essie nails winter collection

 I guess it's time to admit that Christmas is nearly over, but I still find the week between Christmas and New Year still just as exciting, however this time I'm trying to force myself to work and try and get an essay done. I still haven't started and I opted for writing this blog post instead. This year I had such a lovely Christmas, and even though I've been a bit ill I didn't let it spoil anything, from my friends and family I got some thoughtful gifts and I hope that you all got everything you asked for and had a lovely time.

My sister knows me too well, I love essie nail varnishes now but because I'm a student, I'm living on quite a small budget so can't really afford them or justifying buying them when my fridge is empty and I have nothing to eat. She got me the essie winter collection of nail lacquers which include three festive (but not just restricted to Christmas) shades. The bottles are smaller than a normal bottle and so you only get 5ml in each bottle, though I never really finish a nail varnish and so I wouldn't count that as a negative at all.

Each colour has its own name, the white is called tuck it in my tux, the sparkly in between gold and silver is called jiggle hi jiggle low and the deep red is called jump in my jumpsuit. I was a bit worried about the white shade needing a few coats in order to build it up to the solid white colour however it only needed two coats in the end. All the nail varnishes applies easily and dried as a solid colour  on my nails. As I couldn't decided which one to use first, I used all three but I think jump in my jumpsuit is my favourite and would look perfect with a simple monochrome outfit and  add a little bit of colour. I've only just painted my nails and so they haven't had time to chip but I'm pretty sure they'll be the same formula as the normal nail varnishes and so will last quite a while. 

I'm so thankful I was given this set and will definitely get a lot of use out of all of nail varnishes.

it's christmas time

I love christmas, and even though I'm getting older I still get excited about it every year, though I only have to talk to my friends to realise how differently we all celebrate and how everyone has their different traditions. We've never really been a family that spends Christmas away from home or abroad, and we normally celebrate it with just the four of us. However I've never appreciated just being at home and at the minute I'm enjoying a day just lounging around enjoying the Christmas telly. Although I don't spend too all day every day in front of the telly so it's nice to do other things at Christmas that I enjoy.

1.Bake

I enjoy baking any way so I use Christmas as an excuse to get baking. You  can bake the typical Christmas cake or just make some biscuits in Christmas shapes and have fun decorating them. Or even the mince pies or some trusty sausage rolls.

2. Read a Book

Even though my degree involves reading, I never have time to actually set down and read a book that's just for enjoyment. So  just for Christmas I'm taking a break from work and reading some girly romantic books all snuggled up. I'm currently reading wicked at the minute and it's reminding me how amazing the show was in the west end.

3. Play a Board Game

We normally spend Christmas as a family, and together talking, not all on our phones so playing a board game is a way to make everyone happy, and always enjoyable! You're never too old for one!

4. Pyjamas On and Watch You Favourite Christmas Film

Everyone has a different favourite film that they like to watch at Christmas, but we always watch a muppets christmas carol every year without fail. However when it gets closer to Christmas I watch every film on telly going. 

5. Spend Time with Friends and Family

As clique as it is, I've actually learnt now that Christmas is about your friends and family more than the gifts, Now that I've moved away from home I've learn to treasure I've learnt to treasure every moment 

6. HAVE CHRISTMAS MUSIC ON AT ALL TIMES

Basically as it gets closer to Christmas I listen to the Christmas songs at any opportunity, well you only get to listen to them one time a year so you should make the most of it.

I'm not sure how much I'll post over the next week, but I hope you all of lovely Christmas xx

naughty nautical, essie nail lacquer

I'm not going to lie, I'd have never brought myself an essie nail varnish, I knew they

were meant to be good but I would have never dreamed on spending that much on one. However my sister brought me this one in naughty nautical for my birthday a few months ago. It's such a lovely teal colour but with sparkles making it perfect for the festive season! I was unsure about the colour at first as its quite bold and I normally wear a more subtle colour on my nails, because I find it impossible to stop them from chipping so that makes it less obvious. 

However this nail varnish has converted me essie as they're definitely worth it! It has quite a big brush with makes for easy application and at the most needs two coats to create the bold colour but the formula is by no means thin or transparent. It also doesn't take too long to dry which is perfect when you're impatient and everything needs to be done the second I've decided to paint my nails. As the sparkles aren't overwhelming so it doesn't have the stubbornness of glitter polish when you come to take it off. Although this isn't the typical dark berry colour I normally opt for at Christmas, its such a nice alternative to wear to Christmas parties and any festive occasions.

soap and glory blush brick in peach party

So I feel like an apology is needed because for the past few months they've been pretty hetic, but I've loved it. Basically I've moved to university and I've finished my first term which is a little bit scary! And because now I have a build up of essays to write it made me realise that I should get back in to blogging as it's something I enjoy, and gives me a way to procrastinate. Anyway my blogging break was unintentional and I'm going try so hard now to manage my time better I'm order to keep up with university but still make time to blog.

