Kebelo Enriching Range* | Review

I have very awkward hair.  It is very oily near the roots and gets greasy very quickly, but the ends are very dry and damaged from heat and bleach, as I have ombré hair. I find it very hard to find products that suit both the roots of my hair and the ends.

This range comes beautifully packaged, something that I would definitely expect from a premium brand.  The whole range comes in one box, which is very convenient and it also makes it the perfect gift for someone as it is presented so nicely.  The products themselves come in beautiful pink and purple tubes, which help to distinguish this range from all of Kebelo's other ranges, each targeted for specific problems. Each product is a good size, which ensures that you definitely get your money's worth and you won't be repurchasing them too often if this is your favourite hair care regime (it is certainly mine!).

The shampoo lathers beautifully which means I only need a small amount (about the size of a 50p coin) to clean my whole head.  My hair is about 35 cm past shoulder length so this is almost unheard of! It does such a good job at cleaning, that I can usually get away with doing just 1 shampoo which saves time and product as well.  With the conditioner, I need an even smaller amount which is fantastic. I concentrate it on the ends of my hair and any left over product I lightly run through the roots as well.  I leave the conditioner on for about 2 minutes and rinse, leaving my hair unbelievably soft and silky and so much more manageable when I come to dry it.  I use the mask once a week as a bit of a pampering treatment.  I get my hair damp and then run a very small amount through the lengths of my hair, twist it round and pin it up for about 20 mins whilst I take a bath.  I then rinse it off and shampoo and condition as per usual.  The results of this were so amazing that it was like I had got my hair done in a salon, I really couldn't believe how beautiful my hair was after! It felt so much more nourished and healthy, and looked beautifully shiny and silky.

This is brilliant compared to most other products I've tried.  Other products I have tried that will repair the ends of my hair, tend to add too much moisture to the roots and then make the oil issue a lot more prominent which has effectively made my hair worse because it needs to be washed more often.  These products are the only products catered for dry hair that haven't made my hair more oily which has really helped the condition of my hair.

I received these products on the 6th February and I have used them every 2-3 days since and the mask weekly.  The difference in my hair has been phenomenal! It appears so much healthier and shinier, split ends seem to be less obvious and it feels a lot more soft and silky to the touch.  My hair is quite thin and can be quite straggly and knotty, and I have found that these products, especially the conditioner and the mask have helped to keep my hair more manageable and have also given it a bit more life.

Overall, I definitely recommend this range if you have a hair type that is similar to mine or dryer.  I also think colour treated hair, especially bleach would benefit from these products massively.  I will definitely continue using these and I think that I will probably be repurchasing them in the future, both as gifts for friends and family, and as a treat to myself! Kebelo have really impressed me with these and I will definitely be trying some more of their products in the future.

You can find these products here for a reduced price of £26.96!

Emily xx

I was sent the Kebelo Enriching Range by Everything Cosmetic (http://everythingcosmetic.co.uk) to take part in their Team Trial. If you'd like to trial products sign up to be part of the Everything Cosmetic Review Team. 

Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara | Review

The Maybelline Lash Sensational Lash Multiplying Mascara (ridiculously long name alert) seems to have caused quite a stir in the beauty world recently, and as a beauty blogger and mascara addict, I felt compelled to try it at the introductory price of £5.99.  I have been trialling this for around a week now so I thought I would share with you my thoughts.

Starting off with the packaging, it is a beautiful frosted baby pink colour and the tube is the typical shape of a Maybelline Mascara.  The wand itself is plastic which is what straight away made me gravitate towards this product.  Plastic wands aren't for everybody, but for me, I find they give me the best results and help me to achieve my desired look.  The actual formula is quite wet which means the wand does apply quite a lot of product - this would be my only issue with this product but that is only temporary as it will soon dry out. I don't find it to flake under my eyes or wear off throughout the day, which is one of the pros of having a slightly wetter formula. The spoon shaped wand makes it easy to coat every single lash easily without making too much mess and ensures a fuss-free application.  It really lengthens my lashes whilst adding volume and I would say it gives similar results to the likes of 'They're Real' from Benefit which is a considerably pricier offering.

