Review: Revolution Fast Base Concealer

Make Up Revolution or Revolution as it's now known was never really a brand I was interested in until they started releasing quality products that didn't scream gimmick or tack. I instantly fell in love with their Conceal And Define Concealer as well as their Fast Base Foundation Stick. So when I saw they were releasing a matching Fast Base Concealer, I just knew I had to try it.

Advertised as a medium coverage concealer that'll highlight, brighten and banish dark circles, the Fast Base Concealer is very reminiscent of the Maybelline The Eraser Eye Concealer. Suitable for all skin types, this concealer has a sponge tip applicator which is both a pro and a con to this product. The pro is that you can easily place the concealer where you want it on the face whilst the con is the fact that a little bit goes a long way and the sponge applicator distributes way too much product from one click.

I like this concealer. It's a good price point, with good coverage and longevity but comes across a little wasteful. One click is more than enough to cover under the eyes as well as elsewhere on the face but one click distributes what I believe to be too much product most of which gets wasted or distributed unevenly on the face. And what does get wasted ends up sitting on the sponge applicator or in my case smeared all over the lid. However I'm willing to look past that as it's coverage and longevity is some of the best I've seen from a high street beauty brand. I can easily wear this for a good eight to nine hours without powder or the need to touch up my base. It doesn't go cakey or crease under the eye area, just makes them look brighter and more awake, something I'm grateful for at the moment. I have the shade C1 and it doesn't make me look ghostly under the eyes and works well to cover any redness or blemishes I may have without standing out too much against the shade of my foundation. If you didn't like the Conceal and Define Concealer from Revolution then I think you'll really like the Fast Base Concealer, it's a completely different coverage and feel on the skin, a perfect concealer for those who like a slightly lighter base.

What I Read: September

The end of September is nigh and that can only mean one thing. It's time to share with you the books I read or as of lately, the books I'm still reading. I feel like every month I have a really stupid excuse for not reading as many books as I have previously but this month has been rather a rough one and books were the last thing on my mind. However with October, Halloween and dark nights cosied up with blankets and a cuppa fast approaching, I'm looking forward to finishing these two books and finding my next literay love.

 The Alienist- Caleb Carr
I initally picked this book up to fill a gap in an offer I was shopping but when I actually paid attention to the front cover, I realised it was the original novelisation of the Netflix series The Alienist. It's a show that's been on my list to watch for a while but I've just not got round to it. And now I won't be watching it until I finish the book. It follows the work of Moore, Kreizler and Howard, the Alienist works through a murder case of peculiarities all set to the back drop of ninetinth century New York. I like this book, I've managed to read a good chunk of it already but because of the century it's set in, sentences continuously run on, chapters are rather long and if I'm not in the right mood it can be very long winded and hard to concentrate on. It is though very good for using as a distraction when sitting in a hospital waiting room, something I found extremely helpful this month. I'll definitely aim to finish this by the end of October as I'm really intrigued now to watch the series and see how the two differ.

Guess Who- Chris McGeorge
The other book I started and have yet to finish this month is Guess Who by Chris McGregor. Again I picked this up to fill an offer but found it a great read for the times when I wasn't feeling The Alienist. Guess Who starts with a memory of a child's first experience of death which then turns out to be a memory of one of many trapped people in a hotel room. None of them know each other but it turns out they all knew the man who happens to be laying dead in the bathtub. It's a great game of cat and mouse from there on out, with their mysterious and deadly captor giving them a maximum of three hours to work out which one of them killed the man in the bathtub. I really like this, it's a bit gruesome, it's a bit thrilling, it's a page turner but it does get slightly confusing with some many changes of point of view. I think I'll more than likely finish this before I finish The Alienist purely because the chapters are a lot shorter and you can easily read a good five without even realising.

Recipe: Hot Chocolate Cupcakes

When I was sat planning out my September posts, I knew I wanted to do a hot drink themed recipe to celebrate Autumn finally gracing us with it's presence. I toyed with making some pumpkin spice latte inspired cupcakes but found that my pumpkin spice cookies were a much better fit. So then I started to look at ways off incorporating my second favourite autumnal drink, Hot Chocolate, into a cake or cookie recipe.

Initially I was going to go in way over the top with chocolate curls, mini marshmallows and a whipped cream frosting. Then I changed my mind and decided I was going to go with a melt in the middle style cupcake incased in a thick frosting and decorated with mini marshmallows to reflect how they're served in cafes. And then they failed miserably so I changed tactic again which is where these little beauties came from. Now please ignore the fact the cases have come away from the edges, they're the only ones that do that when I bake and I'm trying to use them up so I don't have them stuck in my collection any longer. What I would like you to focus on is the light, moist chocolate sponge infused with chocolate chips for bit, topped with marshmallow buttercream and chocolate shavings.

