The perfect primer; Drugstore edition

Before I begin, I would just like to say my skin type is oily. I love a mattifing primer that makes my foundation last twice as long. That ticks a big box in my book! So it you have anything but oily or combination skin, unfortunately I can't guarantee that these will work in the same way as they do for me! 

First off, before you all start to wonder the reasons as to why I've decided to talk about drugstore primers rather than high-end ones it is because in the last few months I have been trying out quite a few drugstore ones and luckily enough I have found some really good ones that I thought I'd share with you guys! So I have yet to find more high end primers that I love other than my Porefessional by Benefit! (Can I just say I absolutely love that one! But I'll save that ramble for another post when I find something to compare it to!)

The two that I will be talking about today are the Bourjois Happy Light Base Serum Matte primer and the Rimmel Fix and Perfect Pro primer! They are both under £10 and in my opinion both worth every penny! 

I must say there are only slight differences between the two as they are both equally as matifing as one another! However the consistency between the two is definitely an aspect which separates them from one another. The Bourjois one is a pinky/peachy colour and is definitely more of a lighter consistency than the Rimmel one, which is white and more of a thicker moisturiser-like consistency. The reason for this might be because it promises to do a lot. On the front of the Rimmel tube it states that it smoothes, resurfaces, brightens, mattifies and protects! I agree with most of the above apart from the brightens and protects part, as I haven't seen these for myself, and I don't really see how or what this product is protecting my face from! Whereas the Bourjois one only states that it mattifies and minimises the appearance of pores, which is something I have definitely seen it do! Both of these primers are great bases that prep my skin for my foundation to have a smooth area to sit on, whilst also make it glide on like a dream! But the real question is, which one makes my foundation last the longest? And I have to say it was a tough decision,  but after much deliberation and weeks of trying, testing and comparing between them both I have to give it to Bourjois as it is honestly the one I found myself reaching for on a daily basis. It made my foundation last up to 6 hours and over! It is light and refreshing and has a lovely floral scent to it, so if you're sensitive to smells, or you just don't like your products smelling, this might be one to steer clear of! (Although I have found that Bourjois and their products as a brand in general all have distinctive smells about them!)

What are your favourite drugstore or high-street primers? I am always on the look out to try new ones, so let me know if you have any recommendations! 

Stay safe, stay lovely! 

AA

My newest H&M purchase!

My love for H&M is becoming slightly worrying!

From their clothes, to their shoes, my obsession has now moved onto their bags! Earlier this week, I popped in, for no particular reason! (Rookie mistake!) I literally had 10 minutes to spare before work so I decided to spend it in H&M! 

I had been in need of a new 'everyday' bag for a long time now, even though my zara one is still in its perfect condition, I just feel like that one isn't everyday appropriate! Anyone feel like that after owning something for a while? (For those of you who are interested, my zara bag is a black suede hand bag, that has a gold chain for a strap! It's has two compartments, which I consider relatively small to medium size, that fits just the right amount for dinner or a trip to the movies! Don't get me wrong this is definitely still one of my prized possessions, which I don't intend to stop using! Especially after costing £80! 

Rambling over! Here is my new beauty that only cost £34.99! 

I love absolutely everything about it! It was definitely a love at first sight purchase!  

However the shape of it has to be my favourite thing about it! It is a tote/phantom-like bag! Similar to the celine bags! And almost a dupe of the Michael Kors Selma bag! (Unfortunately I don't have that sort of money, let alone that sort of money to be spending on a bag! Maybe in the future! One can only wish!) 

The majority of the bag is black with gold detailing! It has a hint of the colour grey/dark cream on the sides of it, which I think makes the bag that little bit more special! It has a strap, which I find handy and do wear depending on where I'm going! It is a type of bag which I feel is very versatile and will definitely go with near enough everything, and that is wearable during all seasons! It is a great size! Not too big but not too small! Some might not think of it is an everyday bag, but I'm not a big fan of casual bags, so this is just right for me, as it is the best of both worlds! 

Have you been loving anything from H&M recently? And do you have a favourite bag?

P.S I know I always say this, but please trust me when I say blogging on a regular basis will be happening! I pinky promise! I've had a lot of things put into perspective recently, and I've decided after not having one of the best years of my life, that I'm going to make the most of this year! I have bought a diary to help me along the way, and make sure I make to do lists, and actually keep to them! I have also decided I want to get into a healthy regime and start exercising weekly! I have lots of New Years resolutions in place! I just really hope I stick to them! (Fingers crossed)

Do you guys have any New Years resolutions or plans for the new year? I would love to hear about them! 

Stay safe, stay lovely! 

AA 

Honesty, updates and some news!

