Urban Decay 'Naked' palette (shop here)

My mum and godmother were doing a car boot sale a couple of Sundays ago, and I went out to help, and we found ourselves next to a really nice girl who was selling some make-up. The stuff was barely touched so I had a look and, of course, the thing that caught my eye the most is the two Naked palettes. I decided on the original Naked and my amazing mum surprised me with it because she's great like that.

Highlighter

I also got my new cream highlighter. I'd only ever used powder highlighters and honestly, this is just the most gorgeous silver colour that makes my heart happy. I used to be quite a 'make-up snob' and if it wasn't a name brand I wouldn't go near it so I'm trying to work on letting go and allowing myself to have some less well-known make-up that's just as good. (These first two aren't in the photos because I forgot them at my girlfriend's house because I'm clever like that, but I'm probably going to be doing a makeup menu soon and you can bet they're going to be featured.)


Jumper (multi-colour) and Purple jumper (shop here and here)

All last winter I spent it with about 2 jumpers to wear and it just wasn't enough, so I decided it was time to make myself more equipt for winter. Thus, I've started by buying these two new jumpers that are just gorgeous. The multi-coloured one is a new concept for me as I usually hate roller necks (feeling like I'm getting strangled all day isn't exactly the most desirable of feelings, but it's definitely my favourite of the two (the purple one is a bit scratchy especially around the neckline and as nice as it looks it's not the nicest of feelings.



Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer Mini (shop here)

Sephora's clever, but putting mini makeup and beauty products are working extremely well, and I got totally sucked in and bought myself a couple of bits. I was originally going to get the Urban Decay Naked Skin concealer which I'd already tried and adored, but my Mum had used this one before and had raved to me about it, so I figured I'd go mad and bought it.

Sephora Beauty Blender (shop here)

I used to never wear foundation, but I'm currently using the Fenty foundation (inherited by my Mum - I never use a lot of it, just a little bit for a bit more coverage than I get with the BareMinerals Complexion Rescue) and I also now have the Nars concealer, so I figured that it was about time I bought a beauty blender. I'd been using a Zoeva brush but I wasn't getting along with it at all and was really struggling to get a nice seamless look with the brush, so I think it's going to be a hell of a lot better with the Beauty Blender.

Yankee Candle in Frosty Gingerbread (shop here)

This is, hands down, my autumn/winter/Christmas candle. I always get myself a little one around this time of the year, and I burn it sparingly so I don't use it too fast! (Writing that made me realise that I could potentially get a bigger one and burn it more but I don't necessarily have the money to justify that just yet!). It smells just like warm gingerbread and to this day I don't know how they can make smells so accurate, but it really rich and warm and I'm totally shit at describing smells but it's definitely one of my favourite Yankee Candles.



Sephora Shea Hair Sleeping Mask (shop here)

For the past few months, my hair has been getting increasingly damaged and in worse condition. It keeps falling out at an alarming rate, it's dry, and I can cut it and use my Kerastase hair mask as much as I want, it's no healthier. I've tried not using heat, I stopped dying it (sob), using vitamins, overnight masks, nothing's doing the trick, so when my Mum saw this in Sephora she picked it up for me, bless her. Hopefully, this may do something, but if you have any hair care tips I'm all ears!

Sephora Almond Foot Mask (shop here)

I don't even have a reason for this. Mum surprised me with the little surprise packs that cost like three euros and this was in it, but yanno, not going to complain! I'm actually really excited to use this, I'm intrigued to see if they actually work or not because I've heard a lot of things about the Sephora masks and I'm looking forward to trying it out myself.

Skinfood Black Sugar Perfect Face Splash (shop here)

I'd never heard of Skinfood before, but I'm definitely going to be trying some more of their products as soon as I can. I picked up a mini version of it (which I can't find anywhere online). It's pretty bloody good in my opinion; from what I've gathered it's a liquid mask that you apply various ways (it's all explained on the website). It hydrates your skin and gives it a healthy glow, and it also exfoliates thanks to the black sugar. I tried it last night and I thought it was bloody good.

What have you bought recently? I'm looking for recs for any eyebrow gels!

M x

I'm trying out a new format on here for size, I'm probably going to replace the 'Cup Of Tea And A Catch Up' series with this because I totally fell out of love for it. I created it right at the start when I first started this blog and I find it a bit stale and boring.

I haven't been home for going on three weeks now, which is a habit I've suddenly gotten into, and to be honest I can't bloody wait. I find that I appreciate my home a lot more when I'm not there all the time, given that I live in the middle of the countryside, it's easy to get cabin syndrome pretty quick. I do miss my Mum though, which is incredibly cliché but true. I think we definitely get along better when we're not always together, and it's a lot more special when we do see each other again.

It feels really refreshing to move places, I always thought I was a homebody but I actually rather enjoy moving around and seeing new places.

College is intense at the moment. There's a lot of work to do outside of school and I feel like we've gone from 0 to 100 within a year and it's making me fairly uneasy.

It's interesting to look back at all my past report cards and see how different it was when I was in hairdressing and now I'm in DTMS (for the record and those who are new, I'm in a course called DTMS which is an acronym for 'Diplôme du Technicien des Métiers du Spectacle'. In short, it's an a-level where we learn to be dressers and costume-makers in theatres, cabarets - my teachers have contacts with people at the Moulin Rouge and the Crazy Horse, just sayin' - operas and the like).

I went from being a very mediocre, 'could do better' student to being a rather good student and it's a very strange feeling.

Though I have discovered, being a good student is harder than it looks. I find myself putting so much pressure on myself and putting my work before my mental and physical health. Not to go all dramatic on you, it's just that I'm finding myself working myself harder and harder because I feel like I have a reputation to uphold.

I'm trying to keep a hold of my sanity though and allowing myself breaks because otherwise, I may go a bit mad soon.

It's also why I've let myself go on the blogging front. I'm trying to write a few posts so I can get back into it but it's time-consuming and school is pretty much taking up all of my attention.

Though I'm not complaining. I love what I do and I know I'm incredibly lucky to be here, but it's stressful none the less.

Any tips to handle workloads better are always welcome. Would a post about how I organise my work at school be something you guys would like?
Also, is this new format something we like? Let me know any opinions or changes you would like.