You may already know that I'm a Benefit lover, always have and always will. I think what started my love off was their beautiful packaging. I love anything that looks cute and all their makeup does. It either has an amazing bottle of comes in an amazing box. I think you're either a Benefit fan or a Mac Makeup fan. I've only ever had three things from Mac so I'm still waiting to be transformed. So here I am trying to sway all you Mac fans to the beautiful side to the Benefit side :). There has always been that stereotype that I've had with Mac makeup..the caked look. You go to a counter and they all look liked they've dipped their face in a paint pot. No offence. And I know that's not what I would do so I wouldn't look like that but that's what's always stopped me.

Anyway back to my love for Benefit. I'm surprised I haven't got more of their makeup to be honest but I'm sure that will change because I've seen a lot of their new stuff that seems very appealing such as their hello flawless foundation. 

So here I have created a step by step tutorial of how I have done my makeup to achieve this look..

So first of all you need to have with you these products: Posie tint, High Beam, Erase Paste, Benefit Cream Eyeshadow in Get Figgy, Gimme Brow, Sugarbomb Blusher and Hoola Bronzer.

STEP ONE: After applying foundation take you're Erase Paste (I'm using shade medium) (£20.50) and dab you finger into the pot and apply a generous amount in a triangle under your eyes. You want the point to come down to the the top of your nostril. 

STEP TWO: Apply to eye lids.

STEP THREE: Blend by patting it into your skin. Don't rub as this is what stretches the skin and your under eye skin is very thin.

STEP FOUR: Take your highlighter High Beam (£19.50) and draw a line above and below your cheekbones, under and above your eyebrows, down the middle of your nose and in the middle of your chin.

STEP FIVE: Take a clean foundation brush and blend it in.

STEP SIX: Apply your Gimme Brow (I'm using it in light) (£17.50) brush to your eyebrows and follow the shape. To make sure you apply the colour to each and every hair then do this backwards and then brush them back down again. You want to brush along your brow until you reach your arch and when you reach your arch then brush down. Wipe any excess off your skin.

I'm loving this product ATM as it does two things at once and it's hard to over do the brow look with this little stick of magic.

STEP SEVEN: Take your Hoola Bronzer (£23.50)

STEP EIGHT: Apply this to your cheek bones with either the brush that comes with it or a rectangle brush. I'm telling you, I will be using Hoola til I die. This no shimmer no nonsense just pure bronze bronzer is the bomb! 

STEP NINE: Apply also to the corners of your forehead and down the sides of your nose and under your chin.

STEP TEN: Using your Benefit Cream Eyeshadow in Get Figgy (I don't think they do this colour any more!) dab your finger into the pot and apply all over lid. Using a clean finger, blend the line just above the crease of your lid. I love this eyeshadow as it's so easy to apply but it does crease during the day.

STEP ELEVEN: Take a cotton bud and dab this into the pot and apply this to the bottom lash line right up to the corner of your eye. Using the clean end then blend this.

STEP TWELVE: apply eyeliner (mine isn't benefit) to your top water line and lower water line and mascara to top and bottom lashes.

STEP THIRTEEN: Use your Posie Tint (£24.50) on your lips to give them a dewy pink look.

I love this either on your cheeks or on your lips. If you apply this to your cheeks then make sure you apply before your bronzer. 

STEP FORTEEN: Using Sugarbomb (£23.50) apply this using the brush that it comes with to the apply of your cheeks. I totally I forgot I had this and have just fell in love with it all over again. It had a bit of a shimmer to it so it makes you look healthy and gives you a glow.

STEP FIFTEEN: Taaaa daaaa! All done.

Hope you enjoy this look as much as I do. 

What's your fav Benefit products? Or any Mac products I NEED to try? 

My Benefit Wishlist: Hervana blusher, Hello flawless oxygen foundation, Lemonade, Coralista, High Brow Glow.

LLC x

As I explained on my last post, I tried to video a hair tutorial yesterday and went tits up. So here is the blog version. I do apologise for the lack of images. It's really hard to picture yourself doing your hair and once I'd done it, I realise I was zoomed right the way in so ooopsies!! Hope you get the jist!

I know a couple of people who can't curl their hair and so I thought there must be more of yous out there. I don't understand how you can't curl your hair! When I was younger all I done was YouTube videos of how to curl your hair and also just played about with mine as I got older and found what worked for my hair the best. So I hope this helps and inspires you to try to curl your hair and try different ways to see what works best for you! 

