Hey guys, so sorry for not posting anything in a while, I know that seeing as it's still the summer holidays I have no excuse but I've been on holiday a couple of times and just wanted to take a small break from the Internet (who am I kidding, they had WiFi at the place where I stayed, I'm just a superb procrastinator), but I'm back now! It's crazy to think that last time I posted it wasn't even August yet and now it's September and I'm due to start college in two days!! Definitely don't feel old enough for this! If anyone is interested I'm thinking of doing a 'First Day Of College Morning Routine' post, just in case there's anyone out there reading this who is also starting college and wants a few details on how my first day went and what I took with me.
Other details to mention since I've been gone... results day! The dreaded day that all Year 11's across the country awaited with bated breath. The two nights before results day I barely slept because I just couldn't switch off my brain from the fact that all my revision had been wasted and I'd failed everything, but when Thursday 21st August rolled around I could breathe a happy sigh of relief. For anyone who wants to know (not bragging or anything here but just for general interest) I got 2 A*'s, 6 A's and 2 B's, which I cannot even begin to describe how happy I am with! I know some of you out there may not have done as well as you hoped or even better than you hoped, but honestly I think that whilst GCSE's may play a huge part in your life right now, you can still be super successful in life without the best grades, and not everyone is good at written subjects anyway (lets not get into why I disagree with the education system, another time maybe!).
Now I await college with some excitement, apart from the fact that I have to get the bus by myself on the first day- which sounds so petty, but for someone who is the most awkward person in social situations, this is a huge obstacle- and all my closest friends are going to a different college. I still have some friends at the college I'm going to, but I feel like now is a chance to break out of my comfort zone of sitting at the back of the class by myself rather than having to talk to anyone, by going out of my way to make sure I can talk to new people and hopefully make some new friends! I'm going to try my best and hopefully I can update you with a good first day of college.
Monday 1 September 2014
Thursday 24 July 2014
Making Life Decisions
Up until now, my life has been pretty much set out for me. From when I was born until about the age of 16 my parents made most of my big decisions for me, probably because they knew that if I made all my decisions myself then disaster would strike. That's not to say that I've never made a big decision in my life; I had an input on what high school I wanted to go to at age 11, I chose what GCSE options I wanted to take when I was 14, and I chose to give up competitive swimming only recently, however all these decisions aren't massively life changing and I've never really had to deal with anything that life changing and important....until now.
Now I know some sixteen year olds can be so calm and carefree when it comes to choosing what path you want to take when you leave high school. Some people just know exactly what they want to do when they leave school; they know what college, what university (if they want to go to uni at all), what job, what family life, what house etc. If you are one of those people, then trust me, you have no idea how lucky you are! When I was younger my dream was to become the next J.K.Rowling and publish my own bestselling series of books, but as I got older I realised that, whilst it was a lovely dream, it was so out of reach as a realistic career choice, and so I put that one to the back of my mind (for now). Now I have absolutely no idea what job I want when I'm older, so that is a potential problem when trying to decide on what A-levels to choose.
For anybody who is like me and constantly worries about everything, especially the future, I think it's best to try and not worry about it too much. Of course, it does require a little bit of thought, but I believe that everything will fall into place when the time is right. I think that when results day does come around and I am holding that piece of paper with my results printed on it, I'll just know which college is right for me. Hopefully this will also work when choosing what university I want to go to, and once i know that I can work out what job will go well with whatever degree I'm studying. I try to plan things out, but I've realised that nothing in my life ever goes to plan, so I've given up planning and am just letting things go the way they're meant to, whether it's what I expected or not.
Also, if you're like me and can't decide what options to take to study, whether it be at high school, college or even university, just do what you love. You definitely don't want to be spending your teenage years sat in a classroom studying something you hate, especially at college where you have free rein over what subjects you want to take. At high school its harder because you have to do English, Maths and Science, but everyone gets their own choice eventually. I'm a crazy English fan so of course English Literature was my first choice for college, which made choosing other options a lot easier. It's also absolutely fine to change your mind about what options you want to study; I've changed mine round about three times and I think I'm finally happy with them (just in case anybody is wondering, I've chosen English Literature, Ancient History, Sociology and Drama and Theatre Studies). Always, always do what you want and what is going to benefit you, don't think about teachers or friends or family, because at the end of the day it's your life and you are the only one who has to go through it.
Life decisions and trying to make them as best as you can might not be easy; it generally scares me to think about all the other decisions I have to make in later life, but I know it's just something I have to get through, and I'd love to help you guys get through making choices too! Hopefully this has helped you stop stressing as much and has cleared your head a little bit so you can make the best possible choices for your life ahead!
Now I know some sixteen year olds can be so calm and carefree when it comes to choosing what path you want to take when you leave high school. Some people just know exactly what they want to do when they leave school; they know what college, what university (if they want to go to uni at all), what job, what family life, what house etc. If you are one of those people, then trust me, you have no idea how lucky you are! When I was younger my dream was to become the next J.K.Rowling and publish my own bestselling series of books, but as I got older I realised that, whilst it was a lovely dream, it was so out of reach as a realistic career choice, and so I put that one to the back of my mind (for now). Now I have absolutely no idea what job I want when I'm older, so that is a potential problem when trying to decide on what A-levels to choose.
For anybody who is like me and constantly worries about everything, especially the future, I think it's best to try and not worry about it too much. Of course, it does require a little bit of thought, but I believe that everything will fall into place when the time is right. I think that when results day does come around and I am holding that piece of paper with my results printed on it, I'll just know which college is right for me. Hopefully this will also work when choosing what university I want to go to, and once i know that I can work out what job will go well with whatever degree I'm studying. I try to plan things out, but I've realised that nothing in my life ever goes to plan, so I've given up planning and am just letting things go the way they're meant to, whether it's what I expected or not.
Also, if you're like me and can't decide what options to take to study, whether it be at high school, college or even university, just do what you love. You definitely don't want to be spending your teenage years sat in a classroom studying something you hate, especially at college where you have free rein over what subjects you want to take. At high school its harder because you have to do English, Maths and Science, but everyone gets their own choice eventually. I'm a crazy English fan so of course English Literature was my first choice for college, which made choosing other options a lot easier. It's also absolutely fine to change your mind about what options you want to study; I've changed mine round about three times and I think I'm finally happy with them (just in case anybody is wondering, I've chosen English Literature, Ancient History, Sociology and Drama and Theatre Studies). Always, always do what you want and what is going to benefit you, don't think about teachers or friends or family, because at the end of the day it's your life and you are the only one who has to go through it.
Life decisions and trying to make them as best as you can might not be easy; it generally scares me to think about all the other decisions I have to make in later life, but I know it's just something I have to get through, and I'd love to help you guys get through making choices too! Hopefully this has helped you stop stressing as much and has cleared your head a little bit so you can make the best possible choices for your life ahead!
Wednesday 16 July 2014
Current Nail Obsession
I am one of those people who can't have their nails bare, I always have to have them painted in an array of different colours. When I was at school I was constantly getting told off for painting my nails because at our school you weren't allowed to paint them, and so every teacher I had would have a stock of cotton wool balls and nail varnish remover specifically for me, because you could guarantee that if I'd taken it off the day before I would be wearing a fresh coat the next day! This was about as bad ass as I got at high school (I was a bit of a nerd), but my nails always had to be painted. Eventually I just resorted to using a really pale pink shade or even french manicure if I could be bothered in order to not have naked nails, but now that I'm off school I am free to paint them whatever colour and whenever I like!
