30 Beauty Questions | TAG

This week I've been quite busy so unfortunately I haven't had much time to think about or prepare a post for today. However, I didn't want to miss an upload day so I thought i'd take a look some beauty tags and I've chosen this one to share with you today. I'll try to make sure i'm on top form next week, so bare with me guys!

1. DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR FIRST MAKEUP ITEM?

I had to have a good think about this. I believe it was one of those makeup compacts with pink and blue eye shadows from Argos. I think I may still have it somewhere!

2. DESCRIBE YOUR PERFECT MASCARA. HAVE YOU FOUND ONE THAT FITS YOUR SPECIFICATIONS? 

I really like long fluttery lashes, though the mascara must not be too wet nor too dry. I love the Benefit Roller Lash for this!

3. WHAT KIND OF COVERAGE DO YOU PREFER FROM FOUNDATION?

Medium. Something that can be worn as a natural everyday base but also can be built up to a high coverage when needed.

4. FAVOURITE HIGH END BRAND?

I haven't tried that many high end brands so it'd have to be Benefit.

5. WHAT COSMETICS BRANDS HAVE YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO TRY BUT STILL HAVEN'T?

MAC, Urban Decay and Laura Mercier!

6. FAVOURITE DRUGSTORE BRAND?

This was a tough one! It was between Rimmel and L'Oreal. I'd have to say Rimmel as I've tried and loved a lot more products from them!

7. DO YOU WEAR FAKE EYELASHES?

I've only worn individuals once or twice and I loved them! I think I should try them out again, go all fancy for the festive season coming up! Any recommendations?

8. IS THERE ANY KIND OF MAKEUP YOU CANT LEAVE THE HOUSE WITHOUT?

Mascara, I feel that I look more awake and slightly more done up with a quick flick of mascara!

9. WHAT IS YOUR MOST CHERISHED BEAUTY PRODUCT?

I imagine this would usually be a high end product that you love but I don't have any full-sized high end products! I'd have to say L'Oreal True Match Foundation, it has been a solid favourite for over a year now!

10. HOW OFTEN DO YOU SHOP FOR MAKEUP? DO YOU PICK IT UP HERE AND THERE OR GET LOTS OF GOODIES AT ONCE?

I've never actually gone into Boots and done a huge shop. Though, I think I should after Christmas and get a whole load of products for a new year. I pick it up here and there!

11. DO YOU HAVE A BEAUTY BUDGET OR DO YOU SPEND FREELY?

I don't necessarily have a budget, but I do try not to spend too much on beauty products- hence why the majority of them are drugstore!

12. DO YOU UTILISE COUPONS, REWARDS CARDS AND SALES WHEN YOU SHOP FOR COSMETICS?

I pop coupons in my purse and forget about them! I always use my Boots and Superdrug points card and always browse in the sale!

13. WHAT TYPE OF PRODUCT DO YOU BUY THE MOST OF?

Lipsticks, definitely. I've told my mum that I won't buy anymore until after Christmas. Let's see how long this lasts!

14. IS THERE A BRAND YOU ABSOLUTELY CANT STAND?

I had a good think about this and I don't think there is! Miss Sporty reminds me of the time when I used to use cheap makeup from magazines, it didn't look too great but that was probably my fault. But I don't hate Miss Sporty as I've heard they actually have some really affordable and great products.

15. DO YOU AVOID CERTAIN INGREDIENTS IN COSMETICS LIKE PARABENS OR SULFATES?

Of course it's always a bonus if products don't have these but it's rare that I look up the ingredients of products which is really bad. I'm sure i'm not though only one though!

16. DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE PLACE TO SHOP FOR MAKEUP?

Boots and Superdrug. I used to love buying makeup from Frangrance Direct online though as they have super affordable makeup. I may just go have a browse now!

17. DO YOU LIKE TRYING NEW SKINCARE PRODUCTS OR DO YOU KEEP A CERTAIN ROUTINE?

I buy new skincare products quite often actually. I love trying new cleansers as i'm yet to find the perfect one for my skin. However, once I start using a product that I like- I do use it for a good while or until it's completely empty so I sort of stick to a routine.

