NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams First Impressions

Hi guys - I'm so happy that I managed to find a gap in the horrendous weather long enough to take some photos!

Last week I used my Boots points to delve into a makeup brand that I've been lusting after for quite some time - NYX. The products are so reasonably priced and from what I've tried so far, are amazing quality as well. Today I thought I'd review the Soft Matte Lip Creams; liquid lipsticks which dry matte and have an incredible staying power.

When I went online all of the shades were in stock so I was absolutely spoilt for choice - I love my nudes so I picked two of those, and then a brighter one as well because why the heck not. The first shade from the left is 'London' - a brown nude which honestly, is so beautiful it hurts me a little. It feels so lovely on the lips and I think this is my favourite shade (it reminds me a bit of MAC spirit, which if you know me you know that it is my holy grail lip product).

The second, pink plum colour is called 'Prague' - and looks a lot like it does in the packaging. In fact the colour on the tube is a good reference for what it will look like when you wear it, which can't be said for a lot of lippies. This shade is extremely pigmented and you only need one coat to pack on the colour - its bright but it isn't too 'fuchsia', a colour that personally I can't stand on lips. This is bold but wearable, and honestly is perfect for Autumn with the transition into plum colours.

My last purchase was 'Athens' (how adorable are the names oh my goodness) - I'm not great at descriptions but I would say that when put straight on the lips its a coral nude. I'm not a huge fan of coral, but I've discovered that if you stick a bit of Chapstick on before applying Athens it becomes a gorgeous pink and brown nude; right up my street! I'm so happy with the shades that I picked, but I've got my eye on 'Abu Dhabi', a deeper brown nude compared to London, and 'Stockholm', another pinky nude. Can you tell what colour category is my favourite at the moment by any chance?

One thing I adore about these products is the applicator - but seriously help I cannot describe it (why do I even attempt beauty posts I'm so basic). After doing a bit of speedy research, I can now confirm that this is a Doe Foot applicator, and although I'm not sure what it means I can tell you that it is incredibly easy to apply. At £5.50 per lippie, this is such a quality product for what you get, and I can't recommend it highly enough. The smell also reminds me of cake batter, so its a win-win all round! The ONLY downside is that it can be quite drying for your lips - but I've found that lip balm underneath solves that issue without a problem. NYX, you have my attention, and I am ready to empty my bank balance for you. 

From left; London, Prague, Athens

Have you ever tried any products from NYX?

Stay beautiful!

Emily xoxo

My Take on Social Media (Part 2)

Everyone is putting their piece into the giant jigsaw that is the debate on social media, and I won't be the first, and certainly not the last, to take my opinions and type them up for all to see and evaluate. This is actually a follow up to my first post (see it here), where I discussed certain platforms and asked: does removing an online presence have the ability to remove your social presence? It was a tough question to tackle, but I'm not sorry I embarked on it, because deactivating and reactivating my Facebook account has produced results that shocked me, but also didn't shock me at the same time.

First of all let me start by saying that this isn't a rant specifically about Facebook. I think Facebook is a useful tool, which allows us to connect and remain contact - a pretty impressive and important feature of technology. This post is about social media in general, but Facebook has mainly been the target of my mini experiment, purely because that's where I feel the hub of online social life lies.

I deactivated my Facebook over four months ago, because I was tired of having my time consumed by (what I thought was) a pointless app on my phone. I knew that it was a great way to keep in contact, but I was of the thought process that if anyone wanted to include me, they'd find other methods of doing it. How naïve I was, because after my little four month experiment, I can safely say that in a society overwhelmed by technology and everything related to it - social media isn't budging, and its something we need to adapt to, instead of adapting it to ourselves.

When I first scrapped the whole shebang, I felt so freed - it may have just been psychological but I honestly felt like I had more time on my hands - a few minutes here and there adds up, and before I knew it I had extra time to polish off blog content, and sped through more books than I usually did. For the first two months I was totally unfazed by the fact that my profile no longer existed - I was happy with my real life friends and family, and didn't feel the need to tap into an online world outside of college, where all the people I knew glorified their lives.

