Where to Save: Skincare Edition

My post around Where to Save: Makeup Edition is actually one of the most popular posts on my blog, which inspired me to create a skincare version which might help you on what bits and pieces you can save money on.

1) Serums and Treatments 
I am happy to spend my money on skincare, but I don't buy things purely because of the cost, I try to look for quality products, no matter the price-tag. My current serums and treatments are those which are affordable, but effective. I believe the key when looking for affordable serums and treatments is to find out what you might be missing in your current skincare - is it hydration, less congestion, to to treat acne or to reduce the appearance of wrinkles? You can get products that are an 'all in one' however those are the products which comes with a heftier price-tag, so if you narrow down what you are looking for, then you can definitely save some bucks. I've written a piece here which is a comprehensive guide to skincare.

1. The Ordinary 'Buffet' (£12.70/30ml)
2. The Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid Serum (£5.99/30ml)
3. The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalene  (£4.90/30ml)

2) Lip Balms
This is probably the most known inexpensive product that you can buy, but you would be surprised at the amount of lip balms that are over the £10 mark. I can hold my hands up here that I have spent more than £10 on a lip balm before, however I find that I don't consistently buy expensive ones, purely because I do think cheaper lip balms are good too - especially when I feel like my money can be better spent else where.

1. Nivea Original Care Lip Balm (£1.99/4.8g)
2. Vaseline Lip Therapy Tin (£1.00/ 20g) 
3. Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Lip Care (£2.99/4.8g)


3)  Toners
I've recently shared my renewed interest in toners here. In summary, I think toners are a great way to add a small dose of treatment into your skincare, whether that's with turmeric, salicylic acid or something else entirely. I also love the fact that you can spritz on some throughout the day, especially when it is hot outside! Any toners that I have that don't have a spray bottle, I personally depot into into a spray bottle so that I can spritz directly onto my face. I find that this adds speed into my routine, but more importantly, it's better for the environment when you aren't using two cotton pads a day.

1. Garnier Organic Thyme Toner (£5.99/ 150ml).
2. Neutrogena Clear and Soothe Toning Facial Mist  (£5.99/ 125ml)
3. La Roche Posay Serozinc Facial Mist (£9.99/150ml)









4) Makeup Removers

I've had this blanket rule for quite a few years now that if a product stays on your skin for less than two minutes then you shouldn't be breaking the bank for it. So makeup removers, whether it's micellar water, oils, balms (or even the dreaded makeup wipes) should be cheap and cheerful because they are created to remove the first layer of makeup on your skin, and it should be followed up be a second cleanse of some sort!  So makeup removers are definitely a product you can save on!

1. Simple Kind To Skin Hydrating Cleansing Oil (£6.99/125ml)
2. Superfacialist Vitamin C+ Skin Renew Cleansing Oil  (£12.00/200ml)
3. Garnier Micellar Water Sensitive Skin  (£5.00/400ml)


5) Eye Cream
I think eye cream market has been taken over by high end skincare brands and so it's actually a bit difficult to find eye creams under £15 which is a shame. If we think around why wrinkles form, it's due to the skin becoming more dry as it ages and the skin becoming a bit thinner too. To help protect the eye area, we need to take care that it is more moisturised than the rest of our face. I want to stress that there are other factors that can cause wrinkles and dark circles around the eye, from genetic  and lifestyle factors and so moisturising your under eyes is not a miracle solution if you do have a particular difficulty with your eye area. I think it is a good habit to start taking care of the skin around your eyes, especially in your early to mid 20's as the habit of applying eye cream also helps to boost circulation too.

1. Vichy Aqualia Thermal Eye Awakening Eye Balm (£15.00/15ml) 
2. Simple Kind to Eyes Eye Balm Soothing (£4.02/15ml)
3. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Eye Awakening Gel (£12.99/15ml)

So those are the five areas where I think we can save when it comes to skincare. I always find myself gravitating to the products I have mentioned when I don't want to spend a lot of money and also when I actually don't need to either. I hope you liked this post, and I would love to hear about where you save your money when it comes to skincare, as I might be missing a trick.

If you would like to read more posts then be sure to follow me on Bloglovin to stay up to date! I have  some upcoming posts that you might also enjoy!

Toners - Why I have Started Using Them.

If you spoke to me a few years ago, I would have completely dismissed the concept of toners, I thought it was an unnecessary step in you 'skincare regime'. Back in the day of cream cleansers, toners were actually necessary to ensure that makeup had been adequately removed from the skin - the 'second cleanse' from back in the day. Currently, we live in an age of oil and balm cleansers that can take off every single speck of make-up and so toners fell by the wayside. But recently, some brands have piqued my interest back into toners, and I have given it a second shot...

