The Accessories edit

Although I'm a self-confessed clothing addict, I have recently got into accessorising and love what it can do to an outfit. Autumn and winter are great for layering and accessories, so I thought today would be the perfect time to show you which items I will be loving through colder months. 

1.I bought this tartan scarf from River Island just yesterday, but I already know that it will be glued to me for the rest of the year! It's classic, lightweight and adds a pop to monochrome outfits.

2. Fedoras have been everywhere recently, this black number is from Topshop but there have been similar ones all across the high street. I've never really been a hat gal but I love how chic and stylish this one looks.

3. Jewellery tends to be the one thing I neglect but recently I have been loving dainty braclets, like this one from Orelia. Orelia has a great selection of cute but simple pieces and there are currently quite a few I am lusting after to add a bit of sparkle to my winter wardrobe.

Which accessories will you be sporting this September?

Back to School Makeup

Minimal Makeup by whithamjessica featuring Korres

 

 It's that time again (shhhhhh) so I thought today I would give you a rundown of the natural makeup I will be wearing as I head into sixth form. I have three main criteria when it comes to makeup for school:
1. I want it to look pretty but natural.
2. I don't want it to take a long time (I'm not great at early mornings).
3. I want it to have staying power. School days can be long and makeup sliding off your face is never a good look!
First off is my go-to foundation L'Oreal True Match. It feels lightweight, blendable and has just the right amount of coverage. If I have any blemishes or need to cover up those dark circles I will always reach for Collection concealer, for that price there is nothing better!
Next is this Nars palette and I like to swirl my brush in both the blush and bronzer before applying up my cheekbones for a healthy flush of colour.
For everyday-eyes the Urban Decay Naked Basics palette is perfect. I tend to switch between the lighter colours but the matte black is a great alternative to eyeliner. In the unlikely event that I have the time for an eyeliner flick, or am awake enough to not poke my eye out in the process, the Supercat liner from Soap and Glory is easy to use and stays put.
I really do believe that mascara completely changes a look and after a quick squeeze of the eyelash curlers, I always apply Benefit's They're Real- it ticks all the boxes!
Lastly, I think a tinted lip balm is great for school and this Korres one smells divine and keeps your lips hydrated.
I hope you enjoyed that round up of my back to school makeup and now have an insight into some of my favourite products. I am thinking of doing a 'Top Five' makeup brushes post in the next few days so let me know if that's something you'd be interested in.
Speak soon, Jess xx



 

 

Four Things: IKEA bits

Woah- two haul posts in a row! Yesterday I took a trip to my local IKEA and picked up a few lovely bits for my bedroom which caught my eye. First off is this white lamp. In the store they had some lamps on display with fairy lights in instead of a candle so I also picked up some white, battery-powered lights which I think look really pretty at night. 

Then I picked up this cute notebook. I have such a weakness when it comes to stationary of any kind but when neon pink is thrown into the mix too... I'm sold! It is lined inside (with pink none the less) and is just under A4 size.

Possibly my favourite purchases are these mini cacti! I love the nude beige colour of the pots and they just look so cute on my windowsill.

Lastly I bought a set of jars with silver screw lids. When I got home I had the idea to fill them with different sweets. Not only does this mean I have a constant supply of sweets in my room, they also look really pretty. My favourites are rubarb and custards, I just love how the pastel yellow and pink look together.

French Skincare Mini Haul

Does two products count as a mini haul? Although I didn't exactly load up my basket while I was in France, I can safely say that the two products I did purchase are ah-may-zing!

1.La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Plus +

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo has been a cult skincare product for a while now, and is one which I can't live without. Effaclar Duo Plus + is similar to the original, but as well as spot preventing powers, it also helps to reduce spot scarring which I really suffer with. I use this twice a day and really notice a difference in my skin when I haven't used it for a while. It feels lightweight and I always pick up a tube or two in France considering the saving! Effaclar Duo Plus + is available at Boots.

2.Bioderma Crealine H20

There probably isn't a blog under the sun which hasn't mentioned this product but after first purchasing a mini Bioderma at a London pharmacy last December, I was hooked. There really isn't anything which removes makeup as effortlessly or leaves your skin feeling as clean and fresh. Bioderma is great for even sensitive skin and removes water proof mascara like a dream. Needless to say whenever I'm in France now I stock up as not only is it much easier to get my hands on, it's also cheaper.

