Instant Memories

For a long time now, I have loved and appreciated photography. I love the fact that I can capture a moment in time - everlasting within an image for me to look back upon and reminisce of times gone by. So when I was gifted an Instax Mini 8 for Christmas, it's safe to say I was more than pleased about it. My friend James gifted the camera to me and my other lovely friend Heather got me the accessory pack that matches - also containing a selfie attachment which is totally appropriate for me.

After receiving it just before Christmas, I have been pretty obsessed with capturing festive moments and photo-worthy snapshots these past few days. What I find so cool about this camera is the fact that it's a polaroid and that you can have your image in your hand within seconds ready for you to admire. This instant component of the camera is what I think makes capturing images on it it so much more meaningful as you're much more aware of wanting to capture a special photo - you get one shot to get the image you want and so it really makes you appreciate what you're snapping even more in a way. 

Being a polaroid, every image also has this lovely, vintage feel and look about it and once again it really adds that special something to taking a photo - it draws you back to childhood memories and reminds of you a time when moments couldn't simply be recorded with the tap of a phone screen.

I have been writing the dates and a small description on each of the images I've taken so far. I plan to use these as part of a scrapbook I'm (eventually) going to compile. This camera is actually a brilliant tool for the scrapbooker as your images are printed there and then for you and ready to add straight away.

So, as you can probably tell I'm totally in love with this camera and I know I'll definitely be getting a whole lot of use out of it. If you're a photography lover, this may be something you'd be interested in and I'd certainly recommend it!

Your Favourite Fragrances on the Go

I love perfume. Over the past few years I've established quite the collection for myself and there's rarely a day that I'm not wearing a scent. It's nice to be able to top up on whatever scent you may be wearing on a day to day basis but perfume bottles unfortunately tend to be quite bulky and awkward to take along with you. Not to mention they're generally made of glass and for someone as clumsy as me, that's just an accident waiting to happen!

OOTD | My New Favourite Coat

Hey guys, happy Thursday! I hope you're all having a good week so far and today, I'm back with another outfit post for you! I posted another outfit post on Monday as part of a competition entry with La Redoute. Check out that post if you're interested in it here and please vote for me if you'd be so kind!

Today's outfit is one I wore recently on one of my frequent trips to the cinema and it features my new favourite coat which I'm really excited to share with you!

So the coat in question is this beautiful grey boyfriend coat from TopShop. I am in love with this coat. Seriously. It is just the kind of thing I imagined when I began my endeavour to find a perfect grey one. I love the fit and cut and I think it adds a really sophisticated look to any look. 

I teamed this coat with a casual checkered shirt from Newlook and my favourite skinny jeans (also from TopShop). To finish the look, I teamed this outfit with my Vagabond ankle boots from Urban Outfitters.

This is one of my favourite looks as of late - what do you think of it?

Levinia, xo

SHOP THIS LOOK

Coat | Topshop

Shirt | Newlook

Jeans | Topshop

Vagabonds | Urban Outfitters

Bag | Newlook

OOTD | Christmas Market Style with La Redoute #LRXMAS

Hello everyone! I hope you're all doing well and that your weekend has been a good one. Today I'm here with an outfit of the day post and this one is a little bit special as it's actually a competition entry too. 

La Redoute got in touch with me recently and asked if I wanted to participate in an outfit competition for the chance to win a trip to the Paris Christmas markets to which I of course said a massive yes! The competition's basis was to create a winter appropriate outfit that would be perfect for exploring the christmas markets and this is what I have come up with! 

Through my outfit I wanted to showcase my own personal style and so I made sure to pick out items I thought really reflected this. I am a minimalist at heart and I really wanted to utilise some of my favourite outfit elements; denim and monochrome! These are all key basics in my wardrobe and I love how this outfit turned out.

My favourite piece of this whole outfit has to be this La Redoute oversized boyfriend coat in this beautiful, monochromatic houndstooth pattern. I have been looking for a coat like this for a really long time and I think it's going to be a really versatile and well loved piece in my wardrobe. 

For that added comfort and winter touch, a basic black, high neck sweater was a definite must. This one from La Redoute has a lovely ribbed pattern and is super soft and cosy making a perfect winter piece. High neck sweaters that are fitted like this one add a real sophistication to an outfit in my opinion as well as being practical in colder weather. 

To complete my outfit I wore my favourite pair of skinny jeans, a black purse and black chelsea boots. I also added a tartan scarf - an addition which I really loved due to it's contrast against the grey and black of my coat and sweater.

