Summer Essentials

I'm so excited to finally share this post which comes in collaboration with Fragrance Direct, the queen's of providing discount on all your favourite fragrances, skincare and makeup. Literally, this website was my go-to in Sixth Form, so I actually couldn't believe it when they emailed me asking if I wanted to do a collaboration - obviously the answer was YES. It's amazing to see all the high-end brands they stock now (and they also do student discount yassss) so I know where I'll be headed to cross items off my never ending lust list. 

The weather has literally been so beautiful at the moment and I feel like I'm on holiday already plus,  we all know that everyone will be jetting off on those beautiful exotic destinations around this time, so in preparation here are my must have essentials to pop in your makeup bag.

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream

The original and the best. My mum would always apply this on our holidays and during summer months. It's just the most amazing multipurpose cream. I literally take this with me on any holiday as it's actually great in winter too. Any mosquito bites, you can use this to soothe them. Chapped lips? No problem. Honestly this cream is just the bomb and the smell always makes me think of summer and holidays - it's an essential. 

Elemis S.O.S. Tea Tree Spray 

I'm a lover of Elemis skincare, it works so well with my skin, and this product is no exception. This product is also multipurpose. As my skin is so blemish prone, it's perfect for spritzing on your face and ahem, for those 'under the bra' spots. You can also use it on your feet, when they're all clammy and stuffy you can use this to freshen them up and purify. This spray also works as a natural disinfectant so any little scrapes from casually falling into the pool or collapsing a deck chair then this has got you covered.

Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau De Toilette Spray 

Oh there's nothing better than a summer fragrance is there. What I love the most is you use them on holiday, but when you get back and smell them again it brings back the memories. This fragrance is so beautiful; it's fresh, floral and perfect for summer. It also contains fruity notes which makes me feel like I'm sipping an exotic cocktail on the beach without a care in the world. On another note, can we talk about the packaging too?! Marc Jacobs kill it with their bottles and lids. The beautiful lids though, I can't get over them. Too beautiful.

Bobbi Brown finishing powder in Bronze Glow 

How blimmin' beautiful is this powder. Are you actually seeing how majestic this is though from the picture? I'm obsessed. You know it's extra fancy when it comes with it's own little pouch - I love how it's so extra. I'm literally in love with it. It contains a selection of shimmery and matte shades which gives you a beautiful radiant bronzed finish. You can also use these shades with your eyeshadow brushes and use it as an eyeshadow palette which is perfect for travelling and multipurpose products make life so much easier!

NARS Multiple Stick in Copacabana 

I love this little stick so much. It's so nice for a natural glowy dewy look in the summer months. I just love how this looks on the skin. Instead of that thicker glittery highlight you can sometimes get from powders, this gives a beautiful sheen which looks very dewy and natural (almost as if you've just emerged from a giant shell in the ocean like Aphrodite). If you do want that kind of 'glowing to the gods' kind of highlight, this is perfect for giving a power based highlight that extra staying power and makes it POP.

NARS blush in Super Orgasm 

I am obsessed with this blush! Obviously because I am a bit extra I had to get Super Orgasm which has more shimmery majesticness than the original Orgasm blush. I feel like this blush completes any look as it's perfect for achieving that healthy flush of colour. The consistency is just beautiful and blends like a dream, definitely need more of these beautiful blushers! 

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Raquel 

We all need a summer lipstick and something that I find is even on holiday I tend to stick to pinky nudes and go for 'summer goddess' vibes. I don't even know what happened to me, I used to wear bright lipsticks all the time but I'm now a nude convert and a firm believer that these shades are perfect for any look. I already own a couple of the Audacious lipsticks and the formula is creamy so it won't be drying your lips out in that warmer weather.

I hope you've enjoyed reading about my picks for summer and that you're all enjoying the beautiful warmer weather on this glorious bank holiday weekend!

Til next time xx 

Taking the edge off exam stress

My life lately has been a massive bundle of stress as I'm right in the middle of my University exams where they have placed my 6 exams over a period of 2 weeks i.e. they're so close together so as you can imagine that i'm in stress city for me right now - le cry. On a positive note I feel like they've gone quite well so far but I've come to the conclusion that I'm definitely a coursework gal. So anyway, here are my current fav products for relaxing/trying to destress within your exam period. 

- Makeup -

You're probably thinking, makeup? Why does makeup make you feel relaxed? Well let me tell you, when I go into my exams feeling like a goddess it just helps okay. If I feel more confident in myself then my writing will be better, so you see, perfect logic. In particular I've been loving this Nars blush in Super Orgasm, the Multiple Stick in Copacabana for a beautiful dewy glow and the Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid lipstick in Pure Hollywood - obviously have to wear this cause it'll stay on for the whole exam duh. The other thing is nail varnish. I was recently gifted these beautiful nail polishes by Sally Hansen* and they're so so beautiful. They sent me a gel topcoat which honestly it's been such a life saver. I always find that I chip my nails so easily and with this I haven't like I'm so happy to find something that combats this. Again it's a confidence thing because in the exam you can see yourself writing but it makes me feel better that my nails look pretty? Is that weird? (Don't answer that).

