Best Of The Creams.

Part of my summer tips post was to avoid anything cream, but there's something that draws me back time after time. Sure, my NARS numbers get used the most, but there's something so natural and dewy about using a cream blush or highlight. Of course, on the unbearably warm days I stay well away, but on the dull, cooler days, there's nothing like it to brighten a complexion. Here's some of my favourites.

I have to start with Bourjois, and their Little Round Pot Cream Blush. I've owned 02 Healthy Glow since it came out around a year ago, and got 01 Nude Velvet recently. Both are beautiful, natural shades that blend into the skin so easily and give a really pretty sheen of colour to the cheeks. If I'm stuck for a blush, one of these will be what I'll pick as they're just so wearable and will pretty much go with anything. They're a bargain too, someone hand me the rest of the colours!

Another favourite is the No7 Instant Radiance Highlighter - this is currently my highlight of choice, and buffed into the skin around the cheekbones, nose, cupids bow and brow bone, my face has an effortless glow which is so longlasting after a bit of powder is popped on the top. I also have the Pop & Glow in Mango which admittedly has got a little less wear, but is equally lovely. It's nicely pigmented so just a tiny amount popped on the fingers and blended in is perfect. It's a perfect peachy shade that's so flattering with a tan, I really need to wear it more before I'm back to being deathly pale again.

Next up, I have a couple of really bright shades that are perfect for dull complexion days. My first experience with theBalm has been a seriously positive one, having got their 'Pie' Cheek and Lip Cream. This is such a gorgeously bright shade and blends in really well so it doesn't look too over the top on me. I'm so tempted to get their full cheek and lip cream palette, all the other shades look lovely too. And last but not least, is Topshop Flush. I've had this for quite a while and it's barely even got a dent in it because it is so pigmented, it's a little crazy. It means you can go a little over board so take caution, but it feels lightweight with a lovely formula. I wear this a lot during winter for a classic english rose flush.

Have you tried any of these? What are your favourite cream products?

A Little Beauty Haul.

So, whilst there isn't too many products here to talk about, it definitely isn't my cheapest haul ever. I've found myself cutting back on the beauty spending recently, at least in terms of going into Boots every week and spending a good £40+ and taking home quite a few items. I'm going for quality over quantity these days, and my latest few purchases definitely showcase that!

First up, I have to talk about the Bobbi Brown Sand Palette from their latest Surf & Sand collection - is this just the most beautiful thing you've ever seen? I absolutely love the shades, they're all very 'me' and I know I'll get use out of every single one which is quite rare for me. The entire collection is really beautiful, but having only one eyeshadow palette I really wanted this one, and I haven't been disappointed with it yet. A couple of the shades are very lightly pigmented compared to the others, but they are described as 'sparkle shadows' so I think they're meant to be like that, and they look lovely worn in the inner corner or on the brow bone.

The latest Marc Jacobs fragrance Daisy Dream has been just about everywhere for the past couple months, so I knew I had to give it a try. I spritzed a bit on first thing when walking around the Trafford Centre, and it developed really nicely on me so I picked up the 50ml bottle. Oh, the bottle. Like all the rest from MJ it's absolutely gorgeous, and probably my favourite from him actually. The scent itself is like a slightly grown up Daisy with a really lovely freshness to it. And last but not least, I finally caved under the hype pressure and bought the NARS Creamy Concealer, and so far I don't know how I've managed without it. The drugstore do some really good ones so I thought it wouldn't be that much better for the price, but I was so wrong. It's incredible coverage with just a tiny amount of product, it blends flawlessly and lasts all day too. I'll be popping a full review of this up soon, but safe to say it's definitely love, and so worth the hype!

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Perfect Summer Pins

Just throwing it out there, my legs are a-n-y-t-h-i-n-g but perfect, especially in summer, after being stuck in opaque tights for the past six months. But there are a few products I've discovered that do make them look slightly better, and with the help of a little tan I've actually braved a few short skirts this year!

First up is D'Fluff from Lush, which I actually only purchased last week after seeing on a few blogs. It's a shaving soap ( am I terrible in that I used to just use a conditioner or normal body wash? ) with a lovely sweet, strawberry scent, and is packed with ingredients like cocoa butter, coconut oil and rosehip oil which leave the skin feeling really nourished and soft. You can use this pretty much anywhere to shave, I'm even going to see if Kane fancies giving it a go on his stubble, although I can imagine his reaction.

