Day 7! Bath Time

Hello everyone!

So tonight I have decided to give myself a very long pamper session with some of my favourite products. It has been a rather long week and I wanted to refresh myself ready for tomorrow, as it is the regional Christmas Do tomorrow night, fun fun fun!

I generally find it best to give my hair a day or two of wear before styling it. Freshly washed hair that is as thick as mine is a nightmare to try to style in any vintage fashion when it is all fly-away, so the tiniest bit of wear gives some staying power. Here below are my favourite hair products at the moment...

I use the Bumble and Bumble Colour Minded Shampoo to look after my colour and keep my hair in the best condition possible. I am quite conscious of the effect that lots of colouring can have on your hair, this is part of the reason I choose to spend a little more money and get my hair coloured professionally as they use higher quality ingredients and apply the products properly. These two products come at quite a high price (£20-£25 each) however they require about 1/3 as much as a cheaper brand, and also prolong your colour for longer. I like to think this is justification! You can purchase from online beauty brands such as Active Beauty, Look Fantastic or Feel Unique, which generally have free UK delivery. I do know that bigger Boots stores stock them, I got mine directly from Simon Webster Hair who has a range and the expertise to recommend the best product for your needs.

Pictured here are three things I find particularly useful for styling my hair. You will see more of these tomorrow, Loreal Elnett hairspray, Avon heat protector and the Tangle Teezer which is amazing for getting knots out of my hair!

I also then gave my skin a pamper to get it refreshed and looking healthy and dewy. I have been using four of these for well over a year and keep coming back to them as they give me wonderful results. I highly recommend them to you!

 

The green tube in the back left is my Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleanse and Polish. I can't recommend this cleanser more, and you can read all about it and Liz's background in the book from my other post here. It comes with full instructions for how to use it to get the best results and really is excellent for cleaning and looking after your skin 100%.

The next step in my cleanse, tone and moisturise routine is the darker green tub to the right of the Liz Earle tube. This is Dr Andrew Weil for Origins Mega Mushroom Skin Relief treatment lotion. If my skin is ever inflamed or irritable, a small wipe of this across my face soon calms things down and brings everything back to normal. I use it as a toner as it is specifically designed for sensitive and redress prone skin, which mine really can be. I do find that a collaboration of the right products does reduce this irritability, however these products actually go further and improve my skin.

My final step is the purple pot in the bottom right. This is Neal's Yard Remedies Frankincense Hydrating Cream which I use as a moisturiser. This keeps my skin from being dry and doesn't over hydrate it either. This is quite pricey at around £23 but again lasts for ages and really does work a treat. I got my first pot of this in November 2011 on my very first visit to Brighton so this brings back some nice memories too!

I think the key to all of these products is following the recommended instructions and using all of them in moderation. Whilst it feels very indulgent to cover your face in moisturiser, this is not going to help matters and will only block your pores and unfortunately make things worse. If your skin is dry, as is so common at this time of year, give it a gentle exfoliate with Dermalogica Gentle Cream Exfoliant face mask (leave on for around 20-25 mins), followed by a light application of moisturiser.

Also in the picture are two new finds- Avene Gentle Eye Make Up Remover (I am still to be decided on this one) and La Roche Posay Targeted Breakout Protector which I love. I have recently suffered from some spots that just don't seem to budge, but a few nights of applying this has cleared them up so I am a very happy customer! Both are available from Boots for around £10. Do any of you know any better eye make up removers? I think I need a more oil based one as this really struggles to remove my long lasting eyeliner :(

I finally wanted to add that all of these products are being recommended wholeheartedly to you, by me! I am not sponsored in any way and would definitely tell you not to buy something if I found fit to. All of these products I have searched the market for and have been using for over a year so would definitely recommend trying them if you are searching for a new product to help your skin or hair this Christmas.

On that note, I had better get this face mask rinsed off and hair washed!

With lots of love,

Hannah xxx



Day Six! A cheap and chic Christmas present idea!

Hello everyone!

So I have just rushed back from a very fun Lindy Hop lesson and just going to do a quick post for this evening. Tonight we put together all of the steps that we have learnt so far, and it actually felt brilliant and I was pleased that I can do it! Next week we are learning how to add some fun moves into the steps which will be fun and really make us look like we know what we are doing!

