Happy end of month boys and girls AND Happy Halloween!
I've done my favourites in video this form this month as I find it easier to show everything to you guys that way, otherwise it's a bit of a photo overload on here! I'm still not sure about youtube at the moment, I love doing it but still not sure whether it's for me or not but I'm going to keep on persevering for now :) Watch below to find out what haircare, skincare, make-up and other random things I have been loving throughout this past month! If you like the video hen please like and subscribe - it takes 2 seconds and means alot to me! And if you have any tips or advice for me regarding filming I'd love to hear it, I feel very beginner at it all!! (oh and lastly... I can't believe my eyelash is wonky throughout this video making my eyes look crrrazy - so embarrassing :( sorry haha!)
What have been your favourite things in October? Do you mind these posts being in video form?
Like this post? Follow A Yellow Brick Blog on Bloglovin so you never miss a thing!
To see videos check out A Yellow Brick Vlog on YouTube
I did one of these posts months and months ago (May in fact!) and I loved creating it and the reaction it got! So I thought with it being a new season and all and fashion being ever-changing I would do a new one and share with you guys who I think has been slaying the fashion scene recently!
#1 Sarah Hyland
#2 Taylor Swift
#4 Cheryl Fernandez-Versini
#5 Sam Faiers (again!)
Who's style have you been loving recently? Let me know in the comments below!
Like this post? Follow A Yellow Brick Blog on Bloglovin so you never miss a thing!
To see videos check out A Yellow Brick Vlog on YouTube
I'm so glad so many of you enjoyed my first post in my Boots Christmas top picks for this year! If you haven't yet seen what presents I picked out for £5 and under then click - here.
Today I'm back with my top picks for Christmas presents for £10 and under - perfect for a close friend or colleague or to add to someone's stocking and a lovely little extra! There are some seriously cute things here and some beauty bargains I would LOVE to get my blogger mitts on!
Rabbit Hand Warmers - £10 Hand warmers are something which have saved me on a winter's day before! They are super handy if you're out and about alot in the cold weather or maybe you know someone who has to sit at a desk all day in this chilly weather? How cute are they!!!?
Bev Ridge And Friends Washbag - £10 Everything year I fall in love with everything in the Bev Ridge collection. Some of the stuf really makes me laugh and the retro cool designs are perfect for a BFF's pressie!
Well this is just so adorable! Know someone who's just got their own place? A pug owner or obsessed lover of pugs? - this little plug can put the perfect finishing touch to someones bathroom!
Bleach London Hair Wraps - £8 Hair wraps/hair braids they are on their way back and I'm still annoyed that I didn't get one done when I had the chance in Florida! Bleach London, the company behind some of the super cool hair colours you seen people rocking, have released their own braiding kit! What more would you want to do on Xmas day!?
Little Miss Princess Mug & Hot Chocolate Set - £8 A princess mug AND hot chocolate all in one, this is the cutest present for a girl of any age! Everyone loves Mr. Men and Little Miss!
Yankee Candle - Clean Cotton - £9.95 Candles make amazing presents in my opinion and this fresh and clean scent is a personal favourite of mine! I can't imagine anyone not liking this for their home!
Soap And Glory Your Own Sweet Lime - £10 This is the S&G gift set I have been the most excited about! The sugar crush scent is my favourite from this brand (and I know alot of you agree with me!) so what better than a whole set of products from the collection? PLUS they have made a sugar crush hand food - yes that's right, our fav hand cream with the amazing lime scent, sounds perfect!
Us girls all use cotton wool right? This is the perfect little present for someone who loves that shabby chic, vintage kind of homeware, this is sooo cute and would look so sweet on a lovely dressing table.
This Works Deep Sleep Set - £10 Now I want this more for myself than anything - shame on me this is a gift list not a Kirstie wishlist! I've been wanting to try product from This Works for years and these Christmas sets are so cute! I definitely need help sleeping some nights and these soothing and calming products would make a great present for those friends and family members who never stop!
Crabtree Evelyn Pomegranate Mini Duo Fix Kit - £8 Hand cream's are a gift which are always used! I always know if I get my Mum or Granny hand cream it will be appreciated and these cute tins from Crabtree Evelyn look lovely as a present! Let me know if you are enjoy these to picks of mine and also comment below what things from Boots you would love to gt for Christmas! Also make sure you check out my advertiser of the month - Steph from Sugar & Spice!
Steph is a 22 year old Welsh blonde with fabulous curly hair and style to match! She loves Cath Kidston, lipsticks and her dog and if you love a good wishlist or beauty tips then head on over an check her out! Sugar and Spice is fun and girly - head over there and say hello!
