The How To | Caring for Dry Lips

It's that time of year when weather is changing, wind is up and havoc is played on lips or any parts of your body that can become very dry. For me, it really is my lips - it's a nightmare! I've found a couple of products that are amazing at keeping them lovely and soft, plump and smooth. Also - it will cost you under a tenner!

First up is the Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub for only £5.50 and absolutely amazing. This is used daily and has lasted for around a year already. It's a sugar scrub that is rubbed over the lips to get rid of any dead skin, scabs from bitten lips, and smooths them out. Also, it tastes amazing. You just lick it off afterwards - yum!

Then, just to finish off, I used the Nivea Essential Care Lip Balm. Cheap as chips at £1.65 and actually fantastic quality. It lives in my handbag and it bought out constantly at the moment. It's smooth and fresh and very very nourishing for the lips. It contains Jojoba Oil and Shea Butter for moisture.

These two paired together are my go to for caring for my lips. Both have been a constant in my routine for around a year and I love them. Cheap and cheerful, and amazing quality.

How do you care for your lips in the changing seasons?

The Review | Rimmel Volume Flash Mascara

RIMMEL WATERPROOF VOLUME FLASH MASCARA £5.99

A couple of weeks ago I very sadly ran out of my favourite masara by No7 (see review here). This made me incredibly sad but at the same time excited that I get to try a new product! This was part of my £20 Boots haul so I was looking for a really good bargain. I've heard Rimmel do some great mascaras so I spent some time looking at them and ended up with this one. I have to say, I haven't heard anything about it on the blogosphere and that was one of the reasons I reached for it. Plus it was waterproof and blue so I was going to love it.

So let's talk about what makes a mascara in my opinion, the brush. It's smaller than what I really like. The bristles seem to be grouped together in small bits. It's a sturdy brush that goes over the lashes very easily. To begin with I found it quite clumpy, however if you use a rocking motion when applying this reduces the clumps that form on the lashes. Personally I prefer a bigger brush with a different layout of bristles.

The formula is very wet - so it takes a little longer to dry then other mascaras that I've used and I do find that if I blink very soon after applications it does transfer onto my lower eye. I also find it lengthens the lashes very well - that's definitely a plus point. However, it doesn't do too well with curving - I'm not sure if that's because it has a smaller brush. 

Overall I will keep using this because I do like the length it lends my lashes, however I wouldn't repurchase it and I probably wouldn't recommend it to others.

What drugstore mascaras would you recommend?

The Life Post | TMI Tag

I've seen this TMI tag on a few blogs so decided to do one! I got this one off of Beth from Birds Words (lovely girl, lovely blog). My blog is nearly two years old so I thought it would be the perfect time to have a little refresh about me! Hope you enjoy...

Have you got any tattoos?

No, I've always wanted a little butterfly somewhere but keep putting it off and off. Maybe when I move out I can get one to show I'm flying the nest... Who knows!? I know Adam doesn't want me to to have one but hey, tis my body!

Piercings?

Yes - this is where I did all my rebelling really (I wasn't too much of a rebel). I have ears as normal, I used to have a second hole as well but they've grown over now. I have one half way up my right ear which I got when I was 16. I also have my belly done as well which I wanted for years and years and finally convinced my dad to take me when I was 15. 

How tall are you/How much do you weigh?
I'm about 5ft 4inches. I like my height, which is weird to say, but I'm not too high and I'm not too short! With regards to my weight, I really don't know. My Mum won't have scales in the house and I'm really not bothered. I go on how I feel and how my clothes fit more than anything.

Have you ever been in love?

I am as we speak :) I've had a lot of boyfriends... Well, I've always been in a relationship really, I'm not really a "single" person. I thought I was in love a few times, but to be honest probably only twice. With my boyfriend I'm with now and my ex before him.

Have you ever had a terrible breakup?

I wouldn't say terrible. I've had a few break ups, at the time they probably seemed horrible but I don't think I've every really been truly heart broken. I've been hurt of course, but not heart broken. I am definitely one of the lucky ones.

Something you miss?

Honestly a couple of friends. My oldest friend Beth moved to Cheltenham for university almost six years ago and I miss her all the time. She moved back here for three months but moved back to Chelt this week which sucks. Hopefully she'll be back soon though!

Zodiac Sign?

Scorpio - we forgive but we never forget! Haha so true. I'm not really one for horoscopes so I don't really know what I am or what I'm supposed to be like...

Quality you look for in a partner?

Oh god this is a tough one. I've been with Adam for over six years so surely I'm just going to describe him...! Let's see... He has to be able to make me laugh or it's a non starter. He has to be as much of a friend as a boyfriend. get on with my family and my friends... Obviously be attractive, bit of romance... I can't think of anything else, but hey!

