Temperature Dips, Berry Lips and Winter Beauty Tips

Brace yourselves lovers of summer, sunshine and sea – autumn time is upon us and before we know it, the Christmas songs will be blasting and we’ll be left fighting for that last green triangle Quality Street once again. However, if confirming the disappearance of sun and welcoming the autumn breeze doesn’t appeal to you just yet, the long awaited beauty trends that this time of year brings will surely bring a smile to your face (maybe even more so than your favourite Christmas chocolate treat!)

Gone are the days where it was all about the bronzed, beach-tastic glow that made us pale girls reach for the St. Tropez bottles – now the colder weather is here, it’s all about embracing our natural (if you’re like me, rather porcelain) beauty and getting that glow from dewy bases rather than bronzers. Start off your make up routine with a lovely glowy primer like the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in the shade Pearl to add the look of beautiful, healthy skin, followed by a foundation of your choice. My personal picks for this time of year, when the pale complexion has lured around again are the Georgio Armani Luminous Silk or for a more purse-friendly option, Rimmel Match Perfection – both of which offer good but not cakey coverage and a beautiful glow alongside the primer.

Now the base is sorted, your next autumnal addition will be through the help of some blush – that of the terracotta or berry variety will capture that seasonal glow and give you a gorgeous flush (to pretend you’ve been on a lovely winter walk and caught the rosy cheeks instead of staying in bed watching netflix, we know the drill). A dusting of MAC Powder Blush in ‘Fleur Power’, a soft terracotta-pinky shade or Sleek Powder Blush in ‘Flamingo’ if you’re up for a pop of raspberry pink blush will warm up the complexion nicely – even if the sun doesn’t. Highlight the tops of the cheekbones with a pearly highlighter of your choice (if you’re really ‘glowing’ all out!)

For the eye shadow palette that can do no wrong, this time of year is definitely the prime opportunity to crack out your Urban Decay Naked Palette, or any palette bursting with warm, bronzey neutral shades, like MUA Undress Me for a drugstore alternative. For everyday, a nice matte taupe through the crease with a little inner corner highlight will suit, or if your Christmas party is on the way, whack out the deep bronzey shades in the outer corners or just all over the lid. Don’t skimp on the glitter either – if there’s a time for the most shimmering shadows, it’s now. Also on the idea of eyes, the natural summer look of bare lashes is out for the season and it’s all about the doll-like look, so lashings of the blackest mascara will be your best friend to add more definition. Some great drugstore ones include Maybelline The Falsies for a serious false lash look, and if you’re up for the splurge, Diorshow Iconic Overcurl and Benefit They’re Real always tick the boxes for length, curl and a hell of a lot of volume.

Finally, my personal favourite trend for the autumn/winter months are the lip choices – berry, wine and deep red tones are finally acceptable and the darker the better! Keep it a matte formula and your lippy will be hanging around all throughout your Christmas dinner, and the possible under - the - mistletoe peck to follow. A few to try are MAC Russian Red for the perfect Christmas pout, or Rimmel Kate Moss 01 for those looking for a budget alternative (after spending a little too much on the presents). For berry tones, you may want to check out MAC Diva for a serious statement, or Rimmel Kate Moss 107 is a perfect dupe for this and packs just as much of a punch.

However, if bolds just aren’t your thing, fear not! The 90’s nudes are making a huge comeback this autumn/winter time, so pair a deep or mauve-toned nude with the rest of your makeup for a more toned down, yet still super seasonal look. A great pairing from MAC are Brave (more pinky toned) or Velvet Teddy (more brown toned) on top of Soar lip liner, or if you’re after more of a glossy look, go for Maybelline’s Colour Elixir in Caramel Infused for a girlier version of the trend.

This look has quickly become my go-to favourite, as the colder months are definitely when I’m in my element, so I love matching the look to the season – plus, why not have your eye shadow match the autumn leaves and your lippy resembling a holly berry?

Getting on the Glow

Hello all - long time no see! I've been pretty M.I.A on here for the last few months, but hopefully posts will be up regularly once again, and what better way to start than talking about some of my favourite glow - enhancing products?

I don't know about you, but for me, looking glowy doesn't stop when the colder months come about; in fact, I love pairing a good highlight or blush with a sheen with a berry lip this time of year! These are the top 4 that I will be whipping out this month to add the perfect touch of shimmer:

Before applying the base, I like to use my new favourite multi-purpose product, the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Pearl, to add a lovely dewy look to the entire face before applying foundation. This little product just fab as a little really goes a long way, and it can also be mixed in with your foundation or worn over the top as a liquid highlight - my personal favourite way of using it!

If blush is more your thing, a new discovery of mine that I'm just in love with is the Milani Baked Blush in Corallina. This little beauty is just the most beautiful peachy coral with a running gold shimmer, adding the perfect flush to the cheekbones with the prettiest, not too 'in your face' highlighting effect. Unfortunately, it is a USA exclusive, so apologies to the UK girls not heading off anytime soon! However, it is rather comparable to one of my oldies but goodies, Benefit Rockateur blush, which gives a similar glowing look but with more of a rosey tone.

