The Bug Autumn Haul.

So this one has been a long time coming, and I've been promising it for a while to the real life people who read my blog that I would do this soon and I've just been putting it off and putting it off.

BUT here we are lovelies- IT'S AUTUMN! I'm sitting here at my desk listening to the rain with the 'Stuck in Love' soundtrack playing to my left, and a hot chocolate to my right- and let me tell you, it is ideal. So, possibly my favourite season of the whole year and it is here, so I though I'd do a post with all my Autumn essentials in one big haul.
Hope you enjoy it!

The Winter Warmth Essentials.

1. The Cardigan.

Okay so this cardigan was my absolute MUST HAVE this season, I was sitting around on blogs and Pintrest and I was seeing these gorgeous tall models kicking it in long lines cardigans, rushing to castings and around big cities- and I thought to myself: I haven't got the big city, or the long legs, or the cheekbones, but I can sure as hell have one of those hella comfy looking cardigans.
So I looked around for a while before I found this one here (available from New Look, about £20). I actually gave back 3 caridgans, 2 from H&M and 1 from Zara before I settled on this one. It's not actually wool, it's acrylic but it is so so much softer than the others I tried.

I'm not usually fussy about material and textures but this knit was just so cosy without being all baggy and hobo-ish. (Some girls can pull those off, I cannot because I don't have the figure...)
It's been absolutely gorgeous for those crisp autumn mornings waiting around for obnoxiously late public transport. I usually wear it with plain black jeans and a tea, or blue denim- I seem to have quite a thing for monochrome at the moment and I think I may need to branch out a little... Regardless though, this is one of my all time favourite winter essentials, so cosy and warm, so soft, and so easy to chuck on with a chunky scarf and leggings or jeans.

2. The Boots.

So my search for boots is never ending.
I was bought a gorgeous pair of tan leather Chelsea boots last year from Red Herring, and I can tell you now that they are the single greatest purchase I have ever made. Beautiful, comfortable and easy to pair with ANYTHING. Jeans, skirt, dress, leggings- the whole deal. I was in love with them.
So, this year when I came into a bit of money, naturally the first thing I spent it on was black versions. (yeah, I am seeing why people are telling me I have a bit of a monochrome obsession). I was initially going to buy a fancy expensive pair for myself, but somehow I managed to sign myself up to help out at a school event where we had to dress fancy and put together an outfit that required black boots- so of course I rushed out before the evening, dropped into Cafe Nero for about 3 hours with a couple of my favourite human beings, and made a quick purchase when I realised I needed black boots.

These little beauties were only about £25 and are so comfortable- they were an absolute steal.
Recommend so much.

3. The Scarf.

I bought this scarf last year from Accesorize, and I cannot stress to you enough how completely essential woollen scarves are. I have a little beanie hat to match, and it is so warm and cosy I have actually had to take it off mid-walk on a couple of occasions for fear of overheating and passing out. So there's a little story for you.

The Cold Weather Health and Beauty.

1. The Handbag Must Haves.

• Tissues- it's cold season.
• Strepsils- it's cold season.
• Hand sanitiser- it's cold season.
• A scarf- you may need it, don't be a muppet and stand around all cold.
• Headphones- always, not because you're an antisocial muppet, but because music on a cold night waiting around for public transport is often beyond a jokes. therefore, even if you have frostbite hands and blue toes- at least you'll be mildly entertained.

2. The Lush Products.

So I was treated to a mini Lush haul this half term, and lord did I take advantage.
I picked my top 5 products- and yes, they are all seasonal.

Melting Snowman

This little munchkin was perfect for kicking off my Christmas spirit this year, making my bath water soft and bubbly and oh so sweet smelling- the perfect stocking filler.








Brightside

This bath bomb was obsolutely gorgeous, and made me feel very exotic and warm. The orange and the yellows were beautiful in the bath water.






Dashing Santa

It's that time of the year, and I refuse to be calm about it- I am excited, because cold weather means santa... in Lush bath bomb form.





Cinders

Although this little gem only turns bathwater a yellowy apricot colour and not much else, the smell is absolutely lovely and fruity- and the water was so soft it left my skin feeling the same.
Love it.



Big Blue

Self explanatory really- pacific ocean blue water and a fresh and sharp smell, a little different from my usually fruity tendencies but a lovely addition to my favourites.











3. The Lip Product.

So I am definitely a big investor when it comes to lip products, and in winter time- this really needs to pay off. Being one of large lips is difficult when all the icy winter winds and cold weather does is chap them- but fear not, I have a solution.
What I've been doing as the weather gets colder I've been carrying around a little pot of aloe vera Vaseline, but also just before I go to bed, and as I start my makeup in the morning I apply a little Blistex Intensive Lip Moisturizer and I've been good to go.

