Happy Easter!

Firstly, Happy Easter!

I know, again, it's been a while.  But forgive me, I have been mega busy. I have had so much university work on lately I have barely had time to eat and sleep.  However deadline dates are flying by, and my final deadline is in two weeks.  I also started placement on Monday so I have been working 9-5 while trying to get my work completed.  

I have an interview for a graduate job! Yay!  It's in 4 weeks, and it's up north which means leaving everyone behind which is so scary but it is exciting so I am going for the interview to see what happens.  Oh and I got 80% in an exam the other week which I was quite proud of.

So onto the point of my post.  One of my favourite websites for beauty products is Latest In Beauty.  You can purchase samples and they also have a selection of beauty boxes all for good prices which is awesome for me as a student.  Back in February I purchased a beauty box.  Yes I know, that was ages ago, I've been meaning to do this post for a while now.  But at least it means that I have been able to properly use the products to have a definitive opinion on them.

For £19.95 I was quite impressed with the products.

Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Seasilk Colour Hold Moisture Conditioner.
This product smells lovely and all you need is a small blob to make your hair feel lovely and soft.  My hair can get really dry as I tend to straighten it a lot, so this product was great for my hair, taking away the dry feeling.  Although I prefer my TRESemmé conditioner, I would definitely buy this product again.

EVE LOM Rescue Mask.
EVE LOM claims this product deeply cleanses without drying out the skin while smoothing and conditioning the skin.  I have been using this product once a week and I definitely felt that it cleansed my skin well.  At times after using this product I felt that my skin may be a little dry but this may be due to other products I use, it was quickly sorted out with a touch of moisturiser.  It did leave my skin feeling soft.  At £35 I think this is a little pricey for my student budget, however if it was cheaper I would purchase again.

Nicky Clarke Instant Calmer.
Love, love, LOVE this product!  If your hair is like mine and takes forever to straighten, this is the product for you. I have been putting a tiny bit of this into my hair while it is damp before blow drying.  It makes straightening much easier, it now takes less time and my hair looks great afterwards.  Someone even complemented my hair saying how nice it looked.  Would I buy this product again? I already have as it was on offer.  However I wouldn't mind paying a bit more for this product as I love it so much.

Melvita Rose Extraordinary Water.
I have been using this product after using a face wash and before moisturising.  This product has been replacing my usual cleanser and I am quite impressed.  It is not as harsh as my usual cleanser so did not dry out my skin.  It cleansed my face well leaving the skin feeling refreshed.  I think this product works well on my skin in the morning, however I may need a deeper cleansing product in the evening. I would buy this again.

Balance Me Radiance Face Oil.
My initial thought was: Oil on my face? Surely this will make me break out.  Nevertheless I gave it a go and in fact, it did not make me break out at all.  It really softened the skin and was not greasy at all.  I have been using this after cleansing and before putting on my usual moisturiser.  My make-up went well over the top.  Would I purchase again? Yes!

Lola Rose Energising Rock Crystal Hand Cream.
Absolutely love this hand cream!  My hands tend to get really dry.  Especially as I work in a hospital I am constantly washing my hands and applying the anti-bacterial gel, more so when the weather is cold my hands can get in a terrible state if I am not careful.  This hand cream moisturises well, soaks in quickly leaving my hands feeling soft and a little bit goes a long way.  I have been keeping this cream in my bag and applying it before work and in my breaks, and my hands are in pretty good condition at the moment.  It smells lovely too.  I would get this again.

Balm Balm Organic Lip Balm.
This lip balm moisturises very well.  As with my hands, my lips can become dry very quickly and this stuff has been great at softening the skin on my lips.  On doing some research I have discovered that others find this useful as a hand moisturiser.  I like the smell of this lip balm, however I am not too keen on this smell on my lips.  So after applying the balm and waiting for it to soak in, I have been using another lip balm or gloss on top.  I would buy this again but you don't need to use much at all for it to have an effect, so I can see it lasting a while.

Belleza Formula Botox Effect Gel.
This gel claims to target fine lines and wrinkles around the lips and eyes, nourishing and plumping the skin surface.  However I have not even opened it.  At 22 years of age I do not feel the need to use anti-wrinkle creams. I have read that anti-wrinkle creams can do more damage than good in young skin, and although I do not know how true this is, I do not wish to find out.  This product retails at £55 so maybe I should try and sell it.

Mavala Rouge Rubis Nail Varnish. 
I loved the colour of this nail varnish and it lasted a few days before chipping.  I feel that the colour is too bright for my finger nails but have been wearing it on my toes.

Ginvera Green Tea Exfoliating Marvel Gel.
I have been using this gel a few times a week, replacing it for my face wash.  I really like this product, it exfoliates well and leaves my skin feeling clean and refreshed.  I like the smell of it and would repurchase.

Balm Balm Refresh Bath & Shower Oil.
I quite like the smell of this.  What is it meant to do? Soothe you? I'm not sure if it did.  This is one of those products that I would use if I had it, but would not buy myself.

111Skin Space Anti-Age Facelift Repair Serum and Day Cream.
This product claims to strengthen skin, increase collagen production and give dramatic anti-aging benefits.  Again as it is an anti-aging product I did not try it.  If anyone fancies trying it, it's a whopping £130 for 30ml.

All in all, some great products, I loved most of them.

I expect that I will not have time to make another post until after my final deadline now.
Have a good Easter everyone!

