There are some beautiful winter fashion finds available right now and one of my favourite places to pick up pieces for my winter wardrobe has been ASOS. It doesn't seem to matter what I am looking for ASOS never disappoint. I love how I can shop for high street and online exclusive clothing and accessories in the same place.Two of my favourite current trends are metallic and pink and I have been wearing these trends so much this month!
We were long overdue a Primark Haul here at Elle and Mimi so during our recent expedition to our favourite shopping mall, Intu Metrocentre, we picked up some festive themed purchases from their giant Primark store. Rather than photograph our purchases we decided to film a haul video! You can see it now on our YouTube channel 'Elle and Mimi' or catch it below! We'd love for you to subscribe for more hauls and vlogs. We post a new video every Sunday!
Here in the North East of England we are very lucky to have easy access to one of Europe's biggest shopping malls: Intu Metrocentre. I can actually remember it opening way back in 1986! (oops! showing my age there!) I can clearly recall visiting with my own mother to buy a coat when I was starting my first job at the age of 17!. The buzz surrounding the opening of Metrocentre, Gateshead was HUGE and in the 30 years since its grand opening it has certainly developed and grown almost beyond recognition.
For the final part of our Christmas Gift Guide we are focusing on the more luxury gift that the receiver would not necessarily treat themselves to. Lets face it, who doesn't love to receive something a little bit special at Christmas time? Here are some of those luxurious gifts that we would love to receive (husbands take note!).
Welcome back to the third instalment of our Christmas Gift Guide focusing this time on Stocking Fillers. Remember when you were a child and there was always an apple an orange and some nuts lurking at the bottom of your Christmas stocking? (no? Just us then!) Well, we don't have any fruit or nuts for you today but we have found some little gifts that we think would fit perfectly into a Christmas stocking!
Today's post in our Christmas Gift Guide series features gifts that come in over £50 but under the £100 price tag. Little luxuries that everyone is sure to love!
With Christmas fast approaching we have been checking out the multitude of gifts that appear in the shops as soon as the 1st November arrives. The only thing better than receiving gifts is giving them and as avid shoppers we like nothing better than a spot of Christmas shopping! Today we begin our series of Christmas Gift Guide blog posts that we hope will give you some ideas of gifts to buy for your friends and family or, indeed, to ask for yourself! We are kicking off the Gift Guide series with our top picks under £50.
The first Orlando, Florida vlog from our October 2016 trip is now available to watch on our YouTube channel! We have lots of vlogs from this trip to come including our visits to Universal's Halloween Horror Nights, our day at Disney's Epcot Food and Wine Festival and lots of fun in the famous Orlando theme parks.
We hope that you enjoy the vlogs and that you'll 'like' and 'subscribe' for more!
If you enjoy these videos we also have vlogs from August 2015 and May 2016 available to view on our channel as well as beauty videos, hauls and more!
Richard O'Brien's 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' has long been a favourite of ours and despite having seen the stage version on tour just 6 months ago we were excited to visit the beautiful Sunderland Empire Theatre and see it again this week. Fans braved the freezing temperatures and turned out in droves, many dressed in the traditional stockings and suspenders, to enjoy the show.
Now that the clocks have changed and nights are closing in we are feeling more and more like snuggling up with a duvet and watching TV! As the winter approaches its such a struggle to get out of bed on a morning! There are weekends when we like nothing better than to have a day where we lounge around in PJ's, with mugs of hot tea (and of course, chocolate) and catch up on long neglected TV shows. Here are a few of our viewing recommendations for yourlazy days and why we love them:
You'd have to have been living under a rock for the past 6 months to not have heard about the Netflix revival of one of our favourite shows - Gilmore Girls. The new four part revival 'Gilmore Girls - A Year In The Life' is due to be aired globally on Netflix November 25th and we couldn't be more excited for its premier! As a mother and daughter team we relate to the Lorelai/Rory relationship but without the razor sharp wit and mile a minute banter!