I am currently on my second bottle of the Garnier Organic Thyme Toner (150ml/ £5.99). This toner is so fresh on the skin and has Salicylic Acid, which was the major selling point for me. Salicylic acid is an ingredient that helps to prevent breakouts by chemically exfoliating deep in the pores of the skin. I've also tried a few different application methods, I used to pour the product out into some cotton wool, but I grew frustrated that the cotton wool was getting the majority of the product. I then switched to pouring the product directly onto my hands and patting it on my face, which was a greater improvement, finally I settled for moving the product into a spray bottle and so I spritz this onto my skin after it has been freshly washed and pat the residue onto my skin before starting my skincare regime. I highly recommend doing this as you get to use the all of the product and have more control on how much you use on application. I have found this product helpful when I have a few breakouts, as I find that this product helps calm and not make the situation worse. I have also noticed that the amount of time I am suffering from a breakout is also reduced which is great.

I've never really used Neutrogena products, however I was intrigued when I saw the Neutrogena Clear and Soothe Toning Facial Mist  (125ml/£5.99) which contains Turmeric. Turmeric is well known in Asia as  a brightening agent, when applied topically. It also has anti-inflammatory properties, and so is good for both the skin and also your diet too. I wasn't sure what I was expecting when I tried this product, but I did like the result. Firstly this product contains a spray bottle, which delivers a fine mist - so the negatives with the Garnier are not present here. There is a fragrance, however it is not too potent or unpleasant. Again I pat this into my skin and I have noticed that my skin is brighter and not angry. Sometimes I have a few breakouts, and it causes my skin to be slightly sensitive around that area, however since using this, my skin has felt more calmer. It's more of a feeling than a visible result, but nonetheless I do really like this product.

What I realised is that I like toners that add something to my routine, an ingredient that might help with my complexion or texture of my skin, so a bit like a serum but in smaller doses. I alternate between these two toners depending on my skin which I have been enjoying doing in the last month.

If there are any toners that you particularly like, I would love to hear about them, so leave a comment below! If you would like to read more posts then be sure to follow me on Bloglovin to stay up to date! 

Review: The Ordinary 'Buffet' Serum

Despite having this blog, it's really rare I switch things up in my skincare and even more rare when they are there to stay. My skincare routine has been pretty much the same for the past two years. So when something changes, I get super excited about it. 

I think I first heard about The Ordinary when Fleur De Force posted a video about it. To sum it up, The Ordinary is a super affordable brand, and Deciem, who created the brand, have founded other more premium brands such as Niod. So it's a brand that knows about skincare and more importantly, ingredients. The Ordinary is affordable due to selling individual ingredients, such as Hyaluronic acid and Retinol products, and so rather than purchasing a product which might have traces of these ingredients in, with The Ordinary you can buy these ingredients in their simplest form. The 'Buffet' is one of the exceptions to that, having a mixture of ingredients to target signs of ageing at once.

The Ordinary 'Buffet' (£12.70/30ml) is described as a 'multi-technology peptide serum', which I take as being food for your skin to keep it hydrated and happy. I didn't know what to expect from this product however it has completely blown me away. The biggest difference I have noticed is that my skin is no longer as congested. I have oily, sensitive skin and I have large pores which had a tendency to get congested. I don't know how but this product has dramatically reduced the congestion to the point that I don't get spots as often. I still do get spots, however that has also dramatically decreased and the condition of my skin is just more even in texture. I love this product. I really love it. It's a miracle worker. 

I have used it everyday, morning and evening for the past two months and I'm around half way down the bottle, which I am impressed with. I use around two pea sized amounts and press the solution onto my skin, making sure that it is all evenly covered. I do this straight after cleansing on fresh skin, and then I proceed with my moisturiser. The solution itself is clear, a consistency half way between gel and water,  more runnier than gel and more 'solid' than water and won't run uncontrollably. After I press this on the skin, you are left with a slight tacky feeling, I really do mean slight because it's barely noticeable, however just preps your skin for the next product. After I have moisturised I cannot feel this product on the skin at all, it's absorbed and there is no tackiness. 

I have to say, I love the packaging, it's clean and simple - clinical but in a way I like when it comes to skincare, because it really is a science. I love that this has a frosted glass bottle with a pipette, it's so easy to measure the amount you would like so there is no wasted product and is hygienic. 

If you are looking for something new to try, I would urge you to buy this product, it's affordable and it works. I will be either repurchasing this product in the future or trying some other combinations out. The Ordinary website is also fantastic, they describe the product, the PH balance, whether it is oil/silicone free and even takes a step further to mention whether the product is cruelty free and suitable for vegans. I think all skincare and makeup websites should employ this method of describing a product. In addition to this, I know that with other products within 'The Ordinary' range, it explains what products may not react well with other ingredients, which is again fantastic to avoid any irritation. If you are interested in this product or the brand itself, please visit their website as it's just very informative, I will link it here. 