18. FAVOURITE BATH AND BODY BRAND?

Soap and Glory. I've just been lusting over their amazing Christmas gift sets!

19. IF YOU COULD ONLY BUY FROM ONE BRAND, WHICH WOULD YOU CHOOSE?

This may seem a little odd as I've never actually tried anything from them but MAC. MAC just about do everything beauty wise and so many people rave about it!

20. WHAT BRAND DO YOU THINK HAS THE BEST PACKAGING?

Benefits packaging is really pretty!

21. WHICH CELEBRITY ALWAYS HAS GREAT MAKEUP?

I actually have no idea for this one. I only keep upto date with a handful of celebs and I rarely look at their makeup which is odd seeing as I love makeup a lot!

22. DO YOU BELONG TO ANY ONLINE BEAUTY COMMUNITIES?

The Beauty Blogger community, I guess!

23. 5 FAVOURITE BEAUTY GURUS

*Trawls through YouTube Subscriptions*
Amelia Liana
Fleur De Force
Laura Black
Miss Budget Beauty
Vivianna Does Makeup
one more, maybe?
Lily Pebbles

24. DO YOU LIKE MULTI-FUNCTIONAL PRODUCTS LIKE LIP AND CHEEK STAINS?

They're handy, yes! I don't really use lip and cheek stains. I do use an eye shadow on my eyes and as a highlight though!

25. ARE YOU CLUMSY WHEN PUTTING MAKEUP ON?

I'm not the best, I do try though! I have had countless eye makeup disasters which I've had to frantically wipe away and do my standard everyday neutral look!

26. DO YOU USE A MAKEUP BASE/PRIMER FOR THE EYES?

I usually use the remains on my fingers of my face primer and just pat it into my lids. Some people use their concealer too, don't they?

27. HOW MANY HAIR PRODUCTS DO YOU USE ON A TYPICAL DAY?

If i'm washing my hair, 4(shampoo, conditioner, serum and heat protector). If not then 2(heat protector and dry shampoo).

28. WHAT DO YOU APPLY FIRST? CONCEALER OR FOUNDATION?

I used to apply concealer first but I was technically rubbing it off when applying foundation so now, it's always foundation first!

29. DO YOU EVER CONSIDER TAKING MAKEUP CLASSES?

Always! I'd love to learn how to professionally apply makeup. However, there are only a couple near me which either don't have very good reviews or are super expensive!

30. WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT MAKEUP?
I love how much makeup can change the way you look by enhancing your best features. Makeup also changes the way you feel about yourself, you can feel so much more confident and put together with makeup. I love to experiment with makeup, is it sad to say that makeup brings me joy?

I really enjoy reading tags so I hope this one hasn't been too boring!
I'm not going to tag anyone in particular as I know it can be difficult to keep on top of tags you've been tagged to complete. Feel free to do this tag if you please, let me know if you do it and i'll definitely go and check it out!

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO THIS WEEK?

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How I Clean My Brushes | Two Simple Ways!

A little while a go I shared with you guys a handful of my favourite face and eye brushes to apply my makeup with. In order to get a good application it is important that your brushes are clean otherwise your makeup wont blend well and you'll be left with lasts weeks product on your face which is especially not good.

Makeup brushes harbour bacteria so you don't want to be putting that on your face otherwise it'll lead to breakouts or even infections. There isn't an amount of time set in stone on when you should clean your brushes, in an ideal world we would after every use but that's just not possible for most. So for this post, I thought i'd share with you a couple of ways I clean mine.

As I said, I for one do not have enough time to wash my brushes on a daily basis. However, if I find my brushes aren't blending my makeup as they usually would and I don't have enough time to wash and wait a long time for them to dry, I will do a spot clean. This consists of my makeup remover and a cotton pad, it's pretty simple.

I'll simply take the Garnier Micellar Water and put a bit on a cotton pad that I've split in half. I'll use one half for cleaning and the other half to dry. I tend to swirl my brush around on the cotton pad until the majority of the makeup has come off, next I'll take the dry cotton pad and do the same to dry the brush. I'll do this the night before or an hour or so before so that they can dry properly.