I really love this outfit and enjoyed shooting the photo's for it. Thanks so much to La Redoute for letting me take part in this exciting competition and for sending me some pieces to complete this winter look!

If you think this is a nice look and fancy helping me out, you can vote for it here - I'd love it if you did and thank you if you do!

Levinia, xo

SHOP THE LOOK:

**Coat | La Redoute

**Sweater | La Redoute

Scarf | Newlook

Jeans | TopShop

Bag | River Island 

** Specified products were to sent to me as part of my competition entry. All opinions however are my own! **

Bright & Autumnal

It's been a while since I've posted a face of the day. Despite my somewhat extensive bright eyeshadow collection, lately I've been playing it safe with nudes and neutral smokey eyes so yesterday, I decided to mix it up a bit with a bright, Autumnal eye AND a bright lip. Bright eyes and bright lips, you heard correctly.

I really love the outcome of this look - especially the contrast between these bronze, pink and red shades and my blue eyes / pale complexion. I also added a little something to my eyelashes by opting for a few medium sized individual lashes on the outer corner - an addition I've been enjoying adding to my makeup looks lately!

Beauty | Nails of the Day & a Glitter Steal!

Hello everyone! Happy Monday. In today's post, I'm going to share with you today's nail look. I'm really enjoying nude nails at the moment and so I decided to go with a beautiful mauve shade with a glitter accent nail to give the nails a little twist. The main shade I'm wearing is from Mavala and it's called "Orchid Mauve" - one of my all time favourite nude polishes.

The glitter is one of which I recently purchased from TKMaxx - an absolute steal from Essie called "A Cut Above" along with another glitter called "Ce-Les-Tial is More" from OPI. If you've never checked out TKMaxx and their beauty aisles, you definitely should - you can often find some real gems.

What do you think of my current nail look? What are your favourite polish brands?

Levinia xo

PRODUCTS MENTIONED:

Mavala | Orchid Mauve

OPI | Celestial is More

Essie Luxe Effects | A Cut Above

Beauty | 5 Products / Techniques I Have Social Media to Thank For

Social media is at the core of most our lives in the modern world. It has a huge outreach and the capacity to allow us to share, create and learn. In one of the many ways that social media has influenced my life is in the way that I do my makeup. Whilst social media of course has a far more serious and deeper capacity to change lives than just through our beauty routines, I thought this would be a cute, lighthearted blog post in which I share 5 beauty techniques & products I have social media to thank for.

The Coveted Beauty Sponge

How did I ever apply my foundation without a beauty sponge? Prior to using this glorious invention, I had never found the perfect way to apply my foundation for an even, flawless coverage. After watching several beauty videos and seeing guru's always rave about using a damp beauty sponge, I finally decided to buy one - opting for the Real Techniques Miracle Sponge. Whilst it took me a while to figure out how exactly the sponge is best used, once I got the hang of it I knew I was never going back to a brush for my foundation, oh no. My sponge has since become a core tool in much of my makeup application; from foundation, to powder to concealer - it really is a miracle sponge.

Contouring and Highlighting

So, for ages I just didn't understand contouring or highlighting and even on initial implementation of these techniques into my routine, I still wasn't impressed. It's safe to say that "Instagram Contouring" is not what I'm talking about here. I don't have time nor the desire for that kind of dramatic look - it's just not my personal cup of tea. But, with practise and playing around with what DOES work for me, I have come to really enjoy contouring and the effect it has on my makeup look. And highlighting? I'm all about that glow and since purchasing Mary-Lou Manizer and popping it on my cheekbone for the first time, I have never looked back!

** Don't be afraid or daunted by either of these two techniques and please don't think you've gotta carve your face like a pumpkin to achieve a contoured look. Do what works for you and understand that makeup and beauty have no set rules, only guidelines. **

Loose Powder and Baking

For a long time, I thought the idea of baking was kind of... silly. Even now, I'm not a massive fan of the highly dramatic bake technique that we're used to seeing on social media. I like to go for a bake using a translucent or similar skin toned powder for the purpose of setting my concealer and avoiding creasing as oppose to baking for the purpose of an intense highlight under the eye. The way that I bake has really improved the look of makeup when applied to areas I tend to get creasing or oiliness. Loose powder is my new go to for powdering anywhere and I definitely recommend you give this technique a go.

