October skincare and beauty favourites

October is almost over, and that means it's time to re-visit some of my favourite, most used products this month. To me, this time of year is all about red lips, spicy scents, purple nails and serious skincare regimes - as the temperatures drop down, my skin gets really dry and irritated, so daily moisturising is a must. Halloween is also around the corner, and although I'm not getting dressed up for it myself  (I'll probably just spend the evening watching TV and binging on Pizza Hut!), I have really enjoyed looking at other bloggers' outfits and makeup ideas. The main highlights of the month for me included the end of the daylight saving, which meant getting an extra hour in bed (always a good thing!); and planning a holiday in Morocco with my boyfriend, where we will celebrate our anniversary in May. I suppose it hasn't been the most eventful month, but today's beauty favourites sure are exciting and worth talking about!

My 'perfume of the month' is the gorgeous La Parfum Intense by Elie Saab. This scent combines rose honey, amber and orange blossom; which together create one of the most luxurious, feminine and enchanting perfumes I've ever smelled. This scent is not too sweet, very floral, with a hint of spices and woods. I highly recommend La Parfum Intense for autumn wear, especially if you enjoy mature, elegant and rich fragrances. The price is roughly £42 for a 30ml bottle, and it is available across most major perfume retailers.

Chanel Les 4 Ombres in Gabrielle has been, as you can probably tell from the picture, my most used eyeshadow palette this month. Aside from the top-shelf quality and great pigmentation, the shades are absolutely stunning - I'm really loving the shimmery grays and murky browns, which are great for any autumn look. The 'white gold' shade is perfect for highlighting, and has a bold, metallic finish. This palette is a little on the pricey side (£40, Boots), but it's definitely worth an investment if you're looking for something a little more high-end. 

As for my favourite lippies, I've been enjoying the Dior Addict lip gloss in Iconic Red (£22, Debenhams), and L'Oreal Color Riche lipstick in Scarlett Creme (£6.99, Boots). They are both intense red shades, and work wonderfully when layered together. Dior Addict is a non-sticky gloss with a shimmery finish, whereas Color Riche is a creamy, hydrating lipstick with brilliant pigmentation and lasting power.

I'll be the first to admit that for most of the year, I tend to neglect moisturising my feet. However, the unforgiving British autumn weather calls for some proper footcare. My feet get really dry; tucked away in heavier boots where they pretty much see never see any sunshine. I've been loving this Moisture Rich foot butter by Sanctuary (£6, Boots), which is enriched with chamomile and aloe vera extracts to help soothe and regenerate tired, dry feet. As for my favourite skincare products, this deep-cleansing face mask by Tolpa has been doing a great job at keeping my skin looking fresh, clean and blemish-free. It's recommended especially for oily, acne-prone skin, and you can purchase it for £2.50 per sachet at m-shop.eu. 

I enjoy using body butters all year round (check out my top recommendations here!), and my favourite this month has been the Spiced Vanilla body butter by The Body Shop (£5, TBS). It smells sweet, warm and spicy, with lots of creamy vanilla and a hint of cinnamon. It's also really hydrating and nourishing for the skin, which is important especially during the cold autumn season. And since we're already talking about good moisturising, these lip butters by Mandara Spa have been a life-saver for my dry, sensitive lips. They come in a variety of scents and flavours (including Lime, Shea and Coconut), and are a real bargain - you can pick up a full set for £6 at most supermarkets. 

What products have you been enjoying this month? x 

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Diesel 'Loverdose' fragrance range - which one should you try?

What is the first fragrance that comes to your mind when you think 'autumn'? Personally, I associate this time of year with sweet, spicy scents that are warm and comforting during these grey, rainy, British autumn days. I wrote a more detailed post about my autumn fragrance recommendations here; and today I'd like to focus on one of my top picks for this season - Loverdose by Diesel. In my opinion, Loverdose is the definition of a 'comfort scent' - it's soft, warm, cosy, and very, very sweet. Aside from the main fragrance, there are also the 'Tattoo' (black bottle) and 'Red Kiss' (red bottle) limited editions. Both of these are very different to the original, and will suit different tastes. Today I'm going to talk about each of those in more depth, so if you're looking for a new fragrance for autumn, or maybe are already thinking about Christmas gift ideas, you'll hopefully find this a little helpful! :)

