Mini MAC Haul

It was my 21st birthday on April 16 and to celebrate, I met up with my mum in Manchester. Although I had asked for money towards a car, I decided to spend a little bit of it. I hadn't tried a new makeup product for a while and with summer round the corner, I felt I needed a seasonal uplift. My Auntie had booked me in at MAC to have a makeover and then receive store credit to spend on anything I liked.

The first thing I wanted was a more bronzey blush as I always opt for those which are matte and orange-based. The above photo makes me look quite tanned but don't let it fool you - there isn't even a hint of sunkissed colour in my cheeks. I went for Cheeky Bronze which I actually have found works as a highlighter if lightly applied. The product lasts all day without using a setting spray or powder and the colour is really beautiful and rather natural despite the shimmer.

When I picked this, the lady also told me I could use it as a bronzer but I much prefer a natural, matte bronzer which isn't too dissimilar to my natural skin colour. It was £23, but as I don't wear makeup everyday it will last me a long time. I'm not into the whole Kardashian contour look. In fact, I'm not so sure I even suit it... Which leads me on to my next purchase.

I picked up one of the natural mineralise skinfinish powders in the colour Medium Golden. Again, this was £23 but should last me a while unless I get a little brush-happy and annihilate it.  It sets my foundation beautifully and I've even used it as a light bronzer to add slight colour to my cheeks when I'm not wearing a base.

The next few products are (surprise, surprise) for my lips.

I was actually bought these as a gift from my stepsisters. The first is a Cremesheen lipstick in the colour Pure Zen. It cost £15.50 (I looked it up).

I'm sorry for the bad picture - it isn't metallic like the picture below looks but it does have the slightest shimmer which looks far more like a glossy shine.

Pure Zen is actually a frosty, warm-toned nude. The Cremesheen lipsticks have a rich creamy texture and a great colour payoff. 

The next colour is MAC Red from the Satin collection. Again, this was £15.50. I have never bought a Satin but I definitely would now I have tried it. MAC Red is a blueish-red shade and semi-matte. It lasts longer than the Cremesheen but not quite as long as the Retro Mattes. It doesn't bleed into the skin around your lips - an issue I often have.

The final thing in the haul is a £12.50 lip liner in the shade Redd. It goes perfectly with the MAC Red lipstick (above). It's super long-lasting and helps the lipstick to stay on for longer. I usually fill in my entire lip as well as lining the outside just to keep it on longer and help the colour pop.

June Favourites

Before we get too far into July, I wanted to get this post out. 

 I can't stop using these two backpacks at the moment!

The green one is from Glastonbury 2013. My auntie gets to go for free every year and she bought me it as a gift. I'm currently using it to carry my Macbook around. 

Swagger Jagger by Cher Lloyd just came on my Spotify... I don't know how to feel about this but I felt I had to let you know.

*Changes to Misfits*

The other bag is from Topshop. I bought it back in April with my birthday money. Does anyone else love the month that their birthday falls into? April is my favourite month of the year and I love being an Aries. I think about it all the time - it's kinda weird actually.

Mm. Freddos. Freddos are like 20p in my local shop now. Total rip off but I love them.

I've also been loving the Options Additions hot chocolate. It comes in two sachets for 20p in Asda. The first sachet contains a creamy Belgian chocolate and the second sachet has the exciting bits - milk chocolate flakes, marshmallows and milk chocolate crispies. Oh god, it's good. Indulgent but lovely (especially with a Freddo dipped in).

I have only been drinking from my Adventure Time Marceline mug for a while now. I love it so much. Hot drinks or cold drinks - it's all I'm using.

You may or may not know that Company is my favourite magazine. I've loved it for years and the rebrand just made it 100 times cooler. I'm a subscriber so I got my copy just before the end of June. I read it in one sitting over hot chocolate and a freddo with a lyric-less guitar playlist. It felt so peaceful.

 Say "hello" to my little friend!

I've been after a ty Pikachu for a while but they are all quite rare and selling for at least £30. I got this cutie for £10.60 on eBay! It sounds really sad but he is causing me many a sleepless night. I keep waking up, noticing him on my bedside table and just staring at him with a huge grin on my face for ages. It's really lame.

If you have a pet, you may have lifted them up to a mirror to show them what they look like... I find myself making sure Pikachu can see himself when I watch Pokémon.

I'm ashamed to have admitted that but I'm not going back now. NO SHAME.

My favourite film is A Clockwork Orange, directed by Stanley Kubrick. I have owned the book for a while but I finally decided to read it and oh lordy, is it good. I haven't quite finished it yet though. I love A Clockwork Orange so much that I went as Alex (the main protagonist) last Halloween (see below). I love this photo. I don't look great and my lipstick has pretty much rubbed off but look who I'm with?! Zoidberg! God, I was drunk that night and it was great.

