My Favourite Neutral Palette on a Budget | Winter 2015/2016

At the end of 2015 and pushing into the new year, I have been reaching for just one neutrals palette and that has been the Makeup Revolution palette in 'Flawless', and just as the name suggest, it is!  This palette will satisfy your every neutral-eyeshadow needs! With 32 eyeshadows, a massive mirror and a small price tag, you honestly cannot go wrong.

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Even though the stereotype of "the cheaper the product, the less quality you will get" can be applied to certain makeup products out there, it definitely is not true for this palette. The pigmentation that comes from these eyeshadows is INSANE! When M.A.C eyeshadows are £10 a pop, this palette is such a bargain without the quality being compromised. I have to say that the pans are slightly smaller but when the pigmentation is this good, you don't need to keep dipping your brush in a hell of a lot. In my opinion, the shimmer shades are a lot more creamy and buttery than the matte shades and are my favourite.

I can safely say that I use every single one of these colours in this palette but my favs have to be Black Tie, Burgandy Nights, Pure chocolate and Copper Shimmer.

What is your go-to drugstore eyeshadow palette?

❤, Ayesha. 

New Year, New Start?

I know that I am a lil' late to the party but this is the point of the post- one might say. New starts don't have to being in January of the new year.  You can start them as late as December, as long as you feel comfortable with starting the new things that you want to venture with.  I feel as if 2015 is the year I am actually going to keep to my resolutions. However, I say that every year and I only end up committing to the small resolutions like 'eat less chocolate' and 'keep up with work' (although I am reasonably proud that I kept to them *pat on the back for me*).

In 2014, I felt like it wasn't my year for a lot of different reasons.  It started okay-ish but gradually got worse and worse. This is in lots of different aspects but one of them was not experiencing new things and saying yes more. I am the type of person that likes routine and for things to stay (kind of) the same. But in 2014, I got kind of bored of that and wanted to try new things.

This year, one exciting thing that I am hoping will definitely be a huge success is having a friend from Australia come and visit.  It is just for a night however, but I am super excited! Last year, this would have been the kind of thing that I was afraid to say yes to and if I did say yes to it, then I would probably be anxious and stressing over it wayyyyyyy before it actually happened, only working myself up even more.When I agreed to myself that I want to make this happen, I was still quite nervous but not as much as I was last year so I know that my nerves won't get in the way as much.

Trying new things doesn't mean that you have to completely ditch what you used to do before.  Just switch it up a bit and see if you like it, and if not, then scrap it.  No-one says that you have to stick with something you don't like.  "Do more of what makes you happy." And if you do try new things and do end up liking them, then yay! You've added one more thing to the list of things that keep you happy.  Stick with THEM.

So, just because this is a new year, it doesn't have to be a completely fresh start.  Start off with the little things that you want to try such as tasting new foods and making bolder outfit choices.  Then move on to the big things. (I'll let your mind think of what cray cray things you want to experience for 2015 ;)) Say yes more and break out of your comfort zone, even if it's in baby steps and I promise you it will make you happy by the end of this year when you're looking back to the things you've tried and not liked and to things you've tried and loved! You'll stay in the same place you've always been if you don't make mistakes and experiment. Take that step forward!

What new things will you try this year? 

❤, Ayesha 

December Reds

December is the time where everyone whips out the winter boots and deep burgundy lipstick.  However, I am amongst the people who like to dress appropriately for December without going all out.  This look is casual and very  comfy, but still looks fairly dressy with the added necklace. 

WHAT I'M WEARING:

Cardigan- Boohoo

Blouse- New Look

Boots- Deichmann 

Maxi Skirt- New Look (sale)

Necklace- (gift) 

Glitter Nail Polish- Barry M 'Jingle Bells'
Lipstick- Clinique Beauty Long Last 'FA'

This outfit is one of my favourites, I always get compliments on the colour of my top and my jumper-which I find to be very 'traditionally' December-ish.  I paired the top and jumper with a black skirt, scarf and a pair of black boots as I would feel it would be too much red/maroon if I did otherwise This is a nice balance and inbetween :).

The cardigan in particular is my favourite piece from the whole outfit because it looks great paired with something a little dressy like the necklace but feels SO SO SOFT and makes you feel so warm-perfect for the cold season in the UK! 

