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28 September 2014

Skincare Routine | Before Bed


Until recently I never had a skincare routine. I was just too lazy to follow all the steps every single night and taking my makeup off and going to bed sounded much easier. 

However, now I have a small routine of my own and I can definitely see the difference all the products make. I can feel how much smoother my skin is, I have close to no break outs and I feel amazing on the inside. So without further ado here's my night time skincare routine :)


First of all, I take off my makeup with Superdrug Facial Cleansing Wipes. They are incredible in my opinion. I tried a lot of wipes before and they all left a greasy feeling on my face and the oil inside them didn't take off my makeup properly. This one just takes off a lot of my makeup, doesn't leave an oily feeling on my face and apparently it also cleanses, tones and moisturises your face. It's quite cheap as well(99p). I think it's a win.


After I get rid of most of my makeup with the wipe I use Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water and exactly 4 cotton pads to get rid of the rest of my makeup and fully cleanse my skin of the dirt that is left off. I use a cotton pad on the whole face, use one for my left eye, one for the other eye and a last one to go over the entire face one last time. It sometimes feels oily to me so I just splash some water and wipe my face. It is pretty amazing when it comes to getting rid of all your makeup and this goes a very long way. It retails for £3.33 for 400 ml which is a bargain. 


After I take off all my makeup and fully clean my face I use this beauty; Enozone Anti Acne Lotion on my blackheads and pimples. This is actually from a start up company my dad works with and I'm so glad I got to encounter this product. It is a lifesaver when it comes to pimples. You can spray it all over your face or use it on a cotton pad(I prefer this) and when I have a spot I want to focus on the most I just use a cotton bud and apply it to that area. The pimple goes away in almost 24 hours which is more than what I'm asking for. The only downside is that once you use this you can't put on anything for an hour otherwise it won't work. So I have to use this an hour before I use my moisturiser. 


I have been loving this product. This is Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum and it works as an enhancer. I use it before my moisturiser and it helps your skin feel younger and gets even more hydrated. I first saw my mom using this and as I got more into looking after my skin I saw a lot of bloggers use this as well and thought I'd give it a try. I definitely don't regret it. The formula is great and in addition to its awesome features it has a very good scent to it. It's more on the pricey side with £69 but worth every penny.


Lastly I moisturise my face using either of my favourite moisturisers which are both from Clinique. I first started using the Moisture Surge Intense which was very good and left my skin feeling very hydrated and fresh but I recently got my hands on the Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion and it is by far the best moisturiser I've ever tried. This made the most difference to my skin. I never noticed how dried up my skin was before I started using this but after a couple of days I touched my face in the morning and my face felt so soft and fresh you wouldn't believe it. It makes my skin feel so healthy and I just absolutely love it. I definitely recommend it and once I run out of the tester I'll get the full size in a blink. 

So this is my current skincare routine and I'm completely happy with both the products and the results. As someone who finds it very hard to keep up a routine, seeing the difference all these products make I never forget to apply them each night. Hope you enjoyed this post and if you have a must skincare product please tell me in the comments. I would love to know and maybe try them out :)

27 September 2014

Halloween Came Early... | Pop Art Girl



I was in my room thinking about what I was going to be this halloween as my friends and I are going to a party this year and almost all of them know what they're going to be. I decided to look at some tutorials on Youtube and came across the lovely Nicole Guerriero's video. I tried to recreate it just for the fun of it and I don't think the look suits me at all but it was very easy to do and I had a lot of fun afterwards so I thought I would share it with all of you and maybe it'll make you laugh too or who know, gives you an idea for halloween? haha :)


Before taking it off I rubbed off all the white dots which I created using white eyeshadow and just dotting on my face using my finger and I gave the look a twist by creating cracks around my face and used a dark red lip pencil to create bloody scars. I know for sure I'm not going to use this for halloween but it was definitely so much fun to recreate :)



What's in My Bag | University Edition

During summer time I got so used to wearing small handbags that I didn't know what to do with my big black H&M bag I use during my time in university. It suddenly seemed huge even though it has a perfectly reasonable size and I can fit all my things in it. I thought I would put a twist in the usual What's in My Bag thing and show you my bag I take when I have a class.


Here's my gorgeous H&M bag which I got almost 7 months ago.


