Reviewing 2015's Goals

I started the year off with seven goals and reading the post back made me chuckle. Well mainly the end bit where I proclaimed that I ‘strongly disbelieve in resolutions’...which isn’t exactly untrue. The whole new year = new me attitude just isn’t realistic, but I am someone who loves the new year and the feeling of freshness. I also think setting goals to work towards are a productive way to get stuff done, so lets have a little review at the goals I’ve set ^_^

1. Reply to ALL blog comments

Achieved? - YES!
I really have been good at replying to comments this year, setting an hour or so every week to reply and visit the blogs back to share the love! It feels so good to show appreciation for fellow bloggers and I know how much I love getting comments myself.

 

2. Stick to ‘appreciating what I have’

Achieved: - Sort of
This one is interesting because I had totally forgotten that I had put myself on some sort of spending ban for five months! After searching for some sort of update post talking about, I realised that there were was yet ANOTHER ban I had set myself at the start of 2014 too! I think it’s shown me that although I do really like treating myself, I have a very guilty attitude towards my makeup collection. A part of me feels really sad about that, but then a part of me realises that is because I really do have enough and sometimes having SO MUCH feels really suffocating. That’s the only reason why I keep trying to put a stop to it and although I’ve failed in the past, now I’m almost three months into my CURRENT not-buying makeup phase I’m more determined than ever to stick to it. I think having a countdown app on my phone is really motivating too.
 

3. Stay on track of my blog plan

Achieved: Yes!
I’m so happy to have met this goal because I have posted pretty consistently throughout this year. Balancing the blog with the rest of my life has always been a bit of a challenge, but the second year of blogging has been more manageable and I hope to continue this in the next year and life will most likely get a lot busier! It’s been really fun to sit and brainstorm for the upcoming posts and super useful knowing which posts are coming up. For almost a year I pretty much blogged on the spot, as and when ideas came to me and that was not only very stressful, but it also left me with poor quality blog photos. This year being a little more organised has upped my blogging game a notch, but I want to put even more thought and care into the planning to make my blog better.

 

4. Learn to Park!

Achieved? Sort of.
I can bay park pretty well, I have to as I park in a large carpark at least three times a week for work. I did unfortunately scrape my car when I was in a rush a few weeks back (which apparently costs a ridiculous amount to fix up, who knew car paint was so much £££), but aside from that I’ve been okay. As for parallel parking, if its inbetween two cars...NO CHANCE! I’m too much of a wimp!

 

5. Tackle SPSS

Achieved? Not Really Applicable ._.
Honestly after second year I left SPSS where it belongs, at university. I passed the exam in the summer so I think I kind of met this goal, but if I’m being strict on myself not really lol. Luckily there is no research methods module in third year, so I haven’t been plagued with it so far but come dissertation results time I will have to face up to it. I feel very lucky that I have a wonderful dissertation tutor who actually loves statistics and has the patience of an angel, so I don’t feel as anxious as I would if I had to deal with this alone.

 

6. Invest time in the Quran

Achieved: No:(
This goal makes me the sadest tbh and it’s one that I will be resetting for myself in 2016, because it means a lot to me! I just really need to make the time and be disciplined.

 

7. Be an early bird

Achieved: Not really D:
Unfortunately I really haven’t met this goal and I wish I had revisited it the goals post earlier to remind myself of this! Waking up an hour earlier and then gradually becoming an early bird does seem doable, its just about sleeping on time too and being such a night owl does not go hand in hand with this goal! However if I do get onto the school direct scheme I’ll be having early starts 5 days a week (which is kind of terrifying), so I guess it’ll be an adjustment that will just happen haha.

So I got 4 yes/sort ofs and 2 Nos which is pretty good in my books! Considering I used to set a bunch of resolutions and meet maybe one out of the whole list, I love the concept of goals a lot more ^_^ But I think I’ve already made that clear haha, so over to you - have you met any of the goals you set this year?

Thank-you for reading ♥

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Reviewing 2015's Goals

I started the year off with seven goals and reading the post back made me chuckle. Well mainly the end bit where I proclaimed that I ‘strongly disbelieve in resolutions’...which isn’t exactly untrue. The whole new year = new me attitude just isn’t realistic, but I am someone who loves the new year and the feeling of freshness. I also think setting goals to work towards are a productive way to get stuff done, so lets have a little review at the goals I’ve set ^_^

The final update of 2015

Hello everyone, I hope you’re all well. I took a week’s break from blogging and all things blog related, because a lot has been going on. I have a couple of posts planned for the end of the year, but before I started posting about my beauty favourites and reviewing my goals I wanted to write a good old catch-up post. I kind of skipped out on Novembers so I’m almost out of practice here, but here goes nothing!

Family

This week my grandfather’s brother sadly passed away. It has been a really emotional time for the whole family. Personally I keep thinking about how without the seven men who came from Pakistan in 1965, who left everything they knew and loved for the chance of a better life, I wouldn’t be here today living the blessed life I do. Not to say that growing up in Pakistan isn’t wonderful, however the opportunity to live in Britain not only brings privileges but it also brings so many opportunities that I probably couldn’t imagine had I have been bought up elsewhere. My grandfather was only 16 and his brother a few years older, so to move away from your parents, to the other side of the world in the 60s, when phone calls were ridiculously expensive and travelling back was a once in a few years type of thing is a huge thing for me to comprehend. The death of an important family member has taught me a lot in a very short amount of time and aside from being so grateful to my grandparents for sacrificing so much for us, I’ve learnt that everything is temporary. And I really hope that I remember that through 2016.

Uni + career

One semester done, two more to go and then I will have completed my degree in’sha’Allah (which means God Willing)..insane! I don’t know where the time has flown by but it’s safe to say that it’s a little daunting. I plan on using the rest of my holidays planning out my week into a manageable timetable. I have tried and failed to do this in the past, but at this point of my life it is literally make or break. I either sort out my time management issues and do well, or I sink! The past two months have also been spent looking into my options after graduation, which is such a weird transition phase. It’s like the first time in my whole life that there is no right or set route to follow and although a part of me wishes I had decided to take a year out (which would be the first year off from education since I was four years old!!!) - its exciting to think about the next year.

