The beginning of a long journey...

It's been half a year since I last wrote anything on here. I stopped using my Twitter and kind of fell out the blogging band wagon. But as I'm about to start a skin journey I asked people on Twitter if they'd like me to document it and surprising people did! 

Let's start with a bit of background. When I was in secondary school I was quite lucky to have pretty good skin. I had the odd spot here and there but generally felt super secure and confident about how my skin looked without makeup. 

When I started university, just before my 19th birthday I began noticing how my skin was changing. Not only was I a hell of a lot spottier than previously, I also started getting dry patches and really oily patches across my t-zone. 

I started wearing a lot more make up. I know as you get older you can become much more self aware but it really started to get me down. As the year went on I finally went to my GP. It took me a lot to do this. With someone who suffers from panic disorder I was terrified I was being over dramatic as everyone always told me my skin looked fine.

But then things got worse... My GP used the words 'cystic acne' which basically describes exactly what I was going through. Hard, solid, sore lumps under the skin that just would not shift!! Annoying. After going to the GP the doctor prescribed me a strong Benzoyl Peroxide cream. The first few weeks were completely fine but all of a sudden my skin switched. It was the sorest it had ever been, it was super red, dry and flakey and absolutely everything made it burn BAD. 

This was one of the lowest points. I cried at the thought of going to work (customer service = serving customers all day) because I was so self conscious and I couldn't put anything on my skin to even attempt covering the huge red spots I had all over my face. I felt like I didn't want to go out because someone might comment on my redness and yes, people did. I was called greasy, spotty and even asked if I'm sun burnt and it hurt me. 

To top it all of last year I was told I also had rosacea which totally made sense because all across my cheeks, nose and chin are completely red 24/7 and spider veins began popping up. FAB. 

Of course, back to my GP I went. I basically cried and cried until he finally said he'd refer me to a dermatologist. After waiting nearly 7 months and having cancelled appointments I have finally had my first ever proper dermatologist appointment!!!! YAY. 

I've been told I'll be put on roaccutane which is something I have done a hell of a lot of research on and I won't lie I'm both terrified but buzzing about the possibility of having nice skin!!! I have had a blood test and will be finding out in the coming week what's going to happen next.

I'm totally up for blogging about my experience on roaccutane and might even do some sit down or vlog style videos about how I'm finding the whole skin journey. 

Watch this space!!!

*Disclaimer* Posting about my acne and the struggles I've faced with my mental heath is something that takes a lot to do and I would appreciate it if you could respect that. Please remember that everyone has different ways of going through/dealing with these sorts of things

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Amsterdam OOTD // Weekend Edition

Hello lovelies,

Since being back at university I haven't been blogging. Not because I don't want too but I've actually become head of fashion & beauty for the university magazine, meaning that I've been up to my eyeballs in writing and editing articles... Alongside a mountain of work! But, I've started a module all about blogging and I remembered just how much I missed my blog so what better way to restart than to post my first outfit of the day (OOTD) post from my trip to Amsterdam. 

I spent the weekend in Amsterdam for my boyfriends birthday (giving him the lovely job of taking millions of photos of me) and thought I'd take snaps of what I was wearing as lately I've been really into wearing and trying new looks. I'll do my best to link the original items but alternatives might be in place as I do a lot of my shopping in vintage shops here in Leicester. 

Enjoy!

Day 1- From airport to Amsterdam

Finding something comfortable but stylish for your first day can be a bit of a mission but culottes are perfect! They can be dressed up but also dressed down so I decided to pair them with some Stan Smiths and an oversized washed out denim jacket.

Culottes 

Adidas Stan Smiths 

Denim jacket (Similar) 

Day 2 - Red accents

Red has swiftly become my all time favourite colour and this beanie I found in Bershka Amsterdam adds a pop of colour to a relatively monochrome outfit. I've also been loving my denim skirt and find pairing it with an oversized hoodie can keep you warm as well as comfy. Not sure you've noticed yet but comfort for me is key!