Loverdose: Diesel claims that this perfume contains molecules which stimulate the part of the brain responsible for feelings of attraction and lust, making it 'a weapon of mass seduction'. Whilst I find that to be highly unlikely (hasn't worked for me, anyway!), Loverdose is still a wonderful, sweet and spicy scent; with notes of vanilla, licorice, star anise and amber. It smells soft, warm and 'comforting' - it's like being wrapped up in a thick, fluffy blanket and burning your favourite candle on a cold, autumn evening. The bottle is absolutely stunning, too - designed to resemble a heart-shaped diamond pierced by an arrow, it's coloured in rich, vibrant shades of purple.

Try this if you like: Sweet, spicy scents with a lot of licorice and vanilla, such as Guerlain La Petite En Robe Noire, Lolita Lempicka, Jimmy Choo or Lancome La Vie Est Belle. Definitely avoid this if you dislike sweet perfumes!

Loverdose Tattoo: This limited edition has almost nothing in common with the original Loverdose - it's much more floral, elegant and sophisticated. The signature licorice note of Loverdose is completely missing from this perfume, and instead, we get a delicious, creamy blend of milk and rice notes, with a few floral accents. I've read quite a few reviews which compared this scent to a rice pudding, although I personally think that it doesn't smell that 'edible', but rather floral and naturally sweet. It actually makes me think of a luxurious body lotion, because of how creamy and milky it smells, but there's also a bit of gentle freshness to it. It's definitely one of the most unusual and unique perfumes I've ever smelled, and I highly recommend it, even if you're not a fan of the original Loverdose.

Try this if you like: Soft, feminine perfumes that are not overly sweet. Loverdose Tattoo is a little similar to Yves Saint Laurent Manifesto, Armani Si, and Kenzo Amour. 

Loverdose Red Kiss: Diesel promises this perfume to be a 'dangerous aphrodisiac', which combines a 'vibrant contrast between sensual orange blossom and addictive amber'. I actually find this scent to be fairly similar to the original Loverdose, minus the licorice, and with an addition of delicious cocoa and hazelnut. It's just as sweet, warm, and comforting, although slightly 'darker' and more fruity. The combination of cocoa and hazelnut makes it smell a bit like Nutella; whilst the orange blossom and cherries add some bitter fruitiness to the scent. It's very interesting and quite unusual, and I'd definitely recommend trying it if you like the original Loverdose. Personally, I think the bottle is the most attractive one out of the three - I really love the intense red shade! 

Try this if you like: Sweet fragrances with an edge, such as Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium, Thierry Mugler Angel, or Rihanna Rebelle. 

Have you tried the Loverdose range by Diesel? What is your favourite fragrance for autumn? =)

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The Liebster Award - my nominations!

Oh my goodness! I have been nominated (again!) for the Liebster Award by the gorgeous Rosie (check out her amazing blog at http://rosieauthorwriting.blogspot.co.nz/; she writes about books, arts and other interesting things!). Thank you so much, dear! The Liebster Award is a little 'pay it forward' tag, created to help new bloggers get recognition, and welcome them to the blogging scene. I think it's a really lovely gesture, and I'm always up for supporting and promoting my fellow bloggers, so here it goes!

  First off, here are the rules: 
1. Thank the person who nominated you, and comment on their blog
2. Include a link to their blog
3. Nominate 10 bloggers that you think deserve the award, and notify them
4. Answer the 10 questions you are given, and give 10 more for the bloggers you nominate to answer
5. Make a copy of the rules in your post

