The Monday Piece - Rat & Boa Luina Dress

This week's Monday Piece is on Rat & Boa Luina dress! Whilst I was looking for lightweight clothes for Australia I knew I had to check out Rat & Boa as their clothing is just amazing and so my style, they have this boho grunge thing going on and all of their pieces are limited editions which makes me want it even more. All of their pieces sell out super fast so be quick if you want to get your paws on something, I've missed out on a few stunning dressed because I've pondered the purchase for too long! As soon as this Luina star print dress was magically restocked I added it to my basket and checked out, I am in love with the style - the off shoulder design and metallic star print ticks all of my boxes, and the sheer fabric is so light. It's fully adjustable too on the shoulders, waist and sleeves so the amount of skin on display can be adjusted depending on how sassy you feel! Definitely check out Rat & Boa if you're after some Spring/Summer inspiration :).
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*Rat & Boa dress, here*
*ASOS sandals*
*Dior sunglasses, similar here*
*Necklace, gift*
*Bracelet, gift*

Black Summer Want List

Black is 'my' colour, I love it, so when it gets hotter I trawl through the shops hunting for the best black Summer pieces - although not totally practical I love an all black look in Summer and i'm all about grunging up my look to give it a bit more of an edge! Nick and I have moved over to the Gold Coast in Australia so it's hot and humid over here which is a total change from the chilly, wet UK weather - we've only been here since Tuesday so we have tonnes to sort out, I will keep you updated and am posting videos and updates on my Instagram 'heidilikes' and twitter @Heidi_likes so have a peek if you fancy! I've spied out a few pieces below that I would love to get my hands on, the classic Gucci t-shirt is everywhere but I think it's so chic and cool, i'd wear it with some studded shorts and cowboy style boots - I also adore the raffia cowboy hat, it's ideal for shading my face in the sun and is a great fit for my wannabe rock star image! The Topshop lace front jeans look mega sassy and would look awesome with an oversized t-shirt or cropped crochet top, I also love the lace bralette - it looks so lightweight and pretty. What do you have your eye on for the warmer weather?
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The Monday Piece - Boohoo Sheer Moon and Star Print Shirt

This week's Monday Piece is on this Boohoo sheer moon and star print shirt! I've had a crazy busy week so I'm keeping it short and sweet as I wanted to get a quick outfit post up to show you my new Boohoo shirt that I got in the sale for £8.00! It went into sale and is such a bargain, I love the sheer fabric and moon and star print, plus the big sleeves are so much fun!
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*Boohoo shirt*
*J Brand jeans, similar here*
*Topshop boots, similar here*
*Dior sunglasses*
*Furla bag, similar here*
*Michael Kors pom pom*
*Necklace, Hong Kong*
*Bracelet, gift*

The Monday Piece - Black and Camel

This week's Monday Piece is on black and camel! I've been loving this neutral colour combination lately and have been throwing this long coat over everything - I think the full length style is ideal for smartening up a look and the tailored fit is so flattering, i'm thinking of getting the same but in black or maybe a slate grey too as it's so versatile and great for Spring. We had a chilled weekend running a few errands and watching the rugby, I wore my long camel coat with a classic black cashmere jumper from All Saints that is so soft and comforting, plus my ripped skinny jeans from Topshop and sock boots. On Friday night we had a huge family celebration and surprise party for my Nanna's 80th birthday, it was so lovely to see lots of family and have a good catch up over some tasty food in the Shropshire countryside!
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*c/o RoseGal coat, here*
*All Saints cashmere jumper, similar here*
*Topshop jeans, here, boots here*
*Saint Laurent sunglasses, here*
*Furla bag, similar here*
*Michael Kors Pom Pom*
*Necklace, gift*
*Bracelet, gift*

Pure Beauty Skincare Tips

Skincare Q&A

In a world of fad crazes and celebrity trends, it’s difficult to know what to believe when it comes to skincare. To sort the facts from the myths, we’ve spoken to Dermalogica retailer Pure Beauty’s resident skin therapist — read on to learn what we should and shouldn’t be doing!

1.      Which skincare ingredients should I avoid?

The main ingredients to avoid include alcohol, mineral oil, lanolin and of course artificial colours and fragrances. While they may be included in ‘hydrating’ moisturisers, they are abrasive and can actually dry your skin out.

2.      How often should I wash my face?

Cleansing your face both morning and evening is one of the key steps in any skincare regime. Use gentle products and don’t scrub, as doing so can damage the surface of your skin.

3.      How often should I exfoliate my face?

The frequency of exfoliation depends very much upon your skin type and the nature of the exfoliant you are using. Daily exfoliants can be used daily – but only once within a 24 hour period.