Ingredients 
For The Cupcakes 
- 100g Caster Sugar
- 100g Stork/Margarine
- 100g Self Raising Flour
- 2 Eggs
- 20g Cocoa Powder
- 50g Milk Chocolate Chips

For The Buttercream 
-170g Unsalted Butter
- 256g Icing Sugar
- 3 Tsp Double Cream
- 1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1 Jar of Fluff

Method 
1- Pre heat your oven to 180C. Line a twelve hole muffin tin with paper cases.
2- Into your bowl place the caster sugar and the stork. Beat using either a stand mixer or wooden spoon until it's smooth, creamy and light in colour.
3- Once it's the right consistency, add one egg and a tablespoon of flour into the mix and beat until incorporated. This usually takes me a few minutes as I like to scrape around the sides to make sure everything gets beaten into the mixture.
4- Repeat again with the second egg, another tablespoon of flour and beat until smooth.
5- Gently fold the rest of the flour into the mix, making sure to take your time so you don't knock any air out of the mixture. I have a bad habit of upping the speed to get the mixture done quicker but slow and steady is a much better approach if you want light, fluffy cakes.
6- Then it's time to add the cocoa powder. Now usually I chuck it in and go hell for leather with the mixer but this time, I used a slower setting and folded it in so I didn't knock any air out of the mixture.
7- Keeping the mixer (if you're using one) on a slow speed, gradually add your chocolate chips. Keep your mixer on the same slow speed until they are fully incorporated into the mix.
8- Before spooning your mixture into the cases, I'd advise taking a silicone spatula and gently folding through the mixture one final time to make sure everything is fully incoporated and will bake evenly.
9- Then spoon equally between your paper cases and bake for 15-18 mins. You'll know when they're cooked as they'll spring back after you touch them and a skewer will come out clean.
10- Once they're cooked, place on a wire cooling rack to cool. I'd advise to cover them with a clean tea towel to keep them from drying out as you make the icing.
11- The icing recipe I found from aprettylifeinthesuburbs.com and am in no way trying to claim it as my own.
12- Place unsalted butter into a bowl and beat until it's soft, light in colour and fluffy in texture. I found this took a while and the sides of the bowl needed scraping around several times.
13- Then sift the icing sugar into the bowl, little by little and beat until smooth. I continued to scrape around the edges as I added the icing sugar so that nothing was left sitting on the sides of the bowl.
14- Once the mixture is smooth and all the icing sugar has been added, pour in one teaspoon of vanilla extract and three teaspoons of double cream. Beat again until smooth and fully incorporated.
15- Then comes the fun part. Spoon the entire jar of Fluff into the mix and beat until fully incorporated and smooth. Be careful not to get that Fluff all over you or clothes as it's like cement and will make anything stick together. The spoons I used to add it to the mixture literally had to be pried apart for me to wash them.
16- Now it's time to pipe the mixture onto your cupcakes. I used a medium sized nozzle to create a decent amount of icing onto each cake. You may find that you have quite a bit of icing left over, depending on how much you put on your cakes. I personally had a load left even after being generous on the cakes. So I piped the rest into a tupperware tub and put it in the freezer to use on another bake.
17- Then to finish the cakes off, I grated a little bit of milk chocolate over the top of the buttercream and left them to set on the wire cooling rack.
18- And all that's left now is to share them with your family and friends, or enjoy them all to yourself.

Monthly Favourites: September

Where on earth has September gone! One minute I'm planning out Septembers posts and the next I know, I'm writing this post. September has been a good month for discovering not only new beauty products but also for discovering an array of non beauty favourites as well.

Let's kick things off with a skincare favourite. Towards the end of last month I managed to get my hands on the newly released Pixi Retinol Tonic. At first I was dubious about trying it as I'd never used a retinol based product before but oh boy I am now converteed. Ever since I started using this back at the end of August my skin has completely changed. Dark marks left over from blemishes had been dramatically reduced or have gone completley, my skin feels softer and looks brighter. Any texture I had on my face has disappeared and apart from a hormonal break out on my chin, I haven't had to fight with any breakouts or painful under the skin spots. My only regret is that I didn't buy the full size bottle of this but this travel friendly bottle has been brilliant for trying it out.

 During the Summer months I lost my interest in make up. The heatwave we in the UK had made wearing make up unbearable and I reverted back to my teenage self and went bare faced for a solid few months. However the cooler weather is rolling in now and September has been the month where I rediscovered my love for make up. And with that came two new releases that fit brilliantly into my Autumn Lip wardrobe. The new Maybelline SuperStay Matte Inks in Groundbreaker and Founder have been the only things I've been wearing on my lips since I got them. Both of these are highly pigmented, long lasting and comfortable to wear. I wore Groundbreaker at work last week and it lasted my entire eight hour shift without the need to reapply at all.

The last beauty favourite I have this month is a new concealer from Revolution. Their Fast Base Concealer is a lightweight, buildable coverage concealer that highlights wonderfully under the eyes as well as around the face. I wasn't sure if I was going to like this to begin with but it surprised me with how well it covered and highlighted, especially around my under eye area. It has a sponge applicator which works well to distribute the product but gets dirty very easily. It reminds me a lot of the Maybelline The Eraser Eye Concealer but with a much better shade range.

It's finally here! Ever since April I have been counting down the days until Carrie Underwood released her new album Cry Pretty. And that wait is finally over! It has been on repeat ever since it was released and I have way too many thoughts to coherently put together in this post. I have a full review of this album coming this week and I can't wait to share all my thoughts on it with you. I will say though that's made me smile, made me cry and been stuck in my head every day. If you haven't heard, I highly recommend you check it out.

Another favourite that has only been on for two weeks is Sky's new drama A Discovery Of Witches. Based off an already popular book trilogy, this new small screen adaptation stars Matthew Goode and Teresa Palmer as Matthew Clairmont and Diana Bishop, a vampire and a witch who are thrown together after Diana discovers a bewitched manuscript that attracts the attention of witches, vampires and daemons alike. Thrown in a forbidden love and the beautiful backdrop of Oxford and you have me hooked. It's only two episodes in but I'm already obsessed and dying for the next episode. The chemistry, the tension between the two lead characters is palpable and has you on the edge of your seat everytime they're on screen together. I highly recommend you catching up on it on catch up, you won't be disappointed I promise.

