Chelsey Prentice

Now we are in September summer is pretty much over but I thought I’d tell you about the products I’ve loved during the summer and will continue to use into Autumn and beyond. I wanted to write this post 0ver 2 weeks ago but a close family member was ill in hospital and I’ve been getting headaches so had to have a break from spending too long on screens. I still get them every day but they’re more manageable at the moment.

As someone who suffers from dry lips I’m always on the lookout for something to soothe them. That’s where Dr Paw Paw’s original balm comes in. This multipurpose product contains carica papaya, olive oil, aloe vera and petrolatum, is made in the UK and repairs damaged skin aswell as providing hydration. I’ve been using it on my lips for the past month and it really does make a difference. There are also tinted versions available which are great to add a hint of colour to your lips or cheeks.

A product that is particularly useful in Summer is Living Proof Humidity Shield which I spray on my hair before straightening it or use as a finishing spray before leaving the house on a hot day. It smells amazing and really does prevent the ‘Monica from friends on holiday’ look. It also protects against heat so is ideal to use before heat styling. I also like the dry shampoo as it leaves much less sticky, powdery residue than other versions.

Every girl needs a bit of sass in her life and SASS are the only intimate hygiene brand that don’t cause me any irritation. My favourite product is the Soothe & Smooth shave gel which is ideal for the bikini line as it prevents ingrown hairs and makes shaving run more smoothly. It’s available in some Boots stores or online.

I’ve been a lushie for a few years now but my obsession with all things Lush has calmed down slightly this year. I’m sure it’ll flare up again in the winter, especially around Christmas but for now I’m happy with the odd shower gel. My current favourite is Plum Rain which smells more citrussy than like plums but it’s a really uplifting scent that softens your skin so I would definitely recommend it.

Living in London can have its benefits and going to fun places like Dinerma in Shoreditch is one of them. The venue is set across two floors with food stalls downstairs and bars upstairs. Luckily our friends arrived just after 5 and got a table so we had somewhere to put our food and drinks. We arrived just after 6 which is a good time to get there as it wasn’t too busy, there were no queues to get in and we didn’t have to pay to enter before 7. After 7 it started getting busier and busier but it was bearable. I think it feels less claustrophobic than a club as it’s very open with not many walls so you’re half inside and half outside if that makes sense

Food wise I ate a brisket roll and chips from Smokestak. Unfortunately thought the meat was a bit too fatty for me so I couldn’t eat it all. The cocktails on the other hand were very enjoyable! I had 3 pina coladas and an aperol spritz so it was a really fun night! I’d definitely go again to try some of the other street food

 

 

It’s been a while since I’ve done an outfit post so I thought it was about time for one which also pays homage to one of my favourite high street stores; Topshop. I only buy the occasional item per season from there as it can be on the pricey side for a bargain hunter like me but every item I do buy stands the test of time and is worn season after season. This dress in particular was actually a rather reasonable £30 and it can be dressed down by wearing a T-shirt underneath. The lace up heels were bought last summer but are still on trend. What are your favourite high street shops?

I also have to mention this choker from Olive Jewellery which I love! Check out their website for more pretty handmade chokers and necklaces.

I am definitely a late comer to the matte liquid lipstick party but better late than never I suppose! I want to try the Kylie Jenner lip kit but seeing as they aren’t that easy to get hold of and I can’t justify the price I’ve started trying budget versions instead. I popped into Boots in Westfield Stratford which has an NYX stand but is always manic so I squeezed past a group of gossiping teenagers and grabbed a nude shade that I thought would suit my skin tone, which turned out to be ‘Lace Detail.’

The colour is a pretty rosy nude which I thought would go well with a smokey eye on a night out but is also subtle enough for daytime. The applicator does the job but I did struggle to put any product towards the line of my lower lip, so either a lip brush or a matching liner would make the colour look more even.

I like the creamy, smooth texture when it’s applied but it does dry pretty quickly. I like the look of it once it’s dry although, a few cracks often appear on my bottom lip but as it’s a nude shade it isn’t too visible unless close up. I’m not used to the slightly tight, dry feel of the matte liquid lipstick so it does feel a bit strange on my lips but not enough to put me off using it. I’ve been applying Dr Paw Paw original balm over the top to soften it when the dryness starts to annoy me and I still like the look of my lips afterwards.

In the pictures above I only applied one coat which keeps any cracking to a minimum. At around £6.50 it was good value and I really like the look of it on my lips so I would recommend it if you’re looking for a reasonably priced liquid lipstick.

I was excited to try the heaven skincare BeeBee cream as I’m a fan of the brand and the products always make my skin feel smooth and plump. The tinted moisturiser contains SPF and can even be worn overnight as it is non-talc make-up. It’s also anti-ageing, firming, helps repair spots and hydrates fine lines and wrinkles which, when you’re pushing 30 like me is a benefit!