I applied for the School direct teaching route, which is essentially working towards a PGCE within a school environment. The biggest advantage for me with this route is no longer having to drive 40 minutes to Uni. To be honest I have genuinely enjoyed my drives and will probably miss them a little - but I know it’ll be a huge relief to travel to a local school when I have a 8am-4pm daily routine. Right now my uni schedule is very relaxed with only one 9am, but having a 5 day week of full days will be tiring enough without a long commute in the mornings too. Another advantage of the school direct programme is that you gain a LOT of teaching experience every single day, rather than just when on placement which is great. Anyway I have an interview for this route coming up in the second week of January so wish me luck! I’m really praying it goes well ^_^

GYM!

I know what you’re thinking...say what?! That’s right, you read the above work correctly - I joined the gym! The same one that my brother and dad go to, which happened to have a fantastic membership offer on and it also has a ladies only section which sounds perfect. I feel a lot more comfortable exercising in a non-mixed environment and I’m super excited to get stuck in. My logic for joining was that I’m paying a monthly fee, so hopefully that itself will motivate me enough to get into the routine of going a couple of times a week. I don’t know if I blogged about this, but earlier on in the year I bought two fitness programmes like e-pdf-things??, so I’m planning on transferring those onto my phone and then working from them in the gym space, using the cool equipment and starting to increase my fitness. This year I’ve put on a fair bit of weight, to the point where contouring is pretty much as essential as concealer when I’m wearing makeup ._. Growing up I never cared about my weight because I had a pretty active lifestyle and a fast metabolism, however now I’m 20 my lifestyle is different and its up to me to do something about getting my body in shape. Plus I know that exercising releases a lot of endorphins as well as confidence, so YAY 4 ZA GYM

NO BUYING MAKEUP CHALLENGE - 87 DAYS

Can you guys believe that its been 87 days since I’ve purchased makeup?! Well aside from the O.S.M Palette from NARS, but that was the one purchase I had allowed myself when setting the challenge and I am so impressed with myself. Not to blow my own trumpet or anything, but generally I can’t go more than one payday without either treating myself to something pricy from the luxury makeup world OR purchasing £20/£30 worth of budget makeup. When I started off I found it very easy, however the past two weeks I feel like a LOT of products that I’ve been wanting have suddenly become available in the UK (mainly MUG shadows lets be honest!) and the urge to place an order was strong!! Aside from those urges which I fought off thanks to you guys on twitter, I have really enjoyed not purchasing any more makeup because it’s allowed me to actually step back and look at my current collection. I have identified products that are more than half finished and put them to the forefront, so I can use more stuff up and write up either reviews or empties posts, as well as feel like I’m really getting my moneys worth! Now just 151 days to go EEEK - and despite enjoying my cleanse, of course there are still some things that are catching me eye so there will definitely be a wishlist post at the 4 month mark hehe

I hope you’re having a lovely Christmas if you celebrate and if not, I hope you’re enjoying some nice family time ^_^

Thank-you for reading ♥

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The final update of 2015

Hello everyone, I hope you’re all well. I took a week’s break from blogging and all things blog related, because a lot has been going on. I have a couple of posts planned for the end of the year, but before I started posting about my beauty favourites and reviewing my goals I wanted to write a good old catch-up post. I kind of skipped out on Novembers so I’m almost out of practice here, but here goes nothing!

Top Three | Drugstore Concealers

Wooo we are back with another top three post! This time its my favourite concealers that are budget friendly and all three of these can be picked up easily from boots or superdrug. Before 2015 I would only swear by ONE concealer from the drugstore, so to find two more this year that I love enough to put in a top three post - is pretty darn awesome! Concealers are a key in my makeup routine and they always have been. Back when I first started wearing more makeup than just a bit of eyeliner, I stayed away from foundations because I didn’t see the need for it and I was always advised to protect my young, fresh skin. But concealer to cover those horrendous hereditary dark circles was something I just did not want to avoid! It almost became a comfort blanket in a way. There is NO was I could afford or justify a gorgeous little pot of the Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer when I was 17!

So I turned to the highstreet and believe me  I’ve tried more concealers than any other makeup product (even eyeliners) so boy did I go through a LOT. These three had to be fantastic for me, in order to land themselves a position in this post and it is not often that I repurchase a concealer again because so often they don't meet the mark for me. But this trio will most certainly be repurchased over and over. As concealers are quite subjective, I’ll try to be as detailed as possible so you can get a good idea of if it may work for you.


1. Rimmel Lasting Finish concealer 03 Warm Beige | £5.50 | Review
I ADORE this concealer from Rimmel because I feel like the drugstore have finally come out with a corrector shade which is (just about) suitable for WOC, who have darker circles than those with fairer skin. Granted it is not the MOST peachy toned concealer on the market, however it really does work well for correcting the darkness and brightening up the whole under eye area and actually you only need a small amount. It is a cream concealer and because of its consistency, if you over apply this you’ll most likely get creasing after a couple of hours, however if you apply just the amount you need to correct you’ll be absolutely fine. I actually get a lot less creasing from this concealer than from my previous favourite, the benefit erase paste in 3 and is only when I stopped using the benefit version and switched it up, that I actually realised how much creasing erase paste was giving me! So the fact that this budget concealer corrects my dark circles practically as well as the much more pricy option AND it doesn’t give me issues with creasing just makes me ridiculously happy.

I also love how the consistency is just the right amount of creamy, where you don’t have to warm it up with your ring finger too much - you can pretty much just dab your finger into the pot and apply it. It’s also forgiving on dry areas and doesn’t sink into very fine lines. When I only have 5-10 minutes to do my makeup I’ll opt for this and then if I have time I’ll put a little concealer over the top to hide the peachiness and brighten up the whole area. However if I don’t have time it’s not the end of the world. I mean I  LOVE to have a flawless under eye but sometimes I just don’t have time to correct, conceal and set the area, so if it does come to that I’m quite happy to just use this for a normal day.

You’ll like this if: You have dark circles and need a peachy toned concealer to correct darkness which won’t crease like crazy and is also light enough to be a base for a brighter concealer over the top.

2. Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer | £4.19
This is the concealer that not only took the blogging world by storm, but also stole me heart. I cannot tell you how many tubes of these I’ve purchased...at least 12 if not more because it is so fantastic. I also normally wait till there’s a 3for2 deal and stock up, I currently have two tubes of unopened lasting perfection!! Anyway this concealer is definitely medium/full coverage and I love that, because so many budget concealers lack of coverage and sometimes I find myself layering and layering and I still don’t get the coverage I want from them. This stuff though packs enough coverage with one swipe and the doe foot applicator is awesome too. I use shade three on a day-to-day basis, it is around the same colour as my skintone, probably a tiny bit lighter and it really brightens the undereyes whilst not compromising on covering up the dark circles! I do tend to still use a corrector underneath, as like I said, I adore that flawless under-eye look and because the formula of this concealer is a little thicker I find that once it sets it doesn't really crease on me. Some people don’t like this concealer for their under-eyes due to the formula being a little heavier, however I did notice when coming back to this concealer after using a high-end one for a couple of weeks that it does set and last.

It is definitely not a luminous concealer though, so if you’re lucky enough to not have dark circles I probably wouldn’t recommend this for the under-eyes. If you can get away with it, opt for something light and glowy instead. As for blemishes, this stuff works great as well, again like I said because of its formula, it sets and stays in place. For me lasting perfection is one of those concealers I can really rely on and know that it’ll pack a punch when I need it.

You’ll like this if: You need a high coverage concealer which’ll cover darkness whilst actually lasting throughout the day. You’ll also like this if you opt for light/medium coverage bases but want a reliable concealer to cover blemishes here and there. I honestly think that if you can find the right shade, you’ll find a use for this be it covering dark circles OR blemishes, it works well and there aren’t many concealers who tick both those boxes!

3. Barry M Flawless Light Reflecting Concealer in shade 2 | £4.49

This is the newest concealer in my stash and its definitely one of those ‘the blogger made me buy it’ purchases! After I read a certain review (which I’ll link below), I knew I had to try this stuff because I loved the sound of it! Although its not super high coverage which is what I normally go for, nor is it salmon/peach toned, this is one of the best highlighting concealers I have come across. Hence the name ‘light reflecting concealer’, because it does bring a subtle radiance to the skin, whilst feeling lightweight and brightening up the skin. The applicator is a brush style which I really like because it distributes less product that a doe-foot and for the lightweight consistency that this has it works well. The formula is creamy, hydrating and it does not cake! I love the shade 2 because it’s definitely yellow toned which can be hard to find in the highstreet. I personally think this concealer has a medium coverage, so I don’t use it for my dark circles. However I use this as a highlight all over the usual places (tops of the cheekbones, forehead, down the nose etc). It blends so easily into the skin and I love how it remains the colour that it appears when it is applied. I will be picking up shade 1 which also has a yellow undertone because when I wear lighter bases I’ll mix 1+2 together to get a brighter look and I know I’ll be repurchasing these over and over! It feels so good to know that I have finally found a brightening/highlighting concealer for a budget price because I have been on the hunt for one for at least a year and a half! Also I love how the packaging is totally transparent and ALL the product gets used up! The more you use it the more the product all goes down, so there is no wastage at all - a huge thumbs up from me!

You’ll like this if: You’re looking for a beautifully luminous concealer with medium coverage and you want a budget concealer for highlighting and brightening up the skin. If you’re lucky enough to not have dark circles you NEED to try this for under the eyes! But I feel like if you can find the right shade you should pick it up regardless ^_^

(here’s the review I was talking about!)

So those are my top three drugstore concealers, ones that have made me so happy because they work really well for me! I know I’ll be repurchasing each of these and I’m chuffed that I can take advantage of the great offers that the drugstore offer, which aren’t easy to find when it comes to highend makeup. I hope that you’ve seen something that might work for you and I REALLY hope that if you do end up purchasing any of these you’ll enjoy them just as much as I have!

Thank-you for reading ♥

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Top Three | Drugstore Concealers

Wooo we are back with another top three post! This time its my favourite concealers that are budget friendly and all three of these can be picked up easily from boots or superdrug. Before 2015 I would only swear by ONE concealer from the drugstore, so to find two more this year that I love enough to put in a top three post - is pretty darn awesome! Concealers are a key in my makeup routine and they always have been. Back when I first started wearing more makeup than just a bit of eyeliner, I stayed away from foundations because I didn’t see the need for it and I was always advised to protect my young, fresh skin. But concealer to cover those horrendous hereditary dark circles was something I just did not want to avoid! It almost became a comfort blanket in a way. There is NO was I could afford or justify a gorgeous little pot of the Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer when I was 17!

1000 Followers Giveaway #1 [CLOSED]

Hello my lovely readers! IT IS FINALLY TIME TO LAUNCH MY 1000 FOLLOWERS GIVEAWAY(S) WITH YOU!! For me hitting 1K on bloglovin was a huge milestone and the day I got the ‘congratulations email’ from bloglovin I really couldn’t stop smiling ^_^ I think its incredible that I have such a lovely group of readers, whether you access my blog through bloglovin, IG, or twitter I appreciate you all so much. The comments and messages I receive inspire me on a daily basis to keep blogging on regularly so thank you ALL for that! It means so much that I can help make a small difference through my blog, especially when it comes to boycotting and buying ethically for the sake of innocent Palestinians *high-fives all fellow ethical beauty buyers hehe*

I’m doing two giveaways to mark the fact that I’ve been blogging for TWO years and also it’s nice to have more than one winner. This is the first giveaway, in which one lucky reader will win seven of my favourite beauty items! I’ll run through what’s included and then we’ll get onto the rules and how to enter.

So the first thing is something I totally forgot to photograph individually is the Kiko 208 Eyeshadow which I had been lusting for so much this year and when it finally came in stock I had to pick up an extra for one of you! Whats the big deal about this eyeshadow you ask? Well it is an exact dupe for MAC’s whisper of guilt highlighter and Estee Lauder’s heatwave - both unethical and l.e so to get my hands on this was awesome! Used lightly and dry it is beautiful for everyday, used with a damp brush it is AMAZING for any sort of special occasion or whenever you want your highlight to pop! It also isn’t an intense gold so hopefully it’ll be useable for most skintones.

