Scene Anime

Those of you who have seen a few of my outfit posts will have noticed I have a tattoo on my foot.  In actual fact, I have three, I got my third just last month! 

Its a Snooks family tradition that on my Grandma’s (<3) death day (20th April) we get something significant done to our bodies – one year my Mum got a tattoo, the next both of my parents got a belly piercing etc.  For a while now I’ve been wanting another tattoo (they are extremely addictive) and I convinced both of my parents to have them with me (I have THE best/coolest rents ever, huh!). 

I knew that I wanted lyrics, Morrissey/The Smiths lyrics to be precise so it was just a case of choosing the actual lyrics, the font and deciding on placement.  I decided on song words from The Smiths ‘Handsome Devil’.  I absolutely ADORE Morrissey and The Smiths – I was brought up listening to their songs and going to see Moz in concert and his songs rubbed off on me!  I love the quote I chose, its completely ‘me’.  In terms of placement, I knew that I wanted it either on my side or back, and I chose to justify the quote to the right and have it on my right side.  Here’s a photograph.

I absolutely adore it.  My tattoo artist did such a good job writing very gently – I didn’t want it to be too big, I wanted it quite dainty and he managed it (although he said afterwards that it was like writing on a grain of rice!).

And my other tattoo’s -

This was my first tattoo.  I got it on my 18th birthday as a present from my parents and its on my foot.  I love having a foot tattoo, especially when I wear heels.  One line above does need touching up but apart from that its perfect!

This was my second and its on my hip and travels down towards my lady parts (sorry about the bikini shot – I realised I don’t have ANY pictures of the placement of it apart from this cringy photograph.  Its just to give you an idea of where it is)!  They’re roses and not many people know I have this tattoo, its kind of a secret thing.  I didn’t want any colour in this, or in any of my other tattoo’s, I’d prefer them to have a similar look/theme and I want them to look gentle and feminine, not too loud.  I had this tattoo and the one above done by the same man, Ivan, at my local tattoo studio – I absolutely adore his style of tattooing and how detailed they both are, but unfortunately he left last year and so I got another guy who I like and trust in the same studio to do my most recent.  If I ever do decide to get another then I’d definitely go back to him.  (In the coloured photograph above it looks kinda blue, but its actually black!)

AFTERCARE

For the first two weeks after having your tattoo done, your supposed to wash it gently with a damp cloth and apply a moisturizer straight after, about 2-3 times a day.  I’m very obsessive about this and make sure its always moisturized – it will heal quicker this way and won’t be too itchy when it comes to scab off, and it won’t peel too much.

Bepanthen – this is actually a nappy rash cream but it works incredibly for using for the first week after you’ve had it done.  Its super soft and the formula is thick, creamy and moisturizing.  It doesn’t have a scent but because its white and thick it may transfer onto some of your clothes – this isn’t a problem, you can always wipe it off.

Tattoo Goo – This is probably a bit of a con because its really similar to Vaseline or any other moisturizing jelly, but it contains olive oil, wheat germ oil, cocoa butter, lavender oil, beeswax etc – all great natural ingredients to help repair and moisturize the skin.  This is good because its clear it doesn’t transfer onto clothes.

E45/Aqueous Cream – everyone has probably used this before once in their life and you can use the little tubes of it on your tattoo, preferably in the second week, after a first week of using something more thick and intense.  Good to carry around on you for dry patches, etc anyway.

In the second week after having the tattoo, my artist recommended using any kind of moisturizer that you know you don’t react you or have any problems with – for me this would be any of The Body Shop’s Body Butters (Cocoa Butter pictured above), Vaseline’s Coca Butter moisturizing oil, Korres Quince Body Butter etc. 

Your tattoo should heal pretty quickly if you keep it moisturized.  Mine healed super quick (because the writing was so gentle I think), it took just over a week and a half.

So that’s a quick over view of my tattoos and my tips and products to encourage it heals nicely!

Do you have any tattoos? What did you use to heal them?

XXX

A short but sweet post!  I don’t go shopping often but I’ve been a few times over the past few weeks, naughty!  Anyway, I’m a rubbish sale shopper so when I see a bargain I snap it up sharpish.  Here are a few things that I’ve picked up in the Christmas sales!