 Next up, here are my answers to Rosie's questions! 
1. What is your favourite name?
I don't really have a favourite name... But if I ever have a baby girl, I think I'm going to name her Scarlet. =)
2. Do you have any pets? If so, what are their names? 
Nope, no pets at the moment. =( I'm actually allergic to a lot of animals, like cats and hamsters. I would really love a puppy, though! I'd name it Snowflake, or Snuggles.
3. Which country or city are you dying to visit? 
All of them! I'd love to travel the world. Right now though, I think I'd like to see more of Italy. I've only visited Rome so far, and I absolutely loved it.
4. Worst book you've ever read? 
Hmm, I'm not really into books, to be honest, and I've never read a bad one. Do online snippets from 50 Shades of Grey count? =P
5. What colour and style is your school bag, or the bag you use daily? 
I have a grey tote bag from Diesel that I take to work, I love it!
6. What is your favourite type of sweets? 
All kinds! No such thing as bad sweets... If I had to choose, though, I'd probably say chocolate. Yum!
7. Which was the last movie you watched? 
Me and my boyfriend watched 'Spy' together the other night. It was okay, and surprisingly funny at points.
8. Can you speak another language?
Yes! Polish (I was born in Poland). I can also do a bit of German, and Latin. =)
9. Which item of clothing in your wardrobe do you love the most? 
My hoodies from Victoria's Secret, I wear them all the time! They're so girly, cute and comfy. :)
10. What would you like to do to make a difference in the world?
Hm, that's a very difficult question. I'm not sure how much I could do, without money or influence. I currently support various animal charities, and would love to do more to help fight for animal rights. I'm not sure whether this answers the question, hope so!

 Next, here are my questions! 
1. Why did you decide to start your blog?
2. What is the main thing you love about blogging?
3. Is there anything you dislike about blogging?
4. What is the worst beauty product you've ever used?
5. What is your favourite perfume?
6. What is the one beauty product you couldn't live without?
7. Tea or coffee? What are your favourites?
8. Do you have a quote, or an idea that you live by? If so, what is it?
9. What would be your dream job?
10. If you won the lottery, what would be your very first purchase?

 Finally, here are the ten awesome bloggers that I'd like to nominate for the award: 
1. Leta // Life Of The Nerdy Me
2. Shwetali // Not So Hard To Be Pretty
3. Celly // Beauty. Food. Travel - thesnowflowerrr
4. Olena // Keen On Beauty
5. Heba // The Heba
6. Caroline // Caroline vs. World
7. Sitha // Lemme Swatch It!
8. Lauren // Lauren Powers
9. Angelina // Angelina is
10. Sofia // Blog with Sofia
Every single one of these blogs is amazing, and I highly recommend checking them out! :) <3

Good luck to everyone! <3

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Rimmel 'The Only One' lipstick review & swatches

Today, I'm going to talk about one of the most exciting makeup launches this year - Rimmel's new lipstick, 'The Only One'. This is an entirely new formula from Rimmel, which promises to be 'the only lipstick you'll ever need', and provide 'long lasting colour, comfort, moisture and wear'. 'The Only One' lipstick comes in a wide variety of shades, including a lot of pretty pinks and bold reds, which should be perfect for autumn. I will be swatching two of those shades - The Best of The Best - a very promising red; and You're All Mine - a vibrant-looking pink. 

Admittedly, I wasn't too impressed with the packaging. It looks very modern and sleek, with an unusual, pointy cap. Personally, I prefer more 'traditional' lipstick packaging, but this one isn't too bad considering the low price (£6.99 RRP). It definitely looks more expensive and high-end than it is.

As for the formula, this lipstick is exactly what it claims to be - moisturising, lightweight and comfortable to wear. Honestly, you'll forget you're even wearing it. It goes on quite smoothly, although it's a little difficult to apply evenly because of the shape. It feels very creamy and buttery on the lips, and it has a pleasant, fresh-fruity scent to it (which might be annoying if you prefer your makeup to be fragrance-free). My lips are constantly dry this time of year, so good moisture is a must, and that's exactly what this lipstick provides. The lasting power is pretty good for a drugstore lipstick - it really 'sticks' to your lips without drying them out. It took about four or five hours of wear before I had to re-apply it, which is a lot better than many other similarly-priced products. 

I was pleasantly surprised with how pigmented these lipsticks really are - the colours are very saturated, rich, intense; and very true to how they look in the packaging. I'm really impressed with these two, and I'll definitely be trying out more shades from the range. 
(left) You're All Mine - a very girly, vibrant pink shade with cool undertones, which will brighten up any makeup look. 
(right) The Best Of The Best - a very juicy, vibrant red. I absolutely love the satin finish and the 'wet' look it gives. 