I will quite happily try whatever brand of nail varnish I like the look of, whether it's well known or one of those cheap ones because you never know what you might like and what might suit you. However, recently I've been obsessing over Topshop's range of 'Matte Nail Varnishes', which I've been loving so much. I'd never really tried a matte nail varnish before, I tended to stick to the shiny ones or even go over dull ones with a glitter coating to make them stand out even more, but my friend always used to wear a nail varnish from the matte collection in the shade 'Easy Peasy', which is a grey shade, and I loved it so much that I had to go out and buy my own. Unfortunately, this is where my love for them began.
These are four of the matte shades that I thought I would show you, as they are my favourite ones and the ones I wear the most. At the moment I'm wearing the teal shade shown in the picture on my fingernails, which is called 'Loco in Acapulco' (loving the names of these by the way!), and I'm wearing the dark blue in the shade ''Dungaree Dream' on my toenails. Usually I'm a huge perfectionist about wearing the same colour nail varnish on both my fingers and toes, but recently I've been so lazy that I just can't be bothered changing them. Plus I change my fingernail colour so much that it would be crazy to also change my toes that much. I love the way these nail varnishes show up on the nails; when first applied they come out very shiny and much like the way a normal nail varnish would be, but as they dry they darken into a heavier, matte shade which I love. I think these were £6 in the shop or 2 for £9 which you can mix and match with the shiny nail varnishes if matte shades aren't really your thing, but I'm not sure if that offer still stands.
I think they are a perfect summer nail varnish, sort of an almost pastel colour but very vibrant and bright, so I would definitely recommend you check these out and give them a try!
I will quite happily try whatever brand of nail varnish I like the look of, whether it's well known or one of those cheap ones because you never know what you might like and what might suit you. However, recently I've been obsessing over Topshop's range of 'Matte Nail Varnishes', which I've been loving so much. I'd never really tried a matte nail varnish before, I tended to stick to the shiny ones or even go over dull ones with a glitter coating to make them stand out even more, but my friend always used to wear a nail varnish from the matte collection in the shade 'Easy Peasy', which is a grey shade, and I loved it so much that I had to go out and buy my own. Unfortunately, this is where my love for them began.
These are four of the matte shades that I thought I would show you, as they are my favourite ones and the ones I wear the most. At the moment I'm wearing the teal shade shown in the picture on my fingernails, which is called 'Loco in Acapulco' (loving the names of these by the way!), and I'm wearing the dark blue in the shade ''Dungaree Dream' on my toenails. Usually I'm a huge perfectionist about wearing the same colour nail varnish on both my fingers and toes, but recently I've been so lazy that I just can't be bothered changing them. Plus I change my fingernail colour so much that it would be crazy to also change my toes that much. I love the way these nail varnishes show up on the nails; when first applied they come out very shiny and much like the way a normal nail varnish would be, but as they dry they darken into a heavier, matte shade which I love. I think these were £6 in the shop or 2 for £9 which you can mix and match with the shiny nail varnishes if matte shades aren't really your thing, but I'm not sure if that offer still stands.
I think they are a perfect summer nail varnish, sort of an almost pastel colour but very vibrant and bright, so I would definitely recommend you check these out and give them a try!
Thursday 10 July 2014
Breakups
Hi guys, sorry for not posting in a while, there's a couple of reasons for that. For a start, my laptop hasn't been working recently so I've had limited access to the internet. Secondly, and probably more the reason why I haven't been feeling up to blogging, is that me and my boyfriend broke up. I'd been with him since January of 2013, so about a year and a half, and although some of you may be thinking that isn't a very long time to be getting worked up about it, it was my first proper relationship and one that I valued a lot. Plus, I'm still pretty young and we were young when we got together so for me it was a very new and scary experience, but one that I enjoyed very much. It wasn't a bad breakup; it was mutual and was decided between the two of us due to many factors, but I hope it will be one of those breakups that just needs time to get over. We are both in the same group of friends who go out a lot together and I wouldn't want us to not be seeing our friends just because of each other, so we decided to just be civil and friendly so we could still hang out and not feel awkward about it. At the moment I'm still in the whole 'attempting to get over it' phase, but I think that although it's very difficult at first, it will be manageable to get over, and I wanted to share my tips with you guys just in case you too struggle with a breakup, however bad it may be, and need some advice on how to deal with it productively.
1. Accept your sadness
At the beginning of the breakup, its perfectly normal to feel sad or even angry at your new ex. I haven't exactly been myself these past few days and its been hard to try and deal with all this new-found sadness (I recommend a good cry and a fresh box of tissues), but eventually these feelings will pass and you will start to feel better. The more you accept these feelings and take a full hold of them, the easier it will be for you to move on.
2. Don't become the obsessive ex
As much as you'd like to scroll endlessly through your ex's social media sites to find out anything about their new life without you, don't. You don't have to unfriend them or delete them completely from your life, unless you had a really bad breakup and that's what you feel would be the only way to get over them, but accepting the fact that they are still alive and are still trying to get on with their life just as you are is important. Obviously if you're going to break into tears every time you see their name pop up on your home screen, then blocking them is probably a good idea, but checking up on them every single hour of the day isn't going to help you get over them. Take a break and just relax; you don't want to make matters worse and cause more stress for yourself.
3. Vent your feelings
I've realised, after trying and failing to keep my emotions all bottled up inside of me like I usually do, that its important to let out how you're feeling. Friends and family will always be there for you to talk (or even rant) to, and will lend a comforting hug if everything has just got a bit overwhelming and will help you get over this bad period in your life. If you don't feel like you can talk to anyone face to face, I am always here to listen to your problems and can offer some advice if you need it. A journal or a diary is always handy if you have lots of emotion that you don't want to talk about to anyone, so you can write down how you're feeling without even having to talk to anybody about it. Whatever way you feel comfortable with, do not just keep all your emotions inside of you; its not healthy and will probably lead to you feeling even worse about it.
4. Avoid all contact
The one thing that I've been constantly wanting to do is contact my ex, but this would definitely not help the situation. Its so tempting to try and get in contact with your ex to talk about what happened and maybe plead to get back together, but the breakup has happened for a reason and the worst thing to do would be to try and change fate. Perhaps after a while when you've both had time to think things through and you both decide it wasn't the right decision to break up, then you can send a message, but straight after a breakup you both need time and space to clear your heads and to work out whether it was the right decision, so make sure you keep your distance for a while.
5. Don't look back in anger
Whilst right now you might be hating them or feeling very hurt, its important to remember that you did once love this person, and so don't pretend like the relationship wasn't important to you if it was. Denial is very common in a relationship, but everyone who witnessed you and your ex knows that you were once happy and that you once had feelings for each other, so trying to deny it isn't going to help the situation. Its best to recognise that it was fun whilst it lasted, but now its over and you should look back on the good memories fondly, instead of focusing on all the bad things that caused your relationship to fail.