I am very impressed with Maybelline's latest launch and I would definitely recommend checking it out if you are a fan of Benefit mascara's; this demonstrates significant similarities for a fraction of the price.

Have you tried this mascara? If not, have I convinced you to?

Emily xx

The Best Of : Cream Eyeshadows

 Metallic Pomegranate, On and on Bronze

 Brownie Points, Back to Basics

 RSVP, No Pressure

 Bare Study, Let's Skate

If someone were to ask me what my favourite eyeshadow formula, I would straight away say cream without even thinking about it. I love the lack of effort needed for application, the longevity, the finish, everything about them really.  I have to admit, it is hard for me to find cream shadows that I like and it is rare that I find a product that I'm completely in love with. The three lines I will be discussing today are the creme de la creme in my book and out of all the cream shadows I have tried (trust me, there have been a fair few), these have been the only ones that have really stood out for me and certainly get the most use.

Starting off with one of my favourite drugstore products, the Maybelline Color Tattoos have been cult products ever since their release a few years ago.  The formula is beautifully creamy and pigmented, gliding on to the lid smoothly and blending seamlessly.  You can create so many different looks with these, a quick wash of colour blended with a fluffy brush, or you can combine various shades to create a multitude of looks.  The best thing about it is, once they have set, your eyes will be looking fabulous all day long.

Another even cheaper offering comes from elf.  The Elf Smudge Pots are arguably my favourite cream eyeshadows to date! The pigmentation is phenomonal and the formula is not to dissimilar to the Mac Paint Pots.  A little bit certainly goes a long way and I find that one swipe is plenty to slap all over the lid and blend through the crease with a synthetic brush.  I use both of these shades together to create the perfect every day smokey eye and I use them a lot.  I will definitely be purchasing more shades in the future, elf have a fantastic range of colours on offer.

Moving on to the pricier side of things, the Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadows are perfect if you are looking to treat yourself to a slightly more expensive alternative.  These have an ever so slightly drier texture to the two mentioned previously, but I find this does add to the longevity of the wear.  The only downside to this is that they would possibly dry out more quickly, but if you use it a lot then that shouldn't be any reason not to splurge.  The shades aren't quite as pigmented as the ones mentioned before but are easily buildable.  I find this better in a way because it means I can have a subtle wash of colour or something a little bolder if I'm feeling brave enough or want something a little more dramatic.

The last formula is middle-of-the-road-ish when we are talking prices. The Mac Pro Longwear Paint Pots aren't as expensive as the Benefit ones, yet are by no means considered drugstore, they sit somewhere in the middle. As mentioned previously they have a very similar formula to the elf smudge pots if you love these but would like a cheaper alternative.  They share the same wet, slightly greasy texture that creates a beautiful wet look to your eyeshadows.  These come in a bigger size than the elf ones, so if you plan on using it daily, the Mac ones will last you a lot longer.

What are your favourite cream shadows? What is your favourite eyeshadow formulation?

Emily xx

The Sunday Edit #40

This week was the school holidays, and even though I was in school for 3 days, I took full advantage of some more spare time and caught up on as much work as I could.  Yesterday was a pleasant day so I took lots of blog pictures and typed up some posts, meaning I have about 8 posts done and ready to go which then gives me some more time over the coming weeks for school work.  I am nearly up to date with science and history, completely on top of maths and about to start on English literature and Business. I have my art exam in 5 weeks so I have a lot of work to do with that as well which is quite a lot of pressure, but I'm not hugely bothered about Art as to me, its not really that important. Obviously I want to get a good grade but its not the be all and end all and it certainly isn't going to affect my career. I don't know many lawyers that have had an A* in art as part of their job requirements so it is no longer a priority.

