Boots Christmas Haul ~ Blogmas Day 9

I popped into Boots to pick up a new powder and eyeshadow sticks, but ended up coming away with more than I expected. Boots know how the way to a beauty lover's heart at Christmas, enticing us to spend our life savings on beauty goodies. In store I picked up the Soap & Glory One Heck of a Blot Powder at £12, earning me a free Supercat Liquid Liner. This pen is a really lovely formula, and a true black colour. The powder is very finely milled, light and soft, and not overly mattifying. I also bought two No7 Stay Perfect Shade and Define sticks, at £8 each, and with the purchase of 2 No7 products, I received the No7 Shimmer Dust Gift Box, worth £30 which contains a High Shine Lip Gloss in Glaze, Lash Impact Mascara in Black, Stay Perfect Eyeshadow in the bottom shade from the Cappuccino Trio and Youthful Eye Serum. This would make a lovely last-minute gift, and you can treat yourself whilst you're at it!

Tell me your favourite find this Christmas, and have a lovely day!

Milly x

Ciaté Big Beauty Bus ~ Blogmas Day 8

As it nears Christmas, big brands like Ciaté bring out their festive sets. I was lucky enough to receive the Ciaté London Big Beauty Bus  as a secret santa present and I have fallen head-over-heels in love with it. The 6 colours are perfect for any time of year, and the formulas are lovely to use - smooth and fast-drying. The colours it comes with are Pom Pom (red/pink), Locket (silver sparkle), Pool Party (bright blue), Hopscotch (orange/red), Ferris Wheel (pale blue) and Snow Virgin (white). I would recommend using two coats to get a really vibrant colour and long-lasting finish. You could use Locket on top of the other colours as I did above, to give the manicure Christmas sparkle. The bottles are 5ml minis, but it seems like you get a lot for your money. On the Ciaté London website the kit is £25, but in Boots it is currently £15, so it would make a lovely last-minute gift for yourself or someone special.

Only 3 days 'til Christmas!

Milly x

Lush Lip Scrub DIY Dupe ~ Blogmas Day 7

I may have accidentally missed a few days of Blogmas... but let's move on.

In my quest for super soft smooth lips, I have come across the much hyped Lush sugar scrubs. I've yet try a pot of the sweet-smelling mixture, as personally I cannot face the overwhelming scent of Lush stores and I thought that I could make something cheaper that the tiny £5.50 pots. The recipe is on the Lush website, but I found a recipe (here) and made a few adaptions to suit me. This mixture makes quite a lot, so either adjust the recipe or use a large pot.

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 tbsp caster sugar
• 2 tbsp carrier oil (Lush use jojoba oil, but I used olive oil. Look up a list to find out what is safe for use on your face)
• A dash of vanilla extract or lip safe flavouring (you can also add food colouring)

Mix together all of the ingredients and put into a clean pot. To use, apply to clean lips and use as an exfoliator. You can eat this, but do remember that it is used to take off dead skin, which may not make it so tasty! Make sure to apply a gentle and hydrating lip balm afterwards.

Exfoliating your lips is a must, especially in winter when the cold wind and rain batters at our faces and makes our lips chapped. You can make your lipsticks go on much smoother and more even, and get kissable lips with this yummy mix that will cost you pennies!

Four days 'til Christmas! Thanks for reading!

Milly x

My Inspirations ~ Blogmas Day 5

I'm sorry that I missed a couple of days of blogmas, but hopefully two posts will be posted today, to make up. I simply had too much to write about these special people to do it before bed.

I often think about who, or what influences me to be who I am. Obviously, my parents, friends, family, but there are also external sources, who, in some ways, affect my personality more than those I have direct contact with.

Makeup and style inspiration: Lily Collins

Source

Source

Source

Source

Source

 

Source

I love everything about Lily Collins: her makeup, her hair, her clothes, her smile, her personality. Those eyebrows! I was inspired by her fairly recent cut, to chop off my long locks, and, although most were sceptical, it turned out to be the best decision I could have made. Her fashion is always on point, particularly at premieres, such as a recent one for the release of 'Love, Rosie', where she was seen in a stunning Elie Saab dress, pictured above. She always seems down-to-earth and kind in interviews, is always there for her fans, doesn't mind being different, and encourages people to be kind, by supporting Bystander Revolution, a movement about stopping bullying.