A good exfoliation once in a while is essential for keeping legs looking in tip top condition. Note, don't do this immediately before or after shaving, or your legs will be looking far from perfect and you'll probably be in a bit of pain too. My go-to scrub for quite some months now has been Soap & Glory's Pulp Friction, which has a gorgeous citrus-y scent, perfect for this time of year. I love how it foams up nicely too which makes it not too abrasive and I feel I can use this all over the body without any sort of irritation.

Usually after hopping out of the bath or shower, I'd throw on the Caudalie Divine Oil. This is a gorgeous body oil which leaves my skin feeling beautiful, so hydrated, and it leaves a bit of a glow too which is lovely on top of a tan. But it's been neglected recently as Laura Mercier Creme Brulee body cream has taken the top spot of moisturisers. I've always been a bit lazy with these sorts of things after a shower, but this little pot actually makes me excited to moisturise. I even find myself having a little sniff when I go past the bathroom. It moisturises really well and leaves the gorgeous, caramel scent lingering for hours afterwards. I can't get enough of it!

Do you have any favourite summer leg products?

YSL Babydoll Kiss & Blush : 05 Rouge Effrontee

It was around the start of last month that these little beauties started appearing on beauty blogs, and pretty much since I first clapped eyes on them, I longed for one. Fast forward to a little trip to the Trafford Centre a few weeks later, and one of the YSL Babydoll Kiss & Blush colours is finally mine. The shade 05 Rouge Effrontee wasn't spotted on too many blogs, not personally by myself anyway, but the shade stood out to me as I'd get the most wear out of it and be able to wear on both my cheeks and lips easily.

Described as 'air-whipped', they have a beautiful velvet, creamy formula that leaves a beautiful semi-matte finish on the lips when dry, with a tiny hint of sheen. They don't feel heavy on the lips at all, it glides on with the help of a doe-foot applicator that seem to distribute the perfect amount every time. My only bug bear about the formula would be that it does seem to take a while to dry properly, which can result in some transfer if eating or drinking. But that said, they fade really evenly, and even a light sweep of colour looks just as beautiful as a full coverage pop.

On the cheeks, they are just as lovely. I use my fingers to dab a tiny amount on the apples of my cheeks and use a buffing brush to blend it all in. This particular shade may look a bit too much for the cheeks, but when applied lightly it looks really pretty, and fades throughout the day to leave a coral shade. And the packaging, we can't forget that. These are the sorts of products you'd never put away, taking pride of place on the dressing table. I love the little gold hardware and shape, even though my boyfriend did originally think I'd spent £27 on a nail polish.

At that price, they certainly aren't the cheapest of things, but if you're after a little splurge, these are where you need to be looking. The shade range is really fantastic, and I've got my eye on Fuschia Desinvolte and Corail Affranchi next! Rouge Effrontee hasn't left my handbag yet.

Have you tried any of these?

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The ( Almost ) Weekend Wishlist

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I feel as though this wishlist is almost verging on the travelling theme, but sadly I don’t have any more trips planned this summer, apart from perhaps a little business buying trip to Wales. I’ve had my eye on this dress from Topshop for quite a while, I just love how simple it is and I can stick to wearing black in summer as it looks loose and floaty. I’ve had my eye on a Fjallraven Kanken bag since seeing one on Sophie’s blog, and despite not even feeling like I could pull off a rucksack in school there’s something about it that’s had me close to clicking ‘buy now’ so many times! I have ridiculous amounts of sunglasses, but if I were to ever make an investment it’d definitely be the Rayban Clubmaster style, I just absolutely love them and can’t resist anything tortoiseshell.

I’ve got my eye on a new purse too, and the simplistic style of this ASOS one is really shouting out to me. And can we talk for a minute about the new Bobbi Brown Surf and Sand Collection? Oh my goodness, it is all just so beautiful. The Sand palette is just so beautiful, they’re all really wearable shades and colours I find myself going for a lot so I’d love to find this in my dressing table.

Are you wishing after anything at the moment?

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Current Loves

I thought from now on my 'Current Loves' post will include some lifestyle bits, because lets face it, I'm pretty sure I talk enough beauty on this blog. I have absolutely no issue with saying that gardening is now one of my favourite hobbies, and I find myself in B&Q and garden centres far too often spending money on flowers and plants. Both my front and back garden are both now pretty full to the brim, but they both put endless smiles on my face every day.

