Electric Make Up Brush Cleaner | Amazon Best Buy

So, as everyone in lockdown, I'm finding things to do when I am not working or doing housework. I purchased this back before we moved house (blog post to come on that). 

When sorting out my dressing room I came across the package again and decided to give it a go. 

Now I don't know about you, I am horrendous at washing my brushes regularly. Generally choosing to buy new ones instead... bad I know - I am determined to get better at it, especially now I have this little gadget! 

I found this one back in April and there are loads to choose from, so I don't think it necessarily needs to be this one specifically as I'm pretty sure they all do a similar job.

It didn't come with makeup brush cleaner but I generally use Johnson's baby shampoo which works a treat and it super cheap, although if you have any suggestions, I'm all ears. 

                      

The product came with 7 adaptors, one of which with 8 sizes in and as yet I haven't come across a brush that hasn't fit one of them. What I will say is, I have been trying to ensure I use one slightly smaller so it holds it tight and doesn't fly out, covering me in dirty soapy water... which definitely didn't happen... 

Below are some before and after pictures that I remembered to take and I have to say, I didn't think there would be an issue with the cleaning aspect, but the drying I was extremely impressed with. 

The wand has two speeds, the first for cleaning and the second for drying. One thing I have been doing is taking it out of the bowl to use the drying option. (It doesn't say to do this - I just found it helped the drying process) 

                        

I am having to clean my flat brushes manually, but with it only being a couple of my massive stash, I don't mind!

I would love to know how you clean your brushes and what you use.

Much Love as always,

Wedding Series | Engagement Party Planning

Engagement party planning is the fun bit before all the stress comes. Its the perfect excuse to get your nearest and dearest together and celebrate your up coming nuptials.

I also know many people who have decided against having them as they haven't wanted one, or they are getting married quicker. As we had decided to wait two years in order to save for the wedding and a house, we wanted to celebrate!

The venue is the big decider for this, as it will be what costs the money if anything.
We decided to have ours where we first met, given that we got engaged abroad, we couldn't really have it where he popped the question!

Luckily for us, the place we first met is just up the road from where we live, and is one of our local pubs.

They have a lovely function room out the back of the pub that also has access to the garden (of which a section was also reserved for us)

The function room was also free, which was a massive bonus, especially when you are saving for the wedding and in our case a house too. I would definitely recommend trying to find somewhere cheap or free if you can. If you don't have any pubs nearby that offer this, try village halls or even church halls.

We also decided against food, to keep the costs down, which I slightly regret as I was starving as I couldn't eat before hand as was too nervous!
However, the pub serves really nice bar food, (the cajun fries are to die for!) so people had the option to either eat before they came, or to order something once they arrived so I didn't feel bad on them - you have to think of money unfortunately. If you are lucky enough to have budget for food too, then obviously crack on, but we didn't, and no one minded.

If you are local to Tunbridge Wells, you will probably have heard of St John's Yard. If not, and you live close by I would definitely recommend it for functions (I also had my 30th birthday party there) but also if you just want a drink with friends. On Sunday's they also do a burger deal where they have a selection of burgers half price and they are a-m-a-z-i-n-g!
They have also recently opened another restaurant next door to them, The Shuffle House, which serves pizza and tapas, with a bar upstairs that has shuffle boards that you can hire to play on. I believe they can also do functions here.

I love St John's Yard as the atmosphere is always great, the decor is quirky, the staff are friendly, and the garden is lovely especially in the summer, but also has heaters in the colder months.

The room is decorated really well with cute bunting and fairy lights hanging up as well as the quirky pub decor already, so we only added some balloons and a board of pictures with fairy lights that I made up the week before. This meant minimal effort from us, meaning we could enjoy the day without rushing around to decorate and didn't have to worry about clearing the decorations before we left that night or go back the next day.

Everyone commented on how lovely the function room was, even if we were a bit squished in. This was mainly due to the fact we presumed a lot of people wouldn't be able to make it and then were blown away with the turn out!

We were so surprised with the turn out and it gave us an insight of what the wedding day would be like as we spent the whole night saying hello to people and thanking for them for coming before we'd have to move on to the next person.
It was very overwhelming, as well as a lot of fun, but we barely saw each other. So we have made the decision to ensure that on our wedding day, we schedule time out of the day for just us. It's our wedding day, and yes, we want to spend the day celebrating with our family and friends, but we also want to be able to celebrate together.

Much Love as always,

237 days and counting... 🧡💒💜

Miracle Tablets | Lifestyle

I have been dying my hair for about 18years now and will be the first to say that I don't take great care of my hair in between. I can go months without haircuts, get easily bored with the colour and have used more home dyes that I can count. With my wedding being next year, I realised I needed to buck my ideas up.

