Monthly Playlist: November & December

Hello guys; the past couple of months have simply flown by for me! My boyfriend has started a new job and I’ve been working a lot, as well as enjoying some general me time. Part of me feels guilty for neglecting the blog, particularly as it was such a good outlet for me when I wasn’t feeling my best in terms of mental health but unfortunately sometimes life is for living and the extra work of writing and uploading blog posts was an extra something that I simply didn’t have any time for. Over the past couple of months I’ve noticed that I’ve been listening to music a lot less as I’ve been suffering with some painful tension headaches, so I’ve been preferring to read as opposed to listening to a variety of sounds. It feels like it has been years since I’ve not listened to music whilst on bus journeys but I needed a bit of a break. I have, however, been listening to the songs below on speakers which makes for nice background noise. Each of these songs brings to the fore a specific memory for me; do any of you have specific songs that you connect with a memory? I’d love to know that it’s not only me haha! Fingers crossed I’ll have sorted out my life enough to start posting more regularly on here again as I have missed it. Until next time! Xxx

1. Infra-Red - Placebo

2. Black Magic - Little Mix

3. Woman Up - Meghan Trainor

4. Don’t Look Down - Martin Garrix (feat. Usher)

5. For What It’s Worth - Placebo

6. One Thing - One Direction

7. Elastic Heart - Sia

8. With Ur Love - Cher Lloyd (feat. Mike Posner)

9. City of Angels - 30 Seconds to Mars

10. Payphone - Maroon 5

11. The Never-Ending Why - Placebo

12. What Makes You Beautiful - One Direction

13. Same Old Love - Selena Gomez

14. Animals - Maroon 5

15. This Is Me - Joe Jonas & Demi Lovato 

Favourite Blogs #12

Hello again guys; every month there are a few posts that I always try and find the time to post, although obviously if I don't feel my best then I take a break from blogging in general. This month I've discovered several new blogs through various social medias and so this post is a kind of celebration between blogs that I love, whether I've just discovered them or if I've been reading them for a while now. I like to read a range of blogs, including beauty, lifestyle and mental health, however my preferred blogs are always those with a dash of positivity. I'm currently loving reading blogs compared to magazines as I feel like they're written by people like me, for people like me which is refreshing. There's a feeling of authenticity that comes from blogs, which is why I enjoy reading them so much.

http://rosetintedpics.co.uk/

I found Amelia's blog fairly recently, after following her on instagram for a while, but once I saw her blog I instantly fell in love. There's something lovely in the simplicity of her photographic style. With a mix of beauty, baking and lifestyle her posts offer something for everyone, although I prefer the beauty posts generally. As a huge mascara lover myself I do love a good review and she regularly reviews mascaras by various brands in detail, which are super helpful as she even talks about packaging and longevity and the reviews do feel honest; I trust her opinions as she seems very down to earth and passionate about whatever she writes about.

http://www.asyouwishuk.com/

I actually found Georgie's blog through her twitter page and haven't looked back since. Her sense of wanderlust and thirst for adventure is pretty catching; as in her travel photography is enough to make you want to quit your job and travel the world, discovering the beauty of life. However the travels are mixed in with a range of lifestyle and beauty posts too, which is also great. There are some really useful posts, for example what products to take in a make up bag (or generally in a bag!) for various holiday destinations and I also like her '10 things that made me happy this month' posts for a dash of positivity. 

https://palegirlrambling.wordpress.com/

Another twitter find, I absolutely adore her blog and other social media; this blog is definitely one for the beauty and stationary lover and the photography is simply fabulous a they're so much going on. Overall, she's definitely more of a beauty blogger and I do love how that also includes skin and nail care in this instance as I'm fairly lazy about those kinds of things so it's great to read reviews that coax me into making more of an effort! There's also a healthy mix of high end and drugstore beauty products so whether you want to lust after beautiful things or break your bank, this is the perfect blog to read if you want to spend some hard earned money as you'll want it all.

https://nospaceformilk.com/

I've been following Rachel on various social media and reading her blog for about year (maybe more) now and I love how her posts incorporate a range of themes including mental health, wellbeing and lifestyle. As a mental health nursing student, it's amazing to see mental health from another perspective and I really admire her creative ways of tackling mental health and the stigma surrounding it. Honestly is really important to me whenever I read a blog and Rachel's blog is a true insight into her life, for example when writes about the tough times as well as the good times and that's so refreshing for someone like me, who wants to see real life.

