Budget Beauty Summer Buys

In the summer months while we opt for lighter coverage foundation, darker coloured skin and that  perfect tousled hair to achieve beach babe status we must remember summer can really take a hit on our beauty regimens. You get oily and sweaty, and if you don't work at it, you can end up looking a little bit of a sweaty mess. Trust me I've been there, humidity is public enemy numero uno. My hair gets super oily, my skin super dry then too far the other way, and rather than a looking beach babe I end up looking more like Babe the pig. So for me, these are just a few products for hair and skincare that I can't bare to be without lately. They've been my little saviours in this burst of sun, and stickiness that has hit here in the UK and thank goodness for them because now I'm concering this sunshine like a little pro.

Product Expiration Dates

So when it comes to make-up it's important to remember where these products are going. You're literally covering your face and letting these potions and lotions soak into your skin so  remembering that, hygiene is pretty important. I was speaking to some of my friends and they weren't sure why their make-up was changing colour or consistency or if make-up went off at all. But after having trouble with my skin when I was younger I learnt quickly the importance of cleaning your brushes, replacing products and about product expiration dates. So I thought I'd write a quick little post about make-up upkeep, trust me, your face will thank you for it.

Where have I been? A catch up post

¡Holá strangers! I've been somewhat vacant from the blogosphere lately and I'll give you one simple reason why... University. And more specifically third year of university. I have officially handed in my last piece of work as an undergraduate and performed for the last time as a member of Northumbria University. Cry. It's been a very hectic year and blogging had to really take a back seat to my work which was sad, but necessary. After writing essay upon essay, plus attending lectures and rehearsals there just wasn't enough hours in the day. So I've complete my degree (expect a lot of post university post coming up) and it's been a totally crazy year. In September I started working on a self directed performance with my girl gang and we created a performance that I'm so incredibly proud of.  It was the most out-there and crazy performance I've ever been involved in but it was so rewarding, we got a first hurray! This then lead us to be selected to perform at an international theatre Festival in Croatia, like what? And then of all things we won this festival. Out of numerous different theatre academies and schools from across Europe that attended our little baby won, the experience was completely surreal but so amazing. This was all happening alongside creating a audio-experience performance the used real testimony of bulimia suffers to raise awareness and writing essays for other modules too. Finally my last performance resulted in working on a piece of verbatim theatre about the Oklahoma bombing in a professional theatre setting. Since Easter break I was in  rehearsals at half eight till six every day, then headed off to the library to put in more shifts to write and research my alongside papers. But in the end it was all worth it because the experience was second to none. I worked with an amazing cast and performed something that I will forever cherish. Here's a little photo gallery of all my performances and work from my final, and dare I say best year at university.

Zoeva Nude Spectrum Palette

Zoeva is been a brand I've been desperate to try for a little while now. Especially after hearing only rave reviews about everything from their palettes to their brush sets I knew I just had to get my hands on something from their range. I recently hit pan on a few of my favourite palettes so I thought I'd finally treat myself and try a Zoeva one. This decision to purchase happen to coincide with the launch of the new Zoeva Spectrum range which was perfect timing. The range literally includes the most perfect spectrum (hence the name) of colours so I was totally in awe of the colour choices. Finally after much deliberation, too much to be perfectly honest, I opted for the Nude Spectrum palette. I was so torn about which palette to buy, nude or warm neutrals as both have such beautiful colours, but thought the shades inside the nude palette suited me better for daily use. I'm so, so, so obsessed with this palette! The mixture of hues and types of shadow just make is the perfect palette to work with for every type of eye.

Zara Black Amber/Femme Eau De Toilette Duo

Previously on my blog I raved about Zara's amazing perfume duo, you can read it here and to this day it's one of my most popular posts. I can totally get why I mean two amazing perfumes for less than what you'd normally pay for one... you can't complain! Now while I'm still obsessed with the Fruity and Oriental there's another duo which I'm just in love with! Plus did I mention it's £12.99... for two 100ml bottles of eau de toilette. Zara keep impressing me so much with these duo, I can't rave enough. 

#TheCityGirls Leeds Swag Bag

If you caught my recent post on attending #TheCityGirls Leeds Event you'll know that I and forty other Leeds bloggers were treated to an amazing afternoon and left with a huge pile of goodies from some amazing brands. If you didn't catch it take a peek here. But our luck didn't stop there, we were also treated to a huge Swag Bag full of even more brilliant products. I literally am obsessed with so many of these goodies and it felt like Christmas unbagging all these amazing treats. So let's dive in and see this huge array of gifts.

Smashbox Step-By-Step Contour Stick Trio

Contouring is a beauty trend which doesn't want to budge and of course that makes me extremely happy, after all I live for highlight and contour. But with so many different brands and products trying to concur the contour market it's hard to decided which to try next. Do you go powder or do you go cream? Do you go for a pre-made set or combine different concealers and bronzers to achieve the look? I've used powder contour for as long as I can remember now but I I've recently been putting my Beauty Blender to work and ventured into the world of cream. So I thought it would be the perfect time to try Smashbox's Step-By-Step Contour Stick Trio.