Category: Blog

  • Beauty | Stress-beating Skincare

    stress free skincare 2014
    stress free skincare line up
    It’s definitely that time of year where stress is pretty high for any third year University student and when I get stressed my skin freaks out. With hormones flying about all over the place, having a good skincare routine is so important. 
    I bought the The Body Shop’s Cream Cleanser a while ago and it still remains one of my favourites. It’s really soothing and the scent isn’t too overpowering – which I find with most of The Body Shop’s products – plus the Vitamin E in the product can help counteract sun damage. I especially like using this after a night out after I take off my make-up because it makes my face feel amazing afterwards.
    I was such a sceptic of the Micellar water when it started popping up in my blog feed, I mean it’s just fortified water at a ridiculous right? Well, yes. But I spied Garnier’s Micellar Water at almost half the price of some of the others. It looked like a perfect drugstore dupe and I caved – blah blah crappy willpower blah. Micellar Water is an alternative to traditional make-up removers for us lazy bums who can’t be bothered to take their make-up at the day. For me it’s so much more effective than using other make-up removers and has even taken off some of the most stubborn mascara, eyeshadow and lipsticks. Plus it also cleanses and you don’t have to rinse afterwards! Win! Though please note! This isn’t a cleanser alternative, it’s just for those days when you feel like skipping through your usual skincare routine.
    My go to moisturiser is the Nivea Soft Moisturising Cream. A friend of mine recommended it and I haven’t looked back! Super hydrating, refreshing and brilliant for extremely dry skin, this has been my absolute lifesaver during the winter months and is perfect to put on if your face is feeling a little tired. I have both the huge pot – which still hasn’t run out despite buying it before Christmas! – and the mini tube that I use when I’m travelling. 
    And finally! My nose hates stressful times. It’s the first place I start breaking out and gets clogged up when my hormones go haywire, so slapping on a pore strip is a must. Boot’s pore strips may not be the best in the business but they’re certainly the cheapest and they get the job done. The tea tree and witch hazel isn’t overpowering and the strip is shaped to fit snugly around my nose. 
    As well as all this, I’m upping my water intake and making sure I take all my make-up off at the end of the day. Plus sleep – when I can! 
    Let me know what your stress-beating skincare tips are too!
  • Beauty | My Eyebrow Routine

    Eyebrow routine v3
    A bit of a different post for you all! I’ve had a love/hate relationship with my eyebrows since I was a little girl. They’re dark, bushy, awkward, and an utter pain to maintain.
    Up until recently the only thing I did to my eyebrows was tweeze them. I’ve never had them waxed, have never really thought about getting them threaded, and to be honest I was quite lazy with them. In the last few months, as with the rest of my beauty routine, I’ve decided to give my brow routine a revamp.
    I’m still a plucking advocate as mine are reasonably easy to shape because of the hair colour and I like having control over them. It’s also the least painful method of maintenance for me!
     
    Next step is taming them! I have brow hair with a mind of their own, so a brow gel is a staple. The Gosh Cosmetics Defining Brow Gel is the first I’ve tried and I love it. It has a big mascara brush and the gel is pretty quick to dry.
     
    Now filling in! Having darker brows means it’s even easier to spot the gaps where the hair doesn’t quite fall and I have a two step plan to combat this.
    The first step is my own little money saving tip! Using an eyeshadow that matches the colour of my brows and a thin make up brush, I use a little powder on the biggest part of the brow to for a less harsh look. It’s essentially my own cheat, instead of buying the Benefit Brow Kit! The eyeshadow I use is a Boots Natural Collection solo eyeshadow, which has a nice matte finish – not glittery brows here! – and matches my brow colour quite well.
     
    If I need a little more definition or miss a few gaps, I use the Rimmel London Professional Eyebrow Pencil, which also has a little brush on the lid I can use to tidy up areas that look a little harsh.
    The last step is just to run the brow gel over again, a little more lightly this time. And voila! All done!
    This may seem like a long process, but with a little practice I’ve gotten this routine down to about 4-5 mins, 2 mins if I don’t bother with the eyebrow pencil. And some days I give my brows a breather and just use the brow gel to tame them!

    Hope you’ve enjoyed that :) let me know what your eyebrow routines are!
    Would love to hear your hints and tips!

    R.xoxo
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  • Oscars 2014 | Red Carpet Fashion Round Up – Part 2

    Welcome to part 2 of my Oscar red carpet wrap up! Check out more of my favourites from the night below… 
    Oscars14-Charlize Theron
    The ‘Now THAT’S how you work a Dior gown’ Award | Charlize Theron 
    Despite JLaw’s efforts to wow us as the brand ambassador this season, Charlize knocked one out of the park in this show stopping Dior gown. The clear straps give the illusion of a dramatic plunging gown and paired with the almost faux mermaid skirt, Charlize looked rather spectacular walking down the red carpet in it. A simple silver pendant necklace and slicked back hair was all that was needed to complete this look! Oscars14-Emma Watson
    The ‘Elegant yet edgy’ Award | Emma Watson 
    Emma was a pleasant surprise at the ceremony! Wearing a charcoal grey and black Vera Wang gown, she put a little edgy spin to her look with a messy half updo, bold red lipstick and silver accessories. Despite the unkempt nature of the look, I still think it’s event appropriate (as she was only there to present) and it’s nice to Emma in something a little less polished than usual.  Oscars14-Portia De Rossi
    Most Classy Cut-Outs | Portia de Rossi 
    Ellen Degeneres may have been winning over the audience as the host for the evening, but her wife Portia was definitely winning me over with his detailed Naeem Khan gown. Had this been a simple, opaque beige gown, she most certainly would’ve blended into the backdrop. But those intricate cutout details are quite exquisite.    Oscars14-Penelope Cruz
    Arabian Princess Award | Penelope Cruz 
    Swathed pale pink, Penelope Cruz, looked positively radiant in this Giambattista Valli gown. The off the shoulder detail is something really different, yet she exudes old school Hollywood glamour with her sleek updo and delicate earrings.      Oscars14-Gabourey Sidibe
    Best Use of Colour Award | Gabourey Sidibe 
    Amongst the neutral tones of the evening, Gabourey provide a welcome infusion of Spring colour in her fuchsia Theia gown. Almost completely covered in floral embellishments, for me this was one of the most exciting looks of the evening.  Oscars14-Kerry Washington
    Best Hair & Make Up Award | Kerry Washington 
    Mum-to-be Kerry sported a rather modest purple Jason Wu gown but it’s the deep berry shades of her make up and her softly curled hair that really caught my attention. It’s not all out dramatic but when you’re working a dress that’s very simple, it’s the extra little details that really count.    Oscars14-Anne Hathaway
    The Gorgeous Glitterball Award | Anne Hathaway 
     Anne was one of the stars of last year’s awards season and even though she was taking a back seat for this year’s, she still looked amazing in this column Gucci gown. The obvious standout feature of the look is the mirrored bodice, which shimmered in the L.A. sun. It would be very easy to overdress a gown like this with excessively edgy accessories but Anne managed to get the balance right with a softer touch to her cropped hair and dainty jewelry.    Oscars14-Angelina Jolie
    Best Elie Saab Award | Angelina Jolie 
    There was a distinct lack of my favourite red carpet designer on the red carpet this year, nevertheless Angelina seemed to hear my cries for a little Elie Saab in this shimmering golden gown. This is a rather ethereal look for her, but I like the change!
    So that’s all folks! Let me know what you thought of all the Oscar ceremony looks and remember to check out my Part 1 wrap up too!
    R.xoxo
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    *all images via Zimbio