Health and Beauty Holiday Essentials

July 30, 2017July 23, 2017Leave a comment

If you know me or follow my blog you will know I travel a lot! When I spend a huge amount of time planning for trips and packing/un packing. Over the years I have perfected packing and time saving ways to make travelling as easy as possible including knowing exactly what I need to take to make sure I am still looking after myself even when away from home or have a hectic schedule.

I tend to have a toiletries bag always made up and ready to go with all of the essentials. Alongside the regular stuff I have a few key items, these travel essentials are all tried and tested by me and are things I never hop on a plane with out.

Aloe Vera Gel

Aloe Vera is of course amazing for the skin and is regularly extracted and used in numerous beauty and make up products. In gel form this the most soothing, cooling and moisturising product and is also 100% natural. Aloe Vera Gel works miracles on a range of common holiday problems including sun burn, dry skin, chapped lips and insect bites, regularly taking great affect instantly and seeing a huge improvement in the problem area overnight.

I use this one from Holland & Barrett priced at £4.29 for a cabin friendly 100ml tube. One tube will last a while as you don’t need a great amount per use.

2. Avon Skin So Soft Dry Oil Spray

This dry oil spray wasn’t made for the purpose of being an insect repellent but contains several ingredients that also feature in insect repellents. This spray not only does this product smell much better, its highly moisturising too and in my opinion works better than other products that repel insects.

Priced at £5 for 150ml from Avon, but is regularly on special offer.

3. Eight Hour Cream

I always swear by this at home and also take it away on every trip whether its a hot or cold holiday. This universal product is great for dry skin, healing blitsers, belmishes and is perfect for dry lips. I usually take a mini tube and one of the bright lipsticks to use as a day time lippy for a pop of colour that also keeps your pout moisturised.

The lipsticks are priced at £20 each and there is a huge range of eight hour products available.

4. Percy Reed ,Wonder Overnight Recovery

This is something new I have added to my travel toiletries bag as it recently came to me in my Birch Box and I tried it out on my last trip. I usually would pack a hair mask but this is a much quicker, easier and less messy version that really works. Instead of applying a mask during washing and having to sit while it works its magic, this goes on dry before bed and then you just wash you hair as normal in the morning. My hair was super soft and silky in the morning.

This can be purchased from Marks and Spencers for £20 for a 150ml tube.

5. NYX Shine Killer

It is some times hard to combat shine on holiday, especially when you have been smothered in cream all day or in humid climates. This primer is the best thing for combating shine, allowing you to stay picture perfect all evening. I apply to the centre of my face then apply foundation on top.

Priced at £11 and available from boots this is a must have for your holiday make up bag.

For more travel, beauty and style posts check out my other posts and my Instagram

Love Lottie xoxo

Snow/Ski Proof Beauty Products

February 2, 20171 Comment

I love a snow filled action pack holiday but I also like to make sure I look and feel good while blasting down the slopes. If you are planning a Winter/Ski holiday these beauty products will keep you looking and feeling great!

Elizabeth Arden – Eight Hour Cream

To me, this is miracle cream all year round but I always have some Eight Hour Cream to hand when skiing. The wind, moisture and freezing temperatures take their told on your lips and any exposed skin. If you are lucky enough to have blue skies and sun during a ski trip it will still take its toll on your skin even if you wear sun cream but luckily this magic cream can heal and sooth over night.

Its best to massage this cream into your skin or pile it on is extreme problem areas before going to bed and in the morning you will see an improvement. I also carry round a small tin of this magic cream while on the slopes to make sure dry skin or sore lips isn’t going to ruin my day.

Eight Hour cream comes in many forms and even comes as a lipstick, both natural and colours so if you really cannot go any where with out your lippy a coloured version will be perfect to look glam while sipping a hot chocolate during amid morning ski break or at Apres Ski!

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream 50ml – £26

Sanex Hydrate 24h Body Lotion

Even though you have on several layers the the cold, moisture and constant change in your body temperature will dry out your skin. In addition to this ski clothes aren’t made of the kindest material to your skin. The worst mistake you can make is applying a moisturiser which is heavily fragranced to sore,dry skin after skiing. It REALLY stings! For me the best thing to use is Sanex Hydratre 24h Body Lotion, it is fast acting, rich but fast drying and most importantly, it doesn’t sting dry damaged skin!

