shoes, socks and an update!

So as you can probably tell I haven't been posting on my blog much at the moment as I have been so busy. Being so busy from mock exams as actually made me ill, so unfornately I am feeling down in the dumps at the moment. So as I was saying I have nine exams to prepare for, coursework to complete and my exams start in just under two months. Scared is an understatement. So I can't say I will be able to update my blog regularly as of course revising and exams take priority, I will try to post as often as I can and things should go back to normal towards the end of June (I wish it wasn't that far away.) But don't worry I won't be gone completely but I can't promise I will be able to post as regularly.

Recently my old school shoes needed to go in the bin (Primark) which of course fell apart. So as I haven't got long left of School it made sense to buy shoes which I would wear in school and out of school. I knew already that I wanted some Mary Jane shoes and absolutely fell in love with these. As they are patent, I warn you- if you are interested in getting these- they hurt! They generally cut my ankles for around the first week, a good tip which I used was to stuff them with newspaper and they stretch out. They are now super duper comfy, I have heard Primark have brought out their own version which I can't seem to find anyway but will definitely pick them up when I see them. Of course you can't go to Topshop without picking up socks. I chose these three as I love frilly and simple socks. Of course like always they are such good quality and look great with converses or the shoes which I have brought above.

Have you been into Topshop recently?

Thank you for reading,

Olivia x

the 3 for 2 made me | Boots Haul

Firstly I just want to apologise for being absent for what feels like a long time but I have a valid reason: I have been preparing for my drama exam and took it yesterday so fingers crossed it went well. I wish I could say that was the last one but there is nine more I have to take this year! Before I start to go off on a tangent; I thought I would do a haul as Boots have had a 3 for 2 deal going on for a while now and last weekend I decided it was the perfect opportunity to buy some new bits- which I didn't need in the slightest. (Who can resist 3 for 2 to end up having four things in your basket but you intend to pick up two more things so you can benefit more from the three for two deal.) All these products have a sort of theme running through them, as I'm excited for Spring and Summer!

I am not usually a fan of Barry M nail polishes as I'm not keen on the brush. I have never tried any from the Gelly range so was intrigued as I have never particularly liked matte nails. The two shades I picked up were Prickly Pear which is a pastel lilac, perfect for the Spring and Summer and Lychee, a perfect nude. So far I haven't had time to try them however I can't wait to try these and hope to pick up more shades from the range. Another polish I picked up was from Essie in the shade Cute as a Button which is a beautiful coral which would look perfect in the Summer with a tan, I have wanted to pick up this shade for a while but I am always put off by the £8 price tag. 

I never felt an urge or wanted to try the Obey texturising spray from Space Nk and found the price to be absoutley ridiculous, I believe its £40 for the large bottle? However I have heard people rave about how the Charles Worthington is not only a dupe but it beats the original. This spray supposedly gives the hair a large amount of volume perfect for those girls who feel their hair needs a pick me up for it to look bouncing and voluminous.  I used this recently for a show in order to back comb and loved the results, I also can't believe how cheap this is,who needs Obey? (Plus may I just say it smells amazing.)

In my Spring Wishlist I mentioned how I always have wanted to try the Effaclar Duo by La Roche Posay and decided I would pick up the plus version which is a newer release from the line. As a teenager I'm prone to spots so I think this will be perfect for when I have a serious break out issue. 

Lastly I picked up a cream blusher in the shade 'Pinched' from Revlon a coral shade which has more of a wet consistency-similar to the Max Factor Creamy Blushers. A shade I have wanted to pick up for a long time but always put off buying I wonder why....

Thank you for reading,

Olivia x

A Place of Sanctuary

Everyone has that one place where they feel entirely comfortable and safe, no need to feel under any pressure or strain. In this place you feel instantly relaxed and calm after perhaps a hard day or week. My place of Sanctuary would definitely be my bedroom, of course I have access to the other parts of my house to relax and wind down, but the one place I have to be expressive is there. I love the freedom of being able to put my personal stamp on the design, I mean I could graffiti the walls if I really wanted to. (I also love the Bath but if I spent all my time in there I would be a wrinkly old person by now!)

This little place I find so important at the moment, as in around ten weeks time I will leave school forever and have an unbearable amount of exams to prepare for. I need a studying area. (Bye Bye Social Life.) Being the typical girl I am, I love to surround my room with things that reflect my personality so flowers, birds and other pretty accessories. Of course its not about the materialistic things but a happy vibe helps to create a positive mind. (I find white and pastel colours help to brighten my mood.)

