick to a stricter budget now though if I plan on upping my savings & not just my current account.

Put more effort into blogging
Blogging is so important to me but I still only managed about 10 posts per month last year. I want to add so much more content to this website so this year I'm aiming for 15 posts per month. I'm going to try to reply to every comment I get, not just questions. I've tried to improve my blog photography but it's difficult when you live in a rented house with awful lighting & yellow walls. I think I've finally found a good spot & setup that allows me to have products upright (which some of you commented on in my yearly favourites post yay!). The lighting is still a bit dodgy sometimes but I've just bought some studio lighting so hopefully that will make things a bit better. I really struggle with emails & have often ignored them for months! I'm aiming to reply to everything I receive on the same day. I also plan on joining in on twitter a bit more. I normally use it for moaning & promoting new posts so I want to get back to talking with everyone & joining in with #bbloggers chats. I want to get back into YouTube too & do some makeup tutorials on there.

I also just want to take a moment to thank every single one of you who reads my blog. It means the world to me that people are interested in the things I have to say. I truly appreciate every comment I receive so another thing I will try to do is comment more on other blogs. I love the blogging community & although blogging itself might be becoming more editorial (as many people have said in their yearly summaries), the people are still the heart of it all. So here's to 2014! I hope you all have a fantastic year filled with happiness & of course, I hope I do too.

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Favourite Products Of 2013

It's time for one of the most enjoyable posts for me to write - my favourite products of 2013. For this year's post I've decided to list just five products in each category. There's been so many things I've loved using in 2013 it would take me forever to post about all of them. So here's 45(!) of my favourite products. It's always interesting to look back at my posts from previous years and see what things I'm still using. My skincare routine is probably what has changed the most which is quite surprising to me. At the time I thought that last year's selection would all still be making an appearance but I've found some really fantastic items this year that have improved my skin tenfold. I guess that's part of the appeal of beauty blogging though, there's always something new & better to try. Here's to trying plenty more in 2014!

Skincare
Elemis Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Facial Wash / HealGel Face / Elemental Herbology Cell Food
Estelle & Thild Lily Detox Mask / La Roche-Posay Redermic R

Last year was all about the chemical exfoliants for me but Liquid Gold & Clarins Brightening Toner were both pushed aside for this amazing Elemis cleanser. It uses lactic acid to smooth the skin, reduce pores & get rid of blemishes. Cleansing my face with this twice a day has made so much difference to my skin. I can't recommend it enough! The whole HealGel range is fantastic but their facial moisturiser is a real winner. My skin feels better every time I use it & it's suitable for all skin types. Elemental Herbology are a brand I really need to try more next year because their Cell Food is such a lovely serum. It adds a natural radiance to my face, hydrates & soothes any irritation. The Lily Detox Mask from Estelle & Thild is just incredible. If you want clear skin & barely visible pores then this is a must have. Finally La Roche-Posay's Redermic R has been a lifesaver this year. I was suffering with lots of blocked pores & hormonal acne and this stuff completely sorted everything out. It helps bring all the gunk trapped under your skin to the surface & heals it up super quick. It contains retinol which also works as a wrinkle treatment so I really do think I'll be using this for years to come.

Body Products
Sure Maximum Protection Deodorant / L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil / Vaseline Spray & Go Body Moisturiser
Organic Surge Citrus Mint Shower Gel / NSpa Massaging Body Brush

I think many people were surprised by this Sure deodorant but it really is a brilliant product. I wouldn't consider myself a sweaty person but this stuff keeps me smelling fresh & feeling dry 24/7. I simply adore the L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil. It's the best thing you can use if you have sensitive skin & it is so good for shaving with. I'm very lazy with body moisturising so I'm a big fan of the Vaseline sprays. Organic Surge's shower gels smell amazing & are also a great choice for sensitive skin. Dry body brushing is a great thing to do before a shower to get your circulation going & manually exfoliate your body. I use this one from NSpa & it really helps to keep my skin feeling soft. My bumpy upper arms are much improved since I started doing this regularly.

Haircare
Organic Surge 2-Minute Mask / L'Oreal EverRiche Perfect Elixir Masque Spray / Alterna Caviar Perfect Blowout Creme
Alterna Caviar Rapid Repair Spray / Bumble & Bumble Brilliantine

I discovered two brilliant hair masks this year - one from Organic Surge & one from L'Oreal. They both work wonders on my bleached hair & stop it from looking like a dry straw-like mess. The Alterna Caviar range is perfect for anyone with dry unruly hair. I sometimes use the Blowout Creme if I want a very smooth & sleek style. The Rapid Repair Spray is probably the best finishing spray ever. It smells divine & gives me incredibly shiny hair. Bumble & Bumble's Brilliantine is a complete superstar product. You can use it to add definition & shine and it gets rid of any flyaways. I also use this on Chloe to smooth down her frizzy curls.

