Sighh Designs

Polly Vadasz. Her designs, and the products created from such, are everywhere right now. A quick search of her shop, Sighh Designs, on Twitter or Instagram will give you the same eyes as that love heart eyed emoji. <3

As you will know if you're up to date, she has recently brought out a premium case design which is a major upgrade from the original slimline cases she stocks (which are still totally awesome). Sooooo, I thought I'd give a run down of the differences between the two from a customers perspective, a customer who shops on a budget but still like to treat herself too! 

So first, heads up, the premium cases are £4 more expensive at £18 but I think the extra is well worth it! (and just think, it's less than a fast food lunch, blessing in disguise??) Also, most good quality high street phone cases such as Skinny Dip, retail at at least £20 so just think that you're getting a hand drawn, made with love, case for less money! 

The Premium cases have a glossy finished compared to the sprayed on alternative and by jove does it make the colours pop and look fabulous darling. The glossy finish is also so nice to hold in your hand cause it's so smoothy smooth and good quality. The glossy finish also means the case is super easy to wipe clean with a damp cloth so it shouldn't stain or become faded over time. 

The case is also a little more bulky which I like as because I have an iPhone 6 which I protect with my life and soul, I want it to look fabulous but also stay protected. The thickness also means that there is no way that the case is gonna fall off or crack easily so you know your phone is safe. 

So I think from that it's clear that I'm a big fan of the new cases, her designs, and overall persona, so if you haven't already checked her out then please do. Her shop link is here, blog link here, twitter here, and instagram here.

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The Everyday, Working Girl Face

BASE:

Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation in 'True Ivory;

Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealor under the eyes in 'Ivory'

Seventeen Phwoarr Paint in 'fair' for pinpoint concealing

Bourjois Aqua Blush 'Cocori Coral' pushed onto the apples of the cheeks with my fingers

Kiko Radiant Touch Highlighter (the rose one, there's no name!) on the high points of the face

BROWS:

Maybelline Brow Drama in 'medium brown' to get all the hairs going in the right direction and keep them put all day

Soap and Glory Brow Archery (I only use the tint side) in 'brownie points' to define the outer 2/3 of my brows, I tend the leave the insides with just the brow gel

EYES:

MAC paint pot in 'painterly' to prime my lids and even the skin tone

Kiko Longlasting Eyeshadow stick in 'Golden Taupe'

MAC 'Mulch' eyeshadow to intensify the shadow stick and set it

Seventeen Waterproof mascara 

LIPS:

MAC lipstick in 'Faux' - my current everyday favourite!

This looks like a lot but honestly, it takes me about 10 minutes and looks like you've made a lot more effort! 

x

Sunday Musings: Flat Decor

With my move in being only 23 days away (not that I'm counting) (or that I have a countdown app on my phone), I can't help my mind but wander to all this decor, home ware, and ways to transform my student studio flat into a lovely space for me to feel at home in for the next year. I already adore pinterest but I am constantly scrolling through beautiful pictures, articles, and inspiration for all things homey.

One thing I really need to be organised and tidy is my desk so I have an entire pinterest board titled 'Bonjour Desk Inspiration' (can you tell I have a theme with my usernames, blog name, everything really...).

found on burkatron.com

How beautiful is this setup?! I adore the DIY mesh notice board, it's something super simple to make and is super effective, not only in being very useful, but also by looking so chic. I'm an avid lover of Caroline's blog, especially her DIY's which are always so cool! 

I LOVE this desk lamp! I'm really into my greys so it would really tie in with the theme I've got going on. I also like the print in the frame, I have a black frame which is filled with 4xA5 limited edition prints by the one and only Polly Vadasz  (see her shop http://www.sighh.co) and I can't wait for it to take pride of place on my desk. 

This photo is courtesy of @hayerlily on instagram and is used to illustrate my new bedding (shown in the photo) which has been sat untouched for months just waiting to go on my new bed! I'm also a massive fan of throws and lots of cushions cause it just makes a room feel so much more cosy! I think my boyfriend disagrees when we have to move approx. 769 cushions to get into bed though hehe! 

Finally is plants and flowers! A way to inject a bit of colour and life into a room and don't they just look so cute! There's a trip to Ikea on the cards and hopefully they'll have some succulents there, as well as some other cute items! 

If anyone knows of anywhere to buy nice but cheap matching kettle/toaster sets then please let me know cause I'm in the market for one! I can't wait to move in, a flat tour is definitely on the cards :)

x

A Kiko Cosmetics Haul

With pay day last Friday it was time for another splurge and as Kiko is a brand I've never bought anything from, I headed towards their website on the hunt for eyeshadow sticks and the Nars Dual Intensity Eyeshadow dupes... I was pleasantly surprised at the 'SALE' note on the website so got more than I bargained for... Oops!

First up is the Long Lasting Eyeshadow sticks which are exactly what they say on the tin, really pigmented, beautiful colours that last a long time on the lid. I need a primer as I have heavily oily lids but that's nothing new for me and if you have normal eyelids (there's a phrase I never thought I'd say) then you'll be fine! 

Next up is the Water Eyeshadows which I showed on my instagram and people fell in love with! They are stunning and work wonderfully either with a wet brush (I like to dampen mine with the Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water) or as they are. 

Then onto a stick highlighter which is another new thing for me as I usually opt for MAC Soft and Gentle (who am I kidding I wear this everyday!) which is a powder highlighter. At first I tried swiping this straight onto my face but I ended up looking like a glitterball. Not cool. So I take a small Zoeva buffing brush, swipe it over the bullet and then buff into the tops of my cheek bones, down the centre of my nose and then on my cupids bow. Much better. It's a rosy gold shade which is again, new for me as I'm normally drawn towards gold/champagne highlighters, and I love it, particularly as it ties in with my blush. 

