SPOTTED @ ZARA

I've been spotting things again... and ordering them. I really liked my quick little 'SPOTTED:' post I did about the River Island Cami Bikini Tops (here) and I thought I would post this gem I spotted in the Zara sale... £50ish to £22.99 is my kind of bargain. I love the subtle two-tone and I have been searching for a bag for ages with a zip, a hand and shoulder strap and handy compartments. This ticks all boxes but has proven very difficult to find! Preferably I wanted black but this caught my eye and was too pretty to click away. For the price, practicality and prettiness, I just couldn't leave it alone.

I am travelling a lot in the next two months as well and the size means I will be able to get in lots of travel essentials and although it's not quite big enough to use as a hand luggage bag when you have nothing else, such as a bag in the hold, it will fit inside my suitcase and I can fill it with travel essentials! I'll be posting soon something along the travel essentials line, so stay tuned.

SPOTTED: RIVER ISLAND BIKINI TOPS

These are my perfect bikini tops: a little bit of push and holds everything in. I don't have the biggest boobs so triangle shaped bikinis don't do anything for me and I love something that really holds everything. I saw these on Lucy Watson's Instagram and loved them straight away. For only £15 they are, in my eyes, a bargain and the bottoms that they match with them are also lovely and relatively cheap with around 8 colours to choose from. There is also a limited edition version of this bikini with a different pattern on each side that has a small cut out in the middle. I might have to pick up two....

Turning Eighteen & Leaving School | June Catch Up

I've been light on the posts recently due to exams but on Wednesday I finished and am now a free woman for the next 18 months before I go to university in 2016. I'm taking a gap year which I have losely planned but will be looking into much more very soon! I wanted to do a catch up post to update you as I've had lots on recently while I've been away.


It began with the last ever day of school and the beginning of study leave. This was celebrated appropriately with drinks and 90's songs after a primary-school-esque sports day took place followed by a BBQ and getting our year books and leavers hoodies. In our leavers assembly we were shown a great video which had been in the making for months (youtube here) which featured everyone and this was followed by a light hearted game of Take Me Out.

On the Saturday was speech day, at which I did not win a prize but it was the final taste of school assemblies and every one got all dressed up. When I got home I was met by suspiciously early birthday decorations and a shout of surprise from my nana, aunt and uncle along with 3 of my closest friends, brother and mum. I got a beautiful Russian wedding ring which will be featuring in many posts, I'm sure as well as travelling bits and a big photo frame titled '18 Shades of Hannah' by my friends.

The next day was my 18th birthday which I spent at Tunbridge Wells Bar & Grill (their cocktails are amazing) which was so delicious and I had loads of my family there and my friends. I then visited the pub in the evening where I was ID'ed for the first time and saw some other friends. I was lucky enough to get a trip to New York with my dad and a trip to Budapest for me and my boyfriend from my mum as well as a trip up the Shard in London and money towards my travels. I felt so lucky and spoiled that day and I wish that it didn't have to end! The day afterwards I had to go straight back into revision for my A2s.

I then got to drop revision for another day for a wedding. I haven't been to a wedding since I was about 9 so I really enjoyed myself. It was such a beautiful day and I had been excited about it for so long so Congratulations to Sam & Grace!

The end of exams was then kindly upon me. Me and my friends went to the local pub for ice cream sundaes to celebrate (something we had been planning for a long time) and spent the evening drinking fizz with a rather drunken game of articulate and not so great renditions of Mamma Mia songs. Beginning of freedom!

There is a big forest by my house which takes part in the forest tour and this year Tom Odell was playing. I saw him last year at Benicassim although I was sat on the grass. My mum loves him so we and my boyfriend all went to see him and he is great on stage. He was supported by Rae Morris as well who I really like at the moment and both of them were excellent. I wouldn't see Tom on his own again but if he was playing at a festival I would go see him.

Finally, my last ever school event. My leavers ball was held in a marquee in the head boys garden which was brilliant because they were able to do everything the way we wanted to. It was a fantastic night (although I took my shoes off when there was lots of glass around and hid lots of jelly shots in my bag although it just filled my bag with jelly...) and something which I'll really treasure because the people in my year are great.

