January Favourites

Hey peeps!

It is coming to the end of January, bringing with it the beginning of monthly favourites-es. This month has been a month of heatwaves and university offers, failed resolutions and unexpected plans with my friends. I, myself, haven’t failed any resolutions (yet), but I'm sure there are people who failed theirs in the first week. I have been using products, reading books, listening to music, and wearing shoes (and clothes) throughout this month and I would like to share with you my favourites of those products, books, and clothes.

First on my list of things is The Body Shop Facial Buffer. I have told you about this before, but basically you put a bit of cleanser on it and rub it on your face in little circular motions until you have buffed your entire face. I like that it is exfoliating as it always leaves my face feeling soft and smooth. It hasn’t yet conquered my pimples, but I did notice less of them as the month went on. I have also used it to clean my makeup brushes. I don’t think it is supposed to be used for this, but it works!

Next on my list of favourites for this month are my Converses. I. Love. Them. So. Much. They are so comfortable and go with everything. I wear them pretty much every time I go on a PokéWalk with Mum (I know that Pokémon Go isn’t cool anymore, but I don’t care). I don’t wear them to my Grandma’s house (we visit every Sunday for dinner) because her little pug, Peggy (I believe you’ve been introduced), absolutely loves shoelaces. She loves them so much that she chews them to almost complete obliteration. Anyway, I love my converses a whole lot and I think it’s time to move on to the next favourite.

I have read and completed one book this month (I am still reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire), which is Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon. I loved this book so much that I finished it in just over a day. I started it on New Year’s Eve and finished it on New Year’s Day. I literally could not put it down. You know those reviews that say they couldn’t put down a book? That was me with this book. I have never done that before but Everything, Everything did it for me. I have explained to you the plot before but basically it is about a girl who is allergic to everything (hence the title), a boy moves in next door and madness ensues.

Next on my list of favourites is another Christmas present. I have loved the Maybelline Blushed Nudes palette a lot this month. They blend really well on my eyelid and it has a sticker on the back to show you what combinations work and where to place the colours in case you have absolutely no idea. I have only really used the lighter shades (I have experimented with darker colours, but I've only worn lighter colours to parties and things). I have mostly used the colours that I used in my go to makeup look, but I am excited to try some of the other colours more often.

The next thing on my list is something I have had for quite a while (you can probably tell that just by looking at it). It is my Bourjois Colour Boost lip crayon in Peach on the Beach. This is quite a summery colour so I have been wearing this a lot seeing as it is summer where I live. It stays on quite well, even with eating, which is very important as I generally wear it to grandma’s house and restaurants.

This month has seen me listening to a lot of music, new and old, and I have my favourites. The great Ed Sheeran released two songs at the beginning of this month and I love both of them. Castle on the Hill is my favourite of the two, but Shape of You is a close second. I also bought some music that came out last year (thus making it old) that I absolutely love. I bought both of Shawn Mendes’ albums and I highly recommend everything that he writes. My favourite of the two albums is Illuminate as my favourite song (Mercy) is on it, but I do love Handwritten as well. I could go on for ages about how much I love his music, but I think you’d get a bit bored of listening to me talk about him.

What are your favourite things from January? What is your favourite song?

Love, Nicky x

Current Go To Makeup

Hey peeps!

Before I get into this post, I just thought I’d give you a quick update regarding university. I got an offer (which I accepted) for a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Creative and Professional Writing) at QUT. I am so excited to start; I think it will be really fun despite the fact that there will be assignments and exams and lectures and tutorials and all that good gear (not very good grammar for someone about to start a writing degree, but whatever).

Anyway, today’s post is my current go to makeup look (with some makeup tips mixed in for a little bit of extra flavour). So while I sit in the air conditioning and listen to Shawn Mendes’ songs (on repeat), I will write you this little post (currently I’m listening to Aftertaste).

Base

So the first thing I do is moisturise my face, seeing as I don’t have a primer, with my Simple Spotless Skin Anti-Blemish moisturiser so that my makeup stays on for a longer amount of time (always a plus in my books). I also use this time before applying any actual makeup to put some lip balm on so I'm ready for when it’s time for lipstick. I currently use The Body Shop Born Lippy in Strawberry flavour (my favourite, although I think it tastes like watermelon).

