Skincare tag

Beautiful products from Australian brand Myrtle & Moss

I'd seen this tag floating around the blogging world but hadn't got around to doing it yet, but then I saw Poppys post and I decided to join in the fun! So here goes:

Describe your skin care routine in 5 words. 

Cleanse, tone, exfoliate, moisturise, expensive!

What's your skin type?

For years I had very dry skin, but that all changed just over six years ago and I now have combination skin. If I had to choose between the two, as much as it drives me mad that my make up can end up sliding off my face by the end of the day and I have to blot, blot, blot; I would take combination skin over dry any day of the week.

What's your favourite skin care product?

Gosh this changes all the time and I don't know if I can just pick one! I would probably say Liz Earle's cleanse and polish for my face. It really does the job. I would like to try the Australian brand Myrtle & Moss though as the ingredients in their body washes looks appealing and you've got to think about taking care of the skin on your body and not just your face!

Top blemish zapper

I don't really have any tips here. I am lucky that I don't often get spots/blemishes *she says sitting here with a huge zit on her cheek*  I can't swear by any products or home remedies. I would just say, keep the area clean, don't pick/fiddle with it! and (unfortunately) bide your time until it's gone.

Face wipes yay or nay?

No no no no no. A huge nay for me. Yes they do a job of removing gunk from your face, but as for cleaning it, not really. I would steer clear my fellow bloggers.

High-end skin care or high-end make-up?

As much as I LOVE high end make up, I would say high end skin care would be my first choice. I think when you are young and your face is that drum tight canvas and money is even tighter and you have to make a monetary choice on one or the other, you are probably going to go for all the desired high end makeup out there, but believe me when you get older you will be glad you splurged your hard earned on high end skincare, because all the high end make up in the world isn't going to sit pretty on a face which looks like a bit of old shoe leather.

What's the most unusual skin care product you've tried?

I did have a serum which had snake venom in it, something about tightening the pores but can't say it appeared any different from any other serum.

You're in a french pharmacy and can only pick up one item - what is it?

I think it would probably be Bioderma. I've not tried it and I have to say I am intrigued by the hype plus it's a lot cheaper in France right, right?

Tell us your top skin care tip

Find what works for you, hype products are sometimes worth their weight in gold but just because it works for one does not mean it'll work for all. Other than that I would say cleanse cleanse cleanse (oh and moisturise!).

So if you've done this tag, please leave me a link in the comments. I'm a nosey so and so and would love to read your answers! If you haven't done the tag, then I tag YOU!

The Christmas Tag

I saw this over on the lovely Sarah from Life in a breakdown's blog and she in turn came across it on Makeup Pixi3's blog.  I just love a good old tag so here's my tuppence worth!

1. What's your favourite thing about Christmas?
It's so difficult to choose one thing.  I would say time off and spending it with family and all the longstanding traditions we have.  Eating lots of things which aren't so good for you but which taste Oh So Good! The twinkly lights, the smell of the Christmas tree.  Even cooking the Christmas dinner, I love it all!

2. What's your favourite make-up look for the festive season?
Loads of glimmer and shimmer.  Lots of smoky eyes and deep rich nail colours are usually what I go for over the Christmas period.

3. Real tree or fake tree?
Oh it has to be real for me.  I know I would save myself a fortune in the long run by investing in a really good artificial one but there is just something about a real tree.  We always had a real tree when I was a nipper, apart from when I was really really small and we had a very trendy white fake one (it was the 70's!), so I guess my love of real stems from there.  It's a big tradition in our house, Mr B.P. and I go out together to get said tree.  I do lots of "that one" and he pulls it out of the big pile and stands there, holding it whilst I ummm and arrrr and say "no that one".  We get there in the end!  But it's real all the way.

4. Giving presents or receiving presents?
It has to be giving.  I love shopping for others, getting something which (I hope) they'll love.  Spending time wrapping it just so.  It's a ritual for me and I just love to see others faces when they open their pressies.

5. Do you open your presents morning or evening?
It's usually a little bit of both.  We like to draw it out so it lasts all day!  We'll open a couple during breakfast but the main ones wait until after lunch which we usually sit down to eat at about 2.30pm. So it can go on until late afternoon.

6. Handmade Christmas cards or bought?
Have to admit to sending bought ones here.  Although I do love to receive a handmade one.

7. What's your favourite Christmas film?
That has got to be It's a Wonderful Life.  (Is it weird that Jimmy Stewart plays the main lead in both of my all time favourite films?!)  But if I'm looking for a bit of light hearted humour, you can't go wrong with Elf.

8. What's your favourite Christmas food?
This is a bit like the first question.  There is just too much too choose from!  We always crack open a tin of Quality Street and I love a mince pie (or 3).  To be honest, I love it all - yep even the sprouts!

