Which Tool for Your Base? ♡

I struggle with what tool to use for my foundation/tinted moisturiser/BB (CC) cream and what goes best with what! Well today I am going to break that down for you and tell you which tool and I like with which base and why?!

The Classic Foundation Brush : This is defiantly the brush I use the least as I feel like I am just slapping on paint with a paintbrush! However I have been trying it again recently but with a very light coverage foundation for when my skin is having a good day - if you want to use this brush I would try it this way.

The Flat-Top Foundation Brush : This may possibly be my favourite brush, I love using a stippling motion to press product into the skin and I find this creates a more 'natural' skin-like finish. Usually I use this for anything as it seems to do the job but I personally thinks it works the best for medium/full-coverage foundations.

The Buffing Brush : Most peoples favourite, an all rounder to be honest, but I like this for thicker tinted moisturisers and BB (CC) creams as I find the shape of the brush is perfect. If you weren't going to buy all these tools I would defiantly recommend this the most to use for all your base products!

The Sponge : The only tool that isn't a brush, these little guys came into fashion a year or so ago when the famous Beauty Blender was launched with loads of brands creating cheaper versions. I find if you have a lot more time on your hands this is perfect as it creates that flawless, catwalk-look finish. I use this for tinted moisturisers when I'm on holiday as it's small and I tend to wear less make-up on holiday in a hot country.

I hope this was helpful, and now your sorted with what goes with what... maybe?

The Life Changing Powder... ♡

Yay, finally I'm back again and it's been a couple of weeks, oops... Today I am going to be briefly reviewing my new favourite makeup product which is a face powder. Okay your probably thinking, 'wow Laura, the most exciting product ever - not' but honestly this is a life changer! This had been on my 'wish list' for a little while now because a load of beauty bloggers have raved about this and defiantly persuaded me!

It's the Bourjois Healthy Balance powder from the drugstore for £8.99 and yes that's pretty dear for a high-street powder but it's totally worth it and here is why...

Everyone needs to powder, even if you have dry skin like me so I always struggle to find a powder that doesn't go cakey. But this does what it says on the tin, mattifies your skin however enhances your natural glow without you looks shiny. Long lasting - I don't have to top up at all unless I'm wearing a super glowy foundation. Comes in a small, slim compact with a mirror so always great for on the go. And finally has a subtle yet natural fragrance (full of healthy fruit actually) so that is always good, right!?

So if your need of a new powder (especially if you have skin on dryer side) I would pick this up next time you go into Boots. Big thumbs up from me!

Tanya Burr Cosmetics ♡

Yes, I know I am late to the party when raving about these beauties but I have been collecting Tanya Burr's Cosmetics since the day they came out (literally, I was there!) over a year ago.

Firstly I picked up the colour Picnic in the Park, as a lip-gloss, a popular shade that Tanya wears a lot and even though the product is creamy (not sticky), has good colour pay-off and long-lasting for a lip gloss, the colour was just too bright and not for me. I love the shade range in the polish and gloss collections and the names have got to be my favourite part of the brand (like who doesn't love cute names like Penguin Chick and Little Duck!) Later on in the year I brought the colour Chic. A neutral pink shade, loved by all beauty bloggers, a great colour for popping into your bag and applying without a mirror. PERFECT! And finally in Sept/Oct last year Tanya released 8 new shades into the colour range with slightly different packaging but the formula had stayed to it's amazing original self. I picked the shade 'I Found Nemo' (THESE NAMES!!), and a favourite of Zoe's (Zoella). A gorgeous orange coral, perfect for the summer months.

Now nails, last year I picked up, again a favourite of Tanya's, Little Duck. It's a gorgeous bluey green, and what I love about these polishes is the opacity, you can apply it in one coat and voila, you're done! Long lasting, super shiny and chip-free, YES! Last Christmas Tanya released an online exclusive gift set of 3 polishes including at least one NEW polish in each gift, perfect for the festive season. I managed to grab one off Feel Unique in the sale though and eeek the colours are so pretty. There is a rose gold glitter (fairytale), a jet black (Dark Magic) - all exclusive colours and a gorgeous baby pink complementary colour (Mini Marshmallow). I have seen these gift sets around in some Superdrug's and TX Max's if your interested.

Whew that was a lot info pushed in your face right there, but you can tell I LOVE Tanya's makeup line. She should be very proud of it and I look forward to June 2nd when some new products will be added to the brand and of course to my collection!

A Cute Day Out ♡

So a week or so ago, before the summer term of school started again, me and my friend Anna decided to go for a little walk (I also filmed a video *hint hint*). The path went down a small little river in the middle of no where with gorgeous spring flowers (the blossom especially attracted me) and it was a very sunny, still, calm day and a lot of photos where taken by both of us camera enthusiasts!

We then came across a cute small village with a beautiful setting home to the typical village features such as a church, a post office and of course a little tea room. We were a little nervous at first as being the only customers in there, we felt slightly intimidated. But no worries because the waitresses were so helpful and the food and drinks were delicious. We both had filter coffee's (something I have never had before) and we shared a gorgeous tomato, basil and mozzarella panini!

