The Key to Glowing Skin

Is it just me that thinks beauty starts with gorgeous skin? As a hormonal 16 year-old, I longed for radiant skin and the confidence that comes with that. Now well into my twenties, I'm thankfully passed the stage of unwelcome break-outs, however my skin is scarred in areas and I've re-focused my energy on minimising the appearance of those imperfections.

Over the past few months, I've experimented with more facial treatments than I ever have and honestly, my skin has never looked better. Despite struggling with problem skin, facials have never been something I've been keen to try. The fear of crazy break-outs post treatment is probably the reason for this but as I've learned, not all facials will make you spotty before giving you clear skin.

I booked in for a consultation with the skin gurus at Therapie Clinic, to determine what I wanted from the treatments and agree my areas of concern. My agenda was clear - I wanted my skin to glow, the appearance of my scars to be minimised and my pores reduced. I can say with absolute confidence that we have genuinely achieved this! Here's how we've transformed my skin from lack-lustre and a little dull to plump, smooth and even.

My First Facial 

We started off simply by trying out one of their less-abrasive treatments with the Organic Passion Image Facial Peel. This was a relatively relaxing treatment, with various products wiped across the face with a slight tingling sensation. The results from this were super glowy skin immediately after. I loved the results and my skin felt extremely replenished and nourished - something it absolutely needed. This treatment is perfect for a quick fix - perhaps ahead of a big event like a birthday or celebration. 

Prepping the skin for deeper treatment 

Treatment two was their advance skin peels. This treatment was similar to the first but a little more intense with stronger products used on the face. They say this treatment can result in a little peeling after the treatment but my skin was absolutely fine. Personally for me, this treatment didn't make my skin look quite as glowy and bright as the Passion Peel but that may be because the first treatment was so overdue and therefore had a more drastic change. 

Trying out the Derma Pen Treatment 

After 'prepping' my skin, we moved onto something a little more intense that would really target my scars. The therapist advised me on trying the Derma Pen facial - a fairly new treatment on the market that is said to transform skin. I'm not going to lie, the thought of twelve tiny needles being pierced across my face didn't exactly excite me but I was willing to give it a try. Much to my delight, the first step for the treatment is smearing a numbing cream across your entire face. After ten-minutes, the therapist got started. I was surprised that the treatment actually wasn't as sore as I was expecting. Of course, you can feel the needles but it's definitely bearable and manageable for someone with a low pain threshold. On my first treatment, we used a 0.5mm needle and a 1.5mm needle on treatment two. Naturally the bigger needle pierced deeper and so hurt a little more. I would say it is still bearable but just more intense so something to be aware of if you're wanting more intense results! 

One downside to this treatment is the recovery time. Don't be fooled and think the 'mild sunburn' as it is described on the website will mean you will be cool to go shopping straight after the treatment - you won't! Expect to be housebound for a least 48 hours. Of course, everyone reacts differently to any treatment and I can raise my hand and say I have very sensitive skin but I genuinely looked like I had laid in the sun for 24 hours in 40 degree heat after my first session. Don't believe me? Check out my vlog of the experience here. 

Once your skin recovers, you'll be pleased to know that your days in the house were absolutely worth it!! Honestly, I never expected the results to be quite as good as they were, and it wasn't just me that noticed how glowy and smooth my skin was looking. The treatment not only targets pores and scarring but also fine lines and skin pigmentation so it's amazing for numerous skin woes. 

I'm due to get a third and final Derma Pen treatment and I do think getting this treatment done a few times makes for better results! The treatment is also only £120 which I think is incredible value for money! 

As I said, my skin has never looked better and it's all down to these treatments. 

Thanks again to Therapie Clinic for letting me try them out!

XoXo 

Three must-have Spring trends and how to wear them: 2018

Why is that when you’re really watching your pennies and limiting yourself to buying no-more than one item a month (even that’s at a push) that fashion gets so damn good. There are so many new and exciting trend pieces in the stores that I thought I’d share my want-list here on the blog. I mean, if I can't get my hands on them all I’d at least like to talk about them.

