May Favourites 2014 | Beauty & Random

May Favourites today, and I have a fair few things to chat about, so let's jump right in...

Beauty

My hair was feeling a bit dry and just mehh this month after skipping a trim (I know, naughty me, but my hairdresser is very busy *cough* and I was already in my pyjamas *cough*) so I bought a couple of new products - my favourites were the Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Shampoo and Conditioner. I tried the hair mask a while ago and loved it, and the other products from this range don't disappoint - my hair is soft, shiny and smells divine: like orchids and coconut! Another hair favourite has been the BlowPro Mane Tame Pomade which is amazing but for the details check out my review. Last hair bit are SCRUNCHIES! I know, I should have been a 90s kid but I love my neon yellow one from Forever21.

For skincare I've been trying to keep it pretty simple but my acne has flared up again and my face is looking Awful. But I have been loving a new exfoliating toner, the Pure Instant Radiance Skin Tonic, as it's pretty affordable and alcohol free (£6 from M&S). An old favourite is the Botanics Ultra Calm Serum for its spot healing and moisturising properties, and it smells incredible! Then as the weather has been a bit sunnier (haha I wish!) I invested in the La Roche Posay Anthelios XL Fluid SPF 50+ Sunscreen from Boots, which is a very light liquid that feels weighless on the skin and protects well, and the suncream smell is very subtle and undetectable when blended in.

As for makeup, two primers have graced my face - the Benefit Porefessional and Rimmel's Stay Matte. The Benefit is very good for large pores, although I do think the Garnier 5 Sec Blur and Seventeen Flawless Poreless do the same thing for a lot less. Rimmel's Stay Matte is amazing though and I need to repurchase, check my review for all the details. The concealer that has been hiding my horrendous dark circle from late nights texting has been the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind, which I have a review on here. Letting my blemishes breathe has been important so for a lighter coverage but still concealing spots I have been using the Stila Angel Light Powder Foundation, which I found on Xtras and both my mother and I love. Then on my lips I have been rocking the bold peach-coral which is Rimmel Apocalips in Luna - it lasts ages and really adds a Summer-pop to any outfit.

Random

A fashion favourite has been sunnies on my head always, and these H&M ones are my current obsession. I've also been rocking my PJ-esque shorts all the time, they're so comfy and casual to do chores, go shopping, or babysit in.

Books are my thing, and I laughed and cried and learnt so much from The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson. Oh My God I understand the hype around this book now, it literally teaches you so much about life and love and just being. It's about a girl whose sister dies (you never find out how) and how her life is turned upside down when she falls for her dead sister's boyfriend and also for the Parisian new boy. Sounds very cliche, but is really a TFIOS-esque need-to-read life-lessons-learnt book.

Apps I have been loooving are 2048 - the sliding number game which is totally addictive - as well as QuizUp, recommended by a friend, where you quiz against people in other countries on topics ranging from WWI to Chocolate to 80s Music. I'm also obsessing over Instagram which I have FINALLY joined. If you're interested in what random outfits, #myweek and foody posts come follow me @lizzie.p1 I'd really appreciate it!

OMG the movie Now You See Me! Ahh it is soooo good I am literally obsessed now and can't wait for the next one, it is so captivating and interesting and kind of creepy but argh go watch it!

Lastly is the simple act of texting. Yes, now in a world of Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Keek, Snapchat and all these other great ways to chat, I have been enjoying the art of the text, where you don't know whether they've seen your message, or if they're typing. You just have to guess, which makes everything oddly romantic and exciting. Texting really isn't outdated guys, I should know, I send 500 texts last month (eek sorry contract!).

What are your favourites?

Love, E X

How I Style: H&M Black Playsuit

So it's been a while but I'm back posting when I can - it won't be as often as my last schedule of every other day, but will probably be more like once or twice a week, as and when I can. Apology 2 is for the picture quality, it's awful. I took these on my phone on a range of evenings so the lighting was weird and plus it's a phone not a DSLR (sorry!). 