Denim skirt 

Beanie

Adidas Stan Smiths 

Belt 

Hoodie 

 Day 3 - Oversized everything

T-shirt dresses and band tee's have been in all summer and have been coming into the colder months as a layering option. I found pairing this dress with another oversized item of clothing worked really well. The jacket is an old school vintage Nike waterproof that adds some colour to the outfit. Every person in the world seems to own a pair of Vans and I don't blame them. These shoes are go with every single outfit ever and are super comfortable! 

T-shirt dress (similar)

Nike waterproof (vintage shop)

Vans  

I used the same bag throughout the trip but unfortunately I brought it so long ago and abroad that I have no idea where you could find it from! If any of you know any designs similar please comment below I'd love to be able to find an alternative! 

Love B x

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Urban Decay Naked 2 // Review

Hello lovelies!

I've been meaning to do this post for a crazy long time but just never got round to it! I was originally going to do a first impressions, but after using this palette constantly for the past six months I thought I'd switch it up and do a full review!

I've always had so much love for Urban Decay and was desperate to get my hands on one of their palette's. I opted for the 'Naked 2' which is available HERE for £39.50. It comes with 12 shades that includes both matte and shimmer finishes. It also has a doubled ended brush called 'Good Karma shadow/crease' and is exclusive to this palette. I absolutely love this brush and actually use it all the time!

Swatches 1.

Swatches 2.

From the swatches its already quite clear to see that they are really pigmented and from the photo above I only swiped the shade once. On top of this they blend beautifully. I find I use a fluffy brush to blend out and only have to use a small amount of colour. I've already been using this palette for about half a year and haven't touched pan on any of the shades yet! Amazing.

 The only colour I find a bit pointless in this palette is the first shade called 'Foxy'. It's a banana type shade which I love but it just doesn't show up much on my skin tone. However, saying this I do find this one to be really good for a matte base colour or if you want a more natural look on your eyes.

My absolute favourite colour in the palette has got to be 'Chopper'. It's a beautiful sparkly copper colour and I always find myself going back to this shade and doing an orangey/copper look.

This palette is so versatile. With such a range of different colours I can do smokey eyes, copper eyes and even some purple. I definitely recommend this if you're new to makeup as a kind of beginning high end palette because it's so easy to apply and doesn't leave a lot of fall under the eyes.

I can't wait to get my hands on some more Urban Decay make-up. Let me know in the comments your favourite palette at the moment!

Love B x

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University tips // Managing time!

Hello lovelies,

This is my last university tips blog post and will be all about how to manage your time when away at university. If you haven't seen my other two posts about preparation and saving money then please go check them out!  *PREPPING AND SAVING MONEY*

When you head of to university managing your time can be quite stressful. You have to study, make time for yourself, socialise and sleep. So, here are a few tips on how to help and mainly how to focus on your studies.

1. Avoid distractions

University is just full of distractions but be strong and try to stay away if you know you have things that have to be done. The best way to do this is to use your university facilities such as going to the library or a classroom. By setting up in a quieter environment you can focus way better!

2. Make a schedule 

When you have tonnes to do I find making a schedule for the week breaks everything up much easier and it doesn't seem so daunting. You can then start crossing things off as you do them and that shows you actual progress which can often be motivating.

3. Give yourself some me time

Even when you have loads to do you need to give yourself some time to either be alone or socialise and see your friends. By doing this it allows you to have a breather and relax for a bit. As important as studying and stuff is it's so important to give yourself some time off. Your body will thank you!

4. Prep and plan

Don't leave things till the last minute!!! By prepping and planning you give yourself some time to overlook everything that needs doing and also reduces stress massively. Planning can help you write down any ideas and really boost your motivation.

5. Prioritise 

Make sure you separate what needs to be done and what you want to be done. By prioritising things you can get the most important things done first. I normally prioritised by using the dates things needing doing so that everything was done in time. 

Again, even if you aren't going to university you can always use these tips to manage your time if you are at school or college. Make sure you go check out all of my other university tip blog posts here and here and good luck for anyone going away to university!

Love B x

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University tips // Saving money!

Hello lovlies,

This is the second post for my three post series all about my university tips. If you haven't seen my first post you can read it here. This one will be talking about probably one of the most important things to do when going off to university. SAVING MONEY.