Life: Louise Pentland (aka Sprinkle Of Glitter)


Source

 

Source

Source

Louise, owner of the blog and YouTube channel Sprinkle Of Glitter, is a really big inspiration to me. She had a tough time as a child, and although that has made an impact on her, she tries to be a positive person. Clicking on to her YouTube channel is like a cure for sadness; she is enthusiastic about everything, absolutely bonkers and tries to encourage a positive outlook on life. I can find that some YouTubers try to give the impression of a perfect life, but Louise will tell us if she's sad, and she's not afraid to say if she doesn't want to share something with her audience. She always wants the best for people, which is why she moved away from meet and greets at YouTube conventions, and created her own show, to improve things for her viewers. At 29, Louise has become a successful businesswoman, but is also raising a lovely family, with her husband Matt. Their gorgeous little girl Darcy is hilarious, and watching her go from a little baby, to a chatty toddler is brilliant. Everything Louise does is inspiring, and makes me want to be a nicer, funnier, happier person!

Everything: Hannah Michalak (aka Hannah Maggs)

Source

Source



Source





Hannah Michalak is a blogger, YouTuber and mother, along with her husband Stefan. Hannah is so positive, despite having a nearly one-year-old baby and many sleepless nights. She started her YouTube channel with makeup tutorials as she trained to be a makeup artist, and after falling pregnant, branched into vlogs with Stefan. Every video is a joy to watch, with stunning shots, and an even more beautiful family. I don't know how Hannah manages to look so lovely! I find the Michalak family a very real insight into the lives of young parents, and watching them grow and develop is lovely. They are always honest, funny and entertaining, and I look forward to the vlog on a Sunday evening!

Thanks for reading a little about my inspirations. Let me know in the comments below, or on twitter, who your biggest inspirations are!


Milly xx

Winterlicious Tag ~ Blogmas Day 4

Time for a tag I think! As it's the beginning of December, it's the perfect time for the Winterlicious tag. I tagged myself, but now I tag anyone who reads this! Make sure to leave me a comment below so I can read your tag.

1. Favourite winter nail polish? Any dark red, small sparkles or natural polish.
2. Favourite winter lip product? I'm really loving a recent purchase, Revlon Colourstay Moisture  Stain in the shade New York Scene. It's really comfortable and long-lasting, and the vibrant colour really suits my pale skin.
3. Most worn winter clothing piece? Probably an oversized red jumper, or thick leggings.
4. Most worn winter accessory? Probably my scarf, for those cold winter days!
5. Favourite winter scent/candle? I really like cinnamon and spiced scented candles, but I don't change my perfume or body sprays throughout the year.
6. Favourite winter beverage? I don't drink hot drinks (even hot chocolate), but I like warmed orange squash after a day out in the snow or when I'm feeling ill.
7. All time favourite Christmas movie? I luurve 'Elf' and 'The Grinch', as I grew up with them, but I also love 'Nativity!' (not the second one... I did not like that at all!)
8. Favourite Christmas song? Either 'Merry Christmas Everybody' or 'I Wish it Could be Christmas Every Day' (or just all of the classics).
9. Favourite Christmas food? Potatoes. Always potatoes. And stuffing.
10. Favourite Christmas decoration? Fairy lights because they are beautiful and versatile! You can have a beautiful house all year round!
11. What's at the top of your Christmas list this year? I asked for some money this year, and my mum spent some of my Christmas money on surprises, but I'm going to go for the post-Christmas sales and get myself some bargains!
12. What are your plans for Christmas this year? I'm spending Christmas with my family at home this year, which will be really nice, as we cans pend time together, relax and have fun!

I hope you enjoyed this! Have a nice day, and come back again tomorrow!

Milly x

Sleeeppp... Blogmas Day 2

All I want for Christmas is sleep! I have no idea why I'm so tired, but it's probably something to do with the horrible gloomy weather we've been having in England.



Add caption

Sleep is so important, for our brains, staying healthy, and looking nice! It's a time for us to replenish our energy and relax. Some of us find it harder than others, but, let's be honest, every teenager loves sleep. Personally, I've been experiencing nightmares quite often recently, which make me tired, which makes me stressed, which makes me... and so on. So I've been reading up on some top tips on getting a good night's sleep.

