My 21st Birthday Presents: The Lush Edition

As some of you may or may not know, it was my 21st birthday on Thursday. I cannot believe how old I am getting, the years really are flying by! I had such a wonderful day out with my parents and my boyfriend, (a lifestyle post of the day will be up soon,) and I got thoroughly spoilt by all of my friends & family presents wise too! They all know that I am absolutely addicted to anything Lush related, so naturally they all rushed out to get me some of their amazing gift sets! Of course, I got lots of other lovely presents which I will be sharing with you all at a later date but I thought that a peek at my new Lush stash would be a good place to start.

First up, one of my best friends Lucy decided to treat me to the 'Astronomical' gift box that is exclusive to Lush's new Oxford Street Store (how fancy!) I was so excited when I opened this up - I mean first and foremost, look how beautiful the packaging is! The box contains five brand new products; the Respect Your Elders Soap, Intergalactic Bath Bomb, Purple Fun, I Am A Radiant Being Luxury Bath Oil & The Comforter Shower Cream. I am super excited to test these out as not only is the bath bomb filled to the brim with glitter but the shower gel is based off of one of my favourite bubble bars! Lucy also threw in an extra Intergalactic bath bomb and the Godmother & Rock Star soap duo for good measure. This girl is just too good to me!

Next, my lovely boyfriend Kieran bought me the 'Happy Daze' gift set as one of my presents! He decided to get this set in particular as he knows that I love fruity scents the best - orange ones are specifically my weakness! This gorgeous set included; a mini Brightside Bubble Bar, Granny Takes A Dip Bath Bomb, Fizzbanger Bath Bomb and a mini Comforter Bubble Bar. I really excited to try out the two bombs in particular as I have surprisingly never had them before!

Last but certainly not least is the 'Rosie' gift box that my lovely friend Danielle bought for me! I have never tried ANY of Lush's rose-scented products before and so I am really look forward to putting them to the test. The five floral products in this set are as follows; Ro's Argan Body Conditioner, the Titsy Totsy Bath Bomb, an Amandopondo Bubble Bar, a Rose Jam Bubbleroon and a bottle of the Rose Jam shower gel to match.

It's safe to say that I am all set Lush wise for quite a while, doesn't it?! I am so thankful to have received these gifts and I am so excited to start using them. I might even review a few of them in the near future so be sure to look out for that! Also, a post showing the other gifts that I received for my 21st birthday will be up some time next week. I hope you all enjoyed seeing the presents that I got. Which product of the bunch is your favourite? Please let me know by leaving a comment down below!

Products That Make Me Feel More Confident

We all have those certain products in our stash that make us feel a lot more confident. I love to incorporate products into my beauty routine that make me feel well put together! Of course, it is very important to love yourself and your flaws underneath all of the cosmetics that we regularly layer onto our skin - but I am all about making myself feel prettier too! So today, I have decided to share with you the three products that I like to use when I feel like I need a little pick-me-up or if I just want to ooze confidence.

Fake tan
I'm sure that many of you would agree with me when I say that there's something about being bronzed and sunkissed that makes you feel so much better! I am still a beginner when it comes to self-tanning and so I usually opt for a lotion like Summer Body from Garnier. I love how it gives me a subtle tan without looking orange or streaky because as it is a lotion, it tends not to cling on to dry patches. Most people I know who use this product apply this using their fingers but I use a mitt for a beautifully even application!

Lipstick
I love a bold lip more than anything else! There's something about having a super colourful pout that makes me feel so much more confident...maybe it's because wearing a pillar-box red or a bright fuchsia is very daring! I also love long-lasting formulas such as the Rouge Edition Velvet range from Bourjois, as I feel even more confident when I know that my lip colour is locked in place and will not accidentally transfer onto my teeth or fade throughout the day.

Perfume
The last product that makes me feel confident is a good fragrance! A spritz of something nice will always uplift me and make me feel much more feminine. I have a few all time favourite perfumes in my collection including Rihanna's Reb'l Fleur, Marc Jacobs' Honey and this lovely scent from Vera Wang called Lovestruck Floral Rush. The light floral but fresh combination of passion flower and cashmere woods is perfect for everyday wear!

So, those are some of the products in my beauty stash that make me feel a lot more confident and comfortable in my own skin. Which products do you use to feel confident too? Please let me know by leaving a comment down below!