Student finance is great but they don't always give you a lot to live on and receiving a low amount of money can make leaving home so daunting. But... even though I can't offer real money there are loads of ways that you can save some dollar!

1. Budget!!!

Budget your money and stick to it. Remember you're a student now. By giving yourself a budget it means you can see exactly what you need and how much everything will be. You can also take note of what you are spending your money on either weekly or monthly and if you are over spending you can look back and see what you need to cut out.

2. FRESHERS

 Don't spend your entire bank during freshers, you'll have at least 3 more months until your next loan and living on pot noodles and toast isn't fun. We all know that having a huge lump sum of money dropped into your bank account during freshers is super tempting but give yourself a budget and don't go crazy. 

3. Forget about your car

Driving is great and I loved my car but the fact is you won't need it. If you have a car the best thing to do would be sell it. This way you'll make some extra cash! Normally when you go away to university everything is a walkable distance away. 

4. Student discount

Tonnes of places offer student discount now. You can either buy an NUS card or use the unidays app. Whenever you go somewhere all you need to do is search to see if they offer discount or simply ask. Both of these offer discount on things such as shops, restaurants and even hotels.

5. Get a student bank account

Not everyone wants to use an over draft but loads of banks now offer student accounts that give you an interest free over draft. (Basically you can borrow money and not have to pay any interest on it.) Even if you don't ever have to use your overdraft it's much safer to have it incase anything does happen. Just remember, don't be tempted to start spending it all on things you really don't need. *Clothes... makeup... ect... *

I used all of these tips in my first year and will most probably be using many of them again. You could even use some of these if you aren't going to university but just want to save some money. Keep an eye out for my last post about saving money and you can read my previous post here. I hope they help and a huge good luck to anyone going away this month to university!

Love B x

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University tips // Prepping!

Hello lovelies, 

This time last year I was busy running around like a headless chicken trying to get everything together before I went away to start three years in Leicester for university. I found heading off to university both daunting and exciting. I went out and brought every single type of saucepan and started stocking up on essentials such as pasta. 

So, before you go crazy in Ikea I though I’d do a three part blog post series with some tips to help you before going away to university including prepping, saving money and how I found it best to manage my time. 

Todays post will be all about preparing for university and some advice on how to do so! Hopefully some, if not all of these tips will help make university life a little easier!

1. LISTS! 

Writing lists of things you need to get will make your lives ten times easier. You can write up your own or go online and find a pre-made one. You can write down different categories like things for your kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. I found making a list made me not forget anything essential.

2. Colour themes

Now this one may seem weird but having some kind of colour scheme for my bedroom made it so much easier when I was out buying bits and bobs for my room. It stopped me from going crazy and buying absolutely everything and instead made me look out for some nicer more suitable items. I also found by having a coloured theme for my room I was able to make it my own and it really helped with the home sickness. 

3. Get a REAL email address

By now I’m assuming lots of you have an email address that isn’t something like ‘princess2017’ because no lecturer or job application will ever take you seriously! Having a professional looking email address that you can contact your university on is so much easier. Everything will be in one place for you to find things and you’ll be able to use it for things in the future such as work experience or placement. It’ll also make organising things 10x easier as well. You’ll be able to link everything together on your computer and phone.

4. Facebook groups

Now I’m not a huge Facebook fan and I rarely use it other than to speak to family but during this time of year Facebook is full of university group pages that you can request to join. By doing this you can meet so many other people who are in the same boat as you and you can begin to make friends with people. From here you can even find some of the people on your course or who you may be living with if you’re staying in halls. I found this super helpful and actually met some of my best uni friends this way!

5. Get involved!

When you arrive at uni your first week will be a blur. There will be fresher’s fair, loads of events and you’ll be meeting so many new people. My best tip would be to get stuck in. Talk to new people and get to know your surroundings. I found starting in my halls was best and as I became familiar with everything I started venturing out around campus. Fresher’s fair is also something to get involved in. You’ll be given so many freebies and also get a chance to look at the different societies. Doing all of this will make making new friends easier and make university life easier too!

For anyone off to university this month then good luck! Just keep in mind that everyone is in the exact same boat as you and you'll be fine.

