Skincare for Winter ♡

Hi everyone! I hope you all had a great Christmas and welcome to the first post of 2018!

So in this post, I wanna talk about looking after your skin in the winter. For me, the winter is a blessing and also a sin for my skin. Chapped lips, dry skin and nose shiny noses are a few of the problems I encounter in the cold months of the year. However, my skin can behave pretty well in the colder months, so these are a few of my favourite products for when my skin isn't behaving.

To start off, I have found a great night moisturiser which is the answer to your prayers if you have oily/ combination skin. It was SO cheap (£1.50) and from The Body Shop which I would highly recommend as a vegan, cruelty free shop plus most of their products smell delicious enough to eat (don't eat them though!). It's made from seaweed which makes it have a slightly odd smell (nothing too strong thank God) and the bottle is pretty small so it lasts only a few weeks. However, that can be overlooked for how well it works on combo skin. It's a night treatment and it's more of a gel type liquid in a little pump bottle but it just stops your face feeling super oily. I love it and as someone who suffers from pretty oily and blemish prone skin, it means I don't wake up all oily and feeling gross. I'm afraid I can't find it online but you might be able to find it in stores!


So still on the topic of skin, I've found a pretty good alternative to an average moisturiser. Combined with the night treatment, I use a Snail Bee High Content Essence in the morning after toning to keep my skin from being oily but also keeps an even skin tone. I was hesitant about buying this serum as it was £16 but, the Korean beauty shop I visited, swore by it. I can honestly say, after using it for just over a month that it is REALLY good. I did use it at night too but as it was so expensive, I didn't want to waste it, plus I loveeee my seaweed moisturiser. For someone who has had problematic skin for most of my teen life, I never swear by products because I nearly always jinx it but, this one is honestly really great. It moisturises without being really greasy and prevents shine which is such a bonus. I didn't realise how well it worked until I didn't use it for a few days and found my skin was bumpy and oily again. I would recommend this to anyone with oily, combo skin! You can find on Amazon here.



Next, and still on face products is, a really good exfoliator. I used to have terrible acne and as a result, it has left with me with some scars on my cheeks. I learnt that exfoliating is one of the best methods for acne scars as it helps remove the scarred layers of skin and help new skin grow. I've got pretty sensitive skin too, so I've tried out a lot of exfoliators which end up too harsh or bring my skin out in a rash. However, this one from Boots is the best. It has witch hazel and tea tree which makes your skin super smooth and doesn't dry it out a lot. It has a creamy texture which is very soft so it doesn't really isn't abrasive at all. I use it about once a week, usually after I've worn a lot of makeup and my skin has gone from really quite scarred to pretty smooth and even! Check it out here.


Onto those "nashers" (teeth for people who aren't familiar with that term) now, which are REALLY important. Personally, I drink a lot of tea and coffee so my teeth are slightly yellow. I used to have braces and after they were taken off, I realised how much I need to look after my teeth. Teeth are something that most people take for granted unless you've got really bad teeth or had braces. I've been trying to whiten them recently and I've been using Blanx toothpaste for about 3 weeks now, and it has made a pretty good difference. Keeping them healthy is one thing, but keeping them white is also important. Blanx was a bit on the steep side being nearly £6 from Boots but I think it's worth it if you want a whitening toothpaste that doesn't completely ruin your enamel and especially if you don't want to pay a fortune for whitening products.

Still on the topic on mouths, I've found a pretty great lip balm which I got for free but is actually £12. *cries at the price* So as you may know already from my previous posts and my YouTube videos, I have THE worst lips most of the time. They're so chapped and dry and if I don't use lip balm, they get so bad that they split! So, I'm always searching for a good lip balm to smooth those chapped babies. This one is Dr Lipp's Nipple Balm (I know I thought it was for nips too and was very confused!), it's kinda like a lip mask and so is very thick and gooey but works a treat, especially in bad weather. Now, I know that £12 is on the pretty pricy size but, I have seen it floating around TK Maxx for about £6 which is more reasonable price as it is a tiny, weeny tube. Having said that, it has lasted me about 6 months as I don't use it everyday and I've still got some left. You can find it for it's full price here.