The winner will also receive the Ecotools Eye Enhancing Duo Set (review) which have been my most used shadow brushes by FAR in 2015 and I think everyone should have these two in their collection. Benefit’s They’re Real which is my favourite mascara (layered with another) and the Soap and Glory Supercat Eyeliner are also included! I got you covered for that classic cat eye flick and lovely lashes!

Finally I had to include one of my favourite lipliners - Rimmel 1000 Kisses in Tiramisu which is a lovely non-pink nude shade. I also had to include the L.A Girl Pro Conceal Concealers in Creamy Beige and Toast, which was a BIT of a risk as of course I don’t know exactly who is going to win this - but they were staples in my makeup bag this year so I had to put them in (and I apologise in advance if these shades don't work well for you, I hope they can be given to a lucky friend instead - but I think these'll work well for light/medium skintones)/

HOW TO ENTER:

So if you fancy getting your hands on some of my favourite beauty bits, feel free to enter below! The basics are that it is open INTERNATIONALLY and you must be a follower of my blog to enter of course. There are two mandatory requirements, you must be:

1. Following me on Bloglovin (here)

2. Following me on Twitter (here)

There are of course extra entries available, but they’re not essentials! So go ahead and enter in the rafflecopter form below and the winner will be selected,verified and contacted on the 16/1/16 - As usual if I don’t get a reply within 48 hours another winner will be chosen.

*EDIT: PLEASE BE AWARE that if you are a giveaway/competition account this giveaway is not the one for you, this is specifically for my READERS, I paid for everything myself and I want my hard earned money to go to someone who has read and supported my blog - there are plenty of other giveaways that brands have hosted and that don't cost the blogger anything at all, enter those instead :)*

a Rafflecopter giveaway



And again a HUGE thankyou! <3 Be sure to check out my last post for the second giveaway ^___^

Thank-you for reading ♥

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1000 Followers Giveaway #1 [CLOSED]

Hello my lovely readers! IT IS FINALLY TIME TO LAUNCH MY 1000 FOLLOWERS GIVEAWAY(S) WITH YOU!! For me hitting 1K on bloglovin was a huge milestone and the day I got the ‘congratulations email’ from bloglovin I really couldn’t stop smiling ^_^ I think its incredible that I have such a lovely group of readers, whether you access my blog through bloglovin, IG, or twitter I appreciate you all so much. The comments and messages I receive inspire me on a daily basis to keep blogging on regularly so thank you ALL for that! It means so much that I can help make a small difference through my blog, especially when it comes to boycotting and buying ethically for the sake of innocent Palestinians *high-fives all fellow ethical beauty buyers hehe*

1000 Followers Giveaway #2 [CLOSED]

Hello my lovely readers! Welcome to the second giveaway that I'm launching as a celebration and thankyou for both hitting 1K followers and to mark two years of blogging. Putting time and effort into my little space on the net has produced so many wonderful opportunities for me so far, with one of the biggest being meeting YOU guys and getting to share our love of beauty (and other stuff) on a daily basis.  I have met some truly beautiful women thanks to blogging and I feel very grateful! It also means so much that I can help make a small difference through my blog, especially when it comes to boycotting and buying ethically for the sake of innocent Palestinians *high-fives all fellow ethical beauty buyers hehe*


I’m doing two giveaways to mark the fact that I’ve been blogging for TWO years and also it’s nice to have more than one winner. This is the second giveaway and I am hosting it with the BEAUTIFUL beauty blogger Tamanna! <3 She was so lovely and sent me two lots of things for half of this giveaway when she heard I was planning this, I mean who is even that kind?! Tamanna is also an ethical beauty blogger and she has SKILLZ-X-1000 when it comes to makeup! Seriously one of my favourite people everrrrrrr so yay for hosting this giveaway with her ^_^

Lets get started on the prizes for one of you lucky winners, which include some of our favourite beauty products:

So lets start with the lips, once again I had to include one of my favourite lipliners the Rimmel 1000 Kisses lipliner in Spice (review) which EVERYONE needs. Tamanna also included the Illamasqua sheer lipgloss in Enchant which is a gorgeous medium pink/brown/nude and it goes well with so many lipsticks! It also looks so stunning with just a bit of liner and its one of my all time favourite glosses.

Moving on to one of my favourites from this giveaway, Tamanna sent me the Luxie Rose Gold Large Angled Face Brush 504 which is one of my most favourite blush brushes ever! It is incredible and I’m so sad that the Luxie brand isn’t available easily in the U.K because the quality is on par with Sigma and Zoeva yet the price is amazing. One of you lucky people are going to be over the moon with this! If you win you’ll also be getting a cool box of original Shadow shields which’ll save your face makeup when you want to go heavy with the eyemakeup - such a useful thing for special occasions in particular!

And the winner will also get one of my favourite drugstore blushers - Rimmel’s Lasting Finish Soft Colour Blush in Pink Rose (review and swatch) which has been an Old School member of my makeup collection and its a shade that’s hard to get wrong. Last but certainly not least, the final prize in giveaway #2 is Benefit’s Hoola! A wonderful bronzer which fast became one of my favourites because although it looks a little light, you can achieve a beautiful contour as well as a very natural bronzed look as it’s totally matte. This is the very bronzer that Kim K’s MUA uses, so if it’s good enough for her its good enough for us hah xD I also love the brush that comes with this, it’s somewhat similar to the NARS Ita brush in that you can achieve chiselled cheekbones with very little effort!

HOW TO ENTER:

This giveaway is again open INTERNATIONALLY and you must be a follower of my blog and Tamanna’s blog to enter of course. Those are the only two mandatory requirements:

1. Following my blog on Bloglovin (here)

2. Following Tamanna’s blog on Bloglovin (here)

There are of course extra entries available, but they’re not essentials! So go ahead and enter in the rafflecopter form below and the winner will be selected,verified and contacted on the 16/1/16 - As usual if I don’t get a reply within 48 hours another winner will be chosen. T&Cs are available below too - goodluck!

