August Favourites

These are my favourites for this month, they're just items that I've been using to death!

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer - This concealer is to die for! It's incredible. Enough said.

Collection Speedy Blush - I love cream blushes for summer, and this one is just so easy to use, and looks so natural on, that it's been my go to blush.

Frizz Ease Conditioning Mask - I have to admit, this is the first conditioning mask I've ever used. But, it still left my face feeling super soft, and silky, and easy to manage, and amazing.

Anklet - These are just adorable, and so feminine. This is just the current anklet I'm wearing, it's beautiful, but it was bought for a present, and so I don't actually know where it's from

Button-Up Shirts - These just look so classy and make you look so put together, but the're so easy. And so, I love to wear these when I'm going out

Borjois Lip Pencils - These are incredible, they're fool proof, and they last for ages, because they sorta just stain your lips.

My Planner - I love organising, I'm actually obssessed. And this planner is awesome! It comes with spaces for each week, to-do lists, shopping lists, month planners, and budgeting pages. As well as stickers, an address book, and notes pages.

My Red Bag from Matalans - I bought this in a sale, and it's a great bag to dress up a simple outfit.

Zoella Lip Balm - This is incredible, it's really buildable, and really moisturising, and it's another stain for your lip. Plus, the colour is super cute.

Zoella Body Lotion - This is both fun (because I am actually obsessed with watching the beads pop), and is a really great body lotion, it leaves your skin feeling really soft.

Micheal Grant - Light - I know, this is theoretically a kids book, but I read this when I was about 13, and the last book of the series wasn't out, and now it is.. This is a series about a town where all the adults dissapear, and some of the kids develop supernatural powers. Sounds a bit cliche, but it's actually really good.

River Island Black Sandals - These are incredible. They were £30, but they're really comfy, and really easy to wear, and they're black, so.. they go with everything. Plus, I feel like they're a good staple piece.

Review: Fleur De Force The Glam Guide

I recently picked up Fleur De Force's new book, and I am in love. I am not a book review expert, and so I am going to make this short and sweet.

This book contains everything you would need; beauty, hair, fashion, travel, health, love, and even a note on YouTube and blogging. It's full of great information and cute little cartoons of different beauty products. This book is written in a really elegant way and I have learnt so much from this book. Also, I love the whole pink theme, it's sorta sweet.

This book was only £12.99, which is the price of most books like this, and this is by far my favourite! I can't recommend this enough!!

GRWM: Going Out For Dinner

Right, this is a bit different for me, but I'm just going to do a step by step process of how I got ready for my night out.

1. I showered using my Herbel Essences Shampoo and Conditioner, as well as my Frizz Ease Hair Mask (I also used soap, but I didn't take a picture of it). I used my Tangle teaser in the shower to brush through my conditioner.

2. When I got out the shower, I sprayed in the Leave in Conditioner and blow dried my hair, I then left this till later.

3. I then used my Garnier Micellar water to remove any residue from my face, I then toned and moisturised using the other products mentioned.

4. The makeup then begins. I start my using my Real Techniques Buffing Brush to put my Loreal True Match foundation onto my skin. This foundation has amazing coverage.

5. I used my Collection concealer with the Real Techniques Contour Brush, and my Speedy Blush with the Real Techniques Blush Brush.

6. I fix all the cream products with my Rimmel Stay Matt Powder and my Beau Belle Powder Brush.

7. I then applied my Rimmel Bronzer generously with the Beau Belle Contour Brush.

8. I used my Spoolie to brush my eyebrows, before proceeding with my Angled Brush and Barry M Shape and Define Palette. 

9. I used Belle Pierre Makeup Base to prep my eyes. I then patted on the shimmery gold shade with my eyeshadow brush.

10. I then add he darker, more coppery shade in the outer corner, and then used the blending blush to get rid of any harsh line.

11. I then use my Barry M Palette, which has the white shade, which I use to highlight in the inner corner of my eye.

12. It's then time for a quick little flick with my Rimmel Scandal Eyes.

13. I apply a few coats of my Benefits They're Real Mascara, and thats eyes done.

14. I then applied my Rimmel Nude Lipstick, which I chose because I was going out to eat and I wants a neutral lipstick so that when it budged while I was eating it wasn't obvious.

15. It was then time to get changed.

15. When I knew I wasn't going to be messing up my hair again, I used my texturising spray to make my hair less soft, and then put it into a side fishtail braid to keep it out of my face.

Top Ten Tuesdays: Beauty Tips

1. Drink Water - This is always something I'm terrible at doing, but when you drink the right amount of water, it will instantly make your skin look and feel better. It's actually incredible. Plus, it will make you feel more awake and better in yourself. So, it's good all round.

2. Enough Sleep - Getting enough sleep seems obvious, but can be really hard to do. Especially since I get up at 4am for work at the moment. And so try to get to bed early, and for the last 30 minutes or more before you go to sleep, unwind, relax, and generally just get in the mindset for bed.