So, I hope you enjoyed this post all about winter skin care, don't forget to tell me what your favourite products are!

Until next time,

Beffy xo ♡

Winter Wonders of Makeup (and Beauty) ♡

Hi everyone!

While it's getting pretty chilly outside, I've been snuggling in the warmth and finding new beauty and makeup treasures to tell you guys about.


Firstly, I've found the cheapest and most pigmented highlight shade you will ever find! It's a single shade by the brand Makeup Obsession, which I'll admit, I've never even heard of. I bought a lovely lilac shimmer shade called Moon. Honestly for it's price, it is the best, long lasting shade I've ever used. The only down side is that because it is so bright, you only need a little to have that GLOW. (Which can be a bit annoying if you apply too much). Check out all their shades here.

Next up is Too Faced's Better Than Sex mascara. To be honest, I wasn't 100% sure about this when I first bought it. I was late to jump on the band wagon and I was very skeptical. Mascara's are very hit and miss for me, I have fine, light brown eyelashes and I find that most mascaras clump them and make then too dark. However, BTS is a blessing. It coats my lashes with a thin layer that isn't too dark or heavy and splits them apart so they don't clump together. You can apply more layers but, it might be worth combing them once you have more than one layer. I find that, as I wear contacts sometimes and have super watery eyes, that it smudges under my eyes during the day so I end up having to clean just below my lower lash line. It's a little on the pricy side but, honestly I think it's worth investing in this mascara. They also sell a waterproof one which I am keen to try. You can buy it here.

So as you guys know, I'm a sucker for face masks and I have found two brands that I've pretty much fallen in love with over their face masks.

The first brand is Blaq Mask. I got two 15ml tubes of these in a gift bag from BeautyCon London. I've always wanted to try these masks but some of them look really overpriced for what they are. So, when I got two of these for free, I was pretty excited to try them. It's super weird putting gloopy black liquid on your face but it dries hard and shiny and obviously the most satisfying part is the peeling.  I applied it all over my face and my skin was super soft and my pores were minimised when I washed it off. I obsess over face masks and finding the right ones, I would highly recommend this one if you've wanted to try this charcoal trend. The only downside is the price, for one tube of 60ml it's £14.00 which I think is pretty steep for a face mask. However, it will last you longer than one or two uses, so it's worth it if I want to fork out for it. You can find it here.

Next is 7th Heaven masks which I also got in a goody bag. These are in sachets which can be a little annoying because they have enough inside for more than one use but you have to fold them and clip them tightly or else they dry out. However, these are pretty fun and SUPER cheap! I found them in Boots for £1 per mask which has approx. 2 uses. They have a huge selection of peel off masks or wash off. For the price, they're actually worth it, they leave your skin feeling soft and refreshed. Plus, sometimes they're on sale in Asda for 85p which is such an awesome deal! I would 100% recommend these, especially if you're someone who doesn't want to spend a lot on good masks.

And, last but by no means least is the Duo Lash Glue. I personally love false lashes and if I'm going for a night out, the last thing I want is for my lashes to peel off halfway through the night (which has happened to me many times). This lash glue does hold all night and there is no need to reapply which is amazing. It is pretty reasonably priced at £5.99 for a tube, and because you don't need to reapply, it lasts much longer. You can find it here.

That's all for this post, folks. Until next time and Merry Christmas everyone!

Beffy xo ♡

Autumn Must- Haves ♡

Hi my lovely bunch!

Firstly, I need to apologise for the fact that I have posted in nearly 3 months! I am back at uni and it's my final year so it's all pretty hectic!

Enough about my boring non blogging life, onto this season's faves. I've struggled to find some good items to put in this blog post which firstly relate to Autumn but are also Halloweeny (because I just love Halloween) and are relevant and not 5 months old!


So, first off I found this adorable bralette in the TopShop sale. It's a gorgeous orange colour which, obviously is very Autumn-y and the lace is super cute! It was £8 and with a student discount it was £7.20- BARGIN! But, because I bought it in the sale, I'm afraid I can't find it on the website so check in your local stores in case it's in there.