I received quite a few parcels in the post today (yay I love parcels!) for Christmas presents that I am planning. To encorporate a bit of my recent thrify ventures, I have decided to make some of these...

 

My plan is to go to a few local Charity shops and purchase some gorgeous china cups and saucers, and then make candles in them to give a very kitsch and cheap present! I managed to find a candle making set on Ebay, from seller 'randallscandles' who sells a set that makes 4 teacup candles, with your choice of scented and coloured wax for £6!Here the package is before I begin making...

Really great, detailed instructions are also included so on Saturday I plan to get making! I will tweet my end results so keep your eyes peeled @ABrightonBelle_!

 

 

To finish off my indulgent present I have decided to include some sweet treats alongside the teacup candles that adds to the pampering that this present can give...

 

 

Whilst these may look like delicious treats, perfect alongside a cup of tea, they are in fact soaps to pamper yourself with in the bath.  I got these for 95p each from Ditzy Doll, who have an online store. They are scented with a range of luxurious smells, such as Oat and Honey, Strawberry and Dark Chocolate. I am planning on putting on or two on the side of my teacup candle, so an afternoon tea can turn into a relaxing bathtime...what is better than that in winter, I don't know!

 

 

I will keep you all posted on Twitter with my making process on Saturday, which is where this plan could all go wrong and things go slightly pear shaped. Fingers crossed it all goes well!

 

With lots of love,

 

Hannah xxx

Day Five- Its A Swing Thing!

Good evening everyone!

So every Wednesday back our sofas get pushed back and table dragged out of the way, as it is Lindy Hop practice night! For the past 3 Thursdays, we have been learning to Lindy Hop with the lovely and helpful Graeme and Amanda. This is their website! We found the class advertised on the Evolution Arts website, which you can see here.

I have always been a massive Strictly Come Dancing fan, being completely mesmerised by the Jive and Charleston. The Lindy Hop originated in the 30's and the dancing isn't just the fun bit, the music that goes alongside it is fantastic as well, with artists such as Billie Holiday and Nina Simone. The steps so far are easy enough to follow, but I like to practice to make sure that I remember what I'm doing! I do hope to continue with dancing once our classes are over. It is great exercise, a real laugh and an excuse to have a dance and sing on a weeknight!

Not only has the music inspired me massively, but the thirties and forties swing clothing is amazing! Look at these amazing trousers from Vivien of Holloway! (yes please Father Christmas!). I recently bought a dark grey wool pair that are similar from Beyond Retro in Brighton as they were rather a bargain at £22, however they are slightly too short so I resorted to flashing some ankle in them! This style trouser looks very comfortable, as though they would flatter the hips and waist and give a more unusual vintage style for everyday outfits! Teamed with brougues,a cardigan, blouse or even just a plain top, they would be a great retro look and maybe I could burst into dance to complete the image!

Another excellent website to visit for a similar style is Freddies of Pinewood. They sell 40s and 50s style clothes, for both men and women. Their website is great and very helpful regarding sizes for their items which fit a little differently to those on the high street. They also do jeans in a similar style to the trousers above. I would love to try some of these, they may solve my war against skinny jeans!

I am really loving this style clothing at the moment. The cold weather is just so unbearable even in thick tights, I feel the need to wear trousers for a change! If any readers want any information on Lindy Hopping and how to begin learning, or if you are an experienced Lindy Hopper, please don't hesitate to contact me! I would love to hear from you! Maybe one time I will be brave enough to actually go to a Swing night and dance properly...

I will have to get practising!

With love from Brighton,

Hannah xxx

Day Four-Where to go in Brighton this Christmas!

Hello everyone,

Hope you are all well! Tonight I have decided to let you know about four of my favourite places to go to in Brighton. These are all very central and in walking distance of each other. All four are completely independant and Brighton based, which I particularly love, as I feel that you really do get a more unique and special experience than when you visit one of the bigger, nationwide brands.

