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.

First Time For First Aid Beauty | Review

Each time I hear about First Aid Beauty I think to myself " I must try that out!" but never end up doing. Compared to America it is quite hard to get hold of in the UK, the easiest way probably being online. But whilst travelling to Greece, I saw it on in the plane magazine and knew I simply couldn't pass it up. I bought the Ultra Repair Cream for £8 on board the flight.

I have to admit I had quite high expectations for this little bottle of moisturizer, you gather up that sense of excitement of trying a new product everyone seems to love. The beauty of this product is that it isn't just targeted as a facial moisturizer and can be used all over your body too! It's quite a heavy duty moisturizer and would be perfect to use in the colder months on dry patches or if you overall have dry skin, which at the moment I don't. First Aid Beauty don't use any unnecessary chemicals in their products and aim their Ultra Repair range towards people with sensitive skin and this product didn't irritate my skin. As it is a thick moisturizer I feared that it would leave a greasy residue on my skin, but I was indeed impressed as it absorbed into my skin as soon as I began to rub it in, it left my skin feeling hydrated all day long to when I came to apply it again at night when my skin can usually start to feel tight with any other moisturizer.

One thing I will say though is that I did notice my skin seemed to break out more whilst I was using it, it may have been the moisturizer or that my skin was going through a rough patch. Overall however I think this is an amazing product that would work wonders on dry skin and in the Winter months which you should get your hands on. 

Clean Finish | Nails

In the Summer although it's all about the brightly coloured nail polish but if I am being honest I can't be bothered to (in other words I am to lazy) So I usually stick to my natural nails but to get the best of them, but I do a bit of prep to keep them looking their best.

Cut and File

Cut you nails down to the length you want them to be. I don't like them so long that they catch or too short (they have to be just right!) Once you've got them to the length you want them too File them to the shape you want, There's so many you can choose from! There's the Almond shape, rounded off, squared and more (I think?) I go for kind of round but kind of square? 

Buff and Polish

If you want to get a natural shine you can get a nail buffer. Mines from Pandora but you can get them from anywhere. They have two sides, one for buffing which you do first and the other is for polish which gives you the natural shine that you do last. 

Moisturize

No one likes the look of dry cracked nails, so moisturize is the way to prevent it! Moisturize your cuticles and hands separately to get a better result. 

Paint 

I know I said I was too lazy to paint my nails but using a clear/ sheer pink polish can really make a difference, it makes your nails look alot cleaner and fresher. I use the OPI nail polish in 'Bubble Bath' it's a really sheer pink shade. I apply just once light coat and it really makes a difference to the look of you hands.

Lace Collar and Polka Dots

Dress // New Look (similar design)
Hat // Amazon
Shoes // Schuh
Socks // Topshop

I am aware I look like a young school girl here but what can you do. This polka dot dress I have had since I was about 12 and it's making a comeback! I love the detailing on the lace collar it adds texture to a plain outfit. I don't know why but this outfit reminds me of a french girl outfit? (just me?)

A Blast From The Past

Now more than ever the past era's that came before us are making a comeback. Through their fashion and decor, if you step into a shop you will no doubt see something inspired by the past decades you may not even realize! It's beauty to see items that people used to wear and enjoy come back around for our generation. The sentimental value that people in the past had for the love of the items we are now using today.

These days I will find myself often questioning my Mum or Dad "Why did you throw that out?" mostly referring to their  old clothes, old radio's and record players. Back then it was the normal to have them, but then in comes the new 'IT' thing and out of the window it goes into the trash. That's the reality of everyday life, we chuck out old things that we think we will no longer need when in fact years later there it is again. In fact our kids will probably be asking the same question I ask my parents now.

The beauty of retro spec gadgets coming back in give us an idea of what it was like back in the day. All the Polaroid camera's everyone's after, where you can have a physical memory of that day instead of having everything digitally backed up. The good old Roberts Radio which people mainly use for show for their appealing retro appeal. Walking into people houses today is like a blast from the past with all the 70's inspired decor used to furnish their home. It's like you living 40-50 years ago.