Now for the deep clean. I've heard lots of people say that they hate cleaning their brushes but personally I don't mind, I actually quite enjoy it. I used to just take a little baby shampoo on my palm and dampen the brush under the tap and swirl until the water runs clear. 

However, when reading a blog I saw that they were using a silicone oven mitt, I know it seems a little odd at first. They said they got the idea as they're a similar, cheaper alternative to the Sigma Brush Cleaner. The bristles get in between the little ridges on the mitt that actually clean them really well, I was so impressed at how clean my brushes looked and how soft they felt once I had tried it.

I will do the same process as I mentioned earlier, just with the mitt. First I will take some baby shampoo on the mitt, I will then dampen the brush under the tap and swirl on the glove til the water runs clear. To rid the brush of shampoo I will rinse it under the luke warm tap then either pop it bristles facing downwards in a brush stand or lay them to dry on a towel over night. Though, its better to stand the brushes with bristles facing downwards as the water will run away and prevent the glue from dissolving.

For sponges, its a little different. I must admit my sponge is on its way out, its starting to crack a bit and is really stained. I tend to do the same process for brushes but instead I use this Body Shop Tea Tree Cleanser as Tea Tree kills bacteria, therefore I know although my sponge is stained, I am hopefully killing the bacteria. I will the leave it to dry on the towel with the rest of my brushes.

And there you have it, a couple of simple ways to cleanse your brushes. Nothing too hard, time consuming or expensive! I'd love to know whether you have any techniques or tricks on how you clean yours, let me know!

HOW DO YOU CLEAN YOUR BRUSHES?

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My Makeup Collection | 2015

I'm sure like many others, I love to be nosey! I love makeup too, so one of my favourite kind of posts to read and videos to watch are makeup collections! Seeing as I didn't post earlier in the week, I thought i'd make it up to you(sorta) and let you rummage around my makeup collection. In comparison to other beauty bloggers and vloggers, personally I don't think I have that much. However, it is more than enough to get by but i'll still continue to buy more.

 I decided to focus on the makeup that I wear most often that sits on my dressing table, however if you read til the end you'll be able to have a quick look at the rest of my makeup in my drawers.

I store my makeup in this lovely white storage shelf from a shop called Store Twenty One which I bought last year, however if you search 'white desk organiser' you will find similar, here and here. 

At the top of my storage, there are three back sections where I keep a few of my favourite bases(L'Oreal True Match: review here, Rimmel Match Perfection and the L'Oreal Glam Bronze Eau de Soleil), some tools and lipsticks- would you like to see a lipstick collection? Then in front is a little ledge where I store some small moisturisers/bases.

There is also a large drawer at the bottom which is where I store the rest of my most used makeup from primers, to mascaras and lipsticks. I must admit, there isn't an order in here and it's never usually this neat- once used, I tend to just throw it back in as i'm on a tight schedule most mornings.

Here I've got stacked the MUA Pressed Powder which I use for bronzing, a Sleek Blush in Rose Gold, the Seventeen Phwoarr Paint Concealer and finally on top is a Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Pink Gold.

To the side I've got a couple of Avon Colour Trend lipsticks, Rimmel Fix and Perfect Primer which I am scraping the bottle of, Benefit Porefessional Primer, an Avon Pressed Powder and then on top is some foundation which I decanted to take away with me. (Note to self: use up!)

Then onto the eyes section of the drawer. The mascaras I have in here are Maybelline One By One, Collection Lengthening Mascara and Benefit Roller Lash. 

I also have a couple of brow products which are Soap and Glory Brow Archery in Brownie Points and the Maybelline Brow Drama Setting Gel.

Here is another concealer which is the much loved Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer and finally I have the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Yogurt.

I keep my most used palettes in this pink pot, they're W7 In The Buff which is a dupe of Urban Decay's Naked 2 Palette, you can see a review here. I also have the MUA Heaven and Earth Palette, such pretty nudes, browns and a few coppery shades.

