Things that make me smile (Vol. 2)

- Too Faced French and Fabulous palette... I found this gem in TK Maxx for £7 (!) and initially bought it for the bronzers (both of which I love). But I'm loving the eyeshadows just as much! I'm using Totally Toasted Brown and Totally Toasted Beige for everyday use and Poodle Puff Raisin, Poodle Puff Pink and Ooh & Aah Black for a evening look. The glitter in the later mentioned add a perfect punch for night. The versatility of this palette and compactness makes it the perfect companion to pack on travels!

- Ombre shattered nails... I saw this guest blog tutorial on Fleur De Force. The shattered nail polish trend never really appealed to me until I saw the effect layered on ombred nails. B-e-a-u-tiful! Mine came out fainter than in the tutorial (note: the shatter polish will make the ombre come out less apparent than without... to make the ombre really stand out, bring the ombre about halfway down the nail (as opposed to just the tips), like in the tutorial); but I kind of like the hint of ombre peeping through the shatter. Here, I'm wearing Nails Inc.'s In Style Candy ombred with Revlon's Tropical Temptation (093) and layered with Barry M's Nail Effects in Black Magic (311).


- Skincare... London is finally seeing some real summer weather so, I like to keep my foundation to a minimum (if I wear it at all). As such, a good skincare routine is crucial in keeping my skin in the best shape possible. I'm enjoying a mix of old staples and experimenting with newer items.

- New episodes of Weeds!

Neutrogena Visibly Clear 2 in 1 Wash and Mask

I recently started incorporating Neutrogena's Visibly Clear 2 in 1 Wash and Mask into my skincare routine and so far so good. In fact, great. I'm using the product purely as a mask (it would probably be too harsh as a daily facewash). As soon as I put the mask on my face, there's a slight tingle. It doesn't hurt at all, just feels a bit methol-y. The tube recommends leaving the mask on for 5 minutes, I usually go for about 15 or 20 to get a deep clean. As soon as I wash the mask off, I can see that my pores are visibly smaller. Right now, I'm using the mask twice a week. It's probably too soon to tell, but I swear it's already minimising the oiliness of my face, which is a godsend for the upcoming summer months. Verdict: love.

Almay Eye Makeup Remover Pads

I bought this while I was back in the US, figuring that eye remover pads could be useful to have for traveling. I was unimpressed at first. Granted, I'm always wearing eye primer, waterproof mascara, gel eyeliner... basically anything and everything that will help my eye makeup stay in place all day... but I found that I needed to rub my eyes A LOT to get everything off. Never good. Some days, there was so much rubbing that I would rub out an eyelash or two.

That being said, by the time I got to the bottom of the tub (where the pads were much more saturated with remover), the pads removed my makeup with much less tugging and pulling. If I were to buy these again, I would definitely store the tub upside down to get the best use out of the pads. So would I buy these again? Probably not; these aren't bad when they work, but even then, they are no match for my beloved Bioderma, so I'll be sticking with the tried and true for now.

Double Wear Foundation Light

I just started using Estée Lauder's Double Wear Foundation Light and I'm pleasantly surprised on all fronts. It has a nice medium coverage, which is perfect for everyday use (added bonus for everyday use, it has an SPF 10). I like to be pretty no-fuss when it comes to my foundation so one of the best parts for me has to be the ease with which I can even apply it with my fingers. It blends beautifully and the staying power is amazing. No primer needed here. I have combination-oily skin and I can absolutely see that this this product is helping to keep the oiliness at bay, even after a long day slaving away at school. Verdict: love.

Tights with a twist

I just ordered these two pairs of tights from ASOS.

I shy away from patterned tights because they can make even the skinniest of legs look chunky. But plain old black tights can get boring as well. These pairs have just enough detailing without the risk of making your legs look bigger than necessary. Can't wait until they arrive!

Traveling light

A peek into what I'm bringing with me on my travels:

Mac lip conditioner / pürminerals Mineral Glow / Estée Lauder So Ingenious face powder/ Revlon Colorburst lipstick in Crimson (095) / No7 Blush Tint in Blossom (15) / The Body Shop Vitamin E lip balm / Bourjois Healthy Mix concealer / Stila Smudge Pot in Black / Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Nude Lustre / Sexy Mother Pucker in Yummy Plum / Nars eyeshadow primer / MAC brow finisher / L'Oréal Voluminous Carbon Black mascara/ Maybelline the Falsies mascara / Sleek Storm palette

Things that make me smile (Vol. 1)

- Bioderma... this stuff is truly amazing and I can't remember makeup removal before this miracle product came into my life

- Montagne Jeunesse Peel Off Face Masks... left my skin feeling silky smooth; plus I get a sense of satisfaction when I manage to peel it off in one piece ;-)

- New TV show discoveries... finished Modern Family in a week (SO good... am already starting to re-watch) and just discovered Law & Order Los Angeles (re-igniting my Law & Order addiction)

- Sunshine... sunglasses season has begun!

- Rainbow nails