Staying Fresh With Secret

Deodorant isn't really something talked about too often in the blogosphere because talking about sweating isn't exactly pretty. But the fact is, we all do it and it's not the greatest. Especially during these horrible summer months, it's a pain to have to think so much about what you can and can't wear. I've been a long-time Secret user, so when they reached out to me to try their new product I jumped at the chance!

Secret's new Invisible Sprays* are perfect for me this time of year because they provide long-term protection and the spray makes it super easy for on the go (although honestly, you won't need a touch-up)! The semester has started up again, so I'm walking around campus in blistering heat all day, and then I have to drive straight to work! Not to mention having to get up and speak in front of people (the horror).  This is 100000% tmi but I'm not a "glisten" kinda person, I'm a sweat patches in a grey t-shirt (or any t-shirt, let's be real) kinda person. So I need a proper antiperspirant that'll actually work. Which is surprisingly hard to find! I generally like the roll-ons but they take forever to dry and often end up leaving faux-patches when it inevitably gets on your shirt before drying. Oh the joys! Secret Invisible Sprays prevent this, you just spray it on and go, no dry-time, no hassle, no worry.

The sprays come in four fresh scents, Boho Berry which smells of bright raspberries, Glam Grapefruit is citrusy and pepperminty, Cool Waterlily is a very clean lily, and Luxe Lavender feels very calming with lavender, lily, and freesia. All four are delicious, but my favourite so far is Luxe Lavender. The sprays have Fade Resistant Technology so you smell totally fresh all day. It's also activated by sweat, replacing that odor with the scent. I'm always a little wary of deodorants that claim to smell good all day, but I was pleasantly surprised to find these last through a full work and school day!

Because of the Invisible Spray, I don't have to sacrifice my wardrobe! I don't think a grey t-shirt will ever be my go-to (backpack back is a no-go), but I don't have to worry about wearing silk shirts to work. In the winter light-coloured turtlenecks won't be a worry either. Plus there's no white streaky stains left on your black clothing, and no residue left on your underarms! A win-win. Having one less thing to worry about is definitely keeping me a bit more stress-free this semester. With my thesis on a roll and a huge presentation at the end of the semester, I've got enough to sweat (but not literally)!

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*This post has been sponsored by Secret. As always, this in no way affects my thoughts or opinions towards the products and I am always one billion percent honest with you. Sponsored posts help me to put more resources back into our little space!

Detox Day

About once a week I have a biiiiig detox day. It's usually Sunday because I generally have the evening off and it's the perfect opportunity to get all of the week's gunk out of my pores. Thinking about how much crap gets stuck down in my pores makes me a little sick, and even though I double (sometimes triple) cleanse every night you know there's dirt deep down. SO, detox day is the day that I slap on hella skincare products, sit down with some tea and a book, and get it allllll out. (*note that I don't use all of these products at once, these are just a few things that I do use on detox day*)

I don't really stick to a routine on these days, I kind of just use whatever products I feel like. But there are a few things that I keep on rotation. I generally cleanse with the Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Clay Cleanser. This contains French Green clay and Moroccan rhassoul clay to help pull impurities out of the skin. I generally don't believe most claims from cleansers because they aren't on your skin long enough to do much, but I swear my skin feels and looks smoother after using this. I also really love the Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Exfoliating Cleansing Powder, which is a water-activated powder cleanser. This one is pretty gentle and light, but buffs the skin and makes it feel super clean but not stripped. I love that it's customizable because you can mix in less water for a real scrub, or more water for a nice bubbly creamy cleanser. I'm honestly about to start using this every day, because my skin seems to really love it and looks beautiful after using.

Obviously the most important part of detox day is a mask. A good ol' purifying, digs deep mask. I'm usually not big into charcoal products in general, and charcoal masks are really not my jam because I find them to be quite drying. However, the Clinique Pore Refining Solutions Charcoal Mask... that is my jam. I'm not kidding, the first time I used this I was shocked at how incredible my skin looked afterwards. So clean and bright, I was thinking what tf was in my pores that made me look so dull?! This contains charcoal (obvs) to draw out impurities, and also mineral clays to soak up excess oil. But it also somehow doesn't dry me out at all? It's a miracle in my books honestly and I'll continue to purchase this forever. Speaking of, I need to repurchase the Complex Beauty The Godmother Enzyme Mask because I finally used up this baby jar. This stuff is a godsend. It's not really a traditional detox product, I guess, but it leaves my skin feeling soooo smooth and squeaky clean that it's a very very regular part of detox day. Pumpkin and Glycolic Acid exfoliate and dissolve dead skin (and also fight free-radicals wooo), while Vitamin C brightens, and Meadowfoam Seed Oil hydrates. It's like supermodel skin in a tub. No joke.