Love B x

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Review // Morphe 35OM Palette

Hello lovelies,

I have spent sooo long waiting for the Morphe 35OM palette to come back in stock at BeautyBay and finally I got my hands on it so I thought I'd do a first impressions post.

This palette is an all matte version of the 35OM which is an even bigger sell out! I much prefer a matte eyeshadow look and found that I didn't have many matte palettes so though I'd give this one a go. The burnt out colours are so in at the moment and I've already got so much use out of it.

The colour pay off is absolutely amazing so I think this palette is going to last a really long time. On top of this all of the colours are easily blendable and create some gorgeous looks. I especially love the right hand section of the palette because the orangey/red colours are my favourite.

For only £22.00 this palette is perfect. Morphe do a variety of palettes and I can't wait to try out some of the others.

Has anyone tried this palette or anything else from Morphe? Would love to read about them in the comment section below.

Love B x 

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Skincare // Nivea face range

Hello lovelies,

Exam season is finally over and done with and now I actually have some spare time to start blogging again. As someone who struggles with acne and finds it difficult to come across products that don't set my skin off I thought I'd kick off with a skincare post! (Basically telling you how much I friggin' love Nivea atm)

I've always used Nivea since I was a teen because it was the only brand that didn't make my face breakout into a billion spots. Ever since I've loved trying out their new products so I thought I'd round up every Nivea product I use daily and talk through how amazing I've found them to be.

Nivea Daily Essentials Double Effect Eye Make-Up Remover - £3.89
If you're like me and you wear waterproof mascara then this ones for you! I absolutely swear by this eye make-up remover. I hardly have to use any product to remove my mascara and it doesn't take a whole lot of rubbing either. Not only does it leave your eyelids squeaky clean but it also doesn't leave that horrible greasy feel some removers do.

Nivea Daily Essentials Sensitive Cleansing Milk - £3.69
Sometimes if I'm only wearing light makeup I prefer using this cleansing milk over micellar water because it isn't as harsh on my skin. I massage this into my skin like a moisturiser using my finger tips and then wipe off with a large cotton pad. It removes my make-up really well and also leaves my skin feeling hydrated.

Nivea Purifying Gel Face Wash - £3.59
For the past 7 or so years I have tried many different face washes and I've never found one I have loved and re-purchased. But that has all changed. This face is really good at targeting blackheads and purifying the skin. I find using this both in the morning and at night leaves my skin feeling healthy and clean.

Nivea Regenerating Night Cream - £4.05
This night cream is intense. It has a very thick consistency which I personally love. I find when I massage this into my skin before bed I wake up with my skin feeling so soft. I would definitely recomment this if your skin is in need of a smoothness boost!

Nivea Lip Care Essential - £1.65
This lip balm is one I have been repurchasing for years! It has a gorgeous scent and doesn't feel too heavy on the lips. It hydrates my lips and leaves them super soft. Especially in the colder months. Its simple uncoloured balm means it is perfect to just chuck in my bag.

Overall I have been loving using the Nivea skincare range and can't wait to get my hands on some of their other products.

I hope you all are loving the new blog theme and layout and any comments below would be greatly appreciated. Feels so good to be blogging again!

Love B x

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Gettin' my glow on // Honey bronze

Hello lovelies,

Like any twenty-year-old girl I absolutely love having a tan but as much as I'd love to hop abroad a catch a real one that just isn't possible. This is where the trusty bottle of fake tan comes out but to be honest I've just never found one that leaves me with a glowing tan. That was until I saw the Honey Bronze range from The Body Shop...

 With the sun finally making an appearance and The Body Shop having a 3 for 2 offer I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to get my glow on and try out some of their products. I picked up the Shimmering Dry Oil, the Honey Bronze Drops Of Sun and the Highlighting Dome.

1. Shimmering Dry Oil - £18

Now this product isn't to be confused with your bog standard fake tan because it doesn't give you that kind of intensity. Instead the oil leaves you with a more of a sun kissed shimmery tan which is a lot more subtle but much more realistic looking. I much prefer this instead of my normal tan because it leaves my skin feeling hydrated but doesn't leave a greasy feel like most oil based products do. Even though it is quite pricey I've found a little goes a long way so I reckon this product will last me quite a while and will be perfect to apply over a real tan in the summer!

