A Lazy Girl's Guide to Skincare

I have a confession. When it comes to skincare, I am lazy.

While others are really into skincare it's always been a bit of a chore to me. I put my makeup on in the morning, go about my day as normal but by bedtime I really just can't be bothered anymore. Cleansing, toning, exfoliating. It's all just too much after a long day, so my skincare routine needs to be quick, simple and easy. 

In a situation like this many would turn to makeup wipes, as I have done in the past. But while makeup wipes are quick and easy, you end up paying the price when your skin looks like sh*t. It actually wasn't until I stopped using makeup wipes that I realised the tole they were taking on my skin and that perhaps, there were more ways in which I could improve my skin by changing up my routine.

For a bit of context, I have problematic combination skin. Having suffered with acne since becoming a teenager, I have tried almost every spot product out on the market (as well as prescribed treatments like Roacutane) and come to the conclusion that I will always have spots. That being said the routine I'm about to share with you is the best combination of products I have found (so far) to reduce the appearance of my acne.

Step 1 
Step 1 is always the longest step but crucially the most important; makeup removal. Where as in the past I would use makeup wipes (shameful I know) I now use a hot cloth cleanser. My favourite hot cloth cleanser has to be Liz Earle's Cleanse and Polish but at £15 a tube it's not cheap! Recently Aldi released their own hot cloth cleanser to rival Liz Earle's and for £3.99 (for double the amount of product) I thought it was worth a try! The Lacura Hot Cloth Cleanser comes with 200ml of product and 1 muslin cloth and claims to be suitable for all skin types. While I cannot say how it performs on other skin types, it works really well for me! It removes my makeup with ease (just as well as Cleanse and Polish), has a slight soft scent and leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth. I simply just rinse my face with some warm water, massage the cleanser into my skin and then wipe it off with the warm, damp muslin cloth - easy.

Step 2
The next step is very quick and easy, as I just spritz my face with the Glo Skin Beauty Balancing Mist*. Designed to balance the oily and dry areas of combination skin, the Balancing Mist also works hard to optimise the effectiveness of your skincare routine by preparing your skin to evenly absorb the products applied after. It leaves my skin feeling fresh and I honestly notice a difference in the appearance of my skin the next morning when I use this product as part of my routine.

Step 3
Next I will use The Ordinary's Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%. This is the only product in my routine targeted toward 'acne prone' skin and I don't use this every night. Instead I will use it when my skin is really bad or if I want my skin to look really great the next day. All I'll say is that it's affordable and works (if used sparingly), but if you want more information on this product read my in-depth review.

Step 4
While this is the last step in my routine, I must admit that I don't always moisturise in the evenings. After being on Roacutane I learn that moisturising my skin too much can cause my breakouts, so unless my skin is feeling really dry I will only apply moisturiser to my face before I apply my makeup in the morning. I like to use Oilatum as it's fragrance free and is the best thing I've found for getting rid of dry skin. I am quite prone to getting eczema on my hands and occasionally on my face as well as dry patches around my nose, so Oilatum is a lifesaver when my eczema is playing up. It's also affordable and you get a lot of product for your money, so I don't mind using it for other dry patches or eczema on my body. 

Sometimes I will do all of these 4 steps other times I will just do one or two. It really depends on how much time I have and how I want my skin to look and feel. This routine is also affordable which is a must for me. I hate having to spend money on skincare as I don't find it fun in the some way I like spending money on makeup. It's also quick, which when your are pressed for time or get really tired in the evenings (like myself) is important.


What are your favourite skincare products? I'd love to hear your recommendations 

Eleanor xx

A Very Unordinary Review | The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

If you're a regular reader of my blog you will remember that in may of last year I wrote a post reviewing The Ordinary's High Adherence Silicone Primer and it's safe to say I was a little bit disappointed. But after hearing so many good things about the brand I decided to give it another go and picked up the Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% which is also known as the High-Strength Vitamin and Mineral Blemish Formula (not very I catchy I know), on a recent trip to London.