Finally - your typical shimmery powder highlight. One I can't wait to crack out again is the classic MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle. Every girl and their mum are pretty much obsessed with this, and it's perfectly understandable as the gorgeous champagne highlight is the perfect balance of subtlety and shimmer, perfect for pairing with your favourite vampy lipstick this season.

Thank you for reading (if anyone is still here) and I wish you a lovely week and welcome into October! 

My MAC Lipstick Collection

Hello everyone - I've been missing from here for a while due to the crazy exam schedule I have coming up and being busy revising, but I decided to do a little post today with a teeny bit of spare time I have, and what better to talk about than lipsticks? I bought my first Mac lipstick around two years ago and have been hooked ever since - in terms of quality, colour selection and not to mention gorgeous vanilla scent, they are some of the best lippies around and because of this, I have acquired nine of the beautiful bullets.

Top row shades from left to right: Diva (matte), Russian Red (matte), Hot Tahiti (glaze), Craving (cremesheen), Lustering (lustre)

Bottom row shades from left to right: Party Parrot (matte), Crosswires (cremesheen), Lovelorn (lustre), Patisserie (lustre).

As a self-proclaimed lipstick addict, I do love and use all of these, however some of them get more use than others and I do have my favourites! For a bold and bright red for any occasion, I always gravitate towards Russian Red - it's matte formula means that it stays on and looking gorgeous all day long but it isn't terribly drying or uncomfortable on the lips. For the upcoming spring months, I adore Lustering as the perfect sheer wash of pink, it stands out if you build it up but as it is a lustre finish, a dab on the lips gives a lovely subtle pop of colour too. And if it's the perfect nude you're after, look no further than Patisserie - another lustre finish that is a subtle but lovely 'your lips but better' with a pretty peachy shimmer running through. 

Shades from left to right : Diva, Russian Red, Hot Tahiti, Craving, Lustering, Party Parrot, Crosswires, Lovelorn, Patisserie. 

Hope you enjoyed a little look into these lovely lippies! What's your favourite Mac lipstick?

A Few Little Ways to Brighten your Day

As the first month of the year is drawing to a close and we are truly starting the new year, sometimes it's inevitable that we may be hit with a little case of the 'January blues'. Christmas and the holidays are over, school is back in full swing and for a lot of us, including myself, it's getting close to a pretty important set of exams, so I often find myself pretty stressed and all the little worries seem to build up. However, considering there's no way of changing the fact that we have to go to work or school, and need to revise etc, there are other things we can do to lift our spirits and tackle it all with a positive attitude, which is super important if we are going to succeed. And considering we are all fabulous unique individuals who are hard working and ambitious, we will succeed.

1. Go for a walk!

As strange as it sounds, and as hard as it may seem in the morning to get up, I find getting up, wrapping up nice and warm with my coffee and heading out of the door with my headphones in, listening to my favourite music outside is such a simple yet wonderful way to unwind. It doesn't even have to be really early, maybe around 9am when it's still quiet and not many people are out, when you can walk around with your own thoughts, with the fresh air and nature around you, it helps me to feel a lot more zen and makes me feel very grateful that I live a life that I can just walk around freely and enjoy the world around me. Cheesy, but you'll have to try it to see!

2. Meet up with friends

This one never fails to make me happy, as we all have a friend or group of girls that we can always have a great time with and laugh and even cry with, so arrange to get to a local coffee shop or even someone's house to have a chat about what's on your mind - chances are, they're feeling the same way and you can all discuss how you're feeling and how to solve it. Being with my closest friends always makes me so happy because you can just chat for hours and it's a great way to de stress, especially if your friends can listen to what you're feeling and even offer advice if you want it.

3. Take a social media break!

As horrible and scary as this may seem at first, as I am a self confessed instagram and twitter addict, getting off your phone even for as little as an hour can really help with any build up of worries in your mind, as social media never seems to help any of them and can often make you feel worse. Take a point in your day, whether it be just before you go to bed, when you wake up, when you're home from school, whenever to switch off your technology and just be with yourself. When you don't have a million things to think about at once, your mind is more settled and you'll find it easier to relax. Read a bit of a book, a magazine, write in a diary, listen to your favourite music, take a bubble bath, do a workout, even just dance around your room for a little while and you'll feel a whole lot better.

4. Treat yourself (you deserve it!)

This doesn't mean simply food-based, although if you are feeling that last slice of chocolate cake, now is the time to go for it. Sometimes, although a little materialistic, retail therapy is a great way to let off steam and when you have something to look forward to or to make you feel great about yourself, you'll instantly feel a little more uplifted. Take a bath with the bath bomb you've been saving, buy the shoes that you thought were a little too much, because although I hate the phrase 'yolo' it really is true, and if these things are what make you happy, sometimes it's okay to treat yourself.

You deserve happiness and the right to feel great inside and out. The only person who can truly make you happy is YOU, so start by loving yourself from the inside, and others will see and love you for this. You can do it.

The Perfect Glossy Nude Lip

As many of you know, one of my biggest struggles makeup-wise is finding a nude lipstick that suits me perfectly - both my hair and skin tone. Most nude lipsticks tend to wash me out and make me look even paler, so I tend to go for the darker lips, so I don't look quite so dead! However, Maybelline Colour Elixirs have changed the game, and I've finally found a nude lip worth rocking.

