My Weekly Outfits #1 - 15th-22nd April

I thought I would write a different type of blog post this week. Throughout this week I have been taking pictures of my outfits and what I have been wearing. Through this, you guys, will be able to see my style and the sorts of clothes I personally like to wear. All the outfits I'm wearing vary as it does depend on what I am doing on that particular day.

Hope you enjoy this type of post, and let me know if you did in the comments.

WEDNESDAY 15TH APRIL 2015

It was the hottest day of the year so far in England on Wednesday, reaching highs of 25C, which is so unusual for England at this time of year as we are so use to it raining constantly. However, I was not complaining. I always think the sun puts everybody in a good mood, and means I can get out of my jumpers and jeans and start to get my legs out! 

Although it was sunny, I didn't get to go out in it as I am currently revising for my upcoming A Level exams which are just around the corner, so I was stuck inside all day. I know I could go outside and revise but I always get distracted and so I am more likely to get stuff done in my room. 

In the outfit I wore my hair up in a top-knot bun, which is my go to hairstyle as it is super quick, easy and gets my hair out of my face. I wore my 'E' necklace from Accessorize, which was only £5. My top is from New Look and I got it last year. It is a coraly-pinky colour with black palm trees on it. It is super comfortable and slouchy. It keeps me cool and I don't feel restricted while I study. I am wearing some dark denim shorts from Dorothy Perkins, which I had forgotton about. I have had these for years but haven't worn them in ages.

I don't have any make-up on in this picture as I wasn't going out anywhere. 

                                   

                                       

THURSDAY 16TH APRIL 2015

It was much cooler in the UK compared to Wednesday. I went out today for lunch with my brother and dad so I wanted something comfortable and simple. As I wasn't doing anything else apart from lunch and studying, it had to be something loose and workable. I had a different style in my hair. I went for some plaits which I loved. They make it look like you actually put some thought into your appearance. I wore my burgundy droplet necklace from Turkey, which I got at this pop-up store in the town and I love it. I paired that with a Basic cream tee with grey specks in it from H&M, which is so comfortable and I love H&M basics tops, they are the best quality and never shrink when washed. Some simple black jeans from Primark which I rolled at the bottom as they are super long. The colour of these has washed out a bit, but I prefer that washed-out denim look anyway so I don't mind. I put some black pop socks on from Primark which are a necessity if you are wearing pumps but want socks on at the same time. Finally, a classic watch from Next which is relatively new and I love it. 

                                

Sorry about my revision cards on the floor! 

FRIDAY 17TH APRIL 2015

Friday's outfit was another comfortable outfit. I went to the cinema today with my dad to see 'The Duff'. I really enjoyed the film as I do love a good chick flick. However, my dad, not so much. I wanted to be comfortable as I was going to be sitting down but a little dressed up. I chose the same top from the previous day as it was not dirty, from H&M. These smart/casual red, black and white patterned trousers from New Look, which I love to wear to school. They are super comfortable and stretchy but fit really well. I wore some nude slip-on socks from Primark as I was going to wearing some pumps with these outfit. My accessories were my Next watch (pictured above) and my Urban Outfitters necklace.
My nails were Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine in Rose Hip, which is a really pale pink shade. Perfect for spring!

The pattern of my trousers up close

SATURDAY 18TH APRIL 2015 

I forgot to take a picture of my outfit on Saturday. I went to see my elder brother play rugby and it was also super sunny! I wore my hair down and straightened. I wore some black skinny jeans from Primark (pictured on Thursday) with the legs turned up. A plain grey t-shirt from H&M and a light lilac jumper on top as I wasn't sure it was going to be warm or not, also from H&M. I paired it with my Next watch and a necklace from Next as well. Sorry about the lack of pictures!                 

SUNDAY 19TH APRIL 2015

It wasn't really warm today. I spent the day studying, revising and writing essays. Yawn! I wore my straightened hair up in a ponytail. My outfit was this super loud and crazy thick jumper from Pull&Bear which is super cosy, some blue denim jeggings from Dorothy Perkins which are about 5 years old and some cute frilly mustard socks from Topshop.

                                      

MONDAY 20TH APRIL 2015

I had an inset day today, before I go back to school tomorrow (so expect to see more smart outfits for sixth form). Again, I was frantically at my laptop all day revising and finishing off these two essays which I have not written due for Wednesday. It was sunny and warm today, which was so nice, but I stayed indoors all day. I wore some blue and white patterned shorts from Primark which are actually new and I haven't worn yet. I wore a white t-shirt with a lace fringing at the bottom from New Look and some red and white frilly socks from Topshop. I had my hair in a top-knot as well.