Yesterday I went to Dick Lovett with my mum because she had to have an MOT done on her Mini.  After taking full advantage of the free wifi and coffee machine, they gave us a lift to the local shopping centre where we ambled around a bit, looked at some bits and pieces and bought Krispy Kreme donuts! We then came back and I was very excited to have received my Love Me Beauty box which will be featured in a post next week once I have had a chance to give all of the products a whirl. What I especially love about this box, is not only can you choose your products so you know you aren't wasting money, but you don't have to subscribe to anything! You can buy just a one off box and you aren't tied to the monthly subscription like you would be with glossy box or birch box. We then went out to a few shops and then I came back and did some hardcore blogging!

Today I will be having a relatively lazy day, doing a bit of work here and there and doing some bits and bobs.  I do love Sundays, I very rarely go out and I always feel strangely productive so I tend to get a lot of stuff done and feeling accomplished!

I hope you have all had a lovely week and have a lovely weekend!

Emily xx

On Trial | New Skincare From Avon

When it comes to skincare, Avon is not really a brand that I have taken much notice of.  Back in the summer last year, I fell in love with their pore penetrating black clay mask and I have nearly finished the whole tube.  I was flicking through the catalogue a few weeks ago and some of the skincare products caught my eye, especially those specifically targeted at oily/combination/problematic skin.  After a lot of umming and ahhing and a fair bit of googling, I opted for the balanced+matte white clay mask and the cucumber and green tea moisturiser.  Both products came to the grand total of around £4 which is crazy considering you would struggle to even get one of these for £4 in the likes of boots or superdrug, especially if you are after a good quality product that will show definite improvement in your skin.  I have given these a little whirl, and I have to say, so far so good! I haven't had a proper chance to decipher how I truly feel about them, so after some more use, I will report back!  Avon skincare is definitely something to look at if you want good quality products that are budget-friendly.

What do you think of Avon products?

Emily xx

Empties #3 - The Makeup Edit

I haven't done an empties post in quite a while, and to be honest, they are a rare occurrence as I hardly ever finish products! You know a product is seriously good if I use up the whole thing before I move on to something else!

Starting with base products, the first product I have used up is the Mac Studio Fix Fluid.  This has been my holy grail foundation ever since I got it, it is one of the only foundations that will last on my oily skin, the coverage is medium/full without being cakey and it doesn't cling to dry patches.  I am scraping every last scrap of it out and I may think about repurchasing, but I would like to try Estée Lauder Double Wear and Revlon Colorstay to see how they fair first.  If they don't live up to Studio Fix Fluid's standards, I will certainly be repurchasing!
The next is no surprise, I go through the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer like there is no tomorrow! I probably use too much, a lot more than I really need, but I love it so much that I just feel the need to plaster my face in it! It runs out far too quickly!
The next product is the Benefit Stay Don't Stray Primer.  Now, this technically isn't empty but it has gone all watery and separates into flakes and is just unusable.  I did get plenty of use out of this, and it really did helped to keep my eyeshadows on for as long as possible.
I have 4 eye products that are either finished or unusable. Two of my favourite mascaras, Rimmel Lash Accelerator and the Clinque Bottom Lash Mascara have dried right out and do nothing for my lashes any more.  I would definitely repurchase these as these were 2 of my absolute favourites not too long ago and I really love the results I get from these products. I have also come to the end of my favourite eyeliner, the Rimmel Glameyes Liquid Eyeliner.  I love this eyeliner, it has a very fine brush so it is very easy to use, and the formula is brilliant for such an affordable product.  I am trying out a few different eyeliners at the moment, but I will be repurchasing this if I am unable to find another holy grail.  The last product seems to have snuck into the makeup section of this post, even though it is technically skin care! I have gone through yet another of the Benefit It's Potent Eye Cream samples, which still remains to be my favourite eye cream as it helps to diminish dark circles and keep everything around my eyes hydrated.

I will be doing a skincare edit very soon, as I tend to finish skincare products quicker than makeup! Expect that within the next month or so once I feel I have collected enough products to dedicate an entire post to!

Emily xx

What I've Won #4

I'm sorry this post is up a little late, I have been at school all day rewriting my history controlled assessment, and as well as being brain dead, I think it is safe to say that I have lost all motivation to carry out even the simplest of tasks - moving is an example!