First up is Upper Gardener Street Market in the North Laines. Held every Saturday on Upper Gardener Street (ironically!), you are welcomed with the smells of wonderfully fresh and locally produced food. As you follow the market along, furniture, music, cards, bric a brac and clothes line the streets, all for bargain prices. You can also venture off this down into the Brighton Flea Market  which is located on the right just after entering the street and passing the food stalls. Here it all is in its earlier days!

Follow the market to the end and turn right down the hill, in a few metres on your left will be Sydney Street. This street is full of vintage shops, including the wonderful Hope and Harlequin, which has the most beautiful dresses in! At the bottom of Sydney Street you will meet Trafalger Street, the location of Tramp Vintage which is just on your left up the hill slightly! Tramp contains so so many amazing dresses, it is a dream! It really is somewhere to go if you are looking for something extra special, and everyone who works there is so helpful in working with you to find the ultimate party dress!

Now over to the South Lanes. Over on Prince Albert Street (past two amazing bars, The Mesmerist and the Black Lion) is the wonderful design shop, The Lollipop Shoppe. Full of design classics and remarkably reasonably priced, this really is the perfect shop to find that extra special gift for someone this Christmas. There is a range of items from beautiful notepads under £10 to very stylish pieces with a few more zeroes on the pricetag. I have always been made to feel very welcome and comfortable to look around. They also have a really great website, that also offers FREE UK Delivery! I love it!

My final recommendation is a beauty boutique just up the road on Duke Street, Powder Beauty. Just nextdoor to The Victory Inn, they offer every beauty treatment you could imagine and some great creative treats to, such as Louboutin Nails! On the 22nd they have a pop up hair parlour from 1pm...check it out on their Facebook page here or look at their website here! A completely independent company too, creating a wonderful atmosphere and great service every time.

These are just a few of the amazing shops I have found so far on my explorations around Brighton, I am sure there will be so many more in a couple more months! Do you have any particular places you always go to in Brighton? I haven't included some of the more obvious places that are on the main routes, such as Komedia or Snoopers Paradise, but they are well worth a visit! I love nothing more than visiting a city and knowing some of the more 'off the beaten track' places, it gives a much more accurate impression of the city and what it is about. I would absolutely love to hear of any more though!

I hope you enjoyed tonights post, and I will get thinking of what to write tomorrow!

Lots of love,

Hannah xxx

Day Three!

Hello everyone!

I must start by thanking all my new followers on Twitter! It really means a lot and I have made sure to check out each and every one of your posts on there. So a big thank you!

Today I have been talking about Christmas as a child. I really did love nothing more than waking up at 6am to drag everyone out of bed to open and play with my presents! The best feeling is when you finish making or have spent hours occupied by the new presents. Whilst I am still just as grateful for any gifts given to me now, often I feel a nostalgic, childish sense of excitement when I open a present that I can enjoy there and then between the Christmas specials and food!

One of the nicest presents that can fulfill my nostalgic dreams is a good book. You can put your new pj's and slippers on, and cuddle up with a good book! Whether fact or fiction, hours of enjoyment are guaranteed. As the years have gone on, I have become a big fan of non fiction books that can inspire some yuletime vintage beauty!

On my list this year is the book below, Style Me Vintage by Belinda Hay. I would particularly like the Hair book, as it shows step by step tutorials on how to create different iconic hairstyles from over the eras, as well as lists of products and equipment needed. I feel I am quite quick at picking up how to do particular styles, especially from YouTube tutorials, however I do feel quite stuck in a rut with my different variations on victory rolls and would love to learn how to do something a bit different!

There is also a Clothes version of this book, which is a guide on how to source and create retro looks. Hours of fun are guaranteed I think, and what beautiful books for the bedside table too.

 

A firm favourite book of mine is by my skincare saviour, Liz Earle. Whilst this is not a vintage style read, it has so many answers, that most importantly work (!), to all skin and body care dilemas.

 

 



 Liz Earle products are completely natural and proven formulas that are non irritating for skin, and do exactly what they say! I have always struggled to find skincare that works but doesn't somehow impact my skin otherwise, for instance, some gets rid of any spots but in turn completely dry my skin out. I have not had any of these problems since using Liz Earle products.