Moving on, this little gem is something I picked up at the end of summer and thought it was pretty but never realised that I would love it as much as I do now! Its the soap and glory peach party blush brick, which is similar to the other brands shimmer brick. It comes in sleek packaging, with a decent sized compact mirror. All the five shades are swirled together and could be used separately if you really wanted to. Personally I like to use this over the top of my blusher in order to give a glow to my face, but not embracing the shiny look. The reason I love this product so much is because it's natural, it's perfect for summer but also I've found myself using it a lot in the autumn and winter months! Also this is one of the first soap and glory make up products I've tried and I love it, what's your favourite winter make up products and looks?

loreal paris studio line hot and smooth cream

If you follow me on instagram then you know I have a lot of hair! It's quite thick and is natural curly and frizzy and as I have no intention of getting it cut short I'm always trying products to help keep my hair healthy. I want to be able to keep it long so I'm still trying to find the products that will stop it from drying out and keep me from getting split ends on ends! After only recently just getting my first hair dryer at the age of 19, I've never really seen the need for one before and I've still go to master the art of drying my hair without it being too big! It means I'll probably start using a lot more heat on my hair more regularly I wanted to make sure I was using a good heat protector.

The one I'm currently using is the Loreal Studio Line Hot and Smooth Cream,which promises a 3 day straight with a frizz free and polished finish. This is a pretty affordable product at only a couple of pounds and you get 200ml of product. It's in an easy open top bottle and so it's easy to get a little bit of of the cream out. I find this works best for me to apply a little bit in my fingers, rub then together and then rub it through the lengths of my damp long hair, before I use a hair dryer. It's just got normal non chemically but hair product smell and doesn't leave your hands feeling sticky or oily and so it is a lovely product to use. This product definitely protects my hair and after blow drying my hair it feels smooth and healthy and not dry at all! It probably also would help tame your hair for three days, by the second day my hair isn't perfectly straight any more but still feels healthy.

For me this works best when I used it with a hair dryer and on damp hair, however it says on the bottle you can straighten your hair straight after. However just to be on the safe side I'd definitely use a little bit of heat protection on dry hair, and I'm still searching for the perfect heat protection to use on dry hair, so any recommendations would be welcome.

clean and clear morning energy skin energising daily facial scrub

I have a pretty simple skin care routine, but to be honest it's because I can't afford to have a load of creams or anything. Though luckily, I don't have the worst skin in the world (I've jinxed it now, que breakout for lucy) but I do like to use a scrub or wash in the morning to wake me up and get rid of the morning crouchyness.

At the moment I'm using the clean and clear morning energy skin energising daily facial scrub, I brought this because it was a reasonable price and I've used clean and clear skin products before and know they work with my skin and aren't too harsh at all. This one contains little orange "bursting beads". I'm really enjoying using this because it is helping my skin but at the same time being gentle and refreshing and awaking my skin in the morning. I prefer this to the clean and clear daily wash as the microbeads feel more refreshing and just make my skin look a little more happy, though I would happily use both again. The packaging is simple and easy to get just a little bit of product out the bottle is slightly transparent so you are able to see how much product you have left which is pretty handy.

You just apply this to after you've wet your face and if you wanted to you could use it morning and evening if you wanted to, it's an affordable skin care product that I would definitely recommend and would consider repurchasing again in the future.

palmer's cocoa butter formula natural bronze body lotion

I've got freshers approaching which means lots of nights out are coming up, and though I'm not one for actually fake tanning so I look like I've been on holiday I do enjoy using a gradual fake tan just so I don't look too pale! The one which I'm currently using is the Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Natural Bronze Body Lotion, which I showed you that I brought in my trip to Birmingham. Ever since I'd heard about this I'd been eager to try it as I find Palmer's products work perfectly with my skin and leave it so soft and doesn't try it all at all.

You get a standard 250ml of product but the pump at the top of this makes it easy to apply and means you don't land up getting greasy covered hands everywhere. Saying that the lotion itself doesn't feel greasy on the skin and soaks in instantly and also the cocoa butter formula means that it smells lovely on the skin. The biscuity fake tan smell definitely doesn't exist here! On the bottle it says it builds and maintains a natural looking tan and is suitable for all skin tones, and suggests using every day. Though I agree it does look natural (but make sure you wash your hands after) and is perfect for my skin tone (I can't speak for anyone else) I don't think you'd need to use this every day at all, maybe twice a week maybe three times but no more than that! If you used too much of it you'd definitely be pushing the natural aspect of this!

Overall, so far this has been my favourite fake tan, it smells and looks lovely and I haven't had any complete disasters and streaky legs yet with this!

my summer favourites

It's hard to admit it, but I think it's now safe to say summer's nearly over. Summer 2014 has been amazing and it marks a big change in my life as I move out later this month. Though this season there has been a few products that I've discovered this year and loved using, especially in the warmer weather.

Cream and Gel Eyeshadows

If you've read my blog, then you might have noticed my collection of these eye shadows has slowly built up. So now I have one Bourjois (in or desir) and two Maybelline ones (pink gold and on and on bronze). I love these as for a day to day wear they're so easy you can just apply a little bit too your lid using your finger and then your eye look for the day is completely sorted.

Natural World Moroccan Argan Oil

This is the first one I've tried, and I wrote about it here. For warmer days , I love this and it nourishes and moisturises my hair and makes it feel so much more healthier and helps stop the sun and the warmer days drying it out.

Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation

There's already been loads written about this on the internet but I've only just discovered it. It's such a lovely light foundation and you only need a little bit to cover your whole face. It doesn't have a matte finish and by no means does it leave your face looking shiny but leaves it with a healthy glow. (There is a difference!) I've recently been wearing this for nights out instead of my Maybelline stay matte mousse which is a quite a big deal.

