Friday Favourites #2

Hello and welcome back to another Friday’s favourites post. I really enjoyed creating the last one and I think it makes me really aware (every so often) of the things that I just keep going back to or have added to making my life that little bit easier.

Favourite items

Firstly, is my iPad. This might seem like an unusual item to put on such a pedestal but as being more of a Samsung person over an apple one, the ipad is the most recent addition to my gadgets collection and not only did it save me when I had no internet in china (that was a real rough patch with 90% of things being blocked) it’s great for watching videos in the morning, getting work done on train journeys and even for the occasional lectures. Never thought I needed something like this in my life untill now but it has proved to be a great asset.

My panda headband is another recent edition from my trip to china but after years of getting face cream in my hair and getting kinks in it with hairbands, I resorted to a somewhat cute headband to get me going with my daily routine. Not the cutest panda faces I have ever seen but if it does the job, it’s a keeper.

What I’m watching

Netflix is pretty much my regular tv app of choice and I have been really getting into a few of the new releases. The first is The Good Place with Ted Danson and Kristin Bell, dispelling the perceived ideas about heaven and hell and putting those already dead through the works. Only one season and a bit in, I am excited to see where the episodes go and what twists happen next.

Having taken a break from American horror story with hotel being the least of my favourite ones, Roanoak is what I had secretly been holding out for. The style it is filmed in is definitely unconventional but from a critic’s point of view, a style with potential and gives the series a new lease of life. Some of your old favourites are back with a few new faces thrown in there and it deffo one I think you should give a go…even if AHS isn’t your favourite thing.

How could I forget the confession tapes? If you have been reading my blog for a while, you know I love murder mystery programmes and cases so as soon as this came through, I clicked on it straight away. It went into a little more depth about some of the cases I already had prior knowledge and even if it’s not your genre, it’s really interesting just to see how these are used or thrown out within the justice system.

Let’s eat

Bringing in a little home cooking this week as I am trying to keep my weekly expenses to a minimum, this is one of my many bulk dishes that I make and it’s a lentil and sweet potato curry. I use a recipe from online which I will link here but it’s always good to add your own little touch to it

I like to add some spinach to the mix as well as serving it with some wholegrain rice with quinoa. I uses ones out of the packet as I am not that great of a cook but in general, I have just loved taking recipes and adding my own little spin to it. This dish also works great if you have a busy week and need a few quick easy meals for even on the go.

Fashion favourites

I am loving Primark’s clothing range at the moment and I am going to do a new in haul very soon so you will see it all there but Primark’s Instagram page is just giving me all of the feels right now. Just look and tell me you don’t want it all.

Something to think about

“what you are feeling matters”

Every emotion and feeling that you have is valid. And you should allow yourself to feel it. Feel like crying for an hour? Go and go it, let it out of your body and if necessary, let those around you see it. Only once you let go can you give yourself the strength to keep going.

I hope you all have a great weekend and I’ll see you very soon with a new post 

Everyday Makeup

I kid you not that they makeup I have been doing to my face hasn’t changed since I started wearing makeup. Eyeliner, mascara and brows. I’ve had my phases with makeup when it comes to overusing eyeshadow, blusher, bronzer and I’ve realised that it just isn’t for me. I like to keep my skin clear and just do a little bit to make me look more alive.

I start by moisturising my skin. What I use varies depending on how my skin looks but it tends to be E45 and either a Garnier face cream, the body shop vitamin e cream or cocoa butter.

On my brows I’m using the Primark brow pencil in dark brown. A pencil sharpener is needed but for £1, it has a spooley on the other end and gives me nice precise lines and a very natural look. You may want a brow setter but I’ve given up with those.

For eyeliner, I’ve started using the urban decay perversion eyeliner and I am loving it. Gives such precise lines with a great fine tip, it’s an intense black colour and it doesn’t budge. Similar to that, the stila stay all day liner is amazing too and a cheaper option I go back to is the Maybelline master precise. I always go back to either of those when I’m running low on eyeliner

Then I move on to mascara and I’ve been using the classic volume express by Maybelline and for £5, its pretty darn good. But like eyeliners, I’ve been through my fair share of mascaras. I think my favourite to date is the two faced better than sex mascara. But I am always open to trying new ones.

Occasionally, I have blemish spots that I just don’t want to see so I will use the NARS all day luminous weightless foundation which is great to for just adding to those little areas as I really don’t like it all over my face. Better yet, it matches my skin so I love NARS for that.

And that’s honestly it. I really like the simplicity of it now and how understated it is. Going back to basics was the best thing I did. seem to get a lot of compliments on my makeup so I must be doing something right, right?

Portsmouth day trip | taking time out

The other day after my final exam (thank god) I felt like a huge weight had been lifted and I could breathe. It was like everything seemed so much better than before and I was ready to go on more adventures without feeling guilty about not doing any work or revision. About 2hrs after my exam, I set of to Portsmouth with my friends for a day of discounted shopping and Nandos. Just a dream really.

I had this whole planned post planned with lots of pictures but to be honest, I just didn’t take that many. I made purchases I probably didn’t need but wanted, smiled from ear to ear (as Beyoncé would say) and filled my stomach with good food. It’s so important everyone in a while to live in the moment, take a breath and realise what you have. It was a great way for me to unwind and catch up 

with my girls.