*EDIT: PLEASE BE AWARE that if you are a giveaway/competition account this giveaway is not the one for you, this is specifically for my READERS, I paid for everything myself and I want my hard earned money to go to someone who has read and supported my blog - there are plenty of other giveaways that brands have hosted and that don't cost the blogger anything at all, enter those instead :)*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Once again a huge thankyou for being a wonderful reader of my blog and thanks to my lovely Tamanna again <3

Thank-you for reading ♥

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1000 Followers Giveaway #2 [CLOSED]

Hello my lovely readers! Welcome to the second giveaway that I'm launching as a celebration and thankyou for both hitting 1K followers and to mark two years of blogging. Putting time and effort into my little space on the net has produced so many wonderful opportunities for me so far, with one of the biggest being meeting YOU guys and getting to share our love of beauty (and other stuff) on a daily basis.  I have met some truly beautiful women thanks to blogging and I feel very grateful! It also means so much that I can help make a small difference through my blog, especially when it comes to boycotting and buying ethically for the sake of innocent Palestinians *high-fives all fellow ethical beauty buyers hehe*

LOTW | Barry M Matte Me Up in 3 Dress Rehearsal

I’ve had a couple of weeks of pretty deep or bold colours so this week I wanted to go back to my usual low maintenance, MLBB sort of shade. I purchased the Barry M Matte Me Up in 3 towards the end of the summer time and I didn’t really get a chance to use it much. So it’s been really fun wearing this all seven days of the week, as (finally) its a shade I get to wear to work as well as to uni - woohoo!



Price: £4.99


Colour: A gorgeous pinky nude shade, which is very very close to my natural lip colour but a little brighter. I think that is what makes it so wearable because it’s not too light, not beige or peachy in tone, it actually is similar to my lips. With one swipe it appears a little more nude, with two swipes it leans more on the pink shade on my pigmented lips. Worn alone it does look a little more pink than I prefer, so I balance this out with using one of my HG lip liners, which I’ll discuss below!

One Swipe, Two Swipes, MUFE 3C Lipliner

Formula and Lasting time: These are called ‘matte me ups’ however they’re in a crayon, twist up form so I half expected a balm type of product, similar to the Rimmel colour rush balms. I should add that they do actually come in more of a tip form, but clearly that has worn away. Luckily the fact that the nib is more flat doesn't make application messy or challenging at all. I wouldn’t describe it as totally matte, its somewhere in-between a matte and a creamy satin formula, which works really well. So its not like a glossy balm at all, rather it is as comfortable as matte formula can get because technically its NOT a hard core matte. So if you're expecting that, or avoiding these because you're not a fan of matte lipsticks then that is important to note!

The product doesn't feather or bleed, nor does it dry out my lips at all and it also packs a punch with the pigmentation! Alone it lasts around 3 hours before fading and with lipliner as a base it lasts decently for 4.5/5 hours (which is why lipliners are the key to makeup success!).  It does sort of transfer, which brings me back to the fact that it is not totally matte, but overall the formula is such that it stays in place which is awesome.

Favourite Way To Wear It: By far my favourite way is to line and half fill in the lips with the Make Up For Ever Aqua Lipliner in 3C (reviewed here and swatched above on right right) and then to swipe this once or twice all over the lips. I've raved about this lipliner in the review and basically named it as my HG liner, because its the only shade that really gives me a believably larger pout when I over-line a little. The 3C liner with Dress Rehearsal over the top achieves a lovely fuller lips look, without being over the top in any way. I felt comfortable wearing this anywhere and I loved how I could apply it and then just forget about it, which is something I can never do when wearing a bold or bright look that is not totally matte!

Overall: I love this lip product from Barry M, the colour is so workable for me, despite being a little on the pink side on my lips (although it doesn’t really come across like that in the swatch!) I love how easy it is to wear. On the weeks I have a crazy colour which I can’t wear to work, I’ll keep this in my handbag and just swipe it on as its the type of shade that is understated, yet still manages to make me look pulled together. I don’t even need a mirror when I apply it and the fact that you can pretty much just twist up the product makes it even better. I don’t think the actual packaging is super sturdy but I really cannot complain for the price and for how well it works.

Available from: Boots, Superdrugs and ASOS!

Rating: 8.5

Repurchase? Yes I would pick this shade up again, its the type of product that could live in my car and just be a back up if I don’t have time in the morning y’know?

Have you tried any of the Barry M Matte Me Ups?

Thank-you for reading ♥

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LOTW | Barry M Matte Me Up in 3 Dress Rehearsal

I’ve had a couple of weeks of pretty deep or bold colours so this week I wanted to go back to my usual low maintenance, MLBB sort of shade. I purchased the Barry M Matte Me Up in 3 towards the end of the summer time and I didn’t really get a chance to use it much. So it’s been really fun wearing this all seven days of the week, as (finally) its a shade I get to wear to work as well as to uni - woohoo!

A Trio Of Empties #4

Hello everyone, welcome to the fourth and final trio of empties post, of 2015! If you’ve read any of my previous posts, you’ll know that I am notoriously slow at finishing up products which is a big reason why I am on this no makeup buying challenge! I have so many things that are in rotation which means it takes months before one of these posts get written up. (Also I do sometimes forget and chuck stuff away, it’s a habit!). Since starting the challenge I have been using stuff up a lot more, its been 75 days since I’ve not bought makeup (well aside from the NARS One shocking moment palette - but that was in my own terms and conditions hehe) and I hope there’s going to be one of these posts once a month from now on, because although buying new makeup/skincare is always fun - using it up feels so just that little bit better! ^_^ Anyways lets get on with the post.

1. Soap and Glory Clean On Me Shower Gel | £6.50

I’m not sure why I’ve never spoken about this particular creamy shower gel before because this is probably my fourth bottle of the stuff. I think this is the original soap and glory scent and I am a huge fan! It is sweet yet not sickly and I love how it lathers up just the right amount. This is one of my perfect evening shower washes and to be honest I am reluctant to try other brands because not only do S&G products smell divine, they really moisturise my skin well. That’s not to say that I don’t like to top up my body moisturiser after the shower, however I have noticed a real difference in my skin after using another shower gel, compared to this stuff. Plus I really like how affordable they are, I always pick them up when boots have 3for2 offers on and in one bottle there is 500ml, so it works out really reasonably. The only thing I would change if it could, is to make the pump larger so a little more product comes out - not a biggie though!

