Five Happy Things // February

March is peeking around the corner even though we've only just had Christmas and I'm excited. March to me means blossom, the smell of Spring in the air and hopefully more sunny days and I cannot wait, I need that sunshine on my face. 

February for us has been pretty busy as we prepared for Arran to go back to work after his paternity. He gets six months so it's been a completely different experience with much more support post-partum but trying to negotiate who works what and when has been hard. It's so frustrating trying to organise flexible working and childcare with businesses that preach about family support yet when it comes to it, is non-existent, it's been tough! 

We are however still making the most of our small wins, little memories and happy moments where we can - they don't have to be a huge, momentous thing, they can be just about anything.

So here are five handpicked happy things from our February...

Spectrum Collections X Winnie The Pooh

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Spectrum Collections burst onto the scene in 2014 with an incredible range of brushes and took the beauty world by storm! Created from scratch in a garage in Barry, South Wales, Spectrum was started by two sisters, Sophie and Hannah and has since become a globally recognised brand loved by many. 

With fun and original collections, gorgeous colourways to suit anyone and everyone and brand values that you'll adore, it's a beauty brand you should absolutely have on your radar especially as they specialise in creating makeup, tools and accessories that have professional quality at an attainable price point.

It's why everyone loves Spectrum.

One of my favourite things about Spectrum is the collections they release throughout the year and the latest one has just dropped, I can't wait to show you! 

Latest in Beauty X Caroline Barnes Beauty Expert Edition

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Latest in Beauty have been releasing limited edition collection after limited edition collection recently and they've just been getting better and better so hold on to your chairs folks because if this beauty edit doesn't knock you over, I'll be shocked. 

The never-before-seen collection has received the ultimate stamp of approval from international makeup artist, Caroline Barnes, and the beauty team at LiB and boy are you in for a treat! Featuring brands she works with, beauty experts and industry friends she trusts along with her genuine beauty picks, this collection is packed with ten products, including eight full-sized products from brands including Illamasqua, Murad, KJH x Spectrum, Sculpted by Aimee and more. 

I can't wait to show you inside!

Get £10 off with code CAROLINE10 for a limited time only - SHOP HERE

Paul & Joe Beauté Spring 2022 Collection

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From warm sunshine and bathing on picnic benches to flower shops and hazy cafe terraces, the Paul & Joe Spring 2022 collection is a feast for the eyes. The collection promises to transform you into a world of fresh discoveries, springtime hues and subtle pastel shades promising to lift every heart for a beautiful new season.

It's dreamy and just what you'd expect from Paul & Joe Beauty which was launched by Sophie Mechaly in 2002, following the success of her fashion line by the same name. The limited-edition collection features a host of limited edition beauty bits such as lipstick cases, pressed blush, compacts and a treatment balm - each as joyful as the next.

The lip shades from BITE Beauty you just have to try

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I shared in August of last year that BITE Beauty had finally found it's way to our shores and I've been religiously using the brand ever since. You can take a look at my first look here - Introducing BITE Beauty but I can tell you, it is absolutely worth the purchase and I wouldn't be without the brand in my beauty bag now! 

If you're new to BITE, just like I was - lemme give you a quick background...

The brand began after a need for clean beauty that performs to their (and your) high standards. With bold, look-at-me colour and skin-loving ingredients, BITE Beauty is all about making you look and feel good with no settling necessary. Along with creating inclusive shade ranges, BITE is committed to developing formulas with super-satisfying sensorial experiences that boldly feed your senses through colour, flavour, and texture. It's quite a fascinating brand and I've really enjoyed getting to know the products.

BITE Beauty Power Move Soft Matte Lipstick (£25.00)

You only have to search 'matte lips' on my blog to know just how much I love the finish so if there was ever a lipstick range that was made for me it's the BITE Beauty Power Move Soft Matte Lipsticks. The Power Move Soft Matte Lipsticks come in twenty gorgeous shades and seriously make lips look incredible.

Powered by nourishing cocoa butter to help moisturise and condition lips and tapioca pearls mixed with fatty acid waxes help create that much loved velvety matte finish, the soft matte lipsticks really are something to shout about. 

