H&M TRANSITIONAL AUTUMN FASHION PICKS

As we are heading into September, it's time to trade the sun dresses for trousers and replace those trusty wardrobe staples to update your already full wardrobe. Here are my H&M High Street picks that I currently have my eye on.
Grey Jersey T-shirt, £6.99 - Every girl needs basic's in her wardrobe, this jersey tee is a great simple essential when pairing with printed bottoms or just when you want to rock the preppy vibe. At such an affordable price you can pick it up in white also.
Black Shoulder Bag, £14.99 - I absolutely love the stitching detail on this bag. This shoulder bag comes with a detachable strap and tassel, great for everyday when you don't need to carry as much around. It also comes in a gorgeous powder pink!
Floral Super-Stretch Treggings, £12.99 - These treggings come in super-stretch fabric with pockets at the back and an elasticated waist, making them so comfortable and easy to wear. They come in so many colour ways if your not so confident in wearing print on your bottom half and are amazing value!
Monocrome Jacquard-Weave Jacket, £29.99 - This jacket is perfect for the transitional seasons. This short, straight-style jacket in a jacquard weave is an ideal way of making a simple outfit look smart. Also comes in red if your more into the aztec trend.
Burgundy Studded Low Boots, £29.99 - Shoes have to be one of my favourite things to buy from H&M, they are great value and last you all season. These ankle boots come in burgundy and black and the studding detail around the front adds to the basic design. These are also an online exclusive, so nab them while you can!
Current discount codes; 25% of one item - 0560, £5 0ff - 1304, Free Shipping until 08/09/13 - 0769.

What are your transitional fashion picks?

SELFRIDGES FESTIVAL BEAUTY BOX

I really enjoy the whole concept of a beauty box. You get to try new beauty products that you maybe wouldn't choose out for yourself and discover brands that you have admired from afar but have never took the plunge to commit to one product. This is the fourth Beauty box from Selfridges, I have managed to get my hands on all of them except for the valentines box which I wasn't really too fussed about, but this festival themed exclusive really won me over. The box contains eleven beauty essentials with a combined value of £110, making it the ultimate summer survival kit. I'm not attending a festival this year but the contents was too good to miss!

The box contains; Sol de Janerio Coconut Water Cooling Mist - This product is one of my favourites from the bunch, anything coconut scented is a hit with me! You can spray this on your face and body anytime to refresh your skin. It delivers a cooling sensation and would be ideal to take on holiday with you. Cowshed Antibacterial Hand Gel - This hand gel smells lovely! and doesn't have the normal overpowering antibacterial scent. It's ideal to pop in your handbag for travelling. My only dislike about it is that it doesn't seem to sink into the skin as quickly as others I've tried. Azature Nail Lacquer in Champagne - Festivals are all about the glitter! This nail polish contains gold, bronze and silver glitter and looks lovely over any nail base or simply on it's own. NPW Mini Scented Hand & Face Wet Wipes - Another handbag friendly product, also without the generic wet wipe scent. NPW Chubby Glitter Stick in Hottest Pink - I'm not too sure when I'm going to use this product, it would be great for parties or fancy dress. The stick contains bright pink and multicoloured glitter and is so easy to apply. Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner in Navy Blue - This eyeko eyeliner is foolproof, the colour is lovely, it's so easy to apply and doesn't smudge at all. The felt tip application means you can control the pen in a single stroke.

Topshop Lip Crayon in Powder Room - I had been wanting to try a Lip crayon from Topshop for a while. This one is in Power Room which is a bright baby pink, the formulation is matte but really creamy! Great to use even when you haven't got a mirror handy. Illamasqua Liquid Metal in Surge (Plus a complimentary eye colour consultation) - This is another one of my favourites from the box. I haven't tried many products from the brand but this cream eyeshadow is gorgeous! It gives a lovely metallic sheen and would be ideal for a dramatic eye. Bare Minerals Pretty Amazing Lip Gloss in Moxie - The formula of this lip gloss is really creamy which leaves you with a high-impact shine and vibrant colour - A real barbie pink shade. Colorsmash Hair Shadow in Je ne sais quoi - Another festival perfect product, Colorsmash temporary hair colour can be applied by rubbing it into the desired section of the hair and sealing it with hair spray. To remove, juat wash it out. It's as easy as that! Violent Lips Lip Appliques in The Warm Rainbow - This is the only product I am yet to use from the box. They would be ideal for parties or a night out. I love the colours, they last up to 8 hours and look quite easy to apply.

