A little drop of sunshine.

Hello lovelies! Today's post is a little update and dedication to a wonderful holiday my boyfriend and I have just returned from in Greece, which lasted for one week. So I've been away and even though I had some scheduled tweets and blog posts, I have been rather silent on the blogging front because I just relaxed and enjoyed myself for the week. I totally let go of all responsibilities too and it felt great!
This photograph is the very first one I took when we arrived at our hotel, at around 6am local time.

We got dropped off just outside our hotel, but I seen there was an amazing sunrise over the water and wanted a photo. So I took a short walk up to the edge of the cliff and decided to snap the moment we got there. I love this. It's quite pretty and I love that this view was the official start to our trip.
Without doing a huge post about everything we did and the hundreds of photos we took, I'll just show a snippet in these little snaps.

The view from our room

My tattooed sausage legs

Gary enjoying a swim in one of the pools

A view from a Lindos hilltop overlooking the gorgeous village

Overall we had an amazing holiday, and one of my happiest/most fun. There was only one downside, and that was because of a mistake First Choice made which ruined the last evening of our trip. I wont go into it too much, because I'm saving that rant for an official complaint to them!
But I'm very grateful and so, so happy we had this holiday together. I enjoy anytime spent with Gary to ourselves but it was especially good to spend it together in a beautiful place having such fun. I would love to visit some of the other Greek islands in the future too.
So that's why I've been missing the past week! All back now and geared up for some great posting hopefully.
How about you guys, ever been to Rhodes? Or do you have any trips booked this Summer? post signature

Holiday Break

Hey guys!

Thanks for stopping by, I just thought I'd update those of you who don't know about my trip this week.
My boyfriend and I are taking a little week long holiday to Greece, and we leave tonight! I'm super excited as I'm sure you can understand, and cannot wait to indulge in uninterrupted sunshine, tanning, cocktails, exploring and romance of course!
In the meantime, I have arranged one or two blog posts to be posting while I'm away, so please still visit back to check them out! I'll be posting reminders on Twitter too so you'll know when they're up. We return on the 29th, so I'm sure I'll be back to my usual busy blogging and chatting away, a day or two after. I'm sure I'll post lots of gorgeous holiday photos and updates too in a post.
In the meantime, make sure you follow me on Instagram here. Then you can see any quick snaps I'm uploading whilst I'm away!

Annddd, that's all folks! :) Thank you once again for stopping by, I love you all!
See you in a week! post signature

International Panic Day

Yes, it's international panic day. I know, it's a bit ridiculous. I don't know who decides on these things, or how its supposed to be relevant to anything.. But! I thought, as someone who personally suffers very regularly from stress, panic attacks and anxiety, why not turn this day around by using it as an excuse to do the opposite?

1. Take a long hot bubble bath.
2. Listen to music that cheers you up. Mine would be The Cure :)
3. Organise your wardrobe. I love having a good clear out and sorting through all my clothes and arranging them.
4. Go for a run or get on your bike and beat the stress that way.

Freebies!

Just in case anyone needed any labels or little sidebar graphics for their own blog,

I decided to make some & put some together that I'd already played around with.

Feel free to help yourself.

Simply leave a comment if you like this kind of post & would like more?

Thanks guys!

30 Day Eyelash & Brow Dye

With only a handful of days to go until my boyfriend and I depart for Greece, some last beauty preparations have been greatly needed. For starters I want to do a full deep conditioning treatment on my hair a day or two before we go. I also need to pick up my poolside reading choices (The new JK Rowling book!), and ensure I have enough lipsticks to match each outfit, ha! It was while I was pouting away in the mirror like a child playing with her mother's makeup, that I suddenly realised; I have no bloody eyebrows! Unfortunately for me, as well as being very fair skinned, I was blessed with very small and very fair eyebrows and eyelashes. So without my makeup and usual brow prep, I look like a ghost. I'm not too happy with the idea of my holiday photos showing Casper enjoying the cocktails. But I hated the idea of doing a full face of makeup even just to lounge by the pool, or visit the beach. I don't mind using some tinted moisturiser and applying some mascara, but to fully do my brows (only to sweat them off no doubt!) seems exhausting. So I decided to look around and find some tinting products that wouldn't break the bank last minute, and would help me look a little but human. That's when I discovered Colorsport 30 Day Mascara for eyelashes and brows.