Obviously I have my essential school items which are; my text books, a big yellow notepad, my agenda(Love this one since it reflects my acting dreams in a way) and my soft pencil case which has far too many pens in it.


Then I have my daily essentials which are; my purse(which is a very good Chanel imitation haha), my keys(I have a huge obsession with keychains, I feel like they just tell my story; my tiny chocolate mug shows how much I love coffee, my I heart NY one shows how much I love NY, a keychain has my name on it which my sister got me and lastly my time turner an essential for when I have no breaks between classes), a hair time from Topshop, headphones, a phone charger (which I got from Primark which isn't the best one out there but it does the job in dire situations) and a pack of gum.


Beauty wise the things I keep in my bag are very simple; my lipstick of the day(sometimes I take two; a nude and a bold lip choice), my trusty Sleek FaceForm palette, a Real Techniques stippling brush, Victoria's Secret Body Mist and a hand cream which will soon be replaced with Zoella's new body cream!



So these are all my bag essentials I take to the campus with me everyday that get me through a rough day. Sometimes I think I secretly have Hermione's bag from Harry Potter because I have absolutely no idea how I manage to fit all this in my bag! 

20 September 2014

Blackheads 101




I have read quite a lot this week about blackheads and I felt it would be appropriate to share what I've learned with you. There are some old things I already knew of and some that I learned which were pretty interesting. So I hope this will be a little helpful to all those who are annoyed with their blackheads as well.
A little disclaimer beforehand; If you're looking for a post which is all scienced up and has very technical terms, this is not the post for you I'm afraid. I'll just touch on some general facts as I've never been good at science :D

  • Blackheads are caused by your hair follicles getting clogged. 
  • They are most common around the nose but they can also appear on someones chin, ears, back and shoulders/arms. 
  • They can range from a yellowish colour to black. They don't always have to be black. 
  • The difference between a blackhead and a whitehead is that the whitehead is underneath the skin. When the area is open(blackhead) the oil reacts to oxygen which turns it brown/black. Like when you bite an apple and leave it outside, it turns brown.
  • Contrary to popular belief a blackhead is not dirt. The main action is going on under the skin so if you're cleaning your face daily it's not because your face isn't clean enough. 

CAUSES
  • Food doesn't have an effect on blackheads. Unhealthy, sugary or oily foods aren't the cause of your acne. 
  • As I said, the action goes on under your skin so not cleaning your face enough isn't the source either. On the opposite, if you cleanse your face more than necessary it might irritate your skin and worsen your blackheads.
  • It's proven that smoking can worsen blackheads.
  • Touching your skin a lot during the day may also be the cause.
  • In some cases over-using foundation, sunscreen and moisturisers can also create blackheads as you block your pores and create a surface for a blackhead to develop in. 
HOW TO STAY AWAY FROM BLACKHEADS
  • Wash your face twice a day; when you wake up and before you go to bed. 
  • Look for cleansers, exfoliators and other products that contain salicylic acid, glycolic acid or benzoyl peroxide. Exfoliators with these ingredients work more effectively than usual exfoliators with a grainy texture. 
  • Clean your phone and your laptop(any gadget you use daily) daily. Otherwise the dirt and oil on the gadget will be on your face.
  • Try keeping your hands away from your face. This is something I do a lot, I always touch my face or rest my head on my hand and that is just the first ingredient for a blackhead recipe. Stop.
  • Try using makeup and skincare products that are water-based and oil-free. 

I hope this helped you in the tiniest way, I'm not the skin expert of the blogging world but there are certain things we should all remember to do to have a clean unclogged face :D 
If you have any thoughts on the subject feel free to tell us in the comments and also if you have any tips on how to get rid of them. Have a lovely day :)

15 September 2014

Essence PureSkin Purifying Nose Strips



I was never quite bothered with my blackheads. I do occasionally squeeze them but I never used a specific product to remove them. I tried a nose strip when I was 12 but it wasn't that effective so I figured all the strips were the same. That was until I tried the Essence PureSkin Purifying Nose Strips (look at me talking as if I'm in a commercial...).

Essence's PureSkin range came out recently and I decided to give the nose strips a whirl first. The range is specifically designed for younger girls with very budget friendly prices. The strips were €1.89 which is a complete bargain. 


