Almost Gold - A Trio of Max Factor Bargains.

I can't resist a good make-up bargain, so when Superdrug were offering a three for two promotion across Max Factor Cosmetics, I decided to indulge myself a little and try out some new items.

I'd been intrigued by their Pan Stik Foundation for a while, and with the Creme Puff Pressed Powder being a vintage lovers handbag staple it seemed silly to not give it a try. I completed the trio with a berry coloured Colour Elixir Lipstick and excitedly took my make-up haul home to play with.

Max Factor Pan Stik Foundation (£6.99) in Nouveau Beige 13.

I'm always on the look out for foundations which promise special attention to dry skin, and the Pan Stick certainly delivers. Whilst it's creamy texture spreads like butter and blends like a dream, I'd exercise caution if you're prone to oily skin as this will slip right off without an appropriate primer. I picked the Pan Stick up in it's Nouveau Beige 13 variant - a light shade with pink undertones which sadly was still a little too dark for my milk bottle skin. It's the second lightest shade and I wish I'd gone with my instincts and picked it up in Fair 25, but I had figured 13 would be lighter than 25, right? Wrong! It might be ok if I caught the sun a little, but sadly fear that this is going to be mostly used for contouring rather than the entire face. On the plus side, the stick application is just perfect for that.

Max Factor Colour Elixir Lipstick (£7.99) in Mulberry 685.

Max Factor Colour Elixir Lipstick (£7.99) in Mulberry 685.

The Max Factor Colour Elixir Lipstick in Mulberry 685 is a stunning plum colour which is heavily pigmented and offers a lovely pearly shimmer - perfect for a soft Spring shimmer. The packaging is lovely, but what really made me fall in love is how wonderful it made my lips feel. It claims to moisturise and stop feathering, and really lived up to those promises. The colour lasted well throughout the day, even when drinking lots of cups of tea and barely needed to be touched up until going out again in the evening.

Max Factor Creme Puff Powder Compact (£5.99) in Translucent 5.

My final product to try was the Max Factor Creme Puff Pressed Powder. This is such a cult product, and easily recognisable due to it's powdery, perfumed scent. It manages to both set your make-up and offer a degree of concealment without feeling cakey. The powder itself is high-coverage and I've found that using it over a BB Cream will make you look like you're wearing a skin perfecting matte foundation. The only downside was that despite buying a shade which called itself "Translucent", the powder was anything but. In fact on my skin, it was at least two shades too dark for me, and a little on the orange side. I was really shocked! However the product itself was so good that I went and purchased it in it's Truly Fair shade, and it was the perfect product to set and finish off my face properly.

Until next time,

Diana xx

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(All photos (c) Diana Thompson / Fashion Loves Photos unless otherwise stated. Please do not reproduce without written permission.)

Mood Indigo - Vintage Prints with Modern Accessories.

When your body shape is as top heavy as mine, finding genuine vintage dresses can feel like an eternal struggle! As such, I was over the moon when I stumbled across this vintage bargain - it's lurid print and static sparks created a love at first sight haze and seconds later, for a whole £3.50, it was mine.

Dress: Vintage.

Cardigan: Primark

Leggings: F&F True Basic Plus Size Leggings from F&F.

Shoes: Yours Clothing.

Name Necklace: Tatty Devine.

The amazing print and super cute necklace from Tatty Devine.

Since the magenta shade was the strongest colour against the white and navy, I decided to team it with similar coloured accents. My Tatty Devine name necklace and Barry M lipstick finished the outfit off perfectly, and although it's a much later vintage piece than I'd normally wear, I'm completely besotted with it.

Until next time,

Diana xx

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(All photos (c) Diana Thompson / Fashion Loves Photos unless otherwise stated. Please do not reproduce without written permission.)

Down By The Water - The Aquarium Collection from Barry M.

(l-r) Pacific and Caspian from the Barry M Aquarium collection.

As part of their SS14 collection, Barry M have released their much anticipated Aquarium collection - a shimmering sea worthy series which appeals to sirens everywhere.

Pacific and Caspian from the Barry M Aquarium collection.

(l-r) Pacific and Caspian from the Barry M Aquarium collection.

The collection is made up of four two-tone nail paints which dazzle and change from every angle. It also has two glitter options with large particles ensuring a shimmering top coat. I took advantage of Superdrug's two for £6 offer and picked up the Pacific and Caspian colourways.

Pacific and Caspian from the Barry M Aquarium collection.