Other exfoliants can be used up to three times a week. Exfoliate either in the morning or in the evening after cleansing and before applying your toner.

4.      How can I prevent acne?

Acne has many causes and only some of which are directly related to your skin. In general, regular cleansing and exfoliation using products targeted to your skin type will help prevent the build-up of sebum and dead skin cells, which form plugs that can block your pores and create the perfect environment for bacterial growth.

5.      Should I squeeze spots?

As a general rule, you should never squeeze pustular spots as it can worsen bacterial infection and can cause the scarring often associated with severe bouts of acne. 

Blackheads can be removed through extraction but your hands must be very clean and you should wrap your fingers in clean tissue paper as a shield, which will then collect the residue.

6.      What moisturiser should I use? 

You should always use a moisturiser specific to your skin type. There is not a one-size-fits-all moisturiser and this is where many people go wrong. Oil control moisturisers are specifically designed for very oily skin. Active moist and skin smoothing creams are suitable for a combination of skin typesand there are more specific moisturisers for dry or prematurely aging skin.

7.      How do I get rid of bags under my eyes?

It is very difficult to get rid of bags under your eyes due to their delicate nature and the fact that it can simply be a hereditary trait. Plenty of sleep is the best thing, but you must also avoid using your moisturiser on the delicate area beneath your eye. The ingredients in most moisturisers are too strong and it can be a contributing factor.

8.      What causes dry skin?

The main cause of dry skin is your genetic makeup but age and environmental factors play a large part. It is also important to differentiate between dry skin (lack of natural sebum) or dehydrated skin (lack of water) in the skin. A moisturiser is used for dry skin, while a toner is more suited for dehydrated skin.

9.      How do I get rid of dry skin?

Dry skin can be aggravated by cold weather conditions outside and the drying central heating in our workplaces and homes. A well-designed and maintained skincare regime using products specifically recommended for use will help you combat dry skin. 

10.  How do I get rid of oily skin?

Using products designed for oily skin will help you combat this skin issue. There are many products on the market that are deigned to absorb excess sebum in the skin, while regularly using masks designed for oily skin will be beneficial.

The Monday Piece - Luxury Gift Guide £150 and Under

This week's Monday Piece is on Luxury Gift Guide £150 and under! I adore a little bit of luxury, it gives me a fuzzy feeling when I've saved up to buy something I've been coveting for a long time and luxury items always feel that little bit 'special'. BUT with so many online deals and outlet high street stores, luxury items are becoming more easily accessible and affordable - hooray! All of the below items are under £150, so they're ideal if you want to treat yourself or someone special without going over the top or spending a fortune. Luxury high end make up is a great place to start if you want to build up your luxe collection, with brands like Gucci and Burberry releasing new cosmetic ranges with stunning packaging they are hard to resist and look so pretty - i'm loving the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit Surreal Light palette, it looks so sleek and has amazing reviews!

Accessories like sunglasses and watches are always a winner, this classic Armani black watch is a great price at £119.00, the all black style is so chic and can be worn for years to come, making it an amazing gift, plus the mirrored rose gold Ray-Ban sunglasses are ideal for all seasons and would definitely add some sass to any outfit. I love mix and matching my luxury pieces with bargain high street buys, I often rely on stores like Topshop and Zara for my everyday pieces and things like ankle boots that I can dress up and wear with designer branded scarves, bags and jewellery. I'm also loving Ralph Lauren clothing and accessories, their western style is always on trend and so chic too!

I'm such a handbag girl and am always keeping my eyes out for sales, the Furla Metropolis Jungle bag is unbelievably cute and fun, and as if it's only £130 which is an awesome price for a designer bag, it's not an absolute 'classic' but for girls like me who love an all black outfit this would definitely be a conversation starter! Other luxury items for under £150 can include yummy scented candles from brands like Jo Malone and Bohemia, plus Vivienne Westwood jewellery and cashmere scarves - pieces that can be loved and cherished that will give you that amazing luxe feeling!
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Fuss Free Fluff

A super quick outfit update today - this piece of fluff has to be one of my best purchases this winter, it's so soft and I literally chuck it on over anything and it looks fab and feels so good to wear. This weekend we did a little retail therapy at Gloucester Quays then spent Saturday evening watching the boxing which I love - today we spent the afternoon in Malvern running errands and meeting my Mum for a coffee which is always a pleasure! This is what I wore for the day, a standard cosy outfit for a chilly rainy day :).
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*Gilet, Hong Kong, similar here*
*Zara jumper*
*New Look jeans, similar here*
*c/o RoseGal boots*
*Louis Vuitton bag*
*Michael Kors pom pom*
*Necklace, gift*
*Bracelet, gift*