Organising the Stash With Muji

It seems I've fallen into quite possibly the biggest blogger cliché and bought myself some Muji storage, but you know what? I bloomin' love it. Gone are the days of forgetting about the majority of my make up or rooting around in draws for something that may or may not have even be in there. I now have full view of my stash and can pick and choose from the whole range, not just whatever happens to be the first thing I pull out of the depths.

Originally I wanted the three draw set up but as the Muji site never seems to have more than 10% of their products in stock at once I ended up getting the two draw unit instead. At the moment I have a selection of my most used lipsticks along with bronzers and highlighters in the top draw and a stash of foundations and bases in the bottom.

I've already got the itch to purchase some more of these acrylic beauty's and stack them as far as my dressing table (and disapproving looks from the boyfriend) will allow!

What's your favourite bit of Muji storage?

Top Shelf: Topshop Ooh La La Lipstick | Topshop Macaroon Lipstick | Topshop Whimsical Lipstick | Bourjois Rouge Edition in 11 Fraise Remix | Revlon Lip Butter in Juicy Papaya | Maybelline 14 Hour Lipstick in Stay With Me Coral | MAC Charcoal Brown & Omega Eyeshadows | MAC All That Glitters, Soba, Woodwinked and Amber Lights Eyeshadows | MAC Vegas Volt Lipstick | MAC Lady Danger Lipstick | MAC Patisserie Lipstick | Sleek Papaya Punch Lipstick | Benefit Posietint | Benefit High Beam | MAC Harmony Blush | Sleek Face Contour Kit

Bottom Shelf: YSL Le Teint Touche Éclat Foundation | Jemma Kidd Light As Air Foundation | Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation | Dr Jart Waterfuse BB Cream | MAC Face and Body Foundation | Liz Earle Signature Foundation* | Bourjois Radiance Reveal Healthy Mix Foundation | Laura Mercier Oil Free Tinted Moisturiser | Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit | Bobbi Brown Corrector

* Gifted PR Samples

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The Travel Make Up Bag

When it comes to packing up my extensive make up collection for a Weekend away, some serious editing needs to be done. I try to keep my make up bag small and simple, making room for the products I can't be without, otherwise know as the fail-safes and some that are just brilliant at multitasking. Here's a glimpse into everything I'll be taking away with me this Bank Holiday Weekend.

Clear Make Up Bag | Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation (shade Rose Ivory) | Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit (shade Cool Sand) | Sleek Face Contour Kit (shade Light) | Nars Orgasm Blush | No7 Beautiful Brows Pencil (shade Brown) | Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette | Rimmel Scandaleyes Nude Kohl Liner | Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara | Max Factor Masterpiece Max Mascara | Bourjois Intuitive Liner | Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Balm Stick | Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Stick in Fuschia-Ristic | Maybelline Super Stay Lipstick in Stay With Me Coral | Real Techniques Expert Face Brush | Real Techniques Contour Brush (from the Core Collection) | Sigma E25 Blending Brush | Real Techniques Blush Brush




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This Week #45

01. Iced raspberry Tea with a slice of lemon is the perfect Spring drink | 02. Coca Cola's marketing team are geniuses. Even if they spelt my name wrong. | 03. Homemade spinach and mozzarella pizza | 04. The infamous River Island knuckle rings and Rimmel's Rose Libertine | 05. When I found out Origin's had launched a Ginzing moisturiser it was in the basket and ordered in under a minute. | 06. My two favourite baking books, Cupcakes from the Primrose Bakery and Boutique Baking | 07. Anniversary treats from Darren | 08. White roses, my favourites | 09. Getting Sunday breakfast right.

Product of the Week: It may have only been in my possession for less than two weeks but I'm already head over heels in love with Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess. There can't be a scent in the world that screams holidays in the sun as much as this perfume. Warm and coconutty and with a hint of fresh citrus, I can't get enough!

Wanderlust-Inducing Blog Post of the Week: I challenge you to scroll through Emma's Paris photo diary and not want to immediately drop everything and hop on the Eurostar. Strolling down the Champs-Élysées, taking in the Louvre and of course a necessary stop at City-Pharma, Paris I need you!

On The Wishlist: After having a good long browse through my new skincare idol, Caroline Hirons's blog there have been more than a few items added to this wishlist this week. Top picks include Peptabright, REN's ClearCalm 3 Clay Cleanser, the Superfacialist Rose Cleansing Oil.. I could go on for hours.


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The Spring Edit #2: Fragrance

Although the Spring weather seems to be wavering slightly in England lets cheer ourselves up with the seconcd part of my Spring Edit and four lovely perfumes that make me think dreamily of blue skies and short skirts.

