Getting back in to blogging!

So I haven't published a blog post in.......months!!

But yet again it was Millie who inspired me to sort myself out and try and regularly blog! She has an absolutely amazing blog over at http://all-things-millie.blogspot.co.uk/ go and have a look! She's much more regular with her blogging and generally a fantastically, lovely, beautiful person who deserves even more people to love her and read what she has to say!

But anyway back to me! I have actually written a few posts but not got around to publishing them because they weren't 'quite right' but I have decided to dedicate myself to blogging in the evening and posting at least once a week, that way I have no excuse! There is now a specific blogging timetable!! 

Most recently in my life I have started my teaching practise which is absolutely knackering! However, it has made me really think about my make up and what I wear or even need to wear everyday! Also I was always one of those girls who didn't wear make up everyday instead saving it for special occasions! But getting up everyday at 6am really has had a terrible effect on my complexion! I feel that going in to school looking like I have made no effort at all for the day is just plain unprofessional! My solution? A new make up bag with the bare essentials in for quick and easy application when half asleep in the mornings! 

So consider this a busy morning makeup bag!

Firstly I use make up wipes my favourite are the 'Simple - exfoliating wipes' as they are kind to your skin but still pack a punch, I always wash my face morning and night but I generally only have time for a face wipe in the morning rather than a full cleansing and toning regime! 

Next I use 'No7 day cream moisturiser' to make sure my skin is fully ready for the day!

Now I as many other girls struggle with blemished skin, it's a constant struggle for me that concealer helps me overcome! I use 'Rimmels - Wake me up' concealer in number 010 Ivory. It's great at covering up those little imperfections everyday! 

The trickiest product to get right on a day-to-day basis is foundation, I prefer not to use a heavy one during the day as it can really make my skin flare up. (right now I can't wear it because of my stress spots) At the moment I'm using No7's 'Intelligent Colour Foundation' in light. It's easy to apply as it blends in and matches to every skin tone, meaning when you're in a rush, it's fantastic! It gives me an even coverage, even quickly. I find it gives me just enough coverage to give me confidence in my tired skin (teaching and planning doesn't leave much time for sleeping!) but it feels light enough to wear everyday.

My saving grace when tired is bronzer! I use Rimmels 'Natural Mineral Bronzing Powder' in number 022 'Sun Bronze' it really wakes my complexion up! I use it where the sun would naturally hit my face so as to really wake my complexion up! Just a quick dust and it makes me look as though I haven't stayed awake half the night!  

In addition to bronzer I rely on is Bourjois 'Golden Rose' blusher (number 34) it's a slightly brighter pink than I usually go for. I found that I needed to brighten my make up for the summer months as I needed to make sure I didn't look washed out! 

On top of any make up I use on my face I think it's important to have a 'finishing touch' and for me this is my eye make up, I don't mean anything fancy (especially not when done in a rush at the crack of dawn!) just a little something to add some life and definition to my eyes. I looked at my make-up bag and decided that the important products were my eyeliner and mascara! These little beauties define my eyes just enough to make me feel like I have made an effort as well as perking me up. My everyday eyeliner is Onyx black 'bombshell 's a liquid pen eyeliner.The best mascara I have discovered for my everyday needs is Maybeline 'Falsies: Volum' Express' mascara as it gives just the right amount of volume and thickness for an everyday eye.
Last but not least is lips! I generally don't bother doing much to my lips on a daily basis, normally using a plain lip balm, my favourite is Maybeline 'Baby Lips' in hydrate as it gives me incredible moisture all day long.

Well I hope this has been interesting enough to make up for my long overdue absence! 

xox

Bloglovin

Ladies and Gentlemen......I have finally got Bloglovin!

Here's the link....

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/12476515/?claim=j3yqywzzkga">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

xox

Trying Something new!

You know how you can tell that you're in a rut? You find yourself curled up in bed at 2 o'clock on a beautiful sunny Thursday not even thinking about moving as it's your day off and the rest of the world can sod off as far as you're concerned! This my dear readers is not healthy in any sense of the word! It's okay occasionally but when it's your routine for every single day off then it becomes a rut and not healthy at all! 

So I decided to shake up my routine! I looked back at my summer ambitions list and realised that to achieve all this I would have to be proactive with my days off (so far I haven't always achieved active so it could be interesting!) 