A Mini Revlon Haul

After saving up lots of Boots Advantage Card points over the past six months or so, I finally decided to bite the bullet and spend them whilst I was in store on Wednesday! I was planning on saving up a few more points so that I could purchase a more high-end item but it turns out that nothing was really catching my eye. Plus, I have already asked for some 'posh' make-up for my birthday (which is next week - yay!) So, with £17 worth of points to spend, I ended up perusing the aisles for quite a while until I stumbled upon the Revlon stand. Lots of items caught my eye and what with it being 3 for 2 on all of their products, I started swatching and putting things into my basket.

I have been wanting to get my hands on a few of the new Ultra HD Lipsticks (£7.99) for a while now and I decided to pick up the shades 'Orchid' and 'Hibiscus.' Orchid is a gorgeous bright fuchsia that packs a real punch and Hibiscus is a lovely orange/coral colour, which is perfect for this time of year. I have already tried these two out to test them and I love how they feel on the lips. They are so lightweight and feel more like a buttery balm than a lipstick! The fact that they are glossy rather than matte means that the lipsticks are not that long-lasting but they are beautiful nonetheless!

Most of the nail varnishes in my collection are red, pink and purple hues (apart from the odd nude or sparkly number,) so I wanted to pick up a blue shade that would be perfect for this summer. I have heard from countless bloggers that the ColorStay Gel Envy Nail Polish (£6.99) collection is really great, so I opted for the shade called 'Full House.' I am really excited to test this polish out as it is supposed to mimic real gel nails - aka super shiny and chip-resistant. 

Lastly, there was an amazing deal where if you purchased three items you would receive a Lash Potion Grow Luscious Mascara (worth £9.99) for free! I opted for the waterproof version as even though I hate how difficult they are to remove if you don't have an oil-based make-up remover or cleanser to hand, I know that waterproof formulas hold a curl incredibly well. I have very straight and fine eyelashes and even when I use eyelash curlers, they tend to drop pretty quickly. I'll be sure to give this mascara a try and report back soon!

So, those are the four Revlon products that I managed to pick up using my Boots points earlier in the week. Have you tried any of these products before? What make-up items have you hauled recently? Let me know by popping a comment in the box down below!

21 Things That I've Learnt In 21 Years

With it being my 21st birthday next week (god, I'm getting old!,) I wanted to post something a little different here on my blog. Of course, you are used to seeing the more superficial side of me - what with this being a predominantly beauty & fashion site - but I wanted to write something just a little more personal than usual. In my 21 years of my life so far, I have learnt a lot of valuable lessons that I think maybe rather helpful or relatable to some of you. So today, I decided to jot them down. I hope you enjoy them!

1. Good friends will always stick around. Even when you are all busy living your lives and growing up, you will come back together again and it will be as if nothing has changed.

2. Not everybody is going to like or understand you but it's okay because as long as you and your loved ones have accepted you, nobody else matters.

3. Do not follow the crowd or give in to peer pressure. Just because it seems like everybody else is doing something, it doesn't mean that you have to as well!

4. Being in love for the first time is worth waiting for. Don't worry if all of your friends have had boyfriends and have experienced those things before you. Your time will come and it will be worth waiting for!

5. Having an anxiety disorder does not mean that your life is over. You will still smile, be happy and have fun. The down days are only temporary and things will get better! 

6. Enjoy the little things! Sometimes we get so distracted by the bigger things going on that we forget to appreciate the simpler joys in life.

7. You can say 'no' to something if you want to! Sometimes its okay to be a little selfish and put what you want to do first.

8. When you're young and people tell you that school will be the best years of your life, they are right (regardless of how awful it seems at the time.) 

9. Your parents will always be your number one supporters, no matter how much your argue and disagree with each other!

10. Comparing yourself to others is never a healthy thing. It will only ever bring you down and damage your self-confidence and self-worth.

11. When something occurs that feels like its going to be the end of the world, it's not. In a few years time, you will look back on that situation and probably laugh about it. 

12. Do not put so much pressure on yourself. We are only human and we shouldn't be so quick to beat ourselves up.

13. Ask for help when you need it. Do not feel embarrass if you cannot accomplish something on your own, you don't need to be independent all of the time.

14. Put down your phone every now and again. Switching off and connecting with who you're with and your surroundings is such a lovely thing to do.

15. Having money is not the be all and end all. In the long run love, family & friends are way more valuable than the pennies in your pocket!

16. Success isn't necessarily determined by whether you are rich or have a good career. Success comes in many different forms.

17. What you may see as a flaw, others around you might find rather endearing. Embrace your uniqueness!

18. Change is inevitable, no matter how much you try and fight it. All you can do is try to adapt to a new situation the best that you can.

