C-afeaulait

Cheap alternatives!

2013-11-28T17:01:00.002+00:00

With the trends forever changing, i find it hard to keep up without breaking the bank!! So I's always on the look out for cheap alternatives to the big high street labels but still look in style! here are some of the items I've found that I think are better than the real thing :)

This post is dedicated to....

The Chelsea Boot!!

This is definitely a winter must have, but at over £200 for real leather boots, most tend to go for the cheaper but just as good ones from the high street which normally clocks in at £60.

But for me, I thought there must be some for even cheaper than that! £50 is a commitment for something I'll just ruin in the crummy weather of England! So I was able to find these beauts, coming in at just £15 on ebay from a reliable seller!

The heel height is decribed as 7cm but I think its like 3inches? The fit s so comfortable, the stitching looks durable and I think the tanned ones especially look more expensive than they are! I've had them for about a week now, and wearing them on a daily basis is a dreeeeam, they are heels so your feet does hurt but not more than any other pair of heels. The boots are of course waterproof and adds a lot to your autumn/winter outfit! (these boots, tights, long socks, skater skirt and jumper is my go-to outfit!)

These are just as good as the high street ones but at fraction of the price!

The Link to the ebay website is linked HERE!

Next post will be on another cheap bargain, just in time for Christmas!! :) xo

DIY thinning T-shirts

2013-10-22T19:33:00.000+01:00

So I' decided to try out some DIY on my clothes, as I've always just gone out and paid for clothes that are so simple to do at home! I thought i'd share some of the useful tips I've found on the internet with everyone!

This post is about THINNING T-SHRTS! I never thought to try this, but its sooo easy! there are a lot of different ways to do this, you basically just try and distress the fabric without destroying it :)

Wash the shirt repeatedly with any of the below tips!

Hand wash with sand, rocks or dryer balls

Soak it in water, salt and vinegar

Bleach and wash repeatedly

machine wash with hard objects e.g. sandpaper, tennis balls, rock salt

If all else fails, American Apparel are selling T-shirts in different weights! check out their paper thin ones, which is the effect these methods are trying to achieve. (how useful)

Hope this has been useful, please do comment/share/follow! xo

Smoochy Lips

2013-10-06T09:38:00.001+01:00

Recently I have been obsessed with trying different lip balms to try and get the smoothest and most moisturised lips! On average I've used each lip balm continuously for a week to see if it had any effect on my lips. Normally my lips are extremely dry and always cracked so my favourite one really does help with easily cracked lips! Here are some that I've tried and what I think about them!

So there's been a craze recently for the Maybelline Baby Lips lip balms so I thought I'd find out what all the fuss was about!
First impressions would be that I love the packaging :) but the texture/feel of the balm on my lips wasn't very good...It didn't feel very moisturising and borderline oily! The balm seemed to only form a layer above my cracked lips rather than actually fix it, but the flavour is lush (its the flavour 'Hydrate')

I would recommend this lip balm to those who just want a simple daily lip protector, but not for anyone who wants to fix cracked/dry lips!

Good old Vaseline! It is the best known lip balm to prevent lips from drying out and for a good reason too! The jelly is very smooth and lovely to the touch, and when applied you instantly feel like your lips are protected! It can be a bit oily for some, but rub it in more and your warm fingers melts it and it just sinks into your skin!
I really have enjoyed the cocoa butter Vaseline, it just adds a little flavour which makes it more lip balm like, and less just petroleum jelly :)

This is the only Lush lip product I've tried and i have fairly mixed feeling about it!
Its a Popping candy Pow Wow Lip Scrub, and the flavour is soooo Lush! (as in tastes amazing) I sometimes just eat it....
You apply it to your lips and rub t in, the scrub makes your lips silky smooth and rubs away any dry skin, it also leaves a hint of apple! This pot has lasted me at least a month too :)

I think this is a great product, I just don't use it often as I don't particularly like the feeling of scrubbing my lips - it can get a bit sore.

