So dance alone to the beat of your heart

Dress - £5, Primark // Cardigan & Bag - New Look // Flower - £2.99, H&M // Sunglasses - £1, Primark

Hi, it's been a while! At the moment, I'm taking a bit of a 'blogging break', just to recharge my batteries and because there's quite a big thing happening in my life...more on that in a minute!

I just thought I'd drop in to quickly share my recent Primark bargain buys. I'm quite hit-and-miss with Primark, sometimes they have some great stuff (usually that I see on other people's blogs and can't find in store), and sometimes I go in and can't find anything, but this dress caught my eye. I'm a big lover of florals, especially now the sun's coming out and Britain's being whipped into a SUMMER CLOTHES frenzy. And with it only being a fiver, how could I refuse? I also picked up the cutest pair of PJ bottoms ever (below), also just £5!

#totesadorbs, right?!

And now, onto my news! If you follow me on Twitter, you may well have seen me complaining about where I live - but next weekend, I'm going to be moving into a new flat with two of my friends! And the best part is that it's in Islington - 25mins walk from my work, and 20mins walk to King's Cross Station. Super squee! The flat is really nice, and I'm shocked I can afford to live somewhere so central. It does mean tightening the purse strings a bit, but it's completely worth it as I'm so excited about moving there!

Hopefully once I'm all settled, I can ease myself back into blogging a bit more - I want to make it something I'm doing because I enjoy it, not because I feel like I have to. So watch this space, I'll be back!

A Belated Birthday Catch-up!

Messy shoes from seeing Finch at Brixton // I bought an XBox, and have been playing this LOTS // Having a feast
The mess my room became after Lauren was here for ten minutes // Pizza! // Having a bit of a late-night Beyonce sesh
Some Uni favourites out on my birthday! // A visit to The Fleet, one of my old haunts // Best road name
Red Velvet cupcake from the Hummingbird Bakery // New jumper! // My fireplace
FOB love <3 // A trip back to Norfolk // Mum's roast dinner

I think I've had the busiest two weeks ever, and this is a very short catch up as I'm so so sleepy! 

It was my birthday last Monday, and I made the most of the bank holiday weekend by having my friend Lauren stay for the whole weekend, including a few nights out and a night in watching Tom Felton movies, which we dubbed 'FeltonFest 2013'. Unfortunately, it turns out that when T-Feltz is in a film, it turns out he isn't actually in very much of it, seemingly...!

For my actual birthday, we went down to Portsmouth to re-live our Uni glory days, including visiting some of our old haunts, including The Fleet pub and our weekly rock night as students, Delight. It was great to see some old faces, although it felt strange to be back in some ways. On the plus side, when the night out finished, it didn't require a 50 minute night bus to get back home like in London, just a five minute walk, which is one of the things I do miss about living in the P-town!

This weekend, after a 3-day working week, I made a Saturday morning spur-of-the-moment decision to go back to Norfolk to visit the 'rents, as I haven't seen them in a while. It was nice being able to chill out - at the moment, I'm not enjoying my living status much, due to my weird and often noisy live-in landlord being the main thing. BUT, I'm in the process of SERIOUS MOVING OUT! One of my friends from Uni and one of her friends were both wanting to find a place in London, so the three of us have banded together to try and find a nice little three bedroom place somewhere. We have a viewing on Tuesday, in a great location, and hopefully another on Thursday of a place with A ROOF TERRACE. Yep, made for summer! Chances are I'll be out of here by the end of April, which is awesome, as I don't know how much longer I can take not eating dinner because I don't want to go into the kitchen...but at least now I have hope and some kind of actual moving out plan! 

Hopefully in the next week or so, I'm going to have a look at doing some outfit type posts again now that it's still light when I get home (it's the first time I've experienced this since moving to London - crazy!), although everything's still a bit hectic so do bear with me!

Benefit 'Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow' Foundation

Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow foundation, £25.50

I've always been loyal to Benefit's Play Sticks as my foundation of choice, and was headed to the Debenhams on Oxford Street (side note: Oxford Street definitely terrifies me) to pick up another, but decided what the hell, I'd try something new. I'd heard about the Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow foundation before, so decided to give it a try. The 'Believe in me Ivory' shade is very similar to my shade of Play Stick, Spin The Bottle, but whereas the Play Sticks are a cream-to-powder formula, HF is a straight-up liquid foundation.

The foundation is oil free, which for someone with combination skin like me was definitely appealing, and also boasts hydrating benefits and light-diffusing properties. Oh, and it's SPF 25, which is a great thing for the summer months that will apparently be happening soon...although you might not guess that by the current weather!