1. Make your sleeping area somewhere you feel happy to sleep in. Make your bed cosy, but not too warm, and make sure that you have space to stretch out. It seems obvious, but make sure that your room is dark enough, and warm enough to drift you off. Also, make sure you invest in a decent mattress; you'll spend a lot of time on it, so make sure it's right for you.
2. Remove technology. This is probably one of the hardest steps, especially for teenagers who are attached to their phones, but Instagram and Facebook will still be there in the morning. Turn off devices, or leave them outside the room because the blue light from the screens will trick your brain into thinking it's day, waking you up again.
3. Relax and unwind long before bedtime. Providing that you get all of your work done and aren't too busy, try your hardest to rest and calm down about an hour before you sleep to give your chance some time to switch off. You could do a pamper session, read, or listen to music, as long as you aren't doing strenuous or energetic activities.
4. Get everything off your mind. You can't switch off if your mind's racing full of things to do the next day. Write down a list so you don't try to remember things during sleep time, and make sure everything is done for the day.
5. If you still struggle to sleep... try a couple of drops of calming lavender oil on your pillow (not too much though else it'll have the opposite effect), or try sleep pills. If you have insomnia, it's probably worth looking into your condition and speaking to a professional about it. It will be worth it in the end when you wake up replenished with beautifully glowing skin!

Thank you for reading blogmas day 2, and I will (probably) write again tomorrow! Bye!
Milly x

Blogmas day 1!

Source

Whoop! First of December and officially time for Christmas! Advent calendars have been opened, carols have been sung and everyone's in the Christmas spirit.

I'm a bit rubbish at keeping to deadlines on my blog, especially at the moment with two controlled assessments for GCSE and too much work, but I'm going to attempt Blogmas. I'll TRY to write every day, probably mostly with pictures from the internet, because I don't have time to take photos every day. If you have anything you'd like me to write about, comment below, or tweet me @abeautyfulblog.

Today's post is just to say Happy December and welcome to Blogmas day!

Hope you are having a lovely day!

Milly x

No7 Beautiful Skin Cleansing Brush

Hello! I never thought I would be, but I, like many bloggers, have been drawn in to the hype surrounding face brushes, the latest sensation in cleansing. Most high-end skincare brands have now brought one out, but most are out of reach for a scrimping teenager. When my mum told me that Boots' brand No7 had brought one out for an affordable price, I was so relieved. I'm really into my skincare at them moment and I was desperate to try the Clarisonic brush, but as the cheapest ones are over £150, it simply wasn't going to happen. The No7 brush is around £25, although Boots constantly hand out money off vouchers for No7, so could be even less.

The No7 Beautiful Skin Cleansing Brush has two spin speeds, medium and fast, which increase as you press the button. The product comes with one detachable head, and replacement packs of two are £8, a massive reduction for the £35 you'd have to fork out for two new Clarisonic heads. It's recommended that you change heads every three months, dependent on usage. I share the brush with my mum so we each have a brush head which we pop on to cleanse. The brush heads are very soft, but quite firm. The bristles aren't as packed on as other brushes, but still work well.

I used the brush for the first time last night and, although it feels clichéd to say, I've already noticed a big difference. I started by removing all makeup, as the idea of using this to remove my makeup is a bit weird as it feels like I would be rubbing it into my skin. I then used my Freederm Facial Cleanser all over my face, applying generously across my forehead, nose, chin and cheeks. I then moved onto using the brush to work it in. Using it to start with is daunting, as bringing a large white machine towards your face is freaky, and figuring the right pressure to use for your skin is a bit tricky. As with all brushes, you have to be really gentle, else it will sting or hurt. With this brush, as the bristles aren't amazing quality, you have to barely be skimming the skin. I started by wetting the brush and then turned on the lower setting and brushing my face, focussing on my forehead, nose and chin. I spent between 30 seconds to a minute working in the cleanser and buffing away dead skin. Once done, I rinsed the brush, splashed my face to get rid of the excess product and continued with toner and moisturiser.

I immediately noticed very slight redness, meaning boosted circulation, which is great for anti-ageing.  The brush buffed away flaky skin, which made my skin much smoother, and removed impurities which block pores, which is brilliant for spot-prone skin. My skin felt much more deep-cleansed and clean, and I found that some of my blackheads reduced or disappeared, and I'm hoping that I have a reduction in spots, although new additions to my skincare routine have helped a lot.

