How I Juggle Work, College and Blogging

I opted for a bit of a different post but something i wanted to talk about on my blog.

Like pretty much everyone my plate is full. What with the final month of college, making enough money for living and fitting it around a blog schedule which i want to make the best of my abilities it gets stressful.

Let me fill you in a little bit, I'm in my final weeks of Fashion Promotion course. I'm working 4/5 days at Miss Selfridge and I'm blogging once a week which I'm hoping to increase to 2.

Tips

Prioritise: What's most important to you?

Don't spread yourself thin: Miss a week of blogging, say no to that extra shift. You come first!

Organise: Write down your rota, plan out your days, make to-do lists.

Weekly Planners: Set your days. I don't like to do a post in a day, i like to take a photo on a Monday, edit it on a Tuesday, write it on a Wednesday, i find it more fun and less last minute and stressful.

Everyone needs a day off: Even you! Allow a pamper day with Netflix and a face mask. It'll do wonders to your stress levels.

Socialise: When I'm busy i often forget about socialising and i feel so much better when i have a little chat with one my friends.

Have fun: If you don't like it, don't do it. Obvious one really but do things for you not because someone asked you to.

Don't forget to sleep: Being busy you have late nights but please try and fit at least 6 hours sleep in and don't substitute it with caffeine!

I hope you bare these tips in mind. They help me to balance things out and keep my stress to a minimum. You can't be in 10 places at once and you need to remember that.

Any other helpful tips?

Lemme know, Summa x

May Favourites

Monthly favourites are always my favourite to write and read.

And can i just say what everyone is thinking, how the hell is it June tomorrow?!

Living Proof Perfect Hair Day: I'm not big on hair care at all and I'm so lazy so when i saw a 5 in 1 product i had to give it a try and now i can't not use it, it literally is perfect hair in a bottle. It gives me volume and really smooths my frizz!

Urban Decay Naked Basics: This is my most used palette, i find it hard to create a eye look without using at least one shade. They are such wearable colours and all matte besides a beautiful highlight shade. Couldn't live without it.

Mac Ripe Peach Blush: I'm being a tease putting a limited edition product in my favourites but its been on my cheeks for the last two months, its lovely on fair and light skin and a really natural blush.

Nyx Liquid Liner: I'm being adventurous branching out from my eyeliner pens and although applying this takes more time, it gives a sharp flick, i just wish this was completely matte.

Rimmel Sandal Eyes Nude Liner: Another must have. It really brightens and opens up your eyes and make you look awake and i need that in my life.

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum: Lately I've just not been feeling the full coverage foundations so i decided this was a good option, its super light and moisturising with a decent amount of coverage and would be perfect for the hot months ahead!

Too Faced Hangover Primer: I love a moisturising primer for when i want to use a more drying foundation such as Studio Fix and this is perfect to refresh my skin and lays under makeup well and prevents foundation clinging to dry patches.

Pretty Little Liars: I know I'm so late on the band wagon but oh my gosh, its amazing, I've binge watched the first 4 series and although at times I'm like come on girls get it over with find out who A is, i still find it gripping and i'd be lying if i haven't dreamt about it several times

I could of wrote a book on how many favourites i had since i haven't done a favourites since January! 

What have been your favourites this month?
Lemme know, Summa x

5 Must Have Brushes

[L to R] Morphe M431, Zoeva 228, Real Techniques Contour Brush, Body Shop Blush Brush, Flat Top Kabuki

I am so surprised that i've never done a post just on brushes baring in mind how in love i am with them. So i thought i'd share my 5 must have can't live without brushes.

Morphe M431: This is a slighter larger pencil brush than usual and i find that it is perfect for specific crease work and putting colour under the eye. Ever since i picked one of these up, i can't put it down.

Zoeva 228: A dupe for the MAC 217 what isn't to love. Perfect for crease work and blending and light application. I could own 20 of these brushes and i still wouldn't have enough and especially in rose gold.

Real Techiques Contour Brush: A multi purpose brush, perfect for contour, highlight, blend out concealer and setting the under eye. This brush does it all.

Body Shop Blush Brush: I put this old gem in because i love the cut of the bristles and so soft. I also think this brush could be multi purpose but I'm yet to try, so ill get back to you on that.

Flat Top Kabuki: Any brand of this brush will work, the one in the image above being Coastal Scents. I wont be able to use anything but this and a beauty blender to apply foundation, it works a charm.

Sorry for not posting in the last two weeks! I've been so run down with my college deadline and to top it off i was ill and then my internet completely died on me for 5 days.

What is your favourite brush?

Lemme know, Summa x

Contour Favourites

With Summer round the corner you want to have those chiseled cheekbones nailed.

So i thought i'd share with you some of my contour essentials.

First a very well known contour palette, the Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit in Light/ Medium. Mostly known for the Banana powder, which I'm going to put out here, if you're fair doesn't highlight very much. Fawn is the powder i get most use out of as it's a grey toned shade which is perfect for contouring!

I thought i'd include a couple of cream products such as the Soleil Tan De Chanel. This is a warm shade which is perfect for the summer that makes a natural looking contour and can even be applied all over the face for a overall bronzed look and i've barely made a dent in it.

The next cream product is Benefits Watts Up. A champagne highlight that really gives a beautiful shimmer to the cheekbones without being too much perfect for day or night.