Like this post? Follow A Yellow Brick Blog on Bloglovin!
To see videos check out A Yellow Brick Vlog on YouTube
Sad (or exciting) as it is, Winter is nearly upon us! The clocks have gone back marking the official end to British summertime and our wardrobe's are slowly changing from flip-flops and shorts to jumpers and coats!
BUT just because summer is gone doesn't me can can't still be fabulous and glamorous. Winter is one of my favourite times for beauty, warm tones, seriously amounts of shimmer and glitter plus the perfect time to use that trusty old fake tan!
Over the next month or two on the lead up to Christmas and the New Year I have decided to start a new small series of posts on here named "My Winter Essentials" I'll be sharing the products and items I can't live without and maybe a few cheeky wishlists too!
First up today I'm going to be talking about Fake Tan - the stuff that keeps us looking slightly healthy and un-casper like through the dark and cold months before Spring arrives again!
In my time (we'll say the last 5 years) I have been through my fair share of different tanning products to change my dodgy pale complexion to a half decent bronzed glow but there is always one that sticks out to me and one that I have always recommended to friends and family alike and that is St Moriz.
Now I first stumbled across this brand when doing a bit of bargain hunting on Fragrance Direct back in 2010! I purchased a couple of bottles on a whim as they were only £2.99 and back then there was noway I could really afford to splash out on things like St. Tropez and Fake Bake.
I remember it arriving and being slightly dubious and applying it initially but once I had a mitt in hand I thought I'd give the mousse a go and if it went wrong I'd just wear jeans and long sleeves!
But it never really did go wrong, I so pleased with the results, it was so easy to apply and the results were just what I was looking for.
That was with the Medium shade and I have ALWAYS used the medium shade until recently when the awesome people at St. Moriz contacted me!
St. Moriz Instant Shimmer, Dark Mousse & Applicator Mitt*
Dark shades of fake tan have always made me a little nervous. Naturally I'm pretty pale (having a red headed mother will do that for ya!) so I've always stuck to the middle of the road medium tones which I knew I could always build up if I wanted to make it darker. After years of this though I have now felt more confident to try out things a little more bold. So when St. Moriz sent me one of their 'dark' mousses I was excited to give it a go! I haven't been back from Florida long so it was also good to use to try and keep the slight tan I got there! The mousse has always been my favourite product, alongside the mitt provided this is, for me, the easiest way to tan my body and gives the best results! The dark shade left me with a great natural bronzed look, perfect for a night out with my girls!
The instant shimmer isn't something I would use as much just as the weather here isn't always great I would be nervous of t running if I was to get caught in the rain! It works great though to give the legs a subtle shimmer and dewy shine - much better than my usual dull wobbly calves, shins and thighs! Tanning is the best way to get your body looking slimmer and more toned without actually having to do anything plus you can even get your limbs and abs looking naturally defined and strong with a bit of contouring if you feel brave enough.
A Few Fake Tanning Top Tips from Myself & St. Moriz
Always exfoliate before tanning, Getting rid of those nasty dead skin cells will help your tan sit better on your skin, avoid patchness and also make sure it lasts longer!
Moisturise your skin! Keep it hydrated and soft - another way to prevent patchiness across yourself and to help prolong your tan!
Always shave at least 24 hours before tanning - there's nothing worse than getting a saving rash from tanning!
Start from your feet and working your way upwards! It's the best way to get an even tan when doing it yourself. It helps you avoid those creasing marks from bending over!
Always use a mitt - a mitt is a tan's best friend, especially when using a mousse! It helps you blend it evenly and also saves your hands from getting in a horrible stained mess!
Tan in front of a mirror if you can! You can always see then if you have missed anywhere or if anywhere needs more blending!
Don't tan on carpet - it's not the easiest things to get out but if you have no choice when either stand on a towel or even do it when stood in the bath or shower!
Pop your mitt on the end of a wooden spoon! If you struggle to get those hard to reach places on your back an don't have a helpful sole around who could do it for you then just grab a wooden spoon and attach your mitt to it! Easy peasy!
Wear loose clothing to bed! 9 times out of 10 your going to fake tan over night so you can let it develop while you sleep - make sure you wear loose clothing that way it hopefully won't interfer with your masterpiece tanning job too much!
St. Moriz is by far the best value for money tan I have ever used! Their products range from just £4.99 and the results truly are as good as higher end products which I've tried! The mousse is a product that I will repurchase again and again and for less than £5 I urge you all to give it a go! You can find St. Moriz is soooo many places now Boots, Asda, Feel Unique, Tesco naming just a few so there's got to be some near you wherever you live :)
Have you tried any St. Moriz products?