Overall, I really like this product. I've only used it twice, but both times I've found that my skin has looked more glowy and smooth than before. The price difference, even to some of the cheaper cleansing brushes, is huge, and the brush replacement is much cheaper too, which means that you don't have to stick with the same brush head until you can afford a new one. I have really high hopes for this product to boost my cleansing and reduce spots, but if there are any problems, I will come back and update you.

Thanks for reading!

Milly xx

Quotes I love

Type 'quotes' into Pinterest and a whole host of inspirational messages appear. Sometimes a few words can make a huge difference; make us happy, make us sad, inspire us, or encourage us to follow our dreams. I picked out a few which were relevant to me right now, and a few words of wisdom for every day life:

 



 



 I'm so grateful to my best friends; they listen to me, let me cry (mostly with laughter), know more about me than I do about myself and trust me enough to open up. They will tell me if they're sick of me moaning and tell me to get on with my life, as I will to them. I often tell them exactly what's on my mind and they will do the same, which helps me be a better person.

 

 

 Creativity is so important, and if you have an idea, put it forward. So many brilliant ideas get brushed under the carpet just because people are too shy to bring it up. Take credit and enjoy compliments. I have a few ideas which I want to bring up with my school, but I keep putting them off because I'm scared of rejection. Don't be! If it's a rubbish idea, laugh it off and start again. But if you really believe in something, go for it.

 

 

Just be amazing every day.

 

 

I'm pretty sure that this is one of the most important things. If someone is making you sad, tell them, or go do something away from them. If there's a hobby you love, do it! If you feel pressured into doing something you don't want to do, say no, and do what you want. Even if you are doing something 'uncool' or 'geeky' don't worry about it. I promise you, it's not and there are hundreds of people doing the same thing as you.

 

 

 Sometimes life can seem unfair, because the best ideas are pushed aside because they aren't popular. Often nowadays, its not what you can do, but who you know. This is so sad, but just because something's popular, doesn't mean you have to like it or do it, especially if you think it's wrong. Don't tell people you like something just to be popular.

 

 

Procrastinating is a major hobby of all teenage students. Stop putting work and other things off, and get on with it. You'll be amazed at how much less stressed you feel and how much time you get for yourself now that everything's done.

 

 

Whilst I love makeup, your personality s much more important than your looks. Be a nice person and don't give false impression to be popular. Just being yourself you will attract people similar to yourself, who make you feel happy and comfortable in your own skin.

 

 

I hope you liked this little round up of inspirational quotes. Let me know your favourite or any thoughts in the comments. I would also be really grateful for post/makeup recommendations. All of these quotes can be found on my 'Quotes' board on Pinterest . Thank you for reading and I will write again very soon!

 

Milly xx

Back To School Blues

Hello! I'm writing this half an hour before I have to be back in school after the long summer break. (My school has a half day on the first day back).

I can't say I'm not nervous; I am a bit shaky and I feel sick to my stomach, but I guess that's just nerves. This year I'm making a real effort to be a better and nicer person, become more organised, and generally sort my life out. The first day of school is usually the worst; even if you know everyone in your class, you feel like you have to give a good first impression. I got up at about 9 today in order to get myself ready. Looking good on the first day of school, for me, is a real confidence booster. I make sure to plan what I'm wearing and have everything ready the night before so that I don't have to think about it.

One of the reasons that I'm nervous is because this year I'm starting my GCSE work, and that scares me. It means that I'm getting to a really important part of my life, where big changes and decisions need to happen. To be honest, I don't really know what I want to do with my life. I'm very academic, so a lot of people want me to take that path. I would quite like to study makeup artistry, or be a blogger and YouTuber, but I can never quite decide.

Another reason for the school nerves is people. I find it hard making friends, but luckily I'm in a really lovely and supportive class, where I feel quite accepted. I guess I'm not the only one feeling nervous: a new school year means new teachers, classes and work. GCSE means that for most of my lessons I won't be with my class, but rather in subject choices, meaning that I can meet new people and make new friends.



Source

Going back to school is never a good feeling, but, if you think about it, you'll get to see your friends every day, and learn about things that you're interested in. Of course there will be people and subjects that you don't like, but you just have you get on with it. If you dwell, you'll feel a whole lot worse.

