I'm Back/Where Have I Been?!

If you're a regular reader of my blog then you may have noticed that I've been rather MIA lately with the odd sporadic post here and there but nothing compared to how much I used to post. Now honestly, I sort of lost my blogging mojo a few months ago and I decide that I'd rather post nothing at all, than post regular terrible content. It also came down to the fact that I started a new job working 12 hours days, getting home and then just wanting to sleep and that really left little time to blog. I'm now much happier in my job situation (as of last week) and so I've been busy writing up and planning a tonne of posts this bank holiday weekend ready to start back up with regular blogging. 

My schedule is going to change slightly as there won't be any outfit posts for a while - I'm working on rectifying that - but I'm hoping to mix it up with a few wishlists and styling posts, as well as the usual beauty content. I may also throw in a few television/book related bits just for good measure but you'll see them if I do. My youtube channel will also hopefully start up again from it's rather long hiatus so keep a look out over there and subscribe if you want to keep up to date!  Hopefully my blogging mojo is back for the foreseeable future now and hopefully I'll be able to produce some of the best content iamemmawilde has ever seen! I hate to fail, especially when it comes to blogging so it's time to take it more seriously...

Until tomorrow! 

Not Quite A Beauty Blender...But Just As Good?!

When it comes to applying my base make-up I'm definitely one for using a buffing brush of sorts as using my fingers just doesn't seem very hygienic and those flat 'foundation brushes' just don't do it for me. I have been on the hunt for something to rival my much loved Real Techniques Buffing Brush and I think I may have found just that in the form of the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. It's basically a more affordable - and slightly differently shaped - Beauty Blender and that is something I've wanted to try for a long time but with it not exactly being the cheapest of make-up sponges around, I put off buying it. The Miracle Complexion sponge however is a mere £5.99 and from what I can gather, it isn't all that dissimilar providing exactly the same results, if not better. 

I've been using the RT sponge to blend out my under-eye concealer as it's perfect for getting into the corners and packing down that coverage with the pointed end. I've also tried it for foundation application and though this isn't my preferred method, it did do the job well and I've since just been using it after my buffing brush as a way of blending out any areas I got a tad to heavy-handed with  foundation. The sponge has the usual pointed end and then unlike the Beauty Blender, it has a flat surface at the other end making it easier to use; it also expands to almost double its size when wet so that helps if you are going to use it to apply your foundation. If you have oily skin I'd say this sponge is best used dry to bring down any shine in the face, but if you're after that added glow trying dampening it for a more flawless finish.

So although I am keen to try out the Beauty Blender to really compare the two (I'll do a comparison post if I do), for the moment I'm happy with how the Real Techniques version finishes my skin and I may just have become a beauty sponge convert. I'm not sure I'll be retiring my buffing brushes just yet but they definitely have some serious competition.

Have you tried the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge? What are your thoughts on it?

An Outfit of Go-To Pieces

Enter, my favourite coat of the moment. Once again I'm bringing out my £2 Primark bargain, I still can't quite get over how reduced this coat was in the sale. I've also seen that they do a pink version and I've decided that I need that one too! I like how this coat can be worn with a super casual outfit like this one or over a dress or smarter trousers for a more dress up look. Versatile pieces are my favourite and I suppose you could say this outfit is made up of a lot of them, these are all pretty much my go-to items...

Ultimate Summer Pink Lipsticks

When it comes to Spring/Summer, I do love wearing my favourite nude lip products but it's also a great opportunity to bring out the brighter pinks and corals and rock them during the day. There's two products in particular that I always find myself reaching for when I'm looking for that pop of colour and they are to me, the ultimate lipsticks. 

This was one of the first bold lipsticks I ever bought and it was one that I bought because I thought the shade was pretty but I never actually thought I'd wear it. That being said, I have gotten quite a bit of wear out of it this year in particular and it is the shade Flat Out Fabulous by Mac. This is a retro matte shade and it's basically a super intense bright with probably one of the most matte formulas I've ever come across, without being too unbelievably drying on the lips. I do always like to apply a lip balm beforehand with this one as it can become slightly uncomfortable throughout the day because it is so matte but it definitely doesn't come anywhere near as drying as the likes of Ruby Woo. 

