Life: Absent without Leave.

I've been a little absent without leave recently. Well for quite a while actually. I have my reasons well one main reason actually and that is I work more hours now so am quite busy and normally when my days off roll around they are spent in leggings, vest tops and hoodies... not so glamorous. Or blog worthy.

I want to get back into blogging regularly so am attempting to make an effort to produce some content at least 3 times a week so expect to see some more of me around here again!

Happy Tuesday!

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Skincare: Back to Basics

Following a rather nasty eczema break out - is that the right term?!- on my eyelids & top lip, think swollen, puffy eyelids that were bright red & a crusty top lip, I had to re-evaluate my skin routine. What I was using clearly wasn't beneficial to my skin.

The suspect being Garnier Soft Essentials Complete Cleanser for Dry Skin. I know what you are thinking, it is for dry skin so how did it make you skin more dry?! That I do not know. Removing make up with this cleanser night after night left me dry and flaky with a nasty bout of eczema. Action has to be taken as my skin was painful not mention I looked less than alluring...

Following a trip the the Pharmacy to get some strong cream for my eyelids, I embarked on a skin mositurising spree. I wanted to keep everything simple. I thought on it for a while & did a little research into products eventually settling for a few products aimed at babies & rich creams to keep my face hydrated.

Once my breakout finally calmed I decided to have a route around for some new products to aid in removing my makeup. As a first cleanse I like to use baby lotion. If it is sensitive enough for baby skin then it must be sensitive enough for my sand paper skin. It works at treat as a initial cleanse which I then follow up with the Botanics Hot Cloth Cleansing Balm. I like to use this with a face cloth rather than the cheap cloth that comes with the product. This product is amazing and a total steal. It cleanses the skin while giving it a wee bit of TLC without a hefty price tag attached - smells gorgeous too! This is followed by a rinse with some spot fighting facial wash depending on the condition of my skin. Normally I reach for the Neutrogena 2 in 1 Wash & Mask.



What are your core skincare products?

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You Are Now An Adult.

As of June 2013, I am a graduate. I have the letter BA(Hons) after my name. Once the expected high of said event had worn off and several hours of applying for jobs, phone interviews (the bane of my life), actual interviews and waiting around for the rejection became my reality I realised that looking for that perfect graduate job isn’t actually much – if any – fun.

The job market is a toughie. Of course people have a better degree result, have done more extra curricular activity than you have but there has to be a light at the end of the tunnel somewhere… right?! Saying this I have compiled a short list of some of the most annoying things that have come to my attention since entering the ever exciting & time consuming world that is job hunting,

Number 1:
Places not getting back to you post interview if you haven’t been successful. It is just good manners. And they cost nothing!

Number 2:
Places not even acknowledging your existence when you do apply for a job. Again, good manners. A basic email that everyone gets, saying thank you for your application. Not difficult.

Number 3:
“You are the perfect candidate for this role but you don’t have enough industry experience I’m afraid” HOW AM I GOING TO GAIN SAID EXPERIENCE IF YOU WON’T GIVE ME A ROLE?! (This could possibly be the most annoying one of all.)

Number 4:
Interview stages that looks a little something like this ….
One- phone interview
Two – Interview with Team Leader
Three – Interview with HR & another Team Leader
Four – Short presentation
Five – Interview with Managing Director
After these 5 repetitive & mind numbingly dull interview you might get the job or you might be rejected at stage 3…

Number 5:
Employment Agencies. Sure they are doing they’re job and getting you interview but a twist of the truth about what the job actually is or entails benefits no party. Neither does a fancied up job title which in essence is a cold calling, sales job.

Number 6:
Offices being so difficult to find you end up in either a housing estate or an industrial estate with the word FEAR printed in invisible ink across your forehead. (This has happened to many times to me!)

So that is just 6 of the most annoying things I have observed and experienced through these past 5ish months of being a graduate. Worst comes to worst, I am going to make myself off to a busy spot off in this fair (adopted) city of mine with a rather charming Hire Me! sign around my neck. Needs must & all that!

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29 Week Pixie Update

Seven months into the pixie growth process...

My hair & I have come a long way but everyday I wake up with the hope that this will be the day that I can wear my hair out from behind my ears alas that day has not arrived yet...

 The length is getting there slowly but surely, I just need the top layer & my fringe to drop a little & I will be smiling. Since day 1, I have come along way just need to persevere & remember that eventually I can take my hair out from behind my ears even possibly chuck it up in a bobble - imagine!

