Photo perfect: a week in pictures

Sometimes you just want to share with the world your favourite things! These aren't all necessarily fashion or beauty related but here's just a few of the things we've been loving this week.

If you want to see more of our pictures why not follow us on Twitter - we tweet about the blog @HEBeautifulLife or individually we're at @unicornvintage (Emma) or @haztastical (Harriet, also on instagram with the same name!).

EMMA:

This is my new necklace from Topshop which I'm absolutely in love with / My new YSL lipstick is a must have, this one is 14 Corail In Touch £24 / My little grandson loves Topshop just as much as I do, he was trying on this headband to show his Aunty Sian how cool he looked!

Love my own sundae creation made out of greek yoghurt, meringue, raspberries and ice cream / When I saw these cute heart bracelets in H&M I just had to have them, they're so sweet / This hair oil was a total bargain at £1.99 from Bodyshop, it really makes your hair sleek and smooth - go get some girls!

I did a photo shoot last week - the models looked truly amazing in my vintage clothes, all of the clothes featured are from the shop / These new trainers are super cool and the most comfy things on my feet - ASOS £50 / I just can't get enough of magazines!

HARRIET:

Hairpins from Emma's shop, loving using these when I have my hair in a bun / Been living off Cafe Nero milkshake recently! Their new chocolate and coconut one is lush but the mint is my all time fave / I saw this card and just had to buy it, it's on my wall at work - so true!

Loving cute pink lips for the spring! This lipstick is from MUA, I've had it a while but it's a definite spring colour / I'm now officially RYA Level 1! Learning to sail is so much fun, I'd recommend it to anyone / I bought this amazing silver bracelet from Emma, it's got a lovely pattern and just needs a little TLC to get it shining again!

I'm playing this song constantly on the way to and from work, when I'm jogging, anywhere! Love it / This is my new jumper from Emma's shop, wearing it today even though it's probably too warm for jumpers right now! / This amazing cupcake was absolutely delicious, yum yum!

H & E x

Beauty addict: a Boots haul

At the weekend Harriet got a little carried away in Boots and came out with a fair few beauty items! Everything is on three for two at the moment so it's well worth having a look as you could be picking up a bargain!

Eylure false lashes

Eylure really are fab when it comes to eyelashes so I picked up these Naturalites - as they're a bit lighter than the bigger lashes they do they're much easier to stick. I haven't tried out the Individual Lashes yet but am hoping to get some use out of them at the weekend!

Barry M lipstick

I loved how vividly pink this lipstick was, I tend to either go for a fairly pale pink or a brighter red so it's a new shade for me but I wore it on Saturday when I went out to Snobs (outfit post here) and it was really easy to wear and lasted for ages so I'm definitely impressed.

Soap and Glory Brow Tint and Precision Shaping Pencil

Anyone who knows me knows I'm a bit obsessed with eyebrows so when I saw this I wanted it straightaway! I have to say, I'm not head over heels in love with it. It provides a nice subtle look so I'll definitely be using it when I'm having a laid back day with barely any make up but for the heavier look I normally go for I will have to combine it with other products.

Soap and Glory Kick Ass Concealer

My sister's got this concealer and it looked great so I thought I'd pick one up. The darker shade on the left is great for covering blemishes while the lighter shade is fab for under the eyes and then you use a little of the powder on top! Definitely worth a buy and the packaging is super cute too!

Soap and Glory Cheekmate

I LOVE this product. I've found myself using brown shades a lot recently on my cheeks to try and brighten up my pasty winter complexion but this tint is totally persuading me to go back to the pinks and reds! You only need to use the tiniest amount of this product and it takes about two seconds to apply, with any extra tint going on to your lips to give them a rosy glow. I get the feeling it will last forever because of how little you need each time but I'll certainly be repurchasing when the time comes.


Nail varnish
I don't think I've ever walked out of Boots (other stores are available!) without some nail varnish and this time was no exception. I actually felt I'd been quite restrained just picking up two. The Barry M is the textured nail one we featured on the April wishlist (click here if you haven't seen it) while the Maybelline Color Show one I just thought was a really different colour. I have lots of green shades but nothing like this. It kinda reminds me of gunge but in a cool way! I wore it on Saturday and it provided a much-needed pop of colour for the my outfit.