TUESDAY 21ST APRIL 2015 

My normal routine was back and it was my return to school today. I had a driving lesson in the morning at 10.15am for an hour, and I was originally wearing a completely different outfit, however I changed when I got home as it was too warm. I opted for this checkered blouse with a peter pan collar from Primark and a black skirt, also from Primark. I added my Next watch, some black opaque tights from a supermarket and a gold necklace with stars from Accessorize. I returned to school in the afternoon for one lesson. Sorry about my hair in this picture. 

                                

My necklace up close

WEDNESDAY 22ND APRIL 2015 

The last day of my weekly outfits and I was in school all day today. I had my year photo and also my friendship group photo as well. I straightened my hair for this and also wore it down, but put it straight up as soon as the photos were over. I wore a cream flowy top from New Look, the same patterned trousers I wore earlier in the week also from New Look. I added some nude pop socks from Primark and my Next watch. 

                                   

                                      

What was your favourite outfit of the week?

First Impressions #2: Maybelline Instant Anti-Age The Eraser Eye

Another first impressions blog post for you guys as I enjoyed writing the last one so much. This blog post is all about the well-documented/well talked about concealer by Maybelline. 

I have heard so many good reviews about this concealer, so I knew I needed to pop down to my local Boots and purchase one for myself. 

                                

Packaging: I love the packaging of this concealer. I love the idea of the concealer having an instant applicator sponge and this is something so original and I have not seen on other concealers before. The sponge is super soft and comfortable to apply on the skin. The colour scheme of the packaging I also love. The burgundy/ red colours are simple and not too over-the-top. I also love the fact you have to twist the concealer in order to distribute the product. I find this gets the most out of your concealer without wasting any, and also, when you come to the end of the product, you are able to get as much product out as possible, compared to other concealers where you have to dip and then apply.  

Description: The description at the back of the concealer states: 'Micro-correcting eye concealer. Instantly conceals dark circles and fine lines.' As someone who suffers from extremely bad under-eye circles, to the point where they make me self-conscious and no foundation or concealer can completely cover them, I find I am probably not the most reliable at judging concealers. This is purely because I have tried so many concealers from the drugstore that other people rave about, like Collection Lasting Perfection and Rimmel Wake Me Up and although both these concealers minimise the darkness, they don't remove the appearance of dark circles completely. This concealer is the same for me personally. It is a lovely product and I really enjoy using it, don't get me wrong, but it isn't anything special from the other concealers I have used. As the description says and as the product is called, it is mainly focussed on the eyes, however you are able to use it on other places of your face. 

Consistency: As shown in the picture below, the product comes out in a creamy consistency. I have my concealer in the shade Light and I find this is the perfect match for me. The product comes out quite sheer on the skin, so I find you have to put quite a bit of product under your eyes to get the right amount, which I don't personally mind, however, for those of you who don't like too much product on your face, you might not like that. 

Price (reasonable or overpriced): £7.99. I would say this product is quite expensive for a concealer, compared to other very reasonable and just as good (maybe even better concealers) out in the drugstore.

Would I recommend it to a friend?: Yes, I think I probably will. Although I didn't personally get along with it due to my unusually dark circles, that doesn't mean that someone else won't like it. As I have said before, I had heard a lot of good reviews about this concealer.

Would I repurchase it?: No, I think I will be going back to my Collection and Rimmel concealers, but I have enjoyed using this.

Verdict: 3/5

Hope you enjoyed this blog post. Do you like the Maybelline Eraser Eye concealer?

What is your favourite concealer at the moment?

*All opinions are my own and all photos were taken by me. 

First Impressions #1: Rimmel Stay Matte Primer

I have bought a few new beauty bits over the last couple of months and I thought I would share my 'first impression' of each product. However, instead of doing a haul blog post that I have previously done before, I thought it would be a good idea to do one separate blog post for each product, showing you photos of each product and my honest opinion of each one. In this way, it might help some of you who have wanted to try out these products or want an honest opinion before buying it for yourself.

I always find 'first impression' videos and blog posts really helpful, as it allows me to hear other people's thoughts on these products and whether they are worth spending my precious pennies on.

Before I begin talking about the product, I will say that all opinions are my own and it is my honest opinion. Some products I may like and others I might not, so before making your own decision maybe look at other reviews before forming your overall opinion. As always, feel free to leave your own opinion below on each product and let me know of any other similar products that you love using as I am always looking for new products to try out and test.