Batiste Dry Shampoo

Batiste is by far my favourite dry shampoo and I've used so much of  it this summer. Firslty, I relied (far too much on it) at the beginning of the summer when I went to a small festival and that's the longest I want to go without washing my hair for a long time! Though appearance wise it looked no where near as greasy as I thought it was going to look and that's all thanks to this. Then I've recently started using dry shampoo more after I've finished straightening or curling my hair just too just to add a little bit of volume. The only slightly, not really that negative point I'll say about this is you have to make sure you've rubbed it in otherwise your hair can look slightly grey. 

The Naked 3 Palette

I know I've already mentioned eyeshadows, but this is basically the only eyeshdaow pallete I own and I use it so much. These eyeshadows are all so pigmented and the perfect colours, they blend so easily together and can be used to create both day and night looks. Over the summer, this has got so much love, but I know this isn't just a summer favourite it's an actual favourite.

sesame vegetable noodles

There's not long now until I become an actual university student, which even though I've had ages to think about it still seems so scary and I feel like there's so much more I need to sort out and prepare myself for the big change! Anyway that means I'll probably do a few posts about the big change and such as decorating my room, as I'm not going to lie I've taken that part quite seriously, especially choosing the duvet sets!

Even though I love cooking and baking I'm still experimenting with different recipes and trying not to rely off doughnuts and takeaways and trying to be healthy, so today I thought I'd share with you this meal I put together today. I'd say it's a cheaper and healthier alternative to a chinese takeaway (but this doesn't mean I won't be having take away)

Ingredients (for 1 serving, and only rough so change them as you want and use different vegetables)

1 nest of dried egg noodles

1/2 an onion, finely chopped

1/2 a garlic glove, finely chopped

3 mushrooms chopped

1/3 of pepper, chopped

For the Dressing

1 tablespoon of sunflower oil

1/2 tablespoon of sesame oil

1/2 a garlic clove, crushed

nearly a teaspoon of smooth peanut butter

1 tablespoon of soy sauce

Firstly, I'd recommend you put all the ingredients for the dressing in a bowl and mix together until smooth, it will take a while with the peanut butter but keep going and it will eventually get there. 

Heat a small pan a boiling water for the noddles and frying pan for the vegetables. Once the water is nearly boiling, add the onions and garlic to the frying pan which should be on a medium heat to soften. Add the noddles to the water and heat according to the instructions on the back of the packet, and add the rest of the vegetables to the frying pan and heat for 5 minutes. Stir each occasionally to make sure they don't stick.

Once the noddles are cooked drain them, and then mix them with the dressing in the pan in order to keep them warm. Then add the vegetables in and mix well and then tip it into a bowl and eat straight away whilst it's hot!

I know this isn't the most exciting meal in the world, but for a student meal I think it's pretty creative, if anyone has an advice about starting university I'd appreciate it :)!

maybelline superstay better skin concealer

Concealer is something I rarely mention on my blog, I tend to just use one until it runs out really. Though over a month ago in London I forgot to bring my concealer and had to make a quick trip to Boots in order to pick one up. There wasn't really much choice at all so I picked this one up just because I trust maybelline products and they're not too pricey, so if it doesn't work out it's not a big loss. You get 11ml of product and in an easy squeeze out tube which makes for an easy application, however not so easy when it starts to run out and you spend ages squeezing the tube trying to get the tiniest bit of product out, but initially it's a good packaging design. Also colour shade wise there isn't the biggest selection, in the tube it looks quite dark and orange however it does blend nicely out to match my skin tone. Though linking to the name superstay and better skin I don't really agree with either. I feel that when first applied the coverage is good but is still noticable that I'm wearing concealer so doesn't give the most natural look. I don't mean that it doesn't blend in just that it doesn't just look like skin. Then for superstay, I'd say that this lasts 5 to 6 hours but then after that you would need to reapply it, which I  guess is pretty average but using a primer would make it last longer, 

I feel mean because this isn't the worst concealer in the world at all and my comments are pretty critical and negative, I just don't think it's as good as the one I've nearly finished, the Bourjois Healthy Mix concealer which is one I would definitely recommend instead.

the body shop, pink grapefruit edition

This set was such good value from the Body Shop, it costs £12 when to buy all the products individually would have cost £19.50 so keep your eye out for these deals.

Firstly, is one of the newest releases from the Body Shop this summer is their body sorbet. This has to be my favourite thing out of the three, it's cool and refreshing and dries instantly and so doesn't leave you walking around feeling greasy or sticky. Also a little bit does go a long way, so a 200ml is plenty to last you for a while!

Then there's the Body Shop pink grapefruit body mist, this is something I wouldn't have personally chose as I'm not sure how I feel about smelling like a fruit. However it is such a light scent and not overpowering, making it easy to spray in a morning and saves me from using up my marc jacobs perfume

Finally, most people will have used a Body Shop shower gel before, they're so refreshing and gentle to the skin but smell lovely. Obviously all three of these products have a grapefruit smell but it's not overpowering nor does it smell fake! These are the perfect treats for yourself to keep your skin smooth and but also smelling nice.

saving the change!

Growing up and becoming more independent and relying less on my parents money is something that I can quite easily get stressed about, as I'm always thinking of things and how I can afford them. Half of that is me being an overthinker but in this post I'm going to share a few ways that I used to make the most out of what I've got.

1.Keep the Change

This one's a fairly simple one really, if you pay for things with cash you always land up with a bit of loose change hanging around your purse. I always let this build up and try and use to pay for a few things but then if not I collect it all in a piggy bank. Then at the end of each summer I take it to one of those machines in supermarkets that count it up for you and exchange it for the value. I know they take 9p off for every pound but it saves me counting it out and stops it from just lying around my bedroom. You'd be surprised how quickly it builds up and how much there is when you see it all counted!