To the side I keep my brushes in a floral mug, if you'd like to see my most used brushes you can see my posts on them here and here. In front I have this little dish from H&M Home with pretty lashes on. Here I store anything and everything, a couple of autumnal nail varnishes, kirby grips, the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge, a necklace and my watch!

The rest of my makeup and beauty products are kept in another few drawers in my room. 

I split my makeup into sections, you know most people buy Muji storage? I use takeaway tubs, haha! They worked a treat. Here I have a selection of bases, eye products, eye shadow palettes and singles and finally a bunch of lip products!

I hope you enjoyed rummaging through my makeup collection. I must admit this didn't turn out as I would've hoped, not everyone has a sleek white dressing table- mine is covered in marks from makeup which is why I decided to photograph the majority of my collection on the floor, I hope you don't mind!

HOW DO YOU STORE YOUR MAKEUP?

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The Autumn TAG | Hello Autumn!

I love Autumn, I think it may be my favourite season. Seeing as it's starting to creep in, I'm talking cold, damp mornings, crunchy leaves and rainy evenings. I thought what better way to note my first Autumn post this year than with an Autumn TAG- I wasn't tagged to do this but I love participating in TAGs every now and then!

Favourite thing about Autumn?

It's got go be cosy nights in with the fire on, whilst binge watching films or catching up on TV programmes. Let's be honest, TV is usually better come Autumn/Winter!

Favourite drink?

I'm guessing this means the seasonal drinks at Starbucks and Costa. I'm not a huge fan of spices, so the Pumpkin Spice Latte is not for me! I love tea, I don't drink as much in the summer so I make the most of it during Autumn and Winter!

Favourite scent/candle?

As I've mentioned, I don't like spices much- the taste and smell. I do love vanilla based candles though as they're so warming and comforting. I don't do sickly sweet neither, so it'd have to be Sunlight on Snow by Yankee Candle- fresh but comforting!

Best lipstick?

As I'm writing this, I'm currently testing the very much raved about Rimmel 107. I shall update you on my thoughts, I'm sure. I love dark and Berry toned lips around this time of year, my go-to shades are usually the Maybelline Colour Drama Velevet Lip Pencil in Berry Much or MUA Matte Lipstick in Wild Berry.

Go-to moisturiser?

In terms of day moisturisers, I love the Garnier Moisture Match range. I usually opt for the mattifying one for oily skin but my skins a little dry at the moment so I may pick up another in the range. For the night, I love the Origins Night-A-Mins but I only have a deluxe sample of that so I've been using it sparingly- I must pick up the full size at some point!

Go-to colours for the eyes?

I rarely steer away from neutral colours on my eyes, usually I go for mattes in the day time and shimmery for a night look. I do like to add more copper tones during the Autumn, I think they make my blue eyes pop too!

Favourite music or band/singer to listen to?

I don't think my music taste changes much throughout the year, I love Olly Murs, Ed Sheeran and just pop in general.

Favourtie outfit to wear?

Autumn/Winter is all about jumpers, jeans, chunky knit tights, ankle boots and huge blanket-like scarves!

Autumn treat?

I'm not really sure what this means, does it mean in terms of food?

I love homemade soups, especially my Mum's Lentil and Vegetable soup, with crunchy bread- yum!

Favourite place to be?

As I mentioned earlier, I love being cosied up in a blanket on the sofa with the fire on but I also love Bonfire Night! It's nice to just wrap up warm and go out for the evening with your friends and family to watch the amazing firework displays and  make your way through a toffee apple before you start to feel a little bit sick!

I wasn't tagged by anyone to do this, but I will tag a few as I'd love to hear your favourite things about Autumn.

I TAG:

Jess from Hey It Is Jess

Nicole from Thrifty Vintage Fashion

and

Geraldine from Geraldine's Wonderful World

Look forward to seeing your answers girls!

See you Sunday with a haul!