I highly recommend going to cute little hidden away tea rooms like this one, even if it's something new, it was just a great time to chat with my friend!

Then we had a gentle walk back home (through a lovely industrial business park haha) but all in all the afternoon was great!

-Laura xox

3 Beauty Hacks ♡

We all have those lazy days when we just want to do things easy and simple (I have these days too often!) So today I'm going to be showing you 3 ways in which you can make life easier by following these simple beauty hacks, but shhh, don't tell anyone!

I love using hair masks, I find they clean and remove any excess oils and products (eg. crap) out of my hair without stripping it. However, decent hair masks can be expensive and take up more time in the bath/shower. So instead use your conditioner! It isn't as strong as a mask but basically does the same job. Just apply conditioner to the tips and lengths of your hair (not your roots otherwise greasy the monster will appear!) and leave it in for around 5 minutes. You can be shaving and washing your body at this point, then just wash it out like normal and voila!

A newish product that has come into the world of beauty is Micellar (choose how you say it!) Originally Bioderma were the only brand with this magic in a bottle product but now drugstore brands all over are releasing it! I love using this when I don't want to do the whole remove makeup, cleanse and tone thing because this does all of that for you on 1 large cotton pad! It's better for your skin then wipes (and I say it's quicker)! No rinsing, no irritation and no more MILLIONS of other products. THANK YOU!

And finally my last beauty hack is the cheek/lip trick. This is an oldie but a goodie! Especially at this time of year I love using cream blush but why go out and buy one when your more than likely to have one already in your makeup collection. I'm talking about a lipstick! This is great, you can choose any matte/glossy finish lipstick, pop it on your cheeks, blend it out with your fingers and your good to go. Just apply the lippy to your lips as well and you'll have a gorgeous matching lip/cheek thing going on!

Let me know if you have any great beauty hacks, as I'm all about easy and simple!

Essie's 'Mint Candy Apple' Drugstore Dupe?

If we own an Essie nail polish, 9/10 we purchased the shade Mint Candy Apple - a famous mint green colour. The polish has been out a few years now and other brands have tried to release shades similar but I think I'v found possibly the exact dupe at a ridiculously cheap price of £1 from MUA.

MUA are known for their cheap drugstore dupes (their Undress Me palettes are dupes for the Naked palettes, for example). I saw this polish on their stand in Superdrug late last summer and it caught my eye and I picked it up. I compared it to Essie's polish and it's just about exact apart from the price (Essie's polish is £7.99 and MUA is £1!) The polish lasts nearly a week, has a gorgeous shine when adding a top coat and only need 2 coats to become opaque on the nail. The colour is slightly streaky when applied because of the scratchy brush but at a super cheap price this is something to defiantly pick up!

Laura xox

5 things to do when you are sick ♡

Currently I am at home surrounded by tissues and with a sick bowl next to me and I'm feeling pretty gross so what better way to cheer myself up then to write a blog post for you. This is my third sick day off school this week so I have sort of got some ideas on what to do when you don't exactly feel great. My hopeful tips may also be good for you if you just don't feel yourself and you want a bit of me time.

1. Read something. Did you know reading is one of the best things to relax and de-stress your mind, when you ill you want exactly that. It can be anything from Charles Dickens to The Hunger Games, to magazines or even wordsearches - but don't go for the most complicated ones as these could stress you out, you are actually the most fragile when you are sick so stressing yourself out isn't going to help you get any better.

2. Take a bath. This is proabably the most obvious one but laying in the bath for at least half an hour relaxes your muscles and refreshens you. Always a good thing if you feel pretty gross. I would recommend a minty shower/bath soak to relax yourself - you don't want something strong and citrusy that's going to wake you up! Of course you can read in the bath or even go on your phone but be careful you don't drop it - I have learnt that the hard way!

3. Watch Netflix. Or watch any film. Just make sure the movie or TV series isn't too heavy, again you don't want to be stressing your mind out. I would go for something light like a comedy or a chick-flick rather than horror or action! But this is all good just don't watch movie after movie with no break. Your eyes need a rest as they are more than likely to be pretty tired. Also, I probably sound like a 50 year or something (I'm actally 15) but try to stay away from social media, it's hard, I know but it will honestly help your sick bug if you stay away from Twitter or Instagram, just for a day or so.

4. Write notes. This can be from video/blog ideas, to lists of places you want to travel to things you want to do with your friends at the weekend. Jotting ideas down like this will get your imagination going, something we can never lose even if we are sick. You may prefer to do this when you are feeling slightly better as it involves more brain thinking but even if you are not sick I think this is a great idea.

5. Listen to music. Again a pretty obvious one but music is such an amazing thing that can make you feel so many different feelings. Like the movies, I recommend going for something light and quiet as you will feel calmer but with music it's your choice. If rock and hard metal make you feel better, go for it! Listening to music through headphones is apparently worse for you than listening to the music out loud but I personally find headphones (or earphones) make you switch off from the rest of the world so you can unwind.

Hope you found this weeks blog post interesting and possibly and to all you sick people out there, get well soon!

Laura xox