Base
Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream / Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Luminous Light / Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer
Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder

I always keep several foundations on rotation but one that I've used a lot this year was the Clinique CC Cream. They come in a fab shade range including one for us ghostly pale girls. I love this stuff because it feels light on the skin yet the colour correcting properties give the illusion of more coverage. Hourglass have fast become one of my favourite brands & their Veil Mineral Primer is the best one out there. Unfortunately it's also crazy expensive. This is one case where you get what you pay for though as it really does make my skin look better & keeps my makeup perfectly in place. My number one favourite beauty buy of the year was another Hourglass product - their infamous Ambient Lighting Powders. I got Luminous Light because I love glowing skin & it just makes everything look airbrushed. Love love love this product! Kevyn Aucoin's Sensual Skin Enhancer was another of my favourite products because it's just so versatile. You can use it as a foundation or a concealer & it's full coverage makes those bad skin days much more tolerable. Laura Mercier's setting powder for your undereye area is such a good product. It contains a faintly sparkly white pigment to bring light to the area. It sets your concealer & reduces the appearance of dark circles at the same time, what more could you want in a setting powder?!

Eyes
Benefit They're Real Mascara / Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette / Artdeco Eyeshadow Base
Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil / Soap & Glory Supercat Eyeliner Pen

I hated They're Real when I first got it but I've really come around to this product lately. It gives good separation, length & pigmentation to my lashes. The Urban Decay Naked Basics palette hasn't left my makeup bag since I got it. Those six matte shades are perfect for everyday wear & help add some subtle definition to my eyes. I keep everything in place with the Artdeco Eyeshadow Base. This creamy neutral base stops any creasing & helps to brighten my eyes. A new love is the Hourglass eyebrow pencil. The triangular shape makes filling in your brows a complete doddle & the shade Soft Brunette is perfect for me. Soap & Glory's Supercat eyeliner is a good choice for a really pigmented black flick. It takes some getting used to but I use this everyday now. Plus it's really cheap!

Cheek Products
NARS Douceur / Illamasqua Naked Rose / theBalm Frat Boy
Stila Lilium Convertible Colour / theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer

I've favoured slightly nuder shades this year with NARS Douceur being a clear favourite. It's a browny pink that sculpts the face so you don't need a separate contour product. Naked Rose, Frat Boy & Lilium are all lovely blushers that add a nice pop of colour to my cheeks. Lilium also works as a very pretty lip colour. Nothing has managed to knock Mary-Lou Manizer from it's position as best highlighter ever this year. As you can see it is a very well loved product & I use this every single day for a perfectly glowing complexion.

Lip Products
Korres Pomegranate Lip Butter / NUXE Reve De Miel Lip Balm / Lanolips Lemonaid Lip Aid
MAC Lady Danger / MAC Chatterbox

I finally tried out the Korres Lip Butters this year and it was instant love. They're so moisturising & the colours are all so gorgeous. Pomegranate is probably the one I use the most as it's a very flattering coral shade. I'm still loving the NUXE lip balm but Lanolips Lemonaid is even better. The citric acid in the organic lemon oil acts as a natural exfoliator on dry lips & the creamy balm leaves my lips feeling kissably soft. MAC will always be the king of lipsticks & two shades I've been using a lot this year are Lady Danger & Chatterbox. The orangey red tones of Lady Danger look incredible on a night out & Chatterbox is a bright true pink that I always reach for during the day.

Nail Products
Essie Bachelorette Bash / Essie After School Boy Blazer / Essie Lilacism / Essie Bahama Mama
Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover

Essie are still my favourite nail polish brand. Their polishes are easy to apply, quick to dry and fairly chip resistant. These are some of my most worn shades this year. Liliacism remains a firm fave from last year though. My nails would look like rubbish without the little miracle worker known as Sally Hansen's Instant Cuticle Remover. No manicure would be complete without it.