All in all, I'm so happy I have discovered this product and I'm so happy that I can finally tell you all about it! Please leave any comments or questions below if you have any and I'll be sure to respond back! 

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3 Summer Skincare Finds

The Summer Sales have been in full swing, and I managed to pick up a few things which I have been testing out in this heat wave that England has been having. I got all of these items from House of Fraser, which is my go-to store for all my beauty needs. 

The first thing I bought was The 'Buffet' Serum from The Ordinary (£12.70/30ml). I'm going to do a full review of this product - so be sure to subscribe so you don't miss out on it. In short, this serum is supposed to be an 'all-rounder' of all the peptides and nourishment your skin needs, as well as some extra benefits too. I have been using this religiously twice a day for the past month, and I've noticed a difference in my skin - it's way less congested meaning I get spots less often. It's been an actual miracle so stay tuned for the full review of this product! Overall, it's a massive hit with me, and I would fully recommend! 

One of my favourite skincare brands for a long time has been Kiehl's, I use their Ultra Facial Moisturiser every morning and I used to use their Midnight recovery for years. I bought the Kiehl's Lip Balm (£10.00/15ml) in the Pear Scent. This lip balm is for anyone who likes a sheen on their lips - a bit like a thinner, less heavier Vaseline that is so nice to apply. It's also 15ml, and so it gives you more product than a standard lip balm, and I can already see that I have not made a dent in it. if you like a lip balm that is there, then this is the one for you. Also I love the durability of the product, you can chuck it in any bag without fear of it breaking or coming loose, as it has a screw cap lid. The scent itself is really nice, not overpowering but still present! 

The last product I want to talk about is less skincare and more bodycare as it's a hand cream. I went to Elizabeth Arden for their Oxygen Blast Facial a few months ago, and really enjoyed the experience. Whilst they were prepping me, they sprayed some of the White Tea Fragrance on me, and I fell in love with the fragarence. It was one of those where you just inhale and just instantly relax. So when I spotted the Elizabeth Arden White Tea Hand Cream (£7.00/30ml), I just had to buy it. It's a super lux hand cream, and again has that ability to make me relax. I exclusively wear this at night, just to be more relaxed. If you haven't smelt this before, then make sure to have a sniff when you next go past an Elizabeth Arden counter. I'm thinking this might be my next fragrance that I purchase. 

This was just a quick roundup of my recent finds that I have been regularly been using! I'm going to do a  full review of the Buffet Serum, because I would like to go more in depth about my experience and the changes I have noticed! I would love to know if you have tried anything new? Be sure to follow me on Bloglovin to stay up to date with my newest content!

Makeup Mistakes + Fixes!

As we get older, we find new ways to do old things. So I present to you a few of the mistakes I used to do when I first started applying makeup. If you are a novice you might be able to learn from this, however if you are a pro at makeup then these may sound a bit familiar!

1) Artificial Lighting

Not having the right lighting can be catastrophic when it comes to makeup application. I'm not even exaggerating. I've applied makeup to go out in the day and when I came across a mirror the truth was revealed!

Dark lighting can make you over-apply products because you can't see it show up well on the skin. Artificial lighting is a bit more deceiving as it goes two ways, making you look flawless or it makes every attempt to hid your insecurities come out. I think the best way to deal with lighting is to go with natural lighting - as this is representative of how you will look outside. Actually, it might be a good idea to use the lighting that you will mostly be in, so natural lighting if you are spending the day outside, artificial lighting if you will be cooped up inside all day - this way the makeup you apply will look the same in your destination.

2) Eyeliner stability

Eyeliner is a product that almost everyone wants to master, however no amount of tutorials can really help with application, as you need to tailor your eyeliner to your eye shape and do this independently. I remember trying to learn how to do a liquid liner that suited me and it was a painfully slow process and no matter what I did, my liner would never be smooth and fluid, there would always be some bump in the line. So one tip that really helped me was to keep my elbow propped up by my desk. This meant that my hand couldn't drop down if I paused and just gave me more stability, rather than doing my liner midair.

3) Flat foundation brush

Brushes and makeup tools do have their day, and when I started to apply makeup, it was the age of the flat foundation brush. This isn't a bad tool at all, I think in combination with the bad lighting and my over-inflated confidence I misused this tool. I literally used to paint my face, so there was no blending out the edges of the face or just blending in general. I found that my makeup used to sit on top of my skin rather than be a part of it. Now I still use brushes, but for my base makeup, my Beautyblender is the holy grail, as it makes my makeup looks more seamless and skin-like, with minimal effort!

