summer beauty favourites

When it comes to all things beauty I am a very, very simple girl. For years i just used face wipes and hardly ever moisturised (shame on me). But as i'm getting older, i am noticing that my skin needs a little tlc. Combine lack of sleep with a crazy busy life means lacklustre skin and big black baggy eyes. Not a good look.
I set out to find products that i loved in order for me to carry on using them daily and not falling by the wayside,like i've done previously.(have i mentioned i am LAZY when it comes to beauty stuffs)
So with some trials under my hat i have found some amazing products that  i reach for daily. Things i love and also work for all my beauty needs.

summer beauty favourites by rachel-the-hat featuring maybelline face makeup

Maybelline face makeup, $12 / Voluminous mascara, $12 / Online Food Shopping - ASDA Groceries, $14 / Online Food Shopping - ASDA Groceries, $14 / Online Food Shopping - ASDA Groceries, $14 / No7 Cleansing Body Polish, $16 / Garnier Ambre Solaire No Streaks Bronzer Dry Body Mist Dark 150ml, $13 / Online Food Shopping - ASDA Groceries, $14 / benefit hoola bronzing powder, $40 / Lee Stafford Argan Oil 50ml, $22 / Lee Stafford Sun Kissed Lightening Spray 100ml, $14 / Rimmel London Colour Rush Balm| Long lasting and vibrant color - Boots, $10 / Rimmel London Nail Nurse Base and Top Coat | - Boots, $7.69 / Revlon Parfumerie Scented Nail Enamel, $11 / Max Factor Eyebrow Pencil, $8.54 / Maybelline Dream Lumi Concealer| Illuminates and conceals - Boots, $12


I have been using face wipes for years (even wet wipes in some cases, you know when they're just to hand and i'm being a lazy bum) but have been told they aren't very good for the skin. I have very oily/combination skin. Like i mentioned, my skin had been so tired looking, it needed a bit of love to bring it back to life which set me on my search.

Face:
After sampling Liz earle Hot polish (which i loved) i found (actually my bestie told me) an extremely similar product range that works tremendously well and i can buy it in the supermarket for a third of the cost. Win!
Nspa cleanser, hot cloth polish, serum and moisturiser. In 4 clear easy steps. And i abslutely adore it. My skin feels wonderful, it smells so so pretty and its right on the money from Asda

Body:
Having never used fake tan before (successfully anyway) i decided this year i wanted to look a bit tanned and like i'd been on a lovely exotic holiday.
I read some reviews and bought Garnier Ambre Solaire no streak spray and it is amazing. Great natural colour, subtle not to wiffy fake tan smell and never streaks! It's build-able too so after a few applications i get a stronger colour, but comes off easily in the shower with a good scrub too.
My routine now with tanning is; Shave, exfoliate, spray tan, moisturiser. This seems to be working very well for me this summer and is extremely fuss free and no orange hands or dodgy patches!

Hair:
I am lazy with hair also(are you seeing the pattern develop here?). Simple styles that take 5 minutes are my thing. I have been loving Lee Stafford Beach Salt spray for scrunching in to towel dried hair. Also i have been using the no heat curl method over night and it is the laziest styler but works so so well( do you know the no heat styler? i can link if you like)
Finishing and sleeking things off with a little Argan Oil, I've been using the Lee Stafford one again also.
Top tip, carry one of these with you in your hand bag, it acts as a great moisture boost for skin as well as hair. If i have flyaways i will tame them with a pump of oil. If i have dry looking legs i will use a pump per leg and it gives them a fabulous gloss finish without being sticky!
It took me a while to 'get' argan oil, but i swear by the stuff now.

Beauty:
Through summer i love to switch from a heavy foundation to a lovely BB cream. I've been using the Maybelline BB cream above for about 6 months. It has the right amount of coverage and evens my patchy face skin tone out really well. Its also an spf, perfect for this mamma on the go.
From the base i then like to use very little lately. Benefit Hoola for a bronzed cheek, Maybelline Dream Lumi for brightening under the eyes, a good black mascara and my favourite red lipstick (The Rimmel colour rush is my absolute favourite, if i'm ever in a red lippy it will most probably be that one!) Oh and lastly, my eyebrow pencil... i have terrible eyebrows and I just don't look right when they aren't filled in, eyebrow pencils are my vice, i normally have about 6 on the go scattered around the house and in my handbags... that's weird isnt it?! lol

Lastly
Nails:
The Rimmel Nail Nurse nail base and top coat in one is speedy and chip resistant all in one go.
And i am crushing on all the Revlon scented polish's. They smell so good and the colour is so vibrant and true to the bottled colour that i have recently bought 2 more shades and i have not been disappointed.


So there we have it. My summer beauty favourites.  I am all about very little time/effort put in but maximum results. And all these products do just that for me, i'm actually really pleased!

What are you loving this summer? 

