What's in my handbag?

I am a strong believer that a girl could rule the world with the contents of her hand bag, we always seem to be prepared for anything! To say how much I love reading these posts by other blogs, I had not yet done one myself, until now! This trusty M&S holdall has stuck with me through thick and thin for the last few months, I like to invest in a good quality handbag that will last, and this gorgeous genuine leather holdall has been a very worthwile purchase, even more so that I got on sale too! As for the contents you will find...
My Paperchase diary, this is the first year I have bought a proper diary as it was a new years resolution of mine to keep one, and as it takes up a large majority of my handbag, I am motivated to do so! It also looks pretty in my handbag, Paperchase prints never fail to please!
Next, Fifty shades freed, my current read whilst I am waiting for the first Harry Potter book to come back in stock at the library, damn you whoever has it overdue! I always like to have something to read and keep me entertained on my commute to and from work.
 You will also find my very personal set of keys, each key ring a souvenir of some sort, plus one key for my London home and one for my Yorkshire home. On the topic of London, since moving here a tube map has had a permanent place in my handbag which has been a lifesaver on the underground!
With the weather being so nice recently my sunglasses have actually had some time away from sitting at the bottom of my handbag under my brolly, which despite the sunny weather is still an essential as I'm sorry, but I just do not have faith in the British weather! Both of these are Primark bargains from this year.
Accompanied by my forever tangled  headphones is my Iphone 4S, which may I say has the coolest watermelon caseever, as long as it lives, this case will never be removed, except to take this photo, this was another worthwhile Paperchase purchase!
You'll also see my River Island purse, for years I have been buying my purses from RI as they are such a great size and fit in all the stuff that I like to hord, mainly receipts!  They always have such a gorgeous choice of purse styles too.
One of my favourite components of my bag is my little handbag buddy, my best friend bought me this when I was having a down day once and she said to keep it in my handbag and whenever I'm having a down day it will cheer me up. I have since bought one for my mum and I recommend everyone should get one of these for their best friend. Mine is a duck, he's called Mr. Quackalot, and looks pretty happy sitting pride of place in my handbag.
And of course, what bloggers handbag doesn't contain a few beauty bits, for example, my miniature Tresseme brush, handy for any unexpected bad hair days, along with many kirby grips that I did not even know I had in there till I emptied my bag to do this post, ha! My perfume at the moment, Diamonds by Armani is another permy item in my hand bag, a few sprays of this a fresh sweet, yet sexy summery scent! I also make room for my seventeen stay time concealer, a liquid stick concealer that provides great coverage just in case of any emergencies! You will also come across a trusty stick of Nivea pearly shine lip balm, a must have in all my handbags to keep those lips fully moisturised throughout the day. I also have a handy pair of Boots essential wipes, you never when they will come in handy and they are good product to keep your face and hands feeling refreshed. Finally, a pot of The Body Shop moisturiser also has a spot in my holdall, which I double up as a hand cream on a daily basis as it leaves your hands feeling super soft, and we all know how yum a Body Shop product smells!

 I hope you liked taking a look at what's in my handbag, I cant quite believe I manage to fit all that in there, like I said, when it comes to a girls handbag, we are prepared for anything! If you have recently written a 'What's in my bag post?' I would love to see yours, leave your links below!

And don't forget to enter my giveaway below! There are just a few days left so make sure you get your entry in!

Ellie

Giveaway extended!

Just a quick post to say that According to Ellie's first giveaway has been extended, to ensure that you don't miss out on the chance to get your hands on some of my favourite hair and beauty bits, scroll down to my original giveaway post to enter via rafflecopter!

Good luck!

Love,
Ellie

Kiko cosmetics haul

Following my Kiko cosmetics makeover post a few week ago, this post will provide you with a more detailed review of the products that I purchased. Although the makeup used artist used several makeup articles on me I decided to just buy the essentials, this being, foundation, bronzer, highlighter, eyeliner and mascara. The product I use first in my makeup routine is the Skinny Fit Kajal Crayon eyeliner number 06. Prior to my Kiko makeover I always used to apply foundation first but it makes so much more sense now that if I make a mistake with eyeliner or mascara, it is more easily fixed before having applied anything else on my face. Regarding the size of this eyeliner, I couldn't believe it was just £4.80. I have not seen an eyeliner anywhere else of this length for such a good price. Plus it's a great product. Suitable for both the inner and outer eyelid, it applys smoothly, smoky black in colour. Despite the length it's still fairly easy to control meaning you can create flicks hassle free! And something of a necessity for me when buying eyeliners, it sharpens well. A pet hate of mine when an eyeliner sharpens unevenly the whole way down the pencil! #beautyblogger problems. You can also buy this pencil in a variety of colours, see online.