Chanel Chance Eau Fraîche: Possibly the first perfume I ever fell head over heels in love with, this little green bottle will always have a place in my fragrance roster no matter the season, but Spring I think is when it really stands out as the scent I can't get enough of. Light, zesty and above all packet with warm citrus it lingers on the skin and oozes the feeling of a fresh Spring afternoon.

Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess: If the smell of holidays in the sun could be bottled, this would be it. The perfect combination of coconut, vanilla and citrus with a slightly musky edge that makes me want to do nothing but bung on a bikini and sit by the pool sipping something with an umbrella in it! It's the sort of perfume that just seems to radiate from within, almost as if it's an enhancement of your natural scent. I can never stop smelling my wrist when I'm wearing this.

Stella McCartney Lily Absolute: Floral perfumes have never really been my forte and Lily of the Valley always seemed like an old fashioned scent in my mind but the notes of spicey black pepper and amber in this fragrance bring it back to life in a mysterious but beautiful way. The word sensual springs to mind when I wear this perfume, but it's still light and fresh enough to wear on a sunny day.

Chloé: I don't think there's another perfume out there quite like Chloé. I can never put my finger on the actual notes, which are warm amber, honey and cedar wood all blended with the scent of roses, although its not the soft sweet floral that you would imagine. It's elegant and definitely strong, but couldn't be more chic. I usually reserve this one for soft Spring evenings as its the deepest of these four fragrances. This is also truly the longest lasting perfume I've ever come across, I'm sure if you didn't wash for a week (although I don't advise that!) you'd still be able to smell this. Also, could the vintage style bottle be any prettier?

What's your favourite Spring fragrance?


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Not Quite a Spring Skirt

Jumper & Belt: Primark
Jacket: New Look
Skirt: Charity Shop
Boots: Topshop
Watch: Michael Kors
Hold the phone, whats that? A bare leg? Well a bare ankle at any rate. After a burst of Spring sunshine the Winter clothes were officially shelved and I'd started to hang some fancy florals and dare I even say the word.. shorts in my wardrobe. Unfortunately I must have jinxed it as were now back to grey skies and thick jumpers.

I've had this skirt from way back in my penniless college thrifting days but have unbelievable never worn it. It's quite lightweight so I'm sure it'll be getting a lot of outings after it's recent rediscovery, come rain or shine. What a bargain for £2.99!

I've haven't quite transitioned into sandal wearing yet and these Topshop Mighty boots have been permanently glued to my feet since I bought them to replace my dearly loved River Island Chelsea boots. Considering Topshop's boots are usually around the £80 mark nowadays (ouch) I was shocked to find these for a not too shabby £45 and I'm definitely eyeing up the tan versions for a summer alternative!

P.S. 10 points to anyone that's spotted the missing fringe!


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Skincare Extras

My skincare routine has become a very basic one recently and I've been enjoying using just a handful of products that suit my skin well. There are still a few things however that I like to incorporate in every so often to keep it in tip top condition and smooth out any problem areas. From masks to extra cleansing tools, here are my skincare extras!

Clarisonic Classic | Origins Clean Energy Cleansing Oil | Superfacialist by Úna Brennan Tea Flower Deep Clean Mask | EVE LOM Rescue Mask* | La Roche-Posay Hydraphase Intense Masque* | Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask | Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel | REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask* | La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo | Balance Me Stellar Face Balm* | Liz Earle Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion | Lush Popcorn Lip Scrub

* Gifted PR Samples

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A Simple Sunday Pamper with Neom

Sunday for me is the epitome of a chill out day. I like to take it easy and get myself mentally prepared for the week ahead and nothing does this better than treating yourself to a Sunday pamper. I've gone into more depth in my previous Sunday Series with some no messing about hardcore preening, but sometimes it's nice to take a more simple approach.

Towards the end of the afternoon when the Monday blues are already beginning to settle in I run a nice hot bath and jump right in. This weeks pamper goodies are from Neom's Scent With Love Gift Set*, full of beautifully fragranced products designed to relax. Having everything you need to unwind all wrapped up in a neat little box is definitely the way to go for some stress free bathing.

I start by pouring a cap full of the Tranquillity Organic Bath Oil into the water which immediately fills the room and your peace craving nostrils with a heavenly mix of Lavender, Sweet Basil and Jasmine. Next its onto the Sensous Organic Body Wash, a little more invigorating with it's mix of Ylang Ylang, Frankincense & Patchouli, this luxurious foam softens and prepares the skin ready for moisture. After a good long soak preferably with a glass vino (if you're old enough!) I hop out and liberally apply the Sensuous Organic Body Lotion which is fragranced with the same spicy scent as the Body Wash, infusing it into the skin for even longer and locking in moisture with it's hydrating formula full of Shea Butter and Argan oil.

