Beauty by Kyla

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May Update

Hey friends, the blogging vibes have come my way and I’m once again trying to get into the habits of a good blogger, student, person, and human in general.

May is a big month for me because I have seven exams!!! I’m also turning the big 21 at the end of May too (after my exams thankfully).

Seeing as it is the first day of May, I thought it be nice to have a chat and talk about where I am in life, and what my goals are for the future (no just goals for May, but in general). I read somewhere that writing down goals makes you 40% more likely to actually succeed in said goals. While I’m sure that stat referred to physically writing goals down on paper, I felt it could work electronically as well.

My blog

First of all, it’s probably best to talk about my plans as a blogger, seeing as anyone who will bother to read this post will most likely be someone else who also has a blog.

One of the main things with this blog, is that I am planning in the future to take my blog to the next level. I feel like I am currently at a stalemate.

I don’t spend enough time on this blog yet I feel regretful that I didn’t research other servers when first setting up this blog.

For this reason, I often struggle to write on this blog as I feel I might be better off starting from scratch elsewhere. Yet I feel as if I should be writing. I also don’t want to jump the gun and invest in a paid plan on another site when I may never have any guarantee of being able to commit to such a plan.

University

I guess the next stalemate in my life would be my education.

For anyone who doesn’t know, I am currently doing an undergrad in Politics and History, which I adore. I love both of my subjects and I have a year left in my actual degree before I graduate. However I have one question in particular which has been haunting me for the past few months, which everyone I know has been asking me (friends and family included).

“Are you doing a masters?”

I have no clue about that question.

What masters would I even do if I decide to do a masters?

As said above, I love my subjects, but, I question the necessity of further education in either area. It could be a bad investment. The majority of students in my areas tend to join the civil service where a masters is not currently a requirement (nor is a undergrad degree, although I’m sure both would look nice on a CV.).

It is to my opinion that I need to both work and travel, before I decide whether or not a masters is actually the right decision for me. Masters in my speciality in Ireland can cost up to ten grand per year which is money I do not have (like most students who work before they can pay for their masters).

I also feel like I need a break from education. I am burnt out. I need to foster my brain in other areas.

My Summer plans

The next topic which I think I should be my summer plans…

This summer like all of my summers since I was 17, I shall be working fulltime for 40 hours a week. I love working. I am a hard worker and I love my job as I get to learn practical skills which will look good on my CV (I run the Saturday shift currently at my job).

Last year I learnt how to use realex for lapsed payments and how to set up direct debits which I think will boast my skill set (could benefit the blog in the future). I would love to learn more about the business side of my company this summer. I also can’t wait to get closer to the other employees.

I also plan a lot of self-improvement this year. I will buying a flyfit gym membership this summer as I hope to get more active so that in forty years, I have prevented health problems my parents have. I also am currently attempting to learn Irish so that is fun.

What are your plans for the summer and for May? Let me know!!

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Travel Guide Dublin: Top Instagramable Spots

Recently, a realisation hit me. I love writing posts about the countries I travel to, yet, I’ve somehow never posted about the city I love and live in. Dublin. I’ve decided that I might try writing a few posts. After all, it would be mad to not rave and rant about where I’m from.

I live in Dublin which is a bustling city, full of many beautiful places – both well known and hidden. One thing which people love when they go on holidays is to take photos which are worthy for their social media platforms. Dublin, like any city, has many gorgeous places which are great for posting photos online. Read on to see where I go to get some nice photos.

Killiney Hill

I have to admit I am biased when it comes to Killiney Hill as I grew up near this area so I spent a lot of my childhood climbing the hill. Anyone who has ever had the pleasure of hiking up this hill will know that the steep hill is well worth the hike as the view is amazing. (Not a friendly spot for anyone with mobility issues as it is a very steep walk.)

The hill is 153 metres high and has one obelisk. From the top of the hill there are many amazing sights to be seen – Dublin to the northwest, the Irish sea and the mountains of Wales to the east and southeast, Bray head and Wicklow to the South.

