Exams

So, you've probably noticed that I haven't posted in absolutely ages. Now, I do feel extremely bad about this, however it's all with good reason. As I said at the start of this blog, my exams are fast approaching so having time to write this blog is getting harder and harder. However I promise I will try my best as I genuinely do love writing and creating this blog. I think it's currently about 10 days until my first GCSE exam is and I am due to finish all my exams on the 18th June (Wahoo!) I'm sure that in the coming months I will have lots to blog about what with my prom and summer, all of which I'm sure you'll enjoy.

I have exams in English Literature, English Language, Child Development, Resistant Materials, Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Geography and French (phew!) I am crossing everything in hope that I do well in my exams and I wish anyone else doing any sort of exam or test the best of luck. The key is to revise as much as you can and to stay calm. See you all soon! X

 

Skincare Regime

So, today I thought I'd tell all you lovely people about my current skincare regime. It's not all that interesting but since I've been properly looking after my skin I've noticed a huge difference. Not only does it look better but it actually feels so much softer! Now, of course, the number one priority is to ALWAYS take off your makeup before you go to sleep no matter what. You should never sleep with any makeup on as this is the only chance your skin ever gets to breathe. Plus, there's no need to wear it really-who's going to see you when you're asleep!? And, if you don't like taking it off because your skin looks too bad then how is it ever going to improve!? Anyway, that’s a long enough lecture, let’s move swiftly on to the products I use.

So, after I've taken off my makeup with a makeup remover wipe, I use this exfoliating facial scrub. It's an apricot one so it smells divine and it basically has little grains in it which help to remove dirt and dead skin cells. I find that this exfoliator really works as I always feel as though my skin is much softer and clean after using it. First, I just wash my face with some clean, fresh, warm water. Then, I just use my hands to rub it in and always use circular motions to really massage it into my face. I take care not to use too much as it does spread quite far. It may feel as though it is almost scratching at your skin but the purpose of it, is to remove all the dead skin to reveal a healthier and fresher looking face! I then just wash it all off by splashing my face with water and dry my face with a soft towel. I usually just pat my face dry as this stops my face from feeling tight. I bought this from a shop called 'Bodycare' for just £1 and it was so worth it. It lasts so long and really does work even though it is so cheap! I would definitely recommend this! If you don’t have a Bodycare near you, I think they sell this one, or one similar in Home Bargains for around the same price!

Next, I use this cleansener by the brand 'Clean & Clear.' This is such a great lotion that I use after I've exfoliated. It gets rid of even more dirt and anymore make up that I may have missed with the makeup remover wipe. It makes my face feel so fresh and it especially helps in the mornings as it wakes me up! This particular one is specially formulated for sensitive skin and helps to prevent spots and oily skin. As you can see, in the picture, I also have some cotton wool pads which I use to apply it. I just tip the bottle upside down and pour some of the liquid onto it. I then wipe the pad all over my face until I feel that my whole face has been cleansed. It dries into your skin so there’s no need to rinse it off or dry your face. It really opens my pores and helps with breakouts. As you can see my bottle is nearing the end so I will definitely have to restock it at some point! It has honestly lasted me ages so it's a great buy. You can buy the cleansener from Boots for just £2.99! Click here to view the product on the Boots website. The cotton pads can be bought from most supermarkets for about £1 but i bought these particular ones from Home Bargains. Click here to view some cotton pads available in the Boots store.

Last, but not least, is my good old facial moisturiser. This one is the brand 'T-ZONE', and it is great! It contains Tea Tree and Eucalyuptus which makes your face smell really bright and refreshed. These ingredients also create a powerful anti-bacterial and soothing agent, especially if you have red or irritated skin. It really moisturises my face and makes it feel extremely soft, for an extended amount of time. It also helps to prevent spots and clear my skin, as it doesn't block my pores. This should always be applied at the end of your cleansing routine and I usually apply it by rubbing it into my face using small circular actions. I use it most days, morning and night and it has really helped the feel and look of my skin. This only cost me £1 from Home Bargains and has been amazing. For such a cheap price, it really does the job! I have also found another website which sells it for just £1.49. Click here to view the website.

Congratulations, you have now got to the end of my oh so long blog post. I hope i didn't bore you all too much and I hope it helped some of you to find a cheaper alternative to keeping your skin clean, clear, fresh and soft! I hope you all manage to find suitable products and I hope my reviews helped you along the way. Speak soon!xx

Scrapbooking...

In case you hadn't guessed, this blog post is going to be based around my recent scrapbooking adventures (Sounds oh, so exciting, right!?) Anyway, as the majority of you know, as I'm guessing you’re around the same age as me, I recently had two weeks off for our Easter holidays. As much as I love the holidays as it's so nice to have a break, I admit I did get bored sometimes. So, one day me and my friends went to town and guess what I bought? A scrapbook of course! My friend, Emma, had told me that she had bought one and so I decided that it would be a good idea for me to get one for myself in order to occupy myself a bit. This particular scrapbook (pictured) was bought in The Works for just £1.99. My friend also bought one from Wilkinson’s and I think hers was around £4, although I'm not completely sure. 