Something a little less dramatic but equally as good is Netflix's latest animated comedy Disenchantment. From the creator of The Simpsons, Disenchantment follows the less than royal adventures of Princess Bean and her friend Elfo and Luci. I liked this, it gave me Rick and Morty vibes but with a slightly darker humour; most of which is provided by Luci, and was great as something to switch off or relax to at the end of a day. I powered through the whole season in a week but was a little disappointed in the ending of the last episode. It came across as a little rushed and fell flat as a closing episode.

Two style favourites I've loved this month have come from Primark. The first is this gorgeous, obviously faux leather Chloe inspired backpack. I just love this. It's not massive but still fits a generous amount in it and doesn't bulge or loose it's shape if you overfill it. The faux leather is extremely soft and doesn't scratch or scuff easily. I've been wearing this non stop, it's simple design means it goes beautifully with any outfit and it's slouchy yet lightweight feel means it doesn't weigh me down or leave me feeling uncomfortable.

And the last favourite I have for you this month is this gorgeous pair of leopard print converse. These are from Primark and I absolutely adore them. They're ridiculously comfortable and look great paired with a slogan tee and some jeans. The leopard pring isn't too light which makes them wearable with both black and blue wash demin. They were only six quid and whilst they don't scream extravagant, they are a great way to dip your toe into the leopard print trend without going full on or spending a ton.

Autumn Lip Edit

 

Oh Autumn, how you set my soul alight. Autumn doesn't only mean the countdown to Halloween, my birthday and Christmas to me. It means I can return to looks that I love and looks I feel ten times more comfortable in than those I wear any other time of the year. If you can't already guess from the title, today I'm sharing with you my go to Autumn Lip shades for the upcoming months.

 Smashbox Always On Liquid Lipstick in Out Loud 
I own a ton of Autumnal lip products but the one I know I'll be wearing the most out of the entire collection is a repeat offender from last year. Out Loud is that beautiful pumpkin/bourbon shade I adored last year after a hunt for a burnt orange shade. And again this Autumn I can't get enough of this shade. There are occasions where this can be uncomfortable after a while but if lips are prepped properly, this shade can last flawlessly for hours without the need for reapplication. It stands out beautifully in all black outfits or looks with a pop of khaki.

 Maybelline SuperStay Matte Inks in Founder, Groundbreaker and Ruler
After Out Loud there is one particular lip product that I can't get enough of. The SuperStay Matte Inks from Maybelline are one of the best high street lip formulas available right now. Comfortable, non drying, long wearing and saturated in colour, these lipsticks will last you all day long without the need for reapplication. I have a ton of shades but my three favourites for the Autumn period are Founder (top), Groundbreaker (middle) and Ruler (bottom). Founder is a gorgeous plum shade that surprisingly doesn't go patchy when applied, Groundbreaker is a gorgeous orange red shade; a good dupe if you don't want to pay £19 for the Smashbox and Ruler is a deep raspberry pink. I love how these look, how they wear and I'd happily buy even more shades.

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipsticks in Rubino and Fiery 
Stila do an amazing selection of shades in their liquid lipstick formula. And since my last Autumn Lip Edit I've managed to add a few more shades to my collection. Two that scream Autumn to me are Rubino (top) and Fiery (bottom). Rubino looks like a deep burgundy in the tube but actually applies more of a plum shade whilst Fiery is a deep red with a subtle blue undertone. If lips are chapped or not prepped correctly, these can be drying but if you've prepped lips beforehand these wear beautifully. They don't transfer easily, don't need to be reapplied constantly and are highly pigmented in one swipe. Rubino needs a little more work than Fiery but that extra couple of minutes to perfect it are well worth it. 

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Aria 
Another Stila liquid lipstick I love is the shade Aria. It's more of an unusual shade for this time of the year but it's got enough of a deep raspberry undertone for it to be wearable. Aria is a shade that I see working well with grey as well as black during these colder months. Again I love wearing this liquid lipsticks but there's got to be some prep beforehand. I speak from experience as today (the 19th) I did not prep my lips beforehand and ended up having to do an emergency patch up job during my shift at work. 

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Serenata
This is the final Stila lipstick I promise. Serenata is one of my all time favourite shades but unfortunately it' was limited edition in one of their seasonal kits. It breaks my heart that I can't get my hands on a full size bottle of this as it's the perfect greigey, grungey nude that works well with so many looks. It can be paired with brown, grey and khaki and just gives it a smokey, grungy, undone look that I find so hard to pull off with other shades. I'm still hunting for a dupe of this so I can continue it's legacy once I've emptied this tube but as of right now, the search is looking harder than believed. 

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Rome 
Neutrals aren't my preferred lip colour when Autumn finally graces us, I much prefer deeper, darker tones that really stand out but sometimes a neutral is necessary to make a look work. And one of my favourites is Rome from NYX. One of their Soft Matte Lip Creams, this stunning plum toned neutral shade works wonderfully on a multitude of skintones and it's mousse like formula means it's comfortable to wear all day long. It's extremely lightweight on the lips which means I forget I'm wearing it, doesn't dry lips out after a period of time and doesn't need to reapplied constantly. 