The beloved EOS lip balm :)
I've wanted to try these for so long and they are hard to find in the UK! I think they've only just recently been sold in Superdrug.
So, I have to say that the reviews I seen on youtube/blogs/anywhere are so true, these lip balms are amazing!
It feels lovely on the lips, leaves a thin but moisturising layer and the rounded shape is so unique! I've used it so much the balm is now flat :P
Its easy to carry around in your bag, it really soothes burning lips and just such a great product!

I would recommend this to anyone who wants smooth kissable lips basically! I've tried the strawberry and the lemon flavour, the strawberry one is my favourite but the lemon one is quite zingy too! If these had cooling relief It would be my ultimate lip balm!

I've already done a post just on this product but i thought I'd include it anyway!
Its the Elizabeth Arden 8hour lip balm. I think this has quite an oily consistency which is sometimes great but it does make your lips look extra shiny sometimes especially as I normally put balms around my lips where it cracks the most, so it makes my mouth area look disgusting... :/
The lip stick shape is great though, it makes applying it very easy!

Here is the link to the post on this balm

So these are all the lip balms I tried recently! My favourite is the EOS one, and the least favourite is the Elizabeth Arden balm! Hope you find my reviews helpful! Please do comment/share, thanks guys! xo

Black Babe

2013-09-21T23:14:00.001+01:00

I've decided to post one of my most fave polyvore posts from my polyvore Viralcafeaulait

This one was created with a theme of black & green and I've used the asymmetric shape of the tunic as the outline for the items to line up with. i think Polyvore posts that are neatly organised makes the items look more presentable and fashionable :)

Hope you like this short post about the type of style I really like, please do check out my Polyvore page! xo

Black Babe by viralcafeaulait featuring face moisturizers

Back to School (!)

2013-09-03T15:12:00.000+01:00

So it's nearly time to go back to school in the UK! and each year I like to buy new stationery to make going to school a little more exciting :) But this year I've kept my shopping addiction to a minimum, so here's a few new things I got!

Pencil Case

First thing is my new pencil case! I normally go for the girly Cath Kidston floral designs, but this year I've decided to shock my style and went for a neon pink transparent Superdry pencil case. I loooove this because its so different and unique. The pink areas are transparent and the purple (zip and logo) aren't. Its very spacious and the material is very sturdy! its a thick plastic, feels gel like...sorry i'm not explaining it very well :S

Notebooks

I went slightly excessive on notebooks though...

The Speech mark one and the London designed one both has lined paper, The London design has thinner lines though.

From Ikea

The yellow one just has plain paper, I wanted this as when I take notes i don't like being restraint to specific guidelines - my notes get messy and the lines make me feel like I'm extra messing :)

The Yellow notebook has yellow colouring on the edges of each page, making the sides florescent yellow which I found very cool! I wanted to use the speech mark notebook as an everyday note taking/list making pad, the yellow one I need to write notes for my History Individual assignment (school work) and the London one because everyone needs a spare notebook :P

Folder

And every student needs a massive folder! This one from WHSmith has plastic dividers forming wallets, with paper labels on each one. There is also 2 elastic bands that hook onto the corners securing it shut! i find this type of folder so useful, you can divide notes into each subject and the plastic makes it more weather resistant!

School Bag

Finally the most important thing is.... my school bag!
yes, each year I am overly excited about getting my new school bag! This year I wanted a structured bag, so i found this one on ebay! (this is the link to it)

This is a replica of the Vogue bag, with 2 uneven straps on the front, and a bow design on each side. Inside there is plenty of space - 2 open pockets that fits a phone and passes then on the other side, there's a zip pocket!

Hope you enjoyed this blogpost! Please comment/share/follow! Thanks guys :) xo

Ma Outfit! (I'm not gangsta, don't know what happened...)

2013-08-23T18:02:00.003+01:00

As my last OOTD post was quite popular, I thought I'd do another! I've had to change where I take the photos as the mirror I originally used got smashed...