You can apply the product with either a brush or your fingertips - I've been using a brush for evenings out, and my fingertips when I inevitably get up late and have to rush to work. The consistency is quite watery and the coverage is definitely less heavy than I'm used to - not that I like to cake the stuff on, honest! Once I played around a bit with it, I managed to build the coverage up to a medium level, and found once I got used to it (and used with my MAC Mineralize Skinfinish powder and a good concealer) I actually enjoy the feel of a lighter coverage product.

I've found that it's also helped my skin feel a bit fresher and brighter. I also like the pump-action tube - I've used other foundations where it's been hard to get the leftover product out of glass bottles, but the way that HF works means that none will be wasted. The only minor letdown I've found is that I do have to top it up a bit mid-day, and it isn't quite as long lasting as I'd like. I'm still tempted to go back to the Play Sticks, because I do absolutely adore them, but for a light, summer-friendly foundation, I'll definitely carry on using Hello Flawless.

The range also features a powder compact.

Birthday Wishlist!

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7

This weekend's wishlist is a little bit different - for those who don't know, it's my birthday on Monday! I actually already know my birthday present's going to be a Download ticket (same as every year!), but I thought I'd put together a few little bits and pieces I'd be asking for if I wasn't getting the ticket. It was actually quite hard to do, because recently I haven't found myself wanting for much at all. But I reckon I might pick up one or two of these anyway...

The dress (1) is very me - I like floral patterns that are a bit unusual, and it fits well with the monochrome trend that's everywhere right now (see my last weekend wishlist for more of that!). The shoes (4) are by Iron Fist, and sort of throw back to my emo days of old, but with a more grown-up feel. I also want to start experimenting with bags more - at the moment, my go-to going out back is a plain old boring black bag. The idea of clutches kinda makes me nervous, as I'm awful at putting things down and forgetting about it, but the wrist strap on this one (5) means I'd be able to keep a hold of it better. And I love the pop-art feel design.

Beauty buys wise, again I've been at a bit of a loss for ideas for NEW THINGS I WANT, but then these Models Own polishes (3) caught my eye. I adore the pastel colours, and love love love the fact that they're scented, which I think is pretty interesting and I'm intrigued to see how it works, how long the scent lasts for, etc etc. I'll probably just stick to buying one for now though - my eye's definitely on the purple! And I've wanted the Origins Out of Trouble mask (2) for a while, as my skin's being a bit badly behaved lately.

If anyone follows me on Twitter/Tumblr (especially Tumblr), you'll know I like my TV shows, and Castle (6) is one of my favourites, which I obsess over quite a lot. Although I have them all downloaded, I don't actually own any of the DVDs, and sometimes I like to have programmes I know inside out on in the background whilst I'm doing other things - so having these DVDs would be pretty handy! And finally - I've wanted an Urban Outfitters hip flask (7) for AGES, there are so many awesome ones, I'd find it impossible to actually settle on one though.

This post has been scheduled, as I'm gonna be off doing birthday stuff for the weekend, but I'll do a catch-up when I get back (unless it's just 'drinking, hungover, repeat...which it might be...). Hope you're all having a good Easter weekend, whatever you're up to!

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer, £25 (pictured: trial size)

I got this Smashbox Photo Finish Primer a while back in a set that I picked up at a hugely discounted price in the reduced section of Debenhams. It's somewhat a cult product, with lots of opinions being thrown around about it, I thought I'd weigh in with my own two pence. The primer has been praised by many and completely hated by others, and my opinion...well, it falls somewhere in the middle.

It does do a good job of creating the 'flawless' look once I've applied my foundation, and makes my skin look smoother and more even. And I did definitely find it good at helping my make-up stay in place, for longer than other, cheaper primers I'd tried. The one thing I didn't like about it is that it feels pretty greasy when applying it. As someone with an oily t-zone, this isn't something I like to feel in a primer, and I've since found other products I prefer to use which feel nicer on application (at the moment I'm joining the hype and using the Clarins Beauty Flash Balm! I'd also reccommend the GOSH Velvet Touch primer as a cheaper and, in my view, better alternative.). I just generally felt that this was a little...smothering on my skin, although on the plus side you really do only need to use a little, so at least the hefty price tag gives some longevity when it comes to value.

Although it's a decent enough primer, and something I'll continue to use, I don't think it lives up to its hype as much as I expected it to, and for the normal price, I won't be repurchasing.

Have you tried the Smashbox Photo Finish Primer? Do you think it deserves its hype?

Recent Reads: Chuck Palahnuik & Chris Ewan

I've recently been throwing myself into a lot of reading again (not that I ever seem to stop!), and thought I'd share two of my recent reads that I really enjoyed. I've tried to keep the reviews quite short, as I don't like to give too much away - but they're definitely both worth picking up!