♥   ♥   ♥

Mask of Magnaminty | Lush Skincare Review

I heard lots about this mask and after having a breakout, my skin was in desperate need of a good treatment. I decided to purchase this mask whilst I was shopping in Exeter, we do have Lush in my hometown I just rarely pop in as it's a little out the way. I don't tend to purchase much from Lush anyway as I don't enjoy baths which is a shame, also the products are fresh so they don't tend to last as long, therefore I found a lot would go  to waste in my case. I believe the Mask of Magnaminty is the only self-preserving mask that Lush do, I picked this up in August and it should stay fresh til late November which is great and it shouldn't go to waste. 

This mask is aimed at more oily and blemish prone skin as it aims to clean, calm and clear. However I feel that this is quite gentle and nourishing so it could work for those with dry or sensitive skin too! 

On first application I noticed the lovely fresh minty scent, as the name would suggest. I found that this mask doesn't tend to go hard like most of the other masks I've used in the past, so I tend to leave it on for a little longer and my skin has no problems with that! Although, I did hear that the fresh Mask of Magnaminty has a considerably thicker consistency, so if you like thicker, heavier masks- that might be a better option for you. I think I much prefer this as it will last a lot longer, therefore it's better value for money. 

The mask is quite gritty as it contains evening primrose seeds and aduki beans which help to exfoliate the skin when applying and removing. Although the grains are quite large, they're gentle on the skin which would also be great for dry skin sufferers to remove any flaking skin. 

To remove the mask I usually soak a face towel in warm water and wipe it from the skin. Once removed I could definitely notice how clean, soft and smooth my face felt. I couldn't help but feel my face afterwards as it felt amazing! In terms of how it made my skin look, I haven't noticed drastic changes but any spots I did have were less angry and I believe my skin has been a lot calmer since I started using this.

For that matter, I would definitely repurchase this as it's so affordable and convenient as it's self-preserving because like most people, I only use a mask once a week. Also, it tastes like mint chocolate chip ice cream. Yes, I know you're not supposed to eat it but I couldn't resist licking the tiny bit that happened to get onto my lips when applying. I noticed on the pot it also says, if you bring back five pots or tubes to recycle, you get a free fresh face mask- I'm definitely up for that!

The Mask of Magnaminty comes in at £5.50 for 125g which is quite a considerable amount, however you can also pick up the larger size of 315g for £9.75 which you might want if you're planning to use it as a body scrub also!

Have you tried this? If not, what is your favourite face mask?

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My Most Worn Jewellery | Pandora, Swarovski and More!

I love wearing jewellery! I'm sure like many other girls do too. I own quite a lot of costume jewellery and a few more expensive pieces and I've found there have been around 5 or 6 pieces that I've been going back to on an everyday basis. I love looking at jewellery so I thought you also may like it if I shared with you a few of my favourite pieces to wear!

LETS IGNORE MY SAUSAGE FINGERS

 Here is my first piece of Pandora Jewellery that I ever owned, I believe this piece is quite popular as it is reasonably priced and personal. It's the Pandora Birthstone Ring, I have the Amethyst stone as I was born in February which is a beautiful pale purple stone. This looks really simple and pretty alone but as it's a stacking ring it can be paired or stacked with a few others.

I pair this ring with another popular choice from Pandora which is the Flower Band Ring. I loved this ring when I first saw it and knew it had to be mine, especially when I realised it was only £30- possibly the most affordable Pandora ring. This again is so simple but looks really nice worn everyday to complete a casual outfit.

On to necklaces! I love dainty necklaces for everyday wear, especially this silver wishbone from a seller on Instagram which I can't remember the name of unfortunately. I believe this was only £3 or £4 which is amazing considering the amount of wear I've had out of it. I usually team this with basic t-shirts and jeans to bring the look together.

I think these are called druzy necklaces, correct me if I'm wrong but both have pointed stone pendants. I love these as they can add a little colour to what otherwise would be a monochrome outfit. The clear blue crystal necklace was from another shop on Instagram called @craftedjewels a little while ago but they still sell very similar ones for such affordable prices! The dark green stone necklace was from San Francisco, brought back when my sister went on holiday there, though I'm sure you can find similar ones online or from Crafted Jewels.

