University Beauty Essentials

Late nights and early mornings can take its tole on your skin at university. Late nights partying or studying followed by early lectures can give you little time for you to carry out your normal morning and evening skincare routines or morning make up routine.

 Here are the beauty essentials I would recommend you use at uni. 

All of these products are drugstore products and under £10 so really affordable for students. 

Eye Cream

An eye cream is an essential item for students. Late nights during freshers week, early mornings for classes can cause you to become extremely tired which can be shown through your eyes. Dark circles and bags under your eyes are tell tale signs that you are tired. This can be prevented or minimised by using an eye cream. 

The B. Energised eye cream from Superdrug's B. range is the perfect eye cream to help soothe your eyes and reduce puffiness. It is a gel consistency which soaks into your skin instantly refreshing them. If you put the eye cream into the fridge it chills it so that the cream feels cooler and more soothing for your morning eyes. 

Moisturiser

It is essential to keep your skin hydrated. On nights out you may wear heavier make up to last all night therefore keeping your skin hydrated before and after you wear your make up is essential so your skin does not dry out and gives you a smooth base to apply your make up.

If you don't like wearing foundation to university then having glowing, hydrated skin is the perfect alternative. 

Vaseline Intensive Care Advanced Repair Lotion is a thick creamy moisturiser that keeps at bay whist keeping it hydrated. This product states that it 'heals very dry skin in 5 days' and I 100% agree with this statement. This moisturiser is one to pick up.

BB Cream

BB cream is a perfect alternative to foundation. If you don't want to wear foundation to classes at university but also don't want to go bare faced then this product gives your skin a light coverage. BB cream is a thinner consistency so is perfect to quickly pop on your skin before class when you don't want to go fully made up. 

This B. BB cream is a light whipped formula that evens out your skin tone and brightens your skin. It gives a good coverage and can be worn alone or with a light layer of powder on top to set it in place. 

Lip Balm

A lip balm is a must have product. There is nothing worse than having dry chapped lips. Air conditioning in university classrooms can really effect your lips and dry them out. If you pop a lip balm into your pencil case then  it is at hand if you feel you need it during class. 

Blistex Raspberry Lemonade Blast lip balm is an extremely moisturising lip balm that provides a protective barrier to your lips. It also smells so good i could eat it.

Mascara

A mascara can easily wake up tired eyes and make you look more awake than you actually feel. If you wear no other make up to university wearing mascara can really change the look of a bare face. Mascara can really open up your eyes and is quick and easy to apply before you run out the door to class. 

Barry M Show Girl mascara separates lashes well giving you natural looking lashes. This mascara is perfect for during the day or on a night out. 

Concealer

Concealer is a life saver! Again another essential for those early mornings and late nights to cover up dark circles. It is also great for covering up any breakouts you get throughout your time at university.

The Collection Lasting Perfection concealer is a product i cannot live without. It covers up blemishes well and is easy to blend into the skin using a brush or your finger. The tube is small enough for you to take with you to touch up any parts of your face throughout the day. 

Dry Shampoo

If you wake up late or miss your alarm and don't have time to shower before running out the door to class then a quick spritz of dry shampoo can your saviour. It can instantly revitalize your hair. 

Batiste dry shampoo is an essential to have. The Batiste range consists of various products for different hair types and in different scents. It also comes in travel sizes so you can pop it in your bag and take it with you to use throughout the day.

Make Up Wipes

Make up wipes are an easy way to remove all of you make up and cleanse your skin at the same time. There is nothing worse than getting in from a night out and having to do a full night time make up removal and skincare routine when you just want to go to bed. Therefore grabbing a make up wipe to remove all make up is a quick alternative to your usual routine to keep your skin  clear and save you sleeping in your make up. 

Garnier Micellar Water make up wipes remove all make up in one sweep with little or no rubbing. Holding the wipe over your eye make up for a few seconds will break down the products and let you wipe it away easily. These wipes have all of the same benefits as the Garnier Micellar Water i reviewed here.

Spot Treatment

We all get those annoying spots that appear at the most inconvenient times. They can appear due to a stressful assignment, essay, group work, exams etc.

 Clearasil Rapid Action Treatment Cream reduces the size and redness of spots in a couple of hours. This spot cream is in a small tube so you can pop it into your bag and take it to university with you as it can be applied above and under make up. The light cooling gel cream works instantly to give you relief. 