As a recommendation from the lovely Anna (Viviannadoesmakeup), I thought it would be worth picking it up since it looked so gorgeous on her! The shade of the liquid lipstick range 'Caramel Infused' is a slightly rosey nude that is a gorgeous inbetween brown and pink colour, so it looks fab with pale skin like mine. 

Another thing I love about these Maybelline Colour Elixirs are the formula, they go on like a balm and feel so smooth and buttery on the lips, but unlike most tinted balms, are super long wearing! Also as a liquid lipstick formula, they aren't thick and gloopy like others I've tried, but are just the perfect lipstick-gloss hybrid - I'm excited to try out the rest of the colour range!

As shown on the photo above, the wand is slightly unusual looking but makes for great application, it's almost a heart shape and is big enough to comfortably glide product onto the whole lip, but not too big that you look like Kylie Jenner gone wrong. 

One thing I must say about this is that I'm not the biggest fab of the packaging ; the mirrored silver lid and clear plastic is slightly cheap looking and maybe takes the aestethic appeal away from the great product inside! If you can see past this, this may be the perfect new lip product for you.

Having a Femoral Derotational Osteotomy (or just hip surgery!)

So this is a little different than the usual comparing my favourite red lipsticks or high end mascaras, but I thought it was something I should probably explain in a little more depth - I mention it occasionally on my Instagram and most of you probably have no idea what I'm talking about or why I had it, but let's get into it!

On the 5th August 2014, I underwent one of the most painful and complex orthopaedic procedures going (thank you body for needing that and doctors for letting me know!) called a 'femoral Derotational Osteotomy'. For those of you who don't know what this is, it's pretty much surgery involving cutting the thigh bone (or femur) and repositioning the ball of the femur into the hip socket, sounds lovely right? In my case, the thigh bone was turned in around 10 degrees so that instead of my foot being permanently turned out like it was before, it was facing forward in a more natural position. The healing two parts of bone are held together with a rather large metal plate, and leave you with a lovely 8inch scar down the side of your thigh, not my favourite part I must admit!

Medical drivel aside, around a year before the procedure I started noticing pretty awful pain in my hips and thighs, particularly after dance classes like acro, since it's pretty strenuous on these places. After going to physio after consultant, in summer 2013 I was told that if I wanted to continue dancing past the age of about 20 (because this was one of the main causes of how my femur was getting damaged and slowly grinding down - causing the pain and potentially future arthritis) this would be nesessary. Obviously as a keen dancer I was beyond devastated, I never thought my hip pain was this serious and I just wished it would all go away. However, a year later, I was putting the pointe shoes away for the next few months and heading to hospital.

As you can imagine before the surgery, I was pretty terrified since I'd never had to do anything like this before, and before I actually went into the theatre it all dawned on me - when I woke up from the anaesthetic, my life would be dramatically changed for the next few vey long months. Since my leg was broken and reset, even standing up the day after my operation was one of the biggest struggles I've had to overcome, I felt like Bambi on my new set of legs because that was almost what it was, I wasn't used to my body being in a different position. I remember almost passing out when I first stood up, and breaking down immediatly, thinking how on earth I was going to dance again freely like before when I can't even take a few steps now? However, I am pretty stubborn and was managing to walk with a very fetching granny walking frame and attempting stairs, not without pain or difficulty but hey, it was all baby steps.

The first few weeks after were pretty agonising if I'm honest, it was excruciating to even bend my leg to sit down and I couldn't comfortably get in and out of the car for a long while, keeping positive was pretty difficult and I was not a pleasant lady at the time! 

I had to use crutches for the next 2 and a half months, which got super tiresome because I was told to walk normally but to just use the crutches for support - so it looked like nothing was wrong with me! When I finally was allowed off the crutches, it was the biggest relief and I finally began to feel a bit more like my old self, and a step closer towards dancing again.

In late November, I went back to see the consultant who did the surgery, who discharged me from their visits and said that if I wanted to gradually go back to dancing, it would be okay. You have no idea how happy that made me, and after Christmas on January 5th, I was finally back in the dance studio, exactly 5 months after the surgery.

I'm happy to say that almost 6 months later, I'm close to a full recovery and although I do still have pain and it isn't always easy or the same as it was, I'm proud of staying as strong as humanly possible and fighting for what I wanted back - dance! In February half term, the metal plate that is holding my healing bone together will hopefully be getting taken out and I'll be able to jump, leap and turn to my hearts content - and not having to worry about arthritis at 16!

If you've read this far, thankyou very much for sharing this experience and hopefully you're a little more in the know about it all, and it just proves that you can overcome anything thrown your way - sacrificing 6 months of dance training now will be worth it now that I will be able to comfortably dance into the next 20-30 years of my life!

The Dynamic Brow Duo

First of all, let me welcome you to 2015 and my first post of the new year, how exciting! I'm so excited for the new year for all that's to come, and I'm sure many of you are also excited to make this year the best one so far.

As many of you know, as a pale redhead, my hair is pretty fair and therefore so are my brows and lashes (how irritating, as mascara runs out so quickly for me!). It's rather difficult to find something to use in my brows, that is both light enough for my them so it doesn't look harsh or unnatural, and that actually makes a difference to them and gives them fullness and colour. However, after months of experimenting, from wearing nothing to now discovering a pair that works perfectly, I feel like my brows are finally looking their best, thanks to these two products.

