Primark PS Pro Mattifying Primer

Hello Lovelies,

I don't know where to start other than by saying that I am well aware that this blog post has been long overdue. I apologise for my absence but unfortunately a lot has gone on in my life lately which has meant that I had to put my blog aside until things settled down. However I'm finally feeling ready to get back into it all and start blogging again! :)

Today's post is about the Primark PS Pro Mattifying primer. I received this sample in the October GlossyboxUK and I must say that although I hadn't tried any of the Primark make-up range, I was quite excited to give this one a go! The product I received was in full size, which meant that I have been able to use it almost every day for the past month and really get to see what it's like on my skin.

 

So, let's begin by talking about the scent. I don't know whether I have mentioned it before but I'm usually not a fan of makeup/skincare that's really scented. However I do also think that the worst thing is slapping on a load of makeup that smells like a cocktail of chemicals mixed in together...

With it being a Primark product, I didn't really know what to expect. I went ahead to open it assuming that it would probably smell like a mix of cheap chemicals but I was completely wrong!
The primer is slightly floral scented-it's almost like a clean smell which is great because it does not linger once it has been absorbed into the skin.

I also really like the texture, it's super soft and easy to apply and I particularly love how it is non greasy! Which in turn, really helps to create a matte base for you to apply your foundation.

I have to also add that I am probably one of the best people to go to when it comes to testing the durability of a beauty product because I literally tend to leave my makeup on right until I'm about to get into bed (so so lazy!). So this has meant that I have really been able to see how long my foundation stayed on for whilst using this primer. And I must say that I was really pleased!

Although I haven't really tried many primers in the past that would enable me to compare this Primark one with, I do think that for anyone who is looking for a cheap and cheerful primer that will do it's job well-I definitely recommend giving this one a go! It retails at just £3 so you'd really not be losing out on much if you didn't like it :)

I'd like to hear what you guys thought of it if you've tried this primer before. Otherwise let me know what primers you have used and which ones are your favourites...

Thanks for reading and I hope that you've found this post helpful! 

❤️

   Love, ML x

Starting University - All you need to know

"Have I chosen the right course"?, "Will I make new friends"?, "What do I need to bring with me"?, "What if I miss home and decide it's not for me"?...

Starting university is one of the most exciting, yet most frightening times of your life. Trust me, we have all been there!
I remember the upcoming weeks before enrolling onto my course and I had about a million questions whizzing through my mind. It was a really exciting time for me because this was going to be the first time I'd be living away from home. I also particularly remember feeling nervous and scared. Nobody would be there to do my washing, nobody would be there to make sure that I was up in the mornings and above all, nobody would be there to cook my all time favourite lasagna!

I remember researching everything I could and reading many student forums to make sure that I had everything that I needed. I was so worried that I'd arrive to my halls and realise that I'd forgotten something important behind, or even worse, that I wouldn't like anyone that I was living with and that I'd be lonely for the rest of my years at uni.
Yep, it's crazy the kind of thoughts that go through your mind when you're stressing out!

Let me tell you though, none of this was important or even necessary for me to have had. What I didn't realise at the time, was that this was going to be a fresh start to my life, a new chapter. It didn't matter if I had forgotten something behind, or if I now had to learn how to cook. None of this was important because I was finally going to grow up and flourish into a better me. To this day, I wish I hadn't worried so much about these minor things because before I knew it it was all over so fast :(

So anyway, I figured that there are probably a lot of young people who are currently in the same position that I was in a few years ago. So I thought I would write a quick guide, or at least tell you about my experience and the ways to go about things in order to make these next few years the best you've ever had!

                                              -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So, you've chosen your course, you've got your accommodation sorted, now all that's left is making sure you pack the important things you'll need and get yourself ready for this new chapter.
By now, you should have received a guide to your freshers week, giving you all the information you need to know as well as a guide with some sort of schedule with your moving in day. Although, let;s not forget that some uni's aren't as organised as others, so if you haven't received anything, fear not! I will try to list out the things that you need to know below:

Before arrival:

1. Make a list of all the things that you need to bring with you. Some accommodations supply a lot of the trinklets and bits and bobs that you need in your social space and bedrooms. However, make sure you find out exactly what is being provided for you. Then make a list of all the ESSENTIAL things that you will need (I have done a separate post with a University Checklist). 
2. Make sure that you have printed any arrival documentation that you will need when you move in and for enrolment. This may be things such as passport, letters of acceptance, exam certificates and anything which you may have been told to bring with you. Make sure you read your emails carefully because they will often tell you about these things. 
3. Make sure you know your moving in date and the times, visit your university website, Facebook and Twitter pages, to find out whether they are posting any freshers information. I particularly remember that my university halls had a separate Facebook page where people could post their flat numbers so that others living in the same flats could comment. This was a great way to meet people before arriving! 

