Liz Earle Eucalyptus & Rosemary Botanical Candle

This Christmas I was lucky enough to receive the gorgeous Beauty Icons Gift Set from Liz Earle - my best friend knows me so well and seriously spoilt me!

Everyone knows how much I LOVE Cleanse and Polish - I rant and rave about it monthly and honestly haven't found a skincare product I love more, so to receive a brand new bottle and some fresh muslin's was a god send... to have the beautiful candle alongside it - wow!

I'd smelt the candle before and had fallen in love. The scent is inspired by Cleanse & Polish and has the gorgeous relaxing and calming aroma of eucalyptus and rosemary. (I mean that's a little obvious with the name and all!)

The candle's scent fills to room within minutes creating a peaceful and uplifting space - perfect for when I want some 'me' time or when I'm working/blogging.

The scent is definitely something a little more mature than my other candles but it's becoming one of my most used throughout the home so far this year.

They are a little pricey at £40 individually but you don't actually have to burn it for a long time to get the full ambiance of the scent so you can really make it last with the 40 hour burning time. 

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10 Holy Grail Beauty Products

I'm often asked what my 'favourite' this or 'favourite' that is and alot of the time I don't have a definitive answer.

But there are a handful of products out there that I can easily class as my holy grail's. Products that, since finding, I haven't turned my back on, replaced with anything else or haven't yet found better.

I always love seeing everyones ultimate beauty favourites (as beauty blogger's I mean... it takes alot to become number 1 in someones eyes) so I thought I would share 10 of my beauty products that I just cannot be without!

SKINCARE

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish

My number one, my favourite, my desert island choice. I love this stuff.

 I am yet to find a product better than this when it comes to make-up removal and I really do struggle to live without it. I mean, I'm sure most of you have tried this by now but if not I'll give you a quick low-down. Cleanse and Polish is a lovely creamy hot cloth cleanser which you pop straight onto your skin. You then remove it (along with all your make-up) with a wam muslin cloth. I usually use 2-3 pumps depending on how much make-up I'm wearing and I also feel fresh as a daisy afterwards! THE best.

Nivea Hydration Primer

My everyday base. Yes I use other make-up primers such as Porefessional and Baby Skin but this is always my first step when it comes to my make-up routine.

I'm not a fan of day creams or thick moisturises as they tendd to clog up my skin alot and I hate that feeling. This however is a lovely light moisturiser which really does waken my skin each morning, leaving it feel hydrated and smooth - I couldn't even tell you how many of these I've been through in the last 18 months or so.

MAKE-UP

MAC Lipsticks

Duh! What beauty bloggers DOESN'T love MAC lippys! My collection is ever-growing and I don't think I'll eve get bored of the colours I own already. The amount of choice is insane and the quality is just fabulous! Want to know my most worn shades? Then check out my post - here.

Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation

This is my everyday foundation. The foundation I wear to work, for days out, even when I pop to the shops - I love the coverage and haven't switched back to another foundation in nearly 2 years now! I'm always recommending this stuff and even mix it with my MAC stusio sculpt for girls nights out.I wear the shade Vanilla most of the year.

Urban Decay Naked Palette

The ultimate holy grail. This is my favourite eyeshadow palette of all time and the one which I always go to as my fail safe. I've had this palette for nearly 3 years now and it has been one of the best Christmas presents I ever got (Thanks Mum & Dad!). and as you can see from the photo - it really does last and last so it is so worth the price.

Eylure False Eyelashes

The greatest and easiest to use eyelashes out there. I'm pretty useless when it comes to eyelashes but slowly but surely I've learnt the nack of how to pop these on with ease ..... even after a couple of vodkas! 101 and 107's are my ultimate favourties.

BODY

Mitchum Deodorant

The greatest deodrant ever made? I think so. I've used this since I was a teenager and have dared to try anything else since! I've got so many of my friends using this too - no sweating, no smelling.... it's amazeballs.

St. Moriz Fake Tanning Mousse

I've tried a good few fake tanners in my time but I always seem to go back to St, Moriz, for the price the quality is insane - just as good as the more expensive brands, This is the tan I always send people too, plus they have so many different products and shades to choose from aswell so there is something for everyone. (I've only just started to brave using the 'dark' shade!)