It comes in a tiny envelope-like case which contains 3 strips. On the back it says it is designed to unclog pores, remove excess out and lift away blackheads. It also states that if you use it on a regular basis, it will prevent new blackheads. Quite a bold statement to make in my opinion. 



As I said, the pack contains three individual strips which are also packed as shown above. You just tear it from the top or bottom and you are left with this;


The strip is stuck on a clear rectangular paper and to apply all you have to do is;

  1. Make sure your nose and your hands are clean
  2. Slightly wet your nose
  3. Pull off the strip from the plastic
  4. Place it on your nose
  5. Rub it on your nose
  6. Wait 15 minutes
  7. Rip it off gently
  8. Wash the excess.


One thing you have to remember is to not remove it in one go. You have to do it slowly and definitely don't do it from one side. Pull off the right side first, then the left side,  for the bridge of your nose remove it from the bottom pulling upwards. That is more effective and I learned that after my second try. 
If you use that method you are left with almost %70 of your blackheads looking disgusting on the used strip. I couldn't believe I had those tiny disgusting things blocking my pores. You are then left with open pores and a very smooth nose :D 

This is from my first try in which I only pulled it from one side. As you can see, on the left which is where I started to pull got all the blackheads but the rest wasn't so effective.
I definitely recommend this product and I will try other products from the PureSkin range as soon as possible.

I have read quite a lot beforehand about blackheads so I'm thinking about writing a whole post just about blackheads and what causes them/how to get rid of them. Do tell if that's something you would like to read about. 

Thanks for reading. Have a lovely day :)

09 September 2014

Lancome Juicy Tubes | Melon


I was fresh out of ideas for my blog when I decided to shop my stash and try to find products to tell you about. I was looking for things to rave about when I suddenly saw Lancome Juicy Tubes in Melon. I realised I haven't worn that since forever so I decided to put it on... and then I remembered why I never use it.

I have to say, I'm not the biggest fan of lip glosses. It's so hard to find a lipgloss that doesn't feel sticky or just makes my lips feel oily 5 minutes after I put them on. (Does anyone else get that feeling? I never heard anyone mention that but I always feel like the place around my lips get super oily whenever I put on a lipgloss.) 

Having said that, I honestly don't like anything about this product. First of all, in the tube the gloss looks very opaque and I expected it to be quite pigmented. It wasn't at all. It gives close to no colour on your lips and just looks transparent.


The biggest problem for me is the stickiness. I have come across quite a lot of glosses that aren't too sticky but this one is definitely not one of them. The second you apply it, you can feel it on your lips. It has a very heavy texture and just doesn't feel good. The worst part is, even after you wipe it off you can still feel that sticky feeling on your lips. It's hard to get it off your lips. 

There is one thing about the lipstick though that I'm not sure if it's a plus or not. The scent. As the name suggests the lipgloss has a watermelon scent to it which I used to love as a kid when I had a watermelon scented lip balm. Now I just find that smell so artificial and I don't even want to call it a watermelon scent. Yes it's a nice scent but it doesn't smell real or awakens anything in me.


The gloss does plump your lips and makes them look glossy and I've read reviews about it which say that it lasts for a very long time(I never got to that stage as the feeling bothered me too much so I had to take it off as soon as I put it on) and there are a lot more shades of the product. The others might be better but as for this one, I definitely don't recommend it to anyone! 

05 September 2014

The Autumn Tag

I am just really excited for Autumn apparently. I saw this tag on Makeup Savvy's Blog and I couldn't resist answering the questions myself. Here are the questions if you would like to give it a go yourself and here are my answers :)



1. Ok we're talking coffee's - what's your favourite seasonal drink from Starbucks/Costa/Cafe Nero etc?  
I love coffee! Even when it's boiling hot I have to have my coffee everyday. During fall, I either make my own coffee by boiling milk and adding Nescafe in it or I get my favourite drink from Starbucks which is White Chocolate Mocha.

