Summer Sun

As I mentioned recently I went on a lovely trip to Thailand and I was determined (once in my life) not to over-pack.

This meant that my make-up had to be reduced to a smaller number of products which could stand the test of the heat.

(In no particular order)
- Mini YSL Babydoll mascara -Clinque Bottom Lash mascara - Mac Studio Fix Powder - Collection concealor - Benefit Browzings - Maybelline colour tattoos in Taupe and On & On Bronze - Rimmel Scandaleyes gel eyeliner in black & bronze - Rimmel Apocolips in Big Bang & Apocoliptic - Max Factor creme blush in Soft Pink - Rimmel blush Pink Blush - Boujours bronzer - Mac Mineralise Skin Finish in Soft & Gentle

I never bother to take foundation with me on holiday as my skin has a tendency to go a little bumpy sometimes due to the heat/sweat/suntan lotion concoction and I don't like to add another thing on top to worsen my pores. However, just because I may be tanned doesn't mean I don't need a little bit of coverage so I often take my Mac Studio Fix powder which at any other point of the year is far too dark for me (tip: never get matched when you're tanned)

Bronzer is a biiiigggg holiday essential, but my Nars Laguna has recently cracked and I didn't want to risk any more damage in-flight so decided to try out Boujours's infamous offering. I did quite like the colour of this, but I just wish it had less glitter particles in it.

Speaking of bronze, I pretty much wore Maybelline's Colour Tattoo in On & On Bronze every night, applied with my finger and then blended with a soft brush to give a little definition in the crease. Add lashings of YSL Babydoll Mascara and black eyeliner and we're almost good to go.

Some nights when I had a more dressed-down outfit (or just felt like it) I added a lip colour but the thing about Thailand is everybody is so dressed down that you don't want to take it that step too far.

What are your holiday essentials?

Becs x

Not-so bustling Bangkok

Journeying down the Chao Phraya river as the sun beams down on my face, I enter into a jet-lag induced haze until a crackle on the sound-system jolts me from my slumber. I'm aboard the popular tourist ferry boat taking us from the central pier in search of Bangkok's greatest attraction - The Grand Palace.

The May heat in Bangkok is like nothing else I've ever experienced, and when paired with the month's high humidity it makes for a heady concoction. As one of the ferrymen helps us jump off the boat and onto the pier we're greeted by the hustle and bustle of a Thai street market. The heat gives no respite and only increases as you walk through it thanks to the copious amount of street vendors cooking up a delectable buffet of dishes.

Vast, tall white walls cocoon the Grand Palace, but our tiredness somehow leads us walking in the opposite direction to the entrance. Instead, we happen upon Wat Pho, the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. Named after an Indian monastery where Buddha is said to have lived, it is home to 91 chedis each intricately decorated with a rainbow of colours. The star attraction, however, is the reclining Buddha. Entering the hall - robed, with shoes in hand - the size of it makes me gasp. Fellow tourists stand at awkward angles around the space trying to photograph its entirety.

We decide to make the most of our riverside location, and walk back to the pier in order to travel to Wat Arun, pausing at a street-stall for a coconut to drink, and witness the female owner carelessly strike the top off with a meat cleaver before inserting fluorescent coloured straws.

The ideal place to get photos of one of the country's best Temple's is while you're on the ferry crossing, as snaps become the last thing on your mind when you're challenged to climb to the two different levels. Despite it not being Bangkok's tallest monument, the steps are so steep all your focus is on getting up/down.

As we travel back down the river to our starting point, I begin to wonder what all of the bad-press about a hectic Bangkok was about. Perhaps it's the season, but I haven't found the most visited city in the world a hassle in the slightest.

We catch the cool air-conditioned haven that is the SkyTrain back to Asok station, and have a five minute walk through Sukhumvit to our hotel to freshen-up for the evening. At a mere £26 per night Windsor Suites was a gem of a hotel, 14 stories high with a roof-top pool to boot, it was more than we needed to rest our weary heads.

Showered and somewhat refreshed, we catch one of the many taxi's lining the capital city's streets a few soi's down to the infamous Cabbages & Condoms restaurant, which graces the pages of many travel guides. Opting to sit in the 'garden' we are greeted with what can be better described as a jungle of trees and greenery, with fairy lights and lamps giving the area a gentle glow.

The restaurant has been a Bangkok institution for many years after the owner decided there was a desperate need in the country for a better understanding and acceptance of family planning. We opted for Thai Green Curry, vegetable spring rolls and fried shrimp - all guaranteed 'not to cause pregnancy'.

