Liebster Award

I have been nominated by the lovely Isabel from iisforiz.blogspot.co.uk for the Liebster Award! Her blog is lovely so you should all go and visit!

Rules

Answer the questions that are sent to you

Nominate 10 bloggers who have under 200 followers on twitter

Ask them 12 questions of your own

Notify them that they've been nominated

My nominations are;

Followinglisa

Love--Lauren 

Thebeautespot

Thesarahjudithdiaries

Thelifestylejunkie

Thegreatcatsbyx

Tallgirl97

Printsandprettythingsxx

Georgiapj

Bethasbb

Me answering Isabel's questions:

1. If you could dye your hair any other colour, what would it be?

I was extremely tempted to go for a lavender greyish dip dye for a while but chickened out.

2. When you're not blogging, what do you do for fun?

If I'm not blogging I'm usually working, in Hula in the Northern Quarter or catching up on Netflix.

3. On a big night out, are heels a must?

Depending on where you go! I think heels sounds formal but you can get some casual heels too which are great for me because I don't like being too overdone.

4. What is your favourite item of clothing you own?

Probably my kimono just because it's so wearable I've literally worn it with so many differnt outfits like over a bikini or with high waisted jeans and a crop top!

5. Where would you love to be right now?

Somewhere with cocktails.

6. What is a name you really hate?

Any names that are inspired by cars or alcohol.

7. Who is your celebrity idol right now?

Blake Lively! Beautiful and classy.

8. Guilty pleasure music?

One Direction. Always.

9. Name three essential items you need in your bag when you go out.

Besides the usual phone, keys and money: concealer, body spray and mints!

10. Favourite dessert.

Lemon meringue pie. Preferably my grandmas home made!

11. Describe an ideal weekend.

Summer, friends, camping, beach and drinks!

My questions:

1. If you could own a house anywhere in the world where would it be?

2. Who is your biggest inspiration?

3. If you could have a dinner party with any 3 living or dead celebrities who would they be?

4. Your reasons why.

5. What is your favourite season?

6. What is the best advice you have ever been given?

7. What inspires you to run a blog?

8. What bloggers do you admire?

9. If you could only wear one outfit for the rest of your life what would it be?

10. Favourite song of the year.

11. 3 make up items you couldn't live without.

12. Sweet or savoury?

Have fun guys!

World Mental Health Day - reflections

Today is World Mental Health Day and I have only just heard about it now, it's 9pm. I feel like this has prompted me to say something because mental illness has been a big part of my life since i can remember.

Mental health isn't exactly the most spoke about subject and quite often it gets pushed to the back of people's minds. A mental illness is just as bad and equally devastating as a physical illness yet there seems to be a huge stigma attached to talking about our mental wellbeing.

My personal experience with mental health really widened my eyes and it really changes the way I look at people. 

I am an ordinary girl, people probably see me as a happy go lucky 23 year old, making my way through life and trying to find where I fit in but that is just the outside. I have personally suffered from depression since my early teens and only had the courage to go to the doctors when I was 17 years old. I was scared to tell someone how I was feeling and to be quite honest I was embarrassed and ashamed. I had a loving family, friends and lived in a nice house. What did I need to be depressed about?

I think that is the most assumed thing about depression. People think you need to have a reason and it's not like that for everyone. Depression is such a controlling and vile illness. It grabs hold of every thought in your head and vanishes it into thin air replacing it with only dark, lonely and sometimes frightening thoughts. You feel like you are trapped within 4 walls with no door to escape. There are some days when I crossed the street I would hope to god that a car would hit me and I wouldn't have to be here anymore. Depression has ruined friendships and relationships and I lost someone I loved more than anything because it wouldn't let me see and experience how amazing my life was.

Depression obviously isn't the only mental illness out there and it's important that people don't look at people with mental health issues as 'mental'. We are not mental. Our mind thinks in a different way to yours and that's just the way it is.

What's annoying is the statements people tend to make or advice they try to give you about your situation. 

"Why don't you just be happy?"