This is also a relatively cheap outfit to recreate too :)

So anyway, Here is a typical outfit I would wear in the summer ----> crop top + shorts + something long sleeved!

The top is from H&M

The shorts are also from H&M

The denim shirt is from Bershka

The Necklace is from Primark

I really love this denim shirt as its really soft and comfortable to wear and its so versatile! you can wear it buttoned all the way up and wear a collar necklace, or wear it as a shirt (so a few buttons undone) or as a jacket! I normally roll up the sleeves to make it look more casual :)
The buttons are clippy ones which I prefer too 'coz it's easier to undo ;)

The H&M crop top is actually quite old now, but I've worn it soooo much! The print is a simple zebra pattern, but its also quite bold as the whole thing is covered in the stripes, so I'd wear it with simpler pieces like the black shorts :)
In in the winter, I still manage to wear is as all I do is add a white tank top underneath, pull the top down in the front to expose the tank in the front then wear a nice thick knitted cardigan and it still works!

Here's what the outfit looks like without the shirt! As you can see the back of the crop top is quite low, but I love it like that :) and because the material is so soft, it hangs in the back to form subtle ruffles/pleats that makes it look so girly!

Again I forgot to include shoes :( But I would wear brown sandals with this outfit - perfect for the beach - or converses on an everyday basis!

I Hope you've enjoyed this post and please comment/share if you like this type of fashion posts! I'd really love you for it! Thanks xo

Staaaalk Me! ... please?

2013-08-22T18:52:00.003+01:00

This is quite post is not going to be particularly fashion orientated at all, I just want to collect all my internet footprints into one post so that you guys can easily find me anywhere! I've only recently really started trying to build my own internet presence, so most of my social networking sites are bait bland but don't fear! I have unlimited commitment to it and also oodles of time, so I will improve as time goes on! So please do check out any social networking thingies I have and maybe follow/comment/share? please? :)

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Follow my Tumblr!

Follow my Polyvore!

Follow my Instagram - has more personal photos

It would mean so much to me if you followed or even just had a look at my links! Thank you! xo

Minimalist

2013-08-17T20:57:00.001+01:00

Here is a minimalist outfit i love to wear on lazy days, but can easily be livened up with neon jewellery! (which I don't have so cannot show, sorry!)

The jumper was in the sale at Zara (£10), it came with a stripped under shirt type things, but i like to wear it just on its own as an oversized jumper. I normally wear it with leggings or shorts, but it literally goes so well with anything!

I've paired the outfit with this leaf design chunky bracelet from Primark (£2). I wanted to continue the minimalist theme so the colour is muted but I thought the design adds texture to the look :)

This is the full outfit! The blue section is the under shirt, which is like a very sheer tank top with a thicker stripped shirt pattern on the bottom edges.

I then paired it with simple black leggings from Topshop (can't remember the price sorry!) for a very causal and relaxed look!

Shown in these very blurry pictures :S are the sleeves! They are slightly cuffed and are about half-lengthed sleeves. Because the jumper itself is very soft and flimsy - its a lot like a towel material! - the sleeves kind of droop, making it feel very loose and care free :)

i hope you guys have enjoyed this post! I've cut my head out here because I looked terrible today but still wanted to post a new blog post asap! please comment/share/follow! thanks! xo

Pretty Pink Purse

2013-08-05T20:17:00.001+01:00

In this post, I'm going to show you guys my new purse! I recently bought this in the Monki store in london and I'm in love with it! I wanted something big and statement-y which is exactly this bright pink huuuge purse :) it came in lots of different colours e.g. green, yellow, orange, nude and they were all amazing but I wanted something that'll stand out if I wanted to use it as a clutch 'coz it so big.

It's a very simple rectangular design with just the word 'Monki' etched into the bottom centre of the front. It has a silver zip and the inside is the same colour as the outside, though the outer material s tougher, and has a very faint leather/animal like texture to it.