With our full stomachs we make the cross-city journey to the popular backpacker location of Khaosan Road where we have our first sights of the copious amount of fake-goods on offer in the city. Stalls offering popular international brands line the streets, while travellers spill out of bars Chang's in hand. A few spit-spots of rain suddenly becomes a typical Thai thunderstorm and we find shelter in a bar, before deciding to give in to our jet-lag.

In the taxi back to our hotel, I watch skyscrapers and colourful tuk-tuk's pass my window and understand why this city is visited so often by the world over.

Becs x

Saturday Sales

...I told you I'd be back!

Yesterday was one of those days when you go shopping and the first store you walk into, you sense that you are going to be spending a lot of money. Often, when you plan these kinds of shopping trips you dont see anything worth spending your pounds and pennies on, so I didn't feel toooo guilty about what I picked up.

I first went into Debenhams where I got my eyebrows waxed back into shape thanks to the maestros at the Benefit counter. I have had the 'Brow Arch' wax numerous times, and believe it is one of the best in-store cosmetic treatments you can recieve. I've never left unhappy with my brows, the girls have always made sure to ask what I'm after before they get their tweezers out and - the main point for me - is that they dont let you leave to spend the next hour or so with a red-inflamed brow. They usually use Boing! concealer to reduce the redness, before completing the brow look by filling them in with the infamous Brow Zings. I've used a brow pencil for many years now, and everytime I get them done at the counter I consider purchasing this set - so yesterday I took the jump. I got it in Dark which I was a little dubious about, but after applying myself this morning can say that I am more than happy with it. It is a simple two-step wax and powder process, with both an angled brush and blending brush included. (Plus, a mini-Benefit for Tweezerman tweezers which I already had from another set, and can highly recommend for their ability at being able to get the shortest and tiniest of hairs).
I also spotted a Lancome sale and just couldn't resist. I dabbled into the Lancome mascara world last year and have never looked back. I have tried the Doll Eyes, Hyponose and Star with the latter being my favourite. They had a duo on sale and although I'm not in need of a new one yet, they were at such a good price point of £32 that I just couldnt resist. Debenhems were also having an offer on if you spent over £35 on Lancome you recieved £10 worth of Beauty Card points so I added a nail varnish also on sale to my basket. While in town I also picked up a jacket from Primark and a jumper from Zara with a beaded-collar detail which I am already in love with.

To outweigh yesterday's spends, today I have relaxed on the sofa with a cup of coffee and Glamour magazine, and then spent this afternoon looking at potential holidays. Ahh, weekends pass far too fast!

I'll be back mid-week with a book review,

Becs x

Resolute resolutions

This is the year.

It is! No, seriously. This is the year I am going to blog. Having thought about it for approximately three years, (in which I have potentially missed the buzz-boat) this is the year that I will contineously update this very blog. Resolution number one.

Number two is nothing new but it is something that I will remain committed to throughout the year and that is looking after my skin. I have always always always taken my make-up off before going to bed, and because of dry patches on my face I've moisturised since I was about 12. However, it wasn't until about two years ago when I reached my twenties that I decided I really needed to up my game in skincare. I'd been using cheap face wipes, a reasonably penny-pinching face scrub/wash and a bargain bucket moisturiser which had served their purpose well, but I thought if I wanted to stand any chance of leaving this decade of my life with my skin half as good as it was entering - then I'd better do something about it.
Alas, I turned to the holy grail of Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish. My, my what a relevation that was. On my first use I used a make-up wipe before applying the cream cleanser as I didnt want to dirty my muslin cloth and then followed the two-step process - amazed at how much make-up was still remaining on my face. All these years I'd spent thinking that a face-wipe had done the job made me thank my guardian skin-angel that I had not ever suffered a bad-bout of acne. That is the only thing I can think of that must have kept my pores unblocked as the wipes certainly were not!
Soon after I added the Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturiser into the mix, but I found that this was a little too rich for daywear as it didnt mix too well with my foundation. However, it made the perfect night cream with a pot lasting me nearly six months. So the quest was on for a day moisturiser, and thankfully last Christmas I found it in the form of Lancome's Hydra Zen Neurocalm. Using a small amount I found that it was thin enough to not make my make-up feel heavy or greasy, but also thick enough to actually do what it says on the tub - moisturise. I think this year I dabble into the world of serums and face masks, just to give it a little boost every now and again.

And finally, number three is to continue to travel. Last year I was fortunate enough to go to my second home of Newcastle on numerous occasions, Prague, Rhodes, London, Northumberland and Leeds for lots of holidays and weekends away. This year I plan to do more of the same, with my first trip to Newcastle already planned for two weeks time. On my wishlist are - Budapest, Dubai, New York, Marrakech and Vegas. Whether I will go to any of these we shall see.

Until next time (which there most certainly will be, next Sunday. I promise)

Becs x