As mentioned in Sunday's post, I have won yet another giveaway! It just goes to show that it really is worth taking a few minutes to enter these things because someone has to win and it may just be you!

All of these beauty goodies come from the lovely Zee who blogs over at GlitZeeGlam. I have a picture of her business card above with all of her details so you can go and follow her blog and her social media.  We have been following each other on Instagram for a while and she is always leaving such lovely comments on my photos! She is such a lovely girl and her personality really shines through in her blog.

Starting off with primers, I received the sample sizes of both Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer and the Benefit Porefessional.  You have heard me endlessly singing the Porefessional's praises and it has been a staple product in my collection for a while.  I have gone through so many sample sizes and had actually ran out, so I was so glad to have this back in my life! As much as I love it, I'm still slightly reluctant to part with £24.50 for something that will last me all of 2 months (I have a serious pore issue and tend to be very liberal with makeup!). I am yet to try the smash box primer so I will have to report back on that one.  I also got the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer which as you know, gained holy grail status upon first application.  I got the shade medium 3 which is way too dark for me at the moment, but works excellently as an eyeshadow primer and will be perfect when I fake tan in the summer.

For eyes, I received some of the Primark false lashes, which I haven't tried before so I was very excited to see how well these compared to my other bargain lashes from Wilkinsons that you probably saw me write about back in September. I also received 2 mascaras, Benefit They're Real and the Collection Super Size Fat Lash Mascara.  I have used They're real in the past and loved it, and I especially love it when layered with Roller Lash - they are a match made in heaven! I actually already own the collection one and I love how much volume it gives to me lashes and really does make them super size as the name would suggest.  This will be going into a big giveaway that I plan on doing towards the Summer and my 1 year blogiversary. I also received a Bareminerals Eyeshadow in the shade 'alive' which is a beautiful pinky mauvey colour, which could also double up as a blush if applied very lightly. The last eye product is The Body Shop Eye Definer in black, which is essentially just your run of the mill black kohl liner.  It seemed quite a hard texture when swatched and not massively pigmented, but I am yet to properly use this to see how it fairs.

For lips, I received the Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm in the shade Audacious and the Smashbox Be Legendary Lipgloss in the shade illume.  The Matte balm is a beautiful neon coral colour, perfect for the summer months to really brighten your complexion and enhance any bronzey tans that you may be sporting at that particular time. The lip gloss is a beautiful light brown nude, with subtle flecks of gold glitter which just add a lovely shine to your lips and is a perfect pick me up for a dull and tired complexion.  It really enhances your lips and allows them to appear a lot fuller without actually plumping them.

The last 2 things were a nail polish set from Primarks P.S Love range and a makeup bag. I seem to have lost my photo of the makeup bag which is slightly disheartening as it is beautiful! I haven't yet had a chance to try the nail polishes but I will definitely be reporting back, I think it is about time that I talked nails around these parts!

That is everything I won, another big thanks to Zee for all the lovely prizes and I hope my lucky streak encourages you all to enter as many things as you can! Someone has to win it and it may just be you!

Emily xx

The Sunday Edit #39

Belated Happy Valentines Day! Last week was the last week of school before half term so I have a week off.....well kind of! I have to go to school for 3 days this week which is a bit of a bummer! I have to go in tomorrow to redo part of my History controlled assessment to boost my grade a bit, I have to go in for maths revision on Tuesday and I have to go in on Friday for Art catch-up.  I'm not really happy about that, but I suppose it can't be helped.

I won another giveaway this week! I know, how the hell did I manage to win 4 giveaways within a month?! I will be putting a post up about it this week, but it really shows that it is worth entering these things, after all, someone has to win it and it might just be you!  I also have an exciting review coming next week of some hair products from Kebelo.  I am doing a team trial for everything cosmetic and we aren't allowed to review it on our blogs until the team trial has gone live so we will have to wait until Friday before I can give you any other information!