Repurchase: YAAAAAS. I actually already have a back up heh

2. Good Things Manuka Honey Creamy Cleanser | 150ml |£4.99 £3.33 | Review

My ALL TIME FAVOURITE CLEANSER! So good that I’ve given it the HG status! Surprisingly this stuff lasted a very long time and I already have a back up that I’m going to be opening soon. It contains manuka honey and royal jelly, two ingredients which are often found in much more expensive products because they work a treat on the skin! I love its luxurious creamy texture and the scent is delightful in the evenings, especially when it’s been a long day! I use this as my second cleanser after I’ve removed my makeup with a cleansing oil and it not only removes the last traces of makeup and oil from my skin, it also nourishes my skin and leaves it feeling beautifully soft. I’m not really sure what category my skin sits in now, combination I suppose? As it does tend to feel stripped and tight with most cleansers, but I never have that feeling when I use this stuff. I used to use this with a flannel, but recently I haven’t been bothering because firstly the upkeep of having clean flannels almost everyday was getting too much and secondly I find it easy enough to remove from the skin without one! Seriously one of my favourite discoveries of 2015 and as it works so well for me (much better than Liz Earle’s C&P!) I’ll probably always have at least one in my skincare stash!

Repurchase: YAAAAAS ^_^

3. Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré | 30ml | £12.99

One of the most hyped up moisturisers on the market, it was safe to say I was mighty excited to try this stuff out and I LOVE it! I can completely understand why so many people rave about this and why its the go-to base for many MUAs on their clients. The embryolisse creme concentre is a very emollient nourishing moisturiser, however it isn’t too heavy on the skin which is what makes it so special. A little goes a long way yet my skin feels brilliant with such little effort. I have used this every single time that I have worn makeup because my skin adores the texture and the moisturising properties. It sinks into the skin with ease and preps it for makeup in a way that no other moisturiser has done. This is because it has three uses: a moisturiser, a primer and a makeup remover. I’ll often use this as a moisturiser and a primer and my makeup really has never looked better. Honestly this stuff is such a game changer and for my dehydrated skin it’s everything I could ask for! I won’t wear it on no-makeup days though as it’s not the cheapest - but worth every single penny!

Repurchase: I already have purchased the larger size! Everytime I see this on sale I’m going to stock up for sure.


Previous Empties:

#1: S&G Sugar crush body wash,  REN Rosa Centifolia Cleansing Gel, Oilatum Natural Repair Face cream
#2: Lush Ocean Salt Scrub, Bourjois Nail Polish Remover, Nuxe Reve De Meil Face Cream#3: Eyeko Skinny Liner, Bioderma and Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap in Lavender

This is by far my most positive empties post and I’m so chuffed with all of these products! Have you tried any of them? What are your thoughts?

Thank-you for reading ♥

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A Trio Of Empties #4

Hello everyone, welcome to the fourth and final trio of empties post, of 2015! If you’ve read any of my previous posts, you’ll know that I am notoriously slow at finishing up products which is a big reason why I am on this no makeup buying challenge! I have so many things that are in rotation which means it takes months before one of these posts get written up. (Also I do sometimes forget and chuck stuff away, it’s a habit!). Since starting the challenge I have been using stuff up a lot more, its been 75 days since I’ve not bought makeup (well aside from the NARS One shocking moment palette - but that was in my own terms and conditions hehe) and I hope there’s going to be one of these posts once a month from now on, because although buying new makeup/skincare is always fun - using it up feels so just that little bit better! ^_^ Anyways lets get on with the post.

LOTW | Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick by Kate Moss in 11

Hello everyone! I hope you’ve had a great week. I am going to be totally honest with you, I have only worn the Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate in shade 11  twice because I’ve hardly left the house all week and when I have its mainly been for work. Personally a red lip is too much for my work environment (tuition company) but I do feel like I have already formed a solid opinion on this particular lipstick from those applications. Plus its my most reached for red lipstick so I was fairly familiar with it already! If you’re a regular reader around this site you’ll know that I am a big fan of this line of lipsticks and I’ll link the other reviews at the end if you’re interested.


Price: £5.49

Colour: A stunning true deep red which doesn’t lean on the blue or the orange spectrum. I love this shade so much! It is very autumnal as it’s on the darker side and it could also be a great festive lipstick too. Its a real glamorous shade and makes me feel ever so sophisticated haha! I feel like this would suit a lot of different complexions and I rarely see it on the blogosphere so do swatch it in store if you can!

Formula and Lasting time: This lipstick is creamy when applied and with one swipe you get all the pigmentation you need. However I like to apply two swipes of the lipstick just to get a totally even colour all over the lips. It does show the very dry bits on the lips which is more of a problem not that the weather is cold, so as always scrub and balm. As it is not matte, the lasting time is around 3 hours and then it becomes a stain. It dries down pretty nicely but I prefer the look of it applied opaque in colour.

Favourite Way To Wear It: I totally forgot to photograph this, but the perfect lipliner for this lipstick is the Lord and Berry Lipliner in Sienna . I have reviewed and swatched it here. For any red lip I would recommend using a lipliner to get sharp and defined lips, however as this isn’t matte it’s definitely the most fool proof way to wear this lipstick as the liner really prevents any feathering. Just a note on these liners, I reviewed them two years ago and they certainly aren’t an amazing formula, I couldn’t fill in my whole lip with them as it would most certainly dry them out, but it does the job well with this lipstick.

Overall: This is my all time favourite red to wear, its not too light that it clashes with my skintone and its not extremely dark where it verges on vampy (at least for me anyway). I wouldn’t wear this on a daily basis, its more of a ‘now and then’ kind of lipstick, but I’m thrilled to have a red in my collection that I really like wearing. I wish it was a little more forgiving on the dry patches, they sort of highlight a slightly darker reed, but its not as harsh as matte formulas and for the most part it is very comfortable to wear. It has a slight shine that is flattering and gives a slightly plumper appearance to the lips. Although the formula isn’t faultless, the price is great and I have to say (so far) this is my favourite red lipstick. Although I’m hoping the NARS VMLP which is coming up soon, will steal the spot because a red lippie that lasts longer than 3 hours sounds very agreeable to a relatively low-maintenance girl like myself!

