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How to be Organised | University Tips and Tricks

If you would have told me a year ago that I would be writing a post entirely dedicated to organisation, I would have fallen about laughing (no doubt many people who know me are also doubting my ability to advise on this topic). I don’t know whether its the fact that I’m now in my third year of University (help) or that I’ve just got that bit better at managing my time. Nevertheless, if you’re at university or not, hopefully some of these tips can help you out.


Plan Your Time
Having a diary, for me, is the first step to becoming an organisational maven. Its become somewhat of a ritual for me, on a Sunday, to write in all of my lectures and seminars for the week and plan when I’m going to do my work etc. I don’t set a strict time schedule, and I don’t think that’s the key here. You want to allow yourself some flexibility so you don’t end up getting annoyed if you don’t stick to it exactly. I also like to plan my blog posts for the week, and this just helps me to keep on top of things.

Make Lists
The act of making lists always makes me feel super organised. These can either be big long-term lists or short day-to-day ones. I tend to also do this on a sunday and write down all the uni work that needs to get done that week, and then I can tick off assignments as I go. If you find yourself in a rut, it’s sometimes really handy just to write small everyday tasks on a to do list, such as putting on a load of washing or making your bed, and this really motivates me for the rest of the day. 

Separate Your Work
So when you’re making these lists it is really important to not make these tasks seem too overwhelmingly. I’m currently working on my dissertation, and on first glance this is a rather daunting experience. If you have a big project coming up, break it down into manageable chunks that you know you can achieve. For example I will set my goal as reading a certain book or articles, and these smaller tasks makes everything that little bit more manageable.. 

Get Stuck In
I know it sounds obvious, but truly once you get your head down and seriously get stuck in with organising and actually implementing your plans, everything just does seem to stick into place. It may take a while to become disciplined, but soon the motivation does kick in, and completing goals is one of the most satisfying feelings ever.

These tips may seem hopelessly obvious to some of you, but this is what has really made me become organised. Have you got any good tips? 

–RachelElizabeth
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FOTD | Makeup For Glasses

I’m not entirely sure why I’ve never spoken about or worn my glasses on my blog before, but I actually have to wear them everyday in real life. I also have contacts, but I’ve never found them comfortable enough to wear daily, and in all honesty, I actually quite like wearing glasses. The only thing that I find annoying is that makeup ultimately gets swallowed up by the frames, and there are also several factors that I have to consider when adapting my makeup for glasses.

So, my frames are Tom Ford (link here) and they are relatively new. On me I prefer a bigger frame, just because I feel it suits my round face shape. I really like the slight cat eye that these glasses have and I always go for tortoise shell frames as they are less harsh against my light features than black. However looking at them from a distance they practically look black meaning that they go with everything.

The main concept I’m going to focus on in this post is definition. Especially with big frames like mine, your face can get pretty lost and end up looking quite flat. I find it hugely important to pay extra attention to the brows – the key here is for them to look groomed, defined but not so intense that they compete with the frames. Today I used the Anastasia Brow Wiz in Taupe (full review here). I think it is also important to focusing on defining the lash line, especially when you have light-coloured eyes like me. I always go for a wing, and my favourite eyeliner of the moment is the Urban Decay Ink For Eyes (full post here). Finally, as cliche it may be when it comes to makeup looks for glasses, I love to rock a bold lip as it really balances out the face. Today I was feeling quite autumnal, so I lined my lips with Mac Beet Lip Pencil and then applied the Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture in 60 Antifashion over the top. I love this lip combo as while it is still a berry, it still brings a lot of light and colour to the face.

I don’t believe that there should be any rules or restrictions you have to abide to when it comes to makeup, but sometimes, especially when you’re in a rush, it is nice to have a go-to look to fall back on. Glasses are a great accessory in themselves, so it often means you don’t have to wear as much makeup to make a statement. Do you wear glasses? What are your tips and tricks? 