4) Blending eye shadow

Eyeshadow was one of the last things I got into. I used to wear foundation and blush mostly when I was 15 and although I liked eye shadow I knew that I didn't know how to be a pro at applying it. One of the biggest mistakes I made was using the same brush for everything, for the all over the lid colour and the crease shade and sometimes I still do this now, however my precision has changed. Before I just wanted to maximum pigment on my eyes and then things would be really tough to blend. Now I'm more keyed up to how well things will blend out, and if I want a subtle eye - how to go about it. One of the tricks that I know a lot of people use is to use a clean blending brush constantly to make sure there are no harsh lines. I think this really works, as when you use a blending brush that was used previously, the colour is still on the brush and you don't get that seamless finish, ombre style.

5) The use of products

When I was a kid, I was never really taught why people wear makeup. As in, I think when I first started to apply it, my goal was to make myself look like someone new - I think sometimes in the media we see the total transformation that makeup can really do. However I think there is some good inspiration on the internet, teaching kids nowadays the purpose of products and how they should be applying it. For instance, foundation is to even out the skin tone, so we don't treat it like concealer because the goal is to even out the base, not hide imperfections. Eyeliner is used to define the eyes, but we don't always need a jet black liquid liner to do this, a simple brown eye shadow blended in at the root of the lashes can also do the trick. I think this information is out there, however I don't think everyone accesses it.

I would love to know what makeup mistakes you guys used to make that seem so obvious to you now! Let me know down below and be sure to follow me on Bloglovin to stay up to date with my posts!

5 Tips: How To Maintain Healthy Nails

So I've always considered myself quite lucky to have nails that grow fast. However for the past four years I have been actively maintaining my nails, and I wanted to share my top tips and tricks for how to keep your nails in the best shape.

1) File to Shape

So I hardly ever really cut my nails, I only reach for my nail clippers if I have seriously neglected my nails that they have grown so long and eventually broken into a variety of shapes and sizes. I think we need to start from scratch sometimes and file our nails down to all have the same shape. When I first did this I was left with seriously short nails but they were all the same shape and size and just looked a lot more pleasing. Additionally, nails are easier to maintain when they are shorter as they are less likely to break and chip. So every week you can begin to file where you need to file, and in no time you'll have longer nails that are the same shape!

2) Identify your problems

This is a weird one, but I think we all have a problem point when it comes to nails; you may bite your nails, wear so much nail polish that you are suffering from nail yellowing, or have nails that break easily. The list goes on and on. So if you suffer from biting your nails, perhaps invest in those bitter nail polishes. If you are suffering from yellowing nails, then I suggest taking a break from nail polish, because it's always good to air your nails out! If you have nails that break easily, it might be good to file them a bit shorter so that you can focus on making your nails a bit stronger.

3) Moisturise!

So I've recently done a post all about hand creams, I think it's good to keep your hands moisturised as they are one of the areas of your body that shows the signs of aging first. When adding hand cream, it's easier to massage your cuticles, and push them back. My favourite hand cream for when I am doing my nails is the  Sanctuary Spa Velvety Hand Cream (£3.00/30ml), it's super luxurious formula and leaves a super subtle but lovely scent behind. 

4) Avoid too much water

Drinking lots of water is good, however exposing your nails to lots of water isn't the best thing. Have you guys ever noticed that when you finish washing the dishes or coming out of a long shower that your nails are bendy? So if you are prone to nails that snap off for what seems like no reason, this might be something to look out for. Also avoid filing your nails when they are still wet, your nails are at it's weakest, and you are probably doing more damage than good.

5) Invest in treatments

Sometimes we all need put in a bit more effort to maintain our nails. This may be investing in nail hardeners, if you have brittle nails, or cuticle oil if your cuticles are hard to manage. I remember when I suffered from yellowing nails, I bought a base coat because I didn't want to stop wearing nail polish, and low and behold, my nails returned back to their usual colour. It's normally the small, simple steps we miss out that can have an effect on our nail health the most. Diet and water is important, and this should probably be the first factor you look at. Another thing I like to do is to get my nails professionally manicured once in a while, because if the nail technician creates the shape I want, all I have to do is maintain it.

I hope this post was helpful for those of you who are having a bit of trouble maintaining the healthy nails you want! If you have any tips and tricks that I missed out then I would love for you to share in the comments below. Also be sure to follow me on Bloglovin to stay up to date with my posts!

How To: Curl Eyelashes So They Last All Day

So today I am going to share one of my biggest beauty secrets, it's something I do everyday when I get ready, and it honestly works. If you are like me and have the straightest lashes the world has ever seen, or if after curling your lashes they drop miserably, then I really want you to try this. I'll show you my top tip and my current routine to get the best out of your eyelashes!