First off, I would like to apologise for my absence! Once again I have been super busy and just haven't been able to balance things in my life right now. But I'm trying my best to improve on this, so please bare with my while I get the hang of it. In return for being away (for what feels like years) I do have some exciting news to share with you al! So I really do hope this makes up for it! Even in the slightest bit. (Drum roll please!) I AM GOING TO AMERICA!!! (New York to be precise!) *does an embarrasing happy/crazy dance* And I hope you guys will come along on this incredible journey with me! 

Disclaimer: I got the second picture (which is a beautiful one may I just add) off of Google by simply typing in 'New York'. It is not mine, therefore I do not take any credit for it.

But yes, I have been planning this trip for a while now, and only a week ago did I finally pluck up the courage and book my ticket! I will be going on the 27th of January and I will be staying there for 2 whole weeks! (Where I will be shopping every minute of everyday! Slight exaggeration, but you know what I mean!) So I am flying will Delta airlines, which is an American airline, which I haven't flown with before! If any of you have, please let me know how your experience was! I have no idea on what to expect! I'll put my hands and admit, I am very apprehensive, anxious and nervous as this will be my first ever independent holiday, where I will be traveling all alone. This will also be the first time I will be travelling on an airplane for more than 3 hours! It is triple the amount I'm used to, so that is also something I have mixed feelings about! (I'm officially an independent lady! Can I get a woo hoo?) For some unknown reason I've starting scaring myself and imagining endless awful scenarios that could occur, such as getting on the wrong flight or even worse, missing it. Fingers crossed none of those happen though! And that I do end up getting there in one piece! (Can I just say watching home alone, definitely doesn't help either!) And for those of you who might be wondering if I will be spending this holiday alone, rest assure I will be staying at my aunties house who luckily for me, lives in New York, so don't worry guys! And for any of the curious and nosey people out there (like myself) I would like to confirm I did buy my ticket myself and all the money I will be spending out there I have and still am saving myself! So, I must say I am feeling pretty proud of myself! And very, very excited! (Yes I am counting the days! I've even downloaded the countdown app! Only 50 more days to go!) Finally this gap year isn't feeling so pointless and wasted after all! 

I'll be honest with you all, I haven't been feeling very positive lately. This month my energy levels have been pretty low, and I just haven't been in the best of moods, to do anything really. Which is probably another reason I haven't blogged in a while, but I finally have something to look forward to, and I am very, very thankful. I've decided to stop moping around and appreciate life a bit more than I was doing beforehand. It really is nice to be honest and have you guys to talk to! 

But yes, I did stop blogging for a while but I am definitely back, and my blog is 100% up and running! I am on a mission to make a regular schedule, where I post weekly or twice a week! Just bare with me! And I will get there. I promise. 

Stay safe, stay lovely! 

AA 

 

H&M heaven

H&M has officially climbed its way to the top and won first place of currently being my favourite store to shop in! Yes I said it, favourite! 

Some of guys will know already know from a previous post that all thanks to H&M the hunt for my perfect pair of autumn/winter bulky, heeled (vagabond lookalike) boots was finally over and complete!

Mini update: I can officially confirm that they haven't disappointed me at all! In fact they have done quite the opposite! For the crazy and affordable price they were at (£29.99) I was honestly expecting a few blisters due to their material. And I had also prepared myself to only get a few wears out of them, but oh no! This was definitely not the case! I have literally been wearing them non stop since, that they have barely left my feet! (And I didn't even have to break into them either! Bonus!) They are by far one of the most comfiest heeled boots/shoes I own (and of course, definitely one of my favourites) And now I've found another! These ones are definitely more of the classic chelsea styled boots! Something I had also had my eye on for a while now! But every time I found a pair I liked (for example in office or topshop) they only came in the colour black! Which is exactly what I didn't want! So when I found these beauties I was sold! They were the perfect shape! Not too pointy and not too round! AND they weren't in black! They were in this gorgeous tan/golden brown colour. The majority of the boot is a light brown shade, but the little elastic bit on the sides of the shoes and the heel is a darker one. The combination of these two different shades was lovely! Definitely a perfect versatile colour! And in my opinion it is the perfect autumnal colour! I fell in love with them instantly! And I knew these just HAD to come home with me! Especially after seeing that they were the last pair left! AND they were in my size! Fate? A sign? I think so! (Shopaholic mentality in full swing here haha) I already started to pair these babies with outfits in my head! And there was just endless options! One after the other! Whether it be jeans, skirts, dresses, I think these will go with absolutely anything! So chic, but also so smart at the same time! I love versatile shoes! That must be the one thing I look for in a pair of shoes and these certainly had that! At just £24.99, how can you possibly go wrong?!

