A Beautiful Birthday Box

As I mentioned yesterday, I recently did a birthday box swap with a lovely lady from the beauty group I am part of on facebook. We set a budget of £40, gave each other a good idea of the sort of things that we liked and set off to put together a big box of goodies for one another. Here's what was in my gift-my goodness I was excited to unwrap all of these lovely things :D

As you can see, Lolly the Grumpy Kitty decided she wanted to get involved with photo taking so please excuse the massive head n the foreground :P There was such a great variety of things in this box, just looking makes me excited.

Nichola put a fab selection of sweet treats into the box. There was also a melody pop and a love hearts dib dab...they got eaten before I took the photo though. I made a best friend very happy by taking the rainbow drops over when we had a girly evening.

Just throwing this out there, but these socks are loved a CRAZY amount. They remind me of what I think a Minecraft owl would look like. And also how thoughtful to pick up something owly because of my little obsession :) The Yankee tarts are gorgeous foodie scents and because they're discontinued scents I'm really going to treasure using them.

Skincare is one of my favourite things, I love trying out new products and if you read my post yesterday then you'll already know that since trying the Nuxe goodies, I have fallen in love with them. I haven't used the La Roche Posay or Melvita yet because I have so much on the go but they both also sound amazing.

Next up was some body products to keep me feeling beautiful all over. The square soap was brought back from Nichola's holiday which I thought was a lovely touch, it has a lovely clean, honey scent and as soon as I've finished up th bar I'm using (which fittingly is a big version of the little Body Shop Chocomania hearts here) I will be moving on to this. What excited me most out of these products though was the Betty Hula Anti-bacterial Hand Cream which is scented with champagne and spice. I haven't used Betty Hula products before and this smells and feels divine on my skin.

These three were popped straight into my handbag for their sheer usefulness. I was so excited to see the Bath and Body Works mini sanitiser in the box because I haven't had the chance to try the range before and I've heard so many amazing things, and I haven't been disappointed- it smells delicious! The peach body spray has a lovely scent too, very sweet and fresh which is perfect for a midday pick me up.

Its no secret that my biggest love is makeup so I was soooo excited to unwrap these goodies especially. I actually squealed when I opened the Illamsqua! The MAC lipstick was also a real excitement and I have a post on the way about that beauty. I wasn't as excited about the Baby Lips UK launch as a lot of beauty fanatics so hadn't picked one up before receiving my swap box but I really was missing out, I adore the silky smooth formula and light coloured finish so I have a review of that coming up too :)

So many amazing things. I really was spoilt with this swap and I cannot express just how grateful I am for everything I received and will love using them all. There were also a selection of samples nestled in among the gifts and the package was contained in a beautiful blue box with a peacock on the lid (another of my favourite animals :D)
I am a very lucky lady!

Annie xx

Having a Love Affair with Nuxe

Hello, I'm back up and running on a shiny new laptop!

If you read my blog a lot then you'll know that I am a member and admin for facebook group Beauty Box Swaps. As a little birthday treat I arranged to do a birthday box swap with one of the lovely ladies in the group and we both put together a box of equal value to post to each other. I have a post going live tomorrow about the swap showing what was in my box but for now I couldn't wait to share some love for a brand that I've not really explored before; Nuxe.

It's common knowledge in beauty blogger land that the Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse dry oil is one of the most gorgeous body products out there with its beautiful smell and ability to leave skin looking and feeling amazing but I had never really paid much attention to other products from the brand so when I received the Micellar Cleansing Water and Hand and Nail Cream in my box along with a mini dry oil and some samples I was really excited to try them out.
One small problem... I'm now hooked on both. These are honestly two of the nicest, most simple yet effective products I have ever used.

I use a cleansing water twice daily; before applying makeup, and after removing it and have previously been using Lush Tea Tree Water, however after one use of the Micellar Cleansing water I was a convert. The gentle rose scent is soothing without being overwhelming and after running a cotton pad doused in the cleanser makeup just melts away and skin is left feeling amazingly soft and refreshed. Due to a little glycerin it also feels protected and is perfect even for sensitive skin. I just cannot knock it.

