Elle & Benefits Pore-fessional | Review

Recently, I've been investing into the wonderful world of  'Elle'. If you're unaware of what this is, it's a big bulky magazine filled with makeup tips, fashion tips and ideas, lifestyle ideas, celebrity gossip and fashion, and of course, you can't forget the samples and incentives that come with it. Today, I picked up mine with a picture of the beautiful Amanda Seyfried on the cover, and the incentive was the Benefits 'pore-fessional' cream. Although this is a very small sample, I have a feeling that it could last for quite a while as a tiny bit goes a long way.

This cream can be used for minimizing the appearance of pores, and also keeping makeup on your face so it doesn't slide off. When on your face, the mixture does feel a bit greasy at first, but doesn't look it at all, and it fades quite quickly. If you wanted, you could use this on top of makeup, by simply patting it in, but the idea is to put it on BEFORE your makeup so it lasts longer and so the pores are reduced as possible. 

As i said, the mixture feels quite greasy, but it doesn't look it. When you first squeeze out the mixture on the fingers, it just looks like a simple tinted moisturizer, that you could apply anywhere. It blends well with any skin tone, and only takes less than 10 seconds to apply, and this is done by using finger tips or a small brush. There's no smell to this product (Not that you would consider the smell when buying a pore minimizer) but over all, i would say that this is a really good product to try or buy, and it does work at reducing pores! The magazine this came with was £4.00, whereas the cream on its own would have been £8.00, so it was a really big bargain! 

TQ xo

April Favourites

So now it has turned May, not only does it mean that summer is getting closer, but it also means that it is time for my April Favorites! These are the things I've been loving, using buying or loving all through the month, and I highly recommend any of these products! Enjoyyyy!

So because the weather is getting warmer, this can sometimes mean your makeup doesn't do its job. I find that now the sun has come out, it is time for my Collection Concealer to go back into the makeup drawer for a while, because i just find that it's now too cakey and thick, so I have moved back to my old favourite, my Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer. This is a popular one, i think because its so easy to blend and isn't as heavy as the others, so its perfect for the sunny days. 

Next is this brush. I did a tinnnyy review about this, which you can find here, and I brought it from eBay for £4, which in my opinion, is a bargain. I use this brush to blend in my concealer and foundation (not using it for its actual purpose) and it's super soft and comes in a pretty blue colour. I think this brush is a lot like the Real Techniques brush but just in a different colour, so if you can find this, i suggest you try it!

Next up is this Barry M Flawless Matte Finish foundation. This is a very light foundation which is good if you have greasy skin or just patches. It goes on very well, and had good coverage. I found this at the back of my drawer as i didn't like it when i first got it, but i rediscovered it and now i'm in love.

This is just a simple Coconut Body Butter that i got from a shop called 'Body Care' which is a very cheap drugstore type shop, and this was £2, so a bargain, and it smells and feels amazing.

This is another product from Body Care, and they're the 'Goody Ouchless Elastics'. These were 75p for 52, and they're really good for fishtails or braids so you don't have to see a big bobble at the end. Also, they slide out really easily, but manage to stay in all day, so highly recommend those.

And finally is this perfume that I've been loving so much. This is by DKNY and is called 'Be Delicious', and it comes in the shape of an apple. You can't really describe the smell, but it's really nice and sharp, and has a tint of fruit. This wasn't cheap, but it was quite worth it; plus is also lasts quite a long time.

So they're my April Favourites, i'll be doing a May favourites at the end of this month, and i hope you enjoyed it! Byee!

TQ xo

Everyday Neutral Makeup Look

I wouldn't be a good blogger if I didn't let you in to the secret of what my everyday makeup consists of, so this is what I'm attempting today. 'Attempting', because I cannot do pictures because 

1. My camera has decided to run out of batteries and they take 24 hours to re-charge, and

2. I have hay fever, which means my nose is probably as red as Rudolph's.

So for this post, there will be no pictures. However I'll leave the links below so you can go and check out the many items I am going to tell you about. 

I first apply a small splodge of Barry M Flawless Matte Finish Oil Free Foundation, and I tend to put this around my under eye, and my T Zone, and anywhere i have a spot, just so they'res a base layer when it comes to applying the concealer. 