So that's my Christmas tag!

I tag - ALL OF YOU!

Leave me a comment below and a link so I can read all about Your Christmas Tag

i heart fall tag

So I was tagged by the gorgeous Sarah over at Ample Curvature to do this tag which has been doing the rounds on Youtube and blogs recently.  If you haven't seen Sarah's blog pop over and take a peek, it's fab!  As a brit I call Fall Autumn, so please don't get confused if I drop the odd Autumn in here and there lovely North American viewers!

Right lets crack on with it...

1. Favourite fall lip product?
I get really dry lips in the Autumn, like many others, from a drop in temperature and the good old heating coming on, but I have been loving my Figs and Rouge 100% organic lip balm which came in my Glossybox a few months ago.

I'm a sucker for anything organic and this cherry and vanilla balm goes on sooooo smoothly and is really hydrating.  Unfortunately I've been forgoing any of the beautiful deep plum and burgandy lip colours which are so popular this A/W, for if you've read my previous It's all about Meeeeeee post you will note I have the six month smiles braces.  Which for those who don't know is like traditional train track braces but they are clear.  Which is great but they stain oh so easily.  You know what it's like when you get a smear of lippy on your teeth, well imagine what it looks like on clear braces - Nice (not!).

2. Favourite Fall nail polish?
Currently I am in love with these, Essie's Bahama Mama and Models Own Hot Stuff.

Two coats of Essie and a slick of Models Own and you get this.

The Essie polish is such a bang on the money colour for this season and with the coat of Models Own which gives a gorgeous red, green, golden shimmer it reminds me of fallen leaves on a crisp autumnal day.  I am loving this so much I think it will get much wear over the party season.  It's a pretty good wear time as well considering it has a glitter topcoat; 3-4 days which is about the same as my normal polishes.

3. Favourite Starbucks Fall drink?
Hmmmm I don't really frequent Starbucks.  Purely because my nearest one is a good 45 minute drive away.  I do have a Costa Coffee about 10 minutes down the road and I stick to my usual latte or Chai latte if I pop in there.  Boring I know!

4. Favourite Fall candle?
Ahhh now candles, unlike Starbucks, are my thing!  I do a lot of work and study from home so I usually have one candle or another burning away on my desk and I do like to stick to seasonal scents.  I've just come to the end of my Mandarin Cranberry Yankee candle and on the good word of the lovely Rachael over at Made up of  (check out her blog too if you haven't already) I picked up Yankee's Honey and Spice candle.  Oh my! If you like toffee apples, sticky toffee pudding, caramel and pecan pie, this will be right up your street.  I got it earlier today and have been burning it nonstop.  If you like sweetness with your spice, try this candle, you will not be disappointed.

5. Favourite Fall scarf or accessory?
This one is easy.  I got this beautiful teal scarf from Boden's A/W sale either last year or the year before.  I just love the richness of its colour and it is so warm.

6. Haunted house, haunted hay ride or haunted corn maize?
I know what these are and that they are big in the states but Halloween isn't such a big deal in the UK (yet!).  Also I don't like to be scared, I'm not a big one for scary movies etc so I would have to say Haunted house.  I saw the film Children of the Corn a few years back and almost peed my pants so Haunted corn maize would be bottom of the list!

7. Favourite Halloween movie?
As I mentioned above I'm not a great one for scary movies but I would probably have to say the original Halloween film.  The one from 1978 starring Jamie Lee Curtis - "A psychotic murderer institutionalized since childhood for the murder of his sister, escapes and stalks a bookish teenage girl and her friends while his doctor chases him through the streets" - yep that movie.  I watched it as a teenager, not in 1978, blimey I'm not that old!  And the memory of it has stayed with me ever since.

8. Favourite candy to eat on Halloween?
I am a sweet toothed kinda gal.  I do love the Haribo sour (can't remember their full name) sweets, but any sweets/chocolate is fine by me and I am a sucker for toasted marshmallows dipped in melted chocolate - ummmmmmm.

9. What are you dressing up as for Halloween?
Well as Halloween has been and gone, I'm abit late with that one.  But I didn't dress up at all as I was busy flying back from Amsterdam on the 31st.  Think I would've struggled to get through security if I had dressed up though ha ha.

10. What is your favourite thing about fall?
I like it when Mr B.P. and I have a rare, (very rare) day off together and you get one of those really crisp autumnal days, with a beautiful clear blue sky, with just a nip in the air.  I like to wrap up warmly, take our dog for a walk through the fallen leaves and maybe stop for a hot chocolate enroute and then come home and curl up on the sofa with either a good book or film.

So what about you lovely readers?  I tag all of you.  Let me know all about your I heart Fall tags.