A heartbreaking tale of the impact of society and faith upon family bonds.
Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie is the tragic tale of three siblings, Isma, Aneeka and Parvaiz. Isma, the eldest of the three, has finally set out on her own after years of caring for her younger twin siblings but she hasn’t stopped worrying about them – even though they are half a world away. Headstrong Aneeka is studying to be a lawyer back in London and Parvaiz… well, where to begin!
In America, Isma meets Eamonn and they instantly hit it off. The son of a powerful politician, Eamonn is a dreamer, living a care-free life until he gets wrapped up in the Pasha family drama. Isma confides in Eamonn the story of her father, a jihadist who was captured and died in transport to Guantanamo Bay when she was a little girl.
Upon returning to the UK Eamonn meets Aneeka, and the rest (as they say) is history. Much to the distress of his father, the British home secretary who has sought to put his Muslim faith behind him in order to further his political career. Meanwhile both sisters are trying to come to terms with their brothers betrayal – one more successfully than the other.
The blurb says ‘How can love survive betrayal’ and I think that sums up this book perfectly. Only 10 chapters total, this book is short but still manages to cover everything in depth and bring the story to life. The book opens from Isma’s point of view and for me this coloured how I felt about the rest of the characters. Every two chapters the perspective then changes to another character. This worked really well with the plot and allows the reader to see the events from all angles.
This book is so sad, if you’re the type of person that likes a happy ending where everyone lives happily ever after – this one is not for you! Full of suspense, you will storm through this in no time. Since reading the book, and doing some reading around it, I have discovered that Home Fire is a contemporary reimagining of the Greek tragedy Antigone, but I think it’s an excellent story in it’s own right – and the critics clearly agree as this was not only shortlisted for the costa best novel award and long listed for the man booker prize in 2017 but it also won the women’s prize for fiction in 2018.
A novel is so full of twists and turns you’ll feel like you’re on a rollercoaster! The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton is a murder mystery like no other.
One of my resolutions for 2020 was to read more, I set myself a goal of 10 books over the year and I have succeeded! So here is a round up of everything I read.
When Grace Beverley launched TALA last year I could not wait to get my hands on the affordable and sustainable gym wear but I also couldn’t bring myself to go through the stress of trying to get it the moment it launched. I decided instead to wait for things to restock so that I would actually have a chance to get what I wanted. A year later and my collection of TALA activewear is ever expanding (RIP my bank account). I still have a few things on my wish list because they always seem to be out of stock when I go to order them, but here is a review of the bits I have managed to get my hands on so far.
The Mina Bra
The first piece I ordered from TALA was the Mina bra in the neon pink with grey branding which is part of their Flare collection. I ordered it when they were running a campaign to raise money for the bushfires in Australia, so 50% of the money I paid went to charity. I am a UK 10/12 and the medium fits me well, plenty of compression but doesn’t dig in anywhere. One of the things I was worried about with this one is that it might roll up, I find this can be a problem with longer line sports bras, but it stays in place. All in all I really like this bra, I would probably say it is medium support so fine for low impact activity but I wouldn’t wear it to go running. It is much brighter than the pictures on the website make it look – definitely fluorescent pink!
The Isla Loose Tee
I spend most of my weekend in an oversized tee with either joggers or shorts so I thought I would try the Isla tee. Again I got a size medium and it is an oversized fit, I think I probably could have gotten away with a small and it still would have been baggy and comfy. I really like the subtle embroidered branding on the front of this top, it looks good as activewear but also works tucked into a pair of jeans. I have gotten so much use out of this so it was definitely worth the money!
Eden Zip Top
I waited ages for this one to come back into stock – it was definitely an ‘instagram made me do it’ purchase. The Eden Zip top is made of quite a thick material so personally I fins it a bit too warm to work out in and use it as more for casual everyday wear. It is incredibly flattering, it makes your waist look tiny and keeps everything in just the right place. I would also say it comes up a bit shorter than it appears in the pictures, so if you prefer your tops longer lined then this is maybe not the one for you.