Okay, so before we start I want to explain the benefits of having a good eyelash curler. For maximum results, your eyelash curler should be metal, and needs to fit the shape of your eye nicely. My eyelash curlers are from Shu Uemera, they were a gift from my friend Sakura in 2014 and I still use them. They retail for £20 and it are worth the investment as they get used every day because it performs so well. 

So here is the secret: I heat up my eyelash curlers with my hairdryer for a few seconds. I actually get my eyelash curlers piping hot and wait for them to cool down enough so they won't burn my eyes. So I will place them either on wrist or lightly on my lips to test if it's safe to place on my eyes, as those two areas are super sensitive to heat. Once I've safely tested them I will proceed to curl my eyelashes, angling the curlers toward the crease of my eyes, instead of parallel to my face. I find that this gives them a little more lasting time and I usually hold my eyelashes for a good 20 seconds. Once that is done, I will get a mascara that has a thin and waterproof formula, so this is where my L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes Waterproof Mascara(£9.99/9ml) comes into play. This mascara has a great separating wand so I can capture all the lashes that I have curled and just puts enough product on my lashes to hold the curl in place while not weighing them down. You can really see how battered this mascara is, I've had it for almost a year and the drier the formula, the better as it has less chance of being weighed down!

So at this point, your eyelashes are nicely curled, and mascaraed up, however it's only just a light layer that has dried down. You can leave it here if you are short on time, and just prefer this look, which is what I do most days. This is the point where I will add in another mascara, if I want really thick, black lashes. For this I have been using the L'Oreal Mega Volume Collagene Mascara (£9.99/10ml), as it really works to add volume the lashes, adding thickness and length, which gives my eyes extra depth and intensity. I love using this duo, as I get lashes that are my own, but the much better version that lasts all day!

I would love to know if you have tried this, or are going to try this, because it's just my ride or die when it comes to eyelashes! What's your favourite eyelash product? Be sure to follow me on Bloglovin for more beauty posts!

The AM-PM Routine Tag

Recently Becki from Beauty and the Brunette tagged me when she did the AM-PM tag. It was really fun to  read because who doesn't like to snoop around in other peoples lives? So if you want to see my AM-PM routine then keep reading!

                                                                           AM

1) What is your morning beauty routine?

So I have successfully managed to drag myself away from my bed. After brushing my teeth, I head to the shower where I scrub my face with the No7 Beautiful Skin Purifying Exfoilator and then cleanse my face with the La Roche- Posay Effaclar Purifying Cleansing Gel. I love these two products as they are gentle on the skin yet clean it thoroughly! After the shower, I will spritz my face with the Avene Thermal Spring Water and pat that into my skin a minute later. Lately I have been getting seriously dry so then I apply my Hydraluron Moisture Boosting Facial Serum and then my La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo + over the top which completes my skincare! 

2) What's for breakfast?

I'm not crazily religious when it comes to breakfast because I find that I'm craving lunch much more earlier than if I went without. Is that weird? If I do have breakfast then porridge is my go-to food but if I have more time then anything which includes sausages is top on my list! 

3) Coffee or Tea?

Tea! I love tea! However lately in the morning I have been trying that whole 'hot water with lemon' thing and it's going well! It's been more than a month since I started and it's very refreshing and not as...bitter as it originally was! I'm not a crazy coffee drinker, but if I need the energy then I will go with a drink with more caffeine! 

4) How long does it take you to get out the door?

I would say an hour. That's me doing the whole shebang - shower, blow-drying hair, make-up and clothes -

at my own pace. I can actually do this all in 40 minutes but that just stresses me out and I usually enjoy this hour I have to myself!

5) What is your go-to makeup look on a fuss-free morning?

I go for a natural awake look I would say! I focus on the base and eyes, so I use my L'Oreal Infallible Primer and then go in with my NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation and I will buff that in with my Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. I then focus on my brows using the L'Oreal Genius Brow Kit and also the Brow Artist Plumper. I then like to curl my lashes and add mascara so that I have some ounce of femininity! I then set my face with the L'Oreal Infallible Fixing Mist which I love! I swear I'm not sponsored by L'Oreal, they just have some good stuff and I am a sucker for deals!

PM

6) What is your evening beauty routine?

Recently, I have been using the Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel to remove my makeup, it's a gel which transforms into an oil balm and I have been enjoying using it! Once my make-up is removed then I will wipe one of the Nip+Fab Glycolic Fix Daily Cleansing Pads and then the rest of my skin-care is the same as my AM routine!
The only thing I add is my Lancôme Hydra Zen Yeux eyecream and I top everything off with my Sunday Riley Luna Oil! 

