Summer Makeup Wishlist

As I said in my previous post I am doing a second summer wishlist however this time for makeup! I tend to only buy drugstore brands as a usual as I can't afford to splash out on expensive makeup too often. However I still like to look at the high end stuff and see what there is for me to save up for; so I have done two different wishlists, one for high end and one for drugstore. 

Drugstore

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I really want to go for the fresh faced look this summer, with a light base and nice highlighted cheeks. I've never really used highlighter before but I thought when better to try it out than in summer! I love the look of No7's Bronzing highlighter(5) as it looks perfect for summer, giving some colour as well as a nice natural sheen. I've also heard a lot of good things about S&G's Glow All Out highlighter(2) and MUA's(7) offering for only £3!! I'm also getting into doing my eyebrows a bit more and have heard lots about the Anastasia Brow Wiz however I'm not sure I want to invest all that money into something I potentially don't need, however when I saw Sleek's dupe I thought it would be perfect to try out.

Highend

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As I said before I wanted to go a bit lighter on the makeup front this summer and the sheer candy version of YSL's Rouge Volupte look like they would give a gorgeous pop of colout however only a tint allowing for it to look natural and glossy. However saying that I am still lured in by the originals and this has to be one high end product that I have lusted over the longest! I am determined that I will get my mits on one soon! Also ever since I wrote my Clarins Opalesence post here I have been drooling over the stunning packaging and the oh-so-pretty product inside this powder compact (3) and also the cream blushes in the collection. *hint hint I think cream blushes will be big for me this summer* This Marc Jacobs Lolita palette (6) has been on a mental to-get list for agess! It is so so pretty and sleek and just perfect, however it is also rather out of my price range, which pains me greatly. And lastly, although I cheated slightly and a brush isn't makeup, it is still related and ever since I saw Vivianna from VDM use this brush I have needed it in my life! It looks like the most perfect all rounder brush that will do anything and I just need one of those in my life-or should I say in my brush pot.

So there you go! My summer wishlists all wrapped up, I hope you got some inspiration from these and feel free to let me know if you have any or are lusting after any of these too. 

What have you been wishing for this summer season? 

Love, 

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Summer Fashion Wishlist

I thought since I hadn't done a wishlist in a while and since I've been longing after so many things recently, that I would do two wishlists: Summer Fashion and Summer Makeup.

First up is the fashion one. Right now I think that a lot of the high street shops have really got it bang on with the new trends and affordability factors! Just to name a few that I have been loving; River Island always have something that I love, I walk in and just want everything! (as you will see in a minute!), New Look have really done well this season, recently I had gone off NL and thought the clothes were all a bit tacky and lack lustre however they really have turned it around for Spring/Summer! 

Anyway onto what I have been especially loving lately!

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There is quite a mix of different shops in this wishlist, I really think the highstreet shops have hit the trends really well and made it so easy for you to adapt the latest into your wardrobe. I especially love the lemon skort from Topshop, I think it's so cute and fresh, the colours are really simple and love amazing on the shape of the skort. I also really want this bag! It's so boho and would be amazing for a festival or trips to the beach this summer.

I've gone on a jacket craze lately, ever since I bought the bomber jacket featured in this OOTD, I've been searching for more and more. And I've really gone crazy for the statement jackets that have a lot of colour and print, so obviously this jacket above drew me in immediately! I adore the mix of prints and colours and think it would be lovely for summer evenings just when it's getting chilly. 

Like I said at the beginning of the post I have really been loving River Island, and when I was browsing through the shoes section I just couldn't not share more than two! So I had to create a whole collage of their own.

I just wish I had more excuses to wear heels in everyday life! (although my feet probably wouldn't feel the same) I think RI do amazingly shoe-wise, from sandal to heels, there is so much variety and choice, granted they can be quite expensive for those of us who are students and have other priorities, but the quality really does show and they last a decent amount of time for the money.

I love the black lace up sandals (7) and the camel boots with the tassle (6), however I can't deny my insatiable (and ridiculous) need for heels of all kinds! Go knows why because I rarely have the chance to wear heels and don't go anywhere nice enough for them to be worth spending silly amounts of money on them, but there you go! It's a girl thing I'm sure. I was especially drawn the the blue faux croc sandal heels (5) which I was surprised as I don't usually go for animal skin textures. 

So there is the first of two wishlists for the summer season! The other will be along shortly, I hope you got some inspiration from these and let me know if you like any of these too!

Have you been liking the highstreet trends lately? Which is your favourite to shop at?