So that brings my life up to date and today I have spent the whole day watching OITNB as I promised I wouldn't start season 3 until I had finished my exams. Its so great to be home with nothing to do (except go to work a couple of times a week) and I'm so glad that exams are over. I have a couple of exciting things planned for summer like going to Liverpool to visit my cousin for a week and going to France to meet my boyfriend who went to Russia today for 6 weeks. I can't wait to enjoy this freedom!

5 Things: I Love

Hello! Recently there have been 5 things that I cannot leave the house without. 6 if you count a brush, but here I'm all about the product. I am guilty of obsessively outfit-repeating, a bronzey glow, hydrated skin and smelling of peony and musk. Oops.

I found these Mom Jeans on the Topshop website on Christmas Eve and they kept going out of stock when I purchased them. I wear these all the time and I find that the less stretchy jean material is looking like it's going to last a lot longer than a pair of Jamie jeans. I'm not a big fan of Jamie's as I find that the elasticity goes after a while from the wash. These fit me so well, something I was worried about with Mom jeans since I'm quite slim but these don't hang off me and leave me shapeless as I expected.

My Nike Air Force 1's are my favourite shoes to throw on with these jeans, although boots look good too. As I've said before these go with so many things, but since I basically live in these jeans I haven't had much chance to wear much else. They're so comfy and I quite like them now they aren't completely white and a little bit worn. 

On my face I've been keeping it super simple. I have been applying my Toleraine Ultra moisturizer by La Roche Posay - a brand that I am a huge fan of and a moisturizer that I love. It's super hydrating and especially when it's windy it's a great way to protect my skin. I am pretty sure that this doesn't have an SPF but I have been putting a little of another one with SPF in most days. 

Over the top I've been using Soap & Glory's Solar Powder that fast became my favourite bronzer after I bought it a month or two ago. I tend to use the dark side and just buff it over my face with my Real Techniques Buffing Brush as I find the lighter side has a slight shimmer to it, although I do use this more on the apples of my cheeks sometimes for a really glowy and healthy look. Something to just life my face rather than looking pale and.. well, English.

Finally, the sweet smell of peonies and musk. I'm sure many of you have heard about the Elizabeth and James Nirvana Perfumes and the white one is my favourite. It smells a little like Jo Malone's Peony & Suede Blush scent, so a little muskier and grown up than other floral scents. I find this makes me feel really sophisticated and grown up. It lasts all day on my skin and is great for evenings out as it's a little bit of a darker and sexier scent.

What are 5 things that you're finding really essential at the moment? Especially as spring is just around the corner...

#DrySkinProblems | Body & Skincare

Hello! I'm a real sufferer of dry skin, especially in the transition between months. However, this winter has been a cold one and I think going between warm and cold - and simply just the cold weather - has really been harsh on my skin. Not only is my face suffering, but my scalp and around my hairline as well as all over my body, especially my legs. There's a couple of products which have been easing the itching and discomfort of my dry skin and as this is a reoccurring problem for me, probably meaning my skin has actually just become dry, I thought I would share my words of wisdom. And my products.

It all starts in the shower for me. T-Gel by Neutrogena is an absolute life saver and works from the very first application. It reminds me of my childhood because my mum used to sometimes use it on me and on herself. The smell is on the verge of medicated but if you're applying other products afterwards it is pretty easily masked and not a problem. I actually kind of like it. It suggests you use it for 6 weeks and I use it 2 times a week - so every other wash. I also use E45's Shower Cream which is kind of like Nivea's in shower moisturizer or Lush's body conditioner. Both of these are products which I haven't tried but will probably try out when I run out of this. It's just extra moisture! In the shower I also use Neutrogena's Grapefruit Face Scrub. I find that when I'm not using a scrub that my face gets really irritated as though I need to be buffing away the top layer to keep my skin fresh and new. However, I do find a lot of face scrubs harsh and am guilty of over exfoliating sometimes. With this I just gently buff it around my face, especially on my forehead and around my hairline. It makes the dryness less visible and ensures I don't have flakey looking skin. Apologies about the use of the word flakey.