I'm a bit of a hand cream hoarder. I just love the feel of freshly moisturised mitts! I was instantly impresed with this hand and nail cream because of how little I used to originally test it. I squeezed a tiny amount from the tube just to get a feel for the smell and consistency only to find that's all I needed! It spread across my hands like a dream and melted away almost instantly leaving my hands feeling soft and the skin looking plumper and more even in colour and once again there is glycerin in the lotion which helps draw the ingredients into the skin and lock them in, creating a weightless protective barrier on the skin. The smell, like other Nuxe products is soft and feminine without being sickly and reminds me of warm sunny holidays with the gentle blend of coconut, sweet almond oil, avocado and shea.

I haven't given the sample sachets a try yet as I already have other products on the go but they're already at there waiting excitedly on my dressing table tempting me to use them. I can't remember when I was last this excited about a brand and I really am looking forward to becoming addicted to other things they sell too.

Annie xx

A Forced Interlude

Hiya,
Its been a while since I last managed to post. The problem being that my laptop has died and I've never been a fan of the blogger phone app (although get me using it as I write this!) So I'm left a little blogging-deviceless. In the meanwhile I am going to be tweeting and instagraming like a mad person to vent my beauty urges and thinking about a blog redesign for when I'm back up and running which should be next week.
If you want to stay in touch with what I'm currently doing and loving then my twitter and instagram links are in the side bar.
See you soon,
Annie xx

L'Oreal Line of Beauty Collection Review

Ok, so #blogyoursocksoffseptember didn't get off to the best start since I didn't actually have access to the internet properly but better late than never I say! Tomorrow (6th) is my birthday sdo there might not be a post then but other than that we are back on it!

I was recently sent the gorgeous Line of Beauty collection(*) from L'Oreal to have a little play with and review and I have to say that over all I have been fairly impressed. In the collection you can buy the Blackbuster Super Liner which is a thick, felt tip style liner designed to create big, bold lines, the Perfect Slim Super Liner which is the same felt tip style liner however it is designed to create beautifully neat fine lines, the GelMatic Super Liner which has the precision of a pen liner with the intensity of a gel and finally the Super Liner Brow Artist which is a 2 in 1 brow pencil and sealing wax.

The range was designed to create bold, catwalk inspired looks, which are set to be a huge trend during autumn and winter and I can't fault it on that front. Combined, the set really does equip you to master the perfect liner looks with relatively little effort. I've been using the Blackbuster to line the eyelid and then using the Perfect Slim to create cat eye flicks and edge the lower lash line. I then finish the look using the GelMatic along the waterline which over all creates a beautifully elegant but bold eye that I love.

I'll be honest, I've had a bit of a love hate relationship with the two pen liners. The design of the liners themselves is great and the nib allows you to create very precise lines and they really are very versatile and great for creating a range of looks, however I have had a bit of a problem keeping them on and in place. I don't have any trouble with oily lids or any other liner slipping off however I find these only too happy to creep onto my cheeks, forehead and nose during the day (god knows how) and even after setting with a little translucent powder they still transfer onto the eyelid above the crease so maybe a little work on the formula is needed.

I was originally most excited about the Blackbuster liner having seen it advertised on the tv and until the set arrived I wasn't even aware that the was a brow product in the range however after spending some time using the whole collection, I have to say that the stand out product for me is actually the Gelmatic liner. I simply cannot fault it. The colour is intense and long lasting, the formula soft and creamy and I haven't found it to smudge of crease so for me it has been the perfect gel pencil and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.

So all in all, a bit of a mixed bag for me, although I do stand by the collection being a good concept, and if it was sold as a set it would make a good gift.
The products are available nationwide, and are relatively low cost so I think they're all worth a try.
Perfect Slim £6.99
Blackbuster £6.99
GelMatic £5.99
Brow Artist £5.49

Have you tried any of the range? What have you thought?
Annie xx

Annie in London- Day 1

Aloha!
I'm writing this from a super comfy hotel bed in Marylebone so ima keep things pretty short and sweet but as part of my #blogyoursocksoffseptember I thought I'd show you a little of what I've been up to today :)
Most of the day was spent wandering around Covent Garden looking at the markets and shops. I was excited to finally set foot in muji and pick up a few pieces and then got way over excited to find Cyber candy and spend too much there :p
We then carried on to Knightsbridge on a pilgrimage to Harvey Nichols because my beloved Ginvera bb cream ran out and needed replacing and of course it would have been rude to not look around the whole shop and harrods as well ;p
I'll show you my buys properly when I'm home and have a computer but for now heres a little collage of photos from today.
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