The Freckle Princess' Autumn/Winter Picks #2

Well I think judging by the frost on the ground this morning that autumn/winter is definitely upon us. It’s time to break out the chunky knits and dance among the leaves.

It is around this time of year that I start to dip into my more autumn/winter appropriate coloured nail polishes.  During the summer you would have seen me wearing bright shades on my nails like Models Own Bubblegum and Hedonist from their Hed Kandi range, which I absolutely love but feel are slightly too bright next to my autumn/winter wardrobe (I will still wear these colours for nights out to bring a little va va voom). So only one question remains; what colours do I wear on my nails during the colder months? Below I will show you what colours I personally reach for come autumn/winter.

Oxblood shade:

 

This colour shading is probably the 'it' colour of the season, and one that I consider to be my favourite to wear around this time of year as I think it is very expensive looking.  It also brings a touch of warmth to any outfit and I think it looks especially nice on your toes.

 

Bright Red Shade:

 

 

This shade is ideal for those who love a bright colour on their nails, ensuring that a pop of colour is brought to any outfit.

Black Shade:

Add a little vamp to your nails with a black shade of nail polish; I personally love glittery black nails, I think it’s a chic way of doing Goth.  

Grey Shades:

 

I love wearing grey nail polish, it adds a little extra something to the nude look and isn’t quite as Gothic as black.   

 

Metallic Shade:

 

I love the effect these nail polishes can have on your nails, defiantly a must have for autumn/winter.    

 

What colours do you like wearing on your nails in autumn/winter?

 

If there is a particular colour you would like to see featured in a NOTD, Feel free to let me know.

xKx

 

The Freckle Princess’ Autumn/Winter Picks #1

Seeing as autumn/winter is my favourite time of year especially fashion wise I thought I would do a little mini-series of my favourite autumn/winter picks ranging from clothes-foods-TV. I plan to feature this mini-series throughout the month of October.

Pretty Polly Tights, Buy Here

 

First up I thought I would share with you my favourite tights, some of which I hope I will be sporting this A/W especially the Topshop pearl tights, Dorothy Perkins hound’s-tooth tights and Pretty Polly’s secret sock tights. Some of the tights shown I already have such as the dotty tights, ribbed tights, faux stocking tights by Henry Holland and the cable knit tights.

New Look Tights, Buy Here

Around this time of year I love looking at Primark’s tights section as they always have bang on trend tights seen in many other stores for a fraction of the price and if they get a ladder it’s not the end of the world and you’re not left too out of pocket. I love wearing tights in A/W and they come in so many colours, materials and patterns that you can really have fun with them. I recently donned a pair of black ribbed tights with denim shorts, ankle socks and booties.

Topshop Tights, Buy Here

 

 I love how tights can instantly make your summer wardrobe wearable in the colder months, just don on a pair of tights, a chunky knit and a scar and you’re good to go. It also means that you’re not left too out of pocket when it comes to your winter wardrobe.

Dorothy Perkin Tights, Buy Here

I have learnt the hard way (sadly) to ensure that I always carry a spare pair of tights with me for emergencies. Primark do a handy pack of tights for your bag which I think are perfect as they don’t take up too much room in a bag and will be sure to save you from any embarrassment. Another tip is to wear gloves when putting your tights on especially for the more delicate tights and for those with long nails, as we all know we often ladder or tights when putting them on. I have also heard of spraying your tights with hairspray to stop a ladder, also a little bit of clear nail polish should help prevent the ladder from spreading too, so it may be worthwhile to keep a small bottle of clear nail polish in your bag, any clear nail polish will do the job. For those not scared of making a fashion statement you could always make extra holes in the tights to match the one you ribbed and let on they are meant to be like that...or if you’re brave whip them off and bare leg it!!!

ASOS Tights, Buy Here

 

Do you like to wear tights in winter? If so what’s your favourite pair?

xKx

Review: Real Techniques Stippling Brush

Samantha Chapman Real Techniques Stippling Brush

  

This review is long overdue however I am glad I waited as initially I did not like this brush so if I had of reviewed it when I said I was going to it would have received a thumbs down from me. However after vowing to try the brush for a long period of time before righting it off (mainly due to the money paid for it) I can now say that I use this brush daily and I actually like it.

This year I was introduced to new ways of applying foundation/tinted moisturiser. I had always used my hands however from reading blogs and watching YT tutorials I learned of a technique called ‘stippling’ and the different tools in which to do so. I done my research to discover that Cosmo’s Beauty Blender done the same job as the Real Techniques Stippling Brush at a fraction of the price and so being money savvy I decided to opt for the cheaper option and used the spare cash on other beauty bits.   Now don’t get me wrong I love my Cosmo’s Beauty Blender and can’t envision a life without it being a makeup bag staple (dramatic I know,lol) but me being me I just couldn’t resist the urge to see what all the hype was surrounding the Real Techniques Brush, so on my next visit to Boots I picked this brush up for £11.99. The Real Techniques Stippling Brush is a duo fibre brush, meaning it has a combination of longer and shorter bristles of different types. This is what affords the stippling effect resulting in an 'airbrushed' finish to ones makeup.

