Ready for Autumn | Make-up & hair inspiration

So now we're officially at the back-end of summer, people are bound to be in that itchy end-of-season phase where they want to start looking ready for the autumn months. Autumn fashion is pretty simple - start layering up with woolly jumpers, donning your thick tights and ankle boots, wearing your favourite hat and scarf and you're good to go. 

Source: Alpha 2008, Flickr.

Hair and make-up however is a little different. And by different I meant difficult. Which is why I've devised a list of things that should help you get through this next season easily.

1. Bronze eyeshadow - there have been plenty of looks over the years featuring shimmery silver and gold eyes for autumn, but for me the most autumnal shade out there has to be bronze. You don't even have to buy a new eyeshadow for this - just use a bronzer you already have, sweep it all across the lid and then dab some highlighter over the top to give a lovely shimmery bronze eye look.

2. Dark lips - I doubt this autumn trend will ever truly go away, so you might as well embrace it. A cherry red or deep purple would look lovely on all skin tones, but if you're not confident enough to go for a full-on look - then you could always get tinted lip balm, which would help you stay on trend all the same.

3. Flushed cheeks - create that subtle, caught-in-the-wind-but-I-still-look-great look with pink and orange toned blush concentrated on the apples of your cheeks.

4. Braids/plaits - plaited and braided hair is starting to surface everywhere at the minute, and I can tell that it's going to end up being one of the more popular hairstyles this autumn. Not only does it make the person wearing it look super-cute, it also helps keep hair out of your face during the autumn wind and is great for hiding bad hair days.

5. Accessories - hair accessories, to be more specific. Elegant gold clips, dark red flowers and headbands are all in fashion this autumn. Combine them with messy plaits/braids to help give off that extra autumn vibe.

Rimmel BB Cream Matte | Review

Now that it's summer beauty bloggers everywhere have been raving on about how it's the ample time to start using tinted moisturisers/CC creams/BB creams because they're not as heavy on your skin.

As someone who suffers from oily skin, I'm very wary of these types of products because I know that two hours after putting one on I look like I've been for a 5 mile jog - not a good look.

However when I was in Boots a few weeks ago I came across this and decided to try it out. I've always been a big fan of Rimmel's Stay Matte range - I love the primer, foundation and concealer. And luckily their BB Cream is no different.

The coverage is great, it reduces blemishes and uneven skin tone really well at the same time as having a lightweight feel. My skin feels so much more natural and like it can breathe in the hot weather. I also love that because there isn't the same amount of coverage as a full-on foundation, you can see the freckles that have come out on my nose because of the sun.

You don't have to squeeze loads out of the bottle to get a good look, meaning it's great value for money. And the fact it has an SPF is great too as sun protection is an absolute must now that summer is here.

Summer beauty basics

Source: open-arms, Flickr.

Summer is the worst kind of year to be a make-up wearer. Not only are magazines filled with women that look positively glowing despite being pretty much make-up free (not taking into account all the editing the photographs undergo of course), but putting make-up on in the morning only results in it being sweated off under the sun, leaving a lovely patchy look for the rest of the day. And don't even get me started on the whole 'my face has tanned and now my foundation is too light for my skin' fandango.

After tackling these problems for the best part of 5 years, I've managed to find a few things that help me and my make-up cope with the warmer weather just that little bit easier.

1. Tinted moisturiser - using this rather than a thick foundation will mean that you won't sweat it off as the product will be properly moisturised into your skin, and the thinner coverage also means you'll avoid the caked-on look. If you can't find one to suit your skin tone, buy a normal moisturiser and mix it with your regular foundation as this basically creates the same effect.

2. Waterproof mascara - whether you're on holiday and are about to go swimming in the pool, or you're going to go for a long walk in the heat, wearing non-waterproof mascara will end in one thing and one thing only - it being halfway down your cheeks by the end of the day. Using a waterproof one means it will stay on for longer, no matter what you're doing with your day.

3. Long-lasting concealer - my favourite concealer to wear during the summer is the Collection Lasting Perfection concealer, which stays on all day no matter how hot it is outside and helps cover all those annoying blemishes/red patches.