And last but certainly not least is this Swarovski Micro Bolt Bracelet in Rose Gold. I used to hate mixed metals but recently I've been quite liking it as I don't want to miss an opportunity to wear this stunning dainty bracelet. I saw quite a few bloggers with this and I knew it would have to be mine one day so my sister kindly bought it for my 18th Birthday! I avoided wearing this while at college as I was in placement for half the week and I didn't want it to get caught on anything and broken, however I got lots of wear out of this during the summer and I'm also going to brave it and wear it to work. Let's hope it gets kept in good nick!

There you have it, a quick run through of my favourite pieces of jewellery. As I said, I love jewellery so I'm hoping in the not to distant future to invest in some more expensive jewellery that I shall hopefully wear and hold for life.

What is your most worn piece of jewellery? Or what is on your list list?

Let me know!

♥   ♥   ♥

Bluebelle by Lola | Mani Monday on a Wednesday

It's becoming a thing where I plan to do a Mani Monday but as I post on Wednesdays, it's not really a Mani Monday, hence the title of this post. Today I thought I'd share about this gorgeous LOLA Nail Varnish in Bluebelle- I love the name! I received this in a Glamour Beauty Box earlier this year and I believe the brand is sold at M&S.

I have a few blues which I like but this has to be my favourite shade and possibly my favourite nail varnish at the moment. Unlike the other blues I have, this has no shimmer running through and is a solid blue with a slight purple tone in certain lights. It's very true to it's name in fact, it definitely resembles a Bluebelle to me. I feel this colour would look really nice on a range of different skin tones too!

The formula is great, like most other nail varnishes it needs two coats to build up the opacity. The drying time is fairly average, though I'm extra careful as I hate when you think your nails completely dry and you touch something and have the imprint, so annoying!

Now the longevity of the nail varnish is around five days which is pretty good before you start to notice the little chips and it's time to take it off and reapply. Also, bearing in mind I used a base and top coat.

Overall I am quite impressed with this LOLA Nail Varnish. I have just checked online at M&S and these are priced at £8.00, I must admit- I don't usually pay that for my nail varnishes as most in the drugstore are £5.00 or less. However, this doesn't put me off as I know they will last on my nails near enough a week which I definitely can't complain about! I'll have to go and have a look at the other colours in the range in store and I shall let you know if I pick up anymore.

Have you tried any LOLA Nail Varnishes? If not, what is your favourite brand of nail varnishes? 
Please let me know!

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Social Media and Handy Apps! | My Favourite Apps

There are many apps that i'm using constantly in my daily life, some popular on the app store and some not so but none the less I love all of them and I thought i'd share them with you today..
 

First up is social media, it's not very often I go without using these on a daily basis as I find them completely addictive and a good way to connect with friends and socialise.

1. Instagram

This has got to be my favourite of the few, I love sharing and viewing pictures as they're easy on the eye and enjoyable. There are many accounts I follow that range from themed and blog accouns to personal Instagrams and I'm constantly browsing and liking while looking for inspiration. I also speak to a few lovely people on there that I wouldn't have known without making an Instagram account which is crazy!

If you'd like to follow me on there i'm @xtracesofmythoughts

 

2. Twitter, Facebook and whatsapp

I use these to keep up to date with my favourite celebs, friends and they're just places to be social. Also where else to have group conversations that get really weird at 2am? whatsapp- I love you. Haha! All of these are personal i'm afraid!

 

3. Timehop
Lets be real, i'm miserable most mornings because I have to wake up early and go to college but this app is forever putting a smile on my face with Facebook status' and tweets from way back when. Some just a year ago and some 6, my gosh! I also cringe A LOT!

 

4. Pinterest

For those of you who didn't know i'm a childcare student which means I go to placement a couple of times per week so I have to plan activities for the children. Pinterest has an array of amazing activities for children but not just that skincare, makeup, fashion and more!

 

5. Clue

You're probably wondering what on earth is Clue? TMI but the majority of us are girls here right? This is a period tracker which allows you to log how you're feeling day to day etc. It's great but enough about that...