If I need products that are a little softer, but still get the job done, I'll reach for the Origins Original Skin Retexturizing Mask or the Glossier Mega Greens Galaxy Pack. Original Skin contains Mediterranean rose clay to deep clean, Canadian Willowherb to cleanse pores, and jojoba beads to exfoliate (without destroying your skin or the environment!!!). This is like my OG detox day mask so it's clearly pretty incredible if it's still hangin' around. It leaves the skin glowing and tight, but without that horrible dry feeling. Win! Glossier's Mega Greens is one that I reach for several times a week, not just on detox day. I've been through three pots of this stuff in the last year. Three. It is truly a juice cleanse for your face. It balances skin and helps reduce inflammation, but also detoxes and leaves my skin feeling incredibly clean. It's a clay mask, but doesn't crack and dries softly, almost sinking into the skin. Parsely, Spinach, Cress Sprout, and Kaolin White Clay help to clean and purify, while Avacado moisturises and Bitter Orange Peel gently exfoliates. Definitely one that I'll never be without, I think it's really transformed my skin (along with the Moisturizing Moon Mask).

Do you guys do a detox day? What are your favourite products to use?
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Fragrance Favourites

I just want to start off this post by saying that I suck at describing/talking about fragrances. So I'm not really sure why I'm attempting to write this post. But fair warning, alright? I've never really been a perfume person. When I was younger I used one up then bought another and so forth. Then I wore Elizabeth and James Black Nirvana for a few years and it became my scent. Which was really nice, if I changed it up people would be like oh you don't smell like you. I liked having a signature fragrance, but after finishing another bottle of that, I decided to branch out.

I think Bobbi Brown Beach was the first thing I started wearing after that phase. This is a serious love or hate fragrance, but I adore it. It's probably my number one favourite. Their site says it's a blend of sand jasmine, sea spray, and mandarin but it basically smells like the beach (shocker). It's a little sunscreen-y which is where the hate comes from, but I think it smells super fresh and clean and divine. I also adore Bobbi's Almost Bare, which I bought because someone told me it smells like almond. I am 100000% obsessed with my almond scented cleansers and I needed a perfume. Long story short this doesn't smell like almonds at all, but I still love it! It's also super fresh (you'll see a theme here), but freesia florally with a bit of kick from bergamot and amber.

My first 'real' fragrance purchase was the Chanel No. 5 L'Eau. Not gonna lie, it kinda crushed my soul to pay for the tiny bottle. I'm not sure how people spend hundreds on fragrance. Anyway, my grandmother has no sense of smell anymore, so has always worn the original Chanel No. 5 because she knows it smells good. So it's a scent I've grown up with and associate with her. It is pretty strong, and while I love it not an everyday fragrance for me. The more modern L'Eau is reminiscent of the original, but much fresher. It has tons of notes, so I'm just going to list them out for you straight from the Sephora site (lol): top notes of lemon, mandarin, and orange, heart notes of rose, jasmine, and ylang ylang, more modern than ever. And then base notes of cedar, and soft and cottony musk notes. Basically it's my heaven and I'd love to spray it everywhere always. But I try to conserve it at least a little.

When I went to New York earlier in the year on my Glossier trip, my babe Miran gave me this lil Byredo Gypsy Water sample and I fell in love. I know it's the basic Byredo scent but it is for a reason. It has top notes of bergamot, lemon, pepper, and juniper berries, heart notes of incense, pine needles, and orris,  and base notes of amber, vanilla, and sandalwood. I love peppery scents (like EJ Black Nirvana), but the combination of lemon and juniper berries makes it feel really light and airy. This one is in the books for purchase, but I think Lou Lou has convinced me to try Mojave Ghost first, or maybe Black Saffron (if only I could afford all three!). My most recent fragrance purchase is the beautiful Blackberry & Bay from Jo Malone, which I bought at their flagship store in London! Another basic-girl fragrance, but I freakin' love this one. The blackberry comes through pretty strong, with a hint of citrus, and smells fresh but not too fruity. I will say that I go nose-blind to this one really quickly which makes me want to cry, so I probably won't buy the full size (maybe a candle?).