I have Sugar Buns, a dusty pink, Chai, a soft taupe, Hot Tomato, a perfect matte red and Mulberry, a gorgeously rich wine shade. Matte formulas are my jam so I feel as though I can say with confidence that the formula of these is incredible. I'm gonna need that Cayenne shade!

They're super comfortable on lips, they really do last and I'm obsessed with the shades.

BITE Beauty Power Move Creamy Matte Lip Crayon (£24.00)

Hands up who loves a lip crayon? They're just so easy to whip out and use right?! The shade Cava, a fabulous dusty pink was sent to me to try last year and I've since added Leche and Negroni to my beauty drawers. 

The oh so gorgeous lip crayons are supercharged with superfoods pomegranate oil and wild African mango which are both rich in antioxidants to boost, nourish and hydrate lips. In one easy swipe, you'll have unstoppable colour that feels comfortable on the lips and leaves a beautiful creamy matte finish. 

Psst... there's a built-in sharpender hidden in the base so you'll have a precise tip for every application.

You can shop BITE Beauty online at Feel Unique and Boots UK as well as in selected Boots Stores. It's a brand I really urge you to check out, I adore everything about them so much. 

Which shade is most you? I can't stop using Negroni at the moment!

NEW: Typology Tinted Balms

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Typology burst onto the scene in 2020 and well and truly made its mark on me. They're the ideal starting point for anyone that wants a more effective and targeted skincare routine while still being exceptionally conscious of the world around you too.

Created by Ning Li, the founder of MADE.com, Typology is completely clean, genderless and 100% digital. The Paris-based skincare brand was founded with a mission to promote critical thinking in the personal care arena, intending to break the rules and demystify the complex industry. It's completely stripped back to basics in terms of ingredients and packaging allowing them to design and produce concentrated, natural products that are active, effective and sustainable without a bit of faff in sight.

It's completely refreshing and I've been completely blown away.

Having tried a number of their products which you can view in my Introducing Typology Skincare post since they launched in the UK - I've since had another of their products to try out, Tinted Balms!

Get brighter, dewier skin with Ole Henriksen

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I have a lot of love for Ole Henriksen - the brand outlook is inspiring, the zest for their products is unbeatable and having spent a virtual evening with Ole Henriksen himself last year I couldn't wait to share more. 

With an effervescent optimism for life that allows you to glow from the inside out, the Ole Henriksen skincare collection is built on a product philosophy of exfoliate, treat and soothe, which originated in Ole's Beverly Hills spa helping to bring transformative results to clients all over the world.

Each product in the line from easy daily regimens to professional-strength systems combines powerful actives, natural botanicals and essential fatty acids which are then colour-coded making it super easy to decide on what range would be best for your skin. 

In this post, I'll be focusing on the Ole Henriksen Truth Collection, arguably my favourite from the brand to help brighten, firm and awaken the skin.

It's here! The Cohorted Galentine's Beauty Box

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Valentine's isn't just about couples, it's the perfect time to celebrate all types of love and Cohorted have just the thing for you. 

Romanticise yourself and your friends this Galentine's day with their Galentines Exclusive Beauty Edit (£50.00). The exclusive beauty box worth over £170 includes seven of the top must-haves from some of their favourite brands like Emma Hardie and 111 Skin for the perfect girls' night in. This beauty box edit is a limited edition curation of high-end beauty and skincare products that have been tried and tested by Cohorted's in-house beauty experts.

And oh... it's a good'un!

Your Handy Valentine's Gift Guide 2022

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The month of love is upon us, there are pink hearts and fluff everywhere you look and it's heart-shaped chocolate galore - now it's not for everyone but in keeping with the spirit of seasonal fun I have a handy Valentine's Gift Guide to share. Filled with some of my favourite brands, a couple of newbies and the non-alcoholic drink that saw me through my most recent pregnancy, I am sure you're going to love it. There's something for every budget - I'm excited and I hope you are too.

Let's get stuck in...

Lush Cosmetics Valentine's Collection 2022

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It's the season for suggestive bath bombs and loveeeee so with Lush Cosmetics launching their Valentine's Day collection it was time to dive headfirst into all things pink and full of smut.

I'm a sucker for a Lush product and have been for many years, you only need to head to that little search bar on the side and type Lush to see just how much so I'm gonna show you what I'm going to be using from this year's Valentine's range and what I think you'll love too!

Spoiler: there's a rather large vegetable this year...