August Favourites!

Can you believe that August is over? Well I surely can't! Anyways, today I'm going to be showing you all of the products I've been loving this month, so enjoy!

Makeup
17 Metallic Eye Pencil in Green.
I've never really been a fan of coloured eyeliner, but I thought I'd give this one a go. I wear it on the lower waterline for a pop of colour. I've been wearing this look a lot especially when I've been going to the beach or swimming etc. I think that this look is perfect for summer, when you want to wear something fun and cute.

No7 Stay Perfect Eyeshadow Palette in Cappuccino.
This palette comes with three shades inside it, progressing in darkness. I don't actually use this for eyeshadow (although obviously you could), but instead I use it to fill in my eyebrows. I mix the lightest shade with the medium one, and it creates the perfect match for me.

Hair
Tangle Teezer.
If you haven't already heard of the Tangle Teezer, where have you been? These are miracles, quite literally. I use this when I've come out of the shower, so my hair is still wet, and it saves your hair getting damaged when you brush it.

 Batiste Dry Shampoo in Cherry.
My hair gets greasy and oily really quickly, so dry shampoo is essential for me. I've tried other Batiste ones before, but I'm in love with the new cherry scent.

Skin
Amie Morning Clear Purifying Facial Wash.
This facial wash smells amazing! I love the scent, and it's all natural too! A must-have for me!

Fashion
Jeans by  TOXIK3 from TKMaxx
These jeans are rather tight fitting, but I think that they're really flattering and slimming. They were £17.99 from TKMaxx, but are by a brand called TOXIK3 (I've never heard of them...) Either way, they're my new favourite trousers and I've been wearing them non-stop!

T-Shirt by Sugar Crush from TKMaxx
I got this from TKMaxx again, but this time from a brand called Sugar Crush. I really love wearing this, especially with the jeans above.

And here's what they look like on!

Nails
Primark Pastel Blue Nail Polish
I love this polish; it's a beautiful blue colour, and you only need one coat as the colour's really pigmented. I didn't think it would be this good, as it is from Primark, but it really is amazing!

App
Squaready
I use this app on my personal Instagram, to create the white border effect that everyone seems to use at the moment. It makes sure that your image will fit into the instagram square, so it doesn't crop some of your image out. Perfect.

See you soon!
E.E. xxx

COLLABORATION with Hola Molly!

Today I bring you a very exciting post! I have been lucky enough to talk to Molly from Hola Molly, and we are doing a collaboration. We decided to interview each other, with questions all about beauty, fashion and life. In this post, I'm asking the questions, and Molly is answering. Hope you enjoy this post, and don't forget to check out Molly's blog!

Q) Why did you decide to start blogging?
A) I loved reading other people's blogs and, as I wanted to start a YouTube channel when I'm 14 / 15 I though I'd better build up an audience first.

Q) Who are your favourite bloggers to read?
A) My favourite blogs are Zoella, Sprinkle Of Glitter and Tanya Burr.

Q) When did you start blogging?
A) I started my blog in February this year and I properly got into blogging around May / June.

Q) What is your favourite makeup brand?
A) I love Rimmel for lipsticks, but I don't often wear any other makeup! I also love Clinique lipsticks and Jemma Kidd glosses.

Q) What do you like to use for skincare?
A) Simple and Freederm are my everyday skin care brands, but I recently discovered REN skincare which smells so good as well as being great.

Q) What makeup item could you not live without?
A) I couldn't live without my Clinique eyeshadow pencil, which is a really soft brown, because I use it almost like eyeliner, and it just adds so much to your look.

Q) Where is your favourite place to shop?
A) I love to shop in H&M and New Look, but I'm also a big fan of Zara and Gap. Primark is the best thing for your pockets though!

Q) If you had a million pounds, where would you shop and what would you buy?
A) I'd probably buy a Canon 60D, because I love photography and I'd also go on a huge Topshop spree, as I love their clothes but I don't own any.

Q) What is your favourite TV show?
A) New Girl, CSI, Criminal Minds, Fresh Meat and The Big Bang Theory are some of my favourites. I also recently started watching Friends and I love it.

Q) What do you like to do in your free time?
A) In my free time I watch a lot of TV and YouTube and I also try and learn Muse songs on the piano.

5 random facts:
1) I play piano, trumpet and soprano saxophone.
2) I only recently quit ballet after 10 years.
3) 5 of my friends started blogs after I posted my 50 facts post.
4) My school is 1.3 miles from my house and I walk with my best friend Ellie.
5) I am only 56 views away from 1000 on HolaMolly!

