winter beauty haul♡

Recently I have picked up a few beauty bits and bobs which I thought I would share with you! 

The first product I bought was the Revolution Ultra Blush pallet in the shade 'Sugar and Spice.' I have been after this pallet since I saw that Revolution had come out with a pallet like this. I tend to stick towards Sleek when it comes to blushes and the face form pallet which I have been desperate to buy is ALWAYS out of stock so I resulted in getting this as a little treat for myself!  Revolution is a new addition to my local Superdrug. This pallet was £6 which is such a bargain. If you'd like a full pallet review then let me know and I would be happy to do one!

The second thing I bought was the Clean and Clear Advantage spot control daily wash. I have been having very problematic skin lately and needed something to help keep my spots at bay! I haven't had the best experience with facial washes as the majority of the ones I have tried don't feel like they are working or they contain ingredients which make my skin blotchy and irritate my spots even more. I decided to treat myself to a new facial wash. I hadn't heard any reviews about this before but I was in need of a better facial wash to try! The consistency is a lot nicer then the facial washes I have previously tried. It definitely doesn't over-dry the skin and my spots have slowly gone down since using this which is amazing!

As the Clean and Clear items were on a deal in Sainsbury's (buy 2 for £4) I decided to pick up a new moisturiser. I haven't treated myself to a new moisturiser for ages. And I mean ages. I have been using a Simple one since March 2014 and it hasn't run out yet. I don't know if thats a good thing or a bad thing. Thinking about it, its probably a bad thing that I still use something thats 10 months old! Thankfully, the one I decided to get was the Clean and Clear Dual Action moisturiser. This is so much better than my Simple one. It sinks into my skin easily and feels like it's working. It has a cooling/tingly feel to it which is quite odd but I have seen a slight difference in the appearance of spots on my face. 

The last thing I bought was another Revlon Colour Burst Laquer balm. I am obsessed with these at the moment. The one I got for Christmas is the one pictured on the right called 'Demure' which is a lovely everyday nude pinky colour. I have been wearing that one so much that I have neglected my other lipsticks because I love it so much! I couldn't resist when I saw that they had a deal on where you could get £3 off these in Superdrug. The one I bought recently is called 'Coquette.' Its much more of a vibrant pink then Demure but on your lips it isn't as bright as it looks in the stick. They have such a lovely consistency and are so easy to apply. I make a mess of lipstick application and these make it easier and the packaging is beautiful! 

Emily x

bringing back the denim shirt♡

Today I have another outfit post from what I wore last week on an icy cold Sunday afternoon. 

Recently, I have been wearing a lot of clothes that I bought years ago! I think sometimes its worth keeping old clothes that never got enough love at the back of your wardrobe because you never know when you might wear them again! I bought this blue denim shirt from H&M two years ago and I only really thought of a way to style this recently! I love to pair this with a black skater skirt. To add a casual element to the outfit I love to wear my burgundy converse with this. 

Emily x

running a blog♡

I get a lot of questions about blogging. I'm not an expert and my blog isn't a perfect example of how to run a good blog but I have been blogging for a year now so I thought I would share some of my experiences and tips with you and answer some of your questions!

Starting the blog♡
The first step to running a blog is to make your blog!
Choose your blog programme you want to use. I would highly recommend Blogger (what your viewing this on now) because it requires no money. Just sign up and you have your blog.



Designing the blog♡
I'm a bit of a novice when it comes to designing anything on the Internet. I know exactly what I would like but I have no idea where to start or how to go about doing it. Designing your blog is probably the hardest thing to do.
When I first started my blog I used a basic template and changed the text, colours etc. Pretty straightforward.
You don't need to spend tons of money on a blog design - I made do with what I could design but it never looked professional or nice.

 My blog design was designed by Edie who does her own blog design. If you have no idea where to start or what to do then I would recommend looking into Edie's company. I paid £6 for my blog design.

Edie's company



What do I blog about♡
Write about what you are interested in. Some people choose travel blogs, cookery blogs, fashion blogs etc. I don't particularly know my genre - I just blog what I like!  My first blog post I did a little introductory one which is deleted.. AAAH I wish I had kept it. Then I did a lush haul, then a Soap and Glory collection, then a Christmas Yankee Candle collection, then a Baby Lips review and then I did a January favourites.



The "tools"♡
You do not need the fanciest equipment to start a blog. There are so many examples of amazing blogs which are created on phones or iPads. You don't need high tech equipment. Our old family computer was so slow that when you turned it on you could go and get yourself a cup of tea and three biscuits before it had even got to the log on page. It was painfully slow so Dad decided to treat the family in Christmas 2013 with a Mac computer so automatically it was better quality and faster. But I can't stress enough how you don't always need a computer. People can design their blog on iPad's - trust me I have witnessed this!

