Autumnal Brogues

Autumn is my favourite season for clothing; cold enough to wear layers but not so cold that I need to start wearing my hiking gear for a trip to the corner shop. For this inbetween time I think brogues are perfect, but the search for the just right pair can be a tough one (firstworldproblems...). The ones I want to share today are my recent favourites and I think they look great for smarter occasions (I wear them to work and dinners out) aswell as casual strolls on the high street or through the park.

We don't have a Massimo Dutti shop in Scotland and although I love looking round their shops abroad I had never purchased anything before. But when I saw their Brogued Brown Bluchers online I couldn't resist! I think it is worth spending a little bit more on shoes and the quality of these is instantly noticeable. The soles are sturdy and can withstand a damp Autumn stroll, as well as looking polished enough for a nice meal out. I've also had a few compliments on the shoes remarking how comfortable and smart chic they look.

When I buy shoes I always expect there to be a wearing in period and I'll admit I did get a couple of blisters with these shoes, but nothing a plaster and a think pair of socks can't handle! After about a week they were worn in and comfortable.
I think it has been a couple of years since I have had brown shoes and I am really enjoying it. They go really well with navy trousers or jeans and work well with skirts and dresses during Autumn. Also, they break up my shoe-drobe of black boots! I like to wear them with striped tops and tartan scarves for a casual weekend outfit.

I'm really happy with these brogues and am now eyeing up some other shoes on the Massimo Dutti site. I'm always on the look out for the perfect brogues/ smart shoe so if there are any places you always go I'd love to hear about them!

Massimo Dutti's Brogued Brown Bluchers are available on their website for £89.95. 

PS I'm now on twitter @onawildhunt Come say hi.

Easy Tousled Hair with Bumble & Bumble

Bumble & Bumble are one of my favourite hair brands. They have an undone style and relaxed edge while also being simple to use and reliable. When I recently got an email through advertising 3 free prep products* with any order over £40 I had to put in another order. Top of my list was the Hair (Un)Dressing Creme.

This unisex product is designed to add a bit of grit and texture to hair without looking polished or too done. I have naturally straight, fine hair that doesn't hold much of a curl so was hoping for something that could create tousled waves that would hold. I used the Bumble & Bumble Tonic in the roots of my freshly washed wet hair to nourish and prepare the hair, then went in with the (Un)Dressing Creme (after a light spritz of heat protector). This is a thick cream that has the stickiness of almost a glue. I was quite surprised at this and decided to go in light handed. A little goes a long way with this product and I gently tousled it through my hair, scrunching and twisting the hair as I went. I then used a diffuser to lock in the tousled waves until it was around 90% dry. I'm really happy with how this product turned out and there wasn't even any frizz after the diffuser! It also held in place for 2 whole days. With the grit and movement it adds to the hair I think it would also be a good product to use for a voluminous or messy looking up-do.

What're your favourite Bumble & Bumble products? I'd love some recommendations for future purchases, when there is a deal on!

*If you're interested in these sort of deals I'd recommend subscribing to Bumble & Bumble emails. They regularly have deals on their website but also do good codes through the emails!

iPhone cases for Adults

Tortoise & Dandelion Case by Thornback & Peel (Not on the High Street- £23)

I recently got my phone back from Apple with my lock button all fixed and decided it was time for a new phone case. I had the same bamboo striped case for a year and a half and although I love it, I thought now was a good chance to pretend I had a new phone and get it a new jacket.

Searching for an iPhone case that doesn't have ears sticking out of it or covered in cartoon characters was a tricky task! Adults need phone cases too, and after a bit of a search I found a few that I thought I would share with you (credit to my boyfriend for the Tortoise case I finally bought!)

Theo Check Phone Case (Whistles- £30)









Thames Below Westminster Case (The National Gallery- £14.95)










Blue Crystal Clear Case by Monica Strigel (Casetify- $39.95)











 Kiwi Bird Case (& Other Stories- £19)

A Trio of Bourjois Foundations

Easily available on the high street and of a high quality Bourjois foundations are a go to for me. I was hooked from the first pump of Healthy Mix Serum, and have recently ventured to the CC Cream and Happy Light Foundation. All receive positive reviews but what one do you really need?