https://www.jasmineprecious.co.uk/

The final blog that I've been loving this month I found very recently, through another blogger. Jasmine has a lovely blog, I like how she's taken so much time with it to the extent that she even built her own site to blog on. Her posts are mix of lifestyle and beauty and I love how down to earth and honest she is; her recent post on why she avoided university was great as it was a completely different perspective to my own but it also tackled an important topic that most people don't really talk about. The other posts that I like to read are favourites posts as well as budgeting posts as they're always a good way of working out if you want to spend some money. Jasmine's blog is definitely one for the hard working as she details some really important stuff and I loved her explanation about spending and bank accounts so much!

May Playlist!

 

I love popping my iPod onto shuffle and going for a walk, or listening to music when I'm on public transport. I'm aware that my iPod is super old and unfortunately will one day not work anymore, but until that time I'm loving the nostalgic value of using a device does purely what it sets out to. It saves my phone battery and doesn't need much tlc to keep it going. Plus, the bright red of this generation was always my favourite. My inner child is very happy with it. 

1. Stay - Zedd & Alessia Cara

2. No More Sad Songs - Little Mix

3. Move Your Body - Sia 

4. First Time - Kygo & Ellie Goulding

5. Hard Times - Paramore

6. Castle on the Hill - Ed Sheeran 

7. Otherside - Red Hot Chili Peppers

8. Plug In Baby - Muse

9. Burn - Ellie Goulding

10. Touch - Little Mix

11. City of Angels - 30 Seconds to Mars

12. Scars to Your Beautiful - Alessia Cara

13. The Zephyr Song - Red Hot Chili Peppers

14. I'm Just a Kid - Simple Plan

15. U + Ur Hand - P!nk

 

Favourite Blogs #9

 

http://lifewithbbb.blogspot.co.uk/

I found Beth on instagram after she followed me, as well as on twitter. During April I've been loving her blog as she's super down to earth and posts some great advice pieces, for example what to do when you're unemployed and why alcohol isn't a necessity. I'm really enjoying getting to know smaller bloggers like myself and she's such a good beauty and lifestyle based blogger. Her lipstick comparison posts are great as she has pale skin like me (which means I get some fantastic lip colours) and I've also been enjoying her travel posts as she's visited Amsterdam, a city that I'm desperately dreaming of visiting. I'm such a nosy person that I love blogs where you get to see snippets of a persons life, such as Beth's mac lipsticks collection or her skincare favourites of the month and I would highly recommend looking at her blog!

 

http://planetwhispers.blogspot.co.uk/

I found Soph's blog through twitter (my new favourite app to find other bloggers) and I've been scrolling through millions of her posts ever since. As I've previously mentioned I'm massively nosy so I love get a look into other people make up collections; she has some incredibly detailed posts of her collection which she's broken down into eyeshadow palettes, lipsticks, highlighters, blushers and bronzers (etc.) which are great as they feature mostly drugstore products which are super affordable. I also really loved her book reviews as I've read many of the books too and enjoy seeing different opinions to mine, as well as discovering potential new reads. Soph is also incredibly supportive of other bloggers, myself included for which I would really recommend following over social medias!

 

http://themymanylovesblog.blogspot.co.uk

I found Amy and her blog through instagram and I enjoy her posts as they're most beauty related; whether that's skincare, make up or focussing on specific brand testing. Aside from beauty, her posts also cover lifestyle, for example apps you need as a blogger, what blogs she's loving and monthly favourites, as well as dabbling in fashion and music. I like that she writes about items that she's really into, for example what make up she likes regardless of the price; her £1 liquid lipstick collection was a great post as it shows that it's not all about how much you spend but about the quality of the posts that you write.

