The Country House

The air here is distinctively crisp, fresh and pure – not like at home. The birds swoop in and out of the trees and the soft breeze rustle the array of bottle green leaves. Beams of sun disperse through the tree branches creating natures light show, a performance only an awakened mind could appreciate.

I’ve been a city girl for so long, wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of London. The air is toxic; there is noise everywhere. I become uncomfortable with silence when there is a whole city waiting for me, as it’s a city that never seems to sleep. Here it is quiet, and as the days have passed I’ve succumbed to the silence. Hearing nothing but nature is cleansing for the mind - it’s a feeling like no other.

We are only human. Sometimes everyday life can swallow us whole. We get caught up in work, studying, and the daily to-do list...sometimes we just need to pause and take a deep breath. So many times I’ve crumbled when faced with situations because I’ve thought it was the be all and end all. It’s not, it never is.

We need to – I need to – get comfortable with the silence, embrace it, appreciate it for what it is.

The only sound I can hear is the soft crunching beneath my feet as I walk over the crispy grass, dehydrated from the sweltering summer just gone. The ground is thirsty but the trees flourish with ripe figs and walnuts. We study the fig tree. My auntie Paola says the softer the fig, the riper it is; so we fill the old wicker basket with the best fruit on the tree, my auntie opening a few on the way round to taste the sweetness and offering one to me every now and then.

The country house was one of my granddad’s favourite places here in Italy. It’s secluded, tucked away in the hills and I start to understand why he loved it so much, the peace and quiet is overwhelming. It's the kind of feeling that could entice you to pack everything up and stay here forever, just living off the land and finding comfort in the sunrise that stretches across the hills or the blanket of stars at night – tempting?

However, being away from somewhere most familiar to me makes me appreciate the familiarity. I could easily lose myself here in the Italian countryside, but strangely enough, I think I’ve found myself. I’ve achieved what I came here to do, and although there’s a rocky road ahead, I can see light at the end of the tunnel. I’m coming home embracing the life I had before, but this time with the tools and knowledge I need to change what needs to be changed, and to appreciate what’s already there to be appreciated.Welcoming the silence makes everything else seem not so loud anymore. Maybe I could be a country girl after all?

LAURA

The Dream Jean

Give a girl a good pair of jeans and she can conquer the world. But finding the perfect pair is a challenge in itself, like a needle in a haystack. I’ve had a rocky relationship with jeans, even going three or four years during secondary school avoiding them altogether because they seemed to be the most pointless, uncomfortable garment in the world – this was before the high-waisted jean stole our hearts of course. I’ve been through the flares, boot cut, boyfriend, hipster… you name them I’ve tried them.

I’ve never quite given up on my search for the perfect pair of jeans, a pair that fit nice and snug without feeling too claustrophobic – you know the kind I’m talking about. Those jeans that look mighty fine on but are super uncomfortable to wear, maybe you have to avoid sitting down in case they reveal too much, or trying to get them on becomes a workout in itself. Sure, they look great, but at the end of the day it all comes down to comfort, fit, and style. I think I’ve finally cracked it.

Introducing the Farleigh High Waist Slim MOM Jeans from ASOS. Yes, mom jeans. The mom jean is all about comfort, relaxed fitting and an effortless chic style that can bring all kinds of sexy to a wardrobe. They’re high waisted so really flattering on most body types, and the slim fit brings the same sexiness as the skinny jean, but in an understated yet comfortable way. 

I love how they just graze the ankle, so when paired with some low cut Chelsea boots they can effortlessly take me into the Autumn/Winter months. I can just imagine rocking them to university on cold wintery mornings, looking so chic with a cropped knitted jumper, rushed topknot and chunky knit scarf.

It makes a nice change for me because I’m usually drawn to jeans made with thinner, lighter materials, and a higher percentage of elastane. But the ASOS Farleigh jeans are quite heavy weight denim but with a good amount of stretch, which give them an 80’s/early 90’s vibe. Without the knee and thigh rips, which make them incredibly current, I could be mistaken for an extra from Friends – I don’t mind this at all because I’m constantly swooning over Jennifer Aniston’s 90’s wardrobe.