Moving in day: 

1. I don't know about you, but I'm one of those people who likes to make sure everything is packed from the day before so that on the day I don't have to think about anything other than getting myself to where I need to be. If you are also like this, or struggle to get to places on time, I advice you ensure that you have everything packed from the night before so that all you have to do is get yourself moved in. 
2. Once you arrive, make sure you follow the instructions that you were given before moving in (by this point you would have certainly received something telling you where to go)
3. Once you've moved your stuff into your room, what I advise you to do next is to leave your bedroom door open so that if you haven't already met the others living in your flat, this would be an opportunity to meet them when they arrive!

Meeting people: 

I must say that at the time, I was not the best person when it came to socialising. I was always quite shy to approach new people but this is where you really have to make the effort to conquer your fears and get talking! 

Honestly, I cannot stress this enough but the more people you will meet in freshers week, the better it will be. People will be as friendly as they're going to get during this stage, so it's best to get to know as many of them as you can. I'm not saying to over do it, but just make the effort to be yourself and show the best side of you. 

You'll soon realise that you'll naturally "click" with some people over others and before you know it, you'll have made so many new acquaintances and new friends :)

First day of lectures:

Eeeek, the "scary" day. I remember this day so clearly, I struggled to sleep the night before because I was so worried to go to class actually having to learn things that at the time, I imagined would be so hard for me to understand. But honestly, I was fine... 

All I can suggest, is firstly to make sure that you have your timetable printed. I printed mine as soon as it was available online. I even made my own version so it looked pretty and colourful up on my pin board. Then make sure that you have read all of your modules guidelines and have any books and literature printed so that you can be prepared before your lectures. If you can get into the habit of doing this early on, believe me, you'll ACE uni! 

Then make sure that you have any equipment that you may need, depending on your course/module this would vary. 

Finally...

Enjoy yourself. These next few years are going to change you so much. You are going to learn not only a lot about the course that you will be studying but also about yourself. You'll grow up as a person and you'll finally be able to see what you are capable of. Make sure you take lots of pictures, keep a diary and just make it a time to remember!

I wish all of those starting uni in September all the best and don't hesitate to get into contact or comment down below if I've not answered any questions!

Thanks for reading and I hope that you've found this post helpful! 

❤️

   Love, ML x

My perfect summer foundation mix

Should I wear foundation or should I let my skin breathe? I swear, I find myself contemplating this question every single morning before doing my make up. But I'm guessing that I'm not the only one to do this though, right?
Back a few years ago, I used to be one who would steer clear from foundation particularly during the summer and I'd just allow my skin to breathe and tan. However, I don't know why, but this year I've gotten so much more into make up that I can't seem to be able to go out not wearing anything at all!

I have a hard time because I'm somebody who loves to tan, so when I do, it then means I need to find something to perfect my complexion whilst allowing me to show off the tan! When this happened, I would usually opt for a tinted moisturiser and a bit of bronzer on my cheeks as I felt this allowed me to look more tanned. However, one thing I have really disliked about this throughout the years, was the shine on my face at the end of the day. As well as, the way in which the tinted moisturiser would oxidise on my skin leaving me with a slight tangoed complexion (Obvs not the look I'd be going for!).

As summer came around the corner, I found myself wondering whether I should go out and purchase a new tinted moisturiser which would not do this...
So, I decided to give the NARS Moisturiser a go but I was soon disappointed to find that if I wore this on its own, by the end of the day it would have gone patchy and of course...Orange. This is so annoying because whilst I'd want to have that extra glow on my skin and look a bit more bronzed, Orange is far from the colour I want to be rocking on my complexion. At the same time though, I don't really want to wear my foundation on it's own because not only is it too heavy for summer, but it's also a bit on the pale side, masking away the bit of tan that I've managed to get on those two hot British days!

So instead, what I have been doing is mixing my foundation in with the tinted moisturiser and I've been achieving the perfect colour that matches my skin! :) I know it's pretty basic, but honestly, I never thought to do this before in all of those years! It's great because as well as achieving the perfect shade, it has also allowed my skin to look glowy. I have managed to find the right balance between the mattifying Charlotte Tilbury foundation and the super dewy NARS moisturiser- perfect for summer!