MAC Eyeshadow in 'Cork' - this beauty is my new holy grail brow powder fo' sho'. I find brow powders a million times easier to get right and much more natural looking on the brows for me, so when I found this shade from MAC, I knew it was the right product. The colour is a perfect match for me, I'd say 1-2 shades darker than my natural brow colour which is pretty much blonde, so now with a few light strokes of this through my brows, they match my hair pretty much perfectly and I noticed that my face looks a lot more framed with a stronger brow. I would so recommend MAC shadows for your eyebrows, I know that a lot of beauty bloggers and youtubers use shades like 'Charcoal Brown' (good for darker brunettes) and 'Omega' (one for darker blondes and light brunettes) but if your hair is red like mine, Cork may be the one for you. 

Benefit Gimme Brow in 'Light/Medium' - I finally gave into the hype with this little product and I so don't regret it! This brow gel has been so raved about recently with beauty bloggers, and when my friend used it on me, I knew I had to have it for myself. I've tried brow gels before, like the one from Maybelline but this one is very different, it has a lot more colour and gives a more natural look to the brows by adding little fibres that give the illusion of thicker brows and real hairs. I use this over the powder and then brush through lightly with a spoolie to give an even more natural look, and I couldn't be more pleased with the result! One thing I must say is that the Gimme Brow only comes in two shades and mine is the lightest one, which isn't all that light! If you want a super natural brow or your hair is even lighter than mine, you may want to get this tried on at a Benefit counter to see if it's definitely for you. 

And those are my new brow favourites, finally I may be able to say the phrase 'brows on fleek' (maybe too far!) 

Top 5 Budget Beauty Buys

I'm a big fan of drugstore makeup and now that the festive months are upon us, most of us don't have loads of spare money to splash out on new beauty products from the luxury makeup counters - so any new purchases for me will generally be coming from Boots or SuperDrug. Fear not though - there are loads of hidden gems in the drugstore and here are just a few of my all time favourites.

Revlon Photoready BB Cream - As you probably know from a million other posts featuring this beauty, this BB cream is my saviour for a beautiful natural coverage. It's super moisturising and dewy looking so your skin looks naturally glowing as if you aren't wearing any makeup. I reckon it's practically a dupe of my well-loved Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation (but with a little less purse damage).

Soap and Glory One Heck of a Blot powder - I'm not really one for a matte finish, so finding a setting powder that takes away the shine but still leaves the skin with a glow is pretty hard, and usually my MAC Mineralise Skinfinish Natural is the ticket for that. However, as that is far from budget beauty, my new love from Soap and Glory is a fabulous dupe - it's so finely milled that you cannot look cakey and takes away any shine without getting rid of your natural sheen! At £12 for a translucent shade to fit all, it's perfect for everyone.

Soap and Glory Solar Powder Bronzer - As a pale girl I know sometimes lacking in the golden and glowy department is slightly rubbish, so finding the perfect Bronzer is essential and can prove tricky. However, my holy grail Bronzer comes again from Soap and Glory (their makeup is really knocking it out of the park right?) and it's perfect for us pale girls as the two shades swirled together make for a perfect natural bronzing. For £11, this is truly worth trying and I'm pretty sure you'll fall in love as I have.

Rimmel Kate Rockin' Curves mascara - Next is mascara, which is definitely my fave part of my makeup routine - it just transforms your look! I am one who loves a good high end mascara as much as the next girl, but one mascara that doesn't really get hyped is this gem from Rimmel. It has a really cool and wavy shaped brush that makes fanning out your lashes, particuarly the outer ones a dream! The formula is also fab for length and plenty of volume, so it's perfect for the party season. Just a pre-warning, the brush is pretty huge and needs a bit of patience to work with (unless you fancy a face full of mascara and a few pokes in the eye).

Revlon Colourburst Matte Balms - Revlon is really nailing it at the moment I see, and boy do they deserve to! These and the Laquer balms were really hyped up earlier on this year so I jumped on the bandwagon, but the Matte balms are where it's truly at. With rich colour and a matte finish that is surprisingly very comfortable and moisturising on the lips, these balms are a definite winner. Not to mention, these babies will stay on throughout your Christmas dinner without a smudge!

Hope you enjoyed my budget favourites, and do let me know what yours are!

Rediscovering the Revlon Lip Butters

Shades from left to right : Berry Smoothie, Red Velvet, Raspberry Pie. 

If there's one thing I love more than new makeup, it's finding something in your collection that was once well loved, and reloving it again. This was the case with the famous Revlon Lip Butters, which were all the rage a year or two ago, so I bought a few and loved them. However, as a self-confessed mac lipstick girl, I'd sort of forgotten about these gems but when I was looking for a glossy berry lip to wear, these three were back and ready be worn again!

The shades I have of these are pretty similar, all my favourite kind of berry red-but not quite shade, and are Berry Smoothie, Red Velvet and Raspberry Pie. 

Berry Smoothie is a sheer berry like the name sort of suggests, and looks subtle but still has a pretty burst of colour for the festive season. Red Velvet is a perfect Christmassy shade, as it's a deep red with a hint of burgundy but is glossy and light so it won't dry out your lips or look too bold if you don't want. Finally, Raspberry Pie is basically a more pigmented version of Berry Smoothie, but a little more on the deep pink side. All gorgeous winter shades!