Or

"You just need to change your frame of mind."

Oh if it was only that simple. You think I enjoy feeling this way do you? 

When will step back and realise that not everything is in our control? I haven't had cancer but I can sympathise and understand how horrific it is and devastating it is on an individual's life and wellbeing. I would really hope that one day people get to this point with depression and understand that just because it's not visible to the eye, it's there and it's not a matter of 'being happy' or 'changing your frame of mind'. It's about support.

What I'm really saying is, please talk to someone. It can change your life. I suffered for years only myself knowing what I was putting myself through and that is no way to live. Not everyone is going to understand. I once had a close friend tell me 'I don't believe in depression' and I was genuinely baffled. It literally is pure ignorance but I can promise you that not everyone is narrow minded and you may realise that others around you are feeling the same way. I am lucky I have friends and family who have been through the same and are able to offer me support and advice when I really need it.

If you need help or support please go to http://www.mind.org.uk or ring 0300 123 3393♥

What do you think about the stigma attached to mental illness?

Glossybox September 2014 - Karen Millen Edition

Products:

1.  More Brows Fibre Gel by Models Inc

Review: As I have grown older, my eyebrow game certainly has got stronger. From a teenager over plucking my brows to using a pencil and doing the whole 'scouse brow' look (not a good look I may add) to learning to use the right tools and actually make my brows a much loved part of my face! A few years ago I wouldn't have been excited if I had found a brow product in my Glossybox but I was really pleased when I received this brow gel. I usually use the Maybelline one but I really do not get along with it. I find the brush awfully difficult to use and give up pretty quick trying to over coat my brows after afine dust of brown eyeshadow to shape. This brow gel is my saviour. My eyebrows do not move once I apply this bad boy. It may be a little light for me personally but I can make it work. Definitely going to repurchase this once it runs dry. (£14.95 for the full size of 3.5ml)

2. L'Oreal Professional Mythic Oil

Review: Any product that's oil based it quite risky for me as I get greasy hair easily  but I'm usually ok if I just stick to applying on the ends, and I must say I have actually been really impressed with this. As I said I apply it to the ends of my hair before I dry it after washing. It dries so beautiful and glossy and the funny thing is when I curl my hair afterwards I notice the curl tends to stay rather than drop when using this product which is a bonus! (£15.95 for the full size of 125ml)

3. SkinPep Enzyme and Acid Peel and Peeling Gel

Review: I must say that when I read 'acid peel' I was genuinely terrified and did not look forward to trying this one out. I have very sensitive skin and I can break out pretty easily so I'm careful when it comes to putting things on my face. I did end up trying it out but I didn't actually notice any difference which was disappointing, which I suppose is good in some ways, could have come out in red spots! I think for the price (£89.99 for the full size at 180ml) is absolutely ridiculous! I'd want a new face for that!

4. Nails Inc Westminster Bridge Matte Top Coat

Review: I am really into the whole matte nails trend at the moment so was super excited to try this after buying loads of the Barry M Matte varnishes and being very disappointed. Unfortunately the disappointment didn't end with Barry M. I found the coat dried really quickly which I think is amazing as I literally can't sit still when I have wet nails and end up having an itch or something and smudging it everywhere, but the colour just looked really.....crap. It actually made me miss high shine nails and shiney topcoats if I'm honest. For the price (£12 for the full size) I wouldn't even bother. I went to bed with freshly painted dry nails and woke up and it was chipped and horrible. No idea what I do in my sleep but I'm sure it can't have been that bad.

5. Nivea 3 in 1 Micellar Cleansing Water

Review: I recently started using the Garnier Micellar Water around April and absolutely fell in love with using this rather than using a make up wipe and never feeling like it was enough to remove all my make up, so when I received this in my Glossybox I was quite happy, as I was running low on my other. I have to say, that I much prefer this Nivea one. My skin felt like satin, it was so so so soft. I will never go back to make up wipes and as my skin is super sensitive especially around this time of year, I think it really makes a difference to the way my make up applies the next day. It is a bargain at £4.07 for the full size of 200ml so I have no excuse of not repurchasing!