Below is a swatch of the shades as well as the finish I would achieve with and without mixing in the colours:

(Top: Charlotte Tilbury #shade: 3. Middle: Nars Tinted Moisturiser #shade: St. Moritz. Bottom: Mixture of both)

As you can see from the pictures, the foundation on it's own is just a tad bit pale for the time being and it's also a bit too "cakey". On the other hand. the moisturiser on it's own is so greasy looking and well, Orange. So the combination of the two make a perfect finish which I have been LOVING all summer long. It's also great because, if I tan some more, all I have to do is just add a bit more of the moisturiser to the mix. Whilst as the tan will begin to fade, I will slowly reduce the amount of moisturiser that I add, ensuring that I will always have the perfect shade! :)

Have you guys tried this before? Let me know what your favourite summer foundation routines are!

❤️

   Love, ML x

What to bring to University

Hello lovelies,

I figured that during the next upcoming month there will be lots of you getting ready to embark on the next chapter of your lives...University. 

Having been through it all before and I realise how stressful this time may be for you. Getting everything together and ensuring that you are well prepared before the big "Moving in day" is something that we've all dreaded doing before. I still remember buying a whole pack of notepads and filling them up with things that I felt I needed to bring with me to university. I remember spending hours on websites and student forums reading up on lists telling you what you need to bring to uni. However, I thought I'd try to save you all some time and give you a list of items that you will most probably need. 

Be aware though, that some of these things may vary depending on the accommodation that you will be staying in. So be sure to check what your accommodation will be providing you with before you go off and buy everything you see below! 

I have split it all up into sections to make it a little bit easier for you to read. But I hope that you'll find it helpful! 

Bedroom

🔸Duvets

🔸Duvet sheets

🔸Pillows and pillow cases 

🔸Under blanket /mattress protector (some uni's may already provide this)

🔸Laundry basket 

🔸Room decorations- picture frames, fairy lights, posters, candles, cushions

🔸Alarm clock (although you can probably use your phones now a days)

🔸Rubbish bin

🔸Door wedge 

🔸Warm blanket to throw on your bed

🔸Hot water bottle 

Kitchen

🔸Saucepans/ frying pan/wok 

🔸Crockery (forks/spoons/knifes) x4 of each

🔸 Washing up liquid 

🔸 Sponge for the dishes

🔸 Glasses min x2 

🔸 Mugs x2 

🔸 Drying cloth

🔸 Surface cloth

Toiletries

🔸 Hand, body wash shampoos, conditioner, moisturiser etc 

🔸 Shower puff

🔸 Toothbrush and toothpaste

🔸 Your skin care items 

🔸 Make-up remover

🔸 Bath towels/ hand towels/ face towels (x2)

🔸 Hair dryer 

🔸 Hair brushes / straighteners/ curling tongs 

🔸 Girly bits (tampons/sanitary towels) etc

🔸 Retainers/contact lenses etc 

🔸 Plasters

🔸 Tweezers

🔸 Nail clippers

🔸 Pain killers and antiseptic creams

University essentials

Bare minimum to begin with -wait for the sales to come on!!

🔸 Folders and filing envelopes 

🔸 A4 pads and notebooks to take notes 

🔸 Diary/ planner

🔸 Pencil case

🔸 Pens and pencils

🔸 Ruler

🔸 Highlighters

🔸 sellotape 

🔸 Post-it notes

🔸 Calculator

🔸 Reading list (most universities will provide you with one in advance)

🔸 Tippex

🔸 Blue Tack

🔸 Stapler and staples

🔸 Language dictionaries (if you're studying languages)

Other

🔸 Cleaning products for kitchen and bathrooms (bleach/ Mr muscle/ wet wipes etc)

This is a list of the products that I had brought with my to university and I found that I had everything I needed to get through living alone at uni! 

I hope that if you haven't already completed a list, you will be able to go by this post and be ready for the next chapter of your life. 

Thanks for reading!

❤️

   Love, ML x

WHEN Bio-Cellulose Face Masks Review

Hello Beautyholicgirls, 

So lately I have been chilling out a lot. Since uni has ended, I have so much free time and it feels like every night is a girly pamper night in! (hehe). And I'm not complaining, I am just going to make the most of it before the real life, working 9-5 for the next 45 years begins (yeah OK, that's so depressing to think about right now, right?!). So of course, what is a girly night in without a good ol' face mask?

I recently had the pleasure to be sent the When bio-cellulose face masks to try and I could not wait to give them a go and review them for you guys! I love trying out new face masks and will always lust over products which will help to improve my complexion. 

I was instantly drawn to these because they are quite different from your usual face masks because they are bio-cellulose sheet face masks (fancy, I know!). 