The packaging looks very modern and sleek but is very light in comparison to most other foundations or BB creams. It definitely beats lugging around a heavy glass foundation bottle. I couldn’t work out how to use it at first but if you twist the top a pump emerges. I think I may have damaged mine when I tried to pull the lid off as the pump part is loose so not enough product comes out and I end up removing the silver pump part to release enough product. That’s my own fault though rather than any technical issues!

The formula is just about the right thickness and has a pleasant, fresh smell and the coverage is very sheer but it’s ideal for summer and you can build it up slightly with a couple of layers. It was fine for me as I used concealer on my problem areas and it provided a good base for my bronzer, highlighter and blush but those who prefer full coverage may want to apply foundation on top. Below are pictures before an after applying the product. As you can see, my skin looks much fresher, even and more dewy afterwards.

My skin also felt hydrated and smooth all day. I plan to wear this most days throughout the summer and will also probably take it on holiday with me as it’s so light. Below is a picture of my completed make up. I met a friend that evening and she commented on how ‘well’ and ‘tanned’ I looked!

 

 

Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending the Big Blogger Expo organised by London Meet Up (@LDNmeetup) who always put on great events. It was held in the Danubius Hotel Regent Park which was a great venue and fairly easy to find from St Johns Wood station. On my way there I bumped into a group of fellow bloggers who I chatted to before the event started and at intervals during the day. One unfortunate member of the group, Olivia ended up stuck with me all day as we walked around to speak to each brand!

The first brand we spoke to was Dr Paw Paw who I’ve heard of before and have been wanting to try their UK made balm for a while. I suffer from dry lips so I tried the original balm whilst I was at the event and it definitely made a difference. They also had delicious cupcakes on the stall which were much appreciated as I didn’t have time to eat lunch!

The next brand we spoke to was Living Proof who use science to create hair products that solve issues such as frizz and also make your hair stronger and healthier over time. I’m looking forward to trying their dry shampoo especially as it promises to be far more effective than others on the market and actually cleans your hair. Watch this space for a review shortly.

The first thing that caught my eye about the Jody Bell stall was the gorgeous girls wearing stunning, summery dresses trimmed with tassels.  The pieces are handmade in Spain and wouldn’t look out of place at an A-list party on a yacht, which is hardly surprising considering some of her early designs were bespoke couture pieces for the red carpet. My favourite piece was the purple playsuit but I also love this pink dress pictured below.

I’ve been a fan of Heaven skincare since I found out about them at a previous London Meetup event about a year ago. I particularly like their sliver bee venom face mask but they’ve added a few more products to the range, including a cleverly named ‘Bee Bee’ cream which I plan to review soon

The aim of 4 You By You is to create a platform for students which gives them tips on facing uni life aswell as discounts on their products but the discount codes can also be used by non students. Items available include beauty products by Instant Effects, such as lip volumiser.

In my hungry state I was drawn to Borough Box and it’s yummy treats that were on display. I tried some gluten free bread and a cold pressed fruit bar which were both very tasty. The premise of the company is to introduce us to a huge variety of artisan food and drink which is delivered directly to your door. It’s ideal if you come from a foodie family like me and their hampers would make a great gift.

Bonnie Boo gifts is a brand new business which sell lovely gifts for newborn babies. My personal favourite is the adorable Snugglebug Keepsake box pictured below. It will now be my first stop when friends and relatives have babies!

The sunglasses caught my eye first and before I knew it I was lusting after almost everything on the clothing rail so I think that Two Three is going to be a budget fashion brand to watch! I’m tempted to treat myself to a choker at least but I’ve also got my eye on one of the tops. I need to get a job sharpish!

Jewellery Box is another brand that I already know and love as their dainty jewellery is right up my street and also makes a great gift. I’m tempted to treat myself to the fairy necklace pictured below as it’s just too cute.

We also spoke to a few other great brands such as Return to Glory which offer beauty treatments in the comfort of your own home, Juvadent for botox and fillers, Westlab for bathsalts with benefits and Brandbassador which is an exciting new platform connecting bloggers with brands.

The goodie bag was also brilliant and I’ve already sampled a few of the products in it, especially the edible ones! I just want to thank Lauren and Abi for organising the event along with the other girls who helped out (Jessica, Jenny… I’m really sorry if I’ve missed anyone!) Make sure you follow LDNmeetup on Twitter and sign up to the database if you can. Also thank you to all the brands for being so friendly and generous.