One thing I'd forgotten about these lippies, and what they were so renounced for being was their comfortable wear, as they feel like a balm and still have a great colour pay off. I guess I'm just missing a nude in my collection!

Have you tried any of these?

The Mascaras To Splurge On

If there's one makeup product that I just couldn't live without, it would have to be mascara. For me, the high end counters really do mascaras well, and although the likes of Maybelline and Rimmel have some of my drugstore favourites, these two slightly pricier gems are certainly worth the extra splurge.

For a natural look that lengthens like a dream and with a little work can be built up to almost falsies, the  Burberry Effortless Mascara is just the ticket. As well as giving you lashes to die for, the packaging is also a big part of what makes this product so special - the chrome wand and transparent tube certainly look luxe. Also, with the fibre wand, you'd expect clumps but this bad boy somehow avoids any clumping, are there any flaws?

If you're looking for something that makes your lashes stand out like no other, look no further than the Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara. It's quite possibly my favourite mascara of all time, and gives extreme volume and length for that doll-like look. The spoon shaped brush makes it super easy to glide on the product - not to mention the gorgeous mirrored tube. It's also a fibre brush like the Burberry, so the volume is just awesome.

What are your favourite mascaras?

Getting Back Up When You're Feeling Down

Let's face it, and to put it nicely, rubbish stuff can happen, maybe leaving us feeling pretty down in the dumps, then regaining positivity just seems a little too much effort. Even if nothing bad is going on, even the strongest and most positive ladies among us can sometimes feel a little discouraged and need a little pick me up.

Usually, when I feel a bit rubbish, it's generally down to stress. When you're stressed and have a lot of different things on your mind, it's easy to crack under that pressure and let it all get to you, and the best way to manage this is to take a step back for a moment. I know that when I'm stressed, whether it be due to schoolwork or just general life, I think it's best to take a break to think about write down all the things that you need to do, and if they're not absolutely vital, leaving them to when you feel more like yourself. That way, you'll have a visual list of what is important at this moment, and usually when you see it in front of you, it isn't so scary and you'll be able to manage it in a calmer way.

Another thing to do when you're a little upset is to make another list (let's hope you have a bit of paper lying around for all this writing!) of all of the good things and people in your life right now, and set it next to the list of stresses - which one is longer and more significant? Usually when I do this, I always have a long list of people and things I'm blessed to have and it really puts things into perspective.

Also, if what is making you feel low are particular people or certain things, the best thing you can do for yourself is to get these out of your lives, how are you supposed to live a happy life with toxins getting you down? If it's people, they don't need to be around you and if possible, try and stay away from those who act negatively upon you. If you're upset about events that have happened or may do, consider one thing - the past is over for a reason and does not define you, forgive yourself. The future is ahead for a reason and you have time to prepare for whatever is ahead, if it's difficult you are clearly strong enough to handle whatever it will bring.

However if this doesn't work, maybe you need to get it all out in a verbal way. Phone your closest friend, have a chat with a close family member and just tell them everything - most of the time when you get super stressed or sad, it's not just due to one thing but many things building up inside at the same time. People who know and love you personally will do anything they can to advise you and help you feel a little better.

Finally, one of the best things you can do when you find yourself feeling a little negative is to balance it out with love, and doing something that makes you happier than anything else. This could be seeing your friends for coffee, doing your favourite sport or hobby, going for out for lunch with your family or even just having some quiet time to read a book and reflect. Whatever it is, make sure it's something that makes you happy, as there's always something for everyone that they love.

Remember, no obstacle is ever too big to overcome and no stress is ever too important that it can't be solved. Take a break from social media for a while, appreciate what is all around you. 

For the Perfect (Pale) Complexion

Now that we're deep into Autumn and the blustery months are here, for most of us the summer tan has long gone and we're pretty pale again. For naturally fair skinned girls like myself, it's easy to fall into the trap of trying to make yourself look more tanned and grabbing the foundation that you know is way too dark, since finding makeup that is pale enough for me and just generally suits me is rather tough. However, I've gathered a few bits that I love and really enhance my natural skin tone and suit it, without looking like a ghost!

For base, I have two all time favourites from both ends of the price scale, firstly from the likes of Chanel is their cult classic Vitalumiere Aqua foundation, which is just a gorgeous water-based formula that glides onto the skin with ease for a light, dewy finish. Not to mention, the shade B10 fits my pale complexion perfectly! A drugstore alternative I've found for this is also pretty well known and it's the Rimmel Match Perfection foundation in the shade Light Porcelain, which is very similar in consistency and finish to the Chanel one, but for a fraction of the price, and even offers the lightest of shades. I also love to use the Collection Lasting Perfection concealer for any redness or blemishes (kudos to the shade Light which really is perfection!)

As a lover of a dewy look, since I feel it suits pale skin a lot as it may already look a bit flat, I find adding powder tends to make me look too matte and a little cakey, however one that I've found that perfectly sets my makeup and lightly rids of oily bits is the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light, which I find the best fit and has a wide variety of shades. Also from MAC are two blushes that were recommended by the lovely lady working at the counter, who said they were the best for my skin tone and I agree! The shades Well Dressed (a sheer baby pink) and Fleur Power (a soft muted berry tone) are gorgeous dusted on the apples of your cheeks, and I find Fleur Power to be the perfect autumn blush shade.

