Remember Me? Why I Backed Away from Blogging

I've just taken a look and found that I haven't posted since July. Wow, that's a while back now! So here we are in October.
But I'm not going to say anything like "I'm such a bad blogger" or "Sorry for being pants" because stepping way was a conscious decision.
I found that I had got to a place where blogging was becoming more of a stress in my life than a pleasure. I was trying to juggle working full time, doing a college course, drama rehearsals twice a week and also maintain a social life. Yet all the while, even if I managed to achieve all of these things, I found that if I flopped into bed having not written a post, or taken photographs of my make-up, or of my latest skincare routine etcetera I felt guilty about it. And I didn't want that.

To me, blogging has always been a hobby. I love to write and I love all things beauty. So for me, using writing to share that love for beauty products is a way to relax and enjoy a passion that my friends just aren't really interested in (I have a lot of male friends!).
It's great that blogging has opened so many doors to me, and given me the chance to try new things, meet amazing people and attend brilliant events, but when it came to the point where it felt like writing about eye shadow and lipstick was causing more stress than it was relieving, I just felt like I needed a break.

So what have I been up to?

Well, I am still juggling all of the mentioned above, but I am really enjoying it.
I recently started a new job working at the City of Bath College for the Adult Community Learning department where I help to provide a wide range of courses for adults in the community who may have never got the chance to achieve what they would have liked, want to learn new skills that will help to develop themselves, or due to certain circumstances slipped out of employment and haven't been able to find their way back. I am really enjoying it, and seeing what we do, and what we help people to achieve is really satisfying.

I spend most of my weekends in Weymouth these days with my lovely boyfriend which is pretty special. It makes nearly every weekend feel like I'm on holiday in a beautiful place. I could spend hours on the sea front just watching the world go by. Believe it or not, I have even taken up sea fishing (very out of character I know!)


In short, I am happy, and back in a place where I want to blog again. But not because I feel like I have to. I am not going to try and promise myself that I will post daily, or about anything that I don't think "Oh my goodness, I need to share this!" because that is never what my blog was meant to be. I am working on a post to go live later today that features the product that got me thinking "wow, I need to blog this" several nights ago and made me see I am ready to come back so look out for that :)

Right, ramble over!

Annie xx

Back to the Blog

Hello,
I know its been a while since I last posted. Sorry for that, I've been naughty and let life get in the way.
Basically I've been pretty ill yet again with my tonsils and just haven't had the energy or motivation to do anything much justice so thought it would be best to just put things on hold for a few weeks but now I'm better I'm back :)
I have a couple of projects ready to get started on that I'm excited about including #theSOproject which is the brain child of Steph from Steph's Inside Voice. The first installment of that was really meant to have been posted on 27th but I was still away with the fairies then so I'm going to be joining for the second post which will go live 6pm on Tuesday. The series is designed to help those just getting into beauty and makeup and share advice and experiences.
The other project I'm getting involved with is #blogyoursocksoffseptember which is a challenge to post a little something every day during September to kick start the lead up into autumn and winter where cosy evenings reading and writing are king.
I also have several product reviews photographed and ready to go and an exciting week coming up I'll want to tell you all about.

I'm really looking forward to getting properly connected again and refreshing Three Little Buhos. It might be time for a new design and layout too, who knows. For now I'm going to enjoy being back.

Also, I have to share my new Trussardi sunglasses, I am totally in love with them! Aren't they pretty?

What have you been up to whilst I've been gone? Any new beauty finds that you're excited about?
Annie xx

Ultimate Summer Driving Playlist

A couple of weeks ago I was approached to take part in a competition with the money supermarket to share my ultimate summer driving playlist. Due to my little blog break (totally unplanned but life kind of got in the way) my post is a little later in coming than planned but here we are!
My summer playlist usually consists of a wild mash up of all the music that makes me feel good, no matter what the genre. Think David Bowie meets Amanda Palmer meets Tenacious D meets Adam Ant meets System of a Down and you're getting there :)

1. Number one this year has to be Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke. Many hours have been spent so far this summer skanking to this in the car.

2. Number two has to be a bit of Hugh Laurie with Tipatina. Volume up, on a sunny day this cannot be beaten.

3. Numero tres takes a much calmer, sensual turn in the form of Quizas Quizas Quizas by Gaby Moreno. Such a calm and beautiful voice.