Once I’ve finished moisturising, it’s time for BB cream. I don’t currently have a foundation; I would like to have one, but I haven’t gotten around to buying one (recommend me some in the comments if you like). I use The Body Shop Tea Tree Flawless BB Cream currently in the shade 01. I squeeze a bit onto the back of my hand and use my fingers to dot it onto different parts of my face; one dot on my chin and nose, two on each cheek and three across my forehead. I then rub it in with my fingers like a moisturiser. Sometimes I use a blending sponge, but I'm lazy so usually I just use my fingers. If I don’t get enough coverage, then I go over my face with more BB cream, remembering to blend down my neck a bit in case my face doesn’t match the rest of my body.

Concealer time! I use the Maybelline Fit Me concealer in shade 15 ‘Fair’ to cover up any redness, blemishes and the designer bags beneath my eyes (they’re Chanel). I put a fair amount beneath my eyes and blend it out with my fingers, going up to the top part of my nose as for some reason my Chanel bags go up to there. I then do the same with any pimples I have (but since I did BB cream first, most of them are covered up). Then I cover up the redness around my nose (I'm quite good at sneezing) and blend it all out with my fingers. I then go in with some transparent powder over all of my concealer (I use the Rimmel Stay Matte powder in shade 001 ‘Transparent’ with my Nude by Nature kabuki brush) so it doesn’t move throughout the day. I then powder over the rest of my face so the BB cream lasts longer.

I then put on a bit of blusher (I either use the blush from the Napoleon Perdis Ultimate Contour palette or my new blush from Chi Chi called Pink Peach, which I used today) on the apples of my cheeks. To find the apples of your cheeks, smile and you’ll find them easily enough! I use the Napoleon Perdis Reflective Contour brush (20b). Then I go in with a bit of highlight from the Napoleon Perdis Ultimate Contour palette *just* above the blusher. I apply it with my ring finger and blend it with either a clean brush or my fingers. I don’t apply any contouring or bronzer because I'm not good at it and it looks like I've put dirt on my face.

Eyes

First on my eyes I put on eyeshadow (I would prime them, but I don’t have any eye primer). I'm currently really into using my Maybelline Blushed Nudes palette. I tend to use lighter shades on my eyes if I wear a darker lip, because if you do both you’ll a bit odd or overdone. Since its summer time, I keep my eyeshadow and lips light. Colour 1 I use over my whole eyelid and colour 2 in the crease, with a different brush for each shade. I use a bigger brush for my whole eyelid and a smaller one for in my crease, then a clean brush to blend them out. All of my brushes are Nude by Nature, fyi.

Then I move onto eyebrows and eyelashes. I use the Maybelline Brow Drama in the shade Medium Brown on my eyebrows, doing little strokes upwards over my whole brow, then shaping them a bit from there. On my eyelashes I use the Maybelline Lash Sensational mascara, starting at the base of my lash while shimmying the wand and lightly blinking so as to not get little black spots underneath my eyes. Now is the time my nose decides to sneeze, giving me black spots under my eyes anyway (ugh!). I don’t line my eyes at all, since I suck at it (please recommend me your favourite ones (and some eyeliner tips) in the comments).

 

Lips

As far as lips go, I tend to stick to pinks (but I sometimes venture into reds). I use the Bourjois Colour Boost in Peach on the Beach or Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid in Electric Pink. I tend to use the Bourjois one in the day time and the Maybelline one in the night time (or I attempt to brave the red lip). I don’t own any lip liners that match these shades, so I have no tips as far as that goes. Between you and me, I have read a few makeup artist secrets posts on the internet and they say that lining your lips is unnecessary but idk. If you want to line your lips, go ahead. Do whatever you want to do to make you feel your best.

So that is my current go to makeup routine! Did you like it?

What is your current go to makeup? Do you have any makeup tips or recommendations?

Love, Nicky x

Summer Evening Routine

Hey peeps!

As it is summer time where I live, I thought I would explain to you my evening routine. The evening is the time when I wash off all the sweat and stuff the hot, humid summer day gave me (lovely image, Nicky, well done). Anyway, on with the routine!

 Shower time!

When I get in the shower, the first thing I do is wash my face. Since Christmas, I have been using The Body Shop’s Facial Buffer with some Simple Spotless Skin Triple Action Face Wash to wash my face. I scrub in little circles all over my face to exfoliate just enough to get rid of all the dead skin on my face from the day. Then I move on to washing my body. Currently I am using the Soap and Glory Sugar Crush body wash, which smells ah-mazing by the way (if you’re a long-time reader, you would already know of my love for it).

Skin care

Once I’m out of the shower (after maybe having a bit of standing under the cold water to make up for the summer heat), I do my night time skin care. I don’t have any serums, oils or anything like that (mainly because I'm broke and can’t afford them), so I go straight on to toner and moisturiser. I am currently using the Clinique Clarifying Lotion 3 on a makeup remover pad all over my face (except around the eyes, obviously). It works well to keep my blemishes and pimples away, which is ALWAYS a plus for me.