(Also, I know you might think I'm a hypocrite for remaining online in other ways, but hey ho we can't all be perfect. I wanted to see the results of removing myself from a personal platform - I only kept friends and family on Facebook, whereas Twitter and my blog have such a different variety of followers. It's different, at least in my opinion.)

I want to give credit where its due - my nearest and dearest kept me included at all times. But for the most part, not being online started to take its effects and I kept not being invited to events - I'm only human, and when FOMO turns into AMO ('actually missing out', I just made that up on the spot soz) I started to waver, my strong mentality cracking when I saw instagram the mornings after parties and listened to personal jokes in school. I'm a stubborn person, and I hate going back on things I've said - but I've changed my mind. I thought Facebook wasn't necessary in a social environment, but it is; at least at my age, where everything is a bit less permanent and up in the air.

In answer to my original question, I would say that at least partially, the withdrawal of an online presence does slightly retract your social presence, no matter how much effort you put in. The existence of a messenger app where you can contact all your acquaintances all at once is convenient, and its way too much effort to pick up the landline and give someone a call. I love the internet, but it can promote laziness and neglect to relationships. I dreaded opening up the app again, partly out of embarrassment, but also partly because I desperately want to encourage the application of effort again. Gone are the days where you can hide in your room all weekend and go back on Monday feeling totally a member of the gang. Social media has drawn us all in and changed the way we see communication.

Another thing I couldn't keep from noticing is the amount of times I looked at someone and thought they looked completely different from a profile picture or cover photo. Is there some kind of magic formula to get a satisfactory number of likes? Is beauty suddenly defined as the mental capacity to pick the right filter and choose a funny caption? I don't really know where my beliefs lie in the whole Essena O'Neill discussion, since some of the time, I do agree that identity can be removed in order to be liked online, whether in the literal sense, or a number displayed on a page. We all do it, heck I know that I have to make sure my selfies are acceptable before I post them! It's so interesting to me to read everyone's thoughts on this. I haven't really picked my side of the fence yet, but I know that there are some things I've made my mind up on. Just because I posed for a picture, or collaborated with a brand, doesn't mean that I'm fake. We all make our lives a little bit glossy, because no one wants to post a photo on days when our hair is way flat, or when we have a breakout. That's human nature, its what we do (and isn't a result of social media) and editing out the nasty parts doesn't make us unreal. When a movie is made, or a book is written, you don't leave in the dodgy scenes or the spelling mistakes. There's definitely a difference between glorifying and making yourself appear perfect, and posting photos that you want to look back on and feel good about. I know that on my blog I am 100% myself, or at least 100% myself with the content that I feel comfortable sharing. Telling you about a horrific day, or showing you what I look like after I've bawled my eyes out isn't within my comfort zone, and sticking to that zone doesn't make me fake.

What's your opinion on all of this? Link me your posts because sitting down and reading them is my favourite thing to do at the moment. Yay for spreading awareness and feeling like we can have a say!

Emily xo

A Lush Haul

Is anyone else struggling to take any decent photos with this dull, grey weather? I apologise for low quality, but the weather here in England is dismal every day so I had to just go for it! I keep having to remind myself that Christmas is at the end of this gloomy tunnel. The other day I popped into Lush to get a couple of festive bits, because I'm 100% a bath person and a Christmas person rolled all into one. I only had about five minutes so I grabbed some old favourites and a new bath bomb, and thought you might like a nosy.

Firstly I picked up a mini Snow Fairy shower gel, purely because the festive season wouldn't be the same without it. It's a rich candyfloss scent, but for some reason it reminds me of a marzipan fruit (just me? Okay.) It wouldn't be for everyone, due to how strong and sweet the scent is, but if you enjoy smelling sugary then this would definitely be for you. The small 100g bottle is £3.95 if I remember correctly, but its worth the money and I've already ordered myself a bigger one to add to my collection.

