5 Step Skincare | Oily/Combination

In the morning of school you already have to wake up at around 7 every morning. On top of that you don't want to be carrying out a 1000 step skincare routine. I keep my routine to around 5 steps that covers all of the basics I need.

1. Ultrabland Facial Cleanser

I actually use this cleanser from Lush to remove my makeup. It contains beeswax which is one of the best natural ways to remove your makeup, its completely natural so wont irritate your skin. I wet my face rub a small amount onto my face and wash of using a hot cloth.

2. Biore Cleansers

I switch up my cleansers depending on how my skin is. I rotate between the Biore Deep Pore Charcoal and Biore Blemish Fighting Ice Cleaner, both are targeted for oily/blemish prone skin.

3. Simple Toner

I follow up cleansing with my Simple Kind To Skin Facial Toner. It's a great cheap toner, that I just take around my face on a cotton pad. Toning helps to balance out the PH levels of your skin and close your pores.

4. Yes To Tomatoes Moisturizer

If you skin any step don't let it be this one. Moisturizing is one of the most important steps in your routine, it helps prevent aging and dry cracked skin. I use the Yes To Tomatoes Moisturizer, which is again is for oily/combination skin and I have noticed it prevent blemishes and doesn't leave an oily residue on already already oily skin.

5. Clinique Anti-Blemish Clearing Gel

Now to get those pesky spots that appear out of no where. I dab on some Clinique Anti-Blemish Clearing Solutions Clearing Gel onto my problem areas and it reduces the redness and size of the spot.

Full Foundation Routine

On an everyday bases I don't enjoy wearing a full face of makeup and usually stick to the basics. However on those special occasions I do wear a full face I have a routine for. 

BB Cream

I really dislike the feeling of wearing foundation on my face, because it feels heavy on my skin and I can tell I am wearing it. Instead I like to use a lighter coverage and use the Revlon Photoready BB Cream, I have it in the lightest shade. I just apply this with my hands as I feel like it melts into my skin more and gives it a more natural look that way.

Concealer

I then use a concealer under my eyes and on blemishes, any areas where the BB cream hasn't covered enough. The only concealer I use is the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in the shade '15'. This concealer has been compared as a dupe to the Nars Creamy Concealer! For blemishes I apply some onto the back of my hand then dab and blend it onto the area needed. As for under my eyes I apply it in the dark areas with the doe foot applicator and using my ring finger, blend it in.

Contour

I personally like to contour before I powder as I think it sits better on my skin but it is all down to personal preference. I use the Sleek contour kit in 'light' to contour and highlight my cheek bones, I don't use blusher as I already have a natural blush. I use the Real Techniques Contour Brush and apply the bronzer in the hollows of my cheeks and in the 3 E motion to define my face. Then to give my face a glowing look I apply the highlighter on the tops on my cheekbones using an eye shadow blender brush.

Powder 

The last but not least step: Powder. I myself suffer from oily skin so this is a very necessary step for me. I use the Rimmel Stay Matte Powder with a Real Techniques Buffing Brush, because I feel like this packs it onto my skin more. I just apply the powder in my T-zone and under my eyes to set my concealer.

Shine Be Gone

I myself suffer from quite oily skin and like most others struggle with controlling the shine that will build up on my face throughout the day. I know many teenagers like myself struggle with oily skin and it's a part of growing up, but there are ways to keep it under control!

Use a mattifying primer:
When you have oily skin your makeup can tend to 'melt' off by the end of the day, so to keep it in place using any type of primer would help your foundation/concealer lasting power. However to further help the look of your skin try using a primer that mattifies your skin, such as the 'Baby Skin Primer' that will lock in any excess oils and erase pores.

Powder:
Of course an important step to keeping your face shine free is to powder! Try using a translucent powder so it won't look cakey over your base the one I use is 'Rimmel Stay Matte', this is a great drugstore powder that has many great reviews. It is great at reducing shine. When applying it use a denser brush like the 'Real Techniques Buffing Brush' this will really pack the powder onto your skin leaving a less powdered look and you'll find it will keep you matte for longer.

Blot:
A step people often don't think of is to blot your face using blotting sheets. Most of the time I don't have my powder with me, so I just carry around these 'Kleenex Blotting Sheets' unlike other blotting sheets they don't contain powder, they just absorb up all the excess oils that have gathered on your skin. I like to use these after PE and whenever my face feels oils, but also right before I powder to make sure all the oils are off my face It keeps my powder on for longer and makes my face feel fresher.

I hope this helps everyone who suffers from oily skin. Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed.