Benefit Hoola was my first contour product and is still a favourite, it is a shade that will suit any skin tone. It has the perfect mixture that isn't too grey nor too warm.

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Pink Quarts is a intense pink highlight that really makes your cheeks pop. The shades can also be used eyeshadows as well. All the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks are beautiful and find the one that suits you best and it'll be your go-to highlight for evenings for sure.

The brushes i use are Real Techniques Contour Brush which is perfect for getting a strong contour. The Real Techniques setting brush is perfect for highlighting.

What are your contour favourites?

Lemme know, Summa x

Drugstore Haul

3 for 2 sales. Need i say more?

L'oreal Miss Manga Mascara: I love a voluming mascara for evening and decided to give this a whack, i haven't tried it yet but I'm sure it'll pop up in a favourites if i do!

Rimmel Extra 3D Lash Mascara: I heard Lily Pebbles mention this and i had to try, lengthening mascaras are defiantly a must for me. I found this has quickly become my favourite bottom lash mascara as well!

L'oreal Infallible 24 Hour Foundation: I wanted to be different and try this one out. Big mistake, it separates so bad on my skin and honestly, i hate everything about it and i will be trying the matte version.

Essence Lip Liner 05: After Casey Holmes mentioned a Kat Von D Lolita dupe with this liner i had to get my hands on it, paired with Nyx Matte Lip Cream in London. It's so creamy and i love it.

Essence Lip Liner 08: I just needed a basic red liner and this does the job and for £1 as well. Whats not to love?

Sleek Blush By 3 Pink Lemonade: I'm on a bit of a blush hype at the moment. These blushes are beautiful and pigmented and if they had a coral blush by 3, i'll be even more in love.

Collection Eyes Uncovered Nude Grey: I'm trying to get more into cool tones and i thought this palette was a little push. Amazing quality for the price, only downside wish they had a couple of mattes in there.

So thats what I've picked up lately from the drugstore and i must say i'm really loving Boots and Superdrug at the moment.

I have a high end haul coming up for you that includes a couple of things from Sephora so stay tuned for that!

What else should i try from the drugstore?

Lemme know, Summa x

5 Things I'd Tell My Younger Self

Firstly i'd like to apologise for the awful picture quality and the fact i still wear my hair like that.

As i was going through my photos trying to select some for this post i went through more than 5 tips i'd give myself. First starting with those 3D glasses with the lens popped out.

1: Be yourself: Yes, you've heard it all before and i know my younger self would be eye rolling. Its scary being a young girl and it was important to being liked but real friends will love you for you.

2: Go school: I hated school, it wasn't that i was bullied or anything bad, i just didn't like it, i find it very hard to concentrate and when i didn't know one little thing i would shut off. But looking back on it i wish i did try harder.

3: Make the most out everything: I always took my family for granted.No-one close to me has physically died thankfully, but people get sick and i regret not spending more time with them.

4: Tumblr was not your friend: Ok hipster, looking back on it i never realised how bad tumblr was, its okay now but it was full of drugs, sex, alcohol and self harming. It was a dark place for young kids to be and worst of all, i wanted to be like them.

5: Boys aren't worth it: I wish i knew this sooner. The amount of tears i wasted. And honestly looking back on old photos, i don't think it was very healthy to stalk boys social media daily (Im talking celebrities and 'twitter famous')

What tips would you give?

Lemme know, Summa x

Make up Geek Shadows

I recently purchased some make up geek shadows.

With the hype around these, i couldn't resist.

[L to R] Shimma Shimma, Beaches and Cream, Creme Brûlée, Coco Bear, Grandstand, Moondust, Corrupt

I'm seriously impressed with the quality of these, especially for $6, they are extremely buttery.

I swatched the shadows so you can see how pigmented they are in just one swipe. The picture doesn't do the shimmers justice, especially Grandstand which is part of their beautiful foiled collection.

[L to R] Shimma Shimma, Beaches and Cream, Creme Brûlée, Coco Bear, Grandstand, Moondust, Corrupt

Shimma Shimma: This is probably my favourite shade, it looks beautiful all over the lid and really opens up your eyes.

Beaches and Cream: This shadow is a bit too light for my liking, it makes a good transition shade on fair skin, but wouldn't recommend it anyone past light skin.

Creme Brûlée: This is another transition shade which would be ideal for anyone, it makes applying any colours beautiful and blend like a dream.

Coco Bear: I love this shade for warming up the eye and popping in the crease to deepen a look. Its really a must have in your collection.

Grandstand: My first foiled shadow and i am blown away with one light touch it packs some much colour with no fall out what so ever, you will not need your Fix+ for this beauty.

Moondust: Interrupting the warm theme i had going on, this is beautiful for a grey smokey eye and looks lovely all over the lid.

Corrupt: The most pigmented blackest black around. Do not doubt this shadow, a dip of a brush and you're set. Also blends beautifully for a black.

I created this eye by popping Beaches and Cream as a transition shade, then adding Creme Brûlée for more depth and blended it up to my brow bone, the last shade i used in my crease was Coco Bear and focused this more in the crease and slightly on the outer corner. I placed Shimma Shimma all over my lid as this shadow is life and for my bottom lash line i put Coco Bear for a bit of depth. 

I gave liner a miss this day as i wanted to keep the eyes quite soft. I used my Rimmel Lash Accelerator for lengthy looking lashes.

What do you think of Makeup Geek Shadows?

Lemme know, Summa x