4. Blotting sheets - I could rave on forever about how amazing blotting paper is for oily skin, but in summer when everyone is basically in the same boat - they're a must have for everyone. I always make sure to keep a pack in my bag for whenever I'm out and about and find my face getting greasy, and they always do the trick.

5. Lip balm - I find it really difficult to wear lipstick in the summer, just because I already feel quite greasy/sticky anyway, and wearing lipstick as well just contributes to this. Wearing lip balm also means that you can keep with the natural trend that comes along every summer without fail.

6. Sun cream - I cannot stress how important protecting yourself from sunburn is, and those who burn and say "Oh well it'll go brown eventually" make me genuinely mad, especially now that the dangers of skin cancer are so well known. Please remember to put sun cream on when the sun is out, and remember that it doesn't stop you from tanning - it just makes tanning safer!

Blonde hair care

I've always had problems when it comes to choosing shampoo and conditioner that suits my hair, as some dry out my scalp and others mean that my hair becomes greasy more quickly, however I've had none of these problems when using this John Frieda collection. 

My hair feels soft, lighter and a lot more vibrant than when I use my regular Herbal Essences shampoo, and the leave-in conditioner helps protect my hair from heat (which is great for me, considering I use heat on my hair most days of the week). Although it's slightly more expensive than regular shampoo, it's not ridiculously out of my price range.

But when I have those days that I can't be bothered to wash my hair (don't lie, we all have them), I tend to use the Batiste dry shampoo in order to get my hair looking somewhat presentable again. The one that I use is designed specifically for blondes, and reduces the amount of white mist I often struggle to get rid of when rubbing in the normal dry shampoo, as well as giving my hair a bit of a lift. It's great for taking with me if I'm staying at a friend's house, or going away for a night, where I'm not going to be having a shower or washing my hair, and it's even good to use for if I just want my hair to feel a little bit blonder and brighter than usual.

When I do get up earlier enough to be able to curl my hair in the morning (it doesn't happen a lot, I must admit), I didn't always use hairspray because I hated the hard and straw-like quality it gave to my hair, however this huge tin of Silhouette hairspray from Schwarzkopf has completely changed that. It sits in my hair nicely, meaning that it doesn't look like I've got any hairspray in at all, and allows my hair to still have the soft bounce to it that I've always tried to maintain, and for under £5 it's definitely the best quality for money in my opinion.

Boots Oil-Absorbing Sheets | Review

I've recently been having a lot of problem with my skin as the weather's been getting warmer. I have oily skin anyway, but now that summer is here it's worsened a noticeable amount. I love the warmer weather for a lot of reasons, but not being able to make it to lunch time without looking like I've dunked my head in a vat of oil is not one of them. 

Something that I've heard a lot about to help counteract this is blotting sheets or paper, so I bought two packets of these Oil-Absorbing Sheets from Boots. So say that they're an own brand product does not mean to say that they're not effective - they've been such a great product to have that they're becoming a necessity that I keep with me at all times. 

The papery texture isn't the nicest thing to rub on my face, but the amount of oil that comes off without removing my make-up is incredible, and the small layer of powder helps to make my face look as matte as it does when I apply my powder in the morning. At an offer of only £1.99 a packet (normally £3.99) they're going to be an absolute must-have in the upcoming warmer months.

Witch Oil Control Foaming Face Wash | Review

After a while, say three or four months, of using a product, my skin starts to get used to it and it no longer does the job it's supposed to do. It's kind of annoying, because when you've used almost every product available within your price range, it gets quite difficult to find something that will do the job you want it to.
Because of this, I've recently stopped using my everyday face wash, which is the Clean & Clear All in 1 Wash and Mask, and during a panic buy I ended up purchasing the Witch Oil Control Foaming Face Wash. I have used stuff from Witch before, their blemish stick is something that I can't go without, but I've never really found their face washes to be of much help. A lot of the time my skin has reacted really badly to them, for example producing more spots or more oil.
However, this product has proved that you should never judge a whole brand by one or two products, because after about a week of using this product my skin is looking great. I suffer from oily skin and blemishes, so the foam texture is fantastic as it doesn't irritate or dry out my skin, and the amount that you get in the bottle is so much more than other cream-based substances.  