Growing Out Your Hair & Hair Care Routine

Hello everyone, as so many of you seemed to like my skincare routine I thought I would show you my hair care routine. In the end of year 7 I chopped my hair to just below my shoulders and had short layers put it with a fringe. Admit it everyone has had hair crisis' and this was one of them. At the beginning of year 8 I regretted it, and started to grow it out in December.

That is when I became 'obsessed' with hair care I was on YouTube searching 'how to grow out your hair' for months. I then finally started to notice a difference and now after a year my hair is up to below my rib cage woo! 

Before you begin to think about growing your hair out I recommend you get it cut, so that you are growing healthy fresh hair not dead split hair. When growing your hair out you should still get trims otherwise your split ends will continue to split up your hair and you will eventually need to get more and more off.

When it comes to washing your hair you should alternate between different shampoos often to reduce build up in your hair. I personally use a different one every night, but one shampoo I have found that doesn't build up is the Aussi Mega Shampoo, I love all of Aussi's hair care range and this is no exception. I massage that into my scalp to increase the volume and stimulate the hair follicles (tip: increases hair growth). I then condition using again Aussi products, this is the luscious long condtioner, I only apply this onto the ends of my hair to seal in the split ends (tip: if you apply it to the roots it can make your hair greasy). I rinse it all out using warm water. 

Next I gently towel dry my hair and apply a leave in conditioner, which helps to keep your hair hydrated it also makes it easier to comb through your hair. To comb through my hair I use a wide toothed comb, that way there is less breakage when you brush your hair (tip: start combing from the bottom upwards, that will reduce breakage also) To prevent frizz I like to use the frizz-ease hair serum. I then leave my hair to dry naturally overnight. I either leave it down, put it in plaits or twist it and clip it in the top of my hair. All of these create wavy hair in the morning.

In the morning I will take my hair down and shake it out. One thing someone will tell you when you are trying to grow your hair out is DON'T USE HEAT, which I did do... mostly (tip: search for heatless hairstyles on YouTube). However in the morning my fringe is quite kinky so I just straighten it, I apply the Tresemme heat protectant and then using my tangle teaser brush it straight and straighten it with my GHD MK5 straighter. I am then good to go. If I am going somewhere special then I will tend to straighten or curl my whole hair. I tend to do all of these steps every other day (tip: if you wash your hair everyday you are stripping your hair of its natural oils, which will make it produce more grease quicker)

That is my hair routine and I hope you find my tips useful, I am not an expert these things just worked for me and helped my hair grow longer and stay healthy. 

Skincare Routine & Tips

Hello everyone and today's post is going to be my everyday skincare routine. In the winter my skin goes from bad to worse. It breaks out a lot more frequently and I begin to get dry patches by the sides of my nose, but my t-zone stays very oily, which is no fun. I think right now I have found the right routine that has been working to improve my skin.

I firstly like I cleanse with either the Neutrogena Spot Stress Control Daily Scrub or the Simple Foaming Cleanser. Both cleansers really help to clear all the impurities and declog your pores, I tend to go for a scrub when my skin feels tight, and the foaming soap daily.

Sometimes I will follow up with a face mask, I usually do this weekly. What I have been using lately is the Soap and Glory No Clogs Allowed Face Mask, which I have reviewed here. It's a really great face mask for once a week use and really deep cleans my skin and leaves it feeling fresh. I recommend using a face mask only once a week as they can tend to be drying if you over use them on your skin.

I then move onto toner, which to me is a important step which I never miss out. Toning is important as when you cleanse your face you open up your pores and unbalance the PH levels on your skin. But when you tone after it helps close your pores and re-balance the PH, meaning you are less likely to get spots. The toner I use is the Simple Soothing Toner, I take it on a cotton round and gently wipe it over my face.

Whilst that has dried, I moisturize and this is a key step in winter as your skin can get really dry and irritated. I moisturize with the Simple Light Moisturizer, which is great for all year round. I massage this into my skin and take it down onto my neck area.

I then follow up this step with a stop treatment. One I have been loving recently is the Soap and Glory's Dr Spot Treatment Gel, which I have reviewed here. I dab this on any problem area's I have and then leave it sink in. But I will also use good old natural tee tree oil, which is a great alternative spot treatment and works just as well.

Next onto the eye's. It's important to keep your under eyes hydrated as this can prevent pre-aging and dark circles. Recently I have been using the Clinique Moisture Surge Thirst Relief, I know this isn't an eye cream but I think it works great as it is super hydrating and smooth under your eyes. I pat that under my eyes using my ring finger, which is your most gentle finger, until it has sunk in.

That is all for my everyday skincare routine, I hope you enjoyed this post. This is just what I do on a daily basis, I am in no means a expert in skincare. Thank you for reading and be sure to check back for my next post.

