Merry Christmas

Hi guys.

I would like to wish everyone a belated Merry Christmas and a happy new year.  As 2015 is about to close, I would like to thank everyone who has stuck by this blog this year as I haven't been as active as I would like to have been and I am hopefully going to be more active in 2016.  

2015 has been a year of ups and downs and as I am well into my second year of university, the work load has been more intense as well as juggling 2 part time jobs and being Student Rep on my degree.  I am going to try and get at least one post out a week to begin with and see where I go from there.

I am going back to my hometown this Wednesday so I won't have any time to do any posts.  I will try and get my first post out in the second week of January and I will announce it on Twitter and Instagram so make sure you are following me on them.  I am also on Bloglovin so follow me on there to get updates of blogposts.

I hope to see you all next year so have a great new year and be safe.

Bye for now.

Jess. X

Blogmas - Day Eleven: My Foundation Collection

From L to R: Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen WOW foundation, Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua foundation, MAC Studio Sculpt foundation & Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Tinted Moisturiser.

Hi guys.

Sorry that I haven't been posting over the weekend, work got a bit hectic and I was on so crazy shifts so I wasn't getting in until 11!  

For day eleven's post I am going to talk you through my foundation collection.  It is only small but I want to add to this and have a few foundations I want to try out in the new year.  

Foundation for me is a no brainer!  It has to be high end.  I know that seems a bit petty of me but I have tried drugstore foundations in the past and all of the one's I have tried all break me out the next day and I can never get one that matches perfectly.  High end foundations never break me out and all match my skin beautifully and have a flawless finish.  I don't mind paying the extra money for something that makes me feel comfortable in my skin.

Now my skin is quite dry and so I look for a foundation which has a dewy finish to it, three of which this applies to and one which I will explain below.

Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen WOW foundation.

I first tried this out when I purchased the Flawless Complexion Makeup Kit from benefit and there was a small sample size of this foundation inside.  I instantly fell in love with this foundation and went out to purchase the full size as soon as I could.  

I have the shade "Believe in me" Ivory and this matches perfectly.  I feel this has a medium to full coverage depending on how you apply it.  I have no problems with it creasing and it covers any imperfections easily.  It also has SPF 25 built in so I don't have to think about using an SPF under it (not that we need to worry about sun protection at this time of year in the UK!)  I can't detect a scent to it which is great for those who don't like scented products.  

The price of this is £26.50 and you can purchase this from Boots.

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua foundation.

I have recently written a post on this foundation which I will link here.  This has been my go to foundation as it is lightweight yet gives me the coverage I want.  

MAC Studio Sculpt foundation.

This was the first high end foundation I ever bought and although this is a good foundation, it isn't the one for me yet.  I find that this foundation is quite matte and sinks into my dry spots and clings to any imperfections.  It is also quite dark for me as well.  I have the shade NC25 and this is a good shade for me when I have a tan other than that, it doesn't work for me.  I am going to try and make it work by sheering it down with a primer or get a product which helps balance out the foundation.  

The price of this is £25.50 and you can purchase this from Debenhams.

Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Tinted Moisturiser.

My final product is a tinted moisturiser which I received in a Birchbox this year.  I used to love tinted moisturiser's growing up but as my skin has gotten older, they don't give me the best coverage I need.  

This has an OK coverage which is good for days I only want a natural look or days when my skin is behaving itself.  I don't normally reach for this but I know that when I need it, it is there for me.

The price of this is £27 and you can purchase this from Birchbox.

So that is my foundation collection.  I am going to try and purchase more drugstore foundations to see how they react to my skin but I need to get my confidence up in order to do this.

What is your favourite foundation?  Any recommendations for drug store foundations?

Bye for now.

Jess. X

Blogmas - Day Ten: Favourite YouTubers 2015

The photos here were found on Google and edited by me.   

Hi guys.

Today's post is going to be about my favourite YouTubers I like to watch regularly.  I will also link to their YouTube channels so you can go check them out.  I first got into the world of YouTube when looking up a review of a makeup product and came across some of these YouTubers reviewing it.  I then went on to watching more and more of their videos and then finding more YouTubers to watch.  I cannot tell you how many I am subscribed to and how many different genres of YouTubers I watch.  They really help me to relax after a long day of work or doing uni work plus they inspired me to create a blog to unleash my own reviews and life to which I am grateful for.

So here are my top nine YouTubers that I have been loving this year.

FleurDeForce.

I think Fleur was one of the first YouTubers I had every watched and will continue to watch for as long as I can.  She seems down to earth and her videos are so stylish as well as being funny.  She has introduced me to some high end beauty products through her channel.  Any product I have been inspired to purchase because of her, I have been 100% happy with and trust her decision.  Her channel can be found here.

Sacconejoly's.

The Saccone-Joly's run a daily Vlog channel where they document their lives everyday.  The Saccone-Joly's are Jonathon, Anna, Emilia and Eduardo.  I came across them one day when another YouTuber (I cannot remember who) mentioned them in a video.  I typed in their name and watched a few of their videos and after a few months, I was hooked and went back to watch them from about 3 years ago.  I still haven't caught up since!  Their channel can be linked here.

Zoella.

Zoe...how can I describe her?  She is adorable!  She is down-to-earth and funny. She creates beauty and fashion videos with some DIY's.   I love watching her videos and love everything about her.  Her channel can be found here.


ViviannaDoesMakeup.

Another beauty YouTuber.  Once again Vivianna has an amazing channel and is down-to-earth and honest about her opinions.  Her channel can be found here.

I Covet Thee.