The chunky ‘dad’ trainers

I’ll admit it, when I first seen the Balenciaga trainers hit Instagram I was not a fan. I thought they were far too bulky and fussy to work with anything in my wardrobe and I just didn’t see them taking off. Fast forward a month or so and now most of the high-street stores have their own version and I’ve finally come around. Places like Public Desire and Zara have some amazing dupes that I much prefer with their more simplistic feel. The ‘Cheetah’ from PB are my faves and they’re a bargain £29.99! I also don’t see this trend sticking around for much longer than a year or so would be hesitant to investing in the real deal.

How to style them:

•        With a pair of lose fitting trouser and a casual tee
•        With a midi-length silk skirt and crow neck jumper
•        Paired with light denim straight leg jeans and a turtle-neck top
•        Dressing down a matching two-piece suit

The two-piece

They’ve been around for a good while now but my need for the two-piece suit is as strong as ever. Pink has been the colour to have and I’m fortunate enough to have (very recently) got my hands on an amazing 80s-inspired pink suit from Quiz. It’s a really nice shape and fit, and I’m excited about the multiple ways I’ll be able to style these pieces. They don’t have to be plain either like this white pin-stripe suit from Missguided. I’ve also seen short suits creep into the stores which will be perfect for the warmer weather.

How to style the suit:

• Worn together with barely-there heels and a lace body or bandeau crop top 
• Dressed down with a graphic tee and chunky trainers (see above 😊)
• Worn as separates. The trousers with an over-sized boyfriend shirt and sliders. Or the jacket with a mini skirt and sock boots

Gen Z Yellow

I can hand on heart say I’ve never been a fan of the colour yellow in my wardrobe…..until now. I don’t know what it is about yellow this season but it seems to be THE colour to wear. I never thought yellow to be a flattering colour for me as I’m so pale but after trying on this crop top I’ve completely changed my mind. I now feel like yellow is the colour that will see me through this summer. I’ve already ordered this gorgeous (and super cheap!) yellow bikini from Shein for my upcoming weekend in Marbs. The countdown is on!!

Since this trend is just a colour, I’ve picked out some of my favourite looks from the celebs above. I need them ALL.

That’s all for now but do let me know if you enjoyed this type of post and I can incorporate it into the blog more often. Happy shopping!

xoxo

What it's really like to get lip fillers

Lip fillers - it's the cosmetic treatment on everyone's lips (pun intended :P) but deciding if it's the right treatment for you is a scary process. If like me, you're not keen on the over plumped, fish lips that are swimming (double pun :P) around the internet, you don't have to give up all dreams of all a more voluminous pout.

Lip fillers can range from 0.5ml to 1ml per treatment. Hesitant for my lips to completely change from my natural shape and size I decided to go for something in between the measures available to ensure my results were as natural as possible. Now that my fillers have settled I have to admit, I could have probably went for a little more but easing myself in is the best way I could have done this. 

Now, with the actual process I think a huge factor in the service is professionalism and results depends largely on where you go to get it done. There are so many rookies offering lip fillers these days when they're really not qualified to do so so please do your research before booking! After my botox experience at Therapie Clinic I knew choosing to go back there that I would be in good hands. 

I was beyond nervous for this treatment but the moment I stepped into the clinic my nerves lifted. The staff were also hugely helpful in making me feel at ease which was nice since I was on my tod.

For any scardy cats like me you'll be glad to know it honestly isn't something to be scared of and I say that will complete truth. You can just about feel the injections going in and one or two areas stinged ever so slightly but it was really fine. 

All in all, I think the injections lasted around 2-3 minutes. After sitting for ten minutes with numbing cream on my lips I was probably in and out of the clinic in 20 minutes. Although quick, this isn't a lunch time treatment as you will experience some swelling and bruising for the next 24-48 hours but nothing a little make-up can't hide. I was out at an event the next day and no one was any wiser to my treatment.

Your lips don't properly settle for about a week. It's now been just under two weeks since I had my treatment. I have one small lump in the right hand side of my top lip but this is a natural side effect. If it doesn't go away itself, they simply advise you to visit your therapist who will gently massage this out. Try not to do this yourself as you may move the filler into the wrong position.

Overall, I'm really happy with the results. They're still incredibly natural but have a bit more oomph to them. I think I'll probably feel a little braver next time and might go for the full 1ml. 

Lip fillers aren't for everyone but if they make you feel the slightest bit more confident then they're worth every penny in my eyes. Plus, you have a new found appreciation for all of your bold lip colours. I certainly know what's on my Christmas list this year....