19. Compliments really can make somebody's entire day!

20. Be kind and respectful at all times. You never know what somebody is going through behind closed doors.

21. And lastly, BE YOURSELF!

I hope you all enjoyed reading about the 21 things that I have learnt so far before hitting the big 21 next Thursday! I know that this was a different post to the ones that you are used to from me but I really enjoyed being a little more creative and mixing it up a little! Please let me know if you think that I should create some more content like this in the future by leaving a comment down below. Also, don't forget to share some of the life lessons that you have learnt too!

Nourishing My Skin With Nivea

Over the past couple of weeks, my skin has really been suffering! I have had bouts of horrible dry patches, as well as my skin being more sensitive than usual. So, I wanted to pick up an affordable yet effective product to battle all of my current skincare woes. For an extremely reasonable £4.49, I opted for Nivea's Daily Essentials Sensitive Night Cream after browsing through what the budget-friendly brands were offering in my local Boots store. Having used the day version of this moisturiser in the past, I knew that it would probably be just as effective but its actually even better than I imagined!

The main things that Nivea's sensitive range helps to aid are redness, tightness and dryness. Its mild pH-neutral formula is free from all of the nasties (parabens, colouring and perfumes) that you might find in other moisturisers that are not specifically formulated for those whose skin is easily irritated. After reading up more about this lotion, I discovered that two of its main ingredients are licorice extract - which is a fantastic anti-inflammatory - and grape seed oil. Some of the other claims that Nivea listed are that this night cream calms your skin, provides intensive moisture and helps strengthen your skins barrier.

I can honestly say that even though I haven't been using this moisturiser for too long, my skin has already improved and my dry patches are definitely on the mend! Normally, I am not a big fan of night creams because they are so rich that it takes what seems like forever for them to sink in. However, the consistency of this night cream is perfect! It's a lovely consistency and it penetrates and seeps into my skin in a matter of minutes. Even after a couple of nights, my skin felt replenished and really supple. I would highly recommend this moisturiser to anybody who suffers with sensitive skin, whether it be mild like mine or more severe, as it really has worked wonders. Plus, for under a £5, its worth a try right?!

MAC Lipsticks To Add To My Collection

Being a drugstore girl at heart (begrudgingly because I don't have a huge budget,) I only have a few MAC lipsticks as, of course, they are rather pricey compared to the likes of Rimmel or Maybelline! However, I am really interested in adding to my collection in the next up and coming months. My birthday is on the 28th, so hopefully I'll get some extra money to spend rather soon! So far, I own three MAC lipsticks; Crosswires, Plumful and Velvet Teddy. When it comes to make-up, lip products are my ultimate weakness so in my eyes I can never have enough. I want my stash to just keep on growing!

Therefore, today, I wanted to share with you all of the MAC lipsticks that I am dying to add to my collection. Let's get started!

Ruby Woo - a matte vivid blue-red
Chatterbox - a bright red-pink
Sea Sheer - a grapefruit pink
Rebel - a midtonal cream plum
Show Orchid - a very hot pink
Midimauve - a rosy pearly mauve
Sweet & Sour - a soft peach cream
Candy Yum-Yum - a neon pink
Taupe - a muted reddish taupe brown

As you can see, I have got quite the wishlist! I'm hoping that I'll be able to get my hands on all of these shades over time, so then I can eventually do an updated blog post showing my selection! Which MAC lipsticks do you own? Which shades are you currently lusting after? I would love to hear your recommendations on what shades are worth the money, so please let me know by leaving your comment down below!

My Sephora Wishlist: Eyes

Hi guys, welcome back to the second installation of my Sephora Wishlist series! In case you didn't catch the first one, which was all about lip products, you can read it right here. The main reason that I started this brand spanking new series was to share with all of you some of my most coveted products. Living in the UK means that I do not have access to a Sephora store unless I want to pay an extortionate price to get items shipped over (which is something that I don't want to do!) Anyhow, onto today's post, I have put together a wishlist all to do with eye make-up. From palette to mascara to liner, there's a real mixed bag here!

Here are links to all of the items in this weeks wishlist:

Hourglass Modernist Eyeshadow Palette / NARS Soft Touch Shadow Pencil / Urban Decay Heavy Metal Liner / Givenchy Ombre Couture Cream Eyeshadow / Sephora Colourful Duo Reflects Eyeshadow / Marc Jacobs Style Eye-Con Eyeshadow / Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara / Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Mascara / Stila Eyes Are The Window Palette]

I hope you all enjoyed the second part of my Sephora series. Which products have caught your eye? What is your current favourite eye look? Please let me know by leaving a comment down below!