NYX Matte Lipstick in Alabama 
Autumn is the season when my red lipstick collection is rediscovered and loved again. One of my favourite shades, especially at the beginning of the season is Alabama from NYX. One of their matte lipsticks, this deep red shade is comfortable to wear, doesn't has that powdery matte texture, doesn't fade and reapplies very little maintenance after inital application. What I like about it the most is that it's not that bright Christmas red but still has a enough of a pop to it that will garner you a few compliments. 

Loreal Color Riche Matte Lipstick in Brick Vintage 
I love a good orange red/rust red during the Autumn, it gives it more a of a turning leaves vibe than a Christmas vibe and works with the beautiful Autumnal colour palette you see everywhere it turns September. And Brick Vintage from Loreal's matte lipstick collection is a shade that matches that criteria perfectly. It's got just the right amount of orange running through it to give it that rust vibe and not too much like a orange tomato red that I much prefer wearing during the warmer months. The Loreal matte lipsticks are very creamy in texture but don't smudge or fade in anyway. They last a good few hours on the lips and don't dry out or crumble on the lips. They do have a slightly over the top scent but luckily it doesn't last when applied to the lips. 

Maybelline Color Sensational Matte Lipstick in Divine Wine 
Last year I spoke about how I'd stopped wearing my beloved 107 from Rimmel. Well I think it's safe to say since then I've found myself a new version of the 107 and it hasn't changed how it looks on my skin. Divine Wine from Maybelline was featured in my Lip Edit last Autumn and I can't help but feature it again in this one. It's a stunning deep wine shade that's creamy formula doesn't dry out lips or leave them feeling powdery and uncomfortable. It does fade slightly but reapplication is easy and doesn't cause it to crumble or ball up on the lip. And the best bit, this is still readily available in the shops.

Five New First Impressions

 

Over the last few months I haven't really brought a lot of new make up. A lot of it was because I wasn't particuarly wearing a lot of make up but also there wasn't a lot of new releases that caught my eye. However towards the end of August and the beginning of September there have been a few new releases that have definitely caught my eye and today I'm divulging my first impressions on five new releases as well as sharing the look I created with them.

A quick disclaimer, I didn't use anything different on my skin before I applied any of these products. I used the same combination of the Barry M Hydro Fix Primer Water and Maybelline SuperStay Primer that I use as my primer base everyday.

Product: First on my face went the Barry All Night Long Full Coverage Foundation. This is advertised as a full coverage foundation that stays in place all day and night. It claims to be lightweight and easy to blend as well as packed with fruit extracts that help give skin a healthy glow.
First Impressions: I do not like this foundation. I've worn this several times to see if trying a different primer would help but there is no helping this foundation. It is not full coverage, medium coverage at best, doesn't layer well and clings to dry patches of skin. Even set with powder and a setting spray, this still seperated on my skin, something I'd expect on a warmer day but this was on one of our cooler days. It's one of those products that had the ability to be a fantastic high street option but unfortunately fell at the last hurdle. I'll be sticking to my Rosie For Autograph foundation from now on.

Product: Make Up Revolution released a concealer version of their ever popular Fast Base Foundation Stick. The Fast Base Concealer is advertised a light coverage, highlight style concealer with a sponge top applicator and wide variety of shades. It can worn in conjunction with their Fast Base Foundation Stick or with another foundation of your choice.
First Impressions: I liked this concealer. It had a good amount of coverage, brightened the appearence of my under eye area and worked to highlight the areas of my face that occasionally look dull and flat with just foundation. What I don't like is the amount of product that this produces with just one click. It's great if you're going to place in multiple places before you blend it out but if you're like me and like to work in one spot at a time, this distributes way too much product and you'll be left with either a Casper-esque under eye or a build up of product in places where you didn't intend to place it in the first place.

Product: E.L.F. is a brand I haven't tried anything from. My local Superdrug has a stand, where I spotted their Instant Lift Brow Pencil and as I was in need of a third product for their 3 For 2 deal, I picked one up. It claims to shape, define and fill brows to give them a natural, polished look. It's a mechanical pencil that has a point tip and a spoolie at the bottom to brush through brows.
First Impressions: I'm actually on the fence about this product. The shade (Neutral Brown) worked well in my brows. I liked how they looked when they were done. What I didn't like was how much pressure I had to apply to get any colour to show in my brows. I had to press that hard, it felt like it was scratching through my brows and even then it was only for the tiniest bit of colour pay off. I think this is definitely one that I need to use a few more times before I properly make my mind up on it.

Product: The Maybelline SuperStay Matte Inks are some of my favourite lip products so when they released a variety of new shades I knew I just had to pick some up. Now I know that I've reviewed these before but with new shades also comes a range of potential problems, especially with these as there are quite a few darker Autumnal shades which are known for being troublesome when applied.
First Impressions: I'm in love! Out of the two shades I purchased (Founder and Groundbreaker), I'm was wearing Founder when I took this selfie. And it had been on for a good eight and a half hours. I was worried this was going to go streaky or patchy as it dried down but it didn't. It's highly pigmented and opaque in swipe, can easily be layered, wears comfortable, doesn't crumble or ball and even stayed put as I ate. This shade is the perfect Autumn/Winter shade and now knowing how well it wears, I can gurantee I'll be wearing this more than any of my other shades from the collection.

