My Top 10 Under £10

Hello, lovelies remember me? (I hope!), can we redo 2017?? I think it's fair to say I suck this year at keeping up to date with my blog. As much as I enjoy splurging on high-end makeup products from Space NK and Cult Beauty, my bank account doesn't always enjoy it as much. For when my bank doesn't agree I like to reign it in a bit and reach for some favourite drugstore products. I find drugstore products just as good as high-end, which is great because they're a whole lot cheaper and much easier to get a hold of.

These are my Top 10 Under £10 Makeup Products.

L'Oreal Infallible Matte 24hr Foundation £8.99 | As much as I love wearing Double Wear, I've been after a cheaper alternative to wear for work and everyday life. I tend to reach for this foundation the most on those days as it has medium coverage and stays in place all day. I do only like to wear this on good skin days though as I find any areas that are dry off spot treatments the foundation clings to those areas. It is a really good matte foundation though despite that and the shade range is really spot on too.

Soap & Glory Solar Powder £11.00 | Okay, I know I am a little over the £10 budget but I wanted to include one of my favourite drugstore bronzers and this springs to mind. I always reach for this bronzer because it is so easy to blend and doesn't leave you with any orange streaks. It looks very natural and is perfect to wear both day and night. A little goes a long way, I have had this palette for a good year or 2 now and I've only just hit the pan.

H&M Eyeshadow £4.99 | First off, how gorgeous is the packaging? These look like they belong next to YSL. I rarely buy makeup from high street clothing stores in case my skin reacts to them, but if I do, I tend to reach for eyeshadow or lip products. I personally love these eyeshadows, they're not long lasting but I sort of expected that for the price. However, they make up for it with their HUGE range of shades for every season. I just think these are so easy to wear, so affordable and perfect to chuck in your bag.

Real Techniques Sponge £5.99 | I have gone through so many of these sponges they are by far my favourite for applying my base makeup. I even prefer these over my Beauty Blender as the quirky shape of them helps keep my foundation and concealer at bay. The pointed end works great for blending concealer under the eyes or even just blending products into smaller areas. The flat surface is perfect for buffing my foundation or BB cream into my skin. I find I get my makeup done a whole lot quicker using these sponges than I would with a brush, they give me such an amazing coverage/finish.

Soap & Glory Brow Archery £10.00 | This brow pen was the first product that changed the way I felt about eyebrows and still to this day I use this felt tip to shape my brows. The shade range is quite minimal, I think they only do two shades one for blondes and one for brown. However, the blonde shade is spot on for people like me who have fair/invisible brows. I just love how quick and easy this product is, which makes it perfect for those days you are in a rush.

Maybelline The Falsies Mascara £7.99 | If we rule out Benefit's They're Real being my favourite drugstore mascara, this is a close second. I always look for a mascara that doesn't smudge or give me panda eyes, has good volume and lengthens my lashes. This mascara ticks all those boxes and I would highly recommend it if you are looking for a mascara that gives you that false lash effect.

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder £3.99 | Powder is one of those products I have always used no matter what to set my makeup. I am sure you's have all heard of this inexpensive, pretty-good powder before so I won't make a song and dance about it too much. Only if you haven't tried it definitely do as it is a perfect powder to set your makeup in place all day without constantly needing to touch up.

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer £4.20 | I have probably gone through a solid 20 or more of these tubes that tells you how much I love this concealer. It is perfect for covering imperfections without clinging to any dry areas, a great under eye concealer for brightening up those dull circles and works well to not melt off your face throughout the day. I personally love this concealer and I will be heartbroken if Collection ever stops stocking it.

NYX Lip Creams £6.00 | I'm quite basic when it comes to everyday lip products, I tend to slap a tinted moisturizing balm on and I'm good to go, I don't like having to constantly retouch. NYX Lip Creams are definitely one of my favourite drugstore lip products I like to reach for. These are super easy to apply and dry into your lips almost instantly with a matte finish, and the best part is you barely need to retouch (unless you eat of course). I love the shade range as well, they literally have every colour and all the nudes you could ever need.

Sleek Highlighting Palette £9.99 | Where do I even begin with this amazing palette, I cannot recommend this enough if you are looking for a 'do it all in one' kind of highlighting palette. Who'd of thought highlighting different areas of your face with different shades could make such a difference?! This palette is definitely a good palette to try if you are into your healthy glow and dewy finishes.

What is your all-time favourite drugstore product??

A Bedroom Refresh With Desenio

Botanical Plant Poster | Coffee Quote | Lashes Poster | Perfume Poster

I have been going a little interior crazy lately, from buying endless amounts of houseplants to creating a wall gallery of stunning prints, my inspiration is mostly from an online store that sells beautiful prints called Desenio.