2.Make the Most of Offers and Discounts

As I'm just starting university I can start making the most of student discount, which in most places is  about 10% but it's still saving you a bit! Also if you eligible I'd completely recommend getting a 16-25 rail card as this has been my life saver all summer for getting me around. For making the most of offers, this is something I've only recently started doing but if things are on 3 for 2 or buy one get one free and you don't necessarily need another but it won't cost you any more, it makes sense to get the same as what you're buying then when that runs out they'll always be spare waiting for you!

3.Loyalty Cards and Reward Schemes

When I got my own Tesco Clubcard it made me feel so old and grown up,but these schemes are particularly good, and Boots as well. Each time you spend money in that shop you get points which can be spend in store in the form of coupons or in Boots it converts to money and allows you to buy products.

Similarly Caffe Nero gives you a card and every time you buy a drink you get a stamp and then you get your tenth drink completely free. It's not the biggest saving in the world but saving a few extra pounds hurts no one!

4.The Cheapest Option

When looking for a specific product make sure you're buying it from the best play, places like Savers offer the same haircare and skincare brands as Boots but at a cheaper price so it's worth checking them out!

Finally, I always like to make a list of what I need to buy and then I'm focused and not just buying things for the sake it and know exactly what to get!

I hope in some way this has helped you to save a couple of pounds here and there!

Also another way to earn a little bit of spare cash is using ebay, if you've never used ebay before check out my hints and tips here

the natural eye makeup look

Firstly, on a none post related note, yesterday was Alevel Results Day and so I hope if any of you received results you were happy with your grades, and if you are in the same position as me got into University. Also good luck if you're still waiting to hear about your results good luck for them too! Back to the post, today I'm trying something slightly different and showing you how I do this ultra simple natural eye make up, I know it's not the most detailed and dramatic look but for a simple day it's normally all I have time for and can be bothered to do! So, I use three different shadows on this look, and two are within an avon compact. The AVON true colour compact is in iced coffee and the  MAC eyeshadow is a fake (from ebay) but it works perfectly fine and is in the shade Sable. Both of these were cheap which is why they have a lot of fall out and are not the most pigmented but they're good enough for me. Though to swatch the palest shade in the picture above it took a good number of tries. This is  why I just use the palest cream colour in the inner corner of my eyes to brighten them. I then swipe the "coffee" brown all over my lid, blending it into the lighter colour. Finally in the outer corner I blend a tiny bit of sable and bring it up into my crease. Normally, I'd complete the look with a little eyeliner or bring the darker eyeshadow along the lower lash line and complete with liquid eyeliner on top and a bit more mascara, I was definitely having a lazy day when I took these pictures!

the body shop blue corn 3-in-1 deep cleansing mask

This was a little treat I picked up in my recent trip to Birmingham, skincare is something that I've neglected recently and I've always found that a good pamper session and a face mask definitely does help my skin! This was a product I've heard nothing about, but I trust the body shop and love everything I've ever tried from them so I thought this would definitely be worth a try. 

It costs ten pound for 100ml, which is quite a big tub as well, and I just tent to apply it to my TZone so this definitely well last my a good few months. On the label it says it will cleanse, ex-foliate and purify and has blue corn powder and recommends its for normal to oily skin. My skin isn't the worst skin in the world but it can get oily and I'll get a series of outbreaks so this seems like the right product for my situation. Although I would be careful about using this if you have sensitive or dry skin as it does feel quite harsh when it starts to dry on your face. I find it easiest to apply with my fingers, and apply it to my forehead, nose and chin as this is where I get the worst spots. It's quite a thick mask with a strong scent, which isn't unpleasant but you can definitely smell it, because the formula is thick a little does go a long way and it's quite smooth and doesn't have a gritty texture. It's refreshing on the skin when drying and does feel a little tingly but in my head that just means it's actually doing something. I leave it for ten to fifteen minutes before washing it off. Once I've gently washed it all off my skin looks and feels refreshed, and also feels a lot smoother. However beware a couple of hours later it will have prompted some spots too emerge so definitely use this a few days before a big occasion and not a couple of hours before! Overall, this face mask does everything I could ask for and is a product I will definitely repurchase in the future and would recommend to people.

my ebay experience

This is a slightly different post to normal but I thought it would be a good idea, because until this year I was always too scared and intimidated by ebay in order to use it. However now I've used it numerous times I'm much more confident in both buying and selling and it's such a useful site as you can buy pretty much everything on there and always a reduced price. For example, I'm going to a festival, well I'll actually be there when I post this, but through ebay I was able to get some wellies but not pay a ridiculous price for them.

Firstly, let's talk about using ebay a buyer, I've hardly ever used ebay to bid on an item as I've never found anything I particularly want. However this brings me to say when you are bidding know your budget and don't pay more than you could buy it normally for, and make sure you really want the item. Don't just keep bidding just so you can say you've won. *also always include the postage price in your budget so you're not surprised at the end* This brings me on to say once you've won the item, make sure you pay sooner rather than later as not paying will not only infuriate the seller but it will also disadvantage you as your item won't be posted until you've paid.