Available from: Frustratingly I can’t find this anywhere online, however it should be available at your local drugstore!

Rating: 7.5

Repurchase? Yes, when you find a red that rocks for you, it would be rude not too!

Also check out the:
 shade 4 review, a super vamp one
shade 8 review, my all time favourite everyday lipstick!

Have you found your perfect shade of red lipstick?

Thank-you for reading ♥

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LOTW | Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick by Kate Moss in 11

Hello everyone! I hope you’ve had a great week. I am going to be totally honest with you, I have only worn the Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate in shade 11  twice because I’ve hardly left the house all week and when I have its mainly been for work. Personally a red lip is too much for my work environment (tuition company) but I do feel like I have already formed a solid opinion on this particular lipstick from those applications. Plus its my most reached for red lipstick so I was fairly familiar with it already! If you’re a regular reader around this site you’ll know that I am a big fan of this line of lipsticks and I’ll link the other reviews at the end if you’re interested.

Review + HG | Make Up For Ever Aqua Lipliners in 2C and 3C

Hello everyone! Today’s review is of my favourite lip liners of ALL time, yes they’ve even managed to beat the AMAZING Rimmel lip liners (which take the top spot for me from the highstreet). The Make Up For Ever Aqua Lip Waterproof Lipliners (£13.00) were one of the first purchases I made when MUFE hit Debenhams this year. I had three things on my wishlist, the Face and Body foundation, the Ultra HD foundation and these lipliners and I am so pleased with my experience of each so far. The launch of MUFE in Debenhams was one of the most exciting beauty events of the year for me as it is SUCH a high quality brand, with prices that are in the good medium ground similar to MAC, but of course this is ethical. I had seen Huda Beauty use these in quite a few of her videos and she said these were her all time favourites. If you’ve ever watched Huda you’ll know that she is constantly trialling out different makeup, so for these to be labelled her absolute favourites meant that I had to give them a go and now I have these, I will always be repurchasing! Okay enough rambling, on to the review!

The MUFE Aqua lipliners come in a large range of colours, with the Debenhams website stocking 25 in total! They claim to be waterproof lipliners and they aren’t lying, these set and stay on the lips VERY well. My lipstick will fade but the lipliner will remain throughout the day, even while eating, which is so so great! But aside from the lasting power, the formula overall is what really seals the deal for me. They glide on the lips and are just waxy enough to actually define the lips, but they also have a good amount of creaminess to them which makes filling in the whole lip area a piece of cake.

 I’m a fan of the packaging, the colour of the lipliners match the colour of the lids and the ends which make it easy to identify which pencil is which. It is a pencil form which I personally prefer over the retractable kind, sure it means you need to have a sharpener, but I just find that wooden pencil lip liners define and shape my lips better than twist up ones. You can be a little more precise if that makes sense, as you have more control!

 As you all know I adore Rimmel lip liners, I actually did a collection post with swatches on Jasmine’s blog (post here) and I also really enjoy the range of colours Rimmel offer. However MUFE really hit the nail on the head when it comes to their shades and of course being a higher end brand the variety available is much better. I really wanted a colour which could allow me to slightly overline the lips and get a believable fuller look. I have definitely overlined my lips a little too much in the past and trust me, its not a good look! So I went for two shades, 2C - Rosewood and 3C - Medium Natural Beige. I honestly adore both of them. 2C is a medium slightly rosy toned pink and it is basically my go to lip liner for lighter, nudey lips. It compliments every nude lipstick I own and what I love is that when the lipstick fades, my lips are still looking defined and plump all thanks to this pencil. The formula also doesn’t dry my lips out, however I will always scrub and balm first before colouring them all in with a pencil!

2C, 3C

3C is my favourite of the two though, because it makes slightly over lining the lips and making them look a LOT fuller so so easy. It is one shade deeper than my natural lip colour and I had never found the perfect lipliner to help me achieve that look, till this pencil came into my life so I am OBSESSED. It kind of pains me every time I sharpen it because I love it that much! If you’re of a medium skintone you need this shade in your life and I don’t say that often about any product. It is pigmented enough to get that perfect defined pout and the brilliant formula means it will stay put throughout most of the day...what more could I ask for? I also love how versatile this is, I can use it with nude lipsticks, mauvy lipsticks, brown lipsticks, I think you get my drift!! I would go as far as to say that if all my makeup disappeared and I was only allowed ONE lipliner, 3C would be the one.

Overall Rating

Rating: 9

Pros: Possibly the most perfect lip liner formula EVER??? Creamy but still firm enough to line the lips, the formula really is waterproof and it is the longest lasting liner I have ever tried. 2C is a lovely colour for everyday, especially for my pinky nude lipsticks. 3C is my all time favourite colour because it is incredibly versatile and as it is just a shade deeper than my natural lip colour, its the only liner that allows me to carefully overline the lips and totally get away with looking like I have full lips!

Cons: The only one I can think of is price, but honestly its worth the money (opt for these over MAC ones too, cheaper and longer lasting and ethical OFC!)

Repurchase? Yes! I will be purchasing more neutral shades in May when I visit the Oxford St. store for sure because I love these lip liners and I kind of want all the wearable shades D:

 

Have you tried the Make Up For Ever Aqua Lipliners?

 

Thank-you for reading ♥

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Review + HG | Make Up For Ever Aqua Lipliners in 2C and 3C

Hello everyone! Today’s review is of my favourite lip liners of ALL time, yes they’ve even managed to beat the AMAZING Rimmel lip liners (which take the top spot for me from the highstreet). The Make Up For Ever Aqua Lip Waterproof Lipliners (£13.00) were one of the first purchases I made when MUFE hit Debenhams this year. I had three things on my wishlist, the Face and Body foundation, the Ultra HD foundation and these lipliners and I am so pleased with my experience of each so far. The launch of MUFE in Debenhams was one of the most exciting beauty events of the year for me as it is SUCH a high quality brand, with prices that are in the good medium ground similar to MAC, but of course this is ethical. I had seen Huda Beauty use these in quite a few of her videos and she said these were her all time favourites. If you’ve ever watched Huda you’ll know that she is constantly trialling out different makeup, so for these to be labelled her absolute favourites meant that I had to give them a go and now I have these, I will always be repurchasing! Okay enough rambling, on to the review!