I started by giving myself a regular alarm, it may sound silly but having a regular time to wake up....not always get up... but at least greet the day is a fantastic mood booster as well as helping with routines and daily planning! As I'm not a naturally early riser I struggled at first but it's got easier, I just make sure that once I'm up I do something straight away even if it's just making myself a cup of coffee! After this I feel that little bit better, I haven't just snoozed my alarm and rolled over I've got up and done something! Even if I do go back to bed afterwards it's okay because I've started my day! This normally leads to me perched on my bed checking different parts of the internet for nonsense before doing anything else vaguely productive! 

This list may be made up of only a few small things but I've found it helpful now I'm on my summer break and sometimes having too much time so I end up bored and then not enough time for the necessities (cleaning mainly!) I am working 5 days a week is that takes up the majority of my week but those other 2 days and evenings can sometimes feel like dead space that could be filled with brightly coloured adventures and not greyscale duvet days! 

So next on my list is getting healthier, which ties in quite nicely to getting a more structured routine! I've never been particularly sporty but since my realisation that that's pretty much the only way to shift some weight and be that little bit more confident about my appearance, I have started moving more it started with the obligatory walk to work - a healthy replacement for the bus - and has graduated to dedicated walks for no other purpose than enjoyment and getting fit! I've found that although I'm not in anyway, shape or form a 'morning' person I love going for walks along the beach early in the morning when there's not many people about and it's all quiet and very pretty! 

Evidence that Brighton is pretty even at 6AM! 

The idea of trying something new is something I want to push more throughout all aspects of my life so with that in mind I've liberated some older make up that has gone unloved for some time and used it to revamp my make up routine for the summer, finding interesting shades of eyeshadow and exploring that as an extension of my outfits rather than just having one look is something fun to try! This has lead me to convince my friends to allow me to do their make up (they're brave ladies!) but it's allowed me to hone my techniques and explore other colour combos that don't suit me but look fabulous on my friends! Just some fun little things that I've explored for the summer to practise my techniques as well as fill my spare time! 

Thanks to whoevers reading! Until next time!!

Xox

Summer Ambitions...

At the beginning of every 'significant' period of time I try to set myself 'goals' or 'ambitions' for me to focus on so that I don't go completely stir crazy!
These 'significant' periods of time can be anything for example a new year, a term or in this case the summer holidays! I have even started writing in notebooks to make sure that I focus myself on these ambitions.
I have started a journal to document my personal goals and feelings on my ambitions but I now also have a blogging notebook to store all my ideas and notes for this blog in making me more focussed on my first goal, to blog more regularly! 

My first goal has a lot to do with focussing on doing something/ achieving something with my summer. I don't want to get in to the routine of just going to work, coming home, sleeping, eating and repeating. It's unhealthy and I want to achieve more with my time so I have decided to focus my creative energy in to this blog, it's something new, interesting and fun for me to channel my energy in to no matter if anyone is reading it or not! So expect more on here from me from now on! 

My second goal is personal, I want to lose weight, I've been battling with my feelings towards my body for a while, I have put on weight and it's now affecting how I live my life which is not okay. I want to feel confident and happy and have a positive feelings towards my body and not be ashamed about how I look. I know that you don't have to be skinny to be happy but this is entirely personal, I am not losing weight for anybody else, this is entirely for me. The realisation came to me when I realised that this image summed up my feeling towards myself...

although this puts it in a slightly amusing way it is way too on point for my liking! Not liking who you are is not okay for any reason and if you can do something to change that then you should do it, for you. Nobody else. For you. I have found something that is causing me unhappiness and difficulty and it happens to something that I can change so I am going to. That is my summer ambition to change how I feel about myself by getting healthier and therefore (hopefully) happier.