For the extra glow needed for us fair ladies, I found my holy grail Bronzer used by some of my favourite youtubers, the Soap and Glory Solar Powder, which is a duo toned Bronzer that isn't at all muddy or orange looking and just gives the skin a little warmth. To suit pink toned skin like mine, Benefit High Beam is lovely on the tops of the cheek bones, down the nose, Cupid bow and forehead, and doesn't look too harsh a highlight. 

Finally, for the lips, I find for any skin tone it's important to find the perfect red and the perfect nude for you. For red, I chose one with a slightly pink undertone as I find it adds more warmth to the face than a standard pillar box red, which is the NARS Velvet Lip Pencil in Dragon Girl, and I'm obsessed. For the nude option, I often find they wash me out so I went to the L'oreal stand and chose the nude for fair skin and red hair which suits me perfectly, called Collection Privee Julianne's Nude, which I'm sure would suit anyone with fair skin!

Who says pale means pasty now?

A Lazy Girl's Guide to Skincare

Admit it - we all want clear glowing skin without the faff of using a million and one products everyday! People often ask how I keep my skin clear, and with the odd spot now and again, my skin is generally quite good and my skincare routine is far from complex. With a few key steps, it's simple to keep your skin looking gorgeous and blemish free!

-Cleansing Water-

The first step in both my morning and evening routine is to use a cleansing water, like my trusty one from Garnier. I apply some to a cotton pad and gently work in to refresh my face and remove any impurities or dirt before using any other wash or cleanser. It's also very handy to use in the evening for removing makeup, especially that hard to remove waterproof mascara!

-Cream/Gel Cleanser-

This is just an extra step I add in for both mornings and night, to get rid of any last traces of makeup and leave my skin feeling super soft. My favourite is the L'oreal Skin Perfection Gel Cream Wash, which is great as it's designed for sensitive skin and won't sting your eyes (making it perfect for removing heavy eye makeup!)

-Exfoliator-

One step I find super beneficial for keeping my skin clear and glowing is using a daily facial scrub. These will rid of any dry, dead skin cells to reveal new, fresh feeling skin! My current love is again from L'oreal in the form of their Skin Perfection Radiance Revealing Exfoliator. This is great as it's quick, easy and smells of peaches, which is always a bonus!

-Moisturiser-

If you only do one step from these steps, make it moisturiser! Your skin needs hydration in order to feel and look it's best, and essential as a smooth base if you're going to be wearing makeup. I'm currently using (and loving!) the Garnier Moisture Match cream in Goodbye Dry, but there are five different formulas depending on your skin type - and at under £5, what more could a girl need!?

-Mask-

The final step in my routine is a lovely detoxing mask at the end of the week, to unclog my pores and prevent future breakouts. A great one to try is the Soap and Glory No Clogs Allowed, which is self-heating so you can truly feel the mask working it's magic, and it contains salicyllic acid to fight any pesky pimples.

And that concludes my lazy girl's guide to skincare - who knew achieving the glow was such a doddle.

A Few Fall Favourites

Evening all and once again, we're greeted by a gorgeous crisp autumm day, reminding me why I love the season so much as I've been waiting for months to crack out my snuggly tartan scarves! As it's recently been my birthday and I've been gifted with some exciting new bits as well as buying some here and there, I've found a lot of fabulous new things that I simply won't be able to live without this autumn.

For beauty, there's a lot of new products I've discovered as well as rediscovered for the cooler months, particuarly the highly raved about Soap and Glory Solar Powder Bronzer. As my poor attempt of a summer glow fades, I love using this little gem in a '3' shape all over the face, as well as slightly contouring for a natural bronze glow. I've also been loving the Diorshow Iconic Overcurl mascara for a while, but particuarly for autumn since lovely curled lashes with heaps of mascara is a gorgeous look for this time of year, as well as more defined brows, for which I love the Maybelline Brow Drama brow gel which I just sweep over my brows after filling them in to give a little extra shape and oomph. Of course, as a lover of all things bold and bright, a red lip simply had to be featured and I particularly love the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet lipstick in the shade Hot Pepper, which ticks the bold, matte and super long wearing boxes.

For my hair, I love a little extra volume in autumn since my hair tends to go a little flat in summer with all the heat, and I just spritz a little of the L'oreal Volumizing Supersize Spray into the roots and crown of my head to give my style a little boost - a fab alternative to the super hyped Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray. I also tend to reach for the hand cream a lot now it's getting colder and my skin tends to dry out a little more, and my fave for this is from Soap and Glory in the form of their classic Hand Food, which is super moisterising and has the classic S & G scent.

As for the scented stuff, I simply adore the new Viktor and Rolf Bonbon perfume, which feels so autumnal and cosy to me with the sweet and caramel-esque scent, as well as one of the new festive Yankee Candles in Angel Wings which I find has a similar scent to the perfume with a slight hint of vanilla. 

For keeping cosy yet cute, I'm literally obsessed with cutely printed scarves like the one above which is from Primark, and it's so huge so it can be used as a blanket when you're at home - bonus points!