During our recent trip to Orlando we enjoyed many a leisurely brunch prior to a late start shopping or hanging out in the parks. These have been documented in our Orlando October 2016 vlogs however we really wanted to share them with you, our readers! If you are looking for a tasty brunch in Orlando then look no further than our top three brunch spots (in no particular order) as detailed below!
We are off to Orlando, home of Disneyworld and all things Mickey Mouse, in a few days and we will be making a beeline for the fantastic Epcot Food and Wine Festival when we are there.
We have seen so much inspiration on Instagram and Pinterest recently featuring amazing handmade floral and wire ears that we decided to have a go at making our own Food and Wine Festival/Autumnal themed version instead of buying them in the park!
We could have brought you a blog post this week that was a review, a favourite product or even a travel related post as we are preparing for a trip to Florida next week. However, we felt that we had to mark this milestone with a bit of a special blog post! This is our little blogs 100th post and we are so happy and proud to have made it to this milestone!
We started 'Elle and Mimi' as a place where we could talk about things we love and places we love to visit but it has turned into so much more than that. Since our very first post we have started our own YouTube channel, met and connected with so many lovely bloggers, YouTubers and Twitter friends. We have also planned and lived through a wedding, three trips to the USA, a TV appearance on 'A Place In The Sun' and we are currently planning and executing a move to Florida for Mimi! PHEW! What a year its been!
My eyelash struggles are well documented on ElleandMimi.com so I will spare you the boring details. Suffice to say, they are pretty short, fair and straight. For the past year I have been getting Nouveau Lashes LVL Lash Lift and tint every 3 months which has certainly helped with the straightness and fairness but unfortunately there is not much of a cure for the shortness! (review of LVL Lash Lift here and 12 month update here)
My recent 'holy grail' mascara has been the L'Oreal Lash Lift which does a great job of providing volume and length however I am always on the look out for other options that may work for me.
Bourjois are a great drugstore brand however I have never been particularly taken with their mascaras until I saw the BourjoisVolume RevealMascara complete with 3 x zoom mirror and 'lash catcher' brush!. I am always the first one to fall for a gimmick and this was no exception! I picked up the mascara in black (the non waterproof variety)for the offer price of £6.99 - the usual price will be £9.99.
The packaging is quite bulky and triangular in shape but don't let that put you off! The first thing that I noticed was the scent which is quite strong but the wand is what I would consider to be a perfect size. Neither too fat and bristly nor too skinny and plastic. Initially I felt that the brush was quite 'spiky' and a little rough on my eyes and I had reservations as to whether it was going to work for me however, the product built up extremely well with no clumping. It was very easy to build length and volume and I spent a few minutes getting the exact look that I wanted. Once applied I was very happy with the final look. The mascara made my lashes look much longer and thicker than I expected and I was delighted with the finished effect.
I have to be honest and say that I didn't really use the mirror. I tend to apply mascara on a morning using my makeup mirror and never touch it up during the day so although the mirror is perfectly functional, for me, it is a little redundant. If you are someone who likes to reapply mascara during the day then I imagine the mirror to be a handy addition.
To summarise I would definitely recommend the Bourjois Volume Reveal Mascara. It built excellent volume and length and was easy to remove at the end of the day with my usual cleansing balm. It hasn't quite taken over as my new 'holy grail' mascara but it's coming in a close second!
Love Elle x
Have you tried the Bourjois Volume Reveal Mascara? What are your thoughts?
When I received some of the Sunday Riley skincare products in a sample set from Sephora, I was really interested to try the Effortless Breathable Tinted Primer. As I like a very sheer coverage foundation I was hoping to use this more as a tinted moisturiser than a primer.
Ever since Clarins launched their Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil(£18) we have been waiting patiently for the drugstore brands to launch their own, more affordable version and indeed they have! We picked up THREE drugstore lip oils to test and review from Milani, Barry M and GOSH.