When walking around this hill, there is an area which is full of Granite which was used to build the Victorian Piers in the nearby town of Dun Laoghaire (Dun Leary is the pronunciation). This hill has a wide range of history too for any history lovers – Prince Albert donated it to the public in memory of Queen Victoria’s jubilee.

There is a lovely tea room at the entrance of the hill which sell ice cream, cakes, and tea. The tea rooms also give water to any dogs which may be walked in the area. For anyone bringing kids along, there is a great playground.

The view from the Obelisk at Killiney Hill, Dublin

2. Trinity College Dublin

Trinity has some of the prettiest architecture in Dublin which I hate to admit as I attend the rival university of Trinity.

The college was founded in 1592 making it the oldest university in Ireland. Not only does this college have some beautiful architecture, it also is the current home of the book of Kells (there is an entry fee to this but to enter the campus grounds is free and open to the general public.) The library is also a must see part of the university. Notable alumni of this university includes Oscar Wilde!

This college is handy for tourists as it is located in the very centre of Dublin City Centre and is the third top thing to do in Dublin according to Trip Advisor.

Trinity is the second best place to take photos

3. Howth

The next most instagramable spot on my list is the small coastal town called Howth. This area contains a 15th century castle (Howth Castle), some 19th century Mortello Towers (not the exact one which James Joyce describes but fairly similar), and, a clifftop trail which has some beautiful views which are perfect for posting on the Instagram.

If you have time, visit the island there which is called Ireland’s Eye which is a fifteen minute boat ride from the mainland.

Looking for something to eat? Great, Howth is known for its restaurants and a walk along its pier will introduce you to many amazing restaurants such as the Abbey Tavern where there is live music in the evening. For people who like seafood, Howth is full of restaurants such as the Brass Monkey which is known for their amazing seafood tapas.

Howth best spot in dublin — A sunset seen at Howth, Dublin. This is one of the best instagramable spots in Dublin

4. The Ha’penny Bridge

When in Dublin, both tourists and locals alike will often stop on this bridge to get a selfie. Why? The bridge has a great view of Dublin and on sunny days makes a great picture. This bridge – which is officially called the Liffey Bridge- was built as a pedestrian bridge in 1816 in order to allow pedestrians to cross over the river Liffey which divides Dublin into two sections.

The bridge is affectionally known as the Ha’penny bridge when in the early 1900s, the toll price was raised to a penny and a half. Luckily, there no longer is a toll for pedestrians crossing the bridge making it a free spot to take a fantastic photo.

5. Temple Bar

Now before I actually write anything about this location, here is a disclaimer, I am recommending this spot for taking photos, not for eating or drinking. Temple Bar is beautiful. From the buildings to the quirky shops to the graffiti.

However, this part of Dublin’s city centre is known locally as a tourist trap. The food and drink often tends to be far more expensive than other areas of the close by city – I often hear tourists complaining about the price of the drinks here, I would recommend Harcourt street or pubs around O’Connell street for better night outs.

However, when it comes to taking a beautiful photo -which will look great on the ‘gram-, I would 100% recommend Temple Bar. As mentioned before there is lovely street art – one of my favourites is a hotel which has some of James Joyce’s characters painted onto the walls – to the cobbled streets, there’s a certain vibe to Temple Bar which is transferred to photos of it.

Temple Bar also has one of the most famous pubs in Dublin which of course is called The Temple Bar (pictured below). This part of Dublin has a very interesting history and contains a huge whiskey collection with 450 bottles of rare whiskey from all over the world.

Well that is it for this post!

The above five are my favourite spots for a great photo to post on my Instagram. What areas in your city would you view as the best places to take a lovely Instagram shot? If you’re from Dublin, let me know where you go to take photos/ to feel like a tourist at home!!

Thanks for reading!!

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See my last travel related post here!!