 

http://www.heldtogetherbypins.co.uk/

I've been following Paige and her blog for at least the last two or three years now, which seems like such a long time when it's written down! It's been nice watching her grow so much in past year in particular and recently I've been loving her music and fashion posts. Ever since I discovered blogs, back when I used to be afraid to start my own, I always liked bloggers who posted mainly DIYs and personal style at the heart and as a fashion student Paige always has, and often. At the minute I'm enjoying her lifestyle and interior posts, seeing how she's restyled her bedroom and desk space. Paige's blog definitely inspired me to start blogging myself and I would definitely recommend following her on all of her social media as she's so friendly and approachable.

 

http://louiselovesbeauty.blogspot.co.uk/

As the name of the blog suggests, Louise is a beauty blogger and regularly posts make up hauls. One of my favourite posts was a NYX haul, a good drugstore and most importantly, affordable brand. Alongside make up hauls, she also posts what her favourite ever products are, reviews of new make up products from well known brands such as L'Oreal and some travel posts, such as a weekend in Brighton. I life how she features lifestyle posts every so often, like 20 things you've learnt over 20 years. I've only recently found her blog and social media, but I enjoy seeing little snippets of other people lives particularly when it involves beauty and fashion, which is why she's been included in this post.

 

April Playlist!

 

1. Heartbreak Down - p!nk

2. Payphone - Maroon 5 (feat. Wiz Khalifa)

3. Treat You Better - Shawn Mendes

4. Stay - Zedd & Alessia Cara

5. Shine Ya Light - Rita Ora

6. Franklin - Paramore

7. Hotel Ceiling - Rixton

8. Helium - Sia

9. 22 - Taylor Swift

10. Helena - My Chemical Romance

11. City of Angels - 30 Seconds to Mars

12. Party in the USA - Miley Cyrus

13. I Don't Wanna Live Forever - Zayn & Taylor Swift

14. Breathe Me - Sia

15. This Is Me - Joe Jonas & Demi Lovato

 

Beauty Favourites #1

During the month of February I've been getting into looking after my skin and generally pampering myself as a way of cheering myself up a bit. My skin is actually pretty sensitive so I'm a massive lover of beauty products that nourish and care for sensitive skin and so I've always loved The Body Shop as my mother has always been a fan so as a young teen I used to be a bit cheeky and basically borrow, e.g. steal from her stash, haha. There are a few items that I literally adore which are not the cheapest but definitely excellent value for money, especially when you consider they're all made from natural sources and are in general really good for you. Creams for sensitive skin are usually more expensive anyway, so I'm not afraid of having to spend a little extra to get the extra back into my skin. I'm also really pale and get the worst excema so looking after my skin is an absolute must.

 

At the moment there are a few different creams that I'm loving, for example the Zoella Beauty Ginger Cream is fantastic as it's very dewy and feels nice against the skin; I often use it as an on the go item for any dirty patches (for example on my elbow or neck) which does the job throughout the day and the smell is lovely. Although that said, my boyfriend isn't so keen on the smell, which is a shame as I love it. However during the recent winter months I've realised that I do need to take better care of my lips as they've got a tendency to chap, flake and dry out completely so I've been loving the Body Shop Strawberry Lip Butter which at £4.50 for 10ml is a little pricey but worth the money as it's incredibly hydrating, especially as I have a terrible habit of biting my lips unintentionally whilst I think. 

 

In all honesty, I love the Body Shop Body Butter range in general and own a few products from that range alongside the Lip Butter. The Pink Grapefruit Body Butter cost me £6 and is in a smaller size, which is not only great for travelling and on the go but I also adore the smell. It feels amazing against my skin and I like to use it on my knuckles, wrists and elbows; basically the spots where I do suffer the most from having dry, flaky skin. The second is a much larger tub of the Raspberry Body Butter which is my favourite fruit to eat and smell; the price was £14 which is more expensive but as the pot has literally doubled in size, so in my opinion is definitely worth the price. This size is the one that I invest in to use more regularly at home when I want to really pamper myself and I use it for literally my whole body, but particularly my legs and stomach. I would definitely recommend these tubs for the price and the smell... After use, your skin smells like fresh fruit which I love. Plus, they're super hydrating, which is a definite must for me.