The Zae Short Sleeve Top
This was the only thing I bought the day it launched. Again it was something I could see myself getting a lot of use out of. I got the Zae top in the short sleeve regular length in the colour Chai. The main thing I love about this top is that it is double lined so even though its a light colour you can’t see through it. You can wear this without a bra but personally I prefer to wear it with one. If I could I would have this in every colour because it is so comfy and easy to style. Although I didn’t get the cropped version it is still quite short in the body so I imagine the cropped one would probably be too short on me.
The Zella Loose Tee
I had my eye on The Zella Loose Tee since it launched the colour was just calling to me! Recently I gave in and finally added it to my collection. I wear my other TALA tee so much I figured I would get a lot of use out of this one as well. Its nice and lightweight making it perfect for summer and it has pretty much the same fit to the Isla tee. The main difference between the two is the placement of the TALA logo.
The Porto Hoodie
My final piece (for now at least!) is the Porto hoodie. It is super comfy and the inside is so soft. It is another oversized fit, the site recommended I needed a large but I am glad I stuck to my usual size because the medium is big enough! I was worried that the branding would be too bright but it’s actually a bit softer in person. My only complaint is the lack of pockets, where is a gal supposed to put her phone!
Do the plant tags work?
I planted my first two tags and it didn’t seem to work. One of them sprouted a little bit and then died and I haven’t tried again since because looking at a pot of soil with no plant in makes me sad. I might give it a go but I think they could do with better instructions on how to actually get the tags to sprout.
In summary…
My collection is by no means complete, I would really like to get my hands on some of the shorts or the leggings but they normally run out of stock before I can buy them. I haven’t been disappointed by a single thing I bought from TALA and I have no doubt I will continue to buy from them for years to come. The postage is generally pretty quick as well which means you don’t have too wait too long for your new goodies!
Have you tried any of the other pieces from TALA, what did you think of them?
It has been ages since I did a round up of things I’ve been enjoying for the month just gone (probably about 2 years actually…) so I thought now seemed as good a time as any! Here are a few things that I have been enjoying this month.
1. You’re dead to me
I have my house mate to thank for this one. Usually I listen to a lot of news podcasts and since one particular story is dominating the news at the moment (you know that little thing beginning with c) I have been looking for some alternatives. You’re dead to me is a BBC sounds podcast hosted by Greg Jenner, a British author and public historian, about various historical figures and periods. He is joined by an expert on the topic of the week and a comedian, which makes for an entertaining and informative podcast. You can learn something new without it feeling like learning! If you’re looking for some other podcast picks you can read about my favourites here: Top Podcast Picks
2. All things green
Green is fast becoming my favourite colour. Pastel green is clearly a popular colour this spring which is probably part of the reason I find myself drawn to it but the other reason I love green is because it’s the colour of my plant children. I am definitely a crazy plant lady – I just can’t get enough, bedroom jungle here I come! There are loads of benefits to having house plants; they purify your air, looking after them is beneficial for your mental health and they add a nice pop of colour as well as creating a relaxing atmosphere. You can read more about my houseplant obsession here: Hello Houseplants
3. Animal Crossing
There is something surprisingly relaxing about spending your day fishing, catching bugs and collecting fruit in order to pay back your debt to a business savvy racoon. I had animal crossing years ago back when it was on Nintendo DS, and when I saw the new version I thought I would give it ago. Admittedly, this was not a cheap decision… but it was worth it! There is so much more to do in this version (besides paying off your house loan to Tom Nook) and I can see myself playing this for a long time to come. Given the current situation *cough, quarantine and social distancing, cough* I’m not doing much so this is an enjoyable way to fill the time. It also has the added benefit of being able to play with friends. So the more people I can convince to invest in this the better!