Product: Setting Sprays can be a very hit or miss product for me. The Make Up Revolution Amazing Make Up Fixing Spray wonders for me but I'm always on the look out for the next spray to try. And during the horrendous heatwave we had this Summer, I saw someone pick up their Sports Fix version of their setting spray and her make up looked flawless even though we were touching 30/31 degrees. The Sports Fix Setting Spray claims to have extra hold that sets make up down to a matte finish that should budge no matter how your day goes.
First Impressions: I quite like this product. I've worn it twice now, once with the Barry M foundation and once with my Rosie For Autograph Foundation. I wasn't too impressed when it was paired with the Barry M foundation but the second time I wore it with a foundation I knew made my skin look good, I was blown away with how well it kept everything in place. I wore this during a long, hectic shift at work and even after seven hours my skin still looked glowy, healthy and flawless. There was no seperation of my foundation, there was no fading and my skin hadn't taken on that powdery, cakey look that some setting sprays give after a few hours.

Overall I don't think was a bad result. I liked three out of the five I tried and will continue to use those three in conjunction with the rest of my collection. I'm really disappointed that the All Night Long Foundation didn't work out but I can find it quite hard sometimes to get high street foundations to work with my skin. The concealer is nice enough but I'm not sure if I prefer the coverage of the Conceal and Define Concealer more. I don't think I'll be using the E.L.F. brow pencil again, it scratched too much at my skin and took a lot of work to get any pay off. I knew I was going to love the Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink as I absolutely adore the formula but was worried about how this particular shade would apply. So it was a pleasant surprise when it applied as smoothly as it did. And the setting spray seems to work wonders when paired with the right foundation so I'll definitely be trying it out some more.

How I Change My Skincare To Meet The Changing Weather

 

September is well under way and with it comes a change in the weather which ultimately affects the way your skin both looks and feels. I for one definitely feel a difference in my skin when the temperature drops and the wind picks up. Which brings me to the topic of today's post, today I'm going to be talking you through the small changes I make to my skincare routine to beat the tight, dry feeling that the cooler weather of Autumn/Winter brings.

Richer, Thicker Cleansers 
During the warmer months I put away my richer, thicker cleansers, opting for more lightweight gel consistency cleansers instead. However as the weather starts to cool down I find that richer cleansers that are thicker in consistency work better in conjunction with my skin. Balm style cleansers are usually the best type for nourishing skin and alleviating any tightness or dryness the changing conditions can cause skin to feel. I prefer to use them a second cleanse rather than a first cleanse as they're more likely to work better when used on clean skin. Emma Hardie's Moringa Cleansing Balm is my all time favourite balm cleanser to use during the cooler months. It's nourishing, hydrating and soothing but doesn't leave skin feeling or looking greasy afterwards. A couple more budget friendly cleansing balms I enjoy are the Botanics Rosehip Hot Cloth Cleansing Balm and the Sanctuary Spa Warming Cleansing Butter. Both are very similar in texture and both work to clean and nourish skin whilst leaving behind a healthy lit from within glow.

Facial Oils
I love a good facial oil anytime of the year but during the colder months, facial oils; including cleansing oils, are my best friend. Essentially they work in the same manner as a rich moisturiser but oils sink deeper into the skin and work with the skin over a longer period of time. There isn't one oil that is going to work for every and all skin types, it's very much personal choice when it comes to buying/using a facial oil. You want an oil that will nourish skin that needs a little of TLC but doesn't leave skin looking greasy or cause your skin to create excess oil. My personal favourite comes from Palmer's and I know that Palmer's aren't known for their facial products but this Skin Therapy Facial Oil is a overlooked wonder product that does nothing but marvellous things for my skin. Yet as I said, it's all down to personal preference and buying the perfect product to match what your skin needs.

Richer, Thicker Moisturisers 
Now I know facial oils aren't for everyone, some of you are wary of trying them, some of you don't get on with them and that's where richer moisturisers come into play. During the warmer months I tend to use a lot of thin, gel consistency serums and moisturisers but during the colder months, I do like to alternate them with thicker, richer moisturisers. I do tend to reach for them more in the evening time and I'd advise you to do the same as it'll allow skin to stay hydrated even though you'll be surronded by the likes of central heating, wind, rain and cooler temperatures. A lot of brands sell their moisturisers either advertised for different skin types or do a variation of their moisturiser that is richer in formula and thicker in texture. Some of my favourites include the Simply Pure Hydrating Night Serum, the Simply Pure Rich Emulsion and the Liz Earle SuperSkin Moisturiser with Neroli.

Soothing Ingredients To Alleviate Dryness, Tightness And Redness 
Skin goes through a lot on a day to day basis but during the cooler months skin goes through even more. Temperature changes, rain, wind and central heating all can cause skin to become dry, tight and sensitive, which a lot of your exsisting products won't help with. So reaching for products that contain ingredients that are both nourishing and soothing is essential. Rosehip, Camomile and Aloe Vera are three of the more popular ingredients found in soothing products. Facial Spritzs, toners and moisturisers are the three best ways at including these ingredients into your skincare routine. I personally love the Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic throughout the colder months as there is something I just can't put my finger on in it that really works to soothe my skin as well as reducing the appearence of any redness I may have.