These are a few recommendations of beauty essentials for use at university. They are all affordable products and available in Superdrug or Boots so easy to find. If you have any university beauty essentials let me know in the comments. 

Next Post: University Stationery Essentials.

10 Tips For University Freshers

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Starting university can be a hectic and nerve-racking time. You may be moving away from home, meeting new people, making friends are just a few things you have to deal with. Here are my top 10 tips for starting university. 

This post is number one in a series of university posts that i will be posting throughout September

1. Budget 

If you save money from the beginning you will have money for those spontaneous nights out and a decent food shop. You wont need to be stuck eating super noodles for the rest of the month because you have spent all of your money. Write out a list of all of the things you need to spend money on during the month rent, food shopping etc. Then when you have a total of money that you need to spend you know how much you have to yourself. Also keep money back so you have money to go and visit your friends who are at different universities. 

2. Go to all of the university induction sessions 

Although the induction sessions may sound like your worst nightmare after a night out for freshers week they ARE important. You will find out about your course and the modules you will be studying. Although lecture notes and tutorial activities may be online, you will not be able to get the induction sessions online. Equally as important you will meet people on your degree course and make friends! It is an easy way to meet people on your course so that come day one of classes you have someone you know as your flat mates may not be on your course or if you live at home whilst studying then this will help put you at ease.

3. Go to Fresher Week events

I am sure everyone knows what freshers week is and are really looking forward to it. Parties, pub crawls, celebrity experiences etc. It breaks you into university life and breaks the ice between you and your new friends and flatmates. It is the perfect opportunity to make the most of starting university. However freshers week is not all about the parties and nights out. There are plenty of daytime activities to be a part of. Both aspects of freshers week are perfect for you to meet other people at university and really get to know your friends and flatmates.

4. Don’t take anything to university that you don’t mind being broken, ruined or lost.

One thing you have to remember is that not everyone is going to be as careful with your things as you are. Don’t take that mug or wine glass that you love and would hate if someone chipped or smashed it. Similarly with make up products or clothing. Don’t take that MAC lipstick that you cannot live without or other high end make up products or dresses that you love. As someone may ask to borrow them and spill something on the dress or lose the make up product on a night out. There are lots of dupe make up products you can take and are cheaper to replace if they get lost.

5. Go to class prepared.

You can NEVER have enough stationery. University is very different to school. If you don’t go to class prepared with pens, notebooks, lecture notes etc then the lecturer will assume you don’t want to be there. They don’t have time to hand out pens and paper. It is totally understandable if you forget once but try to lay everything out the night before. There is so much stationery in shops so stock up so you are always prepared.

6. Don’t turn up late to tutorials or lectures.

There is nothing worse than walking into a lecture theater that seats 250-300 people late and everyone turns and looks at the person who came in late. The lecturer may not know everyone’s names however they will always remember your face if you come in late.

7. Know your limits

Don’t be afraid to say no. If you don’t want to go on a night out then you  DO NOT need to go. You will not be the only person who does not go out every night for freshers week and some people are under 18 so can’t go out, you don’t need to worry about it!

8. Take some homely things to decorate your new room. 

Student accommodation bedrooms are very plain and basic so take some things with you to decorate your room and make it feel more homely. Framed pictures of memories with family and friends and fairy lights are perfect to put your stamp on your new room. You may not feel as home sick if you decorate your uni room like your room at home. 

9. Learn to put up with other people's mess. 

You may be a very clean and tidy person however your flatmates may not be. Therefore you need to make allowances for this. Create a cleaning rota where one person does the cleaning each day is fair. That way it is not left to one person. Your flat will be a nicer place to stay in if it is kept clean and tidy. 

10. Have fun 

The number one thing to remember whilst you are at university is to have fun. As well as being at university to learn and study you will have a great time and a lot of fun. Meeting new people, new friends, new experiences. It is something completely different so make the most of it as the time flies by.

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Those are my top 10 tips for freshers. Keep these in mind (especially number 10) when you are settling in. It wont be too long until you are fully settled in and you will be wondering what you were so nervous about. Good luck and enjoy your first day!

Next Post: University Beauty Essentials

My favourite foundation - L'Oreal True Match

L'Oreal True Match is undoubtedly my favourite foundation. 





L'Oreal True Match comes in 23 shades suiting all skin tones.

This foundation matches the colour of your skin as well as the texture meaning that it can easily cover up any blemishes or break outs on your skin leaving your skin looking natural and flawless. 