 

I'm also a massive fan of the Body Shop Hemp Protector range; thus far I've only invested in a hand and foot cream, but oh my gosh they are amazing! The hand cream is what I use the most, which I bought in a larger size of 100ml so I paid £12, but it does start at £5 for the smaller size. The reason that I chose the larger size is because I do have awful excema on my hands. I have to say, it was worth every penny as the excema on my hands has completely cleared up since using it and it's the only non-steroid based cream to have done so. The Hemp Foot Protector is equally as excellent but for the hands. I have incredibly small and wide feet so I often tread awkwardly on the underside of my soles and so my feet do require more attention then is usual for anyone. The Hemp not only smells lovely but it really does soften and then protect from any hard or damaged skin. Priced at £11 for 100ml it's excellent value for money as it seems to last forever as you need only a small amount to cover the whole foot. This month I've loved rediscovering products to look after the body as I'd neglected my skin for what seems like ages!

 

A Mini Haul #6

After seeing so many YouTube videos and bloggers raving about Make Up Revolution products I decided to have a look in my local Superdrug and investigate the hype for myself; not only is the make up super affordable but it's got such a range of different products to the point that I could've spent a ridiculous amount of money on so many things. I was disappointed because the brow promade looked incredible and they didn't have my shade in stock so I have to keep an eye out for when it's available instead. I did manage to get my grubby paws on a couple of items though, which made me very happy as they're excellent value for money. I'd recommend just having a browse through the range if you're after make up on a budget as every item is very reasonably priced and feels fairly sturdy for the prices too. This little haul is definitely the start of experimenting with more make up and Make Up Revolution products seem to be very versatile as there is so many shades in their palettes; you can find something for every skin tone.

 

 

As I wasn't full of money to spend, I decided on a highlighter and an eyeshadow palette. In all honesty, I'm such a mess when it come to making decisions... I struggled to limit myself but I'm so excited with what I bought. I decided on a strobe highlighter in the shade Ever Glow Lights which was a fantastic price at £3; I'm amazed at the amount of pigment in such a small pot, even on the back of my hand it was incredibly glowy. I'm so excited to use it properly on my face but I feel like it's not a natural highlight, it's one to wear for a special occasion, for me anyway. However if you're a fan of glowy highlights for everyday, this is one to use as its so affordable and easy to replace if you hit pan. I also indulged in an eyeshadow palette that I've been obsessed with since seeing it all over instagram. It was the Fortune Favours The Brave palette priced at an incredible £9.99 for 30 different shades. 

 

I'm actually in love with each of the 30 shades and I feel like they're super versatile; as in, you could make use of so many of the available shades for different looks; from a natural day look, to a more shimmery, smoky night time look. I adore the packaging too, it feels very sturdy for the price and comes with a huge mirror which is a great addition to a make up bag, as it enables you to top up your make up throughout the day if necessary. I'm not a fan of the brush that comes with the palette, but that's only because I have brushes that I prefer to use that don't have a sponge end,  it's really not too bad if I'm honest. If you're on a budget without having any make up brushes it will still work really well. One thing that I really love about the shades in this palette is that they have shades running through them which looks amazing in the pan and on the lid. I can see why this palette has been loved so much on social media. I'm a massive convert to Make Up Revolution now and I'll definitely be buying more make up palettes from them; I already have my eyes on a highlight blush palette, but for the price it's definitely acceptable to indulge sometimes!

 

A Mini Haul #5

Hey again; at the moment I've been loving highlighter and eyeshadow palettes. That said, I'm also on a massive budget at the minute too so it makes sense that my most recent purchase was a set of two eyeshadow palettes and a contour palette all for the bargain price of £17 from W7. Before buying this contour set, I owned another contour palette from the Kate Moss by Rimmel in the lightest shade and it's definitely my preference to the W7 version as it's far more pigmented, but also better suits my skintone. That said, there wasn't actually a specific skin tone choice with the W7 palette, it just was an extra in a set of three palettes. In terms of pigmentation I definitely prefer my Sleek highlighting palettes over any others, although the Rimmel contour palette is my favourite for a natural, everyday look. The W7 The Cheeky Trio is sadly not the best for me, but perfect for someone with a more medium skin tone and especially if you want a palette that's good value for the money you spend.

