The Wishlist 10 #1

What's that? A new series of posts? Why yes it is!
My number one hobby seems to be online window shopping - constantly popping bits into my basket that I've fallen in love with but will probably never part with my dear cash for.
I share so many of these things on social media so I thought I'd start rounding them up in weekly blog posts - The Wishlist 10.
Ten items I'm lusting after that week..... such a fun way to share with you what is catching my eye at the time and maybe even an easy shopping guide for you all!

Crochet Dress - Forever 21

One Year Wiser - ASOS

Half & Half T-shirt - ASOS

Rose Gold Reebook Classics - Schuh

Faux Leather Jacket - Forever 21

Mermaid Highlighters - ASOS

Pink Borg Coat - River Island

Grey Short Uggs - Daniel Footwear

Embroided Grey T-shirt - New Look

Camo Coat - Forever 21

AF's included

A/W16 Wardrobe Wishlist

My favourite time of year is here again!
Yes, it's time to reach for the gloves, over-do it with the knitwear and purchase 132 pairs of black boots that are ever so slightly different from one another... because, why not?

I LOVE Autumn and Winter - mainly due to the fashion, I love wrapping up in a million layers and popping on a favourite pair of boots!

Fashion this year is on point so I thought I'd share with you lovely lot the bits I'm ordering, popping into my saved items/wishlist and pretty much just drooling over! #prayformybankaccount 

ASOS Final Clearance : Top Picks Under £20

I am a sucker for ASOS.... and an ASOS sale? Even better!

When I noticed that yet another final clearance had started I decided what a fab way to share my bargain finds than a blog post!

So check out these total bargains below - all under £20!

Sleek Matte Me Cream Lipstick - Birthday Suit

I don't think I'm the only person there that has tried and failed to purchase Kylie Cosmetics. (Damn you people faster than me.)
So, for me, it's all about finding dupes and lookalike products for now and I found this total bargain recently!
I was browsing the self-selection in Boots when I was shopping last week and these 'matte me' lipsticks by Sleek really caught my eye.

Birthday Suit was the first colour I swatched and to be honest was the only colour I cared about. I'm SUCH a sucker for a nude lip at the moment - and if it's matte.... even better! I knew I had to have it, especially for only £4.99.

The colour is gorgeous, a great brown nude which is easy to apply and feels so smooth. It dries quickly and has a great stay-time although after a few cups of tea I do need to re-apply but for the price it's not something I mind.
I've been wearing this on top of a nude lip liner and it's perfect for everyday work!

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Collection #ConcealAndLightLikeAPro Palette

So, Kirstie-the-make-up-buyer has been on a serious mission these past two weeks. 
Yay for the blog.... not yay for the bank!

I'm not sure what has come over me but I've just been in the mood to treat myself to a few new bits, I think it was the huge clearout I had... it made me feel like I deserve something new, which kind of defeats the object doesn't it?

I'd seen a few girlies talking about this new palette on Twitter so I thought why not try it out for myself - plus it's currently on offer at Boots for only £3.99 instead of the usual £5.99 which persuaded me even more. 

This palette contains 8 cream concealers! Yes - 8! Although I'm sure you have realised that from the photo above!

The 4 concealer shades are to cover blemishes and imperfections - obvs - I've been using the second one in on the top row for any spots I have - thankfully... that hasn't been too many and I've actually been using the second shade in on the bottom row as a contouring shade, it's great!

The yellow is fantastic for brightening dark circles under the eyes which is something i have seriously been struggling with so far this year. I'm sure the older I get the worse they are getting - or maybe I'm just sleeping less, who knows?!
The green shade has to be my favourite, made for correcting redness in the skin this is a life-saver for me.
 Around my nose, my eyelids and sometimes under my eyes - this works wonders for toning down and hiding those problems areas that don't ever seem to want to go away.

The highlighter is a lovely ivory pink shade great for using down the nose, under the brows and on your cupid's bow!
Last but not least is the purple (lilac) shade which is used to revive dull skin - I haven't had the need to use this yet but like the other colours it is really light and creamy and blends in easily.

All in all I think this is a steal - you'd pay £5.99 for any one of these on their own, so getting 8 for that price is a bargain! If you want to give it a go head to Boots quick while it's still on offer and save yourself £2!

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My New Everyday Perfume : Thierry Mugler Angel Eau De Parfum

For Christmas this year (last year?.... 2015! You know what I mean) I was lucky enough to be given 2 Thierry Mugler perfumes that I had been wanting forever - Angel & Alien.