4. Yoga with Adriene
One of my New Years resolutions was to do more yoga and I must confess until now I really haven’t been making an effort with this one. In an effort to force myself to do this I have started Yoga with Adriene’s 30 day home series. I was 4 days in and really enjoying having a proper structure to follow and hold myself accountable to – then I slipped a disk in my back so haven’t been able to do it more recently…
5. L’Oreal No Haircut Cream
This one is a rediscovery rather than anything new. I forgot how much of a difference L’Oreal Elvive Dream Lengths No Haircut Cream makes to detangling wet hair. Especially now that I have blonde hair I’m making an extra effort to take care of the ends to try and avoid them getting dry. I used to use this back when my hair was longer and I was trying to grow it to minimise split ends but I forgot about it until I found it while doing a bit of a sort out. I won’t be forgetting about this again, that’s for sure.
I am definitely guilty of being lazy when it comes to taking skin care seriously. However, in order to be a proper #adult I decided to start taking better care of it. But there is so much out there to choose from, there’s toners and lotions and potions galore, so to make life easier for you here are my go to products.
For everyday cleansing
Camomile cleansing butter
The Body Shop – Camomile Cleansing Butter – £11
I picked this one up because I was intrigued by the concept of a cleansing butter and after one use I was hooked.
It’s super easy to use, and it leaves my skin feeling really soft. Although, it isn’t the best at removing eye make up.
I really like cleansers that can be applied to a dry face as it speeds up the process. I am much less likely to properly clean my face if I have to wait for the tap to run warm before I even start the cleaning process.
Camomile make up remover
The Body Shop – Camomile Eye Make-up Remover – £7.50
When I picked up the cleansing butter I decided to try the eye make up remover as well and it did not disappoint.
I wasn’t sure if I would like this one but they sell a mini version of it as part of a gift set with the cleansing butter. Mini’s are a great way to try new products without spending loads of money. The number of times I have bought a product that has been super hyped up only to use it 3 times and forget about it.
When I finish my mini bottle I will definitely be going back for a big one!
Micellar water
Simple – Micellar Cleansing Water – £3.49
If I can’t be bothered to do a proper clean with the butter then I’ll use micellar water, I also have a mini version to take with me when I go on trips.
Micellar water is great for giving your skin a good cleanse when you haven’t got water to hand. I will tend to use this after using a make up wipe to try and get as clean as possible. Also because I often feel like wipes don’t take all the makeup off, using micellar water gets the last bits off.
For the super deep clean
Himalayan charcoal clay wash
The Body Shop – Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Clay Wash – £10
When I’m in the shower I’ll do a proper deep clean using this face wash.
I particularly like this one as it contains tea-tree which helps with break outs. It also doesn’t leave my skin feeling dry at all, which some deep cleansers do. It unclogs pores which I think is really important to properly get rid of all the pollution and grime your face picks up during the day.
And, as if that isn’t enough, it smells amazing!
Seaweed exfoliator
The Body Shop – Seaweed Exfoliator – £11
Once I’ve cleansed its time to exfoliate. There’s just something about an exfoliator that leaves skin feeling super smooth that I just love.
I have sensitive skin so I need an exfoliator that isn’t too harsh and this one is perfect.
For the break outs
All things Tea-Tree
Clay Mask – £11
Targeted Gel – £7.50
Night Lotion – £10
I use the Skin Clearing Clay Mask once a week, twice if I’m having a particularly bad skin week (Mother Nature I’m looking at you). Every night I use the Night Lotion on areas that are particularly prone to breaking out. I find if I use it all over it just makes the problem worse. Then to finish off I use the Targeted Spot Gel. Does what it says on the tin really, it reduces spots overnight. I’ll use this twice a day on spots until they disappear, which is normally one or two days.
So there you have it, the lazy girls guide to skin care. What are your go to skin care saviours?
I first found FlexxFit about 2 years ago now. I was drawn in by the bright colours and affordable prices and it is one of the best discoveries I have made!
The first pair I got was the Cranberry ‘Go Higher’ (or something like that) which they no longer do, they’ve moved onto better things. I still reach for these a lot even though I’ve had them a while. The colour hasn’t faded at all and they still fit really well, however the colour does transfer a little bit when you wear a light coloured top that covers it. The transferred colour comes out in the wash though so I’m not too mad about it. They still sell this colour just in the new design and fabric.