4. The Nail Varnishes.

Barry M is forever my go to for nail varnishes, and I thought as the cold weather has arrived I could get away with some switching up of colours. So I purchased a little everyday wear 'Peach Melba'.




Then I also found myself being roped into some 2 for 1 deal- so I grabbed this little berry coloured beauty in 'Red Wine'...

5. The Christmas Smells.

As can quite easily be guessed from this post- I am a very pro-Christmas person. I love the holiday season and the corny TV, the crackers, the presents and the smells. My favourite little christmassy body product is Body Shops gingerbread flavoured body butter. Soft, awesome smelling skin? Yes please.

6. The Perfume.

Hugo Boss, woman. In love,

7. Concealer.

Cold weather is back, and my skin has gone into freak out mode. In the winter time I tend to wear a lot of foundation, a little bronzer and of course some blusher. My make-up is brighter in the winter time, a lot more shaping and bright, bold colours- and of course my skin suffers because rather than look after it, I just cover it up really.

So I've made myself a deal in order to keep my skin somewhat alive I'm going to have cheat days, where all I wear is a little moisturiser and concealer- this little Rimmel London Wake Me Up is my perfect little make-up bag essential. Light, decent coverage, and I found a colour that matches. ideal.

... 

So there we have it, my absolute FAVOURITE items for this season, and my essentials in one big Autumn/Winter haul. I hope you liked it, if you have any comments or questions feel free to drop one in the comment boxes I'd love to hear from you! There's a Winter Term Back To School Haul coming really soon too- because I went a little stationary crazy and feel like I could share that too!

But for now, have a fabulous day lovelies!

Winter Lip Products.

It's happening you guys, the winter is coming.

I know this because I have seen the Coke advert, the Christmas light's in my time have come on, and my Grandma has started knitting all her grandchildren jumpers. I know this because I can see my breathe in the air at the bus stop, and I can FEEL MY LIPS HATING ME.Winter has many beautiful perks, however its's effect on your lips are not one of them.
Being one of large lips I have a lot of surface area that can get cracked and dry and generally not very nice, so it's a yearly struggle for me to keep my lips smooth and pouty (All ready for mistletoe etc obviously...) So obviously I had to check out what lip products ACTUALLY work for this year and my loves I have my list of Top 5 Winter Lips Products!

3. Maybelline Baby Lips

These cute and colourful little chap stick type products from Maybelline are pretty fabulous. With a range of different colours and flavours to match your preference these little cuties are good for a quick top up when out in the cold. I used the yellow intensive care and the blue hydration lip balms, and I really did like them. You can wear a layer of lipstick or just on their own. They all smell fantastic and are a wonderful little addition to your makeup bag or just in your back pocket. Although these are a lovely little product I don't feel like they can save your lips once they're chapped. They are a great prevention for chapped lips, but if you're already trying to fix severe damage to your lips I'm afraid these are not the product for you. They are fabulous products, lovely smelling, cute size, beautifully packaged and a good buy. You can get these little cuties for £2.99 at Boots online.

2. Carmex Lip Balm Tube

Now I won't lie- I did think this little tube of wonder was glue at first glance, but don't be deceived  these little wonder tubes are a fabulous little addition to your winter beauty routine. The tub is a lot like lip gloss and makes your lips tingle a little when you apply- but CAN ACTUALLY FIX ALREADY CHAPPED LIPS.
I know, calm down guys, it's cool. Carmex basically saved my chapped little lips after a week of just licking my lips in the cold and letting them get more and more chapped. At boots they come in little pots and sticks with similar formulas but my favourite Carmex product has to be the tube version. In strawberry, cherry, mint, and just its origional scents the smell could be a little much for some but personally I love it, a fabulous and STRONG little product available for £2.99 on Boots online.

1. Palmer Cocoa Butter Lip Balm.

Here it is you guys, my number one beauty must have for winter lips. Palmers is a brand I am going to be raving about I think because I adore it. I LOVE cocoa anything, being a self confessed chocaholic anything that smells as good as a hot chocolate is pretty good in my books. Palmers Lip Balm smells AMAZING, and it actually works. The Ultra Moisturizing Lip balm lasted me absolutely ages and after my very first application started making my lips feel softer and less chapped. I love this product and it'a simplicity: smells good, does good. My lips feel soft and smooth every time I use it and it's only £1.89 on Boots online. Palmers also do a lip gloss type version of the product that I'm also mad about for, which is £2.75 in Superdrug- let me tell you, your lips will smell so good you'll just want to keep applying it just for the smell.