I’ve been wearing these CONSTANTLY in Italy. They’ve probably seen the light of day more than any other item of clothing in my wardrobe. They’ve crossed seas with me, hiked up hills and biked through sunflower fields - my Farleigh’s have become my go-to jeans for any occasion.

LAURA

Getting back to what’s important.

This trip feels different. It’s not necessarily a ‘holiday’ as such, the kind where I’d normally seek the nearest beach and plant myself on a sun lounger with a Pina Colada all day. It’s a strange feeling taking the ego out of a holiday; I’ll be returning without even a tan to show for it - but that’s fine. Because this trip feels different, it is different. I think that’s what separates a trip from a holiday. I’ve done this for me, my own peace of mind, and not only to absorb all of the beauty and culture that Italy has to offer, but just to understand that there is more out there for me.

As mentioned in my previous post, it’s easy to become stuck in a rut when surrounded by the same people, and trapped in the same environment for a long period of time. It can become hard to see the wood through the trees. I’ve gone from waking up to seeing nothing but a busy main road, rows of street lights and the same man – vacant expression always – going to get his morning coffee, to the sight of rolling hills stretched for miles, picturesque countryside surrounded by tiny hilltop towns, and a crisp air that almost takes my breath away when I open the door to the balcony every morning. It’s magical.

I’m currently in Macerata, a province in the Marche region of central Italy. Up in the hills and with a beautiful historical city centre, my Uncle said that Macerata is considered to be a hidden gem of Italy. Tourists usually flock to Milan or Rome to experience Italy’s cultural vibrancy or notorious historical landmarks, but places like this, hidden away in the hilltops, are almost untouched by tourism. It’s the perfect way to find the peace and serenity I’ve been craving for so long, and to really immerse myself in the true Italian way of living.  

It’s currently Thursday, so I’m not even half way through my trip yet. But I already feel like I’m achieving what I came here to do. It’s the most frustrating thing having a mind consumed with thoughts, feelings, ideas that I just haven’t been able to translate into words. Writing is what I’ve been studying at University; I’ve been planning to make it my future, my career – so why haven’t I been able to put pen to paper and let the contents of my mind spill out onto a page? At home I felt crushed by the things going on around me, it was never part of the plan. Writing my thoughts would mean it was actually happening. But as I sit here, writing away, listening to music, my uncle dancing around the room to music of the world…it feels right. I forget everything else when I write; I was told that if you lose track of time when doing something then that thing is a passion.

I’m writing again and it feels great. It’s something I would strongly recommend for anyone in a sticky situation in which they can see no escape. Open a notebook, or a Word document and just write, anything and everything. Nobody has to see it but yourself, and it’s something I’ve definitely found difficult. As a student currently studying Journalism, an audience is something always on my mind so it’s a challenge writing for myself. But after I’ve done it, it feels like a weight off my shoulders. I still have documents I wrote over a month ago now and I read them back and don’t even recognise the person I was back then; it’s the best way to track progress or put into perspective how far I’ve come. 

I feel like I’ve come so far in a short space of time. I don’t know what the next week or so has in store for me, but I’m starting to feel myself again. Not the old me who was so easily caught up in everyday mundane problems, but a freer, happier person, humbled by the skies I’m under, and simply appreciating the day without fear of the next.

So, Laura.. What's going on?

It’s quite difficult knowing where to start when it comes to blog posts like this. In fact, I wrote that first sentence and just stared at it for about 15 minutes because I really don’t know where to start.

All that’s clear right now is that I’m here, in Italy, staying with family, trying to gather the courage to put pen to paper and feelings into words. I’ve had serious writers block for about a month now and I can’t seem to connect with the words I write – I read them back and they don’t make any sense to me.

