SPONSORED: Love your skin!


I’m lucky enough to say that over the years my skin has been pretty good to me. I had my ‘teen skin’ phase when I was about 12, but after that my skin cleared up quite nicely. My main issue since then has been oily skin. My goodness, it didn’t matter what I did, my forehead and nose would get extremely oily. This was problematic for me as when I’d wear makeup I’d look so shiny by the end of the day/night and I felt very conscious of it. As a result I’d use a lot of products that were said to combat oily skin (e.g charcoal) and I’d moisturise my face less to compensate for the oil. This as you can probably imagine made things worse and giving my face less moisture lead to my skin peeling at my nose and forehead which quite frankly was worse than the oil. So I did some research and tried to find out what my skin needed and subsequently built up a skincare routine that I could follow religiously using products that were super affordable and I’m really happy with the results I've managed to get. I’d planned to expand my routine slowly, and just by chance a lovely skincare company reached out to me asking for me to try their Retinol Eye Cream. Coincidentally an eye cream was next on my list so I was more than happy to trial it!


So this post is just going to be a breakdown of my skincare routine and a little review of YEOUTH’s Retinol Eyecream.

1. Makeup remover
So I wear some form of makeup pretty much everyday, day to day it’s just filling in my brows and some mascara whilst leaving my face bare and other times it’s a full face with lashes and the lot. I used to use makeup wipes every time I’d remove my makeup but I found it just wasn’t very efficient so I decided to try micellar water instead. Garnier's micellar water is amazing, I love the regular version and recently I switched to the oil based version (for no real reason to be honest other than it looked quite cool) which works just as well. It's super affordable and a big bottle lasts ages!

Purchase here
2. Face wash
For so long I used a charcoal face wash which I had no idea stripped my face of all the oils it needed. I decided to switch up my skincare motives entirely and instead of removing oils and moisture, I tried giving my face more moisture in the hopes my skin wouldn't try to counteract the lack thereof with more oils and have me glistening unnatractively. Lo and behold, as soon as I started using Neutrogena's hyaluronic acid face wash, I felt my skin responding much more positively. I really love this product, and I'd probably say it's my favourite new addition, it has a lovely neutral small and a good lather, leaving my skin soft and clean feeling but not stripped of natural oils.

Purchase here 
2.5. Face mask
This is sort of an in between stage which I use about once a week just for a little bit of a pamper session and exfoliant. I do love how my skin feels after a clay mask and it does feel like a slightly more intense scrub down of my face which in this heavily polluted climate I really feel is necessary. 

Purchase here
3. Toner
Now this is the part of my skin care I feel I'm not 100% on. Maybe I'm not doing it right, (although it seems pretty difficult to apply toner wrong) maybe I'm not using the right product for my skin or maybe I'm expecting too much! But I haven't seen much of a change in the evenness of my skin tone which is a bit disappointing as Pixi's glow tonic seems to be a cult favourite so I am a little gutted I can't join on the bandwagon. 

Purchase here
4. Serum
I'm not sure the exact definition of a serum but I wouldn't expect it to feel like this one. Marine Hyaluronics by The Ordinary feels just like water but the hydrating factor is great. It's a little bottle but it goes a long way! I got this instead of their hyaluronic acid as I'd read it was a bit on the viscous side. I do think I'll give it a go as I am intrigued to see how it works!

Purchase here
5. Moisturiser
My holy grail moisturiser is Bio Oil. Honestly I can't live without it! It gives the perfect amount of hydration to the skin without leaving a greasy film and making my face feel heavy and clogged up. It's super lightweight and you only need a drop or two so it's amazing value for money- I have the 200ml bottle and I'm very sure it'll last a year if not more. My second moisturiser is an SPF moisturiser, protection from the sun is important but so is making sure I don't have a pale cast over my face from the sunscreen. Again, I have to give credit to Neutrogena's Hydro boost range, this moisturiser is extremely light and melts into the skin creating a protective veil that no one can notice!

