Recent Reads

Dark Places - Gillian Flynn

My rating: 4/5 stars.

From the author from the hit novel and now adapted film 'Gone Girl' here's another offering from Gillian Flynn who is an incredible writer. The story focuses on Libby Day, who was just 7 years old when her brother was put behind bars for the murder of her sisters and mother, now alone and surviving from donations she is reached out to by a group who are convinced of her brother's innocence. She then begins to question what she saw that night and whether she thinks her brother is capable of such a horrific thing, and begins to uncover that everyone kept secrets that day, including her brother.

This book keeps you hooked from the beginning to the end as you begin to uncover more and more about what happened that day along with Libby and you'll find it really hard to put down.  (that tends to be a theme throughout all these reviews!) By the end you'll be left open mouthed and wanting to pick up another Gillian Flynn novel (I have my eye of Sharp Objects next...).

Before I Go To Sleep - SJ Watson

My Rating: 5/5 stars.

Christine wakes up every day with no memories of who she is, who she loves, her friends, her career, anything. After a brain injury her memory is erased every night and every morning she wakes up next to a man who she doesn't recognise, and one who may only be telling her half the story. Discover more of Christine's life along with the writing of her journal and uncover the answers to all the questions she comes up with every day. 

This book twists and turns with the discovery of more and more about Christine's past, present and future and by the end your jaw will firmly be on the floor with the revelations she uncovers. For a book I found in my 'Customers who bought this also bought...' on amazon I'm very impressed and want to read it again to see this I didn't the first time round. 

The Lie - CL Taylor 

My Rating: 3.5/5 stars.

Jane Hughes has a loving partner and works at an animal sanctuary in the middle of rural Wales, she's the happiest she's been in years but her life is a lie. Jane Hughes doesn't exist. Five years prior, her best friends and her planned a once in a lifetime trip to Napal which rapidly turned into a nightmare which took the lives of two women. Jane tries to put the past behind her but someone knows she isn't who she says she is...

I enjoyed uncovering what really happened while they went away but found it hard to keep up with the many characters they meet on their travels as everyone is relevant to the story. The conclusion is good and the build up perfectly suits the ending but I wasn't as impressed with this book as the others. 

The Girl On The Train - Paula Hawkins

My Rating: 5/5 stars.

Rachel gets the same commuter trains both morning and evening, she knows the route like the back of her hand, even to the moment when the train stops at the same red signal every day. She's started to feel like she knows the people in the houses on the route, Jason and Jess, she calls them, and their life is perfect. Everything is the same until one day she sees something she shouldn't and she feels like she has to find a way into their lives, to tell them. 

This is one of the most talked about books at the moment so I couldn't not get my hands on it and read it! I read this in 3 sitting as I couldn't put it down until I was dragged away from the story to do stuff! The story is much more than what it seems at first and the story gains more and more depth as you read on. You uncover the mysteries of everyone in those two houses along with Rachel and by the end you'll be reading as quickly as you can to find out who gets what they deserve!

x

Everyday Skin Care

Bonjour mes amis!

I was doing my little skin care regime last night and then I all of a sudden knew what this weeks blog post could be! This has pretty much been my staple for the past few months now and I don't have any plans to change it any time soon. 

So, in a morning when showering I use 'Clean and Clear Exfoliating Daily Wash' (£2.99 - but on offer in Boots for £2 at the minute!) on a make up-free face and massage in.

 I like that this wash has teeny-tiny beads in which exfoliate the face without being too harsh to use everyday. The wash foams up and is easily massaged into the face and is quickly rinsed leaving my face feeling squeaky clean and soft too. 

After I get out the shower I go straight in with the 'Super Facialist by Una Brennan Tea Flower Mattifying Moisturiser' which is targeted for oily skin like mine. 

It retails at £12.99 in Boots, but again is a 1/3 off at the minute so you can pick it up for just £8.66 - I'll definitely be popping into Boots this week to pick one up in advance!

It's what you would expect a normal moisturiser to do and ticks all the boxes for me. It sinks in fast, smells fresh and leaves my skin soft and as a good base for my makeup.