I wanted to keep my make-up simple and light so evened out my eyelids with a cream shadow/primer, drew a thin line of liquid liner at the base of my lashes to make them appear thicker and then I applied a brown mascara to make my lashes look long and separated and not so much voluminous.  The lipstick you see me applying is Clinique's Beauty Long Last in the shade "FA".

Let me know what colour YOU love to wear at this time of year! 
Do you have any winter staples that you wear non-stop? 

❤, Ayesha 

Mini LUSH Haul

This year, I am delaying getting the Christmas LUSH bath ballistics and bubbles bars. Don't be alarmed, I am still very much addicted to LUSH at this time of year, I just have quite a few that I purchased or received as gifts lately!! (Had you worried there, didn't I? ;)) 

My birthday being when it is (in November), it is the perfect time to receive LUSH bath products and I do receive quite a bit of them as everyone is very well aware of how much I adore them! I have to say, though, I do prefer bubbles over just a different coloured water, so I do tend to give bubble bars more of a chance than the bath ballistics. 
As Dermot O'Leary says, "in no particular order", these are the LUSH products that I have obtained over the past 2 weeks.

The Comforter

This one I received recently as a gift and, although I haven't actually tried it out yet, the smell is AMAZING! 'The Comforter' is a rich, sweet and fruity bubble bar that contains Bergamot Oil which uplifts and cleanses the body, Cypress Oil which calms and tones and also an ingredient called Cassis Absolute which is supposed to comfort you and make you feel at ease.  This product from LUSH, as well as the benefit of creating mountains of bubbles in your bath, lasts such a long time as it is absolutely MAHOOSIVE! Perfect for those days when you don't want too much bubbles or when you're taking a shallow bath. It has the look of Candy Mountain from the Christmas collection because of the alternate pink and white swirls, but without the Snow Fairy scent!  This one won't be finishing in a hurry! 

Butterbear

"Butterbear" is LUSH's spin-off on Butterball. It has the same vanilla fragrance but is 100x cuter! Although this particular product doesn't leave your bath an exciting colour or creates bubbles, it does contain Fairtrade Organic Cocoa Butter and Ylang Ylang Oil, which will nourish and soften your body helping you to wind-down easier.  I always think that older people would usually buy this product as I wouldn't imagine it would interest young children. However, there are PLENTY of other bath ballistics and bubble bars for younger LUSH fans to enjoy! I think Butterbear is going to my new favourite because it makes my body feel so so amazing and doesn't everyone want smooth-to-the-touch skin? ;)

Pop In The Bath

'Pop In The Bath' bubble bar is a classic. This is one of their bath products that are there all year round to enjoy. The light and refreshing scents of this bubble bar is sure to uplift your mood and turn that frown upside-down! The cute little flower on the top surface is a

nice little touch too! With most bath ballistics and bubble bars, there is only one option, but for Pop In The Bath, there are four- yes, FOUR, different colours to choose from , all with the same scent.  The smell that this bubble-maker gives out is a light, bright, zesty one with oils such as Lemon, Bergamot oil and Orange Flower Absolute, so you will definitely feel refreshed and on your feet in no time!  Pop In The Bath is an all-rounder as it is bright and fresh, so perfect for during-the-week baths when you want some me-time but don't want to dedicate a whole evening to yourself- plus, if there are FOUR colours to choose from, what more could you want?!

Lord of Misrule

Don't quote me on this, but I think the "Lord of Misrule" was a limited edition bath ballistic or is a discontinued product in the UK as I can't find it anywhere on the website. I can't really comment on this one as I actually haven't used it yet and seeing as I can't find it on the website, I am reluctant to use it so soon! To view this bath ballistic on the American Website click here.  Just like all of the bath bombs that LUSH do, this one froths in the water and travels from one side of the tub to the other on its own, leaving a trail of mixed colours behind it. According to the LUSH USA website, it has a wine-coloured centre but starts of with releasing a green froth into the water as that is the the colour of the exterior. As well as the excitement you can see with your eyes, your ears get a treat too! Popping candy is infused in this product which makes the bath time experience that much more magical! The patchouli and black pepper oil in this bath ballistic gives that amazing spicy/herbal scent which I am actually a fan of, which makes it all the more tempting to use this DISCONTINUED-POSSIBLY PRODUCT *smush face*. 