For editing 'Picmonkey' is a really good way to edit photos.



The photographs♡

If a blog has nice photographs I am instantly drawn to reading it. I take my photos currently on the Fugifilm FinePix S1 bridge camera. I have never been so happy with my blog photos! Everyone prefers the quality.  Personally, I think camera quality is an important factor but iPhone cameras are good too! I have used iPhone cameras for a year! You don't necessarily need a big expensive camera to do the photographs. Your phone will do the trick. Although, if you want to go the extra mile I really recommend the camera I have.

Photography tips♡

For your photographs I recommend taking your photographs as close as you can to natural light. In my photographs I have started to include fake flowers for example this heart rose garland (pictured below) to add more detail. I also recommend having a white background to your photos weather that be a duvet cover, pillow or a white windowsill. Fairylights also add detail to photographs too. 

   

Balancing blogging and school♡
My biggest mistake was setting myself a blogging schedule. Some people work their blog by setting upload days. When I did that I felt under pressure and it became more of a chore to blog. Like I had a deadline. Personally, I blog when I feel like it. In the holidays I blog quite a lot whereas during school I don't blog as much. So, whatever free time you have, work on a post. You can also prepare posts over the weekend that you can upload during the weekday when you don't have a lot of time to take photographs and write a lot after school. This way you can upload a post throughout the weekday.   But don't feel pressured to do blogposts when you have enough schoolwork on your plate - blogging is a hobby. It shouldn't take over your life.




Tips for getting my blog out there♡
Don't just start a blog to expect to get a ton of views and to have a queue of companies willing to work with you. They are perks to the hobby but it takes a long time to getting your blog 'out there.'
My blog is not 'out there' by any means. I put the link to my blog in my Instagram bio so anyone who has come across my account can click on the link. I also have signed up to blogging programmes and companies. All of which are listed on the sidebar which you can click on to find out more. This opens up opportunities you can take part in and they send you emails and get you working with brand.

Also, finding people of a similar age who blog can be a great support system and you can make friends with them. If you look around there are different blogging projects run by individuals such as The Secret Blogger Project ... little plug there - click here for more information! It's never too late to join!




Telling your family and friends about your blog♡
I have been asked this question a lot. Especially, the family question. My parents aren't really 'internet' people so blogging doesn't really mean anything to them. I didn't find it hard at all to say to them I've started a blog because I'm close with my parents. However, I know a few people who haven't told their parents about their blogs. Thats fine too - although, if you know they wouldn't let you set up a blog then its probably best you talk to them about it.

As regards to friends, I think I told my best friends face to face or through text (I can't really remember it was a year ago) and other friends just found out.  I put it in my Instagram bio so a lot of friends could see. But regardless, they are really supportive.


People from school finding out about your blog♡
I know bloggers who are really worried that people will find out about their blogs. For me, it was more difficult to keep my blog anonymous. I have had an Instagram account for years now and have built up followers over that period of time so I result in Instagram in getting my blog 'out there.' Gradually, people from school started finding my IG account which is fine because I knew them and you normally follow people that you know. I found it hard at first to come to terms with the fact that people who I see everyday at school maybe reading.  In a year of blogging I have had one negative comment from someone at school face to face. But it didn't really bother me because if I'm enjoying doing it then its none of their business! I have had some nice comments from people at school too! It's not all negative!


Bloggers block♡
Yes. How I have suffered with this problem. It's hard sometimes to think of fresh, new and exciting ideas all the time. Sometimes you have to result in doing the same old things that other bloggers do. My tip is to take a notebook and pen around with you at all times. Sometimes I have been sat in the car or in a lesson and thought of an idea. You never know when you will get a good idea - its always best to be prepared!





Emily x


                                                                                                                                

tartan dress♡

I love the tartan trend for the Autumn and Winter and this tartan dress has been my staple for the season. I have been wearing it quite a lot as I don't know if it will suit the season when Spring and Summer comes so I have been making the most of it!

This dress is from the generation section in New Look. I really like the fitted skater style of this dress and the colours are very Wintery. The dress is still on the website --- heres the link 

When I wear it out I obviously don't wear it alone at the moment because its FREEZING!! When these photographs were taken it was so windy and cold I had to run and put my coat on after every photo! I like to wear it with a chunky knit cardigan or my parker coat. I am after a cropped jumper to pair with my dresses as I think it will be a warmer option! I think when its warmer a denim jacket would look really nice too. 

