Spread the Love With an Orange Lipstick

From left to right: Rimmel Apocalips 'Luna', Revlon Lip Butter 'Juicy Papaya', Rimmel Moisture Renew 'In Love With Ginger', MAC 'Saigon Summer'

From left to right: Rimmel Apocalips 'Luna', Revlon Lip Butter 'Juicy Papaya', Rimmel Moisture Renew 'In Love With Ginger', MAC 'Saigon Summer'

Orange has creeped into this years make up trend whether it be a glamorous look or even a casual daytime look, orange is one of the most flattering colours that suits every skintone. I never used to be a fan of orange but when I started to experiment more with make up I began to fall in love with it. Whether it be a subtle shade or a full on bright lip, it's perfect for a summer glow and there's a shade for everyone.

The Liquid Orange

The Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquers are a great favourite of mine and when they were discovered at the beginning of 2013, I knew I had to get my hands on some. The shade 'Luna' is a subtle orange that has a satin finish but dries quite matte. The formula of the lip product is, what I would say, the mediator between a lip gloss and a lipstick, for those days where you're feeling crazy and want a bit of both. The colour is applied quite bright, especially for my skin tone, but when it dries it's actually quite subtle and not too in your face.

The Glossy Orange

For those glossy girls who think a matte lip doesn't suit their cracked lips that mother nature likes to give us (I feel your pain), the Revlon Lip Butters are the perfect option for this case. I have three shades with my first one being 'Juicy Papaya', a gorgeous orange shade with a slight shine. Not only does it give a natural orange colour to the lips, it moisturises them too (PERF!) so that cracked lips are no more! I would say the colour of this is darker than your typical orange but great for a natural make up. I love just popping this on my lips when I'm having one of those lazy make up days!

The Blood Orange

MY FAV. I love this orange shade and I think it really compliments my skintone, particularly when I have a tan. The Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in 'In Love With Ginger' (how cute is the name?!) is my personal favourite when it comes to a good orange lip. The product is highly pigmented with a moisturising formula, giving a subtle glossy finish. I would say that these lipsticks are similar to the amplified MAC lipsticks, in that the colour pay off is amazing and they last for a long time. This colour is a mix between a red and orange and a perfect shade for the summer AND makes your teeth seem whiter, ticks of an extra box for me!

The Bright Orange

Now, when it comes to this type of orange, I'm always a bit hit and miss. I love a bright lip and have really started to get into this look at the moment, however when it comes to orange I'm just not sure. I decided to try out 'Saigon Summer' from MAC  (of course I had to include a MAC lipstick) and at first, I wasn't too keen, but once I wore it a bit more I got used to the colour on my lips and actually love it! It's a cremesheen formula meaning that it applies quite creamy and has a slight sheen to it. I must say though the lasting power of this isn't so great but it still has a place in my heart.

Charlotte xxx

Bloglovin | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

It's Time to Leave School

Leaving school is a huge thing for anyone. You spend 13 years of your life in compulsory education before moving on to do different things, whether that be sixth form, college or an apprenticeship, everyone makes their own decisions. For me, after I left school in year 11, I decided to spend the next two years in sixth form to complete my A levels, which were English Language, Religious Studies and Geography. I'm going to be completely honest with you, sixth form has been the hardest two years of my life and I've had many ups and downs throughout. I'm not here to put anyone off sixth form or even force you to go, I'm basically here to express how it feels to leave school altogether and offer my experience to you all. 

Sixth form started off weird for me. I'm the type of person who hates change but once I settle into it I'm absolutely fine. It was a shock to see how hard A Levels are and I just want to point that out to everyone. They're not easy I can assure you! Throughout year 12, I settled in, grew close to people I wasn't expecting to grow close to, I went through a relationship, I thought I'd studied hard and then went through my AS exams, which for those who don't know are exams you sit at the end of your first year of sixth form. I was actually away for my results day so I received them through an e-mail from my head of sixth. I'm not going to lie, I was gutted and so disappointed with my results. When I came home from holiday I had different meetings to help decide what I was going to do but in the end I was lucky enough to resit the papers which needed resitting.