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Makeup Revoltion Haul + First Impressions

Finally I can say I am back for good, I only have one exam left and then I am totally finished with my AS year! You have no idea how relieving it is to say that. It's actually crazy how much I've missed being able to post, plan posts, write posts, research for posts; everything about blogging I have missed! I didn't quite realise how big a part of my life this blog has become and how much I love everything about it. 

So now that I'm back, I'm excited to bring you a little haul I did a while ago now! I will follow it up with some more in depth reviews soon, so let me know if you are particularly interested in any of the products! 

Recently a lot, I mean a LOT, of people have been raving about Makeup Revolution and about how they are the new and improved MUA; I was interested to find out for myself so I placed an order on Superdrug and this is what I got. 

Iconic 1 & 2 palettes, Single eyeshadows in Blackheart and Hung up, Lipstick in Reckless

I picked the two palettes as I just can't afford the Urban Decay Naked Palettes and these looked like really good dupes! I was sad to see that the Naked 3 dupe was sold out however I plan to get my hands on it ASAP! I also picked up two single shadows as I was curious to see the difference in quality between the palettes and these as I know in MUA there is quite a big difference. I also picked up a lipstick out of pure curiosity. I initially thought this brand was going to be a lot like MUA as the packaging shapes and looks are very similar (especially the single eyeshadows, they look like the blush packaging from MUA don't you think?) however I definitely think this brand tops MUA on quality for money from my first impressions of these products.

So above is the 'Iconic 1' palette which is a dupe for the Naked 1 palette. I have to say from pictures and other people's comparison swatches it is very very similar shade-wise, which I was happy about obviously! My initial impressions when I took this and the other palette out of the packaging was that I'd made a mistake and had ordered two of the same palette! However now that I've swatched them and had them a bit longer I can definitely tell the difference! This has a lot darker shades that the 'Iconic 2', and has much deeper browns. My first impressions of the packaging was that it was very sturdy feeling however not too heavy; I was also pleasantly surprised to see how much product you actually get in the pan! Each shadow is much bigger than in the MUA palettes, even though they are different shapes I would definitely say this is a better bargain at the same price.  With my first impressions of the actual shadows I was blown away, although the lighter shades aren't amazingly pigmented, the majority are; and even then the lighter ones can be built up to show better. Overall I'm really excited to see the different looks I will be able to make with this, and I'm really happy to have this to expand my collection.

This is the 'Iconic 2' palette, it's a lot bronzier (is that a word?) than the first palette, and has more lighter, subtle shades. I love this palette as it has more colours that I would say are 'everyday' friendly and that won't push you too far out of your comfort zone if you are new to eyeshadows (like myself). One of the first things I noticed about these palettes when I swatched them was how soft they are, and that they are really pigmented (as I said some more than others) and that they blend out so nicely. I really am so chuffed with the quality of these considering the palettes were only £4 each! 

L-R: Blackheart, Hung Up

Next up are the single eyeshadows. My initial thoughts on the packaging of these was that they probably aren't great for travelling as the lids don't close securely enough for me, they are practically the same as MUA's blush packaging, which personally I don't mind. I think it is good that they have a clear lid as this allows you to see the colour inside, which makes it a lot easier to find amongst others. The actual pigmentation of these I would say is slightly less than in the palettes however I still think they are really good for the money and can be built up easily. Personally I love the shade on the right (Hung Up) in the crease with brown eyeliner on the lash line, this is actually a new go-to look for me that is so simple yet adds a little something to your everyday make up. (if you would like I will try and do a FOTD with this look soon(?)

And last but not least, the lipstick in Reckless. I picked this up because on the website the shade actually looked a lot darker and vamp-ier so my first impression of the colour was a bit disappointing however I don't have anything like this in my stash so I'm sure I could use it. It's a lot pinker than I thought it would be however it is still a lovely bright colour and from the swatch it actually seems quick moisturising. I can't comment on the wear time as I haven't had a chance to try it out. I will say though that I don't think this would be the best lipstick to take out and about or travelling with, as the lid doesn't feel very secure and you do not want a bright pinky red lipstick smeared all over the insides of your bag! Not a nice surprise.

So there are my first impressions of my Makeup Revolution haul! I hope you enjoyed reading about these products and are maybe interested in giving this brand a go? I would definitely recommend the palettes for anyone, like me, who just can't afford to splash out on the UD Naked ones.

You can get Makeup Revolution products online at Superdrug or at makeuprevolutionstore.com 

*I would just like to state now that this post is not at all sponsored and that all of these opinions are my own*

Have any of you tried this brand before? Let me know what you think about it in the comments below :)

See you soon!