I subscribed to Elle this month in an attempt to save myself a bit of dough. I don't want to miss an issue and I'll save a few quid and get prettier covers. With my subscription came this 30ml bottle of Lacoste Eau de Sensuelle. It is described as having a floral scent so I was all prepared to give it away but I absolutely love it! It's the first floral perfume I have come across that doesn't give me an instant headache! For those of you who understand perfume technical talk, here's the low-down:

Heart notes: Turkish Rose, Sweet Pea, Gladiolus Inflexus

Top notes: Pink Pepper, Tart Blackcurrant

Base notes: Nougatine, Amber

Scent: Floral

Feel: Elegant

Heart notes? Base notes? What? I don't get it but I can totally understand the "elegant" part!

My trusty old Gok Wan specs broke the other day. I was expecting it. I've had the same pair for about 4 years and they were too weak for me anyway. Unfortunately, I'm not in the greatest financial position right now and I really begrudged having to spend money on these but I guess I need them sooo...

They were £152 with the lenses and student discount from Vision Express. I could've opted for a cheap pair but I didn't like any of them. There was a Versace pair which were just beaut but I decided that black was too harsh for me so I went for these Ted Baker ones. It feels great to be able to see again so that's why I put them in my favourites.

I've always struggled with foundation. I have quite sensitive skin and most foundations turn me into one big rash. Just after turning 19, I found a powder foundation by MAC which is totally fine with my skin. I've been using it ever since - until I found this little baby. This is the YSL Le Teint Touche Éclat foundation. I personally prefer the finish that a liquid gives so I was super excited to start using this. My favourite thing about it? You don't need a lot to get good coverage but it still looks really natural. I use the shade BD40. I think I may have found my soulmate...

It retails at £30.50 and honestly, I think it's a bargain.

People always ask me why I like YSL so much. The answer? Everything is just perfect. I have tried so many different eyebrow pencils and gels and creamy horrible things and I just hate the way my brows look when they are penciled in. I don't wear makeup often so it makes me feel even more stupid. But this is amazing at £19.50. I've used it several times but as you can see, it has barely gone down... And it's two in one: a pencil on one side and a spiral brush on the other.

I have been loving (and I mean really loving) the MAC Viva Glam II lipstick (£15) and the Boldy Bare lip pencil (£12.50). They go so well together. I usually wear bright colours but it's been nice to opt for a more natural lip. MAC lipsticks are so creamy and the smell reminds me of the doughnuts on the Blackpool Pleasure Beach (an amusement park in my hometown).

The final thing I have been loving is this Tea Tree Oil from The Body Shop. Summer causes me to breakout in millions of tiny spots on my nose and forehead. I never get cheek spots but I've had about 5 this past month. I have been using a tea tree face wash for a while but I haven't had a pot of the oil for about a year and I have definitely noticed the difference. This stuff is great.

What have you guys been loving this June?

I hate and love my sensitive skin

If you have sensitive skin, you'll already know how difficult it can be to maintain a fresh and glowing look.

My skin isn't quite as bad as it once was and I definitely know that other people have it a lot worse. But, if you have sensitive skin, you'll probably know which products you can use and which you can't and you will stick to those.

Having sensitive skin is the bane of my life! I recently spent a fair amount of money on Estée Lauder lotions and potions and have had to give away two of the four products! I usually don't try products because I'm too scared to part with the little money that I have on products that may cause a break-out.

For years, I have stuck to The Body Shop's moisturiser and toner from their aloe vera range, but not the cleanser because that makes my skin flare. I use the cleaner from Simple and an exfoliator from the vitamin E range in Superdrug. I have spent a ridiculous amount of money on foundation. For the first 19 years of my life, I tried every brand of foundation over the counter. I would either get instant irritation or be lured into a false sense of security, believing that I had finally found THE foundation for me, only to wake up covered in flaky red rashes all over my cheeks, chin and forehead.

About a month after my 19th birthday (bearing in mind that I am not even 20 yet), I finally tried MAC's Prep & Prime BB cream and their Studio Fix Powder Plus foundation. I can wear it for a few days until my skin starts to dry out - but I never get a red rash! It's a bonus that the BB cream is slightly tinted since I can't wear false tan either!

But having sensitive skin isn't all that bad. It took me 19 years to realise that growing up and going through your teenage years never be able to wear makeup and not being able to use any shower gels that you got for presents isn't all that bad! I'm actually almost HAPPY that I have sensitive skin now. I feel like I'm part of a rare group of girls who will happily go for weeks without wearing any makeup at all. I will go to lectures, shopping and even work without wearing even mascara. People always say I have a "fresh" look. I love that I can spend more time making my outfit look amazing instead of focusing on my face. I love going all out for events like nights out and birthdays and I get some lovely compliments when I do because people aren't used to seeing me that way.

I love my skin being sensitive for the confidence and originality it has given me. But I hate it because it costs a lot to find the right products.
The most important part is to listen to your skin. Don't over-treat any out-breaks but don't be afraid to try new products, if that is what you want (just be prepared to look a little blotchy if things go wrong).

And for those who wear makeup everyday, why not try going bare-faced for a few days?! It's not as scary as it sounds!