The next must have is a gorgeous lip colour that I've been obsessed with since I got it a few months ago. It's a liquid lipstick by the brand Beauty Bakerie and the colour is "I Like To Chai Chai". This product is amazing, it stays on all day and night with barely any topping up needed. I am in love with the brown toned shade which is super cute for Autumn. I bought this at IMATS, (which is a makeup convention, click here to read my post about it) from LoveMakeup.com and you can buy it here.

So, I always love me a good candle and I found one that is particularly sweet! It's by Baylis and Harding and I actually found it in the Asda reduced items so I nabbed it for £6.00. The scent is pink prosecco and cassis. Now, I had no idea what 'cassis' was when I bought the candle, I just really liked the smell. It's actually an alcoholic drink made from blackcurrents. That gives the candle its super sweet smell which is perfect if you've cooked something strong or you just want a nice smell in your room. You can buy it here.

Okay, so the next one I've been super excited about and I have yet to use it but, its the Makeup Revolution SFX palette. If, like me, you love Halloween and dressing up then this palette is going to be your best friend! It has 8 creamy shades which will help you achieve your desired scary makeup. I love practicing SFX makeup, especially as a self taught makeup artist but, sometimes the items you want to buy are expensive and very advance. I used to create bruises and such with eyeshadow palettes and imagination but, now there's an SFX palette I needn't waste my shades! This is £6 in Superdrug but, if like me you have a loyalty card, you may be able to get money off. (I paid £4 for mine!)


The next item is definitely a must have in the fashion world this season. CORDUROY! I love cord as I am cold 99% of the time and cord keeps you very warm. I already have a super cute burgundy cord pinafore but dusty pink is very in fashion so I hunted down a cute pink cord skirt. I tend to use an app called DEPOP if I'm searching for clothes and I don't want to pay full price for them. Depop is best for urban renewal and items that have only been worn once but are being sold for a quarter of the retail price! I bought this gorgeous skirt from Depop and I'm in love with it! It's originally from ASOS but the seller cut the skirt to make it shorter and was selling it for £15. It's so cute but I wore it to a gig and managed to rip it so I'll be doing my own DIY rework of it! You can check out my Depop page here, I'm selling a few items of my own.

Lastly is my holy grail of eyeliners. Kat Von D has done it again and her Tattoo Eyeliner is a blessing in the makeup world. Cat eyes have been in fashion for a while and are an essential part of my daily makeup look, I used to use a Soap and Glory felt liner but it smudged a lot and faded throughout the day. I looked into better eyeliners and then when the Better Together collection by Too Faced and Kat Von D came out, I thought I'd try a mini version of the liner, rather than buying a big one and not liking it. Honestly, this is such an amazing liner, it is so precise and stays flawless all day. If you're an eyeliner junkie like me then this is perfect for you! You can buy it here.

So, we've come to the end of our Autumn favourites, I hope you liked these items and let me know if you would buy any of them!

Until next time,

Beffy xo

Top 3 Best Self Tanners ♡

Hi everyone and welcome back to this month's blog post!

As it is summer now and the weather is gorgeous, I've been experimenting with different tanners to get the right glow. As some of you may know, I'm VERY pale and although I tend to embrace my white skin all year round, summer makes me feel a little self conscious. With a lot of skin on show and no tan, I tend to get a lot of comments about how pale I am.

I began using a gradual tanner about two years ago after wanting to look golden for a festival. I found this Dove moisturiser which smells gorgeous and works pretty well. It can be a little streaky so you have to make sure you rub it in very evenly. It is pretty cheap and leaves your skin not only glowing, but also soft and smooth. It works if you're on a budget and it only takes a few applications to build up a natural colour.

This year, I've been trying to find the PERFECT tan and I found this little beauty on sale in Asda for £3.00. It is an instant tan spray though, so it does the trick if your legs are on show on a night out. It's very natural and smooth, however it does come off on your bedding and obviously, it washes off in the shower. I think it's pretty useful to top up your tan and have your legs looking good even if it's only for a night.

