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

Freckles and Gilbert iPad Case Review

Bloggers, alike me, often tend to spend loads of their time on various devices such as laptops, iPads, iPhones etc, updating their Twitter and checking their blog and email. So, if we're going to use our 'gadgets' all the time, why don't we make them look pretty too? 

Freckles and Gilbert are a UK brand that intend to "re-invent the way you travel with your gadgets" by providing a range of protective cases for laptops, iPads, kindles and iPhones. They have a range of pretty designs including owls, cupcakes and bird cages based around a colour scheme of nude and pastel colours.

The iPad case fits and is suitable for both the iPad 2 and 3. The design featured is known as Hummingbird design - I love it because it looks so girly and feminine! Each of the designs are hand-drawn and then scanned onto the computer so that they can be digitally added to the fabric of the case. 

The case itself has a strong outer shell to protect it from getting bumped around in your bag or elsewhere. It's also water-resistant which is really useful as if you happen to accidentally spill something on it, it won't damage your device inside and it'll wipe easily off without ruining the case too. I also love that this case goes around the iPad fully and encloses it inside it with a zip because I really don't see the point in just front or back cases - surely you want the whole device to be covered and protected from scratches, just like this one does!

The inside of the case has a suede lining and has elasticated straps at each corner. This keeps the iPad securely in place and stops it sliding out. It's also pretty handy as because of this, you are able to use the case as a sort of 'stand' if you turn it on it's side.

Freckles and Gilbert iPad cases retail for £40 and can be bought here and I'd definitely recommend it - my iPad now lives permanently in it's new case where it is safe and sound and easy to carry!

*PR sample

Most Inspiring Female Celebrities: Style

There is no doubting that when we see celebrities on the television, in the news or elsewhere wearing fabulous clothes and outfits - we want them. We want to wear what they're wearing and we want to look how they look. We take our inspiration from our favourite celebrities. I'd be lying if I said that after an event like the BRIT awards, for example, I didn't go and google "Pixie Lott's dress at the BRIT's 2012" - we all do it. I take my style inspiration from several celebrities, ranging from models to singers to actors and TV presenters. Here's my most inspiring female style celebrities...

1. Cat Deeley 

Cat Deeley* as you probably know is a British TV presenter who has been working in television since 1997 (when I was born!) for the likes of Fame Academy, Stars in Their Eyes and more recently American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance. Cat has been nominated twice for an Emmy award for "Outstanding Host" and has worked as a DJ and radio presenter on Radio 1. Before this, Cat Deeley worked in fashion as a model for a short time. I've always been inspired by Cat's style, seeing her on TV shows on Saturday nights and thinking "Ohhh, I want that!". 

My favourite outfits of hers include the two pictures shown above. On the left, Cat is seen to be wearing an All Saints dress with a sequin type design. She pairs the dress with a pair of jewelled Jean-Michel Cazabat heels which match the main colour of the dress perfectly. The nude, gold and pinky colours in the dress compliment Cat's skin tone and her hair looks effortless with relaxed waves. On the right hand side, Cat styles a more sophisticated look in a knee length, black vintage dress partnered with a simplistic pair of Miu Miu shoes. I love the design and embellishment of the dress down the arms and think this really adds a little extra something to the dress. Her hair, with tidy curls to the side, looks elegant and the red lipstick just adds to the timeless look. I'm inspired by Cat's effortless beauty in her style. She doesn't go over the top in trying to accessories and let's the clothes do the talking.

2. Vanessa Hudgens

You'll probably best know American born Vanessa Hudgens for her role in High School Musical. As well as acting in movies such as Spring Breakers (who's seen it?!), Vanessa is also a singer and has been one of my most inspiring style icons since the High School Musical days. Okay, maybe her strappy tops on top on t-shirts weren't actually as nice as I thought they were when I was about 11 but nowadays Vanessa Hudgen's style is right up my street. She looks flaweless in the photo above, wearing a pair of floral trousers that come just above the ankle and a laced white crop top. The knitted cardigan and sunglasses give a casual feel to the look but this is counteracted by the black wedges. I find Vanessa's style so inspiring because she manages to get the balance between dressy and casual in her outfits perfect. 

3. Blake Lively

If you watch Gossip Girl (or used to as it's finished now!), then it's very likely that you'll share this style inspiration. Blake Lively is another American born actress most well known for her role as Serena Van Der Woodsen in Gossip Girl. Throughout the series, Blake (as Serena) is always shown to be a style icon and an 'It Girl'. Blake is an inspiration to me in terms of style and fashion because she manages to pull off whatever she wears. For example, in the picture above, I can't imagine anyone being able to pull off an outfit so full of clashing patterns with the stripy tank top tucked into the floral/dotty skirt from Porter Grey. However, Blake makes it work, partnered with a bright coral jacket from Topshop which seems to tie all of the pieces in the ensemble together. Because her outfit is so 'busy', she makes the right choice in keeping her hairstyle simplistic in a natural looking ponytail.

Who are your most inspiring female celebrities in style and fashion?

*Sponsored link