Ebay also has the buy it now option, which I must admit, probably out of laziness I use a lot more, this is fairly simple but always read the details and description about the product and so you're completely sure what you're buying. Similarly I'd also mention that there's a lot of fakes on ebay, and so if it seems too cheap to be true it's probably not true. No genuine high end make up product, unless its been used, well cost 3 or 4 pounds. Also if you do think it's not a fake, always check the picture and the seller.No one would be selling 2948342 benefit products if they were all real, but if they only have a couple of make up items and taken a genuine picture and not a photoshopped white back ground one you can probably trust the product.

This was the part I found most taunting and was too scared to but using ebay as seller was a lot easier than I expected. Although the first few times I used it I was unsure I was doing it correctly and didn't want to do it wrong as I knew it was other peoples money I was dealing with. Firstly to be a seller you need to set up a paypal account in order for your money to go into which is so simple and easy to use. Then for selling you items you get 20 free listings a month but you want to do some research in order to make sure you get the most money possible and select the right and most sensible amount for postage. Make sure your title is relevant and in the right category and be honest in your description, don't lie and say something's new when it's obviously been worn or damaged because that will not lead to a happy customer. Something I'll stand buy is a good clear picture will also help your product sell, make sure the item is the clear focus on the photo, against a nice background and nicely displayed. No one will want to buy you top if it's all crinkled and looks like it needs a good wash and an iron. Then it's patience, though you could have 20 watchers the actual bidding probably won't start until the last 24 hours. Once the person has paid, make sure you post the item in the next two days as well. Careful if you're posting more than one as you want to get them the right way round and make sure you've included everything you've said you are selling. If you a new to ebay you'll have to wait a few weeks for your funds to be available to you, however this has benefited me ass it means I've let mine build up and so it's encouraged me to actually save some money!

So this post is significantly longer than I originally planned but I hope it's offered you some advice on using ebay and convinced you buying and selling items on the site is nothing to be intimated by. Also using ebay on an Ipad and Phone is so simple too as you can use the device to take the pictures too and it simply walks you through the process step by step so you'll soon be a pro.

natural world moroccan argan oil

Natural World's Moroccan Argan Oil is a moisture repair hair oil treatment, I've never used any form of oil on my hair before unless it's been in my shampoo so I was unsure what to expect. My hair was beginning to feel dry and a bit "lifeless" so I thought for a few pounds this could be worth a try! The packaging says that "this luxurious and lightweight hair treatment oil is infused with precious certified organic Argan Oil, known for its ability to lock in moisture, nourish, smooth, repair and instantly restore shine and softness. Silky perfection for all hair types" and that's a pretty big claim for a product. Though I have been impressed as it has restored my hair and made it feel so much more healthier, so much that I've used it every wash since I've used it and I can instantly tell if I haven't used it.

Also there isn't one set way to apply this, you can apply it to the ends of damp hair, comb through dry hair, used before shampooing in the shower or mixing a little bit with your conditioner, and after blow drying. I've tried most of these and I think it's easier to mix a few drops with my conditioner and this makes my hair feel a lot softer and harsh. Although I am interest to try it after blow drying as it says it will maintain frizz, which sadly I haven't mastered the art of blow drying my hair without it resembling hermonie granger yet.

It's also purse friendly option and a couple of pounds for 100ml it's such good value for a good product that works, and as you're only using a few drops at a time it'll last such a long time. I'd definitely recommend this, but I've never tried any other argan oils before so it could be the actual product rather than the brand's version that I like.

garnier summer body moisturising lotion

I started using this Garnier gradual fake tan/ body moisturiser last summer and because it looks like quite a big bottle I feel like I should like it more than I do. For 250ml and I'm sure this costs under a fiver it's good value for money and it does last a long time because you only need a little bit to cover your body. For the consistency, it is moisturising and refreshing on the skin and dries quite fast so you're not spending ages waiting for it to dry. It does have the fake tan biscuity kinda smell but the apricot extract mixed in with that doesn't make it unpleasant (even though the way I've described it does).

On the bottle is says it will gradually build a natural looking sun-kissed tan and gives 12 hours of moisturisation both of these I agree with. However the reason I dislike this product is I love it when it's first applied but then after one wash I'll discover an orange patch somewhere on my leg or my arm, which isn't too noticeable as this is only a gradual tan but I know it's there and it is a bit orangey. Though when it's first applied it always looks even and natural so it's hard to judge this one. So I actually do like this fake tan, I'm just not able to get the perfect even tan with it (it's probably something I'm doing rather than the fake tan itself)

the spending ban

After numerous shopping trips, it's time to start being a bit more careful with my money. This is why from the 22nd of July to the 22nd of August I am going on a spending ban. This means I'm going to not buy a single beauty product unless it's necessary and I've run out. This is because I know I'm going to need some new face wash and some new powder, but I'll definitely not be buying them to I've completely used the others up.

Though after spending a good twenty minutes telling my mum the other day how I needed to be so careful with money this month, I then found a topshop gift card left over and placed on order online, in my defence with the gift card it only cost me £7! So we'll see how this plan goes. which is why the next month of blog posts will be reviewing all the new products I've brought and have yet to post about and using all my make up. I've also got a post lined up about easy ways to save up money.

If you're thinking of doing a spending ban let me know how it goes!

what I brought in Birmingham

As of September Birmingham will be my new home, a pretty scary thought, so in order to get myself even more excited and settled I recently had a mini break there with a friend. This made me so excited to move there and I feel more settled that I at least know my way around the town centre a bit more. I also found the Bullring, it would have been rude not to get my bearings around the shopping there too. After recently having a clear out of things I tried to only buy things I actually wanted but I'm not so sure how much that worked.