I have stopped using heat on my hair unless necessary (sometimes you need to dry your hair if you're like me and your washing days don't align with plans you have made!)

I am still on the look out for a decent hair mask as so far the ones I've tried haven't done much...

My hair is in the best condition it's been in ages... bearing in mind it's bleached... and I think it is all down to these tablets!

 Now, I've always been a massive skeptic when it comes to things like this, but after hearing about them from a friend after they had done wonders for her hair, I thought I'd give them a go. After all, what did I have to lose?

I ordered mine from Amazon but I'm sure you can pick them up in other places too and the ones I chose are the Solgar North Atlantic Kelp Tablets.

                                           

Apologies for the stock photo, but where I am now getting to the end of my pot, the label has peeled so much that you wouldn't be able to tell what they are! 

You get 250 tablets in a pot and take one a day. I'm not brilliant at remembering I won't lie... so I try and take them in the morning with my other pills.

Since taking these; my hair is healthier, longer and looks in such better condition.

The below picture was about 2 months before I started taking them.

   

This next picture is my hair now - I have also started bleaching my hair again as you can see, but my hair is no where near as elasticated as it has been in the past when bleaching and I can only think it is down to these miracle tablets!

I love them and tell everyone I can to get them because I truly believe they are a miracle. Have I said miracle enough times?

Now that the countdown is on for my wedding, I want my hair in the best condition possible. 

Do you have any wonders like these? I may be a true convert...

Much Love as Always,

Products I Can't Live Without | Lip Balm

Well, I am a horrendously bad blogger aren't i... I will post these every Friday she said... that did not happen... I apologise.

Unfortunately, life happened, which is the case for many people I know. Sometimes you end up in your own little bubble and it takes a while to pop out. 

But I'm back... I can hear the applause. Thank you, thank you, you are too kind. 

The first product I'm pretty sure I have mentioned MANY times, but it is amazing and my go to. I've got many people onto it over the years too and they still use it now.

Carmex

Whether you go for original or one of the scented versions, you won't be disappointed. I tend to reach for my original or my strawberry ones the most, but I think I have one in every variation now. 

I love the pots it comes in, but for ease on the go, the squeeze tubes are definitely a lot easier.

Top Tip! If you leave it in the sun, be careful upon opening as it will melt and you will lose a lot of product super fast!

I also love the little tingle this gives when you put it on... no rude thoughts please... 

Korres

I only picked this up a few months ago now as seen in one of my hauls {link} but it's great. I got it in the mango flavour and it smells good enough to eat... don't worry... I won't... 

It makes my lips feel super soft, and on those days where I just want variety from my Carmex, this is one of the main ones I gravitate to. 

I now want to try as many flavours as possible, but the mango will be a strong fave regardless. 

Lush

Lush lip balms have been a firm favourite of mine for many years, but I have to say that Honeytrap is my must have of their collection. 

It smells so good you could eat it, but is also super moisturising on your lips. 

The only problem I have is that when I have my acrylics on it can be a little bit on a mission to get it out without making holes in the product which really upsets me!

What are your must have lip balms? I'd love to know. 

Much Love, 

Products I Can't Live Without | Highlighters

Here is my list of highlighters that I love, all from the high street and therefore all within everyone's budget.

MUA 

I have loved this highlighter for about 4 years now and this must be my 2nd purchase I would bet as it last a long time!

From MUA, and therefore only £3 this highlighter is in the shade Pink Shimmer and is from the Undress Your Skin range.

It is super pretty and looks amazing. It is my go to, and is always in my make up bag as I know I will reach for this over all my others - as you can see I've already hit pan again!

No.7

This one is in a contour set and contains a matte highlighter. It costs £12.50 for the palette and includes a matte contour colour too and is in the shade medium/dark. 

This is great for when I'm out and about as it comes with a mirror and a contour shade I can use if required. 

I have also used the highlighter for eyeshadow when I've been in a pinch.

Make Up Revolution 

I've only had this since I received it in my Advent Calendar December just gone. I love the colour although I tend to only use this when I have a tan due to the shade. 

I feel like it is too gold for my skin without one as I am basically transparent, but I know that it looks beaut when I have a bit of colour so I intend to pack this for holidays this year. 

Costing only £3 it is super cheap too!

Swatches

What are your favourite high street highlighters?

Much Love, 

Products I Can't Live Without | Bronzers

I think I started using bronzer when I was about 15...ish...

Probably ending up with a look that was not becoming, especially teamed with my favourite blue lipstick (it was the fashion then ok...)

In recent years, as contouring has become more and more popular I use mine for various things.

Contouring, Bronzing and even eyeshadow!

Bourjois Chocolate Bronzer

I'm pretty sure this is a staple in most make up lovers make up bags, not just mine. This is the perfect shade for majority of skin tones and looks like a chocolate bar. 