The Body Shop

Spiced Vanilla Body Scrub – Never tried this before but its a cream exfoliator and the scent isn’t too overpowering, so it’ll be good for my dry, sensitive skin.  £6 down from £12.50

Cranberry Shimmer Lotion I LOVE THE CRANBERRY RANGE.  I’ve worked at TBS as a sales consultant for over four years now, and every Christmas they bring this range out and that's when it really feels festive.  Its a nostalgic scent for me, and its stunning.  I’ve been through a few of these shimmer lotions and stocked up until next winter! £3 down from £6

Cranberry Hand Lotion I already have about four of these, they are the perfect size to carry around in my bag and smell delicious, so I bought another few to last me! £1 down for £3

Cranberry Home Oil Fragrance My ultimate favourite home fragrance scent, gotta stock up on these (I’m such a hoarder, huh!  Its really terrible). £1 down from £3.50

Winter Trend Gold Glitter A gorgeous gold glitter that you can wear on your face, eyelids, hair and body, very festive and pretty for dressing up with. £3 down from £8

Brazil Nut Body Butter My favourite body butter, until it was disappointingly discontinued last year. ugh.  But I stocked up on these too, don’t you worry!  Smells amazing, very moisturizing. £6 down from £12

Brazil Nut Body Scrub Again, a creamy exfoliator, in my favourite TBS scent. £6 down from £12

GOSH

I haven’t been in Superdrug for ages, mainly because I can get the same things in Boots and use my advantage card, but I peeped in to have a look at the Sleek and GOSH range and saw this set!

I have no idea how much it was before, or if it was even in the sale, but it was such a bargain I had to get it.  £4.99

Includes Black Ink Velvet Touch Eyeliner (my staple kohl pencil), Lip Jam and a Green Eye Quad. I use the kohl eyeliner religiously, which is around £5 by itself, so I definitely saved here and got two more bits as well.  I love the colour of the lip jam and the green quad looks gorgeous, will try these out soon and let you know what I think.

Did you pick up any beauty products in the sales?  What's your favourite festive scent?

XX

I was a very naughty bunny last month and I didn’t do my September favourites!!  I didn’t think there was any point as I spent three weeks of September stuck inside my house with no makeup on after having my tonsils out, but I’m back this month with loads of favourites!!

 

MAC Zoom Fast Black Lash Mascara

You can read my full review of this mascara HERE.  Its all I have been wearing all month and I adore it, it makes my lashes lovely and thick and I have had no reason to use any other mascara this month.

MACs Chatterbox Lipstick

Bought this ages ago but never used it until this month!  I love the shade and tone of this pink lippie and I feel that a slick of it instantly makes me look and feel feminine and pretty.  Goes really well with my blonde hair and a great way to add some colour to my usual black wardrobe.

MAC UNKNOWN Blush

This is my housemates and I have been using it at every chance I get!  I desperately want to get one of my own, but the writing on the back has rubbed off and we can’t tell what shade it is! PANIC!! My housemate even took it to a MAC store and asked a SA to match it up but even she couldn’t work it out, making us worry that this shade has been discontinued.  I have a slight feeling it may be Melba but I can’t be sure.  DOES ANYONE KNOW!? 

Its the most beautiful pink peach shade, but it is matt and so pigmented that you only need the tiniest bit to warm your face up.  I NEED this blush for myself, help!!

 

Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Worker

My hair has been so dry recently and I’m starting to panic that bits are snapping off!  Thankfully I always have this Miracle worker to hand and its restored my hair somewhat.  It definitely feels a lot more soft and nourished since I’ve been using this twice a week!

The Body Shop’s Cranberry Hand lotion

Perfect size for carrying around in my bag and it smells delicious!! Cranberry really reminds me of Christmas as it only comes out in the Limited Edition Christmas range at TBS, so I stock up on the range whenever it comes out.  This is the first year that TBS have done hand creams in the Christmas scents and I’m glad they did.  At £3 as well its really affordable!

The Body Shop’s Cocoa Butter Body Butter

I think its because of stress with the amount of Uni work I’m under, that my eczema has really flared up all over my arms and shoulders - cringe.  I’d never used Cocoa Butter before on the dry patches so I decided to give it a try and its definitely keeping my arms soft and less itchy.  I really like the smell and the thickness of it is perfect for my dry skin.  I’ll be using this all winter to keep my skin soft and supple!