What's your place of sanctuary?

Thank you for reading,

Olivia x

Spring Clothing Haul

Something I never tend to do is fashion hauls. When I first started my blog in May, I loved clothes and primarily thought that was what I wanted my blog to be about. However after reading and seeing all the make up reviews, hauls and new releases it took over my love for clothes, I would like to incorporate more fashion posts into my blog. I don't want to stop my makeup and beauty posts, I just want to include more of a variety its nice to change once in a while. So with Spring just around the corner- fingers crossed- I really needed to pick up some new clothes and the high-street has some really nice picks at the moment. I can see a big Primark trip happening soon! Have you seen anything you have liked recently?

 

Striped Tunic Topshop, a baggy oversized top which could be worn as a dress paired with converses or a pair of Chelsea boots.

You can buy here

I absolutely adore this wooly jumper from Topshop, not only is it super soft but it also has a lovely embellishment around the neckline, subtle and a perfect colour for Spring.

I couldn't find the pink colour but they still have the mint green and grey version which you can find here

I already own a pair of tartan trousers which I showed in my last fashion haul, as I got a lot of wear out of them and I hate jeans, I thought I would pick up another pair in a different pattern. These are from Topshop. You can find here

As I said above I need to take a trip into Primark as I only had a little amount of time in there before. They have their new Spring stock in and I saw this beautiful grey skater dress which has flowers and birds on it, I can't wait to wear this.

 I must admit I usually dislike River Island, and always walk out unimpressed however recently I have found some gems. Including these shorts which are quite out there however they are up my ally because one they are floaty and two I'm obsessed with daisies. 

 You can find these here

I never usually suit camis; I've tried Topshop, Primark, New Look and had no luck however River Island's I found, are the most flattering. I also picked up a spotty one which I had to return however I will pick it up again.

You can find these here

Lastly I thought I would include some accessories. I really love this hat trend- I'm not a fashion blogger the name has slipped out of my head- but these hats are perfect for the Spring time. I didn't want to spend too much on one just incase I didn't really wear it so I got mine from H&M which was very affordable.

I also purchase the new volume supersizing spray from L'Oreal which supposedly gives the hair super volume, I really wanted to pick this up as my hair has been feeling drab and in need of some TLC.

 

Have you picked up something recently which you've loved?

 

Thank you for reading,

Olivia x

Naked 3 Palette First Impressions

I didn't need it but its difficult to walk past the Urban Decay stand let alone the whole of the beauty department in Debenhams. I didn't need this palette in any way shape or form as I already have the Basics and first Naked palette, I think I have officially exceeded my limits with eye shadows but that will not stop me. I had never been wowed by the Naked 2 palette so I was over the moon to see a new release around Christmas time however I waited patiently until I could finally get hold of this beauty. This won't be a review as such as I have barely had it five minutes however I can say I am already in love. Like always Urban Decay are spot on with their shades and packaging, this palette has my name all over it.

Each of the Naked palettes come with twelve shades besides the basics which comes with a compact six shades. You can read a review here. Although these palettes may seem expensive for £37, compared to the likes of Mac and Nars eye shadows this palette is a great investment. The Naked one palette has a range of warm toned shades, the Naked two palette has a range of cool toned shades and the Naked three a range of pink toned shades. I am glad they took a different route with this third installment, although the shades are still natural its different from your usual brown or champagne colour. I really have no negatives about this palette so far, the shades are beautiful, buttery and slide onto the lid so easily. I can't wait to use these shades over the Spring and Summer months.

The palette also comes with a doubled ended shadow and blending brush which is definitely a step up from the brush given in the first Naked palette. Not only do I love the quality of this brush and find it usable, I also love the rose gold packaging and the fact you can see the colour build up on the brush- I don't like black make up brushes. 

Strange- A very light pink (matte shade)- a very pigmented shade perfect for highlighting the brow bone and inner corners- I think prefer Virgin though. 

Dust - Light metallic pink (metallic) - This shade is definitely the most beautiful out of the palette however I am a little worried about how this will apply as its so glittery I think I will have to be aware of fallout. 

Burnout - A peachy pink (satin) - smooth, soft with great colour pay off.

Limit - Pale dusty rose (matte) - A beautiful sophisticated shade. Could be used as a gentle wash of colour all over the lid. 