After toner, I go straight on to moisturiser. Currently I'm using the Simple Spotless Skin Anti-Blemish moisturiser to great success. It is a really light moisturiser that sinks into my skin almost immediately. I must admit that sometimes I do forget to do my night time skincare, either because I'm too tired or my brother decides he needs to go to the toilet right after my shower (which does happen more than you’d think).

Dinner time!

After doing my skin care (if I remember), I go to my room and quickly put on my pyjamas before dinner. Then I go help Mum finish cooking the dinner, set the table or just go straight to the table (if the former was already done). After dinner, we watch the TV for a bit. Currently, we watch police shows and get really into them. We also watch cricket (when my dad is home from work) and Once Upon a Time (when dad is still at work, so he doesn’t get spoilers. I know we should wait for him and watch it together, but we are so much further ahead of him in terms of episodes, so yeah).

At about nine thirty we switch off the TV and get ready for bed. I go and brush my teeth (which is particularly important since I have braces) and do my puffer so I don’t get short of breath (I have had asthma since late 2015). After that I go back to my room and switch on my air conditioner. I tidy up my room a bit so that I don’t end up wading through masses of mess to get to my bed. I then tuck myself into bed and read for a bit. I'm currently reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire; I’m rereading the series for the third time. Once I’ve finished a chapter or two I turn off my light, put my air conditioner on sleep mode (so it turns off automatically) and go to sleep.

What is your current evening routine?

Love, Nicky x

New Year, New Beginnings

Happy New Year peeps!

How’s 2017 treating you so far? Good? Good. As it is my first post of 2017, I would like to talk to you about some of the things in my life going on this year, and some aspirations and goals I would like to achieve during the year.

Going to University

As I graduated high school last year (wow that sounds weird: last year), I will be attending university this year (and for a couple more years after that). I haven’t yet received an offer from the uni I applied for, but they have sent me an email saying that I will be getting an offer on the 16^th of this month. I am so excited! I will be finding out what I will be doing for potentially the next three or four years of my life! I have applied for a Bachelor of Business and a Bachelor of Fine Arts – Creative and Professional Writing at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT for short). I’m sure I will get into the writing course, as the OP I achieved (11) is not good enough to get into the business course, which needed an 8.

Getting a Job

Another thing I will be seriously looking into this year is finding a job. I need one. Well, Mum says I do, anyway. I think it would be a great way to earn some money for myself, but then that, mixed with having uni at least three days a week would mean that yet again this blog will be put on the back burner. I would like a job at my local shopping centre, seeing as it is really close to where I live. The only thing about that is that the last time I went around handing out resumes, they all said:

“We don’t take physical resumes.”
“Try applying online.”
“Go to our website and apply there.”

This is great and all, but when I go online to apply for a job that was advertised in the physical store, there is no job opening listed. Do you see my problem? Mum keeps on saying that if I keep looking, a job will come up eventually, but I don’t know how much more rejection my self-esteem can take.

Learning to Drive

I also have to get back into learning to drive this year. Like this blog, learning to drive was put on the back burner since September last year (September 11^th, to be exact). I have racked up a total of 38 hours and 58 minutes of driving (though most of it was triple time, so I’ve really only driven for about 19 hours). I know how to do the basics (mostly).

The last time I did driving, I stalled the car at a green (previously red) light and there were people waiting behind me and I was panicking (by this point I had stalled it maybe twice or three times in a row and the people were getting impatient). The worst part was that I was starting on a slight hill and I am not confident with hill starts, so I just revved the engine (maybe a bit too much) and fluked my way through the intersection, practically hearing the other drivers’ thinking ‘thank God she finally used the right pedal’.

So those are my major goals for 2017, now here are some minor goals that are still important, but not ‘top three’ important:

1. Build up this blog more. Basically, I would like to post weekly, perhaps do giveaways, and integrate ads once I turn 18 (only a couple though, not too many).

2. Read more books. I have gotten back into reading recently (in case you couldn’t tell from the amount of books I got for Christmas) and would like to expand my imagination and vocabulary by reading some books. I am going to try to read one book per month and will tell you the books I have read and enjoyed in each monthly favourites.

3. Stop cracking my knuckles. Scientifically, there are no side effects to knuckle cracking other than annoying and grossing out people in my vicinity. I have had this habit for about 2 years and my mum hates it, so I think it’s time to do something about it.

Do you have any goals for 2017? Are you starting anything new in 2017?

Love, Nicky x