After the shower I focus on my face straight away. I have started using my toner only around my nose and on my chin as these are the only places where I feel needs it and can handle it. My dryer skin doesn't cope with toner very well. I then apply La Roche Posay's Toleraine Ultra which is super rich and moisturizing. It sinks in so fast and is great under make up to make sure it doesn't start to look dry of cakey throughout the day (- despite what I said in my review!) Sometimes if I have let it all sink in and some areas are still feeling dry I'll add a little extra or mix it in with my foundation. I do actually find that with my dryer skin, using tinted moisturizers like the Garnier Miracle Cream is great, especially when it's cold and windy outside! On my lips I always use Nuxe Reve de Miel!

Finally to take off my make up I use La Roche Posay's Physiological Cleansing Gel followed by a little of Neutrogena's Cream Grapefruit Face Wash. I find this just ensures that my face is clean - esentially double cleansing - but without stripping my skin as I have incorporated in a creamier face wash. I do have my eye on the Body Shop's Cleansing Balm as I feel my skin would really benefit from a balm to keep it moisturized. I'll use the same moisturizer at night and sometimes I'll put on some of The Body Shop's Vitamin E Serum in Oil. When my skin first went really dry this is what I turned to and it really worked but my skin has just got increasingly more dry, expecially in this freezing cold weather!!!

Let me know what you do for your skin in winter for a little extra TLC!

Feline Flick

Hello! I have always been a fan of the felt tip liners which allow you to draw on a flick without the pully-ness of a pencil eyeliner or the faff of liquid or gel. For me, it's just easier in the morning and it looks just as good as all the others in half the time (once you get the hang of it!)

In the past I've used the Eyeko liner that Alexa Chung always raves about but I found over eye shadow it really dried it out and made it unusable. I've also used ones from various brands in the past such as MUA but found they just weren't as pigmented as they could be so I've used Rimmel's Exaggerate liquid liner a lot in the past although I find it just a little bit watery and harder to control. 

Soap & Glory's Supercat liner has the really easy-to-use felt tip which I love that isn't dried out by using it over eye shadow or powders. It's really black and the nib is hard enough that you can get a really thin and defined line which I really love at the very ends of mine, even if I thicken them up in the middle. It is wet enough to get through that and if you wanted you could smudge it out a little on application if you're quick. After that it does set and stays in place all day but it is by no means a waterproof formula and when I tried this on the back of my hand it smudged right off when I washed them the first time. Unless you have really watery eyes or wipe your eyes a lot you'll be okay though and it does stay in place all day. 

If you are searching for a new liner or just getting into it then this is a really brilliant one to try. If you're starting out with it then this one gives you the most control and is more like a pencil but it flows more easily across the lid - I wouldn't jump in with gel or liquid when you're practicing!

Let me know what your favourite eyeliner is to do a feline flick with!

MAGAZINES

Hello! I don't know about you, but I feel like Company Magazine made a mistake going digital. Every month I desperately looked forward to going into the shops and picking up a new copy and I miss having a physical magazine to read, or one at all as I don't buy the digital version. I've been an avid reader of Company since I can remember and when I was moving house back in February I threw away years worth of issues, including ones before they redesigned. To fill the void that is now left I have been looking at magazines which could be a replacement and perhaps a little more specific to my current interests.

1. i-D. I first heard of i-D when I went to a university open day and they had it in their little shop on campus so I jotted it down and looked it up when I got home and I've been searching for it in a shop ever since. i-D has built itself a reputation for reinventing and inspiring fashion for all those involved in fashion culture and has included people from many creative backgrounds such as Tom Ford, Madonna and Kate Moss - all giving a cheeky wink. A years subscription includes 6 issues at about £27 which is incredibly good value and extremely tempting... 

2. LOVE. Love magazine is a twice-a-year magazine that aims to inspire designers, artists and just anyone looking for visual inspiration in fashion or design. Kendall Jenner, Cara Delevigne and Miley Cyrus have all been featured within the magazine and they look to feature up and coming music developments, art and fashion. A mystic ball for the creative world if you like.

3. The Creative Review. The Creative Review is just like any other 'Review' - it displays the latest projects, people and inspiration for a specific field. In this case, it's all things creative (as the title would suggest) but if you take a look and are particularly interested in Economics, English or any other subject then there is a review for almost anything. It's actually a great way to read further in your subjects if you're at school and lots of departments at my school are subscribed so that you can read essays and just broaden your knowledge. Great for your personal statement if you're thinking about applying to university this year (eek!) or next year or just for your exams. Or even just personal interest!

