My Style Diary - Sweater Weather

Hello Hello... 

So it's been bloody freezing in Perth the past few days, and to tell you the truth I am completely sick of the cold! It's not so bad when you can snuggle up in bed all warm and cozy, but getting up early and heading out to work is not fun when you can't feel your fingers!

Admittedly I shouldn't really complain as we've still been having lovely sunny days (and it's not that cold compared to a lot of places), but I'm a summer girl and I'm longing for the warmer days and simple summer dresses!

To deal with the cold, I've pretty much just been living in jeans and jumpers, and my leather jacket has definitely been getting a work out. The day these photos were taken was slightly warmer so I took the opportunity to wear this statement necklace instead of a scarf. I love the amethyst type stones and tassels that it has, and the way it can (slightly) dress up what would other wise be a bit of a dull outfit. 

Anyway, I'm off to sleep now, it's past my bed time

(quite the party animal aren't I?)

Hope you're having a fab Saturday night!

Lots of Love

Lauren

xxx

Jumper - Gap

Jeans - Levi

Jacket - from Hong Kong

Boots - All Saints

Necklace - Sportsgirl

Rings - Asos and Dotti

Bag - Jigsaw

Beauty Bits - Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet

I will admit that I have a slight addiction to lipstick.

Most other beauty products I can resist and I (try to) keep them to a minimum, but when it comes to lip products, I have very little will power and my collection is getting a little out of control! 

So, despite reading great reviews about the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet's on a number of my favourite beauty blogs, I tried to resist... When I spotted them on sale at Priceline the other day for $10 however (normal price is $24), I caved...

It was worth it though, because let me tell you - they live up to all the hype! Seeing as I'm so fond of them, I thought I may as well add my two cents, so here we go...

They're a liquid lipstick with a matte finish that are super long lasting. Unlike most matte lip products I don't find them to be drying at all (provided you use a lip balm first) and they actually have a really nice, slippery feel on the lips that is very comfortable. 

The doe-foot applicator has a pointed tip which makes precision application nice and simple, and once they set, they stay put all day until you take them off. Seriously - these don't budge at all! As someone who always forgets to reapply, that's a huge positive - particularly when we're talking about such bright bold colours. 

I've tried out three of the eight colours in the collection and have been loving them all. The first two would probably be a little more appropriate in the summery months, but I love a bold lip all year round. 

First up we have Number 02 Frambourjoise, which is a stunning strawberry pink colour that walks that fine line between pink and red. Just gorgeous! (It's my favourite of them all)

Next is Number 03 Hot Pepper, which is a vibrant, fire engine red that is seriously bold. The orangey-red is a lovely warm colour that really brightens up any look and is what I'm wearing in the photo above.

Number 07 Nude-ist, I would describe as a dusky rose colour, more muted than the others and much easier as a "wear every day" kinda colour. This is exactly what I'd hoped the Hourglass Opaque Rouge in Rose to be. Unlike the Hourglass one, it can be layered without getting cakey or flakey and doesn't settle into the lines of your lips (and is a fraction of the price! - bonus!) 

L-R: Hot Pepper, Frambourjoise, Nude-ist

They look a little glossy in the photo above, but once they dry they are completely matte

As you can probably tell by all the gushing, I really love these liquid lipsticks. They're the best I've tried and I'd definitely pick one up if you're a bold lip lover.

If I remember correctly Priceline has 30% off all Bourjois at the moment so now would be a good time to snap one up!

(Sorry for enabling!) :p

Lauren

xxx

My Style Diary - Pumpkin Patch Flashback

You may be wondering what on earth the title of this post is about. Well - it is in fact one of my earliest memories of when I started taking an interest in fashion. I was probably around 7 years old and flicking though a catalogue for Pumpkin Patch (for those who don't know, it's a kids clothing brand). There was a group of kids of all different ages standing in a field dressed in cozy winter clothes with beanies, scarves and really cute boots. I remember thinking at the time - I want to dress like that! ... and so began the obsession...

So basically this outfit reminds me of that time... although hopefully I've progressed a little and don't look like a 7 year old...

Anyway, I'm currently at my boyfriend's place helping him pack for New York and getting insanely jealous! Ah well... :p (The postitive side is that he's hopefully going to pick up some MAC makeup goodies for me!)

Hopefully you're having a great Saturday!

Let me know your earliest fashion related memory :)

Lots of Love

Lauren

xxx

Beanie - Sportsgirl

Top - Forever New

Scarf - from a market in Cambridge

Jeans - Country Road

Boots - All Saints

Rings - Dotti and Asos

Beauty Bits - Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream

Hello hello :) 

So I'm finally sharing a little beauty post today, which I've been meaning to write up for ages. Before I begin though, I do want to start off by saying that when it comes to foundations and skincare, I tend to play it quite safe and stick with what I know works for me. That does unfortunately mean that I don't have a whole lot to compare to, so it's probably best to take this review with a pinch of salt.