(Disclaimer – A lot of my photos of these areas contain pictures of my nephews who are minors. For that reason I used stock photos for this post and I claim no right over those photos.)

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The best three primers ever

It’s mad to think that there was a time where I never wore primer on my face. The thought now of applying my foundation or bb cream straight on after my moisturizer makes me want to cringe.

Without any doubt, primer is probably one of the two things which can make or break a makeup look for me! (The other being face powder)

I will always swear by Benefit’s porefessional which is one of the few primers on the market which can actually work well with the skin on my nose (which is somehow both oily AND dry at the same time.)

However, I really love some of the cheaper primers which I’m currently using on my face. I thought I’d share them with my blog as I haven’t written a post solely on any primer in a while.

Maybelline Baby Skin Primer

This primer is well known as being a dupe for Benefit’s the Porefessional which is the main reason why I tried it out in the first place. To me, personally, it’s not the exact same as the porefessional but it works just as well for my skin. I also am currently having a love affair with Maybelline in general – there are days where Maybelline is the only brand I actually apply to my face.

Maybelline Baby Skin provides a matte finish and leaves the skin fresh, soft and protected. The gel texture in Baby Skin instantly helps to vanish pores and makes the skin feel light.
It avoids a shine on the skin and makes the skin feel soft.
Bye bye pores!

This primer smoothens out pores and makes skin look beautiful. I really like the packaging of the bottle too – it’s not chunky which makes it ideal for packing when travelling. At eleven euro, this primer may seem a bit pricey compared to other primers which can be bought in boots. However, I’ve had my bottle for longer than I can actually remember and it hasn’t run out yet.

I would recommend that anyone looking to buy this product take a look at some reviews of it for the reason that some customers aren’t as happy with the product as I am.

2. Elf Cosmetics Hydrating Face Primer

This primer is perfect for the parts of my skin which are dry. I personally wouldn’t recommend this primer to anyone with oily skin as the primer itself is a bit greasy which works for my skin but would probably make foundation slide off oily skin.

The primer transforms your face into a flawless, smooth canvas ideal for long-lasting makeup application. The formula is infused with grape, Vitamins A, C, & E to help boost complexion and hydrate your skin.

I mainly used this primer during the winter when my skin became so dry that all my foundations were not looking nice on my skin at all. There is nothing worse than when foundation emphasizes dry patches – I think in this case, no foundation looks nicer on me.

However, when I used this primer, I found that skin was a lot healthier looking and my foundation didn’t make my skin look like dried cement.

At nine euro, this primer is also not cheap so I would recommend looking at reviews and seeing how people with your skin tone find it before actually buying it.

3. Primark Vitamin Primer

I adore Primark’s (or penney’s as we call it here in Ireland) make up and skin care range. Primark has really gone and made a great affordable range.

I’ve mostly tried the face products so buying a primer was something I did when they brought this particular one out. (I really need to try Alex’s skincare range. None of my local shops have much of her products but I do love her workout gear.)

When it comes to this primer, I use it on all of my face except for my forehead and nose. I’ve already discussed my nose above but for my forehead, I like a mattifying primer as I tend to get very shiny there. (My skin can never agree on what skin type it wants to be.) This primer adds a dewy look for the rest of my face, effortlessly nourishing my skin and prepping it for heavier makeup which comes after the Primer.

The primer gets it’s name from the fact that it contains many vitamins like B3, B5, and, vitamin E. All of which are great for the skin.

For four euro, this primer is a bargain and I really want to try other Primers in the PRO range.

Those are my three current favourite primers! What Primers are you currently using? Let me know in the comments!!

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Bucharest Trip

Recently I was lucky enough to travel to Bucharest, Romania with some friends from Uni!!

Although this blog is very much a Beauty oriented blog, I do like to post about my travel experience every now and again.

I plan to write a couple of posts in relation to Bucharest such as the following; Tips and advice, Things to do, What to eat, etc!! My next trip will be Edinburgh next month so I will have plenty of posts up before then.