So I guess that some of you might be wondering what a bio-cellulose face mask actually is right?...Let me tell you.
It is one of those sheet-like looking face masks that already come with holes in the eye, nose and lips area so that they can literally be placed right over your face. Just like an ACTUAL face mask. For those of you who have already used these before, I am sure you know how amusing and scary looking they actually are. I was completely freeked out the first time I tried something similar with my flat mate. However at the same time, it was so funny that we couldn't even bare to look at each other. But, looks aside, these face masks are 3D fibre and are infused with deeply hydrating serums enabling them to lock the moisture right into the skin-making them more effective than standard face masks.

What do they claim to do? 

When created 5 different face masks all which aim to target and work for different things. I thought I would give you a list to tell you what each one does and who they are useful for:

1. Travelmate which aims to: Soothe and refresh your skin from UV rays (excellent for those who like myself, have been frying away in the sun). This particular face mask is good for all skin types but most importantly helps to combat dry skin and dark spots on the face
2. 10pm face mask, this one is again suitable for all skin types but mainly for those with dry skin looking to combat fine lines and wrinkles
3. Snow Magic: Suitable for all skin types. Aims to help with uneven skin tones and dark spots (also can we appreciate how cute the name is!). 
4. Make-up base: Suitable for all skin types and helps to firm the appearance of the skin as well as creating a flawless base for makeup application
5. The Last Choice: As the name suggests, this one is really the last choice! It's for those who have neglected their skin regime and they are lacking the hydration and skin tone that they need. This one is also suitable for all skin tones

I was lucky enough to have been sent two to try and I received the Travelmate* (perfect as I have gotten back from holiday not very long ago) and The Last Choice* (also great because I can get very lazy with my skin care at times). So I allowed myself to have a week in between each use and I must say I was VERY impressed!

The Travelmate, really helped to put some glow back into my complexion. I had been out in the sun a lot and my skin had become very dry. My skin is usually quite normal to combination. But it has its oily times too. But this face mask really helped to give me that moisture in those dryer areas on my cheeks and around my nose.

After a week of binge eating and wearing a face full of make-up my skin started to show the signs. As a result I decided to give "The Last Choice" a go! I must say that I was really impressed! It left my skin skin feeling revived and it really helped to dry out some of the pimples that I had developed on my forehead whilst deeply moisturising my skin. 

I had previously tried the "Starskin" face masks (which are double the price) and I found that the results were the same! 

The When facemasks are available at Sephora for 7$ each or online at Birchbox for £25 for a pack of 4. I'm guessing if you're doing a big shop, Sephora may actually work out to be cheaper for those in the UK. But if not, then I guess with the shipping fees it would work out to be cheaper to purchase them from Birchbox. I will also insert a link to their official website for anyone outside of the UK. 

Personally, I will definitely be repurchasing these When face masks and I would also recommend them to any face mask lovers out there :) 

Have you tried any bio-cellulose face masks? Let me know what you guys think! :) 

Thanks for reading. 

❤️

   Love, ML x

*Sponsored post. All opinions were my own.

Forza Supplements "SHAKE IT SLIM" Review + Tips on how I became FITTER

Hello lovelies,

I hope that you're all well!

I did say when I first started my blog that I would be doing both beauty, lifestyle and fashion posts, but because I am totally makeup OBSESSED, the beauty posts have been more common than the rest.

Nevertheless, today's post is more on the lifestyle side :)

I recently joined the Forza Supplements bloggers program and I received the Shake It Slim meal replacement starter pack, to trial out and review for you guys!  

For those of you who already follow me on Instagram, you will know that since beginning university (4 years ago) I put on a hell of a lot of weight! You know it, life as a fresher means literally eating your own body weight in takeaway meals 2/3 times a week...so of course it was not surprising that after 4 months into uni I started to look like a whale, literally. 

However, luckily I managed to get my myself back into gear last year whilst I was away on placement by following the Kayla Itsines Bikini Body guide (for anyone who does not know who she is, check out her Insta as she posts some very inspiring transformation pictures every day). By the end of the 12 week guide, I had managed not only to shed all of the weight that I had gained, but I also became a lot fitter and stronger. 

So anyway, like most people do when they lose a lot of weight, times get hard and cheat cravings start to kick in. Usually, with some control and determination, I can resist to the temptations however, whilst I was on holiday in Italy for 2 weeks I ate, ate and ate until I got to the point where I could no longer fit into the jeans that I had bought with me. Yes, that's right... I was an actual PIG and just gave into EVERYTHING... When I finally came home, reality kicked in and I was seeking a rapid way to help me fit back into my jeans. 