Although this is a liquid foundation it is not a greasy, thin consistency. It is a creamy medium consistency that gives good coverage alone and can be built up to give a fuller coverage. I would say that this is a medium coverage foundation. 

I'm the past I've never been able to find a foundation light enough for my skin (when i don't have fake tan on) however True Match caters for this problem as they have created light shades to suit the palest of skin.

L'Oreal offer a skin testing tool on their website so you can find out which foundation colour is for you by answering a few easy multiple choice questions. Within 1 minute you will know which foundation colour is for you. This tool can be found by visiting their website here.

The foundation is very easy to blend into your skin. I use my Real Techniques Buffing Brush to buff the product into my skin. This leaves my skin looking flawless no matter how badly my skin looks underneath. The product blends perfectly into the oily parts of my skin and blends over the dry patches without the foundation sticking to them and drying them out further. 

This bottle of foundation lasts a very long time, you definitely get your moneys worth. I apply one pump to my face in the morning and never need to re-apply it throughout the day. The cost for a bottle of this product is £9.99 and worth every penny. 

The packaging of the product makes it look like a high end expensive foundation. £9.99 may seem like a lot for a foundation but it is worth it. The foundation comes in a glass bottle with a silver pump and a plastic cap. I have never needed to clean the pump as i have never experienced the product clogging. The bottle is small enough to that you can take it on holiday, for an overnight stay or weekend break. 

On a daily basis for a base I apply one pump of the foundation to my skin buffing it in before applying a light layer of powder to set it into place. I find that this lasts the whole day and when taking my makeup off at night I have some foundation on my cotton pad meaning that the foundation has remained on my skin the whole day and has not slid off or sunk into my skin throughout the day.

If I am going out at night to a party, event, clubbing etc then I will apply a primer under my foundation then apply the foundation in the same way mentioned above. This ensures that my foundation stays in place no matter how warm the place is. 

This foundation Is the best one that I have found. My shade matches my skins colour and texture perfectly and remains on my skin the whole day. I have just finished a bottle of this foundation and will not be hesitating in buying another one. It has become a product that I cannot live without. 

Next post: A Little Bit Of Skincare. 

Little Mix - Jesy Nails || Nails

As you all know from my Primark Nails post (here) i am a big lover of false nails. These Elegant Touch by Little Mix 'Jesy' inspired nails are another set to add to my love list. 


These Little Mix nails are not new onto the market, they have been around for a while, i have just never tried them. Whilst perusing the nail section in Boots (as i always do) theses nails really jumped out at me and i had to try them. 

The Little Mix girls have 2 sets of nails each that are based on each individual girls style. I love all of the nails that the girls have created. They are all very out there nails that are guaranteed to stand out and receive compliments on them.





Out of all of the nails to choose from i chose Jesy's nails. This was because of the 3D embellishments on the nails and they really stood out to me. 

These nails have either a black or silver base. All of the silver based nails are plain with no embellishments. The black nails are the stand out ones as among some plain black nails there are others with chains, studs or spikes on them drawing attention to these nails. 

I wore these nails for 12 days and I only needed to re-glue one or two nails from them falling off. During the time i was wearing them none of the studs, chains or spikes fell off the nails. Only at the end of the time i was wearing them did the chain begin to tarnish. 

                                      

Each pack of nails contains 24 nails of various sizes, adhesive tabs and a nail file. Like the Primark nails these are the perfect size and contain a real variety of sizes for all nail beds. I did not use the adhesive tabs that the nails came with because I don't find them sticky enough to keep the nails on for any length of time. However I do understand why adhesive tabs are included in the pack rather than nail glue as a lot of Little Mix's fans are young and they would not be able to buy the nails with glue if they were under the age of 16. I used nail glue that i had bought separately and it worked perfectly with the nails. 

These nails are definitely on my love list for fake nails and if you are looking for highly embellished nails for a special occasion of just to add something different or extra glamour to an outfit then these are perfect for you. 

Next post: A little bit of make up  

Garnier Micellar Water Review

Garnier 'original' micellar water

Say goodbye to numerous steps when it comes to cleansing your skin. Garnier micellar water takes all the steps of cleansing and combines them into one.

Garnier micellar water is a very simple yet effective way to cleanse skin and remove makeup. The product is as thin as water and very light on the skin. It is refreshing and soothing which is suitable to use both in the mornings and evenings for a quick way to maintain your skin.