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum (shade 51- light vanilla) £10.99

This gel foundation was the first I tried from Bourjois and is still one of my favourite foundations I own. With a gel formula it applies easily and smoothly to provide light coverage and blurring. I find this creates a dewy, daytime feel and is my go to foundation for casual or work days. One pump is all I need for an application and can be simply applied with fingers. The shade I own looks very natural for pale skin, which is something traditionally hard to find on the high street. Healthy Mix Serum has a light fragrance which smells slightly fruity but this does not last on the skin. The packaging boasts that the foundation lasts 16 hours. I don't think it does but for short outings or casual days I think it looks natural and provides just enough coverage to even out your skin and give a bit of healthy glow.

Bourjois Happy Light Foundation (shade 50- porcelain) £11.99

Happy Light provides more coverage than Healthy Mix and feels creamier to apply, creating a more even base but still with the dewiness of Healthy Mix. I again apply this foundation with my fingertips (one pump is enough) but like to use the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush to buff the product in to create a smooth, natural base. The bottle boasts that it lasts 8 hours and I think it does last longer than Healthy Mix and is still visible when I get home from work at night after 8 hours. Again, I have the lightest shade in the range but I find it a little dark. The colour looks better once it has been buffed in but I do prefer the shade of Healthy Mix. Scent wise Happy Light has a heavy perfumed smell which isn't to my taste but this fades on the skin and is not noticeable after a couple of minutes. I like this foundation on days when I need a bit more coverage or are not feeling as confident about my skin. The finish is glowy and I think it works well in Summer or if you have a tan.

Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream (shade 31- Ivory) £9.99

As a CC Cream this base is much lighter and runnier to apply, providing a very light base which I think is good for warm Summer days, perhaps when going a walk or to the beach. It boasts SPF15 which is a great addition for when it is sunny outside. Standing for "Colour Correction" this base should balance out any discoloration or tiredness in your skin to leave a bright and awake appearance. This does not provide coverage for any blemishes but is successful in brightening up my complexion, while also being light enough for it to feel comfortable on a warm day. Unlike the other 2 bases the CC Cream has a nozzle to dispose the product. I apply a little on the back of my hand at a time and apply with my fingertips until I am happy. The scent is similar to the fragrance of Happy Light but again fades once on the skin. Shade wise this base is a good match and as it is quite thin it is easily blendable.

To summarise each of these foundations has a lot of good points and covers a range of situations from sunny days on the beach to more full coverage evenings. The Healthy Mix Serum is a good all rounder, a good colour match and provides a light, dewy finish, while the Happy Light provides higher coverage and lasts on my skin most of the day. I'd recommend trying these foundations if you like light coverage and dewy finishes.

What is your favourite high street foundation?

Dupe: Origins Clear Head Mint Shampoo

My week can be really packed with work and volunteering so when Sunday comes around I like to spend the day relaxing and just doing something for myself, whether that is going for a long walk or reading. I think a lot of other people also use Sunday as a recharge day so thought I would use this idea to base my first regular feature. I haven't named this feature but am hoping to post each week about something different that I find interesting, relaxing and generally Sunday feeling.

Today I thought I would talk about shampoo. Yes, I do wash my hair through the week but from my childhood I still think of Sunday as the big bath day where you refresh yourself for the week ahead.  For a proper, fresh clean I really enjoy using the Origins Clear Head Mint Shampoo. I have used about 4 bottles of this and find that a 250ml bottle can last me around 4-5 months for my mid-length hair, impressive. But at £16 I have been on the look out for an alternative... Let me introduce you to the Alberto Balsam Tea Tree Shampoo which is an incredible 99p (for almost double the amount of product)!

Both shampoos suit greasy hair that needs to be washed regularly and as a result have a light consistency that doesn't leave any residue. They also both advertise on the bottle that they "tingle" the scalp which I think is a reference to the mint based scents. The Origins shampoo contains Brazilian Mint and Spearmint which is awakening and fresh feeling, with the scent lightly lingering after washing. The Alberto Balsam is similar in colour and has a scent of tea tree and mint which is almost identical to the Origins!

One advantage of the Origins is that the shampoo is slightly more concentrated, meaning that you need to use a smaller amount of the product per wash but for the price I don't mind using a little more of the Alberto Balsam.

For results, both shampoos leave my hair feeling fresh, clean and shiny, along with not weighing it down which is very important for oily hair. And since switching to Alberto Balsam I have actually had a few comments from people thinking I have had my hair cut as it is looking healthy and thicker!

If you have fine, oily hair and like mint scents I would recommend trying the Alberto Balsam Tea Tree shampoo. The Origins feels a bit more luxurious in texture and has a longer lasting scent but for outcome I think the Alberto Balsam is an amazing dupe!