I finally grabbed a new pair of eyelash curlers, nothing fancy there and then the fuchsia polish featured in my last post! What else should I grab from Kiko?

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My Nail Painting Essentials

Since growing my nails I've been an avid nail painter and I'm constantly rocking a new shade of pop of colour on my tips, so I thought I'd share my tips for the best finish I can get without seeing an expert!

1. Remove existing colour. I tend to use a nourishing nail polish remover as most tend to be very harsh and I have naturally pretty weak nails, so I try to keep the harsh products down to a minimum.

2. File and Prep. I then give my hands a wash in cold water and a mild soap, and use a nail brush to get rid of any dirt under my nails (yuck). I then file any sharp edges to keep them looking neat.

3. I then use the Rimmel Nail Rescue Nail Nurse which is a nail hardening treatment/base coat which stops splitting, it's a fab budget option!

4. Colour! This is where I apply two coats of any colour which takes my fancy, I'm a massive fan of Essie, Barry M (currently the Quick Dry range, but also the Gelly Hi Shine range), Models Own, anything! But currently, I'm currently rocking this bright fuchsia from Kiko which was only £1 would you believe! My favourite all time polish which is constantly on my nails from September-March is Essie's Bahama Mama a wonderful burgundy (pictured), and a classic. 

5. My current favourite top coat is a new release from Barry M (I think) named Gelly Hi Shine Plumpy Top Coat which gives a lovely shine and dries pretty quickly too! 

6. To quickly dry my nails I use a few spritzes of the Avon Nail Experts Liquid Freeze Quick Dry Nail Spray which stops that initial tackiness, and although greasy, does a wonderful job. I then run my hands under cold water which gets rid of the greasiness and also hardens my polish.

So there you have it! The whole routine only takes about 20 minutes which isn't bad considering all the steps. I'm going for a shellac manicure and cream tea on Wednesday so I'm taking my camera to document the day with my Mum and Granny, I'm really excited and can't wait to see what shellac is like! 

Recent Reads

Dark Places - Gillian Flynn

My rating: 4/5 stars.

From the author from the hit novel and now adapted film 'Gone Girl' here's another offering from Gillian Flynn who is an incredible writer. The story focuses on Libby Day, who was just 7 years old when her brother was put behind bars for the murder of her sisters and mother, now alone and surviving from donations she is reached out to by a group who are convinced of her brother's innocence. She then begins to question what she saw that night and whether she thinks her brother is capable of such a horrific thing, and begins to uncover that everyone kept secrets that day, including her brother.

This book keeps you hooked from the beginning to the end as you begin to uncover more and more about what happened that day along with Libby and you'll find it really hard to put down.  (that tends to be a theme throughout all these reviews!) By the end you'll be left open mouthed and wanting to pick up another Gillian Flynn novel (I have my eye of Sharp Objects next...).

Before I Go To Sleep - SJ Watson

My Rating: 5/5 stars.

Christine wakes up every day with no memories of who she is, who she loves, her friends, her career, anything. After a brain injury her memory is erased every night and every morning she wakes up next to a man who she doesn't recognise, and one who may only be telling her half the story. Discover more of Christine's life along with the writing of her journal and uncover the answers to all the questions she comes up with every day. 

This book twists and turns with the discovery of more and more about Christine's past, present and future and by the end your jaw will firmly be on the floor with the revelations she uncovers. For a book I found in my 'Customers who bought this also bought...' on amazon I'm very impressed and want to read it again to see this I didn't the first time round. 

The Lie - CL Taylor 

My Rating: 3.5/5 stars.

Jane Hughes has a loving partner and works at an animal sanctuary in the middle of rural Wales, she's the happiest she's been in years but her life is a lie. Jane Hughes doesn't exist. Five years prior, her best friends and her planned a once in a lifetime trip to Napal which rapidly turned into a nightmare which took the lives of two women. Jane tries to put the past behind her but someone knows she isn't who she says she is...

I enjoyed uncovering what really happened while they went away but found it hard to keep up with the many characters they meet on their travels as everyone is relevant to the story. The conclusion is good and the build up perfectly suits the ending but I wasn't as impressed with this book as the others. 

The Girl On The Train - Paula Hawkins

My Rating: 5/5 stars.

Rachel gets the same commuter trains both morning and evening, she knows the route like the back of her hand, even to the moment when the train stops at the same red signal every day. She's started to feel like she knows the people in the houses on the route, Jason and Jess, she calls them, and their life is perfect. Everything is the same until one day she sees something she shouldn't and she feels like she has to find a way into their lives, to tell them. 

This is one of the most talked about books at the moment so I couldn't not get my hands on it and read it! I read this in 3 sitting as I couldn't put it down until I was dragged away from the story to do stuff! The story is much more than what it seems at first and the story gains more and more depth as you read on. You uncover the mysteries of everyone in those two houses along with Rachel and by the end you'll be reading as quickly as you can to find out who gets what they deserve!

x

Summer MAC Lipstick Picks

Hello five photos of my face. Sorry all. Thought I'd share my favourite MAC lipsticks that I'll be wearing this summer that are suitable for all occasions! They range from bold to subtle, bright to soft so there's something for every taste, occasion and style!

MAC 'Crosswires' (£15.50)

Crosswires is a pinky red in a creme sheen finish so is super creamy and pigmented and lasts for a pretty long time. It goes lovely with any makeup look and add a pop of colour that isn't too bright or in your face. It's a subtle take on a red, a summer pinky red if you like!

MAC 'Impassioned' (£15.50)

This is the definition of bright pinks. It's in your face and has blue undertones which make your teeth look so white! This is an amplified formula so is heavily pigmented and lasts for a really long time. 