Next is my favourite bath bomb of all time - Cinders. On the packaging it describes the fizzer as a 'hot fruit punch' fragrance with oranges and almonds, but as usual with scents I smell something completely different. To me it smells cinnamon-y and sweet, your typical Autumn scent, and the best part of the Cinders experience is the addition of popping candy, which you hear when you step into the bubbles. It's one of the cheaper products for £2.95, and is always a repurchase for me. If you're feeling festive and want to continue the mood, add this to your bath! I honestly love it - it would come in a close second to the mango bath melt, my all time favourite Lush product.

Lastly I bought something I've never seen/tried before. The Star Dust bath bomb looks innocent from its white exterior - but when you add it to your bath multi-coloured stars come out to play! It has scents of vanilla and lemon, but honestly when I take a sniff the most prominent smell is Coconut, like the inside of a Bounty chocolate bar. It's another cheapish buy for £2.95, and its so darn pretty. I love anything sparkly, and what could be more magical than a star?

Lush is one of the best shops at Christmas, there's so much going on and something for everyone - take a trip and you'll see what I mean!

What's your favourite festive bath bomb?
Emily xoxo

I leaf you

 

(Moment of appreciation for that punny title). I wasn't actually intending to do an OOTD in the next couple of weeks, but it was a lovely crisp Monday afternoon, and Harry said he would take some photos for me if we went on a walk...so here we are! I've realised lately that I have a heck of a lot of purple and mustard in my wardrobe, which is why this outfit is so heavily based on those colours.

 

My booties are from New Look last year, and are so comfy! They were a reasonable price if I remember correctly, but I do find it hard to pair them with anything other than black tights. Chelsea boots are very in right now though, so its definitely worth investing.

 

 

My mustard and purple scarf is from New Look (again), and I actually featured it in my last favourites. It's super comfortable and my go to Autumnal accessory right now. I used it as the main feature of the outfit, and paired it with a thin Zara jumper, black tights and a Forever21 patterned velvet skirt.

 

 

 

My purple coat (told you I was obsessed) is also from New Look, and has lasted me over two years so far. The lining is warm and fleecy and it has a chic vibe, whilst still maintaining high levels of cosiness - which is obviously the most essential thing to check off the list. Lastly, if you wondering where my rings in the first photo are from, they're both Pandora!

 

What colours do you gravitate to in the colder months?

Emily xo

My Everyday Make-Up Essentials

I'm so excited to be posting again, with a refreshed blogging mind. Sorry for missing Wednesday's post, but motivation isn't easy to conjure when you're in a slump, so I took a break and now my mind feels jam-packed with ideas. I've done many posts that incorporate these Make-up items before, but I've never explicitly shown you my everyday essentials.

 



Okay so as for face related items (well they're technically all face related but you know what I mean lads) I go pretty much all out Rimmel. I know Rimmel haven't had the best press lately and I've cut some products out of my collection because of it all, but when you find products that suit your skin its desperately difficult to say goodbye. I adore the Wake Me Up foundation - let me tell you I have tried high end foundations, but THIS baby just makes my heart grow wings. It isn't cakey but you get good coverage, and the tone of it is a pretty darn good match for my skin. I use the True Match concealer, which lasts a flippin lifetime; I bought this concealer three months ago and I use it every single day, can't really beat that sort of staying power.

 

The Stay Matte powder is a new addition to the routine, I used to use a different Rimmel powder with a teal packaging but that seems to have disappeared (or has the packaging just changed?) - anywho, it works like a powder should, so I'm happy about it. My most prized possession is my Nars Laguna Bronzer (CULT. CLASSIC.) which is so beautiful I sometimes want to cry, and has exactly the right amount of shimmer. Finally for this first category, I often turn to the Me Me Me highlighter, which I put into my most recent favourites. It's easy to apply and is bold enough to satisfy - definitely worth taking a gander at that brand people.