Try An Essence
Essences are one of the most underrated products in any skincare range. Yet they can work wonders for the skin, especially during Autumn/Winter. Designed to be used after toning and before a serum/moisturiser, a essence is a hydrating product that penetrates skin deeper than a moisturiser and hydrates skin for a longer period of time. They're always extremely lightweight which makes them perfect for layering under moisturisers or make up and make the perfect addition to any skincare routine. The B Essence Lotion is my personal favourite but brands such as Rodial, E.L.F., Kiehls and Nuxe do similar products that would fit right into your skincare routine. 

Five Things I'm Looking To Add To My Autumn Wardrobe

 

I'm not the biggest follower of fashion, I'm pretty much a girl who loves basics that can easily be dressed up or down depending on the occasion and my mood. This year that has changed quite a lot and I've really learnt how to step out of my comfort zone and try styles that previously I'd have steered clear of. And with that has come a clear idea of the kind of style I want to wear throughout the different seasons and the pieces I lack in my wardrobe that'll complete the look. And looking through my saved pins on Pinterest, I've noticed there is a few things I'm missing from Autumn/Winter wardrobe and today I'm talking you through them and maybe some of you will know where I can look to find the perfect piece.

A Leather Jacket 
I hate jackets. For as long as I can remember, I've barely worn a jacket during the colder months, much preferring a thick jumper and scarf to keep me warm. However this year I'd quite like to change that. It comes from having a ton of slogan type t-shirts that I won't get to wear during the colder months unless I have a suitable jacket to layer over top. The particular style I'm looking for is a biker style leather jacket or faux leather if we're being honest, there's no way I can afford real leather right now. Primark had the perfect one, slightly cropped with nice matte silver hardware and decorative buckles that weren't too cumbersome. It was only £25 and would be the perfect accompaniment to many an outfit I had planned out in my head. However Primark never seem to have it in stock or in my size and the other styles they have just aren't cutting it for me. Asos had a similar style jacket but it was longer in length and I'm on the fence about whether it would cut off at the wrong point and make me look like a sack of shit or if it would be a better length than the Primark jacket.

Knee High/Over The Knee Boots
Something I wanted to add to my wardrobe last year but didn't get round to it was a pair of over the knee boots. I love the aesthetic of how they look paired with jeans and an oversized jumper or even with a oversized jumper dress. I did worry that they wouldn't be on trend again this Autumn/Winter but luckily for me they are still a big trend and my search for the perfect pair has started again. I do find it slightly tougher to find the perfect pair as I have a bigger calf than most and many pairs of knee highs/over the knee boots don't fit over my calf. However I think if I look for a suedette/fabric style pair instead of leather, I should be able to find a pair quicker than before. And whilst I like the look of a block heel that would give my short statue a boost but for comfort a flat heel/boot would be appropriate. If any of you know where I could find some designed for larger calves that don't cost the earth, please let me know, I'd be beyond grateful.

A Low Heeled Everyday Ankle Boot
Now I know this sounds very specific but I have a very specific idea of the kind of boot I want. I already own a pair of nice heeled boots that I wear on nights out during the Autumn/Winter but I want something similar that I can wear during the day to smarten up an outfit and make me look a little more polished than normal. I'm not too bothered about the material whether they are fabric/suedette or leather but I'd prefer them to have a pointed toe and a block heel. I've tried on several pairs but they've all been either too high heel wise or they come too high up the ankle and cut my leg off in a weird place. Out of all the options I've looked at, the ASOS boots are my favourite and I think before the months out, I'll probably have brought them.

A Pair Of Blue Jeans 
Way back when I used to live in blue jeans, ill fitting blue jeans but blue jeans all the same. And then I just started wearing black jeans and haven't looked back. However there are times when I really want to pair a t-shirt, jumper or a hoodie with blue jeans and I just don't have in my wardrobe. Yet finding that perfect pair of blue jeans is like looking for the holy grail. I can manage to find the right wash/shade but they always either too small/big around the waist or too long a leg length. Or they fit perfectly fit me around the waist and the leg but are the completely wrong wash. I've been looking for since the beginning of the year and still I haven't found my perfect pair.

A Nice Handbag That Isn't A Backpack 
Over the last few months I've become obsessed with backpacks. They're so easy to use and allow my hands to be free to pick up even more stuff as I'm shopping. However as the colder months draw in, I'd quite like to get myself a new handbag that can be worn either cross body or just from the shoulder. I've seen a lot of okay designed handbags on the high street but not one has caught my eye. There was one in Primark that gave me major Prada vibes with it's constellation style design but I don't know if it's slightly larger size ruins it and takes away from the design. I tried to find a picture of it online but we all know trying to find pictures of Primark products online is like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

**All photos were found/taken from my pinterest and each has a link to it's original owner throughout the post. I'm just using these as inspiration/a way to show you what I'm looking for. I am in no way trying to take credit for these photos.

How I Motivate Myself

This year has not been my best year for staying motivated which stopped me from posting reguarly on here and on social media. This all left me feeling rather down in the dumps and a little like a failure, something I've found hard to shake off. But as we start the last quater of the year; the four months of the year that sets my soul alight, I find myself coming out the slump I seem to have been in for the last few months. So today I wanted to share with you a few things I've been doing to motivate myself and to keep myself motivated.

