What I'm Wearing... Girls Night Out

 With the bulk of our exams now out the way and after having both Physics and English in the same day today, we thought we'd treat ourselves and head out for a nice dinner with the girls to celebrate the exam 'half-way' mark - for me anyway. I also thought I'd be daring and post my first ever (I think) outfit post!

I've kept my look very simple as we're dressing up but didn't want to be too dressed up - also I might change my heels for my sparkly converse which I posted about here, as after those exams I am feeling far too tired to be wearing heels out! Also, as my outfit is generally quite plain with the plain white crop and the black leggings, I've matched it with a cool and colourful aztec triangle necklace and a bright pink lipstick that also matches the colours in the necklace.

Crop top: Topshop

High waisted (or as I call, maternity, haha!) leggings: River Island

Heels: New Look

Necklace: Miss Selfridge

Watch: Olivia Burton

Lipstick: Impassioned by MAC 

What do you like to wear on girl's night out?

Olivia Burton Big Dial Watch

Ever since I spotted the Olivia Burton Big Dial watch over at the beautiful Amy Antoinette's blog, I knew I had to have it. I fell in love with it instantly. I am a huge watch fan and always feel lost without wearing one and I know have a solid 3 in my collection. Unlike my chunky Michael Kors one and my bright purple Ice Watch, this watch is completely different to the others and that's definitely one of the reasons why I love it.

It was my birthday a couple of weeks ago and I was very very lucky to receive this beauty in the Mink and Rose gold version but I think there are a few other colours available on the Olivia Burton site. I absolutely adore the soft pink, rose gold colour of the face of the watch contrasted by the simple cream colour of the leather strap. Unlike my Michael Kors watch which has loads of different dials and a date box and other snazzy features, the face of my Olivia Burton watch is plain with Roman numeral for the 6 and 12 and I think this simplicity gives it such a timeless look.  

Although described as 'big dial', the watch isn't too, too big and it fits and sits so perfectly around my little wrist. In my opinion, it looks very chic and sophisticated and you could pretty much pair it with any sort of outfit. 

Now here's the extra special bit. On the back of the watch is the Olivia Burton logo embossed with a really cute little bird motif which I think is adorable in itself. But also, as it was my birthday, Simon got 'Happy 16th Hannah' engraved on the back of the watch face which is such a lovely and personal idea. I love how this watch is now so unique to myself. It's so delicate and perfect and I might actually tear up writing this because it's just so beautiful (haha, joking, of course).

The Olivia Burton Big Dial watch is available here for £62 which I think is such a reasonable price in comparison with some other watches that aren't even a quarter as gorgeous.

How to keep updated with Which Way To Wonderland?

As you may know, Google Friend Connect (GFC) is closing down very soon and I'm aware that this is how the majority of you lovely followers keep up to date with Which Way To Wonderland? and so I wanted to let you all know of the other ways to follow me and my little blog!

1. You can follow Which Way To Wonderland via bloglovin' by clicking here and pressing follow or you can click the follow button at the top of my sidebar (on the right).

 

2. You can find my blog's twitter account here - it's called @HannahP_xoxo or if you'd like to follow my person, non-blog twitter account, you can find that here - @HannahPatonxxx

3. Finally, if you'd like to keep updated on my blog and what I'm upto by photos, you can find me and follow me on Instagram - also HannahPatonxxx

Please also feel free to leave behind any of your links too, so I can see what all of my amazing followers are up to!

MakeBelieve Luminize Skin Highlighter

MakeBelieve is a brand that from all that I was aware of, sold fake tan. However, I am evidently very wrong! MakeBelieve, as well as fake tan, sell make-up products too as part of their 'enhance' range which includes a highlighter (shown below), a lipgloss, a bronzer and an illuminating concealer (definitely going to try out this product next!). 

The MakeBelieve 'Luminize Skin Highlighter' is quite simply a highlighting product, recommended for use on the cheeks and upper eye-lids. I never really tend to wear highlighters that often, but if I have tanned my face, I do like to give it an extra glow with the use of a highlighter. The packaging of the product is really eye-catching in my opinion. I love the shimmery gold on top of the plain black as it really makes it stand out and I'd be instantly drawn to it in the shop.