Lastly, I have found one of the best looking tans ever. This one is definitely more expensive and I'm not one to spend a lot on tanners but this is worth every penny. It is natural and smells AMAZING. It's by Bondi Sands which I've heard nothing but good reviews about so I thought I'd give it a try for my holiday in Spain. I wanted to test it out first, so I grabbed a tanning mitt and used the pump to do a patch test. Well, don't be shocked when the foam comes out black because I panicked and thought I might turn too dark so I decided to only leave it on for 30 mins even though the recommended time is 1-6 hours. It looked pretty natural and lovely but only lasted for about 2 showers. I experimented with it again and found that it lasted longer for an hour but I definitely would leave it on for longer. It smells amazing and lasts about a week maybe 4-5 depending on how often you shower!

I do realise that the lighting in the photos is completely different but you can definitely see the difference from my natural colour to the tanner!

Hope this post was helpful and y'all look lovely and glowy for the summer! Remember, natural is also gorgeous so don't feel pressured to tan if you don't want to, it's all personal preference!

Until next month!

Beffy xo ♡

IMATS SURVIVAL GUIDE ♡

Hello everyone! ♡

In May, I went to IMATS (International Makeup Artist Trade Show) in London and it was pretty amazing but there are a few things that you should keep in mind before you decide to go.

So, I've created this survival guide, which should take you through all the steps of how to prepare and survive IMATS- while still enjoying every second of it!!

1. Charge your phone & camera

Set a reminder on your phone to charge everything the night before as there is nothing more frustrating than waking up to a dead phone. You can bring cameras so always take an extra battery or SD card. I'd highly recommend a portable charger as you'll be Snapchatting and Instagramming the whole day- I got mine from here: http://www.clasohlson.com/uk/Clas-Ohlson-3350-mAh-Powerbank/Pr387696000

2. Be prepared to queue

At any big event you know you're going to have to queue somewhere along the line whether it's for food or entry or the toilets. So definitely be prepared for that, also I'd recommend getting there either early or later because I got there at about 10:30 and I had to queue outside for 25-30 mins.

3. Get a pro card if you can

On the same queuing point- definitely see if you're eligible for a Pro Card, it helps you skip queues and gets you AMAZING deals, you can also attend the Friday which is just for MUAs rather than the general public.

4. Make game plan

Search up what brands are going to be there and what you really want to get from them. Bearing in mind that it is very busy and the stalls are pretty small, you probably won't be able to get a foundation match. However, if you know what colour you are before hand, you can definitely buy it there. Also, I'd check the brands' social media accounts in case they have special deals going on for that weekend.


5. Know what you want to buy and see

Knowing what you want to see is important. I'd recommend getting to any panels or shows you want to see about 10/15 mins before it starts so you can bag a good seat. I'd also do some research on pricing before hand because it may seem like a good deal at the time but it might be the same price in store.

6. Buy your ticket as early as possible

Keep an eye out on the IMATS website and see when they go on sale. I bought my ticket about 4 weeks before the event and it was £50, if you buy them 2 months before it's cheaper. Gotta save that money for the makeup!

7. Bring food/ snacks and cash and water

Although they probably have food, I always take snacks and water wherever I go. It's busy and warm in the convention so I'd definitely take a bottle of water with me. Cash is an option, I find I can keep track of what I'm buying more easily with cash than I can with card, most stalls do take card though.

8. Wear sensible shoes 

I swear I always sound like a mum when I say this but I cannot emphasise enough how important it is to wear comfortable shoes. I know these events can be a fashion contest, but trust me, you will thank me when you realise that wearing flat shoes definitely beats heels. Having said that, if you're an experienced heel wearer then go for it! I am always cold so I take a jacket with me wherever I go, it can be warm inside the actual building but we queued up for a bit outside and it wasn't warm, So I would bring a light jacket that you can tie round your waist.

9. Things might sell out quickly

Decide where you want to go and what you want then definitely go and get it or else it will sell out! (Especially popular products!)