The Body Shops Vanilla and Nutmeg Lip balm

Another Limited Edition Christmas product, this one is last years Vanilla lip balm and I can’t get enough.  The smell is amazing, it moisturizes my lips in this cold weather and it adds a shine and gloss to my lips which I adore.  I keep applying this on top of my favourite lipsticks also.

Revlon Matte Lipstick in Strawberry Suede

On nights out or when I’m going out to fancy meals I’ll use this lipstick.  Its the ultimate red, matte, glamour-puss colour.  I love this lipstick because it literally lasts all night without needing to reapply it – even after eating.  The colour is perfect, the tube is slick, I can’t find any faults with this!

 

Misguided Nail varnish MissCellaneous Nude Nail Splash

This varnish came out in last month’s Cosmopolitan magazine and I needed it after seeing it on a few blogs.  I adore it and its all I’ve been wearing all month.  Its a lovely nude for my pale skin, its really plain but I love having bare looking nails. 

Loving –

• The weather! I love everything about autumn – the golden, falling, crunchy leaves, spicy chai tea in the evenings, burning cinnamon candles in my home, carving pumpkins, lighting sparklers – autumn and winter are such romantic seasons although I’m pretty gutted I have no one to share this Christmas with!
• Food – having to cook for myself every night can be draining but I’ve loved experimenting recently.  My most used ingredients being avocados, homous, feta cheese, olives, basmati rice, meatballs!
• Photography – another year at uni, another few months spending my time shooting endlessly and letting my creativity flow.  This month I’ll be spending many hours of each day in the darkroom – one of my favourite places to be, developing film, printing pictures and spending time alone, making art and thinking to myself!
• Family – I have the most amazing parents ever and I am entirely grateful for their love and support in everything I do.  I wouldn’t be half the person I am without them.  I can talk to them about anything and they are always there for me, if I’m down I know that they're only a phone call away to cheer me up.  They even let me gatecrash their 23rd first date anniversary last weekend to take me ghost hunting in a haunted village in England for my university project – amazing!

Loathing –

• Too much work!! – The next two weeks are going to be extremely busy for me, its unreal.  I have a Dissertation Outline due, an Auction & Print Sale at my university to organize, two acting jobs (one in Bournemouth & the other in Suffolk), and overtime hours at The Body Shop.  I’m going to really suffer and get drained emotionally and physically, but I’m determined to get it all done.
• Housework – House visitors + takeaway pizza + Lots of vino = lots of washing to do & sticky floors!  I can’t stand the mess, even though the most of it has already been done, but I don’t have any time to finish!

I hope everyone is well and having a good autumn so far! 

Did you enjoy my favourites and Loving & Loathing's?  Are any of the above your current favourites as well?

AND what shade do you think the MAC blush is???!!

xxxx

I’m back from holidaaayyyyy!  And I have a tan, the first proper tan I’ve ever had in my life, albeit a bit patchy from an accident with SPF40 sun cream, haha!

I’ll show you my favourites from this month and then a few holiday snaps!

L-R

Sephora ultra-shine lip gloss #11 – I snatched this up in Sephora in Calais and its lovely.  A beautiful pink gloss which smells like cake!  Proper review on the three products I bought in Sephora to come in the next few days.

The Body Shop Brazil nut body butter – I used up and finished a 200ml tub of this body butter this summer.  Its my favourite body butter and I was so gutted when TBS decided to discontinue it (luckily I have a few back ups left!).  It has been the perfect moisturizing companion this summer and has lasted me well.  I find that I don’t get as many gnat bites whilst wearing this and its helped my tan last well, as well as keeping me from peeling excessively.  In terms of consistency, its similar to the shea, mango, cocoa butter and coconut so if your after a dupe which is similar, I’d go for one of those!

TBS Shimmer cubes in 06 – Lately, I’ve been doing less black smokey eyes and more brown, neutral eyes and these cubes are perfect for doing this look.  I’ve enjoyed using these colours separatly and together with just a tad of kohl eyeliner and lots of mascara.  You can see my swatches of these shadows - HERE!