4. boat. A travel and culture publication. Boat magazine presents its reader with a new city each issue, showing you how inspiring a city can be and really getting right into the cracks of the city. London, Los Angeles, Athens and Lima have all been focused on so far. Great if you're an avid traveler looking for some iinspirationon where to go next. It contains pictures, interviews, personal profiles and artwork from each place, giving you an honest and bare view on a city every issue. Even the covers are inspiring. 

5. Violet. A publication focusing on leaders, authors, entrepreneurs and all-round inspiring and amazing women including Alexa Chung and Brit Marling. Alyson Swan, creator of Violet, aims to inspire and motivate women to create their own career and success through her inspiring interviews and editorials so that women can get to know women who can inspire them. 

6. In Bloom. A publication for youths with curious and creative minds. It captures fresh talents in music, fashion, literature, art and photography while also giving an industry insight to all. 

I hope that some of these catch your eye and maybe you might pick up a copy if you spot one in a shop next. You can order single issues from a couple of magazine websites which make it easy for you to find smaller and more independent magazines. I hope I've given you a little bit of reading-inspo. Happy reading! 

Let me know if you've read any of these magazines before or if you have any other suggestions along the same lines!

Styling: Nike Air Force 1s

Hello! For Christmas I got white Nike Air Force 1s which have featured in many of my wish lists over 2014. I have never been one to wear trainers so I have been thinking of ways to style them and I thought I would share my thoughts with you all.

First of all, pairing a big coat or a leather jacket with any outfit really brings it together, but to make your outfit a bit more smart-casual pair it with NAF1s. A stripe top or a grey jumper sticks with the lovely monochrome theme that I am in love with at the moment. These are so easy to make your outfit fresh an  bright, especially if it's black-heavy (although I would never  object to a black outfit from head to toe!) If it's a bit warmer then this scallop-edged skirt is another  lovely contrast to NAF1S. If you want something a bit softer in colour and lightweight, then this tshirt dress would be a great way to achieve an effortless but seemingly-put-together look. Finally the trousers more appropriate for the freezing cold weather in England recently! I recently bought these mom jeans from topshop and I love them with my NAF1s as it makes for a great outfit to throw on but you can still dress it up a little with a white shirt. Finally, I bought some leather-look biker leggings from Bershka which I love and these look so great with them. Add a big coat and NAF1s and you're away!

So this is how I will be styling my Nike Air Force 1s, but is there a way that you would style them differently? 

Day to Night with Cosmopolitan Las Vegas #cosmopolitanchic

Hello! I was emailed by Cosmopolitan Las Vegas and they told me about their Vegas Day to Night outfit posts which lots of bloggers have been participating in recently so I thought I would give it a go. You can check out their website here http://www.vegas.com/resorts/cosmopolitan/ for yourself to get ideas to create your own! I really enjoyed piecing together Vegas-style outfits on Polyvore which I use a lot anyway to create looks so try it for yourself and tweet it to @VEGAScom!

I chose a bold blazer that would work in a few situations and kept the theme black and gold. 

For day I chose something that would happily take you to a bar and out for lunch. The blazer is very bold and this specific one is rather expensive but you could pick any gold blazer. I think it adds some richness to the outfit which screams Vegas. I didn't want to go heavy with detail on the top so I picked this simple but interesting top so that if you took off the blazer you were still left with some detail on your top half. I went with jeans so that it wasn't too much for the daytime but paired it with black and gold heel-boots to dress it up - don't do it by halves in Vegas! I accessorized this with a gold watch, bangle and dainty ring but avoided a necklace as there's a lot on the top half with the blazer and the pattern on the top. Bag wise I chose a simple clutch so that you aren't carrying too much about. You can add the strap onto the bag so that you can keep your hands free but in big cities and crowded places I would always ensure that it closes properly. For nails I would go for black nails with a gold accent nail which has a gold sophistication to it but isn't too much for the day or too little for the evening - perfect transition. If you're chilling by the pool you can ditch the blazer for a light outfit and when you're heading out while it's still light just slip it back on again!