The Products:
First to the table was Milani with their Milani Moisture Lock Oil Infused Lip Treatment. We picked two up when we were in the USA earlier this year and have been testing them out over the past few months. We went for Protecting Pomegranate and Nourishing Raspberry although there are actually 8 scents available (Milani products are now available in the UK and the Lip Oil is priced at £7.49).
When I originally drafted this list of books it was going to be my summer reading list! Alas, here we are at the start of September and I have yet to pick up any of these books. Therefore I have set myself the goal of reading some (if not all) of these books by the end of September! If I fail I will also allow myself the first 2 weeks of October to finish them as I will be on holiday in Orlando with some extra time (and a couple of 9 hour plane journeys!) to get reading!
When we saw that Primark had released some new beauty sponges we couldn't wait to put them to the test! As die hard fans of the original Beauty Blender we are naturally sceptical of anything that claims to be a cheaper alternative as we have tried a few 'dupes' in the past and they have failed the test! However we had an open mind and selected a few different styles of sponges to try out and review, some from the regular PS.. range and some from the PS...Pro range. As suspected the PS...Pro sponges fared much better in our test.
One of the items at the top of my USA Drugstore Wish List in May was the Milani Everyday Eyes Eyeshadow Palette in Earthy Elements. I can't lie, it was the burnt orange shade that attracted me initially. It looked so different from anything I owned and I was looking forward to getting my hands on the little palette to give it a try. I had seen a couple of beauty YouTubers raving about the shadows (in particular Leigh-Ann Says) and that made me even more keen to own it! Believe me, this Milani palette was not easy to get hold of! Back in May Milani was pretty much impossible to get hold of in the UK and during our trip to the USA it seemed that everyone else had the same idea as I did! It was sold out in many drugstores we visited but I eventally managed to find it in CVS.
Over the past couple of months Primark has really stepped up their game as far as jewellery is concerned and on recent shopping trips their Rose Gold Collection in particular caught my eye. I am not someone who wears a lot of jewellery, preferring instead to stick to my wedding and engagement ring as daily jewellery staples. When I am looking for jewellery such as necklaces, earrings and bracelets I like to pick up 'costume' jewellery that is more affordable and trend based meaning I can switch them up to compliament different outfits and seasons. During my recent Primark shopping expeditions I have collected quite a number of rose gold pieces that I wanted to share with you. They are in store now if you see anything that catches your eye!.
Top left - Before LVL, Top right - After the first LVL
Bottom - Latest LVL results a week after treatment
If you are a regular visitor to ElleandMimi.com you may remember one of our very first and indeed, one of our most popular blog posts! We talked about our first experience of the LVL Enhance Lash Lifttreatment from Nouveau Lashes. (click here if you'd like to see our initial review/description of the treatment and before and after pictures)
When Jaclyn Hill announced on Snapchat that, in collaboration with BECCA, she was releasing Champagne Splits - Split Pan Shimmering Skin Perfector/Mineral Blush combo's I was sold! Mimi is a huge fan of the original Champagne Pop (holy grail highligher status for her!) and the more recent BECCA X Jaclyn Hill Champagne Collection Face Palette (review here) therefore I was excited to get my hands on these new BECCA X Jaclyn Hill offerings. I registered on Sephora.com for the release day email notification and on release day I picked out my two favourites. Soon they were winging their way across the Atlantic towards my makeup collection!
I am not ashamed to say that I have been a huge fan of Taylor Swift since her very early country days! I have always loved her style and have enjoyed seeing how much it has evolved over the years! I love to spend time scouring websites that describe the looks that some of my favourite celebrities are wearing in their everyday lives so I thought it would be so much fun to recreate some of my favourite recent Taylor Swift looks with outfits from the UK High Street! It was surprisingly easy to do and I was able to pick up most of the outfits to recreate the looks very inexpensively from Primark. I also found that l had some similar pieces in my wardrobe already so I was able to use them too!