Their totally affordable, stylish prints are just to die for, literally. Just scrolling through their website gave me so much inspiration to incorporate more gold into my bedroom. Whether you are looking for minimalist, eye-catching or simply just want to spruce up the place, you will definitely find it all on Desenio. 

There are so many prints to choose from, honestly, I spent a good hour or so trying to narrow my basket down. I decided to pick a few with plant imagery to add a pop of colour to my cream walls, which looks so trendy. I also opted for a few more fashion/beauty prints as I wanted my gallery wall to be above my dresser. I absolutely love all of my prints and it's given me so many ideas for when I have my own place. They just add that personal touch to my bedroom and really give my room a refresh.

Desenio has kindly given me a discount code of 25% off for you lovely readers! Just use the code KATIE25 any time between the 15th and 17th of August, (not valid on the handpicked category or frames). I would definitely recommend checking their website out but be warned their prints are very Pinterest-inspiring!

Which prints are your favourites??

*PR Sample/gift.

Cactus Print

My Heatwave Essentials

Unless you have been living in an ice cream van for the past few weeks, in which case I want ice cream with a flake asap, you'll be well aware here in the UK we have had what can only be described as humid-hell. The UK has been hit with some lovely sunshine as well as very humid air which makes girls like me who wear makeup every day, want to rip my face off and jump into a bucket of ice cubes, not even being dramatic.

Since the weather has been incredibly humid I have been reaching for products that will help keep my skin under control as well as my mood - Give me winter over summer any day.

Hawaiian Tropic Dry Oil Sun Tan | One of the first things I do on a daily basis whether the sun is out or not is apply a suntan lotion on my body. I have been reaching for the Hawaiian Dry Oil for the past year now as I love how easy it is to blend into my skin without that sticky feeling. It also smells amazing and the oily texture just makes my skin look so hydrated and healthy. I also use Bioderma SPF on my face to stop my face from burning/getting wrinkles as quick.

The Ordinary High Spread-Ability Fluid Primer | For £5.00 I wasn't expecting much, however, this lightweight serum-like formula is amazing for my complexion. It helps avoid unnatural and uneven accumulation of pigments, especially around my eyes. I LOVE this primer, this is my second bottle of this stuff it is amazing during this heatwave as it completely blurs out any imperfections and keeps my makeup at bay, without any touch-ups. I just love how healthy my skin feels when I wear this and I am not as self-conscious about my makeup melting off as quick when I wear this. Full Review here.

NYX Matte Finish Spray | Ideally, I would reach for the Urban Decay Setting Spray, but times are hard and I'm having to adult by watching my spending. A setting spray is great for this humid air, it just helps keep your makeup looking fresher for longer and it's a good little refresher throughout the day. I always spray this on my face before I leave the house just to keep my makeup at bay.

Avene Eau Thermale Spring Water | A handbag staple has got to be this spring water, I spray this all the time to refresh my skin and keep me from melting. It has been a lifesaver during this heatwave and it's not only amazing for sunburn but for rashes, irritations, razor burns, to set makeup and even great for travelling. Definitely, a must have!

What has been your go-to product during the heatwave??

Making The Most Of Your Notebooks

It has come to my attention that I own so many pretty, unused, marble/copper notebooks that I could possibly start my very own stationery shop. We'll call the shop Crazy Notebook Lady. The peculiar thing is I can't ever bring myself to start writing in these books because they're just too dainty to ruin the binding, am I weird? Perhaps.

I recently had a massive clear out and realised I need to stop admiring my pretty notebooks and put them to use - that way I can buy more pretty ones, that's my logic anyways.

If like me, you have a problem with buying unnecessary notebooks I have a list of ways you can put them to good use.

1. Daily Journal - A little bit like a teenage diary, only you don't write you have a crush on Johnny Depp, instead at the end of every day take a few minutes to write down what you did that day or if in doubt I always like to write a sentence of what has made me smile that day. A little bit like the 5 Year Journals you can buy, but with your own spin.

2. Lists - Keeping a mental note in your head of what you need to accomplish every day can be a little overwhelming, which is why writing a list of groceries you need to buy, chores you need to do or any other errands down creates more space in your brain. If you have 2 or 3 notebooks floating around, maybe use each one for different specific lists so one could be food related, one money/bills and the other for miscellaneous everyday bits. I am a sucker for a good list.

3. Creativity - If like myself your brain ticks with ideas at the most obscure moments, (usually in the shower) it is worth carrying a notebook with you just so you don't forget those inspirational thoughts. This doesn't have to be anything momentous, it could literally be DIY photo bunting, something relating to your course/work or wanting to sell your old clothes on depop. Just simple thoughts you are wanting to get off your chest which you know you'll forget about later.