What are your favourite fragrances?
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Dynamic Duos

I've realized lately that when doing my makeup I tend to reach for little coupled-up product duos. It's not that I don't use these things separately, it's just that they're better together.

This post has been on the to-do list for a while, but tbh I was waiting for Glossier to two their buy-two-save-$6 Cloud Paint deal again. And wa-la! Ask and you shall receive, the deal is back! And this time you don't even need to use a code, just go here, add two cloud paints of choice to your cart, and they'll be on their way to you! Plus free shipping! What a win! Too many exclamation points in a row! Okay. But really, Beam and Dusk... you gotta have them. Cloud Paints in general are basically like watercolour for your face. They blend effortlessly, are sheer enough to not look like makeup, but make you look super healthy. Beam is my all time favourite, it's a coral-orange that really warms up the skin. Dusk is beautiful on the cheeks or as a bronzer, it's a gorgeous almost pinky brown. These two together scream healthy summer skin and I haven't put them down! They're also incredible mixed together, in fact any of the Cloud Paints mixed together are amazing so you should probably get them all.

I realize these are mostly cheek products, so let's just continue with that theme. I picked up the Topshop Glow while I was in England expecting to adore it, but I was a little meh. Two years ago, I would've loved it, but it just seems a little too icy not enough glowy. However, if combined with the MAC Cream Colour Base in Hush, we're talking maximum glossy glowy goodness. Sometimes Hush can be a tiny bit too warm on my pale skin, so the two together are super dreamy. Speaking of glowy goodness, I couldn't leave the dream team out of this post. I've loved the Charlotte Tilbury Bronze & Glow Palette from afar the past few years, but I thought it couldn't possibly be worth all the money. I bought it back at the start of the summer and I have never been more wrong. It is heavenly. The powder is the the finest I've ever felt in a bronzer, and the highlight is soooo smooth it looks like a cream on the skin. I honestly don't think I'll ever be without this, but I do kind of wish they sold refills because I think I'll run out of the bronzer first. I've never in my life found such a perfect bronzer. This sounds kind of crazy, but it's kind of sheer? Like you can see my freckles and my skin through it, but it makes your skin look beautifully bronzed. True love honestly.

We all know how much I adore the Glossier Stretch Concealer, it's probably the product I would choose to use if I had to one use one thing. It's the bomb. But sometimes I just need a lil something extra. I do like the NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer, it can just look a bit dry and the colour is somehow a bit light for me. So usually I'll put some of the NARS down first to cover up really pesky blemishes, and then layer Glossier's on top to even out and make the concealer look more skin-like. Last but not least on my dynamic duos list is the Glossier Boy Brow and Benefit Precisely My Brow Pencil. I do switch my brow pencil up quite a lot (but I love the Benefit), but I'm in a steady relationship with Boy Brow. I have kind of sparse brows, so I like to fill them in with pencil first and then reaaaally fluff them up. I feel like not keeping them really straight and precise tricks people into thinking they're my natural brows, which I will never complain about.

Do you guys have any products you like to use together?
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Lip Liner Favourites

Do you guys remember a few years ago when no one touched lip liner? It was like an old lady thing, and I think we were all scarred by the dark liner light lipstick trend from the 90s. But obviously in recent years lip liner has gotten big. I'm not an overdraw your lips kind of person, but I do love them for an added bit of definition or to create a crisp line when wearing a darker lip. I don't really talk about them very often, so I thought I'd get up a post talking about my favourites!

MAC's Lip Pencils have been a long time fave for me. I have a ton in my collection, the formula is pretty perfect. They're quite hard, so it's easy to get a super clean line, but not too hard that they don't go on. I have a lottttt of shades but some of my favourites are Soar, Whirl, Stripdown, and Nightmoth. I'm also big into the Bobbi Brown Lip Pencil which are much pricier, but sort of similar. I probably wouldn't buy these over the MAC unless you find them at a Cosmetics Co Store. I love Beige and Pale Mauve, but my favourite is Red aka the most perfect red liner ever. These are like a velvety finish, so they're actually pretty nice to fill in the whole lip!