–RachelElizabeth
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Max Factor Skin Luminizer Foundation | Review






















I am a self-confessed foundation junkie. I have way too many sitting in my drawer right now, and I have tried so many over time that I probably couldn’t list them all. It is by far my favourite product to try and its quite a rare occurrence that I actually repurchase as I’m so fickle and always so drawn in by new releases. There’s something about the quest for the perfect base that is quite addictive, and since I’m all about the glow at the moment, Max Factor’s latest release really caught my eye…

The Max Factor Skin Luminizer Foundation is said to contain ‘light-reflecting particles’ in order to create a ‘gorgeous healthy glow’. The concept to this foundation is interesting as it is essentially a foundation with a liquid illuminator mixed in (as you can see by the swirl in the bottle). I see this as slightly gimmicky as when you pump out the foundation it does just look like foundation. I was quite surprised at the texture when I first tried this – it is a lot thicker than I expected, and almost has a slightly mousse-like finish, similar to the Hourglass Immaculate Liquid Powder Foundation (read my review here). 

However, despite its deceiving texture, it feels very light and airy on the skin. As the name suggests, it has a dewy and glowy finish, but I don’t find it overly greasy and shiny looking. I find it looks a lot like skin, and gives the lit-from within, healthy look (apologies for the blogger cliches…). I was worried about the staying power, but I was pleasantly surprised  that after testing this for a good couple of weeks now, this has proved to last very decently on the skin. Of course its not going to last as long as a mattifying or specifically long-lasting foundation, but for a normal (to slightly oily) skin like mine, with a bit of primer and powder, this was absolutely perfect. 

The only thing I would warn you about if you are considering trying this foundation is the limited shade range. This is absolutely amazing if you have pale skin – when I am tanned (roughly NC30) I am the second darkest shade, Golden. This is, sadly, a common occurrence for budget foundations so I can’t expect too much in that department, but it is still very infuriating how much they limit their consumers. 
























All in all, I give this foundation a huge thumbs up. I have been very impressed by Max Factor’s base products recently – I recently posted about their primer (here). Although my quest for the perfect foundation is certainly not over, it is definitely a good feeling to find one I really like. What is your favourite foundation? I always need enabling...
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Holy Grail | Nars Laguna Bronzing Powder

As a beauty addict, it’s not a very common occurrence to find a product that I cannot live without and I would buy again and again. There’s usually a voice in the back of my head telling me that there’s something better, but when it comes to bronzers, I am completely content. I have found one of the perfect formula and colour, and its also a cult product…


The Nars Bronzing Powder in Laguna is an absolutely gorgeous bronzer. It is more on the orange-terracotta side where bronzers are concerned, but it isn’t dramatically orange or dark that is unwearable. In the pan, it looks a little shimmery, but that really doesn’t translate when applied to the skin. I personally use this bronzing up the skin as opposed to contouring – I sweep this over the high points of my face such as the cheeks, temples and the perimeters of the face. 

A problem that I have found with some more affordable bronzers is that they don’t last throughout the day and become really patchy on my skin. This is what sets this apart from the other bronzers I’ve tried – the formulation is just perfect. The longevity is on point and it is one of my favourite products in my entire collection. 


Would you splurge on a bronzer? I think I’ve figured that when it comes to powder face products, higher end is just the way to go. 

–RachelElizabeth
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Makeup Revolution Essential Mattes Palette | Review and Swatches


Makeup Revolution is the brand on everybody’s lips right now. Not only are they affordable, but they are getting rave reviews left, right and centre. Being incredibly late on the bandwagon, I thought it was about time that I picked up something from the brand, and as their eyeshadow palettes are probably their most popular (or at least most reviewed), I thought it was only right to start with one.

The Makeup Revolution Essential Mattes Palette contains 12 eyeshadows, all matte finish. It mostly consists of cool-tone neutral shades, but also has a blue and a couple of purples, giving a bit of a spin on a classic. In terms of the quality, and as you will see in the swatches, the darker colours are much richer and pigmented. The lighter shades in the palette are a little on the chalky side, but when blended out and used on the lids they are actually nice shades. I think perhaps they shouldn’t have included as many of these pale shades as they end up looking the same, but the colour selection is actually really nice. On the whole, they all wear well, they blend out nicely and are decent shadows to say the least. 