** And what exactly is baking you ask? It's essentially packing on a large amount of loose powder in a particular area - generally under the eyes, the nose and the forehead - and letting it "bake" there whilst doing the rest of making. Once "baked" fully, you sweep off an excess are a less with a flawless, highlighted finish. **

The Magic that is Brow Gel

I think we've all had crazy, regrettable brows in our pasts. I certainly have had my fair share. Whilst I still consider it the most tedious step of my beauty routine, brow gel has really helped to achieve the natural, defined brow look that I always aim for. This is a must have product in my opinion - especially for those of us with thinner brows as it really helps to define your brow hairs giving a more natural, authentic look. Getting a tinted brow gel as well makes this look even more realistic as it adds even more definition to the individual brow hairs and can even be used alone if you're in a hurry.

Lip Liner

Wait, why exactly am I thanking social media for lip liner? Well although I knew of lip liner prior to social media, I didn't really get it. Of course I knew its use, but didn't really see the need for it until I started watching youtube videos and beauty guru's insisting that they were necessary.  Boy, had I been missing out. Bye bye bleeding lipstick and weird shaped lips, hello full, plump lips and clean lines! Lip liner is a must in my makeup routine and I simply don't wear a lip product without it!


What beloved products or must do beauty techniques do you have to thank social media for?

Levinia, xo

Beauty | Review: Nyx Lip Lingerie in Bedtime Flirt

Hi everyone! I hope you're having a good Wednesday so far! Today I'm back with another NYX review for you all. I've been really enjoying NYX and their products lately and their Lip Lingerie lipsticks are what I'll be reviewing for you in this post - specifically the lipstick shade "Bedtime Flirt". 

So first as always before I get into my review, let's see what NYX says about this product:

"Slip into something seductive with Lip Lingerie, our new weightless liquid lipstick with a plush matte finish.

Available in a range of colour-kissed nudes—from cinnamon pink and chocolate brown, to warm mahogany red and classic nude beige—each sultry shade will coat the curves of your lips with irresistibly creamy colour."

Colour & Pigmentation:

The colour "Bedtime Flirt" is described on the NYX website as a red toned pink - a description I would describe as fairly accurate. The colour itself has definite undertones of red as well as orange and brown in my opinion and is somewhat similar to Kat Von D's "Lolita" (though certainly lighter in shade). It's a perfect autumnal shade for me and one i've been wearing often these past few months. In terms of pigmentation, this shade is nicely pigmented though a little patchy in places - nonetheless, the colour is rich and true to the tone in the packaging when swatched on the skin. 

Application, Formula & Wear Time:

This lipstick applies nicely to the lips though as mentioned above, it can be patchy in some places. This is easily fixed with a little more layering and it isn't difficult at all to get an even, opaque coverage. The lipstick dries matte in around 30-45 seconds and doesn't transfer to the touch once it has done so. 

The lipsticks are lightweight and feel velvety on the lips. Despite drying matte, they can sometimes transfer and feel almost "sticky" when you press your lips together. This isn't a massive deal however and always, it's best not to rub your lips together too much anyway when wearing a liquid lipstick.

The wear time of these lipsticks are very good - I have worn them for full days at work with only 1 need for a touch up. When drinking, there's little to no transfer or wearing and they react well to contact with food. 

Final Thoughts:

 Overall, I'm a big fan of these liquid lipsticks and I have to say, I definitely prefer them over the formula of the much loved Soft Matte Lip Creams! Definitely give these a go if you're a liquid lipstick fan.

Have you tried the NYX Lip Lingerie range yet? What are your personal thoughts and what are your favourite liquid lippies?

Levinia xo

PRODUCTS MENTIONED

NYX LIP LINGERIE in BEDTIME FLIRT | £6.50

Let's Talk | Body Shaming - A Skinny Girls Perspective

Body shaming in one capacity or another has been around for as long as our abilities to perceive conceptions of beauty have. Unfortunately, the topic of weight is now at the forefront of this issue and it is often primarily "fat shaming" as it has come to be known that is first thought of when we think of weight shaming. However, "fat shaming" is not the only kind of shaming that's out there; skinny girls are shamed too. The shaming of the skinny girl is often done through underhanded, subtle comments - more often or not in the form of a compliment to someone of another weight. These can be direct - "you look ill, you need to put on more weight", "do you actually eat?", "why do you want to work out, you're already skinny?", "you need a burger". These comments as mentioned above can also be in the form of "compliments" to others: "don't worry, men don't want skin and bones, men want curves", "only dogs like bones", "real women are curvy". 