6. Keep yourself busy
It's no good sitting around moping about your lost love all day, as this will only make you focus more on your sadness and make you feel worse about yourself. Try and organise to meet up with friends or family to take your mind off it, or take up a new sport or hobby to focus your mind on something else. Whenever you find yourself thinking about them, try to instantly find something to do, whether it be as simple as going for a walk or watching TV, anything instead of lying in bed all day, eating ice cream and listening to sad songs surrounded by used tissues.
So there's a few tips that I found useful when attempting to get over my breakup. I'll admit, its only been a couple of days and I'm definitely nowhere near over it, but keeping myself busy has helped a lot in the process of trying to forget about it. No one likes breakups, whether its mutual, not what you want, or you had to be the one doing it, but its a part of life and we all have to go through it. The sooner you accept that this relationship didn't work out but its just a chance to mature and move on to the next chapter of your life, the better, and trust me, I'm well on the road to recovery. I know this is a pretty personal subject for me to talk about, but to be honest I needed someone to tell and I thought that by doing this I'd also be helping others out, and if you guys want to know how my recovery process goes then let me know. Also, if you want any more advice or just someone to talk to, I'll include my email address below. Give me some suggestions about what you want me to blog about, and I'll be back soon!
Email: rachelsmorris98@gmail.com
1. Accept your sadness
At the beginning of the breakup, its perfectly normal to feel sad or even angry at your new ex. I haven't exactly been myself these past few days and its been hard to try and deal with all this new-found sadness (I recommend a good cry and a fresh box of tissues), but eventually these feelings will pass and you will start to feel better. The more you accept these feelings and take a full hold of them, the easier it will be for you to move on.
2. Don't become the obsessive ex
As much as you'd like to scroll endlessly through your ex's social media sites to find out anything about their new life without you, don't. You don't have to unfriend them or delete them completely from your life, unless you had a really bad breakup and that's what you feel would be the only way to get over them, but accepting the fact that they are still alive and are still trying to get on with their life just as you are is important. Obviously if you're going to break into tears every time you see their name pop up on your home screen, then blocking them is probably a good idea, but checking up on them every single hour of the day isn't going to help you get over them. Take a break and just relax; you don't want to make matters worse and cause more stress for yourself.
3. Vent your feelings
I've realised, after trying and failing to keep my emotions all bottled up inside of me like I usually do, that its important to let out how you're feeling. Friends and family will always be there for you to talk (or even rant) to, and will lend a comforting hug if everything has just got a bit overwhelming and will help you get over this bad period in your life. If you don't feel like you can talk to anyone face to face, I am always here to listen to your problems and can offer some advice if you need it. A journal or a diary is always handy if you have lots of emotion that you don't want to talk about to anyone, so you can write down how you're feeling without even having to talk to anybody about it. Whatever way you feel comfortable with, do not just keep all your emotions inside of you; its not healthy and will probably lead to you feeling even worse about it.
4. Avoid all contact
The one thing that I've been constantly wanting to do is contact my ex, but this would definitely not help the situation. Its so tempting to try and get in contact with your ex to talk about what happened and maybe plead to get back together, but the breakup has happened for a reason and the worst thing to do would be to try and change fate. Perhaps after a while when you've both had time to think things through and you both decide it wasn't the right decision to break up, then you can send a message, but straight after a breakup you both need time and space to clear your heads and to work out whether it was the right decision, so make sure you keep your distance for a while.
5. Don't look back in anger
Whilst right now you might be hating them or feeling very hurt, its important to remember that you did once love this person, and so don't pretend like the relationship wasn't important to you if it was. Denial is very common in a relationship, but everyone who witnessed you and your ex knows that you were once happy and that you once had feelings for each other, so trying to deny it isn't going to help the situation. Its best to recognise that it was fun whilst it lasted, but now its over and you should look back on the good memories fondly, instead of focusing on all the bad things that caused your relationship to fail.
6. Keep yourself busy
It's no good sitting around moping about your lost love all day, as this will only make you focus more on your sadness and make you feel worse about yourself. Try and organise to meet up with friends or family to take your mind off it, or take up a new sport or hobby to focus your mind on something else. Whenever you find yourself thinking about them, try to instantly find something to do, whether it be as simple as going for a walk or watching TV, anything instead of lying in bed all day, eating ice cream and listening to sad songs surrounded by used tissues.
So there's a few tips that I found useful when attempting to get over my breakup. I'll admit, its only been a couple of days and I'm definitely nowhere near over it, but keeping myself busy has helped a lot in the process of trying to forget about it. No one likes breakups, whether its mutual, not what you want, or you had to be the one doing it, but its a part of life and we all have to go through it. The sooner you accept that this relationship didn't work out but its just a chance to mature and move on to the next chapter of your life, the better, and trust me, I'm well on the road to recovery. I know this is a pretty personal subject for me to talk about, but to be honest I needed someone to tell and I thought that by doing this I'd also be helping others out, and if you guys want to know how my recovery process goes then let me know. Also, if you want any more advice or just someone to talk to, I'll include my email address below. Give me some suggestions about what you want me to blog about, and I'll be back soon!
Email: rachelsmorris98@gmail.com
Thursday 3 July 2014
Favourite TV Shows
Hey guys, so today I thought I would talk about my favourite TV shows, seeing as I have quite a few! Recently I've had a lot of time off because I finished high school about three weeks ago and so haven't had much to do during the day, so I've resorted to curling up in bed with my duvet and my trusty laptop, watching all the TV that has been recommended to me. I always struggle trying to find TV shows when I'm looking for them, so this is just a bit of inspiration for you if you too are looking for a new TV show to start. Enjoy!
1. Game Of Thrones
This is at the top of my list for one reason and one reason only; its the best TV show I think I've ever watched. Before I watched this I'd read a few of the books, just to get the general jist of what was going to happen in the series because sometimes TV can be a bit confusing, especially in Game Of Thrones when there's like five different story lines all happening in one episode. I loved the books and I'm going to try and purchase another one now that I've finished the series because I like to pick out the differences between books compared to TV. You don't even have to be a massive fantasy fan like I am to watch this series because there's definitely something for everyone, whether it be violence, gore, drama, fantastic acting or characters that you get so attached to, its the perfect television series to watch. It does require quite a bit of concentration due to the many story lines and plot twists that George R.R. Martin so cleverly created, but trust me, it is so worth it.
Warning: This series is rated an 18 due to the intensity of gore and (dare I say it) sexual scenes included in it, so if that isn't your thing then this probably isn't the series for you.
2. American Horror Story
Here's the series where you all sigh at me for being so generic, because everyone seems to be 'addicted' to this series recently, but I watched this about 9 months ago when it was still relatively unheard of. I am a big horror movie fan and although I jump at pretty much anything, I love the thrill and suspense that comes with watching these types of film. The opening sequences of the episodes are so much scarier than the actual story lines so don't be fooled, although its still pretty weird its not as bad as the opening sequence suggests. This show has three series' at the moment and is going to release a fourth in October/November time (eeeeeeep!) and uses different horror scenarios (so far we've had a haunted house, a mental asylum and a witches coven) with the same actors, just different characters, to try and scare the poop out of us. My favourite series so far would probably be Asylum, just because I am so in love with Evan Peter's character in this series, and the whole mental asylum scenario really interests me. However, I totally love Taissa Farmiga's style in Coven (she plays a witch called Zoe), so if you're like me who loves any item of black clothing, check her out!