Year 13 has been, in my opinion, the most difficult year of my school life. I know that sounds a bit depressing and may not be reassuring for many of you, but if I'm honest, I didn't like it at all. The work got harder and the stress levels had risen. I quit my job to give extra time for my studies, which was the best decision I've made. In my sixth form, there had been a lot of dramas in the common room which added to the stress of A levels and the bloomin emotions I had. I didn't do very well in my mock exams, causing more meetings and blah blah blah. There were some high points of year 13, however, such as our school production where I took the role of stage manager. I've been doing productions for years and made my way up the backstage hierarchy, if you can call it that, and since this was my last one it was a special'un.

The last few weeks of school were a mix of emotions. Stress, tears, laughter, all of which were shared across the common room. As our exams creeped closer and closer (and nails were bitten shorter and shorter) the atmosphere in sixth form became so tense that you would never know when someone was going to come round the corner and rip someones hair out. A bit of an over-exaggeration but slightly true...
All year I'd been waiting for the day to leave school and was actually really excited for it. In the last two weeks of school, reality began to hit me: I won't be waking up at 6:45 every morning, I won't need to face Monday morning assembly or fishy Fridays at lunchtime. I was going into the world outside of the school I had been  in for 7 years. Okay, let's not get too deep but I mean, come on, it's pretty scary. I started to realise how much I'd miss it but I couldn't wait to leave to make a fresh start. I had a pretty dramatic last term at school, it's too much to get into but for me it was pretty difficult. I wanted to leave but I wanted to stay and it was all exciting but nervewracking.

For our end of school celebrations, our school held a leaver's dinner in our main hall, which in my opinion, was an amazing evening. Sharing stories, memories and embarrassing old photos, I think it's safe to say we all enjoyed the evening thoroughly. But then the last day appeared and we celebrated it with school pranks (a sixth form tradition) bbq burgers and again, embarassing photos. It was lovely to see my creepy photobombs. It was crazy to think that we were no longer going to see the people who we'd practically grown up with everyday and that we won't be in the same routine. I need to stop going so depressed! As always we had a leavers prom which again, was a very special. Our head boy and head girl organised the whole night and I have to say I couldn't be more thankful. It was held at Lumley Castle in Durham and as we arrived, the girls were given roses (my fav flower) and photos were taken. Thank goodness the sun came out especially for us, as I like to think. I've never laughed so much and I think everyone had slightly too much wine but why the hell not ey?!

Leaving school is something that the majority of us will experience and for many it will be a scary thought but for others it will be so exciting to think of what is just round the corner. For me, I can't wait to go away to university (HOPEFULLY) and make a fresh start, meet new people, learn new places and just get away from everything. Let me know if you've left school and how you're feeling!

Charlotte xxx

Bloglovin | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

A Graduation Outfit || Fashion

Dress: River Island - £30

Sandals: Accessorize (bought last year)
Nail Polish: 'Don't Be Shy' - Rimmel's Rita Ora Collection

Necklace: Wallis (Mam's necklace)

Hello Everyone!

So I thought I'd do a small outfit post from this week when I attended my brother's graduation in Cardiff. We travelled down to Bristol on Tuesday and then woke up bright and early (which is always so much fun) and drove over to Cardiff the next morning. The day was amazing and although the morning weather was grey and miserable it soon brightened up and made the day even better. 

My brother, Matthew, graduated from Cardiff University with a 2:1 in English Language and as a family we couldn't be more proud. Seeing him in his gown made him look so grown up and it was crazy to see how fast the past three years have gone.

The day as a whole was special and so much fun (with a shoutout to whoever put on the reception lunch, the food was fabulous.) However, we were knackered by the end of it and I couldn't wait for my bed! 

Well done Matthew!