Inside I've been really loving my new desk space which has allowed me to work a lot quicker and feel a lot more motivated now I have an area of the house dedicated to my business and blogging. I'm also in love with my little window seat, which is really loving on a sunny day as you get all the sun through but get a nice breeze from the windows above too. I've been reading #Girlboss there, which I'm on the last chapter of and will probably be mosting a review of soon. It's given me a good kick up the bum when it comes to motivation!

I haven't been buying a great deal of beauty stuff recently, and I'm finding myself thinking quality over quantity. I haven't been into Boots in a couple months now, and whilst I do still use more drugstore items, if I fancy a treat, I'm heading to Selfridges or Space NK instead. I'm absolutely in love with the Laura Mercier Creme Brulee body cream, and I haven't stopped wearing the YSL Kiss and Blush in Rouge Effrontee since getting it a couple weeks ago.

What are some of your current favourite things?

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Summer Make-Up Tips for Oily Skinned Girls

As much as I love this incredible hot weather we're having at the moment, being an oily skinned gal it's slightly playing havoc with my normal make-up routine. I've had to strip it all back to avoid creating serious shine or having half of it dripping down my face half way through the day. Here's my tips for making your make-up last all day during summer.

Prime time
Putting on a good primer is essential after moisturiser. Not only will it mattify your skin, but it results in much longer lasting make-up too which is definitely needed throughout the warmer months. My pick is the Clarins Instant Smooth primer, but there are some pretty good ones on the high street too. I just find the Clarins smooths over any imperfections, reduces redness and make my make-up long lasting like I've never found before.

Avoid a heavy base
I don't really have any tinted moisturisers or BB creams I've really loved, so I usually avoid any sort of foundation or base. I use a heavy duty concealer ( the Seventeen Phwoarr Paint being my favourite ) to cover any blemishes or dark circles, and blend in with my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush which adds a little bit more coverage having such dense bristles.

Pop on a powder
After a light base, a good mattifying powder is essential to add that extra step to hold everything in place. I love the Vichy Dermablend Setting Powder - it blends in effortlessly, mattifies the skin and keeps all my make-up in place.

Cream blush is a no-go
I really love cream blush and highlights for creating a dewy glow, but on the really hot days your skin will be doing that for you. Stick to powder products, and pick some good quality ones with great lasting power. The Urban Decay Naked Flushed palettes are a perfect 3-in-1 that have lots of pretty shades and stick around 'til the evenings, even on the warmest of days.

Go simple
I avoid any fussy make-up that could smudge - this means I usually wave goodbye to my beloved cat eye flicks until I can be sure they won't end up smudged above my eye, and if I do use an eyeshadow, it's just a simple one colour over the lid, nothing too complicated. I focus on the mascara, and use a matte lipstick - if the rest of your face is looking a bit shiny, a great bright, matte lip colour can take the focus away from that. The Bourjois Velvet Lipsticks are absolutely perfect for this, a gorgeous matte formula which is so long lasting, not even a top up is required after eating or drinking, my favourite is the shade 'Ole Flamingo'.

Do you have any summer make-up tips?

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I Think I Have a Problem

There's something about stripes that I manage to fall for, time and time again. If I see a stripe, there's a pretty good chance I'll like it, and an even bigger one that it'll end up in a bag, coming home with me. Despite being in double figures, I added another one to my collection from Betty London last week, which has made itself home nicely with my others from H&M, Topshop and charity shops. Sadly they seem to be more spring and autumn appropriate, so unless it's a dull day, they just don't get worn as much as I'd like to. I think I need to hunt down some summer stripes to feed my addiction.

Are you a fan of stripes?

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Latest in Beauty : The Glamour Beauty Edit

I feel like after a bit of a lull, the beauty box is back with a vengeance and producing some really fantastic quality boxes that are always a lovely surprise whilst still being value for money and full of products people actually want to try. You know of my love for Birchbox, but the Latest in Beauty team caught my eye with one of their latest boxes collaborating with Glamour. It's a little different, actually knowing everything you'll get in the box (although shades do vary), and I couldn't resist picking up this perfectly Summer themed box.

Being completely honest, the first thing I saw which convinced me to buy is the Illamasqua Glamore Nude lipsticks, but sadly I actually got one of the two shades I really didn't want. I got the shade 'Naked' which is a peachy-nude but leaning a little too much on the orange side which makes me think it just won't work on my skintone. I'll be trying it out though, I think just a little swipe with a gloss over the top might work, but if not I'll pass it onto a friend. That is where the only very slight disappointment ends though, and I'm absolutely thrilled with everything else!