The Forza diet shakes are what I used to help me. The pack I received contained enough shakes to keep me going for 7 days. Essentially the shakes are a meal replacement which you are supposed to take twice a day and include one healthy meal at whichever time you prefer. Personally, I tried to follow the plan by drinking two shakes a day. I was having one for breakfast and one for dinner with a big lunch around 3pm. However, I found that by 8pm I would be feeling very hungry as the dinner time shake was not filling enough. 

Since I was also training, I decided to substitute just ONE meal per day, depending on what time I was going to the gym. For example, if I was training in morning, I would have the shake in the evening for dinner, that way I could have a large breakfast to refuel me after the gym. Whilst for those days where I would be going to the gym in the evenings, I'd have the shake for Breakfast. 

Result: I found that they really helped me to debloat and get rid of that water that all of the salty holiday food had made me retain. With just 204 calories per shake, it meant that my weight loss happened much sooner as I was able to stay below my 1,200 calorie intake for the day. The added bonus was that surprisingly, the shakes tasted very nice! They came in 3 different flavours, Strawberry, Vanilla and Chocolate (Strawberry was my favourite), And I was soon able to fit back into my jeans comfortably :). 

On the downside however, I would not recommend this plan for longer than 7-12 days as it is tough and probably not very healthy! I would encourage anyone who wishes to lose weight to follow a healthy diet plan with proper food and exercise. It would be a LOT more effective in the long run as well as being more feasible to maintain. 

I would however recommend these shakes to anyone who is about to go on holiday and wants to shed a few extra pounds or for those "Fatties" like myself, who have just returned from their holiday and need an extra boost to shed the weight off.  

All in all, I would give these an 8/10. They taste great, they work (in the short-run) and are affordable. On the other hand if you do follow the instructions i.e: 2 shakes per day, you will most likely be finding yourself getting hungry which will lead to you snacking in between. I would definitely recommend that you drink just ONE per day and eat 2 healthy meals along with some physical exercise and you will have some quick results! 

For anyone who is interested, you can find FORZA supplements in Superdrug, Holland and Barrets and on their own website which I will link here. 

I hope that you have enjoyed this post. Do let me know your thoughts and whether you have tried these or anything similar before and how it worked for you :) 

❤️

   Love, ML x

NEW Revlon Dramatic Definition Mascara Review

Hello there Beautyholicgirls,

I hope you're all well :D

As promised I am back with another make-up review. 

I did mention in my previous blog post that I would be making sure that I am blogging more frequently this summer, so here I am! :)

As you can tell from the title of this blog post, today I will be reviewing the Revlon Dramatic Definition Mascara which I received in May's Glossybox. I am usually not a "definition" girl as I tend to prefer volume and lengthening mascaras over definition, however, I thought I would try this one out to see how it would work on my lashes. 

As you can tell from the picture it comes with a plastic wand with very fine and close bristles. I don't know whether I have mentioned this before but, I find that plastic wands really do not work anywhere near as well as fibre ones on my lashes. I have lots of very fine long lashes and what I usually find is that plastic wands clump them all together and do not help to bring out their maximum length. 

Upon noticing that this was a plastic wand, I instantly had an idea in mind of how my lashes were going to look but, I went ahead to try it anyway. 

Below are some pictures of my eyelashes before and after the mascara application. 

As you can see, the eyelashes are quite clumped which confirmed my initial thought. However, I did find that if I used just one coat it did quite a good job at defining the lashes without clumping. It wasn't until the second coat that it started to just add lots of product and clumping the lashes. As you can see from the picture below, my lashes look quite clumpy and there isn't much definition.

On the whole, I think that it it's not a bad mascara and I would not give it a bad rating. Unfortunately though, it didn't work for me as I have tried a lot better. Based on this I would score it a 7/10. In terms of price, I think it's a bit too highly priced at £9.99 as personally I wouldn't say it was worth more than £5.99. 

Finally, I wish to say that of course this is just my own personal opinion about the product but I have read lots of other great reviews about it. I think for myself and the types of lashes that I have I would have been better off with their Volume or Volume and Length mascara which appear to come with fibre bristles. 

I think that this mascara would probably work quite well for those who have quite short and thick lashes. Or even, those who only like to wear one coat of mascara. 

However, if you like"spider-leg" fluffy lashes like myself, there are better options! 

Have you tried this mascara before? I would like to know how you have got on, or even if there was anyone who has tried any of the other Revlon ones? :) 

Thank you all for reading, I hope you enjoyed this! 

❤️

   Love, ML x