On a more regular basis, I really like the Estee Edit The Barest Lip Pencil and I'm bummed the line is being discontinued! It's a super soft texture that makes it really easy to define and then blend out to just add a little something extra to the lip. Does anyone know of any pencils similar? I like the feel of the Rimmel ones, but they're much more pigmented. Good news is, they're only $10 at Sephora right now so if you can find them grab them! The newest addition to my collection is one of the new-ish Bite Lip Pencils. I have the shade 012, which they describe as a plum taupe but I think it turns out much lighter. This is a great every day one for just a bit of definition! The formula of these is super nice, they're softer than the MAC and Bobbi Brown, but not quite as soft as the Estee. They have a pretty huge colour selection so I'm itching to pick some more up (but don't need to buy anything at all).

Are you guys lip liner fans? Which are your favourites?
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Best Target Beauty Buys

I don't know about you guys but I spend a majority of my free time in Target. That's such a basic-girl thing to say, but there you go. I'm basic. Anywho, I just love strolling around adding things I don't really need to my cart and spending all my money! Yay! Target's beauty section has grown a ton in the last few years and it's a really great place to find things that aren't super expensive.

Obviously my favourite brand at Target is Pixi. I love them to death. I would say about 98% of their products are stars and I use them super regularly if not every day. The Skin Treats line specifically has some real gems. I have a post up here about all of my favourite from them so I won't go on too long, but I love the Peel & Polish, Glow Tonic, Milky Hydrating Mist, and the Glow-y Powders. Another long time fave from Target is elf Cosmetics, one of my first forays into the makeup addiction I'm now wallowing in. Everything was so cheap I'd just buy all of it. Definitely over that now, but they still have some great products. I've been loving the Matte Lip Pencils, because they're pretty similar to the NARS Lip Pencils but in my opinion more comfortable (not as pigmented or as matte, but not necessarily a bad thing).

They've also added a ton of newer brands recently, including La Roche Posay and Honest Beauty, both of which I'm very excited about. I haven't explored either very much, but I have tried a few products that I'm loving so far! Specifically the Magic Balm and Toleraine Ultra Nuit (look out for both in an upcoming post). I'm glad to have such easy access to these brands now as I really want to try them out more. I think Target has had a small Soap & Glory line for a while, but they definitely expanded it recently and I loooove their body products. I picked up the scrub as a 3-for-2 in Boots while in the UK, but being able to get a replacement from Target is super convenient!

Obviously you can get all the normal drugstore brands, I love just perusing the aisles looking for new launches. This is how I discovered the Maybelline Dream Wonder Foundation way back when, which became one of my absolute favourites. Target is also where I finally found the L'Oreal Lash Paradise mascara after searching forever. I usually buy my Essie polishes from Target (or TJ Maxx tbh) because they have the huuuuuge selection of pretty much all the colours! I also usually get Nivea products from Target, not sure why but I feel like it's really cheap there? I always grab this little tin to carry in my purse, it's only 94 cents!

My most recent discovery (read: obsession) is the Kristin Ess haircare line. This stuff is the bomb. I'm slowly but surely buying up everything because it is so good. I'm definitely going to do a full post on these babies but the current faves are the Texture Loose Styling Powder and Reconstructive Moisture Mask.

Are you guys Target obsesses?
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Sticking to a Routine

Sometimes during the summer, with no routine set in place, the days just kind of slip away without having done anything. And then you suddenly get slammed back into a semester with a huge course load and immediately fall behind. Can't wait. So in an attempt to prepare myself for this, I've been trying to stick to beauty and lifestyle routines to get me going.

The biggest thing I've started doing recently is reading before bed. I've always been a huge bookworm and generally read books anyway. But, I know we're all guilty of staring at our phones in the darkness before we go to sleep. So instead of frying my brain, I've been trying to leave my laptop and phone on my desk and night and falling asleep to a good book. I light a nice candle next to my bed and almost immediately get sleepy (and then I obviously blow the candle out, not tryna set fire to my house). Honestly, I don't think I've slept so well in a long long time. I'm also finding that settling into this routine is starting to make my body realize it's time for bed and I fall asleep much faster. I've just finished Graham Norton's Holding which was pretty weird not gonna lie, and am starting The Muse by Jessie Burton. Book recommendations please!

