Follow my blog with Bloglovin

The Next Chapter: You Tube, Career shake up, general life and a tough year.!

So for those of you who have been here before or are new to my blog, HIIIIIII!!!!!!!! I thought I would use this post to update you on my life and the changes that the last year has seen (and trust me there has been a lot)!

So lets start with where I was this time last year. After 5 years in the same job, I found myself dreading work every day, stressed more than I could have imagined possible, single, lonely and feeling like I had completely lost myself.  Fast forward a year (and a lot of Soul searching later) and I've changed jobs, got myself an incredible boyfriend (and two gorgeous step children), a new home, and am finally getting to do the thing I have been desperate to do for years....You Tube and Blogging. So why couldn't I do it till now? My previous job had a lot of restraints and uploading to YT and blogging was seen as a big no no and a conflict of interests. In all honesty it killed me, it was the one thing I  knew I could seek refuge in and I suppose in many ways it made me resent the job I was in...How could I let a job dictate what I could do in my own time, especially if it made me so happy?!

Im not going to lie and make it sound like leaving my job was simple, it was far from it! I had a lot to consider and I suppose money played a big part in it initially, but I finally realised that my health, happiness and wellbeing was too important to compromise. After all you only get one chance at life. This was only empahsised when back in May I was rushed into hospital bent over in agony, being violently ill and not being able to walk. We later found out that unknown to me I was pregnant but it was ectopic. This was followed by weeks and weeks of going back and forth to hospital and making some horrific decisions. In all honesty, it was one of the most horrendous experiences of my life and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. It sent me into quite a deep depression and I ended up being written off the last 2 months of my old job with illness. So why am I telling you all this?! Simply because this is still something I am dealing with and I have my ups and downs. However YT and focusing on getting this blog up and running was one of the biggest things that got me through, it gave me direction, hope and a lifeline.

I am so unbelievably excited to be back in the blogging world and to be (FINALLY) making YT videos all about beauty, lifestyle, my life and whatever takes my fancy! I will be blogging as much as I can and vlogging where I can.

I hope you all enjoy watching my videos and reading my posts. Sorry if this has been a slightly depressing post, but sometimes you have to be honest and to understand me you  need to understand my life!!



G xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Please don't forget to like, share and subscribe!!



Check out my latest Beauty video below and don't forget to subscribe to my channel for my latest vlogs.

New Maybelline UK releases!

A good rifel through Boots and Superdrug usually ends with me purchasing a few new products to try out! This time one of my favourite brands, Maybelline, had some exciting new offerings. I know there has been much hype about the 'Colour elixir' lip glosses in the States, but until now they haven't been available in the UK, so as soon as I saw them I grabbed one (que very excited, kid in a candy shop type of face)! Snuggled up next to the elixirs were the new 'Colour drama intense Velvet lip pencils', which I have heard absolutely nothing about but was very intrigued by . As it happened Maybelline was also on 3 for 2 in Boots (can I get a whoop whoop), so I picked up 2 pencils and 1 colour elixir.

Now I haven't had time to put these to the test properly, but my first impression is very good! I picked up the colour elixir in the shade 105 'Petal Plush' and this has been firmly on my lips over the course of the last week. I can certainly see what the hype has been about. Its creamy, pigmented, not drying, long lasting and glossy without it being overkill. I am now eagerly awaiting my next trip to Boots, to pick up another shade.

Top to bottom: Colour Sensational Elixr lip in 105 Petal Plush, Intense Velvet lip pencil in 140 Minimalist, Velvet lip pencil in 630 Nude Perfection. 

On first impressions the pencils seem beautiful. They too are really pigmented, smooth and seem to leave a slight stain to the lips. Having not tried many lip pencils, its difficult to compare them to other brands such as Nars (maybe that's something I need to do). These come in 10 different shades, including an orangey red and a berry colour.
Overall my first impression is really good and I can't wait to pick up a few more shades of both products. Have you tried any of these, what are your thoughts?

Maybelline Colour Sensational Exlir lip: £6.99

Maybelline Colour Drama, Velvet lip pencil lipstick: £4.99

G xxx

Don't forget to follow me on Bloglovin', twitter and Instagram (links are on the sidebar)

I treated myself to some Bobbi Brown...whoops

I went in for a bronzer and came out with 3 things....this budgeting thing isn't going to plan!!!!! In fairness the other two were things I had been eyeing up for ages and one was limited edition (you have to grab these things whilst you can right?). 

 First up in my little spendfest was this gorgeous Limited edition 'Surf and Sand' palette. It was love at first sight when I saw this and once I had swatched them and realised how gorgeously buttery they are I couldn't get to the checkout fast enough! This seems like the perfect palette to take away with you and with its gorgeous mixture of cool toned matte and shimmer shadows, you could create a wide variety of looks.

Now I know these shimmer bricks are something of a cult product but I have been resisting temptation for a VERY long time. I had originally had my eye on the Rose shimmer one but when I saw this gorgeous one in 'Nectar' my heart skipped a little beat! As many of you will know I love peachy, coral blushers and this seemed like perfect thing to compliment it. Unlike the bronze ones, these aren't colours I would use on both cheeks and eyes (for me anyway), but it was just too stunning to leave!!

Finally....the one thing I actually went in for. If you saw my last post (Soap and Glory 'Solar Powder'), you will know how much I raved about it and love it!! It is still my top bronzer, however this Bobbi Brown one has some of a 'cult' status in the beauty world and I have been dying to try it for ages. I got matched with the shade 'Golden Light' and it is a brilliant match for my pale skin tone. This totally matte bronzer seems to compliment my skin tone beautifully.