Chris Ewan - Safe House

'When Rob Hale wakes up in hospital after a motorcycle crash, he is told that Lena, the woman he claims was travelling with him, doesn't exist. But has he really only imagined her, or is there something more sinister going on? Convinced that Lena is real and that she needs his help, Rob sets out to find her. He's assisted by Rebecca Lewis, a P.I. who's also been investigating his sister's death. But is there more to Rebecca than meets the eye?'

I picked up this book on a complete whim in Sainsbury's, in a 'judging a book by its cover' type way - it was only £3.49, and after being drawn to it initially by it looking like the kind of book I'd enjoy, the blurb enticed me in further. I love a good mystery thriller, and Safe House definitely has plenty of both. As a reader, I found myself constantly questioning the motives of the characters surrounding Rob Hale, and there were quite a few surprising moments that I didn't expect. Without trying to sound like a blurb review quote, the story is fast-paced and high ante, and I found myself really immersed in the narrative even from the offset.

Chuck Palahnuik - Choke

'Victor Mancini has devised a complicated scam to pay for his mother's hospital care: Pretend to be choking on a piece of food in a restaurant and the person who 'saves you' will feel responsible for you for the rest of their lives...Victor also works at a theme park with a motley group of losers, cruises sex addiction groups for action, and visits his mother, whose Alzheimer's disease now hides what may be the startling truth about his parentage.'

I'd read a few of Palahnuik's books before, and this is possibly my favourite of his so far. This book definitely isn't something for those who like a nice, fluffy, happy story. When it comes to reading, I love something that makes me think a bit, and this definitely brings up questions about morality and the human condition. The narrative jumps between 'present' and Victor's past, slowly unravelling his story. It's quite explicit and deals with sex addiction in an upfront way (although my knowledge of such addictions is limited, so the truth behind the way it's presented isn't something I could comment on!), and in places pretty hard-hitting, with a bit of a surprising ending.

What have you been reading lately? Any recommendations of what I should pick up next?

Current Skincare Routine

Long time no post! I've been on an accidental blogging break for a while now, due to stuff and things happening (not bad things!), but I've been working on some posts this afternoon! I can't promise I'll be back into the blogging swing of things straight away, but it really is something I enjoy doing and am going to ease myself back into!

Although I've done reviews on some of these products already, I thought I'd share my current skincare routine! FYI - I have pretty much combination skin, although no particular dryness - just a slightly oil-prone T-zone, and I'm also prone to the odd spot (or three, ugh) around my chin, with the rest of my skin being pretty clear. 

No 7 Beautiful Skin Eye Make Up Remover

I usually wear quite a bit of eye make-up, so my first step is getting rid of the majority of this! I've found the No7 eye make-up remover to be gentle but effective, it does a good job removing most of my eyeliner and mascara. It's simple to use, like most eye make-up removers, with a cotton ball/pad. Although I usually don't manage to get every little bit off, it removes the majority and when I cleanse, the rest comes off easily.

No 7 Beautiful Skin Hot Cloth Cleanser
I previously used a Superdrug hot cloth cleanser, and I've found I prefer this one - it's very creamy, and really does a good job of getting rid of grime, dirt and making my skin feel really cleansed. It isn't drying, like I've found with some cleansers, and is easy to use - just massage in, then buff away with a hot cloth.

Benefit Refined Finish Facial Polish
(previous review here) I actually took a break from using this since I bought it, as I was using a Dermalogica exfoliator I got in a beauty box, but I've recently rediscovered it. I don't use it every time I cleanse at night, more like 2-3 times a week - but I'm nearly running out, so I need to decide whether to purchase the full size or try something else (probably the latter, as I'm a sucker for NEW THINGS)

Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix
(full review here) After finishing up in the bathroom, I'll do the rest of the routine in my room. As with the Benefit Facial Polish, these pads sort of fell off my radar for a bit whilst trying other things, but now I'm back to using them as they really make my skin feel rejuvenated and smoother.

Benefit - It's Potent! Eye Cream & Benefit Total Moisture Facial Cream
(previous review here) I put these two together, because I've reviewed them before and it'd be a bit silly to go in-depth about them again, when you could just click the link! I really love the consistency of both, and they're still going strong as favourite products at the moment!

A lot of the products I use are travel/trial sized, and I'm always looking for something new to try out - I know I should probably find things that work and stick to them, but I'm always looking for something EVEN BETTER. Most of these are running out soon, so I think I need a bit of a beauty splurge. Do share your recommendations in the comments!