 

 

Anyone that knows me and my make up knows that the Maybelline Master Precise Eyeliner is the one to beat. I've tried Benefit, I've tried Rimmel, I've tried No7, but nothing even comes close to this eyeliner. It's a sponge tip so doesn't feel scratchy, and just glides on like a dream. Buy it. Just buy it buy it buy it. Also in this Maybelline love affair is the Lash Sensational Mascara which every blogger seems to go on about, and I completely understand why. Such a good find, such a great wand! To doll up my eyebrows so they're on fleek (I hate myself for typing that), I usually use the brown shade in the Naked Basics Palette or the eyebrow pencil from Rimmel, either work well so I just go for whatever reaches my hands first.

 

 

I'm not going to lie here, I generally just reach for my Carmex on weekdays, since school isn't a runway and I like my lips to be protected from Winter *shudders at the thought of dry, cracked lips*. If it's a weekend day or I'm feeling a little bit bold, I'll go for my MAC lipstick in Spirit, which I absolutely cherish (I'm not even exaggerating, I thought I'd lost this at a party once and shed a tear, and I wasn't even drunk).

 

It's safe to say that in terms of sweeping the board, Rimmel do the face, Maybelline do the eyes, and MAC will always do lips. What do you reach for on a day to day basis?

 

Stay beautiful!

Em xoxo

Vlogpost #1

 

Hey guys! So today I wanted to start a new series of posts. I'm a huge fan of vlog channels on Youtube, but since I'm too awkward and shy to ever film myself in my bedroom, never mind out in the big wide world, I thought I'd start doing 'Vlogs' without videos! (Basically some snapshots of my day, so you can see what I got up to.) If this doesn't go down well, then, like with any type of post, I won't continue the series - tell me whatcha think!

 

 

Today I started out with a 11am appointment to get my helix pierced. Well, actually it was just to get another lobe piercing, but when it came down to it I bit the bullet and got what I was really afraid of getting, but also have desperately wanted for AGES. I was worried about getting cartilage pierced due to horror stories and extra pain - it turns out it hurts no more than a lobe piercing if you're wondering. I'm super happy with the result and although I know piercings aren't everyone's cup of tea (*cough* my family, *cough*), I think it adds to my style and how I express myself. I might do a blog post on piercing care and tips, I've had some tough experiences regarding aftercare, and I think it might be wise to share the wisdom!



 

 

We (H and I) had about an hour to kill before our lunch, so we did a bit of shopping; LOOK AT THIS MUG. Clueless is one of my all time favourites, accompanied by Beauty and the Beast, Love Actually, About Time and Dirty Dancing. I was pretty darn excited when I found this, at a steal for £2.99. Eugh, as IF. 

 

 

I'm one of those people that never thinks a photo of a bowl of pasta looks appetising, but I put it in anyway because this is very possibly the best bowl of pasta I've ever eaten. It's my guilty pleasure, and I get it every time I visit Prezzo - the Chicken Ravioli. Order this next time, you won't regret anything!

 

 

I didn't really know how to capture the rest of my day in photography to be honest, it's a pretty difficult task. I went to work for a miniscule 2 hour shift and sorted through a ton of new pyjama sets, that looked extremely cosy but in actual fact just succeeded in making me feel colder. After that I cozied down underneath my duvet and watched Christmas films with Harry for the rest of the night.

 

In the aftermath of what seemed like a brilliant post idea at the time, I find myself wondering if this is just a boring old ramble, the subject of which you couldn't care less *cry laughing emoji*

 

What do you think? Is it interesting to see someone else's day to day life?

What have you been up to today?

Emily xo

22 Lessons I've Learned From Blogging

Oh I do love to write chatty posts. My blog theme is really jumbled up at the moment, because all the beauty posts I've been wanting to write require more funds than I currently have...bring on payday! Until then you'll have to enjoy rambly, lifestyle posts - it's been a struggle to get anything up in the last week since I've been focused on my Uni applications and some mid-term assessments. I do love to type irrelevant nothings don't I? It's been about 15 months since ASD was born, so lets dive into all the things blogging has taught me.

1. The most important hours of the day involve daylight
Once you hit the 5pm mark (even earlier in Winter), you ain't gonna get no photos taken Missy.