Depending on which angle you wave your hand, Pacific is a beautiful petrol blue-green whilst Caspian shimmers back and forth between a pearly pink and gold. Each of the shades compliment each other, and I'm quite keen to get my fingers dolled up in the other colours - especially the gorgeous glitter top coats!

Until next time,

Diana xx

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(All photos (c) Diana Thompson / Fashion Loves Photos unless otherwise stated. Please do not reproduce without written permission.)

Pink Elephants On Parade.

This cut out detail tea dress was high on my wish list when it first appeared on the ASOS website, but I sadly left it too late and was unable to nab one in the size I wanted. I was utterly thrilled when last week I saw one being sold brand new on eBay for a fraction of the price, and immediately began to stalk the auction like a hawk swooping in on it's pray.

A few days later, I was very excited to see a small soft packet in the hands of my postman, and within minutes had the dress on and was parading around my bedroom wearing it. It's a bit of a weird fit - the top half seems a whole lot bigger than the bottom, almost as if two parts of different dresses had been sewn together. Once belted though, the fit was a little better although I still felt it needed a cardigan too - a shame seeing as it was the cut outs at the front and back which had really caught my attention.

Weird fit aside, can we just take a second to appreciate just how adorable the print is. Pink elephants, lime applies, purple stars - it just couldn't be any cuter!

Dress: ASOS, via eBay.

Cardigan: Jo Cardigan in Tiny Cherries (Antique Green) by Collectif.(£25, was £35.)

Belt: ASOS Curve.

Hair Flower: Pearls & Swine.

Tights: Simply Be.

Heels: Yours Clothing.

I'm not entirely sure yet if I'm going to be keeping this dress or selling it on - I love, love, love the print but sadly it just feels a little too big on me. I'm going to see what I can do it make it fit a little better, but I have a sneaky suspicion that this might find it's way back on eBay pretty soon.

Until next time,

Diana xx

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(All photos (c) Diana Thompson / Fashion Loves Photos unless otherwise stated. Please do not reproduce without written permission.)

Smoke and Mirrors

I love playing around with make-up, so absolutely jumped at the chance to be a beauty model yesterday for my friend Al Pillay, the Empress of Slap. As well as swooning over the contents of Al's make-up kit, it is always interesting to see the techniques which other people use when applying cosmetics.

I was treated to a drama filled, classic smoky eye and fell in love with the copper brown shade from Bare Minerals. The colours used were not ones which I'd normally be drawn to, but this is definitely a look which I'd wear in the cooler months of the year.

I barely recognised myself when it was finished, and loved how the colours brought out the blue in my eyes! It was a bit of a shock when I looked in the mirror, but it was certainly a good one. If only I could look like this every day!

Al has a fantastic range of tutorials on YouTube which are a mix of beauty tips and cabaret excess, and if you want inspiration or a giggle, you can find them here.

Until next time,

Diana xx

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(All photos (c) Diana Thompson / Fashion Loves Photos unless otherwise stated. Please do not reproduce without written permission.)

Wearing your heart with VJW Jewellery.

Recently my lovely friend Miranda visited Newcastle and stumbled across a fantastic shop in Grainger Market called VJW Jewellery.

Situated in the heart of Newcastle's city centre, the shop plays host to all manner of jewellery making accessories as well as a lovely range of necklaces, beads and vintage inspired cuteness.

Because she knows me far too well, Miranda came back to London armed with one of these lovely heart shaped pendent necklaces for me. Available in a range of different colours, the hearts are made from wood and strung onto a waxed cord and finished with a silver clasp.

It almost has a lacy, filigree finish to the cut-out, with the range also including beaded bag charms. VJW kindly sent a bag charm down with the purchased necklace, and it's so pretty!

If you're based in Newcastle and want to visit VJW Jewellery, you can find out all their contact information here. Alternatively you can shop online too!

Until next time,

Diana xx

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(All photos (c) Diana Thompson / Fashion Loves Photos unless otherwise stated. Please do not reproduce without written permission.)

We Met By A Trick Of Fate, French Navy My Sailor Mate.

With the arrival of Spring, it's hard to not start dreaming about holidays and sailing away. As such, my wardrobe has been leaning towards a more nautical slant with sailor shapes taking the sartorial helm.

Cardigan: Hell Bunny Rockabilly 50's Landlubber Sailor Cardigan.

Skirt: ASOS CURVE Exclusive Tailored Skater Skirt With Belt (Was £25, now £14).

Leggings: F&F True Basic Plus Size Leggings from F&F (£6).

Shoes: Vintage.

Roses: Pearls and Swine.