When they brought out their new ‘Luxe’ leggings I ordered a pair with the matching crossover bra. Due to it being new product there was a whole kerfuffle which meant I had to wait ages (I think it was about 3 months in the end) for these to arrive but the customer service was impeccable. They kept me informed every step of the way and provided me with a discount code valid for the next 2 years as an apology.
The material of the luxe leggings are thick and soft, and the fit is really flattering. The waist hits at a really good point and they have a good level of compression on the stomach area.
I also have a pair of their heart contour leggings. I really like the detailing on these and the pockets are life changing! However, they don’t come up as high as the luxe leggings and so I don’t find them quite as flattering. These are in the colour ‘mystic merlot’ which is a dusty pink colour. They also do these in the luxe legging style.
I have all of these in a size small and am a UK 10/12, the leggings are all £29.99 which is great value for money and they very often have sales making them even cheaper.
Like everyone else I love a matching gym set so naturally I have the matching bras for 3 of the leggings…
I have the steel grey crossover bra, mystic merlot luxe v tape bra and the spiced pumpkin scoop neck bra. These come up quite small so I have these in medium or large, and even then it can be a bit risky when doing HIIT!
The bras are £24.99, but if you pick your timing right they have them on offer for as low as £9.99!
These are so worth the money and if I could I would have these in every single colour, I just don’t have the drawer space (or the bank balance lets be honest).
My collection of TALA activewear is ever expanding and I still have a few things on my wish list but until then here is a review of the bits I have managed to get my hands on so far…
I am a big fan of a podcast. Perfect for the walk to work, and you can learn about so many different things! There are so many great podcasts out there but I thought I would share my top five podcast picks:
The weekly pop culture and current affairs podcast ‘The High Low’ covers a range of stories as well as recommendations hosted by Dolly Alderton and Pandora Sykes. This one is great for finding books and programmes you might not have come across other wise – plus listening to Dolly and Pandora I often find myself laughing out loud (a bit awkward when you are on a train!)Listen to The High Low
Every Friday Olly Mann is joined by three members of The Week’s digital team to talk about the stories that didn’t get the attention they deserve for ‘The Week Unwrapped’. News can often be very depressing but they keep the discussion light and interesting.Listen to The Week Unwrapped
‘David Tennant does a podcast with…’ is what it says on the tin, David Tennant (or DT as his friends call him – listen to the podcast and you will see what I mean) is joined by a range of guests including Olivia Coleman, Jon Hamm and Gordon Brown.
Another news podcast that I enjoy is ‘Today in Focus’ from The Guardian. This one is a daily podcast which means they can cover each topic in lots of detail and you have something to listen to everyday.Listen to Today in Focus
‘Serial’ and ‘S-Town’, both produced by This American Life, are real stories toldweek by week. S-Town is only one season but it is a great story taking you on all sorts of twists and turns. Serial has 3 series each covering a different story.Listen to Serial Listen to S-Town
My favourite podcasts I realise are mostly news and current affairs focused but as a girl who never picks up a newspaper I find listening to a podcast a great way to keep in the loop about what’s happening in the world.
I am always on the look out for new podcasts so leave me your recommendations below!
Naomi Alderman’s 2016 novel “The Power” explores what a world where women are the dominant gender might look like. The book begins when women develop the ability to release electrical jolts from their fingers and then follows how they use their new found power to take over the world. The book follows four main characters (Margot, Roxy, Allie and Tunde) as they adjust to their new reality.
This book is such an interesting concept that is so much more than just ‘What if women ruled the world?’ It is an exploration of the power dynamics between men and women and an exploration of how our ‘civil’ society could descend so quickly into anarchy.