As you can see the contents is well worth the bargain price tag! The Selfridges Festival Beauty Box is £25 and is available here. Have you got yours yet?

VERA WANG - LOVESTRUCK FLORAL RUSH EAU DE PARFUM SPRAY

Vera Wang Lovestruck Floral Rush perfume is the newest fragrance in my ever growing collection. The scent is light, floral and youthful - with a sparkling floral bouquet that attracts with its juicy notes. The notes include; Champagne, Pink Pepper, Apricot Blossom, Pink Passion Flower, Marigold, White Freesie, Ambergris, Musk and Cashmere Wood. I think the scent is a very easy to wear, romantic fragrance. I would say the scent is still sweet like Lovestruck's little sister fragrance 'Princess' but a little more floral and mature.
I must admit I was drawn in by the packaging, it is a lovely addition to my dressing table and definitely stands out from other more simple perfume bottles that I own. I much prefer the lilac bottle and bow over the original pink Lovestruck design. The bouquet and bow means it's not very practical to carry in your handbag on-the-go but you can always carry it without the lid or transfer some into a Travalo.
The 30ml bottle is currently on offer at Boots for an absolute bargain £19.99 (normally priced at £35.00). I would definitely recommend picking this up whilst it's on offer if you are after a girly, everyday fragrance.

What is your favourite Spring/Summer fragrance?

SUMMER BEAUTY PRODUCT EMPTIES - JULY 2013

For me, using one product at a time is hard. I constantly enjoy using different products and finding the right products that work best for me. This month I have come to the end of many of my favourite products which I need to repurchase, and I thought I would share my views on them (and stop hoarding the packaging.)
VO5 Refresh Me Quick Dry Shampoo, 200ml £3.59 - This has to be the best dry shampoo I have used, I have raved about this before - read here. I have tried both the dry shampoo's from VO5, but refresh me quick has to be on top! It gets rid of oily roots instantly, meaning I don't have to wash my hair everyday and the scent is lovely. Would I repurchase? Yes I always have my next bottle at the ready!
Soap & Glory Foam Call Body Wash, 500ml £6.50 - I'm such a big fan of Soap & Glory body wash, I love the Fruitigo fragrance and the pump bottles. You really can't beat Soap & Glory on the high street! For the amount of product you get, it really is cost efficient as they last for ages. My favourite body wash in the line has to be Rich and Foamous - read my review here. Would I repurchase? Yes, I am using Rich and Foamous in my shower at the moment.
Liz Earle Botanical Shine Shampoo, 200ml £8.75  - I haven't tried many products from Liz Earle apart from a skincare try-me kit. So I didn't really know what to expect from their shampoo - but I was impressed! The shampoo is free from SLS/SLES and only contains naturally active ingredients including; natural vitamin e, aloe vera, west african shea butter, apple and orange extracts. The shampoo creates a rich lather and restores my hairs natural shine. Would I repurchase? Yes, the price isn't too bad for a mid-range brand.
Soap & Glory Calm One Calm All Bubble Bath, 500ml £6.00 - Another staple in my bathroom has to be this product. This bubble bath contains the 'Original Pink' scent and has body lotion built in, which is an added bonus for lazy days. Would I repurchase? Yes, always!
Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micelle Solution, 500ml £11.60 - I was hesitant to try this hyped product at first, but I'm so glad I did. I use this product to take the bulk of my make-up off before using a cleanser in the evenings. It dissolves all my make-up including my eye make-up which I was really impressed with. I'm so glad they have made this more readably available in the UK. Would I repurchase? Yes, I am trying the one for oily skin at the moment.
Aveeno Daily Exfoliating Cleanser, 150ml £5.99 - This is the first product I have tried from Aveeno, I decided to pick it up one day as it was on offer and new. This cleanser claims to brighten skin with naturally active Soy and smooth microbeads that gently exfoliate while cleansing. I kept this product in the shower and used it in the mornings to wake my skin up. Would I repurchase? Maybe, I would like to see what other products they have in the range.