I vlogged the entire lip fillers experience from start to end so you can really understand what it was like for me so check that out below.

Lip fillers at Therapie Clinic currently start from £150 for 0.5ml.

Please don't feel shy to ask me any questions you may have. 

xoxo 

Hello Autumn: What's new

Hey, hi, hello! It's been a hot minute, eh? I feel like I've lost all concept of time recently. Somehow months are feeling like weeks and weeks are merging into long blurry days. Anyone else think September was the fastest month in all of history!?

I'm feeling ready to get back into all things blogging (finally!) and thought before I dived straight in I would give all you lovely readers a bit of a life update. Plus, I'm not gonna lie, myself and Victoria spent an hour last Saturday capturing some new blog pictures and I didn't really have a post in mind so here we are (hehe).

So, what's been happening since we last spoke. Lemme think.....

For starters, I've actually been spending quite a bit of time looking into wedding venues. It's been a long time coming but the wedding bug has settled in and I find myself following more and more wedding Instagram pages as the days pass. Venue hunting in a location you've never actually visited before is HARD but we're getting there. My goal is to plan a venue scouting trip in the next few months and (hopefully) book somewhere we love before March next year. That's it. The goal has been set. Better get to work...

I've attended a few fashion events over the last month and they've been the perfect way to get into the A/W mode. First up was the launch of the new Gretna Gateway Gold Membership card. If  like me you've never heard of/visited them before they're a designer outlet based in Gretna Green. Apparently the outlet is amazing for some real bargains. Victoria, Rachel and I are planning a Christmas shopping road trip here in the very near future so watch out for that post!

I also headed along to the intu Braehead A/W event. The centre set up a beautiful fashion hub (my best attempt at describing it) with the cutest blossom tree smack bang in the middle. We checked out some amazing bargains that I can't wait to update my wardrobe with. Check out my Instagram post from the event here in case you missed it.

I'm featured in this months Scottish Wedding Directory magazine and I couldn't be more excited about it. I contributed to a feature on feeling camera confident with my top tips for all brides-to-be. If you spied me in the magazine I'd love to hear about it :)

Last but not least, I tried something completely out of my comfort zone this month - botox! This was probably the most daring/edgy thing I've ever done so to say I was nervous is an absolute understatement. I don't want to go into too much detail on this yet as I'm planning on sharing a full blog post very soon but what I will say is that I'm in love with the results! I headed to Therapie Clinic for my treatment and the process from start to finish was brilliant. BUT as I said, more on that soon.

Oh, before I go, I just want to take a moment to appreciate my absolute new favourite jumper. I picked this up in H&M last week while they had 20% and have no regrets. I paired the jumper with my trusty Zara ripped jeans, Ego Gucci-inspired slip-ons and a borrowed baker hat from my sister. A really simple, easy but chic look and I love it.

Until next time.

xoxo

It's Bloomin' Spring

Although it might not seem so today, Spring has finally sprung here in Glasgow *exerts an overly-excitable sigh of relief*. I've been ready to bid farewell to the long dark nights, endless evenings in front of the TV and jumpers upon jumpers bursting out of my (very limited) wardrobe space for quite some time now. I've been praying to the weather gods for daylight pre and post work, lighter layers and the occasional hot, sunny day and it's finally in sight so I'm a happy chappie indeed.

I've been excited to debut my first spring wardrobe purchases of 2017 so last weekend I took a jaunt to one of the prettiest spots in Glasgow at this time of the year ... Glasgow Green. Blossom trees line the entrance to the park and it literary makes me smile from ear to ear. I mean, is this not the pretties backdrop ever?! I legit felt like I was in Central Park for a moment.

Now onto my outfit. Say hello to two little Primark purchases that I think look a hell of a lot more expensive than they are. First up, the floral dress. I know flowers are a big trend this season so I've been waiting to find the right piece. When I spied this floaty dress in the Edinburgh store I wasn't sure if it was for me. I don't normally do floaty and I don't normally do knee length but both work so well together. It's also so versatile - I've already rocked it on a few nights out with big bouncy hair, a red lip and some heels but also plan to wear it to work with some flats.

Now let's talk the jacket. Denim just screams 'Spring has arrived' and this slashed ripped effect one is the perfect update. I feel like my 'cool' levels instantly go up a few notches when I put this on - I mean, what more can you ask for in a jacket. In total this outfit cost somewhere in the region of £30. Can you bloody believe it!! Well done Primark.