Necklace: French Navy Anchor Necklace made with Camera Obscura for Tatty Devine.

Gem Ring: Mission Control Ring by Tatty Devine (Was £35, now £25).

Teardrop Ring: Vintage.

Nails: Prickly Pear by Barry M.

I am so in love with this Hell Bunny cardigan - when I initially purchased it, I hadn't realised that it had a real sailor collar on the back rather than just a screen print! Teamed with the F&F leggings and ASOS CURVE skirt, it was a simple and fun outfit which seems to combine smart and kitsch without cancelling each other out.

Now all I need is a narrow boat to steer, and I'm ready to go.

Also if anyone feels like donating a few pennies, I'm training to run the 5k Electric Run for Breast Cancer Care. You can sponsor me here.

Until next time,

Diana xx

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(All photos (c) Diana Thompson / Fashion Loves Photos unless otherwise stated. Please do not reproduce without written permission.)

Better Find Out Where They Want You To Go.

I'm at that stage where I feel like I've hit a wall. A wall which I've thrown myself against repeatedly to try to break it. One which I've tried to climb over. One which I've tried to walk around and one which I've just tried to flat out ignore. But it's there - and it's annoying me. And I'm still trying to break it down.

Everything feels a little bit more difficult that it should do at the moment - I feel like my running progress has plateaued which fills me with fear with the 5k fast approaching. I feel tired all the time, and have been sent off for another round of blood tests to see what mischief my hormones are creating now and whether I might also be iron deficient. And I feel frustrated with my work - I feel like all my current projects are on the more "work work work" side, with some sort of creative undertaking needed to pick me up. However I don't want to commit myself to anything big until I can guarantee that my body isn't going to pack up on me and send me to Zzzz-town.

Health vs Health.

It feels a little health vs health at the moment. Run, get fitter, fight against the stomach pain, PCOS and hormones, feel drained, feel sick, feel sleepy, get run down, get a cold, don't run, feel useless, feel like a failure, run, start process all over again. Over the last eight weeks I've been running almost every other day, normally a minimum of 4k, sometimes closer to 6. Often it was partly walked or slow ran, especially as I push myself to do routes with huge hills  and steep inclines but this week, I managed Monday. Just Monday. I've made myself go for a few walks, but this is the first week since I committed to running the 5K where my training schedule has completely fallen by the wayside, and it's really got under my skin.

Feels like the story of my life right now!

I'm trying to not beat myself up about it. It's been a rough week with a huge workload and I've not been feeling 100% so have decided to pick up where I left off next week. I'm currently sat in the countryside, and am trying to clear my mind with a view to starting over on Monday morning.

In terms of creativity, I've dusted off a few old project ideas and shelved something else I'd been working on with a view to coming back to it another time. It's nice to be making plans and writing outlines, even if that's all they are right now. I'm not going to lie, I feel a bit miserable and sorry for myself, but I need to weigh out the rubbish stuff with everything which is also good.

Next week is a new start, eh?

Also if anyone feels like donating a few pennies, I'm training to run the 5k Electric Run for Breast Cancer Care. You can sponsor me here.

Until next time,

Diana xx

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(All photos (c) Diana Thompson / Fashion Loves Photos unless otherwise stated. Please do not reproduce without written permission.)

So Early, Early In The Spring - Spring ready make-up with Boots No 7.

Although I am a complete sucker for the vampish dark pouts and elaborate eye make-up of the colder seasons, the lazy side of me cannot wait to restock my day-to-day make-up bag with a series of multi-use Spring essentials. Spring make-up is about creating a natural glow, with soft brights mixed in with dewy skin - easy, uncomplicated and allowing your skin to breath underneath.

My SS14 make-up arsenal No 7 Pop and Glow Cream Blush Stick, No7 Beautiful Skin BB Cream and No 7 Instant Radiance Highlighter.

Whilst the skin on my face is generally quite good, it can be a little dry at times and has a tendency to flush red, especially in warmer weather. As such I need something light to balance out the tone and hydrate and found that the No 7 Beautiful Skin BB Cream to be an absolute gem.

No 7 Beautiful Skin BB Cream (£13.50).

The BB Cream comes in two shades and three different skin types so I went for the Dry / Very Dry variant in "Fair". My pale skin isn't normally a fan of items with limited shades, but the BB Cream is sheer enough that it melts in with your natural tone and didn't make me look yellow as I had initially feared. It also contains an SPF which is a huge plus, and in addition to balancing out my skin tone, it makes my skin feel hydrated and soft the whole day through. You can apply it quickly and with ease simply by using your fingers or a foundation brush. I tend to use cosmetic sponges, which means I can slightly build up the coverage across the areas of my face which need it the most.