First, the only item of clothing I picked up is this adorable cami dress from New Look, it's such a simple pastel pink dress with a pretty design so you can dress it up or down, and with 20% off this only cost £13!

I also brought this cute light blue/mint wash bag for Primark which is the perfect size to take only the bare necessities to a festival that I'm off to in august (I'm sure I'll take more than the essentials but I'll aim to fit it all in this bag!). The rest of my purchases are more beauty product based and I didn't really intend on buying any (apart from the face wipes because I forgot to pack any!) I just thought it would be nice to treat myself after using the cheaper budget alternatives. I've used the Palmers moisturises before and liked them so I was intrigued at the idea of this being a gradual tan as well. I've been using the Garnier Summer Body to try and build up a tan but I'm not really getting on with it so I wanted to try an alternative. Then on to the body shop treats. I thought it was time to get back into face masks as they do help to clear my skin and try and reduce the spots I get. I picked up the Blue Corn 3 in 1 Deep Cleansing Mask as it said it would cleanse, ex-foliate and purify my skin. That's exactly what I feel needs to happen, just in the summer I tend not to wear as much foundation so I find it important to try and keep my skin as clear as possible. The next were treats, but I got the pink grapefruit set for £12 when it should have actually cost £19.50. I originally wanted to try a body sorbet but it made more sense to treat myself and get the shower gel and spray instead and I'll know I'll use them.

Also if anyone has any tips for surviving a festival please comment below, I need help!

the same three necklaces

As much as I love a simple outfit with a bold necklace for every day wear I simply stick to my three dainty silver necklaces.

Firstly, and the one I wear the most is a simple small engraved locket that I got from a locket jewellers last Christmas. I remember picking this because I loved the idea of having a necklace that I could wear every day and with everything. That's exactly what I do! Most days I just pop this locket on that's my jewellery sorted and truth is I still haven't got anything inside it.

Next is similar and is a small heart shaped Daniella Draper necklace that my friends got me for my 18th Birthday. I love how small and simple this and like my locket I can wear it with anything and it goes perfectly. As mine was a present I have "18" engraved on the heart and so it'll always remind me of my friends and my 18th Birthday. 

Finally, this is the cheapest one of them all and cost just one pound fifty from primark and that is the simple silver bar. I wouldn't wear this with everything but when wearing a simple cami I like the combination of the two of them together.

It's probably bad that I'm only 18 and just wear the same three dainty silver necklaces all the time but if you're happy why change it.

barrym nail paint in peach melba

I feel like summers completely here and I've actually managed to get the tiniest bit of a tan from being in the garden but every year I always wear this barrym nail varnish in Shade 318, Peach Melba. It's such a perfect summery peach colour that goes with any outfit and looks even better with a bit of a tan. It isn't too bright which means I can wear it as a subtle nail varnish. Also as it's a barrym nail paint you know you can trust the formula and it'll will last a few days without chipping. However my only problem with the complete barrym nail pains is in summer when it's hotter I find it's harder for them to completely try and set. This usually lands up with me getting a dint in the middle of one of my nails just because I'm so impatient and can't wait long enough for my nails to dry. Though considering I've used this nail varnish so countless times and still have so much left for a few pounds it's definitely good value.

What's your favourite summer nail varnish?

maybelline eye tattoo in on and on bronze

This maybelline colour eye tattoo in on and on bronze is something that I've been lusting over for ages but kept telling myself I didn't need another eyeshadow but I'm glad I gave in. Earlier this year I brought this in pink gold because I was unsure about the colour and wasn't sure if I'd like the naked 3 pallette but I loved the lasting formula. It's so simple and easy and gives you a complete and put together eye look that lasts all day.

The packaging is a sturdy glass pot and plastic lid, which is perfect, simple yet does look sleek and you can see the colour on the outside so it's easy to identify which one's which when you have more than one. In the pot, the warm bronze colour can look incredibly shimmery and daunting but you can build the colour up to be as intense or as subtle as you want. This is particularly useful as it makes it easy to be a quick everyday eye make up look when you just want to quickly apply something to your lids, put your mascara on and go!

As this is such a natural brown colour you'd be able to use a powder shadow over the top if you wanted to, however I prefer to use it on it's own. I like to apply it using my finger and it's easy to just pat on the lid. I then take a small brush and bring it across my lower lash line; this is something I've only recently started to do but I love the more completed look it gives.

Once again, I'd completely recommend trying on of maybelline's gel-cream eyeshadows as they're so easy to use, on their own or as a base. Also maybelline products will always be on offer somewhere and so for less than five pounds each and on an offer it's a bargain and it'll be a product you'll keep going back to.

what I brought in London

In my recent trip to London, we had to visit Oxford Street, it would have been rude not to! But shopping wasn't the main priority of the trip and so that's why I only picked a few basic items up. Sorry for poor picture it was hard to work with the rubbish sunlight. I had a lovely weekend doing the tourist things, and we even went up the shard which I never realised how much taller than the London eye it was. I also saw Wicked which was amazing and I would definitely recommend it! I love seeing shows and wish I could see West End Shows all the time but sadly that's not a realistic option. Also I've got so used to using my Oyster card, I definitely love London but don't think I could live there in all the business!

So the main thing I picked up was a cami top from Miss Selfridge which is a lovely bright pink summery colour, I already own a lilac one of these and love and when I saw the lace detail on this I thought it was a perfect top to wear skinny jeans and that's an outfit done. I love these style of cami tops because they're more dressy than a vest top and just look nicer and smarter but still casual.