It's matte and slightly smells of chocolate which is obviously a massive plus point!

It's perfect for bronzing when you don't want shimmer, and just as good for contouring too.

I have taken this with me to use as a triple threat before to save space:

• Bronzer
• Contour
• Eyeshadow

To use as eyeshadow I usually just use my finger and then blend with a fluffy brush into the crease. To be honest, I am guilty of using loads of my bronzers for this when I'm short of time or when I'm away from home. 

It retails for £7.99.

No.7 Match Made Bronzer

This was a present from my Auntie last Christmas and I love it!

Again I use this as a Triple Threat. 

It comes with a handy mirror too, which is great when you are out and about. I generally use this more for contouring than bronzing. 

It is also a matte bronzer and is in the shade Maple.

It retails for £12.50

Younique Beachfront Bronzer

This bronzer is great having a matte side as well as a shimmer side so you are able to mix and match as and when you want. 

This is in the shade Sunset, and as you can see, I need to repurchase rather rapidly, especially with summer approaching.

I love to use the matte side to contour and then the shimmer on top of my cheek bones to give that summer shimmery look. 

It retails for £25.

Products I Can't Live Without | Brows

So I'm a massive fan of using pressed powders to do my brows rather than pencils as I prefer the look they give me, plus I find them a lot easier to use!

I thought I'd do a mini review on the products I use now and that I couldn't live without.

I used to use a MAC eyeshadow with a 216 Brush, but that was in my make up bag when I lost it and I haven't got round to replacing them yet! 

MUA Quad: 

At the moment the High Street brow set I've been using is the MUA quad.

I really like this set, it comes with two brow shades, a highlight and a wax to set them. It also comes with a tiny brush which you definitely have to get used to using!

Although it's handy as it is double sided, so I use one side for the shadow and the other for the wax if I use it... Which I rarely do to be honest.

There were some dinky tweezers in this set when I brought it... Where they are now however is another question entirely! They weren't very easy to use and although the idea is great that you have everything in one palette, I think I may have got frustrated with them falling out and chucked them into the depths of my room... Oops!

This set is great especially for the price of £3.50.

The shades are really pigmented, the highlight is a nice matte and the wax is great to set them if you need to. I generally don't need to, and if I do, use my brow gel instead as I feel that it's a more natural look on the brows.

Younique Palette 2:

Although this is not packaged as a brow kit, back when Younique didn't have much in the way of brow products, I used 'Cocky' from Palette 2 and haven't looked back.

It's the perfect colour for my brows, and I use my Real Techniques brow brush. Don't get me wrong, for £38 it's probably rather a lot for a brow shade, however, the rest of the colours in this palette are beautiful so it is well worth it.

The colour is super pigmented and is really easy to use for my brows. I love to take this if I'm staying anywhere overnight or getting ready elsewhere as it means I have something for my brows as well as eyeshadows and highlight.

Benefit Gimme Brow:

I have two colours of this, to get the best colour for my brows.

I prefer using this to go over the top of what I end up creating with my quad or the Younique palette to set them.

I do like using these products, but I think I'm a powder and brush girl when it comes to my brows unfortunately.

For £16.99 it's great for what it is, and It's perfect if you are in a rush and don't have time to take time on your brows with powder as it fills them in and gives them good definition in half the time. 

What are your favourite high street and high end brow products?

Much Love,

T, x

Younique | Powder Lipsticks

Happy Wednesday! We are officially half way through the week, well done!

If you have been reading my blogs or following me for a while, you may know of my friend Emma by now.

She is a Younique presenter and therefore I end up with sneak peaks to new products which is amazing.

Unfortunately, these were a limited product and are no longer available for purchase - but I wanted to show you how amazing they are... sorry!

These are the most bizarre product I am yet to try from any company! They confuse your mind and make you question everything you have every known about lip products and make up in general!

I first tried them with Emma on a Facebook Live that she did for her customers. 

I then purchased my favourite two out of the pack to show you guys how insanely good they are.

The colours I got were Captivating and Curvaceous - and they are a powder consistency... strange I know.

Upon applying, I ensure to take the excess product off the applicator as it is very easy to think you should tap it as you would do with most powder products. I do this to try and keep as much product in the container as possible.

The applicator itself is really easy to use and is a great shape. When the powder goes on your lips, it gives a slightly warming feeling, which takes a little getting used to.

The products are super pigmented and are true to the colours above.

They are great colour and look amazing on, so I'm sorry you are unable to purchase them. Here's hoping they will bring them back!


Much Love,

Tk xxx

Nail Varnish | Sort Through

So, if you don't follow me on social... (if not why not?!)