I'm sorry for the rambly post today, but I have a lot on my mind and I wanted to share it with you. Good luck whenever you go back to school; have a great time and try to make this year your best one ever!

Milly xx

Beach Essentials

Sorry for not posting; I'm away on holiday! I promise that there are loads moreposts coming. This is just a quick post to show you my beach essentials this summer.

From left to right, my beach essentials are a book (City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare), Garnier Ambre Solaire Resistor Factor 50 sun cream, sunglasses, snacks, a bikini or swimsuit (mine's from Boots in the Coral Bay Beachwear collection) and a hat. Make sure to stay covered up in the sun!

Again I'm really sorry for not posting but I have lots more planned in the next few weeks. In  the meantime you can follow me on Twitter (@mymakeuplife) and on instagram (@my.makeup.life). Thanks for reading!

Milly xx

The TMI Tag

I've been blogging for about a month now, and I feel like I should do something to celebrate that. So far my posts have been quite limited, mostly being reviews. This week I'm going to do the TMI tag, to help you to get to know me better, and just for a bit of fun.

1: What are you wearing? I'm wearing a vintage-style blue polka dot dress, a yellow belt and socks.

2: Ever been in love? Nope.

3: Ever had a terrible breakup? No. I've never had a proper boyfriend... only the primary school holding-hands sort once.

4: How tall are you? About 5" 6' and a half? I think that's about 168cm.

5: How much do you weigh? I'm not really comfortable to share this, and I haven't been weighed in years.

6: Any tattoos? No and I don't have plans on getting any in the future.

7: Any piercings? None and I don't really think I could take the pain of ear piercing! It probably wouldn't suit me anyway.

8: OTP? I have so many - all from books. I can list them, but it will probably take a while and I'll miss most of them out! My top three book OTPs are probably Zoey and Stark/Heath from the 'House of Night' series, Tessa and Will/Jem in the 'Infernal Devices' trilogy and Laurel and Tamani from the 'Wings' series. But really There are so many more that I love and had to miss off, like 'Divergent', 'The Mortal Instruments' and 'Uglies'. I just love to read.

9: Favourite Show? I don't really watch that much TV. Probably 'This Old Thing' on Channel 4 about vintage clothing or 'New Girl', also on Channel 4. Something that I love watching but is no longer on in the UK is 'Hart of Dixie'.

10: Favourite band? The Vamps without a doubt. I'm going to see them in September with my best friend!

11: Something you miss? Probably being little and doing my own thing without too many worries or caring what people think about me. I also miss my friend who moved to Hong Kong.

12: Favourite song? This is a super hard one, but I'm going to go with my favourite songs at the moment which are 'Me and my Broken Heart' by Rixton, the whole of the 'Meet The Vamps' album and the German world cup song 'Das Dicke Dicke Ding' which I find really catchy and good for me to practice speaking German. Is that weird?

13: How old are you? Fifteen in two and a bit months.

14: Zodiac sign? Libra

15: Quality you look for in a partner? Funny, caring, intelligent, romantic and good with children.

16: Favourite quote? Probably 'Be a fruit loop in a world of cheerios'.  But there are so many inspirational quotes that I love. I really like ones that tell you not to follow the crowd and to be yourself and do your own thing.

17: Favourite actor? I love Jennifer Lawrence. Her personality is hilarious and she isn't afraid to be herself, even in front of millions of people. She's also such a brilliant actress in everything she does and I was so glad when she was cast as Katniss in 'The Hunger Games'

18: Favourite colour? Probably pale blue but I also like pastel yellow and pink.

19: Loud music or soft? It would depend on my mood. I would say medium. I like music with guitar backing and drums, but not heavy metal!

20: Where do you go when you’re sad? Usually my mum or dad, but also my laptop to watch my favourite YouTubers or listen to upbeat music.

21: How long does it take you to shower? Depending on if I'm doing a hair treatment or not, usually between 10 and 20 minutes. But I always turn off the water if I'm not rinsing my hair or washing because wasting water makes me seriously annoyed. At sleepovers, if someone leaves the tap running to clean their teeth they will be treated to a lecture about saving the environment!

