Forevermissvanity - A UK Lifestyle Blogger : January 2015

NYX Butter Gloss

If you are looking for the perfect pout this Valentine's Day then look no further than these lip butter glosses from NYX.

Admittedly, I have never been much of a lip gloss fan. I always find them too sticky, often drying and that they easily smudge. It took a lot of debating on whether I should try these, but after I saw all the raving Youtube and blogger reviews, I thought how could I not.

I haven't worn lipgloss in several years despite owning many varieties and most of the time when I'm sent samples to review I'm left disappointed. Lipglosses often remind me of Barbies or those overly fake looking people with lips like a piece of perspex. But I still get the temptation every now and then try certain brands.

I've tried many times to jump on the Lipgloss bandwagon, but I've not had much luck. Trying to find a lip gloss that gives shimmer and shine, yet still gives a natural appearance is hard to come by or so I thought. When I first tried the NYX lip butters I was immediately converted. I had gone from shying away from lipgloss, to wanting to wear these every day.

These three lip glosses are all named after delicious desserts (Cherry Pie, Strawberry Parfait and Angel Food Cake) and all exhibit a sweet vanilla taste. As the name describes, they lip glosses have a buttery, smooth texture which help adds moisture and shine to your lips with very little effort.

I love applying these lip butter glosses over my favourite MAC lipsticks for a vibrant, dramatic look, but they also look great on their own.

These lip butter glosses have transformed my opinions of lip gloss and have made me realise that I should not frightened of wearing lip gloss because of a few bad experiences. There are many brands out there to choose from and eventually you will find the right brand for you. Mine just so happens to be NYX.

Have you tried the NYX Butter Glosses yet?

Whether you love it or hate it, there's no hiding from it as preparations for Valentines Day 2015 are well underway. Finding the perfect gift for a loved one can often be difficult and if you have just started dating, it is even harder. But fear not, with this helpful guide I am sure you will find some inspiration.

Bath and beauty products are often popular Valentines presents due their luxurious nature. These gifts offer the recipient a chance of relaxation and 'me time' - something we often struggle to find time for. If you're looking to give the gift of relaxation this Valentine's Day, opt for these Bath Tea Infusions from Bespoke Aroma. These bath infusion tea bags help revive tired bodies and soothe dry skin using all natural ingredients. The ingredients are so natural that are perfect for those who suffer from dermatological problems or various skin sensitivities, they have even been used to help cancer patients after their treatments. If you're looking for a bespoke skin care gift set, the new BRYT Valentines range would also be a perfect choice. The Haute Couture for Her includes a selection of skin serums and moisturisers all nestled in a beautifully wrapped box. For the more traditional beauty gift givers out there, the new Jimmy Choo Blossom would make a great gift for someone special.The Jimmy Choo Eau de Parfum Blossom has a sweet floral scent and comes in a beautiful pink bottle.

If the woman in your life is more of a fashionista than a beauty queen, these products might be more up her street. Mulberry handbags might be quite expensive, but they are a present that will keep on giving. This Mulberry handbag comes in a romantic red colour and exhibits the popular Mulberry logo on the front. If your woman prefers shoes, these Vivienne Westwood ballerinas are a great choice. They are a great accessory for anyone interested in British fashion and looking for an affordable design piece. If you're an old school romantic and prefer the gift of jewellery, look no further than this Links of London ring. This piece is from their Diamond Essentials range and comes in silver, gold or rose gold. Finally, if your woman has an obsession with her phone, I would recommend this gorgeous Ted Baker phone case. The pattern is striking and would compliment any outfit.

They say a key to man's heart is through his stomach and I'm pretty sure it works both ways with women. There's a wonderful selection of foodie inspired presents on the market from this Harrods bear to this heart shaped Godiva chocolate set. The 'Love me Tea' is a quirky, yet fun present for all those tea lovers out there.