MAC 'Milan Mode' (£15.50)

Milan Mode is a subtle pink shade which somehow looks very similar to Plumful here but I promise you it's pink! It does have flecks of sparkle, but it's nothing 90's style, it enhances the light bouncing off your lips and gives them a nice sheen, nothing sparkly here! It has a lustre finish so is pretty sheer but still has high pigmentation, perfect for summer as it wears evenly and doesn't leave that horrible ring around your lips!

MAC 'Plumful' (£15.50)

The perfect purple. Another lustre that is beautifully subtle. I was wary about buying a purple lipstick but the lustre finish makes it very wearable and it's become one of my most favourite every day lippies! It goes with any look, but I love wearing it with a white shirt, don't ask me why!

MAC 'Vegas Volt' (£15.50)

A full power coral, the definition of summer, and a take on an orange lip. This looks fab with a tan, it just brings out the tan and looks beaut. It's another amplified so lasts for a really long time, a must for a bright lippy like this! 

What are your favourite summer lipsticks? Sorry for the face heavy post but I wanted to show true to colour swatches!

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My First Experience of Yoga

I'm writing this post primarily so I can look back on it if (read: when) I lose my way a little so I can reflect on how this made me feel and I can go back to feeling good and at peace again.

I woke up today with the intention of going on a bike ride but work up too late to know that I would be back in time to shower, get ready and drive to work. So I spent around 10 minutes talking myself into doing something to give me some 'get up and go' but nothing too exhaustive cause I was feeling super tired haha. I've been subscribed to 'Yoga with Adriene' for about a month now and have yet to do any of her routines, and now I'm wondering why?? 

I thought I'd start with something tailored for the morning so chose her "Morning Yoga - Yoga to Start Your Day' routine which is a measly 27 minutes long, clearly there's no excuse not to do something in the morning. I actually went through the routine and by the end was thinking "is that it?! has it really been half an hour?!" when in the past I usually am counting down the minutes until the workout is over! 

It really stretched out my body, got all my muscles awake for the day, gave me a bit of a sweat, engaged my core, my mind, and spirit, and encouraged me to set myself a goal for the day. It wasn't too strenuous for mornings but also gave me the wake up and shake up I needed to get ready and face the day ahead (which I know is going to be a long and tiring one). Now I feel ready to tackle on my day with my 'goal' set during yoga still firmly at the forefront of my mind, and I really feel like this will keep me going throughout the day. 

Next I'm intrigued to try her 'Yoga For Complete Beginners' video cause that is most definitely me and I'm interested to find out more about yoga, and also I wish to see if there is a routine for anxiety and for bedtimes, I think these would be beneficial to have in my 'bank' of routines to whip out at the appropriate time. 

Note to self: Keep referring back to this post and remember how good this first day of yoga was! Remember how flexible you used to be when you danced and aspire to gain some flexibility back - that will come with time and practice! Stay calm.

x

A Primer Water?

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water (£20)

Until last year I was battling oily skin/the sweaty look without the use of a primer. Yeah. Bad move. But until now I've always stuck to more 'traditional' formulations such as the Benefit Porefessional or my ultimate favourite The Body Shop Instablur which you blend over your face and usually contain silcone to mask pores and create a good base for your foundation and any steps to follow. As soon as I heard about the Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water I was intrigued at how a mist could create that smooth base that keeps my makeup lasting until I'm ready to take it off. 

I use this sparingly, one/two pumps is enough for my whole face, otherwise you're left wafting your hands around for 10 minutes while it dries - abit of a time waster. It feels lovely a cooling on your face and really gives you that extra boost of freshness to wake you up, lovely. As far as making my makeup last longer? I'm not too sure, particularly with  my oily skin, but it does give a lovely dewiness to my skin and makes even heavy foundations such as my fave MAC Studio Fix, give a lovely satin/dewy finish. For me it is a nice extra step to my routine but if I definitely want a fail safe product that is sure to make sure my makeup doesn't budge, I'd prefer to go for my Body Shop Instablur, but for everyday this is a lovely product perfect for warmer months in particular. But, the way I like to use this most is to moisten my Real Techniques Miracle Complexion sponge for buffing in my concealor. It just lets to sponge do all the hard work, makes my concealor blend effortlessly without looking cakey. I can use my Seventeen Phwoarr Paint on my blemishes and it hides them completely and still gives a beautiful finish. It's fab! This is my favourite use of his product and if you buy it, I recommend you try it!

I've Been Haulin'

ASOS Crop Top | ASOS Checked Skirt | ASOS White Tee
Maybelline Brow Drama | Soap and Glory Brow Archery | Garnier Miceller Water | Yes To Tomatoes Daily Repair Treatment | Barry M Speedy Nail Polish 'Pit Stop' 

In preparation for my 5 day UK break coming up in a few weeks I thought I'd head to ASOS and Boots to get some holiday clothes and makeup because why not... 

If you saw my ASOS wishlist a few weeks back then you'll have seen this striped crop top which I was lusting after... I just couldn't stop putting it in my basket so I just thought eff it and bought it! It's a lovely thick-ish material, nothign too heavy but very good quality, long wearing and seems like it will wash well! I went for a size up as I don't like my tummy showing and it fits perfectly. It's still slightly cropped but long enough for my own comfort, I can't wait to wearing this with my dungarees or high waisted shorts - an easy way to brighten things up!

This tailored mini skirt was in the sale for only £15 which was too good of a bargain to resist since I love this style of skirt and a grey one would add to my collection. This will look great with the next item with or without tights, dressed up or down so it really is a versatile piece and I'm glad they had my size left! 

