Vanity Cases from Makeup Fix

Since moving house late last year , I haven’t actually managed to really sort out my ( hideously expansive) make up collection, I have a lot of it squirelled away but that means I am not using a lot or making sure I change up what products I use which is no fun. I totally loved vanity cases when I was younger and I  had one that I was obsessed by, I would pack away toiletries and make up that I could pilfer from my mum and I loved organising it and carrying it around the house for no real reason! Understandably I was pretty delighted when I was recently sent this purple beauty from the team at Makeup Fix

 This Songmics case is a really pro looking bit of kit and it can hold a tonne of products. I love the organisation space inside and the fact it has a decent sized pop up mirror too. It would be ideal for anyone who has to carry around a lot of products on a regular basis but for me I just love who much better It will make accessing my collection without leaving it all out on show. They had a range of vanity cases to choose from including a really slick black one that was a little smaller so would be really handy for smaller collections or needs. This one comes with a carry handle, keys for locking and a additional storage box for internal organisation which is super handy. It is incredibly lightweight but still durable and the covered corners make it ideal for moving around with you which appealed to me, made even easier by the included pop up mirror.

They also stock a beautiful range of makeup brushes that are just stunning as well as other make up accessories. The larger make up trolleys look like a MUA's dream, it is pretty worrying I could easily fill one of those too....!

I have already started changing up my most used products thanks to my new storage system, I'll get a post on my new bits and bobs up shortly.

This post was written in conjuction with Makeup Fix

Glasgow Reviewed; Black Dove Dining

Being a fairly new South Side resident ( actually it has almost been a year- CRAZY!) there is still a list of eateries on my must visit list and up until last month the Black Dove was at the top of that list thanks to its outstanding reputation. I have been eyeing up countless Instagram snaps of their gorgeous looking dishes for long enough when an offer of coming along to try out a few dishes on the tasting menu came up and I could not say no. Alongside some lovely local bloggers we were absolutely treated by the staff at the Black Dove who are really passionate about the food on the latest menu as well as the fantastic cocktails to compliment it.

Based on the Kilmarnock Road, this is a hotspot not to be missed. Focusing on well made and thought out small plate dishes that you can order a few of and enjoy a variety of styles. I love tapas dining as I am always so undecided on exactly what I want so I love the option to try a bit of as many as I fancy. Each plate is cooked to order and they have included gluten and dairy free options to suit as many  as possible which is ideal.

Over the course of the night my favourite picks from the line up had to be the Pork Belly Scotch egg thanks to its beautifully cooked yolk, apple salad and the most incredible chorizo jam that I could hear being discussed up and down the table. A wonderfully refined Ox Cheek ‘steak pie’ that was a really tender delight that was so well presented and possibly my favourite of them all the braised Lamb belly with puy lentils and beetroot gel. I am not usually a lamb person but boy was this delicious.

On the sweet side, Black Dove Dining did not disappoint.I am such a pudding person ( in both tastes and shape!) so  there was zero issue after tasting the mains that there wouldn’t be room for the desserts. Presented to oooh and ahhs across the room was a honey and morello cheesecake with home made honeycomb and cherry coulis that was possibly the dish of the night for me ( complete with mini milkshake to enjoy), a stunning warm chocolate pudding with salted caramel and a vibrant blueberry and lavender sorbet and the impressive French martini.  No not another cocktail after an evening full of them but a dessert in a glass combining pineapple compote, pineapple custard, coral sponge and raspberry foam- it tasted just as good as it looked!!

There were empty plates all round after that feast and some very happy bloggers merrily chatting over a final drink ( yes there was still room…just.)

Talking of drinks their cocktails are renowned in the South Side and I can see why. I am  not usually a cocktail kinda gal ( simple tastes that are slowly changing) but these were the most enjoyable I have ever had. The passion for creating the perfect drinks was obvious from the team , I could quite happily have worked my way down the entire list. Among the many we got to experience I was most enamoured with the Shawlands Sling which was a beautiful blend of Brockmans Gin, Jagermeister, Cointreau, pineapple bitters and a touch of Cherry Brandy. But the big winner was their famous Drumstick Cocktail which did not disapoint- with vanilla vodka, vanilla sugar, raspberry and cranberry, I struggled to nurse this one instead of totally down it :)

 I love that they are stocked up with such an extensive cocktail list, a heap of craft beers and run good special offers too with £4 cocktails and prosecco all day Tuesday to thursday and kids eating free over the summmer- it really is the place to be. Never mind I HAVE to get back and try out the waffles with duck that I spied on the menu!

Glasgow Reviewed; The St Enoch Summer Event

I have been WAY behind on blogging of late, but life has gotten in the way. So I was excited to ease myself back in with a couple of fab events in the last couple of weeks and it felt goooood. First up was a wonderful evening of perusing the latest summer collections from various shops in the St Enoch Centre in their pretty lovely atrium area. For the last 5 years I would walk through the centre twice a day as it was on my route to work and I loved that in the evening I could easily pick up bits and bobs I needed as part of my commute as it is open to 7pm. Moving further away at the end of last year however means I am in town far less often and I hadn’t even been up to the newly refurbished eating area and it is a pretty nifty space!! With floor to ceiling windows and some really cool Scottish based art installations on the walls and ceiling, it is actually a  handy central space to stop over for some quick and tasty food in a super packed town.