4. Passwords, Codes, Etc - In this day and age, we need usernames and passwords for pretty much everything online so it's quite difficult to remember every single one of them, which is why it's always good to write them down in a notebook so you don't accidentally lock yourself out from spending money on ASOS. Then again, is that really a bad thing? Saving money hack right here.

5. Record Your Dreams - Sounds a little adolescent but I have a thing about psychology and discovering the reasons behind my crazy dreams. If a dream repeats itself or lingers I like to write it down and keep track of what it could mean. I even have a dream app which gives me an understanding of why I have dreams and what they are connected with. This is always amusing to look back on.

6. Your Thoughts - If like me, you have a tendency to overthink or worry about things, it might be worth jotting those emotions down in a book. I was told in one of my anxiety sessions to keep a mental note on my thoughts every day, this is a good way to track what goes on in your mind and a therapeutic way to get them out on paper, sometimes you realise things aren't as bad as they seem if you write it out in front of you.

7. Recipes, Healthy Tips - I recently bought the book Eat Pretty, Live Well by Jolene Hart which is filled with 85 foods to their beautifying benefits (review soon). This book inspired me to keep a notebook on all the foodie things I want to remember. Whether that's healthy recipes to try, benefits of certain foods and their impact on my health or other general tips that I know will come in handy.

8. Inspiration - We all get those days where we lack inspiration or motivation so writing down quotes that inspire you is always a good way to go. Sounds a bit strange but I used to write the famous Harry Potter quote 'Working hard is important, but what matters more is believing in yourself' in the front of my notebook when I was at university to remind me why I started - I even have this quote on my bedroom wall. But, keeping a notebook of inspiring quotes or just little picks me ups is a very useful thing to do.

9. Future Plans - Writing down your goals or ambitions to achieve every week is always a good way to use up notebooks. This could be simple things like wanting to eat at home more, try squatting an extra 5kg in the gym, little achievable goals that you can tick off every week.

What do you write in blank notebooks??

Battling Breakouts

Is there an age on when to stop getting spots? The answer is no. I have spent so much £££ and time into my skin over the years to realise this. Now at the age of 23 I still suffer from the occasional hormonal breakout and yes it really does suck. I have learnt to accept that having oily skin has its advantages and disadvantages, therefore when I do get a nasty little breakout I am prepared with some products.

This is an updated skincare post on what products I use at the moment to help with any breakouts.

Alpha H Liquid Gold £33.50

I was recommended this by a family member in the hope that it'll fix any areas on my face that breaks out. The week leading up to and during 'the time of the month' I get breakouts around my chin and brows, (weird I know). Therefore, before bed, I like to pour some of the Liquid Gold onto a cotton pad and apply it to the areas I've broken out. By the morning my skin just looks that little bit clearer and brighter. This product contains glycolic acid (AHA) which is amazing for balancing out your skin and helping with dark spots, scarring and sunburn. I only use this once or twice a week because it is an acid and I try to keep my skin in as much balance as possible, however, I would highly recommend this to anyone who is after an exfoliating spot treatment.

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% £5.00

In simpler terms, Niacinamide is vitamin B3 which is indicated to reduce the appearance of blemishes and congestion. I absolutely love this brand I have reviewed a few more bits here. This brand is very abnormal, authentic and sold at amazing prices! I apply this product before bed when my skin is in need of a light refresher. I find this really helps with reducing the appearance of imperfections like it almost blurs them? By morning my skin feels amazing and looks a lot more radiant. I don't even know how to explain how amazing this product is!

Acneside Benzoyl Peroxide £7.00

I have mentioned this product in my last Top Spot Treatments post and still to this day I use this gel. If I can feel a painful or biggish spot appearing I apply this gel to that area just before bed for a few days as it can be quite drying to my skin. There isn't much to comment on this product it just really helps with any redness and reduces any swelling of spots I might have a lot quicker.

Dermalogica Overnight Treatment £45.00

I got this in a set with a few other treatments for breakouts therefore I didn't pay £45.00 and to be honest I don't think I would. I love this product, but not enough to repurchase, especially at that price. I apply this to my skin overnight when my skin is feeling too dry for the above two products. This helps calm inflammation and eliminates bacteria that contributes to congestion. I find this a really good product to wear underneath makeup or alongside other products.

Similar Posts

My Top 3 Spot Treatments

Trialling out The Ordinary

What products do you use to stop breakouts??

How To Have A Digital Detox

If you find yourself religiously going through Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat every morning like you're reading The Sunday Times or your Netflix account is asking if you are still there 4 hours later, then you may be in need of a digital detox. Now I know you all probably sat thinking Katie, I am not ready to break-up with my phone, but unplugging and winding down away from technology is more beneficial than you actually think.