Ren Omega 3 Night Repair Serum, Full-size 50ml £34.00 - I received this little sample free with a promotion  from WIMH - read here. Ren has to be one of my favourite skincare brands of the moment. I would use this serum on my face and neck before moisturising each night. I definitely saw a difference with incorporating a serum into my night time skincare routine. The only downfall was that I wasn't too keen on the scent. Would I repurchase? I don't think I would because of the scent, but I want to see if they have any other serums that work the same way.
Batiste Dry Shampoo, Cherry, Savanna and Mamba, 50ml £1.50 - These travel sized Batiste bottles are really handy for your handbag for use on the go. If I ever need to sort my hair out on-the-go or after the gym I will reach for one of these. The cherry and tropical scent are my favourite and are a great staple to have in my stash. Would I repurchase? Yes, a classic repurchase.
Caudalie Beauty Elixir, 30ml £10.35 - Another cult product which every one talks about. I like to use this in the evenings before moisturising or in the day to refresh my face. I think it works great if you have any breakouts or redness as it really helps to calm down the skin. The scent is lovely! Would I repurchase? Yes, I purchased the Selfridges Summer Box which had a 100ml bottle inside. Bargain!
Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation, 30ml £10.99 - This has to be the best high street foundation that I have used. No other formula has come close to my higher end base's. I have tried the regular Healthy Mix and the new formulation but I like this one the most. I have the shade 51 which is the lightest and the shade matches me well which is rare on the high street. Would I repurchase? Yes, I'm missing this in my collection.
Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment Cream, Full-size 100ml £13.99 - A little sample I got with a free gift which I was happy to receive. I had been wanting to try this hand cream after hearing only good things and I have definitely seen the benefits. It helps to moisturise and soften hands as well as strengthen nails and minimising visible signs of ageing. A little goes a long way! Would I repurchase? Yes I love the formula, but I do love a small bottle of hand cream for travel.
Origins VitaZing Moisturiser, 50ml £28.00 - This product is my daily go to moisturiser, I like to apply this before I start my make-up for the day as the sheer tint release really helps to wake-up my skin for the day ahead. It also contains an SPF15 which is an essential for day time and the scent it heavenly! I cut open the back of this product to scrape the last remaining product out. It is pricey but totally worth it. Would I repurchase? Yes, holy grail! 
Ren Vetiver v7 Hand and Body Cream, Full-size 100ml £9.00 - Another little ren sample, formulated with Javanese Vetiver Oil that leaves skin optimally hydrated, smoothed and conditioned. I used this product as a hand cream, as it was handy to chuck in my bag or reach for on my desk. Would I repurchase? Not a bad price for a Ren product, maybe I would in the future.

GLOSSYBOX 2ND BIRTHDAY - MAY 2013 BEAUTY BOX

May was the month of Glossybox's 2nd birthday, so expectations were high as to what brands were going to feature in Glossybox's special box. I still can't believe that Glossybox has been available in the UK for two years now, I have been an avid subscriber for a year and a half, so I also received a little extra treat this month (Green & Black's chocolate) for my loyalty.
The first item which caught my eye was a full-size beauty of Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Wild Ginger Shine Spray which claims to add shine as well as also protecting hair from daily wear and tear. I really like the scent of this product, it reminds me of the Origins Ginger range. You can use this spray on styled hair or whilst using heat styling. Once sprayed into my hair I can smell the scent lingering for hours after. I would recommend this to anyone who wants glossy hair all day and it's ideal for heat styling.
Another full-sized product which I was really impressed with was Jelly Pong Pong Fairy Lashes Mascara. This mascara claims to be waterproof, long-lasting and feather light and it didn't disappoint. The wand was smaller than brushes which I normally like but I found the formula lengthening, voluminious and it produced no clumps which I was pleased with. I'm not sure I would repurchase at £15 as it probably matched up to my drugstore favourites.

I have tonnes of nail vanish in my collection, but it's always nice to receive a shade you wouldn't normally choose yourself and to step away from the taupes. Headline Colors is not a brand I was very familar with before receiving this box, but I received the shade Gunmetal which is a lovely metallic grey (not very spring/summer, I know). The colour applied really opaque with two coats and left a glossy finish and had great staying power! I will be looking into more shades as best of all they are free of nasty toxins.
Collection Fast Stroke Black Liquid Eyeliner is an old favourite of mine. I have used this product since the age of 13 back when I first discovered make-up and I still go back to it even now. It was great to see this in last month's box, it reminded me of how good the product really is and the intense black colour.

The final beauty product in the box was Beautiful Movements Prime & Create Mixing Medium, this curious little pot of product is a great multi-tasker that is an aloe vera based gel, which can be turned into a cream foundation, blush and eye shadow that works for all skin types. Formerly known as BM Beauty, Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt's range of beauty products have been a firm favourite of mine in past Glossybox's. I use this product alone as a primer to give me a matte, shine-free base - I would say it's great for my combination skin!
Glossybox Emery Boards were also a nice little extra to receive in the box last month. Really handy to chuck in my bag and use on-the-go, more hygienic too! What are your favourite Glossybox picks?