The light formula contains micelles which pick up makeup and target impurities from your skin, makeup is removed in one sweep.

The formula is gentle on the skin meaning it is suitable for all skin types including very sensitive skin. The product does not irritate sensitive skin as it does not require any rubbing to remove makeup, there is also no smell to the product meaning that sensitive skin will not be irritated by any perfumes.



The product costs £4.99 RRP and contains 400 mls which equals 200 uses. The product lasts for a long time so for the price of £4.99 it is a a bargain this product.

As well as the original Garnier Micellar water (the clear bottle with the pink lid) there are other products in the range. 

Garnier also offer a Pure Active micellar water which has all of the same benefits as the original one however it is aimed at combination to oily skin. I have combination to oily skin however I did not like this one as much as the original one as I found it very drying on my skin. 

There is also a green bottle which is aimed at sensitive skin.

Garnier micellar water for sensitive skin

Garnier micellar water for oily skin

As well as bottled micellar water Garnier have micellar wipes which are a quick and easy way to remove makeup and cleanse skin which are perfect for travel rather than carrying around a bottle of micellar water. 



This product may not look much in the bottle but it is the perfect product for cleansing all skin types. The soothing and refreshing formula gives your skin the feeling of a facial every morning and evening. This is a product that everyone needs to try and will instantly love. 

Let me know if you have used this product and what you thought of it.

Next post: A little bit of nails. 

Real Techniques Brushes

Real Techniques was established in 2011 by makeup gurus Samantha and Nic Chapman. They created a wide range of brushes to create a perfect flawless makeup look.

These brushes are so light meaning they are easy to carry around with you if you are travelling or need to touch up make up throughout the day. The brush handles are colour coded making it easy to identify the collection or specific brush that you are looking for. The brushes have a rubber handle right at the end of the brush meaning you can hold the brush there whilst applying your make up giving you the option of applying make up lightly with more precision. 

I recently purchased the Core Collection face brushes, the Eye Starter Kit and the Stippling brush. These brushes have completely transformed my makeup application and routine. 

The Core Collection

This collection of brushes contains:

• Contour Brush
• Pointed Foundation Brush
• Detailer Brush 
• Buffing Brush

These 4 brushes come in a case which doubles up as a stand so they can be kept safe and pristine.

Contour brush 

This brush is the perfect size to contour your face. It delicately applies bronzer or highlighter to your skin in the right areas. The brush has longer hairs meaning that it can lightly sweep the product across your skin or be applied more heavily to create your desired look. 

Pointed Foundation Brush

This brush is thinner than the average foundation brush. It is thin enough to reach all areas of your face. I use it to apply liquid foundation in stripes across my face a bit like war paint, I then use another brush to buff it into my skin. 

Detailer Brush

This small brush is the perfect size for concealing any blemishes or areas that the pointed foundation brush cannot reach. I use this brush with a liquid concealer to cover up any problem areas on my skin. It gives a good coverage and blends in the product very well.

Buffing Brush

This is my favourite brush from this set. It is so soft on the skin and the perfect size. It has a puffy top and buffs in product perfectly. With this brush  the emphasis is on buffing onto your skin not into your skin. The brush buffs the product onto your skin rather than buffing it into your skin soaking it in so that there is nothing on your skin. 

I use this brush to occasionally apply powder but i use this brush to buff in liquid foundation into my skin and it creates the perfect flawless skin. 

Eye Starter Kit

This collection contains:

• Deluxe crease brush
• Base Shadow brush
• Accent brush
• Fine Liner brush
• Brow brush

This set of eye brushes includes 5 brushes which come in a case which doubles up as a stand.

Deluxe Crease Brush

This brush allows you to contour your eyeshadow with ease. It is a slightly larger brush but fits into the crease of your eye with ease. I have slightly hooded eyes without a prominent crease and i find it easy to create a smoky look with this brush. I have been looking for a blending brush for such a long time and this brush is perfect. 

Base Shadow Brush

This brush is so soft on your eyelid, This is a rounded brush making blending and application easier. It allows you to apply your eyeshadow flawlessly and quickly. If you do not have a lot of time in the morning or before heading out this brush can double up as a blending brush as it can smoke out eyeshadow effortlessly creating the illusion that you have spent hours perfecting your eye look. 

