Signiture Scent

I've always been a 'signiture scent' sort of person I'm loyal to a perfume and although occasionally something new might come catch my eye its always been rare. The smell of Miss Dior and cigarettes defines my school years, during Uni I was pretty dependant on Stella Lily. But for the past year or so I've been in a perfume no mans land, having amassed a rather size able collection of Jo Malone fragrances amongst others but hadn't found a perfume I felt I would happily have as my only fragrance until this one.

Iris Prima was released by Penhaligon's ages ago but since leaving London last year I hadn't been able to get my hands on it until a few months ago when it popped up to Chester for the day and went into the Penhaligons store there. Suffice to say I'm hooked. Inspired by the English National Ballet, of course both the packaging and the scent look and feel so classically elegant. Even if I never quite mastered that ballerina poise I can still smell like one (or at least their shoes?) 

To me, its quite a powdery scent, with the leather, Iris and Bergamont being the main notes. Although I can definitely identify a touch of vanilla in there too. The lasting powers also really good, which is just as well since my main concern with this is that the lid of the bottle doesn't affix itself in anyway - which basically means if you put this in your bag you know its going to leak everywhere. But its worth it. Not only I'm a getting complements on the way I smell but I'm being told how 'me' the scent is. Also it really does smell like new ballet shoes. 

What I've Been Reading: July Edition

Well, I've been amazing at keeping up with this blog. I'd love to say I've been incredibly busy with all kinds of exciting and worthwhile things but I really haven't. Since my last post I've mostly been playing Kim Kardashian: Hollywood (officially on the c-list). Although I did graduate last month and got to spend a couple of days back in London with my family which was lovely.

Anyway, thought I'd share with what I read last month. Not as much as I would like, but I always read less in the summer months anyway.

The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared

Jonas Jonasson

This Swedish book is actually a re-read from last summer, but I still enjoyed it just as much this time round. The story primarily follows Allan Karlson who on his 100th birthday climbs out of the window of his care home and some how finds himself in the midst of a crazy adventure. This is all parrelled with by stories from his early life as an ammunition's expert, where he seemed to have been embroiled in all major events from the last 100 years (think a Swedish Forrest Gump). There is a real heart warming quality to reading this, and no matter how madcap this plot line becomes you never feel as though you become to distant from the heart of the characters - I think Karlson himself place a large part in achieving this. It also has this wonderful swirling narrative that I found to be so endearing. I think that's how I am most able to describe this book, and the characters, and the plot itself is all strangely endearing. 

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz - Book 1

L. Frank Baum

Children's books and fantasy books I probably my two favourite genres so it seems so strange to me I had never picked up The Wizard of Oz before July but yet here I am. The book is actually 3 stories, all set in Oz. The first 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'  is the one that I'm sure everybody is familiar with, Dorothy and her dog Toto travel to Oz where they begin and adventure with the cowardly lion, the tin woodman and the scarecrow. The second story 'The Marvellous Land of Oz' follows Tip and his friends on a journey to the Emerald City. Finally, my personal fave Ozma of Oz where Dorothy returns with a hen called Billina are captured by an evil King. Whilst I enjoyed reading this book, I did feel it was a little to simplistic most of the time. I was really hoping to see a touch of darkness to ofset the childish narrative which it didn't really bring. 

The Perks of Being a Wallflower 

Stepehn Chbosky 

I came to this book through the film, so I already had a set of expectations from that, and as usual with any book vs film they were quickly surpassed. The book is from the perspective of Charlie: a shy, quiet 15 year old in his first year of high school. Where he deals with friendships, drugs, drinking, suicide, depression - pretty much everything. The story develops through letters written by Charlie to an unidentified friend (or the reader) which provides a feeling of intimacy to the story. Whilst overall I found it was very enjoyable I'm not sure I was fully convinced by the characterisation of Charlie, I appreciate he has had troubles growing up, but his social skills seemed to be so limited for someone who isn't presented to us a being handicapped in this way, and throughout his life has had a large (and older) family as well as some friends (even if they were a little weird). The naivety that Charlie is presented as possessing just felt a little ridiculous to me and did colour my enjoyment. However, the group of friends that he finds at school I loved; And as I read the book I found myself matching up the gang to my school friends. 

Beach Bag Essentials

A Few days ago I left my netflix cocoon and headed for the beach, which living in the north of England makes going to the beach a pretty big deal. When I go to the beach I like to build a nest because once I've got my spot on the sand I refuse to move. So I thought I'd share my essentials.