 

The two eyeshadow palettes that came as the other parts of the W7 set are In The Night and Colour Me Nude. I love the smokiness of the In The Night eyeshadow palette as it has such an amazing range of Matte and Shimmer shades. The layout of the palette is very similar to the Urban Decay Naked series, although I personally think the W7 versions are sturdier as they're tins, not board. A nice bonus is that there is a brush included in the palette which works reasonably well, but a second brush makes is far easier to blend the shades together than the brush included does. The shades included in the palette really suit what it says on the tin; I'll definitely be using these shades for a gorgeous smoky eye for evenings out with friends. Although there are some lighter matte shades which made an excellent eyeshadow base, like the nude colours to the left of the palette which could also be used for a shimmery daytime look too. Actually that's why this palette is so good, not only because of the good pigmentation, it's the range of shades available which you can use to create any kind of make up look, whether that's for day or night.

 

 

For an everyday look, I'm actually in love with the Colour Me Nude eyeshadow palette as it's the perfect set of Shimmer shades to add a hint of glam to a natural make up look. This is the palette that I'll use the most from the three palettes as it's got an amazing range of base eyeshadow shades and more glamourous day or night time shades. Like the other palette in the set, this palette is a good dupe for the Urban Decay Naked series as the shades and layout of the palette are fairly similar but at a better price point for many people, myself for sure! On myself I usually have a nude eyeshadow because as I'm getting older I feel as though less is more, it's more about assentuating what you have rather than painting a mask so this palette is perfect for that paired down but pretty make up style. I would definitely recommend the two eyeshadow palettes to any skin tone and especially to someone who would want a lot of choice for their budget, but I have to be honest that I'm really not keen on the contour palette. Overall, this set was a massive win for me. What palettes are you guys enjoying at the moment? Let me know in the comments :)

 

Favourite Instagrammers #8

Hello again; another month, another love for Instagram. Anyone who has bothered to read this blog before will know how much I love Instagram. It's such an amazing way to find other bloggers and also learn more about photography. I've been following so many more people this month and I've been loving non themed feeds as they're so much more realistic and relatable to real life. I've definitely become more interested in fine art style photography during this month which is a surprise compared to some of the feeds I'd been loving during the past few months.

 

poppydeyes

Poppy is like mix of the girl next door or best friend that you never had; one of the reasons that I love her instagram feed is that it feels so personal even though the photography is insanely polished. There's a theme but it doesn't feel rigid like they usually do; the photographs are based on the seasons mixed with some personal style. I adore the way that Poppy dresses, it's so laid back but super stylish, which literally translates through her photographs so well!

 

callmeamye

I haven't been following Amy for long at all, but her feed is literally amazing; full of blogger worthy posts, such as skincare routines and homeware/lifestyle flatlays and hauls. There's an overall theme, but I like that it's not rigid; it's more about the photography and connecting with her personal life. I like the down to earth feel to her posts, which often include jokes and titbits that reflect her personality. Photographs of her current favourites, such as lipstick are great for discovering new products without having to read through blog upon blog.

 

bambi_xoxoxo

I recently followed Jessica on Instagram and instantly loved her feed, I felt like we have really similar tastes for example in books and skincare. I love her laid back but girly feed which is full of some lovely items of homeware, beauty and the most amazing stationary. I feel like her posts are really personal, which is nice. Basically her feed is cutesy without being in your face and I liked it instantly because it's so full of everyday objects like plates or necklaces that she makes look beautiful that I usually wouldn't even notice!

 

aclotheshorse

I absolutely adore Rebecca's instagram feed, I love how each photograph is so carefully planned to every last detail. Her photographic style is gorgeous and there is a theme of personal style, books, handiwork and adventures but it's not rigid. I discovered her feed during the autumn months and since then I've been literally obsessed with following her outfits, how she styles her hair and her accessories. Her series of outfit posts in the woodland areas of Northern Ireland are my favourites and I wish to visit Ireland one day now!

 

alwaysalicex 

I started following Jayd Alice towards the end of last month, I love her flatlays and mix of beauty, lifestyle and architecture. Every photograph is super polished but it's not a rigid theme, they're a good mix of different themes and that's what I'm really loving at the moment; it feels like real life and as though you're getting to know the person behind the photograph, not just some unattainable beauty. Plus she posts some delicious looking photos of food, which never fail to make me feel instantly hungry. Bonus!