A lip product that is practically the same shade as Flat Out Fabulous but a completely different formula is Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Pink Pong. Now though this is also a matte, it applies super glossy and almost like a lip gloss. It does however then dry extremely matte and provides the same sort of finish, minus any of the dryness you get from a full matte lipstick. This is probably the most long lasting of the two in terms of the colour, it stays vibrant and matte for practically the whole day and then you're left with a nice wearable stain afterwards, whereas the Mac lipstick does begin to settle into the lines of the lips and can sometimes look questionable mid-way through the day.

If you are looking for a bold shade for the season then I'd definitely recommend you pick up one (or both) of these products. Both are super matte, so very long wearing and the formulas feel super comfortable to wear. They are also cool toned pinks so they make your teeth look exceptionally whiter and will suit pretty much all skinniness in my opinion. 

May Favourites | Video

It's that time again where I give you a run through of all the beauty products I've been loving throughout the month of May. There was actually quite a few things I loved this month, some old and some new, so I hope you enjoy. Don't forget to head over to my channel and subscribe to see all my other videos...

Barry M Need For Speed

Another nail post, another Barry M Speedy Quick Dry polish to show you. I picked up a few shades from this range so I've been gradually trying them in between my other many shades and this one probably has to be the most unlike me colour ever. Need For Speed is a mid-toned true purple that looks absolutely stunning on the nails, though I can tell this won't be one that suits all skin tones. 

Once again this is a really great spring shade and it certainly draws attention to your nails when I wear it. Funnily enough, unlike the previous 'speedy' polish I tried, this one I actually did find dried quicker than average and it had a lot more of a glossy finish so I will disregard my previous review of 'Eat My Dust' as a one off experience. 

I think I'm going to be adding many more shades from this range to my collection soon as I just love the spring colours and the names are just fab! This is not a colour I'd usually choose but I took a chance and I happen to really love how it looks. 

A Nip + Fab Duo

I have a confession to make; I am a shameless celeb-aholic. I watch too much reality TV, dream of one day living a Kardashian lifestyle and I buy into almost every celebrity endorsed product. Now onto this post where I'll begin with an admission, initially I bought both of these products because apparently Kylie Jenner uses (and loves) them. Kylie became the Nip + Fab brand ambassador a few months ago and since then, I've gone from having zero products by the brand to a rather extensive collection and I have no regrets whatsoever. 

The two that I have been using and loving the most though have to be this little cleanser/serum duo, which I use almost twice daily and they have made a huge difference to my skins overall appearance. I begin with washing my face with the Glycolic Fix Cleanse, a foaming cleanser that I apply to a damp face and wash off with warm water. This is great for in the morning to give a fresh base for makeup or for the evening to remove all traces of makeup from the day; it's gentle, fresh and contains glycolic acid, which is great for a daily exfoliation.  

I follow up with the Dragon's Blood Fix Plumping Serum, which is nearly as scary as it sounds, applying this all over my face before any moisturisers or sprays. This serum contains hyaluronic acid to hydrate and refine the skins texture and dragon's blood to apply an invisible film over the skins surface to protect. The real difference I've found from using this product though is the redness around my chin and nose has reduced significantly and it's left my skin looking overall more hydrated. 

I haven't tried using these products separately but together, they have become a staple in my daily skincare routines and I'm yet to find anything my skin loves more. I'm keen to try the other two Dragon's Blood steps, as well as a few of the snake venom products - could these ingredients actually sound anymore sinister?! 

Have you tried anything from Nip + Fab? What are your favourite products? 

What's On My iPhone 6? | Video

I've seen this video around a lot lately and I really enjoy seeing the different apps people use on their phone so I thought I'd film my own version! There's also a little bit about how I edit my Instagram photos in case any of you were wondering...