Next, I use the Luxurious Lashes, Extra Volume Brush Mascara. The fairly chunky elastomer wand gently bends in contact with the lashes helping to create an even coating from the first stoke. The product consistency is creamy and smooth so does not clog on the lashes and creates a really flattering, volumised yet natural looking lash. To make an extra impact I like to focus on the edge lashes when applying this mascara, it helps in adding a little bit of length and really makes your eyes stand out. I love this product! Available in both brown and black I would definitely recommend this product to those of you who like a more natural makeup look. Again another bargain at £7.20.

Next I apply the Universal Hydrating in shade Light Rose 02. The liquid foundation applies and blends extremely well when using a stippling brush. The silky consistency makes it feel so light on the skin i was amazed how great the coverage was. I also love that this product leave my face feeling moisturised and it really does stay on all day, one of the best foundations I have used in a while. This product comes in a wide variety of shades so it is suitable for all skin types. Purchasing this wont break the bank either at a very affordable, £6.90.

Now for the product I have been most excited to tell you about. This product has become my holy grail product! From the limited edition makeup collection 'Life in Rio' this Essential Bronzer in Sienna Melagne is a must have! Its slight shimmery tones and tanned shades make up the most gorgeous looking marble effect product, it was love at first sight! I was lucky enough whilst having my Kiko makeover to have had a very quick tutorial on contouring and this product is perfect to create that look. Best applied with an angled brush, delicately sweep the soft powder in a downward action across the cheek, I also like to dust my jawline. Not much is needed to create a subtle, contoured  look. When applied on top of the Universal Hydrating foundation I was also pleased to find I stay almost perfectly bronzed all day long. Another reason love using this product is for its subtle vanilla scent, it's little touches like that I really think make a product feel even more luxurious.The most pricey product of the bunch but still a very reasonable price at £16.90 and worth every penny!

And last but certainly not least, I finish the look with the Radiant Touch Creamy Stick highlighter in Rose 101. This lovely little stick helps to emphasise certain areas of the face, such as the brow bone, cupids bow, and cheekbones where I like to use it. When applied and gently blended with a finger, particularly on the cheekbone, the shimmery pigments catch the light nicely, enhancing the contoured area. I feel very glowing when I'm wearing this product, yet still natural, which I love. Also available in a subtle gold, this nifty little product suits a variety of skin types. And for a mere £8.50, if you're looking for a new highlighter, I suggest you give this one a go.

Overall I spent £44.50, but I believe it was money well spent as with that I got all the necessities which will last me a good few months! Whereas you might only half that amount for twice the price elsewhere. 

Once last thing I thought worthy to mention is that not only in these products, but also in the store I noticed similarities between this brand and MAC. As I was informed that Kiko and MAC products are made in the same factory this could suggest why! So I definitely recommend to those of you with a tighter budget and a love for MAC to explore Kiko as cheaper alternative, I can only praise it!

Click on the links within the post to see all of the Products on the Kiko sit, and to see what other Kiko products the makeup artist used on me but I didnt purchase, see the post below.

My Kiko face - I have tidied my room since this I promise!

Have you tried any Kiko products before?

Dont forget to enter my giveaway below to win some of my other favourite beauty goodies!

