Nyx Soft Matte Lip Creams

Nyx Soft Matte Lip Creams - Link             From left to right: Tokyo, London, San Paulo

 Ever since these lip creams were released in the UK, I couldn't wait to snap them up and put them in my basket! I currently only have 3 of these in my collection, however I would really like to expand on this. First of all I have Tokyo, which is a lovely baby pink shade. Next I have London, which is a nude/light brown shade. Last but not least is San Paulo, a dark pink shade which is quite bright compared to the others.
 They have become a staple item in my makeup bag, as they are really easy to apply if you are in a rush. I have never been a matte lip kind of girl, but these have really opened up my eyes! Once they are applied, your lips feel instantly smooth. What I love most about these matte lip creams, is that it's like you have nothing on your lips as they are so lightweight.
 Luckily, they are super affordable... only £5.50! I will definitely be buying more of these, and I am eager to try some more products of theirs.

Ami x

Current Beauty Favourites

Today, I am going to be sharing with you my favourite beauty products for February! In this post there are a mixture of high-end and drugstore products, which shows you can still get great products for a fraction of the price (yay!).

1. Urban Decay - Naked Ultimate Basic Palette (Link)
First up is this gorgeous eyeshadow palette which has taken over the blogging world ever since it was released. I was very lucky to receive this from my boyfriend for Christmas, which was a complete surprise, after being practically dragged away from the Urban Decay counter only a couple of weeks before because it's too expensive! I already own the Naked Basics and Naked Basics 2 palettes, which I use on a daily basis... so when I saw this I immediately needed it in my life. The shades are amazingly pigmented and super blendable. There are endless amounts of looks you could create with this palette, but I am yet to go out of my comfort zone!

2. Revolution - I Heart Makeup Blushing Hearts Blusher (Link) 
This blusher is so cute and very pigmented! I use this every day and the shade looks really natural on my skin tone. I am very tempted to try the highlighters and bronzers in this collection - has anyone else tried them? 

3. Soap and Glory - Supercat Skinny Easy Precision Eyeliner (Link)
I bought this eyeliner a few weeks ago as I was determined to master the skill of winged eyeliner. This product does just the job as the tip is small which makes it easier to be precise. The formula isn't too dry or too wet and it lasts all day! I will definitely be re-purchasing this when it runs out!

4. Benefit - Roller Lash Mascara (Link)
I also received this mascara from my boyfriend for Christmas. I had wanted to try this for such a long time and I wasn't disappointed! The curved bristles help to give volume and curl to your lashes. This mascara also separates your lashes rather than clumping them together, giving you natural (but better) lashes. 

5. L'Orèal - True Match Foundation (Link)
L'Orèal have just recently relaunched this foundation, but with a range of 23 shades to match different skin tones! I have just recently got back into wearing foundation after a period of just wearing concealer to cover my blemishes. However, I have now realised how important this stage in the makeup process is. I have previously owned this foundation, so I went out and bought another one in the shade 1N -Ivory. This shade is perfect for my skin tone and doesn't look orange once it is applied. I would say the coverage is medium to high, but after a bit of concealer my complexion looks flawless! I have quite oily skin, so I do need to apply a bit of powder if I want this to last on my face all day. 

I hope you found this post helpful and it has given you some inspiration for new products to add to your collection! 

Ami x

Current Skincare Routine

Hello everyone,
Today I thought I would share with you my favourite skincare products to use at the moment. A little while ago, I used to take my makeup off and be done with it... but times have changed! I have started to notice a difference in my complexion by using a variety of products on a daily basis. 

The first product I use to take my makeup off is the Simple Clear Skin Oil Balancing Cleansing Wipes -Link. These wipes make your face feel refreshed after wearing a face full of makeup all day and get the majority of product off your face. 

Next, I use the Garnier Fresh Cleansing Lotion 'Start A Fresh' - Link ,to remove the remaining product and cleanse my face. Cleansing is an important step in the skincare process as it gets deep into your skin and removes underlying dirt. You will also be surprised how much product was still left on your face after using the makeup wipes! I love this cleansing lotion as it makes your skin soft and fresh. 

To cleanse my face further, I use the Simple Spotless Skin Triple Action Facewash - Link. This ensures all my pores are unclogged and all hidden dirt is removed. This step isn't necessary for everyone, but the product does help combat those unwanted spots! 