2. Drops Of Sun - £12

This product can be mixed into anything... but preferably in moisturiser or foundation to give you a golden glow. I find this is perfect to use on my face after I've applied my shimmering dry oil so that my face actually matches the rest of my body! One of the things I love the most about this product is that it is shimmer free. I find a lot of bronzed face products contain shimmer which I find on me makes me look totally OTT but this one leaves me looking glowy as hell! Again this product will last me forever because one drop is more than enough.

3. Highlighting Dome - £9

I just couldn't resist yet another highlighter! I'm obsessed. The shade of this highlighter is 01 and reminds me of Mac Soft and Gentle but in a cream version (heaven I know). The shape of this product is perfect because I can just swipe the tops of my cheek bones so easily and it leaves a shimmery highlight. I also find this product to be easy to blend and for only £9 I've definitely been getting my moneys worth.

I can't wait to try more of The Body Shop's products as I've only just got into shopping there but I'm sure I'll be writing up another review on their stuff soon! I hope you enjoyed this post and I'd love to see some of your comments below<3

Love B x

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Blog switch up // The pill

Hello lovelies,

This post is going to be very different to anything I've posted on my blog before but I really want to start talking about real life situations and personal experiences because I absolutely love reading posts like this and find things like this can be super helpful. The other week I asked you guys on twitter if you'd like more personal blog posts and the majority voted yes, so I thought I'd kick this off with my month from hell thanks to the pill.

The contraceptive pill is something that thousands of women use and even though so many of us take it, it isn't something people really talk about. I was first put on the combined pill when I was 15 to help regulate my crazy periods. The doctor said it would make them lighter, shorter and less painful. How amazing?

For years I haven't even thought twice about being on the pill. I went to all of my check ups and did the usual weight, height and blood pressure checks and always walked away happy a larry with six more months of pills. This was until I was randomly put onto a different brand called Rigevidon. I was told by my nurse that my doctors have stopped stocking my original pill so this was the exact same ingredients and that everything would be the same. As much as this was true in the sense that the ingredients were the same, the quality of this pill was not and it made me feel AWFUL. 

Week one was full of mood swings and breakdowns. Week two was pretty much the same. I couldn't pin point what on earth was actually wrong with me but I just didn't feel good at all. And by week 3 I felt exhausted all of the time and the headaches and bloating I suffered from were insane. Me being me I decided to google my symptoms and see if anyone else has had the same problem and oh my god the internet was full of horror stories. Quick tip: Don't google symptoms EVER. It's never going to be good news!

 I finally decided to book an appointment with my new doctors who thankfully did stock my old pill but I was told to finish the packet before changing. I'm now back on my original pill which is Ovranette but I didn't skip my 7 day break like I should have. Woops... I've never really had any problems with this pill before and find I'm much more relaxed taking something I know I'm familiar with. 

My advice would be to go and talk to a nurse or doctor about any questions or concerns you have about contraception because it is perfectly normal to want to discuss your options. Nurses and doctors are there to help you and no matter what you want to ask they will try to help you.

I know this post is completely different to anything I've wrote on here before but topics like these are things I could ramble on about for days and I love reading stuff like this. So, every month I'm now going to be uploading a more wordy and personal blog post because I have so many things I want to speak about that normally just get swept under the carpet.

I hope you enjoyed reading my experience and remember that everyone has different experiences on the pill.

Love B x

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Topshop Treats!

If you haven't tried any of Topshops make up range where have you been and what are you thinking?! The range overall is pretty amazing. With beautiful packaging and a huge range of different products it's definitely worth checking out! (After you've read this post...)

Top Mink

Bottom Devotion

I have already tried a few other Topshop lipsticks and love them! They are such good value for money. For only £8 each you can't really go wrong. The colours I picked up are called Mink and Devotion. Mink is more of a brown/red colour and Devotion is a dirty pink/purple colour. They are both gorgeously pigmented and so wearable for everyday occasions. 

The thing I love the most about these colours is how even though they aren't dark shades they have a nude tone to them and anyone who knows me knows I love a good nude. (No pun intended...) I have worn both of these lipsticks to death since buying them! They leave a very moisturising feel on the lips and don't dry out which is something I really love. Can't be dealing with flakey lips!