I just really wanted to share my thoughts on the Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream, because it's a product I've fallen in love with over the past few months.

Let's start off with a bit of background information.

Clinique claims that this CC cream will "instantly colour correct a range of complexion concerns - redness, dullness and sallowness". It's supposed to give sheer to moderate coverage, with a lightweight texture and a "naturally radiant" finish. It also offers oil-free hydration and SPF 30. 

The CC cream is more about "colour correction" (as you could probably guess from the name), as opposed to coverage, so in terms of covering blemishes, it's not going to perform as well as say, the BB cream (which I haven't tried). 

The thing that I find interesting though, is the skincare element. It's supposed to not only provide colour correction while you're wearing it, but actually help to correct your skin tone over time (or so the lovely lady at the Clinique counter told me)

Now, onto my thoughts...

 At first when the Clinique sales person put it on my skin I was a bit unsure, as she applied quite a lot of product, and it appeared quite heavy, making me look very made up (and I'm someone who likes a very natural looking base - I don't like the feeling or the look of having my skin all covered up, and usually I go for either a light mineral foundation, or none at all). I asked for a sample to take home however, and after applying it myself, using just a very small amount of product and blending it in really well, I fell in love with it. 

It is quite a thick consistency with a slightly sunscreen-y scent, which isn't too overpowering. When applied lightly, it gives a gorgeous, fresh, glowy finish that's very natural and it actually does what it claims -  correcting the redness in my skin and helping to disguise my dark under eye circles! It is quite a light coverage, but for me if there's anything more to cover, I find concealer does the job.

The best way I can describe it is that it's like a thin veil that doesn't cover up or mask imperfections, but sort of glides over the skin and adjusts the colour, evening everything out and just making the skin look better and healthier. I find it actually starts to look even better as the day goes on, sort of "melting" into the skin and really blending in nicely. 

My favourite thing about it though, is that I actually notice an improvement in my skin after wearing it. I can't describe it exactly, but my skin just seems to look less blotchy and more even toned and just healthier, the day after I've worn it (Now I guess I could just be imagining this, but I don't think I am!)

The one downside for me is the shade selection. From what I've read there are 9 shades available, but only 5 have been released in Australia. I have it in "Light" which is perfect for me in the autumn months, but in the summer it was just a tad too light for me (and the next shade was too dark). It's a shame, because it would be perfect for summer otherwise, given the SPF 30.

There seem to be mixed reviews on this product with a lot of people finding it disappointing, but I think that it really depends on your skin type, what you're looking for and how you apply it. For me, I have dry, sensitive skin, with my skin problems mainly being redness and the occasional blemish. When I'm looking for a foundation/base, I like something light that's going to even out my skin but not cover it all up. That's what the CC cream does.

I think you would like this product if you have normal to dry, fairly clear skin, and just want something that evens things out, without covering everything up. If you have oilier skin, or you're looking for something with a medium to heavy coverage, this isn't for you, as it's quite moisturising and definitely doesn't cover up all imperfections. (Although you can apparently use it as a base under foundations - I haven't tried it this way though).

My suggestion would definitely be to try it out at the counter and also ask for a sample to take home so you can try applying it in different ways. The look you get definitely varies depending on application method. 

The way I like to use it is:

1) Moisturise really well before applying (even though the CC cream is quite hydrating, I still find it applies much more smoothly when my skin is well moisturised)

2) Squeeze out a pea sized amount and dot it all over my face

3) Blend it all in with the Real Techniques Buffing Brush

And you're done!

All in all I really enjoy using this product. I'd definitely recommend trying it out at the counter if you're after something light!

Hopefully this was helpful for some of you. I'm no beauty blogger and I know this was rather rambley, but I actually really love this product and had a lot to say! I'll try to keep things more concise next time!

Thanks for reading!
If you managed to get this far - let me know if it's something you'd like to try, or your thoughts on it if you already have!

Lauren
xxx 

May in Pictures

The thing I love about Instagram is the way it allows me to capture and really just take notice of all those little moments of happiness, whether it be something as simple as enjoying a nice cup of tea or just appreciating the fact that the sun is shining.

It's great compiling these collages at the end of every month, looking back and remembering all those nice moments :)

Having said that though, it's so easy to get caught up looking though photos and thinking someone has this "perfect life", when in reality that may not be the case. 

While there were a lot of fun times this month (the highlight being my birthday), there were also some not so great moments. Obviously, those aren't the kind of things I can (or want) to photograph and record, but I just don't want to give the impression that everything is "rainbows and butterflies" all the time.