 

In this book, Liz goes into detail behind her motives behind the brand, but then goes on to suggest helpful skin and body care tips for all ages, ways to pamper yourself naturally and look after your entire body, through food, oils and sun protection.

 

All us vintage beauties strive for a porcelain complexion, and this book really contains some helpful advice for how to really look after ourselves. The formulas used have also proven the test of time, and are probably nearer to what the beauties of the forties and fifties actually used on their skin!

 

Another great treat for all us vintage lovers is a magazine subscription. Whilst it doesn't fill the time on Christmas day, I love receiving my monthly magazine through the post and sitting down to read it from cover to cover with a big mug of tea! At this time of year, lots of magazines are offering a present when you subscribe too! Here are some of my favourites:

 

-Vintage Life. This is a monthly magazine that really does detail all aspects of vintage life. It also has an events calendar and lots of advertisements in so that you can keep track of lots of different events and companies around the country. Produced up north in Congleton, it is especially great for notherners as it contains a lot of the information for the northern vintage scene. If you subscribe this month, you also receive It's a Wonderful Life on DVD!

 

-Vintage Explorer. A really informative and packed magazine that Brighton's very own Jo-Ann Fortune (editor of vintagebrighton.com) is on the editorial team for. It also features an events calendar that is based more around the South. A subscription to this magazine is definitely on my list this year!

 

Quite a long post this evening, however I think a great, informative book comes around few and far between. These books really do go into detail and show you exactly how to create the looks you want, and do more than tell you to go to a charity shop or flea market!

 

I hope you have enjoyed reading this post, please let me know of any other books or magazines that you would suggest!

 

With love from Brighton,

 

Hannah xxx

 

 

 

 



And on the Second Day of Christmas...

Hello everyone!

On this cold Sunday I thought I would give you an insight into my essential pieces in my make up bag. I absolutely am a make up junkie, and have been from my younger days when I would wear purple eyeshadow to school...hey I still even have some now!

Over the months, I find myself continually buying the same products and never becoming any less satisfied with the outcome that they give. I am happy to pay the more expensive prices as I think the right product first of all works, and generally lasts for much much longer than a cheaper alternative. I am also someone who will try to find the cheaper option, but be unimpressed and then maybe spend up to four times as much trying to find a more effective product, only to end up going back to the expensive option that I know works!

With my make up in general, I strive to get a natural look and will sometimes accentuate certain features, such as my eyes OR lips. My mum told me years ago, 'eyes or lips but never both' and it certainly is true! I find that a strong lip looks so much more distinctive with a very natural eye and vice versa. Often when you draw attention to both eyes and lips, focus can be lost and it can just look rather overpowing and just like you have a lot of make up on! I will often wear a red lip/flicked eyeliner when my skin isn't so great- I conceal my skin to give as clear of a canvas as possible, then draw attention to a feature, which in turn draws attention away from my bad skin.

Anyway, here goes with my make up bag favourites!

(I apologise for the messiness of my foundation!)

 

 

I will begin with my foundation brush at the forefront of the picture. Before buying this brush, I had been on the search for the ultimate foundation brush for perhaps about 5 years?! This is the Real Techniques Stippling Brush, available in Boots and even from Ocado for around £12! I think it has changed my life. The brush is very comfortable to hold, with very very soft bristles. It has a flat top which I find makes it very easy to blend in the foundation and also ensures that you don't have a super heavy coverage. The bristles are quite well spaced out at the top, which means you can also build up your foundation to increase the coverage without going from natural to caked in one step!

 

Next is my amazing foundation. I think this is my absolute favourite of all my make up. I use Lancome Teint Miracle in shade 001 which is available in all department stores, Boots etc for £26 I think. The bottle has a glass lid, which pulls off to reveal a pump dispenser which minimises wasteage. This foundation leaves a lovely dewy finish but also has a medium, but buildable, coverage. I find that one small pump can easily be enough to brighten the complexion and cover any blemishes, but it can be built up to a very full coverage for a night out. I have combination/sensitive skin that can be dry and oily (brilliant!) depending on the time of year, and I find this is absolutely fine year round. I use this foundation daily, and one coat in the morning lasts well all day without any topping up. My mum also uses this foundation, proving it looks great on all skin types and ages! 