My mum has been wearing Angel pretty much since it came out and I've always been such a fan (stealing sprays when I can.... hahs sorry Mum!) Until now I've just had the Glade Honey & Chocolate candles at home constantly, they have such a similar scent - warm and sweet they make everything smell amazing.

Angel has now become my everyday perfume. The sweet smell of vanilla, chocolate, honey and patchouli is strong but not overpowering and with just one or two spritz' the scent stays on all day.
Normally with perfumes after a couple of hours I find even if others can still smell the fragrance on me I can't smell it on myself anymore but with Angel I can smell it all day which I love.

I only got a 15ml bottle for Christmas - which sounds tiny but I was surprised by how big it was - I was picturing a little tester size! I've used it everyday so far and it looks like I've basically used none - I can tell it's going to last for months and as soon as it runs out I won't might picking up another.

If you haven't smelt Angel before I highly recommend you go grab a tester soon - it's not to everyone's taste but if you like warm, sweet scents (or chocolate) you might just find yourself a new favourite.

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The Scrub Of Your Life : How I Get Rid Of Those Pesky Upper Arm Bumps

Hello and Happy Monday! (OR whatever day you may find yourself here on AYBB!)

Today I'm talking arms. 

Well actually I'll be talking about a product for the whole body but in particular arms.
My arms in fact and something that has been a problem for me since I was a teenager.

Do any of you suffer with those pesky red bumps on the backs of your upper arms? Come on...I can't be the only one!
It's been something that I've had since I was young and I will always remember one of my friends at middle school telling me it was because I ate too much bread.....
I never ate alot of bread so I was super confused and wondered how that could possibly be related?!

But now I am older, wiser and have the powers of the internet so found out what those bumps ACTUALLY are and why they are there.

Keratosis Pilaris is the technical term and instead of me rambling on about the science and biology - here is a link to all the information you need if you want it.

The basics? This annoying skin condition is caused when too much keratin builds up in the skin's hair follicles. The excess keratin blocks the hair follicles with plugs of hard, rough skin. The tiny plugs widen the pores, giving the skin a spotty appearance. Sounds a bit gross but it's harmless and super common.

Anyway back to the beauty part and the product I'm sure you all want to hear about.

This classic Soap & Glory product I've mentioned before on here but not for a while and over the last month I've fallen back in love with it so much so I thought why not share it!

The Scrub Of You Life is one of the first scrubs Soap & Glory added to their collection, with the original scent and fun pink packaging this is a must for all girly girls out there!
Probably the most used and most repurchased of all the scrubs I own, this stuff has come to the rescue many a time.
Foamy and fruity I love the scent and with this stuff a little goes a long, long way leaving my skin feeling so much softer and smoother without drying it out.

Just a few uses a week and the bumps on my arms are faded and sometimes totally gone - I can't live without this stuff!
So if you're looking for a new scrub to try or want something to try and tame those bumps - I highly recommend this.

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Fashion : Off Duty Denim with George @ ASDA

A few years ago jeans were something which never even entered my mind when getting dressed. 

I wasn't confident with my legs and thought denim always made me look huge - fast forward to today and I don't know what I'd do without my few pairs that I own and love.

Recently I was sent a challenge by George @ ASDA to show off how I transform denim from a casual daytime look to something a little more glam. 
Jeans are perfect for everyday wear yes, but they can also look great for a nice dinner date, a night out with the girls or even a blogging event!

The jeans I chose to try were the Fashion Box High Waisted Jeans in Navy. The reviews looked great,I always prefer a stretchy lightweight material rather than a thick stiff denim so these seemed like a great choice for me, plus I'm a huge fan of high waists - they hide a multitude of sins and are great for dressing up and down.
At only £16 I'm SO impressed with them - I have honestly been wearing them non-stop - cinema trips, dinner with friends, Christmas day, my recent trip to London - they are amazing and so flattering.

Fashion Box High Waisted Jeans*| Pink Cable Knit Tunic Jumper* 

Here's an example of an easy daytime outfit. I love oversized knitwear at this time of year (especially after eating all that Christmas food) - so cosy and snug! Plus the rips in the jeans and trainers help to dress down the whole look. (Can we just have a LOL at my facial expression here.... what a miserable cow!)

Fashion Box High Waisted Jeans* | Stolen Heart Faux Fur Jacket* | Black Cami Top*

Now how I've dressed them up!

 I'm obsessed with my black over the knee boots from Boohoo right now and have been wearing them so much over the last month! I love pairing these together as it hides the rips in the jeans, immediately making them a bit more formal! 

I choose to tuck in the plain cami to show off the high waist and make it all look a bit more 'going out'. The finishing touch is the awesome jacket *heart eyes*. I had been wanting a short fur jacket for months and this is just gorgeous, so soft and fits like a glove.