Another ambition of mine is to learn French, this has been one of my new years resolutions for years and I have finally decided to attempt to do something about it! Actually learn a new language, go for it and attempt to expand my horizons with a new language. I love France and think that the French language is one of the most beautiful in the world and my aim is to be able to speak it well enough to go back to Paris and spend a week there only speaking French. (Not this summer of course but sometime in the future)

Now the last few haven't been particularly time sensitive but these next few are. I want to get organised. I mean really organised. This means going through all my clothes, my makeup my paperwork/books and get rid of anything unnecessary stuff! With my clothes this means going through and getting rid of anything that either doesn't fit or I say 'it'd look better if....' NOT ANYMORE! if it doesn't look right or make me feel good then OUT IT GOES! (this will be so liberating!)
With my makeup this means going through and throwing bits and pieces that are out of date or that I don't use/haven't used. My plan is to throw the stuff that's out of date or a bit gross but anything that's still useable I will donate to a loving and deserving home (one of my friends makeup bags) so that it can be loved and used as all make up should.
Finally, my paperwork, as a trainee teacher I have a hell of a lot of paperwork! Everything has notes about notes and lecturers seem to give hundreds of handouts per lecture that just seem to mount up in to this huge pile of paper that needs to be sorted through before the new term starts! I need to look over all of my notes and handouts from the past two years and keep the useful things and throw away the useless stuff! It's a big job but it needs doing! This is definitely time sensitive as it needs to be done before September!

Finally I need to explore Brighton! I want to get to know the city that I live in, it is a fun, fascinating and incredible city that I feel I have only scratched the surface of so this summer I want to really explore the city and document this in photos and writing and blog posts! 

Anyway, I'm sure I'll have more ambitions soon, it's a long summer!
xox

Getting ready....

It's that time of year again where the nights are getting darker, the days are getting colder and the make up is getting fabulous!
As some of you are probably back at school all ready and enduring the daily battle against the alarm, your parents and of course what to wear whether that's make up or clothes, it's all more difficult before school! 
For me however it's moving out of home and go back to university more permanently this year. I am now going in to my second year so I am getting a house with friends so OFFICIALLY moving out!
This is incredibly scary time and I've had a tough time dealing with it, as I said in a previous post I've had low self esteem issues as well as paranoia and anxiety in new situations which even though I know the girls I'm moving in with it still causes me anxiety because I'm leaving my home and going a whole new way with my life, becoming more independent and the like! 

However, with all this change I have managed to organise and sort through all my clothes, make up and my life in general. I did this in my typical way of making lists and trying to be organised but ending up throwing things into bags and boxes and hoping I don't forget anything! There are some things, make-up wise, however that I refuse to forget!

The first on my list is:

- My Clinique chubby sticks! I absolutely adore these, I don't think I could live without them! I'm not much of a lipstick person and I generally don't wear anything but lipbalm on my lips but these are so easy to apply and last for hours! I wear these everyday as they are so versatile and the colours are pigmented and there is such a variety! My most recent investment is a Chubby stick intense which I love wearing on nights out as it's so nourishing and pigmented just like my other less pigmented 'day' chubby sticks! 
The chubby sticks I own are:
- Mega Melon
-Woppin' Watermelon
- Super Strawberry
- Graped up
- Hefty Hibiscus (Clinique chubby stick intense)
and I love them all!

- Next is my Real Techniques make-up brushes! These have revolutionised my make-up routine and given my old make-up a new lease of life! I decided to change my ways with my make-up routine as I now feel more grown up (what with being a second year and all!) and actually make an effort to make my face look presentable on a day to day basis! They are absolutely fantastic and I've become inspired and now own practically every brush in the collection! My absolute favourite brushes are the buffing brush and the expert face brush which I use for my foundation and it makes it absolutely gorgeous and flawless! I have become so much more confident in wearing my make up with pride now! The website is http://realtechniques.com and it has links of where to purchase your own as well as make up tutorials/ style tips for using the brushes! 

- Some people under estimate the power of a good mascara but it is one of my make up bag essentials! Even if I don't wear any other make up I will always put mascara on! My new obsession is Rimmel 'Glam eyes' mascara, which you can get from most high street and drug stores, it really makes my eyes stand out and defined so is perfect for daytime but is also amazing when layered for an evening look.

I must confess I started writing this blog post back in September (nearly a month ago) when I was actually getting ready to leave for University and then everything just happened so quickly that I haven't managed to sit down and dedicate time to writing in what feels like forever! However, this evening I shared my blog with my closest friend who encouraged me to write again and I'm going to make more of an effort now as it is something I'm passionate about and there may be somebody out there reading this!

Thank you so much.

xox

What's in my bag?

I've seen lots of beauty bloggers do this tag of what they keep in there bag and what they have on a day-to-day basis.