3. Always Apply A Lip Balm - This will instantly make your lipstick apply easier and more flawlessly. Plus, who wants dry, chapped lips?!

4. Exfoliate - Although cleansing cleans your skin, exfoliating really gets into your pores and cleans everything out, plus is removes dead skin. Exfoliating helps your foundation apply better on your skin as well.

5. Moisturise - This is a must for me! It will leave your skin looking soft, healthy and youthful!

6. Get To Know Your Skin - This can be really hard to do if you don't know what you're looking for, but the main types of skin are oily, dry and combination. Knowing your skin type will help you get the right skincare routine for your skin, and can save you a fortune in your lifetime.

7. Get Your Hair Cut Regularly - This keeps your hair looking healthy and, especially when you're growing it, it's essential to keep your split ends in check. 

8. Eat Well - Like drinking right, what you put in your body affects your skin... shock..

9. Careful With Fake Tan - Don't go too dark or too orange, I promise, you will look unnatural, which is not what you want.

10. Exercise - I know, exercise, a horrible word. But it will leave your skin looking naturally glowing and healthy, plus its just so good for you.. soo...

High End Beauty Wishlist

Bobbi Brown Surf And Sand Eyeshadow Palette £48 - these are all gold shades, and I'm all about the gold eye, I feel it suits my skin tone and eye colour really well... so want want want! However most places say it's out of stock.. so I'm waiting

Too Faced Chocolate Palette £39 - This just sounds amazing, but I really want one of these.

Mac Velvet Teddy Lipstick £15.50 - I wear nude lipsticks all the time, and this is meant to be the ultimate nude lipstick, so..

The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer £14 - I really want this, I've never been a super highlight person, but this just looks amazing

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer £22 - So many  people have been raving about this, and so, simply, I wanna use this

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara £19 - The packaging for this looks super cute, and it's apparently amazing, so I just wanna give it a go.

No.7 Anniversary Present

This is a cheeky way for me to do some shopping... and a review... all in one! No7 in a Boots brand that I don't own much of, except from a Toner and a Lip Liner. But with two offers on I just had to go! 

Boots are currently giving out those tokens they do all the time, £3 off No7 Make Up and £5 off No7 Skincare. On top of this, No7 have an offer on to celebrate their 80th Anniversary, and so this is my views and thoughts of this.

The No7 80th Anniversary Gift Box is worth £24.00 and is free with the purchase of any two No7 makeup products. The box contains three great products, as well as a golden ticket entitling you to a FREE Match Made Lipstick of your choice.

The three items I purchased (yes, I know you only have to buy 2, but, I can't help it);

 - High Shine Lip Crayon in Delicate Pink £9

- Precision Lip Pencil in Pink £6.75

- Stay Perfect Metallic Eyes Pencil in Purple £7.50

And then with this I received the box. In which contained three little products. A skin illuminator, and intense volume mascara, and a glittery purple eye shadow. Inside was also a voucher to get a free No7 lipstick, this is probably my favourite thing. When Boots usually do offers, they just contain a lipstick, which although is still nice, it's not always a shade that would suit me, or a shade that I would wear, and so having a token to buy my own... yup! I'm happy!

This offer is amazing, No7 makeup is high quality, well priced, you have a £3 off voucher, AND you receive this free gift. Seriously, what more could you want?!?!?!?!?

Five Minute Makeup

I very rarely have enough time to get ready in the morning. I start work at 4am in the morning, and sometimes it's just too hard to get out of bed! And so, here is a streamlined version of my makeup routine that makes me look presentable in just a few minutes!

Clean and Moisturise - This is probably the most important part of your makeup routine. If your skin looks good, you need less makeup, so I never skip this step! So I clean using my micellar water, to get any impurities out, and then I use a moisturiser, and try to use one that contains an SPF, and I both moisturise and protect my face at the same time.

Skip Foundation - I just use concealer to cover up any problems, and so saves a lot of time. If I'm having a bad skin day, then I use a light tinted moisturiser or BB cream.

Dark Shadow - Use a small pencil brush and dark eye shadow to line your eyes. This is much quicker and easier than using an eyeliner, but it makes your eyes look more defined and fuller.

Curl Your Lashes - I never used to curl my lashes, but have recently started, and now I can't skip it. It instantly makes your eyes look bigger, and when I've barely had any sleep, it makes me look more awake.

Mascara - Mascara will be your best friend. It takes less than a minute to apply, but instantly changes your look, makes you look more put together and awake, never skip mascara.

Tinted Lipbalm - if I'm in a rush, I always use a tinted lip balm. It moisturises my lips, gives them a bit of colour, and is so easy to apply. You don't have to use lip liners, and you don't have to apply a separate lip balm, and so it saves so much time!

