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"We have more possibilities in each moment than we realize.Choose to step forward and make your dream a reality" - B.Bakken

Tuesday 26 November 2013

My skin problem solved

  
From the age of 12 I suffered from rosacea which is a form of acne but instead of spots, the skin appears very red and raw and nothing could cover it up for me. I was really down about it because nothing I tried would work. I tried so many things such as not washing my face for a few days, cutting out every single piece of junk food, drinking double amount of water, buying very expensive make-up products and not putting anything on my skin at all. I literally tried everything in the book and as I was getting older I was getting more and more upset about my skin. I was really embarrassed and would often get upset at my appearance. 


 

After years of trying to solve the problem I decided that nature would run its course and I'd soon enough have my desired clear skin but turning 18 I still suffered very bad from the skin condition and it was getting worse, people would often ask me if I'd scratched my face or hit it against something. After a few times I began to get upset again and decided enough was enough and went to the doctors in April 2012.

When the doctor seen my face she did admit that it was unusual to see rosacea spread out over the cheeks, forehead and chin. Not only was my skin red and raw, it was bumpy and very dry so make up would cake on my skin and it looked awful.

I was prescribed a gel called Rozex gel. I was instructed to apply the gel twice daily. I chose to do this in the morning and at night. At the start I was pretty nervous because previous gels would have flaked off and made it look like my skin was peeling but to my amazement the gel made my skin feel really smooth and actually gave me a glow. Within two weeks there was a change in my skin. My left cheek was completely clear and my forehead was beginning to clear up but my right cheek was still very red and raw. I stuck with the gel and slowly but surely began to notice my entire face clearing up.
 



1 year later I've got the skin I always wanted and I can truly say I have a lot more confidence than I ever had. I will go days without wearing any make-up which before was scary for me even though it looked horrible over my skin. 


At the time my friends & family said my skin was fine but when they look back they tell me it was actually bad. But I follow a skincare routine now that I maintain and my face is still free from rosacea but I do get the odd spot here and there.
 



 
I use simple products because I find them the best for my skin - not everyone will agree but Ive tried a lot and find these products the best for me. 
Once a week I exfoliate my skin
Every morning I moisturize
Every night I cleanse, then tone, then moisturize 
 
 
 
xxx








 

 
 

Saturday 23 November 2013

Lipstick kisses

 

Im always raving about how much I love lipstick and im confident to explore different colours from purple to red to orange. . So ive decided to gather my all time favourite lippies and give a review on the products . . lippie also allows you to change your look and adding a pop of colour to your make-up . . .and one other great benefit : deep red lippies make our teeth appear whiter yayyy !!
 
 
Okay so im always saying how I love a bargain and that goes for my make-up also . . the dearest lippie that ive bought (to date) is my Rimmel Kate Moss Collection which cost me around £7.00 . . it is a really deep red, it lasts for a long time and it smells great . 
 
HnM - Up all night (£2.99)
Kate Moss for Rimmel - Shade 01 (around £7.00)
Collection - Shade 14 Mango Tango (£3.00)
Nivea Volume Shine - Shade 63 Berry Charms (£1.00)**
NYC - Shade 405 Blue Rose (£1.49)
MUA - Shade 3 - £1.00

 
 
 
 
I love all of these colours - in the image below the seem like similar colours - and yes, they are BUT they vary in shades and appear different when applied to the lip . . x
 
 

 
 
In the pic above im wearing my Kate Moss Rimmel lipstick . . I was going to a wedding and needing a long lasting colour . . I think I had to re-apply my lipstick only once which shows how well the colour stays . .it also makes my teeth appear bright and white which is a bonus x
 
** I bought the Nivea in Poundland - Im not sure of the RRP**

Swing dress


 
On Saturday night I went out with my sister and cousin for a girlie night . . I went on a shopping trip to Penny's last Monday and picked up a few bits and pieces including the dress im wearing in this picture... ive always wanted a swing dress but could never see any that stood out . .there were a few in Topshop & River Island for a price of £21 - £25.. which I thought was way too dear for just a plain coloured swing dress . . so when I visited pennys I seen this gorgeous patterned swing dress for 13 euro !! . .my favourite are purple burgundy's and wine reds, so the colour really drew me in too . .I also knew that id have the perfect shoes, bag and jewellery to match the dress ..
 