Purchase here
Purchase here
6. SPONSORED: Eye cream
So as mentioned before YEOUTH reached out to me to try their retinol eye cream and so far I really like the product. It has a light formula and a mild fragrance so in terms of putting it on I have no issues at all. I don't really have dark circles or anything like that however my upper eyelids are a little darker than the rest of my face so I would like to even that out but I'd never really decided to actually do anything about it so it was just my luck that YEOUTH asked me to try their product. This product contains hyaluronic acid which is one my essential ingredients when it comes to skin care. It allows for increased moisture to be drawn to the surface of the skin, leaving me feeling so hydrated. Retinol is great for anti ageing, tightening pores and smoothing the skin. This product states it'll reduce the visible effects of ageing whilst and give more radiant skin around the eyes, diminishing uneven skin tones and hyper pigmentation. After using this for a few weeks, I do feel like my top eyelids have a slightly more even tone that fits the rest of my face, I hope that by continuing to use the product I'll get even better results! A little reminder is to make sure you use SPF when using this eye cream as retinol makes the eyes more sensitive to UV

Purchase here
Make sure to check my Instagram because I'll have a discount code for you all to use on YEOUTH's products shortly!


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BOOK REVIEW: An Authentic Experience

Hello everyone! I can't believe I'm writing from the other side, and by that I mean I've finally completed my first year of university! It's crazy to think that just a few months ago, I had no idea what I was in store for, the amazing people I was to meet and the fantastic experiences I'd have. I'm almost jealous of September 2017 me, she had no idea at all.
Now that I've got my exams out of the way and I've got some free time, I've managed to plan out a few blog posts that I'll be rolling out a lot more frequently.
But on with this week's post, the lovely Kelly Wittmann reached out to me a while ago asking me to review her newest book- 'An Authentic Experience' which I have been so excited to do. Unfortunately however I had to get my exams out of the way first, but here I am ready to share with you my thoughts and feelings on this young adult novel!
"Fifteen-year-old Silver Abelli’s life has been as tumultuous as the punk rock she was raised on. Her divorced parents just don’t get along, even though they’re both musicians who stubbornly spurn the mainstream but secretly crave the limelight. Silver has always lived with her mom, Nicola, but when Nicola is diagnosed with a brain tumor, she must go to live with her obnoxious, hard-partying father, Renz. It’s a really bad time to fall in love, so you can pretty much bet that Silver will. Enter Jake Sullivan…"
When I first read the synopsis of the book I was skeptical- not because of what was portrayed but more so because I felt that as a girl a bit older than fifteen I wouldn't really relate to the book or any of the characters. However, what I actually found was that Silver was much more relatable than I expected and she really reminded me of myself when I was 15, which was not that long ago might I add. The issues she was facing were parallel to the ones I had, for example wanting to 'fit in' and have the 'authentic teenage experience'. Even now that I'm at uni there's an element of this that still resonates with me but it is quite nice to also recognise that I have grown since then and these things don't bother me as much as they used to.

What I loved about this book is that it did cover a range of topics that some young adult novels don't often do. Silver's mother is recovering from a serious illness and Wittmann portrays how, although there is joy in the fact a loved one is getting better, there are still many major complications that ensue and they can be almost as difficult as the initial illness to deal with. Silver is not only worried about her mother, but she's also had to change her comfortable routine for a very uncomfortable situation with her father. This is plenty stress for anyone, but along comes Jake Sullivan and gives Silver and additional plate to juggle! Boys are just super important and of course every teenager is determined to make sure their first relationship goes perfectly right, but Silver soon learns that relationships are different for everybody, there is no set pattern or sequence.

Each character in this novel has so much depth, and over the course of the book it was nice to see them from all sorts of angles. What I found from getting to know Silver's parents for example is that at times it was difficult to distinguish parent from child. Renz especially had very immature tendencies and really failed Silver in many ways when it came to being a strong paternal figure, this made it easy for the reader to sympathise with young Silver and understand why she found it so difficult to warm up to her father.