The small black pot you can see next is my MAC longlasting liquid eyeliner. I previously used a gel liner with a separate brush, however my greasy eyelids meant that I was getting a mark on my eye socket from where it was imprinting, so I switched to the liquid eyeliner and it works a treat! I used to find with gel liner that after a day of wear, the line would have moved slightly and not looked as sharp as it did immediately after application, however no worries with this one as it really stays put! A brush is fitted to the lid that allows it to be drawn on easily and it really does not budge, so much so, that I have had to buy a special oil based cleanser it order to get it off in the evening! The secret to applying this is a pot of cotton buds on hand to quickly make any corrections...it takes a little longer to dry meaning that you can quickly get rid of any slips of hand. You just have to remember to let it dry fully before moving on with your make up application.

My next staple item is Maybelline's iconic Great Lash mascara. This really is a vintage beauty classic that has lasted the test of time! First developed in the seventies, it has been a popular choice with women worldwide since. Another tip from my clever Mum who has also been using this as far back as I can remember, it really does not move either and works a treat on your lashes and purse, at only £4.99! Get it girls!

Last, but most definitely not least, is a recent purchase that has quickly become a firm favourite. This is a MAC Pro Longwear eyeshadow in the shade Always Sunny. I previously would have steered well clear from what can only be described as orange eyeshadow, however it somehow seems to neutralise my eyelids and makes my eyes look incredibly green! It also lasts all day and can be blended in the crease to add definition, and below the eyes at the outer corner to add a smokier look. I would advise all you green eyed girls to get this on your Christmas list...I can guarantee that it will make your eyes stand out beautifully.

One item that I have never really found a favourite in is blusher. I am naturally very fair with pale skin and rosy cheeks, but I don't always want to have bright pink cheeks. Can any of you recommend any for me to try? Please comment below or Tweet me @ABrightonBelle_ you can just click on the bird on the right hand side to go straight to my Twitter!

I hope you have enjoyed the post and have a few ideas for something you would like to try. I have not included any of my favourite lip products due to my previous post on my favourite lipsticks, which you can find here! I am tempted to do a video of me applying these products to create a classic vintage look... keep reading to see if I am brave enough!

With lots of love from Brighton,

 

Hannah xxx

And on the first day of Christmas...Day 1!

My true love gave to me.....thankfully no partridges or other birds, but some felt and dragged the sewing machine out for me! Romance!

 

This will be mine and my boyfriends first Christmas living together, and I think nothing is nicer than decorating the flat knowing the effort that we have put into being extra creative to make it extra special. We can really make it ours, safe in the knowledge that we are saving our money too.

 

When I moved down here, I brought my fake Christmas tree but no decorations. Having seen the prices of them in the shops, I have decided to get my craft on and make some!

 

I went to Fabric World on Western Road and purchased:

 

1m square of red felt

1m square of green felt

50cm square of yellow felt

White strong thread

Cushion filler

 

This came to a grand total of £12. Whilst, with hindsight, I think I have bought slightly too much fabric, I still don't think this is bad at all considering this will be the majority of our decorations and a few blankets on top! I am also considering going back for some lace to have on the tree instead of tinsel!

 

I began by drawing out some stencils on card with a marker pen. I chose a stocking, bow, Christmas tree, two different kind of stars and a cirle which will hopefully look like a bauble.

 

I then cut these stencils out from the card, and drew them onto the felt as you can see below. Before you draw onto the felt, ensure to fold the felt in half, so that when you cut out the shape, you get two identical pieces, so you can stuff them with filler.

 

Then simply sew the two pieces together, making sure the pause halfway through to put the cushion filler in between. Fill the pocket (that the two pieces of felt create) to about 75% with the filler, so that you have room to sew the remainder back together. You can see a few of mine below! These are just missing the string that I will attach to the top, so they can be hung on the tree next weekend!

 

 

I am so excited to get all of the flat decorated! Are any of you getting crafty this Christmas?! I would love to hear! I have a few other plans too, so please keep an eye out for my next posts to see what I make next!

 

With love from Brighton,

 

Hannah xxx