22: How long does it take you to get ready in the morning? From waking up to leaving the house - probably an hour. But that includes washing, eating and dressing. The maximum it takes me to do my hair and makeup is twenty minutes.

23: Ever been in a physical fight? No. But if someone isn't nice to me or my friends, or if I disagree with something, I will speak out which can get me into trouble sometimes.

24: Turn on? If someone seems genuinely interested in what I have to say and doesn't behave differently around other people.

25: Turn off? If someone doesn't appreciate me or other people as we really are or if they make racist, sexist or homophobic comments, I will immediately dislike them. 

26: The reason I made a blog? To share my babbling with the world. I don't think that I know a lot about makeup, I'm just really interested in it and I love doing costume makeup. Really I wanted somewhere to keep my ramblings as I begin my GCSEs.

27: Fears? I have so many irrational fears. Trollies (don't ask), trampolines, bikes, scooters, spiders, snakes, heights and swimming are just a few.

28: Last thing that made you cry? Probably reading a book or listening to 'High Hopes' or 'Somebody to You' by The Vamps. My last proper cry was watching 'The Fault in Our Stars'. 

29: Last time you said you loved someone? Probably to my mum or dad last night before bed.

30: Meaning behind your blog name? Mostly that I didn't have the imagination for anything better. I just thought this was appropriate because it basically tells you what I'm going to write about.

31: Last book you read? 'Clockwork Angel' by Cassandra Clare.

32: The book you’re currently reading? The second book in the trilogy, 'Clockwork Prince', also by Cassandra Clare. I've read this series so many times, I just absolutely love it!

33: Last show you watched? 'New Girl' because I got up late and felt like having a laugh!

34: Last person you talked to? My little brother who asked me if he could have some chocolate! I said no.

35: The relationship between you and the person you last texted? I texted my best friend repeatedly saying 'hi' to wind her up. And the relationship? She's my best friend.

36: Favourite food? Hmm. This is so hard for me. I love pizza, curry and crispy duck pancakes so much! I also quite like fresh salad and Cadbury's chocolate.

37: Place you want to visit? I'd really like to go to somewhere like Italy or Greece but I wouldn't be able to cope with the heat! I might like to go somewhere in America because I've never been outside of Europe. I've been to France, Germany and Scotland and I stay in England every year for holidays. I like that though because we live in a beautiful country.

38: Last place you were? I went for a walk with my dad and brother late yesterday evening around my town.

39: Do you have a crush? Yes. And I'm not telling you!

40: Last time you kissed someone? Not since I was about 11!

41: Last time you were insulted? Today by my brothers.

42: Favourite flavour of sweet? I like mint and most fruity flavours. And cola. But do NOT give  me blackcurrant flavoured or chocolate flavoured sweets because I cannot stand them!

43: What instruments do you play? I can sing, play the clarinet and the piano, but I don't have lessons. I stopped all lessons about a year ago. 

44: Favourite piece of jewellery? At the moment I love to wear a silver necklace with a charm saying 'hope' on the end. It's super old so the pendant's gone a bit coppery, but I still like it.

45: Last sport you played? Tennis about three weeks ago! I'm not really sporty.

46: Last song you sang? I'm not really sure. It's either 'High Hopes' by The Vamps or 'New Girl In Town' from the musical 'Hairspray'.

47: Favourite chat up line? I'd prefer to have a  proper conversation than small talk, but the funniest I've heard is,
'Hey, are you in my appendix? Because I don’t understand what you do, but this feeling in my stomach makes me want to take you out?'
I mean, it's just so unfunny that it's funny!

48: Have you ever used it? Nope.

49: Last time you hung out with anyone? I went to town with my best friends three days ago.

50: Who should answer these questions next? Anyone and everyone. If you read this and you have a blog or a YouTube channel- I'm tagging you! Tell me if you do this and I'll check it out.

I hope you enjoyed finding out a little more about me. I found this really fun to do so maybe I'll do another one in the future. If you want to check out my best friend she has a YouTube channel (here). I've also set up a Twitter account and a second instagram but I'm still working out how to put the buttons onto my page. If you want to follow me in the meantime, I'll leave links at the end of the post. I got the idea to do this post from Lauren at Pretty Things & Polka Dots.

Thanks for reading!