Overall, I think that 'The Only One' is a fantastic, budget-friendly lipstick, and I'd recommend it to anyone who wants a quality product without having to spend a fortune. It's long-lasting, nicely pigmented, lightweight and moisturising. The only weak point for me is the packaging, but overall I'd give this lipstick 9/10. 

Have you tried 'The Only One' lipstick? What is your favourite lipstick at the moment? 

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Top budget-friendly perfumes

As some of you may already know, collecting fragrances has been my passion for many years. If there's one thing I've learned about buying perfumes, it's that the price doesn't always define the quality. I've had some major disappointments with high-end designer scents that just didn't live up to the price tag. On the other hand, a lot of my all-time favourite scents are actually the less expensive ones, found on eBay or a TK Maxx sale. Today's post will be all about my top recommendations for £25 or less - my picks are a mixture of designer and celebrity perfumes, so hopefully there will be something for everyone!

Yves Rocher - Comme Une Evidence Intense

Yves Rocher is a French company which offers a wide range of botanical skincare and beauty products. They have some really interesting fragrances, and Comme Une Evidence Intense is one of my all-time favourites for casual autumn wear. The bottle is elegant and expensive-looking (especially in person), whilst the scent is a lovely combination of delicate rose petals and sweet praline. Try this if you like Lancome's La Vie Est Belle - it's like a lighter, softer, more floral version.

Where can I find it? You can purchase this on the official Yves Rocher website for just £22. 

Hilary Duff - With Love

This is one of those perfumes that I just can't believe is a celebrity scent. I honestly can't recommend it enough - With Love is one of the most unique and intriguing fragrances I've ever smelled. I expected this scent to be quite sweet and generic, but it's actually really exotic and spicy; with notes of mango, amber and ginger. There is barely any sweetness to it at all, and the quality tops many high-end designer brands. 

Where can I find it? I bought a 50ml bottle of this for just £13.95 at allbeauty.com. You can also find it on Amazon and fragrancenet.com. 

Pacifica - Island Vanilla

Pacifica is one of my all-time favourite beauty brands. Their products are 100% vegan, cruelty-free, and sourced entirely from natural ingredients. They offer an interesting range of scents, all of which are very light, natural and approachable. If you find the typical drugstore perfumes to be a little too overwhelming, Pacifica might be a good option for you. Island Vanilla is my favourite out of the whole range - soft, sweet, with notes of vanilla and white honey. Try it if you like Prada's Candy, or Dior's Hypnotic Poison.

Where can I find it? You can purchase this at feelunique.com for just £19. If you live in the US, check out Pacifica's official website at pacificabeauty.com, where you can choose from their entire fragrance range. 

Escada - Especially

This is one of my top choices for spring and summer. Especially is a sweet, happy, feminine scent; and it smells just like a big bouquet of fresh, dewy roses. I picked this up for just £10 at my local pharmacy, and I can honestly say, I like it better than a lot of my high-end, expensive designer perfumes. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys feminine, uplifting scents such as Marc Jacobs' Daisy Eau So Fresh or Versace's Bright Crystal. 

Where can I find it? Allbeauty.com sells this for £22.95, which is much better than the retail price. Try the 'Elixir' version if you are looking for something a little more intense! 

Taylor Swift - Wonderstruck & Wonderstruck Enchanted

I may not be a huge Taylor Swift fan, but her fragrances are amongst my all-time favourites. I already talked about Wonderstruck Enchanted in my Autumn fragrance recommendations post - it's a girly, fruity, creamy scent with lots of vanilla and red berries. Wonderstruck is slightly sweeter, with a refreshing green tea note and raspberries. Both of these are easy to wear, casual and likable, and will definitely get you lots of compliments -  my boyfriend really loves it when I wear these! 

Where can I find them? I'd recommend purchasing these at allbeauty.com - the prices range from £10-20 depending on a bottle size, which is a lot cheaper than buying them in-store. 