I didn't really know where to start but in the end I thought picking up my laptop and searching through my photos, would be a good place! After a while I had finally gathered loads of photos (about 4 A4 pages worth) and printed them out. I basically got some photos of any important events, holidays or just things I wanted to remember. I cut them all out (which took me absolutely ages, however was worth it), and laid them all out on my bed! The sight of all those photos did scare me but, I knew that once it was done, it would look great. I also managed to find some concert tickets, train tickets, cinema tickets, and labels from things like candles and clothing brands to add and use in my scrapbook.

So, I got started and decided that I would use some masking tape to stick down my photos and other things that I have listed previously. I also wrote small notes or messages next to each photo or a range of photos relating to the same subject. I think that this will make it look nicer when I go back and look through it in the future. Anyway, I did eventually manage to do all my cutting, sticking and writing and it looks better than I had imagined. I will probably go back through my photos at a later date to add some more to my scrapbook. 

I hope that this blog post inspires you all to get creative and make something that you will be able to look back on fondly when you are older. I feel that it's just somewhere that I can store all of my lovely memories. Let me know if you do, and tell me how you've designed yours. 

Click here to view The Works website; The Works Homepage 

Click here to view Wilkinsons website; Wilkinsons Homepage

Speak soon lovelies!xx

Charity Shopping

Bonjour!

 

So, I have recently become a lover of Charity Shops. Now, I do realise that they are not to everyone’s taste (what with the things being second hand), but if you've never been to one, you have no right to judge! Above, I have pictured my two favourite buys from Charity Shops. In fact, I would go as far as saying, that they are two of my favourite pieces of clothing in my current wardrobe! The first piece of clothing pictured is just a baggy shirt, which have recently come back into fashion. I like to wear it over just a normal short sleeved t-shirt or I sometimes add a hooded jacket underneath as well if it is a particularly cold day. It is a pretty plain and simple piece but I think it will be particularly handy for the summer when it's warmer weather and I may just want a lightweight jacket to keep me warm. I think I bought it for something like £3-£4 and so this is a fraction of the price of one you would buy in a high street shop like Topshop or H&M. 

The second item of clothing pictured is a recent buy from the Severn Hospice charity shop in my town. It was priced at just £4.50 and after trying it on; I just couldn’t say no! It looked lovely tucked into my jeans or a pair of shorts and I figured that it would be a good way to dress up a casual or smart outfit. Again, I knew that the price was so much cheaper than one I could get anywhere else. Charity Shops really are underrated as people seem to look down on them. The reality is that the clothes have been washed and at the end of the day, no one has to know where you buy your clothes from. It just gives you more money to spend on other things like make-up or days out! Plus, you mustn’t forget that you are doing a great thing. The money you spend in these shops don't just go into someone's wage packet, it actually goes to the people who need it. At the same time as buying yourself something nice you are helping others! I hope to see many more young people alike myself using charity shops to buy clothes in the near future! They are also such a good place to shop especially if you like the more 'vintage' style. 

Anyways, speak soon lovelies!xx

Perks of being a Wallflower

So, I thought I'd do a quick blog post on this wonderful, wonderful book. Now, I know that most of you have probably heard about it (well the film at least) and will know that many people have said that it is amazing-and they couldn't be more right! It is basically a book full of letters written to an anonymous stranger by a boy throughout a period of time. I won't give too much away but you basically get to see a teenage boy’s life through his own eyes. He's known to be a 'wallflower' as he almost sits and watches everyone else live their lives without maybe living his own to its full content. There are so many meaningful quotes throughout this book and many teenagers, alike myself, are likely to enjoy the book as it's so relatable and almost represents the teenage reality. I've included a picture of my favourite paragraph in the whole book above! I would definitely recommend this to all of you reading this as it is well worth the read and I honestly couldn't put it down. It took me a while to get into it, but I know loads of others who would name it their favourite book of all time.

Here’s the blurb; 'Charlie's not the biggest geek in high school, but he's by no means popular. Shy, introspective, intelligent, yet socially awkward, Charlie is a wallflower, standing on threshold of his life, whilst watching everyone else lives theirs. As Charlie tries to navigate his way through uncharted territory-the world of first dates and mix tapes, family dramas and new friends-he realises that he can't stay on the sidelines forever. There comes a time when you have to see what life looks like from the dance floor.'

I also managed to watch the film recently and although it wasn't as good as the book it was so amazing to actually see a book brought to life. I think you almost make up images of the places and people in books, so seeing the film really makes it feel as though you know the characters. I think the film did help me to understand it that little bit more so, if you're like me and don't really catch on to storylines very easily, then go and watch the film first! I wish I had done that however, I can't wait to read more books by Stephen Chbosky. The book is available in stores like Waterstones, WhSmith and online in shops like Amazon or eBay. The film also, will be available online and most likely in supermarkets or HMV. Enjoy! xx