It provided an excellent area for a heap of shops to showcase their beautiful summer offerings for bloggers to take a peek at. With the super delicious Kimbles providing the snacks ( seriously the brownies were next level) and Mud Urban flowers with their beautiful bright blooms as a back drop, I had the loveliest evening. It was really amazing to be introduced to perfect summer items from shops I am less likely to be in like Pavers Shoes or Claires Accessories. There were really beautiful accessories, clothes and shoes to take in from kids wear to pastels to neon brights. I was really taken with an incredible embroidered dress from Matthew Williamson at Debenhams that had so many people swooning over it. There was also a wonderful toddler rainbow dress and yellow mac from Billies Market that pretty much everyone wished they could fit into!

I loved that the St enoch team left no stone un-turned and made sure their was make up, hair and skincare all represented too. It was the ideal event with everything under one roof!! I finally got to get my hands on the Kat Von D foundation I have heard so much about, and it was ace to get a chat with the Murad team, turns out they have some amazing  new products out that I had totally missed. I tried out the textures of  the Invisible Perfecting Shield and I was really impressed, I could tell how well it would sit under make up which is impressive when it is SPF 30. And for a total SPF-aholic like me the new City Skin with SPF 50 is a total must buy for me, I am going to head in to Debenhams to take a closer look next week. I have had a lot of success with various of their products in the past so I have high hopes for these ones.

I also had the chance to have a quick scalp analysis from Aveda and it was fascinating taking an up close look at my follicles and get tips to improve the condition. Their products smell like an actual zen oasis, what calming scents! And there was  no way I was leaving with out a quick swatch frenzy of some smashbox palettes either, I have been lusting after 

I am not sure what else I could possibly want from an evening and It was the perfect reminder of just how many amazing shops are sitting within the ST Enoch centre. I have identified some new must visits ( not just Kimbles for more chocolates) and have a whole new list of summer wants to pick up.

Current Superdrug Skincare Favourites

There is a brand new Superdrug in Glasgow and of course the minute it opened I had to get along and take a good snoop about. handily placed in the West End retail park on the Crow Road this little beauty has parking right outside- pretty nifty for your last minute needs. 

Housing what you have come to expect in a good Superdrug branch, there is a brow bar and really well stocked perfume counter as well as an AMAZING wall of make up brands, it is a proper one stop shop. I am always so excited to see properly stocked shelves of all my favourite brands, and I am of course obsessed by collecting my points on purchases too. 

While there I picked up a refill of a few of my most used products right now and thought it was an ideal time to share. The First one is the  Simply Pure Hydrating serum that my best pal Mairead first passed on to me to try and I absolutely love it. Since then I have seen it raved about in so many places ( including a big fan in Sali Hughes), and  is often compared to really high end products which is amazing considering it costs the princely sum of  £2.69 and often on offer. This might look pretty inconspicuous but it is a lovely light formula that properly hydrates my skin and leaves it soft and nourished looking. I use it every morning underneath the moisturiser and I can really tell when I haven't used it. Being from the Simply Pure range it is fragrance free and totally suitable for all skin types as it is incredibly gentle. I actually laughed checking out the reviews for this on the Superdrug page while linking to it- so many simply beg PLEASE PLEASE NEVER DISCONTINUE. Now if that doesn't tell you how much people love it, I don't know what will! For less than a price of a sandwich, this is completely worth anyone trying.

Next up is the newest to my routine as I needed a new moisturiser with a light SPF for the end of winter. I had found success in other of the optimum range including the product below so it felt a natural place to look for something different. I settled on the Birch Water Day Cream with SPF 15 and for the time of year i needed it, it has performed just fab. The optimum range has loads of products with some excellent ingredients and usually has strong offers on ( currently £8.99 for this one) I have found it pairs wonderfully with the serum as it is similarly lightweight and hydrating and it sinks in super fast which means make up application is a breeze. I was delighted it was non greasy and without being rich it was still a good amount of hydration for my still winter burned skin.

The first Optimum range product I had ever tried was the Optimum Grape Overnight peel, that I had again picked up after hearing loads about it in beauty forums. This wee beauty has a gel texture that is very light and not super sticky to apply and is a glycolic product which is my ingredient of choice for my skin type. Stacked also with Anti oxidants it is no wonder it was a winner at the Anti Ageing beauty awards, you leave this on overnight and it gently exfoliates and leaves my skin feeling and looking really fresh in the AM. I use it 2 or 3 times a week and can always see the difference on those mornings, it just makes me look much brighter as my skin leaves very dull looking!Again I usually purchase when on offer which makes it really reasonable in comparison to a lot of my glycolic products.

I hadn't even realised how many of these products had actually settled into my routine in the last few months, I am totally keen on trying a few more too- I love affordable skincare options!! I have a wee bundle of other Superdrug highlights sitting ready to pamper with in the next few weeks, so I will update on how they go.

If you are in Glasgow I would totally make use of the new store, and check out a few of the above and see what you think.