H & E x

Miracle products of the week

You know when you find those products that become your firm favourite within minutes and you know you'll end up using them for a long, long time? Well this week both of us have stumbled on beauty products that have done just that! So today we're each bringing you one item that you need in your life!

EMMA:

Body Butter Duo Vanilla - £13

When my friend Kate came to mine on Saturday evening for a girly night as soon as she came in I could smell the most divine scent! I asked her straightaway what the smell was and almost ran to the Bodyshop to pick one of these Body Butter Duos up! I was even more pleased to find it was on sale for just £6.50 in store meaning it was even more of a bargain.

It has two sides so you can apply the lighter cream all over and the richer cream for drier areas like your elbows and knees. It leaves your skin feeling as smooth as a baby's bum - absolute enviable skin in a pot. Don't forget to pass on the secret when your friends ask you how your skin looks and smells so amazing!

HARRIET:

Kleenex Shine Absorbing Sheets - available all over the web, normally for under £3

I had two samples of Kleenex Shine Absorbing Sheets handed to me ages ago and they stayed at the bottom of my make up drawer until very recently when I decided I might as well try them. Now I wish I'd started using them the second I got them! They are quite simply amazing.

I work in an office all day and by the afternoon my skin feels absolutely awful. I find myself using loads of powder to try and keep my skin oil-free but now I just whip out one of the highly absorbent sheets and within two seconds my face just looks ten times better!

It may seem a small thing but I love the way the pack works to release one at a time to you rather than having to try and faff around to get one out. They are amazing! Everyone I've spoken to agrees they're an absolute daily essential.

H & E x

Saturday Steals: what we're loving this week

This week we've been picking up lots of new products and clothes that we've fallen in love with. We wanted to share a few of these with you today!

EMMA:

I love this new tweed Jaeger jacket which I picked up for £1 from my local charity shop. This can be worn with almost anything and I can't wait to style it up!
How adorable are these tea bags with little sayings on them? They were just 50p from Morrisons which is an absolute bargain.

And these gloves are simply amazing! They're so original but wearable.

I also picked up this new tailored riding jacket for just £1, I totally can't wait to wear it!

I made this new hair bobble myself - I'm sure they'll make a statement in anyone's hair and they look really cool in both this bold pattern and in a different denim look I've tried out.

These bendy rollers were a complete bargain for 99p!

This tailored black Jaeger jacket will go with almost anything and is definitely one of my favourites!

I'm loving my new make up from MUA - I got the cream blush in shade bittersweet, some me time lipgloss, lipstick in shade three, mega volume mascara in black/brown and lipstick shade 13.

 HARRIET:

I've had this Jellypong Brazilian Sun powder for a while but have to admit I hadn't really used it too much. However this week it's been an absolute life-safer to me by giving my face a bit of colour while I have been battling the lurgy!
This vintage parka style coat with fur collar is one of my favourite coats and has been helping keep me super warm this week while the weather has been so cold.

There's nothing like a bunch of flowers to remind you that spring is around the corner! This beautiful bunch have been brightening up my room no end.

I love this V05 Miracle Concentrate that I started using this week, you put a little bit in your hair before blowdrying and it makes it feel so much better! It's especially good if the ends of your hair are a little dry from being dipdyed.

H & E x

Treasure your new Things Tuesday: beauty and accessories

As we've probably mentioned a few times we love shopping and buying new things! Today we thought we'd bring you a selection of new accessories, beauty items and make up we've purchased this week - and of course tell you why we love them!

EMMA:

Topshop sandals

I absolutely love these sandals which I bought last week from Topshop - as soon as I saw them I knew I had to have them! They will go with almost everything and I've been braving the cold weather to wear them already because I can't wait to pop them on my feet!

Nivea Regenerating Night Cream and Rich Moisturising Day Cream

I love trying out new creams for my face and these Nivea products are absolutely amazing, they have really brightened up my cheeks!

MaxFactor Pan Stick

This pan stick is a must have! You only need to cover your face once and it gives you amazing coverage which lasts all day without the need to keep topping it up! It comes in five different shades, lasts for eight weeks or more and is only £6.99 - girls you need to run out and get one now!