I had things planned out pretty well; at one point everything made sense, as if all my thoughts, feelings and plans for the future were stacked into neat, organised piles of paper, only for a big gust of wind to suddenly scatter them all over the place, leaving everything in disarray.

The past month or so has just been a blur of confusion and despondency, as I’ve been coming to terms with big changes in my personal life, figuring out what direction I want to take in the next couple of years, and ending a long-term relationship that didn’t turn out how I’d hoped. I’ve been stuck in a very uncomfortable state of limbo for what seems like forever now, and my mind has been on quite a journey – sometimes experiencing some of my lowest points, to my happiest. I’ve been feeling claustrophobic, stuck in own mind, waiting for a release. This is my release.

I think it’s a common thing to become agitated or stuck in a rut when tied to the same place for a long period of time and surrounded by the same people, particularly if there is somebody who makes you feel weak, or brings you down. Problems that would usually seem small suddenly become really heavy and hard to deal with. Right now I’m many miles away from the UK, and I can breathe easier, think clearer, and the problems I felt previously seem miniscule, but I’m very aware of what I have waiting for me when I return.

I once heard that time has a beautiful way of healing and nature has a powerful way of putting things in their rightful place. Day by day, as I wake up each morning, I feel a little stronger and my heart and mind are slowly healing – pieced together by the love of my family and friends who have picked me up each time I’ve stumbled. I think it’s always going to be important for me or for anyone currently in a long-term relationship, to stop and look around. It’s easy to let tunnel vision take over, and for all energy to be focused on one person, one situation, one problem, without paying attention to the people around you… the people who are there to unconditionally love and support you.

I appreciate these people in my life, I love them, and I’ve embraced every bit of time they have devoted to making me feel whole again.

Change is hard, and has felt uncomfortable. But with change comes growth. Having this breathing space has given me time to change my outlook on this current situation. The pain and heartache I have felt has taught me so many things about loving myself, appreciating those around me and taking each day as it comes, finding comfort in the idea that things will eventually fall into place – whatever’s meant to be will be, and everything happens for a reason.

I’ve decided to start channelling these emotions and important life lessons into my writing. Heartbreak, indecisiveness and confusion are all very complex things that I’m still learning about every day. To document this journey of mine – and in the hope of helping someone else – I’m going to use this space as a blank notebook that I can pour the contents of my mind onto. I hope to look back and see how that big gust of wind that seemed to turn everything upside down, wasn’t such a bad thing after all.

Relaunching Lulaa-Belle.

Things are changing here on Lulaa-belle. I want this space to be a creative outlet for my thoughts, my life, and a place for inspiration rather than just another blog crammed with product reviews. Product reviews are great and I turn to blogs for them myself when I need advice etc, but I've made the decision to start writing for myself and about the things I enjoy instead of focusing on mainly beauty; I know a large chunk of my readership comes from the many beauty posts I've accumulated over the past couple of years, but I feel like I'm ready for change. 

 I find myself being drawn to bloggers like Sonya Esman from Classisinternal who exuberate an energy that leaves me feeling so inspired, something that I hope to achieve from my blog some day. My mind has been full of thoughts that I've wanted to share on Lulaa-belle but have held back because it never fit with the overall theme of my blog. Putting more energy into lifestyle posts and writing whatever my mind desires will allow me to find the freedom I've been looking for. 

I'm not entirely sure where this is going to go in all honesty. When bloggers spruce up their blog, it's normally a form of re-branding, change of layout whilst having a clear idea of the posts that will follow. But just as we are all human, and we don't know what life has in store for us, I'm just going with it.. and for it. This has been a long time coming, but expect this space to change as we do. My head space is very different compared to where I was two years ago so this is a move towards creative freedom instead of pigeonholing myself into one category of blogging. 

You can still find me at Lulaa-belle but titling this space with my name is a case of personal preference, a way of connecting to my writing. 