It is often thought that if you are skinny, you are privileged - therefore you have no need nor any right to moan or feel offended about the comments of others. And yes, perhaps (at least in the society that I live in), the commonly favoured, Westernised standard of beauty is the one featuring a slimmer, skinnier woman - but that doesn't mean that these women can't and won't be shamed too. More so than this, what we must remember is that at any any given time, these standards of beauty have and will change and that they are constructed ideas, not truth or fact. Being skinny does not automatically grant you happiness, body confidence or self acceptance.

We live in a society dominated by media insinuations that in the favour of the "body positivity" movement see it fit to justify the victimising of one body type in order to show support to another.  Song lyrics, memes, Instagram photos - this contradictory "support" is something I have seen all too much of. We must remember that these standards of beauty, these ideals are fed to us by these institutions - they are trying to adapt and frame our perceptions of taste and what beauty is and should be - a reality that can be damaging to us all.

The shaming of the skinny is not right - just like fat shaming is NOT right. Neither should be accepted, neither should be justified in any way. I simply don't believe in the degradation of one cause in order to aid another. I don't believe in bringing others down to bring others up - I believe in the support of all causes in order to rid our society of a wider issue - the issue of shaming of any kind.

As a skinny girl, I don't want to be told that my lack of "curves" are unappealing and mean that I'm not a "real" woman. I don't want to be told that I need to eat more or that I can't go to the gym or workout because I'm "skinny enough".  Just like the larger girl, just like ANY girl, I have the right to feel beautiful, to feel accepted and to feel confident. 

I'd like to see a movement in which one size isn't pitted against another, in which we simply celebrate the beautiful differences within ourselves. I want to live in a world in which we are judged by the integrity of our character and not what the scales have to say.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic, please do leave them in the comments so we can continue this discussion! As always, thanks for reading.

Levinia, xo

Beauty | Review: Nyx Vivid Brights Eyeliners

Hey everyone! Happy October, it feels like these past few months have just flown by, right? In this post, I'm going to be sharing with you a review on a beauty product I've been testing out for a while now. The products in question are the Nyx Vivid Brights liquid eyeliners.

What Nyx Says About This Product:

"Line your lids with vibrant colour with our new Vivid Brights Liners. Available in nine incredible shades, these pro-level liners deliver instant and intense colour payoff."

As you guys may know, Nyx arrived in Boots stores around the UK a few months ago and this is when I first discovered these eyeliners. After a little bit of a swatch session in store one day, I initially picked up two of the shades from the collection; Violet and Envy. I was also gifted the shade Fire from a lovely colleague of mine at work. I have tried and tested all of these shades and in this review, I'll share with you my thoughts and feelings - enjoy!

Colour & Pigmentation:

The colours available in these liquid eyeliners are awesome. It's really difficult to find colourful liners in liquid form in high street stores and so it's really impressive that Nyx as a brand are providing them at accessible and affordable prices. There are colours for every eye colour and every skin tone - allowing anyone to add a dash of daring colour to their eye look. So, are these eyeliners pigmented? Hell yes they are. They're extremely pigmented and have really amazing colour pay off - whilst the packaging alludes that the colours are a little bit more neon that they are in reality, the colours are nonetheless bright and vivid as Nyx states.

Swatches from L to R: Violet, Envy & Fire

Application, Formula & Wear Time:

In terms of application, these liners apply really well - the brush itself allowing for easy, precise application. The liners are impressively opaque in their application as well - something surprising for such an inexpensive product. You need minimal layering to get a solid block of colour on the eye and they dry down in a matter of seconds. Some colours are slightly more opaque than others - generally these tend to be the darker shades but with a little layering, all the colours that I have tested are easily built up.

The liner dries down to a dryer, matte finish meaning they give off no shine or lacquer finish. They wear incredibly well and as stated dry very quickly which means there's absolutely no transfer from them which is always good. I have worn these liners for full 8 and a half hour days at work and there is zero crumbling, flaking or fading - amazing!

Final Thoughts:

Overall, it's safe to say I'm a massive fan of these liquid liners. They have great pigmentation and are long lasting - not to mention come in a variety of bright, alternative colours that we certainly aren't used to seeing in cheaper, high street makeup brands. These liners are definitely worth the money and worth a try - there's a colour for everyone and you should definitely give them a go if you haven't already!

So, those are my thoughts on the Nyx Vivid Brights liquid eyeliners! Have you tried them, if so what are you own opinions on them? 

Thanks for reading.

Levinia xo


PRODUCTS MENTIONED:

Nyx Vivid Bright Eyeliners | £5.50

Updated Perfume Collection | 2016 - Part Two

Hey guys! Happy Wednesday. As promised, this is part two of my perfume collection - enjoy!