Collection 2000 Bronzer

Like most girls I can't live without fake tan and this bronzer is truly the best. It gives you a natural bronzed look which I'm totally in love with!

HARRIET:



Scarf - vintage

This was one of three new scarves I got from Emma's shop last week. I absolutely love the pattern on it and the dark colours which match perfectly with all of my lovely coats! I hardly ever go out without some sort of scarf on and this is a more than welcome addition to my huge collection!

Barry M nail varnishes

As if I didn't have enough nail varnishes, I picked up this lovely green and red glitter one and also a green colour too from Barry M which is definitely one of my favourite brands for nail colours. The glitter one looks a bit Christmassy but I'm loving wearing it now and I'm always a fan of a green colour too!

MUA blusher

I've been using this shade to contour my face rather than as a blusher as it's just the right shade to blend in with my more pink looking Maybelline blusher. I love how cheap MUA products are but the quality is still so high!

Primark bracelets

I just loved how simple and cute these bracelets were - perfect for laying up and creating a really cool casual look.

Primark shoes

Studded shoes are everywhere right now but I thought I'd buy some plain slip on suede look shoes so that I could stud them myself - I'm currently on the lookout for the perfect studs to use but while I am I've been wearing these and the same ones I purchased in a teal colour loads - they're perfect with tights and a little dress or equally with jeans.

H & E x

Wind down Wednesday: stress relieving products

Sometimes life is stressful, you're rushing around all the time and you hardly have time to think let alone pamper yourself - for times like that you need those go-to products you know will melt away those stresses and make you feel better in an instant! It's Wednesday now, we're halfway through the week and you might be needing that little pick me up that helps you carry on all the way til the weekend - so we've picked some of our favourite products that will do just that!

EMMA:

Soap and Glory Heel Genius

This really is totally amazing! Within days your feet are so soft that you can't help show them off!

Soap and Glory Sugar Rush

This fresh and foamy body wash is an energy-boosting citrus wake up call. It smells divine!

Soap and Glory shower gel

This leaves your skin soft, sexy and smooth!

Coconut and Honey bubble bath

You never want to leave your bath with this in it! It's an amazing price too at only £1.49 from Morrisons.

Lush face mask

This Catastrophe Cosmic fresh face mask is so refreshing! It leaves your skin so smooth with such a glow.

Baby oil

It's the biggest must-have going! I always use it straight on my wet skin. It dries quickly and leaves you with kissable skin!

Lush Moon and Sun steam tabs

These are amazing! You drop them in a bowl of really hot water and put your face over the bowl to steam your day's stress away. After you can re-use the water by putting it into a bottle in your fridge to keep it fresh - use it as cleanser to wash your face as the oil from the steam tab will refresh your skin daily for up to a month!

HARRIET:

Simple Vital Vitamin foaming cleanser

I've already confessed my love for Simple products on this blog and I really do enjoy using this cleanser, it's so inexpensive and really works well. It leaves your face feeling fresh and soft which is exactly what you want if you're a little tired!

Radox Muscle Therapy bath soak

Having a bath is one of the most relaxing things you can do in my opinion! And this soak from Radox is excellent to soothe away those aches and pains.

H&M nail varnishes in Blue My Mind, Come Along With Me and Bella's Choice

Painting my nails is something I always find time to do, no matter how busy I am. I think it just makes you feel so much better if you've got a pop of colour on your nails. These are my latest shades I picked up from H&M, it's the first time I've used their varnishes but I am really impressed and I love all three colours!

Wilko fruity bath fizzers

These bath fizzers were one of my stocking fillers last Christmas, I've already used the orange one which smelt divine and I'm really looking forward to using these.

Schwarzkopf Gliss Hair Repair shine tonic

I only discovered this hair product a couple of weeks ago but now I'm not sure how I lived without it - it's all too easy to lose shine on your hair when you're too busy to spend a long time on it so this is perfect to quickly spray over it to boost it a little, plus it smells beautiful!

H & E x

Working Wonders Wednesday: our favourite make up

Just as with the beauty products we posted on Saturday (click here if you haven't seen them!), there are certain make up essentials that we just couldn't live without! So on this cold, wet and windy Wednesday we thought we'd share the products that keep us looking fab even when the weather's not!