When it comes to taking off my makeup I've been using the 'L'oreal Paris Skin Perfection' range in either:

• The Cleansing and Perfecting Milk (£4.99)
• 3 in 1 Purifying Miceller Solution (£4.99)

And I personally prefer the Solution rather than the Milk as it's lighter on the skin and you don't feel like you're smushing a cream around your face to then have to get a clean cotton pad to wipe it all off. With the Solution you get the same effect, no gunky eyes and use less cotton pads which is a winner for me. Plus then you feel like your moisturiser is actually sinking in and not just sitting on top of cleansing milk mixed with makeup cause that's just gross! 

For moisturising at night time, I use the same moisturiser as in the morning because I know it does a good job and will work while I sleep. But if I were to find an intense moisturiser which is better for using at night then I'd use that - I'm open to suggestions please!

Once a week I use the 'Super Facialist by Una Brennan Tea Flower Pore Purifying Clay Mask' (£8.99 - but also on offer) which is a clay mask which you just leave on for 15 minutes and then remove with warm water. It's easy as pie! It just a nice way to get 15 minutes peace (or longer) and to chill rather than be rushing around all the time! I then just use the matching moisturiser and my skin feels all pampered and lovely. 

So that's it! All high street products and all reasonably priced and they have lasted me so well especially during freshers week where I was doing my makeup twice a day for daytime and evening and my skin didn't suffer because of these staple products. 

So I hope you enjoy and maybe try out some of my recommendations, please let me know what else you want to see and I'll see you soon.

Toodlepip! x

MAC - 'Vegas Volt'

MAC 'Vegas Volt'' £15

Whenever I'm online, nine times out of ten I end up on the MAC website lusting after a lipstick or eyeshadow and this has been going on for about a year now guys, it was tragic. So finally, after being paid  from my job (eee!) I decided to buy a couple of lipsticks just to start off my collection and see if I like them or not! 

The colour I'm wearing here is 'Vegas Volt' and I bought this because I love wearing peach on my lips as I feel it brightens up my face and plus, I've just got back from my holiday so I thought this would look nice with a tan - I wasn't wrong! On the website it is described as a 'Full Power Coral' and I don't disagree at all. The colour is bright but not luminous on my lips which makes this perfect for spring or summer!

I love the formula as it's quite a matte finish but very creamy on the lips and doesn't dry them out at all which is a must for me as I always have dry lips (if anyone wants to suggest a good lip balm please do!)

So my first impressions of MAC lipsticks are so high that as soon as I woke up this morning I ordered another two from the website which are more suited to autumn/winter and I can't wait for them to arrive! Red lips for this autumn winter are a go go!

I hope you've enjoyed this post, I'm sorry the lighting on the photos isn't that great, I'm still working on a good place to take photos where the natural lighting is good! 

Please let me know what you want to see more of!

See you soon! xx

Review: Topshop 'Ohh La La' Lipstick

Hello everyone! 

Time my first ever proper review post! 

 This isn't the first Topshop lipstick I've bought, I also have 'Rumour Has It' which I used to wear everyday during the winter time. 

But anyway, back to 'Ohh La La'...

I've been looking for a coral/peach liptick for a while now because I think it will be great for summer to spruce up my neutral eyes! This lipstick is p.e.r.f.e.c.t for that, it has pink rather than orange undertones and is so bright on the lip, I love it!

The consistency is very creamy and the pigment is brilliant for the price. The lipstick stays on for a while (I wore it today at work and it lasted through mugs of tea and endless phone calls!), so has high durability which is a must for me. It's a velvet finish, as described on the packet and is 'sheeny' but not shiny by any means which is great. You could definitely apply a clear or peach gloss over the top for an evening which would switch it up a bit. 

Here is my makeup from work today, please ignore my wet hair and hideous headphones, I had to take a quick snap whilst getting ready for work! 

I would rate this lipstick 4.5 out of 5, nothing is perfect but this certainly comes close!

Let me know how I've done with this review and maybe I can do more of them, I've certainly enjoyed taking photos and writing this!

Hope you have enjoyed and pop back soon! x