So as I'm sure you will agree, I have been a little naughty!! Bobbi Brown is one of those brands I love, but for some reason I see it as being a more luxurious brand than some others....why is this?! Anyway I can't wait to try all these out properly, I'm a tad excited!!

Have you tried any of these products? Which shimmer brick is your favourite?!

xxx
Don't forget to follow me on bloglovin, instagram and twitter

Soap and Glory 'Solar Powder'

Way back in the January sales I picked up one of the 'Soap and Glory' christmas palettes. In it was a 'Solar powder', 'Love at first blush' and 'Glow all out'. For a few months I dipped in and out of it, only using it occasionally. However since the weather got warmer I was looking for the perfect bronzer and decided to 'shop my stash'. For some reason I had pushed this one to one side and didn't previously think much of it. Oh how things change!! I am literally in love with this bronzer, so much so I made a massive dent in the one from my palette and decided to purchase an individual one for travelling and to keep in my bag.

So what do I love about it, well the main attraction is the two colours, 1 light and 1 more mid tone. For someone as fair as me this is a god send, as I can mix the two colours to create the perfect shade. The darker side is matte, whilst the lighter side does have a slight shimmer to it, but not too much.
As you can see from the picture it has the usual 'S&G' embossed on the middle of the product. When you first by it, this does have a light pink shimmer overlay on it, but this goes as soon as you use it.
I always forget how cute Soap and Glory packaging is, its a lovely mixture of sturdy cardboard esq packaging with a sleek and fun design on the front.

For me this is defiantly my HG bronzer, not a label I give out very often at all. This product retails for £11 for 9g, which I think is a total steal!
So what is your favourite bronzer? What is your favourite product from the S&G range?

xxx
Don't forget to follow me on Bloglovin, twitter (@beautyandpearls) and instagram (beautyandpearls).

Space NK/ Selfridges haul

Its not often I go down to London, so when I decided to go yesterday, I knew it was time to have a spend!! There are so many makeup brands we simply cant get in the deep dark depths of Norfolk and although you can buy them on line, picking shades is a bit of a risk.

As well as makeup I also brought quite a few clothes.....its fair to say I over spent...oops!!!!
My first stop was Selfridges, where I was on a mission to find the 'Giorgio Armani Luminous silk foundation'. The guy on the counter was quite simple lovely and was so helpful. He matched me up to the correct shade (number 5) and wasn't one of these pushy sales people who tries to sell you the whole stand in 5 mins. When he tried this foundation on me my first reaction was WOW, which I never ever say when I first try a foundation....I can't wait to wear this properly.
Next up I went down to the holy grail that is Space NK. Despite knowing what I was going in for I spent ages in there perusing all the brands and even got given a glass of champagne! The lovely ladies in there matched me up to the 'Kevin Aucoin Sensual skin enhancer' (SX2) and the 'NARS Pure radiant tinted moisturiser'(Finland Light). As I am writing this I am wearing the NARS tinted moisturiser and am so surprised by its lasting power and coverage. Whilst I was in there my eyes spotted the Hourglass ambient lighting blushers. These are so stunning and eye catching when you see them. I picked up the shade 'Mood Exposure' which is a gorgeous rose gold, plumy, blush. I also grabbed a small version of the Oribe dry texturising spray. This stuff is soooooo expensive so I hope its worth it!!!!

I cannot wait to try all these products and share my thoughts on them. A lot of these are blogger favourites so i'm intrigued to see what all the hype is about and if they live up to my expectations. 

I hope you are all enjoying this gorgeous Sunday afternoon!!

I would love to know your thoughts on these products. 

G

xxxxxxx

The Spring nail pick

Now the gorgeous warm weather has officially arrived I can finally bust out my Spring/ Summer nails, clothes and makeup! Now I know Spring has technically been here a while, but lets face it, in England, it hasn't felt like it! For those of you who follow me on Instagram, you will have seen the huge abundance of nail polish I accidentally own (whoops). I was on the hunt for my Spring polishes and I picked 4 of my favourite ones to share with you!

L-R/ T-B: Bourjois So laque glossy 06 Adora-bleu, Maybelline Superstay 615 Mint for life,
Essie 249 go ginza, Essie 73 cute as a button.

All of these colours are ones I would wear on both my hands and feet and all have good lasting power on my nails. Essie is one of my favourite drugstore nail polish brands. One of the things I love is the brushes, they are nice a big (without being so big they go over the edge of your nail) and you only need 2 coats. The formulation isn't watery and makes me fool proof application. 

When I brought the Maybelline nail polish in 'Mint for life', I thought it may be a dupe for Essie 'Mint candy apple'. However this is actually a much softer, much more muted mint green colour and if I'm honest I actually prefer the tone of it. This formulation is amazing, it dries really quickly, goes on smoothly, and lasts the longest out of all of them on my nails. 

The Bourjois one is a beaut, with its striking blue/ lilac tones. Blue is not a colour I often opt for but in Spring it just seems to draw me in. I love the colour of this polish which is why its included. However the only draw back is the formulation. Once its on my nails it does last well, especially on my toes, but getting it on is a bit of a pain. It is such a watery nail polish, which means I am always making sure I take most of it off the brush before I apply it so as to avoid my whole finger being blue.  You can see what I mean in the above shot, as the colour is all down the side of my nail ( I left this in so you could see). I did own another from this collection but the colour wasn't over ally great so I threw it away. Despite this I do reach for this one on those days where i'm not in a rush and have time to  faff over my nails without running out of the door.

Prices: Essie £7.99

Maybelline £4.00 ish (although I couldn't find these online)

Bourjois £5.99

So what are your favourite Spring/ Summer nail polishes? I would love to know so I can try some out!! 

Don't forget to follow me on bloglovin, instagram and twitter!

xxx