7) Snack time! What's in the bowl?

I am a sucker for sweet things at night! I will have some form of those 5 pack Sainsbury's own cookies, because I live like 10 steps away from Sainsbury's. I try (very hard) not to eat one everyday! 

8) How do you wind down and prep for bed?

I shower again at night to de-stress and relax my body. After the shower and doing my skincare routine, I like to head to bed and paint my nails while watching some form of tv show! I've just finished House M.D! I loved it and now I have to figure out what else to watch so I am open to some suggestions!

9) Cozy up! What are you wearing to sleep? 

I change things up, some days I like to wear a full set of PJ's, and other days I mix and match some shorts with a tank top. My university room is boiling in the summer so the latter is usually the case! 

10) What are some things you must do before hitting the hay? 

I like to plan out the next day by creating a list of things I need to do! This helps me be really productive in the morning! I check my alarm a few times too because I get panicky if I think I am late!

I hope you enjoyed reading this tag! It was really fun to write! If you enjoyed this post, then be sure to subscribe on Bloglovin'! 

Long Lasting Make-up tip? Yes Please

For some reason when I think of long-lasting make-up I envision a model with a ton of matte make-up on her face. This post is not going to be that. Instead this post is based on a more realistic and accessible way to get make-up to look as though it hasn't melted away during the day. 

I want to say, and this is from my personal experience, that less make-up is better if you want to look semi-decent at the end of the day as you did in the start. I find that if I wear less eyeshadow, less blush, less foundation, I look more like the woman who left the door at 8am. If I put more make-up on then when I come back 9 hours later, you can really see how much I tried in the early hours of the morning. 

I really have been encompassing this idea into my daily life, on Mondays I have a 9-6 day at uni, and so I am out the door at 8am and back home at 6.30pm, so I really try to use a minimal amount because God knows my head will be in my hands at the end of the day!

My Monday make-up routine consists of me firstly priming my face with the L'Oréal Infallible Primer (£7.99/45g), then I go in with my NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation (£32.00/30g) - I add half a pump to my face, trying to just even out my complexion rather than masking my face. I then fill in the sparse areas of my eyebrows with the Mono Eyeshadow 'MMMM' from Makeup Revolution (£1.00/2.3g), (this is quite warm toned, and it does a good job but I've recently discovered a new favourite!). My next step is to add mascara, my currrent one is the Loreal Million Lashes Waterproof (£9.99/2ml) and it's awesome! I then proceed to set my make-up with the Chanel Natural Finish Loose Powder (£36.00/30g), and then add a bit of the bareMinerals Pop of Passion Lip-Oil Balms (£16.00/3.1g) - these are great because they reduce down into a stain and so actually do great for making your lips look naturally pigmented! 

For some reason, this sounded like a lot of steps, but I swear I can do it all in around 5 minutes! Also I try to make things as sheer as possible! 

I would love for you all to try to minimise the make-up that you have on on your crazy busy days, I can guarantee that you will notice that you don't look quite as worn down by the day, because you didn't look so done up at the start of the day! It's about reducing that gap. To me, when I look at the mirror when the day is almost over, I don't have to deal with creased eyeshadow, smudged liner, or blush that is half way down my face and although I love make-up, I don't enjoy looking like that!
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A Case Of Winter Skin

The weather has been so erratic lately but if there is one consistency then it has to be that it's freezing outside! Now as a person who has oily skin, I didn't think winter would mess up my skin too much, and in previous years it hasn't, this year however my face feels dry, flaky and just dehydrated. So I decided to take action! If you also have a case of winter skin, keep reading...

Exfoliate

So to keep those dry patches away, I've been using the Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Exfoliating Facial Pads (12.95/60 rounds) and that actually has been doing the trick. These pads chemically exfoliate the face and so I wipe one cotton round on to my face at night and wait a few minutes before proceeding with the rest of my skin-care. This actually helped my skin be less dry, but also less congested, I've noticed that my pores are smoother and frankly, cleaner. I would recommend this to anyone who wants a product to refine the texture of their skin and also exfoliate on a deeper level!

Moisturise!

I went out purchased the Indeed Laboratories Hydraluron Moisture Jelly (£24.99/30ml), once I realised my current skin-care just wasn't cutting it. I absolutely love this product, it is a gel based moisturiser that just sinks into the skin like a serum, this was the shining product that got rid of my dry patches completely and so I would fully recommend this to everyone! I proceed with my normal serum and moisturiser on top since this product has hyaluronic acid and so it will retain the moisture of everything you put on top of it! I love the packing of this product, it's very hygienic as the product gets pushed out the container and it's easy to control how much you want to put on!