Look 1 - Casual
Shirt - Primark
T-shirt - Primark
Jeans - H&M
Shoes - Converse
Sunglasses - Ray Ban
Look 2 - The Hat T-shirt - Primark Skort - Gap Shoes - Primark Bag - Primark Hat - Primark
Look 3 - Casual Jumpsuit
Culotte Jumpsuit - Primark
Shoes - Primark
Bag - Michael Kors
Sunglasses - Ray Ban
Look 4 - Classic Taylor
Patterned sundress - H&M
Brogues- Primark
Bag - Primark
Sunglasses - Ray Ban
Look 5 - The Wrap Dress
Wrap Dress - Primark
Bag - Primark
Nude pumps - New Look
Look 6 - The Co-ord
Crop top - Primark
Midi Skirt - Asos
Pumps - Primark
Bag - Primark
I wasn't able to link the pieces since most of them are H&M or Primark and impossible to find online! However all the clothing is new so you should be able to pick it up in your local store! Which outfit is your favourite?
Check out the Lookbook video on our YouTube Channel!
I have loved the original Revlon Colorstay Foundation since
it was first released in the mid-90’s. I clearly remember the TV ads featuring
Cindy Crawford demonstrating how the foundation didn’t transfer onto the white
shirt of the very smart gentleman she was snuggling with! I was very excited earlier this year when it was released with a pump so imagine my delight when I discovered a brand new take on the Colorstay Foundation - the Colorstay 2-in-1 Compact Makeup and Concealer in my local Boots store!
For a long time I had been dying to try some ColourPop lip products but unfortunately they don't deliver to the UK.** Therefore when we were in Orlando recently I took the opportunity to make an order from the brand!
As someone who has to wear glasses it can be difficult wearing the same accessory everyday with every outfit. Although I also wear contact lenses I don't always feel like putting them in as sometimes my eyes can feel a bit irritated so I find myself reaching for glasses on an everyday basis. After hearing about Toyshades I couldn't wait to order from them and try them out.
We have seen a lot of blog posts recently showing various 'dupes' for the Artis Oval Blending Brushes. The Artis brushes range in price from £28 for the smallest to £60 for the large foundation style brush. We have been intrigued by the Artis brushes but have not yet been tempted to invest in them due to the large price tag! When we spotted these recently released oval brushes in Primark we were very excited and threw a couple each into our basket without a second thought. The Primark version come in three sizes (we were only able to get our hands on two) and range in price from £2.50 to £4.00 (yes, really!)
Having long been a fan of CoverGirl Cosmetics we were looking forward to getting our hands on their new collaboration with Katy Perry while we were in the USA last month.CoverGirl are one of our favourite drugstore beauty brands and its such a shame that they are not available in the UK however when we are in the US we always raid the shelves for some new additions to their range.
We heard of the new L'Oreal Cushion Foundation some time ago when was not available to purchase in the UK. Needless to say we really wanted to try it so on our recent trip to the USA it was one of the first things we picked up. When we returned to the UK the product had launched and the range also included a bronzer that had not been available when we were in the USA!
Lets be honest, I need another eyeshadow palette like a hole in the head but when Fleur de Force showed the Tartelette in Bloom clay eyeshadow palette (£32.40 QVCUK.com) in her April favourites I was sold! Once we got to Orlando and hit Sepohora it was one of the first things I wanted to seek out. Unfortunately for my bank account it was as beautiful in person as it was online and it 'fell' into my basket!
Recently we were shopping at our favourite mall, Intu Metrocentre and we couldn't resist popping into Primark to see if they had anything new since our last visit. The Metrocentre store is undergoing something of a makeover right now. They have taken over some space next door and are expanding. Its already a pretty big store covering 2 floors so it is going to be huge! How exciting for all of us North East based Primark addicts!