2. Accessories - what do you opt for, scarf, boots, gloves?
Love combining outfits with a cute scarf. It doesn't have to be a winter scarf that protects you from the cold, I usually go for some thin scarves which are just really big and heavy looking.(worst description of scarves... Basically like the ones on the photo at the top of the post)

3. Music - what's your favourite music to listen to during Autumn?
My music doesn't change that often, my mood rarely depends on seasons but during school time I usually go for Indie songs, basically slower songs. 

4. Perfume - what's your favourite scent for this time of year?
I love musky scents during this time of the year and I was obsessed with one of friends perfume last year which was Montale - Black Musk so I will be purchasing that one. However currently I'm using and loving Flowerbomb by Victor Rolf.

5. Candles - what scents will you be burning this season?
My all time favourite candle which is the Yankee Candle Chocolate Layer Cake. It is a chocolate lovers dream candle! Smells amazing and the box is huge so I couldn't finish it last year so this year I will keep burning that one(In my own house!!!!)

6. What do you love most about Autumn?
First of all, I love the weather. It's not too warm but it's not too cold yet either. The perfect balance in my opinion. I also love the warm, cosy clothes I get to wear in my house when it's late at night so the weather is slightly chilly. I know it sounds like the biggest cliche but I just love having a green tea in my hand and just write stuff on my laptop or just watch tons of TV shows.

7. Favourite makeup look?
I'm going to be on the boring side again and say, I love doing my thick cat flick, put loads of volumizing mascara and wear a bold lip. I already talked about my favourite autumn lipsticks on my previous post so you can get an idea from there. I also go for coral or pink blushes during this time of the year.

8. What are you looking forward to most in Autumn?
It feels so weird saying this but I can't wait until my classes begin! I love summer and relaxing and everything but I really love university and I can't wait to go back for my second year and kick some ass. Plus it is always so much fun to be in the campus, never a dull moment!

04 September 2014

Top 5 Autumn Lipsticks



Most bloggers start this post with either saying how sad they are that summer is coming to an end or how excited they are that fall is near. I however do not know which side to pick. I was always the girl who counted down until it was summer, I was sad when I had to pack away my shorts and my summer dresses, I always loved summer a lot more than fall and winter. However, this year my summer was very hectic and I had to deal with loads of things so it didn't go as planned. I'm pretty sure at the end of this month everything will fall into place more and I will be able to breathe again. 

All that rambling was supposed to be the introduction paragraph for my autumn lipstick picks... I realise it doesn't seem like it yet but bear with me. I love wearing lipsticks during summer and the good thing about a tan is that I don't need any base products or blusher, I just put on my lipstick and do a liner and I'm done. I do think lipsticks look so much better on paler skin tones though. That is why I can't wait until my tan wears off so I can wear my Top 5 Autumn Lipsticks!

Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte by Kate Moss 107
Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Moss 20
MAC Satin Finish in Rebel
Maybelline Color Sensational in Glamorous Red
Nars Pure Matte Lipstick in Mascate

I love wearing a bold lipstick when it's colder and these five lipsticks are my go-to lipsticks for many reasons. They all have very great pigmentation, all of them are opaque, very good colour pay off. The formulas are not drying for me. There are 3 shiny/non-matte lipsticks which are Kate Moss 20, MAC Rebel and Maybelline. All of them stay very well on the lips for a long time and especially MAC leaves a stain on your lips even after you take off the lipstick which is pretty amazing in my opinion. The matte ones are obviously a lot more stronger when it comes to the staying power. I love the shape of the Nars lipstick since it makes it so much easier to apply without needing a lip pencil(which is something i never use.). Mascate and 107 are pretty a like when it comes to their shade but Mascate is a few shades lighter. I know people mostly go for darker colours during winter times but I love the dark pink colour of Rimmel's 20. I already wrote a review of MAC Rebel which you can read here. Another different shade is the Maybelline one. As others are more red and pink shades, this one stands out to me. It has red in its name but instead of red it has more of a dark brown feel to it. Kind of like a similar version of what Kylie Jenner wears... tad bit darker than that though. 

Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte by Kate Moss 107
Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Moss 20
MAC Satin Finish in Rebel
Maybelline Color Sensational in Glamorous Red
Nars Pure Matte Lipstick in Mascate
These are my go-to lipsticks during autumn. What are your fall staple lipsticks? Let me know in the comments, I'd love to know and maybe try them out :)
 
Images by Freepik