4. Number four is THE song of the summer for me. Every year there is that one song that sums up summer for you, Avicii I Could Be the One does that for me this year.

5. Number five is a song that I've loved for a long time now. It has such a feel of freedom and movement I think which is perfect for summer. It has to be Wake Up by The Arcade Fire. It must be good, David Bowie has sung a version of it with them live several times ;)

6. Sing- The Dresden Dolls (my favourite song of all time)
7. Heroes- David Bowie
8. The Love Cats- The Cure
9. Peephole- System of a Down
10. Levels- Avicii

Like I say, I like to listen to a mix of everything in the summer, the only thing in common being that every single song makes me feel amazing :)

What sort of music do you find yourself listening to? Any stand out songs for you?
Annie xx

Pinterest addict

Just a quick post today because I've been too busy pinning random things on Pinterest to write anything proper since finishing work. Oops!

Who is hooked on Pinterest? I really am at the moment. I have boards for style, beauty, home decor, wedding and event planning and general things I need in my life as well as others.  Love it!

Come follow me and I'll follow back :)

Annie xx

Life Lately

It feels like a long time since I've written anything here, and that makes me sad. I love my blog but life lately has been pretty full of stress and a bit of a battle to stay on top of things. I won't go into it too much but a mixture of work worries and some huge changes in my personal life have left me pretty drained and all I've wanted to do is sleep or go out socialising to try and relax a bit.

I haven't forgotten about my blog and I'm looking forward to when I feel ready to get back to it properly which should hopefully be by the end of next week when I know what's happening at work.
Try not to forget me, it feels like a lot of things I love are drifting away at the moment.

On a more positive note, heres a cute owl AND cat related photo for you :)

Annie xx

Being Brave, the First OOTD-This is me

I'va always thought of myself as someone that gets seen as "pretty face, shame about the body". I have a beautiful, slender best friend, a love for reading fashion blogs and magazines full of gorgeous, size 6-10 women, and a fiance who can eat whatever he likes and still keep his six pack. Over time, the huge focus size that is everywhere has really made me feel very conscious about being, what I don't actually think is huge, at a size 16.
So I think the time has come to take control of the insecurities and say to myself, yes, this is me, and whilst I may not look like a swimwear model, I am happy and thats what matters. Part of that process for me is to stop hiding away and start writing OOTD posts here on the blog because I need to stop worrying that strangers will judge me for being me. Haters gonna hate so go ahead :)

Blue top- Apricot/ white vest top- Marks and Spencer/ Leggings- Red or Dead/ Shoes- Topshop/ Handbag- Fiorelli/ Sunglasses- Accessorize/ Watch- Calvin Klein

Annie x

Home Again

I'm back :)
I had an amazing time in Tenerife enjoying a bit of sunshine and temperatures of around 25c but now its back to 5c and thermal socks to keep the chill off my toes.
I start my new job tomorrow and I'm all excited/nervous so I'm going to take a day off blogging tomorrow and normal posting will resume wednesday. I have a couple of outfit posts ready to go but its definitely going to take a bit of courage to upload those, even though I'm happy to show my face online, my figure is a different matter.
I also took the chance to take some lovely photos ready for some long over due product reviews so I have lots to show you in the next couple of weeks :)
But for now I'll leave you with one of my favourite holiday photos of Daniel and I full of sangria :P

Hasta Luego!
Annie xx

Makeup Mugshot: Minerals and Shimmer

Today has been amazing so far, I got offered a new job which I'm really excited to start, the sun has been shining and actually giving off warmth aaand I've been shopping (photos here). To celebrate such a fab day I'm going out this evening with my lovely mummy :)

Today I kept makeup pretty simple, going for subtle cheeks and lips, a little shimmer on the eyelids but lots of super black mascara, I just love the look of my lashes with the Soap and Glory Thick and Fast mascara *review here*
Lolly the Grumpy Kitty is having one of her clingy days and growls whenever I try to move her from my lap so she's in my mugshots too today haha.

Products used:

Face:
Bourjois 123 perfect foundation in light vanilla
Lush sheer face powder in emotional brilliance
Miners blush and bronze duo
Bare Minerals warmth all-over
Benefit High Beam
Topshop Brighten concealer pen

Eyes:
Bobbi Brown mahogany shadow on brows
Bobbi Brown baby pink shadow all over lid
Catrice Made to Stay cream eyeshadow
Soap and Glory Thick and Fast Mascara

Lips:
MAC Brave lipstick

It always amazes me listing down what I've used just how much makeup it takes to look like you...only a bit better because I'd definitely call my very made up face a natural look. Madness eh what we do to feel confident :)
Have a good monday! I am!
Annie xx

Take a Little Snoop

A few people have asked me to write this post and after reading this post from Thrifty Girl Loves and enjoying my little nosey into her life I decided it was time to show you one of my favourite places in the 

world, Casa De Annie!