Turn off?

Those guys that are happy for a one night thing - as I said before, I'm a relationship kind of girl so those types of guys just really don't do it for me.

Favourite Quote?

There are a couple - "nothing worth having comes easy" and "everything happens for a reason". It makes me feel better about having to work so hard for everything, for all those little knock backs and just all of the crap.

What are your fears?

That I'm going to be in exactly the same place as I am now in a years time. 2014 needs to be the year that gets me moving - I want to move in with Adam and start our life together properly. My fear is we can't do that this year.

Favourite Show?

I have so many, so I'll just tell you what series I have in my collection.... Friends, Bones, The Vampire Diaries, Gossip Girl and The Big Bang Theory :)

Favourite Bands?

Erm, I like Paramore, The Vamps, I love Clean Bandit at the moment, Little Mix, Rudamental... I like a real variety of things.

Favourite Flavour of sweet...

I love lemon bon bons... I love citrus sweets or chocolate raisins. 

Favourite Song?

I don't have a favourite... There are many that I love and sign along too, but no favourites. It really depends on what mood I'm in as to what song I love.

Do you have a crush?

Who doesn't have a crush.. Where should we start... Chris Hemsworth is definitely at the top of my list, Paul Wesley (Stefan from The Vampire Diaries)... Yum yum yum.

The last song you sang?

Sadly it was one from work. We play "Emerging Artists" so aload of stuff you've never heard of before, but there is one called Trojan Horse that is one of the guys favourite songs and he signs along and well, he got me hooked!

Where do you go when you're sad?

This seems very bizarre, but my bathroom. I'm lucky enough to have an en suite and when I get upset I usually shut myself in there and have a little cry. Weird yes, but it feels like my own little den.

A place you want to visit...

There are so many places I want to go. It used to be Australia but I've done that now yay! I'd love to go to Hawaii, the Maldives, anywhere hot really. For some reason I've also always really wanted to go to the Antarctic - no idea why but I think it would be frigging awesome!

The last sport you played...

Does Zumba count as a sport? Every Tuesday I go to Zumba with Amber - so much fun I actually love it to pieces. If that doesn't count, it would be squash on Sunday with Adam. We've started playing every week and I absolutely love it. It's brutal and exhausting but so much fun and I'm improving every week. 

Favourite Colour?

Anyone who knows me knows this - BLUE! blue blue and more blue. I just love me some blue :)

Have you ever been in a physical fight?

Um, kinda yes and kinda no. I was bullied a bit at school and at one point I got my head shut in a door - I also got slapped as well. Otherwise I grew up with two brothers - you do the math. I do remember kicking my younger brother in the head once, I was not a popular child then. 

The reason you started blogging?

I just love to write, I needed an outlet for it and something that wasn't under pressure for me to do it all the time. I loved it from the off, the freedom of it, the community and just the whole picture. If anyone is thinking of doing it just go for it - you have nothing to loose!

The meaning behind your blog name?

This is in my About Me section as well but hey. Topaz is my birthstone - I'm a November baby. I love blue topaz, not such a huge fan of orange topaz but give me blue topaz anyday and I'm your girl! May is one of my middle names (I have two). It's the second of the two and the one we all really use... When I'm in trouble it's "Lisa May!" If I ever have a daughter it will be her middle name as well.

The last time you were insulted?

At work probably - we all have really good banter where I work and there is one guy I get on with really well - he's my usual banter buddy! In a mean way? Probably comments on here - the ones who keep telling me I have a tash. It's all very mature and I don't pay attention to a single one!

Let me know if you decide to do this tag, I'd love to know you all a little better!

The Review | Bayliss & Harding Skin Spa Collection

It's Mothers Day this month and Bayliss and Harding have some amazing products to offer. I know they are amazing because I was lucky enough to be sent some goodies - which I then shared with my Mum who loved the scent. 

I was very kindly sent a gift set of the Hand and Body Cream*, Body Cleanser* and Diffuser* in their Skin Spa Range, witht he scent sugar cane, basil and lime. The scent is zesty and you can definitely smell the basic. It's incredibly fresh. I was naughty and bought myself the candle as I loved it so must. The diffuser currently sits in my bathroom and the entire room smells amazing. Within half an hour of installing this the room was infused.

As always, the body products are luxury to the max - creamy, moisturising and filled with the gorgeous fresh scent. I absolutely love this. I haven't had a chance to burn the candle yet, but just getting a whiff of this every now and then it is beautiful.

My Mum would love this set so I would highly recommend taking a peak if you're stuff for a gift. This is definitely one of my most favourite scents I've come across. 

What will you be getting your Mum for Mothers Day?