Today is going to be spent making pug cupcakes! I have been wanting to do them for ages, and I finally have some spare time so I am going to make them today! If I have time to take photos whilst I am making them, then I will do a post on them and show you how I made them so you can all have a go as well!

I hope you have all had a lovely week!

Emily xx

Belly Piercings - My Experience and Tips

 I received a few questions about my recent piercing experience, so I thought I would do a whole post on my experience and tips for aftercare and anything you could ever need to know!

On 18th January, I went to Blue Banana to get my belly button pierced.  It is something I had been considering for a while, and after quite a lot of research and some recommendations from my friends, I decided that Blue Banana was the place to go.  I will admit, I didn't really want to go there because it isn't really my scene, but safety comes first and this was the safest and most trustworthy place by far!  I picked my jewellery and waited for it to be sterilised before I was called in.  The piercer I had was called Flo, and she was absolutely lovely and put me at ease.  She started off my cleaning the area and then marked where the piercing would go with a purple pen (the picture above was taken about an hour after I got it done and you can still see the purple dots).  She then laid me down on the bed and clamped the area with some metal clamps, before piercing it with a annular needle.  She then removed the needle and left the tube in place, which she then cut so it was at a more manageable size.  She then put the bar in the bottom of the tube and pulled it through before screwing the ball on, and that was it! She stood me up and let me have a look at it before putting a plaster on to protect it until I got home.

A question that was obviously going to be asked was pain! The clamps didn't hurt at all, they were just cold and tight.  When she first put the needle in, there was a slight pinch and it just felt odd because I could feel it moving through my skin, it was a very weird feeling.  It did sting a bit the further the needle went in but it was more pressure than pain because it takes a lot of force to get a needle through a chunk of skin like that.  Again pulling the bar through was a lot of pushing and pulling and was a bit like a pinch but it was nothing that I couldn't deal with.  It honestly wasn't that bad and I would do it again without any issues.  The one thing I couldn't get over was how quick it was, within 2 minutes I was in and out! I had to sit for a bit and I felt very faint, I was eventually sick but I am no good with shock so it wasn't the actual piercing that did that for me! For about an hour afterwards, it stung like hell and was a quite uncomfortable but the pain soon went and I couldn't even feel it.  It was a little bit tender for about a week after I got it done, I couldn't lie on it and anything that touched it hurt but that soon eased off.  It is absolutely fine now, I forget its there until I knock it on things, trust me, clumsy is my middle name!

Cleaning it is a bit of a pain in the backside but it has to be done! I fill a shot glass with pre-boiled water and a small spoonful of salt and soak it twice a day for the first two weeks and then once a day after that.  I soak it for 10 minutes and then put a few drops of tea tree oil on the hole and leave that for about 2-3 minutes. I then rinse that off and go round the bar with a cotton bud to make sure that it is all clean and dry.

The average healing time for a navel piercing is about 6-12 months and they recommend that you wait about 3-4 months before changing the jewellery. Obviously this is different for everyone, so I would speak to your piercer before changing it to see whether it has properly healed or not.  A belly button piercing heals from the outside in which is why it takes so long, and there is also a limited blood supply to that area which doesn't help either.  I already have about 15 bars already, which is ridiulous but they are so cheap and I am prepared for when that glorious day comes! If you would like to see my collection, then I can do that for you!

I would definitely recommend going to Blue Banana if you are in the UK, they definitely know what they are doing and provide a really good service at really reasonable prices.  If you have any questions, then don't hesitate to get in contact and I would be more than happy to answer them for you! Also, if you have any experiences that you would like to share, leave them in the comments so we can all have a read!

Emily xx

P.S, here are some articles and videos that you may find useful:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFwELfVs19g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KOVk8iGbrA
http://www.wikihow.com/Care-for-a-New-Navel-Piercing

YSL Rouge Volupte Lipstick Number 7

Okay so this has to be one of the most attractive lipsticks ever (hence the infinite number of pictures).  I could take photos of this lipstick all day long and not get bored, it is painfully photogenic. Enough about how much of a crush I have on this lipstick (a bit sad actually...), what is it actually like?