Samex Hydrate 24h Body Lotion 250ml – £6 – 7

Maybelline Lash Sensation Waterproof Mascara

Not to be vain but Mascara is something I feel transforms my eyes, I can go from haggard to glam with a coat of a good mascara so it is something I always wear. I recently travelled to the Ice Hotel in Sweden where I was told by the Travel Company Rep the – 20 and lower temperatures meant mascara was a no go unless you wanted to look like a panda. Obviously I set out to prove her wrong!

My Mabelline Lash Sensation mascara lasts whether I am building fires and making pine needle tea in -30, racing on a snow mobile or whizzing down the slopes, even in the rain and snow.

Although this is a great mascara the trick is to apply it not too heavy and mainly to the ends of the lash, this means even if your eyes water from the cold of wind you wont end up with black smudges under your eyes.

Maybelline Lash Sensation Waterproof Mascara – £7.99

Andrew Barton SOS Hair Repair Treatment

My hair regularly gets damp or freezes on a snow filled trip, also always wearing helmets or hats can make you feel like you need a good hair pamper. I tried this out after coming back from my last ski trip and I am so pleased I have found it.

Hair treatments can be expensive and not always worth the high price tag, this SOS hair mask is cheap and really works. The treatment uses Argan Oil, Soy Protein and Shea Butter to give your hair a Vitamin E boost leaving it feeling nourished and shiny.

The treatment works in just 3 minutes but I left it on for around 10 minutes to really bring my hair back to life after my Ski Trip. You can purchase this treatment in a 250ml tub or a travel sachet and can also get the full range of SOS treatments for under £4 each.

Andrew Barton SOS Hair Repair Treatment 250ml – £3.60

Happy Skiing!

Love Lottie xxx

Quick and Easy Make Up Looks Using Urban Decay Naked 2 – Perfect for Packing Light

December 13, 2016December 13, 2016Leave a comment

I love make up and spending a good hour with my many lotions and potions is like heaven to me but being a make up lover and travelling isn’t easy. It’s always hard to pack all the make up you need for a trip with out ending up going over your hold baggage weight or ramming it all in those plastic zip lock bags hoping that no one notices you have more liquid than the whole of duty free. If you are like me you plan looks, have pigments, powders and liners galore but realistically when it comes to it you are either having too much of a good time or are so relaxed you can’t be bothered to spend ages on your make up. The best solution is to just pack an eye pallet and a few lippy’s and hope for the best.

There are hundred’s of pallets out there but I don’t think you can get better value for money than an Urban Decay Naked pallet (£38.50). Recently I tried only packing my Urban Decay Naked 2, some mascara, base, highlight/bronze, 2 blushers (pink tone and coral tone) and a few lipsticks. My make up bag wasn’t bulging and for once I didn’t go over my weight limit. I also only allowed myself 15 – 20 minutes for make up every evening so I could make the most of my trip! These looks are simple, quick and perfect for packing light.

Look 1

Lid : Pistol , Verve

Brow Highlight: Booty Call

Flick: Black Out

Lips: Lovely, Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick – $16

Look 2

Lid: Half Baked, Snake Bite

Brow Highlight: Booty Call and Half baked

Underneath Eye: Snake Bite

Lips: Electric Peach, H&M Metallic Lipstick – £7.99

Look 3

Lid: Tease, YDK, Suspect

Brow Highlight: Booty Call, Verve

Lips: Twenty Something, H&M Metallic Lipstick – £7.99

Look 4

Lid: Booty Call, Copper

Brown Highlight: Booty Call

Lips: Retro Red, Mac Liquid Lipstick – £17.50

Love Lottie xx

The Lady is a Vamp – Autumn Make Up Look

November 1, 2016January 14, 20172 Comments

One of the biggest make up trends this season is a Vampy lip! Seen on every run way, every skin tone and every shade a dark lip is a great way to add something bold to your look, its also perfect if spending 30 minutes eye shadow blending isn’t your thing.

Anything does, deep red, purple and even black depending on how daring you are. If you want to make it a little special adding an Ombre effect looks amazing and is really simple. I tried it out this weekend with a simple black dress and an even more simple taupe smokey eye.