As much as we often like to think Valentine's Day is all about us girls, we have to remember our poor boyfriends and husbands too. Valentines Day is our chance to show how much our boys mean to us and these days there are lots of cool presents to buy them too. My first recommendation would be the Victor Rolf Spicebomb. When I was on Honeymoon, a young woman ran up to my husband to ask what aftershave he was wearing and it was Victor Rolf. The Victor Rolf Spicebomb, in my opinion, is the ultimate masculine scent. With its top notes of Bergamot and grapefruit, heart notes of chilli and saffron and base notes of Tobacco and leather, it evokes a sense of strength, power and sensuality. If you're looking to buy your man some shower items, this gift set from Findmeagift is a fun, alternative choice. This 'Distinguished Gentleman's Men's Gift Set' features quirky soaps, shower gels and body lotion. Finally, if you're looking to really treat your man this Valentines Day, why not buy him a new watch? This Armani watch is affordable and stylish and comes in a colour that suits almost any outfit.

Are you buying any Valentines gifts this year?

Each month I long for the day that my Degustabox will arrive and each month I cannot wait to see what healthy treats will be delivered to my door. I have been a subscriber of the Degustabox for the last three months and I'm rarely disappointed. Every time I have received a box, it has been full of brands that I haven't tried before and snacks so delicious that I have now added them to my weekly shop.

Today my January Degusta Box arrived and yet again, I'm happy with the selection. As someone who is trying to eat much healthier this January, it was nice to see a range of vegetarian, gluten free and dairy-free products for me to trial and yet more brands that I haven't yet had the pleasure of tasting. Every time a new Degusta box arrives at my door, it is a chance for me to unleash my inner 'foodie' and attempt to create some inspiring dishes.

This months Degustabox includes: 1 x KoKai dairy free milk, 2 x Mornflake porridge, 1 x Rice Bran Oil, 1 x Sukrin Gluten Free bread mix, 1 x Kabuto Noodles, Finn crisp Sourdough Rye Crispbread, Clipper Green Tea and 2 bottles of Little Miracles. The box only costs £12 a month to subscribe, but as you can tell you really do get value for your money each month.

If you're interested in the Degustabox, you can find out more here.

Have you tried a Degustabox before?

When Katy Perry's Killer Queen first burst onto the celebrity perfume scene in 2013, it was all the rage. Everyone wanted to be seen with the bottle and all the beauty bloggers adored it. At the time I wasn't really that interested as celebrity perfumes have never thrilled me, but having seen the bottle over and over again in the stores, as time has gone by I've become more intrigued by this product.

Katy Perry's Killer Queen fragrance was inspired by the rock band Queen's 1794 hit as it was a song the artist grew up with and prevalent to the way she felt about herself.According to an interview with Women's Wear Daily Katy Perry said:"Freddie Mercury painted the lyrics of this woman who I wanted to be. She seemed very powerful, and she captivated a room when she walked in...I feel like, after all this time, it was appropriate to use that name in association with something I did. I feel like i'm falling, finally, into that woman Freddie painted."

When I first saw this perfume, it was the bottle in the perfume ads that instantly grabbed my attention. This perfume bottle is inspired by a Queen's specter with a bright luxurious red jewel shape, topped with an elegant gold crown. The bottle oozes glamour and sophistication whilst evoking a sense of a strong, dominant woman who would use this product. Although celebrity perfumes are usually marketed at younger women, this perfume is suited to those of all ages who would like to place a fun and aesthetically quirky product on their dressing table.

The Killer Queen Eau de Parfum is a mix of wild berries, dark plum and bergamot topped with a velvety red flower, sambac jasmine and rainbow plumeria. The base is cashmere, patchouli and liquid praline. Whilst reading this it is easy to imagine the Killer Queen fragrance as sickly sweet, but it has a surprising musky accent that compliments all the sweeter tones and leaves a bewitching lingering scent.

Katy Perry describes her perfume as a 'playful, sophisticated, powerful, edgy and delicious fragrance' and I couldn't agree more. For a celebrity perfume the scent is really unexpected, easily rivalling some of the more luxurious brands available on the market and currently on offer at £10 from Chemist Direct* you really cannot go wrong.

Have you tried the Katy Perry Killer Queen Eau de Parfum?

When it's cold outside and the weather seems gloomy, it is ever so tempting to grab the next pair of jeans and head straight out of the door with very little care about how you look. The only thing on your mind is keeping warm and getting to work/university/college/wherever you are going in one piece. Admittedly I'm guilty of this on a regular basis and there are days that I go to work looking rather dishevelled snuggling up to my favourite, not so glamorous jumper.