Calvin Klein - CKin2U (EDT)

Top Notes - Bergamot, Lemon, Red Currant Leaf
Heart Notes - Orchid, Cactus
Base Notes - Amber, Red Cedar, Vanilla

Updated Perfume Collection | 2016 - PART ONE

I adore perfumes and fragrances of all kind. Smell as a sense has the power to change your mood, change your outlook and reignite your memories of the past. It is a welcome accompaniment to my daily life and wherever I'm going and whatever I'm doing, you can bet I've got a scent on for it! With that in mind, I thought I'd share with you my updated fragrance collection. Rather than ramble on about why I like the scent and awkwardly attempt to the explain how they actually smell, I'm going to also utilise the wonder that is Google search and leave you the correct information on the notes of each fragrance I mention. I'll also be splitting this post into two so it's not ridiculously long, enjoy!

Fashion | The Perfect Rose Gold Watch

Earlier this year, I talked about my first "proper" watch that I purchased from Olivia Burton. 

I recently decided that I wanted to get another watch that was similar in the simplistic design of the Olivia Burton one, but that was fully metal. Most of the time, fully metal wrist watches I tend to find are a little too bulky for my liking and this always put me off them despite really admiring how they looked aesthetically. And so, I began the search for the perfect rose gold watch and after a while of searching, I finally found one that I loved!

Marc Jacobs Baker Ladies' Rose Gold Tone Bracelet Watch | £209

Levinia Goes to the Movies | August 2016

I love and have always loved film. It is one of my biggest passions in life and it's safe to say that it encompasses a huge portion of it. I feel that film has a special, unique way of helping you to connect with the world and with yourself, much like music it has the power to change you and to affect you in a way that you may not have expected.

With that, it would be obvious to assume I watch a lot of films - and you'd be right. In this new little series, I thought I'd write about and share small reviews of films that I have watched in the cinema each month as well as films I have also discovered and watched during the month too. So, let's get started with my August round up!

Beauty | Favourite Face Masks for Sensitive Skin

As individuals, it's important for us to take the time now and then to let ourselves relax and take a break for the business and stress of everyday life. That can be in a number of ways - whether it be retail therapy, a cosy movie night or even a simple cup of tea and a cheeky biscuit.

Whilst I'm definitely partial to all of those things, I also like to take the time to pamper myself a little bit and in particular, I really enjoy a good old face mask. In this post, I thought I'd share with you my favourite face masks and take your through what they do and why I like them so much.

Lanocreme Manuka Honey Sheet Masks

#FOTD | Purple Cat Flick

Hey everyone! I hope you're having a good week so far. Currently I am adjusting to life with short nails as I let them re-grow. It's safe to say I didn't think I'd have to re-learn how to do things like type on keyboards, yet here I am struggling to type up a blog post and put a basic sentence together... thank the Gods for spellcheck!

Anyway, today I'm going to share with you a face of the day post - one I haven't done in a while but as a I take certain selfies of my daily makeup looks, I thought I'd start to include them on my blog a little more. This post is of a look I did last week for work and it features and awesome purple cat eye liner which I have fallen in love with. Using a standard liquid liner, I created my favourite look that is the cat flick and the purple I feel really added something a little bit special to it. With my blue eye colour, I really found it to make my eyes "pop" in a way different from the standard black liner. 

Beauty Best Of | Rimmel

Being quite the makeup junkie, I have naturally accrued and tried several products in my time. I have also tried several brands and my avid makeup obsession has allowed me to be quite familiar with certain brands and what they have to offer. With that in mind, I thought it would be good to create a series focusing on a brand and showing what I believe to be some of their best products. I'm also considering maybe creating another series in which I also share a brands worst products - let me know if you'd be interested in seeing that!

So, today I'll be focusing on the best of Rimmel - a hugely popular, British company founded back in 1883. With famous faces such as Kate Moss promoting them, the brand sells their cosmetics in well known British stores such as Boots and Superdrug. The brand also sell their products internationally in countries such as the USA, Spain and Canada with prices ranging generally from about £3-8.

I Graduated.

"Times flies when you're having fun."

It's a saying we often take for granted whilst busy enjoying the most precious moments of our life and  one that we soon realise the truth of once those moments have come to an end. Whilst my University experience wasn't exactly always one that could be solely described as "fun", it was definitely one of the most enjoyable and rewarding - albeit challenging - times of my life.

Gotta use what you can to make sure you're lookin' good!

The not-so-little brother & I.