There is a lot of space inside, with space for 6 cards and a large pocket behind it (shown in the photo), where I store receipts and other cards that don't have a place :) but I think its meant for notes....

On the other side is where the coin pocket is, and the pocket is the full length of the purse, so again lots of space! although is quite shallow/not very wide it does carry lots of change in it.

Overall I am really pleased with it, and when this becomes tattered, I am seriously considering buying it again and again! Some might find it too big - it won't fit in a clutch bag - but Its great for those who have tons of random pieces of paper or loyalty cards stuffed in their purses and needs something big enough to accommodate that :)

Please comment/share! thanks guys! :) xo

Elizabeth Arden Lip Balm Review!

2013-08-01T21:29:00.001+01:00

So I finally have a new post for you guys! so so sorry for the delay!

Today I'm doing a short review on Elizabeth Arden's Eight Hour Lip Protectant Stick

This was actually recommended to me by my mum, she had it first and thought it really helped with dry or cracking lips so bought me one! I was sceptical at first, because I get painful cracks and dry skin on/around my lips all the time and I've always stuck with Blistex balms, Burt's Bees or anything that has mint/peppermint in it as I like the tingly feeling it gives. So when she said to try this I wasn't convinced....

The lip moistureiser is advertised to "soften and sooth lips and guards against the damaging effects of sun exposure"

It doesn't have any mintiness to it, or much flavour really, it's much more like Vaseline but less oily. And after using it for about 1 month, I quite like it! Not as far as love it, but it does help to heal any damages you might have on your lips. I would say this stick lasts for a surprisingly long time! I had used it daily for 1 month and there was still about half left!

I used it mainly on the corners of my mouth, where there were small ulcers, and to be honest I don't like the feeling of it on my lips, because it feels kind of oily,and quite thick and heavy as well, but when I just left it alone it really did stop my lips drying out and kept them looking smooth and plump!

The stick itself is in a lovely packaging, with Elizabeth Arden engraved in the silver band of its middle, and the stick is also quite small and compact, which makes it handy to have in my purse! I find it cute that it looks like a lipstick but is in fact a lip balm! :)

So overall, I would recommend it to anyone prone to ulcers or cracking lips, but I personally do not like its texture and how it feels on the lips!

£20

Lazy Summer Day Out

2013-07-28T19:24:00.001+01:00

I've created a Polyvore account! yay finally! this is my first set, so I went with something easy and casual, hope you like it!

Lazy Summer Day Out by viralcafeaulait featuring a mini purse

Zara print dress
zara.com

VILA loose fitting top
$46 - vila.com

Dune tan shoes
asos.com

Warehouse mini purse
$52 - warehouse.co.uk

Fornash stackable bracelet
simplysoles.com

Jamie Jewellery hamsa charm
$41 - asos.com

H M band hat
$12 - hm.com

The Row metal sunglasses
theoutnet.com

OOTD

2013-07-04T21:03:00.001+01:00

This is just a quick and simple post on how I styled my denim jacket today! The occasion was just everyday life/school and I wanted something comfortable but still stylish look!

Denim Jacket - F&F £20, Top - H&M £12, Leggings - Topshop £12 (I think)
shoe would have been my fake chelsea boots but I forgot to take a picture of it! :S

Hope you've enjoyed this quick and simple post! :) xo

Make a Statement

2013-06-30T00:06:00.002+01:00

I have been loving statement necklaces as an outfit-finisher! I think it really makes a plain outfit look so well thought through but with so little effort! Here are some of my most worn statement necklaces! I want to expand my collection though :)

This one is from Primark. It very chunky and the two different patterns are actually not stuck together, they're on separate pieces. I really like this as its very stylish but also sophisticated! The monochrome colouring makes it easy to style with anything!
I normally were it with high-necklines or with loose jumpers/sweaters.