Face and Contour

Clarins Everlasting Foundation – 112 – £28

Anastasia Beverly Hills Cream Contour Kit – Medium – $40

MAC Mineralize Pressed Bronzing Powder – Dark Golden – £22

MAC Mineralize Blush – Love Thing – £22.50

Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Pallet – Crushed Pearl – $40 (pallet of 4 highlighters)

Eyes

Crease

NYX Nude Matt Eyeshadow – Hay Wire – £3.50

Lid

NYX Hot Singles Eyeshadow – Club Crawl – £3.50

MAC Eyeshadow – Satin Taupe – £13.00

Brow highlight

Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Pallet – Crushed Pearl – $40 (pallet of 4 highlighters)

Waterline

Rimmel Soft Khol Eye Pencil – Black – £2.99

Lashes

Eyelure After Dark Lashes – Into Darkness – £5.95

Brow

Anastasia Brow Wiz – Soft Brown – $21

Lips

NYX Lip Pencil – Plum – £3

NYX Soft Matt Lip Cream – Vancouver – £5.50

Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick – Dusty Rose – $16

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Love Lottie xxx

100% Natural Beauty Tricks To Try This Winter

October 7, 2016January 14, 20171 Comment

As Summer is officially gone cosy jumpers, onesies and pumpkin spice everything creep in which also means the cold weather. Wind, rain and low temperatures can take their toll and its important to take a little extra care of yourself.

You don’t always need expensive creams and lotions to feel pampered, moisturise and protect your self from the cold. There are so many great products you probably already have, just not where you may think. Your kitchen holds a huge range of great beauty products that are all natural too!

Hair

Lets start at the top (…literally), your hair takes a beating in winter, damp in the rain then left to dry, tangled and knotted by the wind, not to mentioned the frizz from hats and headbands. The best way to bring your hair back to life is with a hair mask. This recipe will replenish moisture and boost shine, exactly what you need on a dull winter day!

Two ripe bananas
two tablespoons of honey
half a cup of milk

Mix these ingredients up extremely well and apply to clean hair. Leave it to work its magic for 20 minutes then shampoo out! Your hair will have an amazing shine and smell lovely and sweet too!

Skin – Body

It may not seem glamorous but putting a cup of oats in your bath will give your skin a huge moisture injection. This porridgey trick is great for dry skin as well as being know for soothing conditions like eczema or psoriasis.

The cold weather can slow down circulation which in turn reduces colour. Dry brushing can improve circulation. Using a dry body brush and starting at the soles of your feet and cover each area once using long, firm strokes. Strokes should be upwards through out most of your body and counter clockwise on your bum and tum. Don’t neglect any where, even your palms need a circulation boost. Doing this just once a week will help you beat that wash out winter look.

Skin – Face

Banana’s are like natures botox, applying a thoroughly mashed banana to your face and neck can boost your skin and give you a serious moisture boost. The banana needs to be mashed into a paste, applied evenly and left to set for 10 – 20 minutes. You then rinse with cold water leaving your skin glowing. Its really that simple!

Another great recipe is a quarter cup of yogurt, two tablespoons of honey and 1 medium banana can sooth and moisturise wind or frost bitten skin. Honey is also a natural acne remedy so will help clear up any blemishes too.

Nails

Dry hands from the cold also means dry cuticles. Nail oils can be expensive, especially when most of them contain this 100% natural product, Almond oil. Almond oil helps to balance the skin’s natural moisture and will help seal splitting nails.

All of these little natural tips along with eating healthy fats such as avocados, coconut oil, oily fish and whole eggs will help protect you from the cold weather inside and out and leave you feeling great!

Love Lottie xxx

My Top 5 Beauty Products For Summer

July 15, 2016January 14, 20171 Comment

Summer is all about easy, natural, glowing and effortless looks. These are my favourite products for Summer and the looks to go with it!

1 NYX Born to Glow Liquid Illuminator

This liquid illuminator will give you the ultimate glow, you can use it to highlight your brow and cheek bone by placing it over your foundation or mix it with your foundation for an all over dewy glow. At only £7 it’s a total bargain and the little tube lasts longer than you would think. My favourite colour is Pure Gold.

2 Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick

Summer is all about effortlessness and ABH Liquid Lippy’s give amazing colour and one application lasts all day. My favourite summer colour is Dolce, a nudey peach, perfect for every summer occasion. If you really want your colour to last and don’t want to fall victim to the dreaded crumbly croissant mouth make sure you exfoliate your lips before applying! This can be done with a unused soft bristled mascara brush and Vaseline or a simple sugar scrub. You can make one by mixing the following ingredients:

-A tablespoon of brown sugar or white sugar
-A dash of honey (just enough to make the sugar really stick together) OR a bit of olive oil/coconut oil
-A teeny tiny little drop of vanilla (it makes it smell yummy, but isn’t necessary.)

ABH is priced at $20 which is around £15, these Lipsticks are so popular they sell our fast it took me three attempts to get Dolce!

3 Clarins Multi Active Day – Lotion

Although I love a bargain its sometimes worth it to pay that little bit extra when it comes to your skin. Clarins Multi Active Day Lotion is light and easy to apply leaving you moisturised, protected to SPF 15 but not feeling sticky or weighed down. This is priced at £42 but if you shop at Boots they always have great offers and bonus’s on making the value for money great!

4 Brown Mascara

Sometimes black mascara can be a little heavy and summer is all about the “no make up” look. If you are looking for a relaxed summer day time look or want a look that will look great on those light summer nights I would recommend using brown mascara on your lower lashes. It really opens up your eyes while keeping a natural look. Everyone has their favourite mascara wands but I would recommend Maybelline New York Lash Sensational Mascara, the soft brush hits every lash with out creating too much separation. Maybelline New York Lash Sensational Mascara is available at most super markets and high street pharmacy’s for £7.99.

5 Clarins Multi Blush

If you want a light dewy look cream blusher is a must, Clarins Multi Blush is applied as a cream but transforms into a light powder upon application. It is easy to use and the cute compact is perfect to slip into your bag on those long summer days out. It lasts really well in the heat and is something I pack for every holiday when I want to feel glam around the pool or at a party. My favourite shade is 05 Rose and this amazing blush is priced at £18.50 but will last you all summer long.

Love Lottie xxx

Classic Glam – Make Up Look

June 6, 2016January 14, 2017Leave a comment

This week my favourite Make Up look was this glam, 40’s feel look I wore on Saturday night. Red lips and a serious eyeliner flick is always creates a dramatic, glam look, perfect for a Saturday night out with the girls! All the products I used are listed below and I recommend every single one. The NYX Eyeliner Mousse in Epic Black is my new favourite product, so easy to use, creates a dramatic deep black line and at only £9 from Boots I think its a bargain!

Face

Clarins Everlasting foundation, Shade 112 –£28

MAC blusher – The blush I used was limited edition from a little while ago, but Plum Foolery is a very close match! – £18.50

NYX Powder Contour Pallet – £18

Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Pallet (Crushed Pearl) – $40

Urban Decay Setting Spray – £22

Eyes

NYX Matte Eyeshdow, Lap Dance – £3.50

MAC Eyeshadow, Brown Down – £13

Urban Decay Eyeshadow, Riff – £14

MAC pigment, Vanilla – £16

NYX, Eyeliner Mousse, Epic Black – £9

H&M eye pencil, Panther – £3.99

H&M Mascara, Best Curl Friend – £7.99

Eylure Cheryl Lashes, Girls Night – £6

Lips

Christian Louboutin, Rouge Satin – £65

NYX Slide On Lip Pencil – Red Tape – £5.50

Brows

Anastasia Beverly Hills brow definer, Soft Brown – $23

Love Lottie xx

Peachy Keen Jelly Bean – Spring Make Up Look

May 19, 2016January 14, 20171 Comment

In Spring I love peach, peach nails, shoes, accessories but mainly peach make up. This peach look is perfect for sunny days and long summer nights.

I love H&M’s new make-up range, its great quality for an even better price. Their Lip Liners are the best I have ever used and the lipsticks are great too.

I bought most of my Anastasia Beverly Hills goodies in the states but if you are after them in the UK try https://www.cultbeauty.co.uk. I’ve ordered some ABH items from them and I’m never disappointed.