To say that those times are now over is a surreal feeling but one that brings with it feelings of hope and excitement for the chapters ahead. I am a stronger, more developed individual due to my time at Birmingham City University. I have made lifetime friends and memories to cherish. I have pushed myself, developed myself and most importantly, learnt about myself.

Obligatory cap throw!

And so with this ending comes a new beginning. A new page and with it new stories to be told. Here's to the future, to new experiences and to even more lessons learned.

Birthday Haul

Hey everyone! I hope you're all doing well, I swear I'll actually get into a consistent swing of blogging at some point..

My birthday was last week and in this post I thought I'd share wth you a few of the awesome presents I received from family and loved ones. I'm a nosey person at heart and so hauls of any kind are posts that I personally love to read - enjoy! I love perfume and so any kind of gift giving scenario concerning me usually involves a fragrance.. or two!

 Gwen Stefani's range of perfumes are called "Harajuku Lovers" and they were fragrances that I was pretty obsessed with a few years a go. I decided that for my birthday I wanted to get one of my favourite scents from the collection; "Love".

I just love the designs of these perfumes too!

LIFESTYLE | 5 Months, 5 Goals

Whilst I'm not one for new year's resolutions, I do believe in setting goals for yourself and putting your mind to things that you'd like to achieve - however big or small. I am an individual who enjoys looking ahead and I especially love to plan and have goals set in place as it makes me feel like I'm on track and moving forward in some way. With that in mind and with 5 remaining months left in the year, I thought I'd share 5 goals that I'd like to make a reality whether in their complete entirety or just in some small way.

1. Start Learning to Drive

At 21 (almost 22, yay!) it's safe to say I'm over the whole public transport thing and whilst it's a notion that completely terrifies me, I would like to start learning how to drive. I'd like to begin my theory revision and eventually my lessons in the next few months, hopefully things go well for me and I'll be causing around in no time!

2. Workout Regularly Again

I've fallen off the workout bandwagon recently and definitely want to get back on it. The gym has never been an environment for exercise that has interested me so at home workouts are definitely more my cup of tea and so I plan to start making time for these!

3. Find a New Job

As a soon to be official graduate, I am now in that stage of my life where I (try to) figure out what kind of career path I'd like to take. I want to have hopefully secured a job within that area within the next few months or to be on the way to doing so - fingers crossed.

SKINCARE | Why You Should Be Using a Serum

I've said it time and time again on here but if you're not yet familiar, I have sensitive skin. It's annoying and it's high maintenance especially that when coupled with that, my skin is also very prone to dryness. It's safe to say therefore, that I've spent a lot of time searching for products that will help me deal with this issue and there's one product in particular that I have found really makes a positive difference to the condition of my skin. That product is a serum and in this blog post, I'll take you through the benefits of using one and tell you about my current favourite.

Vichy Aqualia Thermal Serum

BEAUTY | Collective NYX Haul

Hello everyone! I hope you're all having an awesome week so far. Today, to ease myself steadily back into blogging once again, I thought I'd share with you a collective NYX haul. NYX recently became available in Boots stores around the UK - as an American brand that was previously difficult to come by, this is super exciting for a makeup junkie like me! In today's post, I'm going to briefly go through all the things I've collectively purchased - enjoy!

UPDATE | Back to Blogging, University & Grad Ball!

Hello everyone! I hope you're all doing really well, I know it has certainly been a while. These past few months have been extremely busy for me - I have now completed University and await my final results - a prospect which is both terrifying and exciting all at the same time! I also work part time at Boots now after having my contract renewed by them and so begins the next chapter of my life in which I figure out what the heck I want to do with it!

Something important to me within all this is that I maintain the time to blog and more importantly, to actually start it again after being absent for so long. To ease myself back into the blogging sphere again, I thought I'd do a post on a recent event I attended; my Graduation Ball!

Beauty | 5 Tips for Long, Beautiful Nails!

Long nails are something I never thought I'd be able to achieve. A dedicated nail biter for years, I had nails were short, stubby and very damaged and any growth I did manager to get, often broke off due to them being so brittle. It's safe to say then my nails needed some serious TLC and making some changes and have an actual nail care routine has allowed me to grow long nails that I'm actually quite proud of - it's the simple things!

Beauty | Nails of The Day 21/03/16

Hello everyone! Apologies for my inconsistent posting, University work is at it's most hectic right now as I near my deadline dates. I'm currently running my final year production project (which you should definitely check out HERE by the way) as well as writing my dissertation. It's safe to say times are stressful but I'm determined to make time for the little things I love like blogging along the way.