Buzz - A light rose gold (metallic) - silky soft with brilliant colour pay off so the glitter doesn't seem as intense as Dust so probably a easy out the door shade. 

Trick - Warm pink peach (metallic) - a beautiful shade perfect for a night or perhaps just all over the lid during the day time. 

Nooner - Medium pink brown (matte) - I have no clue what Nooner means but besides that factor this is a beautiful matte shade which has great pigmentation and could be applied to the crease or outer v. 

Liar - Cool toned rose gold (metallic) 

Factory - Light toned mauve (shimmer) - Similar to Liar, a less intense shade perfect for the crease. 

Mugshot - Metallic taupe (metallic) - This shade is silky and soft however I am not keen on grey and taupe shades so this is a colour unfortunately which will stay unloved. 

Darkside - Deepest taupe (matte) - Perhaps not as pigmented as the other matte shades within the palette however beautiful never the less. 

Blackheart - Almost black with red glitter accents (glitter) - Suprisingly I absoutley adore this a great alternative to a usual black shade. I love applying this to the outer corner of my eye and blending with a shadow brush. 

The palette also comes with four primer potions in formulas: Anti Aging, Eden, Original and Sin. Sin has a shimmery bronze formula, Eden has a nude matte formula and of course the other two are pretty explicitly explained by their names. 

So sorry to compile another Naked 3 palette review however I love reading these especially as some people like the advice on which palette to get. I recommend this one out of the three, definitely my favourite. Do you own this or plan to buy it soon?

Comment down below 

Thanks for reading,

Olivia x

Mac Pigment in 'Vanilla'

Something which I never payed attention to from Mac was the pigments. However towards the end of last year I started to notice more and more people talk about these little pots of heaven and couldn't resist. I know in the past these pigments use to come in a larger size however I really don't think I need any more product as there is literally so much to use its bound to last a lifetime. So in September I decided to pick up the shade Vanilla. This was a tough decision as they offer so many different shades, I have my eye on Tan and Naked as well which are more towards the bronze/ gold end of the spectrum. I love the fact that these pigments are so multifunctional, you can use them as highlighters and eye shadows depending of course on the choice of colour.

A pigment is a highly concentrated loose colour powder to help adhere to the skin. They can be used to create a subtle wash of colour or a dramatic effect. These pigments supposedly do not streak or cake and are long- lasting and easy to blend.  This is the first ever pigment I have tried and found out I have definitely been converted. They are not at all cakey and almost give the appearance that your skin has a natural glow. I find it easiest to apply with my fingers as otherwise things will become a little messy. It's such a nice alternative to perhaps your usual powder eye shadows and highlighters. Although £17 for a pigment may seem absolutely ridiculous it is definitely worth the hefty price tag as not only do you receive 4.5g of product but you can also use this for a variety of different purposes.

Vanilla is a beautiful soft ivory white which is perfect as a highlighter or as an intense under brow highlight. I find I only really use Vanilla on my cheek bones as not only can it be fiddly but I find it too much underneath my brow. Especially if I am already using shimmery eye shadows all over the lid. It makes your skin look so flawless and glowing however this product isn't for the faint hearted. As I find it can be striking and difficult to apply at times however I am fully impressed with this product and am so glad I added this to my collection.

Is a pigment something you have ever tried before?

Buy Here

Thank you for reading,

Olivia x



chocolate galore | recipe

 After having a look through Instagram, I saw a cake which gave me some inspiration to create my own. It was basically a cake with each section having a different type of topping so I combined the ideas of sections and chocolate and this cake was born. Me and my friend Gabby dedicated our whole Saturday- sad but worth it- to create this little beauty. So I thought I would go through a step by step guide of how to create this cake if you fancy giving it a go for yourself. By the way it tastes just as good as it looks! P.s this is a very picture heavy post. Perhaps you could make this for Valentines day for a chocolate addict?

The ingredients you will need:

175g of butter or margarine

175g of Sugar

3 eggs

225g of self-raising flour

Pinch of Salt

2 tablespoons of milk

(200g Butter and 400g of Icing Sugar)- Buttercream

And a ridiculous amount of your favourite chocolates

 1. Cream together the butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy. You could either use a wooden spoon or electric whisk (the electric whisk is probably easier.)