Milly xx

Instagram - @abeautyfulblog
Twitter - @abeautyfulblog
Pinterest - @abeautyfulblog

 Also, don't forget to vote on my poll and let me know what to improve on my page!

National Lipstick Day!

Happy National Lipstick Day! So I wasn't going to post today, but seeing as I found out on instagram that it was National Lipstick Day, why not? There really is a national holiday for everything. This must be one of my favourites, seeing as it's not every day that you get to celebrate lipstick as a nation!

I don't actually wear lipstick very often, as I prefer to wear lip-glosses and crayons, but I do have a few. My favourite lipstick is the Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in the shade 025 Peach Parfait.

Really bad pic I know, but I was doing it in a rush and on my phone!

 

I'm not going to do a full-blown review of it right now because I did one yesterday (click me!), but I'll give a quick run-down. This is a similar shade to the Soap & Glory Gloss Stick, but with sparkles. It's lovely and hydrating, and lovely to wear. It usually lasts for about an hour and a half on the lips. It is similar to the natural colour of my lips, which really enhances them. The packaging is really pretty, perfect for your makeup or handbag. At £7.99 a pop, these are really lovely, but as with the Soap & Glory review, I would like there to be more product for the price because there wasn't much in this lipstick.

 

Have a great evening on this national holiday, and I'll be writing again very soon!

 

Milly xx

 

 



Soap & Glory Review: Gloss Stick

Hi again! I'm really sorry that I haven't posted for two weeks, but I was quite busy, and frankly, I couldn't think about what to write about. I do have a special post coming up soon though, which I'm hoping will be fun, and give you an insight into the inner workings of my brain!

About a month and a half ago I picked up this lovely 'Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Stick' in the colour 'Nudist' by Soap & Glory whilst on a shopping spree with my best friends (it wasn't really a spree - I think I bought about 2 things!). I came across this because one of my besties had been given this for her birthday and came into school with it. I knew I had to get it so I saved up and bought it without a second thought, which is really not like me - I don't really impulse buy so I generally think about buying things for at least two weeks in advance! And I love it!

The colour of the lip crayon is the colour of the bar at the bottom so I didn't feel the need to swatch it for you. It's a really pretty, glossy nude pink with a tiny amount of sparkle. The colour was very different to the one that my friend has, but it didn't matter because it was the perfect colour for my lips and skin tone. I am quite pale, so try to avoid dark colours on my lips. Because it isn't a really contrasting colour to my natural lips, I could wear it to school, and it really set off my makeup perfectly. I have also worn it most days in the holidays, as it looks great dressed up or down.

So the colour was one reason for buying it, but another reason was the smell. That may sound really weird, but honestly it is delicious. If it were a perfume, I'd buy it! It's sort of a subtle vanilla/sherbet scent and it's super nice. Unfortunately it doesn't taste of much.

I didn't find this product particularly sticky and I found that it stayed for around two hours after putting it on. Sometimes it even lasted through food and cleaning my teeth! It doesn't have the longest staying power, but it is quite good.

So the verdict? I absolutely love this product, and will probably be purchasing it again. One thing that I would like to be improved about it would be perhaps more product for the £8 price tag? I have found that using it every day it started running low pretty fast so I will have to buy some more soon. I like that it is in a stick/crayon rather than a lipstick because I like the application.

Thanks for reading! I'll be doing some random posts throughout the summer, as well as trying to stick to the regular, post on Sundays, routine. Around the 3rd of August will be my special post so make sure to check back for that. Whilst you're here, tell me how to improve my website by using the poll on the right-hand side and share my blog with your friends!

Milly xxx

My Skincare Routine

 

 

Hello!

 

Today I'm going to be showing you the products I use for my skincare routine. I think that it is important to take care of your skin from a fairly early age, and especially in your teenage years, as it will help to reduce problems, will help to prevent aging and really boosts your confidence. I do get quite a few spots, but no serious acne breakouts, and I find that these products really work for me. If you do get bad acne and are not treating it, try to get hold of a medicated cleanser or spot cream, as these should really clear you skin.

 

It's really important to remove your makeup before going to bed. I don't wear foundation so I don't need a serious makeup remover as my cleanser does this. I remove my eye makeup using the Simple Kind To Eyes Eye Make-Up Remover and a cotton pad. Whilst this isn't the best product, it does remove all of the makeup and usually leaves my eyes feeling soft. I do find that it can irritate my eyes and cause watering on occasions. I have also used the Liz Earle Eyebright Soothing Eye Lotion, and while this isn't great for heavy makeup, it leave the eyes feeling fresh and rejuvenated.