Jessica Simpson - Fancy

If I had to pick one perfume that really taught me why you should never judge a scent by the label, it would be this one. I'm not a big fan of Jessica Simpson, but her perfumes are amongst my all-time favourites. Fancy is a girly, sweet scent which smells like a delicious vanilla dessert; but what's more important - it doesn't smell cheap. The rose gold bottle is absolutely stunning in person, and the scent itself is very well put together; rivaling some of the most expensive designer perfumes in terms of quality. Try this if you enjoy sweet scents such as Prada's Candy, Lancome's La Vie Est Belle or Viktor & Rolf's Bonbon. 

Where can I find it? I purchased this at allbeauty.com - the smallest, 30ml size is only £12.95, but you can get a large 100ml bottle for £20.45. 

Shakira - Elixir

I decided to include Elixir amongst my top picks because of how unique and original it is. Granted, the bottle itself might be a cheap imitation of Dior's J'adore, but the scent is absolutely gorgeous and unusual. This is nothing like the typical, sweet and fruity celebrity scents - Elixir is quite sultry, dark; with notes of amber, sandalwood and pepper. Try this if you like woodsy scents such as Estee Lauder's Sensuous - this is like a younger, lighter, more casual version. 

Where can I find it? This might be a little difficult to find depending on where you live, but allbeauty.com sells it for just £16.50, so I recommend purchasing it there. 

FCUK - Friction 

This is one of my top budget-friendly picks for summer months - sweet, creamy, with lots of coconut and vanilla. It smells just like a pina colada cocktail! Friction is a great alternative to more expensive coconut-based scents such as Estee Lauder's Bronze Goddess and Guerlain's Terracotta. The only downside is that it doesn't last very long (about two hours), but for less than ten pounds it's still a great bargain.

Where can I find it? Check out your local TK Maxx - that's where I picked up my large, 100ml bottle for just £9.99. You can also find it it on Amazon and fragrancedirect.co.uk at a similar price. 

What are your favourite budget-friendly perfumes? =) Let me know if you have any recommendations! 

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Bargain finds - Revlon 'Colours in Bloom' makeup palette

Hey beauties! Today I'm going to talk about my most recent find - this gorgeous makeup palette by Revlon, called 'Colours in Bloom'. I picked it up at my local TK Maxx for just £12.99, and so far, it has been a great and useful addition to my makeup collection. The palette includes two powder blushes, five shades of the Super Lustrous lipsticks, and five shades of the 12 Hour Colorstay eyeshadows. The Super Lustrous lipsticks are still available across most major retailers, however, the 12 Hour Colorstay eyeshadows have been discontinued, and replaced with the 16 Hour Colorstay range.

First of all, I really love the packaging - it's sleek, stylish and compact. I like how it opens up with just the eyeshadows and lipsticks showing, and then it slides opens further where the blushes are. It definitely looks a lot more expensive than it is! This palette also contains a nice, compact mirror, and three applicators for each type of makeup. 

The five 12 Hour Colorstay eyeshadow shades, from left to right are: Charcoal, Bronze, Eggplant, Pink Frost and White Whisper. Personally, I miss the old 12 Hour Colorstay formulations - they were much more creamy and pigmented than the new 16 Hour range. The shades in this palette are gorgeous - some matte, some more shimmery; wonderfully pigmented and easy to work with. 

The five Super Lustrous lipstick shades, from left to right are: Rosedew, Wine with Everything, Icy Violet, Coffee Bean and Scarlet Velvet. These are very nicely pigmented; creamy and hydrating. They are a little difficult to apply evenly (the palette versions aren't too easy to work with), but the lip brush that comes with the set does a decent enough job.

The blushes are probably the weakest part of this palette. I wasn't impressed with either of the shades (Tawny Peach and Smoky Rose), which really didn't look good on my pale, cool-toned complexion. The quality isn't bad, but the colours just didn't do it for me. The blush brush however is of very nice quality, so I'll keep hold of it to use with other products. 