Some of you might remember I set a goal in 2016 to step away from my keyboard every evening and to put my time to better use. Since then I can honestly say I've had a much better nights sleep and I've found that I'm a lot less stressed before bed, so my little brain is able to close all those stressful tabs and totally relax. 

I've put together a post on simple ways to give yourself a digital detox and whats worked for me.

1. Step Away From Keyboard - As difficult as it is, detaching yourself from your laptop around 6-7pm and taking a long bath or winding down with a herbal tea is much more beneficial. When I was at university I'd get into a habit of studying until right before bed and end up not being able to get a good night's sleep. I know it's easier said than done, but if you detach yourself from your screen you'd be surprised at how well you sleep.

2. Read In Bed - I am the worst for hopping into bed and checking all social media apps until I fall asleep, however, I've recently been getting into a routine of not going through all my apps 50x and instead, I have been picking up a book and reading - I know, shocker. I personally love being snuggled in bed with a good book it can really help take your mind off reality.

3. Leave Phone At Home - If you've got plans to go to the gym, walk the dog or pop to the shops, it's worth leaving your phone at home. Your mind is a lot more open and focused on the task at hand if you know your phone isn't near you. Plus, it's nice to not always feel as though you need to check your phone when you're in the middle of doing something.

4. Delete Social Media Apps - I sometimes find social media can trigger my anxiety or change my mood, therefore it's sometimes worth deleting the apps for a couple of hours every now and then. I went through a faze of deleting my Facebook app and I can honestly say it really changed my mood, I was a lot more focused on myself. It does sound a bit extreme, but having a social media detox does more good than you think and you quickly discover you don't need to keep a tab on everything going on in the world.

5. Use Paper - Writing to do lists on our phones isn't as restorative as writing on paper, what I mean by this is keeping all your thoughts onto one device isn't healthy. I like to keep all my lists in notebooks and I find my brain isn't as distracted or tempted to do other things, whereas it is when I write them on my phone.

6. Give Yourself Deadlines - I actually learnt this technique from my therapist, but basically, if you write down what you want/need to do, give yourself a time frame on that specific task. So if you want an evening watching Stranger Things on Netflix, then give yourself a time of 2 hours and stick to that. Sounds tedious, I know, but you appreciate things a lot more when you do this and have more motivation to do other things.

How do you unplug from technology??

5 Ways I Control My Anxiety

Anxiety is a bitch. There, I said it. I haven't really touched upon anxiety on my blog - my reasons why? 1. So many people communicate about it now, which is amazing, but I didn't want to seem as though I was following suit. 2. I was only technically 'diagnosed' with it 6 months ago, so it's still really raw and personal to me. However, I told myself I wanted to document situations in my life like this to look back on and who knows hopefully help someone along the way. 

I am in no way an expert on mental health these are just what I've found work for me. It has taken me just under 5 months to have my anxiety under control, of course, some days it spirals out, that's normal, but those moments I can feel it building up I try to prevent it with these simple ways before it escalates.

Long Walks
I always read articles and blog posts on how people cope with worry and 9 times out of 10 walking is always mentioned. I can 100% see why. It wasn't as easy walking much during the winter, but since flowers are starting to grow and the sun is shining, I find walking a lot less hassle during the warmer seasons. Recently I've walked that 40-minute journey home from work and going on nice long walks on my days off down the beach. When you go for a walk you surround yourself with nature and concentrate on the atmosphere around you. If I am feeling anxious or stressed walking really helps eliminate their thoughts and opens my mind to other things.

Break Up With Phone
I can't really percentage how much my phone can give me anxiety, but it definitely has in the past and I'm sure it has for most people. Social media, the news, not being able to contact someone, all these things can trigger worry and stress. If I know I haven't got a busy day I tend to reach for my phone a lot more than when I am, so what I like to do to avoid repeatedly checking is leave it across the room from me and focus on something else. I've been reading more in the bath and leaving my phone in the bedroom, or I've turned notifications off whilst playing a game, just little things that let your brain focus purely on one thing. This might not work for everyone, but a digital detox definitely helps with anxiety (I have a post on digital detox soon).

Write It Down
Another way to control the anxiety that people suggest is writing down what is causing your anxiety and how it can be prevented. Saying things out loud or writing it down gives you a different perspective on what goes on inside your brain. I had a couple of therapy phone-calls when I was suffering badly with anxiety and depression, and from those sessions, I learnt a lot. Writing down the date, the time, what triggered the anxiety and questioning will it be relevant next month? can really open your mind to the core of what's worrying you. Keep a notebook just for your thoughts and look back on them, you'll be surprised to see the difference. Don't write them on your phone though!