The High-Strength Vitamin and Mineral Blemish Formula 'is indicated to reduce the appearance of skin blemishes and congestion. A high 10% concentration of this vitamin is supported in the formula by zinc salt of pyrrolidone carboxylic acid to balance visible aspects of sebum activity.' In short the solution is designed to reduce the appearance of blemishes and pores while also balancing the skins oil levels. Interestingly, The Ordinary specifically state that this is NOT a treatment for acne, and that it will not get rid of spots completely. For persistent acne-related conditions, they recommend the use of Benzoyl Peroxide and/or Retinoid Acid.

It's not often I can say this, but this is one of the first products targeted at blemished skin that actually lives up to it's claims. From the first day I tried this I instantly noticed a visible difference in the appearance of my skin. I used it before I went to bed and when I woke up in the morning the redness in my skin and around my acne was almost gone. My skin looked more even in terms of texture and pigmentation, and the pores around my nose significantly smaller. The difference was honestly incredible and applying my makeup  was much smoother.

So after these miraculous results I continued to the use the solution. I'd apply 3 drops in the morning before my moisturiser and 3 drops in the evening after cleansing my skin, and kept doing this for a week. My skin looked great but the more I used the product the less it started to work; my skin had become immune to the product. 
Unfortunately this is not the first time this has happened. I often find that when I use a product it's great at first but after time stops working and it is so frustrating. As a result the only thing you can do to get it working again is to stop using it regularly and save it for a special occasion.

This product is great if you have something coming up where you want your skin to look amazing but if you want it look amazing everyday this probably isn't the right product. But for £5 the High-Strength Vitamin and Mineral Blemish Formula is definitely worth a try.

What product from The Ordinary should I try next?

Eleanor xx

Is The Ordinary Just Plain Ordinary?

If I had to pick the most popular beauty brand of 2017 so far it would without a doubt be The Ordinary. With a waiting list of 25,000 people for their latest product, what is so special about a brand that claims to be so ordinary? Well I tried their High Adherence Silicone Primer to find out.

I first heard about The Ordinary's High Adherence Silicone Primer when Wayne Goss mentioned it in a video. I love Wayne and his videos so when he was raving about these primers that were under £6, I had to try them! I'd also heard other bloggers mention The Ordinary's skincare which intrigued me but seeing as I was out of a primer I decided to try that first. 

As previously mentioned The Ordinary currently sell two primers with one being aimed at oily skin (The High Adherence Silicone Primer) and the other for dry skin (The High Spreadability Fluid Primer). I would describe my skin as combination leaving me to choose between the two, but seeing as my pores appear quite visible at times and with my skin getting oiler as the weather warms up I decided upon the High Adherence Silicone Primer costing me only £4 from ASOS.

The High Adherence Silicone Primer is described as a "matte, hydrating and blurring primer, for make-up that looks higher in definition and lasts for longer. It can also be used alone as a non-greasy hydrator that reduces the looks of pores and imperfections". Unlike other brands, there are no wild claims saying that it will make me look 10 years younger or like a photoshopped version of myself, and this is key to the Ordinary as a brand. While their names may sound like the product has come straight out of the lab and it takes a bit of research to understand what some of the products do, they cut back on excessive branding to offer low cost simple products. 

Yet despite their understated claims my expectations were still high, admittedly this is not the brands fault and merely a side effect of the excessive hype surrounding their products, but unfortunately this led to my disappointment. In terms of living up to it's claims I'd say it did minimise the appearance of my pores but not noticeably, as for the appearance of my makeup I'd say it wasn't really improved, if anything my makeup looked a bit patchy around slightly drier and acne prone areas of my face. Therefore if like myself you have combination skin I would recommend only applying the primer to the very oiliest areas of your face or alternatively opting for their other primer. 

If you have incredibly oily skin and struggle to get makeup to stay in place then this primer will probably work well for you but if you have even the slightest bit of dryness this product probably isn't the one for you. 