That Feeling

Sometimes it's easy to get stuck in a rut. It gets hard to remember what you're supposed to be doing and more than that, why you're supposed to be doing it. You lose your sense of motivation and you lose your drive. The things you used to find interesting don't seem to feel that way anymore. The work you have piled up to do seems pointless, worthless even. 

You feel lonely. Disconnected with the world for reasons you can't quite comprehend.

It's difficult to get out of this rut, to shake off this inescapable feeling. I feel it's one we have all experienced to a degree - its difficult to name but easy enough to recognise when you describe its symptoms. I've been stuck in this rut lately and I'm now in the midst of trying to get myself out.

Dupe It | MAC Violetta Lipstick

Hey guys and welcome to the second instalment of the series I call Dupe It! As you can probably guess by the not so original title, in this series I share with you dupes of certain high end, popular or cult products that I have found! If you'd like to check out the first post in this series in which I dupe the below NARS 'Orgasm' blush, you can check it out HERE!

Beauty | TooFaced Natural Matte Palette

You can never have too many neutral palettes, never! 

At least that is what I tell myself as a new one is eventually added to my online shopping basket. They're just so versatile and wearable for everyone - whether it's a smokey look or a subtle addition of depth to make your eyes pop, neutral shades have got your back.

The latest addition to my neutral palette collection is Too Faced's Natural Matte Palette. Whilst I haven't quite played around with it enough to give you a full review just yet, I thought I'd instead give you a first impressions and a little run through of the palette's shades!

What TooFaced Say:

"Go from soft and pretty to slightly sexy with nine gorgeous neutral matte shadows that pair perfectly, blend beautifully, and are so versatile you can wear them before breakfast or after dark. Includes our signature Glamour Guide with three looks to get you started."

The Shades:

Row 1

Heaven (Yellow-beige)
Cashmere Bunny (Medium taupe) 

Sexpresso (Dark, warm brown)

Row 2

Lace Teddy (Muted peach)

Strapless (Medium, rose brown)

Risque (Dark, neutral brown)

Row 3

Nudie (Light, medium taupe)

Honey Butter (Muted burnt orange)

Chocolate Cookie (Medium-dark, warm brown)

From initially using this palette, I can definitely say that I like it so far. I really like the good variety of neutral, warm and cool shades ranging from light to dark. There's a great variation for an assortment of different looks and as always in these kind of palettes, TooFaced also provide a handy little look-book for eyeshadow looks you can do with each row!

Let me know if you'd like to see an more in-depth review of this palette in the future! Thanks for reading! xo

BUY IT:

TooFaced Natural Matte Palette | £32.00

Fashion | The Olivia Burton Watch

Accessories aren't something I usually pay much attention to when it's comes to fashion. I like to keep things simple and pretty minimal. However, I have been wanting to expand my more modest collection of jewellery and add some more quality pieces to it that'll actually last. On the more practical side of things, I thought getting a nice watch would be pretty good place to start!

For Valentines day, my boyfriend got me this beautiful Olivia Burton watch. I'd been browsing a selection of watches from this brand ever since I spotted them in Selfridges last year. I'm kind of picky with watches as I'm not a fan of anything that's too bulky. This particular watch however is perfect within its dimensions and I feel like it suits me really well. The style of the watch is the Midi Dial - the colour combination being rose and rose gold. This watch is so feminine yet at the same very sophisticated and understated which is something I really like about it. It's beautifully made and I can tell that it's great quality.

I definitely want to get another watch from this brand, after browsing there's definitely something for everyone both in style and design. This is totally going to be a staple in my accessory collection from now on!

WHERE TO BUY:

Olivia Burton Midi Dial Rose and Rose Gold | £70.00

Beauty | Holo Love!

Hello everyone! Long time no blog, huh? I know it's been a while but I've been super busy with University work - I'm slowly getting back on the blog train though so bare with me! Today I have a quick little post for you on two nail polishes I recently got that I'm really enjoying.

The brand of nail polish is Colour Club - they produce awesome, cruelty free nail polishes in an array of unique colours and shades. The two polishes that I bought from the brand are from their Halo Hues collection - they are beautiful, holographic shades that have awesome, multi-dimensional shine.

The first shade that I bought is called Harp On It. It's a beautiful pink based holo that as you can see has a lovely rainbow sheen running through it.

Next is the shade Crystal Baller - a beautiful, glistening blue shade.

Both nail polishes wear beautiful and are opaque in just two coats. Along with a good top coat, these polishes last with no chipping and have a beautiful finish! As a brand that I've only recently discovered, I'm really impressed by these two polishes and I'll definitely be buying from them again!