But onto the post. I recently purchased this plain black playsuit from H&M and am IN LOVE! It is literally the most easy thing to style and so comfy to wear, I know I'm going to be in it tons this summer. I styled it a few ways to show you, but one issue is that the back is a cut-out (see final pic) so I tend to wear it with something covering the top or a bandeau underneath. Honestly, during the summer it won't matter as I'll most likely wear it over a bikini but for now I'm sticking to the bandeaus!

playsuit - h&m

 tee - primark (men's)

shoes - primark

bag - primark

necklace - dorothy perkins

hat - accessorise

playsuit - h&m

tights - bhs

jumper - primark

shoes - primark

playsuit - h&m

tee - primark

necklace - primark

shoes - deichmann

backpack - primark

bikini (underneath) - asos

playsuit - h&m

bandeau - new look

belt - next

shoes - primark

playsuit - h&m

shirt - gap (men's)

shoes - primark

playsuit - h&m

jumper - sainsbury's 'tu'

shoes - primark

glasses - prescription

playsuit - h&m

tee - primark

bag - primark

shoes - deichmann

 

 

playsuit - h&m

bandeau - new look

jacket - primark

boots - dorothy perkins

sunglasses - primark (men's)

(back of playsuit - first is without bra (eek!), second is with bandeau)

After all those ideas though, I think the one you'll spot me in most is this last one - sunnies, white lace pumps, a fun bag and a bikini underneath, prepared to strip off and junp in the sea/pool hopefully! 

Who else can't wait for summer now! Eek Athens is so close now, and after my exams it's a breezy month or so until holidays!!! ARGGHH I CAN'T WAIT!!!

Love, (an excited) E X

Apologies + Why I've Been (and will be) MIA

image source - www.thethingswesay.com

Okay, so I don't know whether you'll have noticed but I have been absent from the blogosphere for about 10 days - it's actually been around 3 weeks as I had posts scheduled. I'm sorry, but my life has been a bit crazy recently, and I'll explain why.

As many of you will know, I'm at an all-girls private school and I'm big on Maths. I was invited to maths lectures recently where I met some amazing new friends. I've been playing cupid with a couple of them and that has taken up a lot of my time, as well as being bombarded with friends-of-friends who I've been talking to. Alongside this I've been bidding farewell to a lot of my older friends who went on study leave for their exams this Friday - it was sad to see them go but good luck to my loves and I'm sure you'll be fine.

On the subject of exams, I have orals and exams coming up also (not GCSEs yet, dears, mocks!) which are incredibly important for my final reports and subject grades for me starting my GCSEs next year so I need to buckle down and study, which does mean that this blog will be taking a backseat. I'm sorry if posts aren't as regular (or are non-existent) but I hope you understand that my future must come first. 

I also have a BIG school production coming up which I have assisted in the writing and research of, so wish me luck and I'm sure it'll be fab too, but that's also taking up a lot of my time.

So if this is the last post until sometime in June, I'm soooo sorry, but I'm sure you understand that I'm currently dancing in the rain, and making new friends, and putting my 'internet life' on hold for my "real" life.

Bye for now,

Love, Elizabeth x 

5 Things To Do This Month: May 2014

 It's May already, dear God where has this year gone, I'm still writing 2012! Anyways, here are a few easy things I think you should, or could, do this month - enjoy!

 

1 - Find... your signature spring scent. Whether it be a fragrance (Daisy Eau So Fresh all the way baby!) or a candle like this super cheap but still amazing Apple Orchard one from wilko, you can find a scent that suits your spring mood perfectly no matter what budget!

2 - Pamper with...  a new shampoo and conditioner. It may seem a bit boring, but having hair that smells amazing really lifts my mood - the Hello Hydration range from Herbal Essences is so potent I can smell it all day, like coconut, yum!

3 - Treat yourself to...  that perfect bikini to motivate you to get beach body ready. Mine is from asos, and I've shown you the back of the bottoms because they're so cute with the bow! I can't wait for an occasion to wear this - pool party at my place anyone? Bring your own pool.

4 - Watch...  Shu's Roman Holiday vlog and lookbook - this brought back so many memories of being in Italy for me, and I can't wait to study the language next year!

5 - Read...  Kate Somerville 'Complexion Perfection!' Not only does this skincare bible contain beauty secrets, but also makeup tips and health boosters to make you look and feel as radiant as possible - I definitely picked up a few new ideas!

Now you tell me what I can do this month!

Love, E X