It is important to remember that just as the name of the brand suggests, this is a simple product with simple claims and will not revolutionise your makeup routine. At the end of the day, it is a silicone based primer and not all that different to other silicone based products such as the Nivea Men's After Shave Balm. I think this is definitely something I will bear in mind when trying more products from The Ordinary in the future.

Have you tried any products from The Ordinary? What should I try next?

Eleanor xx

Last Minute Mother's Day Gift Guide

As you may know on Sunday the 26th of March (this Sunday) it is Mother's Day! If you didn't know or completely forgot, and are now panicking about what to get your lovely Mum this weekend there is no need to worry. I've got four fail safe gift ideas that are not only easy to get your hands on but your mum is bound to love. What to know more? Then keep reading...

Beauty Gift Set
Now I'd always recommend a beauty gift set for any lady in your life who loves to be pampered but one brand that has perfected the art of gifting this Mother's Day is Liz Earle. Luxury beauty brand Liz Earle is probably best known for their award winning Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser, a product that forms the foundation of all three of their Spring gift sets: The Power of 3, The Glow Getter and The Wake Up Wonder Kit. Ranging in price from £19 - £45, they are great value (considering the Hot Cloth Cleanser on it's own costs £15.50), elegantly packaged and readily available from Boots and John Lewis.

Printed Photographs
With most photographs being taken on smart phones these days, it's easy to forget about the joy of receiving printed photographs as a present, so why not print out some of your mum's favourite photographs for her present this year. Whether it be of her, her friends, family, children or grandchildren she is sure to get emotional while flicking through these memories. This is something my boyfriend has done for his mum the past few years and the Mother's Day Box from Cheerz is always a winner (for a more in depth review of Cheerz check out this post). Alternatively most large supermarkets can print photographs at very affordable prices.

Spa Treatment
Now I don't know about your mum but mine is a very busy women. My mum is constantly on her feet, rushing about and often doesn't get the time to relax, so when it comes to presents we often pay for her to go and have a massage. A spa or beauty treatment gives your mum time to herself to properly relax, and while it may not be something that she thought she wanted, afterwards she will soon realise that it was something she needed. One place my mum enjoyed going for a massage was Neal's Yard, which before her friend recommended it, I didn't even realise did treatments. Check out their website or pop into your local store to see what treatments they offer near you.

Flowers
Now of course it wouldn't be a Mother's Day Gift Guide without the suggesting flowers as a present. Flowers is a great present for any budget as you can spend anything from £2 to £50 for some flowers, for example the bunch of roses in the photo above were just over £2 from Lidl but still look beautiful once they've been put in a vase. If you're looking to spend a little bit more or are unlucky and are not able to see your mum on Mother's Day like myself, then flower delivery service Bloom & Wild may be the perfect solution. Ordered online and posted through your letter box, Bloom & Wild deliver beautiful bouquets that are a lot more modern, on trend and convenient than other flower delivery services, making this present a little bit different to your usual bunch of flowers.

Whatever you get your mum this mothers day whether it be flowers or photos, remember to tell her how much you love and appreciate her, because as cheesy as it is, hearing that will mean just as much, if not more, than anything you could ever buy her.

Eleanor xx

My Fake Tanning Routine

When I mention to people that I regularly fake tan I normally hear some comments along the line of "Why don't you just go out in the sun and get a natural tan?" or "But doesn't it make you really orange like the people in TOWIE?" When you have naturally pale skin like me, getting a real tan just never happens, instead I just get freckles or burnt. While this can be annoying I don't hate my naturally pale skin. In fact I think that pale skin can look beautiful. But I just think I look a little bit ill and washed out when I'm pale, and I find myself saying "this outfit will look so much better when I'm tanned". In general, I just feel more myself and more confident with a bit of fake tan on. 

So to maintain a glow I will typically tan every 5-7 days, letting my fake tan gradually fade but topping up it up sooner if I have an event to go to. Tanning this often I would say I have got my routine down to a T, so I thought that I would share it with you today.