The last thing from ASOS was a simple white tshirt with a v neck, such an easy piece to throw on with various things. I tend to wear a lot of black/dark tops so this will brighten up most of my outfits and I love the v neck, I'll definitely need to pick more up in this style. The only criticism I have is that this top is quite thin but it will do the job nicely. 

Next up is makeup and it seems to be very brow heavy.... first I picked up the Maybelline Brow Drama in the shade Medium Brown cause I feel like sometimes I just want to put on a brow gel and be done with it - particularly when I'm at work all day cause I go for a very simple (read: lazy) makeup. To go alongside this I picked up the Soap and Glory Brow Archery, I was torn between getting this and the solar powder but chose this to try alongside the brow gel from Maybelline. But lets face it, I'll be picking up the solar powder pretty soon cause I'm dying to get into bronzer. 

Then I repurchased my favourite miceller water from Garnier, no other compares and it dispenses just the right amount unlike others! Sticking with skincare, I was after a treatment to clear out the major breakout I have going on, on my chin right now as nothing is sorting it out, I aimed to pick up the La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo and it did make its way into my basket until I spotted the bright packaging of the Yes To... ranges. I spotted the Tomato Daily Repair Treatment and as it is cheaper I thought I'd give it a whirl. First up, it has a pump!! Unlike the Effaclar Duo it has a pump so you know you're using the right amount of product so I just hope this works! I'll keep you updated. 

Finally is a result of binge watching Vivianna Does Makeup's videos (for the millionth time...) and seeing her rave about the Barry M Speedy Quick Dry Polishes. I've always been a lover of Barry M, they have every shade you can every imagine and for the teeny price tag they're incredible quality. I have no time when it comes to painting my nails so I tend to not bother so the promise of quick drying is a winner for me I picked up this pastel grey (not purpley, or bluey, actually grey!) named 'Pit Stop' and I love it! It only took two coats to be opaque and did indeed dry super quickly! Winner. 

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6 Week Challenge

Here's something I never talk about - health and fitness. I've had a battle with my weight/health/fitness/lifestyle for quite a few years, I went through years of very destructive behaviours and feelings but since becoming more aware of the fitness and healthy community via Youtube, Blogs, Twitter, Instagram, I feel like I have a much healthier mindset. 

I won't go into detail because that wasn't the point of this blog post, it was to tell you all what my six week challenge is! I'm going to set myself three types of goals, a short term one, a mid term one and a longer term one. 

Short - Feel less bloated

Medium - Run 5k

Long(Not to be necessarily achieved in six week, just an overall long term goal!) - Size 8/10, bikini photo, flatter stomach 

My short term goal is something that will be achieved in a few days, medium is something that might take a few weeks and then long term is where you can start to look at cosmetics as obviously this will take you longer! I'm trying not to focus on my appearance too much as that is where I have gone wrong before. But I have taken some initial underwear shots (not to be shared just yet) so that in 6 weeks time I can really compare and see the difference! 

I've started a food diary where I note down everything I eat, how it made me feel, how much sleep I've had, what times I get hungry, literally everything. This will help me to see which foods don't make me feel my best so I can avoid/cut down on them and also just track what meals were really nice! 

Left: Carly Rowena (Instagram) Right: Jess Wreford (Instagram) Photos both from their instagrams. 

All this goal inspiration has come from Carly Rowena who you may have seen on YouTube (here) who is beautiful, fit, strong and healthy. She's so inspiring and motivating so her YouTube videos have been binge watched these past few days! 

Secondly, is Jess Wreford who has just started a YouTube channel (here) (so looking forward to her content!) and her Twitter is (here). She is a nutrition student so she is super awesome at knowing what's right to eat at certain points (after a workout for example) and has some awesome recipe's over on her Instagram (here). She's inspired me to take part in #NoJunkJuly which is pretty self explanatory and I am joining in despite going on holiday this month (eeeeeek!) motivation pls! 

I will update y'all after six weeks with my progress photos which will hopefully look a lot better but for now you can keep up with me over on Twitter (here), Instagram (here) and Snapchat (@bonjourkatie)!

TL:DR

I'm setting myself health and fitness goals for 6 weeks. I want to feel less bloated, be able to run 5k and be a size 8/10, feel comfortable in a bikini and have a flatter stomach. My main 2 motivational inspirational girlies are Carly Rowena and Jess Wreford cause they know exactly what they're talking about when it comes to food and fitness! Join me over on twitter/instagram! 

Current Skincare

I by no means have perfect skin, or am a skin care expert, I just thought I'd show what has recently been working for me moving int the summer months! For your reference, I have oily skin and am usually sporting some spots around my chin area but I've narrowed that down to a lack of fibre and not drinking enough water and since changing my diet and adding a certain tonic back into my routine, this has improved dramatically! 

Morning

In the morning I simply cleanse/wash my face with the Body Shop's Camomile Cleansing butter which I have raved about lots on this blog already so I won't go into detail. It leaves my face squeaky clean and locks in a boost of moisture. 

I then swipe half a cotton pad of the Pixi Glow Tonic over my face concentrating on my T-Zone but I just swiz it all over really. A few months ago I stopped using this as I saw it as an unnecessary step to my routine, how wrong was I?! My skin seemed so dull, my makeup didn't sit as well and I seemed to get a lot more clogged pores and spots. I quickly reintroduced it and my skin is improving daily. 

I finally moisturise with the Garnier Moisture Matte moisturiser for combination/oily skin which is a gel-like formula which absorbs into the skin very quickly and is a nice matte base for my makeup to sit on. I wouldn't say it completely stops my shine but I have very oily skin and nothing does that except a good setting powder! 

Evening

To remove my makeup I simply use a miceller water, this one is the Boots Botanics 3 in 1 cleansing miceller water but I also love the Garnier one - anyone really!