Plan Ahead - I always get my makeup together on the desk, so that when I wake up, I don't have to decide what makeup to put on the next day, it really speeds it up!

Top Ten Tuesdays: Things That Make Me Happy

1. Music - this has been a long time love of mine, I mean, come on, I'm studying it at University. Playing or listening, music helps me relax, and focus, and I enjoy it.

2. Family and Friends - this is a given, my family are all really close, and my friends are always there for me. Meeting up with them all is one of my favourite things to do.

3. Food - I like eating, food tastes good, don't judge, you know you're all exactly the same...

4. Photography - about 2 years ago I invested in the DSLR camera, and taking photos with it has become one of my favourite pass times. I live in a flower nursery, so I'm never without something picturesque to photograph.

5. My Dog - this may sound a bit sad, but something I love to do when I'm feeling down is walking, and taking for my dog for a walk is not only relaxing, but cute and hilarious (my dog is obedient, but also incredibly stupid, it's very cute).

6. Blue Skies - I love summer, I am a summer person all round. And blue skies mean sun and warmth, which is something that just makes me so happy!!

7. Days Off - whether it be off work or off school (university), days off give the me the chance to do all the things I love to do, and let me create plans to see the people who make me happy too.. soo

8. Baking - I wouldn't say I'm a naturally good cook, but baking is so much fun, and I love to lick the cake mixture from the bowl (I know, super unhealthy)

9. Sea - I love the sea, and the sand, and everything about the seaside!!

10. Shopping  - sometimes I wish I was a multimillionaire so I could go shopping as much as I want without worrying about it, but I don't. However, I still love a bit of retail therapy.

Easy Peasy Bunting

These were great fun! They were super easy to make and look so cute hung up over my bed. I absolutely love them. And when I get to my university room, I have a feeling it will be covered in these.... 

Anyway, this is how I made these super cute 'Easy Peasy Bunting'

What You Will Need:

- Patterned Material

- Ribbon or String
- Card
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Scissors
- Needle and Thread or Fabric Glue

1. Cut out and isosceles triangle from the card, using your pencil, ruler, scissors and card.

2. Lay the card on your material and trace the triangle onto the back of your material (so that your don't get the pencil marks on the front of your bunting)

3. Cut out the triangle

4. Repeat 2 and 3 as many times as you want, I cut out 10 triangles.

5. Cut the length of string/ribbon you need to place your triangles on, making sure it's the short side of the triangle on the string/ribbon.

From now on, this will differ whether you are sewing or glueing. I can't sew to save my life, and so the next steps are if you're using glue. (Note: PVA glue will work as well as fabric glue, but your bunting won't be as strong)

6. Lay the triangles upside down, and lay the string/ribbon over the top of the triangles.

7. Using a brush, coat the string/ribbon and the top of the triangles. (Note: the glue will soak through the material, and so be careful what your making this on. I used a varnished wooden table, and my glue was washable, and so when it dried I had to peel the material off, and then wipe down the surface with some soap and water.)

8. Leave to dry.

9. Your bunting is now finished, hang up somewhere, and it will look adorable.

Review: Benefits They're Real Mascara

This is the first 'high-end' mascara I've ever owned. Purely because everyone's always told me that drugstore mascaras are plenty good enough. But, I saw this in Boots while I was there and thought I would give it a go, and I am so happy I have. This mascara is amazing.

The staggered bristles on the brush help to both comb through my lashes and grab every one and coat them in the product. The brush gets right to the tip of the lashes, helping to add volume and length. This is something some of my other mascaras I have claim to do, but it doesn't always work. However, this mascara really does. The last thing to mention about the brush is the tip, it's said to be a 'precision tip', and although it does help coat the smaller lashes that the brush doesn't initially reach, the product tends to be a bit thick here and so this makes this part of the brush difficult to work with. However, overall, I love the brush to this mascara, which is amazing because it's something I'm usually really picky with.

The product itself is a no-clumping formula, which, as long as your remember to 'wiggle' the brush as you apply it (which it does tell you to apply it that way on the packaging), this is very true. It both lengthens and thickens. It says online that it curls as you apply it, which I don't see, however, if you curl with your eyelash curler first it does help keep the curl, so maybe that's what they meant... although I doubt it.

The last point about this mascara is both a positive and a negative. This mascara is super long wearing, I found I get no fall out, it doesn't smudge, or move, at all. And so, if I'm going out for a day and don't want to worry at all about where my makeup is going, this is the mascara I use. However, it also makes it difficult to get off. You can, but you have to rub your eyelashes between your cotton pad (or whatever you use to get off your makeup) to get it to budge. 

But overall, I love love love this mascara. It may be nearly £20!, which is more than I would normally pay for a mascara (and is one of the negatives (I think) of the product, because there are so many brilliant products for under £10). However, I think this mascara is amazing, and I am so happy I picked it up.