Now I try not to over complicate my routine, as tanning on its own can be enough of a chore without hundreds of other steps. So there are only a few products I use over a few key steps. Depending on how much time I have, I start off by having either a shower or a bath. Personally I prefer having a bath as I find it not only relaxing but also easier to shave, exfoliate and moisturise. 

Even if I don't have any old tan left of my skin I will always start off by exfoliating my skin using a pair of exfoliating gloves. I have tried lots of different exfoliating products and while many are great at making my skin feel smooth, nothing gets rid of my old patchy tan like giving my skin a good scrub with my £1 Primark exfoliating gloves. 

The next step in my routine is to shave, now of course you can skip this step if you don't shave or use a different hair removal method instead, but not only do I find shaving the easiest hair removal method but it's also great for getting off any last stubborn patches of tan.

Now that my skin is all smooth and even I like to add moisture back into my skin using Ro's Argan Body Conditioner from Lush. While I know this is one of Lush's more expensive products at £16.50, it has honestly revolutionised my tanning routine. Basically you use it as you would a hair conditioner but instead on your body, by massaging it into wet skin and then simply rinsing it off. 

It leaves my skin feeling just as moisturised, if not more than a normal body lotion but without that awkward sticky period where you have to wait around for it to sink in before you can get on with your day. As Ro's Argan Body Conditioner doesn't leave any sort of tacky residue on your skin it makes it perfect to use on the day that you plan to fake tan because your fake tan isn't going to cling to any patches. Instead your skin will feel soft and smooth and your fake tan will just glide on like a dream.

As for what fake tan I actually use, my favourite brand at the moment has to be Bondi Sands. Bondi Sands is a mid range tanning brand priced around the £10-£15 mark but I regularly find it on offer for even cheaper. It is easily available in Boots and Superdrug and they have a good range of products from in various shades. The tan I always use is their Self Tanning Foam in Dark (though it now comes in ultra dark which I am really excited to try) as I find it easy to apply, it doesn't go streaky and fades evenly. The only issue I have with it is that it stains before you wash it off and takes a while to develop but this is typical with most fake tans. Usually I sleep with it on and wear either a onesie or change my bed to black sheets to counteract these minor issues. 

The rest of my routine is pretty self explanatory, I apply the tan all over my body using a tanning mitt, go to sleep and then quickly wash it off in the shower in the morning and then moisturise using a regular body lotion once I'm out of the shower, before repeating the whole process again in about a weeks time. As for tips one thing I suggest is to always brush your teeth and go to the toilet before you put on the tan and then go straight to bed, otherwise you risk water splashing on you and ruining your tan or staining the white toilet seat, though if you want more I've written a whole post about it.

Do you have any holy grail products or tips that make your tanning routine a lot easier?

Eleanor xx

Tailor Made Foundation Shades | The Body Shop Shade Adjusting Drops Review

Is there really a bigger make up faux pas than your foundation not matching your neck? We've all been there. You buy a foundation from the drugstore or online and the shade just isn't quite right. Or you fake tan and while your foundation may look perfect on day 1 by day 3 or 4 your tan has faded and your face is darker than your body. Nightmare. But what can you do? No one wants to buy two shades of every foundation they own but then that whole unblended, orange face look that was popular in secondary school isn't particularly desirable either. That's where The Body Shop Shade Adjusting Drops come in.

Now I know that white foundations are not a new concept but as far as I'm aware there weren't many drugstore products designed to alter your foundation shade before The Body Shop launched the product earlier this year. Coming in two shades (one to lighten, one to darken) The Body Shops Shade Adjusting Drops are designed to, of course, adjust the shade of your foundation but in a way that doesn't make your skin look orange or ashy. The lightening shade is packed with white and pink pigments to neutralise orange or yellow undertones while the darkening shade contains a concentration of red and black pigments to avoid ashy undertones.

Coming in a simple and sleek glass bottle with a black pipette to easily distribute the product, this product moves away from the colourful plastic packaging that I would usually associate with The Body Shop to something a lot more elegant and grown up. Priced at £10 it will not break the bank and costs a lot less than buying multiple shades of your foundation especially if like me, your favourite foundation costs about £30.