It's then straight on with the pyjamas and a cosy up on the sofa. I find this is always a good time to get my nails prepped for the week while I sit with either a good read or something preferably starring Ryan Gosling. After a good file, buff and a careful selected nail polish I like to round it all off with a nice thick layer of the Complete Bliss Moroccan Blush Rose Organic Hand Cream which melts in beautifully and leaving hands incredibly softened and non-greasy.

There's nothing like a good pamper to clear your mind and relax your body so take half an hour or so just to yourself and you'll feel unstoppable once that 7:00am alarm rings on Monday morning!

* Gifted PR Sample

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The New Beauty Additions

This month like many others I've done a little splurging on beauty products and have a few new additions to welcome into the crowd. From some new spring cheek products to a heavy duty SPF and even a perfume I vowed never to purchase, here's what's made it into my shopping basket.

Bourjois Bonzing Primer | Bourjois Cream Blush in 01 Nude Velvet | Essie Maximillian Strasse Her | Essie Cute As A Button | Essie Fifth Avenue | Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit | Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream | Kiehl's Utra Light Daily UV Defence SPF 50 | Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Complex | Clarins Instant Eye Make Up Remover | Clarins Gentle Exfoliating Brightening Toner Toner | La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water Spray | Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess




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The New Healthy Mix

I'm pretty sure I could count on less than one hand the amount of lower end 'drugstore' foundations that I actually get along with. I'm no snob when it comes to make up but premium brands are always the ones I turn to with confidence for a flawless base.

Bourjois's Healthy Mix however, I have always been quite loyal to through all three of it's variations; Original, Serum and now the new Radiance Revealed. The original healthy mix was a light/medium coverage that could be built up well. It had a satin finish with a slight amount of radiance. The new formulation is very, very similar, so much so I can't really tell the difference, not even in the colour (which I am 51 for reference). The packaging has been given a sleek update and it now sits in a glass bottle as apposed to plastic. Bourjois claim to have enhanced the formula rather than completely changed it to now incorporate a whole lot more 'fruit therapy' goodness for added radiance and hydration. The products still contains that same fruity scent, but no more so than before.

The only downfall (and I can safely say this applies to all the variations) is the lasting time, which for my combination skin is usually around four or five hours before I notice a lot of shine on my t-zone. That being said though, Healthy Mix is still one of my go to foundations for a light feeling base that gives my skin a polished finish. For a budget foundation, I don't really think you can go wrong here and especially now that the colour range has been increased to eight different shades which is rare for a drugstore brand, there should be something for everyone.

Have you tired the new formulation? How do you think it compares?


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This Week #44

01. Costa and Doughnuts for Breakfast | 02. If it were bookshops vs. beauty halls I'm pretty sure books would win every time | 03. A mini BB Surf Spray, adorable! | 04. Some seriously holographic heels in Next | 05. Daisy Cupcakes from this post | 06. Fringe! | 07. The best kind of working lunch | 08. More unhealthy food. Addicted to Costa. | 09. Trying to make things right again with some healthy juicing | 10. Receiving four GlossyBoxes from my old address and not even knowing I was still getting them! | 11. Playing with some spring colours for yesterday's post | 12. Best Chcolate Fudge Cake I've had in some time!

Must Watch of the Week: Anna's fashionable goings on with This Works' new In Transit range, a group of products I've been keeping a close eye on recently. Informative and incredibly well put together, can this girl do no wrong?

On the Wishlist: Neal's Yard Healing Foods Recipe Book, more than likely spurred on by this post from Suzie. You may think from the amount of pizza/cake/chocolate and generally unhealthy foods I post on instagram that I don't have the best of diets, but aside form those little treats I do really care about what I put into my body on a daily basis and this book looks just up my street.


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The Spring Edit: Nails

After nearly a week of consecutive sun (touch wood) I think we can safely say Spring has arrived! The beauty wardrobe deserves a seasonal revamp and the first port of call for me is always nails. Ten little fragments of colour that give noting but hope for warmer weather. The big dilemma however is pastels or brights? I've picked five of my favourites in each category that will definitely be adorning my nails over the coming weeks.