ESSENTIALS

Bath & Works Anti-Bacterial Hand Gels

Well.... I couldn't live without these could I?! The amount I have gone through in the last 3 years is kind of embarrassing! Obviously I can't get them here in the UK so each time I have been in the US I have tried to fully stock up! (especially as they are so cheap, I think they are like 5 for $5 - bargain!) The scents to choose from are incredible, I akways have one lurking around in my handbag!

Tangle Teezer

Last but not least, my Tangle Teezer. Well.... one of the three that I own... yes 3! I hardly ever use a proper hairbrush anymore, only these. I feel like my hair is so much stronger from swapping over to these plus I don't loose as much hair whilst tugging and pulling like before! A total must.

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A Yellow Brick Blog's 2nd Blog Birthday : Liz Earle & Smashbox Giveaway

As I promised.... here it is!
I'm so excited to be holding this giveaway for you guys to celebrate A Yellow Brick Blog's 2nd birthday here on the interweb. 
Both prizes I have bought myself with my own money as a way of saying thank you for all the supporting, love and kindness I've been shown in the blogosphere these past couple of years.

I've picked two prizes which I hope guys will like as much as I do.

The first is a Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Starter Kit.
You all know by now Cleanse & Polish is my holy grail cleanser, I swear by it and I always urge everyone to give it a go! So I thought this was a fab way of giving one of you the chance to try it out, maybe for the first time? Maybe to enjoy all over again? I know it's not always in people's price ranges for a make-up remover/cleanser so again I thought, hopefully, it was a good idea. This kit comes with a 100ml pump bottle and 2 muslin cloths.

The second prize is the gorgeous Smashbox Double Exposure Eyeshadow Palette.
 I thought a high-end treat was a must for a special giveaway and this palette caught my eye for a number of reasons.
These shades have state-of-the-art coated pigments which actually makes the 14 shadows into 28 different shades. Magic right? The technology basically means that when the shadows are made wet they change colour, so just wet your brush and see the colours transform! 
Smashbox products are always amazing quality and can you ever have enough palettes? Nope!

All you have to do to enter is fill out the Rafflecopter below :) 

There will be ONE winner.

Winner announced on 19th June 2015.

(This giveaway is UK Only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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My Skincare Routine : Video

I'm back on YouTube! I'm so sorry that there always seems to be such a huge gap between each of my videos... I promise I will get my butt in gear and sort my channel out as much as I can!

Anyway, today I'm talking all about my skincare routine - all those bits and bobs I use on my big round face day and night!

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Beauty Wishlist : March

Nip + Fab Glycolic Instant Fix Mask

Well... if it's good enough for Kylie Jenner is totes good enough for me! I'ma  big fan of Nip + Fab and have loved everything I've tried from them before and the sound of this sounds right up my street!

Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub

I have wanted to buy a lip scrub for so long and this has been on the top of my list. The last few weeks my lips have been dry, chapped, flaky - totally gross, so this would be a fab little treat....if only I lived near a Lush store!

Rimmel Lasting Fix Concealer

NEW new new product alert! I love Rimmel and get so excited for new releases from them.... and this little beaut is one of the things this spring that I am looking forward to trying most! Cream concealers are slowly becoming my fav kind of concealers so I'm hoping this is a winner.

MAC Lipliner - Beet

For months now I have been using an old elf lipliner with my Rebel lipstick - and yeah it's okay but it's not the best. Beet is meant to be the best lipliner to use with Rebel so I think it's about time I invested in it.

MAC Lipstick - Brave

Over the last couple of months I have bought THREE new MAC lipsticks.... this is not like me at all - naughty Kirstie! My wishlist of lipsticks is never-ending and this is top of it at the moment! I'm loving nudes and all the photos I've seen of this just look gorgeous.

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Beauty Trio

My holy grail of all skincare is Cleanse and Polish and the amazing people at Liz Earle are celebrating their 20th birthday with this beauty trio! 3 different C&P's in a lovely collectable tin - I need this in my life.

ghd V Gold Styler

My ghd's are officially 11 years old.... so it about bloomin' time I got some newbies! These are top of my wishlist of things at the moment - they are so much prettier than my beat up old things!