 
TIP: If you are unsure about buying an item, think to yourself  'How many ways can I wear it & what have I got that would match it' . .
 
 
With this dress I can wear it out for a night out (see pic below) & during the day if im going shopping with my friends - ill team my dress with some burgundy/purple tights, my black leather jacket, my burgundy hat & grey ankle boots to give a grunge feel to my girlie dress..
 
I felt I looked different on Saturday night to usual - 1. my hair was straight & 2. I look tan . . I usually wear my natural waves or bouncy curls and I normally don't look very tan but for Saturday night I fancied a change so I straightened my hair and put on a few layers of fake tan . .the tan I used was St Moritz mousse mixed with Asda's own branded body butter x
 
 
 
 
 
 

Burrrr Its cold


 
Well its official - Winter has arrived and I welcomed the new season by wearing my fur coat out on a recent night out . .I was given this coat as a present last year but by the time I got it, winter was over so I only got to wear it on a few occasions so im really excited to get its wear out of it this year !!
 
On Sunday night I headed out with friends for some drinks & dancing . .Because it was really chilly out I decided to wear a long sleeved top - I should have worn tights but I reallllyy wanted to wear my open toe heels so tights wouldn't really have went well . . 
 
 
I wore my leather skater skirt along with a colour splash printed long sleeved top teamed with a peterpan collar necklace, burgundy heels, bag & belt - I'm a fan of this colour and tend to accessorize a lot of my outfits with one burgundy item (its also a favourite colour this season). .
 
Because of the detailing on the top and my peterpan collar necklace, I decided to wear my hair in a high ballerina bun using my doughnut . .to add some sparkle to my hair I wore 3 small diamanté clips on the base of my bun (which aren't visible in the picture)  
 
I kept my eye make-up really natural with just a hint of mascara and a winged eye but went all out with my plum lippie from Nivea. .
 
 
My leather skirt is new and is from New Look - it was a steal at only £10.00 !! . . I will be wearing this for many different looks because its great for this season and is bang on trend . .
 
How ill wear it
Over a bodycon dress to create a top and skirt look
With patterned, glittery and plain tights, a pretty jumper / shirt and some black ankle boots for a casual look
 
 
x.x.x
 

Sunday Stroll


 
 Hey everyone . .Ive been so busy lately and haven't been able to blog very much !! . .But im back today with a few new posts . . Ive had a really busy weekend (18 & 19/10/13) . .On Friday I was at my cousins wedding & on Saturday I had my friends 21st birthday so to chill out on Sunday I went a walk out the country and decided to take my camera with me for some blogging pictures . .
 
Because I knew I would be walking I decided to wear these flat black boots to make sure my feet wouldn't hurt . .I paired them with these red skinny jeans, black&white leopard print top, my white jacket & my 1920's style hat - which I love because the shape is gorgeous and the bow gives it such a girly touch . . I also think it added some class to my Sunday outfit . .
 
When I was planning my outfit I had my black leather jacket in mind but I thought that the white jacket would lookn better and it would enable the print on the top to stand out more - I also thought the black jacket would clash with my boots & hat .. I decided to add a pop of colour by adding my red skinnies - which worked perfectly against the leaves & trees spotted during my walk :-)
 
 

How to: Braided hair




I love hair braids and find myself doing braids very often . .I have really thick hair so it never seems to look pretty in a ponytail so I decided to give braids a go and found that I love having my hair out of my face but still looking pretty . .braids honestly take no time to do but they create a really girly soft look that adds a unique twist

What you will need
A hair brush to brush hair
Tail comb to get straight middle parting
Elastics to secure braids
Clips to pin up the braids
Hairspray to keep in place and keep flyways at bay