 

3 DIYs I'm Dying to Try

I've always loved crafts, I've been making my family homemade cards for the past couple of years, and after browsing through my Pinterest today I found a few really easy DIY projects that I couldn't wait to share!


1. First off is this teacup candle DIY. I've seen a few different interpretations of this but this baby blue and gold design is by far the prettiest! You can choose any candle and teacups you like, which makes this DIY so easy to personalise and is one of the reasons why I love it. The other reason is because it really is simple, just melt any candle and pour into pretty cups! This would look great on a dressing table as it has a such a vintage feel.

2. This DIY is perfect for those lipsticks we all own which looked great in Boots, but are actually a bit too bright and just sit in our stash looking pretty! All you need to do is melt the lipstick and a small amount of Vaseline, before pouring into a tin or jar. This tinted lip balm makes a really pretty gift and there are loads of great tins in vintage or charity shops.

3. My last DIY is great because once it's finished, you can use it to store just about anything! Clean any empty jars in the dishwasher and then simply get decorating with Washi tape (which I love)! This would be great for storing pens, make up brushes or even little personalised notes for a really cute present.

(Photos from Pinterest)

See, I told you they were easy! I can't wait to try these and would love to know if you give any of them a go. I'll be back in a couple of days as promised with a French mini haul.

Speak soon
Jess xx

  

Hey guys! This is just a little update post to say that, although I have been blogging every other day for a while, I am off on holiday tonight for a week. I'm not sure what the internet will be like, but expect French pharmacy halls when I return! Speak soon, Jess xx

My Favourite Palette

The Urban Decay Naked 2 palette is undoubtedly my favourite palette. I received this palette for my Birthday back in March and have got SO much use out of it since. I spent many an hour before hand researching whether I should ask for the Naked 1, 2 or 3, as I already owned the Naked Basics palette. I ended up going for the 2 because, for me, I think it suits my olive complexion and hazel eyes the most.

The Naked 2, like the others, has such an amazing range of tones and colours. There are a few matte shades and a variety of wearable shimmer shades. I also love that it has a matte black, which is perfect for those non-eyeliner days. All the colours are so beautiful but my favourites are probably 'YDK', a pretty almost purple shimmer, and 'Snakebite', a sparky brown which I love to put in the crease of my eye. Another bonus is that the brush that comes with the palette, unusually, is actually pretty great! Have you ever tried an Urban Decay Naked Palette?

Four Things: Current lusts

After browsing on Polyvore I decided to put together a set of items I'm currently lusting after from the high street. Which items are on your list right now?

Current lusts by whithamjessica featuring t strap flat shoes

Monki print shirt
$41 - monki.com

H M short sleeve t shirt
$14 - hm.com

ASOS t strap flat shoes
asos.com

River Island wide brim fedora
$29 - theiconic.com.au

My First Mac Lipstick

 

 

Yesterday I may have done some cheeky shopping and come home with this; my first Mac lipstick. I have wanted to own a lipstick from Mac for a long time and whilst wondering through Debenhams I caved and purchased 'Fanfare'. This isn't my first Mac buy, I already own a couple of their eye shadows, but I already think this is love! 'Fanfare' is a Cremesheen formula which means that it's pigmented but creamy with an almost glossy finish. Obviously I haven't had this lipstick for long but I can already report that it is long lasting and not drying at all. Now on to the shade. 'Fanfare' is the perfect 'your lips but better' colour for me and is a soft pink without being too girly. I know I will be wearing this all summer and even though it is a stretch at £15.50, I am already researching which shade I want next!    

 

    

Four Things: Summer Nails

Today marks the start of my new 'Four Things' series. I guess the name gives it away but in these posts I'll be talking about four things (shocker, right?) that I love in different categories like home décor or beauty. As it's the start of July I thought that I'd begin with my four favourite nail polishes for summer! I am a complete nail polish hoarder but these are four polishes that I reckon should be in every girl's collection. 

1. 'Peaches and Cream' Tanya Burr

As you can probably tell this one is well loved! For me, this is the perfect peach shade and works so well in the spring/summer months. I was actually lucky enough to meet Tanya herself in Westfield a few weeks ago! She was so lovely and is a real blogging role model for me.