Scroll down for my pictures!!

Thanks for reading!! These were just a few of my photos as I plan to use my other photos for future posts!!

If you liked this post, please see my last post. See previous posts on Travel here!!

Benefit Gift Sets

Currently at the time of writing, Benefit at Debenhams is having a 10% off offer.

One thing which I’ve always loved about Benefit is the fact that they offer sets of their makeup and that they sell mini versions of many of their individual products. I personally believe that all brands should offer mini’s of their products- I’m much more likely to purchase a product after trying a smaller version of it.

Last month I nearly bought the new limited edition Anna Saccone Benefit Eyebrow kit but stopped myself. I used to buy a lot of benefit sets and I’m sad to see the ones I used to love no longer there.

(I wanted the “How to Look Best at Everything giftset as a teen, but the Benefit sales lady advised me against buying it as it didn’t suit my skin tone)

Now I’m looking at Benefit’s other sets and I’ve decided to rank them for you guys.

Benefit ‘Homemade Hotness’:

I actually own this kit and I can vouch for how amazing it is. I really love it because it has products for the whole face which I like. This kit is great for anyone new to Benefit as a brand because it features most of Benefit’s popular products.

Benefit ‘The Pretty Started’:

I don’t own this gift set but I would definitely buy it if I didn’t own most of the products in the set – I own the full size version of Hoola and it is my main bronzer. I’ve had the same one for years, I don’t think it’s ever going to run out. I actually really want to try Galifornia blusher so I may buy something with that in it. I own the fullsize version of Whats Up and I swear by it.

It’s a great little set which includes a blusher, bronzer and a highlighter.

Benefit Anna Saccone Limited Edition Eyebrow Gift Set

This set is probably one of the most pricey sets which I’m showing on this post today. Usually retailing at €65.00, it is currently going for €58.50. While this set is pricey, there is a lot of great products included. Including two Pricisely my Brow pencil in shades 3.5 and 4, one fool proof brow powder in shade 4, one 3D browtones 2, and, one high brow glow highlighter. The only downside to this product is that since it is all in Anna’s colouring, anyone who isn’t the same shades as her can’t buy it.

Those are the three main sets which I like the most at the moment. Are there any sets which you like?

I really miss the old sets like All is Bright. I adored that set and regret throwing out the box.

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Did you like this post? Thank you for reading!!

How to make pores smaller? Try the Porefessional

Probably one of the most sought after primers are those which minimalize pores. The Porepessional is the best of them all.

The Porefessional is one of Benefits well-renowned face primers which is claimed to be able to hide large pores, and smoothen skin. Since I have three years of experience with this lovely primer, I can confirm this is true. I love this product like no other, and I could not go without it.

As a person with combination skin, I have a big problem with pores. No other product other than this has helped me hide my pores. Another thing that I love about this product is that it smoothens out my skin and leaves a silky feeling behind. It is the perfect base for my foundation and definitely helps lengthens out the life of my makeup.

It is a brilliant primer, and leaves a lovely matte finish on my skin. I would really recommend this product to friends. I would rate it four out of five stars. Irish viewers can purchase it here at boots for €34. American and Canadian viewers can buy it here at Sephora for thirty-one USD. For those in the uk it is at boots uk for twenty-four pounds.

Thank you so much for reading xx

Catrice Haul!!! Green or mean ?

Catrice is a brand that I wouldn’t use often. When I was about fourteen years old I would have bought a couple of their products but since then, I haven’t given the brand much thought. More recently, I’ve been looking for a new foundation and when I saw one of Catrice’s while I was in Primark, I decided to give a few of their products a go and only wear those products for a couple of days. On Catrice’s website, they describe the brand as being a ‘pure joy of life’ and that their products are made of luxurious textures. Their words, not mine. One of the many positive sides to Catrice is that they do not test on animals. I bought a handful of products, and found out for myself, whether or not these products are as good as the brand claims they are.