- Skincare -

Skincare comes in the one form that I love and I'm forever repurchasing. Frank Body do some of the most amazing products which suit my skin type perfectly. They've recently come out with this beautiful scrub (I love the original one but as I keep it in the shower the packaging doesn't look so picture worthy so please take my word for it) but this one has all the unicorn vibes. It's a sugar shimmer scrub which I am obsessed with. It leaves your skin with a beautiful shimmer and I feel like a beautiful mermaid/unicorn. 

I also swear by their everyday face moisturiser and it sits under my makeup perfectly - I apply this every morning and evening. But you know when you're stressed and you want to scrub away your stress. Literally these products are just so refreshing and I always feel so much better afterwards and better yet they always help any breakouts which I'm particularly prone to when under pressure.

- Haircare - 

Another thing that goes in line with skincare is haircare. I'm currently in love with this hair mask from Hairmüd*. You apply it all over your hair - from root to tip - and leave it for 10 mins to sink in. It makes my hair feel so soft afterwards and it smells so good - you can smell the shea in it. It's one of those conditioners where you can physically feel the softness of your hair while it's still wet after you've washed it out in the shower.  I always feel better when my hair has had some TLC because when I'm revising I put it up in a bun and tend to be a bit lazy and not brush it (I know I know, I am a bad person - #HagridVibes). 

- Stationary - 

I am literally obsessed with the marble/rose gold stationary range from Sainsbury's at the moment. I picked up this cute little marble weekly planner which has been so helpful and some little notebooks to jot stuff down. I've always found that if you plan out what you're doing each day it's so helpful and takes the stress off when you can see it written down. 

So if you're in the same position as me right now and you're feeling the stress, just remember to take some time to yourself. Now i'm not saying spend 2 hours pampering yourself and to run a bath and go for a massage because let's be honest you'll probably be more stressed from not using that time to revise. But also for the love of all things good, take regular breaks so you don't go insane, make sure you eat and drink before your exams, and get some z's in.

Til next time x 

*contains gifted products but all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. 

The Foundation Game Changer | Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Foundation

Having oily skin is such a pain. It requires constant touch ups, lots of powder and the constant fear that your face looks like an actual slip n slide. I'm trying to weigh up the positives like how we're meant to get fewer wrinkles due to the natural oils, so fingers crossed that I'll be the youngest looking granny ever. As such, I've been on the hunt for a good foundation but my skin can also react to different foundations with large lumpy bumpy under the skin spots and sensitivity so it's basically a mission. After looking up loads of reviews I decided to go get matched up and try out a sample to see how my skin would react - long story short, my skin reacted fine with no more blemishes cropping up  than usual - I think it's usually foundations with high quantities of SPF in the formula.

After wearing the sample to death I have finally purchased a full bottle as this foundation is life. (Oh there's something so satisfying about a new bottle of foundation isn't there, it's so crisp and new). But, So, what's the difference between this and other foundations that makes it so amazing? Let me break it down for you.

This stuff stays put. I've never been so impressed with a foundation before, it just clings on there for dear life. You won't be saying bye Felicia, you'll be saying hell-Oh my gawd you are lookin' flawless today yes, thank you for staying on my face. Usually at work (I work part time in retail by the way), a few hours after running around tidying and finding things for customers leads to the demolition of my face makeup - (I normally print off a bit of receipt from the till and I will literally blot my face because my makeup just melts off - why am I so embarrassing). With this foundation, I went to the toilet mid shift and I was like oh I look a tad shiney I'll just blot with some toilet roll quickly.. BARELY ANYTHING WAS ON THE PAPER. Literally I was in shock. I was looking at it in disbelief, I dabbed again thinking there had to be more.. there wasn't. The blotting didn't even make much difference to the appearance of my skin/foundation and there was such a minimal amount of product on the paper in total I actually can't get over it.

The other thing about this foundation, normally with my other foundations they kind of break apart on the skin, slightly melt off and you can see bits of your skin coming through and it's like some kind of hybrid halloween/everyday makeup. But Double Wear over here doesn't do that so I'm super impressed. Besides from your skin looking a bit dewy and actually radiant, which for my skin type is amazing and mostly unachievable, this foundation stays put and looks amazing throughout the day. I will say that I still set everything with a setting powder however, I've heard great things from my friend with dry skin who uses this, she doesn't set it and it still stays on like a dream.

Honestly, I'm so impressed with this foundation (hence the blog post on it) and I would highly recommend it to literally anyone/any skin type. I just wish I'd found this sooner. It retails for £31 but a little goes a long way and I'm 100% going to be repurchasing when this runs out.

Til next time xx 

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