I have one of the Bourjois Cream Blushes in the shade 02 and I've always meant to pick up more, so I was really happy to get the shade 01 Nude Velvet. I've heard a lot about Magnifibres but haven't ever given it a go, but being cursed with incredibly short, stubbly eyelashes I'm really looking forward to using this out too. It's a tiny little bristle brush that you apply after one coat of mascara and adds length to your lashes, so perfect for me. I also got a really pretty nail polish from Crabtee & Evelyn in the shade Apple, which is a gorgeous pillarbox red colour.

After make-up, there's a few items to get your body ready for summer. Of course, an SPF is always welcome ( something I forget far too often! ) and this one from Hawaiian Tropic is lovely, it has such a nice summery scent. There's also a Sunshimmer Instant Tan from Rimmel, which I'm a bit unsure about having not used a fake tan for over 5 years, but for the sake of a beauty blog I'll definitely test it out, although perhaps on a day when I don't have to go anywhere, in case it goes horribly wrong!

I mentioned a couple of posts ago about my quest for voluminous hair, so I'm really looking forward to trying the Toni & Guy Volume Plumping Whip. Just a small amount of this into the roots and I'm hoping I'll be left with hair full of body. And last is a little sample of the DHC Deep Cleansing Oil. I've tried this before and really liked it, and it's perfect for travelling and weekends away, rather than taking away a big sticky bottle. Overall the contents of this box come to £86, which considering it only cost £16.95 is incredible! I'm really looking forward to testing everything out and I'm sure I'll be summer ready in no time. You can buy a box here, but be quick, I don't think there's too many left!

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Saying Goodbye : Disappointing Products

It's not often I'll really talk about the products that haven't really impressed me, but I actually think people respond quite well to occasionally hearing a few negatives, rather than always seeing "this is amazing", "you need to buy it!". There isn't a huge amount that I've really disliked so much that I've wanted to write a bad review on, but most of these just don't work for me at all, so it's time to say goodbye and have a little clearout.

Charles Worthington are a brand that have been really impressing me recently, so I'm so disappointed to say the Style Setter Salt Spray didn't work for me at all. Despite trying it out a couple of times and using different amounts, it made absolutely no difference to my hair except making it sticky, crunchy and feeling really horrible! Models Own are also one of my favourite nail polish brands, but sadly the formula in the Fruit Pastel Collection just aren't up to scratch. The colours are beautiful, and I love the novelty of being scented, but somehow that resulted in nails that chip within an hour or so of application, which really just isn't worth it.

The Topshop Lip Marker in Hot Shot is exactly the same; I usually love everything from Topshop, and I'm still pretty convinced I got a dodgy one of this, but it dried out after the first use! It was only the day after first wearing that I went to it and could hardly get any product out, which for £8 is really a shame and such a waste, so I'll be sticking to their lipsticks in future which are lovely. Benefit Porefessional Agent Zero Shine was all over blogs when it first came out, and the majority had really good reviews on. For me, the powder was too dark and wasn't easy to blend, especially with the tiny, dense brush it came with. I didn't notice any difference in my pores either, and I've used much better powders from the high street that cost just a few pounds.

Last up is the Bourjois Liner Feutre in Ultra Black. I was a little unsure whether to feature this as I really do like the formula, it's very black and easy to use like most felt liners, but half way through application I found it quite drying and I actually had to go get another liner to finish it off, which I'm so disappointed with 'cause I'm quite sure this might have taken over from my all time favourite eyeliner, Supercat by Soap & Glory.

How did you get along with any of these?

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Creating Volume

One of my main hair concerns has always been volume; I'm cursed with limp, flat locks that almost make me shed a tear everytime I see someone with thick hair walking past. I jest, it's not that bad, but it certainly doesn't make me happy having to spend ages trying to perfect subtley backcombing every morning. So there's a few new products in my life that mean I can put down the brush and leave the house with healthy, thick looking hair.

My latest buy which you might have spotted in my previous couple of posts is the Aveda Phomollient Styling Foam. Note, this is a foam, not a mousse. You're not supposed to shake it up, and you can apply to any areas of the hair you'd like. I usually just apply to the roots, just in case I go a bit overboard. You only need to apply a tiny amount to separate areas of roots, and after blow-drying my hair looks completely different. It gives such fantastic volume without leaving my hair feeling weighed down or loaded with product. I've used this with every wash since buying, and I can see this being a favourite for a very long time.