Prime and Fine anti red base:

This product was one of the main products that I really got excited over when I was buying my items. I have cool toned skin which has patches of red, so this primer could have been my answer to easing that. But it didn’t. The product claims to be long lasting, and hydrating but I have yet to notice any differences in my quite dry skin. When applying, this product left a very greasy feel to my skin which I did not like. It was very quite sticky due to its thick formula. It also was very shimmery – it made my face very shiny no matter how much matte powder I put on. The of the few good things about this product is that it managed to not make my makeup look cakey.

If you are the type of person who likes to only wear primer without any foundation, then this primer is not for you. It is bright green and stays that colour unless a foundation is applied over it. The primer also did very little when it came to actually concealing the red parts of my face which is the reason I bought it in the first place. The product was just under five euro so it wasn’t a huge surprise that it didn’t work out. What I did find I could do with this primer, is that if I add this to foundation that it is too yellow for my skin tone, it can help even out the colour to match better. So for all of the reasons stated above, I give this product a rating of 1 out of 10!

Even Skin Tone Beautifying Foundation

This foundation is one of Catrice’s newest foundations so when I picked it, I had never heard of the foundation before. It’s a foundation that is supposed to create a more even skin tone over time, cover imperfections, and give wearers beautiful skin. This foundation offers medium to high coverage and has a spf of 25. The brand claims that this foundation will leave a silky, matte finish. I got the foundation in the shade in 005 – even ivory – and the first things I noticed about this foundation is that they only offer four shades and all of them would be for paler girls. I love the packaging of this product. The product is in clear glass with black writing on it. With a clear lid, it looks more expensive than what it is in my opinion.

When I went to put on the foundation, I found it was quite hard to blend in compared to the other foundations I have but in the end, it blended and left a beautiful finish. It was bliss. My skin looked matte but at the same time, not dry. My pores were reduced and my skin looked lovely. I then went out for a couple of hours shopping for back to school books 😦 and came home within three hours. Imagine the horror I felt when I noticed that my skin looked like someone had rubbed oil all over it. Quickly taking it off, I assumed that it had been the primer which had made it go so greasy and oily. I then reapplied only the foundation and some matte powder on my t-zone. Within the hour, it had gone very shiny again. Now, I have quite dry skin so its very odd for a foundation to get oily on me, especially after an hour. I live in Ireland, so the hottest it would have been would be about 18 or 19 degrees Celsius. It wasn’t hot out nor was it raining. The foundation itself just did not stay matte. This product cost me nine euro, so once again, it was a cheap buy. I’d give this product 3 out of 10 due to it being a nice colour that suits my skin tone. It also covered up most of my blemishes.

All Matt Plus Shine Control Powder

Out of the products that I bought, this would be one of my favourites. My first impression of the product wouldn’t have been the best due to the foundation above but once I paired this product with a Revlon foundation, it was perfect. The finish itself is very smooth and shine free – as promised by Catrice. This product promises to be mattifying, long-lasting, and ultra silky. I find all the mentioned above to be true. The colour I got is transparent so it has no effect on what colour my face is. The product would last for about four hours before needing topping up, which is quite good in my opinion. I expected very little of this product so that might be the main reason that I love it so much. The product did not irritate my skin like some other products like this one have in the past and it did not dry out my skin or make me break out either which is always a good thing.

The product leaves a very like velvet type of feel to the skin. Overall, I would rate this powder a 8 out of ten! It’s a must buy and a great steal at only €3.99.

Absolute Nude Eyeshadow Palette

I’ve owned this product for years now and it was the first palette that I ever attempted to do a smokey eye look with. This palette is like an old friend to me. One of the first things I have to say is that this palette is that like Catrice claim, these colours are longlasting and great for many looks. On the back of the palette, they have a guide on how to do a basic smokey eye look which would be convenient for young girls who have yet to try out a smokey eye look. I know that when I was about fourteen, I had no idea how to do my eyes. I would just swipe some eyeshadow on the lid, and off I’d go. Honestly, it wasn’t until last year that I actually started to look at makeup tutorials.