3. The Walking Dead
This series was recommended to me by my boyfriend, who is obsessed with zombies. Whilst at first I was a bit put off by the whole zombie thing, because although I love a good horror I always thought zombies were a bit too far fetched (sorry zombie lovers), this series totally changed my viewpoint on them. Yes, the zombies in TWD are still flesh-eating killers who stereotypically drag their feet when they walk and make weird groaning noises constantly, but the characters who are attempting to survive in the new-found world are really in-depth and interesting, and have a way of keeping you attached to their story throughout the episodes. I was shamelessly addicted to this series and even shed a few tears when one of my favourite characters died (I won't name any names); you know its a good TV series when it makes you cry.
4. Skins
Here's where I let loose my inner teenage girl. I first started watching Skins about a year ago, so I was pretty late to jump on the bandwagon, but it was so easy to become addicted to. Every other series has a different group of characters who all suffer with different problems in their life, whether it be illnesses or drug abuse. Their controversial storylines are one of the main reasons why this series has been so popular over the years, that and because many teens can relate to the different issues that are explored. My favourite cast had to be the cast of Series 1 and 2, I'd say the cast probably got worse each time they got a new one but that's just a matter of opinion. Skins has finished now for good so you don't have to worry about not being able to catch up in time for a new series, because there hasn't been a new one for about a year. Whilst some may think its a bit extreme and that it presents teens unrealistically, the way I viewed it was that, yes it can be a bit unrealistic, but it was still pretty believable and had to be made as interesting as possible so more people would want to watch it.
5. Orange Is The New Black
I think I surprised myself by how much I liked this show, as it isn't really the kind of thing I would usually go for. There's been a lot of talk about this series recently so I thought I'd see what all the fuss is about, not expecting much, but I was pleasantly surprised by it. I like the use of humour in it, as it is a prison drama and so you expect it to be serious, and although there are some serious parts (what would a drama be without some serious scenes) the humour is very witty in parts and does make you laugh out loud at some part. I also liked the way it explored different types of sexuality and how others treat people who are different; it was very eye-opening and provided some unique storylines within the prison. I'm a sucker for a title with a great pun, and lets be honest, for a drama about women in prison I don't think they could've picked a better title.
6. Dexter
Everyone's favourite serial killer. I just loved this show purely because of its uniqueness, I mean who doesn't love a secret serial killer who works as a blood spatter analyst to satisfy his craving for blood? The way Dexter views 'socially acceptable' people compared to himself is very funny and witty in some places, and I like a TV series that can incorporate humour into it as well as being a cleverly written drama also. It uses suspense and action which kept me hooked on it throughout, and although I haven't finished all eight series' yet it makes me very happy that there are so many because I always have something to watch. I think this series is one for concentrating on, as are many dramas, so I wouldn't advise watching it if you just want to watch something in the background.
7. Downton Abbey
Did I mention I have a very varied taste in TV shows? I know I said I liked dramas, but period dramas are probably my guilty pleasure, and I will probably love anything with Maggie Smith in it (Harry Potter fangirl starts to creep in). It was my gran who introduced me to Downton Abbey after lending me the box set and I'm not ashamed to say that I loved it from the first episode. Okay, yes I get it that a lot of old people watch it and that's why teenagers get put off, but if you actually give it a chance it becomes so interesting, and more than just some rich people sitting round drinking tea, like I'll admit I thought it was at first. It's one of those dramas where you get so attached to the characters and get so mad with the ones you don't like, and the acting by a mostly British cast is just amazing, if I could be in any TV show I think I'd probably have to pick this one due to the variety in storylines and the contrasts in characters and the issues they are faced with. Definitely a guilty pleasure of mine!
8. Merlin
It'd be wrong of me to not include a childhood favourite. Ever since I first watched this on CBBC back in the day I grew so attached to it (and also because I had the biggest crush on Merlin when I was younger, wait who am I kidding, I still do) and this developed my love for fantasy adventure shows. I've always been a huge fan of history, if you watch my YouTube Channel in my 25 Facts About Me video I talk about history being one of my favourite subjects, and the Athurian legends that Merlin is based on just interested me so much, even at a young age. I feel as if I grew up watching this show, and last year when it finished for good I was so devastated, a year later and I feel like I'm still having withdrawal issues from it, but thankfully I have all the box sets! I think this one is definitely one you can watch with your whole family, as it appeals to anyone of all ages due to its friendly humour and genuine enjoyment factor.
9. Penny Dreadful
This is a relatively new series that got recommended to me by a friend. It combines two of my favourite things, horror and period dramas, and is based on the 'penny dreadfuls', a type of 19th century horror fiction, such as Frankenstein and Dracula, among others. So far there have been eight episodes and I've been really enjoying them, I like how they show a different sort of take on the legends and have a way of making them more eerie and mysterious. At first I was a little unsure on the series purely because at first it was a bit confusing and I couldn't make sense of what was going on, but maybe that won't be the case for everyone, so if you do watch it and end up feeling a bit like that don't give up straight away because trust me it does get better.
10. Pretty Little Liars
This was one of the first TV series' I ever properly got into. The one thing that keeps me hooked on this show is the suspense and mystery that is so cleverly portrayed in so many ways, as the characters have a way of keeping you in suspense throughout the episodes. The show focuses around four girls and how they deal with the death of their 'queen bee' of the group, whilst being tormented by an unknown force only named as 'A'. It'll be a very happy day when we finally find out who 'A' is, because just when you think you know who it could be, the story line changes and you're back to the beginning again, which is what I love about this show. I'd say that it probably appeals to females more due to the storylines focusing on female issues, but I'm not saying that boys can't watch it too! I love this series and I can't wait for the next episodes to come out, I think there's a new one tonight which should be very exciting!
So guys, that's it for my favourite shows, although I'm due to be starting Breaking Bad and a couple of others soon, so I'll let you know how they go. If you have any recommendations for me or anything you've watched that you've enjoyed, let me know!
1. Game Of Thrones
This is at the top of my list for one reason and one reason only; its the best TV show I think I've ever watched. Before I watched this I'd read a few of the books, just to get the general jist of what was going to happen in the series because sometimes TV can be a bit confusing, especially in Game Of Thrones when there's like five different story lines all happening in one episode. I loved the books and I'm going to try and purchase another one now that I've finished the series because I like to pick out the differences between books compared to TV. You don't even have to be a massive fantasy fan like I am to watch this series because there's definitely something for everyone, whether it be violence, gore, drama, fantastic acting or characters that you get so attached to, its the perfect television series to watch. It does require quite a bit of concentration due to the many story lines and plot twists that George R.R. Martin so cleverly created, but trust me, it is so worth it.
Warning: This series is rated an 18 due to the intensity of gore and (dare I say it) sexual scenes included in it, so if that isn't your thing then this probably isn't the series for you.