I seen this online on the Boots website, and watched some really positive reviews on Youtube, so I decided to give it a go. I've never tinted my eyebrows/eyelashes before so I'm a complete newbie to this I should mention. And I was terrified of looking like I had Scouse Brows!! If you aren't familiar with Scouse Brows.. lucky you.

Anyway, I followed the directions step by step, applying the clear solution first to eyelashes and brows, using the mascara style wand they supply. Then waiting a minute, and applying the colour gel. You then leave this another minute, before washing the whole thing off. Just a tip:- You can keep it on longer, for a darker effect. I was too scared to do this though tbh!

The result? Amazing!! As someone who isn't used to having eyebrows clearly defined and shaped without any makeup, I can't express how happy I am. I finally look human, even without my face all done. It did not come out too dark at all, as I feared. In fact, I will do this again the night before I travel to give it an extra shade, and to hopefully last longer in the sun, the water etc. As for the eyelashes, they look much darker and defined. I wont lie, it's not a miracle cure by all means. I will still be using mascara and eyelash curlers, but they definitely look more noticeable now. I am so happy with this product. Mostly for the fantastic transformation to my eyebrows, as you can tell. I was that keen to try this, I didn't take any photographs unfortunately. I deeply regret this, as you could have seen what a difference it made. So for now, you'll have to trust me. I will definitely be using this product again and again, all year round now. And I no longer have to worry about looking like Casper on holiday! :) Cheers! post signature

Hair Products I'm Using

I wanted to do a post to show what products I've been using on my hair now that the hot weather is here (for the most part!), and how they each benefit my hair personally. So there's the Argan Oil which I picked up in a discount store for only £1, Herbal Essences Bee Strong Strengthening Cream £4.79 from Boots, Percy and Reed Wonder Balm £18, and Tresemme Split Remedy Serum £2.83 at Superdrug.

So as you can see, I have a good range of different prices and purposes here to tame my wild hair. And how do they perform against the humid weather?
♥ Well the Argan Oil is something you can find anywhere these days. They have Argan Oil Serums, Shampoos and Conditioners, all of which are usually known for taming and smoothing hair. This little bottle is fantastic to be honest, especially considering how cheap it was. I only needed a VERY small blob on my fingers, and I ran this through my damp hair after showering. I cannot express just how much of a difference this makes to my hair. Usually when I blow dry it I'm not very good with a hair dryer, or patient, and my hair ends up huge and frizzy. But this oil made my hair smooth and much sleeker. I didn't even have to use my straighteners, which is great as I'm trying to cut down on them. So I'd definitely recommend this to anyone with thick, frizzy prone hair like mine. But definitely only use a TINY bit and only apply to the ends of your hair or it may end up looking greasy.
♥ Onto the Herbal Essences Bee Strong Spray. It does say 'cream' on the bottle, but it's so light and does better described as a spray in my opinion. This product is something I've bought again and again since I first discovered it. I love it. I use this after every time I wash my hair, and sometimes even when my hair is dry and just needs a little taming. I never have to worry about this making my hair greasy, and you don't need too much either. I spray this around 3 or 4 times onto damp hair before blow drying. It makes your hair soft, super shiny and it smells great too. Go buy this!
♥ The Percy and Reed Wonder Balm is fantastic. I know it can seem a little pricey for a hair balm, but this really does have multiple uses and it delivers on every promise. You can use this on damp hair to smooth hair and eradicate frizz, or on dry hair before styling to add gloss and definition. Either way works brilliantly because this product is light and doesn't weigh down your hair or add grease. I really liked this product, and I can see myself purchasing this in the future. Truthfully you can buy cheaper products, but to have this many useful purposes in one product is great.
♥ And finally, Tresemme Split Remedy Serum. This is one of my hair product staples all year round. As I mentioned, I use my straighteners too often and cause unwanted split ends, so this serum is amazing to run through the tips of my hair and protect when using heat on my hair. It's cheap and adds a gorgeous gloss, what's not to love? Sorry for sounding so positive about all of these products, but the reason I chose to include them is because I love them all. I use each one regularly and I find each has it's own benefits.
So the only remaining point is that of a winner? I have to say, my favourite product of all these is..