But the real question is, is it any good? While I cannot speak for the darkening shade as I have not tried it, the lightening shade is a great product. It does exactly what it says on the tin, lightening my foundation without changing the consistency or making my skin look a weird colour. But as the product says, it is very pink toned. While this may be alright in small quantities, if you have a warm or neutral undertone and plan on using a high ratio of this to your foundation, it will change your foundation's undertone and therefore may not suit your skin tone. Therefore it would be great if they developed the line further for products to suit different undertones.

Buy Me

On The Body Shop's website it states that 1 drop of this product changes your foundation by half a shade but the reality is that this is impossible to measure because the pipette doesn't work. Sometimes you will pick up massive blobs of the product while other times nothing. It's a great idea but maybe needs a bit of tweaking so that you can pick up the product and disperse it with ease. 

Apart from the pipette this is a really great product for the price that works really well for my skin type and skin tone. It solves the major problem that I had with my skin tone varying as my tan fades and I never need to worry about a foundation being too dark for my untanned pale skin again. I'd be really interested to see how the darkening drops work on the other end of the scale for girls that find foundations are too light for them.

Have you tried The Body Shop's Shade Adjusting Drops before?

Eleanor xx

The Only Eyeshadow Palette You Need This Autumn

As the weather changes many of us like to change our makeup routine with it. Gone are the lashings of bronzer, bright stains or pretty tints and in come the warm earthy tones and dark lips. Thus in the quest to achieve the perfect autumn winter eye makeup I have been searching for a palette containing red tones as opposed to your standard neutral browns and beiges. I considered ordering myself a Kyshaddow Palette but £34 plus shipping for 9 eyeshadows and a whole load of hassle trying to get my hands on one didn’t really appeal. It wasn’t until I was scrolling down Instagram one day that I spotted the Morphe 350 palette and immediately had to know more. 

The Morphe 350 palette comes in 3 variations: matte, shimmer and original. Each palette contains 35 eyeshadows and costs £21.75, working out at £0.62 per eyeshadow which is incredible value for money. I opted for the matte version as I have quite a lot of shimmery eyeshadows that I never use yet find myself hitting pan on my matte shadows. As you can see from my swatches the eyeshadows are highly pigmented, my only gripe would be is that they are more powdery than higher quality eyeshadows like that of Urban Decay which are creamy, but for £0.62 an eyeshadow you can’t really complain. As they are a little bit powdery it can take a bit longer to blend them properly but yet again for the price you expect it.

BUY ME

As for the packaging it is sleek and simple. The clasp is secure and the palette doesn’t feel flimsy, although I should note that it doesn’t contain a mirror. Also none of the eyeshadows have names, which again isn’t the end of the world but it would’ve been nice. But for me what shines about this palette is the selection of colours. There is a lovely selection of cool and warm toned browns, beige's, oranges and reds, ranging from light to dark. There is a colour to suit everyone and every shade is perfect for this season.

What do you think of the Morphe 350m Palette?

Eleanor xx

What Is Our Obsession With Liquid Lipsticks?

Everyone from Kylie Jenner to instagram Grandma's has one, and with every major brand jumping on the bandwagon I find myself asking "What is our obsession with liquid lipsticks?"

In the past I've never been a fan of matte lipsticks. Having naturally quite dry lips I found them to be too drying and would always opt for formulas like that of the amplified finish from Mac instead to get the right balance between moisture and pigmentation. But with the trend towards liquid lipsticks growing ever more increasingly popular I decided to take the plunge and see what all the hype was about.

If I had the money and patience my first liquid lipstick purchase would have obviously been from King Kylie and her brand Kylie Cosmetics, I then considered Jeffree Star's Velour Liquid Lipsticks but with all the drama surrounding him I decided it was perhaps best to not support his brand. Of course there are many other high end brands I could've tried but with so many drugstore brands bringing out their own liquid lipsticks at a much lower price point I decided to try one of those first before investing into more expensive liquid lipsticks.