2. American Horror Story
Here's the series where you all sigh at me for being so generic, because everyone seems to be 'addicted' to this series recently, but I watched this about 9 months ago when it was still relatively unheard of. I am a big horror movie fan and although I jump at pretty much anything, I love the thrill and suspense that comes with watching these types of film. The opening sequences of the episodes are so much scarier than the actual story lines so don't be fooled, although its still pretty weird its not as bad as the opening sequence suggests. This show has three series' at the moment and is going to release a fourth in October/November time (eeeeeeep!) and uses different horror scenarios (so far we've had a haunted house, a mental asylum and a witches coven) with the same actors, just different characters, to try and scare the poop out of us. My favourite series so far would probably be Asylum, just because I am so in love with Evan Peter's character in this series, and the whole mental asylum scenario really interests me. However, I totally love Taissa Farmiga's style in Coven (she plays a witch called Zoe), so if you're like me who loves any item of black clothing, check her out!
3. The Walking Dead
This series was recommended to me by my boyfriend, who is obsessed with zombies. Whilst at first I was a bit put off by the whole zombie thing, because although I love a good horror I always thought zombies were a bit too far fetched (sorry zombie lovers), this series totally changed my viewpoint on them. Yes, the zombies in TWD are still flesh-eating killers who stereotypically drag their feet when they walk and make weird groaning noises constantly, but the characters who are attempting to survive in the new-found world are really in-depth and interesting, and have a way of keeping you attached to their story throughout the episodes. I was shamelessly addicted to this series and even shed a few tears when one of my favourite characters died (I won't name any names); you know its a good TV series when it makes you cry.
4. Skins
Here's where I let loose my inner teenage girl. I first started watching Skins about a year ago, so I was pretty late to jump on the bandwagon, but it was so easy to become addicted to. Every other series has a different group of characters who all suffer with different problems in their life, whether it be illnesses or drug abuse. Their controversial storylines are one of the main reasons why this series has been so popular over the years, that and because many teens can relate to the different issues that are explored. My favourite cast had to be the cast of Series 1 and 2, I'd say the cast probably got worse each time they got a new one but that's just a matter of opinion. Skins has finished now for good so you don't have to worry about not being able to catch up in time for a new series, because there hasn't been a new one for about a year. Whilst some may think its a bit extreme and that it presents teens unrealistically, the way I viewed it was that, yes it can be a bit unrealistic, but it was still pretty believable and had to be made as interesting as possible so more people would want to watch it.
5. Orange Is The New Black
I think I surprised myself by how much I liked this show, as it isn't really the kind of thing I would usually go for. There's been a lot of talk about this series recently so I thought I'd see what all the fuss is about, not expecting much, but I was pleasantly surprised by it. I like the use of humour in it, as it is a prison drama and so you expect it to be serious, and although there are some serious parts (what would a drama be without some serious scenes) the humour is very witty in parts and does make you laugh out loud at some part. I also liked the way it explored different types of sexuality and how others treat people who are different; it was very eye-opening and provided some unique storylines within the prison. I'm a sucker for a title with a great pun, and lets be honest, for a drama about women in prison I don't think they could've picked a better title.
6. Dexter
Everyone's favourite serial killer. I just loved this show purely because of its uniqueness, I mean who doesn't love a secret serial killer who works as a blood spatter analyst to satisfy his craving for blood? The way Dexter views 'socially acceptable' people compared to himself is very funny and witty in some places, and I like a TV series that can incorporate humour into it as well as being a cleverly written drama also. It uses suspense and action which kept me hooked on it throughout, and although I haven't finished all eight series' yet it makes me very happy that there are so many because I always have something to watch. I think this series is one for concentrating on, as are many dramas, so I wouldn't advise watching it if you just want to watch something in the background.
7. Downton Abbey
Did I mention I have a very varied taste in TV shows? I know I said I liked dramas, but period dramas are probably my guilty pleasure, and I will probably love anything with Maggie Smith in it (Harry Potter fangirl starts to creep in). It was my gran who introduced me to Downton Abbey after lending me the box set and I'm not ashamed to say that I loved it from the first episode. Okay, yes I get it that a lot of old people watch it and that's why teenagers get put off, but if you actually give it a chance it becomes so interesting, and more than just some rich people sitting round drinking tea, like I'll admit I thought it was at first. It's one of those dramas where you get so attached to the characters and get so mad with the ones you don't like, and the acting by a mostly British cast is just amazing, if I could be in any TV show I think I'd probably have to pick this one due to the variety in storylines and the contrasts in characters and the issues they are faced with. Definitely a guilty pleasure of mine!
8. Merlin
It'd be wrong of me to not include a childhood favourite. Ever since I first watched this on CBBC back in the day I grew so attached to it (and also because I had the biggest crush on Merlin when I was younger, wait who am I kidding, I still do) and this developed my love for fantasy adventure shows. I've always been a huge fan of history, if you watch my YouTube Channel in my 25 Facts About Me video I talk about history being one of my favourite subjects, and the Athurian legends that Merlin is based on just interested me so much, even at a young age. I feel as if I grew up watching this show, and last year when it finished for good I was so devastated, a year later and I feel like I'm still having withdrawal issues from it, but thankfully I have all the box sets! I think this one is definitely one you can watch with your whole family, as it appeals to anyone of all ages due to its friendly humour and genuine enjoyment factor.
9. Penny Dreadful
This is a relatively new series that got recommended to me by a friend. It combines two of my favourite things, horror and period dramas, and is based on the 'penny dreadfuls', a type of 19th century horror fiction, such as Frankenstein and Dracula, among others. So far there have been eight episodes and I've been really enjoying them, I like how they show a different sort of take on the legends and have a way of making them more eerie and mysterious. At first I was a little unsure on the series purely because at first it was a bit confusing and I couldn't make sense of what was going on, but maybe that won't be the case for everyone, so if you do watch it and end up feeling a bit like that don't give up straight away because trust me it does get better.
10. Pretty Little Liars
This was one of the first TV series' I ever properly got into. The one thing that keeps me hooked on this show is the suspense and mystery that is so cleverly portrayed in so many ways, as the characters have a way of keeping you in suspense throughout the episodes. The show focuses around four girls and how they deal with the death of their 'queen bee' of the group, whilst being tormented by an unknown force only named as 'A'. It'll be a very happy day when we finally find out who 'A' is, because just when you think you know who it could be, the story line changes and you're back to the beginning again, which is what I love about this show. I'd say that it probably appeals to females more due to the storylines focusing on female issues, but I'm not saying that boys can't watch it too! I love this series and I can't wait for the next episodes to come out, I think there's a new one tonight which should be very exciting!
Monday 30 June 2014
Friendship And Sandwiches
In friendship groups there are always different types of friends within the friendship group, e.g. the loud one, the arty one, the one with the funny laugh or the one who can never seem to stop talking (hint, if you can't think of this friend in your group, then it's probably you!), but there's always that one friend who, no matter how little you see them, you know will always be there for you. I noticed this only today when I had a quick trip to town with my friend Darcy- insert cringey year old picture of us here, I'm the one on the right-
and even though I haven't been seeing her as much now that we aren't at school together, I noticed today how she is always listening to me when I'm blabbering on about something, and I mean really listening, not just pretending like a lot of people do. It made me feel a bit bad, because recently I haven't always been there for her, and it made me appreciate her a lot more. She's really the only person in my life that I can talk to about anything and not get judged for saying it, and even though we've been friends for 12 years now and she was probably always there for me to talk to, when I was younger and going through a rough patch in my life I never really took notice of her being there for me, which I really should've done. If you feel like you're having a rough day, don't be blind to that one person who will listen to how you're feeling, no matter who they are because trust me, it helps so much to let your emotions out instead of letting them clog up inside you, and the person you're talking to will be able to give you some advice on how to deal with the situation.