March Bucket List

I know, I've been bad.  It may seem like I have given up on blogging but I have not. I have just had a crazy amount of university work lately and that seems to take up most of my life at the moment, so the odd chance I get to relax and socialise I take it, so haven't had time for anything else.  In two weeks hopefully this work will be done!!

It's back to the old monthly bucket list.

11. Get a job.

In January I made a plan to produce a brilliant CV and personal statement so I could start applying for graduate jobs.  I have now applied for about 20 jobs, I just need some interviews now!

12. Complete my university work to a high standard.

I mentioned that I have a lot of work at the moment.  It's very well rushing this work to get it out of the way before the deadlines, but I want good grades so I need to produce high quality work!

13. Go to a festival... Or Two... Or Three...

This is the year I finish university.  I want to have an awesome summer by going to as many festivals as I can.  Of course I cannot afford every festival so will volunteer for some.

14. Blog regularly.

This is something I enjoy, so once my work is completed and I have more time, I want to get back into blogging regularly again.

15. Treat my parents.

Throughout my four years at university my parents have had to financially support me, some years more than others, and I would not have been able to survive if they did not.  I am really grateful for this but have never been able to show it other than a "thank you" and a hug.  Once I have a job and have been earning a decent amount of money for some months, I want to buy my parents a holiday or something nice so show my appreciation.  Realistically I won't be able to do this until the end of this year, but it's still something I want to do.

Just to finish up, here's a February round up of instagram pictures:

1. Revising in bed.  2. Obsessed with candles lately.  3. Valentine's chocolates treat from Mummy.
4. Love this perfume! 5. Un-makeupped eye. 6. Got to start the morning off with a cuppa!
7. Trying out a new colour. 8. Finally started reading! 9. Treated myself.

Do you have any aims for the month?

 

Scrooge

I'll admit it, I'm a bit of a Valentine's scrooge.  Even when I am in a relationship I do not see the point in celebrating Valentine's Day.  Sure, little gifts or going out for a meal is nice, but why do that on one specific day when you can do it on any other day of the year without it being overpriced or too crowded? I don't get it.

Despite my Valentine's hatred, a little package from my Mother did put a smile on my face.  She sent me chocolate and some body lotion.

The chocolates were super yummy and the body lotion is one of my favourite perfumes.  Thank you Mummy!

What did you do for Valentine's Day or are you a Valentine's scrooge like me?

February Bucket List

Carrying on from January's list that I made which you can find here, I am going to make 5 more aims.  This may be a little late seeing as it is February 12th already, however I have been busy writing essays and revising for exams, all of which I passed so the hard work paid off!

6. Learn to draw again.
I used to be really good at drawing and was something I did regularly, but in the last few years I didn't keep at it and I fear my drawing may not be so good anymore. So this is something I want to pick up again.

7. Save money.
As a poor student who doesn't earn money I spend way too much! So I need to cut down until I manage to get a job and start raking in the monies!

8. Read more.
I have a pile of books I haven't gotten around to reading yet. I used to read at least a book a week but I haven't touched a book in months! I enjoy reading and need to start on one of those books.

9. Regular exercise.
I already pole dance, jog and go to boxercise classes, but often I can become very lazy and don't bother doing much some weeks. I am still trying to get my dream body so I need regular exercise every week!

10. Get another piercing.
I got a new piercing last month and before I got that one, I had already started to plan my next one.  It won't be for a good few months but is something I definitely want to do.

Do you have any aims for February?

 

Four Months

Loving the black nail varnish at the moment.  I use NYC Expert Last Nail Polish.  Really need a new top coat though, my current one chips far too easily.

My hands and nails are in a state.  I need to get back into a good moisturising routine.  I blame the cold weather!!

I cannot believe it is the end of January!  I didn't even realise until I was reading through other blogs today.  This means just four months of university left!  Eeeeeeee that's scary!  This month has gone too fast but I have achieved quite a lot.  I have always wanted to do an Instagram post, so I am doing a January one for the sake of it and just because I can:

1. I learnt to bake. 2. Went back to university. 3. Had a few shopping sprees.
4. It was cold so I lived in slippers. 5. Had a few drunken nights out. 6. I got pierced!
7. Love these nails. 8. Addicted to hot chocolate because it was cold. 9. Became addicted to these shoes.

I have an exam next Thursday so now it's time to revise like mad!

Manicure

I had Wednesday off University.  Prior to that I had been revising a lot so had the day off work and essays watching TV shows and doing my nails.  I love the way my nails are looking!

Hope you all have a good weekend :)

Pierced

I've been busy.  Work, work, work, so much work.  Deadlines, revision, exams.  Ahh I love university.

Yesterday I told myself that if I finished a certain amount of work, I would go and get a piercing.  I have wanted a forward helix piercing for ages so yesterday when I finished that work I excitedly, but a little bit nervously, went along to the tattoo shop.  I can handle pain really well but but I'm not going to lie, this one hurt like hell.  It still hurts now although I have taken some Ibuprofen which has taken the edge off.  It was worth the pain though because now it looks sexy and cool.  Here is the result:

I then went shopping and bought some new clothes.

Dress from H&M.  £12.99.

Blouse from Republic. £25.

Top from Republic.  £7.00 in the sale.

This morning I was lying in bed and got a text to say it was snowing.  I absolutely love snow, I'm like a little kid.  So I put my warmest clothes on and went for a walk for an hour or so.  When I came back I was covered in so much snow I looked like a snowman, and had make-up streaming down my face but I didn't care, I was satisfied that I'd had my walk in the snow.  Now it is time for me to crack on with my work to prepare for my exam on Tuesday.  Wish me luck!!

Have a nice weekend :)