Make-Up Revolution Salvation Intense Lip Lacquer - Depravity 

How stunning is this colour! It's sold out at the moment but I'm determined to get my mitts on it for summer!

Thierry Mugler Alien Perfume

After spraying this recently I have become obsessed. I love this so much .... one of my besties wears it but I think I may have treat myself to some on payday - perfect glam scent!

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August Favourites 2014

Whatssssuppppp! Wait... do people still say that? It always reminds me of Scary Movie... anyway....

I really wanted to film this as a video but time has slipped away from me so unfortunately it will just be the written word this month, I hope that's okay for you lovely people!

It it September - the month I have been looking foward to most this year.... it's only a matter of days (15 to be precise) until I'm on a plane to Florida - wahhhooooo! 

Anyway with a new month beginning it means it's time for me to share with you my monthly favourites for the month of August!

Of course it's mostly beauty related... I mean why else are you here reading this?... but in true Kirstie style there's a few random little picks in there too!

First up, a BIG love of mine which throughout my whole time doing this blogging lark I've always bigged up to the max. Yes I'm talking about Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish, I'm an Isle Of Wight girl so am of course a big lover of Liz Earle and their products and this has got to be my favourite. For a few months now I have been trying out and using other cleansing products but coming back to this this month has reminded me of how amazing it is and how I should really never stray from it.
Next Nip + Fab Glycolic Scrub Fix*, you may remember I did a post on this a little while ago and my love for it hasn't died! I use this one a week, it's a little harsh for anything more, and it leaves my skin feeling so soft and smooth with a gorgeous brightened look, definitely the perfect scrub for me. 
Skincare find of the month has to Aveeno's Skin Relief lotion. This has rescued my dry and itchy legs and made me feel a whole lot better - this is one that is going to be repurchased alot I feel.

Hair favourite this month have to be the Richard Ward The Chelsea Collection Keratin Volume Shampoo & Conditioner*. I've using this these for the last couple of weeks and have found a new fav to rival Lee Stafford! These two leave my hair so light and airy, like doing backwards hairwashing - you know when your hair feels really light and free of product, after every shower I can run my fingers through my hair before I've even gone near it with a comb or a brush. It's so managable and dries super quick aswell. Dry, my hair feels soft and I definitely can see and feel a difference in how quickly it gets greasy too!

Make-up now and my favourite product from August is the new Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Fatigue Blur Primer in cool rose. I've used this probably every day since purchasing it at the beginning of August, another great product by Maybelline they've really gone up in my books over the last few months.

Montagne Jeunesse face mask sachets have to be in my monthly favourites this month - how they haven't made it into one so far is a mystery to me! These are my faourite little pamper treat and tend to do one a week! These are normally around £1 (and sometimes on offer for even less) total bargains! My favourites have to be the hot spring sauna and the clay fabric mask ... I've got a few newbies here too which I can't wait to try out!

A food favourite now! I have a major sweet tooth but I have been trying for the last few months to avoid the chocolate temptation that is constatnly in my mind and stomach!
In doing this I have been finding alternatives to tackle the sweet tooth that controls my diet and in so found these Boots Shapers Blueberry & Yogurt Nougat Bars.
These are soooo good, a chewy yogurt flavoured bar with yummy blueberrys dropped in - these have become my evening sweet snack (normally when watching the first look episode of Hollyoaks on E4!) they need to start selling them by the box!

TV fav's this month have got to be Long Island Medium, Scandal, Hollyoaks & Pretty Little Liars! I'm not sure I can cope with waiting 4 months until I can see more PLL.... that show is so addictive - I need answers! Long Island Medium & Scandal are both new shows to me, I found them on Netflix and was hooked after the first episode of both - love love love.

Music wise OF COURSE I'm going to say Ariana Grande & Taylor Swift. Yes my 2 favs have released new music and I am obsessed. 
Taylor's first single of the new album Shake It Off is amazeballs.... that girl can do no wrong, roll on October when 1989 is out!
And the album I have been waiting for all year My Everything from Ariana Grande is everything I hoped it would be - I've had it on repeat since downloading it the second it was available on iTunes and I'm just praying she goes on tour here in the UK! My favourite songs are Break Free, Break Your Heart Right Back, One Last Time.... and of course Bang Bang!!
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