Positivity
Surrounding yourself with positive people, objects and atmospheres do change the way you view everything around you. It can be as simple as refreshing your room with some daffodils, treating yourself to a slice of cake or repeatedly play The Beauty and the Beast Soundtrack. Just whatever works for you it doesn't have to be anything 'out there' just open your mind to simpler solutions. I am easily pleased and simple-minded, it doesn't take much to make me happy if I choose to be positive. A book that helped me rethink my way of life is The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving an F*ck By Sarah Knight.

Remove Toxins
I saved this one for last because I know it's probably the most challenging and something we all try to avoid and that's changing things in order to be better. Sometimes this is easy, deletes off Snapchat, done. Other time's it's a lot harder to remove toxic things from your life. Things like stressful jobs, harmful friendships, bad diets, regrets, jealousy, etc, all these affect your mental health. If you have toxic influences and bad habits, you are not going to be happy. I have a quote "nothing is permanent, don't stress yourself too much because no matter how bad the situation is...it will change". You may not realize it now, but in the long run, changing and removing toxins from your life as I'd argue from personal experience has the biggest effect on your well-being.

I hope this post was helpful to anyone going through anxiety or for anyone wanting some personal insight.

How do you control anxiety??

Trialing The Ordinary Skincare

If you haven't heard of the skincare brand The Ordinary, then you need to get yourself out from under that rock and venture onto Deciem website. This cheap and cheerful brand is all over the internet so I let curiosity get the better of me as always and decided to see what all the drama was about.

This skincare brand is abnormal and offers active ingredients at drugstore prices. It offers quality skincare formulas such as Salicylic Acid or Retinol, at a price so cheap you will be wanting to add them all to your medicine cabinets, or at least I do. I like to think of this brand as erratic, as they don't use any random ingredients and they don't test on animals. In fact, there are hardly any ingredients in most of the products, it's very 'back to basics'. I was kindly sent two of The Ordinary's Primers to trial and was really impressed I decided to buy two more products from ASOS, as they also stock the brand.

High-Adherence Silicone Primer* £3.90

As I have oily skin, silicone primers tend to keep my base in place a lot longer than a creamy primer would. This formula uses advanced adaptive silicone's to act as a matte, hydrating, blurring primer for makeup that looks higher in a definition. You can also use this formula alone as a non-greasy Hydrator that reduces the appearance of pores and imperfections. Whilst I think this primer definitely reduces the appearance of any imperfections and large pores, I personally don't think it keeps my makeup blurred on a long day. On days where I am wearing makeup for 4-5 hours, my base is flawless and blurred without having to touch up. However, I have trialled this primer on 12-hour makeup and after a while my makeup starts to melt around my nose and on my chin. This could just be my skin type as so many people rate this product, so I am going to continue to try this out on good skin days.

High Spread-ability Fluid Primer* £5.50

This lightweight serum-like formula increases the spread-ability of subsequent complexion makeup to help avoid the unnatural and uneven accumulation of pigments especially around the eyes and on dry skin. The formula also acts as a light, non-oily surface hydration for a natural dewy look. I LOVE this primer, it has quickly become a new favourite of mine knocking down Laura Mercier and The Body Shop. This primer has a thick fluid texture, that glides onto the skin so smoothly. It does what the Adherence Primer claims to do: blurs my makeup, hydrates and mattifies my makeup. If I am wearing this primer all day, after a couple of hours I start to see a dewy glow, which just makes my skin look so healthy and flawless. I personally prefer this primer to the Adherence as it has changed the way my makeup looks.

Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG £5.80

Have you ever heard of eye contour? Nope me either, but this light-textured formula contains an extremely high 5% concentration of caffeine, supplemented with highly-purified EGCG from green tea leaves. This formula can help reduce puffiness and dark circles in the eye contour. Additional studies have shown that caffeine can also reduce the appearance of cellulite, which makes sense when you read about coffee body scrubs reducing cellulite. I have been applying this both AM and PM and can really see a difference in my eyes. I've noticed on those nights I get a rough sleep, my eyes don't look as though I've been beating up in the morning. I've surprisingly not applied as much concealer under my eyes thanks to this product, which is amazing as this has never happened before!

Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% £5.00

Niacinamide or in simpler words Vitamin B3, is indicated to reduce the appearance of skin blemishes and congestion. A high 10% concentration of this vitamin is supported in the formula by zinc salt to balance visible aspects of sebum activity. I bought this when my skin was having a bit of a breakout, in the hope it would help calm it down. I have only used this product a couple of times before bed and it definitely helps calm down my skin. I don't like to use this too much so every other evening I will apply this directly onto spots and by morning they have visibly reduced in pigmentation and size. I can't really say this is a miracle worker but for £5.00 it definitely is worth trying.

Overall, I would definitely say The Ordinary Skincare has created such a difference to my skin, especially the Eye Contour and the Fluid Primer. The price is amazing and always leaves my banks heart unbroken. I am wanting to try the Rosehip Oil next!

