You're making me BLUSH

Spring is finally here and we're kicking off the new season with a selection of lovely blushes to spice things up a bit.

I never usually bother with blushes in Winter because, being honest, the cold does it for me. However, as the warmer weather slugs it's way towards us, I'm breaking out the blushes. Here are 5 of my faves...

(I'd also like to apologise for my painty fingers in these pictures, which I totally didn't realise until now... But this does lead me quite nicely onto my sorry excuse for being absent for ages. I've just had so much work to do and couldn't balance it all out, but its ok because I'm back now lads)

Bobbi Brown - 15 Desert Rose 

I have no idea how long this blush has been around, but it certainly isn't new. My mum bought it years ago and hated it, but kept it for when I grew up, and luckily I just happen to have grown up loving makeup, so it's now all mine.

It's not a very pinky pink, but it's also quite a pink blush, as far as blushes go. It's very easy to wear, and it's one of those products that you can just put on and you know it'll look ok without you having to do much to it.

Benefit - Dallas blush

This is one of the more bronze toned blushes, which I think could be why I like it so much. It's got a slight shimmer, which kind of acts as a highlighter as well, so its an excellent all round face product.

Kiko - 228 Infinity (eyeshadow)

I know that this looks terrifying, and you're probably thinking 

"Jeez mol, why would you ever want to put that on your face?"

I completely understand. When I bought it, I was a bit worried to even put it anywhere near my eyes. However, I actually think that it looks better as a blush than it does as an eyeshadow. cRazy stuff. As long as you go gently, it gives a really lovely pink glow.

Benefit - Benetint lip and cheek stain

Another scary one. I'd never have picked this product up in a shop and though "oh yeah, thats got to be for your cheeks" but somebody at Benefit clearly thought it was a good idea. I must admit, I'm really not that sure about it as a blush, but I quite like it as a lip stain (It tastes gross though)

I've never been able to get it on without it looking like a paint-by-numbers, and for me, it just doesn't blend in right.

Benefit - Dandelion and CORALista

The best of both worlds! This mix of the two blushes came as part of one of the sets they released at Christmas, and it's a pretty perfect combination. Unfortunately, as you might be able to see, I CRACKED IT! (Cry) I was desperately trying to get it out go the tin so that I could show it on its own, and I just felt it go, so I gave up and tried to smoosh it back into place. 

Dandelion is the pinker one on the left, and it's the one that I prefer of the two, but I think the idea is that you swirl them together and whack em on your cheeks. I think the little leaflet that comes with it suggests that you sweep it all over your face, but I'm not really into the tomato-ey look, so I just stick to my cheeks, but thats up to you.

What do you think?

Song of the Day - Robbie Williams // Rock DJ

M

x

Moodboard: Sunny Yellow

Makeup Haul!

I'm back! Firstly, I need to apologise for my absence over these past few weeks... I initially planned to organise myself so that there was a post that went up the day before I went off to Arran, and then I planned to continue as normal once I got back... Unfortunately, I found myself in a slump after the return. I just had such a lovely time with so many lovely people that I came back with no motivation. But it's ok because I'm back now!

I've been collecting up all of my new beauty bits and bobs since Christmas, until I eventually had enough to use for a decent sized haul. I'm now left with no money, but I managed and I'm very very happy with all of the stuff that I've got to show...

Urban Decay - Naked 3 palette

To me, this is the most exciting of the lot! Last year I bought myself the original Naked palette and it's pretty much worn out already. I felt like it was time to switch it up a bit. Where the Naked palette has loads of lovely gold and brown shades, the Naked 3 palette is packed with pinks! I very quickly fell in love with these shades and I find that pinks go quite well with green eyes, which happen to be just what I've got. You can probably tell from the fact that it's the only block thats been dented, but my favourite shade is 'Trick', and it's the most beautiful shimmery rose gold colour. Even thinking about it makes me sigh. I love it so much.