10. Keep your eyes peeled for freebies

And last but by no means least, keep your deal hunting eyes open for freebies! Everyone loves a good freebie even if it's just a tester and they do hand them out so bear that in mind. Also, don't be afraid to network, have a chat with someone running a stall and maybe you'll get their Facebook and you can use their contact in the future.

Until next time,

Beffy xo ♡

Spring Beauty Must- Haves ♡

Hi everyone and welcome back!

I realise I missed uploading last month but let's pretend that didn't happen. I hope everyone had a lovely Easter and ate a lot of chocolate! (I know I did!!)

So I've recently had a break out on my skin so this month's post is going to be all about skin. I have a few products I want to recommend that have made my skin so much better.

Firstly, considering that it is beginning to get warmer in the UK, somehow removing hair from your legs is an obligatory thing to do. However, if you're like me and you have very sensitive skin this can be a pain. I usually wax my legs and straight afterwards I get red bumps- that's pretty standard of any hair removal. A couple days after that my legs get so incredibly itchy. Like insanely itchy. I thought it was just the hair growing back and I moisturised them with some plain cream to stop them from itchy but it got to the point where I was putting cream on every few hours which was ridiculous.

So, I did some Googling, as you do when you have any problems, and I found that the itching is an inflammation of the pores after hair removal. I then searched how to solve this problem. Most people said use prescription moisturisers but I wasn't about to go to the doctor about itchy legs!

Instead I thought about when I get my legs waxed professionally and why they aren't itchy afterwards, I concluded that it must be a the cream they use. So, I had a search about the cream and I find out that it's tea tree. Now, I don't know about you guys but I associate tea tree with head lice so the smell brings back some traumatic childhood memories!

I firstly went to Boots in search of a cheap-ish tea tree moisturiser that I could use for when my legs really itch. I found nothing even remotely close to tea tree. So I ventured into Superdrug but left empty handed. By this time, I was getting very frustrated with this whole situation and my legs were so itchy!

I pulled up Google on my phone just searched up "Tea Tree Moisturiser UK" and lo and behold, there it was! In Holland and Barrett, which is usually a little more expensive. I went to go and find it, phone in hand. It is £6.59 from here and it works wonders! I put it on after I shower and whenever my legs feel itchy and it's honestly a miracle! I would highly recommend it to anyone who suffers from ILS (Itchy Leg Syndrome).

Now onto face; the skin on my face hasn't be too happy recently. I've been pretty stressed with uni work which has resulted in me forgetting to moisturise and scrub as often as I should. However, I've found these amazing and pretty cheap face masks from H&M which has done wonders for my skin.

Now, I know what you're thinking: H&M do skin care?! It's probably really bad because it's cheap. BUT NO! It's actually really good, they have a huge selection of masks which you can find here. They also have a description of what the ingredients in the mask are for eg. blemish prone skin or dry skin. I tend to buy the peel off ones but they do have non peel ones too.

Honestly, coming from someone who used to spend quite a lot of money on face masks from Neil's Yard, I can tell you that H&M are much cheaper and still good quality.

While we are on skin, I have an amazing powder I want to show you guys. It's by ELF which is available online in the UK. Their translucent powder is pretty insane, it mattifys everything and is perfect for baking. It also lasts a good 5-7 hours without having to reapply.

I heard it was a good dupe for some more expensive powders last year so I bought some while I was out in the States. It's about $5 there but £7.50 here.

Now let's talk about primers. I have the Smashbox Photo Finish primer and although I love it, it's expensive to use everyday.  I needed a primer that would minimise my pores and that I could use under concealer. I was recommended the Benefit Porefessional primer and at first I was hesitant about buying it, considering £9.95 for a pretty small tube was pricy. However, it has proved its worth and I now have 3 tubes of it!

Let's go onto lips now. I've had many problems with my lips since I went on Roaccutane (if you're not sure what that is then click here for a video I made about it). My lips are very dry and chappy a lot of the time and I do bite them a lot which doesn't help them. I tend to scrub them about once a week with the LUSH lip scrub which you can find here.