The colours in this are mostly all matte but each have a hint of shimmer in them. Except for the lighest shade which is a shimmer highlighter shade. As you can see in the picture below, the colours are very pigmented and I find that this palette is brilliant for travelling since it is a nice size – its not too large nor too small. I would really recommend this product to everyone. If you don’t like brown eyeshadow then there are other colours as well to buy. I would give this a ten out of ten!!!

Multi Colour compact powder

So basically this is another compact powder but the colour was too dark for me so I used it as a subtle bronzer instead which looked great and lasted the day. The one flaw I found with this product was that I found it hard to actually open the powder xD. As seen in the picture below, the powder is actually a mix of many different colours.

Long Lasting Eye=pencil Waterproof

The last product that I bought was this eyepencil which is a metal grey colour. I love to have colourful eyeliner to try and bring out the colour of my eyes which are grey. This hit the spot. The colour lasted for more than five hours and looked amazing against my eye makeup. At three euro, this was a great buy which I’d buy again when it runs out.

Thank you for reading this blog post. To say the least, I have very mixed feelings towards Catrice.

How to Plan a city break on a Budget

Happy Friday, friends!!

As a student, money isn’t something that I have a lot of at the moment. Traveling for me is something that can I can only do if I budget really well.

Wanting an inexpensive trip is something that I can imagine many people like the idea of. Some people of course can afford to pay for pricier flights and pricier accomdation. This guide however is for anyone who is in need of a cheap holiday asap!!!

Step 1: Pick Your Budget

Being based in Europe, I have to keep all of my trips within the European Continent as I can’t afford to fly any further than that. For any followers not from Europe, I would imagine neighbouring states or countries would probably be the cheapest time to fly abroad.

Before you can pick where you want to go, check what your budget it for each part of your trip. For Europe, I try to pay no more than €50 for return flights. Hostels and hotels tend to vary in price based on where I’m going. Once you have decided where you want to go, next you have to find out when it the cheapest time of the year for that particular place. My favourite time to travel is in May and September. I tend to find that the prices are not at peak yet, the weather is warm but not too hot, and, it probably isn’t tourist season.

Step 2: Book your flights and book a hotel

Whenever I’m booking a hostel or a hotel, I always make sure to book one that doesn’t require prepayment and which allows free cancellation. This will mean that I won’t have to worry about the payment just yet. Booking.com is a great website for finding great hotel prices and is the website I use most. Other options include Airbnb or couch sharing if you’re brave enough. My tip when booking a hotel is to check where in the city it is based, and, what the public transport system is like. If the city has a reliable and cost effective system, it may be worth it to commute around. Check if your airport has a train station. Some airports don’t have a trainstation which may mean you will have to pay for a coach or transfer. This can quickly add up for families who are traveling.

When it comes to flights I tend to buy them as far in advance as possible. I also try to travel only on week days. The cheapest time to book flights is three months before you plan to fly. The most expensive time is two weeks beforehand. One of the things which allows me to have cheap flights is to be flexible with my dates.

To summarise

Fly on Weekdays – Tuesday being the cheapest
Be Flexible with your dates
Book within Three months of your trip.
Travel in offpeak times – you can save up to 15%!!!
Know when the school season is in the country.
Make your the airport has a train station to city centre to avoid paying extra fees.
Check if your hotel has free wifi – a lot of hotels do and this is a cost which can be avoided.

Step 3: Find out what free things there are

Every city has tourist attractions which are worth paying money towards. However, there are many things which are free to do. I also enjoy finding out what the locals like to do as I believe that sometimes visiting non-tourist attractions is much more of an adventure. People traveling with children can find so many free attractions too.