Well it's pretty special! Don't even get me started on the packaging, I think you already know my feelings on that. I think it is worth the ridiculous £25 just to use a decoration! YSL really know what's hot when it comes to packaging.  I bought this after seeing Becca Rose wear it loads and I featured it in my Monday Makeup Inspiration a few weeks ago.  It is such a beautiful cool toned baby pink that is actually not as scary as it looks in the tube! I put a small amount on and then pat it in with my finger and it looks so natural and pretty! I have also used this as a blush as well, taking a small amount on my finger and patting it into the apples of my cheeks.  The formula is quite rich and moisturising and gives a finish that is neither shiny nor matte, I would say it is similar to a satin but maybe a little more creamy.  It is insanely pigmented and is quite long-lasting provided its patted in.  The bad thing I would say about it is that after a while, it will go patchy and weird if it hasn't been patted in and is not really one of those swipe and go lipsticks.

Overall, I think this is a beautiful product and worth every penny! I can see myself getting a lot of use out of this in the Spring and Summer months.

Emily xx

Benefit Roller Lash | Review

After a long time of being teased about Benefit's newest release, I have finally got my hands on the much hyped up Roller Lash.  The newest addition to Benefit's infamous mascara line claims to grab. separate, lift and curl lashes with its revolutionary 'Hook'n'Roll' brush.  It also claims to have been specially formulated to hold a curl for 12 hours.  The formula also contains Pro Vitamin B5 and Serin which are ingredients that have been known to condition and boost the lashes as well as encouraging growth.

So does it live up to these claims? The simple answer to that is yes!  The brush makes it so easy to grab every single lash and give them a good coating and it also combs through lashes to eep the separated and avoid clumping.  It lengthens, as well as volumising and works wonders for my straight and limp lashes.  I give my lashes a quick curl with my Eyeko Eyelash Curler and a slick of Roller Lash and jobs a good un'! It really helps to open up my eyes and it does hold a curl extremely well. I also finds that it lasts well as well, there is never any smudging or flaking under my eyes which is one of the main qualities I look for in a mascara as this is something that tends to happen to me on a regular basis, and trust me, it is far from attractive! Overall this is a brilliant mascara and this could definitely be a holy grail product for me because it just ticks all the boxes!

This beauty launches March 2015 and samples are available on the cover of this months Elle Magazine!

Emily xx

The Sunday Edit #38

Another hectic week swiftly draws to a close.  I can't believe how fast the weeks are going, I only have 60 school days left before I leave which is really quite scary!

This week has been the usual, hard work all the time! Yesterday I spent all day getting all my homework done, the odd bit of Science and History Revision and I did a piece of Art that needed to be finished otherwise I will be shot on Monday! Today is going to be rather quiet actually, I don't really have anything to do! It seems to be a beautifully sunny day so I may take some photos and get a few posts written up and just ponder about a bit really! Me and my friend have been obsessively watching Misfits on Netflix and she is about 2 seasons ahead of me so I might do some binge-watching today to try my utmost to catch up with her! She keeps giving me spoilers so I want to catch up so that she can't ruin it for me any more!

On Friday I received a package from Kebelo, which I will admit is not a brand that I've heard of so after a bit of googling I discovered that this is a somewhat premium hair brand.  The lovely people at Everything Cosmetic invited me to join their team trial so I will be reviewing these products on their website.  They sent me the enriching range which is specifically aimed at women with dry, coarse, colour treated hair.  This set includes a shampoo, conditioner and a deep treatment mask which will all be reviewed on my blog as well as the Everything Cosmetic website.

I have one week left of school before we have a week off for half term which I am quite looking forward to! I have to go in on the Monday to do a History Controlled assessment because I missed an A by 0.8 marks so I am going to chuck a few extras in and try and boost that up a bit. The rest of the week shall be used to catch up with myself because the huge amount of work has overwhelmed me and no matter how much I do, I always seem to be behind! This term has been mental so I am really looking forward to a week off to just chill and recover from the trauma!