Beach Bag Essentials by ohyourtalkingtome featuring a pink beach towel

1. A lip balm with SPF - nobody likes sunburned lips
2. Hair Oil to prevent the sea and sun drying out my hair.
3. Facial sunscreen.
4. sunscreen for your body, obviously.
5. You've got to have a beach read, Mindy Kaling is currently on my must read list.
6. A cute beach towel.
7. Hat - protect that hair and your scalp from the sun.
8. Cute sunglasses I'm always scared to take my good sunglasses to the beach. These forever         21 glasses were my favourites last year and are back out again this year.
9. Got to keep hydrated - this Kate Spade tumbler may be a bit extravagant but its also                   seriously cute.
10. Heat proof snacks, I love my Happy Jackson lunchbox, there all so adorable. 

St Tropez Express Tan

I'm a complete tanning n00b. Despite some ill advised tan towels experimentation during senior school that left me looking like Lisa Simpson (Yes yellow.. age 12 was my jaundice year). It's been rare that I've decided to tan. When I do I usually regret it as soon as I've started.

But the St. Tropez express tan totally seduced me, it claimed to achieve a light tan in one hour and a dark one in 3. To me that sounds perfect, only one hour dealing with that weird biscuit smell and standing around trying not to put my arms down for fear of streaking.

It was actually bloody brilliant. I exfoliated and moisturised my skin before applying the mouse with my tanning mitt and left it for an hour. After rinsing it off there was the slightest biscuit smell remaining but otherwise that was it. The next day my sheets were still white and  my tan had developed into a really lovely streak free light brown - no orange (or yellow) at all.

The colour doesn't seem to last quite as long as the original mouse, it had pretty much completely faded by day 5. But it did fade very nicely with a bit of gentle exfoliation. I didn't have any random patches at all. I'm sold!

CHANTECAILLE Faux Cils Mascara Review

About a month ago I received a Space NK goody bag - Major excitement. I'd wanted one for so long its was actually embarrassing, but the disposable income and the offer never seemed to coincide (probably because I never have disposable income). Eventually I convinced the mother to go halves on the £150 purchase required to receive it. It was well worth it by the way, not least for the sample of the Chantecaille mascara that was included.

In short this mascara is just perfection, It gives serious length, volume and drama with no clumps. Its crazy. Before this came into my life I thought I had found my ultimate with the Benefit They're Real, but I'd never been so wrong  

Before

After- also I need to sort my brows out.

As you can see, its pretty amazing it manages to make somewhat paltry looking lashes look decent. (I should point out though my eyelashes are slightly longer than the before picture might indicate they're just very, very blonde). As great as it is though, it does come with a pretty hefty price tag at £35.00 nearly £10 more than the Chanel, Dior and YSL offerings (although I also think the Chantecaille is better).

I've also found some difficulties in controlling the wand. I found it almost impossible to apply a coat of this stuff without blobbing it somewhere either on my lash line or near to my brow bone. Not a big deal but If I've just spent 10 minutes doing a smokey eye and I blob mascara shit will go down. This could just be to do with the length of the sample size wand.  Also its not waterproof - or at all water resistant a sudden rainstorm yesterday left me looking like an emo kid circa 2004. But for the results it gives I'm willing to let all that go. 

To be honest, I'm not sure If I would purchase this once I've run out. It really is the best mascara I've ever used but I'm just not sure If I could justify £35 for a product that  should  would only last 3 months. If you've got the spare cash I say go for it, you won't regret it. For me I'm just not sure maybe if I win the lottery.

Charlotte Olympia Kitty Flats Dupe

Its probably just my impending status as a crazy cat lady but I've been lusting after the Charlotte Olympia Kitty flats forever. But I'm sorry, even if I did have a spare £500 I just don't think I could spend it on a pair of shoes with cat faces - no matter how adorable.

Charlotte Olympia version

This is why I love ebay, I found this pair that are super similar for £12 here. There really quite comfy a bit tight at the back of my feet at first but nothing a plaster didn't fix. The only other problem was the initially stank of WD40 - I left them in the garden for the day and the smell did dissipate. I reckon they're a pretty good bargain.

My ebay steal. 

PS. 5 minutes having a blog and I've put my feet on the internet already. I fear this is a rookie error.

Embracing My Flaws

Lets be real, I don't consider myself to be the most beautiful women in the room, (there are occasions in which I'm the only woman in which case I probably am) and for the most part I'm pretty okay with that. There are so many things I can do, I'm great with Puns, make a mean Lasagna, and I'm really good at doing the Carlton Banks dance - who needs beauty.

However a recent conversation with a friend made me realise how much of my confidence comes not from embracing my positives but from feeling as though I've successfully hidden my flaws - and thats just not on. So me and my friend set ourselves a little challenge - to play up or 'worst' features for one week - and I loved it.