After much debate I picked up 2 of NYX's Lip Lingerie's in the colours Satin Ribbon and Push Up which are both gorgeous pinky nude colours with a brown undertone. The formula of these liquid lipsticks is very mousse like which I like as it is easy to apply, it's highly pigmented and also dries quickly. I've heard that lots of liquid lipsticks you have to wait for them to set for quite a while, this isn't the case with NYX's Lip Lingerie's as once it's applied you are ready to go. The product does wear well but can fade along the inner part of the lip after eating and drinking so you may have to reapply throughout the day. You can also feel the product sitting on your lips with can feel quite drying and uncomfortable if you haven't prepped your lips properly.

But despite all its flaws, I'm strangely addicted to the shade Satin Ribbon as it is the perfect nude lipstick for my skintone. But it's not just the shade I love but how the lipstick looks on. The doe foot applicator makes it easy to slightly over line my lips without having to use a lip liner and gives my lips the appearance of looking fuller. The matte flawless finish makes me feel like I've stepped out of an instagram picture or I should be walking round wearing the snapchat dog filter. But the best thing about this product though has to be the fact I can kiss my boyfriend without covering him in lipstick which he loves to.

While the NYX Lip Lingerie is a decent liquid lipstick I'm not saying it's the best on the market. But despite this it has given me a taste of the liquid lipstick life and hooked me with the matte, full and flawless finish, so for this reason I will probably buy more liquid lipsticks in the future because I am well and truly obsessed.

Eleanor xx

Benefit Goof Proof Brow Pencil Review

Now first off I'm going apologise to those of you who are perhaps a bit fed up of seeing/hearing about Benefit's most highly anticipated release in years; their new and re-branded brow range. Personally I wanted to throw my two cents into the pot as I think it's always great to read as many reviews as possible about a product before you buy, but if you're still not interested perhaps read my 5 Tips To Avoid Overpacking or my review of L'Oreal's Telescopic Mascara. Now we've got that out of the way, let's get onto the review!

This month Elle were giving away a free sample of Benefit's new Goof Proof Brow Pencil to each reader. When I heard I had to pick myself up a copy of Elle to try a product from the new collection which is released on the 24th of this month! Unfortunately they put the magazine in an opaque sleeve making it impossible to see what shade of the product you are going to get, this meant that I ended up with shade 6, the darkest shade in the collection (not ideal for a blondie like myself). Despite the fact that it was 2 shades too dark I thought I'd give it a go anyway because if I liked it I could pick up the right shade when the collection was released.

The Goof Proof Brow Pencil has a unique triangular shaped tip, which was designed for the large end to fill in large gaps and the pointed end to draw precise lines. While this is in theory a great idea, I found myself gravitating towards using only the pointed end as the wider end made my brows look a bit blocky rather than thick. The downside to this is that I wore down the point after only one use, so on my next use I'd be forced to use the wider end. This being said even if I did enjoy using the wider end, I can still see the pencil wearing down unevenly and losing it's unique shape. 

As for the consistency on the product it was a nice solid pencil allowing you to achieve sharp and precise lines, this is something that I have never found in a high street brow pencil as they are always too waxy and soft. It's preciseness allows a natural look and realistic look for even the thinnest brows as you can draw those missing hairs in which is something I struggle to do when using a brow pomade (but then again that may be because I'm not using a precise enough brush).  

Before

After

As you can see from the before pictures above, my eyebrows aren't the thickest. I have a decent amount of hairs in the front of my brows but they thin out towards the end and this is where I have to do the most work when filling out my brows. While I quite like the look of my brows after using this product (ignoring the fact that the shade is wrong), I definitely prefer the front half to the second half. I found that in sparser areas I had to be careful not to use too much product or brush through my brows with a spoolie too much as it would all just blend into a brown smudge, blurring away all the effort I had put into drawing each individual hair. 

It is also for this reason that I doubt it lives up to it's claims of 12 hours of waterproof wear, especially on an oily skin type like mine. But I cannot completely confirm this as I did not wear it for 12 hours or test how waterproof it is.