 The butterflies climbing the wall were Escada perfume cards that I collected, painted with glitter glue and bent the wings on to make them all pretty and flying like and the photo on the wall is of camels trekking across the desert. I have two pairs of light and floaty curtains framing the window but if truth be told I dont pull either of them because there was already a black out blind installed when I moved in. I hate the look of windows with no curtains though, it just seems so cold.

 My nail varnish display is probably my favourite piece of storage I own. I was looking for a spice rack in charity shops to store them on and found this really crudely made shelf tht I'm pretty sure some little old man somewhere made. I brought it home, sprayed it gold and covered it in shiny things :)

 This little wall above my clock is covered in little Daniel and Annie tokens like the incense burner that he embellished for me, the plane ticket from one of our holidays and a note he wrote me years ago. I'm a bit soppy like that. Similarly, on the CD and DVD shelving next to it I have the family photo along with cards people have sent me.

 One place I try to always keep pretty clutter free is my bedside table. On here I always have candles, tissues and the book I'm reading at the time. At the moment it's The Goddess Guide which I have a review of and its sequel coming up in a few days. Theres also usually a phone and a bottle of water too but they seem to have escaped the photo.

 I love love love my bed. Its some poncy, fancy one that cost wayyy too much money but by god its comfy. I'm not someone who makes a big effort to make my bed every day when I get up, I just try to keep it looking cosy, that means making sure my scruffy old polar bear Oliver Oscar Humphrey is always there along with my V shaped pillow.
...Lolly the Grumpy Kitty is a pretty permanent fixture too. (Side note: Aging cats tend to find somewhere they luuurve and spend ALL of their time there so it might be worth teaching them at a young age not to sleep in the middle of the bed. I didn't do this. I've learnt the hard way...Lolly is after all, a very grumpy kitty)

 Despite my cluttering tendencies, one other place I like to keep clear is my dressing table. I keep all my earrings and bits and bobs in these gorgeous mirrored drawers I was given for Christmas, my every day bits and pieces on top and all my random hair and beauty bits in the basket thing on the right. The basket is actually really good and only cost £1 from poundland. As you can see, I use lots of Lush products, the perfumes along the front are really special to me :)

 Still on my dressing table I also have my big kitty cup full of makeup brushes, pens, scissors and tweezers, a Roxy watch box full of hair pins and some other random bits. The photo of Daniel and me is about 4 years old now so we both look pretty young. He'd just completed the Ten Tors challenge so he'd walked 55 miles across some moors and up ten stupidly big hills. You can kind of see in this photo that in the middle of my dressing table is a No 7 light up mirror. My mum spoilt me at christmas and bought this and the novelty of seeing all my impurities lit up first thing in the morning still hasn't worn off. Seriously though, I adore it :) My blue place is actually a 1950's crudites dish that I bought from a vintage market in Bath. I fell in love with the colour and just had to have it.

Finally we have my big pink memory wall covered with cards, photos, drawings, paintings and other things that make me smile. And of course there is my beloved print of Three Little Buhos chilling in a pretty floral tree. Photography is a huge thing to me, I love photos of people and I love looking back over memories that people would otherwise forget so I like to surround myself with photos. The framed photos are several I took as part of my A level photography course a few years back and the ones of my friend Kassi in particular remind me of an amazing time.

So there you have it, my little paradise in all of its warm, gold and pink, cluttered glory. I like to think of it as a bit of opulence on a budget with its two pairs of curtains, gold accessories and beauty related clutter but thats just me. I'm pretty sure Daniel actually hates this room but is just far too quiet and polite to say so. I know he hates Lolly the Grumpy Kitty sleeping in the middle of the bed the whole time though...I wonder why...
Annie x

Little Wishes

With the start of January lots of people write a list of things that they'd like to achieve in the year ahead, sort of a "30 in 2013" thing. I love seeing what's making people happy and what's important to them in life... does that make me nosey I wonder?