Hope you enjoyed the post and let me know what your autumn favourites are! 

Autumnal Lip Picks

As a self-confessed lipstick junkie, I am pretty excited about the upcoming autumn months when we throw out the old corals and baby pinks of summer and welcome some deeper, darker shades. I have to say that the berry lips that we associate with autumn are definitely my favourite lip trend of the year, so I have quite a few favourites that I will be getting a lot of use out of this Fall season.

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT : RIMMEL BY KATE IN 107, MAC DIVA, YSL ROUGE VOLUPTE SHINE IN 17, REVLON LIP BUTTER IN RED VELVET, MAC RUSSIAN RED.

As you've probably guessed by now, like a lot of other makeup wearers around this time of year, it's pretty much all reds and berry tones, which starts off the introduction to my favourite drugstore pick, under the name Rimmel by Kate Matte lipstick in the shade 107. If you're looking for the perfect berry tone which is matte but not overly drying and can be worn just smudged onto the lips for a bitten effect (or just whacked on straight from the bullet to get maximum colour payoff) them this may be the one for you.

I have a few favourites from MAC, who's lipsticks usually excel anyway but the darker shades of theirs are definitely my favourite, particuarly Diva and Russian Red. Both matte finishes, super pigmented and a little on the drying side (nothing a little lip balm underneath can't fix) they are certainly a way to make a statement this autumn.

When I'm looking to treat myself to a bit of a more high end goodie, the YSL Rouge Volupte Shine lipsticks are certainly my first choice. The one above is in the shade 17 - Rose In Tension, which is a gorgeous deep rosy colour, darker than a nude but a little more subtle than your typical autumn berry.

Finally, another drugstore love are the classic Revlon Lip Butter and the shade Red Velvet is certainly one to be whipping out this time of year -  it's balmy, hydrating feel and instant hit of deep colour is sure to be a winner.

What are your favourite autumn lip picks? X

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation

First thing's first (I'm the realist, sorry it has to be done) I have been desperate to get my hands on this classic for quite some time, but kept putting it off because of the jaw dropping £33.50 price tag, yikes. But when I was off on holiday and magically found myself in duty-free, I decided to bite the bullet as it had a significant discount, and boy I do not regret it.

As this is one of Viviannadoesmakeup's all time favourites and her skin always looks fabulous, I knew it had to be a good one, as it promises an ultra light feel with a slight coverage. Gone are the days where I thought I needed a super heavy coverage (for some slightly red bits), as I just go over there with concealer and the rest can be pretty light coverage. 

The foundation itself is water based, probably why it feels so light, so you need to shake it before use and then squirt a little onto the back of your hand or onto your brush. When applying, it literally melts into the skin and leaves a glowy but not overly dewy-I'm very sweaty look, which is just what I love. 

My favourite thing about this foundation is the fact that it doesn't look like you're wearing foundation. There's enough coverage to even out your skin tone but you don't look caked in makeup, so it's pretty much perfect skin in a bottle!

I would certainly recommend this gorgeous product - if you're willing to pay the extra then I'd certainly say go for it!

Stopping the Back to School Blues

Hello again everyone and welcome to September - finally the beginning of autumn! Sadly however, the start of September also means the start of school, which for most of us isn't something we look forward to and for me especially, this time can often make you feel stressed out and a bit down in the dumps. But if you take a little bit of action and preparation for back to school, it can easily become a bit easier and even enjoyable, so here is how to make the best out of back to school and making it as simple to deal with as possible!

1. Get organised in advance

I know we're all guilty of not being bothered to get our uniform or school books together for the next school day and being flustered in the morning trying to get everything together in time, getting you all stressed before your day even starts! To stop this happening, I always try to layout the clothes I'll be wearing, the makeup I want to wear and pack my school bag with all the books and homework I need, so in the morning it's way less of a frenzy and everything I need is ready.

2. Keep busy after school

I'm also guilty of this one, getting home from school with nothing to do for hours, leaving you feeling pretty miserable and gets you into a cycle of feeling rubbish! Try and keep yourself busy with things to do, like seeing your friends or joining a club to go to after school, rather than sitting at home waiting to go to bed and feeling bored.

3. Talk to someone about your day

If something at school is stressing me out or I just have something on my mind, I find I always feel a hundred times better if I talk to someone about it to let off some steam and get the weight off your shoulders. Have a chat with your mum or a friend or even a teacher if you're finding something not so great and it will always make things feel a big easier.

4. Remember it's okay to take a break!

Being in school with constant work and exams is tough, so it's always good to take a little breather every once in a while and do what makes you feel relaxed and happy for a little while. Whether that's watching YouTube videos or some TV, maybe lighting a candle and having a bubble bath, these little things always take my mind off the school day and give me a positive outlook on the day ahead.

Those are my little tips for back to school, I hope you have a wonderful year ahead and try to enjoy it, even though that may seem impossible!

Duty-Free Hauling...Again

Hello everyone and right now I'm writing this in the sunny town of Valencia in Spain, spending the last week of the school holidays (cry) in the sun! As you probably guessed, before boarding the plane and arriving in Spain, it was inevitable that I would end up in the makeup counters at Duty Free, where I picked up a few goodies - ones I'd waited ages to get my hands on.