There seems to be a trend here,  All the YouTubers I have mentioned are British or Irish.  Once again, Alix is British and is a sophisticated woman who has given me a few products to put on my already expanding wish list of products in my planner.  Her channel can be found here.

BeautyByKat08.

Katherine is one of my favourites because she is also at University and I can relate to her when I watch her videos.  She is a typical uni student and I love watching her videos.  Her channel can be found here.

Ingrid Nilsen.

Ingrid is the popular missglamorazzi and she is an amazing American who speaks the truth about life and beauty.  She always makes me laugh in her videos and makes sure that everyone is entertained.  I think she was one of the first American YouTubers I watched and will continue to watch her for as long as I can.  Her channel can be found here.

Eleventh Gorgeous.

Two sisters that are so entertaining that I cannot stop binge watching their videos.  Tracy and Steph know how to make serious makeup videos as well as their 'How not to' series.  I love the way they interact with each other and how much they are alike in the products that they select in their videos.  Their channel can be found here.

Jaclyn Hill.

My final Youtuber is a woman called Jaclyn Hill.  I was recently introduced to her by one of my friends friend who raved about how good she was and how amazing her makeup collection is.  I love binge watching her videos and have a few products on my wish list which may make an appearance in my collection soon.  Her channel can be found here.

So that is my favourite YouTubers which I am obsessed with this year.  There are so many more that I love but that can be for another post.

Who are your favourites from this year?  Do you watch any of the ones listed above?

Bye for now.

Jess. X

Blogmas - Day Nine: How to study effectively

Hi guys.

I thought today I would share some tips for those who, like me, are in the middle of writing essays, revising for exams and all the other stuff that comes with uni/college/school.  I am by no means the brightest or the smartest person in the world or professes to be an expert on this subject.  Today's post is my tips and my ideas on how I study for my assignments.

Study timetable.

Now this for me is a hit or miss.  I have used this in the past and when I have made it work, it has made my life easier.  Everyone has a different technique on creating a study timetable but as long as you have set aside time to study then you can organise your time around your academic career.

Organise your time/life.

Again this comes down to using some form of timetable or diary.  I prefer to have a diary or planner for this as I can put all aspects of my life in it.  (I have just reviewed my current planner which I will link here)  Once you have organised your time/life, you can then see what time you have to study/socialise/sleep!  I also put in my planner my due dates for assignments so that I always know when they are due.

Know where you like to study.

Everyone has a certain place they like to study...whether it be in a place that is silent or with friends, the place which helps you best can help you gain the best results.  I tend to work best either in my kitchen or in the library.  I find that if I am in my room, I procrastinate so much!  

Know how you like to study.

There are so many ways to study.  You type in study tips on YouTube and so many videos pop up!  My way of studying is to write the whole sentence or paragraph down and then read back through it and highlight the key points I may need in my assignment.  Seriously...all my notes are covered in pink highlighter or red pen!  Some people may also like to use mind maps or cue cards but I only use them when doing presentations and I cannot get the hang of using mind maps!

Get your priorities straight.

So you have multiple deadlines which all seem to be in at the same time...so what can you do to make time to complete them all?  Well prioritise which ones you feel are more important/due first/take longer to do.  This year I have one assignment due first then two on the same day.  In my head I have prioritised my assignments and am completing them in that order e.g. I have a poster due on one day then an essay and a portfolio due on the same day, so I am completing the poster then doing my portfolio and leaving the essay till last as I know I can complete the other two fairly quickly.

Essentials.

There are many things that can make your life easier at uni and these are some of the essentials I use throughout my uni life.

1. Diary/planner

2. Notepads (I have about 10 so I don't run out!)

3. Lots and lots of pens!

4. Highlighters.

5. Cue cards.

6. Pencils (depending on what course/degree you are doing)

7. Ruler.

8. Text books (either bought or from your library)

9. Laptop.

10. Earphones.

Some of my essentials are obvious ones but still some people can forget them and struggle to complete work.

So these are some of my tips that are helping me through my second year at university.  Like I said above, I am not an expert at all but throughout my academic career I have adapted different study strategies to help me learn to the best of my abilities.  

All I can say it good luck with whatever you are doing through this academic year.

What are your tips to successful studying?  Is there any tips you use that you may want to share?

Bye for now.

Jess. X 

Blogmas - Day Eight: Red Lips for the Party Season

Hi guys.

Today's post is a bit of a different one.  I am going to show you three red lipsticks you can wear for this time of year.  Before I get into the post, I would like to say that I am not one to wear red lips though I am trying out different brands and formulas to see which suit me best.  I am only showing three as these are the three I have in my collection.  I will try my hardest to give my opinion as I have only worn two of them so far.

From L to R: Revlon Colourburst Matte Balm in Standout, Model Co Ultra Long-Lasting Lipstick in Smitten & Rimmel Apocalips in Big bang.

From Top to Bottom: Smitten, Standout & Big Bang

Model Co's Ultra Long-Lasting Lipstick in Smitten.

I have not long had this lipstick...in fact I only received this in my December Birchbox (linked here) yesterday so I haven't had the chance to wear it yet to see if it is long-lasting.  I swatched the colour on my hand and I am excited to see how it looks against my skin tone.  Smitten is a red with a slight berry colour to it.  I feel that it has a slight blue undertone too which I have been told will compliment my skin tone.  The scent of this lipstick is heavenly as it smells like vanilla!

Revlon's Colourburst Matte Balm in Standout.

This by far has to be the red lip I am loving as it is matte and I am into matte lips as well as ling lasting products.  I wore this on a night out once and it stayed on the whole night and didn't stain my lips.  Standout is a red and again, like Smitten, has a slight berry colour to it.  I can also see a hint of blue again in this lip product though it isn't as noticeable from a far.  The scent of the product is mint and I haven't noticed the scent lingering for long although it isn't an offensive mint scent.

Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquer in Big Bang

This is a liquid lipstick which is a true red colour.  It has a glossy look to it which depending on my mood, I can make work for me.  I have only used this once and didn't feel that it suited me at all.  I will try and work more with it once my confidence with red and bright colours' is here.  I am eager to try more from this range.  The scent of this is quite chemically but it isn't offensive and doesn't linger.

So there are my three red lip products for this years party season.  Like I said before, I am not confident with wearing red or bright lipsticks yet but I would like to try more colours' to see what is out there that will suit me.

What red or bright lips are you loving this season?  Any recommendations for me to try?

Bye for now.

Jess. X

Blogmas - Day Seven: December Birchbox

Hi guys.

Today's post is a bitter sweet one as it is my last Birchbox of this year.  I ordered a Birchbox back in November 2014 to try it out plus I had a code to get the box for about £7 so I jumped at the chance to use it and try out out because I had seen and heard a lot about it and I was intrigued to see what it was like.  I loved it so this January, I got a years subscription and I haven't regretted that decision.  I have tried and been introduced to a lot of new brands as well as brands I had tried before.  

This months Birchbox came in a small clutch bag which has glitter and green suede.  A very pretty bag and I may find some use for it as a makeup bag for travelling.  So inside the bag was some very exciting products.

The first item I got was The Ultimate Party Kit by Benefit - Puff Off! and They're Real Push-up Liner.  

Birchbox says: You'll find everything you need to perfect your peepers for party season inside this GORGEOUS kit!  Heading out? A slick of this jet-black liner will complete any makeup look in style.  The morning after?  Soothe tired eyes with the de-puffing formula.  I have always wanted to try this liner from benefit and getting a small sample of this made my day.  I am also wanting to find a good eye cream so if this is any good I may purchase the full size!

Full price: £41 for both products.

The next product I received is Model Co's Ultra Long-Lasting Lipstick in Smitten.  

Birchbox says: There's nothing worse than perfecting your party lip only to check all night for smudges.  Luckily, this hydrating, semi-matte formula provides nourishment and long-lasting colour - so you don't have to worry!  I am always on the hunt for a red lip that suits my skin tone and when I swatched this, it seemed to agree with my colouring.  I am looking forward to trying this colour out when I go out later this week.  

Full price: £15.50 for a set of 3

Next is Ciate London Paint Pot in Power Dressing.

Birchbox says: These iconic polishes are beloved for a reason - they're super-pigmented, ultra long-lasting and a cinch to apply!  For a pretty. party- ready mani, they can't be rivalled (and we'll have how-to's over at blog.birchbox.co.uk if you're in need of a little inspiration!)  This super cute little mini polish is a beautiful royal blue colour that I don't have in my collection of nail polishes so I am happy to receive this little cutie.

Full price: £9

Another product I received is the Balance Me Congested Skin Serum.

Birchbox says: Uh-oh - it's officially party season and you've woken up to an enormous breakout.  Don't panic!  This soothing serum blends chamomile, aloe vera and lavender to calm and restore skin's balance without drying it out.  I am prone to the odd spot here and there especially since I am at uni and I am under some stress so a spot treatment is always welcome in my collection.

Full price: £16

A body product this time and this is the Skin & Co Sicilian Body Gel.

Birchbox says: Packed with zesty ingredients sourced from Italy (we're talking Sicilian orange and olive extracts) it purifies and moisturises skin while transforming your morning shower into an aromatic haven.  This smells amazing and I cannot wait to start using this in the shower to cleanse my skin.

Full price: £15

The final product I received is Roloxin Lift Instant Skin Smoothing Masque.

Birchbox says: If you've got a big party coming up, or you just want to feel a little more skin confident, then this wrinkle-smoothing mask will be your new BBF.  It diminishes pore, firms the skin and boots radiance - for up to 24 hours after use!  I am not one for using masks but I really want to get into using them more.  I will try this next time I am feeling like a pamper night!

Full price: £79

So that is it for today's post and for my subscription of Birchbox.  I cannot believe it has been a full 12 months and countless products later and I have received my last one.  I have been loving it but now feel that a new subscription is in order.  

What did you receive this month?  Have you got any recommendations for a new box to try next year?

Bye for now.

Jess. X

Blogmas - Day Six: My Christmas wish list 2015

Hi guys.  

This weekend has been so busy for me so I haven't had time to do any make up product reviews.  I have however decided to show you what my Christmas wish list is for this year.  It isn't very big and I know I will be buying all these products with my own money at some point but nevertheless, this is my wish list for this Christmas.

1. A woolen Skirt. (I haven't decided where I am buying this from yet so I just chose this style to show what I wanted.

2. ASUS Transformer Book tablet with keyboard.

3. MAC Lipstick in Blankety.

4. MAC Mineralize Moisture SPF15 Foundation

5. Lorac Pro Palette

I don't really want much as being a uni student, I have to budget my money but out of these five products I will be definitely be getting the ASUS tablet and keyboard as I want something that I can carry around with me to uni while still having my laptop but not have the weight and bulk of my laptop.  I will still use my laptop when I am at home but to go to uni, my tablet will go everywhere with me especially since I am trying to keep on top of work and get a first classification on my degree.

What is on your Christmas wish list this year?  

Bye for now.

Jess. X

Blogmas - Day Five: My new personal planner

Hi guys.