Anyways, seeing peoples lists got me thinking about what I'd like to achieve, not just in 2013 because I have no idea on that one, but in life in general and I've written my own list. My list is 50 things that I would like to achieve over my life span, mostly fairly soon, but some in a few years time when I feel like more of a "proper adult". These are my Little Wishes <3

Little Wishes

1. Learn not to clutter
2. Visit Paris
3. Own my first Nars blusher
4. Stand at the top of a mountain
5. Write a book
6. Travel around Mexico
7. Buy a Ted Baker handbag
8. Have Three Little Buhos mentioned and linked in a magazine
9. Learn to make sushi
10. Go on a spa day with mummy
11. Learn how to switch off
12. Paint something a pretty colour
13. Grow a sunflower
14. Own a Cath Kidston eiderdown
15. Make tapas for friends
16. Learn to swim
17. Get an owl tattoo
18. Throw a dinner party
19. Eat my first macaroon
20. Cuddle a koala
21. Take a course in massage
22. Watch every Almodovar film
23. Go on a family holiday
24. Find my signature scent
25. Find the perfect chocolate brownie recipe
26. Travel by horse and carriage
27. Get a professional manicure
28. Go back to Seville
29. Adopt a hedgehog
30. Go glamping
31. Learn how to make fancy cocktails
32. Get a professional portrait shoot with Daniel
33. Cuddle cats for the RSPCA
34. Go to Disneyland
35. Plant a cherry tree in our garden
36. Be taken for a romantic 3 course meal at a fancy restaurant
37. Find my perfect skin care routine
38. Own a vintage ring or necklace
39. Learn to make the perfect paella
40. Go to the Notting Hill carnival
41. Attend a really posh ball
42. See an owl in the wild
43. Become a mummy
44. Get one of my photos printed A1 to hang on the wall
45. See the northern lights
46. Experience life in America
47. Take pole dancing lessons
48. Visit monkeys in the jungle
49. Have a beautiful wedding
50. Enjoy my happily ever after

So those are all of my little wishes, some small, some slightly bigger but all super special to me. I'm going to add a page to my blog to keep my list and cross things off as I achieve them if anyone fancies keeping up with what I've managed :)

Do you have a list similar to this? Or have you written a list of goals for 2013? If so then link me because I'd love to see :)

Annie x

Resolutions

I've never been one for making new years resolutions. If I haven't wanted it badly enough to achieve it for the rest of the year, why would I magically be able to because it's 2013 rather than 2012?
I have a lot of admiration for people who decide that this is the year I will give up smoking, or lose that 2 stone and manage it, but the way I see things is that if I was that unhappy with something then I will change it asap rather than waiting for January to roll round.
For that reason I haven't made any resolutions as such this new year. Not that I don't think there are some aspects of my life that I could do with working on, but over all I think I'm a pretty nice, and contented person.
One thing that I am constantly battling though is my fight with depression which has been going on for nearly 5 years now. It isn't that I can't be happy, but when I'm on a downer I find it near impossible to see it. That is where this little book that my lovely auntie bought me for christmas comes in, and I guess, to an extent, my one small resolution.

Like I say, it isn't that I am an unhappy person in general, but due to my depression, if I am having a rough time I find it very hard to find anything to smile about. So in my pretty little book, I resolve to write down one thing each day that has made me smile. Simple things. The little things that I forget about when everything seems to be full of doom and gloom. Hopefully this way I will remember to appreciate the small things that brighten life up and learn to worry less about the things that do get me down :)

This is the first three days worth of my Making Me Smile book :) Happy things in a pretty little book, definitely one of happy little pleasures on its own!

What resolutions have you made this January? How are they going so far? Good luck with them all!
Annie xx

Makeup Mugshot #10 New Hair!

Today I was treated to an amazing Toni and Guy haircut(*) in their Bath New Bond Street store by Jordan, one of their uber friendly stylists. I thought, new season, new style so I've gone for quite a change.

I have my beloved fringe back, all thick and choppy again, oh how I missed it during the summer. We also decided to take about 3 inches off the length which has given a lot more volume back.
On to the makeup!
At the moment I tend to use the same Bourjois foundation (123 perfect in light vanilla) each day. I also used MAC Fleet Fast blusher and Lush Feeling Younger skin tint to brighten the look up.
On my eyes I used Bobbi Brown Mahogany eyeshadow to fill my brows, MAC Painterly paint pot as a base colour, Maybeline Colour Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze all around the eye, lined the water line with Bobbi Brown Charcoal kohl eyeliner to define and finished with Max Factor False Lash Effect mascara.
On my lips I used MAC Red Racer lipstick after having a good old scrub with Lush Bubblegum lip scrub.

