BEAUTY

When it comes to skincare I used to have really simple regime and I didn't really know what was going on with my skin - I just kind of brought products and hoped for the best.

Now when I saw Latest in Beauty were doing another Sunday Times Style Awards box...obviously I couldn't resist. I picked the box up last year and featured it as <a href="https://alicia-smith.co.uk/the-one-off-beauty-box-you-need/"> The One-Off Beauty Box You Need</a> and from the box last year I've discovered some of my favourite products that I still use to this day

Now it's been a while since I did a favourites post, they're not normally something I enjoy writing or find interesting to read...however this month I've been loving them for whatever reason. I blame this extreme heatwave.

As someone that loves a good bubble bath and pamper evening from time to time, I often find myself reaching for Zoe's products to use along side some of my trusty favourites from Soap & Glory <s>including a Clean On Me shower gel with my face on</s>. I must say other than one or two other moisturisers I typically reach for my Zoella ones...I think it's the pretty packaging that always catches my attention.

Beauty boxes, I'm sure you're familiar with the concept and have most likely read several blog posts featuring the likes of Birchbox, Glossy box as well as the standard Latest In Beauty boxes. I, however, am more a fan of the one-off limited edition boxes.

A couple of weeks ago I was shopping in Next and spotted their makeup range and I'm all for clothing brands bringing out collections. Some of my favourite products are from New Look and Primark, so of course I wanted to pick up a couple items to give a try...even more tempting was that they were 3 for 2.

While I have products that are my ride and die, I always love mixing it up. I'm always scared of ending up with products gathering dust because I've forgotten about them and not used them...after all makeup isn't cheap. That being said I think I'll always stick to a foundation I know is reliable (even if I do love testing new ones out) as well as having a trusty nude lipstick I can always rely on to make me look and feel confident af.

So as much I love reading and watching people's monthly favourites, I personally hate writing the posts myself. I've attempted them several times in the past since they're typical "beauty blogger" posts. In honesty their not my cup of tea though. Instead, I'm going to talk about new discoveries I've made every month, but not go into too much detail.

So between Christmas and my birthday, I may have picked up one, two or quite a few new makeup items and I thought I'd put together an edit of some of my favourite things that I've picked up. Most of these are sure to become staples in my everyday makeup, or they already have.

The party season is very much upon us and while I haven't attended many Christmas parties, the ones that I have...let's just say I've not been prepared for. Last minute outfit shopping, dry shaving legs and applying makeup on the train <s>yes my life has been a busy one recently</s>

Christmas morning is creeping ever closer and I know I've not yet finished my Christmas shopping, so if you're completely finished then I take my hat off to you. Being someone that is very keen on skincare and pampering myself I love to give gifts I know I'd enjoy receiving or something they've specifically asked for.

I remember growing up as a child, every summer the circus would come down and every summer I would be too terrified of the clowns to attend...despite the fact that I adored just about every other aspect of the circus. Luckily as the years have passed I've gotten over that fear of clowns, but I'm still yet to actually attend a circus...

It's amazing how a specific scent or smell can bring back memories from a certain period of your life. Sometimes it's memories of a person, and other times it's just a memory of an event...I know whenever I smell an Impulse body spray it brings back memories of getting changed after PE, and how we used to all share the same body spray amoungst friends.

Call me basic but I love nothing more than a dark plum or berry lip as the autumnal months hit. I mean who doesn't and it means I get to dig into a part of my lipstick collection that I tend to stay away from for the rest of the year

If you haven't heard of Zoella or Zoe Sugg then you must have been living under a rock, she's basically the queen of the internet who also has her own beauty and lifestyle ranges.

I've lost count of the amount of blog posts or Youtube videos I've watched on the hunt for the optimal way to achieve a perfect base, and all have fallen short of my expectations....until now.

You know that dolphin like feeling you get from a really good shave with a brand new razor? Well with <a href="https://ffs.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">Friction Free Shaving</a> you can have that feeling every time for as little as £5 a month.

Now unless you've been hiding under a rock you must have heard the hype around the latest Urban Decay release, Naked Heat.

I'm so happy to announce that I'm working with one of my favourite (lesser known) brands to create this post, not only have I been in love with their products for a while

So over the course of the past couple of weeks, I've gained a handful of new products to try, some of these I brought myself while others I was gifted at the Blogosphere Valentines Tea Party.