That's it for the questions! Here are all of Molly's links, so go check her out!
Blog (holamolly.blogspot.co.uk)
Twitter (@molly_bee14)
Instagram (@mollykazza)

Remember to check out my interview on Molly's blog!

Thanks for reading, speak to you all soon!
E.E. xxx

What's In My Bag: Music Festival

Today I'm going to be showing you what I like to bring in my bag to a music festival. I'm going to several this summer, and I know that this is probably a little late, but I thought I'd do it anyway. Enjoy!




All images are my own.

 

The first thing I take is something to drink. Drinks at festivals cost a bomb to buy, so it's always better to bring your own. 

I brought some squash, and an Innocent smoothie.

 

Next up is food. I am going to but the majority of my lunch in the festival, but I always bring some snacks with me just in case.

I'm taking an apple, some crisps and sweets. (Can I just emphasise the fact that the Doritos were 10p!)
 

I'm also taking some body spray, since I'm probably going to be getting hot and sweaty dancing all night!

This is the Impulse True Love spray, which smells amazing!
 

Sunglasses are very important, as I'm sure you all know.

Mine are from Primark.
 

Lastly, I take my phone, so I can capture any images I want to remember the night by.

 

Thanks for reading, please comment below any ideas for future posts.

E.E. xxx

Mini Haul: Birmingham

As you would’ve worked out by the title, today I’m going to be showing you all the items I brought when I went shopping in Birmingham. I purchased 4 items, two accessories, and two beauty related. So, here goes!

The first item I picked up is the It’s a 10 Miracle Deep Conditioner plus Keratin.

 

This is a conditioner which does 10 things. One of which is prevent split ends – something I definitely need! I got this at T.K.Maxx. for £12.99.

Next I got some new school shoes.

 

These are just some black, leather brogues, which I got from House of Fraser. They were £39, which I think is surprisingly cheap considering where they are from. I think they are designed by Linea (that’s what it said on the box)… Anyway, I think they’ll be great quality and last all year long!

Thirdly, I got something I’ve wanted forever! It’s the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush.

 

Great things have been said about this brush, so I decided to jump on the band wagon and try it too! I got it from £9.99 from Boots, and my first impressions have been that it is brilliant! It’s smaller than most foundation brushes, but I think that this is a good thing. It allows much more precision than a regular brush, and I think you should all try it out!

And last, but definitely not least, I picked up this Jansport backpack.

 

I found the most amazing shop ever: Cow Vintage. It’s sounds rather odd, but the stuff it sold was unreal! Inside was a variety of vintage items, all at a great price! My bag is a purple Jansport bag, with a suede bottom, and some stitching at the front. I love it! I think it’s perfect for school, or personal use. It cost £15.

So that draws us to a close. I hope you enjoyed this post, speak to you all soon!

P.S. I have an exciting collaboration coming up with Molly (www.holamolly.blogspot.co.uk). Make sure to check it out!
 

E.E. xxx

 

 

This or That? Beauty Tag

Today I am going to be answering the questions from the ‘This or That Beauty Tag’. If you don’t know what this is, basically there are two options, divided into a variety of categories, and you chose which one out of the two you prefer. Now I haven’t actually been tagged to do this, but I thought it would be something fun for me to do, so I am going to do it anyway! Enjoy.

Makeup
Blusher or bronzer? Bronzer. As a pale girl, I need all the bronzing I can get!

Lipgloss or lipstick? Lipgloss. I have very dry lips, and find that lipstick isn’t moisturising enough for my lips, and therefore ends up looking pretty bad.

Eyeliner or mascara? Mascara. You can wear mascara without eyeliner, but not really the other way round.

Foundation or concealer? Foundation. A good enough foundation should cover all your imperfections pretty nicely.

Neutral or coloured eye shadow? Neutral. Bright colours are too much, especially for an everyday look.

Pressed or loose eye shadow? Pressed. I’ve never tried loose eyeshadow before, but I always find pressed makeup in general, much easier to work with.

Brushes or sponges? Brushes. I never use sponges because brushes just seem to give me more control and are just more precise.

Nails

OPI or China Glaze? Neither? I’ve never tried either (bad I know…)

Long or short? Short. Long nails are too impractical for me, and just get in the way.

Acrylic or natural? Natural. It always looks better, trust me!