Have you tried The Ordinary? What would you recommend??

Luxury Products Worth The Splurge

There is something oh-so special and exhilarating about indulging on high-end products. I mean, our bank cards might not agree, but at least we have a new toy to play around with and take endless photographs of for our Instagram. Today I wanted to share some products that I think are totally worth the splurge.

Zoeva Makeup Brushes | I've always believed in order to achieve a flawless base you need the right applicators. As much as I love my Beauty Blender, Zoeva Buffing Brush is definitely a favourite of mine for blending in my foundation. I find when I use this brush my foundation is blended into my skin so quickly, which makes it the perfect tool to have when you are in a rush. I've had this brush for almost a year now and the bristles have not broken and my makeup still looks flawless when I use it, which makes it a good product to splurge on. 

Hourglass Blushers | Hourglass is that perfect definition of luxury, everything from the packaging to the quality of the product. If I had the chance I would definitely buy all of Hourglass Blushers as they are so amazingly pigmented, a little goes a long way. Some of their blushers have a slight shimmer to it which is perfect if you are wanting that healthy glow.

YSL Volupte Shine No.8 | This is a lipstick I definitely don't regret paying the price for. I asked for a shade that was suitable for everyday wear that added a bit of 'your lips but better' and this is that. This has a touch of pink, nude and a tiny bit of purple, so the colour is perfect for all occasions. It is very moisturizing which I absolutely love because a few hours later, my lips are still moisturized. The packaging is gorgeous, definitely a product that ticks all the boxes for me!

Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet Perfume | I feel like Dior is the perfect definition of luxury, everything from the signature logo to their famous red lipstick. This perfume is definitely my favourite perfume ever, which is why I only like to use it on special occasions. If you like fruity/floral scents definitely give this a smell. The bottle is definitely a perfume you want to display.

Kiehls Midnight Recovery Oil | I cannot scream about this product enough, it really has made a difference to my skin. A little goes a long way so you can be sure to have this little gem in your stash for quite sometime. I apply two drops of this oil twice a week onto my skin just before bed and let it work it's magic overnight. I find my skin feels more energetic and awake when I use this. It also seems to reduce the appearance of any imperfections, which is why I absolutely love it.

Daniel Wellington Watch* | Having a DW watch is the perfect accessory to compliment any outfit. I have owned my St Mawes Classy watch for almost 2 years and still to this day it looks brand new. I never really thought about indulging on a more expensive watch until I laid eyes on one of these stunning pieces. What makes these watches that extra bit special is their timeless, elegant feel to them.

What luxurious products have you bought that are worth the splurge??

My 12 Hour Makeup Edit

What is that strange warm glowing ball in the sky I see before my eyes, oh yeah it's the sun? Something here in the UK we have all been unfamiliar with the last couple of months. The weather is slowly starting to warm up and the days are lasting longer, which is great for us blogging gals wanting that bright photo. However, the weather isn't that great for our make-up. These are the makeup products I tend to reach for if I am on my feet all day and don't really have time to be touching up my face.

If I know I am going to be wearing makeup all day a primer is essential for keeping my makeup at bay. The primer I tend to reach for at the moment is the Hylamide HA Blur*. This product is amazing to use as it not only minimizes pores, it blurs and plumps the skin too. Which is exactly what I need if I am working a long shift at work as this keeps my foundation in place all day. I find my foundation glides onto my face so much easier when I have this on my skin. Speaking of foundation if I want full coverage I reach for Estee Lauder Double Wear every time. This foundation is amazing for covering imperfections and giving you that flawless base that doesn't move all day. It's a little bit pricey but totally worth it. Similar is The Ordinary Fluid Primer £5.00.

A concealer I absolutely swear by that has changed my life and my skin is Urban Decay Naked Skin. This concealer is amazing for hiding dark circles, covering spots and brightening your complexion. It can sometimes be a little too heavy which is why I tend to only reach for it when I am wearing makeup all day. I have tried loads of highlighters over the years and the only one that I'd go as far as to say is my holy grail is the Mary Lou Manizer. This powder highlight is incredible for giving your face a healthy glow. I find the more hours I wear it the healthier my skin looks, not sure if that's because I have oily skin but hey it's a good'in!

To set all my makeup in place I tend to reach for either the NYX Matte or Dewy Setting Spray, depending on what I fancy. These sprays are affordable and help keep your makeup in place for a little while longer. The Urban Decay Setting Spray is my favourite setting spray, but unfortunately, I ran out and I now use this as an alternative.

What makeup keeps your face in place??

