Update

It has been a ridiculously long time since I last wrote a blog post, but after many months, I am officially back! My absence from Beautiful Notions has mainly been down to starting university and struggling to find the time, lighting and appropriate 'blogger' background - which usually consists of a candle, flowers and some soft furnishings - to blog/film. It has been really frustrating because I've missed my blog and channel so much but I have now finished my first year at university and I can't wait to immerse myself in the world of Beautiful Notions again! 

As I am back home now, you will again see the familiar background of my videos and blog posts but you will notice some changes. I am planning to post very regularly on my blog, roughly three times a week to begin with, and upload a video over on my Youtube channel at least once a week on a Sunday. There could be the potential for another video every Wednesday but I don't want to get to ahead of myself! 

Another change in the next few months will be where I live! I am moving into a flat with a couple of friends from uni and I can't wait to start filming there! I will be uploading home decor videos and blog posts and there may be a 'Before and After Flat Tour' in the works!! 

I really want to start posting not only beauty content, but also fashion and lifestyle - maybe even some food posts! I can't wait to develop Beautiful Notions into a blog brimming with readable, entertaining and diverse posts!

Sneak peak of an upcoming post!

Kathleen x

NOTD: Fireworks

As it is nearly fireworks night, I thought I would be a bit 'creative' and put together a nail of the day that kind of resembles the sky on the 5th of November. Basically it's just a dark plum with a tonne of glitter as a topcoat! 

topshops mardi gras, rimmels black cherries

Kathleen x 

Origins Make a Difference +

After being on the hunt for the perfect moisturiser, I think I may have found it. Origins is very well known for its amazing selection of moisturisers for an array of skin types, so I felt it was a rather good place to start the moisturiser search. After hearing many a rave from various beauty bloggers about the "Make a Difference" range, I was curious to try it out. 

I decided to go for the "Make a Difference + Rejuvenating Moisturiser", I thought the consistency was light enough to use during the day without my makeup sliding off my face but it still nourishing enough to avoid those pesky dry patches. I've been using this moisturiser for about a month now and I am absolutely in love with it. It has honestly completely changed my skin from being dry, red and irritated to being soft, moisturised and my skin tone has definitely evened out. It's not cheap but personally, I feel that part of my skin care routine that I want to invest in is a moisturiser and I definitely want to try more from the range. It has definitely earned holy grail status in the world of Beautiful Notions.

Available from the Origins website at £34 

Kathleen x

MAC Fall - RiRi Woo Lipstick

This has probably been the most hyped MAC collection for a very long time. Rihanna, being the massive icon that she is, has brought out her own MAC collection for Fall and it is absolutely stunning. The collection consists of some gorgeous eye pallets, a beautiful cream colour base, brushes, eyeliners and of course lipsticks and the list continues! But the most delectable aspect for me is the rose gold packaging, being a sucker for the rather shiny packaging myself. I decided to pick up the lipstick in RiRi Woo - the star of the show in my opinion.

A lovely matte, blue-toned red, obviously very similar to Ruby Woo by MAC, that is super easy to apply and stays ALL DAY. I absolutely love this new MAC collection and it is rare that I get so excited about their collections. Seriously well done to Rihanna for bringing out a fabulous collection - all of the products are Diamonds!

Available from MAC for £16.50

Kathleen x

Emma Hardie Amazing Face Moringa Cleansing Balm

I know, I've seriously jumped on the bandwagon with this one. Every blogger in the beauty universe has been blabbing about this pot of magic for the past year and I decided to give it a whirl. My skin is most definitely dry and I really struggle to find a cleanser that doesn't leave me with a tight feeling across my face. Even the infamous Liz Earl Cleanse and Polish doesn't do it for me, so I decided to delve into the world of balms. 

This is a very luxurious product, by taking a pea size amount and massaging it all over my face and neck, I am left with velvety soft and nourished skin. It breaks down makeup like a dream and the moringa content is an excellent source of vitamins, collagen and anti-oxidants. The balm has a relaxing herbal sent which is great for the evening and by double cleansing the results are really lovely. This is an excellent cleanser for all skin types but I would say in particular, for dry and sensitive skin to leave it nourished and moisturised. The hype is real. 

Available at feelunique for £34

Kathleen x

Bourjois Colour Boost Gloss Finish Lipstick

These have been sitting in my makeup bag for quite some time now and I just haven't had the time to write about them - ridiculous really, they are all I have been wearing this past month! The Bourjois Colour Boosts have been causing quite a stir in the beauty-sphere. They are pretty late to the party as lip crayons go - Revlon, Soap and Glory etc have certainly "been there and done that" - but they have still seemed to go right to the top of all our shopping lists. Why? 

03 Orange Punch 

02 Fuchsia Libre

Firstly, the colour range is excellent. A hot pink, an orange, a sheer red and a peachy pink - all perfectly wearable colours for during the day and super easy to whack on at night. The packaging is decent, in my opinion it’s difficult to go wrong with a lip crayon … they all kinda look the same! But it’s really the formulation that has got us all running to Boots. Moisturising, pretty long lasting for a sheer lip colour, buildable and an SPF of 15! Can they do no wrong? They do promise 10 hour wear and to be honest, I’m not sure if I can hold them to that but these truly are a lovely punt at the lip crayon.

Clinique – kudos for starting the revolution.  

Available from Boots for £7.99 - FYI, they have brought out two new colours!

Kathleen x

Apivita Express Beauty Masks

Before I begin raving about these masks, I would just like to apologise for the serious lack of posts on Beautiful Notions of late. I have just started Uni and things have been a bit crazy and I have just not had time to sit down and write let alone film! Hopefully, I'll be back on track soon and I may do a video on my Uni experience so far - if you would like to see it? Now on to these little sachets of wonderfulness!

I had heard of Apivita but I knew very little about it apart from the fact it was a Greek skincare brand that was rather well known for its face masks. Whilst wondering through Marks and Spencer, contemplating my lunch purchase (the sushi always wins!), I stumbled across their fairly new beauty section. With brands such as Nuxe, Jurlique and Leighton Denny, I was pretty impressed with this Space NK/French Pharmacy hybrid but it was the Apivita counter that stole the show. 

I picked up - rather feverishly - two of their masks: Express Beauty with Grape and Express Beauty with Aloe and they are both rather lovely.

First, Express Beauty with Grape. Containing Vitamins A and E, it claims that it firms the skin and reduces the appearance of wrinkles whilst revitalising the skin. Being under 20, I am possibly not the best guinea pig for this mask but it did make my skin feel amazing after one use. My skin felt brighter and slightly firmer without feeling at all tight. I do think it would be a great mask for older skin or for an instant facelift fix!

Now on to Express Beauty with Aloe. My personal favourite of the two but this could be purely to do with the fact that it much more suited to my skin type. Dry. So, so dry! As soon as I applied this onto my skin, it instantly felt soothing due to the aloe and with the addition of rose water to maintain moisture, this mask really delivered! I used this as an overnight mask and my skin felt so soft and nourished in the morning but you could just use it for roughly ten minutes. 

Both these masks are really excellent and I would highly recommend that you give them a go. They are great for travelling due to the sachet size or if you just want to try them out before purchasing the full size ... which I will be doing very soon!

Check Apivita out here!

Kathleen x