 

Happy Things #7

 

1. Finally after working six days in row, I have a day off where I plan to relax and literally sit and recharge my batteries, ready for a new week ahead with a positive frame of mind.

2. I'm currently in the midst of rebuilding a close relationship with my best friend from sixth form, which is lovely as it's nice to remember the old times and reflect on how much we've changed and grown as people since we were seventeen.

3. Seeing my best friend for dinner this weekend which will be great. Having some weekends off is amazing as it gives me the opportunity to keep in touch and catch up with her as often as I can as she's a fantastic friend. She always manages to pick me up when I'm down.

4. I've reached a point where I'm comfortable with liking wearing make up and not wearing make up. Which is great as when I'd just started my new job I was super self conscious and therefore make up became like a form of confidence mask. Now I've realised how stupid that is; instead I'm wearing it only for myself and for the right reasons.

5. Sometimes it's ok not to be ok; not everyday, or week will be fantastic and I'm learning (very) slowly that is fine. Sometimes you have to ride a rollercoaster, even if it terrifies you.

 

February Playlist!

 

1. I Don't Wanna Live Forever - Zayn & Taylor Swift)

2. Text from Your Ex - Tinie Tempah (feat. Tinashe)

3. Want To Want Me - Jason Derulo

4. Touch - Little Mix

5. Payphone - Maroon 5 (feat. Wiz Khalifa)

6. My Song - Alessia Cara

7. Work From Home - Fifth Harmony (feat. Ty Dolla $ign)

8. Photograph - Ed Sheeran 

9. Don't Wanna Know - Maroon 5 (feat. Kendrick Lamar)

10. Helium - Sia

 

Zoella Beauty Body Mist Collection Review

Hello again! A few days ago I was having a quick browse in a Superdrug for some nail varnish remover and basically... I was super distracted by the prettier items in store and so I (somehow!) noticed that all of the Zoella beauty and lifestyle products were 3 for 2 and I'd been thinking about the body mists for absolutely ages. I was a bit disappointed that I couldn't find the Christmas gingerbread fragrance, but I did pick up three scents that came to the bargainous price of £16. Which is great when you consider the amount of perfume you're receiving for that price point, but I have to admit it was a bit of a struggle to limit myself to only 3 things because budgeting is where my life is at right now!

 

The first scent released by Zoella beauty was Blissful Mistful back in 2014; it appealed to me visually as I really love the rose gold/copper accents. However I feel like it could've been a bit more pretty, it's boxy, square bottle shape is nice with the white polka dots spread out but I have to admit, I would've liked a lacy design, similar to the later scent bottles. The scent is really cute, floral and fruity and definitely appeals to a range of audiences, but I'd say particularly teens and early twenties which no doubt are the targeted audience. In terms of smell, this one is definitely my favourite with the most lovely mix of strawberry, grapefruit, violet, jasmine and gardenia. Priced at £8 for a 45ml bottle it's not only affordable but also a lot of mist for the money. Body mists are great as they're lighter to wear then perfume so definitely more of an everyday purchase, but with the amazing price you can afford to buy another if necessary.

 

I was debating between getting another fragrance or getting one of the body creams, but in the end I knew I'd regret not getting all of the fragrances as there are so many amazing reviews of them online. Let's Spritz! was released as part of the Zoella Beauty Tutti Fruity collection in 2015. The bottle is physically designed similarly to the first fragrance, so deliberately looks like a sister fragrance. The boxy design is more flattering with the two fragrances as a set; this time in metallic green with white lace accents, polka dots and a pale pink fragrance. The fragrance is really fruity, smelling of raspberry, cassis and red berries. It's smells fresh like long summer days and definitely is a summer scent for me; considering it's a mist, it lasts really well on the skin; which is an added bonus. The price is again £8 so nicely priced for those on a budget and would definitely suit a flirty, feminine person. It's the kind of fragrance I would wear throughout the summer months.