I am all about being organised because of Uni and work and I decided a few years ago that I would try using a planner.  I have tried the bog standard basic diary's you can buy from places like ASDA and W H Smith's but they didn't seem to work for me.  I was watching Mikhila from Miss Budget Beauty and Diary of a Shopaholic (YouTube channels linked here and here) one day and she uploaded a video about this planner called a Filofax.  She also mentioned that there was this whole community dedicated to planners and Filofax's and I went on the hunt to binge watch a ton of videos.  

I soon found my perfect Filofax in April of this year and set to work setting it up to fit my needs and I got hooked!  I have since then seen another video where she mentioned she had a new planner and I had to see what it was.  It turned out to be a personal planner from the personal-planner company (link can be found here).  I have heard of this company before and wanted to purchase one but needs and finances meant that I couldn't purchase one.

Because the personal planner wasn't for me at that time, I set out to find my perfect Filofax and two Filofax's, three years and tons of YouTube videos later I had found my perfect Filofax, the Raspberry Finsbury.  I decorated it and put in tabs that I needed to organise my life and I was done.  

It was only when I got back to uni when I realised that my Filofax wasn't working as good as I hoped so that is when I went in search of the personal planner.  I had started to watch a lot of Erin Condren planner videos and that to me made me see that that planner is the one for me but being in the UK, Erin Condren planners aren't readily available so I decided to purchase the personal planner.  

With the personal planner you can customise it to your needs and wants.  Below I will show you pictures of how I have customised to fit my needs and explain what can be customised.

With the personal planner you can customise the front cover and choose what colour band and ruler you want.  You can also choose what to write on the front as well.

I just chose to have my name and this inspirational quote on the front that personal planner supplied for me.  The quote says 'Always remember your focus determines your reality'  I chose this as I thought it was fitting with what I was going to use this planner for and I liked the fonts and colour of the cover which choose the theme throughout the planner too. 

Inside the cover on the first page is a section where you can customise it to say what you need it to say.

I decided to put another quote which says ' If everyone is moving forward together, success takes care of itself.'   I thought this quote again was fitting as I see this quote more of an organisational quote to keep me organised.  I also have put my blog details such as my email address, blog web address etc just because I am using this a blog planner and I didn't want to put my address because I will be moving again next July and I didn't want a bit cross or scribble to make it look untidy.

You can also decide to whether you want a monthly spread at the start of every month.  I chose to have this as I can plan things that I know are definitely happening such as pay days and work hours.  You can choose not to have this and I love that the option is there.

After the monthly spread comes the weekly sheets and this is also customisable.  I chose my layout to be vertical as I mentioned above, my all time perfect planner is the Erin Condren planner and one day I will purchase one but for now this will do.  I have decided to show a blank page as I have yet to organise the space as efficiently as I would like because I would like to get stickers to make use of the space properly.   You can also choose when you want your planner to start.  I chose to start mine in November as I needed to use the planner now and not have to wait till January to use it.

At the bottom of the weekly layout there is space to customise and within this, you can chose whether you was lists, to-do's, lined space etc.  I chose  to have list, to-do and lined space so that I can write notes that may not go into a day column.  I like this feature because I don't have to use sticky notes as much and this will make the pages look neater.

The back pages can be customised as well.  I chose to have just lined paper at the back as that is what I thought I would use the most.  You also get a plastic top-loading wallet to put spare paper or stickers in.  (I do have a photo of this but I cannot for the life find it on my files.)

The personal planner A5 size cost me about £22 but the price can vary with accessories and size.  I really do recommend you check them out.

So that is it.  My personal planner.  I will do an update on this once I have got it set up in the way I truly want it to be.

What planners are you using this year?  Can anyone recommend some good planner sticker companies that will ship to the UK?  Have you tired this planner before?

Bye for now.

Jess.  X

Blogmas - Day Four: Songs I am currently loving.

As a uni student, I like to study to music and I thought that I would share some of my favourite songs that I have to stop myself from singing out loud in the library (doesn't stop me from having a little dance in the middle of library)

I have never done a post like this so it might be a little short on photos as I have 6 to list and I thought posting photos might be a bit too much.  I might put a little description as to why I like this currently.

My first song is from 1980 (a bit out of my time but hey, a girl has to like some 80's music).  Journey's Anyway You Want It.  Such a great, simple song.  I sort of have a small crush on Steve Perry, the lead singer who sings this originally and got the group to its current popular state.  I can't help listening to it and want to dance and sing it at the top of my lungs but most times, I am in the middle of the library and that would be a bit rude to the others to expose them to my terrible singing voice! 

Another song from the 1980's which was released in 1982 is Journey's Faithfully.  I am in a bit of a Journey mood recently and this song is a power ballad and I can't help singing it in my room and thinking about a couple of ex's that I was in love with and was faithful to.  

Now we are coming up to date with the next four songs all being released within the last couple of years.  

The first one is from one of my favourite movies this year.  Ellie Goulding's Love Me Like You Do from Fifty Shade of Grey.  I love this song because it represents the love between a man and a woman in an unconventional way.  I also love the way the director paired this song with my favourite part of the movie when she walks towards the helicopter. 

My next song is also off a movie that was very bittersweet in its release.  Wiz Khalif's See You Again Ft Charlie Puth.  This song is so sweet and the music video to this is so touching as one of the cast members, Paul Walker past away 2 years ago which he was filming before he died.  The music video is a tribute to him and although  I haven't seen many of his films, the way it was put together was very touching.

Another song that I am currently loving is Adele's Hello.  I am not normally an Adele fan but sometimes there is a song she releases and I love it and listen to it on repeat.