So as a result of these pills I have had very dry lips and I have used A LOT of lip balms. I've found that the only one that really works is Dr Paw Paw's balm. I bought 3 of them and lost one so I tend to use the peach tinted one. These work magic on your lips, especially after you've scrubbed. I would 110% recommend for dry lips.



So, now we've come to the end of this blog post. I hope you've enjoyed it and learnt a lot about skin care!

Until next time,

Beffy xo ♡

Let's Talk About: Gluten Intolerance ♡

Hello everyone and welcome back!! (The nuggets thing is getting a little old so I decided to abandon it.)

I hoped you enjoyed my last post which is the first in a small series called "Let's Talk About" where I discuss problems, life, and/or give advice.

This week's post is about gluten intolerance. This is something that I suffer from and so I stopped eating gluten about 6 years ago. It's actually so awkward and I used to get really frustrated when I went to parties or people just wanted to have a "pizza night" because I couldn't eat any food I wanted to.

So, are you intolerant?

Here are the 3 symptoms that helped me diagnose my problems:

1. Bloating after eating 'gluten heavy' foods such as pizza, pasta and bread
2. Extreme tiredness and body cramps
3. A small eczema type rash but not itchy

If you have any of these symptoms then maybe try cutting gluten out of your diet for a couple of weeks to see if these go away. If they don't, you might need to see your local GP.

If you have been diagnosed or just feel like going gluten free, here are the best brands to enjoy:

• Genius - They do the best gluten free substitutes. Good gluten free bread can be impossible to find and trust me I have tried many. I've eaten every brand possible only to find they're very dry, too crumbly or just taste disgusting. Genius is one of the only brands that I can eat as bread (a.k.a. un-toasted) and they also make croissants, crumpets, muffins and bagels- BONUS!

• Schär - A German company and Europe's No.1 gluten free food company. They have THE best chocolate fingers and Oreo substitutes, I like to eat their crispbreads with a bit of butter and marmite.

• WOW baking - This company is actually American but I have found some of their items in TX MAXX so keep your eyes peeled because these guys do the BEST gluten free cookies out there! I personally love cookies and it's heartbreaking to not be able to find any soft gooey cookies. Yes, there are the more biscuit version of cookies that M&S do or Prewetts, but I LOVE squishy cookies. These are the bomb! Their packets of cookies are a little pricier but definitely worth it. 

• Marks and Spencer - M&S have done it again with their gluten free on-the-go food. When I first started being gluten free, there was no such thing as a shop bought gluten free sandwich. Yes, you could buy bread and butter and all the necessary ingredients, but you'd have to make it at home which was time consuming and boring. I actually emailed Marks and Spencer after looking for anything gluten free in their food on the go section and finding absolutely nothing apart from a very plain and boring salad which consisted of lettuce and some dressing. Having complained about their lack of allergen free food,  I waited a few years and recently, M&S have brought out a whole range of gluten free food, from pasta salads to mini cakes. Yes, they are very expensive so I tend to treat myself to a gluten free sandwich from them only from time to time, but then it makes it all the more exciting when I get to eat it! 

So what happens if I eat gluten? A lot of people ask me this!

Basically what happens is that I get cramps, I bloat like a 6 month pregnant woman and I sometimes get a rash.

Obviously I don't eat gluten on purpose because no one enjoys any of the above! But if I do accidentally eat it and get these symptoms, I've found a few ways to make life more bearable until the pain goes away:

1. A hot water bottle- these are a blessing for everything from period cramps to warming up a cold bed at night. If you have severe cramps then boil a kettle and fill up your bottle.
2. Warm lemon water- This is not only really calming for when you're feeling really uncomfortable but also it makes your hugely bloated stomach less tight and more relaxed. Also walking around and drinking slowly will help.
3. Sleeping- if possible, try and take a little nap. Set an alarm and sleep for an hour, your body will thank you for it!

So, that's a long post but I hope you guys found it informative!

Until next time,

Love,

Beffy xo ♡