So, how is it done?
Step one: Brush hair, divide into two sections using a tailed comb, create a middle parting
Step 2: Begin braiding the hair at the top of the forehead
Step 3: Braid hair as close to the parting as possible, begin to braid back the ways towards the middle of your head
Step 4: Braid to the bottom of the hair and secure with an elastic band
Step 5: Take the end of the braid and make a small hole where the hair begins to come away from the top of the neck & pull the braid through
Step 6: Secure in place with some clips, making sure the elastic band is hidden at all times. Repeat with the other side and TA-DA your done 


Toothbrush as a . . .



 

 
 
Toothbrushes aren't just for brushing teeth & I've found they work in a few different ways ..
 
Toothbrush as a Face Exfoliator
 
I mix together some sugar and face wash and mix it together. . this will create a paste with some rough texture to help remove dead skin cells on the face. .  I put the mixture over my face with my fingertips using circular motions . .I then take a new toothbrush & begin to gently exfoliate in circular motions along my T-zone (the middle of the face) - working from the neck to my forehead
 
Toothbrush as a Baby Hair Flattener
 
Whenever I want to create a sleek look I always seem to have flyway's or 'baby hairs' appearing from everywhere . .to get my baby hairs to stay down, I take a n unused toothbrush, spritz some hairspray on the bristles and smooth down my baby hairs
 
Toothbrush as a Hard Skin Remover
Sometimes we find ourselves with dry patches or hard skin on our bodies and no amount of creams can remove it . . I find using a rough item can remove the hardened skin . . mix some water, sugar/salt & put it into a bowl . .take an unused toothbrush and apply the mixture to the hard skin . . if the skin is more dry, then do not use any products just the toothbrush as the toothbrush will be more rough
 
* *All toothbrushes should be new from a packet and only used for the purposes above - please do not use the toothbrush to clean your teeth after  These are just my tips & tricks and I hope you find them useful*  *

My Bargain Make-Up must have's


 
My Bargain Make-Up must have's
 
As a student I like to shop around and see what make-up is there for me which works within my budget range but also is of good quality. . Recently I found some great products from the Make-Up Academy, Accessorize, NYC & Collection 2000 range . .
 
The items I found
 
1. MUA Bold Mascara - £3.00
2. Collection Lipstick - £2.99
3. NYC Marker Eyeliner - £2.49
4. MUA Cream Blusher in Lush - £2.00
5. Accessorize Blusher - £5.00
6. Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Foundation - £5.99
7. MUA Pro-Base Conceal and Brighten Kit - £3.50
8. MUA Fixing Mist - £5.00
 
 
 
 
        
 
Each item is of really good quality and I find some of these products work just as good, if not better, than more expensive products . . however I do like to use more expensive products such as urban decay and mac but I tend to be bought these as gifts but they are very long lasting. .
 
When I first came across the MUA range I was a bit wary as the prices are really cheap . . my first MUA product was a red lipstick a few years ago and I was surprised with how pigmented the colour appeared and how well it lasted on my lips - from then I was hooked on the brand . . Scroll down for reviews on the fixing spray & the mascara
 
 My very first foundation that I began using was from Collection and my sister would always buy me it as a treat, however I was too young to understand choosing the correct colour for my skin and how to apply foundation so I never thought it was a great product because it always appeared 'streaky'.  .that was until I got older and learnt how to apply make-up . . I was using rimmel wake me up and the body shop foundation before hand - however I really wanted a change and this foundation seemed very promising so I gave it a go . . I really love this foundation and I use it every day . .it covers my rosacea brilliantly and really evens out my skin tone - A must try girls !!
 