Today's post is dedicated to helping you feel a little bit more glam on those days where your heart and mind aren't quite feeling it and those days where the weather is so cold that you would rather spend the day in bed.

My first winter warming must have is a good pair of jeggings. Jeggings are a little bit like marmite; you either love them or hate them. However, when you find a good pair of jeggings they are worth their weight in gold. A good pair of jeggings is like slipping on your pyjama bottoms to leave the house - they are warm, figure hugging and can look as smart as any pair of jeans. My favourite jeggings are these from the website Luxury Legs who specialise in legwear and shapewear.

If you're feeling a little bit cold, but you're not a fan of jumpers. This seasons must-have capes will be the perfect accompaniment to your outfit. I love the duck egg blue colour of this stripe tassel blanket cape from River Island and this looks perfect teamed up with a casual white blouse and a statement necklace such as this one from the affordable, yet classy jewellers Gemporia.

To finally finish off this outfit, add a cute pair of brogues or a cosy pair of knee high boots such as these Laurie Over the Knee flat booties from Fashion Union - a staple accessory for this season and a way to ensure your feet stay cosy and warm.

What is your favourite casual piece of clothing?

Sometimes when life is getting you down and things are a bit difficult, a day out can do you the world of good especially when it's a place as beautiful as the city of Cambridge. As a few of you may have noticed that I haven't blogged in awhile and the reason behind this is a bout of bad health with my arthritis and a persistent kidney infection. Fortunately I'm back on the mend now and enjoying easing myself back into work and blogging.

A few days ago my dad asked me if I would like a day out in Cambridge to take my mind off everything that I have been going through lately. The past two weeks have been full of hospital tests, fatigue and long hours in bed and one thing I've wanted more than anything is to get out of the house. When my dad asked me, I leaped at the opportunity. I've always wanted to go visit Cambridge and having recently seen the Theory of Everything in the cinema, it was number one on mine and my husbands UK bucket list.

We woke up at 6am to set off to Cambridge and it was a long, freezing day, but totally worth the travel. The buildings were beautiful, I loved the hustle and bustle of the city streets and the Saturday market was a delight. Once we had arrived and grabbed some lunch, James and I went our separate ways from my parents to properly explore the city - first stop the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.

The Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology founded in 1884 has collections spanning over 2 million years of human history from Dinosaurs and fossils to precious gemstones and meteorites and is free to enter 7 days a week. The museum also plays host to large archeological collection with pieces dating back to medieval history. Visiting the Museum allowed me to entertain my inner geek and learn more about Charles Darwin who is a focal point in the museum due to some of his collections being housed here.

After all our shopping and exploring we finally retreated to the river where we paid for a chauffeured punt alongside all the infamous Cambridge college buildings. The tour included a trip alongside Queens' college, Kings College, Clare College, Trinity Hall and Trinity College, St Johns College and the bridge of Sighs based and named after the Sigh bridge in Venice. The tour enables you to learn more about the city of cambridge whilst taking in the tranquil scenery and being wrapped in a cosy knitted blanket. The Chauffeurs are expert punters with a wealth of knowledge about their city and no question is too small to ask - they seem to know almost everything. It was great to learn more about the impact various royals had on the colleges whilst name dropping many prestigious students of Cambridge such as Stephen Hawking.

If you haven't been to Cambridge before, I definitely recommend the visit. It was exactly what I needed after the last week or two and I hope to return in the summer when the weather is warm and bright.

Have you been to Cambridge before?

Hi, my name is Jessica and I'm a perfume hoarder.

Ever since I was a young girl, I have always been fascinated by perfume. My true obsession began in 2005 when my father bought my mum a bottle of Calvin Klein Euphoria - which was new on the high street at the time. Ironically whilst I'm writing this, I have noticed that particular perfume will be 10 years old this year. Calvin Klein Euphoria was my first introduction to premium perfume and when Calvin Klein is sprayed in the room it takes me back to that light bulb moment when I thought hey, I want to draw full of perfume when I'm older.

Now, 10 years on I have probably over 25 perfumes in my collection ranging from Chloe to Chanel, Prada to Gucci and I love each one of them. I love how you can match your perfumes to your personality and cater for every mood that you are in - be it flirty or sensual.