The packaging of the actual product is a clear plastic case sort of thing. It doesn't feel like cheap plastic though - it actually feels like it would withstand a good battering at the bottom of your make-up bag so there's no worrying that it will crack and the product will go everywhere. 

The colour of the highlighter, although described by MakeBelieve as 'celestial pink', is more of a champagney colour. It does have slight hints of pink in it though! The highlighter is a cream highlighter rather than a powder one and so it means that you need to apply is to your face using your hands rather than a brush (well, it's easier this way!). I've been applying it to my cheekbones, just above my eye-lid to accentuate my brow bones and down my nose which is supposed to give the appearance of a slimmer nose. I've also heard that you can use the product down your legs which also gives a slimming effect, so I might try this out if I'm ever going out and wearing a short dress.

The highlighter is really pigmented and lasts quite well on the skin. I think it suits better on darker/tanned skin tones, hence the fact I only really wear it after tanning or with bronzer - I don't think I'd ever really dare to wear it pale faced but that's entirely a matter of opinion only! The only problem I can find with this product is that I do find it quite hard to rub into and spread on the skin and so I can see why people sometimes do prefer liquid or powder highlighters. But, if you manage to rub it in well, it leaves such a beautifully coloured shimmering glow on the skin!

You can purchase MakeBelieve Luminize Skin Highlighter here for £7.50.

Have you ever tried this product - if so, what did you think?

What type of highlighters do you prefer?

*PR sample

Which 'Beauty Box' is right for me?

With the extensive range of beauty boxes available out there, it can probably seem a little confusing in trying to choose which one is best for you - I would know, I'm in the same situation! I absolutely love the idea of the beauty box subscription and the thought of getting a little box of beauty goodies delivered to my door each month. But there are just so many to choose from, I don't know which beauty box is right for me...

GlossyBox

Price: £10 plus an additional shipping cost of £2.95

What's good? As you can see from the picture above, you can get some great (and well sized) products from the likes of brands such as Nars and Ciate! Also, when you sign up, you are able to fill in your details so that the box is tailored to you especially in terms of shades and colours. Included in the box is a list of tips to help you out with your new products which is really handy!

What's not so good? You can't guarantee you'll like everything in the box and so you may end up with a box of random leftover products that you'll never use.

Latest in Beauty Box

Price: From £4.95 (themed boxes) and £1 for smaller monthly boxes (3 products)

What's good? Probably the cheapest beauty boxes I've seen around so if you're on a tighter budget but still want to trial new products then this box is great for you. Also, you're able to view exactly what is in the themed box before making your purchase - this is great because then you don't end up with wasted products that you don't want because if you look and you don't like them, you don't have to buy it!

What's not so good? The packaging and products are perhaps not as luxurious as other beauty boxes and the products are all sample size. 

Birchbox 

Price: £10 plus an additional £2.95 shipping cost

What's good? You get a range of good sized products from some great brands like Cargo, Stila and Zoya so it's great if you'd like to test out and trial some higher end brands. You also can collect points for every box you buy and every friend you refer which can then be spent on buying the full version of products you've liked using in your box!

What's not so good? You can't personalise your box and so again like most other beauty boxes, you might end up with products lying around and never being used. 

I hope this post has given you even just a little bit of guidance in choosing a beauty box that is right for you!

Are you currently subscribed to a beauty box?

Would you rather have a box with a couple of full size items or loads of little samples?

End of Exams Beauty Ban Wishlist

Pretty catchy title I thought?! As I begin my final GCSE exams on Monday, to try and keep myself a little more focused, I have decided that I'm going to go on a makeup and beauty spending ban until the end of my exams which is on the 21st of June (so just over a month away). This will hopefully stop me from getting distracted by shopping for pretty new makeup when instead I should be slaving away over past papers and revision guides. But it's no spending ban without an 'end of ban wishlist' to look forward to...

I've picked a product for my face, lips and nails so that I'm kitted out for summer when it begins after my exams finish. I didn't pick an eye product as I never really tend to wear a lot of eye makeup in the summer as in the heat + squinting from the sun always just results in big panda eyes!