I then moisturise with the Garnier Moisture and Restore Night Cream, I love this as it isn't thick like normal night creams (it's a gel formula) but it still delivers lots of moisture into my skin to give it a boost overnight. It's lovely and light which is perfect for the summer as noone wants a thick cream settling on your skin in this weather! 

As you can tell, I don't spend ridiculous amounts of money on skin care cause a) I'm a poor student and b) I don't think you need to spend £60 on a serum, there are good products on the high street for affordable prices! I'm happy with this routine for these summer months and as I said, my skin is improving more and more each day :) 

Current ASOS Wishlist

Crop Top (£16) | Dungarees (£45) | Mesh Insert Top (£20) | Swimsuit (£20) | Shirt (£25) 

It's been forever since I spent a good while browsing online to put together a wishlist so I thought where better to start than ASOS! Everything you could ever want for any occasion, they will almost always have it and since I just booked a 5-day break for a month's time with my boyfriend I thought now would be the perfect time to find some new bits and document my finds for you guys! 

The first thing I spotted was this stripped crop top which is navy stripes with yellow neckline and arm banded detail. It caught my eye straight away as it's something different to your average crop top and can go with so much! I'm always conscious of wearing anything cropped as I'm very self-conscious of my stomach (I'm working on it but it's gonna take a fair while...) but I'd definitely be comfortable wearing this with my high waisted denim shorts from Topshop, the dungarees featured next, or a high waisted skirt. 

Dungarees. Taking things back to my childhood when I hated wearing them but now I think they look so cool! Bang on trend for this season but also versatile enough to wear in any season, particularly if they're full leg like these ones. They'll be so easy to throw on and head out the door with. 

This top would be perfect to dress up or down due to the mesh detailing adding something a bit extra. Nice with skinny jeans and some nude heels or tucked into a pair of shorts. 

Swimsuits -eeeeek.  I'm 1000000000% not ready for swimsuit season. To compromise, I wanted to find a full body suit rather than a bikini and I love this one. I think it's something I'll have to order, try on and see what happens. I love the plait detailing on the crossover back, I think it makes a plain black swimsuit a bit more interesting. 

I've always been a fan of blouses so obviously I was naturally drawn to this one, I like how ASOS have styled it tucked into denim shorts, I'd probably style it pretty much the same. Blouses like this are great cause you can dress them down in the summer but also pair them with jeans and they're perfectly fine for autumn/winter. 

The Two Product Smoky Eye

I'm all for a smoky eye, especially when it's as easy as 5 minutes, a quick blend and you're away. This smoky eye is perfectly subtle for everyday but also a bit more 'done up' than a bare eye - a happy medium. You should all know my love of eyeshadow bases by now so it will come as no surprise to you that the main feature of this look is Maybelline's 24hr Colour Tattoo in 'On and On Bronze'. (Also before we start can we please ignore the fact that I really need to pluck my eyebrows, and the two products doesn't include mascara and eyebrow products cause then this would be a hell of a long post!)

This look is so easy, I simply apply a layer of the eye base, blend, then build up the colour in stages focusing at the lashline and blending between each layer. Then if you like (and I have done here), you can deepen up the lashline with a dark brown eyeshadow which makes your lashes look fuller and gives a deeper smoke to the eye. I then draw the eye base under my eye, I like to bring the colour quite low but you can do whatever you fancy, even leave this stage out if you don't like colour under the eyes! The beauty of this look is that it doesnt need to be neat, if it gets smudged throughout the day it doesn't matter, and this is just a basic starting point, you can add a feline flick, more smoke, a heavy inner corner highlight or whatever you like! This is one of my go-to eye looks as it takes seconds and looks like you've put in effort!  

x

What's In My Bag?

ASOS East West Pocket Tote Bag (£28.00)

Since finishing my second year of university I no longer have not carry around tonnes of folders and stuff so thought now would be the perfect time to do a What's In My Bag? post. I am a huge fan of ASOS handbags as they are reasonably priced, good quality, and last a pretty long time. This tote bag is the perfect size to carry a folder (if need be) and all the other crap necessities that I carry on an everyday basis. 

Daisy Print Notebook (Etsy) I am forever taking notes, coming up with blog ideas, or writing lists for all manner of things so a notebook is essential along with pens. (I found 6 while emptying my bag..)

Current Book (Before I Go To Sleep by S J Watson) I always carry a book for when I'm waiting around and if you're into psychological thrillers then I highly recommend this one. I haven't finished it yet but I was hooked since the first page! Next up on my list is definitely The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins. 

Diary (Paperchase) I can't live without my diary! Although this one from Paperchase isn't on sale anymore, they still have loads available and even mid-year ones for those at school/college/uni. 

Purse (Monki @ ASOS) I love this purse as it's big enough to hold all my cards and lots of change but not too big that it becomes a place to hoard receipts!

Headphones (SkullCandy) A necessity for travelling, waiting around. Now I have 10GB of 4G I'm forever watching YouTube videos on public transport to pass the time!

iPhone Charger Pretty self explanatory! I also use an external charger (when I remember to charge it... and put it in my bag...)

Keys My car keys, house keys, memory stick with my uni work on, and several key rings!

Makeup Touchups Stay Matte Powder, Match Perfection Concealor, usually a lipstick (or two) and an Ebay Makeup brush which I don't mind bumbling around in my bag all day! 

Moringa Body Spray (The Body Shop) This is my second repurchase of this fragrance cause I love it! It's so fresh and is good for on-the-go freshen ups.

Hand Maid/Gel (Soap and Glory) I always carry antibac hand gel cause the world is a gross place, the Soap and Glory one is my fave simply because of the scent!