I hope you enjoy the video and if you did, don't forget to like, comment and subscribe - it means a lot! 

Burnt Orange

This is possibly one of my new favourite outfits, despite it not being very spring-like. The weather seems to not know what it wants to do lately so lightweight jackets and gilets have become my staples and I brought back my favourite shaggy faux fur version for just a few more weeks before it gets just too warm to wear it. I love these sorts of all black outfits that have one item of colour, especially when it's such an autumnal shade like this burnt orange...

Primark Haul | Video

I really enjoy watching Primark hauls and so I thought seeing as I've taken a few trips there recently, I'd show you the things I've picked up. There's a real mix of everything, including my bargain of the century, a coat for £2!

Don't forget to like the video and head over to my channel and subscribe!

Inspector Gadget Trench

Better late than never I suppose? This outfit post should have been up on Monday and then this morning but due to the terrible weather mixed with my non-existent home internet, it was near impossible to get this post up before now. At least it's here now and it's a good'un as I finally found my perfect trench coat. Light weight, knee length and highly resembling that worn by Inspector Gadget. Check, check and check. 

Blend Active | Banana & Kiwi

So my usual Monday outfit slot is being substituted this week due to the terrible weather where I live, normally scheduling will resume hopefully soon! I thought I'd start adding a few different topics to my blog though, including some food/health related posts and with that, I thought I'd start with my first ever homemade smoothie. I have been wanting to buy a blender for absolutely ages now but I could never settle on which one to buy but I've been seeing the Blend Active by Breville appearing on quite a few blogs and instagrams lately so I thought I'd give this budget friendly option a go!

Camel Blanket Scarf

While my usual colour palette of monochrome black and white is well and truly in my comfort zone, I'm really trying to embrace colour, especially when it comes to jeans. I reignited my love for these mom-style jeans in last weeks outfit and here they are once again making an appearance, despite this one still centring around my favourite clothing colour. Black.

Fashion Haul ft. Zara, H&M, ASOS

I've been doing a little bit of shopping over the past few months and thought, what better way to show you than with a haul! I've actually bought more since filming this (oops!) so maybe there will be another collective haul towards the end of the month. Anyway, I hope you enjoy and don't forget to head over to my channel if you want to see all my videos! 

A Smarter Look

On a daily basis my outfits mainly tend to lean towards the smarter end of the spectrum with the odd pair of trainers or mom jeans being thrown in to keep them somewhat casual and wearable for everyday. This outfit however is probably one of the smartest outfits you will ever see me wear and could be easily transformed into a more day-today look by swapping out the skirt for a pair of jeans. 

The Eyeliner for Eyeliner Novices

I found myself perusing the MAC counter a few weeks ago, which is something I find very daunting to say the least. There's just so many products, finishes, shades, the list goes on... I did however, go in with one product on my mind, the cult favourite Eye Kohl in Teddy and now it's a part of my collection, I'm never letting it go!

Reading List #1

I'll be the first to admit that I'm not an avid reader in the literature sense. I like to read books but it usually takes me several weeks (or months) to finish one, so in-between I like to read various other mediums like blogs, new websites and of course, magazines. I thought I'd start this little series, which could sort of go along with my monthly favourites posts/videos but instead of including beauty and fashion pieces I've been loving, it will include all the things I've been reading that month - or couple of months. Enjoy!

Yet to find a holy grail

If there's one make-up item that I'm constantly striving to find that holy grail moment with, it' is mascara. I've never been particularly faithful to just one and I'm starting to think that maybe my ideal mascara just doesn't really exist as one product. 

La Roche-Posay Serozinc

I'm definitely one to listen to to hype surrounding products, I mean it must be good if so many people rave about it, right? One product that has been on my radar for some time now is the La Roche-Posay Serozinc, which I managed to pick up while in Paris and one that I'm now wishing I'd picked up several cans of!

Paris Diary 2014

A few snaps from my long weekend away in Paris. I could have included an endless amount of shots of the delicious food I ate, the beautiful streets I saw and the endless views but I've managed to keep it to just a few!