I cannot recommend these jeans enough I've already had one friend saying she's bought some and fallen in love - for £16 I need them in every colour possible, well done ASDA!

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Mark Hill Kerasatin Smoothing Shampoo & Conditioner

Happy New Year everyone! 

First and foremost I must apologise about December, I was very slack on the blogging front due to the fact it was Christmas, I was finishing up at my old job whilst trying to start on my new one and generally just a little bit too busy to be able to sit down, take photos and write.
But.... it's a new year and I'm determined to get back on track and make A Yellow Brick Blog better than it has ever been. (starting with a well deserved revamp and new look in the not too distant future) 

So lets crack on and get talking .... I've missed sharing my thoughts, beauty news and general ramblings....

Mark Hill Kerasatin Smoothing Shampoo & Conditioner*

Over the last few weeks I have been using these - Mark Hill's KERAsatin shampoo and conditioner. They are part of the new look Mark Hill range (ooo snazzy) and are the pair to get if you are after a smooth and frizz-free barnet.

 I'm not sure whether it's all hair dryer avoidance, messy buns and quick up-dos thrust upon my hair over the last month or two or the horrible weather but my hair had been going through a real frizzy/dry/'oh dear' stage... which when you have a bob just isn't fantastic.

 I mean it's bad at any hair length but a frizzy bob makes me look like a 12 year old boy.... something which, funnily enough, doesn't suit me!

So when I had the chance to try these two out I thought a hair rescue was upon me.... and it was. 

The kerasatin range contains pure keratin which creates a moisture-rich formula for both the shampoo and the conditioner, this helps to calm your hair down and let it drink up the moisture it needs - something which my locks definitely wanted.

I've noticed such a different with these, even to the point that when I wet my hair to wash it I can still feel how much smoother and softer it feels from the last time it was washed! 

My short hair is alot more managable and smooth - which has been great for the festive period as I've been out and about alot more!

A great duo and seriously affordable - you can find them here and here.

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Weekly Round Up #2

1. NEW JOB! | 2. Sailing The Seas | 3. My Favourite Lady | 4. The Good Dinosaur | 5. Instagram Addicted | 6. The Gold Dust Product | 7. Feeling Festive | 8. Coat Of Dreams | 9. Bargain Boots

1.  Well.... if you didn't know about this yet.... where have you been?! Yes! I have finally been able to hand in my notice at my current retail job and will be starting a new career in PR, social media and marketing in the new year. I am overjoyed and so so excited to get started! I finally feel like my life is starting to get on track!

2. What a lovely day it was, heading over to Portsmouth with my Mum for a spot of shopping. I love Primark but living on the IOW it's not often that I get to go so it's always an exciting experience. How is shopping so tiring though? Seriously such a workout!

3. It's been so lovely to spend a bit more time with my Mum over the past weekend, it needs to happen more often!

4. I went to see The Good Dinosaur last week with a couple of friends and absolutely loved it.... it nearly got me shedding a tear I tell ya! Such a cute story, lots of Lion King similarities though... did anyone you of notice this aswell!?

5. I am totally obsessed with Instagram at the moment - LOVE LOVE LOVE! I find creating images for it so fun, yes I am THAT sad! (My account)

6. Waaaaaaaaaaaa I didn't get one :( Although.... did anyone? I swear it was there and gone in like 3 seconds! Fingers crossed they'll be back in stock soon and we can all rock the perfect nude lip.

7. I LOVE December. Like... LOVE it. Even just the sight of an advent calendar gives me that warm festive feeling (and this year I have 2!), I'm so excited for Christmas. Next stop - get my tree up and watch Love Actually!

8. Finally! I own a winter coat. After browsing the internet for what seemed an eternity my eyes fell upon this River Island beauty and I have to say it's probably my best buy of the last 12 months! I have had so many compliments on it so far and the qulaity is amazing! IT looks great and keeps me so warm. (Find it at River island - here and Littlewoods - here.)

9. Last but not least....... I have to share my bargain of the week! Black Friday offers were my downfall ... opps - I mean I tried to avoid them but it was pretty darn impossible! I managed to get these gorgeous knee high boots for just £10! I know amazing right? I think I'll be wearing these on NYE.... once I've found a dress or playsuit to rock them with. (Find them - here.)

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Soap & Glory Winter Wonderhand Gift Set

Coming home to surprise post is one of the most exciting things!

 I was recently totally and utterly surprised by the lovely people at Soap & Glory with a few of their Christmas sets and I couldn't wait to show you all.

Soap & Glory have got to be one of my favourite beauty brands ever. 