I like to have enough in my bag to survive a day out no matter what I'm doing, I always have to attempt to be prepared for different weather, situations and people so my bag reflects that.

My bag is quite big for a day bag but is functional and bright but goes with the majority of outfits, this current one is from a couple of seasons a go in New Look but although it's battered and bruised now I love it just the same.

The next handbag staple I have is my purse (sometimes I forget it but hey!) it's a cheap and cheerful one from Primark that probably needs updating but it does the job and goes with everything, it also fits all of my debit cards, loyalty cards, money (if I have any!) etc. 

A new addition is my 'Fifty shades' printed notebook, I used to always have little scraps of paper with lists and notes on them so the other week my mum gave me this little notebook so that I would be saved from those scraps of paper flying at me whenever I open my bag! Honestly I should have thought of it earlier! I also carry a pen to write in this obviously!

Something I don't think I could live without being in my handbag are my headphones! I get so annoyed when I forget them on long journeys or going for a walk. They're just the basic ones that come with an iPhone as I haven't felt the need to upgrade as they suit my needs!

Something that obviously comes with my headphones is my phone (it's not in the picture) I have an iPhone 4 which comes with me everywhere as I have a slight texting addiction but in this day and age I like being connected to the people in my life wherever I go.

Now because of the stupid british weather I always carry some sunglasses (just in case) the ones I am currently loving are some leopard print ones from Primark that are in the Ray ban 'Wayfarer' style (but a lot cheaper!). The other essential to combat the crazy british weather is my beautiful Radley umbrella that I got as a gift last year and I use it so often it's probably the best present I've ever received! It's cream with pastel spots on it so it goes with so many things and means I can use it every day.

My family has a long, long history of bad eyesight so another handbag staple of mine is my glasses. I don't need them all the time, it's mainly for reading and looking at screens (including writing this) so they always stay in my bag just in case.

The smallest but mightiest thing in my handbag is my tiny bottle of antibacterial gel for those moments when my hands feel all gross when I'm out and about. I got this little bottle from a pharmacy in Paris so I'm not sure on the price or where I got it from but it smells incredible which is what I look for in a hand sanitizer! 

As I enjoy being that little bit over organised, I also have an obsession with shoes, this involves new shoes so I always carry plasters so in those moments where my shoes rub or I just fall over from being accident prone, I have some plasters on hand to help.

A few weeks ago my friend introduced me to the concept of carrying my perfume with me in my handbag so that throughout the day I can top up my fragrance throughout the day, as well as I always remember to put on my perfume!

My pocket mirror is a simple black cased mirror from boots that has a regular mirror and a magnifying mirror which is very handy for when I'm out and about.

One of my new discoveries is a make up remover pen which I got in my most recent Glossybox and it has been incredible! It makes it easy to touch up my make up as it removes any smudges of mascara or issues with lipstick etc which is a lifesaver!

My favourite item in my hand bag is my Clinique chubby stick which is a nourishing balm that is so pigmented and moisturising that it works for everyday wear and looks brilliant! The shade I currently have in my bag is number 07 'Super Strawberry' which is a darker pinky shade that is great for autumnal looks!

Bag - New Look - £19

Purse - Primark - £5

Notebook - Peter Pauper press - price unknown

Headphones - Apple

iPhone - Apple

Sunglasses - Primark - £2

Umbrella - Radley

Glasses - Calvin Klein 

Perfume - Clinique Happy - £48 

Pocket mirror - Boots - £5

Make up remover pen - Ocenane - not available in the UK

Chubby stick - Clinique - £12.50

I hope you all enjoyed this and at least a few of you are reading it!

xox

A bit more about me....

Hi all (whoever you may be),

lets call this a 'getting to know you post' about my background for beauty related things...
I'm 19 years old, at University in England.
I have been interested in make-up and beauty products from a very young age but it has been in the last year or so that my interest has really become an obsession!
I used to not bother with make-up on a day to day basis but then I discovered that it didn't have to be so much of an issue and it could actually be fun and make me feel better about myself on a day to day basis!
I've struggled with low self esteem for the majority of my life but since I've discovered make-up and beauty its like a whole other world of possibilities has opened up of expressing myself. I know that all sounds a bit shallow but that's exactly why I wanted to start the blog, to channel my love of beauty products in to something productive, it's a new chapter for me and I'm very excited about it so hope you all enjoy it too!

xox