What do you think of my new hair? I've so missed the fringe!
Annie x

The Wanderer Returns

Wow, doesn't it feel like ages since I've written anything? My last post was before I went on holiday which is nearly four weeks ago now!

So much has happened since then, I had an amazing three weeks in the sun for starters which I'll tell you a bit more about in one of my next posts, and then I had my birthday which was also really special, and because my birthday actually fell when I was away I got to have an extra birthday when I got home as well; twice the fun! Since then its been back to work with all pistons blazing. On my first shift back we held a party for 14 over excited 6 and 7 year olds so I was definitely back in at the deep end. I've also managed to squeeze in a day long Emotional Brilliance training day in London so all in all I'm pretty tired.

I do however have lots of fab posts lined up for you now I'm back. It may take me a while to get back into my stride because there is still uber amounts going on here, but this is me promising that I am back and that I am ready to rock...although today is all about the face mask, hot bath and dream cream since its my first day off in a whiiiile :)

How has everything been whilst I've been gone? Any new and exciting blogs I should read or products I should run out and grab?
Catch you later,
Annie x

Wish Me Luck!

In the morning I'm going for my first shift at LUSH and I'm really looking forward to it.
This weekend LUSH are holding instore parties to show off some of the fab things that are on offer when you book a LUSH party for a birthday/hen do/ girly pamper evening.

There will be lots of demonstrations going on including massage, product demos, emotional brilliance readings, but most excitingly we will be making some of our products as well. I've been told I'll be making Blackberry Bath BOMBs during my shift, and that there will also be be girls making Catastrophe Cosmetic face mask and possibly Angels on Bare Skin cleanser.
It will definitely be worth popping in to visit if you're near a LUSH store.

I'll be popping up one last post in the morning before work, but after that I'll be in Mallorca so I can only upload every few days. Bear with me, I'm still about, I promise :)
Annie x

The Lust List, Birthday Edition

I always find that the month leading up to my birthday I'm always wandering around looking for treats that I would love to receive. There isn't really much I need or want this year, I'm pretty contented with all the lovely things I've got, but these are the few bits that I am lusting after.

1. This pretty swallow jumper is actually from Marks and Spencer. Who would have thought it eh? But I tried this on and loved it straight away. I think I may have found my staple piece for autumn!

2. Bobbi Brown is very much one of my makeup inspirations and her books are a great source of beauty knowledge. I've wanted this book for quite a while now, its full of useful information, application tips, suggestions for how to keep you skin looking fab and also tells you a lot about getting into the makeup artistry business.

3. Unlike most beauty bloggers I haven't been particularly interested in the range from Real Techniques as I already have lots of fab makeup brushes that I'm really loyal to. However, I really need a new blush brush so I think its time to jump on the Real Techniques bandwagon.

4. Ahh, MAC lipsticks. I swear there is something just so beautiful about them. The one I'm lusting madly over is Girl About Town from the Amplified selection. Its a gorgeous bright blue toned pink and looks so striking against fair skin.

5. I saw these shoes blogged about a while back and can't remember who by. They're a cheap £12 dupe of a pair of Ted Baker loafers but they're just as pretty as the real thing. I love golden glitter so how could I resist :)

6. Finally is Nicki Minaj's album, Pink Friday Roman Reloaded. I love her style and her voice is amazing, I'm not really sure why I haven't bought this before, but it is very firmly on the list!

And of course who can forget the obligatory little extras such as chocolate, Topshop panties and anything cute/pretty :D

So those are my birthday lusts. Do you have a birthday coming up soon too? Whats on your lust list at the moment? I'll actually be in Mallorca for my birthday so even if I was to get none of the above, I don't care, the day is going to be amazing and I can't wait :)
Annie x

I'm Really Happy

Tomorrow will make it four lovely years that I have spent with Daniel and *gets gushy and sickly sweet* I just love him so so much :)

Between being spoilt rotten and going out for a nice meal I might just have to show you what I've bought him as his presents, I'm pretty smug about what I decided on even if I do say so myself :)
Annie x

What's New?

Hello,
Just a little post from me tonight because I only got home a little while ago.