The Herbal Essences Bee Strong Strengthening Spray. This one is an all rounder, it seems perfect for any hair types and really makes damaged hair feel better especially. An instant love for me.
What do you guys think? Have you tried any of these, or will you? Thanks for reading!
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Eyeko Skinny Eyeliner Review

As a huge fan of jet black liners, this Eyeko one which came free with this months issue of Glamour, was a lovely treat for the eyes. I never usually expect much from freebies to be honest, but I thought I'd give it a go.

The box didn't stand out much for me. The colour scheme and general layout doesn't really scream 'Gorgeous!', but the actual eyeliner was lovely and sleek once you took it out and much better presented. This might not seem important to some people, but as someone who studied Graphic Design and Product Design for years, I really notice this stuff. Plus I have to be honest about what would generally grab my attention at the beauty counter.

I have to say, I'm pretty happy with this eyeliner, especially since I got it free. It's not a bad little addition to my makeup bag. It does have a skinny, precise little nib which is obviously what you want from a liquid liner. I think my only small negative comment would be that if you want it really black (like I usually do!) then you have to press down a little firmer than usual. I have taken a photograph using the liner on my hand to show how 'black' it came out with a gentle, quick swish.

As you can see its not perfect, but I didn't find this a problem as I just pushed down a little harder. Anyone not used to using liquid liner for precise lines might find this irksome though, as pushing down firmer does make the line a little thicker. Not much of a downside for myself though, I was quite impressed with this.

This usually goes for around £12 according to the Eyeko website.

Personally, I would consider buying this in the future as it is fluid and easy to run over eyelids, and not a bad price. If it were anymore though, I would probably consider something else.

What do you guys think? Have you tried this?

My First Giveaway! - FINISHED

Yay! How exciting. I've been keen to run my first little giveaway for a while, and now I'm lucky enough to have been gifted a lovely prize for it which I hope some of you will love. As many of you know, I love anything crafty and creative, and I was so happy my DIY bunting post went down very well. I'm always on the lookout for new creative possibilities, and if you're the same then you'll appreciate what I'm offering. This prize has endless possibilities and the chance to try something new and fun. The Sizzix Texture Boutique Beginners Kit - RRP £30

This amazing kit includes a Card Making Machine, Embossing pads, Shim, Texture embossing folders, 40 sheets of cardstock in 10 different colours, Rub on sheets, Sandpaper sample and a project booklet. In a nutshell, anyone can master making their own unique cards, wall pieces or art prints in minutes. Any creative types out there will already recognise the possibilities, making cards and invitations is just the beginning. But even if you've never done anything like this before it's a great way to start being creative and trying something new.

There is a link for die-cutting supplies & ideas which would be perfect for you should you win,

simply click here.

And also an awesome vid here, showing you some possibilities for this prize.

I only have some very short and simple rules:

This giveaway is UK only – sorry guys!
I will check all entries so please don’t submit entries without actually doing them.
I will email/tweet the winners when the giveaway has ended, you must reply within 3 days otherwise I’ll pick another winner.
I accept no responsibility for the package once it’s sent and I’m not responsible for any loss or damage to the product during delivery.
Entries will be taken through Rafflecopter and will last 1 week!

And now for the fun!

