January.

January = DONE. I always find January to be quite a hard month yet it is exciting to set the foundations for brilliant things to come later in the year. I always find myself making lots of lists and plans in my head of things I want to do and places to go.

I must admit I feel as though I've hardly had a chance to take a breath this month, however I love being busy and the month has whizzed by so fast. It hasn't been an overly eventful month however there have been a few highlights. I saw my best friend the other week and although that might seem minimal to some, I hardly get to see her anymore and so always appreciate making the time to catch up. I finally sorted out my driving instructor and lessons after a lot of to-ing and frowing about dates and times, I now have lessons booked and could not be more excited. I got my mock exam results back and was very happy. I joined the gym which I'm very happy with and can't wait to get back into a proper routine!

January has also taught me some lessons that will be invaluable for me. Making time is probably the most important one. I occupy most of my time with revision, homework or my job so my only free time is during the evenings, therefore I need to use it to benefit me, either physically or socially. I've been trying to clean my diet up somewhat and have noticed how much better my skin is looking (touch wood) and so that's definitely something I'm going to try and keep up.
January has been a nice start to the month and I can't wait to see what the next month brings.

I hope you enjoyed something a little different. 

Holly x

Black Opium.

My go to fragrance at the moment is YSL black opium. For me it is the perfect fragrance for the transition from winter to spring. It has vanilla and coffee notes which combine to make a woody, slight sweet scent. The coffee or woody scents are by no means overpowering, nor is the vanilla sickly at all. 

Originally I didn't see what all the fuss was about, but I have grown to adore this perfume and can understand why it is a cult product. On me it lasts a long time which is something I find important. There's nothing more frustrating than spraying perfume to find that 2 hours later there's no trace of it anywhere.

I've really been enjoying using it and will definitely repurchase when I run out! Have you tried it? I hope you enjoyed reading,

Holly x

My New Favourite Tool.

I was very kindly gifted the beauty blender for my birthday from Chloe and I am obsessed with it. It has soon overtaken my beloved Full Coverage Face Brush by Bobbi Brown and it has been the only thing I've used to apply foundation for the last month at least. 

I either spritz it with MAC Fix+ or with a little water to make it damp and I find that when it is fairly damp (but not soaking) it works best. It doesn't soak up too much product which some sponges can do, it soaks up enough to make my foundation look flawless and not cakey or heavy at all. I found the dab motion a little hard to get the hang of first however I soon found my 'rhythm' and have noticed that it's much kinder to my skin than being heavy handed with a brush. Because it's much softer than most brush bristles are it creates a smoother effect and contributes to the overall airbrushed effect that it gives. 

Initially I was surprised by the size of it as when it's dry it's very small, however once it's slightly wet it expands quite fast, to about 2-3 times the original size.  I think it's a really versatile little tool and not just limited to foundation application. The thinner, more pointier side is perfect for getting into the nooks and crannies of the face and is also great for blending in concealer. 

Overall I love it very much and cannot imagine my routine without it now! So than you Chloe! I'm not interested to see how the real techniques sponge compares! 

Have you tried anything like the beauty blender? I hope you enjoyed reading,

Holly x

My favourite highlighter.

When Jaclyn Hill collaborated with Becca cosmetics there was a massive hype around 'champagne pop' and once I saw it being used in videos and saw swatches, I knew I needed it. When it finally came to the UK last month, I jumped on the waiting list for it and was kindly gifted if for christmas.

It is a gorgeous mix of champagne and gold tones and only requires a tiny amount to make an amazing effect on the skin. It is a very finely milled powder that feels very buttery and luxurious on the skin. It is extremely pigmented and easily to blend.

It isn't the most natural of highlighters unless you use a very light hand, however it is perfect for adding a bit of glam to every day makeup and amping up the intensity for the evening. It creates a lovely glow and is perfect for making the skin look radiant.

Have you seen Jaclyn Hill use this in a video? I'd recommend checking it out as it looks so so good on her and is a perfect representation of the colour in real life.

I hope you enjoyed reading,

Holly x

New Year!

With 2016 having just begun it's the time of year where everyone sets out their goals for the year and more often than not never fulfill them. Of course there are the generic ones that everyone (including me!) want to do - be healthier etc, however I have a few things I want to achieve that don't fit anywhere close to that category.

1) Learn to drive and get a beep beep.
I am so desperate to get my own little motor and despite this year looking very busy already I am determined to pass my test. Plus I already know what car I want so I see no problem.

2) Go to Rome.
It looks incredible. Italy is an amazing country and I would love to visit the Colosseum and explore all the history and culture. And of course, eat all of the pizza and pasta around.

3)Pass the healthcare qualification at work.
It doesn't sound like the most exciting of things however it is something I'm really passionate about and hopefully this year will lend itself to lots of skill development and hopefully something that will help me in the future!

So what would you like to achieve this year?

I hope you enjoyed reading,

Holly x