Step 4: Food

One of the easiest ways to overspend and go out of budget when traveling is when buying food. I tend to budget how much I am willing to spend and see how much I have left for eating. One of the main things I do if find out what places have the best quality food and avoid overpriced restuarants. I also look to stay in hotels which have a communal kitchen so that I can make my own food.

I tend to eat at lunch time when traveling – the menu is cheaper and a big meal will fill me so I don’t have to buy dinner. When drinking, I buy local wines and beer because they are cheaper. I often try to avoid the main tourist areas when eating as these are more expensive.

Step 5: Buy A Travel or City Pass

In some cities, it is well worth buying a travel pass. In Berlin, I bought a daily travel pass which made life so much easier since Berlin is such a big city. Some cities won’t need such a thing. If you are traveling with young children, it’s always a good idea to see what age it’s free until (many cities in Europe under 3’s are free). If traveling to a city which speaks a different language, check how to buy your tickets and how to validate them. The last thing any tourist on a budget needs is to have to pay a fine.

Step 6: Find out what you are entitled to

Many countries have free entry to certain tourists spots if over 65, under 25, or, a student. Students may get discounted transport prices. Rules apply differently in different cities so read up on what applies for different people.

And most importantly… Have fun!!!

Well these were my tips on planning a holiday on a budget. What ways do you save money when going on holidays?

Read my last travel post here!! Read my last post here.

L’Oreal True Match Foundation

One of the most important things when it comes to wearing makeup, is having a perfect foundation. When wearing a good foundation, I often feel like I am ready to take on the world.

However, I tend to find it hard to actually find a foundation which will make my skin look amazing and I am sure many people who wear makeup feel the same way as me.

One of the foundations which I apply when I want a perfect base is the L’Oreal True Match foundation. I am Irish and I am as extremely pale as the media makes us out to be. Many foundations which come in my extreme pale tend to either be expensive or don’t work with my skin.

Not this baby!!

I often struggle with finding a foundation which actually works with my skin while not going too expensive. I have combination skin, meaning that parts of my skin tend to be quite oily while other parts are quite dry. My nose tends to be the main culprit when it comes to my foundation look bad – no matter what skincare or beauty product I’ve been recommended, none have managed to tame my nose. My nose tends to seem both oily and dry. It’ll either appear very shiny and the foundation will separate, or it will appear so dry that all my pore, little lines, and bumps will be aggressively noticeable. This is what some would define as a first world problem.

Let’s get onto the review shall we?

Description of the Foundation by the Brand:

Product details
L’Oreal’s #1 foundation is now available in 28 shades and matches 98% of UK skintones. L’Oreal’s velvety formula matches your skin’s unique tone and texture, for a true to skin finish: flawless, blendable, and never fake.
L’Oreal’s 28 shades range from warm to neutral to cool undertones, to ensure your foundation is right for you. Whilst your skin tone is visible on the surface and can alter through the seasons, your skin undertones are determined at a deeper level, they are part of your skin and never change. Each complexion has its own undertone: pink (cool), neutral or golden (warm), so you can now find a match that’s true to you.
To celebrate the 28 shades of True Match, L’Oreal Paris has launched the #YoursTruly True Match campaign, to share the diversity behind our 28 shades of True Match. Discover 28 influential individuals revealing their 28 stories, and get ready to write yours.

I’ve been wearing this foundation for a year now and I love it. It’s one of the few foundations which work for my whole face. I tend to go for foundations that are medium coverage, which this one is. It covers the random bits of redness that I have without feeling too heavy on my skin.

How to use
1. Start with a well cleaned, toned and moisturised face. 2. Studio secrets primer to your face. Remember less is more. 3. Apply your True Match foundation to your face. Starting with the T-zone, and in a rolling motion work your way out.

Pro’s:

There are 28 different shades.
It’s easy to apply onto the face and has a silky texture
Has a fairly satin finish – I wouldn’t describe this foundation as being matte.
Sleek packaging

Con’s:

The foundation cost £14.99 which isn’t expensive for high end foundations but it fairly expensive for a drugstore brand.
May not have the best shade offerings for those who aren’t pale like myself.