As for ease of use I initially found it difficult to gain control with such a light and dainty pencil as I am used to using a brush to fill in my eyebrows. For an avid eyebrow pencil user this would perhaps not be a problem but just a warning to those without a steady hand; this pencil is so precise that mistakes are very obvious, if you try to draw a straight line and it is not straight, it will be painfully obvious.

The real question is: will I buy it when the collection comes out? My honest answer is probably not. It's a decent product but I'm not sure it's right for me, personally I would prefer the whole tip to be pointed not triangular so maybe I'll try the Precisely My Brow Eyebrow Pencil when that it released. I also don't prefer it to the ABH Dipbrow Pomade that I normally use so why would I buy it over that. Instead I might try this product out on my mum who has darker brows, a less oily skintype and prefers very natural makeup as I think it may suit her more.

Have you tried the Goof Proof Brow Pencil? While you be trying anything else when the full collection is released?

Eleanor xx

My Top Travel Essentials

Whether I'm going for a quiet weekend away in England, a long holiday abroad or just visiting my boyfriend there a few products that I just cannot bear to leave home without; my travel essentials. Initially this post was going to comprise all of beauty related products but I changed my mind and included a few non beauty essentials at the end for those of you wondering what else I cannot live without when traveling. 

Also just a little disclaimer, not all of the products were photographed because I just couldn't get them all to look 'pretty' together (pathetic I know) but don't worry I've included links for everything so you can see what I'm talking about.

Batiste Dry Shampoo
Let's be honest when you're traveling you don't always have time to wash your hair. I often have a jam packed schedule when I go away and with a little bit of dry shampoo spritzed on my roots I know I can hold out an extra day until I was my hair. It's not a substitute for washing your hair but a beauty aid on those days when your roots are looking a little bit greasy. I've used Batiste for years and because of their great range there is a product for everyone no matter your hair colour or type.

A Lip Balm
This may be a habit that I picked up when I was on Isotretinoin (or Roaccutane as it's more commonly known) as it made my lips incredibly dry, but I cannot leave the house without a lip balm. Whether that be a Burt's Bee's Lip Balm or just good old Vaseline, anything is better than having dry and crusty lips. Dry lips can often be caused by air conditioning when you travel, so if you remember anything on this list I beg that you remember lip balm.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow Pomade 
Even if I'm not wearing any other makeup I immediately feel more myself if I have my brows filled in as naturally my brows are quite sparse. Since trying Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow Pomade (wow that was a mouth full) I could never be converted back to my old ways of brow pencils or powders as nothing else lasts like this. When I use this product my brows never smudge or fade as it is waterproof so it will last through practically anything. This product is so worth the hype that it has to come with me everywhere I travel.

My Favourite Mascara
Like filling in my brows putting on even just a little bit of mascara will make me feel more myself even if I'm extremely tired or jet lagged. Mascara instantly brightens and widens my eyes by distracting from my sometimes terrible under eye bags and enhancing my natural features. While there are lots of excellent mascaras out there on the market my current favourite is the L'Oreal Paris Telescopic Mascara which you can read a full review of here.

Gillette Venus Snap Portable Razor 
For me shaving is an absolute must and I cannot go away anywhere without having a razor with me. But packing a razor always used to be a nightmare, the flimsy plastic cap would fall off and I'd end up cutting myself rummaging around my wash bag searching for it, that was until I discovered Venus' Snap Portable Razor. The razor is very small, discrete and fits perfectly in it's own little travel pot that can be neatly popped into your wash bag. With 5 blades it does an excellent job and the handle interchangeable with Venus Embrace refills so you don't have to worry if it goes blunt.

Céline New Audrey Sunglasses
Since I bought these sunglasses they have practically been glued to my face and it is rare that you will spot me without them. Perfect not only for a holiday in hot, sunny country but those rare occasions we get a bit of sun in the UK. They're also the perfect way to hide your lack of sleep if you've had to set off early for your travels. If you're not convinced about my Céline sunglasses I will let my review and unboxing convince you of their perfection.