When I was younger and in a much worse state than I'm in now, in terms of friends and my self esteem, Darcy was really the only real friend that I had. We were both the quiet ones of the group and we could never stick up for ourselves, which lead to both of us getting quite upset and needing each other for support. Now, a few years later, I definitely still look to her for support, even if I may take her for granted sometimes. She truly is a diamond in the ruff to me, and I'll always be thankful for everything.
Having days out with people who mean a lot to you really makes you appreciate things more. One thing I really did appreciate today was the Subway sandwich I bought, because food is always appreciated so much more when devoured on an empty stomach.
Mmmm, this was one tasty sandwich (as you can probably tell by the bite I took out of it). Is it just me who has to order the same sandwich every time they go to Subway? I like to live my life by a routine, and as soon as I find a combination or an order at a shop that I enjoy, then I will never try to find anything different to eat. Why try something else when what you've got is what you like?
For any of you that are interested, at Subway I order a 6-inch Hearty Italian ham and cheese toasted, with lettuce, cucumber and tomatoes, no sauce, usually with a coke and a packet of Tangy Cheese Doritos. Sometimes I feel like I'm hungry enough to manage a full foot long, but then I chicken out due to the fact that there is always an attractive male at the counter, who I'm sure will judge me if I order a huge sandwich. I'm not very good with change, so changing my Subway choice would probably not be a good idea, although maybe a possibility if I get braver in the future.
Looking back on my early high school life, it seems crazy that I survived those years the way that I did, because things are so different now and I couldn't be more happy about the changes I've made to my life. If you guys want me to talk more about my past experiences with growing up in a friendship group that was definitely no picnic, then please ask! I'm always up for talking about my personal problems and how I dealt with them, I just don't want to be talking about them if no one really wants to know!
and even though I haven't been seeing her as much now that we aren't at school together, I noticed today how she is always listening to me when I'm blabbering on about something, and I mean really listening, not just pretending like a lot of people do. It made me feel a bit bad, because recently I haven't always been there for her, and it made me appreciate her a lot more. She's really the only person in my life that I can talk to about anything and not get judged for saying it, and even though we've been friends for 12 years now and she was probably always there for me to talk to, when I was younger and going through a rough patch in my life I never really took notice of her being there for me, which I really should've done. If you feel like you're having a rough day, don't be blind to that one person who will listen to how you're feeling, no matter who they are because trust me, it helps so much to let your emotions out instead of letting them clog up inside you, and the person you're talking to will be able to give you some advice on how to deal with the situation.
When I was younger and in a much worse state than I'm in now, in terms of friends and my self esteem, Darcy was really the only real friend that I had. We were both the quiet ones of the group and we could never stick up for ourselves, which lead to both of us getting quite upset and needing each other for support. Now, a few years later, I definitely still look to her for support, even if I may take her for granted sometimes. She truly is a diamond in the ruff to me, and I'll always be thankful for everything.
Having days out with people who mean a lot to you really makes you appreciate things more. One thing I really did appreciate today was the Subway sandwich I bought, because food is always appreciated so much more when devoured on an empty stomach.
Mmmm, this was one tasty sandwich (as you can probably tell by the bite I took out of it). Is it just me who has to order the same sandwich every time they go to Subway? I like to live my life by a routine, and as soon as I find a combination or an order at a shop that I enjoy, then I will never try to find anything different to eat. Why try something else when what you've got is what you like?
For any of you that are interested, at Subway I order a 6-inch Hearty Italian ham and cheese toasted, with lettuce, cucumber and tomatoes, no sauce, usually with a coke and a packet of Tangy Cheese Doritos. Sometimes I feel like I'm hungry enough to manage a full foot long, but then I chicken out due to the fact that there is always an attractive male at the counter, who I'm sure will judge me if I order a huge sandwich. I'm not very good with change, so changing my Subway choice would probably not be a good idea, although maybe a possibility if I get braver in the future.
Looking back on my early high school life, it seems crazy that I survived those years the way that I did, because things are so different now and I couldn't be more happy about the changes I've made to my life. If you guys want me to talk more about my past experiences with growing up in a friendship group that was definitely no picnic, then please ask! I'm always up for talking about my personal problems and how I dealt with them, I just don't want to be talking about them if no one really wants to know!
Sunday 29 June 2014
Skincare/Makeup Routine
Hey guys, so this is my everyday skincare/makeup routine. This will probably change over time on this blog so if anyone wants me to update this routine as time goes on, just let me know! Obviously I may use the occasional different product as I couldn't show them all, and some days my skin may feel worse than others so I might use a face mask before my makeup or a different moisturiser, but this is the general everyday look. Enjoy!
1. Face Wash
I've been using this product for a while now, and it helps to wake up my face in the morning, especially when I'm having one of those 'ugh' mornings (you know what I mean), where I just don't seem to want to wake up. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who suffers from acne or dry skin, as this hydrates your skin and opens up any clogged pores.
2. Moisteriser
This moisteriser is a definite for dry skin. For my acne I was prescribed a cream, which although drastically got rid of my spots, did give me small amounts of dry skin patches. I wouldn't recommend this for people with oily skin, as the moisteriser itself is quite oily and liquid-y, but it feels so light and soft on the skin and cleared up any dry skin I had almost instantly.
3. Foundation
I would always advise using a moisturiser or a primer before applying foundation, as it helps to keep your skin healthier and less susceptible to breakouts. A primer is always useful if you need your makeup to stay on for a long amount of time. The foundation I'm currently using is the 'Maybelline Dream Satin Liquid' in the shade 'Light Porcelain', as I am pretty pale even in the summer, and I think this is a perfect foundation for this time of year. My skin recently has been a lot better, and I've been having less breakouts, and this foundation creates an almost airbrushed, light coverage, but is still able to cover up any minor blemishes I may have.
I apply my foundation using the H&M foundation and powder brush, which kind of speaks for itself. I have a different brush which I use to apply my powder, but I use the powder end of the brush for smoothing out my foundation after I have applied it, just to make sure I'm not looking streaky or that I've blended it all in correctly.
4. Powder
The powder I use is the 'Rimmel London Stay Matte' pressed powder, in the shade 'Peach Glow', which isn't too pale and gives me a light glow on my face. I tend to buy powders a shade darker than what I need, especially in the summer, as I don't use a bronzer and sometimes like to look like I've tanned a little bit! This powder sets my foundation excellently and stays on for long periods of time, although if I need it to stay on all day I will take a spare in my bag for quick touchups!
I apply my powder using a large powder brush, I'm not sure where I got this or what make it is because I've had it a long time. If I find out I'll let you guys know!