Now, in the morning I've been setting my alarm for 8. Probably doesn't seem super early for most of you, but I used to be a sleep till 10 everyday kinda person and I hated it. With my phone across the room I actually have to get up and turn my alarm off. And then I go make a cup of tea. Being able to relax in the morning instead of getting up and rushing around to get ready for work has made me feel so much more stress-free. Another morning ritual is applying sunscreen. I've always been a sunscreen wearer, but now I apply it every single day. Especially since using the Glossier Invisible Shield, which is so easy there's no excuse not to use it. I know in the future I'll be thanking my self for taking care of my skin, so I try to be really diligent about it (even on rainy days like today). On the other hand, I've never really been a big perfume-wearer. For some reason recently, my brain decided that a spritz of perfume on the way out the door makes me feel more put together. Maybe this is my brain trying to convince me that I can buy expensive perfumes if it's something I use all the time (amirite?).

In more makeup related routines, I've come to the realization that I have for too many lipsticks for someone who rarely wears lipsticks. So, I decided this week to start wearing some form of lipstick every day. Whether it be a Glossier Gen G sheer tint or a bright-ass red. Every day. I know I'll never use them all up, but it makes me feel slightly less guilty about owning so many. Last but not least on the list is taking care of my hair. Ever since the chop, I've been trying to use less heat-tools, and just letting my hair do its thing. This means controlling the wild frizz, so I've started using haircare products (who am I?). Usually I'm the shampoo and condition and that's it girl, but I've recently started using the Kristin Ess Leave-In Conditioner and my hair loves it. Next on the list are the serum and moisture mask, hello perfect locks!

I really need to add applying body lotion every day to this list (my poor unloved limbs), what routines do you try to stick to?

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Face Mists

I use face mists quite a lot (and have a lot of them), but I realized that I don't really talk about the step in my routine very much here! So I thought I'd just do an entire post about them. To me, there are two separate categories of mist: skincare and makeup. Skincare mists are ones I generally use on bare skin, makeup mists are ones I obviously use over makeup! I think mists are great because they can wake you up, or provide a boost of hydration, or tone, all without needing to touch your face!

S  K  I  N

My first mist loves are and always will be the Pixi Skin Mists. These beauts are all targeted for different concerns, and my most used is definitely the Hydrating Milky Mist. This one has hyaluronic acid to attract water, as well as black oat, vitamin A, and linoleic acid. I generally use this as a layer underneath serums and moisturizers. The other from the range that I consider a skin mist is the Vitamin Wakeup Mist. This one is lovely to use in the morning as it's really refreshing and smells delicious. It has an orange-blossom water base and citrus fruit extracts to hydrate and awaken skin. 

At night I really like to use toning mists like the Kani Rose Tonic, Terra Luna Floral Mist, and MUN Anarose Toner. All three are rosewater-based toners that help to balance skins pH after cleansing. I love all three of these equally, but they are slightly different. The Kani contains aloe to calm, MUN's has hyaluronic acid, and Terra Luna's uses ylang ylang and jasmine oils as well as witch hazel. I mainly use the NOTO Basil Yarrow Mist on my body in the summer when it's incredibly hot out as a refresher. It also has a rosewater base, but contains calming basil oil, ylang ylang, and chamomile as well. I've had the Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic forever, so I don't use it anymore. But it is a really nice mix of cucumber, canlendula, and chamomile that is super refreshing. The Sangre de Fruta Jasmine de Nuit Botanical Tonic has a pretty strong scent, so I generally use this one as a linen spray instead of on my face!

M  A  K  E  U  P

Makeup mists are ones I use to set or refresh my makeup. Most of these you can also use on bare skin, but I just personally prefer they way they work over makeup. I will say first up, the MAYA Water Facial Mists are ones I use allll the time, whether on bare skin or not. I'm including them here because the mist is so incredibly find that it doesn't disturb makeup at all. Maya water mists are spring-sourced thermal water mists that are infused with antioxidants to actually help your skin as well as refresh it. 