A close up of the bristles
 

My first reaction was ‘ooh its pink’ which is my reaction to all things pink; honestly I’m a sucker for pink, girly beauty items and thought this would look lovely on my dresser. I couldn’t wait to try it out when I got home. Now the reason I didn’t like this brush initially was down to two reasons 1) I felt like it was ALOT of effort and slightly more time consuming than my normal routine and 2) in the first weeks use it shed ALOT of hairs. I was extremely disappointed by the shedding of this brush and due to the shedding I stopped using it after a week’s use and went back to my trusty beauty blender. However one day I was invited out unexpectedly and needed to redo my makeup though my beauty blender had just been washed (I prefer using it dry) so I had no choice but to reach for the real techniques stippling brush, surprisingly there was no more shedding and I must have been used to using this brush as my makeup took no time at all. I also received lots of compliments on how flawless my makeup was that evening so I thought I would give the little brush a second chance and since then I haven’t looked back.

Now I incorporate both the beauty blender and stippling brush into my makeup routine every day. Firstly I use the brush to apply my tinted moisturiser all over. With this brush I feel like I don't waste my foundation/tinted moisturiser, I dot in it onto my skin and then buff this product into my skin using circular motions. The product goes on my skin and not into the brush. My brush hardly looks used/dirty after using it which is quite nice as no one likes the look of a grubby brush on their dresser. I then go over the makeup I have just applied with my beauty blender to ensure a skin-like look, I also use the pointed edge of the beauty blender to apply concealer around my nose and corners of my eyes. I can happily report that I have not experienced any more shedding from the brush. I have read lots of reviews on this brush and never heard anyone saying that they experienced any shedding from it so perhaps it was just my brush??? I have also used this brush to apply cram blush and it works a treat. I love how easy it is to clean this brush and that the bristles are still as soft as ever. I would however love if I could get this brush with a bigger head but I suppose the smaller head means you get a more precise finish. Lastly I love that the brush stands on its own which is very practical and helps to keep it clean. Overall I am very happy with this brush; I would urge those who have been thinking about purchasing it to go ahead and do so and see what all the fuss is about for yourself.

xKx

The Freckle Princess Styles: Heeled Chelsea Boots

 

These boots are the Tiziana Stud Chelsea Boots from MissGuided.com They are Faux leather Chelsea boots with pin stud detail and elasticated sides, they are currently £37.99. I have had my eye on these bad boys for a while but I am currently a little strapped for cash, so I will just have to save up my pennies for these wee gems. In the mean time I thought I would torture myself with compiling a few looks incorporating these ankle boots. Below I have shown three ways these boots could be styled.

Outfit One:

 

1 H&M Jumper 2 New Look Shirt 3New Look Jeans 4 H&M Clutch

 

I love these super soft skinny jeans from New Look, they can be dressed up or down. I love all things studded, just like this blouse with the studded collar which I think would look lovely peeking out of this very vibrant jumper. The clutch adds an extra oomph to the whole look. Something I would definitely wear if only I had the money to buy these items. Overall I think this look shouts young and edgy.

 

 

Outfit Two:

 

1. New Look t-shirt 2. International Coat 3 H&M bag 4 Black Jeans 5 River Island watch

 

For this outfit I have went for a more laid back look, teaming the boots with a simple plain tee and some black skinny’s. I added the green military jacket with PU leather sleeves to keep the look edgy. I love this H&M bag which I think is the perfect bag for shopping. Finally I added this gold watch to tie in all the gold accents of the clothes and boots.

 

Outfit Three:

 

1 H&M shorts 2 Topshop Blouse 3 Topshop socks 4 New Look hairband 5 Primark clutch 6 Topshop lipstick 7 Models Own nail polish

My final outfit is a night time look. Here I have paired the boots with some leather shorts from H&M. I decided to stick to black and white as I think it can look very classy. I added this adorable white blouse with neck tie from Topshop. When wearing shorts at this time of year where we are still able to get away without wearing tights on nights out (just barely) I like to ensure that I have a long sleeve blouse on top. Lately I am really loving frilly socks poking out of my ankle boots as I think it adds a girly edge to a tough look.  The hair band would look lovely with curly hair. I am a sucker for matching, I love when I find a good matching bag to a pair of shoes and this is what I have found with the Primark clutch. I would add a red lip and some red nail polish to finish off the look.

Is there something you’re saving your pennies for?

xKx

 

 

Luxe For Less: Topshop Mace Ankle Boots

As said before I’m an ankle boot girl through and through-I just love them, likewise I also love all things studded so I think it’s great when my two loves are combined. I love studded ankle boots, I just go crazy for them.