Brights or darks? Brights. I mean, who doesn’t love a pillar-box red nail colour? Come on!

Flower or no flower? No flower… (what’s a flower!?)

Body

Perfume or body splash? Perfume. Easy to carry around!

Lotion or body butter? Body butter! I find them to be thicker, and more moisturising.

Body wash or soap? Body wash. I never use soap on my body (apart from when washing my hands). Body wash is so much better for you overall.

Lush or other bath company? Other bath company. I’ve never really bought anything from Lush (and now I’m debating whether I should or not…)

Fashion

Jeans or sweat pants? Jeans. Casual enough to wear during a lazy day at home, yet dressy enough to wear on a night out. Perfect!

Long sleeve or short? Short. I mean, does anyone even wear long sleeves anymore?

Dresses or skirts? Skirts. I hate dresses, hate them! I would never wear one ever if I had the choice. It’s skirts all the way for me!

Stripes or plaid? Stripes. Just have more of them in my wardrobe.

Flip flops or sandals? Sandals. Flip flops always end up rubbing in between my two toes, which is really painful.

Scarves or hats? Neither. I only wear the occasional scarf in winter, but apart from that I don’t really wear either.

Studs or dangly earrings? Studs all the way. Since I am at school, dangly earrings are not allowed, so I wear studs every day. They’re just much easier than dangly earrings.

Necklaces or bracelets? Necklaces. If ever I wear a bracelet, I’ll just fiddle with it all day, and end up breaking it! Bad I know…

Heels or flats? 100% flats. I cannot stand up in heels, let alone walk!

Cowboy boots or riding boots? I would not wear either.

Jacket or hoodie? Hoodie. Not exactly very glamorous, but I wear hoodies all the time just to keep warm.

Forever 21 or Charlotte Russe? Forever 21. I’ve never heard of Charlotte Russe (I assume it’s an American brand…)

Abercrombie or Hollister? What!? You’re making me chose? Can’t I have both!?

Saks 5^th or Nordstrom? I assume these are American, because I don’t know either of them.
 

Hair

Curly or straight? Straight. I think straight hair suits everyone.

Bun or ponytail? Bun. I just love messy buns too much, I’m sorry!

Bobby pins or butterfly clips? Bobby pins. I use them everyday, and must’ve lost 1000 of them.

Hairspray or gel? Hairspray. It looks more natural and doesn’t make your hair look greasy.

Long or short? Depends on the person.

Light or dark? Again, depends on the person

Side-swept fringe or full fringe? Side swept fringe. It’s easier to tie back if you don’t like it.

Up or down? Down. It suits everyone better in my opinion.

Random

Rain or shine? Rain. Unpopular opinion I know, but I just can’t stand the sun

Summer or winter? Winter. Christmas is one of my favourite times of the year, and besides, I hate hot weather.

Autumn or spring? Spring, purely because IT’S MY BIRTHDAY!

Chocolate or vanilla? Chocolate. Mmmmmmm Dairy Milk …

East coast or west coast? Neither. Sorry, I’m English!

So...yeah! That's it for today, thanks for reading!
E.E. xxx

Ten Tips For Spot-Free Skin!

For my fourth blog post, I’m going to be sharing my top ten tips for clear, spot-free skin. Now, before we start, I just wanted to tell you my story. I’ve suffered with acne for over 3 years now, so I know just how bad it really can be. However, this past 6 months, my skin has cleared up enormously, so I really wanted to share with you how I managed to achieve that. I hope this helps you all out... Enjoy!

1)      Cleanse. You will probably all be doing this already, but you must remember to cleanse your skin, morning and evening. This is so important, I really can’t stress it enough! Not only is this going to remove any makeup you may have on during the day, it’s also going to get rid of all the germs, and oil that may build up on your face. I use the No7 Soft & Soothed Gentle Cleanser (£8.00 from Boots), which is just as good as a lot of more expensive brands.

2)      Tone. After you’ve cleansed, you should tone your skin. Toning helps soothe and refresh your tired face. I use the Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic (£13.25 from Liz Earle), which smells absolutely divine! I just squeeze a bit onto a cotton wool pad, and then sweep this all over my face and neck. Toning is my favourite step in my skin routine – it really helps wake me up on a morning!