Nonetheless, here are some pictures I took and a flatlay of all the things I bought.

I hope you guys enjoyed the post and I’ll see you all Sunday for a new one x

A lipstick love affair

I am not one to wear lipstick all that much. I love the idea of it and wearing a different one everyday but A, I don’t think I can pull it off that well and B, I feel like I’m trying too hard when I wear it. Nonetheless, I am a sucker and I still buy them every once in a while and have collected about 2 handfuls.

But this new lipstick that I had found deserved its own little shout out. I think I struggle with lipsticks because of my darker skin tone and a lot of lipsticks seem to be pink undertone when I need more of a blue undertone one.

The Maybelline colour sensational in ‘Burgundy Blush’ just ticked all of the boxes for me. I always gravitate towards burgundy/maroon lipstick so that’s a no brainer, and it had a brown undertone to it, similar to my mac ‘Antique Velvet’ one (also a great lipstick btw). It brought my favourite shade of lipstick and my only mac lipstick together beautifully. Better yet it only cost like £7 and it’s a great matte lipstick.

Tell me, what’s one of your new favourite lipsticks?

My everyday makeup | Holy Chic

Hello everyone. Hope your week is going well so far.

Today I am going to be going through my everyday face with you. Recently a lot of people have been asking me about my makeup and really I don’t understand why because it’s so basic but without even realising, I have actually changed nearly all of the products I have used.

So I guess here are the products I am currently using

Mascara: I finally gave into the lash sensational mascara by Maybelline. For me it adds a decent amount of length and separation to my lashes and I love the ergonomic design of the wand.

Eyebrows: so I picked up a new eyebrow brush and spooley duo from H&M which their stuff is awesome btw but, I have been using that with my black mono eyeshadow from MUA. I have also started setting them with the Rimmel brow this way clear gel which isn’t in this picture because I suck ;) (There will be more on that in a future post)

Eyeliners: so because I have fallen into the bad habit of browsing feelunique when I’m bored, I did manage to find two great eyeliners. Blessing in disguise eyy? The first being the Isadora flexi tip which is a jet black, you can go over it and lasts all day. The other being the Rimmel exaggerate eye definer. On the cheaper end of the spectrum but great for the waterline and doesn’t leak!

The base: okay so I despise foundation. I just really hate the way it feels on my skin and I feel like it congests my skin. In saying that, in around 2 days out of the week max when I’m really bothered or a day out, I will wear it just to cover some large hyperpigmentation. For that I will use the fit me foundation by Maybelline with a crease eyeshadow brush to blend it into the skin which I got in a set of 4 from amazon for like less than £2. But I am about to start testing out the real techniques complexion sponge so more on that soon ;)

And that’s it. My rambles aside, I told you it was really basic. I am very lazy when it comes to makeup so this just works for me.

See you all with a new post real soon x

 

Losing my virginity?!

If you are thinking what you think the title of this post is implying, then you are entirely INCORRECT. The only thing I lost my virginity to recently was LUSH. I can hear you all now yelling “how have you only just tried out lush products. Well, let me tell you.

Nothing really ever appealed to me and it always just looked over priced. I just didn’t understand the hype apart from the fact that it smelt soooo amazing. After making the journey back from Brighton to London, my friend and I stopped in the lush shop and I eased my way into it with 3 bath bombs. Excessive? Yes. Cheap? Yes.

Secret garden (bath bomb)

This one for the most part was fun to watch. With the fusion of colours, green, pink and yellow, blending together in the bath, it was satisfying. Its initial smell was just like a garden blooming with fresh flowers, fitting with its name. It turned the bath green with some sort of potpourri scatter about and gave the bath a general floral scent

Verdict: at £2.95 it would be something I would buy again

Butter ball (bath ballistic)

This one interested me for some reason. Its lack of colour was fitting with my taste. Plus its initial scent of a talcum powder and sugar with a caramel base note really enticed me. But I was a little let down. Although it scented the water really nicely and was relatively fun to watch, it did seem like a bit of a waste as it didn’t really do much for me.

Verdict: for the price, it is decent value for money considering it is lush but I wouldn't be buying this one again no matter how amazing it smells

 Fizzbanger (bath ballistic)

It will be obvious to see but in case you miss the hints, this is my absolute favourite. Initial smell: classic citrus scent /camomile tea. Whichever one it is, it smells damn good. This fusion of colours was most mesmerising with blue’s, greens and yellow and leaves the bath water a mixture of those colours too. There was a slight citrus scent left and best of all, the ballistic goes crazy in the bath. It makes a bang and popping noise and unleashes a blue core with a BANG sticker inside.

Verdict: best one in terms of value for money and is the most entertaining, smells good and a great blend of colours

 There you go. My thoughts on some lush bath bombs served up for you. But I have to say, I still really don’t get the hype. I mean like I get it but I also don’t. Does that make any sense to anyone out there?

I hope you liked this and if I decide to make a future trip into lush, tell me something below that I have to try out 

 Have a great week people x