Pastels have always been good to me. Their soft hues are flattering and pretty and suit almost every skin tone. First up we have Essie's Fiji, the palest of all the pinks, think ballerina. The formula is opaque which creates a subtle statement on the nails. Another nude that I can't seem to talk about enough is Lychee from the Barry M Gelly Collection. Easy to apply and super glossy this is the ultimate 'mannequin nail' colour for me, and they don't half last long! Topshop's Parma Violets has been in my collection for a long, long time but what's not to love about the perfect pastel lavender? This one take a good few coats but with all Topshop nail polishes it's definitely worth it. Essie makes an appearance again with Bikini So Teeny which although hailing from last years Summer line, is still a firm favourite for a soft touch of blue. Finally the newbie of the bunch from B. Cosmetics is a serious contender for the mint green of the year. Sea Foam is my first purchase from their nail polishes but the formula and wear time have definitely impressed me.

As for the brights, I like to keep them pure and simple but very intense! Barry M's Blueberry is an amazing stand out, creamy blue without a hint of lilac in it. Similarly Green Room from Topshop has an intense colour but with an edgier forest green tone. If you're one for sticking to the typical spring/summer colours then Cute As A Button*, a bright pink-toned coral and Fear and Desire, a fierce orange from Essie are the ones for you. These two look amazing on both toes and fingers! Last up possibly one of my favourite polishes of all time, Ciaté's Yellow Taxi, the perfect loud nail colour that's just on the right side of neon before we start talking fluorescents.

What are your favourite Spring colours?

* Gifted PR Samples

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The Lip Crayon Roundup

The Lip Crayon seems to be the height of popularity at the moment with brands bringing them out left right and center. From the glossy to the matte, well pigmented to sheer formulas there seems to be one to suit every preference and in the absolute sea of these lip products I've picked out three of my favourites.

Balmy, rich and with a glossy finish the Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Sticks are some of the most hydrating I've come across. The shade Fuchsia-ristic looks almost neon in the stick but translates to a soft bright pink on the lips. The colour lasts well but not all day but the balmy texture keeps on moisturising the lips for a good few hours. If you're looking for longevity though the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Lovesick really sticks around. I wouldn't really class it as a balm but it definitely has a slick glossy finish too it and a colour that will last you all day long. Last up, the Laura Mericer Lip Crayon is the most lipstick-like of the three. It's extremely pigmented and has a matte finish to it, although it does't dry my lips out and reapplies well after an hour or so. The colour of this one is my favourite. Mayan Sun; a peachy pink neutral shade which is currently part of their Folklore Collection, so hurry as this one might not be around for long!

Have you bitten the lip crayon bullet yet? What's your favourite?


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April Favourites

This month's favourites are short and sweet. I've been sticking to what I know and keeping it pretty simple in all areas of beauty. From a bright lip to some seriously Spring orientated products, here are my picks from the month!

MAC Vegas Volt Lipstick | Revlon Colourstay Ultimate Suede Lipstick in It Girl | Bourjois Rouge Edition Lipstick in 11 Fraise Remix | Benefit Stay Don't Stray | Clarins Bronzing Duo | Real Techniques Expert Face Brush | La Roche-Posay Effaclar M Mattifying Moisturiser (now changed to Effaclar Mat) | Hydraluron Moisture Boost | This Works Deep Sleep Shower Gel | Soap & Glory Pulp Friction




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The Monthly Roundup: April

This month I decided to take a look back at the beauty posts featured on I Covet Thee in April.
Here's a roundup of 10 of the best for you to catch up on if you missed any!



01. A look at Barry M High Shine Nail Paints in three amazing spring colours.



02. Hauling up a storm with some highstreet/drugstore makeup.



03. My everyday makeup routine gets an update, and a new video tutorial.



04. Four of the best dry skin savious, take a look at my Hydration Heroes.



05. My picks from the purse-draining beauty bible that is CultBeauty.com



06. A look at two of the new shades from the Revlon Lip Butter range



07. A quick tour of this month's instalment of the Beauty Box of the moment - Birchbox



08. My current skincare picks and those I've been reaching for the most



09. Chanel wins me over with the world easiest smokey eye.



10. The handiest brush washing tool you might ever come across, and my tips on getting the prefect clean.


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Let Them Eat Cupcakes

On the rare occassion that a food post pops up on I Covet Thee you can pretty much guarantee it's going to be Cupcake related. Who want's a messy slice of cake when you can have your own individually sized bundle of joy! These simple vanilla cupcakes are my port of call whenever a BYOBG (bring your own baked goods) situation arises, and today it's my Mum's birthday!