Finally, I use the Superdrug Tea Tree Spot Stick - Link ,which can be applied to any blemishes you have on your face. Tea Tree Oil has natural purifying and antibacterial properties, which works straight away to combat those spots!

I hope this post has been helpful or useful in some way. I would love to hear any recommendations you have, as I love trying out new skincare products! 

​Ami x 

Summer by the Sea

If someone asks me what first comes into my mind when mentioning the word "Holiday", without a shadow of a doubt I will always say "The Seaside". Over the years, I have spent many holidays with my family down on the English Coast, yet I had never once visited Dorset. Many people have said to me what a beautiful place it is, and they couldn't be more right!

Last week I visited the beautiful New Forest and Dorset for a short break away with my boyfriend. On the first night we camped in a tent in the New Forest. I know what you are all thinking... what could be worse? I used to say the same, however I did have a great time. There's nothing better than sitting down, surrounded by dense woodland and wild horses, whilst sipping a glass of Wine. It was so peaceful during the evening and at night, but bursting with life during the day!

Waking up to the birds singing, we cooked some bacon and eggs which was extremely delicious! Once we had enjoyed our breakfast and folded away the tent, we got in the car on the way to our next location! On our first day we visited Swanage, which is a quaint seaside town. We took some pictures of Swanage bay and then ventured on to Old Harry Rocks, a popular tourist and geography trip destination. The weather wasn't perfect but we managed to steer clear of the rain and take some great photos! That evening, we got to our hotel for that night and ate the biggest and most expensive plate of Fish and Chips I had ever seen! After filling up our tummies, we got into bed and  went out like a light. 

The next morning we had another cooked breakfast and took some pictures of the view overlooking Corfe Castle. We decided we would go to Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove, photographer hotspots, and places I have been meaning to visit ever since getting my DSLR camera... nearly 3 years ago! Arriving there, I was eager to get going and start snapping some pictures... little did I realise we had to climb a very steep hill! After breaking a sweat, we finally got to Durdle Door and the sun was shining, allowing us to take some beautiful pictures. We strolled back the way we came to Lulworth Cove and then sat down to rest with a bowl of chips in hand. That evening we arrived at a new campsite, popped up our tent and got plenty of rest for the journey home the next day. 

I had such an amazing short break away, and we are planning on going back in the very near future! Where are you going on holiday this year? - I would love to know! 

Ami xoxo

"Penny for your thoughts?" - Girl Online Book Review

 

Well, can I just say... High five to me for coming up with a title which is a quote from the book and relevant to today's post? Yes you guessed it... It's a review! 

 As you can probably have guessed, I have just recently read Zoe Suggs' (aka Zoella's ) book, Girl Online. The book itself was an easy read, and not too heavy when you just want to relax after a long, tiring day. But the story line is so addictive and exciting, I couldn't put it down! When getting towards the end of the book, I really didn't want to finish it because I didn't want it to end! 

I hope I am not giving too much away for those of you that haven't read it yet (and if not why not?!), but Penny the main character is adorable. I love how Zoe has given Penny a slice of her own life. Such as having a blog and living in brighton. It just makes the book much more personal. 

I also love how Zoe inludes common issues such as anxiety and bullying online, which are very close to her. I personally suffer with a degree of anxiety as I really lack confidence in every aspect of my life. Therefore, it was nice to see this brought up in the book.

Overall I believe this book is well worth a read and I can't wait for Zoe's second book to be published! If there is one thing I have learnt from this book it is this: I need to face my fears and do more of what makes me happy. I need to stop worrying about what everyone else thinks and just be myself.

 Thank you all for reading, I hope you found this review helpful! If you have read the book already, then I hope that you agree with me, and comment down below what you thought of the book! 

Ami xx

Reflections and Resolutions

Happy New year everyone, I can't quite believe that it is 2015 - how time fly's! 2014 went by so quickly, it almost felt as if it never happened. As it is the beginning of the year, I decided that my post should be on reflections from last year and resolutions for this year. 

Not a lot really happened to me in 2014 but there are a few significant events that happened: 

1. I completed my AS Levels 

Admittedly my first year of college wasn't that great as I was finding the work too hard and I felt like I was getting no where.  It was definitely tough, but I did manage to get a few qualifications with it! 