5. Concealer
I have been using this concealer since I was about 11 or 12, when my acne first started to appear. It is the 'Rimmel London Hide The Blemish' concealer in the shade 'Sand', and I just use my finger to dab it on any larger blemishes that I need to conceal more urgently. Recently I haven't had to use this as much due to foundation and powder being enough for me to cover up my spots, but it's always handy if I get one larger spot that needs to be concealed, and it will always be my trusty concealer!
6. Eyebrows
For my everyday look I don't use any blusher or bronzer, or anything else on my cheeks, as I like to go for as natural a look as possible. I never used to put anything on my eyebrows, apart from the odd brown eyeshadow, but recently I have been using the 'Topshop Brow Pencil' in 'Blonde'. The brush at one end helps to shape my eyebrows, as being too awkward to go to a salon to get my eyebrows done I prefer to do them myself, and the pencil really helps to bring out the natural shape and the curve I've tried (and failed) to enhance.
7. Eyeliner
When I was at school I never wore eyeliner, I just stuck to mascara for a more natural effect, but now eyeliner has slowly crept into my daily makeup routine, so I thought I would include it. I've experimented with many different eyeliners, both pencil and liquid, but the one I'm loving at the moment is the 'Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner' in 'Black'. I received this eyeliner in a magazine for only £2, which is an absolute bargain seeing as its sold for £12 in shops! I think I love it more than I should due to the fact that Alexa Chung created her own range of eyeliners for Eyeko, and come on, who doesn't love Alexa Chung?! The eyeliner is in a pen shape, so is perfect for the classic 'cat eye' or eyeliner flick that I've been attempting for so long.
8. Eyelash Curler
I've only recently purchased one of these as it didn't really occur to me to get one until last week, when I was getting sick of having tiny eyelashes that you couldn't really see even with mascara. I bought this one from Boots and I've used it a few times, and I can really see a difference with the shape and length of my eyelashes, plus I don't have to wear as much mascara in order for my eyelashes to show up, and so I can avoid clumping much more easily.
9. Mascara
Due to what I said before about my eyelashes being virtually non-existent, I use three different types of mascara to try and maximise the length as much as I can. I use the 'Collection 2000 Super Size Fat Lash Mascara' as a base coat, to lengthen them out from the eyelid to the tips and to add some definition to them. Secondly, I use the 'Rimmel London Volume Flash x10 Mascara' on my bottom lashes, as it has a smaller brush and does a great job at not allowing any of the lashes to clump together, as I find with my bottom lashes that they are more prone to clumping and sticking together. Finally, I go over both my top and bottom lashes with the 'Rimmel London Extra Wow Lash' to make the tips stand out more and to make the eyelashes look even longer. You'd think with all this mascara they would become more existent, wouldn't you? Thankfully, I only use one coat of each mascara on the lashes so they don't all clump together and end up looking like spiders legs.
10. Lip Balm
On a regular basis I tend to avoid lipsticks or tinted lip products purely because its a hassle trying to keep it neat and applied when you might not be in a place where reapplying it all the time is possible. One thing I hate seeing is chapped lips; it genuinely makes me cringe, so I use 'The Body Shop Born Lippy' in the flavour 'Strawberry' daily. I got given three of these lip balms in different flavours for my birthday last year and ever since I have been obsessed, they stop your lips from chapping, add a tinge of colour to your lips and have a delicious taste to them, all in one!
11. Wipes
I always make sure I take all of my makeup off before bed, even if I haven't been wearing much during the day, because you can guarantee I will wake up the next morning with a huge breakout. I'm sure we've all heard the horror stories about a girl who goes to bed with her mascara on and wakes up with her eyes stuck together, etc etc, and even though I try and be realistic about things, there's no harm in staying on the safe side, right? I've been trying out a variety of wipes, but at the moment I've opted for a cheap, supermarket brand that seem to do the job of taking off makeup pretty well.
12.Spot Cream
This last one isn't something you can buy from the shops. I went to the doctors about 9 months ago to finally get something done about my acne, and they prescribed me tablets and this 'Differin Cream', which I just apply to my face every night. After using this for a long period of time I no longer get huge spots with heads that I have to pop, and my skin has cleared up dramatically, which is always something to be pleased with. However, when I first started using this it did give me large patches of dry skin on my cheeks, so if any of you are prescribed this always use a moisturiser everyday, or only use the cream every other day.
Extras
Just as a little extra, I thought I would show you some of the products I use if I want to add a little something else to my face, or if I'm going for a more dressed up look.
13.Eyeshadow
I currently own two types of eyeshadow palette, which I hadn't ever really used until recently, due to me actually being able to apply eyeshadow at an acceptable standard now. The first palette I own is the 'W7: Beauty On The Go,' which comes with five different pop-out palettes that are then handbag sized, dependent on what colour you are wearing that day. I'm not sure if they sell this in shops anymore due to the fact that I got it a long time ago, but it is perfect for someone who is just starting to use eyeshadow and needs something cheaper and basic to start out with. I am a huge fan of neutral colours and I don't like to wear colours that stand out very often, so I mostly use the brown section of this palette.
The second eyeshadow palette I own is the 'Next Desire' palette. This was given to me as a Christmas present when I was about 13, so again I'm not sure if they still sell it, but I don't use the eyeshadow section of this palette much due to the fact that it isn't very neutral and is much more glamorous, which isn't my style at all. I have used the gold and silver part of this palette occasionally on top of a brown shade just to enhance it a little more and give it a bit more depth.
14.Lip Products
I also have two types of lip product that I like to use whenever its more of an important occasion.
The first is a lip palette, which includes six different tinted lip glosses in different shades. This is the second compartment of the 'Next Desire' palette I mentioned before, and just like the eyeshadow the lip products are very stylish and more for dressing up, rather than just your everyday look. Saying that, I have used each of the lip glosses quite a few times (as you can probably tell from the photo) and have really liked the results, as they give a very professional shine to your lips and are easily applied. This part of the compartment also comes with a highlighter and a bronzer, both of which I only use for special occasions but liked the results of.
The second product is the 'Topshop Lips' in the shade 'Brighton Rock'. I got given this for my birthday a few weeks ago and was very pleased with the result. I'm not much of a bright lipstick sort of person; I tend to stick to the dark reds if any shade at all, but I thought this particular lipstick looked great for the summer. It is a lipstick with a very matte finish and has almost no shine to it at all, so if you like lipsticks that are more glittery then I wouldn't recommend this, although this does stay on your lips incredibly well. Over the next couple of months if the sun decides to shine a bit more you will probably be seeing me wearing this more often!
1. Face Wash
I've been using this product for a while now, and it helps to wake up my face in the morning, especially when I'm having one of those 'ugh' mornings (you know what I mean), where I just don't seem to want to wake up. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who suffers from acne or dry skin, as this hydrates your skin and opens up any clogged pores.
This moisteriser is a definite for dry skin. For my acne I was prescribed a cream, which although drastically got rid of my spots, did give me small amounts of dry skin patches. I wouldn't recommend this for people with oily skin, as the moisteriser itself is quite oily and liquid-y, but it feels so light and soft on the skin and cleared up any dry skin I had almost instantly.