Accent brush

This brush is a tiny little brush that is perfect for smudging eyeshadow on the bottom lash line. It is also perfect for highlighting the brow bone. This brush may be tiny but it has magical powers!!

Fine Liner Brush

When it comes to eye liner i always use a liquid eyeliner pen or a kohl eyeliner pencil because i find them easiest to use and have always been scared to use gel eyeliner. However my fears have been banished with help from this brush. It is the perfect shape and length for applying eyeliner. With some practice i will master the art of it but the first time i used this brush it didn't look like an amateur had applied my eyeliner. Score!!

Brow Brush

This brush helps to give definition to your eyebrows. The stiff hairs on the brush allow you to easily push on eyebrow products without making them look too fake. It makes perfect eyebrows easy to achieve.

As well as the two sets mentioned I also purchased the Stippling brush. 

Stippling Brush

This brush is the only single brush that i bought so far. I bought this brush as i have tried out many buffing brushes and blending brushes for foundation but have never found one that i have really liked. UNTIL NOW! This brush has a large head with allows you to apply the foundation more heavily by pushing it onto your skin or buff foundation onto your skin more lightly. I tend to use this brush to buff foundation into my skin after applying foundation with the pointed foundation brush. I love the way that this leaves my skin looking and i feel that the foundation is well buffed into my skin rather than sitting on top of it. 

My favourite brushes from my collection are the Buffing brush, Stippling brush and the Base Shadow brush. Although all of the brushes are incredible. 

I can't believe that it has taken me this long to try out these brushes. They are definitely the best make up brushes that i have ever used and i know that after trying these i will not be going back to any other brushes, i will just be purchasing more!

Have you ever used these brushes or any other from the Real Techniques range? If so which are your favourites?

July Favourites

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I cannot believe that it is the end of another month and a month since I wrote my June favourites post. The months are flying by and there are lots more products that I have been loving. 

Here are my 5 favourite products throughout July.

Real Techniques makeup brushes. 

Some of my favourite brushes from my collection

I feel like I am 'late to the party' with these makeup brushes. They have been available since 2011 however i have only just bought some and realised how AMAZING they are. I have the core collection kit, the eye starter kit and the stippling brush. All of the brushes are so soft and apply my makeup perfectly. They have completely transformed my makeup routine and I would never use any other brushes. I have not got a bad word to say about them

Garnier Micellar cleansing water

This is a product that everyone needs to try. It may not look very exciting in the bottle but it is everything that your skin needs. It is a light skin cleanser which actively removes makeup (including waterproof mascara) whilst cleansing your skin. It feels very light and refreshing on your skin and dries in quickly without the need to rinse it off. 

The largest bottle is 400ml which allows 200 uses for the small price of £4.99.

Doughnut bun maker

From this......

To this.....

         

If you like quick and easy hairstyles then this is the accessory for you. This 'doughnut' allows you to pull all of your hair into a bun leaving it looking sleek and tidy. I always wear my hair like this to work as it ensures that all of my hair is off my face. If I am heading out after work I can easily dress up this look by adding a clasp, hair band or bow to my hair (similar to the style above). The 'doughnut' comes in a variety of sizes and colours to suit all hair lengths. 

VO5 revive me daily 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner

 I bought this shampoo because I was going away for the weekend and I didn't want to take two big bottles of shampoo and conditioner with me. I was a little hesitant about buying this product because it is a shampoo with conditioner built in and I can find these to leave my hair feeling greasy. 

However I was pleasantly surprised because this is totally different. The product leaves my hair feeling smooth and smelling fresh. Using this product it takes me half the time to do my hair as i am applying both shampoo and conditioner to my hair at once. 

This shampoo has quickly become my new favourite. 

MUA eyebrow pencil

I'm already a huge fan of the MUA makeup brand and this product is another one that I love from the range.

 I have never really bothered about my eyebrows before but I have began filling them to give them more definition. This MUA pencil is the perfect product. The product has a waxy consistency making it very easy to apply without tugging at your skin. The product coats hairs well, keeping them in place all day. 

The pencil comes with a small brush on the end which allows you to brush through your eyebrows before applying the product and once you have applied it. 

This is the first eyebrow product that I have tried and it is definitely a winner. 

        

These 5 products have undoubtedly been my favourites throughout July and I have used the majority of them for the full month and will continue to use them in months to come. 

Keep your eyes peeled for full blog posts and reviews on a couple of the products mentioned in this post in coming weeks. 

Next post: A little bit of makeup