What's in my handbag? #February

I've seen this post knocking around on a few of your blogs, so I thought what the heck... here are some of the things I'm lugging around with me this month...

Bag- Zara This is my current 'go to' handbag when I'm not using my Aspinal. It has tons of room and goes with everything. Oh, and I'm kind of enjoying people mistaking it for a Prada too.

Vogue - for some reading on the tube. I love checking out all the make up in the adverts, looking at the stunning models, and coveting over the beautiful designer things. I just can't help myself...

Fur Headband -  (Sweaty Betty) This literally hasn't left my head since I bought it. I kinda wish I had been born with this attached to my head. It's so warm and snuggley, perfect for this crazy weather at the moment. And perfect for my first ever ski trip later this year (Rosie Huntington has the matching ski onsie, so it must be cool, right?!).

Nars Laguna - Although I don't love this bronzer, I do love the gigantic mirror, perfect for on the go touch ups!

Essie Ballet Slippers - My current favourite, I'm keeping it handy incase of chipping, you know how it is ladies.

Kindle- At the moment im reading Treasure Yourself by supermodel Miranda Kerr. Yes my obsession with her grows each day...

What do you carry in your handbag?

Oh, and I have a cheeky 'behind the scenes' of my latest shoot coming up for you tomorrow, excited?!

Photo Diary #14 Do you remember what I said, that first time we met?

Sundays face | Cocktails in Clapham | Queuing | The Breakfast Club | Shiny new Vespa | Cat-face cuddles | Naughty Nars purchase

I haven't done a photo diary post in a little while now, not since I got engaged, so I thought it was about time I did a weekend post :) They're my favourite kinds of posts to read and write, I must be the nosiest blogger!

So this weekend was a pretty relaxed one, but really really good fun. I felt like it was over far too quickly! Sometimes it's nice to have nothing planned and just see what happens, don't you think?
On Friday night my friend Nicola and I had a catch up in Clapham. We had planned on quite a tame night, but accidently happened to stumble upon on happy hour, oopsy. Cucumber sour cocktails, chicken burgers and a good friend to laugh with makes for a fabulous evening.

On Saturday morning, Stef and I braved the queue outside The breakfast Club in Soho
, we knew it was the only thing that would possibly cure our hangovers. Queuing was made a little less painful though, when they brought little shots of hot chocolate and marshmallows to everyone outside, what a cute little touch! Going anywhere else for breakfast just never measures up, it was well worth the wait when my All American pancakes showed up. I'm pretty sure I could live off pancakes ya' know.

After breakfast and a mooch around a couple of shops, (which basically involved me drooling over the beautiful underwear I can't afford in Agent Provocateur), we jumped on Stefs shiny new Vespa and headed to the movies. The perfect afternoon for nursing a hangover :) Les Miserable was pretty darn good, if you haven’t seen it already I'd recommend it. I'm not going to lie, for the first five minutes I did think about leaving, but you get used to them singing every line pretty quickly. So if musicals aren't really your thing, i'd still say it's worth sticking this one out.

Sunday we scooted over to do a spot of shopping in Chelsea. I was naughty and finally purchased the beautiful Laguna by Nars, it had to be done it was on my wish list for so long!We headed back to Clapham and Stef treated me to dinner in the ever so fancy Trinity (I might do a whole post on this for any foodys out there).
Later on the lovely Sarah from Modern Damsel swung by for a glass of wine and some blogger chat.

What did you get up to this weekend? Have you ever eaten in The Breakfast Club or Trinity?

Hannah x

So ladies, NYE has rolled around again, I can't believe it! Is it just me or has this year gone crazily fast?!
So much has changed for me this year, & I have to say (without getting too sentimental & smooshy on you all) this year has definitely been the best of my life. I've never been so happy, & I'm already looking forward to everything 2013 has to bring.

Anyhooo, I thought I'd jump on the beauty blogger bandwagon today and do a little round up of  a couple of my favourite make-up bits from this year. I've used some really lovely products this year, so it was hard to pick, & these are just a handful...

1. Nars Illuminator in Copacabana- I got this beautiful highlighter for Christmas, & I know it's only been a few days but I absolutely love it and wish I'd come across it sooner. The perfect pink shimmery skin brightener, I've been wearing it every day since I got it. Full review here.

2. Nars Eyeshadow in Isolde-  Without a doubt the most pigmented eye-shadow I've ever used, their duos are simply gorgeous. I used this on a model for my make-up artist website, stunning. Full review here.

3. Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua foundation- I'm not sure if  I've actually ever reviewed this foundation, I know I've mensioned it in a couple of my Youtube videos before though. This is the foundation that I always go back to after branching out and trying others. I think it will always be my all time favourite, I get so many compliments on my skin when I wear this. It's leightweight but with flawless coverage, and smells nice too.

4. Topshop lipstick in infared- This is just so creamy, long lasting and stunning. What I love about this, is that it's perfect for any occasion, day or night. It doesn't dry my lips out like MAC and some other brands. Full review here.

Have you tried any of my favourites? What have your favourites been this year?
Oh, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Copacabana

I realize I haven't actually done much 'beauty blogging' recently, I suppose it's because I hadn't come across anything that I really liked all that much, and I wasn't very inspired by anything I tried. 

That is, until now...
Meet my new love, Coapacabana illuminator by NARS.
I've had my eye on this for a while now, I had an inkling it would be a gem.

This highlighter, or illuminator (whatever you wanna’ call it) has a lovely light consistency, and light reflecting shimmery particles. It’s such a lovely pink tone. You only need a small amount, and I just dab this onto my skin with my fingertips, applying on my cheekbones, down the centre of my nose, and a teeny bit on top of my upper lip. It’s so creamy, it blends beautifully.
  
Shall I let you in on a little trick I’ve been using? Oh, go on then!
I’ve been mixing a tiny bit of illuminator in with my tinted moisturizer (you can mix it in with foundation too) and applying as normal all over my face. This helps achieve a very gentle, healthy glow, which we all strive towards.
I feel like it makes my skin look really refreshed and healthy, and helps me out when I’m looking dull & tired.

I don't know why I thought this was around the £30 mark, so I was very pleasantly surprised when it was actually only £22. That's a reasonable price to pay in my opinion, I love it so much already it's been totally justified.

I have to say, NARS is fast becoming my new favourite beauty brand.

Anyway, I hope you all had a lovely Christmas?
I was spoiled rotten by Stef, he surprised me a with macbook air, wowee. It's going to be great for blogging, no excuses for not posting everyday now hey :)

Have you tried Nars illuminators before?

1. Nars Copocabana Illuminator | 2. Nars Laguna bronzer | 3.Laura Mercier Creme Brulee Body Souffle 4. Jack Wills Greatstone Headband | 5. Zara Suede Shopper

Hey gals,
it's that time of year again already... eeep how is Christmas only 14 sleeps away?
I managed to power-shop my way through most of my shopping last night, very proud of that!

Anyway I thought I'd jump on the bandwagon and compile a little Christmas wish list, and yes I am very aware that the majority of it is from Space NK. Have you ever smelt this Laura Mercier Crème Brulee body souflee by the way? It is pure heavan I tell you.
I basically want the whole of Space NK and Zara please, is that too much to ask?!

Have you made a wishlist yet? Any of these beauties on it?

Isolde

Nars Isolde instantly became my new favourite product the very first time I used it. 
I wasn't even apply it on myself, I was doing a make-up look on a model for my new website (more on that soon), and so this was a cheeky little purchase for my make-up artist kit. 
Of course I ended up dipping into it myself once I saw how stunning it was (it was bound to happen, don't judge me!).

The left shade is a gorgeous shimmery bronze-gold colour, perfect for Christmas time. I've been applying this all over the lid. Then I go into the crease with the right shade, a slightly darker, less shimmery bronze. 
The great thing about this duo (apart from the fact that there's a mirror in the compact, why don't all products do this?!), is the pigmentation. You literally need the tiniest bit on your brush and you'll get a great colour pay off. I'm hoping this means Isolde will last a long time.
Both shades in this duo have undertones of orange in, which I wasn't expecting to like on myself, man was I wrong, it's all I've been wearing.

At £24 per duo, they certainly don't come cheap, but considering the single shadows are £17 each, doesn't this count as a bargain?!
This being my first ever Nars eyeshadow purchase, I can certainly see what all the fuss is about around bloggersphere, & personally I would definitely be willing to pay it again. The only problem now is that I literally want all the shades, greedy girl.

Now I've given into the whole Nars hype, I've got my eye on the Laguna bronzer (I know the whole world seems to have this) and the Copacabana highlighter, I think they'll both be making it onto my Christmas wish list.

Have you tried Nars Isolde before? What are your favourite Nars products? Please feel free to recommend me any other duo shades or products too :)