Stop Trying To Be Like Everyone Else 
I started blogging because I was feeling unfufilled in my job in the beauty industry and wanted to share my passion with others. And that was all well and good until I started panicking each month on what I was going to write about and if I could afford to buy all the new releases to review. I tried too hard to be liked by everyone and to fit into a hierarchy of bloggers that didn't actually exsist but that I believed did as they always had the most likes on Instagram and Twitter. And it stayed like that until the beginning of this year when I decided to start posting more about more than just beauty, other passions of mine like baking, lifestyle and surprisngly fashion. And it was the best thing I did. For me, blogging and posting on social media has become a lot easier since I stopped trying to please everyone and stopped trying to be like everyone else. Not all my pictures are stunning, not all my captions are witty and not all my posts people are going to like but my blog, instagram and twitter are mine and I've learnt it's more about what I want to post than what's going to garner me the most attention. And all of this combined has really made thinking of, planning and writing blog posts so much easier which in turn means I'm producing better content. 

Plan Ahead
Now this may sound more stressful and less than the best way to motivate yourself but for me it's been a real help, especially when combined with my previous point. Incorporating my other passions into my blog ideas has really helped me take the blog in a different direction, one that I'll continue to go down in 2019 with the possibilites of new ideas along the way. It also helps that I've cut out the worry of having to have the newest releases to review as well as cutting out the bullshit of wanting to please everyone which combined has made planning out posts a piece of cake. Autumn/Winter is when I really find myself inspired to create the best content possible and by the middle of July, I had a good idea of where I wanted to take the blog come September 1st. And as I write this, I already have the next few months planned out apart from a few spaces, including a few ideas for January jotted down so I don't forget them. Now before when I worried about pleasing everyone and having the latest releases to feature, I would be extremely stressed about having that much planned out but now that I've stopped worrying so much about what people like and posting what I'd be happy reading, the schedule makes me happy and I'm really looking forward to sharing every post with you from here on out.

Not Forcing Myself To Work 
As I write this, I'm doing the exact opposite of what I'm advicing. I've spent many a day and evening sat in front of my laptop, watching the cursor blink repeateadly against a blank screen. And the longer I stared at it the harder I found it to find the right words to start a post. Then came the frustration, the loss of motivation to write the post and then went my schedule and I was back to square one of feeling let down. Recently however I've really changed how I go about writing a post and when I settle down and focus on that particular post. Now I spend an hour to an hour a half a day working on posts, inbetween watching YouTube and catching up on shows I want to watch apart from Wednesdays when I dedicate my whole evening to working on posts and planning out ideas that I have. I find that this way of working on posts makes me more productive as I'm not forcing out a post ten minutes before midnight the night before it's posted and I create better content that doesn't just seem like verbal diarreha or ramblings of a mad woman. Working in this way also means that if I'm feeling it a particular day, I don't feel so bad about not doing it and when I do come back to the post at hand, I write better and in a more coherent manner.

Music, lots of it 
It's all well and good planning ahead, creating a space to work and setting aside a set amount of time each day to work but without music, I'm absolutely useless. There are not many thing I can do without music to motivate me or to accompany the job. And writing posts, baking or even making an effort getting ready are things that require copious amounts of music to get it done. And there are only two artists that put me in that headspace to work, focus and not get distracted by Instagram or Pinterest. For me as long as I've got either Johnny Strong or Carrie Underwood playing, I can easily write a good two or three posts in a row without getting sidetrack by social media. Music doesn't always work a motivator for everyone but if it works for you, I highly recommend using it to get shit done. It makes the task at hand seem less like work and you get to enjoy the work of your favourite artists at the same time.

Taking A Break Every Now And Again 
This last piece of advise is crucial and something I apply to all aspects of life, not just blogging. Breaks are a great way of refreshing both your mind and body. It's all well and good sitting in front of a screen staring at a blank screen or half written post but it's going to stay that way if you continue to force yourself to work on it. Taking a ten minute break from it will refresh any ideas you had, will refresh your mind and allow you to relax instead of getting wound up over the pressure of getting it finished. Going away, doing something different, then coming back to something is always the best way to move past anything that's stopping it's progress. For me if the words aren't coming, I switch over to YouTube and catch up on my watch later list for a while to just switch my brain off from what I'm working on and enjoying something others have put work into. Plus as I predominantly watch beauty videos on YouTube, I find it works as a gentle reminder as to why I'm staring at an open blog post in the first place. Breaks are also great for grabbing a snack or two and I for one am a big supporter of having a snack nearby when working on a post. 

Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Cookies

                                           

Tis the season for Pumpkin spice and everything nice. Yes I am that girl who enjoys nothing more than a pumpkin spice latte or six throughout it's limited run at Starbucks. And last year it got me thinking about how I could incorporate it into a cake or cookie of some sort. However the lovely Jane from Jane's Patisserie had already created the perfect pumpkin spice cupcake and I didn't think there would be any way to top it. But againt this year as I started to plan out my Autumn recipes, my thoughts turned back to how to incorporate my favourite autumnal drink into a baked good. 

And that's when today's recipe was born. These were literally an experiment, I didn't expect them to work or taste good but to my surprise they turned out brilliantly and have become a firm favourite within my family. In fact as you read this, I'm making another batch for my step-dad's mum as she adores them as well. 

Recipe 

150g Salted Butter, softened

80g Light Brown Muscavado Sugar

80g Granulated Sugar 

2Tsp Vanilla Extract 

1 Egg 

225g Plain Flour 

1/2 Tsp Bicarbonate Of Soda

1/4 Tsp Salt 

1Tsp Pumpkin Spice Mix 

Method 

1- Pre heat your oven to 180C. Line several baking trays with greaseproof paper/baking parchment. 