My final song I am currently loving is Justin Bieber's Sorry.  One of friends got me into this song and I can't stop listening to it.  It is such a feel good song and I can't help but dance to the beat and sing along to the lyrics.

So that is the six songs I am currently loving.  I dunno if I am going to make this a series that every month I list six songs I like that month.  If you want me to keep doing posts like this then let me know and I'll see how popular it is.

Bye for now.

Jess. X

Blogmas - Day Three: The Christmas Tag

I did a similar tag last year during Blogmas but this year I decided to do a different one courtesy of Beth from Miss Beauty Obsession (linked here).  I will also link my last Christmas Tag from last year here.

What is your favourite Christmas movie?

I have a few favourite Christmas movies; The Muppet's Christmas Carol, The Wizard of Oz and The Miracle on 34th Street.  I have done an in depth blogpost on my favourite Christmas movies which I will link here.

Do you open presents on Christmas Morning or Christmas Eve?
We have a tradition in my family to open one present on Christmas eve while in out new Christmas PJ's and open the rest on Christmas morning.

Do you have a favourite Christmas memory?

I don't really have a Christmas memory as for the last few years have been really good.  I guess if I had to choose one it would be spending time with family when I was a child.

What's your favourite festive food?

Christmas dinner hands down.  My flatmates and I recently had a flat Christmas dinner which went really well as some of my flat mates have never tried a British Christmas dinner and they enjoyed it so much.  I have some pictures on Intsagram (linked here)

What's been your favourite Christmas gift?

I would have to say my favourite Christmas gift has to be my Juicy Couture Viva la Juicy perfume which I got for my very first Christmas with my ex-boyfriend.

What's your favourite Christmas scent?

My favourite Christmas scent is anything with spiced apple and cinnamon as it reminds me of home when my mum would burn candles smelling of this as well as having air fresheners.  I always make sure I have a can of air freshener that has this scent every year so it reminds me of home.

Do you have a Christmas Eve Tradition?

Like I mentioned above our family tradition is to sit around and open one present while wearing our new PJ's  I try to keep this tradition even if I am not at home anymore.

What tops your tree?

At the moment I have a silver angel at the top of my tree.  I have had this for 5 years and it is still going strong.

As a child, what was the one (crazy, extravagant) gift you wanted but never got?

I honestly cannot remember.  It has been so long since I have looked through the Argos catalogue as a child and I guess if I looked through it now it would be completely different.

What do you think is the best part of Christmas?

The countdown and the excitement of knowing Christmas is coming closer.  This Christmas will be a bit different as I am staying at uni and working (sad I know but Christmas wont be the same this year).

So that is my tag for this year hope you enjoy reading my answers this year.  Please feel free to do this tag and I tag anyone who reads this and please go and check out Beth's blog, it is awesome.

Bye for now.
Jess. X 

Blogmas - Day Two: November Favourites'

Hi guys.

Its been a while since I did a favorites blogpost...in fact I have only ever done one favourites' post before and that was almost 12 months ago!  So as it is Blogmas and November has left us for another year I am going to show you what I have been loving for the month.

November was a big month for me trying what I already had as well as trying a couple of new products which I received from a few Birchboxes.

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish: Let me start by saying this product is amazing!  I cannot believe I have never thought of trying this.  I received this sample in a Birchbox earlier in the year and I have used this ever since.  I have two samples and am almost out of my second sample.  Safe to say I will be purchasing the full size soon as my skin has never looked better while using this.  It is a thick cream which when applied to the skin, makes my skin tingle due to the eucalyptus oil which smells like heaven in a bottle.  I just squeeze a bit onto my hands and rub it onto my skin and with the muslin cloth that came with it, I wipe it off with hot water and my skin feels refreshed and clean.  It does remove make up but I tend to use this once I have taken off my make up and any residual make up left comes off with it.  I will have to go to my local Boots soon and pick the full size up.  You can purchase this at Boots.

Bioderma: I have mentioned this in my skincare routine earlier this year (you can find that blogpost here)  and during November I have been using this almost every day and night as I find it cleanses my face beautifully and gets rid of make up and impurities without causing stinging to the eyes and face.  I am about half way through the bottle and will be repurchasing when it is nearly empty.  You can buy the 250ml bottle at Boots but I bought this through Amazon 

Parlor Smoothing Blowout Spray: I don't normally use a lot of products in my hair but as I received this sample in a Birchbox, I decided to try this out and boy am I impressed.  This product smells fantastic and smooths and give my hair a shiney finish. I don't exactly know where to purchase this but I'm sure you can purchase this at Birchbox. 

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation in 10 Beige: I have recently done a blogpost on this foundation which you can see here.  This foundation gives me a full coverage without it feeling and looking cakey.  The scent is pleasant and doesn't linger once applied.  You can purchase this at Boots or Debenhams.

Chanel LE BLANC DE CHANEL Multi-use Illuminating Base: This base is one of the best I have ever tried.  It is so silky to apply yet is quite a thick feeling (I know that sounds weird but it is the only way  I can describe it)  The scent is so nice, it smells kind of fruity.  It gives the skin a nice glow while priming the face.  You can either use it mixed into your foundation or alone under it.  I have only used it alone but I will have to try it mixed into my foundation,  You can also pick this up from Boots and Debenhams.

Nuxe Reve De Miel Ultra-Nourishing Lip Balm:  Again I have reviewed this on my blog which I will link here.  I have started using this more this month as my lips have become so dry and  I know that it helps with dry, cracked lips.  My lips are still dry but not as cracked and sore.  I think this has become my holy grail lip balm!  You can purchase this from Marks and Spencer's or SpaceNK.