Benefit They're Real New Launches

So I may have taken a BIT of an extended Christmas break this year..... but instead of beating myself for not getting sorted sooner, I am going to just get on with posting and get stuck back in. Last year was absolutely the toughest I have gone through for a long time, and selling a flat, buying a house and renovating it certainly took its toll. By the time January came round I was fully done, and just needed some quiet time and I am so glad I did.

I am only just getting back to catching up on events, new openings and product launches now and it feels good to be back in the game and what better way to kick off than a bit of Benefit. You know by know a few of their products are my absolute daily staples ( namely brows and mascara) but I am always keen to see what new creative things they have come up with, they are always on the ball with new releases.

 I went along for a brow wax  in the super amazing pink Brow Mobile, right in the middle of Buchanan Street, who knew you could fit 2 people getting their brows done in the back of a car!?

I managed to get a good look at the new additions to the They’re Real family while in there including a range of new shadow duo and lip colours. Sticking to the They’re Real formula, they promise to be pigmented and long lasting- something I have not been let down on by Benefit. They’re Real mascara and liners are some of my most used items in my collection so I had hopes for these.

On first look when I saw pictures of the Duo Shadow Blender I have to be honest and say I felt sceptical, for the shadows I am not a fan of a little sponge brush and I was sure there was no way it could possibly apply to the lid in nice defined different colours but seeing them in the flesh I realised it was actually super nifty. I gave a beautiful bronze combo a go and was delighted to be proven wrong. I actually gave it the first go while sitting at my desk on my lunch, I figured if it was going to work i should be able to give it  a couple of swipes and be good to go and it actually worked!!I still cant quite work out how they have managed to get that sponge the absolute perfect shape but I had eyes that looked like I had put far more effort into them than I had. When I use it at home I usually give a quick blend with an eye shadow brush after but really there is no actual need, the system works as it is. I have my eye on a couple of other shade colour ways, can't wait to  try more!

The beauty of Double the Lip is the custom teardrop tip which is a liner and lipstick in one. Now I had visions of a bit of a 90's brown lip line with nude lipstick, but when I saw the Benebabes rocking a variety of the colours I was so impressed, their lips looked so FULL! I was desperate to give it a go and picked up criminally coral and I have to admit the first couple of uses I found the top lip easier to apply than the bottom lip, but once I got the hang of it, it was worth it. The colours on offer are just gorgeous and the extra definition the bullet gives the lip makes a difference, I think it was one you need to give a couple of go's to get it just right but the pay off is worth it.

These new products are well worth heading in store to check out in the flesh to see them work their magic, I delighted at just how handy they are.

A very Superdrug Christmas

I have a very fond history with Superdrug thanks to winning a blogging competition with them many a moon ago. It was not long after starting this blog that I saw they were offering the chance to blog for them and possibly win a holiday in the end and being new to the game I thought, why not! I was so so excited when I was picked as a finalist and set upon enjoying a summer writing content for their blog based around a whole heap of challenges from festival beauty to treating pals to a pampering. I never thought after having so much fun writing for them that I would go and win the whole thing  but I did and it remains something I super proud of. I was delighted then all these years later to be invited to head along to my local store ( the Glasgow Argyle Street branch) to check out all the new makeup lines they had instore as well as the outstanding gift selection on offer. I am ashamed to admit just how often I pop into this store as it happens to be on my daily walk to and from work... that and I have an obsession collecting up my points to treat myself :) Thanks to my recent house move however I hadn't been in for weeks and in that time they have only gone and made some amazing additions to the makeup aisles. Superdrug is the absolute home of the best affordable makeup  so I was bowled over by the newly stocked and jam packed counters for Makeup Revolution, Gosh, MUA and more. I have been itching to get my hands on so many bits for ages and had been buying online but now I could ogle it all in the flesh which is amazing.

I had so much fun going through some of the key products for various ranges while chatting to Jemmimah from the team, I absolutely adore chatting skincare and makeup with someone who loves it as much as me. It was super interesting to hear what is all in the line up for 2017 with some exciting relaunches from the B. Beautiful line (their micellar water FYI is just amazing) and learning more about their in house skincare ranges. I have long recommended Superdrugs super affordable Vitamin E and sensitive skin range to people who get in touch with me, but how I had missed so many good bits in the Optimum Range, I have no idea. There are some powerful ingredients hiding in there that I was quick to stash in my basket and I am super excited to try them out.

Moving on to the Christmas bundles and I was really impressed with the array of collections on offer. From fantastic Zoella and Tanya Burr sets that are sure to tickle any secret santa, to some of the sweetest stocking fillers I have seen, there was something for everyone and then some!! I could easily have knocked out my entire Christmas shopping in about 5 minutes and then still reaped the rewards in the form of points! The prices for their Christmas ranges are properly affordable, I was shocked at how little some of the sets are, the Leafy and Lovely range is as little as £2.50 for a sweet manicure set and looks so much more expensive than that, they are perfect for me to have in as little filler gifts. Taking a peek online I just noticed so much of the Christmas stuff is reduced to amazing prices already so if you still have all the shopping to get done, you know where to head!