All-Nighter products

The Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II (£70.00/50ml) is a serum that I have been playing around with the last few months and I have to say, I love it. I wear this product in the morning and in the night, I find that it instantly plumps up the face, getting rid of that flat, dry skin that comes with winter! It's a nice product to use before makeup and it does work magic at smoothing and refining the skin. Again, anyone would benefit from using this! 

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate (£37.00/30ml) is no stranger to this blog, I love this night oil, it works magic overnight. If you have problematic, sensitive skin I think this is a product to use as it really calms down the skin and it's just a joy to massage on. Since this is oil based, it's quite rich and moisterising and so is must have for these crazy climate! This doesn't exacerbate the oil I already have and so this is a product which will really help those with both dry and oily skin types!

I have to say, these products are helping my skin to adjust to the winter weather! I would love to know what skin-care items you love and would recommend, so leave me a comment below! 

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Anjna

The 7 Minute Workplace Makeup

I feel like there is a distinction between work makeup and normal makeup which is coming more and more apparent to me since I started my internship last week. Work makeup, in my opinion, is trying to look like the most alive version of you that is quick to achieve and also true to yourself. I have condensed my makeup routine so that it is done in under 7 minutes which means I can get out the door faster and I think I can make the same happen for you guys.

The first thing you need to do is figure out what is important to you - is it the base, eyes, lips or cheeks? Honestly, I think you can skip at least two of these if you are really in a rush. For me, my base and eyes are the most important things that make me feel like I am ready for the day so after cleansing I apply my NARS All Day Luminious Weightless Foundation (£32.00/30ml) and what I love about this foundation is that it's high coverage and so it acts as foundation and also concealer. I then move on to my brows (you can read my routine here), which takes me less than a minute to run some powder through it to fill in all the sparse areas.

Once that is done I like to skip the eyeshadow but still do my eyeliner with the Rimmel London Scandaleyes Waterproof Khol Liner (£3.99/1.2g) and an angled brush to smooth out the line. After that I like to curl my eyelashes and apply mascara, and the Maybelline The Falsies Volum' Express Waterproof  (£7.99/9ml) is the one I reach for since it's fool proof for me. Finally the last thing I do is add some lip balm before I bolt out the door and I usually reach for The Body Shop Lip Butter (£4.00/10ml).

I'm becoming a pro at my new speedy routine! I usually skip blush and lipstick because I don't think it makes that much of a difference to my overall appearance and so it's just not that important to me. I hope this might help some of you to also condense your look so that you can be out the door with time to spare!
Do you have a different look for work? I would love to know!

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How To Care For Your Hair

Although I seem to go on and on about makeup and skincare, haircare was actually my first love when I was a young teen, I used to straighten my hair for school before I realised that super thin straight hair doesn't actually look that great on me. Regrets - don't we all have them. Luckily for me, I got used to caring for my hair when I started to damage it, so I've learned a few tricks that I really wanted to share with you all.

1) Reducing Heat

I bet if you are a girl, you are used to damaging your hair in all sorts of different ways, from hairdryers to curlers and everything in between. Using heat protection is always needed, but what really does help me and my spilt ends is reducing the amount of heat I use. I hardly ever touch my hair with straighteners anymore, I actually straighten my hair with my hairdryer using a brush to distribute the heat evenly. This has really helped my hair, it still gets straightened, however it's a lot thicker and my ends look healthy because they aren't getting burned by two ceramic plates. 

Another way to reduce heat is to not wash your hair as often - dry shampoo is my best friend (Batiste is my favourite brand) and I think preplanning your hair look is the way to go, so that you aren't stuck in the morning with semi-greasy hair wondering what you should do!

2) Conditioning

No matter if your hair is dry or if it is oily, everyone needs to condition their hair to protect it. My favourite quick way to condition my hair is to apply hair oils overnight and then wash it out the next morning, so I don't have to spend more time in the shower applying a hair mask. Loads of brands sell these kinds of oils, I usually prefer to use Argan Oil because I think it is more nourishing.
Make your own deep conditioning night spray: by mixing your conditioner with some water and pouring the solution into a clear spray bottle!

3) Shampoo

With all these tips, your hair will probably be full of nice things, from heat protection to oils and so removing it effectively is also necessary as a build up of these products can cause the hair to become greasier faster. I would recommend using a cleansing shampoo once a week to fully cleanse your hair. Lush do a great one called I Love Juicy  (£5.50/100g) and although it costs quite a bit, if you use it once a week it does last a fair while. A cheaper alternative is to use a really cheap shampoo, like ASDA's own brand, as they are generally very cleansing and will make your hair squeaky clean. 