Silver craves the 'normalcy' she assumes every teenager but herself to have but realistically, and 'authentic experience' is only truly authentic if it's unique; from her name to her experiences, Silver is really living a unique life.

I really did enjoy reading this book and I'm so glad that it did really subvert my initial expectations by not having the typical plot of many novels of the same genre. Such a good read and I do recommend you pick up this book!

Kelly was also kind enough to also answer some questions I had and I've included them below:

Q) Which character(s) did you relate to the most and why?

A) While they are fictional characters in a family that is very different from my own, I think that in some ways, Nicola is "old me" and Silver is "young me." When I was young, I was optimistic to the point of naivete. Living with a brain tumor long term wears you down over time. It's rough. But like Nicola, I try to fight becoming hard and cynical, because that's a really unhealthy way to live. The tumor is gone now, and I have to accept that gift and be grateful for it. 

Q) When starting to write a book, how do you lay the foundations? For example do you start with the title? Or a rough outline of the plot? 

A) I always start by writing very detailed descriptions of the five or six most important characters. For me, everything flows out of them, so I have to know them well before I even start writing Chapter One. Then I write the first eight or nine chapters before writing an outline of the whole book, like what will be in each chapter. Everything gets easier after that. As for the title, it usually comes to me pretty early on, and I rarely change it. 

Q) What advice do you have for budding writers? I'm really interested in writing and have done in the past however I've never completed a project!

A) Don't worry about when you will finish a project (if you don't have a deadline). Rushing through it will only make you miserable and it certainly won't do any favors for the quality of your writing. Take your time and know that it will be ready when it's ready. 

Q) Did you consider alternate endings for 'An Authentic Experience' or did you stick with the one you published? 

A) I did consider something more romantic and "happily ever after," but that just seemed cliched and not right for Silver. She is a teenager who needs a lot of space to process what she's been though, a lot of room to grow. 

Q) There are lots of things I love about Silver, when creating her character, what did you find you loved most about her? 

A) I'm so glad you love her! I said above that she was like the "young me" in some ways, but in other ways, she's much stronger than I was. I don't beat myself up for that, but I do wish I would have had a better idea of where I was going in life from a younger age. I wish I would have started writing earlier than I did. But... what happened happened. You live and learn. I'd like to thank Kelly for giving me the opportunity to read and review her amazing book and I wish her all the best on her future projects.

You can find the link to her book on amazon here, where it is free for kindle unlimited members!

I'll be back soon with another blog post for you all so stay tuned :)

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First Semester, a reflection...

Now I'm back to Uni (oh how I miss thee, Christmas), I've really had time to reflect on how much my life has changed since I first shipped myself here. I say shipped 'myself' as if my entire family didn't squeeze themselves into the car I'd packed my entire life into and come along with me, honestly one thing you never think of as you pack for this distant room you've never been in is how exactly you're to transport about 3000 clothes and shoes you'll probably never wear. First semester was honestly a rollercoaster, from the first day of term to the last something was always going on and I found myself too busy to ever have a spare moment (hence the lack of post until now, sorry). So, I bring to you, a little reflection of my firsts at uni

FIRST WEEK

 Alas, the morning of the biggest day of my life thus far arrived with great speed and before I knew it I was pressed up against the car window travelling further and further away from home. Arriving at Uni was extremely nerve wracking, knowing not only that I was in a completely new place, but also I was going to have to live with new people. I introduced myself to my flatmates briefly and all seemed well so I took myself to my new room, I was at home, as strange as that seemed. My family happily helped me unpack once we arrived which I was so grateful for as I 100% would have been at a loss doing it myself. Once my parents left, I was then left to properly socialise with my flatmates and I quickly realised this Uni thing wasn't as bad as I'd thought! I got on well with my flatmates and with Freshers week starting, there was a lot to look forward to. Lots of going out and very very little sleep was had in the first week. I grew to appreciate mum's cooking and the fact she cooked every. single. day. because quite honestly, I struggled with the urge to just have noodles like every other student ever (meal prep is your best friend just for future reference). Freshers week brought new friends, everyone I met was extremely friendly, we're all in the same boat so it's easy to make friends!