Real Techniques Brushes:  I have only shown three of my Real Techniques brushes to show them in my favourites' post but I am loving the range as a whole.  They are soft yet stiff when it comes to applying make up to the face.  You can purchase them from Boots and Superdrug.

Superdrug Eyelash Curler: Lastly is a boring product but a useful one.  I have been trying to use eyelash curlers more often and I didn't want to spend a fortune on them if I didn't use them often enough so I bought these from Superdrug which you can purchase in store or online here.  They help curl my lashes especially my left eyelashes as they seem to be all over the place and mascara can't seem to straighten them up unless I have curled them before hand.

That's it for my favourites' this month.  I will be doing a December favourites' post instead of a yearly one as I cannot remember what I have been loving this year (I really need to write this down or do a regular favourites' post, which I will try to accomplish in 2016).

What have you been loving this month?  Any recommendations?

Bye for now.

Jess. X

Blogmas - Day One

Blogmas - Day One

I cannot believe my blog is now one year old! How time flies. I don't know as of yet what I want to do to celebrate this occasion but I will do something (ideas would be appreciated). I also can't believe that I have kept to my word of posting as regular as I can (I know I missed a few months due to a busy schedule but I will hopefully get this sorted out). 

As I enjoyed doing Blogmas last year, I have decided I am going to do this again. So as it is the 1st of December, I am going to kick this years Blogmas off with an update.  I know I have done a few recently but I have been MIA for a few weeks and it will be a catch up as well as a get to know me for my new followers. 

So as some may know, I'm Jess and I am a second year student at the University of Bradford studying Health, Wellbeing and Social Care.  Most of my life at the moment is uni work as well as my two part time jobs (one being a Student Ambassador for my faculty and the other and more frequent is crew member at Burger King). I spend most of my free time studying (boring I know but it's gotta be done). 

I created this blog a year ago today and have loved writing posts and reviewing products. I want to be more involved with my blog this next coming year and hopefully start a YouTube channel but that is only in the planning stages in my head and want to get into a regular routine with my blog. 

I recently became single and am starting to love the single life although I do miss being in a relationship.  I do have to say, I have had a lot of support through this.  Being in a relationship for three years is a long time and we both were serious throughout the duration of the relationship but things started to get a bit strained and we decided it was best to end it.  I was devastated but as time has gone on, I am slowly getting over it and getting on with my life.

I will be staying at uni for the Christmas holidays, working and finishing off assignments.  I am aiming to do well in my next two years of uni.  I cannot believe that I graduate in a year and a half.  Time is going by so fast.

What is going on in your lives?  Hope you all have a great Blogmas.  Let me know if you are participating in Blogmas and I'll have a look.

Bye for now.

Jess. X 

November Birchbox

Hi Guys.

It has been a while since I have posted a Birchbox blog post and even though I haven't posted one since the February/March Birchbox post, I still have been receiving them.  The only one I missed was the August box and that was some issues on receiving it from my end.

Anyway...this months Birchbox was a colab with a company called Skinny Dip who create quirky and cute accessories.  Sometime when Birchbox colab with companies, they let you choose your own samples or boxes, but this month subscribers could upgrade their box and get a phone case worth £12 for an extra £4 on top of your monthly subscription.  Skinny dip's website can be found here.http://www.skinnydiplondon.com/

The first product that I received was The Living Proof No Frizz Nourishing Styling Cream.

Birchbox says: Containing the brand's 'healthy hear molecule', OFPMA, this lotion creates a weightless shield that blocks humidity to leave hair smooth and sleek, whatever the weather.  I tend to have frizzy hair during the summer months so this product will have to wait until then...if the UK gets a hot summer next year.

Full price: £21

The second product is Lord & Berry Silhouette Neutral Lip Liner.

Birchbox says: Smudged lippie and wobbly lines will be a thing of the past with this neutral liner!  Apply it before sweeping on your favourite shade for a super precise lip with no unsightly bleeding.  The best part?  Its translucency means that you can use it with any and every shade of  of lipstick.  Mwah!  I am not a bit fan of lip liners just because I can never find the right shade for the lipstick I would be wearing so I am hoping this will save me from making a lip mistake and mismatching my liner to my lipstick.

Full price: £9

The next product is the Cowshed Cow Pat Hand Cream.

Birchbox says: This cheekily-named nourishing hand lotion is packed with rejuvenating essential oils - Grapefruit to uplift and Coriander to soothe - leaving skin moisturised and toned.  I have used this ever night since I received it and so far I am impressed.  My hands have been super soft considering the amount of hand washing I have to do at work and the weather changing to winter so it is a lot colder during the day and night and so far since using this, my hands haven't been dry or sore.

Full price: £8

This next product is Delarom Creme Acquaconfort.

Birchbox says: When your complexion feels a little sorry for itself, this rejuvenating cream uses almond, apricot oils and vitamin E to nourish and soothe dehydrated skin from first use - divine!  A brand I have never heard of.  My skin is not normally so dry it needs something like this but with the winter months coming I may have to bring this out and give it a try if my normal moisturiser doesn't cut it.

Full price: £34

The fifth product I received is Pure & Light Organic Revitalising Facial Exfoliation.

Birchbox says: An incredible 32 active ingredients, from arctic oat to antioxidant-packed berry-extracts, are packed into this gentle exfoliate that leaves skin smooth, radiant and glowing.  Exfoliation is one thing I need to start doing once a week but I have yet to find a good one to use so maybe Birchbox has helped me out with giving me this product.