Have you tried Glossybox or any other type of beauty boxes?

Autumn Picks

So Summer came and went like the blink of an eye and luckily for me my favourite season has started to take over my little town in Manchester. Crunchy brown leaves below my feet and frost in the air covering windows and cars (thank god I don't drive and don't have to be doing the whole scraping the ice off the windows in a mad panic before work).

Never one for showing too much skin, I love layering and keeping things covered (things being my no-gym body and hideous eczema that likes to pop up around this time) so Autumn is my season. I tend to stick with my usual 'no colour colour scheme' although was proud that there was a little bit of pastel in there!

1. Black Sateen High Neck Shell Top - New Look £17.99
2. Colour Block Tote Bag - River Island £40
3. Black Faux Fur Collar Biker Jacket - River Island £65
4. Black Check Blanket Scarf - River Island £15
5. Light Acid Molly Jeggings - River Island £35
6. Felt Floppy Hat - Topshop £28
7. Fluffy Cornelli Tee - Topshop £22
8. Brick Front Zip Boots - Topshop £40

That's it for me. Need to start ticking this wishlist off ASAP! Any trends you have been enjoying for this Autumn?

Palette Review - Make Up Revolution

It's been a while.. Hi!

Sorry for the 3 month space in between this post and the last, I went through a tough break up and have been keeping myself occupied and busy! Not to mention the massive increase in my make up collection (what can I say, make up is my remedy....haha), and during my little 'make myself feel better by purchasing make up I don't need' sessions, I came across a brand I had never really heard of before named Make Up Revolution.

Not knowing much about them I didn't really think too much about it until I started hearing more about them on Twitter or from bloggers. Let's face it, I'm renting a house on my own at the moment so I don't exactly have much dispensable income so when I heard that they were selling make up around the same price as MUA, I thought it was worth a try!

Eyeshadow palette in 'What you waiting what you waiting what you waiting for?' and Blush/Contour palette, both £6

I wasn't really blown away by most of the products, a lot were extremely similar to those by MUA but when I saw the palettes I knew I wouldn't let myself leave the website until I bought one. The packaging was too beautiful not to. I ended up with two (restrained myself from buying another two but who's counting?) and at £6 each my bank balance didn't exactly pass out from shock, which is always welcome in my book.

 The eyeshadow palette has some beautiful colours. All are subtle and suitable for everyday. I wouldn't say they are extremely pigmented, maybe with a few layers they are slightly more buildable, but nevertheless at £6 I wasn't expecting too much.

Colours from L-R: We Love You, Tick Tock, Can't Find The Brake, Moving Car, Do It Alone, Sex Chromosome, Now It's Only Me, Scary Conversation, Take A Chance, Shut My Eyes, Stupid H.., Life Is Short

I have slightly oily skin on my eyes with dry parts towards the corners so eyeshadows are always a bit hit and miss and don't tend to last too long on my lids. These fall into that bracket, although after 10 hours of wear today I can say that it is still slightly visible (that is with primer too).

Blush & Contour palette in Sugar and Spice

The blushes are beautiful, but the contour colours are not what I would personally use as a contour shade but they still make nice colours to use on the cheek bones. They are all extremely pigmented and are really beautiful on my skin when blended properly. I personally love the two shades on the right of the palette with the shimmer in which makes for a lovely highlight on top of the cheekbones as it has little hints of pink imbedded into it.

The blush shades don't actually have any names for me to note down, but these are the swatches on my skin! Some of them are pretty daring, but with a bit of blending should be natural and really easy to wear.

Overall would I buy from Make Up Revolution again? Yes I would. The prices are so reasonable and compared to MUA I think Make Up Revolution looks slightly more expensive and the palettes are definitely better quality in my view.

I've heard good things about the eyeshadow pigments and eye foils so I will be trying those next! Have you tried anything from Make Up Revolution?