Loving Lately: YouTubers

I'm sure that many of you are just as addicted to all things YouTube as I am, especially when it comes to watching beauty channels! I can safely say that I am obsessed with watching these types of videos for hours on end - I just cannot get enough of them! In fact, one of the main reasons that I got into blogging in the first place is down to solidifying my love for make-up by watching lots of these lovely ladies online. Since this became my hobby a few years ago, my knowledge has widened dramatically and so has the amount of channels and beauty gurus that I watch. So today, I have decided to share with you a few of the YouTubers that I have really been enjoying watching lately. 

Kathleenlights
First up is Kathleen, whom I only started watching a couple of weeks ago (much to my dismay!) I first found out about her by hearing about her collaboration with Color Pop Cosmetics through over YouTubers and I'm so glad that I decided to hop over to her channel. Not only does she do amazing tutorials but I love her personality, I think that she is super down-to-earth and relatable. She is a must watch!

Jaclyn Hill
Next is Jaclyn Hill, whom I have also only been following for a little while - possibly a month or two. I love her channel as her personal style is really glamorous and that also reflects in her make-up tutorials too. She always looks flawless! Her sense of humour and sassy attitude also make her so fun to watch, she is definitely contagious!

Aspyn Ovard
I have been watching Aspyn (aka HauteBrilliance) for a long time now but I have found myself enjoying her videos a lot more lately. She has really upped her game in terms of how she puts together and edits her videos - they are bright, colourful and very Tumblr-esque! Plus I love seeing videos including her boyfriend Parker, their relationship ridiculously cute.

Mirella Belle
The last YouTuber that I have been thoroughly enjoying watching is Mirella. The main reason why I love her channel is that she gives really honest reviews when it comes to products. I also like how her tutorials are quite creative and she uses a lot of colour, which is very refreshing as a lot of people tend to stick to more neutral and wearable looks. Her channel is fun, young and definitely worth a watch!

So those are the four YouTubers that I am loving lately. Do you watch any of these gorgeous ladies? Who are your favourite beauty gurus? Also, please let me know if you would like to see more 'Loving Lately' posts, as I am thinking about making it into a new series here on my blog!

My Monthly Favourites - April 2015

I was surprised to see that I hadn't done a monthly favourites in a while, so I thought that it was only right that I got back on track! I have been loving a bunch of products this month but I finally managed to whittle it down to these fab four. During April, not only have I discovered new products that work really well for me but I also dug out one or two older products in my stash too. So if you want to know all about these beauty marvels, keep reading!

Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Kiss Me Coral
I bought this lip gloss around this time last year and unfortunately, I soon forgot about it... until now that is! Now that spring is in full swing, I am really enjoying wearing coral colours on my lips once again (this and MAC's 'Crosswires' are my two faves!) The main reason that I love this gloss is due to its formulation. It glides on like a dream but more importantly, it is not sticky in the slightest. Sticky and gloopy glosses are just the worst! I also love how it gives a high-shine finish to my pout, as there are little flecks of gold glitter running through it too. This is a must buy drugstore lip product for the upcoming season!

Benefit High Beam
I've had this mini High Beam after receiving it in one of Benefit's beauty kits for my 20th birthday. I used to only use this product on special occasions and nights out on the town, however, recently I have been reaching for it on an everyday basis. I love how well it highlights both the tops of my cheekbones and brow bone perfectly! The pearly-coloured liquid formula blends like a dream and a little goes a long way. It adds a gorgeous glow to my skin and I will certainly be buying the full-size version when this one runs out.

MAC Velvet Teddy Lipstick
After lusting after it for quite a while, I finally got my hands on this infamous lipstick and I love it! Velvet Teddy somehow looks different on everybody depending on their skin tones but on me, its a very true brown nude with the slightest pink undertone. I had never tried any of MAC's matte formulation before and I was expecting it to be very drying but surprisingly, it wears very comfortably on my lips!

The Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter
Lastly is this wonderful cleanser that I picked up on my latest beauty haul (read here.) I was originally going into The Body Shop to re-purchase the popular cleansing oil but I decided to switch it up and go for the cleansing butter instead. I love the feel of this product and how it turns into an silky oil as you massage it into your skin. It's great as part of a double cleanse to remove any remaining scraps of make-up! It leaves my skin feeling really smooth and nourished at the end of a long day, plus the camomile calms my skin down too.

So, those are my four monthly favourites from throughout April. I am very excited to now be entering into May as it's officially my birthday month (woo!) Therefore, I am sure that I will have lots of brand spanking new favourites to come. What have been your favourite beauty products lately? What are you looking forward to this month? Let me know by jotting down a comment below!