 

Something which I should do more often is to exfoliate. I try to do this at least once a week, using the Good Things Deep Clean Blackhead Exfoliator. This has little micro-beads which help to remove dead skin, and fruit extracts to leave the skin feeling soft and clean. This doesn't irritate my sensitive skin and I find that it works quite well. I just massage it onto my face using my fingers and then wipe it away with a cloth/flannel.

 

Now I use my cleanser. I use the Freederm Facial Cleanser every morning and evening. I find it easier and quicker to use than other cleansers, and I think that is why I stuck with it. I found that within the first couple of weeks my breakouts started to reduce and clear up, although it hasn't been improving since then. The method is the same as the exfoliator: massage onto skin and remove with a damp flannel.

 

Instead of a moisturiser I use Bio Oil. I've not been using this for very long - only two months or so - but I'm already noticing improvements in my skin. It's a special oil which reduces uneven skin tone, dry skin and scarring. I find that it sinks into my skin well and gives my a healthy glow. It has got rid of dry skin patches and reduced small scars on my face. I would not recommend this for particularly oily skin, but for normal/dry skin and scarring, this is a must. It is not particularly expensive; it's not a cheap brand, but it's not designer prices either. I have the 125ml bottle which I share with my family, and each bottle usually lasts about 6 months. It smells great too!

 

I always make sure to apply my Soap & Glory Dr Spot Gel before bed. I've  been using this for a long time - around 5 years - and it is still my spot cream of choice. It gets to work quickly, and in the first 3 months you can feel a slight tingling/stinging (this seriously reduces after a short while) as it fights the infection. Usually my spots are gone in around 3-4 days. It doesn't really increase redness, although it does make the treated areas of skin more prone to sunburn for a week after use, but this has never caused me any problems. I also love the packaging of this product as it is simple but stylish (I love most of Soap & Glory's packaging really - it's so fun and quirky!).

 

The last thing I do before bed is to apply Vaseline to my lips. I make sure to do this every night to keep my lips soft and prevent chapped lips in winter. My favourite Vaseline products are the original, Aloe Vera and Cocoa Butter lip tins, but I also like the Rosy Lips tin for daytime.

 

As well as all of this (which only takes me a few minutes in the evening), I try to keep my skin generally healthy. I do this by trying my best to drink lots of water (although this can be hard at times), getting lots of nutrients (through fruits and vegetables), getting a good night's sleep and doing exercise (although I am not a particularly active person). I find that eating an orange and drinking orange juice every day seems to help my skin, perhaps because of the vitamin C? I would like to eat more fruit and veg, and so over the summer I'm going to try to eat more salads and smoothies (not together). I might even do a blog post on my favourite yummy smoothie!

 

Thank you for reading! It was a long one today which I've been planning for a few weeks! These are things which I try to do every day, and have helped my skin and my body to feel healthier. I hope you like my blog and come back again!

 

Milly xx

Orange Nail Polish

Hello again!

This week I want to talk about my favourite nail polish of the month: Maybelline New York Colour Show 341 Orange Attack. This is a really lovely bright orange, which I think works with any skin colour. Not only is the colour lovely, but this nail polish is pretty cheap too, costing around £2 (in a 3 for 2 offer in Superdrug). This particular nail polish gives a really nice finish, and dries much quicker than other nail polishes (great if you're a bit impatient like me!). It also comes off pretty easily, but can leave a bit of an orangey stain. The one bad thing is that it doesn't wear too well. For example, I put on one coat on Friday afternoon, and by Saturday afternoon, the tips had chipped off, although I had been playing tennis and doing some crafty bits which wouldn't have helped the cause. If you put on more than one layer and a top coat, I'm sure it would last much longer.

 

I really like this pretty summer nail polish. I was a bit sceptical at first about trying it, but I actually really like it - it's a shame I can't say the same for my other two purchases in the 3 for 2 offer: a sunshine yellow and army green. Not really sure why I bought these! If you are looking for a nail polish to make your nails pop, think about this, because it's inexpensive and looks amazing.

 

Thanks for reading!

Milly xx