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

10 Things I've learned from other Beauty Bloggers

1. Coconut oil is a GODSEND for dry/damaged hair.
2. Apply a thin layer of glue underneath glitter nail varnish for easy peasy peel removal.
3. Baby shampoo is a fantastic brush cleaner.
4. Anyone can contour!
5. I'm not the only one who leaves makeup on overnight (sometimes!)
6. The #bbloggers chats are full of useful tips and friendly bloggers.
7. A good highlighter can hide dark circles.
8. A good camera is really important. Getting accurate and clear photographs, especially swatches of makeup, is impossible without a decent cam unfortunately.
9. Checking out some reviews of a product can help you decide before you buy.
10. Finding blogs you love can inspire you so much, and help your own blog.

I've learned a lot more and I'm sure I will continue to for as long as I keep blogging. What tips/things have you guys realised since you started blogging?
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DIY Nails

I've been playing around with my nails recently, and I wanted to share a fun 'How-To' with you guys for this particular look. I think it's really cute, and best of all, it's super easy to do!

What you'll need; A nail varnish colour of your choice, Clear topcoat varnish, Some glitter (dry, plain glitter, not that gel crap), Cotton buds, A piece of paper, A camera to show me how yours went! (Tweet me @dorkfaceinfo)

Okay step 1. Go through all of your nail varnishes, and pick out the colour you want for the base.

Step 2. Decide what colour glitter you want layered over the top.

As with most things in life, I went with the pink.

1. Is your hair naturally curly or straight?

Very wavy and frizzy haha.

2. What is your natural hair colour?

Like medium brown. A really dull brown as well. I now dye it a darker, chocolate brown.

3. Do you dye it yourself or go to a salon?

I dye it myself. With how often I change my hair colour it would cost me thousands if I went to a salon everytime!

4. How often do you wash your hair?

Every 2 days.

5. Do you wear the same style every day or change it?

It depends what Im doing. If I dont have plans, it'll be jeans/leggings and a tshirt or cute vest. If I have plans I like to wear one of my many tea dresses.

6. How often to you change your nail polish?

Whenever I'm bored of it. Usually like once a week.

7. How long does it take to put on your makeup?

Around half an hour if I'm doing it 'properly'. Other days if I'm rushing it'll be a quick 10 minute job.

8. What do you do first? Face or eyes?

Face. I always like the base done first.

9. Do you "collect" makeup or just buy what you need when you need it?

A bit of both. There's things I tend to only buy when I need it, like eyeliner. And then theres things like Lipstick, Foundation and Nail Polish that I like to buy no matter how much I have.

10. Do you do a full face of makeup every day?

It's depends, it is very rare I have no makeup on. I enjoy doing up my face and feel better when I've spent time on it. So I'd guess I usually have a full face most days, but not every day.

11. Will you leave the house without makeup?

I hate it. Hate hate hate it! It's very rare I do this and I'll be honest, if I do Im always in a rush to get back inside haha! I am a fan of natural beauty I really am, but I just feel happier and confident when my face is done up.

12. How many high end products do you have?

Id say a good amount, but not enough! I do have to budget and get high street products a lot, but it doesn't stop me saving to get the better beauty products I crave!

13. How often do you wash your makeup brushes?

Not as often as I should. Eep.

14. How often do you change your handbag?

Almost everyday I use a different bag. I like to change it up and I try to compliment my outfit. It causes me hell though when looking for my keys! I end up searching through every bag!

15. What time do you get up & go to sleep?

Im a night owl. I always have been. I stay up until about 2/3am. I get up around 10am.

16. Do you speak a foreign language?

No! I wish I did.

17. How often are you on Blogger?

Everyday.

18. Do you read the comments posted blogs?

Yes, always. I love finding new blogs.

19. Do you keep a list of products to try as you see other posts?

Oooh yes. There's always something I'm lusting after.

20. What kind of camera do you use for photographs?

Canon EOS Rebel T2i.