As I've already mentioned, this has been a long time coming and just as I have done today, do something everyday to get closer to where you want to be : - )

My summer essentials!

It's summer, it's summer! It's been sweltering over here in the UK and around London this past week or so. Whilst my dad complains about the heat and my mum goes into hibernation, I can't help but take in the sunshine and embrace the happiness that it brings to everyone! Everyone just seems to be in a good mood when the sun is out and since I'm a summer baby, it's when I feel most calm, free and motivated! I also have a holiday to Greece planned at the end of this month so this is when the preparation gets started - over packing, thinking of every possible scenario and occasion to dress for, and buying too many bikinis when realistically I'll only wear one or two. I just love it. 

Here are a few bits I've accumulated over the past couple of weeks and over my birthday that I will certainly be taking with me, or I'll keep by my side throughout this gorgeous British weather! 

(The Virgin Mojito Happy Hour Collection - comes with a Mojito Body Butter, scrub, shower gel and Mini Green bath Lily)

The launch of The Body Shop's new Virgin Mojito range has had everybody talking this season and I was lucky enough to receive pretty much the whole range for my birthday to try out. I was obsessed with the Fuji Green Tea range earlier this year and I just know I'm going to be obsessed with this one too *she says sniffing away at the body scrub like no tomorrow*. I've been trying so hard to keep my mitts off all the products because I really want this to be my holiday scent this year - but I don't know how long I can last! It's super fresh and sweet with bursts of lime and mint extract. I basically smell like my favourite drink, and I have this incredible image of myself laying on a beach in Greece, smelling like a Mojito whilst drinking a Mojito.. urm YES.

The Body Splash product is a lovely addition to the range. A light splash of this stuff after a cool shower on a hot summers day would be so refreshing and gorgeous. A worker in my local store said a Coconut base (i.e. a body butter, lotion or spray) would enhance the scent and make it last longer. I haven't tried this yet but let me know your thoughts!

This is the Organix Coconut Water weightless hydration oil and to say I love it is an understatement. For so long I've been using my coconut Ultimate Blends oil, but I've recently been finding it too heavy for my hair this summer. Since my hairs had the chop (I will be writing a post on this soon), I have been embracing its natural thickness; I finally have no more split ends and I really want to start looking after my hair - it has been prone to breakages, damage and dryness in the past. This oil gives my hair hydration that feels weightless whilst smelling a-m-a-zing. If ya love the smell of coconut, give this a sniff! It's like summer in a bottle.

I've spoken about these two babies before but they're my go to drugstore products for when I'm in need of a pop of natural colour. The Max Factor Creamy Blusher in 14 Soft Pink gives the cheeks a gorgeous natural flush and it's creamy consistency makes it look really pretty and dewy on the skin.
This goes perfectly with my old faithful and much loved Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in 09 Happy Nude Year. It's a fuss free, matte pinky nude that lasts all day on the lips - no need for top ups whilst you're enjoying the sunshine!

Who doesn't love flowers in their hair?! I've been embracing my inner hippy recently and at the moment they seem to be a festival season statement that anyone can get their hands on. I picked up this pretty floral headband from Primark for just £3/4 - absolute bargain! You'll definitely see me sporting this at Brownstock this month! (another hint at posts to come in the next couple of weeks) : - )

And last but not least, who can go through summer without an ott beach bag? Not me. My lovely mum got me this for my birthday from Accessorize and it's so gorgeous. Covered in vibrant neon elephants, Aztec stitching and A BIG TASSEL. Anyone who knows me would know that tassel's are my thang!

I'm loving all the summer posts right now on everybody's blogs, leave links below so I can see yours and let me know one of your summer essentials this year! Over and out : - )

Getting down to Ciara and an easy healthy snack

Happy Sunday guys! Sunday doesn't have to be as dull as you think if you go about it the right way *She says still sitting in bed in her pyjamas* - Sunday is a day for 'you' I like to think. Kick back, listen to your favourite songs on repeat, eat healthy foods, do some squats (I'm sounding like a cringe tumblr quote right now) and getting ready for the week ahead! 