We both picked up a few things and wanted to share them with you. After all, who doesn't love a Primark haul! Here is what we picked up and who bought them!
Marble Clutchbag - Mimi As we were browsing the bags Elle found this beautiful and so much cheaper than it looks marble clutch bag! It was literally the last one in the whole store! It is so pretty and versitile and I can see it being well used over the summer months. I already have it put aside to complete the outfit I plan to wear to my cousins engagement party next week.
If you are a regular reader of ElleandMimi.com you will know all about our obsession with Sephora Favorites sets! Normally available at Christmas time the Sephora Favorites bring sample size products (and occasionally a full size or two) all together in one place so that beauty and skincare obsessives like us can try out some new products. These sets are usually great value for money and our newest acquisition is no exception.
We were recently looking for somewhere to stay during our trip to Orlando in May and as usual we researched many hotels in the planning process. We eventually chose Cabana Bay Beach Resort as we loved the look of the themeing and because it is an on-site Universal Hotel it is incredibly close to the Universal Orlando parks. We really liked the idea of being able to walk or take the courtesy bus to the parks and to Universal Citywalk and leave the car at home!
If you are a fellow pale skinned English girl, or indeed a pale skinned girl of any nationality, you will know the drill. One day you are in the depths of winter and have 15 layers of clothing on to try and combat the chill. The next day the sun comes out and everyone is walking around in t-shirts and maxi dresses! Such is the British weather! Here in the North of England we rarely see the temperatures enjoyed by fellow Brits in the South of our beautiful country however temperatures here have been known to rise above freezing at times! On the odd occasion we want to get our legs out we realise that they are very pale and starved of fresh air and sunshine! In short, our skin is not looking it's best!
We are huge fans of the Sephora Favorites sets and always try to snap a couple of them up when they are released - usually at Christmas time. However this past May on our very last day in Orlando (we were literally en route to the airport) We stopped by Sephora and discovered a brand new travel set called Beauty On The Fly:The Ultimate Travel Bag. We couldn't resist picking up one each as it was bursting with tiny travel sized products for the fantastic price of just $42.00. I believe that Sephora also released the Ultimate Travel Bag set in 2015 but the 2016 variety seems to have more products included which has got to be a good thing, right! The bag contains the following products and sizes:
My Holy Grail Lanolips 101 Ointment recently underwent a transformation and of course, I had to get my hands on it! Lanolips promise that in spite of the cute new look on the outside the product on the inside is exactly the same which is music to my ears!
I've been in the market for a new eye cream for some time but couldn't decide which of the many creams to choose. I was feeling as though my current eye cream just wasn't rich enough and I needed a more nourishing cream especially for overnight. It was all very overwhelming with each brand promising to work miracles on my undereye dark circles, bags and wrinkles. Eventually after much research and deliberation I decided on the Emma Hardie Amazing Face Eye Cream (£39). This product had some great reviews online so I made an order from Feel Unique and eagerly awaited its arrival. It was delivered within a couple of days and I was excited to try it!
Barry M is one of our go to nail polish brands with their Gelly Hi Shine formula being a particular favourite. The drugstore brand are so affordable that you can treat yourself to numerous shades without it breaking the bank! As you cannot get hold of Barry M in the USA we like to take a few shades to Florida with us when we visit for family and friends out there!
L-R; Tiki Hut, Bikini, Surfboard
We were very interested to hear that Barry M were releasing a new range of polish the 'Coconut Infusion' line and we couldn't wait to get hold of a few shades to try out.
The new Rimmel Kate Sculpting Palette arrived on the shelves of Boots and Superdrug last month. Although I have seen it mentioned that the palette comes in 3 shades there were only 2 available in our local Boots store. We selected 03 Golden Bronze to test out as the lighter shade 02 Coral Glow seemed a tad light even for our pale skin. The palette comes with three powder shades – a highlighter, shading powder and blush.