This one is from Forever21. I love the aztec print, which is engraved in the main necklaces's triangles. They are also so colour so it goes well with lots of different clothes. Even paired with a non-colourful outfit it would look great as it adds a bit of subtle colour to the look! This one is slightly shorter, so is better for turtle necks, or if the cut is very low - it can make the top look less showy.

This one I found whilst clearing out my garage so I have no idea where its from! But it might look dainty, but the charms are quite chunky/bulky! Its a powder blue colour, with flowers and hearts and butterflies charms, I normally wear it with a mint green top I have, it adds a feminine touch to (what I normally pair it with) a business/modern outfit!

Here is a great find on ebay! I just search 'gold chain necklace' and found this! I think its a very different take on the trendy big chunky gold chain necklace. By having just partly chained bulkiness in the middle, with smaller chains making up the rest of the necklace, I think it makes it feel less gangster-y and more feminine! I wear this with absolutely EVERYTHING, regardless if it goes well or not :)

Slightly different to the others is this Accessorize necklace. Its a statement piece not because of its size but because of how unique it looks. It has a tribal/homemade feel which I think it quite different. Because its quite small, I like to wear it with a loud top (big floral pattern) to let the different colours mix in with it. I think this is just a neat little piece to add more colour to an already busy outfit :)

My Collection!

2013-06-23T14:17:00.000+01:00

Random fact about me, I don't like calling nail varnish 'nail varnish', it sounds so unfeminine to me :/ I prefer 'nail paint' - which just sounds better for absolutely no reason :)
Anyway, I'm going to show you my nail varnish collection and which ones I think are the best!
I've included 18 nail varnishes that I have just lying around, I have more but I can't find them all :)

(left to right) BD - wicked, BD - petal, Collection 2000 Lasting Colour - 1 Liquorice,
Barry M Nail Paint - coral, OPI - Navy Shatter

All Barry M - Turquoise, Shocking Pink, Denim,
Pink Sapphire Glitter, Vivid Purple

Topshop - Milk Shake, Topshop - Tidal,
Rimmel 60 seconds - Instyle Coral, Rimmel Lasting Finish - Black Cab

(These mini ones came in a pack) No.7 -
Totally Teal, Damson Dream, Devils Delight, Hot to Trot

In this row, My favourite one is the Collection 2000 one in Liquorice (Black). I love wearing black nails because it just looks edgy but with some cool bracelets its not too gothic! This one goes on perfectly, 2 coats are needed for a true black colour, but its smooth and doesn't need a top coat!
The BD on on the far left is meant to be a browny colour (I don't think its shown up very well).

Here are the 3 I use the most. Again, there's the black one, but for summer I LOVE the colour of Topshop's Tidal! Its a very soft powdered blue and it just makes me feel so girly and summery! But I have to point out, the Topshop one isn't such a nice nail polish to use - it drys soooo slowly so I always get it smudged, it also chips very quickly (in around 2 days) so although the colour is amazing, it is hard to use!

The most reliable brand of nail varnishes has to be Barry M! There is such a wide range of colours and they're also very cheap! I can always trust a Barry M nail varnish! you can find them in most (UK) stores including Boots, Superdrug & Supermarkets! Some people find them to look cheap but I completely disagree!

Hope this was interesting for you! please comment/share/follow! xo

What's In my Make-up Bag...

2013-06-16T22:58:00.002+01:00

I carry my make up bag everywhere I go, even though I rarely redo my makeup! I feel better knowing I have it just in case though :)
So here I'm going to show you what I carry around with me unnecessarily everyday, which also are my favourite makeup products to use for everyday!

Make-up bag - H&M
(was a clutch, But I cut off the strap)

Face

I've already reviewed these two products in a post, so I won' repeat it (the link to that post is HERE)

But I use these daily!, I put on the BB cream first, then apply the liquid foundation with a sponge!