Pamper Night Essentials and Tips

Hello everyone. It's important to take a step back and relax once in a while and take a bit of time out and pamper yourself. Today's post is going to be my pamper night essentials and what I like to do on a pamper evening. I particularly do this once a week usually the weekend before I start school again for the week.

Having a Bubble Bath:
I recommend having a hot bubble bath as it really helps to calm you. Did you know you come up with the best idea's in the bath too? In the bath I like to use a bath bomb or some other product from Lush. Recently I have been loving The Comforter, which is a bubble bar you run under the tap and creates bubbles, it smells amazing!

Using a Deep Treatment:
My hair can start to get really dry toward the end of the week especially in the cold weather. Which is why once a week I tend to use a deep treatment/conditioner in my hair to really help seal in the moisture. Recently I have been using the L'oreal Ever Riche Deep Conditioning Mask, which really moisturizes your hair and leaves it feeling silky soft. I tend to leave the mask in for 5-10 minutes at the ends of my hair to make sure it really soaks in, and then rinse it out.

Using a Face Mask:
Likewise for my hair my face tends to become dehydrated by the end of the week, so I like to uplift it with a face mask. Recently I have been loving the Soap and Glory No Clogs Allowed face mask which I have reviewed here. Face masks declog all of your pores and gives you a clear base to work with.

Painting your Nails:
I love to paint my nails, however as I'm not allowed to wear nail polish for school I tend to apply it on a Friday and keep it on for the weekend. I firstly apply a base coat, the one I use is from Revlon. I then apply the colour I want for that weekend, recently I have been getting into pastel shades ready for spring. I apply two coats of that and then apply the Rimmel London clear top coat. I then moisturize my hands and cuticles, and your done!

Light Candles:
One of the easiest ways to feel relaxed is to light candles, I have numerous ones around my room. I am currently trying to use up all of my Christmas scents and the three I am currently burning are Christmas Cookie, Snowflake Cookie and Spiced Orange all by Yankee Candle.

Relax:
Finally, to relax my essentials are definitely music and a good magazine or book, or even show to watch. Recently I have been loving Pretty Little Liars and watch it whenever I have free time. I also love listening to music whilst writing a new blog post. I will also browse through my subscription box on YouTube and see if there is anything there for me to watch. My favorite books I have been reading recently are IT by Alexa Chung and The Fall by Claire Merle, both are amazing books.

Those are my pamper night essentials and top tips, I hope you enjoyed this post and let me know what you like to do on your pamper nights.

Winter Makeup Routine

Hello everyone, Today I'm going to share with you my winter makeup routine. All these products I have been using for a while and put together they work really well for winter, I love the way it turns out.

For base makeup I start off with the Revlon photo ready BB cream in the shade light, and blend it in with my hands, it gives me the coverage I need and covers up any redness. I then conceal my dark circles using my Maybelline fit me concealer in the shade 15 and apply it in a triangular shape under my eyes and blend it out, this really brightens up my eyes and makes them appear more awake. I then conceal any spots I have and blend it out. Then I powder my face to get rid of any shine using my eco tools powder brush. I will sometimes add blush, and it is usually my natural collection blush in peach melba, which gives a natural blush to your face, I apply it using my models own blush brush.

I then move onto my eyebrows, I start by brushing them out using an eyebrow brush. I then fill them in using my natural collection eye shadow duo in mocha/latte, I use the mocha shade with my ecotools flat eyeliner brush. Clear mascara makes a great brow setter, and it keeps my brows in place all day, I will lastly highlight my brow bone using the latte shade from the duo.

I love experimenting with eye shadow. I usually start with an eye shadow base, such as the Maybelline colour tattoo in barely branded. I will either wear it on its own or as a base. So I will then apply eye shadow, such as the mac eye shadow in all that glitters with my ecotools full eye shadow brush. Then to deepen up the look I will use the mac eye shadow in sable with a Topshop blending brush. I then line my lash line with the Rimmel scandal eyes liquid liner in black. Applying mascara is important and completes any look, I first use the Maybelline rocket volume express mascara and then layer it up with the Benefit volume express mascara and both of them together both thickens and lengths your lashes really well. 

Finally for lips I firstly use my lush bubble gum lip scrub, to prep them before applying lip balm. I then use my Maybelline baby lips in grapevine which is a deep berry colour, perfect for the time of year. Sometimes I will also add a gloss, mostly the Clinique gloss balm in raspberry or the dandelion lip gloss by benefit. That is my makeup routine but I don't wear this everyday but if I do this is genuinely wear this.