 FIRST MONTH

From that point onwards I felt completely settled in and my life became lectures, cooking and socialising. Uni became a fantastic routine and due to literally being on campus 24/7, one week felt like one month, something we like to call the "Love island complex", and by the time a month had gone by I felt as if I really had this whole uni thing down- kinda. In between getting my education on, I was juggling my oh-so hectic nightlife. Believe me, it's hard not to party at every opportunity when your flatmates are as convincing as mine, not to mention that after our flat parties got us quite the reputation we really had to make them a rarity as to not have the whole campus showing up to our small flat as they did on Halloween!





FIRST SEMESTER

 As end of term came around the corner at high speed, life picked up also and all of a sudden everything was happening at once! More nights out, assignments, tests and honestly it was so difficult to keep up with everything, not to mention the fact my sleeping pattern was beyond destroyed... I don't really remember what it's like to sleep before 1am anymore, sigh. The last two weeks of term in particular were quite hectic, and as I packed my things in a rush on the last day, I realised that I'd actually survived my first first semester... I felt oddly proud of myself but also reminiscent, I'd absolutely loved Uni so far and although it was a lot to handle at times, there was no way I'd change a single thing about how it had gone. I was so ready for second semester and I hadn't even left Uni yet!












Roll on this semester! Hopefully plenty of fantastic memories and the happiest of days...


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Summer, a review in pictures

Hi everyone! After an incredibly long silence, I'm back. Having finished my exams on the 29th of June I expected I'd be blogging much more frequently however this summer has been full of so much that I wanted to blog about I decided I'd wait until it was over before running you through how amazing the last two and a half months have been.


Having had two exams on the same day, being in isolation and being the last student in my year sitting an exam in school, I was ready to bring in my new freedom in the best way possible, clubbing. A few friends decided to chill at the pub that Thursday evening before hitting the club and dancing the stress of exams away.

 As if getting in from the club at 4am wasn't good enough, prom was later on that day! Beauty sleep was clearly a myth and fuelled on three hours sleep I took myself home from my friend's house and began getting ready for the big day, hair makeup and everything else in between was done over the course of about 7 hours (I know) and before I knew it I was being driven to school, the day everyone had been waiting for had finally arrived and it's safe to say everyone KILLED it, such an amazing evening!





The week after prom I went out to the park twice, both involved cards against humanity and cute encounters with dogs. The second park trip however was much more favourable due to the lovely weather and also the fact we'd decided to make it a full blown picnic. We all brought an item of food that we'd made (or bought as not all of us are advanced in the kitchen). Good vibes were felt all around and we soaked in the summer heat until the evening.




The following week was quite slow-moving, however Friday evening was filled with a party, therefore an excuse to get dressed up. I love the build up to a party, having a good playlist on whilst I do my hair and makeup never gets boring, whether I'm alone or with someone else. Sunday we decided to have an impromptu trip to London in search of bubble waffles. I say 'in search' as it did take us almost an hour to find the little tucked away Nosteagia truck. It was definitely worth it though as they were fantastic waffles, 10/10 would recommend especially for the price! Clearly we hadn't quite had enough food yet as we stopped by Itsu, to get some amazing Kastu curry which we took to the nearest park (we do love us a good park) to sit down and devour.










Week three of summer was spent getting absolutely pumped for my girls' holiday. Booked extremely last minute due to.. procrastination? We didn't really get that much time to countdown to 'Portugal 2k17' however all the excitement was still present as we prepared to lounge by the beach and catch some real sun. This trip was one I will never get tired of recounting due to my cousin, one of my best friends and I being unable to go an extended period of time without finding something absolutely hilarious. You know being doubled over with laughter that renders you absolutely breathless? Yeah that was a recurring thing for the three of us. This holiday gave me exactly what I wanted my summer to entail, and I was so gutted when it was over!