A Few Bits I'm Loving Right Now

I realize I have been AFK way longer than I had anticipated and resulting in this I have past the practical days to post my March Favourites, so we are going to call this 'A Few Bits I'm Loving Right Now'. Lately, I have been enjoying a lot of new things, including skincare, TV Shows and even books, so I decided to grab all my favourites and talk through what I've been enjoying recently.

The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG
Unless you have heard of this wonderful skincare brand that has taken the Internet by storm, then you won't have any idea what this product is. To break it down, this is basically an eye contour gel-like product that contains 5% caffeine and supplemented with green tea leaves to help reduce dark circles and puffiness around the eye contour. I have been applying this product both AM and PM and can really notice a difference in my eyes, especially in the mornings before I apply makeup. I usually have to apply quite a bit of concealer under my eyes to cover my dark circles, but since using this I hardly have to apply any! I don't know what it is about this product but it is amazing for achieving healthy eyes!

Alpha H Liquid Gold
After spending countless hours on Cult Beauty's website, I decided to indulge in something a bit more high-end and give this a go in the hope it will help clear up any breakouts. I like to apply this to my skin overnight so once my makeup has been removed and my skin is cleansed, I apply this to a cotton pad and all over my skin in areas where I have blemishes. By the next day, my skin is completely different, blemishes are reduced in size and in colour. I don't know if my skin is growing out of as many spots or it's the help of this product, but my skin has never looked better than it has these past few months. My confidence has grown so much since using this product!

Daniel Wellington Classy Sheffield 26mm*
DW is one of my favourite brands for watches, they are so timeless, classy and go with just about every outfit. I was head over heels when I was contacted to review one of these beautiful watches. I wear my Classy Sheffield watch with the brown leather strap every single day, so because I love that one so much I was kindly sent the same one but with a black leather strap instead. The finish of this watch creates a beautiful harmony between the band and the exclusive Swarovski crystals, and the slim dial makes it a watch that oozes classy femininity.

Fluffy Sliders
You either love them or hate them, but since I already love anything pink and fluffy I just knew I had to buy these. I got these from Primark for £6.00 and have not been able to take them off my feet. I've been wearing these as slippers around the house as they are so so comfy. I haven't quite had the guts to embrace them outside yet, but I do want a black pair to wear so who knows!

Random Bits
I've been having a lot more 'me time' lately to wind down in the evenings, some of the things I have been doing include colouring in and reading more books. I am always downloading the free Kindle books from Amazon. I have also been enjoying watching new TV Series on Netflix, including Stranger Things, 13 Reasons Why and Shadow Hunters. I would definitely recommend checking them all out, each has a different genre so there is something for everyone. Easter is near so of course I have been devouring delicious Bunny Shaped chocolate, I can't wait for Easter I definitely need to bake some nests!

What have you enjoyed lately??

How To Have A Spring Clean

You know that saying "tidy house, tidy mind", this quote is so true and is perfect for this time of year. I don't know about anybody else but, I don't feel as though I've totally got out of that winter slump unless I've had a spring clean. Over the past month I have thoroughly declutter-ed, reorganized and spring cleaned my entire bedroom, as well as my mum's. I found this so therapeutic and it really got me ready for the change in seasons. I've put together a little checklist of things you should consider to do in order to have a tidier mind.

1. Sell clothes you've not worn in over 6 months on Depop
2. Chuck out odd, holey socks
3. Fold away winter clothes and get your spring gear out
4. Throw odd earrings, broken pieces of jewellery
5. Pop some tulips or daffodils out
6. Fresh, clean bedding (ditch the mermaid blankets!)
7. Toss old receipts, bills, etc
8. Give unwanted DVDs, CDs or books to charity
9. Throw away expired beauty products (trust me this was hard for me!)
10. Toss pens low on ink
11. Reorganize your bookshelf, minimalism is key!
12. Take down any negative vibes (old photos, work)
13. Magazines you don't use can be used as deco
14. Wrapping paper scraps
15. Delete junk mail, screenshots, work - anything that doesn't need stored
16. Simplify your desk space
17. Pop motivational quotes, happy memories on your wall
18. Reorganize your skincare cabinet
19. Remove unused apps
20. Have a new look (hair dye, new makeup, new outfit) 

I have been trying to have a minimalist lifestyle lately and removing any toxic or unnecessary things in my life in order to move forward. Doing some of the above things have really made an impact and I definitely feel ready for spring!

What do you do to have a Spring Clean??

Top 10 Motivational Quotes

We all get those moments where we lack motivation even in the hobbies we thoroughly enjoy. Pinterest is one of the places I like to turn to when I am in need of some inspiring quotes. Over the past couple of month's, I've definitely lacked motivation in blogging, whether that's coming up with spanking-new ideas or just an oomph to sit and type. Looking at some quotes has really helped me keep up my blogging amusement and reminded me why I started in the first place.