This evening I attended the Bath Emotional Brilliance VIP launch party and oh boy, it was so fun. I ended up spending lots of money on some of the new range, got a skin and product consultation and ate cake :) What more could a girl wish for? I'll be writing a proper post about that tomorrow morning if I get time before work, if not then it will be up in the evening :)

I've had a touch of bloggers block recently so I'm wondering what sort of posts you lovelies would like to see? I love getting feedback from all of my fab followers so pop me a comment letting me know what posts you enjoy, if theres anything in particular you'd like to see or if you have any suggestions at all. They'd all be a great help!

As regular readers of my blog will know, I've been unwell for the last few weeks with a chest infection that has just been refusing to shift. I'm now on a different type of antibiotics to try and trick the damn thing into vacating. Apparently it's lodged in a "tricky" position which is why I haven't been able to kick it. Fingers crossed eh!

Recently I joined a great little group on facebook called Beauty Box Swaps where you trade all of your unwanted beauty box items and other new or barely used makeup products with other ladies who do want them for items that you will actually get use out of. I've already swapped lots of my unwanted goodies with some truly lovely ladies and got some fab bits and pieces in return. Definitely a group for you to check out!

So thats pretty much all thats new in Annies world at the moment :)
What have you been up to recently? Can you help with the bloggers block at all?
Annie x

FOTD 1920's Flapper and a Photo Shoot

Hello,
I'm posting this a lot later than intended after a lot of drama last night led to spending most of the early evening asleep. Anyways, today I have another FOTD post for you although this is definitely not a look I drag out often. Today was the promotional photo shoot for a play that I'm taking part in during May. Set in the 1920's, Six for the Charleston and Two for Love is a musical comedy. Its a great play and I'm really looking forward to taking part in it.
I play a rather vampish flapper girl called Daisy who wears a lot of heavy make-up so here is the look that I went for. I decided big black eyes and bold lips worked best on me along with the characteristically pale face of the 20's.

The signature style of the 1920's involved the use of dark red lipstick that was applied in a way to accentuate the cupids bow. This was worn against very pale skin that was livened up with the use of fairly brightly coloured pink blush that would be used to contour cheekbones more than on the apples of the cheek. 

Flapper style also displayed a lot of heavy eye make-up with thickly drawn in brows that would frame the face by being extended out to the side, further than the width of the eye. In order to keep the look glamourous and not too heavy, smokey eye effects were created using a combination of greyscale shades with the centre shade remaining fairly light. To really make the eye pop lashings of mascara and thick false lashes were used to pad out and draw attention to the flapper.

What I Used:

Face:

• Mac Studio Fix NC15 foundation
• Benefit The POREfessional pore refining Primer
• Calvin Klein Long Waer Pressed Powder
• The Balm Hot Mama Blusher
• Estee Lauder Double Wear Light Concealer

Lips:

• Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub
• Pixi Lip Blush in Love
• 17 Mirror Shine Lipstick in Red Devil

Eyes:

• E.l.f Cream Shadow Duo in Black Licorice
• Bobbi Brown Pastel Eye Palette
• MAC Smokey Eye kit
• MAC Venomous Villains Mineralize Duo in My Dark Magic
• Ted Baker Eyeliner Pencil in Black
• Rimmel London Scandeleyes Mascara in Extreme Black

What do you think of the 1920's flapper make-up? Is it a look that you've tried? I've been told it suits me but I'm not sure I'm sold, what do you think? Here's an iPhone snap from the photoshoot to show you the rest of the cast too. I'm the one in the dodgy short black wig :P

Annie x

The Seven Beauty Sins

Hello,
I've seen this floating about so I thought it was my turn to jump on the band wagon and share my 7 beauty sins.

Greed- What is your most expensive beauty product? What is your cheapest?

My most expensive product at the moment is my Estee Lauder Invisible Fluid Foundation...although my Tri-Pentox eye cream has a higher RRP (good old TK Maxx) My cheapest is a normal lip balm that I picked up from Sainsbury's for about 50p before I went travelling.

Wrath- What products do you have a love hate relationship with? What was the hardest to find?

I have a rather love hate relationship with moisturisers that have a push pump top. I find they always seem to go a bit gross and clogged up which puts me off, but I am a total sucker for a nice moisturiser! I am so proud of my hardest to find item because I am the proud owner of the M.A.C Venomous Villains My Dark Magic mineralize. These sold out everywhere as soon as they came out but my lovely mum managed to hunt me one down and paid well over the RRP price for it. I love it, and I love my mum :)

Gluttony- What are your most delicious beauty products?