So for the first time ever on my blog I have actually posted some photos of me wearing the lipsticks!

Wearing 'Mink'

Wearing 'Devotion'

Have any of you lovelies tried any other Topshop lip products? I'd love to hear!

B x

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KIKO MILANO // Radiant Touch Creamy Stick Highlighter

Since KIKO opening in Milton Keynes I can't stop myself from popping in and picking up more and more products. Lately my entire makeup bag is pure KIKO and I am loving it! Highlight is something that can either make or break your makeup look. Too much and you can end up looking a little bit like a shiny egg. (My first experience with a power highlight ended up a bit like that) I love a good highlight on my cheek bones. With an unfortunate chubby cheek thing going on, a little contour and highlighter never goes a miss with me!

This highlighter is so creamy and easy to apply. I do still apply this to a brush just because I feel it can leave a bit of an obvious line on my face if I don't blend it in enough. Luckily for me it is definitely quite a subtle shimmer on the tops of the cheek bones which I prefer. I feel this would be a great highlighter for you to start off with if you are a beginner. The lasting power of this highlighter is also something I am really impressed with. I feel like when I apply it in the morning I don't need to retouch throughout the day. (100% a good highlight for a night out!) 

KIKO do two shades. I picked up the colour GOLD. I felt like the ROSE colour was too pink for my complexion and looked more like a cream blush. You can pick it up here. I think for £8.50 it is a real steal. 

Anyone else tried any KIKO products?

B x

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Keepin' Those Cheeks Flushed

Urban Decay are renown for their palettes and this one does not disappoint. I picked up this one quite a while back when I went to Paris and have used it so much ever since. I find it so handy to have a tri of three all in one place. It contains a blush, highlighter and bronzer for your face and cheeks. With four different pallets there is a shade for everyone to enjoy. You can pick them up for £23.50 from the Urban Decay website or some selected stores.

I picked up the Naked Flushed in Strip. Compared to the others I would say this one has a much darker mauve pink blush with no glitter or metallic look too it which is what I prefer in a blush like this. The pigment of this blush is insane. You hardly have to sweep your brush to get enough to cover both cheeks which is really good as you can build up the colour more and more. 

The highlighter is a dream. It makes you cheekbones all glowy and beautiful. It has undertones of gold in this highlighter which reflects beautifully in the light. I love nothing more than a highlighted cheek.

The bronzer I would say is a tad too dark for my complexion but by being careful I can defo make it work. *Inserts wide eye emoji* I would say this would be a lot more suited to a more tanned skin tone and as I sometimes fake tan this one does work for me on nights out!

Anyone else tried any of the other Flushed pallets? 

B x

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Super Sleek // Blush Review

Blushes are one of those things I have way too many off, yet still I can't stop myself from buying more. Sleek are such a high quality yet affordable brand that I have quickly become obsessed with. *Insert heart eyed emoji* The only place I have seen Sleek to been sold as a brand is Superdrug. Let me know in the comments if you know anywhere else in the UK that you can get hold of Sleek! 

Lets just start off with how the packaging of these products really truly represents the brands name. They are so sleek. I love how simple and practical they are. Plus, a mini mirror is always handy!!! The pigment of these blushes are insane. You only need a tiny swipe on your brush which means they last for so long. 100% worth the money considering they are only £4.49! 

Shade- Flushed

This was the first shade I picked up from Sleek. I was looking for a new pink blush that wasn't too much for my pale complexion. As the name suggests it does make you cheeks look naturally flushed and rosey. It has a deep pink in comparison to most light pinks I normally wear. It has a matte finish on my face which I love as it means I can use highlighter without feeling super sparkly!

Shade- Pomegranate

The pigment of this shade is insane. It leaves a metallic pink/purple finish which I love. I love that this colour leans more towards being a purple shade as I'm a sucker for anything purple. The metallic finish isn't for everyone and it can be quite shocking when you first apply so you do need to make sure you only use a small amount and build it up so the pigment doesn't clog in one place! (My 1st proper tip YAY)

Shade- Rose Gold

This shade is by far my favourite out of the three. Rose gold as a colour is beautiful and this blush recreates it amazingly! This shade has been said to be a dupe for NARS Orgasm blush and as much as I'd love to say it does I would like to point out it is Orgasm is more pink and less golden than this shade. I love the golden tinge this leaves on my face. You definitely don't need too use any highlighter with this product!