First of all is a perfume I'd had my eye on for a while since the bottle is so beautiful, but I'd never given it a smell until I got to the airport - then I knew I had to have it! It's the Marc Jacobs Daisy Delight and is described as 'a playful surprise, a rush of happiness' and is like a younger and more sweet version of the original Daisy scent, and I much prefer this one!

I also was excited to pick up the incredibly hyped Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua foundation, which every youtuber seems to love! I loved it from the first time I tried it, it's a thin consistency with light coverage, but it makes your skin look fresh and gorgeous - without looking like you're wearing makeup! 

Next is from Dior and I got their Diorshow Iconic Overcurl mascara, which I didn't intend to purchase but after the new It-lash mascara was sold out, this is what the lady at the counter recommended, and I'm so glad! It has a spoon-like wand and is amazing for lengthening, thickening and as the name suggests, curling my lashes!

Finally, on the plane I got the ever famous YSL Touché Éclat highlighting pen, which is a pinky peach shade and I'm excited to use it as a highlighter very soon.

That was all the goodies I picked up on my little duty free dash, I hope you're all having a fab holiday and if you're going anywhere nice, have some inspiration on what's good on the duty free counters!

Best of the Bases

Every building needs a strong foundation for it to hold up and look good, and it's the same for your face! Without a good base, it's pretty much impossible for the rest of your makeup to go on smoothly and look good, so I feel like finding your perfect foundation is the most crucial part of my makeup routine, and yours! Here are a few of my favourites that I feel make the cut.

THE BEST FOR DRY SKIN

For those if you who, like me, tend to get dry patches and want a foundation that will moisturise your skin and make it look dewy and glowing, rather than sticking to the dry patches, your best bet may be the well known and loved Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation. It has tiny shimmering particles to give your skin that glow, without looking glittery and at only £7.99, you can't really go wrong!

THE BEST FOR OILY SKIN

Sometimes, especially in warmer months and places like school, you can tend to look a little more shiny, and reapplying powder ten times a day isn't too convenient. At times like this, a more mattifying foundation will be your best friend! I love the Stay Matte foundation, also by Rimmel, because it has a light whipped formula that I think goes on best with fingers to make sure it looks fresh and light. This foundation has pretty good coverage but a light feel, so it's perfect for keeping your face flawless and matte, without the need for tons of powder!

THE BEST FOR LIGHT COVERAGE

If you're just starting out with makeup or don't need much coverage at all, a BB cream could be your perfect match. After trying a fair few from Smashbox to Maybelline, my favourite is the Revlon Photoready BB Cream, which has a lovely dewy look and a light coverage, perfect for when you don't need too much makeup on but still want a little something there.

THE BEST FOR FULL COVERAGE

Usually I prefer a lighter coverage foundation for daytime, but for nights out, performances and days when your skin just isn't looking great, sometimes you need a little help from a higher coverage base. The winner just has to be the MAC Studio Fix Fluid - it ticks all the boxes! High coverage that doesn't look cakey, a lovely satin finish and stays forever and a day on the skin, what more could a girl want? 

Hope I've given a little foundation-inspiration (too much?!) and finding your perfect match will be as easy as 1-2-3!

Those Lazy Day Essentials

Hello everyone, and as you may know, I have recently had a rather daunting operation that has made me reliant on crutches, so it isn't that easy to get around and as a result of that, I've been spending  lot of my holiday in bed or just in the house. This can tend to get a little boring if you're like me and love being active, but I thought I'd write about a few things that I thought are essential for these kind of days, when you're just lounging around the house or ill in bed, so maybe if you're in the same situation, you won't feel bored out of your brains!

1. SNACKS AND DRINKS

Clearly this is important as you can't survive without food! I just like having easy things if I'm in bed of on the sofa, and it's okay to have a little treat once in a while, like my favourite Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. It's also important to stay hydrated, so drink water or your favourite drink! If you're feeling a bit cold and under the weather, my favourite thing to do is make a lovely caramel hot chocolate or latte to warm me up inside and will make you feel all snugly!

2. MOISTURISER

I know it's easy to forget about this if you're being lazy and aren't going out anywhere, but it's still important to keep your skin hydrated, mainly your face and hands. My favourite hand cream is the Soap and Glory Hand Food, so your skin will still feel soft snd smell like a lovely lil marshmallow. And don't forget the lip balm!

3. THINGS TO KEEP YOU ENTERTAINED

When I was bed bound in the hospital and my house, it can get pretty boring if you don't have anything to do. It's good to have magazines, books, or your laptop or tablet to watch YouTube videos or even read blogs (!) My favourite youtubers at the moment are VelvetGh0st (Gabby), Amelia Liana, Lily Pebbles and ViviannaDoesMakeup (Anna).

4. SCENTED CANDLES (the more, the better!)

When I'm a bit cold and down in the dumps in my room, there's nothing more comforting than lighting your favourite candle! It really creates an atmosphere, not to mention making your room smell lovely! My favourite ones are Yankee Candle Spiced Orange for a warm, cosy feeling or Yankee Candle Summer Scoop or Pink Sands for a fresh scent.

Of course, anything else you feel you need to have a relaxing day in, you can use and pamper yourself with! Enjoy your lazy day...