Since stealing my Mum's sexy mother pucker lipgloss as a teenager to using their new Sugar Crush hand gel every 5 minutes - I don't think I've bought a product yet that I don't love!

One the my most re-purchased products I've had over the years is the Hand Food hand cream. The gorgeous non-greasy hand cream which I think all of us beauty lovers have had at one point or another.

So how amazing is this .... a gift set with 3 50ml Hand Food tubes and it's called Winter Wonderhand* ... #genius - I love seeing what names S&G come up with each Christmas.

Aswell as the original scent you also get the Sugar Crush version (my favourite) and the Smoothie Star version - which I don't think you can even buy on it's own.

This is such a lovely gift idea - and for only £8 it's a bargain! 

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Biore Self-Heating One Minute Mask Review

It's beauty review time once more!

If you've read AYBB for a while you probably know how partial I am to a pampering session - I love a bit of 'me' time.

The number one thing on my pampering list is always a face mask and when I spotted these in the clearance section of Boots last week for only £1 I just had to have them! (Usually priced at £7.99 I got a right Barry bargain here!)

Self-heating masks are probably my favourite kind of masks - I near enough always use the Montagne Jeunesse/7th Heaven sachets so I was looking forward to trying something at a slightly higher price point.

You get 4 sachets in the pack - a good months worth for me as I only tend to do a mask once a week!

What's special about about this mask you ask?

Well.... the clue is in the name - it only takes a minute! (*girl... to fall in love, fall in love.* - sorry Take That moment!)

Anywho - yes! 

This is a one minute mask - all you need to do is dampen your clean skin (I usually do this just as I've take my make-up off so my face is still wet) and pop the mask on with your fingers, your skin must be wet as the mask is activated by water!

The warmth along with the natural charcoal ingredient help to open up your pores and draw out deep down dirt, oils and impurities leaving the skin feeling soft and refreshed.

As you massage the sachet over your face the warming is activated and you can feel your skin getting a deep, healthy cleanse.

After just a minute all you have to do is wash the mask off with warm water - the mask does not dry. 

This was so super easy and I found that the mask, unlike others I've used, comes off so quickly and effortlessly leaving my skin feeling completely rejuvenated. 

The size is actually perfect, most of the time when I use a sachet mask I only use half or 3/4 of the mask and because they tend to be a bit messy I always chuck the rest away. These sachets are slightly smaller than normal but the actual perfect size for a one-use mask.

The consistency of the mask is fairly thick until you mix it with the water on your face/fingers which makes it thinner and easily to massage across your face.

Scent wise.... I have a bit of blocked nose at the moment haha so didn't really smell anything to be honest!

I'm really chuffed by the how well this worked and how handy they are - for the price I got them I'm blown away.

 Perfect for a quick fix me up, you really do only need a minute.

My skin hasn't felt this cleansed for weeks - I'll definitely be using the rest of the packet on the lead up to Christmas this year to insure flawless skin. 

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30 Stocking Fillers & Secret Santa's Under £5

1. Be Super Awesome Today Plaque

2. Mini Glitter Diary 2016 

3. Let It Snow Cushion

4. Ghost The Fragrance Bauble

5. Gingerbread Festive Feet Gift Set

6. Initial Candle

7. Pop Tarts Lip Balm

8. Gingerbread Diffuser

9. Barbie Dreamhouse Keyring

10. LOVE Photo Frame

11. Hashtag Cushion

12. Reese's Lip Balm

13. Little Miss Princess Travel Mug

14. 7th Heaven Choc-o-holic Delight Gift Pack

15. Shopping Habit Money Box

16. Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Anti-Bac

17. Zoella Beauty Bath Lily

18. Harry Potter Colouring Book

19. Reindeer Beanie

20. Black Fluffy Keyring

21. Heart Coaster Set

22. A Little Sparkle Make-Up Bag

23. Eylure 101 False Lashes

24. Peanut Butter M&M's

25. Love, Rosie DVD

26. I'm a Disney Princess Mug

27. Unicorn Coin Purse

28. Christmas Pants

29. Catchphrase Card Game

30.  Gold Musk & Chocolate Velvet Candle

(At the time of creating this post all of these items under £5 or under - these prices may change before Christmas day.)

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Beat The Winter Lip Blues

I don't know about you but the winter plays serious havoc with my lips.

Dry, sore, flaky - pretty much a gross look for any lady right?!
 With the wind and cold outside and the heating inside my lips tend to become a real pain in the butt and I do everything in my power to avoid that dreading 'trip-lip' ..... you know... when your lips get all sore and red, like so red above them that it looks like another lip. I mean I haven't had that since I was a child but it's a fear of mine!