Still being on a high from my amazing time abroad, I made sure to have myself booked up not too long after... Another party three days later? You bet. Another of my best friends is an amazing host so I was extremely excited to help her set up for one of her parties, once again I was glad to be getting all glammed up, this time with a partner in crime, ready for a great night- which of course it was.





Bowling was the highlight of the next week, however I can't say my skills in the alley are all that remarkable. I started on a high, scoring a strike very early on but I guess I got a bit too big for my boots as it was down hill from there and I came a very respectable last. That weekend was spiced up by a spontaneous outing to the club as nothing beats a good 4 hours of dancing to good music with the girls on a Saturday night.





Post bowling, the dread of results day began to loom however I was lucky to be given one of the best distractions, a dog! My neighbours were going away for a long weekend and asked if my family would be so kind as to look after their adorable Yorkshire Terrier and of course my brothers and I were speedy to oblige. Having a temporary pet was fantastic and we quickly got attached to the cute little pup, by the Monday we felt he was part of the family!


Not long after dogsitting, I got my results in and it was good news, I'd got into my first choice, I was going to Uni! Immediately thoughts turned to celebration and a night out on the town was definitely the best way we could think to celebrate! We partied hard, getting in from clubbing at almost 6 am, however feeling as if we carry go on way further into the morning. Friday was a day of rest and recuperation because, yes, I was back on the clubbing scene that Saturday for a birthday outing!



Summer would just not be complete without a barbecue, and at this point I was worried there wasn't going to be one! However the next two weeks brought two good-food filled barbecues and I was beyond pleased, tummy filled and chilling with mates is the best way to spend an afternoon/ evening.


Before I knew it, August was coming to a close, however not without a bang. Right before we formally said goodbye to summer, we had to go to the beach, nothing like a road (or train) trip with some of your best pals to the coast for a good day out, something different for a change of scenery! Brighton was the chosen beach, and we settled on a day that suited everyone. Sadly, this day just had to be wet and dreary, sandwiched between two sunny days just to twist the knife. However we didn't let this stop us and with the force of 14 young adults, we braved the cold, wet Brighton streets. It was actually a fantastic day out as we cosied up in a random pub for a few hours whilst we waited for the rain to subside, and it was one of those afternoons from a book or a movie where everyone just chatted about anything and everything, spending genuine time together away from phones, playing jenga or card games and slowly but surely drying up. Dinner was had in a lovely Italian restaurant, and I'm not sure if it was because I was starving, but it was some of the best pizza I'd ever eaten, 100% the best way to end a memorable day out.






September rolled in and with it came the responsibility I'd happily discarded after my last exam. I'd got into uni, and now it was time to start the mammoth preparation that came in with it. I totally underestimated how much stuff I had to get, things I'd never even thought about buying before like saucepans and scourers. All of a sudden life was taking a major turn, maturity was right around the corner and I can honestly say I was not ready to face it yet. Nevertheless, I started to get my life back into check and found that although daunting, preparing for university was quite exciting!

In between uni prep, I juggled seeing a lot of my friends for the last time before we were all strewed across the country. Most of these friends I'd only made in the last two years however they were friends like no other. This made saying goodbye oh-so difficult as although I'm certain this isn't the end of the road for many of my friendships, I just hate thinking about not being round the corner from everyone. However I like to remind myself that two years ago I was just as apprehensive about moving school but it lead to some of the best experiences I've had!

The last major outing had been a long time coming, myself and my best friends of 15 years hadn't been together all summer and it was just unacceptable especially because we were about to be proper long distance besties. We'd managed to survive one of us moving countries for a year and a half but this was a different kind of split as we were all off to live our separate lives. We decided to venture down to the coast where one of us had recently moved, to both hang out and explore somewhere new. We had a lovely afternoon at the beach, taking cute 'candids' and just being kids for a while. After a little shop we headed back home to get ready for a night out and some homemade cocktails. Sadly the trip only ended up being 4/5 of the group however it was still good fun as we had missed each other!





All in all, my summer was easily the best possible send off before embarking on a new journey at uni! 

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