Then of course there is the fashion. Retro fashion is recently making a huge comeback with the 70's, 80's and 90's influencing today's trends. From favourites such as: the midi skirt, the bomber jacket, shift dresses, tartan, the bowler hats, loafers and so much more. Yup those things in your wardrobe we're first worn in the 70's (Your mum may have worn the same thing as you too!) You may also find yourself wearing items from your younger life, anyone else remember wearing those frilly socks, Mary Jane's and scrunchies to your first day of school? I sure do.

It truly is the old saying ;what comes around goes around; in today's world. If you have learnt anything from this post it is don't chuck out you old clothes because you never know when you'll next see them hitting the shelves!  I hope you enjoyed this little delve into the past post and it's now made me want to hit the retro stocking shops.

A Natural Detox

For the past 2 Weeks I have been on a detox journey by Byron Body. It's a herbal leaf tea that it's proven to help improve your skin and can help speed up weightloss, but it was for the skin benefits I gave it a try. I had recently seen a lot of people including celebrities trying out these tea detox's which is why I became interested in the first place.

After Week 1

Whilst brewing my first pot of the tea, the thing that came to my mind was the strong herbal scent that was coming out from the packet. I placed one and a half teaspoons of the loose leaf tea into the diffuser provided and let the tea stew for 5 minutes depending on how strong you like it, it may be longer. The taste is definitely fruity yet quite spicy, it's a really warming drink. After a few days of drinking it I noticed my skin had improved quite a bit. It seemed more glowy and healthy looking and my breakouts had reduced.

After Week 2

Beginning my second week into the detox I was already feeling healthier even though I had been slaking on working out recently (oops) I felt a lot fresher and not as bloated as I felt previous after eating. I naturally do eat quite healthy anyway but in the Summer I find myself reaching for more unhealthy snacks, but I found that this tea reduced my cravings for all the bad stuff. I was really impressed with the results this detox gave me at the end I felt a look healthier and happier in myself, my skin was looking a lot better and I had almost no breakouts. 

For anyone who is considering starting one of these detox's should do, you will end up feeling a lot better with yourself and if you suffer from bloating I would highly recommend this for you! The tea I tried is from Byron Body, which is an amazing brand and the tea not only does good but tastes amazing too! To purchase your own tea-tox or for more information on Byron Body click here.

A Holiday I'll Never Forget

I recently got back from my holiday, I went on a sailing holiday around the Southern Ionian in Greece. We went around in a flortilla group and had our own sailing boat, our boat was called Xanadou. In total we visited 6 different places over the week we were there across 4 of the islands. It was an amazing experience that I will never forget.

It was so refreshing waking up every day to be sailing to another location. Whilst we were there it was beautiful weather, I was thankful that the weather in Britain was like it was the week before I went as if it wasn't I would have probably died from the heat!

Our first stop was Sivota which is on Lefkada, it was a beautiful town like all of the stops we made.

The next stop was Fiscardo which is in Kephalonia, out of all the islands we visited it was the most commercial. There were beautiful traditional shops and delicious restaurants. We had to be moored up against a huge boat (or as we call it stinkpot) 

Can we talk about the food over in Greece, it was delicious! There was Moussaka, Tzatziki, Souvlaki and of course Ice Cream! The Greek food is probably my favourite type, I could live off it!

On the way to the towns we stopped off on the way into a little cove that was stunning in its scenery. It was so refreshing jumping into the cooling sea after you'd been in the heat all day.

We then stopped off in Ay Eufima also on Kephalonia. It was one of the smaller tows out of the 6, with handmade jewellery shops and probably my favourite restaurant we ate at.

Next off, Kioni. I think out of them all this was my favourite place, it was so beautiful. We were all lined up where we were moored. It was a stunning boat bay with shops and restaurants lined up along the harbor.

We then went to Little Vathi, a small fishing village off Meganissi. The smallest out of all the towns but still beautiful, with minimal shops but plenty of restaurants. We stayed at a private key, it was a very isolated area. 

Our last stop was back where we began in Nidri on Lefkada, it's one of the main ports of Lefkada. It's another commercial area which lots of restaurants and shops (bonus!) I have to admit I was sad to leave, I miss waking up in the morning and heading out across the sea in a sail boat. I would love to be back there right now. It's experiences like this that you will remember for the rest of your lives.

I hope you enjoyed this post taking a nosy into my holiday. Thank you for reading.