Also, it smells amazing. I don't think I've ever had a face wash that has smelt so refreshing and non-chemical based.

Touch wood that writing this review doesn't mean my luck with this product will run out and I'll have to purchase something entirely different, because I really have fallen in love with it and hope to be using it for quite some time.

Rimmel Stay Matte Primer | Review

As somebody with a very oily t-zone, I often struggle in the summer to keep my skin looking matte by just powdering and using blotting paper, so when the weather started to get really warm I decided that I needed to change what I was doing to keep myself oil-free.

I've always been a big fan of primer, and the Rimmel Stay Matte range, so I thought the best option would be to combine my two loves and purchase the Rimmel Stay Matte primer. I used to use the Rimmel Fix & Perfect, but I'm so glad I've decided to switch product slightly and go for this one instead. It doesn't feel too heavy on my face, doesn't dry my face out too much, and it's great to just put on in places that I feel I need it (normally just my forehead, nose and chin). 

Because I don't make a lot of money and I'm currently in the process of saving up for my second year of university, the price of this is just right for me and is great value for money. If you're like me, and warmer weather is bound to bring out the worst case scenario oil-wise for you, then I would definitely recommend picking this up and trying it next time you're out shopping.

Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Conditioner | Review

I’m always sceptical when it comes to trying out new shampoos and conditioners. I have that type of hair where, if I switch products, it dries out or gets greasy really quickly and I have to change back to the stuff I use regularly.

However recently my hair has been feeling a little brittle and coarse, so I had a shop around and purchased this ‘reconstruction’ conditioner from Aussie.

Although slightly on the expensive side, I decided it was worth it due to the fact that you’re only supposed to use it once or twice a week – so it would last at least three times longer than my normal conditioner. And the way that the cap is designed means that you don’t squeeze out any more of the product than you need to use, which stopped me from wasting any of the product.

The product is blended with Australian Balm Mint extracts and Safflower seed oil, which are supposed to make your hair soft, shiny and more manageable. After leaving it on for the recommended three minutes, I already noticed that my hair felt a lot smoother.

The conditioner smells amazing – I’ve almost become addicted to it. It has a really lovely sweet scent that clings to your hair throughout the whole day, and although it’s very strong it’s not overpowering.

When I dried my hair I saw straight away that it was in a better condition than it had been for the past week or so. It was easier to style, the ends had stopped splitting as much, and it had restored my hairs usual softness and shine.

The thing that’s the most important to me though, however, is the fact that my hair didn’t react to it in some strange way. It gave my hair enough moisture to stop feeling dry without making it greasy or too laden with product to style properly.

If you’re anything like me and have a really difficult time adjusting to new hair products, then the Aussie 3 Minute Miracle conditioner is definitely the one for you. This isn’t the first time that dryness has been a problem for my hair, and chances are that it will probably crop up again sometime in the future, however thanks to this conditioner I now no longer have to worry about what to do when it does happen. 

Self Image & the Media

When it comes to people feeling down about themselves or being unhappy about the way that they look, everybody has heard the age-old argument “it’s all to do with the media”.

The idea that the media gives us role models with unattainable beauty, fitness, health etc is nothing new. And this being used as the reason for some people having serious insecurities about their body image – perhaps even illnesses like anorexia or body dysmorphic disorder – is something I have seen happen time and time again.

It’s only natural that, in a society where the media has become a hugely powerful institution, the things it presents us with seep into our subconscious – making us view things in a certain way, and possibly changing the way we see other people and ourselves.

The theory makes sense and the logic behind it is simple. But my problem with it is its simplicity.

Credit: Kate T, Flickr.

A person’s relationship with their body is very complicated, as is the media’s relationship with its audience and all of the other factors contributing to how a person sees themselves.

So surely using such a simple theory as an explanation of all of this only degrades the experiences of those struggling with their self image?