I wanted to share with you My Top 10 Motivational Quotes that are perfect for giving you that little push to blog or some of these could be used in other everyday interests/work.

1. "Working Hard Is Important But, What Matters More Is Believing In Yourself"

Of course, this wouldn't be right without some sort of Harry Potter reference, but I live by this quote so much it's even on my bedroom wall. I find it gives me the kick up the backside when I am feeling not so confident.

2. "Remember Why You Started"

When you have been religiously doing something for a while you can often forget the meaning behind it. It's nice to take a step back and remind yourself why you started in the first place and what you want to get out of it.

3. "You Can't Get Much Done in Life if You Only Work On Days You Feel Good"

I feel like this is a quote that really knocks some sense into me for motivation. I am forever telling myself I can't do this today because I don't feel 100%, this quote just gives me the boost to tell myself to not give a shit and just do it. You have to power through all good and bad days to see success!

4. "Offline is the New Luxury"

If you are lacking inspiration sometimes it's good to get some fresh air or to come away from your keyboard for a couple of days, then come back with a fresh aspect.

5. "Supporting Another's Success Won't Dampen Yours"

I think the blogging community is really good for supporting one another. It's always worthwhile checking into a blog chat every now and then on Twitter or just leaving some love on someone's blog post!

6. "Don't Let Yesterday Take up Much of Today"

Alright, big deal you had an unmotivated day yesterday so change it today. Stop dwelling on what happened yesterday and focus on the now.

7. "It Doesn't Matter What Everyone is Doing, It Matters What You are Doing"

Focus on yourself, your own blog and nothing else!

8. "Tea & Fuzzy Socks"

Not much of a quote but I do find sitting in comfortable clothing with a cup of tea can instantly change your mood.

9. "Don't Give Up Just Because Things Are Hard"

Think of it as a challenge that you want to complete and think of the outcome!

10. Only Thing That is Making You Unhappy is Your Own Thoughts, Change Them"

Simple enough!

I hope these brought some motivation to any of you who lack motivation or self-doubt.

What is your no.1 motivational quote??

5 Small Ways To Be Healthier In 2017

source – Makeup Savvy

Remember me? Happy New Year lovelies! It feels very strange to be saying that, let alone at my desk writing a blog post. My apologies for being afk with my blog, I've kind of fallen out of love with blogging and had a lot of personal issues to attend, so I needed to take a little time out from everything. Maybe I will write a blog post about it sometime, I am back though and eager as ever to start writing some blog posts!

If like me, you've overindulged in way too much food over the Christmas (yes, I am talking about you sweet mince pies!), it's sometimes difficult to ditch the chocolate and go straight into a hardcore 28-day fitness challenge or some sort of juice diet. In fact, it's quite overwhelming and most of the time people give up after a week or 2, which is why I like to make small adjustments to my everyday life. I feel a lot healthier in myself by doing these simple steps and have noticed I am a lot more motivated to keep in shape. 

1. Get Plenty Of Sleep - Our bodies need a solid 8 hours sleep to recover and function, therefore, it's beneficial to get into a routine of zoning out around the same time every night. I did struggle with this, especially since I got into a routine of watching movies or playing on my Xbox till midnight over Christmas. I find writing down a daily plan of what needs to be done and giving myself a time frame on that activity really helps. I actually find I get more done in a day when I do this and still have time for my 8 hours sleep. 

2. Drink Lots Of Water - I try to aim for around 2/3 litres of water per day and I have been doing this for the past 4/5 years now. Keeping yourself hydrated is SO important, it not only helps flush bad toxins out, but it also helps you feel more energized. I know water can seem quite bland, but it helps to pop it into a cute water bottle or add some fruit/Chia seeds to it.

3. Take Vitamins - I eat quite a lot of vitamins in everyday food anyways, but for those of you who don't like certain food groups taking vitamins is definitely something I'd recommend as they don't require any real effort. I got poorly twice in the space of a month near the end of last year, so I decided to up my vitamin intake to keep my immune system in better condition. Definitely look into these I get mine from Holland & Barrett's or MyProtein.

4. Switch Your Snacks - It's really beneficial if you're a snacker like myself to carry around healthy treats. Ditch the chocolate bar for a handful of raisins, the crisps for salted popcorn or biscuits for some fruit. I've been snacking a lot on rice cakes or carrot sticks with hummus.

5. Keep Busy - We all enjoy lazy Netflix day's right? They're totally acceptable after a long day at work. However, if it becomes too much of a habit that your dishes pile is 3 days old it may be worth getting out of your rut. I always try to keep myself busy and productive whether that's changing my bedding, walking to the shops etc. It's good to keep yourself busy as you find you'll have much more energy to keep active.

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What small things do you do to stay healthy??