Soap and Glory - Brow Archery 

Oh my j. I have never really been blessed in the brow department. I spent nearly 17 years of my life looking browless because they were just so blonde. But for most of that time, I didn't really care and I didn't see them as that much of a big deal. Eventually, I started to notice that everybody else seemed to have visible eyebrows with actual shape and I thought 'hang on, gotta fix this lads'. I started off slow with random pencils here and there but now I've tried this, I am most certainly never going back. I bought this in the shade 'Brownie Points', which admittedly is quite dark. I'm still trying to decide whether it is actually too dark for my face or whether I'm just not used to it. Anyway, it's a little double ended pencil with a waxy crayon end for shaping and keeping all the little hairs in place, and then a little pen end that tints. I am a big fan of this little guy.

Rimmel - Lasting Finish Powder Foundation

I have never ever worn foundation before. I'm just too scared. But the thing is, I really want to, and I feel like it will help to tie some makeup looks together and make them look more professional. Anyway, I thought I would start off with a powder and see how I get on with it. I went in blind, literally knowing nothing about foundations, and came out with this bad boy. I've got it in 002 soft beige, but honestly, I was testing them all out in Boots and I couldn't see the difference between any of the shades, so I just picked whatever. This is actually a pretty hench product, and it's in a really deep pot and I couldn't work out why. That is, until I dropped it as soon as I walked through the door. I have a history of smashing powders (accidentally of course, as it's completely heartbreaking), but I was SO LUCKY that it survived. It actually popped open the bottom secret hatch with the mirror and sponge, which explains why it's in such a thick pot.

Seventeen - Define and Conquer Contour Kit

Hopped on the bandwagon, didn't I. I have seen so many people raving about how fab this stuff is so I thought i'd give it a go. So far, I've only used it once, and I'm no pro, but it actually worked! It blends nicely and looks really natural. I also really love the packaging, like how it all looks so sleek and smooth. Good stuff.

MAC - Enchanted Eve eyeshadow palette

This was actually a present that my Dad chose for me for christmas, which I was so so so impressed by, because he is so clueless with makeup, and the fact that he thought to go to MAC has actually blown my mind. This palette is home to six beautiful warm brown shades. There's a mixture of shimmers and mattes, and all of them are lovely and silky and perfectly pigmented. I actually think that the two darkest shades would be perfect for filling in brows with, but then again... I'm new to the whole brow thing.

Real Techniques Brushes

I don't need any more makeup brushes. Somebody please remind me next time I begin to hunt some more down. I now have a few more to add to my collection - the 100 arched powder brush, (which is the ridiculously massive, kind of flat one), tapered blush brush (which I was actually in need of), and 201 pointed crease brush (which is ideal for using with the MAC palette because the brush that came with that is pants) These brushes are so lusciously soft and fluffy, and now covered with makeup because I can't stop using them.

Maybelline Coloursensational - Coffe Craze

I am perfectly aware that I have millions of maybelline lipsticks, but I love them. I know I rave about lipsticks far too much, but THEY ARE JUST SO GREAT. I've had my eye on this shade since last summer, but as winter approached, I thought it might be a bit of an inappropriate shade, seeing as its quite light and nude. Oh well, I've got it now and I have been wearing it all through January, so I reckon I'm safe to wear it all year round. 

MAC - Blankety

I never thought that I would ever own any high end makeup in my life, and now here I sit, with two whole MAC lipsticks. I'm abolutely over the moon with these guys. I found this little beauty in duty free, coming back from Arran, (another reason why that trip was so so wonderful) and I've never really heard anybody talk bout this shade before. I thought i'd give it a go anyway, and so I did. So far, I am yet to find any lipstick that I don't like, so I reckon i'll start to branch out more and try new colours, seeing as I have a tendency to stick to pinky nudes, like this one.

If you've got any lipsticks that you love, please let me know in the comments!

Song of the Day - The Hunna // She's Casual

M

x

Living Well One Line A Day

It probably won't come as much of a surprise to you that I'm quite a sentimental person. This is the exact reason why I have fallen in love with this tiny little book. I came across this gem when I was looking through Amazon, wanting to spend a gift voucher, and I was immediately attracted to the intense yellow. I've found that I'm becoming a big fan of yellow, whereas before it was always one of those colours that I would steer well clear of. Anyway, I had a little read about it and decided that I needed it, so three days later, it arrived at my doorstep.