Has anyone used any other products from Sleek? Let me know below!

B x

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KIKO // Unlimited Stylo

KIKO is one of those brands I have wanted to try out for ages but never got round too actually taking the plunge and ordering something. However, some real good news happened this week, the new KIKO store in Milton Keynes finally opened its doors and it had the best offer ever! Buy three products, get three more for free. *Insert heart eyed emoji*

Of course if you've had a quick scroll down you can see this post is just about one of the products I picked up. That's because I haven't yet got round to trying out all my other ones, so as the weeks go on you will be seeing a lot more KIKO posts on my blog! Sorry in advance!

This lipstick is from the Unlimited Stylo range and I picked up the shade 13- Cocoa. This is a dark nude with purple/brown undertones. I find the purple/brown undertones really make this lipstick a bit more than just a nude for me. It's very easy to wear in terms of the colour. It's holding power is incredible. It claims to have 8 hours wear, which I totally agree with! It's a semi matte finish meaning it can be a little drying on the lips, but nothing a bit of vaseline won't fix. The packaging of this lipstick is real nice. It's shiny and classy and I love that! 

I am in love with this lipstick and have been wearing it all week. I 100% recommend it and will defo be going back to purchase some more! Anyone else tried any KIKO products? Let me know below!

B x

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I Have A Soap & Glory Crush

I'm a sucker for pretty packaging, may seem a bit shallow but the first glimpse at a super cute product is normally what draws me in. I've always wanted to try Soap & Glory skincare products ever since I smelt the Sugar Crush Body Lotion and with Boots recent 3 for 2 offer I could not resist! 

I picked up two of the pump bottle moisturisers. They are both available in tubs but I find it a lot easier to use a pump. Let's talk about my absolute favourite first. The Sugar Crush 3 in 1 Body Lotion. I can't even begin to describe how amazing this smells. It's literally the best smelling product I have ever owned and this factor alone is enough to make me repurchase this for life! You apply this lotion to damp skin and it works a treat. Not only do you smell crazy good, you also feel silky soft and smooth. 

The second moisturiser I brought is the Butter Yourself Ultra Nourishing Fruity Liquid Moisture Lotion (Wow what a mouthful!) So, after I got over the super long name for this product I again noticed how good it smelt. This one is a lot more subtle, so if you prefer a more toned down smell for your skin I would 100% recommend this one. This one is great to use on drier and tougher skin such as elbows and knees. I found this one makes my skin feel really hydrated. I tend to switch it up and use one on one day and the other the day after!

The last thing I picked up is the Flake Away Body Scrub. Unfortunately I have been blessed with dry skin which is sometimes super embarrassing due to flakey legs. *inserts sad face* This product has been a life saver. Yes, moisturisers temporarily fix the flakey problem but this scrub actual eliminates it! I sometimes find scrubs a bit too much for my skin but this one leaves it feeling beautiful! And this product smells of fig which is gorgeous.

Anyone recommend any other Soap & Glory products? I'm eager to try more!

B x

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Life Update // University

University is something I have always had mixed feelings about. The thought of it makes me feel both incredibly excited yet so nervous. Luckily, I have been offered an unconditional place at De Montfort University to study Journalism and Media BA (Hons).

With going to university comes big responsibilities such as living on my own, doing my own food shopping and juggling my time between studying and everything else. It scares me to think I'll have to fend for myself instead of having my mum and dad cook me dinner and wash my clothes. (Although bringing bags of washing home for my mum will definitely happen!) I'm so excited for this experience and thought I need to let you lovely lot know because everyone in the blogging community are so supportive and lovely!

 I can't wait to start writing blog posts about things I have brought for my room and tips for saving money ect. Keep an eye out for those soon! I've already posted a mini haul here, but will probably post 10 more before I go, watch this space. 

Anyone else looking at going to uni this year?