2. Starting Childcare 

Leading on from my first year of college I decided to start over and join a 2 year Childcare course, as working with children is what I have always wanted to do. So far I am loving it, and the style of the course being only coursework, suits me much better. I even managed to get an A for my first unit... Only 14 more units to go! After this course I am not quite sure what I want to do. I have always wanted to be a primary teacher, but the idea of going to university doesn't particularly entice me... or I would like to be a teaching assistant too! So I certainly have a lot to think about over the next 2 years!

3. 2 years anniversary with my boyfriend!

I am so happy to have such a wonderful boyfriend, I couldn't ask for anything more. He makes me so happy and I feel really comfortable around him too. He is the best thing that has happened to me and I hope there are many more years to come! 

Those are just a few significant things that happened in 2014... now onto my resolutions for 2015:

1. Save money

When it comes to saving money, I can be quite bad. I always go shopping and end up buying a number of things that I "love" but really don't need. This year I would love to go on holiday with my boyfriend, so therefore I need to save... A LOT! I know deep down that I can do it... I just need to stop visiting New Look every week. By saving for a holiday, hopefully it will help with my saving habits for the long term.

2. Be more confident 

I am not the most outgoing person you could ever meet, as I can get very anxious about practically everything. I have always been shy, never putting my hand up in class or leading a conversation, but I am slowly getting better. This year I want to challenge myself, and do things I have never done before. 

3. Learn to drive

Leading on from becoming more confident, I have been a bit too anxious about getting in a car and driving it. I turned 17 last year, and loads of people I know have already passed their test. Seeing everyone else doing it makes me want to do it even more, but it's just nerves stopping me! Therefore I am hoping to kill 2 birds with one stone here, and become more confident by learning to drive. I may not pass my test this year, but taking some lessons is a start! 

There you have it, my New Years resolutions, so wish me luck! What are yours? 

Ami xx

Top 5 picks on my Christmas Wishlist

Hello everyone, I can't quite believe it's only 3 more sleeps until Christmas! This year has flown by, it feels just like yesterday that we were celebrating the start of 2014. In today's post I will be showing you what I will be hoping to unwrap on Christmas Day...

1. Number 1 on my Christmas Wishlist is a new TV for my bedroom. I know this might sound shocking, but the last TV I had in my room was a box TV and I'd had it since I was tiny. I thought it was about time I got a new one, as mine was very old-fashioned and it didn't work very well! The one I have chosen is a Samsung 24" LED TV with a built in DVD player. I thought this one was very reasonably priced and quite a good size too, seeing as I only want it in my bedroom! 


2. Second on my wishlist is Urban Decay's Naked 2 Basics Palette. Last year I jumped on the bandwagon and got the Naked Basic's palette, and this year I am doing the same thing. These little eye shadow palette's are hyped about so much, and there's no question why. The shades are all very wearable and it is travel friendly too! However seeing the release of the second one, I do think the shades are more suited to my skin tone. I am very excited to try it out! 


3.  Next on my wishlist is the Real Techniques Nic's Picks Brush Set. I only have 4 brushes in my collection, 2 of them being from the Real Techniques range, and I absolutely love them and the quality is amazing. However, I have never really took the plunge to extend my collection, so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity. The set comes with 2 face brushes and 3 eye brushes, and they all have different uses. And what's more? They are limited edition and it would be silly to miss out. 


4. Up next is something fashion related, and cue the tartan scarf. Tartan scarf's were around last year but they never really took off like they have this time around. Everywhere you go, people are wearing tartan, whether it's scarf's or skirts! A few years ago I would never of thought to wear Tartan, but now that I have seen it more and more, I love it! This Tartan Scarf from New Look looks lovely, and is definitely more wearable than some other ones. The colours aren't too bright and in your face, and I love how it is reversible so it has 2 patterns on it. 


5. Last but not least is probably one of the most exciting book releases of this year. Yes of course it is Zoella's new book: Girl Online. When I first heard she was writing a book, I was so excited. I can tell as soon as I open it up I will start reading it, and probably finish it on the same day! 

Well there you have it... my top 5 picks on my Christmas wishlist! I hope you enjoyed this post that you have a wonderful Christmas...love to you all xxx