 

6. mySupermarket

This app saves me money on a weekly basis! This is basically an app that compares supermarkets to enable you to find the best deal on the particular product you're searching for. I usually find bigger supermarkets like Tesco and Asda have better deals on certain skincare essentials compared to Boots and Superdrug, which is great if you're a student as every penny counts!

 

There you have it, a run down of my favourite apps. You may have noticed that I don't have any game favourites but that's because I spend most of my time on social media! I'd love to find some more apps that are handy or just for fun, so let me know..

 

WHATS YOUR FAVOURITE APPS?

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Face, Body and Hair | Evening Pamper Routine!

Today me and the lovely Jess from the blog heyitisjess decided it was time to collab again so we've brought to you our pamper routine and essentials. Be sure to check out her post, here and give her a follow on bloglovin!

First of all my pamper routine starts with removing all my makeup from the day, usually I would use Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water but when I'm pampering myself a little I'll use this Vichy 3 in 1 Cleansing Milk as it's a little more moisturising. 

Depending how my skin is I'll take the Origins Modern Friction exfoliator and buff away the dead skin cells, nice..

Or if I'm having a breakout or feel my skin needs a little more TLC I'll use the Origins Clear Improvement charcoal face mask which is great for calming down spots. If my skins a little dry which I've been finding it has been lately with the change in seasons I'll use one of the Montagne Jeunesse packet face masks, these are so affordable and come in lots of different types!

I'm not a lover of baths so unfortunately the bath products in Lush are pretty useless for me, however tempting! Instead I'll shower using a couple of my favourite products, first is this Lush American Cream conditioner. I use this on a regular basis though when I'm pampering I tend to leave it on for longer, about 5 minutes. 

While that's working on my hair I'll take the Soap and Glory Scrub of Your Life body scrub and again buff away the dead skin cells on my body to prep ready to moisturise! At the moment I'm using the this Coconut and Cream body butter from I Love... which I believe is stocked at Superdrug. I usually wouldn't go for something like this as I'm hooked on Soap and Glory's The Righteous Butter but I had this to use up and I actually really like it, mainly for the scent- mmm!

Comfiest pyjamas? Check!

Next I'll switch on my fairy lights and light some candles before jumping into bed with a cup of tea in my favourite mug(which isn't actually mine, haha!), some chocolate and watch the videos in my YouTube subscription box, bliss!

Do you have pamper evenings often? If so, what products are essential for you? Let me know as I'd love to try some new ones out!

Remember to check out Jess' post, until next time...

♥   ♥   ♥

I Can't Be The Only One? | Bad Beauty Habits

Hello! For those of you who aren't already aware I've changed my blog name, I was 'A Touch of Pastels' but now everything has been changed over. Yay!

However, today I thought I'd do something a bit different- talk through some bad beauty habits. The first is a given with the image below, makeup filled brushes!

- I don't clean my brushes as often as I should. Once a week I say, more like evey fortnight- probably a bit gross!

- My skin seems to eat my makeup, why? I forget to prime and set with powder or a setting spray. This is probably why I look a bit worse for wear when returning from college or shopping.

- I touch my face, by that I mean I check for spots that could've appeared through out the day and probably encourage more. Not to mention the urge to pop them, disgusting I know! Does this sound familiar?

- I'm too lazy to dry my hair after washing so I let it dry naturally, that's not the problem. When my hair is wild in the morning and I need to look semi presentable I straighten/put some curls in my hair but I don't use heat protection because it doesn't feel right on dry hair, and I wonder why my hair is so damaged!?

- Who has time to moisturise their body after every shower? Definitely not me! I don't want to wait around in the cold for my body to absorb the body butter so I don't get stuck to my clothes. I should really pick up the Vaseline spray on body moisturiser!

- Old makeup? Throw it out! I'm guilty of assuming a 2 possibly 3 year old cream eye shadow would be OK, it wasn't! Talk about extremely irritated and dry eye lids! Having said that, give or take a few months and it can't cause that much harm, if anything. What do you think about it?