This method is the easiest, simplest way ever. It literally takes me 10 mins to curl the whole of my hair.

None of this, tie your hair up, part your hair none sense. Just simply do it in your parten as then you can see how it looks and if there is any random strands not done or ones that need doing again. I feel like when you tie your hair up, you start to lose where you've been and it all gets mixed together which is confusing and it takes more time trying to see which parts you've already curled.

First I just want to say that I always curl my hair using straightners. It works best for me as I find it easier and I tin kit looks better than curling tongs as they come out in proper china doll ringlets, which isn't a good look for anyone. Obviously it depends which kind you have and I know you can get thicker ones but I still don't think they last. Whereas if I do it with my straightners they will last all day and all night. 

STEP ONE: Spritz some Lee Stafford Argon Oil Heat Defence spray all over your hair. This stuff I'm loving at the moment because it smells nice but also I love that my hair doesn't feel dry after I have curled it or straightened it. You want to use this when you dry your hair, and then spray some more before you let those straightners lose on your locks! 

STEP TWO: Put in your parten and just divide your hair into pig tails and bring down to the sides so there isn't any hair at the back.

STEP THREE: Starting at the front, take a small section (never too big) and put the straightners at the roots. You want to glide the straightners through your hair turning the straightners all the way round until you reach the bottom and the curl falls out.

Never roll it back up and hold as this harms the hair.

STEP FOUR: Do this all the way round until you reach the middle. You want to do your layers separately. Do your top layer separately from your bottom layer as you want your top layers curly compared to just the ends of your top layer. 

STEP FIVE: Start at the other side at the front. I turn the straightners backwards (towards the back of my head) rather that towards the front as I think they look better this way.

STEP SIX: Once all your hair is curled, give it a good shake to losen all he curls.

STEP SEVEN: Apple a pea sized amount of John Frieda Frizz Ease Hair Serum to the ends of your hair. This just gives it a shine and makes it look healthy and soft. It also tames any frizz. This is seriously my go to product for hair.

STEP EIGHT: Enjoy!

Does this help in any way? I'm sorry if it's hard to understand and I know it would be better to show you, maybe one day I will confront my fears of video! 

LLC x

Today has been a strange day. I woke up quite late which it wasn't that bothered about because I haven't slept in for ages and the past few weeks have been tough at work with the kids being off school (I work in H&M kids). And since I've got two days off I said I would video a tutorial and with it being my first YouTube video I found it extremely nerve racking and totally ballsed it up. Soooo that ain't going on. I was actually going to upload it but I sent it to my boyfriend Adam and told him to give me his honest opinion. To which he did (wish he did when I put on two stone but nevermind) and said I need to relax more and said to stick to blogging for now. I thought it was really good advice and I trust him with his opinion so here I am sticking to blogging for now.

I haven't done a wish list in a while and here are a few things I've been after for a while now.

From top left. This bikini from Triangle looks soooo good. It comes in ither amazing colours and it was actually hard choosing a colour, the orange one looks lush along with the white and blue. It's expensive but the material looks great. 

Top right, is these amazing white heels from beginning boutique. They are Windsor Smith heels and I'm in LOVE. I've always thought white heels look tacky but I swear these look fricking lush. Although they would get dirty ASAP I think which may be the reason I'm not rushing to purchase. These are also expensive but I think they are worth it.

Bottom left is the two piece from Sabo Skirt. I've mentioned this online clothing website before and I still in love. I bought a dress from them for my 21st birthday (which unfortunately I had to send back as it was too boobie). Their stuff is beautiful and so are their models. They make everything look lush. You have to purchase the top and skirt separate but they look great together so I would totally wear both together. Two pieces are in ATM. 

Bottom right is this super girly dress from Miss Guided which is a steal at £14.99. You could imagine this on holiday with those perfectly tanned pins and perfect to cover up those red raw shoulders ;). 

Let's see which one I purchase :). Mostly will be uploaded to my Instagram so make sure to follow. Search for lauracranston1. 

LLC x

If you've had a chocolate filled Easter weekend, then you will need a trick to brighten those pearly whites again.

I've tried and tested all those whitening kits that come with a gum shield which you apply a gel and keep it in for however long. None of those work.

Believe me, i am like a little guinea pig. I test anything. Literally. So believe me when i say none of these products work.

You either have to spend fortunes on getting it done professionally ORRRR take my word and test my recommendation.

I heard about these little strips of magic from a friend at work and have been in love ever since. This was 5 years ago.

So, what the hell are they i hear you ask.