                          

So, I recently bought the Rimmel Stay Matte Primer from Boots. I had heard a lot about primers and how they keep your make-up lasting all day and night, without needing to touch up in places. I know there are the more expensive primers from Benefit that a lot of people love, however that product was out of my price range, so I opted for a primer from the drugstore instead. I have never owned a primer before so I can't judge this primer against a previous one unfortunately. Also, I haven't heard anybody talk about this primer before either so I didn't have a opinion to follow. 

Packaging: The packaging is okay. It doesn't stand out to me or look expensive. It is a very simple design and doesn't have any other colours, apart from purple. If I'm honest, I don't really like the packaging. It doesn't look engaging or stand out on the shelf and if anything, looks a little bit cheap. 

Description: The description at the back of the tube states: 'Skin-perfecting primer can be worn alone, under makeup or on top to create a perfect matte complexion. Controls shine for up to 8 hours. Ultra lightweight formula minimises the appearance of pores.' The primer is not skin-perfecting for a start. It doesn't perfect my skin in any way. I still have the appearance of spots, blemishes and scars and doesn't perfect anything. My skin looks the same with or without the product on. 

Next, I have only tried this primer under makeup so I can only judge it on that. I feel like you shouldn't put primer on top of makeup as I would worry that it would move the makeup when applying it and make it feel heavy on the skin. I also haven't tried it on its own and I don't think I would ever do that either. As I have previously said, it doesn't do anything if I left it on its own and no one would be able to tell if I had primer on or not. 

The primer does not create a 'perfect matte complexion' either, instead it leaves my skin with a glow, which I don't have a problem with but it doesn't show up as 'matte' on my skin. 

The primer does control shine for a while. I haven't tried it for 8 hours but it is good at keeping my makeup on for a long time and also at controlling the shine on my face. 

I find the product quite thick and therefore you only need to apply a small amount to your face. As the description says, it does feel lightweight on the skin which I am very happy about. However, the primer does not minimise the appearance of any pores. 

Consistency: As shown in the picture above, the product comes out white, almost like a cream. It is very thick so you only need to apply a little bit to your face, otherwise it can become heavy on your skin.

Price (reasonable or overpriced): £5.99. I would say it is a little overpriced for this product as you only get a small tube, however you only need a little bit of product so it would last you a long time.

Would I recommend it to a friend?: Probably not, although this product does have some highlights, it has a lot of flaws. It does manage to keep my makeup on but apart from that, it doesn't do much else.

Would I repurchase it?: No, I will be looking for a different primer in the future. But, for now, I will keep using up this product as I don't want to waste it.

Verdict: 2/5

Hope you enjoyed this blog post. It is a little bit different from my usual fashion and style posts. I hope some of you found this post helpful and let me know in the comments of your favourite primers to use.

*All opinions are my own and all photos are taken by me. 

Get The Look: Alexa Chung

I have been trying to get these blog post up for so long now and I have been putting it off for so long. I love doing these type of blog posts, as I love taking inspiration from celebrities and trying to find a similar outfit on the high street for half the price. However, these posts do take a long time to produce and create, so sorry about that. The blog post is dedicated to the gorgeous Alexa Chung. I love Alexa's laid back style, but she still manages to look as if she has taken a long time to put together her outfit.

I was meant to put together 3 different looks on Alexa's style, but I haven't published a blog post in so long and I thought that you guys had been waiting long enough, so I only have the two.

Look 1

Black Curved Hem 3/4 Sleeve Blazer - £24.99 - New Look (Also in Cream and Shell Pink)
White Smart Cotton Shirt - £25 - River Island
Silence + Noise North Convertible Clutch Bag in Black - £32 - Urban Outfitters
MOTO Vintage Mom Shorts - £28 - Topshop

Alexa's first looks like it should not work, however, in a odd way she pulls it off. Alexa dresses the look up with a smart white blouse (a must have in any wardrobe) with a black staple blazer. However, she makes the look more casual with some distressed denim shorts and black tights. For accessories, she adds a black shoulder bag and a polka dot tie for a pop of colour. I love this look as it shows you that you don't have to keep your shorts for the summer but can wear them all year round. I found a similar look on the high street for you. My favourite items I found were the high-waisted shorts from Topshop which resemble mom jeans, but in shorts. I also love the bag from Urban Outfitters as it is a stable and would go with so many outfits, which can be worn smart or casual.