EMMA:

Lipgloss

I just can't live without it! And I love tinted products which give that glow to your lips even if you're not wearing lipstick.

MUA make-up

It's a massive bargain with so much of their stuff on sale for £1. I especially love their eyeshadows and lipsticks.

Dior mascara

I love this mascara as it gives your lashes such a full effect and really opens up your eyes!

YSL blusher

This blusher really lasts all day and gives your cheeks an amazing colour, what more could you want from a blusher?

Elizabeth Arden bronzer

This bronzer is absolutely amazing, it has sparkly glitter in it which gives your face a fresh glow.

HARRIET:

So Susan Wide Awake palette

You can tell by the state of the box how much I've used this product since picking it up at the Clothes Show back  in December. It's got a highlighter, illuminator and an eyebrow kit which is great for me as I'm a little bit obsessed with eyebrows!

Maybelline gel eyeliner

My sister recommended this to me and I have to agree with her that it's a lovely product, and there's something really nice about using the gel rather than a kohl or a liquid liner.

Rimmel eyebrow pencil

This little pencil sadly came back from Saturday's night out without a lid so I'll definitely be purchasing another one - probably about my fourth repurchase which is the measure of how much I like it! It's the perfect colour and used in conjunction with the So Susan eyebrow kit it makes me feel much happier about my brows!

MUA eyeshadows

I've got three of these palettes and they've pretty much ensured all my other eyeshadows stay constantly in the drawer. They're really pigmented considering the price and there's a fab range of colours. 

MUA lipstick in shade 8

I've got pretty much every MUA lipstick but over the winter I've really been enjoying this one, there's something about a red sparkly lip that really cheers you up!

Rimmel lipstick in 338 midnight plum

For about six months now this has been my go-to lipstick for a night out, I'm trying to wean myself off it and use some of my other colours but I just really love this shade on!

Collection pressed powder

This powder doesn't cost the earth, it's a good colour and it stays on for ages - job done!

We hope you've liked having a sneaky rummage through our make up collections!

H & E x

Saturday smellies: our favourite beauty products

Tonight both of us will be hitting the town and going out for a few cheeky bevs and plenty of dancing with our lovely friends. Of course, half the fun of going out is getting ready and there are certain products we ALWAYS use. So while we pamper and preen ourselves to perfection here are just a few of our favourite beauty items.

EMMA: 

Love Spell - Victoria's Secret

This body spray has an amazing fresh yet sweet smell and lasts all day. A must use for day or night!

Bed Head Superstar Queen For a Day Thickening Spray

This is my favourite product for giving your hair a little bit of oomph and the smell is gorgeous.

Jergens Original Beauty Lotion (cherry and almond)

This body lotion is so soft on your skin and feels so luxurious as well as smelling amazing.

OPI nail varnishes

OPI is one of my favourite brands when it comes to nail products, I love the colours and just want them all!

Lush love heart moisturising bar

This makes your skin so soft and also gives it a little bit of shimmer which is perfect for a night out.

HARRIET:

Simple Kind to Skin Vital Vitamin day cream

Simple are unbeatable when it comes to kind-to-skin products that don't cost the earth - I won't use anything else!

Schwarzkopf Got2B Powderful volumizing styling powder

When you have as much hair as I do you need a tough product to get it looking volumized, I simply can't praise this little tub of powder enough and get through a ridiculous amount each month.

Superdrug apricot exfoliating mask

I rarely use Superdrug but always make sure I pop in to pick up their facemasks, I love how smooth my face feels after using this exfoliating one.

Models Own nail varnishes (Magenta Divine NP005 and Ibiza Mix HK04)

I'm obssessed with nail varnish and own pretty much every colour on the planet but I'm particularly loving these at the moment, much better (and thicker) than most glitter nail varnishes which only offer up about one sparkle per coat.

Wilko Sweet Vanilla and Honey shower smoothie

I only discovered this product a couple of weeks ago and now I don't know how I lived without it, hands down the best smelling product I've ever used. Good enough to eat (not advisable though!)

We hope you enjoyed this little insight into our beauty regimes!

H & E x