Right, onto more makeup-setting type mists! The MAC Fix + is obviously hugely popular and remains one of my favourites. I really can't get on board with those facial sprays that make your makeup not budge even a smidge. I prefer a lived-in look and honestly find that my makeup looks better as the day goes on. So, the Fix + is a staple for me! I think I have three bottles at the moment, and I tend to reach for it pretty often! I love that the mist is really fine, I think it really helps powders to mesh into you skin. I don't know that it specifically prolongs the wear of my makeup, I just like the way my makeup looks after using it. 

My favourite proper setting mist is probably the Pixi Makeup Fixing Mist. I'm currently on my second bottle of the stuff and I really love it. It's a rosewater and aloe base, so I find that it soothes my skin, but I also definitely notice a difference in the longevity of my makeup when using this. It just looks nicer for longer, and it doesn't add too much extra glow like some of my other faves. Speaking of, I think you guys already know of my love for the Pixi Glow Mist. This is probably my third bottle of this magic potion. I get how this makes my skin super glowy, it's full of 13 natural oils, aloe vera, and fruit extracts. What I don't understand is how this also makes my makeup look perfect and glowy all day. You'd think it'd break your makeup down over time, but it just makes you glowwww.

The newest additions to my collection are the Complex Beauty Afterglow Complexion Mist and Lilah B Aglow Face Mist (which I'm now realizing have very similar names lol). I had originally assumed the Complex Beauty mist was only a setting spray, but I'm glad I read the ingredients because it's actually also for your bare skin! It contains oleic and glycolic acid, as well as lavender water and aloe vera to soothe. CB say that you can use this over makeup as well to give you a glow. I haven't used it enough to properly review, but I'm putting it into my routine now so thoughts are to come! I received Lilah B's offering right before I left for England, so I've only used it a few times but it is a really beautiful product. It's full of botanical extracts like lavender, fig, and dandelion (!) which are all soothing and rejuvenating plus have antioxidant properties (my fave). It really hydrates the skin and makes your makeup look lit from within!

Do you guys use face mists in your routine? What are your faves?

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An Everyday Makeup Edit

Have you ever seen products of mine that look so beat up? That poor Boy Brow (lol), and my CT palette could use a good scrub. Not gonna lie, I tried to photoshop all the smudges and scratches off of my mascara. But that just proves that I use the heck out of them! I've been sticking to this makeup for a few weeks now and have had a lot of questions about what I've been using, so here's the low-down.

I don't really do much as far as skincare goes in the morning. I'll usually just use a bit of Pixi Glow Tonic and of course my Glossier Invisible Shield. But I've been using the Charlotte Tilbury Wonder Glow under my makeup every day for several months now. It's basically glowing skin in a bottle. The 'soft-focus' claim is pretty accurate, I feel like it blurs and evens the skin and perfectly primes it for makeup. My foundation of choice lately has been the matching Charlotte Tilbury Light Wonder Foundation. This stuff might actually be magic. It covers my redness and any imperfections I need, looks super skin like and dewy, but actually lasts really well. The liquidy formula I find works best with a brush or my fingers, a beauty blender sheers it out too much. I just actually can't explain how smoothing this is though, I feel like it makes my skin look silky. Absolute love.

For any additional concealing I'm forever using my Glossier Stretch Concealer. This stuff is the love of my life and I'm very nearly at the end of my pot. I obviously already have a backup, but this is the first time I've finished a makeup product completely in a long time so that's saying something. To keep it all locked in during the hellish summer weather, I've been using the new Glossier Wowder. I kind of love/am annoyed by this. It really blurs the skin, cuts shine, and doesn't look at all like powder. Which is incredible. But the trampoline mesh is a pain in my butt. I think it's genius because powder doesn't spill everywhere, but I do have to work a little too hard to get product out. Obviously I'm willing to do this because I really like the product, but just a lil heads up!

On my cheeks, I cannot be without the Glossier Cloud Paints. I honestly love all of the shades, but my pick of the moment is Beam. This just looks so fresh and summery and kinda sunburn-y. I love it. The formula of these is almost gel-stain like. They blend effortlessly and do not look like makeup at all. Almost like a watercolour paint, and they last all day on my skin (which is some kinda miracle). I'm skipping the icy highlights at the moment and am favoring more of a bronzey glow. MAC's Hush Cream Colour Base has been my recent go-to. It's kind of like a peachy-gold sheen that pairs perfectly with Beam. I'll probably never stop using the Charlotte Tilbury Bronze & Glow palette. This bronzer is literally my perfect shade. The formula is so dreamy, it sort of creates a bronzed veil that still lets your skin show through. So beautiful. For my lips I'm a little too lazy to wear anything most days, so the Birthday Balm Dot Com is perfect for a little added shimmer.