Dress | Jacket - Primark 

Bag - 3.1 Phillip Lim

Watch - Swatch 

Boots - Public Desire

Glasses - TK Maxx

With a spring finally in my step I'm ready to make a few changes to my routine. I want to start with getting back into the gym, eating a little healthier and taking better care of my self in general. Good job I'm off to the gym now....

Until next time.

XoXo

New things

Well ‘ello there 2017.

I hate to start a post apologising for my lack of presence on this little old blog of mine but I feel it’s necessary to address a number of points before we progress with normal business:

1. It’s been three darn months since I last blogged. THREE MONTHS. 
2.  I have a legitimate excuse. Seriously, hear me out.

Okay so my ‘number of points’ was really only two but I need to tell you lovely lot what happened to The Girl with the Big Hair. In the midst of all things gloriously festive I discovered that my blog basically died on me. Yep you read it right. On what I thought was going to be another normal day in December I was informed that all pictures from my blog had vanished.

Kapoof. Gone. Nowhere to be found.

Avoiding panic mode, I convinced myself there was going to be a way of getting these back. I mean surely!?

Sadly, not. They were most definitely wiped from all traces of my blog. *Sad face*.

So, as you can imagine, I’ve been working tirelessly to get every blog post back up since it all began back in 2015. Unfortunately, some of pictures have gone a walkies so for the meantime I’ve reverted those posts to draft but I hope to get them back up eventually. Bear with me.

Well now that we’ve cleared the air I can get onto more positive things such as new clothes and the first blog pictures with my darling puppy. I can’t believe she’s only just making her blog debut now – I mean we have had her for two months now!

Meet little Indie. She’s the apple of my eye, with a side of sassy attitude. She’s little Miss Independent but still treats me to cuddles now and then. I honestly didn’t think I could love an animal the way I love her. I’m officially a crazy dog lady. I want to share a blog post with my tips/advice on getting a puppy so more on this soon but in the meantime, ain’t she cute!

Now onto my outfit. I have a thing for sleeves at the minute and this is my latest addition. It’s cosy, soft and was a bargain £15 from Zara. I paired it with my favourite jeans of the minute and a pair of black booties. Finished off with my Zara bomber this outfit feels cool and comfortable – just what I like.

Excited to get back into blogging. I'm hoping to create more exciting, useful and pretty blog posts in 2017 so watch out! As always I’d love to hear what you’d like to see on the blog. I’ve got a few ideas lined up but I’m always open to suggestions J Don’t be shy!

See you in the next one.

XoXo

Coachella stylin' in the city

It's here! Festival season is upon us and we're kicking off with a pretty big one this weekend - Coachella, of course. Queue desert sunsets, metallic tattoos and epic hippie/western styling filling up our Instagram feeds. Whether you like it or not there's no escaping the 'what's hot' and 'who's hot' at the celeb hangout over the next two weeks. Despite being hugely jealous that I will once again be spending Coachella weekend in rainy Glasgow as opposed to the Palm Springs desert (come on 2017, please be my year), there's no denying that the festival is the best inspiration for festival styling for the summer ahead. But who's to say your favourite festival garment has to hang in your closet until you're enjoying music in a muddy field? No one, that's who. And well, here I bring you onto today's look.

After being approached by Boohoo to take part in their blogger suede campaign *cheesy grin creeps on to face*  I decided to take this flirty fringe skirt and create a city look with a nod to Coachella. I went for a relaxed evening look with an oversized shirt and heels that would be perfect for date night or a few cocktails with the ladies. I love how sophisticated the look is and to think how different this piece could look at a festival majorly excites me. I don't have any festivals in the calendar (yet!) but I do have two trips to Hampden Park to enjoy the queens of pop themselves - Beyonce and Rihanna - and there's no doubt that this skirt will be making an appearance for one of them. The skirt also comes in a blush colour which I think would look fab against a tan.

 Skirt - Boohoo

Shirt - Forever 21

Belt - Moschino

Bag - H&M (old)

Shoes - (from my mother!)

I hope you all have a lovely weekend! I've actually got a free weekend with no plans and I couldn't be happier. Definitely a weekend of movie marathons, pampering myself and long lies in bed. Sheer bliss. 

XoXo