These obviously aren’t the best quality shadows I have ever tried, but they are amongst the best of the budget options available on the market. For the price – these 12 shadow palettes retail at only £4 – these are incredible. This is absolutely perfect for someone who wants to build their makeup collection but doesn’t have the budget for Mac or other coveted high end brands. Its also a great palette to have to use as counterparts to other palettes. Many palettes are full of shimmer and sparkle and although they are far more fun, you often need a matte crease colour or highlight to dial down the look somewhat.  













































Its hard to criticise a palette that is so affordable, as you are getting a lot for your money here. I think it just depends on what type of spender or makeup-wearer you are, and whether you want lots of affordable products or a few of incredible quality that were more of an investment. I am somewhat in the middle of those – being the beauty addict that I am, I just want it all. Have you tried anything from Makeup Revolution? Leave me your recommendations below!

–RachelElizabeth
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Eyebrow Routine | Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Taupe – Review and Swatches

Lately I’ve become quite fickle with my brow products. I haven’t repurchased the same one since the Mac Brows in Fling (which I love) as nothing seems to have quite stepped up to the mark. I have a tendency (some may say problem) that when I find a product I really like, I don’t necessary stick with it just in case there is something superior on the market, and due to the vastness of the beauty industry, its likely that there is. Lets just say that I may have found my favourite brow product so far…

The Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz is a cult product that pretty much everyone is talking about. As my hair is blonde, I chose the lightest shade Taupe. It is a slightly ashy shade of brown, but not too grey and not too warm. I would say this is the perfect shade for my brows, and can see it working well more most blondes. In terms of the formula, it is slightly on the hard side, which I personally prefer. It means that it doesn’t apply too much product, which results in a much more natural finish. The tip is very fine which enables you to draw in very fine hair-like lines, which is great for filling in sparse gaps. 

Right now, I prefer a more natural looking brow, so I begin by filling in the outer two thirds of the brow. This is where I deposit more product as this is where I want the most definition. When it comes to the inner portion, I apply a product very sparingly. I fill in as much as I need to make the eyebrows somewhat match, but I like to keep the inside looking as free of as possible. I find the built-in spooley extremely handy, and brush through my brows before and after filling them in to ensure they are in the right shape and that there is no product buildup (I will never understand why there isn’t one included with every brow pencil…).
Before

After
























































If you’re looking for a new brow pencil and you haven’t tried the Brow Wiz yet, I would definitely recommend picking this up. Whether you like natural or more defined brows, I think this is versatile enough to suit both those needs. Have you ever tried anything from Anastasia Beverly Hills? The Dip Brow Pomade is next on my wishlist…

-RachelElizabeth
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Max Factor Facefinity All Day Primer | Review























I never thought I’d see the day that I’d be talking about another face primer other than my beloved Hourglass Mineral Veil (my ramblings about it here). But sadly, the time came that I almost finished my fourth (yes, fourth) bottle of the ridiculously expensive gorgeousness and I just wished I didn’t have to fork out another £50. Hence I decided to give myself a new challenge: find a cheaper primer that works decently for daytime. Note that I didn’t have high expectations for any primer I was about to try, so you can imagine my shock when the first one I tried was excellent…

The Max Factor Facefinity All Day Primer is a primer aimed at improving the longevity of your foundation. This is the factor that I loved so much about the Hourglass offering, so I was keen to try this one out. What made this particular primer stand out when I was playing with them in store was its texture. Although it is mattifying, it doesn’t feel like those silicone-based primers that can feel almost like your face is squeaky clean. It feels like a light lotion that sinks into the skin quickly and leads a slightly powdery finish but nothing too overbearing. 

In terms of longevity, it really performs. I love wearing dewy foundations, but as my skin is normal and leans slightly more towards the oily side, this can be problematic. Using this primer doesn’t affect the glowy nature of the product you put on top, it just makes it really stick to the skin and last all day. I’ve been using it for a good few months now and it hasn’t made me break out at all.

All in all this is a definite winner for me, and my go-to primer for daytime. It still doesn’t quite top the Hourglass in terms of longevity but its definitely up there. And £11 vs. £50? That’s a no-brainer. 