3)      Scrub. Using a scrub (or exfoliator) on your skin can often prove really beneficial. Scrubbing your skin is going to make it a lot smoother, and even better, clearer! My all-time favourite face scrub in the world, ever, is the St. Ives Naturally Clear Blemish Fighting Apricot Scrub (£4.29 from Boots). This is the single best thing I have ever used for clearing up my skin. Within a few days of using this scrub, my acne had noticeably died down, it was just unbelievable! I am going to be posting a full review of this product later on, but for now, all I have to say is buy it!!!

4)      Moisturise. Quite a lot of people with acne think that by moisturising, they will be making their skin oilier, and therefore worse. However, the reality is the complete opposite! Moisturising means that your skin will have to produce a lot less oil itself, which can often lead to less spots. If you have naturally oily skin, try and go for an oil-free formula, but if you have drier skin, then you won’t need to worry about this. The one I use is the Liz Earle Skin Repair Light Moisturiser (£19.25 from John Lewis), because I find this doesn’t make my skin look greasy (which most regular moisturisers do).

5)      Face Masks. Yes, they aren’t just for sleepovers! You can purchase plenty of different face masks designed for a variety of different purposes, including treating acne. I use the Boots Botanics Conditioning Clay Mask (which I believe has been discontinued!?). I find that this draws my spots out, which for the first day or two after using it does make my skin look worse, but in the long run it looks a lot better! If you’re short on money don’t worry – there are plenty of face masks that you can make yourself, with products from your own kitchen. I will have a list of these in an upcoming post.

6)      Special Creams. There are lots of creams you can purchase that are designed to target spots. The one I use is the Wilkinson Skinology Intensive Spot Cream (£1.99 from Wilkinsons). This helps dry up your spots, without drying up your skin. Different things work for different people, so you’re probably not going to find the perfect product instantly. Don’t be afraid to try things out until you find what’s right for you.


All images are my own.

 

7)      Light Makeup. Covering your face with layers of heavy foundation and concealer is not going to be doing your skin any favours! Keep your makeup as light as possible, by using a mineral powder foundation, to prevent any further spots forming.

8)      Drink, Drink, Drink! Drinking water is good for you whole body, not just your skin. Try to drink around 8 glasses a day, and your face will be glowing!

9)      Don’t Touch. Picking at your spots is very tempting, but don’t do it! You may end up with scars, which look ugly and last much longer than spots do anyway. By putting your fingers on your skin, you’re only going to be transferring all the germs and grease from your hands onto your face. Obviously, this isn’t a good idea, so keep those hands away!

10)   Confidence. I know it’s not easy having bad skin, but confidence can really help draw attention away from your face. Who cares what your skin looks like? Even the most gorgeous people in the world can have acne, it happens to everyone. If you go out there with a ‘I don’ care’ attitude, no-one else will care either!

Thanks for reading, if you have any tips, then please comment them down below, I’m sure I’m not the only one who’ll be wanting to hear them
   E.E. xxx

Look Good In Your School Photo

Ahhh, the school photo. Something you have one chance to take, but you have to keep all year. Oh how I wish I was more photogenic… Anyway, that’s what this post is all about: how to look good in your school photograph. I’ve put together some of my top tips; from makeup and hair, to perfecting your smile. So, without any further to do, let’s get started. Enjoy!



Makeup

Image taken from Google Images

·         Use a foundation without SPF. SPF reflects the light away from your face, which will make you look washed out and pale when the camera flashes.

·         Remember to set your face makeup with a matte-finish pressed powder – this will stop any oily / shiny skin ruining your photo.

·         Don’t forget those brows! Fill them in using a pencil or eyeshadow that’s as close as possible to your natural colour.

·         If you’re going to wear eyeshadow, use only neutral colours, nothing too bright, dark or heavy. Personally, I would chose not to wear any eyeshadow, but just take a bit of white to highlight the inner corners of my eyes.

·         For eyeliner, take a liquid eyeliner on the top lash line and create a thin line, winging it out slightly at the outer edge. Try and keep the line as thin as possible.

·         Definitely remember to curl your lashes, it will really open up your eyes. Then it’s just time for a few coats of your favourite mascara, and your eyes are done!

·         Add some of your favourite pink blush, to bring back some colour to your cheeks. Flash photography can remove a lot of the colour in your face, so to prevent you looking washed out you may want to use a little more than normal.

·         For lips, don’t use too much lip gloss, because this will look too shiny especially with the flash.

·         If in any doubt, just remember to keep it simple! Less is definitely more!

Hair

Your hair is ultimately down to personal preference, and what looks good on you. I think most people look best with their hair down, but you could tie it up if you want. If your hair looks better straight, straighten it. If it looks better curly… well you get the idea. For me, I’d wear my hair straight, with a few little braids to add texture and interest.