It's called "Living Well One Line A Day - A five year reflection book" and it basically is just that. It has a page dedicated to every date of the year, and each date has a few lines for every year, for five years, leaving a little space for you to scribble in the year. I know it sounds a little bit confusing, but it makes more sense when you see the page below! 

The little introduction in the book suggests that you should write about one thing that makes you happy each day, or a reminder to your future self to keep your head up and stop worrying. I've sort of done this, but also sort of used it as more of a diary, so that next year, or the year after, or even in five years, I will know exactly what I was up to and how I was feeling on this day.

I think this little book is genius, as well as quite possibly being the prettiest thing I own.

Song of the Day - The 1975 // So Far (It's Alright)

M

x

5 things i've learnt to appreciate...

1. Sunsets

More specifically, sunsets in Cornwall. It's just one of those beautiful, calming things to watch the sun set and know that tomorrow will be a completely new day. And even better, the colours! I've got so many pictures of sunsets but my favourite has to be this stunning purple-y one after a day of particularly moody weather in Cornwall.

2. Bras that fit

(Probably not going to add a picture for this one...)

You may well be thinking "Hang on Mol, this has taken an uncomfortable turn."

Let me explain. I've got difficult boobs. They just never seem to be comfortable. Unknowingly, I was wearing the wrong sized bras for months. I sort of knew that they were uncomfortable, but when I went to get fitted and the lady with the tape measure around her neck gasped, I knew something was wrong. Since then, I've made sure that my bras are always comfy, but also fit well. I know the pain of an uncomfy bra and it's safe to say that I'm not going back. I don't want another taste of that hellish boob trap and I've really come to appreciate comfy boobs.

3. Time

It's so hard for me to do nothing without feeling guilty any more. It feels like there's always something that I need to be doing, and A levels have not helped this at all. This is why I've come to cherish any single bit of spare time that I get. Any day without extra work (although there is always work to be done) feels great. Recently, I've got myself hooked on several TV programmes, which again, really doesn't help my situation. I need more time, but meanwhile, he's a little throwback to when I had all the time in the world. Literally 8 weeks of not needing to do anything.

4. People

I really hope all of the important people in my life know how much I appreciate them. I'm at my happiest when I'm with friends, and I know that I would be completely happy if I was plonked in a room with nothing but some pals. They're all just so constantly lovely and special and there's nothing I love more than making time to see them outside of school. It's pretty fair to say that everybody gets on each other's nerves some of the time but regardless, it's a huge relief to come out of a particularly stressful lesson and find a group of beautiful, smiley personalities sat waiting for you to cheer you up.

5. Photographs

This one links very well with people (Yet you get a lovely picture of another sunset!). I get moaned at to stop taking pictures constantly when out with people, but its one of those things that I love. I love to have pictures of people when they're happy, when they're not looking,  when they're laughing and when they're doing all those hilarious little faces that they'd never do for the camera. I know deep down they love having pictures of themselves and they appreciate it really... I know I love it when somebody takes a picture of me and it turns out actually ok.

I like to fill my room with pictures. I've got all sorts of photos up, but the most common are pictures of me and friends when we're really truly happy, or memories that I don't ever want to forget. One of my aims for this year is to take one picture every day. Does't matter what it's of, but just one picture so that at the end of the year, I can look back and remember one thing from every day.

Song of the Day - Hard-Fi // Cash Machine

M

x

Skincare Routine

WE'RE BACK AND IT'S A NEW YEAR AND I FEEL GREAT! 

I'm going to start off this year with something that I never really talk about: skincare! I think that most of the reason that I've never really talked about it before is because I've never really cared about it. I used to just live life thankful for relatively clear skin, and not really caring when I got the occasional spot. Then it hit me. The spots came flooding in and my skin was dreadful for quite a long time. Unfortunately, this was worsened by the fact that I was stressed about exams and boys and hormones kicked in and played their part every month (thanks guys), and I ended up desperately slapping on any product that I could find.