I hope you have all had a lovely week!

Emily xx

p.s, I just realised I used an obscene amount of exclamation marks in that, apologies!

What I've Won #3

Well my lucky streak seems to have continued and I have won yet another giveaway! This time I have won some E45 products from the lovely Heather who blogs over at Of Beauty and Nothingness (I apologise for the poor-quality photos, blame english weather).  I have to admit, E45 is not really  brand I've ever been that interested in. I haven't ever felt the urge to try any of their products, nor have any of them ever really grabbed my attention.
The first product I got was the E45 Moisturising Lotion.  This can be used anywhere on the body, I have been mainly using it on my face before makeup.  It is quite light in consistency and sinks in quickly so nothing slides off it.  Makeup goes on smoothly over the top and it minimises the amount of dry patches that my foundation clings to.  My skin has had a bit of a blip recently, I'm not sure if its down to this or its just the weather so I will keep going with it and see what happens. I will be a little bit miffed if it is this that is breaking me out because I do really like the product otherwise.
The second product I received was the Repair and Protect Overnight Hand Cream. I love a good hand cream in the winter and this is a brilliant one. It is very rich and locks in as much moisture as possible, without leaving your hands greasy and sinking in quickly.  I have to admit, I haven't tried it overnight, I tend to keep it in my handbag for when I'm out and about and my hands feel a little dry.

I definitely recommend E45 products, they have such a vast range for all skin types at really affordable prices so it is definitely worth a look!

Emily xx

January Favourites | 2015

I hope you have all had a lovely start to the new year; I honestly cannot believe that we are a month and 6 days into the new year.  How time flies! I seem to have tried out a fair few things this month, the boxing day sales were most certainly my weakness and Christmas also meant that there were even more new things to play with!

Starting off with makeup, the first product is the much raved about Mary-Lou Manizer from TheBalm.  This is honestly so worth the hype, it gives the perfect glow without looking too shimmery or glittery and catches the light beautifully.  I also use this as an eyeshadow on an every day basis and blend a little bit of bronzer through the crease and it looks beautiful. It is such an amazing and versatile product and is worth every penny! If you do purchase this, I would recommend using a light hand because this stuff is hella pigmented!
The second product is something that I hadn't heard off until I won it in a giveaway a few weeks ago! TheBalm Whats your type? Tall, Dark & Handsome Mascara is possibly one of my new holy grail mascaras next to benefit's new Roller Lash.  It has a plastic wand which is my personal favourite and it really lengthens and separates lashes whilst giving them the extra oomph to keep them curled and volumised. This is such an amazing mascara and I am quite surprised that not more people talk about this.
The next product comes from Makeup Revolution which is probably one of my new favourite budget brands.  Their Blush Stick in the shade Matte Malibu has been my go to bronzing/contouring product this month for many reasons! It is effectively just a cream bronzer in a stick, it glides onto the cheeks effortlessly and blends seamlessly to leave a long lasting bronzey look to the skin whilst also subtly defining your facial features.  This is another product that requires a light hand because the pigmentation is phenomenal.  I would definitely recommend this if you would like a cheaper dupe for the Nars matte multiple which is almost identical to this, both in formula and colour.
The last makeup product is the Avon Setting Spray.  I picked this up randomly for £2.50, not really expecting anything amazing and I had actually intended to use it for wetting loose pigments.  I was so pleasantly surprised at this product, it has made a huge difference to the longevity of my makeup! I spray it on after I've finished my base, before I powder and then after I have completely finished my makeup and I have noticed a dramatic difference in both the finish and lasting power of my makeup.  It feels light on the skin and not sticky, but you can almost feel it really setting your makeup down and it gives it a lovely radiant finish.  I would definitely recommend trying this one before splurging on any of the urban decay versions.
Onto skincare, I have been literally obsessed with the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser.  This is another product that is certainly loved by many and was something I had been coveting for a long time.  I finally got the chance to try it when I received it for christmas and I was so pleased!  This cleanser is perfect for all skin types and has really helped to keep my skin in the best condition possible throughout the harsh weather we have been having in the UK this month.  It feels so luxurious and buttery on the skin and you can really feel it melting into your skin and pulling out all the dirt. It is so gentle on the skin and I have only noticed good things coming from this! I also love the gentle exfoliation you get with the muslin cloths and I can usually kill 2 birds with 1 stone with this product.  I would highly recommend this to anyone who wants a cleanser that it gentle, yet effective and doesn't have a horrendous price tag!
The last beauty related item is the No7 Beautiful Night Cream.  Although my skin is predominantly oily, it does get rather dry from time to time and lacks the hydration that it needs.  This product has been perfect for keeping my skin hydrated and moisturised without making it more oily.  This is surprisingly light for a light cream, and although it is light it is still rich enough to give your skin a noticeable boost. This is definitely a winner for me and for the price, you can't really go wrong!
The last thing is my One Line A Day Memory Book which I also got for christmas.  I did a whole post on this on Monday here so I won't ramble too much, but it is such a lovely thing to have and I definitely recommend purchasing this if you are someone who likes to document everything like me!