3. Foundation
I would always advise using a moisturiser or a primer before applying foundation, as it helps to keep your skin healthier and less susceptible to breakouts. A primer is always useful if you need your makeup to stay on for a long amount of time. The foundation I'm currently using is the 'Maybelline Dream Satin Liquid' in the shade 'Light Porcelain', as I am pretty pale even in the summer, and I think this is a perfect foundation for this time of year. My skin recently has been a lot better, and I've been having less breakouts, and this foundation creates an almost airbrushed, light coverage, but is still able to cover up any minor blemishes I may have.
I apply my foundation using the H&M foundation and powder brush, which kind of speaks for itself. I have a different brush which I use to apply my powder, but I use the powder end of the brush for smoothing out my foundation after I have applied it, just to make sure I'm not looking streaky or that I've blended it all in correctly.
4. Powder
The powder I use is the 'Rimmel London Stay Matte' pressed powder, in the shade 'Peach Glow', which isn't too pale and gives me a light glow on my face. I tend to buy powders a shade darker than what I need, especially in the summer, as I don't use a bronzer and sometimes like to look like I've tanned a little bit! This powder sets my foundation excellently and stays on for long periods of time, although if I need it to stay on all day I will take a spare in my bag for quick touchups!
I apply my powder using a large powder brush, I'm not sure where I got this or what make it is because I've had it a long time. If I find out I'll let you guys know!
5. Concealer
I have been using this concealer since I was about 11 or 12, when my acne first started to appear. It is the 'Rimmel London Hide The Blemish' concealer in the shade 'Sand', and I just use my finger to dab it on any larger blemishes that I need to conceal more urgently. Recently I haven't had to use this as much due to foundation and powder being enough for me to cover up my spots, but it's always handy if I get one larger spot that needs to be concealed, and it will always be my trusty concealer!
6. Eyebrows
For my everyday look I don't use any blusher or bronzer, or anything else on my cheeks, as I like to go for as natural a look as possible. I never used to put anything on my eyebrows, apart from the odd brown eyeshadow, but recently I have been using the 'Topshop Brow Pencil' in 'Blonde'. The brush at one end helps to shape my eyebrows, as being too awkward to go to a salon to get my eyebrows done I prefer to do them myself, and the pencil really helps to bring out the natural shape and the curve I've tried (and failed) to enhance.
7. Eyeliner
When I was at school I never wore eyeliner, I just stuck to mascara for a more natural effect, but now eyeliner has slowly crept into my daily makeup routine, so I thought I would include it. I've experimented with many different eyeliners, both pencil and liquid, but the one I'm loving at the moment is the 'Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner' in 'Black'. I received this eyeliner in a magazine for only £2, which is an absolute bargain seeing as its sold for £12 in shops! I think I love it more than I should due to the fact that Alexa Chung created her own range of eyeliners for Eyeko, and come on, who doesn't love Alexa Chung?! The eyeliner is in a pen shape, so is perfect for the classic 'cat eye' or eyeliner flick that I've been attempting for so long.
8. Eyelash Curler
I've only recently purchased one of these as it didn't really occur to me to get one until last week, when I was getting sick of having tiny eyelashes that you couldn't really see even with mascara. I bought this one from Boots and I've used it a few times, and I can really see a difference with the shape and length of my eyelashes, plus I don't have to wear as much mascara in order for my eyelashes to show up, and so I can avoid clumping much more easily.
Due to what I said before about my eyelashes being virtually non-existent, I use three different types of mascara to try and maximise the length as much as I can. I use the 'Collection 2000 Super Size Fat Lash Mascara' as a base coat, to lengthen them out from the eyelid to the tips and to add some definition to them. Secondly, I use the 'Rimmel London Volume Flash x10 Mascara' on my bottom lashes, as it has a smaller brush and does a great job at not allowing any of the lashes to clump together, as I find with my bottom lashes that they are more prone to clumping and sticking together. Finally, I go over both my top and bottom lashes with the 'Rimmel London Extra Wow Lash' to make the tips stand out more and to make the eyelashes look even longer. You'd think with all this mascara they would become more existent, wouldn't you? Thankfully, I only use one coat of each mascara on the lashes so they don't all clump together and end up looking like spiders legs.
10. Lip Balm
On a regular basis I tend to avoid lipsticks or tinted lip products purely because its a hassle trying to keep it neat and applied when you might not be in a place where reapplying it all the time is possible. One thing I hate seeing is chapped lips; it genuinely makes me cringe, so I use 'The Body Shop Born Lippy' in the flavour 'Strawberry' daily. I got given three of these lip balms in different flavours for my birthday last year and ever since I have been obsessed, they stop your lips from chapping, add a tinge of colour to your lips and have a delicious taste to them, all in one!
I always make sure I take all of my makeup off before bed, even if I haven't been wearing much during the day, because you can guarantee I will wake up the next morning with a huge breakout. I'm sure we've all heard the horror stories about a girl who goes to bed with her mascara on and wakes up with her eyes stuck together, etc etc, and even though I try and be realistic about things, there's no harm in staying on the safe side, right? I've been trying out a variety of wipes, but at the moment I've opted for a cheap, supermarket brand that seem to do the job of taking off makeup pretty well.
12.Spot Cream
This last one isn't something you can buy from the shops. I went to the doctors about 9 months ago to finally get something done about my acne, and they prescribed me tablets and this 'Differin Cream', which I just apply to my face every night. After using this for a long period of time I no longer get huge spots with heads that I have to pop, and my skin has cleared up dramatically, which is always something to be pleased with. However, when I first started using this it did give me large patches of dry skin on my cheeks, so if any of you are prescribed this always use a moisturiser everyday, or only use the cream every other day.
Extras
Just as a little extra, I thought I would show you some of the products I use if I want to add a little something else to my face, or if I'm going for a more dressed up look.
13.Eyeshadow
The second eyeshadow palette I own is the 'Next Desire' palette. This was given to me as a Christmas present when I was about 13, so again I'm not sure if they still sell it, but I don't use the eyeshadow section of this palette much due to the fact that it isn't very neutral and is much more glamorous, which isn't my style at all. I have used the gold and silver part of this palette occasionally on top of a brown shade just to enhance it a little more and give it a bit more depth.
14.Lip Products
I also have two types of lip product that I like to use whenever its more of an important occasion.
The first is a lip palette, which includes six different tinted lip glosses in different shades. This is the second compartment of the 'Next Desire' palette I mentioned before, and just like the eyeshadow the lip products are very stylish and more for dressing up, rather than just your everyday look. Saying that, I have used each of the lip glosses quite a few times (as you can probably tell from the photo) and have really liked the results, as they give a very professional shine to your lips and are easily applied. This part of the compartment also comes with a highlighter and a bronzer, both of which I only use for special occasions but liked the results of.
The second product is the 'Topshop Lips' in the shade 'Brighton Rock'. I got given this for my birthday a few weeks ago and was very pleased with the result. I'm not much of a bright lipstick sort of person; I tend to stick to the dark reds if any shade at all, but I thought this particular lipstick looked great for the summer. It is a lipstick with a very matte finish and has almost no shine to it at all, so if you like lipsticks that are more glittery then I wouldn't recommend this, although this does stay on your lips incredibly well. Over the next couple of months if the sun decides to shine a bit more you will probably be seeing me wearing this more often!
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