The latest addition to my perfume collection is the debut fragrance by Tory Burch, the Tory Burch Eau de Parfum*. When deciding on the notes for the perfume, Tory Burch said she wanted a 'tomboy meets feminine' vibe and wanted the perfume to give us something 'unexpected'. This has been achieved by a perfectly balanced mix of floral peony, citrus notes of grapefruit and neroli and base of earthy vetiver. If i'm to be honest, it is verging towards being more feminine with the tiniest hint of masculinity, but that's how I love my perfumes anyway. Once the perfume settles on your skin, every now and then you'll be greeted by a beautiful, fresh citrus scent and for me that covers the 'unexpected' element of surprise that Tory Burch was going for.

The design of a perfume bottle can often be mismatched compared to the product inside it. Sometimes you get the most wonderfully scented perfume in a rather peculiar looking bottle and sometimes you get a beautiful with a really dull perfume. For me, Tory Burch has nailed this one as I love both the scent and the pristine glass bottle with signature fretwork top. Overall the Tory Burch perfume has delivered and exceeded my expectations and will be a perfume that takes pride in being placed on the top of my vanity table where I shall wear it on a weekly basis.

Have you tried the Tory Burch Eau de Parfum?

The start of January is always a busy period - going back to work or university, starting on those new year resolutions and also catching up on everything that was missed over Christmas. My start to the new year has been busier than ever and unfortunately I'm a little bit behind on my blogging, which is already one new years resolution already broken.

Just before Christmas I was sent this Simon and Tom's Soft Peeling Gel to review and although at first I was determined to fit it in my Christmas gift guides, I thought this would be a perfect product for my first review of 2015. January is a prime time for reviewing our skin care regimes and after the Christmas period of eating and drinking too much, our skin tends to not be at its best.

Simon and Tom are a Spanish based cosmetic company founded in 2005 that specialise in cosmetic formulas based purely from its own production of 100% pure Argan Oil which was originally derived from Morocco and used for many generations.

This Simon and Tom's Soft Peeling Gel promises to clean deep into the layers of skin removing dirt that gets trapped everyday and is perfect for restoring moisture and skin cell renewal, giving you a fresh youthful glow and a firmer skin appearance.

The product is a really soft clear gel that when applied gently onto wet skin feels smooth and smells beautiful fragrant. I massaged the product into my skin for two minutes as per the instructions and was shocked by the softness, tautness and clarity of my skin after just one use. Another thing that impressed me with this product was that a little goes a very long way and although I haven't used this product that much as of late, I can see when I settle into my new year skin routine that this will last me quite some time.

I'm often someone that is very hard to impress when it comes to skincare and this is one of the best products I have tried in a long time. Despite the product originating in Spain, it is really easy to get purchase online if you live in the UK and I would recommend trying it for yourself.

Have you tried any Simon & Tom products?

Jacket - River Island, Bodycon dress Blue Vanilla

Body confidence is something that I have always struggled with and every New Year I keep telling myself that this is the year that I will eventually grow to love my body and stop worrying, but it never quite happens. I'm blessed to be surrounded by lots of glamorous, beautiful people both in my private and professional life and sometimes that comes with quite a lot of pressure to look good. Despite how much I diet and keep fit, I never quite feel good enough.

Approximately four years ago I made a New Year resolution that unknowingly to me would change my life. Having noticed how much weight I was gaining and how much it was affecting my confidence, I decided to go on the biggest diet of my life. I went from a large size 18 to a size 8 in just over a year and also appeared in Reveal magazine as a result for slimming down. For awhile I felt like I was on cloud nine loving every moment of new slim new figure, but shortly after I hit rock bottom and became obsessed with monitoring exactly how much I weighed and everything I ate - in fact I was borderline on having an eating disorder and if I hadn't fallen in love my husband who taught me to seize the day and stop worrying about calories, i'd still be stuck in the same old rut counting calories in strict numbers and not enjoying my life as much as I do now.