Right now my favourite song on repeat is Ciara- I Bet. Now, Ciara is basically my Beyonce. She's so sassy and beautiful.. like Beyonce I guess but Ciara knows how to get down! I've been finding myself flicking this on repeat when I wake up, before I go to bed and at the gym. It kinda has an old school vibe which I love, like a tune that will forever be played on Kisstory as you're driving along, blasting the tunes and singing every word like you're a badass rap artist (you're not because you stayed up all night learning the words so you can impress your friends ;-)). It's a great singing in the mirror tune and I'm not ashamed to say it, a 'pretending to be in a music video' tune - we've all done it. 

It's so tempting to eat loads of rubbish on a Sunday. You're probably recovering from a night out and your eyeballs are bigger than your belly and hell no it's Monday tomorrow so we might as well eat away all our sorrows. Rewind girl. I find it so helpful to treat today like a preparation day, gearing me up for the week ahead so I can conquer it with energy, a smile and with positivity. Positivity - for me - comes with healthy eating and truthfully, it is tough! I have a major sweet tooth so I usually like to find something that replicates that sweet desserty taste but does my body some good. 

Recently for breakfast or a healthy snack in the afternoon, I've been teaming a couple of dollops of Fage Total 0% Natural yoghurt with some chopped up fruit to satisfy my sweet cravings. This yoghurt is really thick which I find makes it feel more like a dessert than your usual yoghurt consistency - it's a yummy treat that I've been loving at the moment! It brings me the joy an empty Mac pallet would bring to a beauty fanatic (i.e. me). There's so much you can do with it and you can mix and match to your hearts content to create a beautiful result. Putting the Mac analogy to the side, I've been teaming mine with some chopped banana and mixed frozen fruits for a yummy summer snack! 

P.s.. After being inspired by one of Tanya Burr's vlogs I've been using frozen berries and putting them in the microwave until they become soft and juicy like a sweet compote - it's basically a healthy dessert! : - ) 

And finally, WATER. You've all heard it a zillion times but i've been drinking LOTS recently. I always carry my old faithful bottle around with me, filling it up whenever I can, and drinking it wherever I go to stay hydrated and happy : - ) I've noticed a big difference in my stomach recently since cutting out bread and drinking more water. It's a great way to tackle that dreaded bloating that makes you feel really sluggish and unconfident. After all, it makes you feel fresh, happier, clears your skin, and looks after your digestive system - so drink up girls!

What do you like to do on a Sunday? : - ) 

Nutrition: We are machines - A new chapter

I'm really feeling June this year. It's the month of sun, crisp summer evenings that take your breath away, and well would you believe it? It's the month I celebrate my birthday - my 20th birthday to be exact. Twenty is an odd age. It's not a biggen like an eighteenth or 21st, it's just a middleman, but it holds special significance for me and that is saying goodbye to my teenage years... scary! 

I’ve spent most (well, all) my teenage years trying to be perfect: finding the definition of perfect, and seeking ways to reach ‘perfection’. But at a ripe old age of nineteen I’ve come to realise that it doesn’t exist. The only way to truly be happy with yourself is to be the best possible you, without expectations, pressure, or comparison to the Photoshopped women on glossy magazines. I’ve never truly been happy with myself in all honesty and I have been waiting to ‘grow to love myself’ or to suddenly feel comfortable in my own skin. But I’m only starting to appreciate that this takes time, work, and a journey that won’t necessarily have a destination, but a journey that I will learn to love because it’s mine.

Instead of striving for ‘perfection’ in my twenties, I want to know how it feels to be at peace with my body and myself, inside and out and to feel comfortable. This doesn’t come from starving myself, losing weight and counting calories but appreciating what god gave me, looking after it and that powerful, intricate machine within all of us. The machine that supports you when you decide to strut around town in your highest heels, fills you with bursts of energy when you run to catch the last bus from even opening the cupboard to sneak a midnight snack. Our bodies are machines designed to move, dance, live, laugh and love and the best way to start looking after it is nutrition. Food is fuel and the fuel you choose to enrich your body with I strongly believe effects the start of our day, our mindset and how we conquer it.