Full price: £25

The final product is L. Erickson Grab & Go Ponytail Holder

Birchbox says: Whether you're sweeping hair off your face to apply make-up or just want to switch up your 'do halfway through the day, you'll never be caught short with this handy, metal-free hair-tie in your bag.  I have so many hair-ties that this wasn't really welcomed although it was nice to be given another one in case all mine snap or get lost and on the plus side, it is metal-free which tends to be the hair-ties I buy so who knows if this one will be the one I purchase from now on?

Full price: £11.50 for a set of 15

This months box has mixed reviews from me I think as some products I wouldn't normally use or think about purchasing so hopefully I will enjoy the products I wouldn't normally used or purchase.  I cannot believe that I have had my subscription for almost a year and I have to say I have enjoyed the wide range of products I have been introduced to and some have been good and some have been bad, some I have wanted to used and purchase for a long time and some I have been introduced to and been really impressed with.  

I do however think that I may try a different subscription box come January as well as  renew Birchbox and compare the difference between the two boxes .

Have you got any suggestions for a new subscription of beauty boxes?  What products have you been loving in your boxes this month? 

Bye for now.  

Jess. X

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation in 10 Beige

 Hi Guys.  I'm slowly getting back into writing blog posts.  They will still be slow at first but once I get back into a routine, you should see more coming out each week.

This post is all about foundation and the foundation I have been loving recently is the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation and the shade I wear is 10 Beige.  

This foundation is described as 'A fluid foundation that awakens tired skin.  its exceptionally fine, fresh and lightweight aqueous formula offers an incomparable "second skin" finish'

My thoughts on this foundation is that it has a sheer to medium coverage which gives me a dewy but not overly shiny finish, which lasts all day with no touch ups.  I don't find this foundation drying at all and that might be because is quite a watery base which helps moisturise the skin.  I find this foundation easy to use and blend out with my Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge.  I used the sponge dry as I find that using this foundation with a damp sponge ruins the finished look of the foundation.  I don't use any powder with this foundation because again, it ruins the finish of the foundation and makes it look cakey.  

This foundation also has an SPF of 15 in it so I don't have to worry about using an SPF underneath  (not that I need to worry about using one any way in the UK because we are going into the winter months now and as I am writing this, it is raining heavily)  And even though this foundation has that added SPF, it doesn't smell, in fact the smell is quite fresh and pleasent.

On the Boots website this retails for £32 pound but when I bought it back in January, it was £33 pound but I am sure it could be found cheaper elsewhere.  This foundation comes in only 7 shades which is quite a small selection.

What is your favourite foundation?  What is your go to way of applying foundation? 

Bye for now.

Jess. X

My Lip Balm Collection

Hi Guys.  It's been a while since I last did a post like this (I may be a bit rusty).  I thought today I would show you all my ever expanding lip balm collection.  I feel that I have a few different brands and some of them are my favourite lip balms.

From L-R: Nivea Pearly Shine, Nivea Fruity Shine in Peach, Nuxe Reve de Meil, EOS in Blueberry  Acai, Nivea Lip Butter in Coconut, Nivea Lip Butter in Vanilla Macadamia, Pixi by Petra Shea Butter Lip Balm in Ripe Raspberry, Nivea Lip Butter in Blueberry Blush, Nivea Lip Butter in Raspberry Rose, Nivea Sun Protect & Dove Shimmer lip balm.

Above is  my entire collection.  It is not the biggest or the fanciest but putting them all together shows that I like a certain brand.  Nivea for me is one of the best drugstore lip balms I have come across but the one that outshines them all is the Nuxe Reve de Meil (which I have a full review on here)

From L-R: Nivea Pearly Shine, Nivea Fruity Shine in Peach, Nivea Sun Protect, Dove Shimmer Lip Balm & Pixi Shea Butter Lip Balm in Ripe Raspberry. 

The stick lip balm are very handy when I am out and about and need some form of lip balm on so grabbing one of these out of my bag is great for on the go.  The Nivea Pearly Shine, Nivea Fruity Shine and the Pixi Shea Butter Lip Balm all have a slight tint to them so I use them if I want a wash of colour but don't want a full opaque lipstick.  The Nivea Sun Protect and the Dove Shimmer Lip Balm I only use during the summer months when I need that extra protection (Although I do only grab the Sun Protect lip balm mostly)

From L-R: Nivea Lip Butters in Coconut, Vanilla Macadamia, Blueberry Blush & Raspberry Rose.

As you can now tell, Nivea is my favourite brand of lip balm and when they released the lip butters, I was all over them.  As you can probably see from the photo that the Raspberry Rose and the Vanilla Macadamia are the most used ones as I have had them longer and I love the smell of them (in fact I love the smell of them all and don't have a particular favourite scent.)  The formulation of these are amazing...they aren't too greasy and they glide on like a dream.  They don't really have a tint to them although the raspberry one has a slight pale pink tint but it isn't really that noticeable.

Overall, like I said above my favourite lip balm has to be the Nuxe Reve de meil as this is the ultimate lip balm which saves my lips through the harshest winters.  

Which brand is your favourite?  Have you got a lip balm that you cannot live without?

Bye for now.

Jess. X

My Crazy Life-Update

Hi guys.

It has been far too long.  I am sorry that I just left and put this on a majorly long hiatus.  Life has just been so crazy plus the motivation has been on the slow side since I last posted.

So...since my last update and post for that matter (I had to go check to see what my last post was)...I have finished my first year of university with a 2:1 might I add :)  I also did a bit of voluntary work over the summer just to keep me busy which helped so much in the latter part of the holidays as me and my boyfriend broke up in September after 3 years together which was heart wrenching and I am still not 100% over it but I guess things take time and my family and friends where there to support me and distract me as well as my voluntary work.