Crest Whitening Strips.

They are so amazing i don't understand why everyone isn't walking around with bright white teeth.

So you can purchase them from their website (i think) or from Ebay which is what i do.

They cost about £17 for 10 strips (two strips in each pack for top and bottom).

If you've never used these before then i would suggest you need around 10-14 strips. As you are meant to do them each day for an hour for a week. But to be honest i wouldn't do it everyday and i would suggest doing it every other day as it does make you teeth sensitive so prepare to have sensitive teeth until you buy yourself some sensodyne toothpaste.

If i haven't used them in a while ( around a couple of months) i would do it twice a week until i've reached the whiteness i want.

Don't leave them on for longer than an hour as they harm your teeth and you will end up with shooting pains up your teeth. I have been there before!!

So just type into google 'crest whitening strips' and any of these do the job. I have tried each type there is so don't worry if its a little different to mine. The only ones i haven't tried is the 2 hour express ones.

The process is..pop the longer strip on your top teeth and fold over any excess on the bottom. Do the same with the bottom strip for the bottom teeth.

 This is how it looks, obviously i had to pull a silly..i want to say face but with my mouth. Anyywayyy. Its not like a gum shield it is just simply a strip of thin clear plastic.

I would like to point out, I have a verneer on my tooth right of my two front teeth, but on the pictures its on the left side. I hate it and its awful. I got it done before i started whitening my teeth so it isn't as white as the rest of my teeth as it doesn't change colour. I do hope to get this sorted one day when i am rich.

So just know that if you have anything similar then note that it wont change the colour of these teeth.

This is after just one session. Note that i do it often so if  you have't done it before then it will take more than one session.

 There was different lighting on the pictures but i haven't edited it.

Hope this helps you all have pearly whites!

LLC x

Eeeee well I've been a bit rubbish at posting lately so I do apologise. I had this bright idea that I would do my first YouTube video on Thursday and obviously it all went to pot. Unlucky for me my camera (Nikon D3000) cannot record which I'm kicking myself at because when I was debating what camera to get for my Photography degree, I actually said "what am I going to need to video?!". Which would be rather handy now. So I had my brothers camera all set up and it uses AA batteries instead of an actual battery pack and the batteries I tried to use wouldn't work. Then I tried my dad's rechargeable batteries and they didn't work.

So it didn't happen. It will this week though. On Tuesday so what this space. It may take a while to edit because I haven't edit a video for two years since I created a short fashion film for my final major project in second year at uni which I was mega proud of.

So instead of recording a tutorial I decided to purchase a few things on ebay that I have been wanting for a while now.

This was a lipstick organiser. Jumping on the acrylic makeup storage holder bandwagon. I was wanting the drawer organiser too but I'm not sure what size I need or want so May stew in that for a little longer. Would love to know if you've got one and what do you make of it? It may influence my decision.

Then I spotted this cheeky little thing.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261430168654?var=560317048691&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

I bought the 24 lipstick holder which was £4.95 plus 99p for delivery. Which I thought was a bargain.

And it arrived yesterday so I've just got all my lipsticks and put them in my organiser which is so cute. I love that I can have them all in one place with the colours easy to see. Because I don't know about you but I hate having to search through my two huge makeup bags for a lippy which is obviously always at the bottom. Plus, sometimes if I don't see it then I forget to put a lippy on! 

I love it and think it looks so cute on your desk on your dressing table. 

LLC x

    

Id bought this little beauty whilst on my weekly shop with my dad at Asda! I'm always shocked that supermarkets have nice clothes! And on a plus they're good prices.

Spotted this find and at first I didn't no what to make of it. Is it a dress? Can I wear jeans with it? So I popped it over my top as I had jeans on at the time and it looked alright. It's not long enough to wear it as a dress as the frill bit at the bottom is sheer so may end up being a bit rudey tudey! 

I teamed this with some converse trainers to make the outfit less girly with jeggins and you want to wear tight bottoms with it as it's quite a baggy style top.

Loving it and love the price too. £14. 

Yay or nay?

LLC x

I was unsure about posting this as I know it's crazy and some may take this to the extreme. I've only told three people about what I've been doing because mainly I've been embarrassed. It's not your normal diet. Anyway, I researched it and once I seen the results I got it in my head and once something gets in my head I've got to do it.