Charlotte xxx

Bloglovin | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

L'Oreal 'Miss Manga Mega Volume' Mascara || Review

Hi everyone!

I've realised I've never reviewed a mascara before and for me, mascara is an everyday essential. I've been attached to my beloved Maybelline 'The Falsies' and Benefit's 'They're Real' for too long now that I thought I'd have to try something new. Around the blogosphere, the L'Oreal Miss Manga Mega Volume mascara has had it's fair share of opinions. There's been a mixed bunch of thoughts on this product so I thought I'd give it a go and see how I feel.

First of all, I love the packaging. I think the way they've created the product with the pink and black together really attract me to the mascara as well as shape of the bottle. I know, that sounds weird, but packaging is a big thing for me! The brush is different to any other mascara I've tried. It doesn't really have a clear shape. From what I can describe, it goes in a triangle shape but rather than being straight, it has lumps throughout, which helps to create the 'Miss Manga' look.

I find that the mascara gives my lashes a lot of volume which I love! However, it doesn't make my lashes look thicker, which isn't necessarily a problem for me as I have naturally thick lashes. In my opinion, I'd prefer to add length to my lashes which this mascara does perfectly. It separates my lashes and doesn't clump. I use it on both top and bottom lashes and I find that it doesn't smudge or rub off through the day and is actually quite long lasting.

Let me know what you think of this mascara! Have you tried it yet?

Charlotte xxx

Bloglovin | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Ebay Brushes || Beauty

I love collecting and trying new make up brushes. If I'm honest, I'd buy every make up brush there is if I had the chance. However, money doesn't grow on trees does it? I love the feel of new make up brushes and trying them out for the first time. It's like my little bit of satisfaction. That sounds so weird...

Like every other beauty blogger and their dog, I own plenty of the trusty Real Techniques brushes which are like a God send. I have many brushes on my wishlist that I want to buy but they're just so expensive that I struggle to find the pennies to pay for them. I wanted a new set, however, and knew I had to splurge out and buy myself some new little beauties. After watching A LOT of Gabby from Velvetgh0st's videos, I was eyeing up the brushes she had used in many of her videos. Everybody was asking her where she had got them from and she kindly left a link to the brushes in her description box. So, of course, I had to go and check them out. They're from Ebay, which I was quite surprised about! I'm not exactly sure how to pronounce the name of the brand but I think it's called 'Jessup'. They came in a pack of ten and only cost around £12 which I thought was an absolute bargain compared to some of the brushes out there at the moment!

There are 5 face brushes and 5 eye brushes and I've used every single one of them. They're very soft, similar to the Real Techniques brushes but not as soft. They're quite dense and apply your make up so flawlessly. There are a variety of different shapes and sizes so that you can use them for different things. I feel like ever since using these brushes, especially the face brushes, my make up has looked more flawless than ever. As I don't wear eyeshadow on a daily basis, I don't use the eye brushes as much however, I always use them when I'm creating a look for a night out. The eye brushes make it so simple to apply eyeshadow, particularly in the crease. 

They come in a range of styles too, but I chose to go for the simple black and silver. You can buy them from here and I would highly recommend them! I've never thought about buying make up brushes from Ebay so I'm going to have to keep a look out for any new little additions!

Charlotte xxx

Bloglovin | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Benefit Rockateur Blush || Review

As you all know, I love collecting blushes. The Rockateur blush has been a well hyped product in the blogosphere and a favourite of many. I received this as a gift for Christmas and was super excited to try it! I've been admiring the boxed powders from Benefit for a long time and always wanted to start a collection because I loved the packaging and heard many good things about the products and so, Rockateur is my first edition!

This blush is a beautiful rose gold shimmery shade which gives a gorgeous glow to the cheeks. I always love a good highlight and I think this does a great job! I've been applying this with a bit of Benefit's Sun Beam highlighter which I have started to love again recently. I apply this underneath then dust a bit of Rockateur on top. You don't need much but you can easily layer it up to give the effect you're looking for. I think that it helps to give a lovely sun-kissed look and it's a great shade for summer!