2. Face make-up always looks slightly orange on camera
Does it worry me that I possibly look like a Wotsit in my day to day life? Yes. Yes it does.

3. It's flipping hard to get views at first
You have to work your butt off to get any views when you first start a blog, but its so rewarding when your traffic first starts to increase. I remember hitting 1000 page views and being deliriously happy.

4. Don't jump at every offer of a collab
Think about the message you deliver with your blog style, and your target audience. Will your readers enjoy a collaboration with a wedding company? Probably not. On another note, will you look a bit silly promoting something you know absolutely nothing about? Probably yes.

5. Routine posts can get very tedious
This is just a personal preference, but I don't like to do monthly favourites or playlists anymore - it got me into a comfortable slump which sucked the excitement out of blogging, and I much prefer taking it week by week and writing about the things that excite me. I find it's so much nicer to read an enthusiastic post - you can tell if the blogger is bored!

6. Not every post is going to be a smash hit
Sometimes you won't get a single comment or over 50 views on a post, and that's okay! It's helpful to know what posts go down well - a bit of market research never did anyone any harm.

7. Exposure is your new BFF
By far the effect I use most on PicMonkey is exposure, it improves the aesthetics of a photo by so much and is (I feel anyway) one of the most important photography tools. Dull photos are just that...dull.

8. People who know nothing about blogging can be extremely judgemental
Ignore them haters, and keep doing what you do.

9. Get a Boots points card
With the amount of money you'll be spending on beauty, it would be stupid not to pick up a Boots card and collect a TON of points.

10. Blogger events are pretty much the most fun ever
This time last year, attending an event with a room full of strangers would have felt like the worst idea - in reality, meet ups are the best days. Spending time with likeminded people and picking up some great free goodies is a dream come true.

11. Post at a specific time and day
Getting posts up on the same days at the same time is integral to bumping up views. It makes you reliable!

12. You might have to take about 100 outfits photos to get the right one
Patience does not come easily to me at all, but you have to accept that outfit posts are difficult, and it may take a heck of a lot of shots before you're happy with it.

13. Read read read
Read other peoples posts to get inspiration (but never copy, that's just rude) and to generally get a feel about what posts are popular at that time. Plus, commenting on posts can attract viewers (another lesson, don't just link your blog in the comments because that's V annoying, actually take time to write a thoughtful comment!)

14. If you want to post it, post it
Don't feel that you can't post something because it doesn't quite fit your 'theme' - its your corner of the internet, go for it! Exhibit A: My blog. A mishmash of post types that I couldn't love more. If you don't love what you're writing, then I'm pretty sure you aren't writing the right thing.

15. You can never have too many lipsticks
Enough said really.

16. Don't compare yourself!
Comparing yourself to other bloggers in a negative way can never end well, I promise. You are here to represent your own style, not someone else's.

17. Invest in a template
Pipdigging my blog was one of the best decisions I've made! I love it - and so easy to install.

18. SOCIAL MEDIA
Get your blog out there. How is anyone going to read if you expect them to just stumble across it? My favourite platforms are twitter and Bloglovin (Links at the top of the page).

19. Planning
Purchase a planner, dedicate a notebook - do anything you can to get organised and know when everything is getting posted. You don't have to stick to it, but a rough outline eases your mind and is so useful when you're making a list of everything you need to get done.

20. Writing style develops with time
I don't fully feel like I've got there yet, but I know that I'm improving with every post (at least I hope I am!)

21. It's okay to be in a slump
If you don't post for two weeks and take the time to gather your thoughts, that's fine! Everyone needs a break sometimes, and no one is an exception.

22. Bloggers are the best
It's not a competitive area, we all lift each other up! So many bloggers have been lovely to me, and I think making connections and meeting so many nice people is one of the best parts of this whole experience. At the end of the day,whether you have 2, 200 or 2000 followers, we all need a nice comment and a pick me up sometimes.

I hope you enjoyed this - something a little bit different!
What have you learned lately?
Emily xoxo