TIC TACS Cause who doesn't like minty fresh breath without having to find a place to throw away chewing gum?

Camera (Not pictured but is the Samsung NX3000) New camera! I love the DSLR quality, flipout screen, light weight and compact form for on the go snaps as well as my blog photos. 

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P.S If anyone wants to buy my old Canon 1100d camera with all the original packaging, strap, lens, etc, including a UV protection lens and a remote control then please let me know! I'm open to offers on price, but since it's in perfect condition I'm looking for at least £140 which is less than half price!

MAC | My Everyday Quad

Since completing my MAC palette I've not wanted to carry round my whole pro palette when I've been staying at my boyfriends or out on days where I would need to touch up, so I decided to buy the four pan palette which I can store my eyebrow shades but also my everyday eye look. It keeps everything simple and compact. 

The four shades I have included are Shroom, Patina, Omega, and Coquette. Combined they can create a simple golden eye or smoked out for a more evening appropriate look so this quad is perfect for everyday or even if last minute plans arise!

I simply comb my brows through with a spoolie and then use an angled brush to define the mid-part and wing of my brows with Coquette and then fill in the fronts and mid-parts with Omega. Simple as!

I'd be lost without my paintpot in Painterly as I use this everyday to smooth and even out my eyelids, I then set with a transparent setting powder to ensure this lasts even longer and leaves a more powdery base for the eyeshadows to blend on to. I then define and warm up my crease with Omega, taking this slightly above my crease so the deeper shade blends out evenly. I then define my outer corner and slightly through my crease with Coquette and blend out by mixing both wha's left on my brush with a bit of Omega. 

I then apply a small amount of my Barestudy paintpot to the mobile lid, focusing mainly on the inner part of my lid and putting a small amount on my inner corner. This will add an extra bit of shimmer but also help the next shade, Patina, to really pop. I apply this all over my lid, pushing it with a flat shader to help really build up the colour, then going back in with my blending brush to ensure all the colour are blended together. 

To finish I simply apply Shroom to my inner corner to brighten up my eyes, then go in with a few coats of mascara, I used a sample of MAC's False Lashes Extreme Black which I like, the spoolie is very soft of my lashes, it doesn't tug or pull at my lashes. 

I tend to pair this look with a nude lip for everyday, especially when I'm at work as it is low maintenance, today I've used MAC's Faux which is my current favourite! 

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Eye Bases

If you follow me on various social media you'll probably know my love of eyeshadow bases, they're just so EASY! So I thought I'd dedicate a whole post to the ones I own and how I use them! 

First up are my MAC Pro Longwear Paintpots in 'Painterly' (middle) and 'Barestudy' (to the left of painterly). Painterly is one of my most used simply because it matches my natural eyelid colour perfectly and covers all my veins and imperfections. It helps any powder eyeshadows I use to stick and the colours to pop whilst not removing the blendability of the shadows. Barestudy is a beautiful champagne shade with gold shimmer which works wonderfully all over the lid as a wash of colour with a warm toned contour through the crease and lashings of mascara. MAC paintpots are super longlasting and wonderfully pigmented. 

Next are my three Maybelline 24hr Colour Tattoo's in the shades 'On and On Bronze', 'Pink Gold', and 'Permanent Taupe'. On and On Bronze is exactly what the name suggests, bronze which can be washed all over the lid or build up and blended out to be pretty smoky. I adore this in the autumn and winter smoked out with a black eyeshadow along the lashline, so easy but looks like you've spent ages applying shadows and blending them out - winner! Pink Gold is my least used shade, I bought it on a bit of a whim really and have only used it a few times! I think it would work really well the Urban Decay Naked 3 palette because of the rose gold tones. Permanent Taupe is fab as a liner with a bare lid and smoked out along the lashline for a bare eye with a twist. The 24hr colour tattoos are quite waxy in formulation but this makes them extremely longlasting, they don't crease or budge all day which is fab. 

Seventeen's eye base in 'Wild Nude' is a beautiful taupe which can be used very similarly to 'on and on bronze', the formulation of this is extremely creamy as so easy to blend which means I love using it on days where I have very little time! 

The Max Factor Excess Shimmer in the shade 'Copper' has a mousse like formula which initially gives a subtle wash of bronze shimmer but can be build up to a more opaque finish which sets and stays in place. 

As you can tell I don't just use eye bases as a base, I utilise the different texture and formulation which each brand takes on and use them to my advantage! I'm always on the look out for more eye bases so send your recommendations my way! 

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Review | MAC Plumful Lipstick

A recent purchase, a long lusted after shade, and a heavily influenced buy from Avi (@avisaxenaa on twitter and she also has started a new blog linked here). Plumful is a beautiful rose plum shade in a lustre finish which is perfect for the summer months. It gives a lovely wash of colour without being overpowering and too purple on the lips, and the finish also means that although the lasting power isn't amazing, it is low maintenance as it fades well and can be re-applied effortlessly. 

When it comes to MAC lipsticks my collection was pretty much reds and brights which is fab but I wanted more range. The lustre finish is a welcome addition as it gives a lovely finish, is moisturising and low upkeep for the summer months (or all year round). 

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Brush Collection | Zoeva

A new type of post for me, but since my brush collection is expanding I thought it would be fresh content! I owned a few Zoeva brushes before being lucky enough to receive the Zoeva Rose Gold Collection from my parents and then I've bought a few extras because they're just such good value for money! 

Base Brushes:

106 Powder - brilliant for giving a light dusting of powder leaving your foundation looking flawless and lasting all day

127 Luxe Sheer Cheek - my absolute favourite for contouring as it fits perfectly in the hollows of my cheeks!

105 Luxe Highlight - does exactly what it says on the tin, perfect for highlight

102 - Silk Finish - The best for foundation, especilly my MAC studio fix as it builds up the cover well and doesn't leave my foundation streaky, just beautifully buffed in. 