Eyes

For my eyes I tend to go very simple - nude eye-shadow, mascara and eyeliner - here are the products I CANNOT live without!
First is the No. 7 eye-shadow in the colour innocence. I use this all over my eye lids and in the corners of my eye to brighten up my eyes!
Then I normally use the Rimmel Scandal Eyes mascara for volume and Rimmel's Glam' Eyes for length!
For eyeliners, The liquid one I use for a dramatic/night out look is the Maybelline Master Precise Eyeliner

Lips

I tend to go for pinky/nude colours on my lips (I'm quite safe in terms of colours)
So to moisturise my lips before putting on lipstick I use the eos lip balm in strawberry I think?
Then I usually for for the Rimmel Lisptick in the colour 206 (nude pink) This also smells sooo good!
For a bolder look I use Topshop's Macaroon bright pink lipstick! (It's quite bright, so dabbing it on it sufficient!)
And my favourite lip gloss is Barry M's - but It doesn't say what colour, It's just a pink glittery gloss!

Powders

I wasn't sure how to group these so I just said powders, but it's really just my blush and all round face highlighter!
The Blush if from Vivo (in Tesco - UK's supermarket) in the colour Peaches and Cream (mmm!) This blush is more orange based and has a little bit of glitter in it!
And I use the Mac Mineralize Skin finish in Soft and Gentle basically all over my face! I use it for highlighting my cheekbones, on my chin, nose and forehead and also for a bit of sparkle on my eye lids! I love this as its so versatile and lasts for so long too.

Fragrance

My main body spray is from Gilly Hicks, and it is the fragrance Blue Camden. This stuff smells so good! Its a clean and fresh smell, reminds me of hair conditioner, and its not too sweet!
There's no scent description so I don't really know how to describe it, but its just really refreshing and the bottle is quite large (200ml).

For more formal events I use Nina Ricci's Fragrance for Women.
I think that this has a more sophisticated and grown-up smell, its meant to smell like candied citrus fruits (which is does) mixed with praline, vanilla and white cedar (which makes it smell more adult-like)
I really love this old but still amazing perfume! And the bottle is cute!

So if you've enjoyed finding out about what Products I use, which might help inspire you to discover or try new products, please leave a comment or share this post! Thank youu xo

Show your legs in Style

2013-06-11T22:41:00.003+01:00

Finally it's summer and I can wear shorts! Even though the weather in England is way below satisfactory, I will brave the rain and wear shorts :) In this post I'll go through how I personally style my shorts and show you how you could too!

Formal/Smart

Shorts - Missguided, Shirt - Primark

For either night time or a slightly more smart event, this outfit would be perfect. The striped shirt has an office/work type feel to it, whilst the scalloped shorts adds a playful aspect to the outfit!

Summer Eve

Top - Primark, Shorts - New Look

For when the weather is still warm, but the sun is down, a loose crop top with a pair of shorts is best. The crop top is still airy and summery, but the longer sleeves also provides some warmth.

I also love the ripped effect on the shorts, and the slightly highlighted blotches which makes the shorts look well-worn and relaxed.

Day out

Jacket - Republic, Top - Topshop, Shorts - New Look

This outfit is a very casual and summery look, and I like the double denim look! This one isn't too obvious because of the different colours, so if you're not too sure about double denim, its a good place to start!
Because the top and shorts are both white, add more colour into the outfit e.g. neon shoes, or the blue denim vest!

High Waisted Shorts!

Top - H&M, Shorts - Krisp

Personally I LOVE high waisted shorts with crop tops, it feels like the outfit of summer! (It is also the trend at the moment, so lots of shops have a wide range of crop tees/tops to choose from!)
In this outfit, I wanted to mix&match prints, to make it more interesting.
A tip for mix&matching prints would be to choose 1 dominating print and the other a smaller print, so that they don't clash too much!
The high waisted design means that not too much of your midriff would be on show, making it summery but still tasteful!