Tools
Real Techniques Brushes / MAC 219 Brush / Tinkle Eyebrow Razor
Tweezerman Tweezers / Shu Uemura Eyelash Curlers

Real Techniques brushes are some of the best around. They're very good quality & excellent value for money. I love that they don't shed at all which always used to be a problem with my MAC & Sigma brushes. The setting brush is one that I use every single day to set my undereye concealer, I couldn't be without it! Real Techniques don't make many eye brushes though so I mainly use my MAC ones. The 219 works well to add definition under my eyes & to define my crease. The eyebrow razor might seem like an odd choice but don't worry I'm not putting stripes in them anytime soon! I use it to remove all those tiny hairs around my eyebrows as well as any excess facial fuzz. My Tweezermans are still going strong & they're just the best tweezers you could possibly buy. I still use my Shu Uemura eyelash curlers every day without fail. They make my lashes look so much longer & open up my eyes. Once you start curling your eyelashes it's hard to stop!

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Love Me Beauty Box December 2013

Love Me Beauty Box* - £10 + £2.95 Delivery

For December Love Me Beauty brought out their special Christmas edition box. While there was still a choice of three boxes as usual the options didn't differ too much this month. I went for Menu 1 because it contained two face masks & those are always fun to try out. Apparently we were supposed to receive a surprise Christmas gift in our boxes but I only got the five items included on the menu. I'm definitely not complaining though because the contents of the box were really good, especially the face masks!




Lord & Berry Intensity Lipstick in Glazed Pink
I liked the Lord & Berry lipstick I received in last month's box but this colour just isn't for me. It's a frosty nude pink shade and I can't help but think that it makes me look a bit dead. It seems quite grey toned. The formula of these lipsticks is very creamy & pigmented but I think I'll have to pass on this particular lipstick to one of my friends.




Lord & Berry Kissproof Lip Liner in Romantica
Now this colour is a lot more me. If you prefer matte lips then it can sometimes be easier to just use a lip liner over some lip balm. This one was creamy & well pigmented so it was a lot easier to work with than a lot of other lip liners. It doesn't dry out your lips or make them feel tight either. I wouldn't say it lives up to it's claims of being 'kissproof' but it does leave a nice stain on your lips. I just wish they would've given us a lipstick that matches this bright pink lip liner.

Rodial 5 Minute Facial
This product has such a weird texture. Think Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse in the form of a face mask. It's an exfoliating mask with very fine grains. You leave it to dry for 5 minutes and then rub off most of the product with your fingertips. As you rub it has an exfoliating effect on your face. Then you wash off the excess with warm water. It did sting my skin a little bit when I first applied it but that soon went away. When I washed my face after using this I was left with amazingly baby soft skin. My pores were barely visible and my face looked smoother & brighter. It may be a bit of a strange product but the effects are incredible.

S5 Vitality Mask
I'd never heard of S5 Skincare before so I was really intrigued by this product. S5 make skincare products designed for stressed skin featuring highly effective organic bioactives. I love me some organic skincare so I had high hopes for this product. This is another face mask but it's very different to the Rodial one. The texture is more like a serum & it feels very cooling on your face as you apply it. You just apply a thick layer of this stuff & wash it off after 5 minutes. It makes my skin feel really fresh & smooth. The best thing about this is the wonderful glow it gives to your skin. It's a perfect remedy for dull & tired Winter skin. I'll definitely be looking into S5's other products in future because this mask was so lovely to use.



Headline Colors Nail Polish in Quicksand
I previously received a Headline Colours nail polish in another Love Me Beauty box (back when it was called BeautecoBox) and was very impressed with the lovely gold colour I chose. In this box there wasn't a choice of nail polish colour but I really do like Quicksand. It's a classy & chic taupe shade that is opaque in just one coat. The brush in these polishes is a good shape so I find them really easy to apply and the formula of the polish is very smooth & creamy. It has a nice glossy finish too. This shade is very chip resistant compared to the gold one I tried so this is a bit of a one coat wonder.

This was another great box with three fullsize products. I always think the ratio of samples to fullsize products is perfect in the Love Me Beauty boxes. I feel like some of these brands keep popping up though, especially Lord & Berry. Hopefully there'll be some completely new brands to try in next year's boxes. I kinda wish this box was a bit more festive though as nothing really set it apart from the regular boxes. You can subscribe to Love Me Beauty for £10 a month plus £2.95 delivery with no minimum subscription term. They currently have a special 20% off discount for beauty blog readers (first time orders only) – just enter LMBBB20 on the delivery section when signing up. The code is valid until 10th Jan. Visit the Love Me Beauty website to find out more.

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