Do share as i love to pick up tips from you guys!

Short Shorts with an oriental kimono and heels

When i walked down the stairs hubby looked at me and proceeded to ask if i was having a mid-life crisis. I guess what he means by that is this whole outfit is a little bit out of the ordinary on me (i think its the short shorts). And i do admit that i felt a little out of the ol' personal comfort zone.
But then i truly thought, what the heck. Life is short (as short as my shorts haha)
There is a photo of me on my 18th birthday, ready to go clubbing in the big city (Cardiff that is) and i am wearing the teeniest tiniest crop top, tight trousers and a chain metal belt. I remember that day like it was yesterday, i felt amazing in that crop top (i had the washboard stomach to back it back then) and i had the best 18th i could ever have asked for.
I don't look back at that photo and cringe, i look back at that photo and feel proud that i was that brave girl who wore what she wanted and had a damn good time doing it. So i guess i am taking a leaf out of 18 year old Rachel's book.
30 is fast approaching for me. In another 10 years time i want to look back on the photos again and feel the same thing. Happy that i wore what i wanted, knowing i gave it a go and felt good in the process.
I would much rather that than "ohhmmmaaagood what was i thinking!!!", which is also a strong possibility, but hopefully even at 40 i will be throwing caution to the wind and wearing what ever the hell i want.
At 30 i may not have the rock hard ab's any more (no may about that one, definitely do not more like) And my legs are sooo very far from stick skinny, but thats ok. I am learning to be happy in my own skin. I am at a place in my life where i am now a woman, no longer a young girl.
I guess my figure reflects that. I have grown and changed but i'm proud of that.
I have a feeling my 30's will be a good time.

Ok, so that got a little deeper than i envisaged, haha!
I shall counter that by briefly speaking about clothes...
These shorts are SO short, right?
hahahaha

Kimono & Shoes: Tesco

Vest & necklace: New Look

Shorts: River Island

Clutch: Dorothy Perkins

Sunnies: Ray ban c/o the sunglasses shop

So tell me, do you look back at your younger self and feel inspired?

Do you ever challenge yourself and step outside of your comfort zone?Do share in the comments, i love to hear your thoughts!

Kimono's I'm Krazy for

Shop the Look

Classic Luxe

After my stint of 100 days of no shopping earlier this year, i realized how much i would love to start investing in timeless luxe items.
Classic pieces that that never tire and always look fabulous.
Flicking through Vogue or any glossy magazine i can't help but swoon for some of the luxury items.
Designers like Marc Jacobs always catch my eye. The styling or their pieces are just always so on point. Sharp and modern yet classic at the same time. Handbag perfection. I've recently discovered their watches and accessories are pretty stunning too!
And with iconic Harrods having amazing Reward Weekends (Think excellent extra discount!!!), it makes my goal of purchasing a classic piece all the more attainable.
Here are just a few luxe items i am currently coveting.

Do you own any special pieces? 
Also, have you ever been to Harrods? 
I hear its spectacular

Smart-Casual; Jeans and a Blazer (and Passion4Fashion Linkup!)

If i were to pick out a particular outfit that i would class as my uniform it would without a doubt be a blazer and jeans. The outfit style can vary somewhat, whether that be boyfriend/ skinny/ coloured jeans and then a cropped/ long/ patterned blazer, but generally this is my uniform. I am most happy when i am in an outfit like this. I guess to me it is what i would call smart-casual. I can face the day knowing i am ready for whatever it may throw at me. It is my means business suit of armour. And although it may not be a power suit it is perfect for my life. I don't think i even own a suit, haha! I don't think i'd even know what to do with one. But jeans and a blazer i know, and that suits me just fine;)

As you can see from these photos, the weather has taken a turn towards autumn again! grrr! I was soo enjoying the sunny weather, hopefully that won't be the last of our summer here in the UK. This frizzy hair doo is the result of being rained on. Multiple times. I can handle that in winter, but summer? c'mon! gimme a break!

Blazer, jeans and shoes all sale buys from F&F

Bag: Primark

Necklace (new current fave!): Yosa

Do you have a style of outfit that is like your uniform? I'd love to hear what it is!

Fashion is for everyone. 

Whether you're single in the city or a stay at home mum from the country...

we all have a passion for fashion!

Every Friday Lena & I will be co-hosting a fashion free-for-all linkup!

Anything fashion goes!

Link up your outfit posts, a fashion recap, a fashion wishlist, get your kids or hubby in on the fun... if you've got a passion for fashion, this is the place to be!

Celebrate your style with us every Friday!

We'll be pinning our favourite looks to our Passion for Fashion boards on Pinterest!

You can find the board HERE 

Follow both hosts Lena and  Me so we can come visit you!

If you could link back to us via text link or button and help spread the 

Passion For Fashion word.

Then go visit, blog hop, follow and comment on all the fabulous ladies you are meeting!

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