Ipad Air
As I do not currently own a car, if I'm making a long journey on my own it is most often, if not always, by train. If I'm traveling home from uni the journey is an hour and a half, or if I'm visiting my boyfriend two and a half hours long; I could not survive these long journeys without some headphones and my iPad. Not only can I use it to listen to music or do uni work, but I can download shows to watch throughout my journey even though I don't have internet access. If you're in the UK both the BBC Iplayer App and 4OD App have features to download shows for free for a certain amount of time, so I can binge watch First Dates or Eastenders to my hearts content.

I'd love to know what your travel essentials are, whether that be beauty or fashion essentials or things that ease your journey!

Eleanor xx

The Best Blog Photography Props

When it comes to blog photography there is no right or wrong way to take your photographs as long as they represent you and your blog. That being said I thought I'd share some ideas on props that you could include in the background of your photo's if you are a bit stuck or looking for some creative inspiration.

Candles 
When I was living at home candles were one of my favourite household items to use in the background of my photographs because of the warm glowing atmosphere they give to photos. Unfortunately since moving into University Halls I can no longer use candles as we are not allowed them because they set off the fire alarms but a good alternative is fairy lights or LED candles.

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Magazines
While I love the look of a plain white or marble background that a lot of bloggers tend to go for these days, magazines are a great way of mixing things up. The magazines that I normally buy and find are best for blog backgrounds are Vogue and Elle as not only do the editorial shoots provide gorgeous imagery but so do the designer adverts. They also work well when layered with other items such as books.

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Flowers
I love flowers and they make the perfect finishing touch to any photograph. Placed out of focus in the background of your photo adds a pop of colour and texture as well as a fresh and feminine feel, not to mention they look really pretty. If you don't want to buy fresh flowers all of the time you could always spend a little more on some artificial flowers to achieve the same affect.

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Chopping Board

Now this is a bit of an unusual one but looks surprisingly good, especially if you're going for a minimalist or natural feel to your photographs. I personally love to use a wooden chopping board as the background for any baking or cooking posts. Another way you could incorporate wood into your backgrounds would be to use wooden floorboards you might have in your house or even buy a sample from B&Q.

Having great props is all well and good but you need to know when to use them. My biggest tip when it comes to picking what props and backgrounds to use in what photo is to pick out the main colour of the focus of the photo. You then want to look for hints of this colour or perhaps opposites of the colour in either the background or the prop. While this doesn't always work, 97% of the time it is a good way to tie the whole photo together and emphasize the product. 

Ultimately don't be scared to try out different layouts, backgrounds and props to see what works best for you and your photo. What are your favourite blog props? I'd love to hear your ideas!

Eleanor xx

Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette Review

With the recent release of more products to the Gwen Stefani Urban Decay Collection I thought I'd revisit and review the palette that started the initial hype: the limited edition Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette. When I first heard of this release back in November, the thought of acid brights, vibrant reds and popping pinks immediately sprung to mind, but I was pleasantly surprised by the tasteful packaging and wearable colours that this palette provides. 

The palette itself is perfect packaging wise. Urban Decay have moved away from flimsy cardboard to this plastic and metal palette that is not only easy upon the eye but sturdy and solid. The palette opens with a strong magnet to reveal a beautiful array of matte and shimmer eyeshadows in a range of wearable colours, without consisting of only nudes and warm browns. 

Gwen Stefani worked with Urban Decay to create a palette full of shades that she wished she had in her own makeup collection and luckily for us we can now all enjoy them. Some of my favourite shades have to be Punk, Pop and Baby but I have to admit that I have a soft spot for Harajuku and Danger the two brightest shades in the palette.

As you'd expect with Urban Decay eyeshadows they are creamy, blendable and highly pigmented. At £40 for this palette it is great value for money with each eyeshadow working out at about £2.60 each, making it a great addition to any makeup collection.

Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette £40

What do you think of this collaboration? Will you be trying anything from the collection?

Eleanor xx