Changing up your shampoo is also something I would recommend doing as your hair gets used to using the same shampoo. I usually own three shampoos at one given time, which seems excessive but I have one for cleansing, one that's more nourishing (for days where I have to forego the conditioner), and a standard one for normal days.

What I like about hair maintenance is that it really doesn't take that long to do if you incorporate it into a routine.
Do you have any other tips on haircare? I would love to find out!
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My Eyeliner Experience

It feels weird to say that around two years ago I didn't wear eyeliner at all, and I was thinking about how the transformation occurred - from wearing no eyeliner at all to wearing a bold liquid liner. So I thought I would talk you through the 'stages' that I went through to having enough confidence to rock a liquid eyeliner. If any of you guys are stuck in-between stages, perhaps this can give you some guidance on how to progress. Going through stages 1, 2, 4 and 5, I think, is the the quickest route to wearing liquid liner on a daily basis. 

Stage 1) Brown Eyeliner

I didn't think eyeliner suited me at all when I was younger, however I still wanted to wear it, so when I saw my friend and roommate in my first year at university continuously rock a brown liner, I thought I would give it a go too. I think it's a good way to get used to adding something to your eyes without having them look too ostentatious to the casual observer. I started using the Rimmel London Soft Khol Kajal Eye Pencil (£2.99/1.2g) in Sable Brown before upgrading to my Lancôme Le Crayon Khôl Eyeliner (£17.00/1.8g) in 028 Brun. I love them both although I no longer own the former. 

Stage 2) Tight-lining 

Whenever there was a special occasion, I didn't feel like brown eyeliner would do the trick, especially if I was using colours as the brown didn't show up as much. I purchased the much raved about Scandal Eyes Waterproof Khol Liner (£3.99/1.2g) by Rimmel London to tightline my upper eye, so that my lashes looked thicker and more defined. I found that this is a fool proof way to wear eyeliner as you can't mess up as much and you don't have to worry about making any lines even, it's just a simple colouring in job. 

Stage 3) Coloured Eyeliner

This is a weird stage, but it's actually what happened last summer, I love coloured eyeliner because it adds definintion in a different and unique way, my favourite colour to wear is green and blue and I think they look nice with a simple wash of colour on the eye - like gold or light brown. Wearing it on my top lid got me used to applying a liner without having to worry about making a mistake that I couldn't remove easily. My  favourite colours is the Bourjois Contour Clubbing Eyeliner (£4.99/1.2g) in 05 Loving Green and the Laura Mercier Longwear Eye Pencil (£18.00/1.2g) in Violet because it lasts all day and is really simple to wear!

Stage 4) Grey Eyeliner

This is what got me used to wearing eyeliner in my day to day life, I brought the Essence Gel Eye Pencil (£2.30/0.57g) in the shade 05 Gunmetal in Milan and I loved it. It's grey so it's easier to get away with some mistakes because you can fake it and make it slightly smokey, and because this is a gel formula in a pencil it's super super easy to apply - I just run it through my lash line, making it slightly thicker towards the end of my eye and voila, defined eyes in under a minute. You can buy Essence in Wilkinsons!

Stage 5) Black Liquid Eyeliner

I did a beauty swap with Sakura and she gave me a few eyeliners from Japan and that's actually what got me into using a black liquid eyeliner, the Ettusais Liquid Eyeliner WP ($25.00/0.5ml) she gave was amazing, really pigmented and easy to apply because it was a felt tip eyeliner. Using a black liquid liner is more time consuming in the beginning because it's so precise, you can't really smoke it out because it's just a line and so if you make a mistake you can try to correct it or just remove it. However you will find that the more you practice, the easier it gets. For beginners, I would recommend going as close to the lash line as possible, I think the biggest problem that arises with liquid liner is making both eyes equal and so starting small is the key. Also as you can see in the picture above, the hairs get frayed from simply putting the lid back on, however it still works nicely and I think a liquid liner really suits both a statement and simple eye look.

 What I am currently using

I am back to using my Scandal Eyes! I like to smoke out my top liner by drawing a rough line and using a angled brush to smoke it out and make the line more even. I have been loving doing this recently because it adds definition without being so precise? It's the same kind of effect that the grey eyeliner gives but darker and smokier. Recently I have been adding eyeliner to my waterline too, because I'm so used to my top lid being done, it's less shocking for me to have it on. So I use Scandal Eyes to line my eyes on the top and bottom. 

It seems like I have so many eyeliners but they have been purchased slowly one by one. It's crazy that I went through this massive journey just to wear something that I think suits me now. It was a slow progression and that's what I think makes me feel normal in it now, if I just jumped to wearing liquid liner I would feel too weird to wear it every day.
What's your eyeliner experience? Did you just jump the gun or did you go in stages like me?? I would love to know!
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