This little duo have been a god send and won't be leaving my side until spring is here!

First the Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub, which I have mentioned many a time here on A Yellow Brick Blog. This is the perfect product for keeping my lips healthy, soft and flake free.
The yummy smelling (and tasting) sugar scrub is easy to use, I just pop a bit on my fingers and rub it in circles across my lips or rub my lips together to help get rid of all that nasty dead skin. This creates the perfect base for all my lippys!

Next - to battle those sore lips. The new Blistex Intensive Moisturiser in Cherry*.
Blistex are one of my go-to brands when it comes to lip therapy products and this new addition to their collection is actually the best I've tried from them.
The new cherry flavoured intensive balm brings a bit of fun to the otherwise simple looking original. The smooth clear gel balm isn't sticky at all, it soaks into the lips with ease leaving them soft and seriously hydrarting for hours on end - all with a lovely cherry scent. (It reminds me of cherry drops/cherryade and takes me straight back to being 12 years old!)

What are you favourite lip products at the moment?

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Current Beauty Favourites

Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Hand Gel

Anti-bac queen that I am, this hasn't left my side since purchasing it a couple of weks ago! I'm obsessed with the scent so it's a win-win! (Review here)

Estee Lauder Modern Muse Le Rouge

Everyone wants their own scent right? A perfume that it theirs and that everyone recognises them by. This is mine. I just LOVE this perfume and the fact I only have a few squirts left makes me extremely unhappy! Not sure how or when I'm going to be able to afford more but I'm going to have to!

Boots Coconut & Almond Intensive Hair Mask

I had totally forgotten that this existed until I was having a huge clearout recently and stumbled across it at the back of a drawer. I don't actually think this is even still available but it is such good stuff! It was only £1.99 a pot (which lasts forever) this stuff makes my hair feel so soft and look so shiny, I've been having alot of trouble with my hair over the past month and this has slowly helped to turn it around - praying they decide to bring it back out! 

Montagne Jeunesse Hot Spring Sauna Face Mask

The greatest beauty bargains out there. These £1 sachets are my favourite beauty secret and this one has got to be one of my favourites. I have been using this one once a week for the last few weeks and I have to say it works better than all the other expensive masks I've ever tried! It's self-heating AND has exfoliating beads in it too - giving my face a complete overhaul deep down - I love it. 

Freedom Pro Highlighter in Ambient 

What's that? A new brand? Why yes it is! Sister brand to the ever so popular Make-Up Revolution I'll have you know! I think everyone is aware of the fact that I am a huge highlighter lover. Anything that can give my skin a little glow is a winner in my eyes and this shade is blooming well lovely. For only £3 you really can't go wrong with this soft pink powder, the pigmentation is gorgeous, I'm so pleased with it.

Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer 

Last but not least we have a concealer. A concealer that actually I never thought I would buy. I normally use things like Seveteen's Phwoarrr Paint or Rimmel's Lasting Finish concealer, a thick paint like cream which is seriously heavy duty - amazing for bags.... not so great for creasing. 

So.... I decided to try something a little lighter. This stuff is really nice, it has a decent enough coverage and feels so much lighter and less cloggy than the others, giving my undereyes a slight brightness that they are seriously lacking, perfect for early winter mornings.

What are you favourite beauty bits at the moment?

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Barry M Flawless Original Primer

My everyday primer ran out.... and Barry M released a brand spanking new product - coincidence? I think not!

Yes, I was in need of a new primer and seeing this newbie out on the high street made the decision oh so easy - let's try it out.
I'm a big fan of Barry M but when it comes to face make-up they aren't the first brand that pops to mind.
 Nails and lips, yes - primers and foundations, no. So I thought I'd bite the bullet and give it a chance.

I'm not overly fussy with primers, I have my favourite (POREFessional) but it's just not in my budget right now to use daily so I only use my miniatures of it when I'm heading on a night out and want my make-up looking extra special.

I've tried alot of what the high street has to offer over the last few years and am always keen to try something new when it's released.

This is one of 3 primers Barry M has added to their collection. There is the Original, the Colour Correcting and the Brightening - something for everyone!

Smoothing and mattifying this white cream feels amazing, creating a lovely base. It's silky and soft (plus it's oil-free) and has my skin feeling ready and raring for my foundation in seconds. 

I've really been enjoying using this and it's become a well-loved member of my daily make-up routine already. My foundation looks better than it has done in a while and lasts all day long which I'm really impressed with.

The primer is priced at only £5.99 which is alot cheaper than other drugstore brands attempts that I haven't liked as much! You can find it here on Boots.com.

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