Then I brought these adorable cute daisy earrings from river island which are just perfect for summer, especially when I wear my hair up and you'll be able to see them.

Finally I made a quick visit to boots, and this wasn't planed to pick up any make up items I just needed some concealer after all my packing I forgot mine and needed some on the go! I made use of the maybelline offer and picked up the better skin concealer which is lovely creamy texture and had lasting coverage. So far this looks like a good buy and it didn't seem cakey at all but we'll have to see how that goes. Then as the buy one get one half price offer I saw it as an opportunity to pick up the maybelline colour tattoo in on and on bronze. This is something that I've wanted for ages and was always like there's no point getting another eyeshadow but for half the price I thought it was worth it and we'll see if it was or not. I love my pink gold colour tattoo so I'm excited to try this out a full review will follow soon.

what's in my bag for a long weekend away

With any long weekend away it is normally accompanied by a long journey, and this is why I like to make sure I take enough things to keep me occupied. I've always been an overpacker and by the size of this list and trying to fit them all in one bag you'll soon tell.

My Phone

Like most teenagers, this is sad to admit, but my hand is pretty much glued too my smart phone. Whether it's texting, snapchatting, checking twitter or instagram or just googling the answer to the question I like to have my phone with me. Though I'd say this is more the journey, because it's just as important to remember to appreciate where you are and relax your friends will still be there after a few days. *Also remember your phone charger you'd be lost without it

iPod

As I'm travelling to London using the train, I like to make sure I have my Ipod with me so I can chill out and block the noise of the train out. I also find that this is a nice way to relax. I'm really enjoying Ed Sheeran's new album at the minute too.

iPad

This is similar to my Ipod, it has my music on but I use my iPad to read books on now, I probably should have brought a kindle but now I've brought some books on there I don't see the point changing. I love reading and after just doing alevels it's lovely to just read a book for enjoyment rather than to plan an essay on it. I also like my Ipad as it as games for when I get a bit bored, after three months I'm still unable to get anywhere near to completing 2048!

Tissues

I feel like a granny always carrying tissues around with me, but you'll never know when you'll need them, and they're particularly useful if there's not toilet paper! But the pollens so high at the minute as well and I normally don't suffer from hay fever but this year I am.

Umbrella

My red dotty one from primark lives in my bag, I really don't want to be caught in a shower and if it's always there you'll never be stood there wishing you had one! But if you're going shopping and there's a downpour you'll easy be able to pick on up for a couple of pounds

A mish mash of items:

I like to make sure I have my purse ( wouldn't get far without that!) ,sunglasses, lip balm, some powder and concealer and then for the journey I make sure I have some snacks and a bottle of water with me

I know I over pack but at least I'll be prepared come any weather! what items are always in your bag?

my over night make up bag

With a trip to London, Birmingham and lots of nights away coming up I've realised I need to get used to using a condensed make up as to take all my make up would be an unrealistic option. So here are the essentials that I will be relying on this summer. Also I'm sure I've reviewed half of these items so if you're interested in something have a look around my blog and it will probably be there or just ask me any questions.

For my base, I'm relying on my 17 Photo Flawless Primer, Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation (Which I'm beginning to love) and Concealer and then the Seventeen Miracle Matte Pressed Powder which is nothing special but does finish of my face.

Then for cheeks I'm using the Bourjois Delice de Poudre in the darker of the two shades. I love this bronzer, it's the only bronzers I own to be honest but why ruin a  good thing. Then to just add a little bit of colour to my cheeks I'm using the Bourjois Little Round Pot Blush in the shade Rose de Jaspe, this is the perfect light and flirty pink for summer so doesn't look overpowering on the cheeks at all.

On to eyes, the Maybelline Brow Drama which I love for quick fix to sort my eyebrows out, I'm kinda lazy really! Then to keep my eyes simple and I don't want to have to worry about maintaining my eyeshadow I'm just going to use the Bourjois Colour Edition 24HR Eyeshadow, which is soft and lovely and lasts all day. My eyeliners and mascaras are just rimmel, collection and seventeen.

Finally for Lips I'll take my strawberry Chapstick (or the other first  lip balm I come too), then one Elf Lip Gloss (I'm not really a lip gloss person but I'm trying to train myself to like it) and then a Bourjois Rouge Editon Lipstick as this is subtle and not too heavy and  will go with everything.

Phew, and this is me trying to condense my make up bag! still I'll probably get there and wish I'd brought something else instead!

my holy grail blusher!

When thinking about this post, it was definitely a close call between my Benefit Bella Bamba blush which I adore and the Body Shop baked blush. The reason I decided that the Body Shop blush was my holy grail blusher is because I've had that a lot longer and I still  use it even though I have Bella Bamba. 

As you can see from my blush collection which I did a while back, I only a own a few different blushers so there wasn't much to choose from and I am by no means a blusher expert! However I thought I'd share with you why I love my Body Shop baked blush so much, mines in the shade 02 Coral and I think they're just over £10. However I've had this blusher for two years and constantly use it and it's still not really dinted. I know people have problem with the residue on baked blushers but I've never experienced that but I do just scrape the top sometimes to make it a bit fresher. As you can see it comes in  pretty simple clear packaging and the symbol has slightly worn of mine and you get 5g of blush. The blush itself is deep rosy pink with shimmer, but I'd say it still has pink undertones and not coral, so I don't really agree with the shade name which has always confused me. Also a third of the product is a lovely apricot highlighter with shimmer, which compliments the blush perfectly. This means that this is the perfect product for on the go and travelling with

I like to apply this blusher with my real techniques blusher blush, and just dust it across my cheeks to add more colour and life back in to my face! Mines a bit old and looks a bit worn now but I guess that's just because I've used it so much!