I'll obviously always be into brows, but lately I'm leaving them a bit wilder. Instead of properly filling them in, I just use Boy Brow to shape and thicken them up a bit. And then this Kat von D Tattoo Brow. I never thought I'd like something like this, but the tip is so so fine that I can literally draw individual brow hairs on. So the still look full, but fluffy and natural instead of filled in. I found this one at TJ Maxx so definitely be on the lookout! For lashes I've switched back over to the L'Oreal Lash Paradise most days. This one has taken the internet by storm, and for good reason. I'm seeing a lot of people out there applying this really heavily and comparing it to the Too Faced Better Than Sex, but I find that makes it super clumpy. I hated BTS because it flaked so badly on my, but the L'Oreal doesn't budge at all. I apply a light layer which volumizes the lashes and makes them look suuuuuuuper long.

And that's about it! I haven't really worn eyeshadow in a while, I've just been very skin-focused which I love. What have you guys been reaching for lately?
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Click here to see the video I filmed of this look!

A Wardrobe Wishlist

the rue collective 

 I recently donated probably 75 percent of my clothes. And honestly I could probably do more. I've found that I don't wear most of my clothes any more and instead stick to key pieces. Obviously I'm a girl on a budget and don't buy the best quality clothes, so they wear out a little too quickly. So this time around I'm really trying to focus on getting high quality pieces that I'll wear forever and get a lot of use out of.

vanja milicevic

the 5th // death by elocution // vanessa jackaman

unknown 

On my list for the next few months of wardrobe building are:

01 A grey coat. This is somehow missing from my collection of coats currently. And I need one (right?). I'm basically planning on replacing a lot of my coats anyway because they're getting a bit old, but this grey twill looks beautiful.
02 Oversized scarves. I love oversized scarves, but for some reason all of mine are patterned? Which is absolutely not my style, so I'm on the lookout for some more basic options!
03 The perfect oversized blazer. This is the most elusive item. It's so hard to find a boyfriend blazer that doesn't look like it's swallowing you whole. I'm on the lookout for something in a lighter material that isn't too stiff.
04 The perfect white shirt. Another elusive item. White shirts are always either too stuffy or too casual. My eye is on this one from J Crew, but I'll have to try it on before I decide.
05 A pop of red. I've noticed a lot of people wearing monochromatic outfits with a pop of red in their bag or shoes which I think is so fun! I'd love to find a deep red pair of pointed flats, super chic.
06 An oversized coat. I love my structured coats and trenches, but sometimes I think in the depths of winter I'd like to have a super cozy oversized camel coat. That still looks chic of course. I do have one sort of similar to this though, so maybe I can make it work.

Do you guys keep wardrobe wish lists? A bit of a different post for me, but I thought it'd be nice to keep it documented here with pictures instead of just in my notebook!
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The England Haul

Right. So I bought a lot of shit. Although honestly not as much as I though I would (shockingly). I mostly stuck to my list and bought things that I can't buy in the state (or were cheaper in the UK). I'm also definitely on a spending ban for a while lol. So without further ado, the post you've all been waiting for, the England Haul.

I'm never really sure how to write these posts because I haven't tried these products long enough to review properly and I don't want to give the wrong impression. So I figured I'd just waffle on until I get tired. The place I was most excited to visit (shopping-wise) was the Burberry Flagship Store. It is so so so beautiful. I obviously couldn't afford anything, but after a wander around I made my way to the beauty section. I'm super excited about these products, but I had one of the worst customer service experiences ever here. I know we're young, but we walked around the different floors for about 20 minutes and encountered probably 30 employees and only received one stiff hello after I smiled at a girl. So weird to me. The girl helping us at the beauty counter was pleasant, but after selecting our items (Elle bought some things too) she disappeared for 15 minutes! We had a train to catch, and I was honestly really disappointed with what's supposed to be a luxury experience. If I hadn't been set on buying these I probably would have just left. 