Here are the eyeshadow swatches. Pink Frost and White Whisper are both lovely, slightly shimmery shades, perfect for highlighting. Bronze is your standard, deep brown matte, and probably the least exciting out of them all; although it is a decent, neutral shade, there are many like it already out there. My personal favourites in this palette are definitely Eggplant - a nice, deep purple; and Charcoal - a blue-based grey. This is a lovely, versatile selection of shades and you can create many different looks with it. I like to mix Bronze and Pink Frost for a casual look; or Charcoal and Bronze if I want to go for something a little more dramatic. 

Here are the swatches of the five Lustrous lipstick shades. Wine with Everything is my personal favourite - a classic, deep red with a satin finish. I recommend it to anyone who's looking for a nice, wearable red shade for autumn that will compliment any skin tone. I was a little disappointed with the Scarlet Velvet shade, which looked lovely and red in the packaging, but turned out to be a little more on the pink side when applied. As for the other colours, I think that Icy Violet and Rosedew are both really gorgeous, easy to wear, casual shades. I especially recommend Icy Violet for autumn - it's a lovely nude with pink and purple undertones. I'm not a big fan of Coffee Bean, but that's entirely down to my own personal preference - it would be great for anyone who enjoys rich, natural brown shades. 

Overall, I'd highly recommend this little palette - the lipsticks are gorgeous and it's worth purchasing if you miss the old 12 Hour Colorstay eyeshadows. You can find it in your local TK Maxx or Amazon; and if you're UK-based try perfume-click.co.uk - they stock this palette for just £13. 

Have you tried this Colours in Bloom palette? What is your favourite makeup palette? =) 

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I love tea! Current favourites =)

Today, I thought it would be interesting to talk about something a little different... Tea! Yes, tea is one of those topics that I could go on about for hours and hours. As mentioned in last week's Versatile Blogger Award tag, I'm a complete tea addict! I drink tea throughout the day not just because it's tasty - it's also a healthy way of keeping hydrated, and a great source of antioxidants. These help reinforce the body's natural defence system, and slow down the ageing process. Today's post will be all about my favourites; but I'm always on the lookout for new types of tea to try, so please let me know if you have any recommendations!

Pukka is one of my favourite British tea brands - accessible, varied and not too expensive. All of their blends are completely organic, fair trade and caffeine free. Their teas always taste very natural and 'herbal', and they offer an interesting range of flavours for any mood and occasion. My current favourites are:

Womankind - cranberry, rose and sweet vanilla. This a typical fruity tea - naturally sweet; very light and easy to drink. It smells absolutely divine, and I enjoy it especially in the summer because it is so refreshing.
Relax - chamomile, fennel and marshmallow root. Delicious, delicate and soothing - this tea always helps me unwind after a busy work day. 
Love - rose, chamomile and lavender. Admittedly, I bought this one mostly because of the cute packaging. It's quite similar to Womankind but less fruity, more herbal and delicate.
Detox - aniseed, fennel and cardamom. This is probably my least favourite Pukka tea in terms of flavour, but it really helps if you're on a detox diet. I drink this whenever I'm in a need of a little metabolism boost (it really works!). 

Lloyd is probably the best 'value for money' tea you will ever find. One box (20 teabags) costs only 75 pence, and the quality is better than a lot of more established brands. You can most definitely find these in your local 'Eastern European' groceries shop, or on Amazon (it's a little more pricey there, though). They offer some interesting and unusual flavours, such as pineapple, manuka honey and orange blossom. My favourites at the moment are: 

Green tea with prickly pear & marigold flower. Delicious green tea with a twist. The marigold flower tastes very unusual - it's sweet, flowery, and almost 'grassy'. I reach for this one whenever I'm in a mood for something a little different. 

Flavoured fruit tea with plum and cinnamon. This is one of the most intense fruity teas I've ever tried. It's rare that you get such good quality from a teabag, especially considering the low price. This is refreshing, sweet, and with a nice, spicy twist. 

Warming tea with orange, cinnamon & cloves. This is my perfect winter tea - fruity, sweet, gently spiced and with a hint of cinnamon. 