I then apply my concealer. At the moment, I'm using the Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer instead of my collection one, because its getting a bit warmer, and i find that it makes my skin look a little too cakey, where as this one is much lighter and easier to apply, and has a tint of shimmer to make it look more natural. I put this underneath my eyes, on any spots or pimples, and on any discolourations that may have occurred onto my face, and blend.

I will then add my Rimmel Stay Matte Powder all over my face to make sure nothing is shiny or... non-mattey. 

Next, I add my Rimmel Cream Blush, which i couldn't find a link for because I have no clue where it's from, and its quite old, so I've copied a more modern version here. I find that cream blush stays on a lot longer than powder, especially in the warmer weathers. Plus its easy to apply, which is quite a large bonus. 

After the powder being dragged all over your face, I often find that my eyelashes look around the same colour as my skin. So before i apply my Collection 2000 Longer Lashes mascara (which I don't think they sell anymore- sorry!), i curl my lashes to make them longer and more bold.

This next step is 100% optional, but i sometimes find that it adds much more definition to your eyes. So this is the point where i tend to use my Collection 2000 Eye Shadow Trio (which again, they no longer sell), and this was just 3 basic colours to help beginners achieve a smokey eye, so all you need is just 2 neutral shades, one darker than the other. (I WILL be doing a tutorial on trying a smokey eye, so keep a look out!)

As my eyebrows are very light naturally, you can't really tell if they've faded during the powder process or not, so I tend to leave those and move straight onto the lips. I either use Burts Bee's lip balm, or my Baby Lips in the flavour Peach Kiss, which is quite a light, pleasant colour and taste:)

So that is my 'Everyday Makeup Look' with half of the products listed (Sorry if I couldn't link them!) Hope you enjoyed, and I'll write again soon! Byeee!

TQ xo

TMI Tag!

Reading the title, you may be groaning in disgust as i haven't posted in a long time (if you think 3 days is forever, I'm fully with you) and because this tag isn't really beauty based, maybe around 99.2% of you will have stopped reading, clicked off my blog, and are waiting until i can do a beauty post. If you are, that's fine- a beauty post is scheduled for either tonight or tomorrow, so please don't completely block me out your life.

But until then, I would like to introduce you to the TMI Tag! (For those of you that don't know, TMI stands for 'Too Much Information'). I've seen this video quite alot on YouTube, so decided i would do a bloggy version :) Hereee Weeeee Goooooo!

1: What are you wearing?

Currently i am wearing a black floral top from Primark, and some leggings from International..?(Think that's what the shop's called).

2: Ever been in love?

If you count being in love with Alfie Deyes, then yes.

3: Ever had a terrible breakup?

Nope

4: How tall are you?

5'4

5: How much do you weigh?

Enough...

6: Any tattoos?

No, I don't really like tattoos

7: Any piercings?

I have my ear lobes pierced but i would quite like my belly button pierced.

8: OTP?(One true pairing- a couple you ship the most)

Spoby or TROYLER!

9: Favorite show?

Pretty Little Liars and Teen Wolf, quite getting into Gossip Girl too.

10: Favorite bands?

Don't really listen to any bands.

11: Something you miss? .

Pretty Little Liars... 42 days to go!

12: Favorite song?

Slow Down, Selena Gomez

13: How old are you?

Old enough

14: Zodiac sign?

Libra

15: Quality you look for in a partner?

Funny, small (i prefer smaller people to taller people... don't know why), smells good

16: Favorite Quote?

'Happiness is like Jam. You can't spread even a little without getting some on yourself'

17: Favorite actor?

Patrick  Swayze

18: Favorite color?

Purple

19: Loud music or soft?

Soft when I'm in an emotional mood, but any other mood, you could switch on any kind of music and I would find a way to dance to it.

20: Where do you go when you’re sad?

My bed.

21: How long does it take you to shower?

Around half an hour!!

22: How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?

Half an hour

23: Ever been in a physical fight?

Nope

24: Turn on?

Small

25: Turn off?

When they walk with their hands down their pants, kiindd of makes me want to puke.

26: The reason I joined Youtube?

Well I can't exactly say I've officially joined it when I have a channel with no videos

27: Fears?

Lullabies and Miss Piggy

28: Last thing that made you cry?

At 'The Notebook'. Don't even know why.

29: Last time you said you loved someone?