So you've popped back to the hotel after a bit of time by the pool, a shopping trip, lunch and a drink in a bar in order to get ready for some dinner, another trip to another bar and a nightclub or two. When you have this beautiful statement blazer that can be really dressed up you don't need to ditch it for the evening. For going out I ditched the jeans and pretty top for some leather trousers and a simple black shirt to enhance your blazer. I paired these with even more gold studded heels to add some detail to your bottom half. I kept my nails the same and accessorized heavily with gold. I kept the watch the same and added lots of simple gold rings as well as a detailed cage ring and a lion ring. I kept a clutch as you can keep it close to you when you're out so you won't lose it or have it taken. Just pop in your room key, phone and your lipstick incase you need a top up and head out the door. 

There we have my day to night outfit which features this beautiful gold blazer that you can dress up or down. Let me know what you think or what you would wear and check out the #cosmpolitanchic tag on Twitter to see other people's ideas and create your own!

PEACHES AND CLEAN

Hello! I picked up Soap & Glory's Peaches and Clean in replacement of my Nuxe Melting Cleansing Gel with Rose Petals, which I really liked to get rid of my make up and did such a good job on my eyes. I just felt like trying something a bit different and Nuxe is still a little hard to find sometimes.

Peaches and Clean has a faint smell of peaches with a spa undertone which isn't too overpowering. I actually love the smell of peaches so I love this but I know that some of my friends aren't fans. It's got a great pump that's good for in the shower so you don't have to faff around with lids and it doesn't let water into the product, which I've found with a couple of other products (Clarins...). For it's 3 in 1 it claims to declog and deep clean, boost circulation and re-energize and finally get rid of make up and blackhead-causing build up from the skin. It does all of the above wonderfully and noticeably after only using it for about a month. My eye make up usually needs a little bit of help with some micellar water as I don't like rubbing this into my eyes too much (sting-sation) but it definitely melts away everything else. I remove it with a flannel to gently buff my skin at the same time and I'm happy using this as my cleanser at the moment although whether I repurchase or not, I'm not 100% sure. I'm actually dying to try their hot-cloth-cleanser style product, so I think that's next on my list.

Are there any Soap & Glory skincare products that I should try out?

5 More Things I Didn't Know Before Blogging

Hello! In February I posted '5 Things I Didn't Know Before Blogging' and as I have continued to blog and read other blogs, mainly ones about beauty, I have learnt even more. That's kind of why I like all this blogging stuff; I learn stuff! Loads of you loved my post in February, which you can find to the right of this post or linked here.

1. You have to wash your brushes? I know that this sounds ridiculous, but before I blogged I only owned one brush and then some of those horrible eye sponge things. Cringing. This brush was a Boots own big face brush which I used for all my blush, bronzer and powder and I was perfectly happy with just that until I realized there are brushes made for specific things like putting eye shadow on the crease of your eye and contouring your face. I really had no idea at all. Now I deep clean my brushes at least once a month to make sure they're squeaky clean and keep the bacteria to a minimum on my dressing table.

2. So there is bronzing... then there is contouring? Say what?! I had no clue what contouring was, let alone how to do it! I personally still like to keep it quite simple and get a bronzer that I can mutlitask with but the Real Techniques Duo Fiber Face Brush is pretty good at getting under your cheekbones if I'm focusing on it. And my temples... and around my hair line... and under my chin. Still keeping it simple.

From 'Bronzing Up'

3. Acid?? On my face? Salacylic Acid was completely alien to me, even a little while into blogging. I would hear the name pop up, more when I really got into YouTube videos but quite frankly the name of it scared me a little bit. I didn't really understand the concept of putting some kind of acid on my face. However, I now use my Una Brennan Superfacialist mask twice a week which contains salacylic acid and I'm completely converted. It limits my dry patches, unblocks all my pores to keep the black heads at bay and helps me to prevent breakouts. Genius.

From 'Super Facialist Anti-Blemish'

4. Sephora?... Spack NK... Cult Beauty?! To be honest, when I kept hearing these names I thought they were brands of make up, which Sephora is, but really it's much much more than that, am I right ladies? I loved sending my dad off with a little list when he popped over to America and after birthdays and christmas, Space NK is always on my mind when I'm thinking of what I can buy with my money. I also go in regularly for presents for my dad and special people like that. I just love it and can't help myself!