(Confession: Don't mind the slightly dirty heel, as I have worn these a couple of times prior to this blog post! I do apologize, but I really just couldn't wait! Haha)

I have been so impressed with the options H&M have had to offer these past few months, not only in the shoe department, but also as a whole! From jumpers to skirts to jeans and so on and so forth! Everything is just so in! I must say I have even realised that their window displays have improved too! (It must be because I work in retail) 

Disclaimer - I am not being sponsored to talk about H&M, this is my genuine opinion. And seeing as it has become my new favourite store to shop in, I just thought I'd share that with you all! But let's just say it's becoming slightly unhealthy...

What's everyone else's opinion on H&M lately? And what are your favourite stores to shop in?! I would love to know :) 

Stay safe, stay lovely!

AA

Battle of the lush toners! Tea tree vs Eau roma

So some of you may already know from my skincare post, that the first lush toner I owned was the Eau Roma one. I must admit I got this one on a whim, (rookie mistake! I recommend everyone does research on any product you are thinking of buying! Preferably before hand! So the first time I used the Eau Roma toner I discovered the hard way that it tasted awful! And when I mean awful I mean horrific! When I'd spray it onto my face, it would fall onto my lips, and somehow find its way into my mouth and that awful taste would stain my tounge and last for up to an hour! And not only that, I think this was the reason I began to break out, which is crazy and completely the opposite to what it says it does on the bottle which is 'Kind aromatherapy water to cherish your face. A gentle tonic for everyday use that will help hydrate skin without causing it to overreact.' I decided I'd give it a good month to prove itself, and not be put off of it immediately, but it just didn't do anything for me or my oily skin (not that it states it does! so it is partly my fault for buying it to begin with. Anyways! After having used it for just over a month I realised I just wasn't happy with it being my toner. However this didn't put me off lush or their products! And I take full responsibility for not taking the time to compare and look at the toners they had to offer and their purposes! And most importantly what toners cater for what skin type! (mine being oily!) So I headed back down to lush, thankfully it's located right next door to where I work, so I pass it every other day, so luckily travelling isn't a problem for me! But this time I decided to approach a lush worker, who were more than happy to help, to make sure I purchased the best toner for me and my skin. As soon as I explained what had happened the lush worker immediately suggested the tea tree water toner and explained that this was definitely a better toner option for me. This toner claims that it 'Comes to the aid of skin that has emergencies. Tea tree is a wonder antibacterial, antiseptic and antimicrobial ingredient for anyone with oily or spot prone skin.' and after having used this for over 3 weeks now and giving it a good testing I can finally share with you guys that it does all the above! And no, it doesn't have an awful taste! In fact it doesn't have a taste at all! Hooray! But most importantly it keeps my skin feeling refreshed and if any spots decide to invade my face this is definitely my weapon! It also smells beautifully, although the Eau Roma toner smelt just as nice, but definitely much stronger than this one! (I'm not even going to attempt to describe the smell of them both because let's just say describing smells is not a strong point of mine!) 

Overall the Eau Roma toner I feel is much more of a luxury item, and in my opinion not that much needed! Probably good for the summer months to just refresh your face or as a makeup setting spray, but apart from that I just don't see any other use for it. Whereas the tea tree toner I find has multiple purposes! Definitely worth getting hold of! I have heard some people can find the tea tree water drying, but having oily skin, this hasn't affected me at all! But just bare that in mind! Perhaps the Eau Roma water will be better for those with dry skin! 

Both of these toners leave your skin feeling silky smooth and squeaky clean! And they are both a transparent liquid! For the 100g (small bottle) they are both £3.95 each and for the 250g (big bottle) they are £7.50 each! Very affordable and very worth it once you've found the right one! 

The winner for me definitely has to be the tea tree toner! What's yours?! 

Stay safe, stay lovely :-) 

AA

Catch up! And my everyday eye makeup routine!

Okay so I know I've fallen behind with my posts again! But I have a valid reason, I swear! 

So for those of you who don't know I am on a gap year. And this week was the week I had to hand in my application to apply for university for 2014! So as you can imagine it was one hectic and apprensive time! I had to write a personal statement, decide on what degree I wanted to do (I chose law for those of you who may be wondering), pick my university choices and so on! And on top of that I have been working full time, which has been up to 30 hours a week! So I've literally been non stop busy, busy, busy! I haven't even had the time to think let alone sit down and write a post for you guys! So I apologise! But you guys know I don't like rushing! And that I like to be completely focused, and put 110% into every post! 

So it has been a crazy few weeks! But definitely a good one, especially now that I've got it all out of the way!

Now back on to what this post is actually meant to be about! My everyday eye makeup! 