Think Pink

Another LUSH classic. An all year product.  Any girl (or guy) will feel pretty in pink after taking a dip in their pink/purple water filled bath tub. The scent that "Think Pink" gives out is vanilla-y with ingredients such as Tonka Absolute which is described as being similar to vanilla with added spicy scents as well as hints of cherry. On their website, LUSH describe the sweet scent coming from "Fairtrade Vanilla Absolute, while Tonka adds a caramel undertone", so an all-round sweet smelling bath ballistic, with added citrus scents from Neroli with hints of lavender to uplift you after a particular tiresome day! 
Sweet surprises are always my thang so this bath ballistic is just the thing for me as once it has fizzed and whizzed around the tub, it leaves a gorgeous array of rice paper confetti in the shape of cute..little...HEARTS! *heart-eyed emoji*
Instead of being a plain pink bath bomb, it has the nice little touch of 3 flowers at the top which makes it that much more girly and attractive. 


And that is my LUSH haul! I hope you enjoyed what bath goodies I have gathered in the last few weeks and maybe this post will give you an idea as to what to buy as gifts for other people or maybe you will try some new products that you have maybe never tried before! 

Thank you reading! Which LUSH products are your favourites? Do you prefer bath ballistics or bubbles bars? 

❤, Ayesha

Pamper Routine || 2014

When I 'pamper' myself, it usually consists of painting my nails, using a face mask, having an extremely long bath and watching some Sunday-night TV or catch up on some YouTube videos.  I love these days as I can just sit back and not over-worry about things.

 Pampering myself and having some me-time is very important.  I am the type of person to get stressed and anxious quite easily, even in my own home, which is why these nights are quite essential to me.  These pamper routines-for me-occur once a week on a Sunday.   I feel like Sunday is the generic every person's lazy day. 

The first thing I would usually do on a Sunday evening as part of my pamper routine is take off my makeup from the day (if I was wearing any). Somebody said to me to never enter a hot bath with makeup on your face.  I now understand why. Wearing makeup and getting into a hot bath opens up all your pores which can then allow for the makeup you are already wearing to get into those pores and clog them up.  This is not good!!!

 After taking off my makeup with a makeup-removing wipe (sshhhhhhh), I hop into my Northern Lights-infused bath and enjoy the sweet smells LUSH bath bombs always reveal after being dropped into the water.  The scent that this bath ballistic gives off when dropped in the steamy, hot water is a warm but 'zingy'' one.  I particularly love this product from LUSH as it is a different shape to their traditional bath ballistics.  It is a long, 'stick-like' shape which makes it easier to break if you're not having a fairly deep bath or if you're just in the mood for a more diluted bath. 

After a significant amount of time in the bath, I eventually get out and get into my cosy PJs as I usually complete my pamper routine on Sunday nights. (However, any opportunity to get into cosy PJs ;)) While my face is still nice and warm and my pores are still open from the steamy bath, I take this opportunity to apply a face mask.  The one I am loving right now is LUSH's 'Cosmetic Warrior'.  I love it for making my skin feel so so smooth and minimize the appearance of my pores (a lot of talk about pores today!)

I know from watching various YouTube videos and reading different blogs that most people absolutely dread when they have to paint their nails when they are no longer presentable and could do with a fresh layer of nail polish.  However, for me, I LOVE painting my nails and, if I do say so myself, I am quite good at it! It's one of my favourite parts of the whole routine! One YouTuber that I have been watching for absolutely years has released her own makeup line and I couldn't be more happy! She was one of the first people I had subscribed to in the early days of me discovering YouTubers and I can say-even though I don't personally know her- that I am really proud of how far she has come.  One of my favourite nail polishes from her collection is in the colour 'Midnight Sparkles'.  The way I would describe this shade is 'looks black, but isn't.'  When your nails hit the light with this nail polish on, the little glitter specks reflect and it is the most gorgeous thing, especially as it is coming along to the festive time of year, I prefer the darker colours personally. 

While my nails are drying, I like to have some internet-time and I often scroll through tumblr and watch some YouTube videos that I have missed during the week (but let's be honest, I never miss them!).  Some of my favourites are Tanya Burr, SprinkleofGlitter, ThatcherJoe, Zoella, Lily Pebbles, Aspyn Ovard and VelvetGh0st (but there are plenty more that I regularly watch and keep up with). 