November Favourites 2015

We have reached the LAST favourites post of 2015, WHAAAAAT??? Honestly I have no idea where this year went and this time next month I’ll be sharing my 2015 beauty favourites ._. (I’ve already jotted down some firm HGs but we’ll get to that in a few weeks!) So November has been a month of ‘5-10 minute makeup’ routines, filled with pretty much Uni or Work and not a lot of other stuff in between - which is why I didn’t bother with a November catch-up post. So I definitely don’t have a tonne of products this month, but knowing me its still going to be a looooong post so lets get into it ^_^

Bourjois CC Cream in 33 | £9.99 | Review
I rediscovered this gem of a drugstore product this month, as 33 is a perfect match to my winter skintone. I was impressed all over again with how well redness and discolouration was covered with such little product and effort. Also I really enjoyed how quickly I can apply this with my fingers, which has been a HUGE timesaver for the days I am running late and want to be out of the door as soon as possible. This really is one of my favourite bases from the drugstore and I will definitely be repurchasing this next winter! If BB creams did nothing for you, I can guarantee you'll have better luck with this stuff (its just a shame the shade selection is so poor._.).

Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer SX06 | £36.50
Ok I know I said I would save my 2015 favourites till next month...BUT this right here is a sneak peak, the SSE is 100% one of my favourite makeup items I have purchased this year. I have the shade SX08 which is basically the closest match to my skintone and I also have SX06, the lightest shade I can get away with and my absolutely perfect highlight shade. A little goes a long way and the sensual skin enhancers cover like no other product I have tried before. Mixed together  these two shades have been great for concealing troublesome dark circles whilst adding brightness. SX06 alone its great for wedding or party makeup, but for day to day it is a little TOO bright, so mixing a little of each has worked out a treat.

#Instamarc Light Filtering Contour Powder in Mirage Filter | £32.49
Now this was a SPLURGE! I last featured it on my blog in my Birthday haul here and then it didn’t reappear because as you probably know...I fell in love with the Kat Von D Shade and Light contour kit. In the last two months I’ve decided to finally take it out of the box and start using this too, which has had a bunch of mixed reviews on YT. I LOVE the yellow shade, it’s one of my absolute favourites because its just yellow enough to actually brighten, but it does a great job with setting concealer too. I also really like the contour shade, which has a great grey tone to it, sometimes it does need building up but the amount of product in here means I don’t mind this too much. The only thing I don’t love about the palette is that there is a lot of ‘fall out’, you put your brush in the pan and it kicks up quite a bit of powder. I’m guessing this is the reason why they’ve applied the whole 'filter' thing because it is so finely milled and its hard to achieve cakey-ness...I can live with it but I understand why people get annoyed. Would anyone like a full review? Let me know!

 
Wet’n’Wild Mega Last Lipstick in Sugar Plum Fairy | £1.82 | Review
From a super splurgy product to a budget pick, this has been my favourite lip product of the month for sure! SPF is a dupe for MAC’s rebel, at a fraction of the price and of course it is a great ethical alternative! The formula of the lipstick is lovely, the pigmentation is pretty much all I could ask for and the purple shade is my cup of tea. For me its my perfect bold lip, without turning to a shade from the red family and although I don’t love the stain it fades too, I don’t mind reapplying after a couple of hours - something I rarely bother with!

 
Topshop Magic Liner in Engraved | £6.50
This eyeliner has been my absolute favourite this month, the colour is a deep black and the tip, though it takes some getting used to has been a huge advantage. I find myself doing winged liner in less than a minute which is very useful for those busy mornings and it also lasts over 6 hours on my lids. However it does smudge a little, I accidently smudged the tip so if I wanted to use this for a long and special occasion I would most definitely set it with shadow or gel. But to get the shape of the line and flick, this liner is absolutely magic for me.
 

 
Aztec Secret, Healing Clay | £3.99
I had heard about this mask here and there, but it was only when I read in a YouTube comment that this is a dupe for the GlamGlow deep cleansing mask, that I really paid attention. A deep cleansing mask for less than £5, that people were RAVING about, saying it is the only thing that truely cleaned out their pores, removed the gunk from their skin and left it feeling clean on a whole new level? Of course I had to purchase it, I also bought some Apple Cider Vinegar and got the whole family involved, masking their faces and laughing as our faces turned rock solid for half an hour. Although it is a pain to remove, this 100% natural calcium bentonite clay mask is well worth it and lives up to the claims. This is actually out of stock at the moment, however I cannot express how much I have enjoyed using this mask so far and it is well worth keeping an eye out for its availability.

 
Bioderma Sensibio H20 | £10.20
I HAD to purchase this after facing a real dilemma with my eye makeup removal. You might know that I swear by the Una Brennan Vitamin C cleansing oil to remove the majority of my face makeup, however rubbing oil all over my eyes just wasn’t working out for me. A bit of oil would always get into my eyes and it was most uncomfortable. So I knew I had to find a great micellar water, the Nivea one I am not a fan of as it just doesn’t remove enough and the L’Oreal and Garnier ones are totally unethical and not an option for me. So I turned to the original and luckily after a quick google search I found an amazing deal - buy 1 get 1 free! So I purchased 500ml of micellar water for only £10.20, such a bargain! They only have 100 left though, so do take advantage ASAP (link above). Oh and customer service and speed of delivery was A* too...and did I forget to mention that it is the most gentle, yet most effective makeup remover ever and well deserving of the praise it gets.

 
Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask | £22.00
I mentioned this mask in my top three hydrating masks post, and it has been the one that I have reached for every single makeup free day this month and at least three times over night. I can owe my skin staying hydrated throughout the significantly colder weather to this mask here and I love the honey scent too. Although it is more than I would normally spend on skincare, I have really grown to appreciate this in the winter time and I have no doubt that I will be repurchasing it next winter time!

 

What have you been loving in November? Link your favourites post down below, I’d love to read them ^_^

 

Thank-you for reading ♥

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