What's your favourite fake tan?
What are your Winter Essentials?
Like this post? Follow A Yellow Brick Blog on Bloglovin so you never miss a thing!
To see videos check out A Yellow Brick Vlog on YouTube
Hh dear.... I've been let loose with the bank card again!
I always get the urge to splurge and this month I have succumb to that ever-so-present beauty blogger itch and treated myself to a few new bits and bobs!
Some of my favs re-purchased and some brand spanking new things I will no doubt fall in love with aswell and I thought why not let you girls and boys have a cheeky peek inside my shopping bags!
Sorry for the pretty pants photos - it is my mission of the next few months to really try and improve my blog's content and photography, hopefully you will be able to tell the difference soon!
First up the make-up.... those bits I expect you are all probably most interesed in! I'll start at the top and work my way along! Nivea Fruity Shine Lipbalm inWatermelon Nivea is easily one of my favourite bargain drugstore brands so when I spot a newbie enter their collection I have to get my hands on it! Lip balm's are a must for this time of year and although I already own about 42 million I couldn't help but be sold buy the words "new" and "watermelon" - this smells lovely and has a lovely pink tint to it aswell! No7 Presicion Lips Pencil in Raspberry It came to my attention that although I wear alot of fuchsia's and bright pink lip colours I don't have a lip liner that goes with them and with the classic £3 off voucher for No7 this seemed like the perfect bargain. It's a gorgeous pink which blends with some of my favourite lipsticks so well! Rimmel's Eyebrow Pencil in Hazel This is a must for me - use it daily and have probably gone through about 203 in my lifetime so far. Seventeen Define & Conquer A newbie from the high street, Seventeen have bought out a contour kit yippee! and although I'm totally happy with my one from Sleek I couldn't just walk past this and not pick it up! A gorgeous bronzer alongside a shimmering highlight, I know that I will get so much use out of this! Boujouis' Healthy Mix Foundation-Vanilla Another repurchase - this is one of my go-to everyday foundations, I'm near enough always wearing either this or L'oreal's True Match. Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lipstick - Ole Flamingo! Seeing as Bourjois was on two for £14 I had to pick up something else (obviously) and I went for this little beauty! Having seen sooo many people posting selfies with a gorgeous lip colour and soooo many times seeing it is this shade I finally decided to grab it! It's a lovely matt pink which I know I'm going to be wearing alot over this next season. Seventeen Phwaorr Paints - Medium You've seen been rave about this countless times! The best concealer I've ever used I go through sooo many - I've even got my Mum using it now! Seventeen Quicker Slicker Nail Polishes x 3 It was about time I purchased some new darker nail polishes! I recently did a huge clearout out of products and things and lots of nail polishes didn't make the cut so it was time to stock up on some newbies! Natural Collection Lipglosses - Vanilla & Turkish Delight I like having cheap lipglosses in my bag especially for work days, these smell amazing and were only £3.50 for 2!
Now a few skincare buys - which I definitely probably didn't need but you know what us girls are like...you can never have enough!
Nivea Soft Cream
I got through so much of this stuff! I use it every evening and swear by it!
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel
This was actually on clearance at only £5.50 so I grabbed it! It is for oily sensitive skin which is perfect for me at the moment as my skin as taken a greasy turn for the worse, I'm really looking forward to trying ti out as I have heard such great things about this brand!
Aveeno Skin Relief Lotion
This stuff has become a total life saver so it was time I stocked up on some more! This is amazing for dry/irritated skin I highly recommended it!
Boots Simply Sensitive Deep Cleansing Mask
The first of the face mask's now and one that I haven't tried before! I am obsessed with trying out new ones and this was so cheap I thought it it was worth a go! Something that will last more than one use aswell!
Montagne Jeunesse Face Masks
This will come as no surprise to you regular readers - I buy these like they are going out of fashion and as they were on 3 for 2 in Boots I grabbed a handful! I got 3 of the creamy coconut, 1 hot sauna, 1 hot chocolate and 1 nut oil! All have been reviewed on here before so if you want to read more then just search them in the search bar on the right!
Ultimate Blends The Sleek Restorer Shampoo & Conditioner
I've bought these before and loved them, this new collection from Garnier is doing so so well, I've seen everyone picking them up! I love the scent, coconut is the best for me when it comes to haircare! The Sleek Restorer really does work aswell making my hair smoother and frizz-free... for once!
Ultimate Blends The Sleek Perfector Oil
After seeing VelvetGhost's September favs video and watching her rave about this stuff I decided to give it a go myself! I have used it so much already and am LOVING it - I'm sure it will be mentioned again on here soon!
