The Life Changing Book.. Reasons To Stay Alive by Matt Haig

Oh hey guys!

So today's post is something non beauty related but super important and something I've been wanting to share for a little over a week, so here goes....

First of all, this is a topic very close to my heart and my aim is to not only introduce you to a must read within the field of depression and anxiety but also share my story in a hope of helping others. It is important that I make it perfectly clear that I am not diagnosed with depression or anxiety as I have not allowed myself to go to the relevant stages after seeing a GP, for me it is a case of someone needing to see someone more than me.

Depressive symptoms have felt like a part of my life since the time I tried to end it all around 14 years old, I never assumed or even had any idea of what was going on at the time except for the need to just end it. I think that although much has changed in the sharing and education of depression there is still a huge stigma around it with most deeming it something to be taken lightly. There are always highs with lows within depressive thoughts and feelings and it is a constant battle that you feel you are fighting alone. You can be in a room full of people and feel like the loneliest one there, you get paranoid and feel numb and yet no matter how hard you try and get someone to understand it seems to fall on deaf ears.  A lot of people don’t understand the choking feeling that comes from being in a state of depression, most people only understand anything physical like a broken bone they can only believe what they see.

One of the best things that I discovered late last year was that I wasn’t alone (within my family) and my amazing cousin too was suffering from depression (and anxiety). Trust me when I say I don’t mean that its good that she is suffering as this isn’t the case, I wouldn’t wish that on anyone it’s the most paralysing feeling. My cousin has been an amazing source of support for me and even suggested Matt Hiag’s Reason’s To Stay Alive which changed my life forever. In all shout out to the best cousin ever, I LOVE YOU EM!

Now on to the life changing book, is I was to describe it in a sentence I would say it is a total page turner of relatable events and feelings that will have you reading it in days. Hiag taps into his own experiences to almost give us a lesson that what we feel isn’t shameful and there is a future no matter what we feel in our dark times. It is important to realise that there are in fact 1 in 4 people that will experience some kind of mental health issues within their lifetime, you are not alone in these feelings that you have, you are NEVER alone.

This book doesn’t set out to define anxiety and depression, but Matt Haig has a way of articulating his own experience that will resonate deeply. The only true way to describe this book for me is: when life is squishing you down into the depths of darkness and you need someone to tell you everything is okay and that there is a light coming soon? This book is that.

I don’t know if my mini review even does this book enough justice but I encourage everyone to read it because even if you don’t personally suffer from depression or anxiety there will be someone in your life that will. If I could convince my mum to read this book I would but she doesn’t read books and she won’t change for me. As I’ve mentioned my parents aren’t understanding of what I might possibly have, they are old fashioned in only believing what is physically in front of them. Just because my mum won’t read it doesn't mean you shouldn’t even get your parents to read it, that is the beauty of the book it is an amazing insight for anyone on the lows of depression and anxiety. As it says on the cover (a quote from Joanna Lumley) ‘A small masterpiece that might even save lives.’

So to all my awesome readers I am here for you, if you need someone to talk to or you just feel alone I’m here. I know how crippling loneliness can feel and to add a condition on top of that really tests someone. You are not alone, I am here, if not me then pick up Matt Haig and trust me when I say there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Trying (and sometimes failing) to be a better blogger...

Oh hey guys!

I thought this week would be an honest post, my blog isn't anywhere near what I want it to be and that is for many reasons. I don't have a crazy amount of time to put towards my blog like I want to, even now I am recently with extra time but it isn't a great deal of time for my blog. Photography is my biggest hurdle I believe in my blogging progress, I don't have access to a good camera let alone any camera so when it comes to pictures right now I am using my iPhone.

Outfit posts are something that is on my list for sure but with no camera or tripod taking long shots is hard and I only want to produce the best posts I can not some quick half hearted post just for the sake of putting up a post. I know this sounds just like a ramble rant of a post but I just want to keep it real with the few readers I have and just let you know what's going on. I am going to try harder, I've tried to increase posts to 2x a week but lately all they have been are either what's in my stash or a wishlist so I need to up my game and provide more of a selection of things.

I am going to a little launch today for Urban Decay's new products so there's that to look forward to, I might do a FOTD for the make-up I wear or even include my outfit if I can. I am constantly trying to do better if not for myself then for you lovely readers and I would love it if you could give me some kind of input to what you guys want to see or read.

I have made small steps including mapping out my blog as much as I can with the badass blog planner and even paying for a new theme to make it look more of a professional blog. All I can do is try and trust me I am doing the best I can, I just hope you guys understand.

Any upcoming posts you want are welcome in the comment box.

That's all for now,

My concealer stash!

Oh hey guys!

So I have severe issues with concealers I can't seem to find the perfect one that sticks to my face all day to cover the spots. So I have a mini harem of concealers that I pile on to try and make it work that I thought I would share and give a mini review about.

1. Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer
This is the ultimate bloggers dream, there isn't really a blogger out there with a bad word to say about this product. Whilst I must admit that the coverage is one of the best out of the concealers I have I find the lasting power isn't there. I've noticed as well that over the years the price of this has gone up and now it retails at which could be due to the high demand for it. This comes in three shades: Light, medium and dark and for about a month or two straight it was impossible to actually get my shade light in any Superdrug store. The application itself is via a dofer applicator that comes with the little tube of ml. Overall this is one of the best drug store concealers on the market within a reasonable budget.  8/10

2. Maybelline Eraser Eye Concealer
This is also a firm favourite among many bloggers and you tubers such as Estee Lalonde and Amelia Liana and its clear to see why.  This concealer is aimed for under the eyes to reduce eye bags and dark circles, it also has a brightner to improve the appearance of under eyes. As it is a drug store product it is affordable at £7.99 which again makes it hard for an audience with my complexion as again this was a hard product to find in the palest shade. This is a twist top product with a mini sponge attached for easy application. I prefer to use the sponge and then use a sponge to press the product on to my problem areas.  9/10

3. Loreal True Match Concealer
This concealer is something I picked up on my mission and failure to get concealers A and B, it is an okay concealer with a good range of shade selections. However it isn't a "match" and I don't find that it blends in well with my skin. However for the availability and price it would suit some skin types better than mine, I would presume oily to combination skin. This comes with a dofer application as well as the Collection one which is the popular method through many concealers. This is currently £6.99.  6/10

4. Rimmel London Hide The Blemish Concealer
This concealer was recommended to me from a colleague at work, I had tried this years ago but I thought I would give it another go. The availability of shades is good and the price point of £3.99 means its within a good budget, I would recommend this for make up starters as it comes as a stick which you just apply and blend. However I find this quite drying overall so I find it hard to blend.  5/10

5. Miss Sporty Liquid Concealer
I picked this up again from a recommendation and I have to say its the worst out of my stash, I got the lightest shade and it just appears very orangey to me no matter how much i try to buff or blend it into my skin. There isn't really much to say except luckily it was cheap and easy to get as it was only £2.99.    3/10

So there you have it, a sneak into my make-up collection and concealers. What do you guys use?

That's all for now,

My Updated Perfume Collection!

Oh hey guys!


So I recall doing something similar in my "A quick glance at my beauty storage" post, however since then my collection has expanding somewhat and I thought I would share would is on view in my bedroom.

This is the corner of my shelf where I store my perfume, as you can see it has expanded a tad. I know a lot of people don't think you should leave perfume on view but I think they look cute and you can't please everyone! They currently live on my shelf in the corner and make my room more personal and feminine. 

I've separated them into what I would consider to be higher end perfumes and more affordable ones. First off we have the higher end, Calvin Klein Down Town: This perfume is relatively fresh and vibrant with subtle floral hints, I have the 50ml bottle that retails at £45 which could be considered a tad pricey but I have had this for over a year and have just under half left (I don't wear it too often to be honest).  Next up was the perfume I lusted over for months, Viktor&Rolf Flowerbomb. This was a gift from my parents so I am unaware of how much it was but the 30ml retails at £49! This would definitely have to be a splurge item if you was to get one but it just smells gorgeous with floral notes that make you feel so feminine. Now finally the last one of the trio was a christmas gift last year as I was dying to try it out and this would be Michael Kors Sexy Amber. I was actually present when they bought it so I know it was around the £60 mark which is outrageous when you think about it but you can get the perfume here for £57 for the 50ml like me! This is a mixture of musky and sweet with mandarin extract and I feel this just makes me feel beautiful!

Now on to the more affordable side, this just brings me back to the days of having to buy my own and so I couldn't afford the likes of Sexy Amber. First up is a cute perfume from the French Glossy Box the name has rubbed off so I am unable to tell you anything about it. Next we have Victoria Secret Love Spell, I believe this is around the £15 from Victoria Secret store as it is just 30ml but you can get it here for £11.35! This is definitely a sweet and strong perfume, I find more than one spray is overkill and in general I don't really wear this as much but it is a good buy for teenagers on a budget. 

Then the DKNY Be Delicious which was a gift YEARS ago for passing my GCSE's (now I feel old!) it retails at £36 for 30ml and it is an amazing everyday perfume. It has obviously the smell of green apples but almost a subtle mix with floral notes. Finally we have a perfume I don't tend to use but I should do so more and that is Anna Sui Dolly Girl. Now for 30ml it costs around £25 and is a very girly perfume with floral and fruity notes in it so it is very affordable and much more subtle than Love Spell I would say. 

So there you have it, my updated and much loved perfume collection, let me know if any of you guys have these perfumes or even have any suggestions for some new purchases.

That's all for now guys,

Swapping Out Cleansers!

Oh Hey Guys!