I’m going to put a slight disclaimer in here and say that I’m not an expert, and unfortunately I don’t have my own revolutionary theory that’s going to help end this problem once and for all, but I do find it insulting that this is one of the only major explanations to have been developed in this area.

In my opinion, not everybody who is feeling insecure about the way that they look is feeling that way because they’ve looked at a picture of Kendall Jenner on Instagram. There has probably been a wide range of factors affecting their sense of self and, although the media may be one of these, it can’t be the only one.

The media argument is a great start at trying to understand the concept of body image, but I just think there needs to be more time and effort put into coming up with alternatives. All we’re doing at the minute is boxing everybody up into the same category, when really we should be recognising that no two people are the same and trying to understand them on an individual level.

Top 5 products for oily skin

Having oily skin is something I’ve had to deal with for as long as I can remember, which means I’ve had plenty of time to try out lots of different products and see which ones actually do what they claim to.

Clearasil All in One Wash & Mask

I use this product every morning, and then once a week I use it as a face mask – leaving it on for around 10 minutes. It helps control my shine without drying out my skin, evens out my skin tone and gets rid of any nasty spots that I may have. It’s a little more expensive than other high street brands, but the results are definitely worth it.

Garnier Spot Purifying Toner

Using this on a night after I’ve removed all my makeup tightens up my skin, targets specific problems areas (such as redness or blemishes) and reduces the amount of oil my skin produces overnight. I use the intensive one, but that may be too harsh on those with sensitive skin, in which case I would suggest a similar product that doesn’t include alcohol or any other ingredients that could cause irritation.

Garnier Pure Shine Control Moisturiser

As well as controlling shine, this product helps combat spots, redness and any other marks or blemishes. I use this in the morning after I’ve washed my face, and it reduces the amount of oil my skin would normally produce a lot more than any other products I’ve tried. It also means I usually don’t have to use primer to keep my makeup in place on a day-to-day basis.

Rimmel Stay Matte Primer

Even though the moisturiser I use means I don’t use primer every day, if I’m going on a night out or the weather it particularly hot, I tend to need a little extra help with shine control. I love the Stay Matte range from Rimmel, and the primer provides a good, smooth base for makeup as well as keeping it in place all day.

Boots Oil-Absorbing Sheets

This product is useful if, even though you’ve used every other product on this list, your face still somehow produces oil. If you find that, after a couple of hours, your skin is shiny again, use one of these sheets and dab it on the problem area. They’re better than powdering again, as they don’t wipe off your makeup in the process.

High-end beauty on a student budget

Credit: LendingMemo.com

As a university student, I know and understand the pain of running out of mascara, or bronzer, or concealer and realising that I’m going to have to fork out yet another £10 on something that, really, should be about £3.

There’s no denying that makeup is ridiculously expensive, but after six months of being a student, I’ve managed to find good quality products that you can buy without spending half of your weekly budget.

Foundation & powder:

I used to use the Revlon Colorstay Foundation, but have found a much cheaper, just as shine-controlling an alternative in the shape of Rimmel’s Stay Matte Foundation. The texture means that you don’t have to use a lot to get good coverage, and at only £5.99 it’s half the price of most other high quality foundations.

Sticking with Rimmel’s Stay Matte products, their pressed powder is great for keeping my makeup in place all day, and the shade 001 Transparent means you can apply it over any foundation and it won’t change the colour.

Blusher & bronzer:

Since coming to university I’ve purchased the Sleek blusher in the shade Rose Gold, and although it doesn’t achieve quite the same effect as brands like Benefit, it’s still a good quality blusher for a low price.

Sleek’s contour kit is also a fantastic purchase for those on a budget, as the colour and tone is very similar to the bronzer from Bourjois, except that you get more of it for less.

Eyeshadow, mascara & eyeliner:

The £2.99 mascara from Collection has been my saving grace these past few months. It doesn’t run, doesn’t clump your lashes together and creates the same length and volume as any other more pricey mascara.

Another Collection beauty steal is their felt-tip eyeliner. It’s easy to apply, doesn’t smudge and saves me from the hassle of applying liquid eyeliner every morning.

