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.