As far as haircare goes, deep conditioners & heat defence have been my best friends these past few weeks particularly as my hair is at the stage where without straightners it would look ever so similar to a bowl on my head...

Happy Wednesday!

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Everyday Face: Made Up #3: Back to black

Natural make up was the look of choice the past few weeks for a number of reason but being a black eyeliner fan - a very big one at that - of course there would come a day when I missed the smudgy, messy look that I ran to everyday for the past few years.

This look is my no means as heavy as my previous black eyeliner look, it is still black & probably a little much for daytime but I love it too much!  One thing I am taking from my venture into more natural make up is keeping my base simple. I will no doubt still sway to a natural look every now and again but today black eyeliner was a must.

I love how dark eyes look with pale skin. There isn't one particular reason that I can put my thumb on. I just love it especially with a little bronzer as a contour & a touch of highlighter. Perfect look. 
Products 

Face
Bourjois Healthy Mix Radiance Reveal in Shade 51
Bourjois Healthy Mix concealer in Shade51
MAC Eyeshadows in Paridisco & Gleam -as highlighter & blush
Rimmel Sun Shimmer in Medium shimmer as a light contour

Eyes
Sleek  Eau La La Liner in Black
Rimmel Black eyeshadow
Collection
MUA Undressed Palette used to fill in eyebrows

Boots Eyelash Curlers

Lips
Rimmel Lipstick in Nude Delight 

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Autumn Picks: Beauty.

We all want to be warm & stylish during the colder months but a girl has to have a good supply of beauty supplies too! The winter months bring paler skin, dry skin & rosy cheeks so a little TLC doesn't go a miss when you aren't feel bright eyed and bushy tailed.

In order to make myself feel a little more preened I have a selection of product I like to reach for when Jack Frost bites. The only area I have left out is hair simply due to my pixie growth process which has covered pretty much all my haircare needs!

Nails through out Autumn and winter tend to centre around plums and reds with Nails Inc being a favourite brand. Saville Row is a rich, plum shade that is a little softer than a true black but still has the deep, gothic shade that works perfectly in the colder months. Picadilly Circus is a deep cerise shade that is interesting without being a very bright, garish pink. Think a pink for a lady! I love this shade, it is so beautiful and is an interesting colour. Finally Victoria & Albert is a beautiful true red. I am a massive red nails fan & this polish does not disappoint.

Skin & body care. I have dry skin. There is no way around it. This said, I need to moisturse daily sometimes twice... For this I have become a huge fan of Dove Purely Pampering body cream with Shea Butter and warm vanilla. I love this cream. It isn't too heavy or sticky that I can't get dressed after I put it on & the smell is light but still has a little kick. For my face, Nivea soft is a staple. This cream never lets me down.

For scent, I have gone for an old favourite of Chloe. I prefer the eau de perfume but sadly I can't part with the money currently so settled for the toilette. The smell is quite musky but smells amazing when it has settled into your skin & lingers. 

A few make up picks now. For eyes, I am all about a bit of smokeyness which the MUA Undressed palette is perfect for. Plus it is an absolute steal! The colours are a mix of matte and shimmers ranging from light brown to charcoal shade making it so simple to create an interesting eye look. For lips, the Nivea lip butter in caramel cream has been a staple since the summer & I am sure will see me through the colder months. I have decided to go fake tan free this Autumn/Winter, partly due to my skin being not so great & partly due to my love of pale skin with dark eyes! For this I have stuck with my one true love, Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum in shade 51, light vanilla.

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26 Week Pixie Update.

So this 26 week pixie growing mark has come & gone. This Monday saw my hair reach 26 weeks of growth, 6 month! Looking back over my hair the last few months, I cannot believe how short my hair was but it has definitely got some length to it. I had a little 'I hate my hair why isn't it long' moment at the weekend but I just have to keep telling myself eventually it will how I long for it to be... *sigh*

The length still isn't at the right place to be worn out from out from my ears but not long hopefully. A little faked up do might come soon too... I think I need to go for a mullet trim & a little bit of the weight taken off from the top. I'm so excited for my messy, curly bob! I have noticed a big difference in my hair since I started taking Vitamin B Complex and Vitamin E again. Whether they are helping or it is in my head who knows...

I am going to get a little tidy up on Wednesday at the hair dressers, my mullet is getting a little unruly & some weight needs taken off the top then I think I will be content with continuing with the growing.

Happy Monday!

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