Look 2

White Oversized Dip Hem Longline Shirt - £14.99 - New Look (Also in Black)
Flippy Panel Skirt - £25 - Topshop
Silence + Noise North Convertible Clutch Bag in Black - £32 - Urban Outfitters
Black Pointed Platform Ankle Strap Heels - £27.99 - New Look (Also in Pale Blue and Blue Pattern)

Alexa's second look is much more smart than the first. Again, Alexa wears a white blouse with a gold-studded collar to add some dimension to the outfit. A black velvet skirt makes this look appear quite preppy. The bag, as shown before, is paired with some high heels to make the look more smart.

Hope you enjoyed this blog post. Let me know if you enjoy these type of posts and I will try and get into a schedule in writing more blog posts and quicker.

Updated Make-Up Bag Additions!

In a few of my previous blog posts, I have shown you guys what I had recently bought, make-up wise. I really enjoyed writing my thoughts and opinions on these products and as I haven't done one of these posts in a while, I thought now would be a good time, since I have bought quite a few bits over the last couple of months.

As I was quite late to the make-up scene, I haven't got tons and tons of make-up and most of these products I am about to show you are my own opinions and have been tried and tested. I had heard about some of these products from other bloggers and YouTubers and wanted to give them a try myself.

My make-up bag is from John Lewis. It is from the brand Catseye but it is not on the John Lewis website, so I could not provide a link and I'm not sure of the price either. I got it for my 17th birthday and I absolutely love it. It is really big and is supposed to be used as a wash bag for travelling, but I prefer to use it as a make-up bag. I really love the size as it enables me to see my make-up and means I don't have to rummage around looking for something. The picture on the front is a retro, vintage inspired picture of some women in old-style swimsuits and I love how cool it looks. I love this bag and it is perfect to store my make-up.

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation in 100 Ivory

An essential to any make-up bag is a foundation. This foundation has been repurchased for the second time illustrating that I love this foundation. First up, I adore the packaging. The glass bottle and vibrant orange lid makes it stand out in my make-up bag, making it easy to find, but also creates the impression of it being quite expensive, even though it is a drug-store product. I use the shade Ivory and the foundation is really easy to work into the skin and leaves it with colour and brightens up your entire face. The foundation has some glitter in it, which you cannot notice in the bottle or on the face but up-close you would be able to see it. This makes your skin look really nice and flawless. Another thing about this foundation I love is the fact it has a pump to distribute the product. This makes it easy to apply and means that you won't be putting too much product on your hand to use.                                          

Revlon Lash Potion Waterproof Mascara in 221 Blackest Black

My next item is a new purchase, I had never tried this product before or heard anyone talk about it before either. I saw this mascara on the Superdrug website for half-price and decided to order it. The packaging is quite cool with bright colours and a pretty pattern on the tube. This mascara is okay but I don't think I would repurchase it again. I found it quite messy to apply and the applicator was too big for my eyes. Once applied, the formula was clumpy and didn't have very good separation but was good on volume. I went for the waterproof mascara as I don't own one and I am pleased with this choice as it doesn't leave any smudging under the eyes, unlike some of my other mascaras. I will continue to use this mascara until it finishes, but I don't think a repurchase is in the cards.

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in 004 Sandstorm

Another classic make-up idea is a powder. I have the very popular and much-loved Stay Matte powder. I absolutely love this product and for anyone who has started to use make-up, I would highly recommend getting this product. It makes your make-up last all day and gets rid of any shiny bits, leaving a very 'matte' finish to your skin. I got the powder in 004 Sandstorm which is a bit too dark for my skin, but I do like it as it gives my face a slight bronze tone and adds a bit of colour without looking too much.

Collection Illuminating Touch Brightening Concealer in Natural 2

Another new purchase I bought online from Superdrug was this brightening concealer. I really liked how the applicator was a brush and you have to twist the bottom to get concealer out. This means you are not wasting any product and it makes it easier to apply to the face. This concealer adds a bit of highlight to your face and brings out your features more.

Rimmel Colour Rush Colour Balm in 700 Not An Illusion

I think I have spoken about this product before. I love these Colour Rush lip products by Rimmel as they are shaped like a massive crayon and are so easy to use and apply to the lips. The colour I have is a dark browny-red colour and really suits my skin tone. These lip products are super moisturising but also have a matte effect once dried. They last quite a long time but will probably need topping up every so often.

Barry M Showgirl Extra Lengthening Black Mascara 

I love this mascara from Barry M. Firstly, this mascara is so affordable for those of you that want a good lengthening mascara from the drugstore, get this one for only £2.99. It gives your lashes a great length and makes your eyes look so much bigger. Barry M have 2 mascaras, I have the 'lengthening' mascara but they also have a 'volume' mascara which I have yet to try out. This mascara is so easy to apply and is great for school as it gives a really natural look to your lashes.