I wear this dress on an everyday basis. It's nice for meals out (I wore it on 2 meals out this weekend), for special occasions (I wore this on Christmas day) or just every day going out visiting family or shopping. It's really comfortable yet dressy enough to wear out. 

I wear this dress with plain black tights and my little boots. Sometimes I struggle to walk in these as they have a little heel which you can't see very well in the picture below! They are a nice brown suede and were £10 from Primark. I also wear this dress with Converse or dolly shoes. 

Emily x

my pamper evenings♡

It's the winter time. 

I have a love hate relationship with winter. I don't like coming and going home from school in the dark or how everything looks so dreary after Christmas. But I love wrapping up warm, the colder weather and warm and cosy days indoors. I think in the winter time I definitely need a pick me up so I try and have one of these 'pamper evenings' every week. Pamper evenings are basically where you can take a few hours out of your day (normally in the evening) to relax and have some me time. I am quite addicted to these evenings especially when I'm stressed! 

♡

The first thing I like to do is cleanse. I'm quite lazy with my skincare. I normally just use the Garnier Micellar Cleansing water. It's been a staple in a lot of peoples skincare routines for some time now. It takes off all your makeup or even when I'm not wearing makeup it gives my skin a quick clean. A cheaper UK version of the ever so loved Bioderma! 

The next thing I do is have a quick tidy up! Not the typical pamper evening ritual but I find that if my room is clear I can fully relax!

Then I run a nice hot bubble bath. Some people aren't bath people but I can't have a pamper evening without chilling in the bath first. Whilst the bath is running I light some candles. My friend Emily got me some of these tea lights for Christmas. They smell really fresh and lovely and are called 'Winter Frost' which fits the season perfectly!

Then I will pick some lush things to put in my bath! As you can see, I am keeping some of the Christmas range back as Lush Christmas products are my favourites. As you can see, Butter Bear is 'beheaded.' On this particular day, I decided to use the head of Butter Bear and a little piece of the Melting Snowman. Both contain really moisturising qualities to the skin and the scents are delicious! I have a few of these storing up as these two are my favourites. 

When I'm in the bath I love to use some Soap and Glory products as a little treat. They are more expensive than your regular shower gels so I use them sparingly! I got these two for Christmas. I like to use the Rich and Foamous Body Wash which smells so delicious. It contains almond and honey milks and oat extracts. It smells good enough to eat! Then I use the Smoothie Star Breakfast Scrub which is a really exfoliating scrub. It smells like maple syrup pancakes! 

In the bath I will listen to music or read a book - anything to pass the time! I'm currently reading Girl Online - despite the controversy surrounding the book I decided to give it ago. It's very cheesy and cliche but its a really easy girly read. 

When I get out the bath I will change into some cosy pyjamas. Then, I will go up to my bedroom and turn on my fairy lights. I think fairy lights really set the mood and look really pretty. Around this point I will use a face mask. Certain face masks really irritate my skin so I decided to buy the Simple deep cleansing face mask. This is a really moisturising mask and it comes in a tube so you don't have to keep reusing the sachets of product. It also doesn't make my face go all red and blotchy which is a plus! 

Then, I will normally paint my nails whilst watching a film or some YouTube videos. I have a small TV in my room however there's no connection for TV so I will normally watch a Disney film! Some of my favourite nail polishes I have been wearing recently are from the MUA range. In my opinion, they are as good as Barry M nail polishes and are only £1 each! The mint green one is called 'Pistachio Icecream', the pastel pink is called 'Natural Days,' and the dark purple colour is called 'Moody Mink.' (pictured below)

When my nails are dry I will take myself downstairs and have a good old cup of tea with normally a bar of chocolate! 

What do you like doing on a pamper evening? Be sure to let me know in the comments!

Emily x

drugstore makeup starter kit♡

 Today I have a drugstore makeup starter kit/drugstore favourites for you!
I have neglected any makeup posts for ages so here is a very LONG beauty related post :) 

Some of you reading this may have never worn makeup previously before or some of you may just want some new beauty products to purchase!
 I started wearing makeup in Year 8 after my Mum bought me some bits and pieces for Christmas. I think makeup at this age is just experimental. The drugstore is a great place to start to help you realise what you like and what you don't like so you know when buying makeup from more expensive brands. If I'm honest, probably the most expensive makeup purchase I have made was on the real techniques core collection. I have never felt the need to buy anything from any expensive makeup brands as of yet. The drugstore is my favourite place to buy my makeup! 