Just shouted my mother and told her I loved her, so my mum:)

30: Meaning behind your YouTube Name?

It's my name

31: Last book you read?

The 13 Curses

32: The book you’re currently reading?

None just yet

33: Last show you watched?

Gossip Girl

34: Last person you talked to?

My mum when i told her i loved her

35: The relationship between you and the person you last texted?

Best Friends

36: Favorite food?

Crab Sticks and Prawns

37: Place you want to visit?

Australia

38: Last place you were?

School:(!!!

39: Do you have a crush?

ALFIE DEYES

40: Last time you kissed someone?

I honestly cannot remember.

41: Last time you were insulted?

One of my friends walked up to me and said 'You're looking like an octopus today'.

42: Favorite flavor of sweet?

Orange

43: What instruments do you play??

Piano/Keyboard and a tinnyyy bit of violin

44: Favorite piece of jewelery?

Don't really wear jewelry!

45: Last sport you played?

Tennis! I always win;)

46: Last song you sang?

Slow Down, Selena Gomez

47: Favorite chat up line?

'On a scale of 1 to 10, you're a 9 & I'm the 1 you need'

48: Have you ever used it?

Nope, and probably never will

49: Last time you hung out with anyone?

Less than 2 hours ago when I met at my friends after school

50: Who should answer these questions next?

If you're reading this, and you own a blog, I NOMINATE YOU:)

2014 Ambitions

I know some of you might think this is a little late and overdue... as its April and I'm talking about what i want to achieve in 2014. But I wanted to do a little bit of a 'To Do' list for the next 8 months of 2014, so I can look back and see if I've achieved any of my goals. Some of these have already been achieved or started, but that doesn't mean I don't want to improve, which i hope to do.

♣ Be more adventurous with clothes.

I've been wanting to do this for a loong time, as i practically LIVE in hoodies and leggings, as I prefer looking relaxed. I've never really enjoyed wearing jeans or shorts, but I think if i start, i might train my brain to like the and start wearing different things a bit more. I need to step away from the baggy things, and try wearing a normal shirt instead of a massive hoodie or jersey.

♣Continue with Pilates. 

'Continue' being the key word, as i started but had to stop because i pulled muscles in both my legs and currently can't move, nor do i have a knee because they're that swollen. So maybe in a few days, i can carry on, and become a little more toned and healthy. I've heard great things about Pilates, so I'm excited to see what could happen! (if i stick to it!)

♣Don't worry as much

It might not seem like it but I'm a massive worrier about everything. I can sit up at night worrying about something i said, in case they took it the wrong way. If you do this as well, we need to stop. As I've realized, the things you worry about will NOT worry you in 3 years. We all need to learn how to relax and realize that 99.8% of the problems you're worrying about will be forgotten, or solved, or maybe not even that important. 

♣Smile more.

Sometimes I'm quite a smiley person, but sometimes i can hiss at the sight of sunlight. I'd quite like to be a more cheerful and bubbley person, instead of feeling like a vampire and not wanting to go out in sunlight.

♣Get a hobby

This is something that i need to do, because i don't think reciting the words of Dirty Dancing could be classed as a hobby. I would reallyyy like to start playing volleyball, or maybe start a dance class of some sort... but i can't really see that happening. 

♣Be a bit more healthy

I'm not saying i'm going to cut out all unhealthy food, but i would like to start eating clean to maybe help my skin, and to detox my body. I'd also like to drink quite a lot of water, to. 

♣Stop drinking so much coffee.

At the minute, I'm currently drinking my 4th coffee of the day, and, especially as i have retainers, this is NOT good for my teeth. I think I might substitute this with water, wow, my skin would be as clear as a summers sky!!

So there are 7 things i want to achieve by the time its 2015, and hopefully I'll remember to do a post about them on the last day of 2014 on whether i've achieved them or not. If you have any new years resolutions that you're still following, congratulations! 

TQ xo

10 Beauty Uses for Cotton Buds!

For years, I have been hoarding this massive secret that no one else has ever known before- i have a BIG obsession with cotton buds. Not sure why, but i just find them so useful, because, ya know... you never can tell when you're gonna' need a cotton bud. So I've put together some little hints and tips for all the other cotton buds/q-tip obsessers like me, but for the rest that aren't that weird, I hope this inspires you to buy and try!