I talk about the Bumble & Bumble Thickening Spray quite regularly, and I have been pairing this with the Aveda product. It's a good way to add some volume to the lengths of my hair as well as the roots, and also has a beautiful scent that I absolutely love. I'm surprised how much of this I still have left, a little seems to go such a long way. And if I need to add a bit extra, perhaps on second day hair, my go to is the Charles Worthington Volume and Bounce Texturising Spray, which again I think I've talked to death on here. After a quick curl, I spray this through the lengths and roots of my hair, volume and bounce magically appear, and sticks around too, I don't find myself needing to top up with this throughout the day at all which is perfect.

Do you have any favourite products for creating volume?

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Birchbox Sun, Sea & Sand Edition, July 2014

Birchbox time rolled around so quickly this month, and they have produced yet another seriously good box that had me "oohing" and "aaahing" at everything inside. This months theme is Sun, Sea and Sand, so perfect being this time of the year, although right now I am looking outside my window at torrential rain.

Whish Lavender Body Butter
I've never heard of this brand, but little pots of body creams are always perfect to take away travelling. I'm not the biggest fan of lavender but have tried this out and it's such a gorgeous, creamy scent with just a hint of lavender, which is absolutely beautiful. I'm not sure if I'll be able to save this for my next trip away, it's just so lovely.

Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream
I was really happy to see this in here, as I've been wondering about trying some eye creams for a while now. I see other bloggers reviewing them, but honestly, at the age of 23 I'm not really too sure if I'm quite ready for one yet. I don't even really get under eye circles too badly, but I'm still really intrigued to see how this works on me.

Laqa & Co Sheer Lip Lube Pencil
I knew one of these would be in every box after seeing a little spoiler, and I'm so chuffed I got the shade 'Bees Knees', I don't think the purple one is quite me. It's a really gorgeous glossy coral peach that's going to be so easy to wear in summer. Like a few of the lip crayons I've tried this has a slight minty scent that I like too.

Benefit The Porefessional
I've tried samples of The Porefessional before, and I can't remember ever being really massively impressed with it. I've recently run out of my Clarins Instant Smooth though so I am pretty happy about seeing this in here, and it'll be interesting to see how the two compare.

Weleda Sea Buckthorn Creamy Body Wash
Again, another little sample size that's perfect for travelling. This has a really nice fresh, citrus scent that almost reminds me of a San Pellegrino drink in a body wash! It's not really the most exciting product I've ever got but it's definitely something I'll put to good use and enjoy whilst I do.

As a little lifestyle extra I got a bottle of Vita Coco Lemonade which was so delicious I drank down so quickly so didn't photograph. It's probably not the best box from Birchbox, but I'm looking forward to using everything and I don't think there's a single thing I wouldn't get along with at all, so pretty good going really!

Did you get this month's Birchbox?

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Recent Purchases

Mum and I took our seasonal trip to the Trafford Centre this week, and some damage was done! I find my personal style changing quite a bit at the moment, going for more classic shapes, minimalistic designs and not a whole lot of colour. Although, as you can see, that isn't applying to my make-up, and I couldn't resist adding two more reds to my collection. I'm trying to keep up with a weekly Youtube video, so of course it's the perfect excuse to film a haul!

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A New Workspace

I've been after a new desk for quite some time now; my old one was a 1960s drop leaf table that was very scratched, wobbly, and pretty bloomin' hard to actually sit under! After my best week on Ebay yet ( even after four years you have to celebrate those little achievements! ) I decided to buy the table top and trestle legs I'd spotted on IKEA as well as a new chair. It's a great, open white space, which is the perfect size to work on and be able to take blog pictures too. I even treated myself to a new Rifle Paper Co. notepad, and used my new doily bowls from the charity shop for some storage. Finally I have a space to work, rather than procrastinating in front of the tv on the sofa all day!

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First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads

I've never used anything from First Aid Beauty before, but after seeing a little review of this on Ms. Hirons blog, the Facial Radiance Pads have been in the back of my head for a while. I was given a little push after spotting them in the Feel Unique sale, and have been using them at least once a day for the past couple of weeks since they arrived. 