Boots Coconut & Almond Intensive Hair Mask
More coconut goodness! These are the best value for money hair mask's ever! £1.99 each or 2 for £2 on offer - I bought 4! I use this a couple of times a week and it leaves my hair so shiny and smelling great!
Moroccanoil Treatment Oil
Probably my favourite oil I've ever tried, it is a tad more expensive than others I have but I only use it after I've washed my hair so maybe 3 times a week!
Some random bits now!
Venus Pro Skin Sensitive Razor
BORINGGGG I bought a new razor coz' it was half price... nothing more to say haha!
Zoella Blissful Mistful
Yayyyy I finally got some Zoella Beauty bits! Keep your eyes peeled as these are going to have their very own post very soon!
Zoella Let's Glow Candle
I've nearly burned this whole thing already! It's so cute and smells lovely! Like I said above... a full review will be coming soon!
Oral B 3D White Replacement Heads
Well... we all need to brush our teeth don't we!
Like this post? Follow A Yellow Brick Blog on Bloglovin!
To see videos check out A Yellow Brick Vlog on YouTube
Crown brush won my heart over this summer when I tried out some of their brushes for the first time! BUT this brand doesn't only make fabulous brushes, oh no, they also have a gorgeous ever-growing make-up range to go alongside them.
I'm a big sucker for palettes, mainly because I'm a sucker for anything pretty/fabulous, and the contouring palette from Crown is no exception!
This 26 shade masterpiece contains a full of a range of colours to help enhance nearly any complexion and I have fallen hook, line and sinker for it. This palette comes in a back slick, slim hard case which is easy to store and looks as professional as it's name! The range of neutral shades are right up my street, I'm a bit of wimp when it comes to brights, especially on the eyes so these pinks, tans and slight plums are perfect for me for both my everyday make-up and my awkward attempts at creating a smokey eye. (Yes, I'm not the greatest.... but I blame my eyes - they are so small!)
Crown Brush Professional Contouring Palette*
I thought I would highlight a few of my favourite shades above! The bottom two I have been loving using together daily - the left tan shade to help contour my cheeks and then the warmer pinker tone alongside it!
You only need to tiniest bit of the bottom right hand shade as it is pretty bold but when blended across the cheek it gives a gorgeous rosey gold shimmer.
The other shades pointed out are the ones I have been using most on my eyes, they blend together so well and I've actually been choosing this over my holy grail naked palette (along with another palette which I've also fallen in love with and which I'm sure you will all see soon!)
And..... there's a closer look for you! This shades are amazing quality, so pigmented and some gorgeous shades that you would pay a hell of alot more for if they were from somebody like Mac!
With both matte and shimmer shades to compliment and contour this versatile number from Crown Brush UK is a perfect addition to any make-up lovers collection whether just starting out or professionally. For just £19.99 I think this is a total steal and you can find out more and/or order it - here!
Like this post? Follow A Yellow Brick Blog on Bloglovin!
To see videos check out A Yellow Brick Vlog on YouTube
Okay, I know it's only October BUT you can never be too early when it comes to Christmas shopping! I've decided to start buying things for loved ones already this year - mainly so I actually have some money left when it come to December and new year!
Boots is a great place to get your Christmas gifts and I've seen so many of you chatting away on twitter about getting the gift guide that's been recently released!
I always love hunting through their Christmas 3 for 2 mix and match pressies and probably buy more for myself than anyone else - opps!
So I thought what better on the lead up to the most wonderful time of the year than a few gift guides to help you on your quests to find the perfect gift for those special people in your life (or those ones you got stuck with in your work's secret santa!).
First up..... £5 and under gifts! (These are going to be mainly girly products but I will try and get a mens gift guide up aswell :)
Sweet pea is one of my favourite scents when it comes to products and candles and this little stokcing filler is great for anyone! Who doesn't love a lovely smelling home?
Shot 2 Go Photo Cube - £5 Whether you give this present as it comes or fill the photos in yourself this is cutest little cube for anyones dresser or work space! So much better as a frame as you can have a total mix of photos all on one product!
Baylis & Harding Beauticology Gingerbread Cupcake Footcare Giftset - £5 Baylis & Harding had a similar set out last year which I was really sad about missing out on! By the time I went to order it for myself it was out of stock and I couldn't find it anywhere! Fluffy socks AND cute products for only £5 - yup I'm sold!
Jack Wills Emery Boards - £5 Jack Wills is a brand that's been in my life for a good few years, living on an island which is surrounded by boats and the 'yauchty' brand is pretty popular here! These nail files are super cute and handy, good for any manicure lover.