Soap and Glory Supercat Extreme Eyeliner Pen in Carbon Black

Another new purchase is some black eyeliner. I have never owned eyeliner before, so this was completely new for me. I knew that I wanted to try some eyeliner out and experiment to see if it suit me or not. I decided to choose a pen eyeliner with a skinny tip to make it easier for myself, as I am a beginner in eyeliner. After multiple attempts, I think I am starting to get the hang of it now, however I don't think I suit cat-eye liner as it makes my eyes look really small, but with a small line across the lash line, it brings out my eyes a lot more. It is so hard to get the hang of, but after trying and failing, I have got my technique down and now it starts to look pretty good. If you have any tips on eyeliner, leave your advice in the comments, I would love to know how you apply eyeliner.

Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer in Classic Beige

I have heard so many good reviews about the Rimmel Wake Me Up and I have got to agree with them. This concealer is so good for under-eye circles as it brightens your under eyes and makes you seem more awake. This product is really easy to apply and has a creamy, thick consistency which is perfect for covering up dark circles.

Tanya Burr Lipgloss in Aurora

I didn't purchase the Tanya Burr products as these were a Christmas present from my cousin. I had always wanted to buy some of Tanya's products to try out as I had heard great things about them. The lipgloss I got was Aurora and is a summery pink colour. The consistency of the product is quite thick, so I wouldn't add loads of product as it can make your lips feel a bit clumpy and horrible. However, I apply the lipgloss with a few tabs in the middle and then lightly blend with my finger across my lips. This gives your lips a bit of colour and gloss, but doesn't make it too over-the-top.

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in Cool Medium 2

Another concealer! Another product I have heard so many good reviews about. The Collection Lasting Perfection concealer is ideal for blemishes, scars and spots that you want to cover up. I personally would not apply this under the eyes but you could if you wanted. This creamy texture counteracts redness and doesn't draw any attention to your blemishes. This has to be one of my favourite products I have bought so far.

Tanya Burr Nail Polish in New York Night

The last product in my make-up bag is a Tanya Burr nail polish in New York Night. Again, this was a present and I absolutely love this colour. I currently have it on my nails and the consistency is so thick that you could easily apply one coat if you wanted and not bother applying a second. This colour is supposed to be dark purple but once applied on the nails it comes up black, which I don't mind but just thought I would give a heads up. 

So, that's everything in my make-up bag currently. Let me know what your favourite make-up item is in the comments.                                

2 New Additions To The Nail Varnish Family

Not too long ago, I purchased two new nail varnishes from my local Boots store. As a nail varnish addict, I didn't really need any more polishes as I have one in every colour but I was tired and bored of them all so I decided to get two new colours.

Choosing a nail varnish is always a difficult task as you want to get colours and shades that you don't already own but you also want something a little bit different at the same time. As we are currently in Winter, I knew I want to get some darker colours and burgundy and red nails are my go-to colours so I knew what I was looking for as I went on the hunt.

I always pick Barry M nail polishes as they are my favourite, and in my own opinion, the best!

In the end I opted for these two colours...

Red Wine - Barry M

www.superdrug.com

Red Wine by Barry M is quite a bright red colour, which is quite surprisingly as it looks quite dark in the bottle. I was a little disappointed in this colour as I thought it would be darker and it was similar to another Barry M colour I already had but I will still use it anyhow. I went quite safe and picked the normal Nail Paint instead of going for a nail polish that is magnetic or glittery or cracks, as I just wanted a staple, simple block colour. 

Side Note: These are NOT my nails 

imaginationincolour.co.uk

The second colour I picked was...

Raspberry - Barry M 

www.superdrug.com

Side Note: These are NOT my nails www.bebeautiful-beautyblog.com

I absolutely love this colour. It is a pinky toned red colour and it is definitely more red than pick. It is a dark red which I love and I am currently obsessed with this colour. When choosing the nail varnishes, I was torn between both of these colours and in the end, I opted for both. Another thing I love doing when choosing new nail varnishes is looking at what they are called, as I am kinda obsessed with names of products as a cute name or unique name of a nail varnish, makes it 10x better.

I hope you enjoyed this blog post. Sorry it has taken me so long to post but I have been super busy with Christmas and New Year that I haven't had time to blog, but I will try and dedicate more time to my writing.

Let me know in the comments what posts you would to see from me in 2015.