Pose

·         It’s really important to have good posture in your photograph, so sit up nice and tall!

·         Try to keep your face looking relaxed, don’t tense your forehead or raise your eyebrows.

·         Know best angle. This is something you should work out before the day. Some people look best facing directly forward, some people look better facing the side a bit more. If you’re not sure ask a friend what they think.

Smile

·         You want your smile to look as natural as possible. This may take practise, so be sure to try it out before the real thing. Just look into a mirror and smile!

·         Think of something funny before you do, to make sure it looks realistic.

·         Remember, your eyes should look a little squinty as you smile, so don’t try to open them wide as this will look fake and a bit creepy…

·         It’s up to you whether you smile with teeth or not. Practise both looks in the mirror, so you can see which one you prefer. Quite a lot of people like to smile without their teeth if they’re feeling self-conscious, or if they have braces. I, however, like to smile with teeth, purely because I think it looks better on me.

·         And if all else fails, just smile! I’m sure whatever comes naturally to you will be fine, so don’t worry!

Thanks for reading, and good luck with your pictures!

   E.E. xxx

School Makeup Bag Must-Haves

For today’s blog post I have decided to write about my back-to-school beauty essentials. Basically, I have listed all the things I take with me in my makeup bag to school. I understand that a lot of schools are very strict on makeup, (and besides, who wants to carry round an extra heavy bag anyway!?), so I tried to condense this down into just a few of my main must-haves. Enjoy!

All images are my own.

1) Mirror. I think everyone should have a pocket-sized mirror in their bag, wherever they go. It’s just so handy for checking how your hair or makeup is looking. Some schools don’t actually have mirrors, even in the toilets (or is it just mine?) but in any case, if you want to check up on your appearance during of a lesson, it’s always good to carry your own. After all, it may save you from that embarrassing ‘food stuck in your teeth’ situation – trust me, I’ve been there!

2) Hairbrush. I don’t know about you guys, but my hair gets extremely knotty. Literally, one gust of wind and I look like I’ve been dragged through a hedge backwards. Therefore, I always like to keep a brush handy, to sort out that bird’s nest of mine!

3) Bobby Pins & Hair Ties. Perfect for those days when your hair’s just being annoying and getting in the way. By keeping some ties / pins handy, you’re always sure that you can get your hair out of your face whenever you would like.

4) Body Spray. This is definitely, in my opinion, one of the most important ones. A body spray is great to carry around, especially if you have a P.E. / Gym / Dance lesson, or if it’s just a hot day. By simply spritzing on some of your favourite fragrance, you will smell delicious (and be sure to get some compliments)! My current favourite is the ‘Natural Collection Wild Strawberry Body Spray’ which you can purchase from Boots. The range features a variety of different scents (including the gorgeous Mango & Papaya), and at only £2 a bottle who can complain?

5) Lipbalm. Let’s be honest dry, chapped, flaky lips are hardly a good look, are they? To keep your lips looking kissably soft, keep a lipbalm (or chapstick if you prefer) in your bag to rub in throughout the day. I use good old Vaseline, which you can purchase from lots of shops for £1.99.

6) Mascara. Everyone, and I mean everyone, looks better with mascara. It helps make eyes look bigger and more awake, which can really transform the look of your whole face! Even if you don’t wear much makeup, I would definitely recommend investing in a good mascara – trust me, it works wonders! One thing I really love about mascara is how versatile it is. You can build it up, until you have huge, thick lashes that look like you are wearing falsies, if you are going out for the evening. But then again, with the same product, you can wear a coat or two, so that it looks like your own, natural lashes, for work or, in this case, school. I’d recommend the ‘Maybeline Falsies Mascara’ which is around £7.99.

7) Pressed Powder. If you’re anything like me, and have combination / oily skin, you’ll know that throughout the day your skin can get rather greasy and shiny. I always bring a powder compact with me, so I can make sure my skin is nice and matte. Try and purchase one that comes with a powder puff, as this is a lot easier to carry around with you than a brush. I use ‘The Body Shop Pressed Face Powder’ in the shade 01. They come with their own powder puff, and are around £9.99 (I can’t remember the exact price).

 

And that’s just about it! I hope you enjoyed this post, please feel free to comment below what you thought of it, and any suggestions for my upcoming posts.

Thanks for reading!

E.E. xxx