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#2014BloggerChallenge Topic 10 Hair/ / Hair Styles I Love

This topic is pretty much perfect for me as I love hair and styling it (even though I'm not so great at it). So I'm always looking at new styles that I could try out and different colours that I desperately wish I could pull off as well as the girls in the pictures. So I thought I would share some of my favourite hairstyles to give you all some inspiration too! You can also see my previous post on Hairspiration here!

One of my first favourites is actually one I am pretty crappy at doing myself but I love the way it looks and love the different things you can do with it.

Fishtail Braid

It's so simple and just really pretty and a nice twist on the classic braid style.

The next is a stunning interpretation using the braid style shown above.

I don't actually know if it has a name though, or one that I know of!

One really simple and easy style that I use quite regularly is the half up bun. I think it is casual yet practical, and still allows you to style your hair slightly. (Especially good for late mornings or when you need to wash your hair but have no time)

Finally is another braid style (seeing pattern?) the milkmaid/halo braid. I think this is so pretty and can be styled messily to create more of a festival look or even well done with some flower accessories it could be perfect for prom or a wedding or another formal occasion.

I hope these gave you a bit of inspiration to change up your regular styles or even just to try something new every now and then. I personally love all of these and think they could be changed up to fit any occasion.

I'll see you next weekend, when the majority of my exams will be over! I can not wait!

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Sunday Stuff #1

I sat down to write this post at the beginning of this week but failed to type anything of interest, I then decided I would do a beauty review post but didn't feel that either. So I put it off and put it off, and now it's Sunday, and I should have put this up already, but I haven't. I didn't want to put up a post I would later want to delete or hate looking at, so I thought I would write something that is relevant to me and too many others at the moment.

I have decided that I am going to introduce a new article, that I will post on random Sunday's if I want to write a bit about life and everyday things or just when I want to chat about things that aren't beauty or fashion. 

Queue...Sunday Stuff! (original I know ;)) 

So on Tuesday my AS level exams begin, and I'm not going to lie, I'm pretty terrified! I've gone through the whole really relaxed I'll-do-fine stage, the procrastination stage and I'm finally at the freaking-out cramming stage, and at the moment I'm taking a break to write this post. Exams are an inevitable and truly hated stage in life that causes stress and anxiety and constant worry (well for me anyway), and it can be really difficult to balance life with work. So I thought I would put together some thoughts and quotes to help myself and hopefully some of you get through this period slightly easier. 

1. Firstly, I like to remind myself that this stress/worry is only relevant for a short amount of time; and this will hopefully produce the path to my future career of choice.
2. After I have put in all the effort and hard work, I will hopefully get in return the qualifications I need to pursue the rest of my goals.
3. Hard work and perseverance really does count. No matter how much you think you don't know something or don't remember the information, if you put in the time, the likelihood is you know it, and when it comes down to it you will know what to write.
4. When you get the results you hoped for, it will all be worth it. You will not regret revising when you receive the results you wanted; however you will kick yourself if you don't try and you don't pass.
5. And finally, you can only do what you can do, this is always the last thing I remind myself. With all the hard work in the world there is no point beating yourself up if you are doing all that you can do. If you come out of it with one thing, knowing that you tried your hardest and did all you could, then you can be pleased with yourself that at least you tried.

If you also need help relaxing and taking time out from work, (which is really important!) you can check out my relaxation and meditation post here!

I hope this post made you think a bit, and was helpful at all. It was definitely therapeutic to write it and to take some time out to do something that really enjoy.

I will definitely be back for my Sunday post, but it will probably be short and something simple :)

Good luck to all of those with exams coming up! I will see you soon my lovelies :)

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#2014BloggerChallenge Topic Nine Music

For me this topic is perfect! I absolutely love music and have such an eclectic taste, I love music that ranges from country to indie rock, drum and bass to pop, I really do just love most types of music.So I thought I would give a few examples from different genres that I like so that you can find new ones that you never thought you would've liked or have never heard of before!