Ellie

Bloggers Event: Happy Birthday Nuffnang

Nuffnang is the one of the world leading blog communities for people who share a love for networking and blogging. Although established in 8 different countries, Nuffnang UK celebrated their first birthday this year and I was delighted to be able to attend their first birthday bash! As I have just moved down to the big city on placement, I was very excited to attend my first London based blogging event and meet some new bloggers! Nuffnang welcomes all kinds of bloggers so it was great to meet such a lovely bunch of bloggers all with different blog genres and have a good ol' gossip about topics including food, lifestyle, fashion, travel, weddings, the list was endless! To where I wore River Island, Marks & Spencers, and ASOS, the event itself was based in East London at Netil 360, a rooftop terrace and bar. I had yet to discover this part of London so had no idea what to expect. From below, the Netil 260 building looks just like your ordinary high rise building, nothing exciting, but after climbing/crawling up the many flights of stairs you arrive to the most gorgeous setting with amazing views overlooking the whole of central London. With sights of The London eye, The Gerkin, and The Shard, a perfect hideaway from all the buzz that you'd never guess was awaiting you from downstairs. It helped we were particularly lucky with the weather that day, and I can imagine how lovely it would be to spend a whole summers day or evening up there with a glass of chilled Pimms. On the subject of Pimms, all bloggers were welcomed with a glass on arrival, I was in my element straight away, we were also treated to a complimentary lunch provided by Club Mexicana, a pop up restaurant serving the scrummiest mexcian tacos including a vegan option which I would usually be unlikely to opt for but it was delicious! My visit, although a bit of a whistle stop one as I had to be at another event (which I will be posting about shortly) was more than enjoyable. A pleasant summers afternoon accompanied with great company and great food. Thanks again Nuffnang, see you next time!

If you would like to check out some of the other bloggers I met check out the links below!
Bloomzy
Petite Promise
Tiffany Kml
Daydream In Blue

Are you part of the Nuffnang community elsewhere in the country?
Have you been to any events recently?

Don't forget to enter my giveaway below for the chance to win some hair & beauty goodies!

   

According to Ellie's First Giveaway!

So recently According to Ellie hit 100 followers on Bloglovin' and I was over the moon! So as a way of saying thank you to all you lovely readers, I wanted to arrange a giveaway. I have been meaning to organise this giveaway for weeks and have finally got round to it! I was then stuck with the challenge of choosing what to feature and as I am the most indecisive person ever this was not an easy task! I then thought I really wanted include products I have used, trust and love, so most of the items feature you can find a review for on my blog! I hope the lucky winner will love & enjoy these products as much as I do. So make sure you get your entry in!

You could win...
Argon Oil Shampoo & Conditioner, as reviewed. Along with a tub of Argon Oil hydrating hair mask. 

MUA pallette 'Undress me too' along with a brand new Body Shop eye shadow brush!
AND...a surprise gift!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Please note I can post to the UK only.

Good luck!