The First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads come in a little pot, and are pre-soaked pads with a toner designed to exfoliate whilst toning and brightening the skin. The main ingredients are lactic and glycolic acid, which is an AHA, perfect for dealing with dark spots or leftover blemish scarring. It also uses cucumber and indian gooseberry to tone the skin, with liquorice and lemon peel to brighten. The pads are quite small, but big enough to cover your entire face, with quite a lot of product soaked in that's more than enough to go over your face once, or even twice if you fancy saving them ( although that might not be the most hygenic! )

Whilst they aren't the most effective thing I've ever used on my scarring, after using one daily for the past two weeks I have notice a big difference in the overall appearance on my skin. Everything looks brighter, the tiny little bumps that used to cover my forehead and tops of my cheeks have disappeared, and my skin even looks firmer. If you have really oily skin with serious scarring, they probably aren't going to be enough for you. But if you're perhaps on the drier, or more normal side, and can sometimes find other AHA's irritating, I would really recommend giving these a go. It's radiance in a pot.

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Nude Glitter

I've mostly been wearing brights on my nails, being summer and all, but the other day I revisited one of my old favourites; nude with glitter tips. I think it's such an elegant, easy look, and it really goes with everything. I used the Rimmel 60 seconds polish in 'Lets Get Nude', which is one of my favourite nude polishes. I really like how quickly it dries, but I do need 3 coats to get a fully opaque colour.

I have a ton of glitter top coats so I usually just end up reaching for whatever catches my eye. I went for the Avon Colortrend Dazzler polish, which is a pretty gold with different sized particles of glitter. I do the glitter fade by applying a thick layer to the very tip of my nail, clear the excess off the brush and slide the polish down the nail which leaves a pretty fade effect.

Are you a fan of glitter fade nails?

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5 Blushers For Summer

I've always been a lipstick lover, but blush and I are having a serious moment. I'm building up a little collection, and my favourites appear to be coral, peachy shades that are perfect for summer. Despite having the most of these, I've rounded up five favourites that suit lots of skintones and deserve to be used a lot for the next couple of months.

Starting off with a real favourite, NARS Liberte. This is a gorgeous burnt coral shade, with a little hint of red. I have to use this incredibly lightly as it is well pigmented, and being quite pale it can go a bit over the top. But swept on with a light hand this looks beautiful, and I'd think is deep enough to suit many skintones too. It's got the fantastic lasting power of NARS, but does fade very slightly throughout the day to a pretty peach shade. A quite similar shade, although in cream formula, is Liz Earle Healthy Glow Cream Blush* in Coral. It does have a bit more of a peach undertone, but leaves a really glowy, fresh pop of colour to the cheeks. This stuff packs some serious pigmentation too, I can't see myself ever running out because you only need the tiniest amount!

Another gorgeous peach is aptly named, Sleek Life's a Peach. It's a matte shade so looks awesome with a tan, and is has such a good formula, pigmentation and lasting power considering it's under £5! One of the newer ones in my life is theBalm Lip and Cheek Cream in 'Pie'. It's a beautiful watermelon pink with a pretty sheen, and even better it can be worn on the lips too, although I haven't tested this out yet. All of these lip and cheek creams come in a little palette now, which I'd love to get my hands on. And last but definitely not least, I've been using the Soap & Glory Peach Party palette for a while now, as it's a perfect mix of a blush, bronzer and highlight shades. You can use this individually or just as I do, giving it all a bit whirl over with a brush and applying around the temples and apples of the cheeks. Don't worry, it's not as drastic as it sounds, and it just gives a lovely glowing look to the face.

What are your favourite blush for summer?

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British Summer Appropriate

The past week parts of the country have recorded temperatures the highest so far this year.. just parts of the country, though. I live in the North West, which has been extremely dull, cold and raining most of the week too. As much as I love England, the major downside is the weather; it's incredibly unpredictable, meaning you can't rely on usual summer attire, including footwear.

I picked up a couple new bits from Betty London, which are one of my favourite brands for shoes. First I got a perfect pair of summer sandals, the 'Carolet' style in black. These are seriously comfortable and easy to just clip on with everything. They're quite similar to the 'slider' style of sandal that are everywhere at the moment, but with a little support around the heel making them a little easier to walk in. I've really wanted a pair of suede boots for ages, so got the Bertope boots which I really liked the look of, although I did have to get them in a whole size larger as my size had sold out at the time and I'm impatient! I think they'll be okay if I wear them with a thick pair of socks though, apart from the whole clown feet thing. I haven't actually worn these yet, but they're on hand for the rainy days.

Have you been buying any new shoes for summer?

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