I feel in love with Topshop’s Mace boots as soon as I saw them however  I didn’t have enough money on me at the time and vowed I would get them the second I got paid, sadly to my disappointment they had all sold out by the time I had enough money for them. However this sad story has a happy ending. As I was casually looking around Primark I spotted these beauties hidden in the corner.

 

I couldn’t believe my eyes, they were so similar to the Topshop Mace boots (£36) however they had added studs on the back which being a lover of studs I actually preferred and at £10 I thought ‘what an absolute bargain.’ I snapped them up immediately and they haven’t been off my feet since, I love wearing them with my black frilly ankle socks I purchased from Topshop a while ago, gives a cute girly edge to a slightly grungy boot.

Topshop Mace Boots (£36)

 

Have you found any amazing bargains recently?

xKx

The Freckle Princess Styles: The Faux Fur Collar

I adore Autumn and Winter fashion, It’s my favourite time of year. I am a big fan of layering and I just love all the cosy accessories out at this time of year. It’s my birthday soon and I have picked out a few A/W essentials as my birthday present, one of which includes a faux fur collar from H&M for £12.99. I picked this up in black as I thought it would look lovely against my new black trench coat, this faux fur collar also comes in burgundy and beige. I am so tempted to pick it up in the other colors; after all I still have two £5 off coupons.

 

Below is how I plan to style my new faux fur stole for both day-time and night-time.

Day-time Look

1H&M faux fur collar 2 bow gloves H&M 3 New Look belt 4 New Look dress 5 H&M shoes 6 H&M tights 7 H&M hat 8 River Island bag 9 New Look blazer

For day time I would team the fur collar with a printed dress and tweed blazer. I'd wear these chunky knit tights in a shade taken from the dress and flat brogues. I have kept the bag black to let the coloured tights do the talking.

 

Night-time Look

1 River Island Blazer 2 H&M faux fur collar 3 River Island dress 4 New Look heels 5 New Look clutch bag 6 Ebay Lace socks  7 Topshop Lip tattoo

For evening I would team the fur stole with a bold, eye-catching blazer, teamed with a black lace full skirted dress for classic fifties feel. If chilly opaque tights could be added, but for this look I thought I would add the lace ankle socks to add a little fun to the whole look. I love the shoes and bag, I think they give this outfit a little something extra. Finally I added the red lip tattoo to bring this look bang up to date.

Will you be wearing a Faux Fur Collar this A/W?

xKx

TAG: How Much Is Your Face Worth???

I have seen many bloggers participate in this TAG and was more recently inspired by the lovely Melissa from pretty-little-obsessions blogspot to do the "How Much Is Your Face Worth" TAG.  The objective of this TAG is for you to make note of all the products you use on your face daily for a FOTD, note the cost of each item and then total it.

1.      Cosmopolitan Beauty Blender £4.99 (Superdrug)

2.      Fräulein3°​8 Wooden Makeup Cosmetic Brushes Set £11.98 (Ebay)

3.      Samantha Chapman Real Techniques Stippling Brush £11.99 (Boots)

4.      Soap and Glory Righteous Body Butter Body Lotion £10 (Boots)

5.      Nivea Daily Essentials Tinted Moisturiser £3.39 (Gordons Chemist)

6.      Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer £4.99 (Superdrug)

7.      MUA Blusher Shade 5 £1 (Superdrug)

8.      MUA Bronzer £1

9.      Benefit They’re Real Mascara £18.50 (Feel Unique)

10.  Collection 2000 Sheer Loose Powder £4.99 (Superdrug)

The Grand Total is £43.87 not including my makeup tools (beauty blender and brushes) and £72.83 when including tools in the price.

Not too bad of a price compared to others I have seen, however I don’t have any high end branded products.

I tag you all to do it too :)

xKx

Luxe For Less: Topshop Ambush Side Zip Ankle Boots

I’m an ankle boot girl through and through-I just love them, they can be worn dressed down for a casual look or dressed up for a night on the tiles. A sleek-chic pair of black ankle boots will make many rotations in any gal’s wardrobe.   For day time I love wearing ankle boots with skinny’s and for a night time edgy look I love to team them with a girly dress.

I have been after a pair of black ankle boots more suited to day time for a while: ones that can with-still a whole working day and take you from day job to bar.

Topshop Ambush Boots (£75)

I feel in love with Topshop’s Ambush boots as soon as I saw them however the price tag was a little off-putting considering the little money I have to spend on such luxuries at the moment so I vowed to find a similar boot for a fraction of the price and I did!!! Let me introduce you to H&M’s black ankle boots for £24.99. I actually got 25% off these boots when I signed up for their newsletter which you can do by clicking here. I love the detailing at the back of the boots, makes them stand out more and more expensive looking than what they are.

H&M Ankle Boots (side view)

H&M Ankle Boots (front view)

 

They also come in brown too.

I have received loads of compliments on these boots when wearing them, they are so comfortable and go with EVERYTHING, I seriously couldn’t recommend these boots enough, I love them. These will be my A/W staple ankle boot that’s for sure.

 

Have you found any amazing bargains recently?

xKx