The packaging of the blush is of course, a little bit beautiful just like any other Benefit product. I'm a huge fan of their quirky, individual styles and this packaging really stands out. The blush was so pretty and the pattern engraved on it was too good to touch. I actually didn't use it for a little while because I was so afraid of spoiling the little thing. However, I gave in to temptation to use it. It's safe to say it doesn't look the way it used to...*cries*

Unlike others I actually quite like the brush that is already given and tend to use it when applying the blush. I feel like it gives off just the right amount of product and is a good shape and size when it comes to applying it to my cheeks.

The Rockateur blush comes in at £23.50 and you can buy it from Boots or most department stores. I would highly recommend this product if you're looking for a subtle glow to the cheeks, especially for summer!

Have you tried the Rockateur blush?

Charlotte xxx

Bloglovin | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Current Skincare Routine || Beauty

I remember writing a skincare post in about November 2012 and I'm going to be honest with you, my skincare routine has changed quite a bit since that post. After all, it has been a year and a half. Getting into a constant skincare routine has always been a struggle for me, I'm too lazy. However, this year I've been trying to look after myself more, particularly my skin. I usually use 4 products in my routine, specifically on a morning but this changes at night time, if I'm ever motivated...

Pure Natural Beauty: Instant Radiance Skin Exfoliator
I received this as part of a beauty box that I was given for Christmas (which you can read about here) and I quite like it. I don't use this everyday like my other products but use it twice or three times a week, particularly when I'm going out. It's good for my skin as it gets rid of the little rough spots of my face. I usually use this at the beginning of my routine, particularly in mornings. It's quite a light exfoliator and foams out when massaged into the skin with water. The only thing I'm not too keen on is the smell, but I guess after a while you kind of get used to it!

Benefit: Foamingly Clean Facial Wash
Like the exfoliator, I received this as a Christmas gift. I've always wanted to try more of the Benefit skincare range ever since I was given a sample pot of their moisturiser last year. I got the foam cleanser and it is honestly a great product, particularly for younger skin. You only need to a little bit of product, splash your face with warm water and massage it into a foam lather then wash off. The smell is sooo nice, smells very fresh! I feel like ever since I started using this cleanser, my face has brightened up and my skin doesn't look dull and tired. I also love the packaging and as always, Benefit has ticked the boxes on that part!

Benefit: Total Moisture Facial Cream
Okay everyone, I just want to warn you, I may go a bit crazy about this moisturiser. This is by far my all time favourite moisturiser. As I said at the beginning, I received a sample size version for Christmas in 2012 and used that for a couple of months until it ran out (a part of me died inside). I was wanting to buy it for ages but never had the money. I used to walk past the Benefit counter and see it staring at me, enticing me to buy it...anyway. I was given this as a present of Santa for Christmas this year and I was so excited to see it in my little beauty box! My eyes lit up and I don't think my mam and dad have ever seen me so happy. It's from the same range as the cleanser meaning it has the same packaging, smell and consistency. It's very light and fresh and again, brightens up the skin as well as leaving it soft. It doesn't leave an oily residue to the skin which is great and sinks in perfectly. Definitely a highly recommended product from moi!

The Body Shop: Vitamin E Face Mist
This is the final step of my skincare routine however I only tend to use this product when I'm wearing make up, however sometimes I do like to spray this on my face to brighten my skin up! It's basically a rose water face mist for setting make up and refreshing the skin and I've noticed a huge difference in my skin since using it. I feel like my make up applies a lot smoother and gives off that dewy finish which I am loving at the moment! I always apply this before and after I do my make up and I find that this works best for me. I would definitely repurchase this product, I love it so much!

So that is my current skincare routine which I know I'll be keeping for a long time. I don't tend to change my routine very often and like to stick to products that I know suit my skin and work best for me!

Charlotte xxx

Bloglovin | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest