Ghost Daydream Perfume Watercolour Illustration

Another illustration, this time of a fragrance: the Ghost Daydream perfume, described as a "sparkling wave of citrus and salty freshness on a petally floral heart" with notes of jasmine, violet and tuberose. I haven't had the chance to smell it but the beautiful iridescent bottle caught my eye and had to try and recreate its watercolour version. If you like this design you can purchase it on stickers and other stationery on my RB shop.

Find Ghost Daydream in Boots and Superdrug. 

xo

Nature's Jewellery

All Things Pink & Sparkly

Growing up I wasn't the girliest and I definitely did not ever wear pink until few years ago, when my inner girly girl came out and now I love all things pink and sparkly for some reason but I'm not complaining. 

So here is a compilation of cute, pink and sparkly things in a flat lay inspired by a pink ruby chocolate Kit Kat which unfortunately I can't eat as it contains milk. Also pictured: the sparkly Lierac lip balm and a Chococat pad.

xo

Pearls and Mohair

Sjo Skin Happy Honey Oil Watercolour Illustration

Sjo Skin have are launching a new product tomorrow: a moisturising oil with healing, brightening and calming properties thanks to the use of arnebia root, propolis and rosehip oil. 

The gorgeous pink colour and minimal aesthetic inspired me to illustrate it in watercolour.

xo

The Cutest Hair Clips For Spring

Stradivarius Word Hair Grips Set of 4 £8 // Glamorous Tortoiseshell & Rose Quartz Hair Clips £10

Stradivarius Pearl Hair Clips £8  DesignB Pink Glitter Hair Clip £10

With spring finally here it's time to try out new hair styles and accessories. I've been seeing pearl and resin clips all over Instagram and I'm obsessed! Also from AW18 I kept seeing hair accessories with words on them at Ashley Williams and Gucci and they're finally making it to the high street for everyone to enjoy!

Will you be trying out this ultra feminine trend?

xo

Lip Balm Illustrations

Some of my favourite lip balms, illustrated in watercolour. 

From left: Nivea Cherry Shine, Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Hibiscus, Malin + Goetz Lip Moisturiser, Renova Balsamo Humectante Macadamia - Vainilla, Clinique Chubby Stick in Super Strawberry. 

xo

Natural World Coconut Oil

A couple of weeks ago I received the Natural World Coconut hair oil which claims to provide weightless hydration and shine and it's meant for dehydrated and dull-looking hair. 

This product is formulated with organic coconut, it's paraben free, vegan friendly, cruelty free and is produced in London, England. 

The Natural World Coconut Oil comes in a small 100ml plastic bottle with a screw cap and shampoo style dispenser, which can make it a bit messy (I would have preferred a pump or a dropper). Still, the product comes out slowly so if you are careful enough, you won't waste any oil. 

The main ingredients in the formula are silicones, which definitely help tame the hair as they smooth over each strand but if you are avoiding silicones then this product isn't for you. It also contains some argan oil and added fragrance. 

On the bottle inside mentions some extra uses that are not on the outer packaging, so besides using it on damp hair to replenish hydration, add shine and eliminate frizz, it says it can be used in the shower, before shampooing, or by mixing it with your conditioner; or also after blow drying. 

When I use it I apply a small amount to the palm of my hand, rub my hands together then smooth it over the lengths and ends of my hair while it's still damp. Sometimes I will apply a few drops after my hair has dried to smooth any frizz that I might still have. 

I like that it is locally manufactured and contains organic ingredients, and that it is effective in smoothing hair and reducing frizz while being lightweight plus it smells nice. I would have liked to see less use of silicones and maybe a stronger fragrance but that's just my personal preference. 

Overall it is an affordable product that works and I would recommend it if you are looking for a hair oil to combat frizz and add softness to your hair.

Find Natural World Coconut Oil in Tesco. 

xo

In Paris

What happened yesterday was an unimaginable tragedy. An icon, the face of a city, hundreds of years of history, gone within a matter of hours. I was lucky enough to visit nearly 5 years ago. It's so sad to think that people won't be able to enjoy the inspiring beauty of the Notre Dame cathedral for years to come. 

xo

Denim Dress

How to Fly Like The Jet Set for Less

Holiday season is fast approaching and if you are planning to go anywhere in style you should know this: you could travel on a private jet to your destination without having to pay full price. Say what?

Yes, some private jet companies let you book discounted seats on "empty leg" flights, which means that when a plane is on it's way to pick up or return from dropping off the 'jet set', it usually flies without any passengers and sites such as Stratajet and 365 Aviation let you get on board. 

Or you can also be flown by hobbyist pilots on Wingly - some offer returns to the coast for half as much as a train would cost. 

Sounds perfect to celebrate a special occasion or just to treat yourself and feel like a rock star!

xo

New in: March 2019

Arctic Monkeys Live

On Friday 22 March we went to the Pa'l Norte festival in my native city, Monterrey in Mexico. We saw Snow Patrol, Cafe Tacvba and Arctic Monkeys (who came on around 12:10 am). They were great, though the bass was a bit intense, hence the funky audio. I really enjoyed their performance and hopefully will see them live again soon. We had to leave a bit early to try and beat the crowds however we got a bit lost inside the park so that didn't really work out as expected. 

We had tickets for both Friday and Saturday but as we were going on a road trip to San Miguel de Allende on Sunday we decided to sell the tickets for Saturday and have a slow day instead. 

xo

DKNY Stories

Moon Calendar

This year I've been using 2 agendas or planners. I asked for this moon calendar one when we were shopping in Lidl. I like that it has horoscopes for every single day of the year, plus the moon phases for each day as well. It also features a notes section and another one for contacts, a brief explanation on the moon phases and signs plus some stickers (!). What I don't love about it is that there is not a lot of space to write on so I decided to keep this one for tracking anything to do with my cycle, including any moods and symptoms. 

Do you use planners?

xo

Teddy Coat

Translucent Berries

Dresslily Haul & Discount Code

A mini haul with some items I received from Dresslily. I picked a bumbag* in a coral pink corduroy, which is very trendy and adds a bit of colour to any outfit, plus it's very practical as it is hands free. I also got a peach pin* that I can use to decorate bags or jackets. And last but not least, a roomy carry on bag* that slots onto the handles of a wheel suitcase perfectly. It fits about 3 jumpers or sweatshirts, plus there's room for a couple of t-shirts in there too, and it has a zip compartment and 2 mesh pockets for extra storage. 

Check out the new arrivals on Dresslily and use the code DLAnniversary for 12% off. 

(Items marked with a * are gifted)

xo

A Stationery Story

Ever since I was very young I've been interested in stationery, collecting all sorts of notebooks, pens and erasers and more recently I've been into sticky notes and even stickers. Anyway, here is a selection of all of my iridescent pink items - top: Bear notebook (part of a set, from Tesco), middle: A6 Sketchbook from The Works, bottom: ban.do 2019 planner dupe. 

Do you like stationery?

xo

New in: February 2019

Last month I got a bit carried away buying stationery, including an Aliexpress haul for which I still have about a month of waiting time left, but in the meantime here's what I got last month besides my Valentine's gifts from Dot.  

A Dr Pawpaw peach lip balm from TKMaxx for £3, an Aromatherapy Associates Mattifying Moisturiser for £2 at Poundstretcher. A set of metallic Zebra pens from poundland for just £1.

From Lidl, a reusable glass bottle and a set of kitchen themed sticky notes. And last but not least, a £2 pink iridescent sketchbook and a watercolour paper pad for £3, both from from The Works. 

xo

Skincare Ingredients – Which Ones are Really Beneficial?

*This is a sponsored post

Have you ever tried reading ingredients on the back of skincare products? They’re often confusing; which means we end up relying on the marketing spiel when choosing which one to buy. Here’s a quick, easy explanation of what the key beneficial ingredients are.

Which skincare ingredients are best?

Retinol

Retinol comes from vitamin A. It features in a lot of anti-ageing products because it reduces mottled marks, wrinkles and fine lines. It also boosts hydration levels – so it’s a great ingredient to cash in on.

Hyaluronic acid

Despite the alarming name, this ingredient is an excellent one to have in your skincare products. Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in the body, but it depletes as we get older; which is a shame, as it’s

great for adding plumpness and softness to the skin.

Vitamin C

The sunshine vitamin is one to look out for in skincare products. It protects against pollutants, sun exposure and free radicals, which, over time, means your skin will look healthier and less damaged.

Benzoyl peroxide

Let’s be real – we all get spots from time to time. If you’ve got skin that’s prone to breakouts, a product with benzoyl peroxide might be of benefit. It kills off the bacteria and people usually notice an improvement in a few days. Watch out, though – it can dry the skin out.

Vitamin B3

Sometimes listed on the ingredients as niacinamide, this vitamin is great for reducing inflammation and evening out the skin tone. It can also lighten dark areas and improve natural elasticity.

Glycolic acid

Glycolic acid is an amazing exfoliator, which dislodges dead skin, making your face look fresher and more ‘awake’. It can have a drying effect though, so it needs to be teamed with a natural moisturiser.

What about the flavours?

A scent can make a skincare product feel luxurious or invigorating. Coconut and shea butter are great  or a bit of indulgence (or if you’ve got a sweet tooth, chocolate is also an option!). 

Some scented ingredients are great for enhancing mood. For example, floral flavours like rose and  lavender are good for night-time skincare products, as they’re relaxing and slightly indulgent. Alternatively, look for something with citrus or spice in it for first thing in the morning; it’s the ultimate wake-me-up!

If you’re not sure which sort of fragrance to choose, look to perfumes to give you a clue. Copycat Fragrances is a good place to start.

Pink Fur & Mules

Mother's Day Gift Ideas Under £50

Decleor Aroma Moments Discovery Kit £28.50 // Accessorize Leather Notebook £10

Armani In Love With You EDP £49

Ted Baker Gold Hamsa Hand Necklace £49 // Dune Leopard Purse £32

As you might know, Mother's day in the UK is just over a month away so here are my Mother's Day Gift Ideas all under £50, as always. On other news, we're going to Mexico to visit my family next month!

xo

Video: Bargain Haul

New video, featuring all the bargains I've collected throughout the last couple of months. It's in Spanish, but it has auto-subtitles in English. I might add my own subtitles in the future so that they aren't so random ha. If you want to see more pictures of the items featured in this video check out my past New In posts.

xo

Dresslily Wishlist

Round Velvet Galaxy Bag // Snakeskin Bucket Bag

Geometric earrings

Tweed Handbag //Patent Bucket Bag

I've been looking on Dresslily's website, as they have a section of new arrivals:  https://www.dresslily.com/promotion-pre-spring-sale-topic-82.html?lkid=19760983 

"It's time to refresh your wardrobe! DressLily prepare the best high-quality but low-prices products for you, make you free under all occasion for Monday to Friday" Plus if you use the code DLBF20 you get 20% off the total of your order.

xo

Valentine's Day 2019

Happy Valentine's Day 2019! I hope you have a beautiful day surrounded by people you love. Dot spoiled me with a card, a cute hedgehog plush, flowers and a signed Zoe poster (!) I got him some chocolate and a Ted Baker gift set. Next week is Dot's birthday and I can't wait as I got him a surprise that will be revealed soon haha.

xo

Chocomania! Chocolate Scented Products Under £10

Palmolive Chocolate Shower Cream £2.50 // Vaseline Lip Therapy Cocoa Butter £2.09

Miss So...? Daydream Perfume £8

Palmers Cocoa Butter Formula Moisturiser £5.20 // L'oreal Paris Cocoa Butter Sugar Scrub £9.99

I've been using a chocolate shower gel for a while, and the other day I moisturised with a deliciously scented cocoa butter moisturiser, then topped it off with a chocolate chip cookie perfume so I couldn't help but be inspired to share some beauty products that will leave you smelling like a walking, talking chocolate dessert. Enjoy!

xo

New Valentine's Merch

This week I created a new watercolour design of a love heart with the words "kiss me" on it. New merchandise including phone cases, apparel, home decor, bags and stationery (!) is available to buy now on my Red Bubble and Zazzle shops. Check them out and let me know what you think!

xo

Get The Look: Dua Lipa

I saw this Dua Lipa editorial shot by Oskar Gyllensward for Instyle magazine about 3 years ago (!) and really liked it, so decided it was time to share it here for everyone to enjoy and even recreate her look if you are so inclined: 

Dua Lipa is known for her signature bold eyebrows. If yours are not as thick you can achieve extra fullness with an eyebrow gel such as Benefit Gimme Brow, which volumizes the hairs thanks to the use of fibres. 

She is wearing purple mascara for this look, which contrasts nicely with her brown eyes and makes them pop. Try YSL Mascara Vinyl Couture in 02 for a touch of purple on your lashes. 

Dua usually goes for a nude lip and here it is no exception, keep your lips soft and hydrated with a non-tinted lip balm such as Burt's Bees Chai Tea lip balm as it will look very natural because of its slightly matte finish.

Will you be trying out this look?

xo