Barely There Makeup

Hello Guys!
I'm currently right in the middle of my exams (4 days until I finish for summer eep), and when I pop to the supermarket or into uni I don't have the time, nor the effort, to do my normal face of make up. Therefore, recently I've been wearing a barely there make up look, which 2 months ago, I never ever would have done. I'm currently on strong acne medication called Roaccutane (little plug, check out my Roaccutane Diaries here, here, here and here) and would have never left the house with such little face makeup, so to be able to leave the house wearing tinted moisturiser is unbelievable!

Base:

I started with a little bit of Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in Medium 3, just to cover up the remains of blemishes. I then applied Natural Collection Tinted Moisturiser in Beige with a Real Techniques Buffing Brush, which gives me a dewy, natural coverage. For blush, I used MUA's Cream Blusher in Dolly and applied it with the Real Techniques Stippling Brush. This is a gorgeous coral colour and looks so lovely on.

Eyes:

To neutralise my lids so they don't look as dark (which is because of lack of sleep due to revision), I swept the champagne colour from the Revlon Smoky Shadow Stick in Torch across them, and blended it out. I then used a very light coat of my Maybelline The Rocket Volum' Express Waterproof Mascara, which I'm loving at the moment! 

For my eyebrows, I've been using powder rather than my pencil, as I feel I can get a more natural finish with powder. My powder of choice is Natural Collection's Eyeshadow in Crushed Walnut.

Lips:

I quick sweep of my favourite lip products ever, the Revlon Lip Butters. I've been wearing the new colour Juicy Papaya a lot recently, as it's a really natural coral that adds a lovely shine.

So that's my barely there make up!

What products do you use for a super natural look?

Thanks for reading

Top 5 Nail Polishes for Spring/Summer

Hi Guys!
I absolutely love painting my nails - I do it to relax whilst watching TV, and spring and summer colours are my absolute favourite!
I just love bright or pastel colours when the weather is getting better, and I've picked my top 5 (as hard as it was) that are foolproof for spring and summer.

L - R: Peach Melba, Mint Green, Prickly Pear, Fiji, Cute as a Button

I know there are only 2 brands of polishes in this post but that was not intentional. I was picking based on colours - although Essie is my absolute favourite nail polish brand, the formulas work so well on my nails.

Lets start with Barry M...

Peach Melba is a lovely colour which I can only explain as a peachy apricot (probably makes no sense). 2 coats and you've got a colour for spring days.

I have no other description for Mint Green except it's a true mint green! This is one of my favourite nail polishes ever and the bottle is almost half empty - which I don't have with any other colour I own.

This is Prickly Pear from the new Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine nail polishes. These are the most amazing formula and I own other colours too, as they are long lasting and super shiny! I only bought this recently but it has overtaken my other lilac colour as that one is too light compared to this brighter lilac. I love it!















As I said previously in the post, Essie nail polishes are my absolute favourite! I love everything about them - the formula and the colour range.
I may do a whole post on my current Essie collection, which I am slowly building.

Excuse my writer's bump (Always grows through exam time!)

Fiji is a very, almost white, creamy pale pink. Although it isn't like the other bright colours in the post, it's perfect for spring/summer in a super neutral, girly way.

Essie Cute as a Button is a very well known product in the blogging community, and was in fact, the first Essie polish I ever bought when they started to be sold in Boots to try them. It's a beautiful coral pink, that not only looks great on fingers, but amazing on your toes!
















Although it isn't mentioned in this post, I would like to give a shout out to Essie's Bikini so Teeny, which I wear any season. I think it could be my most worn colour of all time!

What are your favourite spring/summer polishes?

Thanks for reading

My New Favourite Things

Hello guys!
I was a little bit naughty on pay day last month and bought myself a couple of things that I am absolutely in love with!!

The first thing I did, was start a Just Fab membership (a monthly subscription where shoes and bags are put in your 'closet' and costs £35 but you can skip months with no cost). As it was my first purchase, my item was £17.50 but it's RRP should be £69 - bargain!!

It's a beautiful gold satchel bag that is called 'Metropolis', that has a buckle flap. Once opened, it has a front pocket, then a zipped back pocket which also contains a wall zipped pocket.
I am so excited to start using this, as it's the perfect summer bag!
Take a look at Just Fab here.

My next super splurge item is a YSL Rouge Volupte Shine Lipstick in 17 Rose In Tension.
It is the most beautiful deep rose colour, and the formula of this lipstick is amazing - so moisturising and long lasting. Whilst trying it on at the counter, I left to carry on walking around and kept licking my lips to see how well it lasted, and it didn't budge!
Buying this lipstick is almost worth it just for the packaging, it looks so expensive (as it should for the price) and gorgeous.
However, this lipstick is pricey at £23.50 (a blow on my student budget) but I have wanted one of these lipsticks for well over a year, and decided to finally buy it as a revision present!

Have you been naughty and splurged on anything nice recently?

Thanks for reading

April Favourites 2013

Hello guys!
I can't get over how fast April has flown by! I've already started my uni exams and have 2 more weeks until summer begins - I can't wait!!
Unfortunately I've spent a lot of this month inside revising and when I have gone out it's either been to the supermarket or uni so my make up has been very neutral!

