NEW Smashbox Be Legendary & Always on Matte Liquid Lipsticks

A couple of weeks ago (I think it was a couple of weeks...I lose track of time these days!), I was invited to Boots in Brighton for an evening of testing and trying out some new launches by Smashbox. It's a brand I haven't had much experience with in the past, having only really tried a mascara of theirs and a primer. The new Be Legendary range is full of totally on-trend liquid lipsticks, covering both plain colours and a gorgeous collection of metallics, which were all designed by their lip editor-in-chief, Vlada Haggerty (otherwise known as VladaMUA on Instagram, famous for her incredible lip art). Smashbox and Vlada are a lip match made in heaven which has produced some stunning products that are not only high quality in finish, but also available in some pretty cool shades.

The Best Low-Maintenance Hair Style: Balayage at Shine Hair, Brighton

Last week, I made good use of a day off work by taking a much-needed visit to the hairdressers. The semi-permanent colour in my hair had very much faded, leaving a mish-mash of shades which just looked a bit naff. Coupled with my split ends that desperately needed chopping off, I popped into town to Shine Hair & Beauty in the centre of Brighton town to have a little bit of a pamper. My hair was done by the lovely Courtney, a developing stylist at the Aveda salon, and I opted for a balayage. I  have had this done before but the colour didn't go very blonde and was very warm toned but it's such a low maintenance hair style that I thought I'd try it again. Courtney was absolutely incredible and gave me exactly what I wanted; a lovely blonde colour, natural and subtle look and a style that is so easy to keep up.

7 Romantic Date Ideas In Brighton For All Budgets

Whether you are looking forward to it or hiding from it, there is no denying that Valentine's Day is slowly creeping up on us. Even before Christmas was over, the red and pink romantic messages were shoved onto the shelves of every card shop. I'm a firm believer that Valentine's Day has just become a huge commercial opportunity rather than actually being about romance, so putting some time aside for your beau and spending some quality moments with them is, in my opinion, one hundred times better than buying a bunch of flowers and a box of chocolates (although don't get me wrong, I do love both of those things...). If, like me, you're based in Brighton, I've come up with a list of date ideas that are appropriate for all budgets, whether you've been with someone a while, on a first date, or on a friend date!

Hidden Gem: A Purse-Friendly Pamper At The Shed, Hove

When I saw a review of The Shed on Facebook, I instantly knew I had to book an appointment there. We all know the importance of taking some time out, but often spas and beauty treatments can be a bit on the pricey side. I might dream of having a lovely manicure, but my budget tells me to stay at home with a cup of tea and paint my nails myself. I had never heard of The Shed before stumbling across it online, but after a bit of research and seeing how amazing their prices were, I realised this could be a game-changer in my pamper-time. With treatments as cheap as £10, this little hidden gem is somewhere you MUST check out if you're in or around Brighton.

The Best Thai In Brighton: The Giggling Squid

Stewart and I always try to go out for dinner once every few weeks for 'date night', but we always seem to end up going to the same places (usually Italian) that we know are safe bets and will be cheap. It's difficult to find somewhere in Brighton that isn't massively touristy, a well-known chain, or attaching ridiculous prices to their dishes, so I turned to Twitter for a bit of help. After asking for recommendations, I was greeted, pretty unanimously, with 'The Giggling Squid'. Having never heard of this unusually named Thai place, I conferred with my colleagues only to be reassured that it's an incredible restaurant. It was confirmed- we were going to the Giggling Squid.

Betty Lou, Brighton: The Vegan Salon That's Perfect For Vintage Lovers

Just traipse around Brighton for five minutes and you'll realise one thing: this is a town completely obsessed with all things retro. This expression and love for anything quirky, kitsch and vintage has moved from being reserved for subcultures to exploding into Brighton's mainstream culture. There are shops brimming with retro clothes, jumble sales filled with quirky hand-me-down accessories, and restaurants aimed at giving you that 1950s experience. Now, Betty Lou helps to add to this vintage-fest with their 1950s/1060s inspired salon.

The Best Italian Restaurant In Brighton? A Yelp Event At Al Duomo

Italian restaurants can easily get a bit same-y; many of the well-known high-street chains have menus which offer little variance and service which makes you feel forgotten on a busy Saturday evening. Brighton has plenty of restaurants and cafes to offer to the point where you are so spoilt for choice, the decision of where to eat gets even harder to make. Classic Italian restaurants are two a penny in this town, but there is one which I truly believe stands out from the crowd; Al Duomo. Situated right next to the Pavilion Gardens, a beautiful tourist hot-spot, this restaurant is central enough to pop in after a day of beaching or shopping, yet still somehow tucked away so as to offer you a bit of evening respite.

Run, Forrest, Run! Being A Brighton Marathon Hero

Last Sunday was a big day for my household; it was the day of the Brighton Marathon. My housemate, Aarun, had signed up to run the 26.2 miles throughout the city of Brighton and Hove, and his big day had finally arrived. He had previously run the half marathon in February, and had completed it in under his target time of 2 hours (he ran it in 1:59:45!). On Sunday, he had to do this route again...and back!