Tip 1♡

When buying makeup you don't always have to go to places like Boots and Superdrug. Supermarkets usually have deals on their makeup which is usually overlooked because their 'supermarkets.' But  they stock some of my favourite brands and I have got some real bargains! 

Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation♡

When you first start wearing makeup I don't think foundation is a necessity unless you feel like you want to wear it. I started wearing a little bit of foundation about 3 months after I discovered makeup. I still don't wear foundation on a regular basis and when I do wear it I only put a little bit on. Rimmel Match Perfection is by far my favourite foundation that I've tried. It has light to medium coverage and is great for my super pale skin because the lightest shade is definitely a "pale" shade. Its also a light perfecting radiance foundation so it gives a subtle glow. I know the Rimmel Wake Me Up has the same effect but is packed with shimmer so I don't wear that one on a regular basis. It also has SPF 18 so it can protect you from the sun too! The price really ranges - I have bought it for £5 before so it really depends. Superdrug sells it for £6.99. 

Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser Primer♡

Primer is something that you apply after your moisturiser to help your makeup stay on all day. I have seen the difference since purchasing this in the Autumn. The baby skin is a light gel consistency and is said to blur your pores as well as keeping your makeup on. I haven't yet tried it on a hot summers day yet though! I didn't always wear primer, especially when I first started wearing makeup but if you like wearing foundation once you've tried it - it might be a worthy investment. 

This unfortunately is quite expensive at £8 but as I said before, supermarkets always have some bargains. I got mine for £6. 

Collection Lasting Perfection Ultimate Wear Concealer♡

You have probably heard every blogger and YouTuber talk about this concealer so I won't bore you! It's by far my favourite drugstore concealer - its high coverage, lasts a long time, perfect for dark undereye circles, blemishes, redness etc, its perfect for pale skin tones as the shade is actually "pale" and its so CHEAP. I have tried my fair share of awful drugstore concealers and this is by far my favourite. It retails for £4.19.

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder♡

The Stay Matte powder is my favourite pressed powder. I have tried some awful powders including one that turned my face a lovely orange colour. Some people say that this powder makes them look "cakey." Personally, I have never experienced that! I have probably gone through about 4 of these compacts. I use the shade transparent because it doesn't add any colour or coverage. It says it gives natural shine control for up to 5 hours, creates a matte finish and minimises pores. This retails for £3.99. 

Tip 2♡

When buying foundation and concealer don't test the product on your hand. Swatch it on the side of your face or neck and go into natural light to see if it matches your skin tone. Ask a friend for their opinion! 

NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder♡

Cheek products are probably one of my favourite things to buy as regards to makeup. You can really experiment with colours and shades. Bronzer is something that I don't really wear on an everyday basis. I prefer to wear it in the Summer. The NYC bronzer is a matte bronzer so you won't look shimmery at all and it never looks orangey. The compact is complete with a mirror so its another bonus if your carrying it around. Obviously, theres probably better bronzers out there but if you've never tried bronzer theres no point spending a small fortune on one! My sister has the Bojours chocolate bronzer and really likes it so thats another one you could look into. This however retails for £1.99! 

Sleek blushes♡

I LOVE Sleek. It's one of my favourite brands and they make the best blushes. The two that I own are Rose Gold (pictured below) and Suede. The blushes are so pigmented, they look lovely on the cheeks and have a range of colours to choose from. The packaging is so sleek (pardon the pun) and comes with a good sized mirror in the compact. The blushes can add a subtle wash of colour or can be built up on the apples of the cheeks. They are £4.99 each from Superdrug. 

MUA Undress Your Skin Shimmer Highlighter♡

Highlighter is a glittery shimmery powder that you can put on the tops of the cheeks, under the brow bone, down the nose and on the cupids bow. It adds a healthy glowing look to your skin. Definitely not a necessity but a nice edition. This MUA highlighter retails for £3. The one I have is the pink one, I think they have brought out a gold one too!

I have done a full review on this highlighter here 

When I first started wearing eyeshadow I just wanted a light natural wash of colour and nothing too OTT. I've picked a few of my personal favourite eyeshadows. 

Collection Work The Colour Eye Shadow Pencil♡

These collection eye pencils are basically cream eye shadow in a stick form. The colour I have is 'vintage blush' which is a light pink with fine silver shimmers in it. These eye pencils make a really light base and are really quick and easy. Apply lightly and blend with your ring finger to create an all-over eye shadow look. The pencils are really creamy, easy to apply and come in a range of neutral colours. 