Im a big fan of blushers because I think they add a healthy rosy glow to your face . .my favourite at the minute are the accessorize blusher and the MUA cream blush . . the MUA blush gives me the colour and the accessorize blush gives me the glow with its hint of shimmer
 
 
I think of lipstick and eyeliner as an accessory to my face so every day im always changing them about . . I always wanted an orangey lipstick for the summer and in September I found a gorgeous coral colour from the Collection 2000 ..as I loved it so much I got another more natural colour shade perfect pink . .  the eye liner im using is from NYC and is the marker style which I find a lot easier to use and a lot more sturdy as it stays in place all day compared to liquid liners which I feel smudge and rub off after a few hours of wear  . . .
 
 
I used all of the products above to create this finished make-up look that I wear every day . .
 

I see trees are green


 
Hey everyone  - How have you all been ? Ive had a super duper busy week which meant I couldn't blog very much but im back today with a few images of my day trip I took today . . I got some gorgeous shots for my blog ..
 
I really love wearing navy and blues so Im really loving my outfit today . .I wore my grey boots, navy tights, new skirt, cream top and denim jacket . .I added my little hat to create a more autumn look . .
 
I decided to wear navy tights because there is a navy pattern on my skirt so rather than wearing grey, I thought the navy would embrace the pattern in the skirt. . I also thought that it helped 'break' my outfit as having a grey skirt, grey shoes & grey tights may have been a little tooooo much grey
 
Today in decided to spend the day outdoors rather than going shopping - im also recycling all of my clothes & re-wearing them because I think I have a lot of clothes that I never actually wear so its time to dust them off & get them on  - speaking of recycling I also went to the local car boot sale and got a stunning ring that im just crazy about - I think it will transform many outfits and it most definitely will be one of my key pieces for the next few weeks.
 
 
Really, how beautiful is Ireland ?
 
 


 


 
 


 
How gorgeous is my ring . .. im loving it & it was only £2.00 so BARGAIN 
 
My outfit details
Shoes - local shoe shop
Tights - Accessorize
Skirt - Monsoon - kids section
Top - H&M
Denim jacket - second hand / vintage
Hat - French connection
 
Happy Autumn
x.x.x
 
 

MUA Fixing Mist





 
Hey everyone im back with a review today . .ive decided to review the MUA fixing mist spray that I have been using now for the past month . . I will give my honest opinion on the product & hope this review answers a lot of questions ..
 
So firsts first - What is a fixing mist? (A.K.A setting spray) . .Karla Powell, Head of MUA's Make-up Artistry describes the product as  
 
"Makeup Setting Sprays are used to create a luminous finish after you have applied your makeup. Not only do they allow your skin to remain hydrated, but they work as a moderate sealer, preventing your makeup from making a mess"
 
Ive always felt that after a few hours my make-up would disappear from my face , leaving me looking bare-faced and a bit tired . . this happened no matter what kind of foundation I applied  . . so when I first came across fixing mists I thought id like to try one but which one ? I looked up a few and they were all a bit expensive . .  I was hoping for something more budget friendly because I was only hoping to try one out . .
 
So then I came across the MUA fixing mist and decided to give it a go because 1 - I love MUA products & 2 - it was only £5.00, that was reasonable enough. .
 
I have to admit im a big fan of fixing mists now because I feel this one really does do its job - although there are a few cons but the pros outbalance these cons . .
 
Have a look at my pictures below & see for yourself
 
 
 
 


So the pictures im using were taken through-out the day when I was doing a long shift at work - 12.30 - 9.30 . . As I only get an hours lunch break I didn't want to waste it touching up my make-up so I thought this would be a great tester for the fixing mist
 
 At 11.00am my make-up appears flawless, by my lunch time at 4.00pm, my skin & make-up still appear to be flawless with a dewy finish, by the time I finally get home at 9.45pm my make-up is still put but I can notice a few blemishes have come out of hiding
& my T-zone appears kind of shiny . . During work - at around 7.00pm I took a look in the mirror and my make-up still looked in place . .
 
To give this product the benefit of the doubt - I think the flash used at 9.45pm may have made my skin appear a lot shiner than it actually was . . Overall though id give this product a good 7/8 out of 10 & I will be repurchasing again ..
 
x.x.x