–RachelElizabeth
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Manicure Monday #22 | Essie Sew Psyched






















I love me an unusual nail colour. Sometimes the ugly colours are actually the ones I’m drawn to. And this is particularly when the autumn comes around and these dirty grungy colours are all the rage. I’ve had this one from Essie for a while now and I love pulling it out when the weather gets a bit cooler.

Sew Psyched is a cream-finish dirty olive green shade. As with many of the Essie polishes I have tired, the application is smooth and opaque and only needs two coats to reach the desired look. When I bought this, it wasn’t part of the diffusion line available at Boots and Superdrug, so my polish has a brush more on the thinner side. Unlike most bloggers, I actually prefer this brush – I find it easier for precise application. In terms of longevity this definitely delivers. It lasts well on my very chip-prone fingernails with a good top coat.























If you’re into the more unique A/W shades, then I’d definitely suggest picking this up, especially when Boots do a good deal. I only have a few Essie shades, but they are some of my favourites in my collection so I’m definitely in the market for a few more. What are your favourite Essie polishes? 

–RachelElizabeth
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Nars Indian Summer Eyeshadow Duo | Review


 It’s a sad fact that in every beauty addict’s drawers that some products are going to get neglected. For me that was my Nars Eyeshadow Duos. I think its due to the packaging – the black opaque products seem to disappear amongst the more eye-catching ones I own, and I tend to forget what colours I even own. Recently, I decided to ‘shop my stash’ and amongst my Nars eyeshadows, there was one that I really wished I hadn’t forgotten about…




Indian Summer contains a light green-toned champagne shade, and a mustard shade. The mustard is definitely what I love about this palette. I have been loving using it in my crease, as it adds an interesting twist on a neutral look. Surprisingly it doesn’t show up too obnoxiously yellow, but it just adds an extra hint of warmth to a look. The other shade is also stunning – it is very metallic and pigmented. It is also a bit of a twist on a classic. It acts very much like a shimmery nude lid colour, but the hint of green adds a little bit more interest and quirkiness to it. 

So this may be an expensive product, but I would definitely say its worth it. There is something quite special and unique about the two colours, and that is what you wish for in higher end products. Would you spend this much on an eyeshadow duo? 

–RachelElizabeth
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Indeed Labs Hydraluron | Review






















It’s always a little difficult when reviewing skincare. It’s an extremely subjective topic – we have to keep in mind that everybody’s skin is different. For reference, my skin is normal, but I am relatively prone to breaking out. Now that we’re coming into the colder months it is getting a little more dry, but nothing too outrageous. When looking for moisturisers, I look for something that will pack a punch of hydration but leave my skin overly greasy or break me out. So naturally, when I heard about this new launch from Indeed Labs I was incredibly curious. A few months later and an empty tub, I can finally give you a comprehensive review…


The Indeed Labs Hydraluron Moisture Jelly retails for £24.99 from Boots. If you’ve been living under a rock and you haven’t heard of the brand’s Hydraluron serum, which I included in my skincare routine here, this is the brand’s first moisturiser counterpart. The key thing about both of these products is the inclusion of hyaluronic acid – an ingredient that is super hydrating. What was most interesting to me about this product is the texture. As the name suggests it feels like a jelly – if anything on first impressions you would think that this wouldn’t be very hydrating at all. But that’s the beauty of it. It feels incredibly lightweight and cooling on the skin and doesn’t leave a greasy residue on the skin. Despite that texture, it feels incredibly hydrating – my skin feels incredibly smooth and plump after I use this. 

Another huge plus is the packaging. It comes with one of those pumps which you press down and it disperses the perfect amount of product for your face. This is great as it keeps it extremely hygienic as you don’t have to dip your fingers into a tub.

However, I do have one issue, and that is the sheer speed I got through this product. It comes with 30ml of product which is a little on the low side when it comes to moisturiser. I didn’t even use this every morning and night and I was finished in a couple of months… I think this is something I could get over as it isn’t too expensive in the grand scheme of moisturisers, but there’s something about having to buy it so often that puts me off.

Overall, this is a good moisturiser, particularly if you are quite dehydrated but hate thick heavy creams, hence why this is a great pre-makeup product. Have you tried anything from Indeed Labs? They’re currently on fire, and I can’t wait for more releases from them.

–RachelElizabeth
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