There are many concerns with this kind of diet and I'm sure a lot of you will disagree and think it's dangerous. But it's not if you do it sensibly and not to the extreme! I've been unhappy with my body since my first year at uni. But then when I met my boyfriend in my second year at uni I piled on the weight and I mean PILED on. I was two stone heavier and nobody said ANYTHING (I'm still fuming about that by the way, yes you Adam and the lasses!). So in the summer before third year I began dieting and lost some of the weight but still not back to my normal so I was glad to finish uni to stop eating crap and eat healthy. So eventually I lost weight by the fruit diet. I was eating fruit for breakfast dinner and have a salad for tea with some protein. It was a lush diet because I LOVE fruit and It works but be sensible with it. Luckily I had close people around me to tell me off when I was going over board and to fill me up which is good every now and then because it gets your body used to food so it works harder so when you go back on the diet it's working harder than normal. 

I'm no diet expert by the way and I tried every diet out there. I'm constantly on a diet if your like but I call it sensible eating. 

So this secret diet I've been doing is the CORSET diet.

I wore a corset for 23 hours a day for 7days a week for a month. I wore it to bed and to work, everywhere. Which was rather strange knowing I was wearing this under my clothes. It was only a half corset so only covered the stomach so it didn't totally limit my movement. It was a bit of a struggle at work for a week or so trying to bend down etc but you get used to it.

I wanted to try this diet because I wanted to shrink my ribs as you like. This sounds weird and extreme but my ribs stick out so much and I feel it would look so much better if they were smaller. After wearing the corset it has shrunk my ribs and it hasn't harmed them. 

The thing I have noticed that's it had an effect on is toning! Yeah I done toning exercises before but not enough to make a difference. So when I took this off to go on holiday I was LOVING the difference. It gave me definition and toned me. 

I ate the same as I normally would but since you're wearing a corset it limits the amount of food you want to eat so it stops you before you eat too much as you literally feel like you're going to POP open. I bought a cheap corset off and ebay shop and it was only £12 or something. You're meant to get a size 4 inches smaller than your waist size. 

I haven't put it back on because I need a smaller one now as I've shrunk to the size of the corset.

I'm going to have a rest for a couple of weeks and start it again before my next holiday.

Here is a before and after. The first pic is last year on holiday and the second pic is me after the corset diet.

If you're going to do this then please be sensible and don't go over board as there are many risks such as movement of the organs! 

Read up about it and do it correctly. Also Holly off Geordie shore spoke about this diet in a mag so read her story too.

Before I get lots of comments about its mad, I know..but it worked and I was sensible about it.

Hope this helps.

LLC x

I have been posting teaser images on Instagram but here is the real deal. Also make sure you follow my blog (over there -------->) and if you like my post then click the heart on bloglovin.

My Instagram is more daily so make sure you follow that for day to day images! 

AIRPORT.

When travelling to the airport everyone wants a comfy outfit, and if I could go in my jarmies then I would but unfortunately I couldn't so this is what I went in instead.

JUMPER - H&M kids £9.99

JEANS - H&M £19.99

SHOES - H&M £14.99

BAG - Matalan £15

NIGHT ONE.

FOUNDATION - Clinique Superbalance in 06

CONCEALER - Benefit Erase Paste in Medium

BRONZER - Benefit Hoola

BLUSHER - No7

EYESHADOW - Urban Decay Naked Palette 

MASCARA - Rimmel Scandaleyes

EYELINER - Bodyshop

EYEBROWS - Benefit Gimme Brow in Light

LIPS - MUA lip liner in Pink Me Up

NAILS - Barry M Gelly Hi Shine in Satsuma

This will be the same for the rest of my makeup looks and the only changes will either be lips or eyes.

DRESS - Primark £5

JACKET - Internationale £19.99

SHOES - Chockers £19.99 (last year)

BAG -Dorothy Perkins £22

NIGHT TWO.

Full make up in night one. Changes are : 

LIPSTICK - Maybelline Coloursensational in electric orange.

LIQUID EYELINER - Rimmel Glam Eyes.

NAILS - Barry M in Peach Melba

DRESS - Matalan (2 years ago)

SHOES - Matalan £12

BAG / PHONECASE - Primark £4

WATCH - Marc by Marc Jacobs

NIGHT THREE. 

Full makeup in night one. Changes are :

LIPSTICK - Beauty UK in Pink My Ride.

NAILS - Barry M Hi Shine in Lychce 

PLAYSUIT - Primark £10

SHOES - New Look (last year )

BAG - Dorothy Perkins £22

WATCH - Next

GLASSES - Primark £2

NIGHT FOUR.