Hollister Body Lotion in Crescent Bay

I've been wearing this lotion through the day when I've been out as it smells so good - I also have the matching spray which I wear with it! It is the perfect summer scent.

Nip + Fab Coconut Latte Body Butter

I've been using this lotion at night after my showers. I bought this back in Jan as a set of 3 and have finally got round to using it. This was the scent I thought I'd like the least as I'm not a major fan of coconut smells but this is absolutely amazing, so much so, I know I'm 100% buying a big tub when it's finished! It's so smooth to apply and super moisturising - definitely one of the best body butters I've tried in a while! 

Nivea Lip Butter in Vanilla & Macadamia

I bought this solely off the hype from youtube, but I was determined not too until I'd finished some other lip balms first! Due my Roaccutante treatment my lips are really dry and one day made the biggest mistake I could - I left the house without lip balm!! As it was urgent for me to get one whilst I was out, I caved and very glad I did. This is so moisturising on the lips and smells super good! My only issue with it, is that it's in a pot so I don't like using it out of the house as I don't want to get it grubby.

Urban Decay Naked Flushed Palette

Almost every time I've had make up on this month, this has been my blush and bronzer. They are such lovely colours, and I've worn the highlight on nights out and it looks fab. A brilliant compact - and super handy for travelling around! 

L'Oreal Glamshine Stain Splash in Juliet

This has been so easy to just throw on to add some colour to my neutral make up! The formula is super long lasting and really pigmented. As Cheryl Cole says in the ad 'it feels just like water on my lips'. 

Mac Palette

This is my little quad I made for every day eyes, and I've been wearing it all month. I use ricepaper all over the lid with bronze in the corner. I then apply embark in the crease and use all that glitters as my brow bone highlight. They look so nice and natural all together.

Top Row L-R: Ricepaper and Bronze
Bottom Row L-R: All that Glitters and Embark

What have your favourites been this month?

Thanks for reading

Liora xx

MUA Haul

Hello!
A few days ago I popped into Superdrug to pick up a new clear mascara from MUA as I use it as my brow gel, but ended up walking out with other things instead of what I went in for! (Typical)

It's only a small MUA haul but I thought it would be good to get it up as all the products are new!

I first picked up the Pro-Base Eye Primer which was £2.50. I've already given it ago and my eye shadow didn't crease all day!

I then picked up 2 of the new cream blushers as I love wearing cream blush in spring/summer. They are £2 each which I think is amazing, and I have already worn 1 and it looked great.
They are quite sheer but are buildable to a more vibrant colour.

Bittersweet and Dolly

What's your favourite product from MUA?

Thanks for reading

Liora xx

Roaccutane Diary: April 2013

Hello!
Welcome to my 4th instalment of my Roaccutane Diary, you can find March's post here!

Week 10
The spots from my recent break out have taken longer than normal to heal up but they are slowly getting there!

Week 11
The spots are still slowly healing, but this week my lips have got so much worse! I'm having to use lip scrub everyday now, if not twice a day, and I am applying lip balm constantly! It's a pain but the end results will be worth it. The skin on my arms is getting drier as well so although I apply body lotion every day, I'm now applying it twice a day.

Week 12

This week I've had no spots and my lips have been manageable, but the skin on the rest of my body is getting worse. 

My skin is super dry and flaky, especially on my right hand and is actually really uncomfortable and when I'm in the shower, because of the hot water, it's really painful!

Another side effect that has got worse this week which I haven't spoken about is my teeth/gums (strange I know). My gums bleed every time I brush my teeth, but not only that, they'll bleed when I eat something or even just start bleeding on their own! I have a constant taste of iron in my mouth and it's disgusting. I went to the dentist and he said there was nothing wrong with my teeth or gums so at my last appointment I asked the doctor and he said it wasn't a common side effect but there's no reason it can't be because of the Roaccutane. 

Week 13

I've just come back from the hospital and as 60mg is the highest, I've been kept on it. My skin this week has been amazing with no spots. Other than that everything has stayed the same, my lips are dry but manageable and my gums are the same. The nurse at the hospital said my hand will start to get better as it gets warmer, as the extra long cold period in the UK has made my dried out skin due to the medication, even drier! 

Thanks for reading!

The next Roaccutane Dairy will come soon

Liora xx

April Fashion Haul

Hello!
I've never done a fashion haul on the blog before but I thought, why not?
Even though the weather has been rubbish in the UK, it hasn't stopped me buying spring clothes in the hope it will be nice and warm!

Primark

I love this shirt! It's so lightweight and for me, with the florals, completely screams summer!

This dress is so girly and will be so easy to just throw on a sunny day (if there ever is one!)

I love this necklace and can't wait to wear it with plainer outfits to make them something more!

Topshop

I think this dress is so flattering, and I've already received compliments on it when I've worn it!

The colour of this top is so beautiful, and I love how the whole back is lace!

New Look

I've wanted a pair of high waisted striped shorts for ages so I'm so happy I've finally got them!

PS: The picture was taken wearing the shorts on a night out, that's why the background is different.

What's your favourite fashion trend for S/S?

Thanks for reading

Liora xx