Alternative

• The Kooks
• Red Hot Chilli Peppers
• My Chemical Romance
• Fall Out Boy
• Paramore
• Radiohead
• Blink-182
• Cage the Elephant
• Bastille
• Matchbox Twenty
• Parachute
• Radical Something
• Passion Pit
• Foster The People
• The 1975
• Daughter
• Bon Iver
• ZZ Ward
• P.E.A.C.E

Indie Pop/Rock

• The Planes
• Maroon 5
• The All-American Rejects
• Walking On Cars
• Emblem 3
• McFly
• The Neighbourhood
• Tom Odell
• Ben Howard
• Miley Cyrus
• Ellie Goulding
• The Temper Trap
• Jack's Mannequin 
• The Vamps
• Ed Sheeran
• 5 Seconds of Summer
• Lana Del Rey
• James Blunt
• Soko
• Volcano Choir
• Kings Of Leon (alternative rock)
• Ben Hammersley

Country

• Taylor Swift
• Lucy Hale
• Kacey Musgraves
• Miley Cyrus

Folk

• Passenger
• Maverick Sabre (also R&B)
• Adam Barnes(folk rock)

Rap/Hiphop

• Eminem (old and new)
• Will.I.Am

Pop

• Jamie McDell
• Pixie Lott
• Katy Perry
• Demi Lovato
• Becky Cj

Dance/Drum and Bass/Electro

• Avicii
• Calvin Harris
• Rudimental
• Disclosure
• Swedish House Mafia

After putting together this list I realised that most of my favourites are actually in similar genres and I'm not as diverse as I thought I was. But I hope that was a good enough mixture of new and old that could help you re-find some old loves and discover some new ones!

I love finding new artists so please feel free to drop any suggestions down I the comments below :)

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April Favourites

So April went waaay too fast! This year seemed to be dragging until April came along and now we're in May, how'd that happen? 

I haven't got many new favourites, most of them are reoccurring or continual favourites, however there are some new products that I have been loving which I am very excited about.

So I'll start with an old friend, my Natural Collection Blush in Pink Cloud, it has become the perfect time to grace bright pink cheeks as spring has definitely sprung, and this is my blush of choice for everyday use; sometimes being swapped up for MUA's Lollipop powder blush. It isn't the longest lasting so does require topping up, but the tiny price tag and gorgeous colour makes up for that.

Next up is e.l.f's eyeshadow primer which is cheap and cheerful, does the job and is easy to blend onto the lid. Love this stuff for when I have time to put the effort into my eyeshadow (I'm trying to make it more of a regular occurrence), it's quick and easy and doesn't make my morning routine any longer even though it is an extra step.

Another familiar face (hint hint last month) is Maybelline's Brow Drama, this really is the perfect product for someone either new to daily eyebrow filling or doesn't have a lot of time in the mornings (I fit both of those) as it is so simple and quick. You just swipe a few stokes through your brows and they are tinted and ready to go for the day, however i will say if you have really unruly brows like mine you may need a coat of clear brow gel on top to keep them in place, depending on how much of this product you use.

A new love this month just has to be YSL's Touche Eclat, I am very late to jump on this bandwagon however when I saw the limited edition packaging my worries of overpriced, pretty-but-not-great concealer flew out the window and I was way to willing to hand over the cash for it. I was pleasantly surprised to actually love the product as much as the packaging, and have a review coming soon (probably after exams) about it. 

I was given this little sample size of Clinique's anti-blemish solution by my mum a few weeks ago and I have been using it on those more aggressive spots to calm them down a bit, and I must say it really does show results within a few days, however I think it must be used consistently for it to work it's magic as I have been very hit and miss with it down to time and pure forgetfulness. This is intended to be part of a 3 step process as the moisturiser, however as my skin gets particularly dry around my spots I have just been putting it in specific areas; I have found it to help with tightness and dryness therefore allowing my skin to calm down and reduce the redness caused.

The last returning product this month is Bourjois's 123 Perfect CC Cream, even though I have been using YSL's Touche Eclat, when I need a little more coverage under my eyes this is perfect. It has a liquid-ey texture than does not scream "full coverage" however it really does an amazing job of brightening and covering dark circles and bags. Definitely one of my holy grail products.

Now the one I am most excited about is a new Rimmel Kate lipstick in 20. It is a stunning bright pink/fuchsia and nothing like anything I own or have ever worn. I remember about this time last year I was only just weaning myself into wearing lipsticks let alone bold shades like this! but I just love it and want to wear it all the time. I can see myself getting a lot of use out of it this spring and especially in the summer. It is so smooth, moisturising, not heavy at all, and just so nice to wear. I love it!

Last but not least it No7's Stay Perfect Shade and Define Shadow stick in Cool Mink. I mentioned this in this post here and have been loving it since! It lasts just as long as Maybelline's Colour Tattoos and is a lovely colour that can either be subtle or bolder if built up. It can drag a little on the lid when applying but this isn't a big problem as long as you are gentle, as the pigment will still transfer without a lot of pressure.

Phew that was a long one! Well done for getting here if you did. So those are my monthly favourites of April, let me know if you have also been loving any of these products too or if you want to try any of them :)

I hope you all had a good month and link me any of your favourites posts down below so I can see what you've been loving too!

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