2. 'Hip Hop' Rimmel Salon Pro (Kate Moss Collection)

This bright orange-red really screams summer to me. Plus, the colour is so vibrant in person and is pretty much opaque in one to two coats. I have a few others from the Salon Pro range and have found they last really well too!

 

3. 'Adrenalin' Topshop

I love a bit of glitter all year round and this one delivers the glitz without being too Christmassy. Purple is my absolute favourite colour so it's a complete win-win for me! I usually wear this over another shade but it works well on it's own if it's layered up. Just make sure you have a fair amount of nail polish remover handy as glitter polish is always a pain to get off!

4. 'Mint Candy Apple' Essie

I'm wearing this colour as I'm typing this and although some might say it's more of a spring colour I think it looks so good with a bit of a tan. I know 'Mint Candy Apple' has been talked about so much on the blogosphere but if you are still on the fence about buying it, like I was, definitely get down to a Boots! It lasts really well for me and the colour is so beautiful.

My 'Top Five' Fashion Blogs

Recently I've got back into blogs in a big way. I finished my GCSE exams a little while ago and have had loads of time at home doing really useful things like spending an unhealthy amount of time on Tumblr! This has meant I've had time to fall back in love with reading blogs, which is good because I had a lot of catching up to do.
I now feel thoroughly inspired to write posts again, with today's being my 'Top Five' Fashion blogs. If only I had these ladies' wardrobes...

First off is Suzie. Suzie's blog is one of absolute favourites, especially for her outfit posts. Not only does Suzie just seem like a lovely person (check out her YouTube channel here), she also has an impeccable style. Suzie's taste in clothing is pretty similar to mine, with her outfits often consisting of prints, cute sunnies, smock dresses and leather.


Photo from: www.hello-october.com 

 
Another of my favourite fashion bloggers has to be this lady. Dunya's style is almost as cute as her blog name 'Dearest Deer.' I stumbled upon her blog late last year and immediately fell in love with her mixture of lady-like shapes and retro vibes. Be sure to follow her on Instagram too for another sneak at her dreamy closet!

 

 

 Photo from: http://dearestdeer.net/

 

Sammi's Blog was probably the first I ever visited and she is more than partly responsible for my love of bloggers as well as YouTube! Three years ago a very bored thirteen year old me found Sammi's YouTube channel and since then she has continued to influence my style. I'll stop gushing about her soon I promise but Sammi's London cool style is definitely one that I admire the most. Plus, have you looked at her *major girl crush alert!*

 

  Photo from:www.beautycrush.co.uk

I've loved Olivia's blog 'What Olivia Did' for a little while now. Her beautiful outfit photos are the perfect accompaniment to a Sunday afternoon and I could spend many an hour pouring through the archives of her posts for inspiration. She has a dreamy wardrobe and awesome writing style to match, definitely one to follow over on Bloglovin' if you don't already!  

 

 

 Photo from: www.whatoliviadid.com

 Last but definitely not least is http://www.llymlrs.com/. Lily's blog is quite possibly my absolute favourite and if I could steal anyone's wardrobe, it would be hers! Lily's quirky mix of prints, monochrome and grunge-style pieces is always on point. Plus, her relatively recent YouTube channel is one of the best for down-to-earth, creative videos!

 

Photo from: www.llymlrs.com

 Phew! I promise posts won't always be this long, points if you've got this far! I hope you enjoyed this round up of my 'Top Five' Fashion Blogs and have now got some Monday night reading to do. I am planning on posting every other day during the holidays so hopefully writing that here will force me to keep that promise! I have big plans coming up for different series' I'd love to start so hopefully I'll speak to you soon,

Jess x  



 

 
 
 

Introduction

Hi guys! This is just a quick post to introduce you to me, this blog and what kinds of things I will be posting. So firstly, I'm Jess- a sixteen year old beauty, YouTube and fashion lover from the UK. I am currently taking my GCSEs (so posting will be infrequent at the start) but have a passion for blogging! I will be posting hauls, 'Top Tens' and other fashion and beauty-related things. I hope you enjoy my blog and I will speak to you soon!