110 Face Shape - I love using this for stippling my concealor onto blemishes, it packs on the coverage but doesn't draw attention by leaving the areas cakey. 

142 Concealor Buffer - Good for precision concealor application or for packing on colour to the eyes

Eye Brushes:

222 Luxe Allover Shader - Wonderful for packing on colour and smoking shadow underneath the eyes, it's dense but sift so gentle on the eyes

2 x 227 Luxe Definer - Like the MAC 217's better half. It's less dense so beautifully blends out any shadow as it's so soft and fluffy.

231 Luxe Petit Crease - Great for blending darker shadow into the crease or outer corner, also for deepening up the lower or upper lash lines.

232 Luxe Classic Shader - A staple for packing on shadow, especially when adding that extra 'pop' shade to the lid.

230 Luxe Pencil - Good for an inner corner highlight or adding depth to the lashlines.

317 Wing Liner - Lovely for filling in my brows or as a wing liner applicator.

As you can see I tend to multitask my brush uses because why not break the rules once in a while eh?! I could not recommend a brand for brushes better than Zoeva, I much prefer them to my MAC one's and they are much cheaper too, what more could you want? 

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My MAC Palette

After months of buying the odd shadow here and there, I finally purchased my final 3 shadows and completed my MAC palette!

Going downwards, the first three shadows are my inner corner/brow highlights:
Vanilla - a creamy white
Dazzlelight - a full power pale shimmer
Shroom - a shimmery light beige

Second and third row are my 'all over the lid shades:
All That Glitters - a beige with gold shimmer
Patina - a gorgeous taupe with gold pearl shimmer
Woodwinked - a beautiful bronze

Sable - a plum/red with bronze pearl shimmer
Mulch - a deep bronze
Satin Taupe - a muted purple taupe

The final two rows are my crease, smoky eye shades:
Omega - perfect for filling in my brows and also as a initial crease shade
Wedge - a muted beige
Cork - a muted gold/brown

Charcoal Brown - the classic brown for the crease
Coquette - a grey toned taupe
Mystery - a plum toned brown which I love for giving my lash line more definition

I'm so happy with this palette! I definitely want to expand my collection as there are still many more shadows I want to try! Stay tuned for a post on my favourite quad of shadows and a look using them!

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Makeup Menu | May

Let's kick things straight off, I prime with Benefit's Porefessional Primer and my foundation base is MAC Studio Fix Fluid with a pump of Seventeen's Wow primer to give a bit of glow. To conceal my breakouts I used MAC Pro Longwear Concealor which is insane at covering imperfections. It's not cakey and matches my foundation perfectly in colour. I set my t-zone with a quick swiz of my trusty Rimmel Stay Matte powder as I get particularly oily here. I bronzed and contoured slightly with MAC's Harmony Blush and used MAC's Soft and Gentle Mineralise Skin Finish as an all over cheek highlight which is a new addition to my makeup collection and I wish I'd have bought it sooner. I love it. Any MAC/Makeup lover needs this in their stash. 

I primed my eyes the same way as usual, with my MAC Painterly Paintpot and then used MAC's Omega and Charcoal Brown eyeshadows from my MAC palette and a 217 blending brush to define my crease and warm up my eyes. I then packed the shade Bubbly from the Stila In the Light palette (another new addition) over the centre of my lid and took it into my inner corner and tearduct for a highlight. I then deepened my outer corners with the shade Glided Gold from the Stila palette and ran this under my eyes for added definition. I took the darkest shade in the palette, Ebony, and ran it along my lashline with an angled brush to define my lashes and give the appearance of thickness. I applied a few coats of Maybelline Lash Sensational mascara which gives length and a bit of volume so is good for everyday.

My brows were simply combed through and filled in using an angled brush and MAC's Omega eyeshadow, not my favourite method but my Sleek Eyebrow stylist is running low so I thought I'd go for this instead. 

To finish, I applied my new MAC Faux lipstick which is a satin 'muted mauve-pink' perfect for everyday. I'd never tried the satin formula before but it's a winner. Creamy, full power pigmentation and longlasting - everything I want in a lipstick.

This inadvertently turned into a very MAC heavy face... probably because I received money for my birthday so had a big splurge in there! Plus it's my favourite higher end brand so I use at least one product from them everyday. I'm really enjoying a very bronzed, glowing look and this fits the bil for this move into "summer".

How I Take My University Lecture Notes

I was recently requested to write a post on how I take notes at university, specifically, how I use my iPad for my university studies so here goes!

The first app I use is Microsoft Word for iPad which I use to take notes in lectures and seminars. I save all documents onto the online cloud One Drivemeaning I can access all my files on my laptop instantly. 

The format of my notes is pretty simple. I use Calibri Light in font size 12. I simply underline my titles and subheadings. My title (usually the lecture title/topic) always goes in the middle and then I split my document into 2 columns. I do this as I write my notes as short bullet points so therefore they don’t fill the whole line so it not only looks neater to have two columns but it also saves paper!

I always make my notes on what the lecturer is saying rather than copying what is on the powerpoint slides as these are available for me to access before and after the lecture so I can add this detail in at a later date, whereas you can’t hear the lecturer over and over (unless you get permission to audio record!). I try to be as concise as possible so I don’t miss anything, you can always add detail in at a later date. 

As far as printing goes, I don’t print these notes unless I’m doing an assignment on that topic as then I prefer to have a physical copy to highlight/make physical notes on. But other than that I save all my files in folders on One Drive but also on my laptop. 