Spring Picks #1

L-R: Cream Floral Lace Tassel Hem Kimono - New Look £29.99, Pastel Blue Medium Clean Satchel - Topshop £28, Leigh Jeans - Topshop £40,  White Leather Chunky Strap Platform Sandals - New Look £39.99, Mint Green Embellished Lace Shirt - New Look £29.99

So its getting towards the end of April now and the weather has really started to pick up. I even managed a little half an hour sun session in the garden this morning, until a big cloud came for the sun to hide behind and made me chilly! (That's what you get for living in Manchester, eh?)

It's probably that time where I step out from my mainly monochrome wardrobe and my beloved greys, to a lighter, more pastel-esque wardrobe to match the wonderful weather we've been having.

I'm a massive lover of mint green and pastel blue, probably my favourite colours to wear on my nails around this time of year, so what better than introduce these into my wardrobe?!

What items have you introduced into your wardrobe this Spring?

Goodbye dry

Turning twenty-one, I thought the least of my worries was finishing university and moving back home for the summer. Little did I know that my skin had something up it's sleeve for me.

I couldn't believe it when I started getting eczema all over my body after moving back home. This was something I had as a child, and I can remember itching and scratching to the point when my skin was red raw and my mum would shout at me and tell me not to! 

It's been two years now and at twenty-three I'm still no better or wiser about this skin condition, but here are a few tips that may help if you are also a fellow eczema sufferer (is that even a word? It is now.) 

1. Try not to itch. It's the hardest thing to do, seriously. I have tried wrapping myself in ointment and cling film, wearing socks on my hand to fight the urge and worn full length clothes in bed so I can't get to any of my skin! 

2. Wear 100% cotton. It really lets the skin breathe and that is the key here. Don't wear anything heavy and irritating to the skin, like wool as it will irritate the skin and your problem will get worse. It's hard in the winter to keep the skin cool because the Winter air is super drying and obviously you have to keep the body warm. Layers are probably best as you can add and subtract them as you wish. 

3. Keep moisturised. I'd say moisturise 4 times a day. Especially when out of the shower and before bed.

My skin picks! From L-R- Aveeno Skin Relief, Aloe Vera Gel, Garnier Intensive 7 Days Lotion, Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water, Garnier Softening Toner

4. Keep the skin cool, especially in summer. It's best not to wear tight fitting clothes because your skin will overheat. When going to bed I recommend wearing 100% cotton pyjamas. As I said earlier 100% cotton lets the skin breathe and will keep it feeling cool. I recently got some from Primark. (See picture) When showering, never shower with hot water, always turn the temperature down to luke warm.

Primark 100% cotton pyjamas - £6

5. Don't use products with too many chemicals in, try to use products that have been 'dermatologically tested'. It is an important step, as chemicals are a main irritant to eczema and you can find eczema friendly bath/shower gels and body moisturisers in your local pharmacy or drug store.

6. If you flare up, try taking an anti-allergy tablet. These help me calm down a bit and not be as irritated. I'm sure its probably a placebo but it does do the trick for me personally.

7. Go to your doctors and see what they can offer you. They may offer a steroid cream for temporary use and it may help clear your eczema up for the time being. Eczema doesn't have a cure, so you need to bear this in mind. I always thought there'd be something to help get rid of it completely and was pretty gutted when I realised it wasn't that simple. 

8. If your eczema gets worse, i.e you've noticed a red flushing across your skin/noticed it going in other places, then my best advice would be to ask to be referred to a dermatologist by your doctor. They can offer you better help than your GP as they are specialised in skin and have the resources to do so.

9. Take an allergy test. This may sound ridiculous (and I didn't know this) but allergies don't just start from birth. You can start being allergic to something at any age. It's always best to check if there is anything you can cut out or stay away from. (You should be able to get one of these at your doctors. They will take blood from just below your elbow and test it against all sorts such as; dogs, dust, grass, pollen, wheat etc.) Funnily enough I did one of these not long ago and found out I am allergic to house dust and grass! Which is fabulous considering summer is only around the corner and I want to spend as much time outside as possible, but I suppose it is far better than being allergic to my dog, Ben!