Maybelline 24hr Colour Tattoos♡ 

These bad boys are for a little more of a dramatic look. I never wear these on an everyday basis. In my opinion, these are a lot more heavy then the eyeshadow pencils. They are the same concept but are contained in a pot. The two shades I own are 'On and On Bronze' on the left and 'Permanent Taupe,' on the right. On and On Bronze is the one I wear the most often and is the most well-known. I take a little bit on my finger and blend with a brush all over the eyelid. Permanent Taupe is a deep grey/brown shade which I don't really wear often because it is such a dark shade. I think these are perfect for an evening meal or a party. They do a range of different bolds and neutrals and retail for £4.99.

MUA Undress Me Too pallets♡

MUA is sometimes overlooked but their eyeshadow pallets are one of my favourites. This Undress Me Too pallet is meant to be a dupe for the Naked 2 pallet. I bought my first one of these in March 2013 and its a little wrecked! I got my pristine new one (pictured below) for Christmas.

 It has 12 different shades - a mix of browns, golds and cool greys. I use the shade 'Lavish' on my eyebrows (Top, No.5). These pallets are so versatile and there are many pallets to choose from now. This one is £4!

Barry M ShowGirl: Extra Volume Black Mascara♡

This is a new Christmas edition to my makeup collection but it has been on my wish list since it came out and its certainly lived up to my expectations.  It's a really voluminous mascara and your lashes look really big and long. 1 coat gives you more of a simple subtle look but more coats gives you more of a bold night time look. The packaging is absolutely gorgeous and this retails for £4.99. They also have a lengthening mascara in the silver packaging. 

Rimmel Extra Super Lash Lengthening Mascara♡

This is not a well-known mascara but I have had this for a year and absolutely love it. It lengthens your lashes and looks natural. I have the colour brown/black so it definitely appears more subtle. This would be a nice alternative if you want to create a 'no makeup makeup look.' This retails for £4.99 as well. 

Collection Extreme 24hr Felt Tip Liner♡

When I first started wearing makeup, eyeliner, especially liquid eyeliner was not even on my level. I have the worst hand-eye coordination so I waited until Summer of this year to "attempt" to wear it. It's not an easy task I have to admit! The first liquid liner I bought for myself was this one. It's perfect for beginners because its really easy to use. The line can be made thick or thin depending on how you like to wear your eyeliner. This retails for £2.99 which is such a bargain!

Now for my favourite part LIPSTICK! There are a ton of lovely lip products in the drugstore. After taking this photo I soon realised that I didn't pick anything that was super cheap. If you are looking for really inexpensive good quality lipsticks and glosses MUA is a good place to look. The majority of the lipsticks I first bought (which aren't in my collection anymore) were from MUA. It was a nice way for me to experiment with bright colours and nude colours and if they didn't suit me I only spent £1 which is such a good price! The prices of these lipsticks pictured are the higher price of drugstore lipsticks BUT well worth the money paid and are a nice little treat for yourself! 

Topshop Lipstick in Pillow Talk♡

Topshop isn't considered to be a 'drugstore' store but we sometimes glance over high street stores who have bought out there own makeup lines. It's quite ironic that I don't buy clothes from Topshop but I will splurge on one of there lipsticks! For me the prices of these lipsticks are quite expensive but you do get what you pay for. The packaging first of all, is so pretty. The tin packaging keeps the lipstick cold. The shade is a light barbie pink. If I had more time I would of probably picked a better shade but when I was buying this I was in a central London Topshop and a very scary security guard was hovering over me. I felt really under pressure so I picked one that I had heard of before. I am not used to security guards in shops! If I were to go back I would of picked a better colour! They retail for £8 each. 

Revlon Colour Burst Laquer Balm in Demure♡

This is a new Christmas addition to my collection but I have not stopped wearing this since I received this. It's one of my favourites! It's a lovely nude pink shade with a lot of shimmer so it looks like a frost on the lips. The packaging again, is so gorgeous. It's like a chubby stick crayon so it's precise when you apply it. It feels very glossy on the lips. It kind of feels like a cross between a lip gloss and a lipstick. These retail for £7.99. 

Revlon Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie♡

This is a golden oldie in my collection. The revlon lip butters have a lovely creamy texture to them. This colour is a lovely berry pink with some subtle shimmer running through. Again, the packaging is so pretty - the lid has a quilted effect to it. The only thing I would say, is it is quite messy especially around the lipstick tube. Definitely, one of my all-time favourites though. It retails for £7.99 as well. 

Let me know your drugstore favourites or weather you have done a similar post♡

Emily x