Whittard is one of the most established British tea brands, and their loose leaf tea infusions are some of the best I've ever tried. I'm currently loving their Blueberry Blaster and Amaretto Flavour blends. Both of these are caffeine free, and they taste really intense and delicious. The quality of the Whittard teas is always top shelf - their blends include real pieces of dried fruits, nuts and herbs. Blueberry Blaster is a must-try for anyone who enjoys fruity teas; whereas Amaretto is more nutty, fruity and less sweet. I find that some of the more intense fruity teas tend to taste a little sour and 'acidic', but Whittard always gets it right. These are a little more pricey than your standard supermarket teas, but you can usually find them on sale (I purchased mine for just three pounds per 125g of loose leaf tea). 

This little blend by Abbey Botanicals is my miracle tea. Chamomile works wonders for me, and I recommend it to anyone who suffers from anxiety or stress - it will really help you unwind and relax. Chamomile tea also helps to clear up skin irritations (such as acne) and promotes healthy sleep, so you really can't go wrong with it! On top of that, it tastes really delicious, sweet and soothing. I personally think that chamomile tastes lovely when mixed with other flavours, and I recommend trying it with a teaspoon of honey, or a splash of almond milk. Abbey Botanicals offer many other interesting teas, such as raspberry leaf, peppermint and hibiscus flower. You can purchase these on Amazon for two to five pounds. 

And last, but not least, here are a couple of my favourite mugs! I absolutely love adorable, animal-themed mugs - every tea tastes better when you drink it in a cute mug. =) The dolphin mug is a souvenir from the UK's biggest seaquarium in Plymouth, and the koala one was a wonderful gift from my boyfriend. <3 

Are you a tea drinker? What is your favourite tea? =)

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The Versatile Blogger Award - my nominations!

Yay! I have been nominated for the Versatile Blogger Award by the lovely Rosie (check out her awesome blog at http://rosieauthorwriting.blogspot.co.nz/). Thank you so much, dear! I'm still pretty new to the beauty blogging scene, so being nominated really means a lot to me. I think it's a lovely gesture; and it seems like a really fun way for us bloggers to support and promote each other. =) 

  First, here are a few rules:  

1. Thank the person who nominated you

2. Include a link to their blog

3. Tell the person who nominated you 7 facts about yourself

4. Select 15 blogs/bloggers that you have recently discovered or follow regularly

  Next up, here are seven facts about me!  

1. I love puppies. Seriously, is there anything better than cute, happy, fluffy puppies? =)

2. I have a massive collection of teddy bears and various cuddly toys. Wherever I go, I buy a teddy bear as a souvenir.

3. I'm a tea addict. I actually have a post coming up next week, all about tea!

4. I'm a perfume hoarder. Collecting fragrances has been my passion for years - I currently have over 150 bottles! I'll happily do a little collection show-off post, if anyone would like to see it!

5. I also have a Fragrantica profile where I post perfume reviews. You can check it out at http://www.fragrantica.com/member/308758/. 

6. Rome is my favourite place in the world. Only been there once, but really fell in love with it right from the beginning. I'd love to go back there one day. =)

7. Getting to hold a baby panda is one of my primary life goals! I got to see one in a Scottish zoo, so we're on the right track! 

  Finally, here are the fifteen gorgeous bloggers that I'm nominating for the award:  
1. Damla // http://damlatuzun.blogspot.co.uk/
2. Alyss // http://alluringalyssbeauty.blogspot.co.uk/
3. Ashley // http://ashleysuemakeup.blogspot.co.uk/
4. Cynthia // http://www.dulcedemango.com/
5. Lexi // http://lexiixx.blogspot.co.uk/
6. Luisa // http://lipsticklemondrops.blogspot.co.uk/
7. Kelly // http://beautypeptalk.blogspot.co.uk/
8. Lily // http://lifeaccordingtolili.blogspot.co.uk/
9. Jasmine // http://thesixthdisneyprincess.blogspot.co.uk
10. Sophie // https://sophiesbeautyonabudget.wordpress.com
11. Caroline // http://www.iridescentplaces.blogspot.co.uk/
12. Patrycja // http://www.travelekspert.com/
13. Venus // http://www.emoteragoddess.com/
14. Kelly // http://www.tea-books-eyeliner.com/
15. Megan // http://www.meganjean.co.uk/

Good luck to everyone! 

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