The New Year is often a prime time for those wanting to lose weight or change their bodies and there's very little mention of learning to love the body you already have. Through being bigger and being smaller, I learnt that it wasn't my weight that was the problem - yes I was overweight and needed to do something about it, but it was more the fact that I didn't love myself and appreciate my own body for all its good points and flaws. My New Years resolution this year is not to lose weight or try to see what size I can get down to, but to learn to accept my body and be happy whatever size I may be. The photo above shows me embracing my curves in my new bodycon dress from Blue Vanilla which originally made me feel self conscious, but looks and fits so good I wanted to throw caution to the wind and wear it. After all no-one looks like they do in the magazines and we're all human - we all have flaws. Body confidence is when your inner confidence shines through and that's one thing I definitely need to improve on.

My other New Year resolutions are:

To try save money towards a house deposit.
To travel more - even if it is a short car journey to somewhere in the UK I haven't been before.
To spend more time with my friends and family. Last year my friends were heavily neglected due to my very hectic year.
To work on my blog and continue to improve my writing.
And finally to put more time aside to spend with my husband each week. The poor bloke barely gets to see me when I'm working or blogging.

What are your New Year resolutions?

It's surprising how much one can change in a such a short period of time and although we often consider twelve months to be a considerable lengthy time period, it really isn't. As you get older the days seem to go faster than ever before and years seem more like a handful of months. When you get older, you realise the importance of how precious time is and how much you long to embrace every moment. I always knew 2014 would be a big year for me - after all the excitement had been building up over the last two years for my wedding and graduation, but I never expected how much I would develop as person. 2014 was the year that I truly became a 'woman' (as cliche as it sounds) and finally ditched the immaturities and lack of confidence that held me back. 2014 was the year I finally found my empowerment and that hard work really does pay off. If I can accomplish all that I did in only 12 months and manage to somehow survive, the world really is my oyster.

Graduation

So what really happened in 2014? If you could list all the life changing moments a person will have minus having children, you will pretty much have summed up my year - passing my driving test, getting married, getting my first job, getting my first house and graduating university. In July last year I graduated university with a first class honours degree in Journalism. This was an accomplishment in itself as I had such a tough time during my three years at university with illness and family issues. At one point, one of my tutors suggested that I should post-pone university until I was physically and mentally stronger. I worked hard everyday - sometimes from my bed as I was too poorly to make it to university and I never gave in. Towards the end of my degree I told most people that after everything that went on, I'd be more than happy with a pass. To get a first class honours degree was like a dream come true - I don't know how I did it and I'm still in shock to this day, but I do know that I deserved it and I worked hard and I'm forever grateful for the guidance given to me by the University to make this possible.

The Wedding

It is every girls dream to have a fairytale wedding and on September 6th last year I married my best friend and soul mate James. Despite the heavy rain, everything else when to plan and it was the best day of my life so far.

Health

Not everything in life can go perfectly and sometimes things can happen unannounced. During my final year at University I was struck down with extreme fatigue and really painful joints in my hands, wrists, knees and feet. The pain was so intense I could barely get out of bed and missed weeks off University. I went to the doctors repeatedly, begging them to take me seriously and look into my complaints and was told that it was all in my head. Emotionally and physically drained I kept pleading with doctors until they eventually ran further tests, which finally revealed that I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, a chronic illness that not only affects your joints but also your immune system. Dealing with my diagnosis was difficult - being told that you have arthritis at 23 isn't the best news to receive and the stripping of my independence on flare up days made me feel frustrated and upset. However, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger and since coming to terms with my health problems and adapting my lifestyle, I have now become a stronger, more confident person that looks at life in a different way. I'm more understanding of those that deal with health problems on a day to day basis. I've realised that I'm not invincible and that I have to look after myself as much as possible and most importantly I live for the moment and try grab any opportunities I can because you never know when things can take a turn for the worst.

2014 will always remain one of my most memorable years - for better and for worst and I doubt that any other year will beat it. However I will try my hardest to make 2015 every bit as memorable as the last and I look forward to what this year will bring.

What are your most memorable moments from 2014?

NYX Butter Gloss

The Ultimate Valentine's Gift Guide

Degusta UK January Box

Killer Queen Eau de Parfum

Casual yet Glam Dressing

Punting in Cambridge

Tory Burch Eau de Parfum

Simon & Tom Soft Peeling Gel

New Year Body Confidence

Looking Back at 2014