I can’t express enough how amazing this book is so here are 5 reasons why you must read ‘The Power”
Feminism – this is an obvious one, after all this book is marketed as ‘one of those essential feminist works’
It’s so thought provoking – imagine the GSCE English essays you could write on the themes in this book! Much more interesting than ‘of mice and men’ and Curly’s wife with her red nails, red dress, red everything and what that might represent. Seriously though it really gave my brain a workout.
If you are a women this book is so relatable – not in the whole being able to shoot lightning from your fingers thing obviously, but the way Alderman presents men and their behaviour towards women in this book. It particularly shines a light on how far we still have to go to get to a place of gender equality.
If you are a man I think this book should be required reading – I think that the role reversal presented by this book where men are the homemakers and women are the breadwinners presents men with an easier way to put themselves in a women’s shoes (as it were) and how it would be if men rather than women had to live in constant fear for their physical safety.
GIRL POWER! Seriously this book left me feeling so empowered.
This book is quite a heavy read, exploring religion, rape culture and more. At times women are presented in a very unflattering way but I think that’s what makes this book so brilliant! It makes the book feel much more believable and is a fascinating look at human behaviour. I can see why this won the 2017 Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction.
If this review hasn’t sold you on this book then I highly recommend you go and read some of the reviews here. There are some really great ones, as well as some great Q&A’s.
A novel is so full of twists and turns you’ll feel like you’re on a rollercoaster! The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton is a murder mystery like no other.
One of my resolutions for 2020 was to read more, I set myself a goal of 10 books over the year and I have succeeded! So here is a round up of everything I read.
Recently I have been really bad at getting to the gym, a lot of things have changed for me and so fitness has taken a bit of a back seat. Anyway in an attempt to get back into the swing of things (and minimise possible excuses) I thought I would invest in some decent resistance bands. My old ones are too thin and dig in to my legs whenever I use them, so I don’t really reach for them. I have heard really good things about Grace’s resistance bands so I thought I would give them a try.
So I picked up the light (blue) and the heavy (peach) bands (the medium was sold out) and for 2 bands I paid £25 a single band was £14* (I think). I ordered these late on Wednesday and they got to me by Saturday morning which is pretty fast I think. They come in a resealable plastic pouch which is nice if you want to store them properly but honestly I can’t be bothered with that!
All of Grace’s products come with a selection of workouts or to use the proper name “Booty Burners” which you can access on an app called Aflete or you can download the PDF emailed to you when you make your purchase. There are several different styles of workout: Resistance Band Glute Activation Non-Resistance Band Glute Activation Resistance Band Glute Burnouts Non-Resistance Band Glute Burnouts Home Glute Workouts – these consist of exercises with and without resistance bands.
In order to do a proper review I thought I would use the bands to complete a variety of the Booty Burners. So today I did a Resistance Band Glute Activation workout followed by a Home Glute Workout and finished off with a Resistance Band Glute Burnout. I decided to use the light band because its been a while since I exercised so my strength isn’t as good as it was.
Did I feel the burn? HELL YES!
I honestly don’t think I will be able to sit down comfortably tomorrow! I really liked the workouts as they’re all quite short so if you haven’t got a lot of time these are perfect. Also they’re all body weight exercises so perfect when the gym is busy and there isn’t any equipment available. The app is super easy to use and I like how easy it makes accessing the workouts.
Are they worth the money? They are very good quality and I understand that they have to make a profit so I would say they are worth the money. I would definitely buy a bundle rather than a one off product though to get better value for money.
Would I recommend these? Yes, I was afraid that they were over hyped just because of the name on them but they are definitely as good as everyone says they are. I like that you get workouts with them which definitely helps if you need a bit of inspiration or are a complete beginner. They are also really pretty, the colours are so cute and the little logo is a really nice touch.
These are currently sold out but I believe they are restocking soon
* I bought these when they were first released under the Grace Fit UK brand, they have since become B_ND and now fall under the Shreddy umbrella. Prices were correct at time of writing in 2018 but may have since changed.
My collection of TALA activewear is ever expanding and I still have a few things on my wish list but until then here is a review of the bits I have managed to get my hands on so far…
Where to start! I’ve got a fair amount to get through so I’m just gonna jump right in! I’ll group things by brand and link it all at the bottom.