You will need: 110g Unsalted Butter, 110g Caster Sugar, 2 Free Range Egg, 1 tsp Vanilla Extract, 110g Self Raising Flour, 2 tbsp Milk

Cream the butter and sugar together then add the eggs and vanilla, the trick to get the cupcakes light and fluffy is to really got to town on the mixture with a whisk. Fold in the flour and add the milk last.

I like to use deep cases for maximum cake output! This mixture makes 6 large cupcakes or 12 small ones. Now just bake for 25 minutes at 180°C (15 minutes for small) and let them cool before icing.

Through a lot of trial and not so tasty error I've found the perfect buttercream icing to top these with. Beat 140g unsalted butter with a whisk until it turns almost white, add 280g icing sugar and a splash of vanilla extract then colour and decorate as you see fit. I went for yellow and pink with some edible daisies. Yum yum!


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The Brush Wash

I'm sure I'm not alone in saying that constantly washing an endless stack of makeup brushes might just be the bane of my life. I try to aim for a good deep clean once a week but I'm beyond lazy when it comes to sticking to a schedule so it more than often ends up being a lot longer - you have permission to judge me!

Saying that however, I recently stumbled across a few products that have made the whole process a lot faster and slightly more enjoyable. I guess I should address the issue of the pink rubber glove pictured above as I'm sure you're all wondering what on earth it is! Any like minded beauty worshipers should have heard all about Sigma's new Brush Cleaning Glove by now. A Silicone mitt with a variety of textures and surfaces designed effectively remove dirt and makeup from brushes a whole lot better than the palm of your hand. The only problem is the $40 price tag. As life-changing a beauty invention as this may be, I couldn't justify dropping over £25 on a piece of rubber.

I searched around all sorts of places for a similar glove, but couldn't find anything remotely close that was classified as a beauty product. However, after typing silicone glove into Amazon and being greeted with a sea of kitchen accessories I thought, why not! Enter my new best friend, the pink oven glove. While it doesn't have the three separate textures like it's Sigma counterpart (designed for washing, drying and shaping) the bobbly texture really does lift make up out of the bristles a lot more efficently.

Paired with a mild foaming soap, my favourite at the moment is the Dr Bronner's Organic Baby Cast Liquid Soap, I squeeze a small amount onto the glove for each brush and give it a good massage. The trick with this product is to apply it to a dry brush, it foams up a lot better as the soap already has quite a watery consistency and then after a quick rinse and blot I leave them on the windowsill to dry overnight. Voilà, good as new brushes with a pink helping hand!


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The One Step Smokey Eye

When it comes to eye make up these days I'm edging more and more towards the simple. If I can get away with a single colour swept over the lid and a touch of mascara I'm more than happy to walk out the door and a smokey eye has been no exception.

Chanel's Illusion D'Ombre have been calling my name ever since they arrived at counters in 2011. Originally the sheer pink shade Emerveille was on my wish list, but after many a swatch session I had to walk away with Ebloui. A rich, chocolaty aubergine with a hint of burgundy and an array of multi-coloured micro-glitters, I don't think a better colour colour possible exist for a one step smokey eye. I pat this all over the lid with fingers, then blend out the edges to a haze with a fluffy brush and continue layering all around the eye until the colour becomes rich enough. It could't be more straightforward. The formula is almost a mousse texture, but a lot denser. It glides on like a sheer powder, but does't take much to build up an intense shade.

Now it absolutely pains me to say this but after a few hours it does start to crease on me, even with a primer. Honestly though I can't help but forgive and forget as everything else about this product is just so incredibly beautiful. At £24 they're not the most easily purchasable of eyeshadows but I know I won't be able to stop myself buying another one (of four) in the future!

Also wearing:
Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation, Max Factor Masterpiece Max Mascara,
Rimmel Santa Rose Blusher, Laura Mercier Mayan Sun Lip Crayon

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What's On My Skincare Shelf: Current Picks

I've been making an effort to simplify my skincare down to a handful of great products that I know work for me as apposed to the masses of lotions and potions I usually choose between. It's been tough, but I've whittled it down to some real gems and have found a good core routine that my skin is really enjoying. I still like to supplement this with different products here and there and sometimes swap a few things around, but here's an insight into what's currently on my scaled-down skincare shelf.

La Roche-Posay Physiological Micellar Solution* | Clarins Instant Eye Make Up Remover | Emma Hardie Amazing Face Moringa Foaming Cleansing Wash | EVE LOM Cleansing Balm* | EVE LOM Eye Cream* | La Roche-Posay Effaclar M Mattifying Moisturiser (now changed to Effaclar Mat) | Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair | Caudalie Divine Oil | Dr Jart Water-Max Sleeping Mask

* Gifted PR Samples

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