It's no secret that my skin isn't the best, but I think its getting better and I reckon I've found the right products that work for me...

Soap and Glory - Facial Wash

Soap and Glory - Deep Cleansing Milk

Benefit - Facial Scrub

Simple - Face Moisturiser

Ok, so to start off the day, I'll use the Soap and Glory facial wash. It's pretty much the same as most other face washes, in that all you do is take a grape sized amount and massage it onto damp skin, before rinsing it off. I love this so much, mostly due to the amazing smell. It's supposed to be Yuzu scented. I have no idea what Yuzu is or what it's supposed to smell like, but it's just fruity and lovely and fresh. All I'm looking for in a face wash really.

Next, I'll move on to moisturiser. Again, I never used to bother with moisturiser because I had very oily skin. Big mistake Mol. I ended up with skin that was both really dry and gross and really oily and gross. That was a terrible time. Thankfully, I came to my senses eventually and I've been using different Simple moisturisers ever since. At the moment, I'm using this little squeezy tube of Simple. It doesn't really smell of anything and I sort of picked it up by chance in a desperate dash around Boots, but it works and I'm pretty happy with it.

Alright then, now for removing makeup... Oh boy, this is a product that has changed my life. I always used to just use a makeup wipe to remove all of my makeup, and that was it for skin care for the whole night. I mean, I didn't actually wear that much makeup back then, but I still regret it. These days, I still use makeup wipes, usually Simple ones, but I only use them to really get rid of heavy eye makeup because I have found my favourite product in the world. Soap and Glory's Peaches and Cream cleanser ohmygod i love it. All you do is squirt a little bit into your hand and massage it into your skin. It instantly 'melts away makeup' and makes your face feel so lovely and clean. It even smells like dreams (peaches and cream). It is a true pleasure to rub this on my face. 

That would usually be my routine for one day, but I am still on the hunt for a really good night cream, so please ket me know if you've got any recommendations!

However, things change slightly on a Sunday. I never wear any makeup on Sundays, so I tend to skip the makeup wipes and cleanser and use Benefit facial scrub instead. It says that you should try to use it once or twice a week, and I've found that just applying on a Sunday night works best for me and makes me feel ready for the dreadful week ahead. It's one of those ones with the scratchy exfoliating blobs in and it helps to slur away any little spots and stuff. I've got to admit, I'm not particularly keen on the smell, but the product itself is good enough for that to be overlooked, never fear. Although, my mum loves the smell so I reckon its just a personal preference thing.

So, there we go! That's pretty much everything I use to try and get my face looking good!

Song of the Day - Fyfe Dangerfield // She's Always a Woman

M

x

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US!

w o w

It's been a whole year!

Happy 1 year to us!

I actually can't believe it was a year ago today that I thought 'You know what... I'm gonna start a blog.' I'd like to think that it was the right decision and that it's not only enjoyable for me to write, but for you all to read as well... I never would have thought that something as simple as writing a blog post every week (more or less ;) ) would help me to clear my mind in the way it has and allow me to share the things that I love the most in a way that is personal but without putting too much of myself out there... And we've had some bants this year, haven't we!

I really would love to hear from you, maybe let me know what kind of posts are your favourite? I love the makeup looks because it basically gives me an excuse to buy loads more makeup, and thats always great, but I also love the 'Let Me Take You To' s, although I know there hasn't been many... I'm working on it guys, don't you worry!

To show you quite how excited I am about our birthday, and happy that I've managed to keep it up this long, here's a picture of me with an Oreo ice-cream. I had originally planned to make a lovely batch of cupcakes for the occasion but unfortunately, due to our family's New Year health kick, my mum would simply not allow it, so I've had to make do. I'm actually quite happy with this result though, because it meant that I got to cheat the system and eat the Oreo when we'd finished :0

So... here's to another year of blogging and pictures and loveliness. I do truly love what I do here, and I appreciate every read, page view and share so SO much.

Thank you for all of your love,

M

x

(Song of the Day - Two Door Cinema Club // This is The Life)