Barry M Nail Paint

With nail varnishes, in my opinion you can never go wrong with Barry M. They have such a great range of colours (and loads of other funky effects) and they're such great quality for their usual price of £2.99; plus they're always on 3 for 2 at Boots. I have chosen two of Barry M's new range, Gelly Hi-Shine, in the colours  Satsuma and Green Berry. These colours are so bright compared to what I'd normally wear but bright colours are a given in the summer. I have bikinis exactly the same colours as these polishes so I'm definitely thinking some bikini-nail varnish coordination will be going on! Also, I love the new Gelly range - they have a much nicer finish than the ordinary Barry M nail paints as they leave my nails looking so shiny.

Benefit Coralista Lipgloss

I am such a big fan of Benefit's Coralista powder and so when they brought out the lipgloss versions of each of their powders, I knew I had to try them out but never really got round to it! Coralista is as it sounds - a coral coloured lipgloss. I much prefer wearing lipgloss in the summer rather than lipstick as they're much less drying on the lips. Instead, they leave your lips looking smooth and glossy which is exactly what this Benefit one is described to do - I've heard that it's not really sticky aswelll, bonus!

Chanel's Soleil Tan De Chanel 

If you haven't seen a beauty blogger rave about this product, then where have you been?! This is definitely the priciest product that I'll be dishing out for at the end of my spending ban at £29 for 30ml of product. However, from what I've read, it seems like the product will last me a long time and it's definitely worth it. In the summer, I don't really like to wear foundation as it feels heavy on my skin so instead I use bronzer to compliment my natural tan (fingers crossed!). I love this product as it's a cream formula instead of powder and so it is much more dewy on the skin which is a perfect finish for summer. The colour is also just right - it's not too dark but it will give that little bit of extra colour under the cheekbones.

Have you ever tried a spending ban?

What was on your wishlist at the end of it?

Shade Station: Michael Kors Chronograph Watch

With the great obsession over the Michael Kors 'Rose Gold watches' (which are equally as beautiful), people often tend to miss out on the other Michael Kors watches available, for example this little beauty - the Michael Kors Chronograph MK5300 Watch.

The watch has a circular face with a gorgeous diamanté bezel surrounding it. This adds such a girly and feminine feel to the watch. I love wearing this watch in the summer sun as the little diamantés glisten beautifully in the light. The watch face has 3 different dials which are apparently "combination hour markers" but in all honestly, I'm not exactly sure what these do (I'm rubbish with technical stuff!). It's got a three-hand movement and a date box which is really useful for quickly checking the date. The inner colour of the face is a white pearly colour which I think also adds to the femininity of the watch. The Michael Kors logo is situated at the top of the face. Looking at the watch, I initially wouldn't have thought it was waterproof, due to the diamantés, however Shade Station states that the watch is water resistant up to 50 metres which is great if you accidentally forget to take it off in the shower or something (but I still wouldn't risk ruining something so perfect!).

The strap of the watch is a sort of plastic (polycarbonate) type of material but it's not a cheap feeling plastic, in fact, it's really quite heavy! The strap consists of small links which is a great feature as these links can be taken out or added in order to adjust the watch size. The watch I received was very big and so I had to get 4 links taken out however this was done very easily at a jewellers for only £3 and it looks good as new. The strap fastens with a metal push-button clasp engraved with the Michael Kors logo - it looks sleek and sophisticated. 

The face of the watch isn't too big nor too small - it sits perfectly on my wrist and is just the right size. All in all, the colour and the design are beautiful. Also, watches are so handy - not only do they look great and tie all the pieces in an outfit together but they are the super useful for telling the time (and with this one, the date).

This Michael Kors Chronograph MK5300 Watch normally retails for £209 but you can get a hefty discount on it over at Shade Station and pick up this lovely little watch for £177.65 - a deal not to be missed! The delivery is so speedy too - this was posted off to me in the Channel Islands on the Monday and I has received it by the Tuesday - impressive!

Are you a fan of Michael Kors watches?

*PR sample, courtesy of Shade Station