This is something I’ve always known but never really acknowledged. I’m the type of person to lose faith quite quickly when it comes to dieting and health, but recently I’ve found some books that have kick-started that fire in my belly, inspiring me to want more, work more and most of all, understanding that I deserve more. You do to. These books are:

The Body Book by Cameron Diaz – Cameron is a kick ass woman. She looks like the most confident woman on the planet, but after reading The Body Book, she herself has been through highs and lows with her confidence and her body. She looks into the science behind nutrition and how the foods we choose to eat can affect our bodies and minds. This really made me sit back and think… dayum I really need to stop ordering those extra fries and swapping full fat cola for diet (it’s just as bad!), like now! Because sugar is everywhere, but Cameron has enriched my mind with the foundations of nutrition more than I could ever imagine and has really inspired me to think twice about the things I eat. And would you believe it, I’ve even conquered my fizzy drink addiction!

Get the Glow by Madeline Shaw – Madeline is a nutritionist for the stars, a food blogger and has made regular appearances in Tanya Burr’s vlogs as her yoga pal. She’s so lovely and really has that natural ‘glow’ that so many of us are trying to achieve through throwing our cash at makeup counters. But her book ‘Get the Glow’ is full of nutritious, delicious, amazing recipes designed to ignite that inner glow that will show in your skin and leave your body feeling top notch. Her six-week programme is really what inspired me as she shares lots of healthy tips and positive affirmations to keep me motivated!

Come and join me on my journey! Follow me on Bloglovin HERE so we can stay connected! : -) xxx

My top tanning and bronzing must haves!

Having bronzed skin throughout the summer is a trend that will never grow old, but as we become more aware of how harmful the sun can be to our health and to the condition of our skin, it has never been more important to take care on those beautiful sunny days, leaving beauty gurus like myself to search for affective alternatives for women looking for that healthy glow!

Of course, sitting in the sunshine has it's health benefits but too much can be damaging for our skin - it may only be a burn now, but this is causing permanent damage to our skin that will become more noticeable in the future! So although many take to the sun for a non-patchy, all-over tan, I thought I'd show you a few of my healthy alternatives in a can/bottle to get that glow all year round without the risks!

Garnier Ambre Solaire dry body mist - 

This is a fairly recent purchase for me and I have to admit, my laziness when it comes to applying fake tan was the driving force for this buy. The idea of being able to quickly spray gradual tan on your body without having to wait ages for it to dry or that awkward stickiness that cream formula tans bring, is great, but of course it has its downfalls. As I was spraying myself with this new purchase, whilst dancing around my room and getting prepped for going out that evening, I suddenly thought - wait, this was way too easy.. surely there's a catch? It wasn't until 3/4 hours later that the catch became evident. STREAK ALERT. It's very hard to apply dry mist tans liberally and without missing a spot or two - or hundreds in my case - so it's probably best to apply this a day before actually going out to an occasion or event, because after a second coat it seemed to all blend in and look socially acceptable.
The colour was great though, natural and not too orange and even though I did have a little disaster on the first application, I think I will get to grips with it after a few attempts. The easy application makes it still very attractive for someone like myself who hates that stickiness of tanning lotions, but be warned! Expect to visit streak city until you get the hang of it - unless you're a tanning mist expert in which case, please comment some tips!!! : - )

Cocoa Brown by Marissa Carter - 1 hour tan mousse: 