Lily Lolo Mineral foundation in Porcelain – This month I’ve been trying to use less product on my face as my skin has been pretty crap lately, so I switched my liquid foundation for mineral foundation; Lily Lolo’s Porcelain being the palest mineral foundation I have ever found.  As I’ve also caught a bit of colour I’ve been mixing this shade with Bare Mineral’s fairly light mineral foundation, to create a lovely base for my skin.  Lily Lolo doesn’t give much coverage, I find, but I love the colour none the less.

Bare Minerals Full flawless face brush – I’ve been using this gorgeous brush to apply my mineral foundation and it does a lovely job.  Its not that soft to be honest and does have some hair fall out at first, but it applies the product well and is a good size to carry around with me.

YSL Rogue Volupte Silky Sensual Radiant Lipstick in #13 Peach Passion – A guilty purchase which I’d been eyeing up for a few months and I’m SO glad I caved in and bought it.  Quite expensive, but worth every penny.  Full review with swatches to come, so check back!

Barry M lipstick in #54 – I bought this a few months ago and never used it after I bought it, not once.  A complete random purchase, I even contemplated cutting half the stick off to heat and mix with another un-used lipstick to create a customised lip balm, but I finally found a few ways of wearing this and I’m glad I didn’t cut it up.  This lippie is a neon orange matt shade which is very difficult to wear, but I enjoy wearing it with a pink lip gloss to create a coral lip, or just wearing it lightly tapped onto my lips to create a peach flush of colour.

Holiday Pictures -

I went to Cognac in the South of France for two weeks with my family after a stop off at Disney Land Paris and I had such a lovely time.  I adore going on holiday with my crazy family and always look forward to the adventures we have.  This year these adventures included – Cognac tasting in three different factories, lots of BBQs, lots of Uno & blackjack card games, visit to the Zoo and seeing a polar bear, bike rides along vineyards, stargazing, ping pong, swimming and going to a mini gig!

   

  

 

The Snooks family + Sisters boyfriend after a cognac tour at Remy Martin!

There you have it!  I’m back now for good so expect lots of posts!

Do you wear mineral foundation?  Or has one of your favourite body products ever been discontinued? X

I hate the word ‘haul’, I think it makes me sound greedy, selfish and gluttonous; I’m really not! Haha, but I didn’t know how else to title this post!  I bought a few bits from TBS lately that I wanted to share with you!

Here is what I got and the offers which are on them at the moment.

Sweet Lemon Body Scrub & Wild Cherry Body Butter – Buy one get one free = £12.50 

This offer is only on certain body and foot care products, including coconut, mango body butter and scrubs and some shower gels etc, but its a great deal.  Also in my store and a few others at the moment, they have £3 off sampling vouchers, so you could get these two for £9.50 if you received a voucher!  I adore the smell of the lemon scrub, it smells like lemon meringue, so good! And the wild cherry is delicious, almost edible, I’ll see how this is with my eczema!

Facial Buffer £3.00– I’ve been hearing such great things about this so I bought it!  I used it for the first time today to take my make-up off, with a cleanser and my face is so smooth right now, I can’t stop touching it!  It did feel a bit harsh as I was using it, but I do have quite sensitive skin, so I just rubbed it in circular motions very lightly and it still scrubbed my dry skin off.  I also love the little handle which you can slip your fingers in, it makes it really easy to use.

Love ETC… EDP & make-up bag! If you buy any Love ETC perfume, you get the make-up bag worth £6, for free!

I love this fruity, summery fragrance and decided to finally purchase it!  I’m glad I did cause this make-up bag is adorable! Its quite roomy and will be easy to wipe down because of the material that it is made out of.

 

Summer Trend Eye shadow in Jade.

I finally got another one of these gorgeous baked shadows.  I haven't tried it out yet but will probably try it out tomorrow.  How pretty is it? And look at all those shimmery colours in the darker bit!  It looks stunning swatched but I forgot to take pictures before posting this as I was too excited! Haha, I will do that with a FOTD soon!

Hope you enjoyed seeing my disgusting beauty obsession, it really sickens me how much I purchase, but I can’t help.  Has any body got any tips to stop buying make-up?  Maybe I will do the 10pan thing? Also let me know if you’ve taken advantage of any of these offers, I want to know what you bought with them!!

I indulged myself in a bit of topshop make-up as well as I had a gift card to use up, so a post on that will be coming tomorrow! XXX