Blushers are my weakness because I find the colours and the packaging both so pretty, what's your holy grail blusher?

my current favourite lipsticks

Lipsticks are pretty much something I wear on a every day basis and so I thought it would be fun to share my favourite and most used lipsticks. Two of them are Bourjois whilst the other three are Maybelline, I didn't plan it like this, but normally I'll buy a lipstick from a range and if I like it I land up resorting back to that collection when I'm looking for a different shade. As you'll be able to see they're fairly similar and there's nothing too bright or bold, I'm rather boring really and tend to stick to a simple lip so I can focus on the eyes instead.

This first lipstick I'm going to talk about is part of the Bourjois Rouge Edition and in Shade 4, Rose Tweed. I love the sleek black packaging and the colour shade included on the bottom. This lipstick has the perfect consistency it is thick but no over powering and still buildable to get the right colour and the colour is a lovely dark pink which just gives a my lips but better look. This makes it useful for every day use as its not messy or obvious, making it subtle and so it can easily by applied on the go.

Technically this isn't a lipstick, and so I was unsure whether to include it and so you'll have to accept a lip balm in here. So this is Maybelline's Baby Lips in Cherry Me. I've never actually considered how much I use this because it's just always in my bag so if I just want to touch up my look quickly this is pretty much something I used all the time at school. It smells lovely and is soft on the lips, and although it is sheen and has the obvious balm look, it's nothing offensive and is a really useful product to carry around with you. I actually wrote a full post about this earlier this year, and you can read that here.

This next lipstick is the Maybelline Coloursensational in the Shade 132, Sweet Pink. I love the formula of these lipsticks and actually have four of them, they're sort and not too heavy on the lips and I love the gentle smell of them. The reason that this lipstick is one of my favourites is because as the name suggests it is a soft pink and though it has a hint of sparkle. I use this mostly for formal occasions such as balls and when going out because I love the effect on the lips, it looks more shiny then a lipstick but no the same as a gloss and so gives a perfect balance for a girl who hates wearing lip gloss!

This is probably the most boldest of my lipsticks (it's still not very bright I know) and again this is part of the Bourjois Rouge Edition but this one is in the Shade 17, Rose Millesime. I'd describe it as a pinky red which a hint of orange, not very useful. But on the lips it gives a lovely solid colour and can just complete a look especially if I've done simple and minimal eye make up. Instead of repeating myself my review of this product is here.

This final lipstick is another one of the Maybelline Coloursensational and in Shade 842, Rosewood Pearl. This is such a lovely soft and subtle nude but with some sparkle. Though I will admit you only want to apply this lightly otherwise your lips would look too pale and unnatural but I guess thats the same for any nude lipstick. Either way this ones always a success with me and with a patterned or bright outfit where you don't need to too much make up this lipstick always works.

I love trying new products, so is there a range of lipsticks that you would recommend?

a simple diy storage idea

I've always been a creative person, as a child I could happily sit and draw all day, however the disadvantage to this means now I keep old jewellery and ribbons because "I could think of something to do with them" instead of throwing them away and my sewing box is overflowing! The other day when I was having a big room tidy and clear out I noticed that I just leave my hair bobbles lying around, which probably explains why I lose them all the time!

This is when I decided to get creative and found an old jam jar from the recycling box (technically this is recycling too;) ). I then found all my bits and bobs or ribbon I had and an old bracelet. Then easily I just wrapped the ribbon around the glass jar to decorate and added the little heart bracelet to finish it off, and now I have a hair bobble jar. Pretty simple and easy but a cute little home made touch to my room, and you could use these to tidy other things such as pens, make up brushes, lipsticks, nail varnishes.

maybelline silk glam eyeshadow quad

Before I start this review, I recently brought this from a shop that sells discounted make up but I've recently discovered that Maybelline has changed the packaging and this is still available as part of the Big Eyes range.

So I'm not really sure why I brought this, it's not similar to any of the colours I normally wear, but anyway change is good! and I have actually used this a lot for night outs for a bit more of a bold and exciting eye look. This quad is in shade 12, Grey Pink Drama and is part of the eye studio range. It comes with a brush, which I haven't even touched but it would be useful for quick touch ups or if you're need to travel somewhere with it. Helpfully on the back it numbers each shadow and has a diagram to show you how to achieve a smokey eye. I wouldn't say I follow this but if you were unsure or wanted to try something different it's there.

As you can see from the picture it's in a sturdy packaging that fastens shut, and all the shadows are heavily glitter based. The palest shadow is the largest and is suggested to to be used a highlighter, and this is soft white colour. Then the pink and grey shadows are also both light and are designed to be used on the lid, and the final shadow is the darkest and is the liner. All of these shadows are super soft and blendable however they are extremely sparkly and glittery and not very pigmented which means that when it comes to creating an eye look you have to be expecting glitter! I'm not sure how much I'd use the final shadow as a liner as I'd prefer a matte liner to complete the look rather than to add more glitter. This means that it's not subtle to use everyday but for a night out and with a primer underneath these can definitely create a simple but effective eye look.