I hope you enjoyed this post! Pleeease share/comment, it would mean a lot! thanks :)

Nails 101

2013-06-09T16:00:00.001+01:00

Everyone wants perfectly painted nails fast, all the time, but everyday life gets in the way! Plus bad quality nail polish chips so easily and it just seems pointless to even try!

Here is an easy way to do your nails, keep them long lasting and make them look effortlessly professional.

Unfortunately due to natural oils from our fingernails, nail polish is not meant to stay perfect for more than 3-5 days.

Always use a base coat—it prevents the nail polish from chipping, and it protects your nails.

You could also put hand lotion on beforehand so the polish won’t harm the area around your nails.

1. Paint the first coat on thick, this makes sure it is smooth and the colour is even across the whole nail. Do this for all colours, but especially for darker colours where you might not need 2 layers!

2. Reapply another layer of the colour once the first coat is touch dry.

3. If you paint outside the nail don’t worry! Leave it and you can clean it up afterwards

4. Then put on the topcoat once the first 2 layers are touch dry. Topcoat prevents peeling and keeps the colour on for longer!

5. Once it’s completely dry, dip a cotton bud or Q-tip into nail varnish remover and go around each nail to tidy up all the bits you painted outside the nail.

And there! You now have perfectly neat nails! When you’re more confident with you’re nail painting skills, you can start trying different designs. Don’t be afraid to try something new!

The Right Foundation

2013-06-06T23:35:00.002+01:00

I always find it hard to find the right colour, texture and coverage of a new foundation, so I thought I'd show you the ones I'm using now and give a small review!

Rimmel London Stay Matte foundation
I've used this liquid foundation for about 6months, and I find it very good for everyday use, as its very light and you don't feel like you're wearing a lot of make-up.
It has light coverage, which I like for everyday use but I think you'd need something heavier for the nights out. It's also not very build-able, you'd need a lot to increase the coverage.
There is also 'Chamomile - to help calm, Cucumber - to help clarify and cotton to help control shine'
I think it does control shine very well, especially on my forehead! I have unfortunately had a few breakouts since using it, but after about 2weeks my breakouts became better and I think my skin just got used to it!
Overall, I would recommend this for daily use, and for those who have oily skin as it controls shine and stays on for a long time (not as long as the advertised 12hours but still great!).

Maybelline Dream Matte mousse

This mousse is a cross between liquid and powdered foundation. So it goes on smoother (like a liquid) but is more pigmented (like a powder!), I normally use this on top of the Rimmel liquid one if I want more coverage - the Rimmel then sorts of acts like a tinted primer.
But this is also great for everyday use, but it is heavier and can be built on for evening use. It gives a very matte finish so I sometimes use highlighter when using this just so I don't look too pasty. A warning for dry-skinned people that this can clump to dry parts of the face and make you flake (which is a bad look) so use a primer/moisturiser before this foundation.

Overall I really like this foundation, it's my go-to foundation and I'm on my 3rd pot! the pot also last surprisingly long which is a bonus. (sorry the pot looks kinda dirty :S)

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream

I literally only started using this product this week, so I don't have much of an opinion. But first impressions are ok, it is a good moisturiser to use before putting on a heavy foundation, as it makes the skin smooth and moist which allows the foundation to set well. It also has SPF 30 UV protection which will be great for the summer!
The liquid comes out scarily orange, but when you put it on it blends well with my skin tone, and 'fits' it! (which BB creams are meant to do, but I got a bit panicky when it came out looking sooo orange!) The texture is like most creams/liquid foundations.
There are supposedly '8 benefits in 1' in this product, and so far I agree with that it ;compliments skin tone' and is 'oil-free', it also is meant to create a natural glow, but I've used it under my usal foundation so I don't really know, and I don't feel like it hydrate all day.
So far I like this product, but only time will tell if it lives up to its many quailities!