My most delicious product by far is The Body Shop's Chocomania body butter. It smells totally divine, even if you can't actually eat it :) Although the lip butter from the same range tastes rather fab :P

Sloth- What beauty products do you neglect due to laziness?

I'm generally quite good at being bothered with my beauty routine but I do seem to have a lot of bottles of Nair lying around after a cold winter...I also have a few fake tan wipes that are lurking but I think thats more because I'm scared of going bright orange!

Pride- What beauty product gives you the most confidence?

My new Porefessionals by Benefit is amazing for this, when put under or over foundation, it makes my skin look totally flawless, its confidence in a tube.

Lust- What attributes do you find most attractive in the opposite sex?

A good smile. When Dan smiles I melt a little inside. A happy personality is another thing I love, especially if it means the sexy smile comes out lots too. A nice bum is also always appreciated ;)

Envy- What item would you most like to receive as a gift?

I'd be happy to receive anything as a gift really, presents are always good! But I would particularly love to be treated to a beautiful, high quality make-up brush set that includes the lot, I'm talking like 24- 31 brushes guys. I would love the person who gave me one of those eternally!

Now it's your turn. What are your seven beauty sins?

Annie x

Beauty Products that I will Never Understand

Hello,
sorry there was no post up last night, I was zonked after work so just slobbed around for a few hours before an early night.
Now, we all know that there are some truly awful beauty products out there that just shouldn't be on the market. But what really bugs me at the products that are just plain pointless. Some I will just never understand. Here are my top (or should that be bottom) picks for the most pointless beauty products in the world.

Lolly and I disapproving of these pointless products. I seem to literally be made of eye bags in this photo :S

1. Lash Cards. Thats right, you can actually buy packs of cards to stop you getting mascara or make-up all over the place around your eye... Yes it is a great idea to use a little something as a "lash card" but why waste money on a special product to do so when you could easily use a tissue, cardboard tags from clothing, or even the dried up wipe you used to remove your make-up the night before which would work out a whole lot cheaper and save your much needed sanity for other, more useful past times.

2. No-touch Soap Dispensers. Soap cleans hands. Yes. We all know that. We also all know how to wash our hands; either applying the soap to dry hands before then running them under the tap and lathering up, or by wetting hands, then applying soap and lathering up, enjoying the bubbles and getting rid of the grime. Never does the soap part come last, that just wouldn't work would it? Realistically, you are only ever going to touch the soap dispenser when your hands are already dirty so why worry if that little push pump gets germs on it? Or if you pick up a few extra germs from said push pump for that matter, because the whole point of the product inside is to kill those very germs you just picked up. See, useless product!

3. Nail Varnish Wipes. I do own these and I try very hard to like them. But I just can't do it. I admit that they could be handy to take on holiday, but to be honest, why bother? A small pack of around 20-25 are quite expensive to buy, and if you are using a thick, high quality polish you need to use three of them, sometimes four, to get the damn stuff off, and even that takes a hell of a lot of persistent scrubbing (good for the old bingo wings maybe). What I don't understand is why people bother. For £1 you can get a big bottle of normal remover which takes just one or two cotton pads to clear both hands with a lotmore ease and a lot less scrubbing.

4. Seven day moisturiser. This, in itself, is a great concept. If it actually was what it says that it. It would be lovely to only need to moisturise once a week. Yet even though it claims to keep skin soft and moisturised for seven days, you still need to use it every day. Umm... Why? Surely that contradicts itself? Why not just use a normal one that admits that you need to use it each day for the proper effect and save yourself the extra money (you could maybe even save enough to fund the lash card habit...)

Other contenders that drive me bonkers:

• Bottom lash mascara- can we really not be trusted to get those little pesky hairs with a full sized brush?
• Lip tattoos- do people know how ridiculous these look? Yes, even you Jessie J.
• Venetian blind glasses- what exactly is the point of glasses that you can't see through, don't enhance your sight or provide protection from the sun?
• Stick on eyeshadow- one size really doesn't fit all girls and these crush our creative side.

So these are just some of the more pointless, or (in my mind) useless beauty buys that are on the market. How about you, do you have any products that annoy you like this? what do you think is the most pointless beauty product out there?

Annie x

ps, my blog sale is running here. If there is anything you fancy just let me know.