Winter Wonders

The winter weather is fast approaching and the freezing cold air is well upon us. Unprepared, I was leaving the house un-layered and vulnerable. Deciding I couldn't face it any longer, especially having to leave the house at 6am every morning, I caved and went shopping for some warm winter clothes. 

Along with a couple of items I probably didn't need to buy, I found these two beautiful, thick woolen scarves. The floral one was an absolute bargain buy for just £5 in Primark. It's got so many different colours in it, it can easily be worn with most things and it's length makes it extremely cosy. 

The red tartan one was a little more pricey at £19.50 from Marks and Spencer. As I currently work in there, I have had my eye on it for a while but finally decided it was time. 

Marks and Spencer have been a hidden gem as of late, especially their Limited and Autograph departments. So if you're looking for something a little bit unique that not everyone is wearing, unlike the ever-popular Topshop, I definitely suggest giving them a chance. If you can, head to one of the bigger stores such as Marble Arch for a great selection. 

Bare Minerals VS PurMinerals

For years I have suffered with oily skin, and no amount of mattifying face cream has been able to stop it slowly wear away at my foundation. By the end of almost every day my face would be almost foundation-free, which is not the look I was going for surprisingly.

Up until recent months, I had always been naive and uneducated when it came to makeup, I was more of a follow-the-trend kind of girl. This meant I was using liquid foundation and piling on powder to dry it out. Big mistake. Liquid foundation on top of oily skin is a disaster waiting to happen, and the layers of powder made me look like I was applying my makeup with a shovel.

That is when the wonder that is pressed foundation came into my life. A friend of mine bought the Bare Minerals Ready foundation, and after seeing her wearing it, I was completely sold. For the first few weeks of using it I felt so much better about my skin and had finally found a resolution for the oil. When the pot was coming to an end, I went into an M&S and saw their PurMinerals counter selling almost the exact same product. One of the girls working there had told me that not only was it makeup but it was also a skincare product. Deciding to give it a go, I started using it before the Bare Minerals had completely ran out and I have to say, there is no comparison.

Yes, they may seem like the same product, but PurMinerals has so many qualities that Bare Minerals seems to be lacking. After using the two, I have noticed that Bare Minerals builds up throughout the day and ends up looking rather cakey. Not only this but the skin-tone range isn’t as broad as its competitor and as it takes it’s time to build up, you end up piling on more than necessary as you feel like you have nothing on to start with.

With PurMinerals, there is no cake and no hassle. It goes straight on, the colour matches my skin perfectly and it doesn’t wear away throughout the day.

Although it isn’t a well-known brand, PurMinerals wins hands down for me and I recommend everyone to try it. Marks and Spencer offer a wide range of PurMinerals products, with the foundation costing you £24. It’s my ultimate makeup bag must-have and I think it would be yours too.