Back at uni now and I feel that I am having a better uni life this year considering I have no time for my self.  So what has my life become as a second year?  Well first thing is I am so much more organised and my work isn't suffering (unless flatmates distract me or things from outside are loud), I am also a Student Ambassador for my faculty as well as a Student Representative for my degree and I have also gotten a part time job at Burger King which I started the other week.

I am so grateful with my life at the moment and I am hopefully going to post more often on here as my blogs 1st birthday is coming up at the beginning of next month and I need ideas on what to do for it.  So any ideas would be appreciated as I would like to do something for my readers.  Maybe a small giveaway?

I would also like to thank everyone who has waited patiently while I sorted my crazy life up.

How has you life been?  Any main events happened?

Bye for now.

Jess.  XX

Update

Hi guys.

Thanks for sticking around.  I am so sorry for not blogging in a while but uni life has gotten crazy.  Exam season is upon us and I am currently on a placement.  I will however, be posting a few in the near future and once uni has finished I will be posting more often.  So hang in there guys and we will get back on track.

I am so grateful for those who have stuck around and I am thinking of ways to give back to you.

If you have something you would like me to blog about please feel free to leave me a comment and I will try and make it happen.

What's happening in your life recently?

Bye for now.

Jess. XX

My Fragrance Collection

Everyone likes to smell nice but not everyone likes to smell the same.  There are many fragrances out in the shops whether it be a supermarket or a drugstore or a department store or even online to name a few, you can find something you like from there.  Now I am not saying I am a big expert on what to look for in a fragrance nor am I an expert when it comes to what notes are in perfumes so I have done a bit of research into my collection (which is not very big) and what notes are in what perfumes.

I don't profess to own a lot but what I do have is a modest collection.  I have decided to include a body spray as I have been using this one quite recently so I thought it was only best to include it.  I am going to review them in the order I got them.  

Some of these I bought with my own money and some where gifted to me as christmas presents or as a gift.

Charlie Red

This has to be the first scent I ever owned.  Back when I was in high school, I always remembered loving the Charlie body sprays and when a perfume came out, I was given it for Christmas and I was over the moon.  I wore it all the time.  Charlie red is a very sweet perfume yet has a floral scent as well.  Top notes include; Orange blossom, Gardenia, Plum, Black current, Violet and Peach.  Middle notes include; Carnation, Tuberose, Orchid, Jasmine, Ylang-Ylang, Lily of the Valley and Rose.  The base notes include; Honey, Sandalwood, Amber, Musk and Cedar.  

This perfume is one that I don't reach for as often as I have ones that I like better and I don't know if it would suit me as a 25 year old and for that reason, I tend to keep it for nostalgia reasons.

Benefit Laugh with me Lee Lee

This perfume also has a bit of a nostalgia for me as this is the very first 'proper' perfume I owned.  Way back when I was 19, I had mentioned to my ex that I wanted this perfume after smelling and testing it in a department store.  Little did I know, he bought it for me and I wore it non stop.  Laugh with me Lee Lee is a very floral yet has a sweet aspect to the scent.  The top notes are; Cassis, Melon and Citruses.  The middle notes include; Black violet, Lily and Jasmine.  The base notes include; Sandalwood, Amber and White wood.

I loved this perfume and am gutted that there is no more left and I am toying with the idea to repurchase it.  I have kept the bottle as I feel that it is a quirky, little bottle and it makes me smile looking at the dents and scuffs on the gold bits.  Me and my ex are still good friends so I feel I can't make myself throw it away, even if I got a new one.

Juicy Couture Viva la Juicy

This little bottle is in my collection all thanks to YouTube.  I cannot remember who raved about this back in 2012 but all I know was that I wanted it.  Back then I had to go to a specialist perfume shop to smell and test it but now I have seen it in Boots and Superdrug so it has become a popular brand.   This is the first perfume my current partner bought for me for Christmas and for two years, it would be my signature winter scent as well as the occasional going out scent.  I love it but I am having to limit the use of this as I am slowly running low on it.  The top notes are; Mandarin orange and Wild berries.  The middle notes include; Honeysuckle, Gardenia and Jasmine.  The base notes include; Amber, Caramel, Praline, Sandalwood and Vanilla.  

Michael Kors Glam Jasmine

I first saw this in a Boots store back in my home town and instantly fell in love.  I must have spent a whole semester thinking about how much I wanted this, reading reviews and testing it every time I went into the Boots near uni.  I just didn't know if I had the guts to purchase it myself and I needed something for my other half to buy me for Christmas so on the list it went and on Christmas morning, there is was.  I guess he liked the smell of it too as I know he would have chose something else if he didn't.  This fragrance is quite simple when it comes to the notes of it.  The notes include; White flowers, Jasmine, Cassis and Sandalwood.  

It is a very mature scent so I only ever wear it on special occasions as I feel that it can be overpowering as an everyday scent.

Ghost by Ghost

This was another scent I wanted quite recently and one that I got a good price on.  I have already done a review on this which will be linked here.

Ted Baker Regency House

This is the only body spray in the collection and I have added it into my collection as I have been using this a lot quite recently as it is always in my handbag and I love the smell at the moment.  I have also done a review on this which will be linked here.  It has also become my signature spring scent at the moment as it is quite a light scent. 

So there is my little, modest collection of fragrances.  I have my eye on one but am still toying with the idea to buy it as I haven't had the chance to smell it and I don't want to buy it without at least smelling and testing it first.  

What is your favourite scent at the moment?  Have you got any recommendations for new ones?

Bye for now.

Jess. X