YouTube is fast becoming the hugest social media platform where millions and millions of people can voice their opinion, good or bad.  When posting a comment on somebody else's video, think about what you are writing and take a second to think if you would like this comment being written about you.  Comments, long paragraphs or one word, can make or break somebody's day, so think about how you would like to affect it. Be the reason they smile when looking at their comments, not the reason they want to stop what they love doing.

After spending some time (hours) on the YouTubes, I put the laptop away and get all cosy in my bed, turn off my fairy lights and fall right asleep.

And this concludes my Pamper Routine for 2014!  I always look forward to these days when I can unwind and relax. 

I hope you enjoyed reading this blog as much as I love actually doing it!  

What are some of the products you use in your Pamper Routine? How often do you take time to unwind and have some time for yourself? 

❤, Ayesha  

Current Skincare Routine: The Colder Months || 2014

Now that the weather has turned from a light, warm breeze to a ghastly, cold gust, my skincare routine has been mixed up a little.  Generally, everyone's skin tends to get a lot more dry and tight but not for everyone.  However, this is the case for me.   Thicker moisturizers are slapped on and more intense and rich eye creams come out.  

  From left to right:

Boots Traditional Glycerin and Rosewater

LUSH Grease Lightning Spot Treatment

Aveeno Cream Moisturising Cream

Clearasil Rapid Action Seal-to-Clear Gel

Simple Kind To Skin Foaming Cleanser 

On a day-to-day basis, I always use the Simple Cleanser followed by the Aveeno moisturising cream as it is thick in consistency thus perfect for these colder months.  In October, it it just starting to cool down here in the UK and so for those days where it isn't as cold as it could be and my skin is oily in the normal areas (the T-Zone), I tend to reach less for my Aveeno cream and more for my Boots Toner and Moisturiser as it is lighter and less intense on the skin. 

The spot treatments that are used are both super inexpensive (as are everything in my skincare routine) so I'm not mega worried about using it sparingly. 

Sometimes, when using different products on your skin in the hope it will make it better  takes time.  Stick to a product that has good reviews, has been raved about a lot and is spoken about a lot. However, do not give up on the first hurdle.  By this, I mean if your skin shows signs of breaking out, stick with the product (especially if it is a spot treatment) as your skin may only be reacting badly because you have introduced something new to your routine and your face wasn't prepared for it.  If the skin continues to break out, stop using this product altogether as it is not for you or your skin type. Venture out and research some good skin products.  Maybe even invest in some luxury, high-end ones and you may be surprised. 

So here goes.This is how my current, everyday skincare routine goes: (WARNING: it is nothing dramatic or complex)

STEP ONE: 

Use the Simple Cleanser to remove any makeup that you had on during the day.  It can also be used to remove and strip off any oil and dirt collected from the day (this would be an extremely useful thing to do for someone without makeup on if they live in a busy, polluted town/city). 

My skin should feel tight and possibly a little dry at this point

STEP TWO:

Depending on what kind of weather it has been recently, I apply my Aveeno Moisturising Cream or my Glycerin and Rosewater Water to moisturise. For a warm, not-too-cold day I will use the moisturising water. For a cold, frosty/rainy day, I'll use the cream.  

STEP THREE:

If my skin is being particularly problematic, I will reach for my Grease Lightning as I feel it does a quicker job than my other form of spot treatment. For less noticeable spots and spots that are not too troublesome, I will go for the Clearasil Spot Treatment because it dries quickly and does a decent job. 

My skin now feels smooth with some gelly dots in certain areas

STEP FOUR:

 Sit back and relax! Literally. Stress is also really bad for the skin and spots can occur because of worrying too much. This routine is done at night just before bed so once I have completed my skincare routine for the evening, I hop straight into bed and spend quality time with my babe (Netflix) 

And that's it! That is my current skincare routine for the colder, more chilly months. I hope this post helps you on what to decide to buy to mix up your own routine but remember, everybody's skin is different so don't think that my routine will 100% work for you.  It might....but it might not. 

What products do you currently have in your skincare routine? Any of them worth trying out? 

❤, Ayesha