Okay rant over, on to the beautiful products. I had gone in expecting to get some of the Liquid Lip Velvets, but they were out of stock of the colours I wanted so I ended up getting the original Lip Velvet in Oxblood. This ended up being a blessing in disguise because the classic colour is so so beautiful. It isn't as dark as I was expecting so I'd say it's a more wearable dark in a super comfortable, velvety finish. They were also out of the Ivory shade of the Cashmere Concealer (not a happy camper). I ended up getting the Porcelain, which is a bit too yellow for me. Kind of a bummer, because I have to make it work but the formula is really lovely! The one thing I got that worked out is the Fresh Glow Highlighting Luminous Pen, a beautiful champagne highlighter housed in a slim, shiny, graphite pen. Love. Definitely sour about my experience, but the products are lovely and I'm glad I got them!

While waiting for our bus, we wandered down to the Jo Malone Flagship just to have a nose. And the lovely sale associate there talked me into getting Blackberry and Bay. I'm super happy I ended up with this because while I know it's popular, it's really unique especially to my fragrance collection. I picked up several things from Charlotte Tilbury. Including a full-size of my beloved Wonder Glow, and new favourite aka the Light Wonder Foundation, and the Airbrush Flawless Finishing Powder (which is just alright in my opinion). I'd planned on grabbing a bunch of things from Boots and Superdrug and only ended up with three (plus some nail polishes). The Bourgois Healthy Mix Concealer gets rave reviews, but on first application I found it preeeeetty yellow. Like almost pastel? Will be giving it another try as I did like the finish! Kate has always raved about the La Roche Posay Toleraine Ultra line, so I grabbed the Toleraine Ultra Nuit which is a divine soothing, moisturizing overnight serum. And then on the last day I picked up the Tanya Burr Contour Stick because I saw a few of my blogger friends talking about it! So far it seems nice, pretty sheer and a little too orange to be contour but it makes for a nice cream bronzer.

All of the Topshop beauty sections I went to were pretty picked over, so I ended up just getting the famous Topshop Glow and their Magic Liner as I was in need of a liner! Both seem pretty nice, but nothing earth-shattering. The Cambridge KIKO store nearly saw me faint, as they were having an incredible sale. I picked up five of the Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadows because they were only £4 (!!!!) each. Violette has used these in her videos a few times which is why I got that crazy ass-blue (and rocked it in a small beach town on the coast lol think I gave some people a shock), but the formula is absolutely incredible. I forgot to put these in the photo but I also picked up one of their Single Shadows and a Water Shadow which I'm sure you'll see on Instagram soon. 

I went a liiiil crazy in duty free, but all on things I'd been wanting for a while so it was justified. The ByTerry Clarifying Comfort Toner was basically a requirement as it was $20 cheaper in duty free. I mean. It'd be silly not to right? Verdicts still out if it's worth a $65 repurchase but we shall see. I had my mind set on Chanel Adrienne, but decided it was a bit too orangey for me so I ended up with Madamoiselle instead. The rosy brown is perfect for every day and I really love the hydrating formula. I also managed to find the Ted Baker Mihai bag I had been eyeing the entire trip for 50% off at our gate. Can you say fate? So with one last swipe of my card she was mine. I love my Rebecca Minkoff, but sometimes the all black seems a bit much and the size makes it annoying for everyday use. This one is still small but it's a straight up Hermione Granger bag because I swear the inside expands into nowhere. I was hoping to be able to wear it as a cross body, but the chain isn't quiiiite long enough. Anyone know of a good way to extend the chain?

As far as clothes go, I got a loot of basics from Zara as I love the way their clothes fit (the Trafaluc line especially). I got maybe four or five t-shirts in the sale that ended up being £3 a piece (thank you), and a thin grey turtleneck to wear under coats in the fall. I also got two pairs of their TRF High Waisted denim because they're £19 a piece come on. Easily the best thing I found on the entire trip is this beaaaaautiful TRF leather jacket that was reduced from £100 to £40. They had one left, it fit me, I bought it. End of. I'm super duper happy with it and I can't wait to wear it every day this fall.

And that is my not-as-crazy-as-I-thought-it-would-be haul! Are any of these products must-haves for you guys? Or anything specific you want reviewed? Let me know!
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