- Steer away from the tweezers, or in my case scissors. When I was about 15, I thought my eyebrow hairs were too long and thought it'd be perfectly fine to trim them with scissors. I thought it was OK until I wiped the pencil off I used to fill them in, I was half an eyebrow down! Thank goodness it grew back but in some cases, it doesn't. So don't over pluck either!

- I'm sure most people have bitten their nails at some point in their life, whether that be down to habit or habit when you're nervous. Think of all the germs and bacteria on your hands and even worse hidden under your nail, this stopped me along with painting them with my favourite nail varnish!

- That little bit of skin at the side of your nail, do not pick it! Apart from the fact it hurts like a (excuse my language) b*tch, it can also get infected really easily- ouch!

- Who else picks at split ends? I found myself rummaging through my hair while watching TV to find split ends, while I thought I was removing them I was actually told I was causing further damage up the hair. Again, I wonder why my hair is so damaged!

Please let me know I'm not the only one? What are your bad beauty habits? I'd love to hear in the comments!

Also let me know what you'd like to see here on The Traces of my Thoughts.

Much Love,

♥   ♥   ♥ 

Lauren Conrad Beauty | Book Review

If i'm honest i'm not really a reader of novels, though I do enjoy a quick flick through non-fiction and magazines. As you can probably tell one of my main interests is beauty so Christmas 2013 I asked for the Lauren Conrad Beauty book as i'd seen it was quite popular among beauty lovers.

I've had this for a year now and I wanted to write something different to the usual on my blog so I thought i'd do a review on what I think of it.

Immediately when unwrapping the book I thought how pretty it would look displayed on a shelf or coffee table as it's complete with a lovely dust cover. I love how simplistic the book is with a monochrome look throughout complete with beautiful images. 

I have to be honest my initial thoughts were exactly how the book spent the first few months of 2014, though I did have a quick nose through it, it's main purpose was to look pretty displayed on a shelf in my room. 

Once I had nothing planned for an evening I decided to sit down with a cup of tea and have a look through the book. The book features 12 Chapters based on skin and hair care, health, fitness and food, hair and makeup looks, nails and beauty through the decades. I wont go in depth on every chapter here but I will include my opinions on chapters that I thought really stood out.

Instantly I was drawn to the skincare section of the book as I believe having good skin is the basis to all good makeup. Though I don't have the best skin, I do try my hardest in order to put it in it's best condition. 

I was most intrigued by the section on ingredients to avoid which is very handy and usually avoids mishaps of purchasing products that could potentially make my skin worse, I always reference back to this when shopping online for products- so handy!

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Makeup Tips, Tricks and Techniques is a chapter I found really useful as it was only at the beginning of 2014 where I really started to get into makeup and beauty. This is great if you're just starting out in makeup or you feel you need more knowledge and hints to perfecting your makeup. The chapter also held pages on different brushes and what they can be used for which is again perfect if you're a beginner.

I still agree with my initial thought of this book being perfect for the coffee table as you can simply just pick it up, brush up where you think you need more knowledge and put it down without feeling like you're missing out. As I mentioned earlier the images in this book really catch the eye which I love when reading.

Featured are short, easy to follow tutorials on hair and makeup looks as well as nails- perfect for when you're planning to go out with the girls!

Beauty Through the Decades is the chapter I think most people will love demonstrating how beauty has changed through the years and how we're at this stage today. This section features look's from the 20's to the 70's to recreate yourself and look somewhat similar to beauty icon's mentioned throughout the years. 

Overall I think this book is perfect for teenagers or beginners who are just getting into beauty. Though this book doesn't recommend the best products you can buy according to Lauren Conrad, I think this is great as it will not make you feel like you need what another person is able to afford in order to look your 'best'.

The book is so handy to reference to when purchasing skincare, brushes and items to suit the individual best.

So add it to your basket if you feel like treating yourself or another!

I hope this wasn't too boring as it's the first time I've done a book review. Let me know what you think below in the comments and what else you'd like to see on my blog!

Much Love,

♥   ♥   ♥