Overall I adore this foundation and I actually have two bottles – one for summer and one for winter.

What do you think of this foundation? Have you tried it?

Thanks for reading this post!! If you like it, please read my last post about a foundation Here!!

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TV Shows that I am currently Obsessed With

I adore watching Netflix just like any other person. I mean, who doesn’t?

This month, I decided to try and watch more netflix before my college life became too hectic. Below are some of the shows which I watched and loved this month.

Tidying Up with Marie Kondo:

Watching Marie Kondo help people clean up their houses, has really brought me great joy this past month. I didn’t expect to enjoy this show – I mean, it’s a show about tidying up and adopting a minimalist lifestyle, I didn’t expect to enjoy watching OTHER people do that.

Yet… I did.

To the point that I started to try out Marie’s folding technique!!

When people lead busy lives, their homes sometimes become cluttered with things piling up over time. In this series, renowned tidying expert Marie Kondo tries to help folks declutter their homes — and their lives. Whether she’s helping a harried couple with young children become more organized or showing a retired couple how to reclaim their space, Kondo assists her clients in clearing out the clutter and choosing joy in a series of inspiring home makeovers.

I started to watch this show one day when I was bored. I had seen a lot of tweets about the show beforehand, but I had never thought it would be a show which I would enjoy. I was very, very wrong. I especially love watching Marie Kondo fold clothes. It’s extremely satisfying.

Peakey Blinders:

One of my favourite fictional drama series which I am enjoying at the moment is the ever so famous, Peakey Blinders. Starring Ireland’s own Cillian Murphy as Thomas Shelby, the show follows the Shelby gang of Biringham also known as the Peakey Blinders.

Peaky blinders cillian murphy

Peaky blinders cast

Britain is a mixture of despair and hedonism in 1919 in the aftermath of the Great War. Returning soldiers, newly minted revolutions and criminal gangs are fighting for survival in a nation rocked by economic upheaval. One of the most powerful gangs of the time is the Peaky Blinders, run by returning war hero Thomas Shelby and his family. But Thomas has bigger ambitions than just running the streets. When a crate of guns goes missing, he recognizes an opportunity to advance in the world because crime may pay but legitimate business pays better. Trying to rid Britain of its crime is Inspector Chester Campbell, who arrives from Belfast to try to achieve that goal.

Peaky Blinders Cillian Murphy — Peaky Blinders Main Star Cillian Murphy

From the catchy theme song to the 1920 themed decor to the well developed, there’s lots to love. I’m currently eagerly awaiting for the next season of the show, season five, after the last season left off on quite the ending.

Dirty John:

At the moment, I’m watching Dirty John with my parents. To call this show interesting is an understatement. It is shocking and deeply fascinating to the point that I can’t help but want to rewatch the whole show again. Even more terrifying is the fact that Dirty John is based on a true crime story about a sociopath – there’s also a podcast by the same name.

The Cast of Dirty John

The Cast of Dirty John
Debra Newell has a perfect life — from the outside — she’s successful, beautiful and lives in Newport Beach, one of California’s most desirable coastal cities. The only thing missing from her life is love, so when she meets the charismatic, handsome and charming Dr. John Meehan, she is swept off her feet in a whirlwind romance. Her daughters, Terra and Veronic, set out to prove that he’s just a conman after they are displeased at the fast-tracked relationship and decide to investigate their mother’s new beau for themselves. As Debra gets drawn deeper into his lies, the psychological manipulation has consequences for the entire family.

With a Golden Globe nomination for best performance by an actress in a mini series or motion picture made for television, this true crime drama starring the amazing Connie Britton and Eric Bana, this show is well worth the watch for anyone looking for something new to watch.

That’s my current favourite TV shows at the minute. What shows are you currently watching? Let me know!!

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