2- In a mixing bowl place the softened salted butter, granulated and muscavado sugar and beat until smooth and creamy. This may take a while as you don't want any lumps of sugar left in your mixture. 

3- Add the vanilla extract and the egg and beat again. This is where I take the opportunity to scrape around the sides of the bowl so that everything gets fully incorporated into the mixture. 

4- Sieve the salt, bicarbonate of soda and flour into the mixture. I advise either using a pre sieved flour to save time or if your using a stand mixture, taking the bowl off the base and sieving it that way. It's a lot less messy, something you'll be grateful for later. 

5- Beat until everything is combined and you have the makings of cookie dough in your bowl. It may take a few minutes to start looking like something but the patience is worth it. 

6- Add your pumpkin spice mix and beat again until combined. I usually start adding it to the mixture with my stand mixer then taking it off the base and giving it a final mix with a silicone spatula so that everything is combined and nothing is left sitting up the sides of the bowl. 

7- Now it comes to making your cookies. You can easily use your hands to roll little balls of dough together but it can be messy and more likely to make a smaller batch of cookies. I like to use a batter scoop to make my cookies, they just come out more even and you'll be able to create a larger batch of cookies as each ball of dough will be the same size. 

8- Bake in the oven for 10-15 mins or until the edges of the cookies are firm to the touch. Don't worry if the centres are still a little wobbly, they'll soon firm up once they're out of the oven. 

9- Leave to cool on the tray for a few minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack to cool completely. Allowing them to firm up on the tray means that each cookie is less likely to break when you transfer them to the cooling rack. 

10- Then all that's left to do is enjoy them. I quite like a couple of these with a cuppa whilst I catch up on my social media.

 

Five Things I’m Looking Forward To In Autumn/Winter

It’s September and for me that means one thing. Autumn and the season that sets my soul alight is quickly approaching. I’m not going to lie there are going to be quite a few Autumn related posts this month but there’s just something about the colder months that just bring out the productive side of me. However back to today’s agenda, today I’ll be sharing with you five things I’m looking forward to in the upcoming months. And I’ve challenged myself to not include Christmas or Halloween in those five things but they are two of my biggest favourites for the Autumn/Winter months, 

1- My Birthday 

Not every year do I look forward to turning a year older but this year I’m actually looking forward to turning 26 (that’s scary). I’ve got two days with my favourite people doing things that may not seem huge or exciting to some but to me is exactly the kind of way I like to celebrate my birthday as I’ve gotten older. One day I’ll be spending with Jasmin and the other I’ll be spending with my mum. Mine and Jasmin’s plans aren't finalised yet but me and mum have a day of shopping, lunch and a cinema trip planned, my favourite relaxing way to spend a day. 

2- Whitney Houston Show 

The next thing I’m looking forward to and actually have a countdown for is happening a week after my birthday. Growing up my mum listened to a lot of Whitney Houston, something that rubbed off on me and now I love a good sing along to her myself. So when we saw that there was a show coming to our local theatre remembering her and her music, including a world famous tribute artist, we just had to book tickets. I literally can not wait for this show, I’ve already started planning out an outfit in my head and what make up/lip colour I’ll be wearing. I do somewhat feel sorry for the person sitting next to me though as I intend on singing a lot, whether I’m in key or not. 

3- Pumpkin Spice Lattes 

‘‘Tis the season of Pumpkin Spice. Yes I am that basic bitch who loves a Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte in the Autumn but I’m not sorry and if you’ve ever tasted one, you’ll completely understand why. I never completely understood the hype until a couple of years ago but I now I do and I’m constantly checking to see when they’ll be gracing my local Starbucks. As I write this the US, Mexico and Canada can already get their hands on a PSL but we here in the UK seem to still have a wait on our hands. 

4- Autumnal Dressing

Sweater/Jumper season is rapidly approaching and I for one could not be happier. Dressing during Autumn/Winter is so much easier than dressing throughout the warmer months. Raining? Jumper! Windy? Jumper! Snowing? Jumper! There is not a single weather that a jumper can’t work with from September to February. The same can be said for a good pair of boots, unless they’re suede then I don’t advise wearing them in the rain or the snow. A flashy jumper or a statement boot can easily dress up a pair of simple jeans for a night out or make you stand out during the cold grey days (my favourite kind). And the best bit! For women who are self conscious of their bodies (like me), they don’t have to spend the next six months staring at minuscule crop tops or t-shirts that weren’t cut properly for women who have both boobs and a bit of a tummy. Jumpers make it socially acceptable to look like the Michelin man and that’s one fashion trend I can truly jump on board. I may have already brought several and plan on buying more due to Primark's amazing range of knitwear that's slowly starting to filter it's way into stores.

5- Seasonal Decorating

Now this last one is slightly cheating but it's something I do thoroughly enjoy about Autumn/Winter. Decorating the house for Halloween and Christmas are some of my favourite times during the colder months. To me there's nothing more relaxing than throwing on some pjs, making a hot chocolate and popping in a seasonal film to play in the background as I decorate my room and house to the point of taking it too far. I've already planned out how I want the house to look for Halloween and have brought several items to get it on it's way. And for Christmas I've already brought a new light that I think is going to look amazing when it's paired with everything else I have and all the new bits I do plan on buying because yes I have no self control when it comes to buying decorations for two of my favourite holidays.