So in general I like to keep my every day makeup quick, easy and simple! Especially when it comes to my eyes. And this definitely comes in handy as I am near enough always running late in the mornings which results in me challenging myself to a 10 minute makeup challenge on an everyday basis! But no matter what I wear or what I'm going to be doing that day I always seem to find myself going for the same two paintpots! Bare study by Mac (a champagne colour) and On and On Bronze by Maybelline (a topey bronze colour)

Their swatches:

I have already spoken about how versatile and amazing On and On Bronze is in my Maybelline's must haves post! So definitely check that out if you want a more in depth review :) But I have just found that these two colours are the perfect combination for a subtle smokey-ish everyday eye which I achieve in just 3 steps! 

1) I first swipe bare study all over my eyelid (either by hand or with a brush, depending on how much time I've got left!) 

2) I then place a bit of On and On Bronze on the outer corner of my crease (again by hand or by brush, this is totally down to personal choice!) 

3) And then once all the products are in place, I grab my mac 224 blending brush to blend any harsh lines, and to just really smoke it out! 

And there you have it! Quick, easy and simple! But a great trick that makes it look like you've still put some effort in! For a bit more definition, and days where I have an extra 5 minutes to spare, I like to add a fine line of eyeliner with a dark brown eye shadow, on the top of my lashes as near as I can possibly get it, for a more natural but defined look! If you prefer you could also smoke that out too! 

I must say this is a great duo for us lazy ones! Even my oily eyelids love this look! No slipping and sliding with these babies!

Let me know if you guys have any quick and easy eye duos or combinations! I would love to try them out :)

P.S For not posting for so long! I have decided to make it up to you guys and do a few more posts than usual in the next few weeks! So keep a look out for that! 

Stay safe! Stay lovely!

AA

Beautiful boots! Beautiful price!

I got paid yesterday! YAY!!! So of course, I had to go shopping immediately! Which is exactly what I did after my shift at work. 

I had heard that River Island, Miss Selfridge and H&M were having a student promotion going on! (In the UK anyway!) But unfortunately River Island's one ended yesterday, but miss Selfridge and H&M's one is still on going! Which I would definitely recommend going to, before they end! However there is something you should know about H&M's promotion, before making a fool of yourself like I did, and cluelessly lining up for 20 minutes, holding over 10 items, with numb arms! Make sure you're signed up with unidays (an app that verifys you're a student and alerts you to any promotions going on), because that's the only way their promotion applies and the only way you'll receive the discount! Not being notified about this before hand slightly annoyed me, especially because it wasn't visible in any of the window displays or signs, as it was in THE smallest print EVER (how convenient) Anyways! I asked the cashier if I'd get the discount if I was to come back once signing up with unidays, and she said yes, so that's exactly what I'm going to do! I didn't want to risk leaving the items I had already picked out, to come back and not find my size in them! Out of everything these boots have to be my favourite purchase of the month, and I just couldn't not share them with you all! 

They are black, ankle length, fake leather boots. They have a round tip, which tie up with laces and they have a rather big, chunky and funky plastic rigged heel! Flatform-like! (which is definitely what's in right now!) But they are not something I would normally purchase, or something that I'm used to wearing, so they were definitely out of my comfort zone! But as soon as I laid eyes on them I knew they had to be mine! And I was very lucky because they were the last size 5/38 left! They were £30 but hopefully I will get £6 of that back once I go and get my 20% off! Making them only £24!!!! Yikes! That's a bargain alright! 

I have discovered they are not only a great, subtle and casual pair of heeled boots to wear during the night, they are also brilliant day to day footwear, even with its heel, these boots are the most comfiest things to walk in, whilst also giving me some height! Another bonus! I think they are going to be fantastic for the autumn and winter seasons, for keeping my feet warm and dry, but still giving it that glamorous touch! They can be paired with basically anything and everything from leggings, jeans, skirts, dresses to even frilly socks for that cute look! These heeled boots are so versatile, I already know I am going to get so much wear out of them!

Finally, my hunt for the perfect pair of boots is over! 

And here they are! 

Have you found your perfect pair of boots yet?!

Stay safe! Stay lovely!

AA

Barry M's beauties!

Lets just get one thing clear, I am by no means a nail polish painting lover or addict. I tend to get fake (acrylic nails) and have done for the last 2 years as 1) I'm very lazy at maintaining them and 2) I'm terrible at painting them myself (being OCD doesn't help, because if one bit isn't straight, neat or any other pathetic excuse I can find, I end up starting all over again!) And let's not even go there for when it comes to waiting for them to dry! So I decided I'd ought to leave it to the professionals, instead of torturing myself and spending 2 or more hours trying to paint just one of my hands! But when I discovered these beauties a few months back while roaming around superdrug (my local highstreet/drugstore) and doing what I do best (SHOPPING!) that all changed! I had already heard quite a lot about these, and how good of a quality they supposedly were, so of course I had to put them to the test myself, and see if they lived up to their hype! 