A secondary use I have for my iPad is reading Journal Articles which means I can have them next to my laptop as I work and I don’t have to spit screen my laptop. Not a necessity but I like working this way. This also means if I want to quickly read an article for a seminar I don’t have to use my laptop, I can just quickly use my iPad and read it anywhere really easily. 

I hope you’ve found this useful! Are there any other posts you would like to see on this topic or anything I do at university?

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Review | Sleek Brow Stylist

I've always been a 'Mac Omega and a 266 brush' kinda gal but after seeing the love everyone has for the Hourglass brow sculpting pencil I went on the hunt for a more budget friendly option. Obviously I can't compare this Sleek Brow Stylist to the Hourglass offering as I haven't tried it but as far as I'm concerned the Sleek one is fab. Here's why...

I had never used a spoolie until buying this product and it has seriously changed the look to my brows. It allows me to comb the hairs through before applying any product and then during application in order to sheer out the product and leave no harsh lines. This means that I can still get full brows but ones that look far more natural.

Most brow products in the drugstore are extremely orangey and red tones which doesn't work for most people. You may as well use bronzer on your brows, amiright?! Although the colour range isn't great, I found that the medium shade is actually a pretty good match for me, and is quite ashy toned but also has hints of red tones which works with my hair colour. 

I've always been scared of pencils because they have the potential to be extremely harsh (I found out the hard way - see my previous blog post on my brow history) but this pencil is very different to the one's I've tried before. It's quite waxy but also sets like a powder so you can sheer this out and also build up the colour to your desire. It's got a triangle sort of shape which is good because you can get precision on the tail of your brows but can cover a lot in one go on the full part of your brows, the shape works very well. 

Overall, I am a total convert to this way of doing my brows, it's so easy and carrying one product for travelling is so much easier than carting around brushes and eyeshadows. This is a definite repurchase and if you're in the market for a budget brow option (it's only's £5.99!) then I suggest heading to your nearest Sleek counter because you won't be disappointed. 

Comparison | Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Oil and Butter

If you have been reading my blog for a while you'll know my love for The Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Oil so when it was running low again I thought I'd give its butter counterpart a try. Overall they are both amazing products which do a great job but they both have their pros and cons.

First of all the formula, both of which melt away makeup so easily and both leave my skin completely cleansed and makeup free but also surprisingly soft too. I have to say, the butter is far easier to work with as the pump sometimes squirts oil everywhere which is a bit of a mess to clean up. Also with both products, a little goes a long way which is great cause you really get your money's worth and they last a long time. 

I simply rub a bit of either product in my hands, just to warm up the product and then massage onto my dry face and neck, whether I have my makeup on or not. I then soak a flannel or muslin cloth in warm water and then buff and wipe away the product to leave my face squeaky clean! 

As far as packaging goes, the butter is definitely easier to travel with as it's compact and slim so fits into a small crevice in your luggage. I've also found that the oil can easily leak, I don't know if it was a fault with an individual bottle of mine but it made a big mess all over my packed clothes. Not fun.  

Overall, I love both products, they both do an equally good job but for the packaging differences I think I'll keep repurchasing the butter rather than the oil as it's much easier for me when I stay at my boyfriend's house. 

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Wishlist | My 20th Birthday

It's almost a month until I turn the big 2-0 so I've been trying to recount all the things I've been saying "ooooooh" and "aaaahh" over for months. These guys made the cut so this is my little reminder of what I could spend any money on or ask for if I'm lucky enough! Plus I just like lusting after all these things again and I also enjoy wishlist posts and hope you do too!

First up if the thing which I have been lusting after ever since I set eyes on them. The Zoeva Rose Gold Collection. Oh. My. How stunning are these?! I loooove Zoeva brushes so I know they are insane quality, pretty cheap for the price (all of these are only around £50!) and they are rose gold which is simply beautiful. What's not to love?

Topshop Joni Jeans are one of the styles of Topshop jeans I am yet to own but I recently found love in a pair of H&M high waisted jeans and now would like to try Topshop's more expensive offering. Ripped knees are bang on trend so I want a part of the action cause I think they would bring a bit of casual to any outfit.

I've been wanting to hit the gym for a long while and since I've been drowning my sorrows in a serious amount of McDonalds nuggs I really need to but don't have a pair of trainers with sufficient support for my poor ex-dancers ankles (curse you pointe shoes!). Plus these Nike Roshe's are gorgeous and I love the pop of atomic red.

As always my wishlist of MAC lipsticks and eyeshadows is as long as my arm so I'd hope to contribute a little more to my collections. I think Amorous and Creme in your Coffee lipsticks and Patina and Espresso eyeshadows are high up there.

I'm after a new bag cause I'm definitely a 'new academic year, new handbag' kinda gal (don't know if that's a thing but I'll certainly make it one). I love the look of this Topshop Tote bag with Arrow Detailing cause it's big enough to fit in all my stuff and is a little less structured than my satchel style that I usually go for. I love the shape of this and fancy a bag that can go on my shoulder rather than with a huge long strap leaving my bag bashing against my thighs all day.

Finally some Muji storage for my ever-growing makeup collection. I did infact buy some draws from eBay quite a while ago but they are in no way big enough to fit my makeup anymore so I think it's about time I invested in some larger which will look beauts on my dresser.

Apologies for the volume of stock photos on this post, obviously it's hard not to when it's wishlist but I did include my own photos of the lisptick and eyeshadow (for reference they are 'patisserie' lipstick and 'sable' eyeshadow). Hopefully I am a lucky egg this year but I stress that I'm grateful for any gifts I receive and buy all my makeup and clothes with my own money. Do I even need to say this? I don't know, got to cover all bases on the internet, right?!

Any ideas of how I can celebrate my 20th? Let me know!

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