Full makeup in night one. Changes are : 

LIPSTICK - MUA Matte in Wild Berry

LIQUID EYELINER - Rimmel Glam Eyes.

NAILS - Rita for Rimmel in Lose Your Lingerie

DRESS - Rebel Rebel (last year)

SHOES - New Look £19.99 (last year)

NIGHT FIVE.

Full makeup in night one. Changes are : 

LIPSTICK - TOPSHOP in Oh La La.

PLAYSUIT - Miss Selfridge (last year) 

SHOES - New Look (last year)

NIGHT SIX.

Full makeup in night one. Changes are: 

LIPSTICK - Collection 2000 Cream Puff.

NAILs - Rita for Rimmel in Lose Your Lingerie.

SKORT - H&M £14.99

TOP - Dorothy Perkins £18

BAG - Dorothy Perkins £12

SHOES - Chockers (last year )

NECKLACE - Miss Selfridge (last year)

Here are a few day outfit shots.

SHORTS - Miss Selfridge (last year )

TOP - H&M 

WATCH - Next

SHORTS - Zara (last year)

TOP - H&M 

DRESS - Primark £4

FLIPFLOPS - Primark £1.50

BIKINI - Debenhams, Floozie By Frost French.

BIKINI - Matalan.

What do you make of these looks? 

LLC x

Soooo I've had abit of an absence from this blog for over a week now and that's because I was on my jolly holidays! Had an amazing time and came back with a nice tan (which is the main part). I will be posting my outfits and makeup looks on the blog verrrrrry soon!

And just letting you guys know that I won Superdrugs bloggers competition!!!!! YIPEEEEE. Love winning things no matter what they are so was super excited to be told I would be receiving a parcel from them and I will produce three looks with the products they provide and maybe even a cheeky nail look. This will all be published on their website so quite soon you will see my little face on their site. Don't worry though I will keep you posted and will be shouting from the rooftops when I see myself on their page. 

Anyway back to business. The last post I done was a boots haul and i said I would do a review when I was back so here it is.

I explained in the haul that I had already used to Lee Stafford Bleach Blondes shampoo and that I loved it. It just made my hair less orangey/yellow. I can't explain it but it just seemed to do the trick and I'm so glad I listened to Zoella (watch her hair are haul, it may help you as it certainly helped me!). It's great for those in between salon times and us blondes have more problems than anyone else so anything to help us with the in between times is welcomed with open arms. I've been blonde most my life (with being every colour under the sun in between) and don't understand why I've never used a purple shampoo before! Well I can safely say I will be using it once every week for the rest of my life. And yes it really is purple!

I used it in the bath and it turned the water purple which looks strange but cool. I may use it in the shower next time!

Not to mention that it smells lush and makes your hair feel refreshed.

Again, I bought the Lee Stafford Argon Oil Heat Defence spray due to being told to off Zoella. Watching her vlog made me feel bad that I didn't use a heat protection spray and maybe it's the help I need as whenever I used the straightners to straighten or curl my hair it feels a little frail. So I thought why not splash out and buy the most expensive one, not really but it's not cheap! £12.99 for this bottle and I think I'm going to use it quickly! I've been using this all week on holiday and feel like it does really make a difference as I've at least straightened or curled my hair everyday as well as using the hair dryer on it. I felt like it had more life to it and not slowly killing it by doing it everyday. I suppose (or I will use this as an excuse anyway) this is why I don't tend to make an effort with my hair on a day to day basis on the fact that I don't want to kill my hair. I normally let it dry naturally and just put it up or go au natural. Now I can actually have curly hair most days. Maybe. 

Nowwwww onto this product that I wasn't sure about. The Lee Stafford Lightening Spray. I bought this on a whim thinking 'well it claims to lightening my roots so I'm going to believe it'. I am still unsure of this as I was using it on holiday when my hair goes lighter anyway so I don't really know if it does work or it was mostly the sun doing all the lightening. To be honest I really don't think it does work. It says it lightens your roots or brightens up highlighted hair. It doesn't smell that great either. I thought all Lee Stafford things smelt amazing!! So if I was you, I would spend your £6 on something else. However I am going to continue to use this back in the uk (where there is no sun) and will see if it makes a difference. If it does it's a miracle and will certainly let you know! 

As for the little bottle on the left well that's my best mate. She smells amazing and is very protective of your locks on holiday. It's also in such a cute little bottle enough for two holidays if your hair medium length hair.

Hope this helps to keep your lusous locks lush! 

LLC x