At just £3.99 and with my holiday coming up I decided I'd pick three shades, so I would be able to have a selection to choose from while I was away! And I can confirm these were my best pre-holiday purchases! I mean they saved me from sporting embarrassing and ugly fingers and hands on holiday! So that was a result! And they do exactly what they claim to. Having once lasted me up to 5 days without a single chip (baring in mind I was on holiday and in the water most of the time, that's pretty impressive!) I can safely agree that they are long lasting. There is also a wide colour range to choose from, so there's something for everyone and every occasion! But most of all, this nail polish has a thick consistency which produces the Gelly Hi-Shine finish that is shellac-like and is what makes me love these the most! It is cheaper than getting an actual shellac manicure and makes painting your nails a treat! Definitely lazy, impatient and OCD friendly! I can finally say I enjoy painting my nails, and that I don't see it as such a chore anymore! It is quick, as you only need one coat of it, (you can choose to do two, but that's personally up to you) and it lasts! So you don't have to paint your nails every other day! The shine is also permanent! And a top coat (in my opinion) isn't needed!

I absolutely love them! And cannot wait to purchase some autumn shades for this month! 

I currently have the shades passion fruit, mango and key lime! But my favourite and what is most definitely near enough always on my nails is passion fruit! I love it!

I haven't done any swatches of these as I didn't have any acrylic nails to paint them on, but I already checked online for your guys, and they have loads of swatch pictures available! 

So what are your favourite shades? I would love to know!

As usual; Stay safe! Stay lovely! 

AA

My melting phone case!

So after 24 months of having my black iPhone 4S, it was finally time for my upgrade, and I'd decided on a white iPhone 5! Silly me forgot to order a phone case before hand, so I was stuck with a brand new scratch-less beautiful iPhone, that was very prone to being scratched, dropped and everything else!

So I jumped on amazon (which is another online retailer, a bit like eBay) I typed in iPhone 5 cases as you would do, and came across this rather funky case with a plastic design that looked as if it was melting like an ice cream, on the front and back! I instantly fell in love! Especially because it was in a gorgeous pink and blue colour! I knew I needed to look no further! The price of it was £1.19, and £1.00 for the postal and packaging charges! Rounding up to £2.19 altogether. I was sold. I proceeded to the checkout page, and was stunned to see the estimated delivery date. The date of which I was ordering it was late August (the 29th to be precise) and the estimated delivery date was the 7th of September up until the 28th! A WHOLE month and a bit! But I was set, and even this ridiculous wait couldn't put me off! So I placed my order and it finally arrived on the 10th, (and yes, between this time I did manage to drop my phone twice! but luckily no scratches so far! Fingers crossed!) I was impressed that it arrived way before the estimated delivery date! And even more with the product! It looked just like it did in the picture. Including the pastel colours! It is a lovely hard plastic, not flimsy or cheap! It is definitely going to keep my iPhone protected! I love that it is detachable and splits in to two pieces, making it easier to put on your phone, and to take off! I've had this for a week so far, and there is no sign of the colours fading or being worn off! so it is just goes to show that this is going to last me a very long time! Oh! and they have a variety of colours too!

It is called 'Rosy & Sky blue Ice cream Detachable case cover for Iphone5' 

The seller I bought this from is called 'Demarkt'

Disclaimer - Neither amazon or this seller are paying me for this blogpost. This is not a sponsored blogpost! I just wanted to share with you guys a great find, my opinions and my love for this! 

Here is a picture of it! :)  

Stay safe! Stay lovely! 

AA

Skincare routine!

I'm ashamed to admit it, but I was one of those girls who near enough always took her makeup off with baby wipes, or even worse... slept with it on! I know, I know, I was a bad (and very lazy) girl, please don't judge me! *hands over face* But times have changed and thanks to YouTube and youtubers sharing their skincare routines I am officially a changed women with my first ever set of morning and evening skin routines! (let's just hope it lasts!)

I pass Lush constantly whilst on my way to work (as it happens to be two shops down from the store of which I work in) but I've always felt too overwhelmed with all the different products, and I never really plucked up the courage to go in and ask for some help. For those of you who don't know about Lush, it is a store that sells items that are all handmade and a store that is anti and fighting animal testing. They sell a range of products from facial care to body care! And the smell that you get as you pass by is extraordinary! So last week Friday, I finally caved in and decided I was going to spoil myself a bit, and the best way to do this I find is to spend it shopping alone! (Does anyone else find this relaxing? I love it!) So that's exactly what I did! I set off to my local shopping centre/mall and I was ready to tackle Lush! Fourtanely for me no tackling was needed as I was approached by a lovely worker who was oh so very helpful! (I'm sure it was because she saw the confusion in my eyes as soon as I walked in and thought she was obliged to help, haha, but I was more than happy to receiver her help even if it was sympathy help! Any help was welcome at that point!) She told me abit about lush and how there products worked and so on. She also suggested loads of beautiful products for my skin type (which is oily!) and tested some out on the back of my hands and after 45 minutes of being in there, smelling, testing, inhaling and what not! I finally came out with a complete morning and evening skincare routine! 

