TUTORIAL: Curls with a Straightener.

It took me quite a while to master curling my hair with a straightener, but once I cracked it - which I have to admit was after many failed attempts and bad hair days - I just love the look I get this way of curling my hair. 

It doesn't take long to get this look at all, 15-20 minutes at the most, so it's ideal for a quick and glam daytime look. Plus these curls are perfect for a girls night out or a special occasion, the best part is they last all day or night and I wake up with a natural softer curl the next day, so it''s two days worth of hairstyles. Perfect! 

What I use:

1. Head Jog paddle brush
2. Head Jog clip
3. SHE Hair Straightener

Festive FOTD

Yesterday was kind of a second mini Christmas because my parents and little sister were visiting my family in London for Christmas this year, so they came round to my house bearing many gifts - which I got excited like a little child about - and I put out a bit of a buffet type spread for nibbles. 

This is the make up look I wore yesterday, its quite subtle and not very dramatic, but with the shimmery eyeshadow and berry lip I thought it was quite festive. 

What's on my face:

DiorSkin Star Foundation - 002 Light Beige

Collection Lasting Finish Concealer - Fair

Rimmel Clear Complexion Clarifying Powder - Transparent

Maybelline Dream Terra Sun - Tiger

TUTORIAL: Twist-Braid Side Pony

I am always trying to find different ways to style my second or third day hair instead of just chucking it up into a pony tail. So after a lot of playing around with my hair, I found this cute way to overcome boring and drab second day hair, at the moment this is my go to hairstyle. Keep reading to see how I do it. 

REVIEW: DiorSkin Star Foundation

I received this exclusive five-day trial of DiorSkin Star Foundation in the post last week, I thought it would be perfect for me to review. So after using it for a few days, here are my thoughts.

FOTD Friday: Simple Liner

Happy Friday everyone! 

My FOTD is just something simple that I do towards the end of week but a little bit more than my usual everyday make up.

I love this look, it's so versatile for anything you have planned whether it's a day at the office with back to back meetings or a day off shopping. This make up look is so easy to carry through to the night aswell, all I would do is add a dramatic red lip. Sometimes I pair this with eyeshadow but today I have just gone with a lined top lip with no eyeshadow, just a highlighter in the inner corners of my eyes. 

                                             

Feelin' Festive.

17 SLEEPS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!

Christmas is upon us and it feels like it has flown by, I can't believe that it is here already and I am most definitely in the festive spirit - well I am now anyways.

I say now, because this time last week I felt like a complete Scrooge. I had no decorations up in my house, I turned the radio down every time a Christmas song was played and I had no thoughts on Christmas presents let alone bought any. I still haven't bought any presents yet but I have made a list - at least I partially organised. I must admit though, I am not really looking forward to doing my Christmas shopping and tackling the shops!

So what changed? Well, I spent to weekend getting into the swing of all things Christmassy. 

OOTD: White Lace

When I woke up this morning it was so dull and drizzly outside that I wanted to inject a a little spring into my outfit to brighten up my day. 

Due to the typical british weather, I couldn't take my OOTD photos outside - without getting soaked anyways - so I had to settle with taking them inside, which means I had very limited places to take the photos. The next OOTD post will have better photographs, I promise! 

Fundraising Target Smashed at Pancreatic Cancer Fun Day!

On Sunday 30th November 2014 a charity fun day that was suitable for the whole family took place at River Rooms in Stourbridge in support of Pancreatic Cancer and in the loving memory of Lee Wilson, a Black Country comic but also a Dad, Grandad and Great Grandad who sadly lost his battle to Pancreatic Cancer. It was organised by Lee's grandchildren Libby, Ellie, Emily and Sam Martin and was such a well thought out event that almost DOUBLED their fundraising target!

Back (from left): Rob Gazzard, Tim Martin, Sam Martin, Tracy Martin, Matt Healey & Alfie Healey.
Front (from left): Libby Martin, Ellie Martin, Isabelle Healey and Emily Martin.

TUTORIAL: My Everyday Make-Up.

The first thing that I want to say is that I am by no means a make-up artist neither have I had any training, this is just how I usually do my make-up on a daily basis.

Products I use:

L'Oreal True Match Foundation - Rose Vanilla 

Collection Lasting Finish Concealer - Fair

Rimmel Clear Complexion Clarifying Powder - Transparent

Maybelline Dream Terra Sun - Tiger

Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil - Dark Brown

Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette 

Tease, Bootycall & Foxy.

Essence I Love Extreme Volume - Ultra Black

November Favourites.

I can't quite get my head around the fact that it is December already and Christmas is just around the corner. This is bitter sweet for me, I am super excited for Christmas and I am feeling rather festive, but it's less than a month away and I haven't even started buying gifts for anyone yet - whoopsie!

Anyways, enough of the festivities, let's get into the purpose of this post - my November favourites.

REVIEW: L'Oreal True Match Foundation.

I have been on the hunt for a lightweight foundation for ages so I was over the moon when I found the L'Oreal True Match, my Mum gave me this as it didn't suit her skin tone. I haven't used L'Oreal make-up before, but I am really pleased with this product.

I lost the lid, sorry. 

Family Fun Day in Memory of Lee Wilson.

Hi everyone,

If you read my blog post from the start of this month you will know that it is World Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, also that there is a fundraising event taking place in support of this and in memory of Lee Wilson a much loved Midland comedian, Dad, Grandad and Great Grandad.

If you did read my blog post about this cause then you will know the fundraising event details already, but just incase you've forgotten or for those of you who haven't read the previous post, here are all of the details again. 

Family Fun Day in Memory of Lee Wilson

The River Rooms

Mill Race Lane

Stourbridge

West Midlands

DY8 1JN

Sunday 30th November 2014

12noon - 4pm

Click here for the Facebook event page

Christmas Gift Guide: UNDER £15 STOCKING FILLERS.