5. Powders can be creamy? Huh? You know when people describe eyeshadows as creamy? Or any powder for that matter? I had absolutely no idea at the beginning. In my head I was thinking 'you just said it's a powder and now I'm super confused about this whole cream thing?!' However, if you've tried any of Urban Decay's Naked palettes or Nars' blushes, you'll know what a creamy powder is. I'm unsure how I actually figured this one out but I did. Thank God. No longer having to rewind videos or reread posts when someones talking about a creamy powder. Phew!

I may do a 3rd and final post of 'Things I Didn't Know Before Blogging' that would include all of you guys. If you have anything you didn't know, tweets me @hannah_gibbins or email me (at the side!)

5 THINGS I 'NEED' FOR AUTUMN

Hello! Let's face it... I need none of these things. However, I feel like they would be incredibly welcome into my wardrobe up until next summer.

1. Nike Air Force 1s Low White - I don't know why but I love these. I think it's just because I love white and these are all-white-errything. I'm not really a trainer girl and never wear trainers with my outfits except a pair of white Converse but I really love these!

2. Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Hot Pepper - These are some little beauties that I cannot wait to try. Liquid lipsticks that dry down to a completely matte look and feel and don't budge all day. Why would you not want to try these? And they've just added a couple more colours but I'm a big fan of this bright and perfect red. 

3. Zara Fur Hooded Coat - Isn't this lovely?! My mum always used to buy me hooded coats with fur when I was younger and I always hated them but I think they're really cute now. Mum, you were right all along. I love Zara coats as they always last for such a long time and actually keep you warm (something I like in a coat!)

4. Blue Jeans & Fave Grey Sweatshirt - I saw this in Zara and loved it. It's so simple and would be great to put under a coat with a pair of jeans, a coat and some boots or for just lazing about. You can use it for layering or just on it's own. I can't wait to get my hands on it.

5. Soap & Glory Brow Archery 2 in 1 - If you read my post on S&G's Brow Tint and Pencil you'll know I'm a huge fan. However, a little update: the tint end tends to get a little clogged with foundation and sometimes seems a bit pointless to me. It's become something I only do if I am going out so I get the most use out of the pencil and often find myself thinking 'now I just need a good spoolie'! This has the pencil with the same formula although tinner than their previous (perhaps a good thing as it's on the chunky side) and a spoolie. My dream has come true!

What are your autumn(/fall) 'essentials'?

URBAN OUTFITTERS IS AT IT AGAIN!?

Hello! If you cast your mind back to May time, I wrote a post (see here) about some of the products that Urban Outfitters has had to pull from their shelves due to complaints, although the products shouldn't have really been allowed to be put there in the first place. Guess what? They're at it again. Seriously UO?!

Their 'Vintage Blooded' Sweatshirt might seem a bit worn and almost acid washed, but people were offended at the reference to the Kent State massacre where four students were killed and nine others were injured. Just slightly insensitive...

However, it has come to my attention that perhaps Urban Outfitters aren't the only ones making these mistakes... Zara, I'm looking at you.

Zara have pulled these toddler pyjamas with a star that resembles the Star of David sewn on the front as many shoppers were seeing a resemblance to the Nazi Concentration Camp uniforms. How did no one see this similarity?! Who OK-ed this!?

The thing is, lots of clothing stores actually have to withdraw quite a few items of clothing: Asda and Tesco withdrew Halloween outfits last year after they were accused of disgracing those with mental health issues. Asda also had to withdraw wearable England flags which resembled the style of Ku Klux Klan outfits. Fenwicks stopped stocking BOY London after there were complaints of their Eagle Logo and Next baby grows got pulled after drawings of penises were found on them. Penises. On baby grows. 

Some of these are perhaps due to some sensitive people who see these products but once you see what's wrong with it you kind of can't help but thinking it's slightly wrong and shouldn't have been allowed. Clearly enough people are noticing this and complaining which leads these brands to having to remove certain products so why do they not think more about the effect it will have on their business and the way that those who buy it might take it? It's just incredibly careless of the companies but I really thought that Urban Outfitters might have stopped slipping up with their stock after so many times! (Click here to see their 13 biggest slip ups)

What do you think about these controversial designs?