I mentioned one of their palettes in my last post, and the i-Divine eyeshadows from Sleek are genuinely becoming my favourite value-for-money beauty products. Any one of these palettes gives a similar coverage to the Naked palettes from Urban Decay, only this time they cost £10 and not £30.

Hopefully this post will help those of you on a similar budget to myself and that, next time you run out of something, you won’t have to break the bank to pay for it.

A Makeup Guide For Beginners

Credit: Neil Hinchley, Flickr.

When I first started using makeup, I had nobody to explain what kind of products I should be buying and how to use them. The end result was disastrous. I don’t even want to talk about the numerous foundations I went through before realising that I wasn’t buying the right shade for my skin tone.

What I needed was a guide in starting out with makeup, and so to save you from the embarrassment I suffered, I have devised one for you.

The base:

For those of you who are lucky to still have problem-free skin, I would suggest a tinted moisturiser (like this one from Nivea) rather than foundation, and then some loose powder (from Natural Collection) for the base of your makeup.

If you find that you suffer from problematic skin, then you may have to use concealer (this from Collection 2000 is a great investment) to cover up blemishes or dark marks, and replace the tinted moisturiser with foundation.

Rimmel provide great foundations for all skin types. I would suggest the Stay Matte Foundation for oily skin, the Wake Me Up Foundation for dry skin and the Match Perfection for an uneven skin tone.

The cheeks:

This blusher from Barry M is great for beginners. It’s highly pigmented and blends well, with a huge range of colours to choose from, making it suitable for light and dark skin.

The eyes:

The Au Naturel eyeshadow palette from Sleek is a fantastic product for people just starting out with makeup. It’s cheap, and the range of colours means you can change your look on a daily basis.

You can also use the black or dark brown shade as eyeliner, as most people struggle using proper eyeliner – which makes it a no-go for beginners.

For your eyelashes, use mascara that will elongated your lashes (such as this one from Maybelline), rather than making them seem thick and spidery. 

The lips:

I would suggest lip gloss (from Tanya Burr’s collection) or tinted lip balm for everyday use. This will help to make your lips look soft and dewy, and will stop your makeup from looking overdone.

Hopefully this guide will stop you from getting caught in the pitfalls that I ended up in when I first began wearing makeup, and will serve as a good basis for building up and experimenting with your makeup collection.

Makeup & Confidence

Credit: Hayley Bolan, Flickr.

It’s difficult as a makeup wearer to convince people that I’m confident with my natural appearance. To an outsider I must look like I’m deeply insecure about the way that I look if I don’t take the time to ‘put my face on’ in the morning.

Of course I have the usual insecurities every once in a while, for example if my skin is breaking out or I’ve not had a lot of sleep and I look and feel like death warmed up, but I’ve never seen makeup as a way to cover up or something to hide behind.

Naturally in a world where women’s flaws are pointed out and exaggerated in every advertisement for cosmetics, some of us are bound to feel like we ‘have’ to buy Revlon’s new concealer for £7.99. But my relationship with makeup doesn’t really stem from that basis.

For me, makeup is more an extension of myself as a person. I love to experiment with different styles and looks, and I enjoy creating new things. When I look at models in magazines and think ‘I want to look like that’, it’s not because I think I’m unattractive, it’s because I’ve identified with whatever image that model is projecting and want to incorporate it into my own sense of style.

It’s not that I lack confidence and so need to put makeup on to feel good about myself – I am sure enough in myself to walk down the street without any makeup on whatsoever. It’s just that I feel more like I’m expressing myself when I do wear makeup, because I know I’m projecting the kind of image I want to imprint on the world.

Everyone has an idea of the type of person that they want to be, and it’s not unhealthy to want to create a good impression. Nor does it mean you’re insecure. I’m not claiming that by wearing makeup I’m being my ‘true’ and ‘natural’ self, but it seems absurd to me that women are labelled as ‘unconfident’ and ‘insecure’ for wearing makeup when, really, all they’re doing is having the confidence to be the person they want to be, and create the impression they want to create.