 

For the past few days I’ve been going through a bout of anxiety which has got progressively worse and I know it probably won’t pass for another few days at least. It often involves feeling sick, sweaty and affects sleep as I’m unable to switch off. Most of the time it stems from a particular worry, often health related then spirals. I’ve recently found a lump that I’m not sure about and although I’ve had similar lumps in the past and they’ve turned out to be fine, I can’t help but catastrophise and assume the worst.

It’s been playing on my mind for a couple of weeks and then other worries creep in until it becomes unmanageable. I hate being at home on a Friday or Saturday night, hearing my neighbours talking in their house or garden and convincing myself that they’re going to  keep me awake. I become sensitive to every noise and even ear plugs don’t really help. Last night was one of those nights and I don’t think I fell asleep until gone 2am. The heat doesn’t help either.

All I can do is ride this wave until it calms down and I plan to go to the doctors next week to make sure the lump is nothing to worry about but I can’t do this every single time something on my body changes. I’d love to hear from those who suffer similar symptoms and how you cope with it. I find that taking my mind off things helps so I try to get out when I can or if I’m at home I’ll distract myself with the TV or a magazine. Last night I ended up watching Keeping Up With The Kardashians of all things and coincidently Kylie Jenner was suffering from anxiety in that particular episode so it reminded me that even mega rich, famous people aren’t immune.

I hope that as I get older I’ll suffer fewer bouts of anxiety as it is less severe than it was in my teenage years and early twenties. However, in an increasingly uncertain world this is a real challenge. I can just about cope with everyday life so I don’t want to resort to medication, especially as my body doesn’t always respond well to drugs. People suggest things like mindfulness but I’m to stubborn to switch off and try something that feels so alien to me. I find that exercise does help so I do that when I can. I also think once my life becomes a bit more stable it may improve but for now I just need to get through it the best I can.

 

 

Living in the UK means that summer dressing is becoming increasingly difficult as I don’t know if it’s just me but our summers seem to be getting worse by the year! We currently seem to be having a spate of decent weather but who knows how long it will last? I have come up with 3 daytime looks which are pretty flexible if there is a shower or a chill and will hopefully give you some ideas if you get stuck on Summer dressing.

70s Boho Chic

A denim button up midi skirt is a great building block for any summer outfit and this version is from Forever 21. The floaty yellow top is from Zara and is from last summer but there are so many pretty tops in store at the moment and this would work well with an off the shoulder number too. The tie up sandals are from Topshop and the sunglasses are from New Look.

Classic Jeans and T-shirt

There are so many variations on this look and you can change the jacket and footwear according to the weather or occasion. I love these distressed Zara jeans which were £16 in the sale, along with this New Look light bomber jacket which was reduced to £15 – bargain! My espadrilles are from River Island and the top is an old one from Primark.

Sports Day

Relaxed separates are great for running errands or lazy days and they also go with comfy trainers. You can add a baseball or a top with a logo to up the sports factor or just keep it simple. I love this Forever 21 skirt as it’s like lounging around in a tracksuit but looks slightly more elegant! The T-shirt is from New Look and the trainers are from adidas at Footlocker

I haven’t blogged for a while as I’ve just come back from visiting my grandparents in Spain. My nan had an operation whilst I was there but thankfully she seems to be recovering as expected.

My holiday blues were beaten yesterday when I attended the Wimbledon championships with my boyfriend. The rain held off so we wandered around and enjoyed some scones and Pimm’s before heading to the court to watch Albot and Tomic compete. I have to admit that I don’t really know that much about tennis but it was enjoyable to watch and it was a really pleasant day out.

 

The unpredictable summer weather is proving to be a pain to dress for so I decided to wear floral print trousers with a ruffle detail top and blue faux leather jacket, all from Zara. I’ve been living in this blue jacket as it’s perfect for for the rain and chill which, lets face it, occurs on most days.

Last weekend was quite a manic one for me, especially on Saturday which involved having a blow-dry as I’m useless at making my hair look decent, going to my friends’ joint baby shower followed by a BBQ at another friend’s house. I needed an outfit that was comfortable but also looked nice so I had it in mind a few weeks ago to wear my coral gypsy top from H&M (£15) which I bought about 3 months ago. I knew that I wanted to wear jeans with it but I didn’t have a suitable pair so that’s where Topshop comes in. Most of their jeans usually come up small on me but luckily the Jamie style has some stretch in the fabric so I went for a pair that are ankle grazing and have rips at the knee. (£42)

I finished it off with ankle tie sandals from Topshop but as it was the first time that i wore them they rubbed against my big toes so plasters were needed! The only problem with the coral top is it creases easily as you can see from the photos.

 

Everything was set out for the baby shower and it all looked lovely but unfortunately, about 15 minutes after I arrived it started raining heavily and didn’t stop for over an hour which definitely put a dampener on things. Everyone still had a nice time though and the rain finally stopped at around 4.30. My hair, however was pretty much ruined!