 2. Add the eggs in one at a time, mixing well after each addition. (Three in total)

3. Fold in the flour, salt and the milk into the mixture

 4. And then mix all of it together, I'm not the only one who loves the taste of cake mix!

 5. Grease the tin with butter and then put the mixture into a tin or perhaps into cupcake tins if you wanted to make cupcakes instead. You then bake this by preheating the oven on Gas Mark 4 or 180'c for 30 to 35 minutes,

 6. You can then repeat steps 1-5 again to make the cake again and have two layers. After this step you can create the buttercream by creaming together 200g of Icing Sugar and 100g of Butter. This will be enough to fill the middle of the cake and you can then repeat this again to cover the top of the cake in buttercream. This is important as you need to the toppings to be able to stick to the cake!

 7. And then go wild and split the cake into roughly eight sections. You can then choose a different topping for each section. We choose Mini Eggs, Malteaser Bunnies, Maltesers, Oreos, Flakes, Reeces Cups, Kinder Buenos, Sprinkles and Kit Kats.

 And ta-da your cake is finished. We also surrounded the cake in three boxes of chocolate fingers! This cake is super duper easy to make and although looks sickly actually tastes amazing!

Thank you for reading,

Olivia x

Nars Dolce Vita Lipstick

Sorry another post on a high end item, but I promise to post some more things from the drugstore and tags. I just have been loving lots of high end products at the moment- due to the fact that it was Christmas and Christmas is a time for luxury and treats. One thing I never payed attention to from Nars was lipsticks. I wanted to try their bronzers, blushers, concealers and foundations before I even thought about the other products Nars sell. However after seeing a you tuber rave about a Sephora set she bought which included this lipstick I knew I would love it and want to buy it. I saw that Asos just before Christmas had a 20% off everything and I couldn't turn down such a good deal especially as they have free delivery. These lipsticks originally cost £18.50 however I got mine for £14.80 which was a great deal especially as you never ever usually get money off makeup.

 

Nars Dolce Vita is a cult classic shade which is a your lips but better colour. I would describe the shade as a dusty rose colour, the shade is very warm compared to the likes of a usual pinky colour. At first sight I believe the shade looks very off putting however after swatching and putting on the lips you can easily fall in love. The black matte packaging and white writing is typical for Nars however beautiful and simplistic its a shame it gets dirty so quickly. This lipstick has quickly become my favourite of all time, its a perfect everyday lipstick especially as its so creamy and easy to apply. However this is part of the sheer range, if you want a bold red lip or a bright fuchsia this range of lipsticks will not be up your ally. Although I am not interested in getting any others from the range I am so pleased and think its worth every penny.   

 

I love how luxurious this is to use and it gives that satisfying click sound when your close the lid, I would literally give this a perfect 5/5 and couldn't recommend this enough.

 

You can buy this here

 

Thank you for reading,

Livs x

 



Mac Haul

Something a beauty blogger can't resist is Mac, and I definitely can't. Even if I just buy one thing, I still feel the necessity. I actually bought these things just after Christmas, on a post Christmas shopping trip were I hit the sales. However unfornately the sales were disappointing so I trotted over to Mac as they never disappoint and walked away with two products which I have wanted for a while. I should probably see it as a blessing that the closest Mac is around a hour away. I thought I would do a haul as one everyone loves to be nosy and two who doesn't love Mac.

 The first purchase I made was a lipstick in the shade Sunny Seoul and is a cream sheen so essentially is creamy on the lips. I would call this a typical me colour- one day I may be adventurous- its a lovely mixture between a coral and a pink. A lovely colour for everyday wear as the finish is very natural and isn't opaque so if you prefer a shade which gives off a lot of colour this isn't a shade I would suggest. I absolutely adore Mac lipsticks and this is another shade I am glad to add to my collection, perfect for the Summer.

Another thing which I have wanted to try for a long time is Mac eye shadows. Everyone raves about them, I just couldn't ever make my mind up on whether to get them or not. I mean firstly there is so much choice down to the colour range and size of the palette and of course the price as they aren't exactly the cheapest. However I decided to bite the bullet and buy a quad, as you able to fit four eye shadows which isn't an unmanageable amount however is more than a duo would offer. After finally making this decision, I decided to pick up one shade Wood winked. Woodwinked is a lovely shimmery brown which is comparable to the Maybelline Color Tattoo in On and on bronze. So far I am impressed with the quality of this shade and can't wait to fill this palette. I think the empty spaces encourage me to buy more- always a positive and negative.

 

Thank you for reading,

Olivia x