And here it is! (You will see that everything apart from two things are from lush. I did not believe lush had better replacements for these two items, which I have also recently discovered and fallen deeply in love with)

My evening skincare routine in steps:

1) I begin by taking off my eye makeup using my trusty 'Simple kind to eyes eye-makeup remover' I only discovered this in tesco (my local supermarket) last week when I was passing by the cosmetics section and the sign which said 'UK's No1' caught my eye. I needed to see what the fuss was all about. And after just one week, I can safely say I will be repurchasing this item. It doesn't sting my eyes when removing my eye makeup. The solution is water like, it basically feels like I am putting water on a cotton pad wiping my eye and bang, with two wipes, everything is gone! I have fallen in love with it, and I'm just so glad I discovered it! Definitely deserves its title! 

I got the 125ml which was only £3!!!!!! What is not to love about this? I can't think of anything that will replace this baby for a very long time!

2) I then go ahead and remove the rest of my face makeup with the ultrabland facial cleanser by lush. I love this because it can be used to remove makeup whilst giving your face a cleanse at the same time! It is a yellow rich oily cream paste, which also says cares for all skin types! Bonus! I sweep a generous amount all over my face, working it in, and then remove it with a cotton pad that has been rinsed under warm water. Very quick and easy yet still very good for the skin. 

I got the 45g tub and that was £6.95. But for those of you who are wondering it is also available in 100g for £10.95.

3) I then go on in with my second cleanser, but this time it is clay based. It is the angels on bare skin fresh cleanser by lush. On the tub it says that this evens out the skin tone, reduces redness and improves the health and appearance of your skin, giving a natural healthy glow. Baring in mind I have only been using this for a week I can already see a difference in my skin, not outstandingly, but there is a good noticeable difference. I just pop a pea sized amount of this in the palm of my hand, add a bit of water, start working it in until it goes into a slightly runny paste and then I work it into my face. The two things I love most about this product is the smell (which smells like freshly cut grass, lavender and mint, just so fresh and beautiful!) and how super smooth and soft it makes my skin feel after, something the ultrabland or no other product I've found does do! I love love love this product! 

You can only get this in 100g for £6.35! Amazing price for such a quality product! I 100% recommend you all go and smell this, because if that doesn't make you want to buy it then I don't know what will!

4) I then go on to tone, using my Eau Roma toner by lush. I also got this in 100g which was £3.95, however you can get this in 250g for £7.50. I just simply spritz this all over my face when I'm in a rush or feeling slightly lazy, and when I'm not I just spray some on a cotton pad and rub it into my face. It leaves your face feeling lovely and refreshed and even more clean, as it is generally used to remove left over traces of cleansers or other face products. The only bad thing I have to say about this is that it tastes horrible. I found when I did spray it straight onto my face rather than on a cotton pad it would get onto my lips, and even when I'd wiped it away with a cotton pad, the foul taste was still there! So I had to avoid licking my lips all day, which I've found is very tricky! But apart from that, it is a great toner and ticks all the boxes!

5) To finish it off I moisturise. I am currently using my sample of benefits 'triple performing facial emulsion oil free moisturiser', which I cherish! Struggling with an oily face, finding a decent moisturiser that won't make your face feel twice as oily or twice as heavy is hard, but this avoids exactly that! I will be purchasing the full size bottle once I've run out!

I also got given a sample of lush's 'enchanted eye cream' which I have also been using when I moisturise, but so far I have found it hasn't done anything for me. Funnily enough even though I have an oily face, under my eyes get really dry, especially once I have concealer on, which I thought would be sorted or even improved with this, but nothing has changed! So I won't be repurchasing this. Let me know of anything you guys are aware of that could help me with this issue! 

And that's my evening scare routine done!

My morning skin care routine is not very different, it just excludes Simple's eye make up remover (obviously, because I have no makeup to remove) and the angels on bare skin fresh cleanser, as that is a bit heavy to use twice a day! But apart from that everything is the same! 

1) Ultrabland 

2) Eau Roma 

3) Moisturise! 

I'm very excited to have my first skin care routine. But I am very open to try new things! 

I would love to know what your skin routines consist of, and any recommendations you guys have! 