1. Fix your eye makeup. If you dab one of these in makeup remover, you can get rid of smudges and uneven cat eyes (I'm fully aware that this is one of the worst things ever) and it's just much more quicker than having to do it all over again.
2. Use them instead of eyeshadow brushes. I'm at least 98.3% sure that buying cotton buds would be alot easier than buying new makeup brushes, then having to buy more when those ones break or get too dirty. I picked up 200 for 59p. That's 400 eyeshadow appliers (if you use both sides) that will last you a whole lot longer, and for cheaper. 
3. Whiten nails. Dip the cotton bud into a solution of one-part hydrogen peroxide and one-part baking soda, and rub onto the nails, and rinse after 3 minutes, and you have nice, clean looking nails!
4. Control your eyebrows! Not everyone has time to pluck their eyebrows in the morning, so if you get a stray hair, just dip into a petroleum jelly and run along the edge of the brows. This may need doing again later in the day, so maybe get a portable pot of cotton buds?... (Do they even exist??? If not, that is my mission. To make a portable pot of cotton buds.)
5. If you're dying hair, and you manage to get in on your forehead or ear or anywhere else, a cotton bud can easily clean it up and go straight in the bin afterwards.
6. Instead of using hands, use one to moisturize your face. This could be a little time consuming if your face isn't the same size as the bud, but its much more hygienic and quite fun:)
7. This is quite a weird one. But if your roots are showing, dip one into eyeshadow that is the same colour as your hair, and apply for a temporary hair dye. 
8. Create fuller lips by dabbing in a shimmering eyeshadow and applying it to the outside of your lips to add volume. 
9. Hide stretchmarks by dipping one in tanning lotion and covering the area.
10. Keep nail polish bottles fresh and clean, by dipping in vegetable oil and applying to the rim of your nail polish to stop it from sealing shut. 

So now I've expressed my love for cotton buds and 10 ways that you too can express your love for cotton buds, i hope you go down to your nearest shop and purchase 3 boxes in a row, just like i did. It gives you a lovely buzz, you should try it!!

TQ xo   

A Voluminous Ponytail | Tutorial

It's nice to add some extra volume to a normal ponytail just to liven it up and give it some texture. Methods used can range from teasing to simply tipping your head upside down, but as you know, some do damage hair more than others. So i thought i would be a good person and do the a tutorial for the 2 examples I've just given, so whether you would rather tease or tip, you can do it your way! Enjoyyyyy.

Teasing

You Will Need:

• A hair brush
• A teasing comb
• Hairspray
• A hair tie
• Hair grips
• Texturising spray (optional)
• A scrunchy or hair bow clip (optional)

1.      Thoroughly brush though your hair so you don't get any nasty tangles and knots. 

2.      Use your finger or the end of a tail comb to separate a part of hair at the top of your head, and lightly spray hairspray at the back of the part.

3.      Use your comb to lightly or roughly tease your hair, depending on how volumized you want your hair to be.

4.      If needed, tease around the sides of your head if you want a more natural style. Brush down all the hair so the teased parts are even and all level with each other.

5.      If needed, you can grip the teased parts down to your head before doing the ponytail so they stay put.

6.      Its now time to gather up all the hair and tie it up! 

7.      Once you have your ponytail, you can pull bits out from the side to frame your face, and pull bits out until you're happy with it. 

8.       Take the pony tail and spray some texturising spray, then scrunch. This will make your hair look more voluminous.

9.      If wanted, add a scrunchy to cover the hair tie or hair grips, or a clip in bow at the base of the hair tie.

ALL DONE:)

Tipping

You Will Need:

• Hair tie
• Hair spray (optional)
• Hair Grips (optional)
• Texturising Spray(optional)
• Accessories (optional)

1.      Brush you hair all out, no tangles or knots.

2.      Tip your head upside down and gather up all your hair into a ponytail. This should naturally give it some volume. 

3.      Bring your head back up and make some adjustments if needed e.g. pulling bits out, gripping bits together.

4.      When you're happy with your pony tail, add hairspray to avoid any fly away's, and if wanted, some accessories like the last style.

If you want to know how to get volume to everyday hair, you can click on a previous case here, and i hope i helped and you enjoyed these tutorials!! Byee!

TQ xo