WHERE TO BUY:

Crystal Baller | £8.95

Harp On It | £8.95

Beauty | The Dream Team

Hello everyone! I hope you have had a good week and an even better weekend. Today I am going to discuss two facial makeup products that I have been really enjoying as part of my recent makeup routine.

Mac Fix + & Urban Decay De-Slick

The first product is MAC's Fix Plus - this is a facial spritz made of a refreshing blend of vitamins and minerals that can be used both before and after makeup application. It's also great for using on your beauty blender or your makeup brushes when you want to use a product wet! If you'd like to read a more in depth review of this product you can check one out here.

Secondly, we have Urban Decay's De-Slick - this is a fixing spray which helps to keep makeup in place preventing it from budging or slipping all day long. This particular product is also great for oil-control helping to keep it under control for the whole day.

This is where the confusion kicks in - many people think that both of these products are fixing or setting sprays but in reality, they do completely different things. Mac Fix + despite it's somewhat confusing name does not fix the makeup in place - rather, it is a "binding spray" that helps to bind and form the various layers of makeup together. This is particularly useful for people who use a lot of powder-based products as it helps to eradicate that powdery, cakey look you can sometimes get. It also helps you to achieve a somewhat dewy look to the skin which is great for dryer skin types! A setting spray on the other hand such as the Urban Decay does just what it says - it sets the makeup helping it last longer by fixing it in place all day.

I love the combination of both of these products together - I feel they give my makeup a better looking finish whilst also allows my makeup to last all day without any smudging or wearing!

Do you use binding or setting sprays? What are your favourites?

Beauty Haul | TooFaced, Hourglass & L'Oreal

Hello everyone! I hope you're well and that you're week is going great so far! 

Today I wanted to share with you a small beauty haul featuring a couple of items that I picked up for myself recently. Enjoy!

Firstly, I picked up Too Faced's Born This Way Foundation in the shade Vanilla. Foundation is a particular piece of makeup that I'm happy to invest that little bit more into and after hearing great things about this one, I decided to pick it up. I've tried it a few times and so far, I really like it - watch this space for a full review coming soon!

Secondly, I got L'Oreals Volume Million Lashes Mascara. I have long yet poker-straight eyelashes which are a pain to say the least. It is rare for me to find a mascara that maintains any kind of curl in my annoying lashes so I'm holding out some hope for this one.

Next off is this blusher / bronzer 'Soul Mates' duo from the TooFaced. Whilst this isn't something I actively was looking to add to my collection, when I saw it in Tk Maxx for the amazing price of just £9.99, I had to pick it up. I'm actually getting into bronzing my skin more so I'm looking forward to giving this a go - the blush is a great staple pink shade too!

Finally and certainly last but not least, I picked up this beautiful blusher from Hourglass in the shade Luminous Flush. This is a gorgeous pink shade that is finely milled and velvety soft - I have only tried this once but have been blown away but its beautiful pigmentation and its blend-ability. This one will also be getting review treatment very soon!

And there you have it! Have you tried any of the products in this haul? What are your thoughts on them?

Lipstick Lovin'

I love lipstick. If there's one makeup product I'd happily collect ridiculous amount of, it's lipstick (or many eyeshadow palettes - can never have too many neutral palettes am I right?!). In particular however, I am really enjoying liquid lipsticks - they're long lasting, dry matte and come in a whole heap of awesome colours to fit whatever look or mood you're in. In today's post, I thought I'd share with you a recent liquid lipstick purchase I made at my favourite online makeup site: Cocktail Cosmetics, enjoy!

LA Splash is a liquid lipstick brand that I love and due to already owning five of their liquid lipsticks, I was confident enough to buy 3 more! I got one lipstick in their "Velvet Matte" range and that was in the shade Seductress - which is a sort of browny-mauve shade. Next, I got two lipsticks from their "Studio Shine Lip Lustre" range in the shades Athena & Alice. Athena is a beautiful peachy nude shade with a gold sparkle and Alice is a lovely orchid shade which also has just a hint of sparkle in it too. All shades dry beautifully matte!

Finally, I wanted to try a Jeffree Star lipstick ever since he released them not so long ago. Being a lipstick junkie, I found it pretty difficult to pick a shade, but having been on a neutral lipstick hype as of late, I decide to go for the shade Celebrity Skin - which is an awesome browny nude.

And that's everything I got! I'm excited to really play around with these shades in the upcoming weeks - look out for a review coming your way too!

What are your thoughts on liquid lipsticks, yay or nay? What are your personal favourites?