Having wonky lips and a gap that would rival a Jagger I've always hated my lips, so I ended up spending the whole week in bold red lipstick. I went through I few formulations from my stash before absolutely falling in love with Illamsaqua Throb. Its a completely matte, blue red shade that really pops against my skin. I have little patience for any lipstick that needs careful re-applications throughout the day, but like all the Illamasqua lipsticks I've tried even after an 8 hour day this bad boy is still perfectly there. Its amazing. Honestly.

So, whilst I'm not quite ready to ditch my go to winged liner nude lips, I'm definitely feeling more ready to include red lips in my make up rotation.

A New Foundation Love?

For far too long now I've been clung to the beaut of a foundation that is Nars sheer glow, and lately I've been getting that itch to try something new. So when Lisa Eldridge recommended a foundation on her blog, and its pretty cheap you've got to listen up right? Dutifully I picked up the Boujois 123 perfect CC Cream yesterday.

I really need to polish my dressing table 

To be honset I've not really been sold on the whole BB, CC cream trend I just don't get it? Most of them seem to make wild skincare claims but seem to be little more than an over-rated tinted moisturiser. But at a £9.99 I was willing to let that go, in the hopes it would pacify my current YSL Youth Liberator  cravings and I've go to admit I really like it. The coverage is defiantly light, but I think thats comes with the territory with this breed of foundation. It sits on the skin beautifully though, my skin textures been looking a bit dodgy lately, rough, dry, spotty and blotchy all at once - sexy I know right? But its managed to smooth over all of that shockingly well (far better than Nars did!).

Not too bad right? Ignore the bad hair day 

As texture goes yes it gives a slightly dewy (maybe more natural finish?), but personally I didn't feel the need to powder it at all and it defiantly lasts really well on my skin. However, despite its '24 hour' hydration claims it really didn't leave my skin feeling at all moisturised - like I said my skin is slightly oily and yet required zero powder !! Really though its a great budget foundation, the Boujois foundations are always some of the best on the highstreet and this defiantly continues that trend.

The Morning After

In the Shower.... 

At the Mirror

Somewhat improved right? 

New Years Eve over and the party season is gone for another year, and I certainly partied like it was 1999 2014. Honsetly, by this stage I'm so grateful that the holiday season is over; right now I don't think I could physically consume another cocktail but until the detox can commence I've got the morning after hangover to deal with. Work starts at 11.00 which gives me exactly two hours to resemble something living.

9:30 I'm still lying in bed, trying to find the energy to leave wondering how 18 year old me used to cope with doing this every single weekend?! I've also chugged my first half a litre of water. 

9.45 Hit the showers: I'm finally starting to feel human amazingly. Once in the shower I used the Elemis Spa @ Home show cream a luxurious feeling body wash the leaves my skin feeling nourished and comforted but with no scent at all didn't affect my sore head and queasy stomach. I also used the Clinque Sparkle Skin Exfoliator to remove the remnants of Xen Tan of my legs. For hair I whipped out the Macadamia Natural Oil Flawless cleansing conditioner to quickly spruce us my tresses. I managed to slough the dead skin of my lips with the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment, and give my skin a bit more pep with Liz Earle Brightening treatment mask a seriously fast acting mask that helps tired skin look a bit more alive. I used the L'Oreal Skin Perfection cleansing water to get remove the remains of last nights mascara (a total Bioderma dupe if your interested).

 10:00 Make up time: After applying some of the the Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment I roughly blow dried my hair and pulled it into a bun. I popped on the Origins Ginzing eye cream which contains a small amount of simmer to try and hide my dark bags. For base I kept things light, and tried to let my skin breath a little bit. I used the Clarins Beauty Flash Balm  which also acts as a moisturising mask throughout the day and imparts quite a glow. I applied a little bit of Nars Sheer Glow with my fingertips since my buffing brush was still dirty from last nights shenanigans and my skins suffering to much from christmas over- indulgence to let it go bare. On my eyes I used the Clinque Chubby Stick for a bit of subtle colour, used the a tiny bit of the densely pigmented Clinque All About Eyes Concealer  underneath to try and hide the bags. In my waterline I popped Chanel eyeliner  in Beryl which has a lilac hue to try and disguise some of the redness. On my lips and cheeks I'm wearing another Clinque Chubby Stick  in Two Ton Tomato because obviously if I'm wearing red lipstick I'm  going to be able to fool everyone that I'm not hungover (I wish).  It did however give some much needed colour to my complexion. I did my brows as usual, applied a couple of coats of mascara and was pretty much ready to go.

10:30  Out the door: New Years resolution Drink less, buy more makeup.