 

The last fragrance of the three, Sweet Inspirations was released in 2016 as a part of the latest Zoella beauty range. Visually, it looks incredible in my opinion; it seems like the perfect match for the boxy style bottle shape. A gold bottle cap with a pink and gold 1920s style pattern alongside dark purple typeography it definitely is my favourite of the three, looks wise. However I'm just not so keen on the scent. Smelling of macaroons, honey, almond, cacao pod and vanilla, it's marketed as sweet, oriental style scent but I just can't find a way to love it, which is a shame as I adore how it looks and I did want to take advantage of the 3 for 2 offer, so... I did, but this is definitely not my favourite smell. It doesn't last as long on the skin as the other two, either but it is very strong which is a good feature. Pictured together, I'm sure you can see why I indulged in all three fragrances as they look amazing together, but scent wise my favourite has to be Let's Spritz! which was a surprise as I'm not usually mad on fruity scents. Which one is your favourite?

 

Real Techniques Limited Edition Berlin

When I was younger I would always apply all kinds of make up using either my hands or the brushes that came included with products but as I got older I started using proper brushes and slowly began to work out the different uses of the brushes. About a year ago I discovered the Real Techniques brushes after seeing a range of YouTubers and bloggers recommending them. It started off with just the 'core collection' and then it grew from thereon. Most recently I've expanded my make up brush collected to include the new and limited edition version of brushes that the Chapman sisters have released.

 

This limited edition set of brushes comes with five brushes in an absolutely gorgeous pattern; black and white brush strokes with pink trims and matching black bristles with white ends. The brushes look stunning and also provide some usually lesser available options including a buffing brush, contour brush, stippling brush, deluxe crease brush and a base shadow brush. My favourite is definitely the deluxe crease brush as it creates the most insane highlight across the face. In all honesty all of these brushes have multiple uses and would work well with all skin types. My skin is very dry and sensitive and I don't find them harsh against the skin at all, the bristles feel very soft and fluffy. 

 

Below is a closer look as the brushes as a set outside of the original packaging; against the light backdrop you can really see how the brushes design really pops. These are definitely my new favourite set from the Real Techniques collection. The price point of £24.99 is actually incredible when you consider that for the price you receive five brushes when some of them cost roughly £10 individually; I've always found the Real Techniques brush sets are the best value as you get a lot for your money and they're great quality for the price point, too.

 

As a result of buying another set of brushes it was definitely time to invest in a make up bag just for brushes to use as both storage and also primarily for travelling as it's impossible to fit make up and brushes together in a bag as I have more brushes then I've shown in these pictures. I've had other sets of brushes for months now and I can definitely say that the quality is fantastic, they've lasted so well and look as good as new. I can't say for certain about the Berlin set just yet but I'm sure they'll be just as amazing. I've honestly never had any of the bristles fall out or become damaged either, which is great as these brushes are an investment piece for anyone.

 

It was seriously difficult to choose a make up bag that would work well for holding brushes and I finally settled on one from a brand that I truly love; the latest Cath Kidston collection is spectacularly gorgeous and I eventually settled on a beautiful pink and grey floral pattern in the new style cosmetic pouch which set me back £12. In my opinion it's worth every penny and it's a great statement piece with its rose gold detailing on the zip and edging. The new style also works really well for holding brushes and it is much, roomier than it looks which was a pleasant surprise as I ordered it from online so hadn't seen it beforehand. I'm really excited to use these brushes and the make up bag frequently in the coming months.

 

Happy Things #6

 

1. I've got back in touch with my closest friend I had in sixth form and I'm so glad that I've been making an effort to reform relationships and friendships that I had when I was younger. I'm not the same person and nor is she but that's fine, it's really nice to catch up and basically see where each of us in our lives.

2. My boyfriend made me the most amazing breakfast simply because I was having one of those days where you just feel like absolute shit, mentally and physically and I didn't appreciate it enough at the time, so here I am appreciating it now.

3. Feeling as though the new job is slowly beginning to make more sense and that I'm on the right track at last; it's hard to settle and get on board with new targets, new work mates and ultimately new responsibilities but it's finally feeling like everything is possible in time.

4. It feels like blogging is going well right now, I'm actually enjoying putting effort into posts and planning what kinds of posts I want to create, as well as being more consistent with posting regularly and making more decisions about whether a post is quality or not. At the moment I'm really proud of how my blog is coming along and can definitely see the improvements in my writing and photography since starting out.

5. I'm definitely eating more healthily and have far more energy than I've had for a while, due to sleeping much better. I'm now thinking about next steps and feeling more body positive than I've felt for years.