Soap & Glory Merry-Kiss-Much Gift- £5 A bauble AND a lip balm in one! I love Soap and Glory stuff and their Christmas lines never seem to disappoint! I've used S&G lip balms before and they are lovely, what better present for a beauty babe!
Ferrero Rocher Collection - £4.69 If all else fails, chocolate is the answer and this Ferrero Rocher box looks lovely and most expensive than it actually is! (Contains Nuts... obviously!)
Collection Little Mix All About The Eyes Palette - £3.19 Yes I now this isn't in the Christmas collection but this is such a lovely little gift for a tiny price tag! If you've got a secret santa to do this lovely neutrals palette is a great idea! Collection make-up is always fantastic quality and if they are a Little Mix fan then it's a double whammy!
Fearne Perfectly Polished Nail Polish Duo Set - £4 Everyone's a fan of Fearne! Her collection for Boots each Christmas is always a best seller and this year I'm sure will be no exception! Again, the perfect stocking filler for girls ad women alike! Keep your eyes peeled for my next top picks - £10 and under, coming soon!
What are you hoping to get for Christmas?
Like this post? Follow A Yellow Brick Blog on Bloglovin!
To see videos check out A Yellow Brick Vlog on YouTube
I LOVE a good pamper night in. There's nothing better than a bit of 'me' time after a long hard day/week.
Treating yourself to some of those treatments and goodies can make you feel revived and put that smile back on your face!
BUT these things don't have to be expensive and I am forever buying cheap little pick me ups to help myself, hair and skin to feel it's best even if I am half asleep!
So....... I thought I would share with you lovely ladies 5 great products to complete the perfect girly night in and guess what - the total only comes to £5.58!! That's surely only a couple of drinks in Starbucks or a Subway right - totally worth it?!
1. Grazia Magazine - £1
Guess what...this weeks Grazia mag is just £1! There's nothing better than chilling at home with your feet up, cup of tea (or wine) in hand, reading through the latest celeb gossip, fashion must-haves and beauty secrets! Plus it's got Jen An on the front aswell - always a winner!
These masks are some of the best value for money beauty products out there! I buy them constantly and if you read A Yellow Brick Blog alot you've probably noticed! This hot chocolate mask is a fabulous self heating detoxing mask which smells amazing and always leaves my skin feeling smooth and refreshed! To read more about it check out my previous review - here.
3. Milkybar - £1
A night in isn't complete without some chocolate to crush that sugar craving - every girls best friend in a bar.
Bath's are something that I have rarely, I'm more of a shower girl myself but once in a while I like to have a good old soak! This bubble bath is infused with lavender to help you relax and unwind, perfect for after a long week at work for me! This bottle is huge so it will last me ages and for just 89p it is a must buy!
TOP TIP : IF you have short hair you can buy the sachet of this product for only £1.09 (another 60p saving, making it less than £5!), but my hair is too long for just one sachet now so I thought this mini bottle would work better! Hair masks are my favourite thing, I love giving my dry, drab hair a lift with one of these and Aussie smells the best! I like to leave these on for at least 10 minutes and then let me hair air dry for a soft, long locks!
Like this post? Follow A Yellow Brick Blog on Bloglovin!
To see videos check out A Yellow Brick Vlog on YouTube
Ever wanted to know who your perfect Disney best friend and side kick is?
Well..... ponder your thoughts no more! This awesome new quiz will let you know whether Tigger is your exciteable best buddy or if Mike Wazowski would be your hilarious roommate! AND not only that... once you've taken the fun easy quiz below you can then enter to WIN 2 tickets to see the incredible Lion King Musical in London next February!!! So all you Disney and muscial fans keep on reading....
It's no secret that I'm a bit of a huge fan of Disney so when this competition was pitched to A Yellow Brick Blog I literally couldn't wait to get stuck in and get it up! If you follow me on twitter you will know that earlier this summer I was lucky enough to go and see The Lion King muscial myself thanks to my wonderful parents (thanks guys!) and I was blown away by it's creativity and talent and sung along to every single word... yes the 5 year old Kirstie came out in full force! I'm so so happy to have teamed up with awesome Internet Gift Store this Autumn to give one of you the chance to go and see it for yourself along with a friend or family member! SO get answering those quiz questions, find out your perfect Disney sidekick and enter now! You have until 18th December! And for all of you that are wondering.... I got DORY as my sidekick - a ditzy and happy fish with a memory problem.... yup I''m happy with that! Just Keep Swimming...
.JPG)
