Deadlines

Alas, the coursework is in, the exams have been sat and my deadline week is officially over! It's been a stressful, emotional, exhausting, occasionally optimistic, mostly pessimistic week with some bizarre statistics;

• 1 birthday party with a very painful game of musical bumps
• 0 pre-3 AM bedtimes
• 100495960493 words written
• 1/2 of a bottle of wine (drank at 2am, out of the bottle, no less)
• 2857 gallons of caffeine consumed
• 1 stress-fuelled Boohoo order
• 3 Ginsters steak slices
• 2 all nighters
• 1 day where revision was abandoned to go shopping which resulted in 1 Benefit purchase (it was my birthday!)

And now? I'm making the most of Netflix before the next semester begins on Monday. Good luck if you still have exams!

NG <3

The Face; 2013

2013. Last year. Oh, gosh that sounds scary, but then again I am one of those people who still write and scribble out last year, when writing the date in March. 2013 was a great year for me, in regards to finding reliable make-up products that I stuck with permanently. Chances are, I have probably raved on about these beauties before on NG but honestly, these products have seen me helpfully through 2013 and it would be a disservice not to compile a list of my beauty heroes from last year.

Clinique Stay Matte Oil Free Makeup Foundation

Probably my most used product of 2013, I discovered this product by chance when browsing online and have never looked back since. I use the shade 'alabaster', the second palest shade available. The foundation's formula is ideal if you have oily or combination skin as it has a matte finish, yet astonishingly, it still has a lightweight feel and avoids the dreaded 'cake' that is a side effect of so many matte products. I find the foundation to be long-lasting, although I would advise wearing a powder also to keep the foundation in place. The only downside is it's a little on the expensive side. I must admit, no matter how skint I am foundation is the one beauty luxury I will always allow myself!

Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer

I bought this concealer after seeing Tanya Burr use it in a tutorial.
I am surprised at just how long the small tube lasts, I bought this one months ago and it's still going strong. The method of application reminds me of a lipgloss wand, which I like better than concealer brushes as I believe it makes for an easier and more precise application. I also found that, rather than  rubbing in this product to cover blemishes, it is more effective to dab your finger over the blemish, after you have applied the concealer so it targets the blemish itself and not the skin around it. Easy to apply, great coverage (especially of dark circles) and long lasting. What more could I ask for in a concealer?

L'Oreal Super Liner Brow Artist Pencil

This year, in the beauty world, eyebrows have been big, literally. I have always liked to have thick brows but this was the year I started filling my brows subtly in. This product is a multi-tasker. The pencil (I use the shade 'Blonde') fills in eyebrows and the shades are excellent as they are tailored to your hair colour, meaning you won't choose a shade too light or dark (I must say though, I haven't seen any shades for redheads, which is a shame). The brush allows for shaping and tidying the brows, and then finally the wax finishes brows by fixing them in place. What's not to love?

Sleek 'Mirrored Pink' Blush

2013 was the year I discovered Sleek. Despite some terrible customer service on the website, it has not put me off the brand (although, I will only purchase IN store now!). This blush in the shade 'mirrored pink', may just be my favourite blush colour I have encountered so far. The shade is a shimmering rose-gold pink, that not only colours, but highlights. The packaging even has a mirror in it for application on the go.

Max Factor Wild Mega Volume Volumising Mascara

I was surprised at how great this product was, given the price. I am a sucker for wanting big, long, voluminous lashes and this little budget buy did give me the effect I wanted. The brush is an hourglass shape, which enhances the volumising effect of this mascara. The packaging isn't what I would expect from Max Factor, it's a lot less sleek and sophisticated than their other mascaras, but at £4.99, let's face it, does the packaging really make a difference? A firm makeup bag favourite!

And other favourites of the year?

Haircare Product-Bumble and Bumble Thickening Hairspray
Nail Polish-Essie Polish 'Naughty Nautical'
High-Street Store- New Look/H&M/ River Island (I couldn't choose!)
Television Show- Revenge
Album- Vampire Weekend-Modern Vampires of the City

What were your favourite products of 2013?


NG <3

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Promises...

Firstly, a very happy new year! I hope that this year brings you joy and success, and that you had a fabulous time bringing 2014 in (it feels so strange writing 2014). If I'm honest, I had probably the quietest new years yet and part of me is kinda glad I didn't go out. The run up to Christmas this year was so hectic, especially with the new puppy and the house being decorated, so I just wanted to sit back with a glass of cava and chill. How did you celebrate?

With the start of a new year, comes new year's resolutions. I have a love/hate relationship with them. On one hand I relish in making a long list of promises to myself, in an attempt to kick start a new lifestyle, yet at the same time I am so cynical when it comes to keeping them. Take, for instance, the phrase 'new year, new me', for me, it's a load of rubbish. You can't and won't change who you are. So I propose a new tag line; 'NEW YEAR, BETTER ME'. And that's what I aim to do this year, be the best version of myself that I can be (well, to a certain extent-I'll never be able to wave goodbye to cupcakes and 'bad' carbs, nom nom).

I suppose my main resolution for this year is a broad one; to be happy, healthy and live life to the fullest. It scares me that I'm already half way through my degree, so this year I want to embrace it more, before it's too late and be grateful for every opportunity given to me. In terms of being healthy, the latter end of last year wasn't amazing for me in that respect. I seemed to have a continual succession of flu, and despite medical tests showing everything was fine, I think I can pinpoint the trigger exactly; my lifestyle. Before, I hardly got any exercise, lived off noodles and chocolate and had a very lazy attitude. So this year, it's time for a change. More fruit and veg-student living is no excuse for such bad habits. At uni I have gained weight, I'm not exactly overweight, but if I'm truthful, my weight at the moment doesn't bother me, rather it's the sluggish, unhealthy feeling I hate. I want to be fit again and feel strong. But not to the detriment of my sweet tooth-life's too short to not enjoy treats every now again, but I'm trying to not make it as regular as I did last year. Fingers crossed...

What are your hopes for 2014?


NG <3

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