   Ellie

My Kiko Cosmetics Experience

Since moving to London my plan to save to money has gone down the drain, as you can imagine working within 20 minutes of regent and oxford street! I mean out of all the exits from oxford circus underground I happened to leave the one that lead me right in front of the TopShop entrance, you would have to be, well not a fashion or beauty blogger, to resist!  But whilst browsing down regent street the same day, I came across Kiko. The store, which I initially thought was MAC, looked so luxurious from the outside and as I'd never heard of the brand before I was very intrigued to have a nosy. And I can't believe what I've been missing out on, the range of products available and in such a vast variety of styles and colours is beyond what I could of hoped for. As I was new to the brand and so spoilt for choice, I thought it best to ask for some professional advice on what products would be good for me. The staff were all so friendly and helpful, and after chatting to someone for less than 5 minutes I had spontaneously booked myself in for a complimentary makeover. So when the time came I was welcomed by a lovely makeup artist, Matthew, who sat me down to discuss my usual makeup routine and what I wanted to get from the 45 minute session. At this point, awkwardly just as he had taken my make up off, the fire alarm went off! But luckily it was a false alarm so I was saved from showing my scary bare face to too many members of public. So Matthew continued by introducing me to the brand, Kiko. The fast growing brand which originates in Italy, and interestingly their products are also made in the same factory as MAC, explaining the similarities I noticed!  So on with the makeover and he began by asking for my opinion on some eye makeup he had picked out. He had chosen a goregous palette called Addictive Song, with orange and purpley hues which when applied was very complimentary of my skin tone and was still quite subtle! I would usually apply my eye makeup last but when Matthew was talking me through it it made so much more sense to do it before so that if you made any mistakes its easier to correct them. I'm sure some of you can relate with me in the frustration when you sneeze just after you've applied your mascara, or when poke yourself in the eye with the brush, an cry all your foundation off! Continuing with the eye makeup routine, using both a gel liner and pencil eyeliner in black, I also got shown the art of eyeliner flicks which I have forever been wanting to master so I couldn't thank him enough!  When it came to masacara I was so flattered when he said I needed no added no length so found me a really nice mascara, Luxurious Lashes in black, that gave my lashes natural definintion andvolume. To finish the eye makeup he then whapped out Kiko's Eyebrow Expert brow palette. Brow palettes are something I have never considered as I've always thought it was a  bit pointless using as I have really dark eyebrows, but it made such a difference I couldn't believe! Now the bit I had been looking forward to as he went on to select my perfect shade of foundation, asking my preferences on liquid, cream of powder so he was constantly focusing on my requirements. Using a stippling brush he applied the liquid hydration foundation which blended so well and matched my tone better than any other foundation I had used prior to this. I felt so silly that I hadn't asked for help before! The next product was the most gorgeous I have seen, with a marble effect and subtle shimmery pigments this limited edition bronzer in Sienna Melagne was amazing. With an angled brush he taught me how to contour, which I also thought would be so complicated but it is actually pretty simple. As part of the contouring look he used a lush highlighter stick with shimmery rosey tones that really caught the light on my cheekbones. For the final touch, lips, he first applied a lip primer base coat, one of those tingly products which I love, and then he brought over a lip liner pencil in Caffe Latte I have tried once before applying lip liner and failed miserably ending up looking like a drag queen, however I was in good hands so let him proceed. And with such precision he defined my lip line perfectly and filled with a matching nude lipstick in Natural Neige, a colour similar to what I already wear on a daily basis Kate Moss for Rimmel Shade 03. With my makeover complete I couldn't be happier with the look and it was time to pick some things to purchase, yippee! Even though I was beyond tempted and knew from the moment I walked in the shop that I wouldn't be leaving empty handed he didn't push me at all. He gladly let me browse and showed me where the products were that he used. I spent a total of £44, but to say in MAC this would get you maybe a lipstick and a foundation I came home with foundation, bronzer, highlighter, eyeliner AND a mascara.  They are all such lovely quality products, I will definitely be returning to try some new products in the future, and if you have not heard of the brand Kiko I strongly suggest you find your nearest store or check online, you can thank me later!

Have you heard of Kiko cosmetics before?
What do you think of there products?

Dont forget to click on the links within the post to see all of the Products Matthew used, and I will shortly be doing a follow up post on all of the gorgeous goodies that I bought, stay tuned by following me on Bloglovin'.

   Ellie

Newcastle Fashion Week: Company Magazine Show

This weekend saw the start of NE1's Newcastle Fashion Week, with an exciting launch at The Assembly Rooms on the Friday night with special guest Sophie Ellis Bextor, an event I was invited to but sadly couldn't attend as I was on a 3 hour train journey from London to Newcastle in order to attend one of the shows the very next day, so I wasn't missing out too much! So the morning arrived and it was time to decide what to wear, typically the weather wasn't on my side but luckily I came prepared with a variety of outfit choices and opted for my favourite black Topshop jumpsuit which I wore with a royal blue blazer and accesorised with a quilted, vintage chain handle bag. 

We were warmly welcomed by the NFW fashion staff who showed us to our seats in the beautiful chandelier suite at The Assembly Rooms. After introductions from NFW marketing and events manager, Sandra Tang, Company magazine, and the unbelievable British womenswear fashion designer that is Julien Mcdonald, the audience were all very excited for the show to come. With looks from a huge range of high street and designer brands including Topshop, Miss Selfridge, Wallis, Lipsy, The White Company and so many more, I was in my element taking in all the fashion on the catwalk and felt a big shopping spree coming on, it was a very Carrie Bradshaw moment. 

After the show, and a cocktail or two in Bonbar next door, it was time for me to head home, it's a shame I can't attend all the other events throughout the week as they sound so exciting, but I look forward to hearing all about them from my fellow North East bloggers, have fun girls!

Have you heard of Newcastle week?

Are you planning on going to any of the upcoming events?

   Ellie