Welcome to the third and final my Christmas Gift Guide, here are a few gifts that are under £15 and ideal for stocking fillers. 

The first thing that came to mind when I thought of stocking fillers was fluffy socks, every girl I know just loves chilling out with a mug of chocolate and trashy mags whilst wearing a pair of Primark's finest fluffy socks! You can get loads of cute colours and designs from Primark for £2 - such a bargain! But I saw these from New Look for £5.99, how cute are these though? At the end of Christmas Day, after you've taken your heels off, these would be perfect to slip on and put your feet up with your tin of Quality Streets or After Eights. 

Something for the men now but staying on the cosy theme. Not many men will admit it but they love getting the handy stuff for Christmas like pants, socks, jumpers and scarves. So here is a super cosy and chunky snood from ASOS for £15. I chose a snood over a scarf because I have seen so many men wear scarves totally wrong and what should look so trendy just looks ridiculous, a snood is so much easier to put on and wear.

Christmas Gift Guide: HIM

Welcome to part 2 of my Christmas Gift Guides, here are a few gift ideas for the guys in your life, whether it's your Boyfriend or Husband, Brother, Son, Dad or Uncle.

Firstly, for the men in your life that love to pamper themselves this Soap and Glory All-Out Phwoar bath and body gift set is perfect, obviously I have never used the men's stuff before but I absolutely adore the women's products. I really like their packaging, it's got a 1950's look to it and the names of their products are a clever play on words. This men's gift set includes; Soap'er Man Hair & Body Wash, Eau Man Body Spray, Eau Man Eau de Toilette, A Man's Got to Dew Facial Moisturiser Balm, A Shave to Love Shave Gel, Billy Wildhair Hair Sculpting Putty & Duck Soap on a Rope. You can buy this for £25 from the Soap & Glory's online store or from Boots.

Christmas Gift Guide: HER

It's quite obvious now that Christmas is creeping up on us fast, the shops are stocking Quality Streets, the German Markets have started and John Lewis and Coca Cola have released their Christmas adverts.  

With 5 weeks until Christmas Day, when better to do a few Christmas Gift Guide blog posts? Now is the answer, before we run out of time to buy pressies! As you can tell from the title my first gift guide is for 'her', just a few ideas to help you decide what to buy for the lovely ladies in your life, whether it's your Girlfriend, Wife, Mum, Sister, Nan or Aunty. 

HOW: I Blowdry My Hair

Hi everyone,

I am going to show you how I blowdry my hair and which products and tools I use to get this look.

Here is everything I use:

ETI Turbodryer 2000 - Fuschia
£28.95 (excl VAT)
Capital Hair & Beauty 

Head Jog 65 Ionic Paddle Brush
£3.85 (excl VAT)
Capital Hair & Beauty

Head Jog Sup Klip-itz - Zebra
£3.45 (excl VAT)
Capital Hair & Beauty

Argan Oil Heat Defence Leave In Spray
99p
Bodycare 

World Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.

November is  Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month and November 13th is World Pancreatic Cancer Day.

I am attending an event near me in support of pancreatic cancer to raise both awareness and funds for the charity. I went to school with Ellie Martin, who is hosting this fundraising event with her siblings after they lost their Grandad to pancreatic cancer. Here is a little message from Ellie and some information about the event. 

"We are organising a fun filled few hours, with lots of beautiful unique stalls, of which profits will be going to Pancreatic Cancer UK. Please join us to raise awareness and of course, money; in memory of our Grandad and so many others that were taken too soon or are fighting to kick Pancreatic Cancer where it hurts!

BE SMART. BE AWARE.

Please, if you are unable to attend, contact us for details on how you can contribute towards the donations.

http://www.pancreaticcancer.org.uk/

October Favourites.

I think that it is safe to say that we are well and truly into Autumn, the trees are covering the ground with their golden litter of leaves and the nights are getting darker earlier. These are some products that I have loved using throughout October along with a little bit about why they are my favourites! 

Going Heatless.

Hi everyone!

I have noticed that recently my hair is getting very damaged, it's dry and I have really bad split ends. My mum is a hairdresser, so she points it out every time she spots how bad the condition of my hair is or how bad my roots are, which is a great confidence boost. Thanks mum! 

I think that we are most likely all guilty of using way too much heat on our hair, whether it's using straighteners to tackle frizz or curlers to create lovely locks - I know I definitely am. As we all know, too much heat makes our hair dry and brittle, it can lose it's shine and begin to look unhealthy and dull, this causes split ends and discourages hair growth. During the summer my hair got alot of damage while I was on holiday with the sun exposure, sea water and chlorine. Also, my hair is coloured almost every month, so with all of this considered it's really not in it's best condition. 

New Girl.

Hi everyone, welcome to my blog!

I’ve been planning to write my own blog for quite some time now, but I have just never got myself round to doing it, since I have got a bit more spare time now there is no better time to start. So back to basics – I’m Charlotte Smart, 22 years old and live in West Midlands, however I am originally from London. I finished Secondary School with 7 GCSEs and a group of the best friends, I then continued my education at Sixth Form, which was such a very fun 2 years and I met some amazing people. I came away from Sixth Form with 2 A Levels and 1 AS Level. Many of my friends were going off to University but I decided that more learning just wasn't for me, so I got myself a job in retail whilst I figured out what it was I wanted to do with my life. I currently work in an office as a PA, I enjoy my job.

I am in love with anything related to beauty and fashion, I will be blogging my beauty and fashion favourites, what I'm wearing and loving.

I am also a great lover of food and I enjoy cooking, so expect a load of posts about food and maybe some recipes.

 I’m excited about getting this going finally…

I really hope you like it!