I just choose to take notice of all the good things, and when you take the time to do that and be grateful for that, it really is incredible how it can change your outlook on life and the way you react to things.

I've only really started to fully see what a difference this (being actively grateful) can make, but it's huge!

Anyway, that's enough cheesy rambling for a while!

Happy Wednesday!

Lots of Love

Lauren

xxx

My Style Diary - Parka Perfection

Hello! Happy Monday!

I hope you've had a great start to the week. I am so relieved Monday is over... it's been a rather long day! 

But it's done, and now I'm all comfy in my trackies with a cup of tea and listening to the pouring rain :) 

Anyway, this is an outfit I wore a couple of weeks ago, and it's just another typical Lauren outfit for a relaxed weekend. I am loving this Parka from Forever New and it's going to be getting a lot of use over the coming winter months. While I love my leather jackets, they're not always the most comfortable to wear, so a parka (especially this one that has this super soft and cozy lining) is the perfect choice when you just feel like wearing something snuggly and warm. 

I hope you have a great week!

Lauren

xxx

Top - French Connection

Jeans - Country Road

Shoes - Converse

Parka - Forever New

Bag - Jigsaw

My Style Diary - Red Lipstick and Roses

Hellooo :)

So once again I'm just about to dash out to the airport, so I'll have to make this post short and sweet.

I was in a bit of a lazy mood today, but there's just something about red lipstick that can instantly make you feel a little more awake and alive. Same goes for adding a flower to your hair - it immediately livens up any outfit. I'm thinking I need to stock up on some more flower hair accessories because I'm really loving them! (Who cares if it's technically winter and probably not the most seasonal of accessories?)

I hope you're having a great Friday night!

Lots of Love

Lauren

xxx

Top - Portmans

Jeans - French Connection

Boots - All Saints

Bag - Jigsaw

Watch - Calvin Klein

Necklace - Thomas Sabo

Flower accessory - ?? (it's really old!)

Lipstick - Revlon Fire & Ice

My Style Diary - You Make Me Happy

Heya :)

So yet another jeans and t-shirt combo... 

These grey jeans have taken the crown for "comfiest jeans I own" at the moment which obviously then translates to "the only jeans I want to wear".

There's also just something about the grey colour that I'm loving - they're just that little bit more interesting than my basic black jeans, but can be dressed up or down just as easily.

 I've already included them in a few blog posts, and you can probably expect to see many more over the next few months. When I find something I love I tend to just stick with it, only problem is it can get a tad boring when it comes to sharing my outfits on this blog!

Ah well...I'm an outfit repeater and not ashamed of it! :p

Lauren

xxx

Top - H&M

Jeans - Country Road

Boots - All Saints

Necklace - Saba

Jacket - H&M

Birthday Treats

As I mentioned in my previous post, my birthday was just a couple of days ago, and I had a great day celebrating with my family.

I was lucky enough to receive some lovely gifts this year, and seeing as I absolutely love reading/watching "What I got for my birthday" style posts (I'm nosey!) I thought I may as well write one of my own. 

Of course, the best gift was just getting to spend time with my loved ones... but receiving a few birthday goodies is always nice - and everyone loves to feel a little spoilt on their birthday!

Anyway, the first gift I received was this stunning bunch of flowers from Tom and his Mum. Just looking at this photo makes me smile!

Tom also picked out this gorgeous candle from Tigerlily which is Sea Salt and Caramel scented. I can't even begin to explain how yummy it smells! 

He also knows how much I love tea, and I have a bit of an obsession with collecting teapots, so these were greatly appreciated! They're from Kikki.K if you're interested. 

From my parents, I received this cook book filled with some amazing recipes which I'm looking forward to trying out. I'm not much of a cook, but it's something I'm trying to get better at! 

I was also treated to these lovely new shoes from Wittner, which will probably replace my current favourite work shoes which I've worn to death and are falling apart! I'm sure these will appear in many outfit posts to come! 

My Mum usually also likes to include a couple of magazines as part of my presents, and I've been really enjoying these two! I think I may have found a new favourite magazine - Renegade Collective, and my Mum knows I'm just a tad (aka extremely) obsessed with Emma Watson, hence why she picked this one out!

From some close family friends I was lucky enough to be given the absolutely gorgeous Stila In The Light palette which I've had my eye on for ages (but could never justify buying myself as I already have a few too many eyeshadows), and this lovely nailpolish. I was seriously so excited to receive this so thank you so much!!

Lastly, my favourite part of my birthday is reading my cards, and I was given some lovely ones this year.

I'm feeling so so grateful now :) 

Hopefully you enjoyed this post. I always like these as I find I get so much inspiration for what I can give to others, and though receiving is nice, giving really is the best part!

I hope you're having a fab day!

Lots of Love

Lauren

xxx