B x

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Mini haul // Ikea trip!

One of the most exciting things about university for me is the fact I will be moving out into a room where I can decorate it how I please. As a student I won't be able to splash the cash out on my room but I do want to do everything I can to make my small space, my own. All warm and homely.

I've created a list (a huge, massive, long list) of everything I need to buy for university including my kitchen utensils, electronics and bedroom decor. This trip was purely meant to be a browse for me to get some ideas on what sort of things I wanted to get and also needed to get. Those are two completely different things. And well... me being me ended up buying things because I 'needed' them.

1. Fake plants

Yes, fake plants are totally cheating BUT, there is no way that I will be able to keep real plants alive so hey ho. I picked up three different styles and all of them were £3 each. Ikea have a huge range of fake plants and I will definitely be getting some more when I next visit. I love having some greenery in my room and I'm a massive fan of the leafy look. 

2. Laser cut pots

I picked up two of these in different sizes. The larger one is very large and I will probably be using it to stick all of my stationary stuff into. As for the smaller one I will use this for my makeup brushes and when I next visit Ikea I will be picking up another one! These pots are super cute and will look nice on my shelves for a bit of decoration. White and black are going to be my key colours for my rooms decor as I love the simplistic style. The large pot was £2 and the smaller one was £1.50.

3. Ceramic dish

 I picked up this square, white ceramic dish. I will be using this to place all of my most worn jewellery on. I think this will look great on my desk by all my make up and adds some simple decoration to my room without making it look cluttered. This was only £2.50.

4. The last thing I brought I didn't picture just because a) it's quite boring and b) it was too large! I just picked up a fold away white basket which I will probably use for either storage or for my laundry. As boring as it sounds it is very practical and it only cost me £2! Bargain. 

This was one of many trips before I head of to university in September so keep your eyes peeled for more! Anyone else brought some home decor stuff recently? 

B x

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Budget makeup // Primark Matte Lip Crayon

Being a student means expensive high end makeup is something only the future holds. One day, maybe when I don't have to live off of pot noodles and tins I can spend my money on the things that really matter in my life. Beauty. However, during the poor season I have found some of the greatest dupes ever and my latest discovery is one for the books.

Primark. A.k.a a crazy jumble sale (if you are from Northampton... maybe some of you have amazing ones like the Oxford street one!) I was always dubious about trying their makeup just because I thought how could a £2 lip crayon be good? But it is. It's really good.

I picked up three shades. One is a wine/deep red colour, another is a purple toned nude and the last one is a bright orangey/red. One of the first things that struck me when I spotted these was the fact they are matte. I instantly thought 'Oh god they're gonna be so dry and make my lips hate me' but they totally surprised me and didn't do this at all! I mean, yes, course they are a bit drying on the lips but what matte lipstick isn't? I find applying a bottom layer of lip balm really helps stop these lip crayons from flaking off during the day. 

In terms of colour pigment and hold they are beautifully pigmented and are so true to the shades shown on the lids! They hold for a few hours but do need a quick top up every so often. The shape of the crayon is really handy as well, it means you don't have to apply a lip liner first because you can just use the thin end.

Over all I am super impressed with these three lip crayons. They aren't cheap or tacky at all and for the price they are really quite incredible! Below I have swatched the colours. As they don't have names I'm sure you can see which one is which!

Any of you lovelies tried anything from the Primark beauty range?

B x

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Chapstick // Smoothie Mixstix

The cold weather always leaves my lips feeling super dry and horrible so I've been on the search for something that would rehydrate them. I've tried tons of different chapsticks but none has lasted long and most medical ones taste or smell horrible! 

The other day I popped into my local boots to find this super cute double ended chapstick. I've never seen this type of chapstick before so I was instantly interested. The novelty of this product is one of the things I love the most. One end is banana flavoured and the other is strawberry. You can mix both flavour together like it suggests or just use one end at a time. The smell and flavour is very sweet and intense which I personally love. Even when you look past the super cute packaging and all the jazz of a two in one product the overall product does do what it says on the tin. And it does it very well. Since using this chapstick my lips feel smooth and moisturised. 

Strawberry end

Banana end

Any great novelty products you've come across recently?

B x

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