No 7 Pop and Glow Cream Blush Stick in Rose Blossom (£9.95) and  No 7 Instant Radiance Highlighter (£9.95).

No 7 Pop and Glow Cream Blush Stick in Rose Blossom (£9.95) and  No 7 Instant Radiance Highlighter (£9.95).

No 7 Pop and Glow Cream Blush Stick in Rose Blossom (£9.95) and  No 7 Instant Radiance Highlighter (£9.95).

Left: No7 Pop and Glow Cream Blush Stick in Rose Blossom (£9.95). Right:  No 7 Instant Radiance Highlighter (£9.95).

To add a bit of colour and definition, look for brights which can be blended for a soft finish. The No7 Pop and Glow Cream Blush Stick is a new product from their SS14 range and comes in three shades - Rose Blossom, Mango Sorbet and Classic Rose. I went for their bright, Barbie Pink shade in Rose Blossom where a small dot on the cheek bone can be blended out to a soft but bright pink flush. It has a similar quality to a lip and cheek stain, and in a bind can be dotted on the lips too.

My favourite item from the SS14 range has to be the No7 Instant Radiance Highlighter. A tube of cosmetic alchemy, this soft gold glimmer suits almost every skin tone and is blended in to a dewy, glistening sheen to give the illusion of younger, healthier skin. Simply sweep it onto your cheekbones above your blush, along your top lip, under your brow bone and even the centre of your nose and it'll help define, sculpt and glimmer your way to a perfect photo finish. Like it's blush equivalent, just slick on and blend in with fingers.

The items themselves feel easy to use and utterly foolproof. Their size and multi-use qualities also make them great for holiday make-up bags. I tend to wear them with white liner on my waterline, brow powder, a soft peach eye shadow and a sheer lip crayon for an easy daytime look.

Until next time,

Diana xx

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(All photos (c) Diana Thompson / Fashion Loves Photos unless otherwise stated. Please do not reproduce without written permission.)

Click Flash - Falling in love with Ladybird Likes.

You think I would have learnt by now to stop looking up things I love. I need a dinosaur / kitten / robot / teacup / Bowie blocker on every auction site and independent retailer for my own good. My smoking credit card and creaking jewellery storage both hate me, yet I couldn't resist the charms of this delightful camera necklace from Ladybird Loves.

Can we just take a second too appreciate the super cute packaging?

 .

I needed this necklace like I needed paper shoes, but it was brought as a result of a late night editing session. When your eyes have been staring at variants of the same thing for hours upon end, the danger is to break things up with a little online window shopping. A dangerous folly indeed as armed with a cup of tea and a Paypal account, I found myself throwing all my favourite things into the search box of my new found obsession, Not On The High Street. There were so many gorgeous creations dancing before my almost delirious, tired editing eyes, but it was the Ladybird Likes camera necklace which actually made me swoon.

Now that it's arrived, it's already been worn several times so I'm happy that it was an impulse buy which paid off. The range are all wood based and laser cut, and aside from cameras, it contains all manner of robots, pin-ups and other pieces of super cuteness.

You can view the whole range here and fall in love just like I did!

Until next time,

Diana xx

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(All photos (c) Diana Thompson / Fashion Loves Photos unless otherwise stated. Please do not reproduce without written permission.)

Competition Time with F&F True! Win a £25 Online Gift Voucher from F&F Clothing.

F&F True Floral Panelled Plus Size Scuba Dress (£25) and F&F True Basic Plus Size Leggings (£6).

After yesterday's post talking about the brand new plus size collection F&F True, I am so excited to bring my first ever give away to the blog!

The lovely people at F&F have kindly offered a £25 online gift voucher which can be used to purchase items from the F&F website. The F&F True collection is the new plus size capsule range, with sizes ranging from a UK 16 - 28.

To enter, all you have to do is have a look at the collection here, and let me know in the comments below which is your favourite item. There are also extra chances to enter if you follow me and F&F on Twitter and if you retweet about the competition. Simple!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can view all the terms and conditions by clicking here, and read my original post where I had a peek at the new F&F True collection here.

The competition is open until Sunday 23rd March so you have plenty of time to swoon over your favourite pieces.

I'm really excited to hear what your favourite items are!

Until next time,

Diana xx

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(All photos (c) Diana Thompson / Fashion Loves Photos unless otherwise stated. Please do not reproduce without written permission.)