(P.s. sorry if I've bored you all to death! Excitement clearly took over)

Stay safe! Stay lovely!

AA 

Holy grail Hoola!

Hoola is a bronzer by benefit cosmetics. It is sold at £23.50 which a lot of people may say is slightly overpriced for what they think to be an any old bronzer in the most pathetic small box you could find, but let me tell you, after this post I am sure I will have converted all of you! Each and every one of you! 

So here's what it looks like! 

Hoola's first attraction for me of course was its beautiful hawaiian themed packaging! (And purple being my favourite colour, I immediately had that boxed ticked) But most of all I was intrigued as to how something so small could be worth so much? I mean how could something so little possibly have enough product to last me a week! So after giving in to its gorgeous, simplistic packaging, I instantly began to realise I couldn't have been more wrong! Because truth be told, I have now had my Hoola bronzer for nearly two months and as far as I can see I am still nowhere near hitting pan! Hurrah! But that isn't all, the texture of this bronzer is so beautiful. It is light and soft, far from chalky like some bronzers can tend to be. It is a very natural subtle bronzer but very build-able and very blend able. You can create either a soft contour for during the day or a strong one for during the night, whatever floats you boat, this baby can give you it! It is a matte bronzer which leaves a completely matte finish, no shimmer or glitter in it whatsoever, it is also not scented and these are two of the main things I to love about it. Hoola bronzer comes with a brush, which has its little slot inside, meaning not only does it have a place on my makeup table, but also in my bag for on the go! It is small and travel size friendly with a magnetic lid, (so you're sure to have no spillages! another box ticked!) meaning only one thing! this has no other choice but to be joint at my hip! It also has a small mirror on the flip side, again perfect for topping anything up if need be, or even just to check if every other bit of your makeup is still in tact! Multiple purpose, just the way I like! And definitely what makes it worth the price it is at! 

In need of that perfect sun kissed glow? Try Hoola! Definitely my holy grail bronzer! And I'm sure in a few days time you'll be cheering for it too! 

What are your holy grail bronzers? I'd love to know!

Stay safe, stay lovely

AA

Maybelline's must haves!

So I'm sure most of you will have probably already heard a lot about these products, but what the hell, they deserve the hype, so here's mine! 

The 24 hour Maybelline colour tattoos are absolutely fantastic! I don't know where to begin. First of all let me start by telling you a bit about them if you haven't heard of them before. They are basically cream/gel eyeshadows or eye shadow bases (however you prefer to use them). They are very similar to the Mac paint pots, in the sense that they both do more or less the same thing! Both can be used as a base for eyeshadows (the actual eyeshadow colour will therefore become even more pigmented as it has something to stick to) or they can just be simply used to add a wash of colour to the lids! (this is more for us lazy makeup lovers) They are however much cheaper than the Mac paint pots (which are a whopping £15) in comparison to these which are at the price of just £4.99 (which in my opinion is a very reasonable price for a drugstore product of this quality!) They come in a range of colours (of about 6-7) but there are only three that make my must have list! 

And they are these:

1) 53 in On and on Bronze is a shimmery metallic light golden brown, which is soft yet build-able. It is lovely on its own all over the lid for a natural eye makeup look. For something a little more dramatic I pair it up with Bare study by Mac. I put Bare study (which is a shimmery light pinky nude colour) all over my eyelid and then add some On and on Bronze in on the crease, as a contour for the corner of my eyelid. And bobs your teapot! It is also a great dupe for Mac's Indianwood!

2) 70 in Metallic Pomegranate is gorgeous! It is such a beautiful colour I fell in love as soon as I set my eyes on it. Again metallic and rich, this deep red/burgundy tone is definitely more for those special nights! Pack on an even deeper burgundy colour on top, with a slight smokey eye to go with it, you are ready to go!

3) 20 in Turquoise Forever is no doubt a controversial one! You'll either love it or hate it! A bit like marmite! It is a bright metallic blue, which I believe is truly amazing for those summer nights, or days! A pop of colour will forever be in fashion no matter what. Even if you don't feel as if you could wear this all over the lid, give it a go under your waterline. A brown smokey eye with that would look awesome!

And here are their swatches! 

Colour tattoos, paint pots, eye shadow bases/primers whatever you want to call them, they are indeed staples! How can they not be! I mean they are quick and easy and you get no drop downs like you'd normally get from eyeshadows, what more could you ask for?! They are so rich in colour, yet so creamy and shimmery at the same time. I've heard they don't crease (but unfortunately I can't agree with this statement, but this might be because I have quite oily eyelids (or just in general a pretty oily face!) however this doesn't stop me from wearing them (especially on and on bronze, which is included in my daily eye makeup routine!) Don't get me wrong though, they don't crease instantly, but I've realised after 4 hours and onwards, they don't look too pretty, but hey! 4 hours is still a long time (So I make sure it is between these hours I take pictures haha) 

Let me know what your maybelline must haves are! 