So as you may or may not know from a previous post on my skin care (see here), I have been using Clinque's Take The Day Off Balm. I am completely obsessed with this as it is an amazing cleansing balm however I did run out a week ago, now before all the crying begins I did have a back up of a cleanser which has also been on my list to try out. This is one of those cult blogger favourites and I have always wanted to try it but it all honesty I am terrible at my skin care so I never saw a point. This cleanser is of course Liz Earle's Cleanse and Polish!

Now this retails at £15.50 at Boots, however mine was part of the limited edition range that came with two muslin cloths and so it was around the £20 mark. I must admit writing this post that I've only used this product the once however here is a mini review. So first up I had no idea how many pumps of this to use so I opted for 2, it is a nice creamy consistency that was easy to apply and massage to the face. The first negative I found was the smell, I disliked it immediately. The classic scent of Rosemary, Chamomile, Cocoa butter, Eucalyptus essential oils did not smell of anything cleansing or soothing to me, in comparison the TLDO balm smelt if anything of soap! Overall, both cleaners do what they say on the tin, I love the fact that they take make up off so easily and makes your skin feel as clean as a whistle!

Whilst I love taking my make-up off it does tend to make me sleepy so its something I like to do right before bed, hair up and PJ's on. Both Cleansers are within £5 difference of each other and whilst I can imagine the balm lasted longer than the cleanser will I am willing to give it a try.

Any other cleansers I should add to my list?

That's all for now guys!

My 21st birthday Wishlist!

Oh Hey guys!

So I'm back with another post this week, my 21st birthday is coming up (in less than a month eek!) and so a lot of people are asking what I want so I thought I would create an ideas wishlist. Obviously I am not stupid enough to think I'm going to get all of this, I would be happy with any presents I receive from people (as long as its not 10 bottles of alcohol, vomit!). So let us begin with the presents!

L-R: Micheal Korrs Greenwich Leather Carryall Wallet, Diane Von Furstenberg: Love Tuxedo Glittered PVC Cardholder, SHU UEMURA Eyelash Curler, Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick, Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask, Beauty Blender Set, February Signature Heart Birthstone Charm , Pink Mini Lady Tote Bag by Skinny-dip, Make-up Eraser.

So as you can see it is a real mix of things, I have always wanted something semi- designer and the Micheal Korrs bags are too hyped up for me so I browsed the purses and fell in love with this Gold mix Greenwich wallet. Now don't get me wrong this is definitely a hefty price at £130 but I see this as an investment piece to love and remember my birthday in the years to come. Now as you can see there are quite a few beauty/ make up pieces on my list and this is because my parents refuse to get me any beauty things so I have accumulated a list based off that. I am IN LOVE with Charlotte Tilburys Matte Revolution Lipstick in Glastonberry, everything from the packaging of the lipstick to the reviews I have read up on this product make it a must to have! 

I feel like a watch is something that everyone should have, this watch from Rosefield is just a classic piece from its clean black strap to the silver detailing, it's not a terrible price either at £90! Now bag time and I fell in love with this Skinny-dip pink tote bag, I only seem to own black and red bags and I feel like this bag would add a pop of colour to the many times I wear all black outfits. Finally I feel like there needs to be some kind of birthday stone or age related gift and this simple but cute charm from Pandora is definitely that!

So as you can see a complete mixed bag of items, I will be grateful for everything I might receive on my birthday but for anyone wondering what kind of things I might be into or want here this list is for you. Do you guys like anything? What did you get for your 21st?

That's all for now,

MAC Lipstick Collection

Oh Hey guys!

So I'm super interested in these posts and I constantly see similar ones around by the likes of Becca at Fashion Train, so I thought I would take inspiration from someone who inspires me and show you my growing collection of MAC lipsticks.

As you can see, I have a total of 8 lipsticks, now I would say I've only been collecting them for around 9 months ago. It was always a splurge want of mine and I took the plunge at university (I mean I am going to be a poor student after all!) My first purchases were actually Viva Glam I and Viva Glam V! At this time I was a ginger wanting a daytime and nighttime lipstick. That soon followed by a splurge order of Honey Love,  So Chaud and Impassioned following a live chat with someone online from MAC. 

The one that I truly fell in love with was Amorous, this purple is to die for I had been wanting a purple so badly. Originally I was thinking of rebel but the MAC lady suggested this shade for my now red hair. I wear this both day and night and I would DEFINITELY repurchase! D for Danger was a christmas gift from my sister which I have yet to wear out and Soft Saviour was in a MAC set that I received for christmas off my parents. At first just looking at the bullet I was sure I wasn't going to like it but it is actually a decent daytime colour for even the palest skin!

L-R: Honey love, Viva Glam V, Soft Saviour, So Chaud, Impassioned, Amorous, D for Danger and Viva Glam I.

My most worn lipsticks: Viva Glam V, Amorous and Viva Glam I.

So there you have it with all my lipsticks in glory, amorous is definitely looking worn but it just shows how much I love it.

Hope you enjoyed the post guys,

Until next time...