My Primer - ELF Mineral and Face Primer

This is the primer I normally use, I would say that it is good quality for its price (I forgot how much but was very cheap!). It has quite an oily/greasy feel when you first put it on, but I've got very dry skin so that suits me well. It primes very well, especially for powdered foundations and I think it does make your make-up last a while longer too!
I would recommend applying it to just the nose, under the eyes and mouth area if you have oily-er skin.
It does have a cap but I lost it :) The bottle itself is quite large, so I don't carry it around in my make-up bag, but you could always but it in a travel-sized container as a 1 pump of this stuff goes a long way!
Overall I would recommend this primer if you're on a budget, but I don't think its necessarily high quality!

Four days in Paris

2013-06-04T14:49:00.000+01:00

Quatre jours à Paris

For the first time ever, I was going to Paris!! I went from 30th April - 2nd May. It had always been a dream of mine (along with travelling to NY, Sidney, Rio and Rome) I tried to cram all the tourist attractions into that long weekend, and I managed to see most things! - Notre Dame, Musee D'Orsay, Eiffel Tower, La Fayette, Arch of Triumph.

Day 1

After seeing amazing photos of the Notre-Dame on Tumblr, I wanted to see the architecture myself. I loved the symmetry and the pale sandy walls made all the intricate carvings and statues stand out. The square was packed with people, and the line to enter stretched way down the street! It took me 1hour worth of queuing to get in!
This is my favourite photo of the Cathedral, the natural sunlight made the Cathedral look so new yet so full of amazing details that I hadn't noticed and still keep finding!

Once inside, the one thing that struck me first was the multi-coloured light that filled the whole Cathedral from the Stain glassed window as the light was reflected off the Gold found on most of the Cathedral's walls and statues. That paired with the peaceful prayers & the smell of incense made the whole atmosphere more mystical and mesmerizing!

Day 2

The Eiffel Tower Finally!!! I was soooo excited! We took the underground in the morning and stopped off for some lunch (at a really cute french restaurant!) then we went and queued to go up the Eiffel Tower! It was freezing! and the queues were 2hours long, but I was willing to wait :)

The Eiffel Tower was actually more of a brown-y/copper-y colour, and the base was much wider than I had thought. The steel detailing was also very amazing, and I loved the arches it created. It was dizzying to look up from underneath the tower, but I could see how high the elevator was going and all the mechanics of it. I went up via the south corner in an elevator, but only to the 2nd floor as the very top was too full of people! But once I was up there I don't think i would have wanted to go any higher anyway, it was sooo high and you could feel slight wavering of the tower in the wind! The view was incredible, I could even see my hotel and the Arch of Triumph!

Day 3

Day 3 was such a rush! I visited the Notre Dame real quick, shopped in La Fayette (mainly got L'Occitane hand creams!) aaand went round the Louvre! Because I did so much, I'll just show the pictures otherwise I could go on forever :)

The weather wasn't wonderful, but The Louvre was beautiful!

It was also my first time in Sephora!

I've wanted to go since watching so many American/European youtube haulers talking about Sephora!

Day 4

On Day 4 we went to the Palace of Versaille!
It was the most beautiful place I had ever seen! Each room was colour coordinated, I loved the pastel colours mixed with the white coloumns and gold everything. It made me feel like royalty :)

The ceilings were magnificent, and the Fresco's were so intricate and full of colour.
The Palace itself was sitting on top of a hill, with massive gold gates. Again I had to queue for around 1hour to get in, but it was so big that I couldn't go round the whole palace so I made sure I went to the most famous rooms (The bedroom of Madame de Pompadour, and the Hall of Mirriors)

I had a tour listening device which explained all each room and the paintings, In the left picture (thats me) is the Hall of Mirrors and was my favourite room. The mirrors reflected the light from the adjacent windows which lit up the gold on the lamps and made the whole room gleam!
There was so much going on in that room and my neck ached from looking up at the ceiling so much!

Overall I LOVED Paris, even the underground where I saw a Double-Decker train for the first time!

Now I've just got the rest of the world to explore ;)