I hope you have all had a lovely month, I am sorry for the slight delay on this post as it was due to go up on Wednesday, but I was poorly and didn't have time to write it!

Emily xx

Memories

I am one of those people who like to document everything.  Wherever I go or whatever I do, I take as many photos as possible and I love to write everything down, whether it be reminders, lists or memories.  When I received this book for christmas, I was thrilled! The One Line A Day Memory Book is such a good idea! As the name would suggest, you have a small space for each day where you write down memories and moments that you want to treasure.  This lasts for 5 years and you can see what you were doing on each day, each year.  I love how you can look back over the years and look at all the things that made you happy and look back on the special times you spent with friends and family, where you went, what you did, who you were with and anything that you want to remember.  I can't wait until the end of the year when I can go through every page and look back on everything that happened this year, and when I get to the end of the book and can look back on a whole 5-years worth of memories. I have written in it every day so far and it isn't something that I will ever get bored of.

I think this is such a lovely thing to have and I definitely recommend getting one! You can get these for around £3.90 on amazon (link above) which is an absolute bargain for something so special.

Emily xx

The Sunday Edit #37

Pinch punch, first of the month, slip slap can't do it back!

I can only apologise for the lack of post on Friday, I have had a hectic week and have been experiencing some technical issues! Does anyone else absolutely despise the new Mac update?! I think it looks so cheap and is so strangely laid out, I'm certainly not a fan! I'm sure I'll get used to it though, the same as iOS 7 which I hated as well!  Anyways, enough technical talk! This week I have been so busy with school work, trying to improve on the things that I went wrong in on my Mock exams and trying to get as much artwork done as possible, ready for my exam at the end of march.  I'm finding Art the most stressful out of all of my subjects, my teacher is horrible and is constantly putting unnecessary pressure on us to do work that isn't completely necessary in getting a GCSE. She has started setting ridiculously unrealistic deadlines for pieces of work, which not only are impossible to meet but forcing us to be creative.  I have always loved art, but I have to say, she is really ruining it for me now! The whole idea of art is to enjoy it and express yourself, and when you are having those days where you just don't feel motivated or creative, you can't do it and forcing it is only going to impact on the quality of work and will affect your grade in the long term!

It's not all doom and gloom, I finally saved up enough to buy myself a Michael Kors Watch! I have been wanting one of these for the longest time and I have finally got my grubby mits on one! Seeing as I already have 2 gold/rose gold watches, I thought I'd opt for the silver instead to go with the rest of my jewellery which is primarily silver.  This particular model is the MK5353 and I managed to track it down on Amazon for £132.42 which is a huge saving from the RRP £225.  I am so happy with it, and today will be spent tracking down a good jewellers to take out some links for me because it is absolutely huge and I have midget wrists! I also have some art pieces to finish off and I am desperate to finish season 2 of misfits, which I have been massively into over the past week! Nothing exciting, quite a lazy day!

I hope you have all had a lovely week and month!

Emily xx