Stay safe, stay lovely 

AA

My top 5 lip products; Summer edition!

Hello world! 

Today I'm going to let you all in on the lip products that make my top 5!

Can you guess any yet?

 

Dadaaaaaaaaaaa

In swatch order:

Rimmel moisture renew lipstick (£6.29) in soft coral 600, is a great day to day lipstick, which moisturises and nourishes the lips, while giving them a flush of colour at the same time. It is a peachy colour with a light pink coral undertone. It does have a slight shimmer to it, but I love that! Definitely a staple item! The packaging of this definitely has to be my favourite out of all of them! The cute purple and silver reflective effect wins me over every time!

Colour boosts lip crayons from Bourjois (£7.99)! I have them in the shades orange punch (03) and red sunrise (01). Bourjois, you have done me proud. For one, these are the most versatile lip products I own! Not only can I wear them during the day, by using a light hand, I can also wear them during the night by applying a second coat, to deepen their colour. They are also so glossy and again nourishing to the lips, it literally feels like I have some sort of lip balm on. They do remind me of the revlon lip butters, especially orange punch with revlon's tutti frutti, which I did have, but managed to lose! :( I would definitely say you get what you pay for, as there is a lot of  product and their packaging is soooo cute! (in my opinion anyway!) The only bad thing I have to say about them is that they are only available in 4 colours! Well at my boots (local drugstore) there was anyway. Let me know if this is true!

Mac please me (in matte) £14. This was my first mac lipstick, and it is still going strong, a year later. It is a warm pink colour with a slightly blue undertone. It is very loved for one reason and one reason only! No matter what makeup look I do, this always seems to go with them. So I 100% believe it was worth the pricey price. It has a long-lasting finish, which once lasted me up to 4 hours. It does not crack or sit within the lines of your lips. It really is matte magic! 

Rimmel Kate Moss matte lipstick in 110 vibrant coral, is most definitely my wild card of the pack! With a price of £5.49, at less than half the price of my mac one, I was more the ready to be disappointed. I had this theory that the cheaper something is, the cheaper the quality (which is right in most cases) but not this one! I really couldn't have been more wrong! It was long lasting, it didn't crack, the colour was so pigmented and beautiful (definitely more for the night time, in my opinion, but go for it! whatever time in the day you want! you do it!) I must admit I do love this collection, and will definitely be repurchasing more! 

Let me know if you guys have any of these and your opinions on them! And let me know of any ones you would recommend that are in your top 5!

P

Stay safe, stay lovely!

AA 

Introduction (attempt no2)

Hello world! 
My name is Anila Veseli, and I would like to welcome you all to my armadio (closet for those of you who aren't italian-friendly haha). I am from the United Kingdom and luckily enough happen to live in the beautiful city known as London :) I was born on the 29th of December 1994 (for those of you who are like me and aren't as quick at working stuff like this out, (yes, I was rubbish at maths!) that makes me 18 years old, but not for long! (3 months and counting)
As you can probably tell by this posts title, this is my second attempt at starting up a blog, so let me fill you in as to why that is. When I first decided I wanted to start running my own blog I was very rushed and undecided on what I wanted it to be focused around, I just jumped straight in and started rambling on about any old thing. And after a few months I realised it didn't flow, and lets be honest for those of you who did read it, I was one inconsistent bitch blogger! So I have finally decided, after much deliberation that I wanted to focus my blog around BEAUTY AND FASHION! Yes, I know what you're all thinking,"how common", "how unoriginal", "what a basic bitch", but I am sorry to disappoint, this is sadly what I spend all my wages on (also known as paycheck). But shopping just happens to be one of the things that makes me oh so very happy (yes, that may sound sad, but it really is true!) From makeup shopping, to skincare shopping, to clothes shopping, to food shopping! All types of shopping put a smile on my face (sadly, the same can't be said for my poor credit card, who I haven't seen smile in ages haha)
My blog is going to be an insight into my life, which is basically an insight into my closet of clothes and makeup! (hence my name, armadio haha)

P.S. I have one last announcement. If I don't blog at least 3 times a week, it is safe to say I am dead, or have been kidnapped! PHONES AT THE READY! No, just kidding. But seriously, my aim for this blog is to be consistent and somewhat fun and informative!
So here I go again! Fresh blog! Fresh start! Another ride, another roller-coaster! And I would love it if you would hop on in and join me! (I promise to try and not disappoint)

I am also now on:
Instagram: anilas_armadio
Bloglovin: anilas-armadio.blogspot.com