Tweet me: @tklou7

Insta: @Tklou

Youtube: Tk Lou

Facebook: Tklou7

You may or may not have seen that I'm currently not very well. Being signed off might be the best thing for some people, but I hate being ill, missing out on things I need to be doing at work and not being able to even do anything here.

Today... day two, I decided to sort through my nail varnishes as I was so bored and have been putting it off for a good few years.

Knowing when we move back to Jack's parents we won't have masses of space has clearly kicked my butt into gear.

So I decided to try and do some stuff from my sick bed.

I had this rather large box to get through...

I really thought about colours I actually wear. I get my nails done with acrylic quite regularly so it's very rare that I actually paint my nails, so I wanted to keep colours I would actually use on these occasions rather than the puke hello that has been hiding at the bottom for probably 3 years...

I also wanted too ensure I had some for my toenails as I paint these a lot more regularly, but tend to only use nude colours unless I'm on holiday, so made a point to remember that too.

After going through them all I now have a box of colours I love as well as being a lot more compact.

I also have a small pile of colours to give away - the rest were old and horrible! I will see if any of my cousins want them.

This is the pile to throw away! To be fair, some of these are about 5 years old if not more... It was time...

I also decided to paint my nails while I was sorting through as, well, why not?! This is the colour Marshmallow and is a rather nice shade of pink.

Next up to be sorted will be my make up and clothes I think - as I can do them from my bed too.

Hope you are all well.

Much Love,

Tk xxx

Small Make Up Haul

Last week I realised I had run out of a few bits and went into town on a mission to get them all in 15mins and succeeded.

First up, I was coming to the end of one of my Rimmel Wake Me Up foundations, and wanted another one, but stumbled across this instead and I love it!

Its the Colour Match foundation, and it's medium coverage with the ability to build, and looks flawless. I picked it up in the shade True Ivory, and was pretty spot on if I do say so myself... 

I also picked up this Insta Fix and Matte translucent powder, as I had run out of my usual Rimmel powder and thought this would be good to try out, so far so good! I will get back to you if anything changes...

Next up I picked up the Radiance Brick Bronzer in 001 Light. It's got a slight shimmer and looks beaut! I tend to use this after I have contoured just to give myself a bit of a bronze highlight. 

Lastly from Rimmel, I picked up this Scandaleyes Reloaded mascara as I always loved the original so thought I'd give it a go. The brush is different and I'm not sure I'm a massive fan as yet... but I perserve and see what happens... 

On the way to the till I found the next few items... I know I know, In and out... but they were on my way, that's my excuse anyway...

These Moxi Eye catchers looked really intriguing, and I am yet to use them. They are cotton buds pre-filled with what I presume is make up remover, to save your make up when you are half way through your face!

If any girl says she does her make up perfect every time... she's lying... don't trust her...

It was the night of my Birthday drinks and I usually have my nails done quite regularly, but have given my nails a rest recently. I came across these House of Holland fake nails, and I love them.
They came with pretty decent glue and I intend to reuse them and ensure I actually take a picture this time as I forgot!
They are a really pretty pinky nude shade and then you obviously have the choice of a bit of sparkle should you so wish.

I saw this mask and had to pick it up as my old housemate used to use these regularly when I lived with her, and I always wanted to try them and never got round to it. 

So when I spotted it this time I decided to pick one up to give it a go - I don't know when this will actually happen as I have soooo many to review at the moment..but I promise I will get to it.. Plus I could do with some revitalising! 

Last, but by no means least, I picked up this Ecotools Eye brush duo. Simply because you can never have too many brushes and I needed some more fluffy blending brushes.

Once I have got around to using everything properly and for a decent amount of time to ensure I can review it properly I will get back to you. 

Obviously except the face mask... I only intend on using this once... Essay over...

Much Love, 

TK xxx

Soap & Glory Giveaway!

As you may or may not know, I am a massive fan of Soap and Glory products, both the make up and the body care.

So, as it is my birthday today I have decided to do a giveaway on here.

Once I have reached 300 followers on my Twitter page, and 500 on my Instagram.

I would do it before, but I'm a bit anal when it comes to numbers, they have to be odd numbers, or at least the first number does.

So, I am asking you to please share away, like my pages, share with your friends, and a Soap and Glory basket will be winging it's way to the followers on both Twitter and Instagram that help me hit the magic numbers!

(Probably with some yummy chocolates in it too...just fyi)

I really enjoy blogging, it helps me feel more settled in life, and I know its not all about the followers, but at the same time, it would be nice knowing that more people are reading my material.

I have also started a Youtube channel here:


Here are the rest of my links.







Good Luck, and Thank you in advance.

Can't wait for the winners to be announced!

Much Love,

Tk

xx

* Please note, I will probably need some help with this - so make sure to tag me in a tweet/insta pic once you have helped me hit the numbers!