I actually love this tan, and I have to say, it's really wiped out my ol'faithful Garnier Summer Body tanning lotion off the top of my holy grail list. I usually leave my favourite till last but thought I'd mix it up for you guys and keep you on your toes!! hehe. Of course it's a tanning mousse so application is quite fussy, but its so worth it for the beautiful result! It's such an affordable alternative to more expensive tanning products on the market but its finish is just as good!
Simply apply all over your body and on your face for an all over bronzed look - don't be alarmed by how dark the product looks, it needs to be washed off after a couple of hours (I usually leave it for 3/4 hours) but after you've hit the shower, the colour and evenness of the product is lovely and really natural. And in case you're wondering, Cocoa Brown is made from a vegetable derived tanning agent, it's suitable for sensitive skin and it's moisturising and kind enough to be used on the face - WIN! This saves the trouble of having separate tanning products for the body and face which I know many brands haven't sorted out yet for people on a budget like myself!
I've really fallen in love with this tan and I know other big names in beauty like Tanya Burr have raved about this product too so it's definitely worth checking it out - and in case you're interested, this tan saved me from my little palaver with the previous tan I mentioned so I managed to leave the house with an all over, streak free tan! : - D

Garner Summer Body moisturising lotion:

I mentioned this product on my blog last summer and it's still up there with my favourite tanning products (it's been knocked off though by Cocoa Brown.. sorry Garnier!) but it's still a very reliable go-to tan for me because most of the time if I've prepped - exfoliated and moisturised the day before that is - it develops evenly leaving me with a nice deep but natural looking tan. However, the smell is very love it or hate it. I know some people who don't mind the smell of fake tan, but I happen to fall in the 'hate it' category and it becomes unbearable sometimes. However the even finish makes this product worth it and I think it's a definite must-try for anyone on a tight budget and wants a fuss free tan.

Click HERE if you want to see my other review and some other thoughts on this product from last summer!

Now onto bronzers! I know sometimes it can be a little daunting applying fake tan onto the face because it's harder to cover if something goes wrong and a lot of tanning products (apart from Cocoa Brown) are not suitable for face application and can sometimes cause break outs. So, to be safe, I like to apply a nice bronzer to match my fake tan to the colour of my foundation, and there are plenty of options out there to try and explore! Here are my two favourites right now : - )

 Hoola by Benefit:

Hoola is every girls best friend, and no she's not a human or a tub of ice cream, she's an old faithful bronzer that has graced every beauty gurus vanity table at some point. I can only describe this as your basic matte, fuss-free, brown bronzer. No shimmer or glitter or all hues of orange - just a brown powder. It's like a LBD for example, every girl needs one! I think the simplicity of Hoola is what makes it so popular; it's easily blended into the skin and perfect for an all over bronzed look when swept across cheekbones, nose and forehead. The fact I've hit the pan as you can see in the photograph is a BIG thaaaang, normally products don't even make it to being half empty before I'm bored and interested in searching for better or more exciting alternatives!

The Body Shop Honey Bronzer - 02:

And last but not least, The Body Shop's Honey Bronzer has been in my makeup bag for a little while now and it's compact mirror has become a must-have for my handbag and it's always on hand when I'm out and about. In my opinion this is a a great alternative to Hoola for girls with fairer skin and want a lighter bronzed look, because sometimes when I haven't applied tan, Hoola can be a little too dark for my skin tone. Yet again it's a matte brown powder which isn't too pigmented so perfect for anyone who wants a light bronze or a buildable bronzer for any makeup look. You can probably tell that I'm not into all of the shimmery bronzers out there with crazy patterns and blocks and wheels of pinks, yellows shades etc. A basic brown powder allows me to control and personalise my makeup so much easier with my choice of highlighter if I fancy injecting a little brightness into my makeup look! 

I hope this has given you an idea of a few tanning products to try this Summer ladies and please let me know in the comments your holy grail bronzing and tanning products so we can look like effortless bronzed goddesses! : - )

P.S: I also reviewed L'Oreal's Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Elixir last summer and it claims to be 'indestructible', lasting for two weeks with no streaks or smell!!! See what my thoughts are after I put it to the test! Click HERE to read my review.