Lottie London
I used to get all my makeup brushes from Lottie London so now that they’re rolling out lots of makeup I have been wanting to try a selection of their stuff. Firstly their packaging is super cute, I really like the metallic logo and product names on the liquid lipstick and eye foils, definitely the sort of thing you want to display on your makeup table (or desk in my case).
Blush Crush – £4.95
Blush crush comes in 6 shades all named after celebrities: Justin, Zayn, Zac, Drake, Nick and Harry
I couldn’t decide between the shades Zayn and Justin as they both looked quite peachy and I like a peachy blush. In the end I chose the shade Zayn.
These are SO pigmented, seriously, INSANELY pigmented!
You only need a small amount of product to add colour to your cheeks. The mirror is a really good size as well which is definitely a selling point.
Is it worth the money? Definitely, for a cheap drugstore blusher its a really nice formula and has great pigmentation. If anything its a little too pigmented which makes it hard to work with, you need to blend… A LOT so that you don’t look like crazy
Would I buy it again? Probably although I don’t think I will need to for a really long time given how little product you need to get the desired affect.
Glitter Switch liquid lipstick – £6.95
I have to say I mainly picked this up because I was intrigued by the idea of “Glitter Switch” but also this coral colour was calling my name! The idea is that once the lipstick is dry you can press your lips together to reveal glitter lips.
This one comes in 4 shades Wanted, High Roller, Dream on and Killin’ it. I’ve picked up High Roller.
It has a slim doe foot applicator, which isn’t the easiest to use. The colour is gorgeous and the glitter switch is really cool. Although not really an everyday sort of thing, maybe for more of a festival or night time look.
In terms of staying power… it is extremely long lasting! The swatch I did on my hand in Superdrug took a lot of scrubbing to remove.
Worth the money? £7 is not a huge amount to pay for a liquid lipstick and it is definitely worth it.
Would I buy it again? Yes yes yes, I want this in every colour! The staying power alone is enough to convince me.
Eye Foil metallic eyeshadow topper – £4.95
So this only comes in four shades denied, faded, fire and savage. I couldn’t choose just one so I picked up 2 of them… fire and savage.
I find it a little odd that they decided to call a blue shade fire because it makes me think of warm tones and oranges and reds not blue. Either way this shade is stunning! As is the pink shade, savage. Although on the eye its not as pink as it is in the bottle.
I haven’t had the chance to use the blue shade yet, its not the most versatile colour as I only see it working with blue or purple eye looks. I have used the pink shade though, and it makes a poppin’ inner corner highlight as well as looking good all over the lid.
Worth the money? Yes, I’ve seen other people call it a dupe for the stila magnificent metals (which is much more expensive)
Would I buy it again? Yes, although as a person who rarely wears bold eye looks I’m probably wouldn’t buy the blue one again because as much as I love it, I just don’t see myself using it enough.
Bourjois
Healthy mix Anti-Fatigue Concealer – £9
My current holy grail, I cannot live without this!
It claims to be medium coverage but I think it’s more like full coverage which makes it perfect for covering up dark circles. I picked up the shade 53 because I have the foundation equivalent of this in the same shade.
I really like the formula of this and it smells sort of fruity like the foundation. They also blend really nicely together.
Worth the money? It’s not the cheapest concealer but honestly it’s so good I don’t mind paying a bit more for it. I will probably wait for a 3 for 2 deal though…
Would I buy it again? Yes yes yes and YES!
Volume Clubbing Mascara – £7.99
I have to say this is the first mascara I’ve owned that isn’t a plastic brush, and I really like it! It gives a much more natural look while still adding volume and length. It’s my go to everyday mascara now.
I probably wouldn’t choose to wear it with a full face of makeup (bold eyes, bold lips, the works) but its perfect for natural makeup.
Worth the money? £7.99 is not a lot to pay for mascara and the brush is so nice, it could easily be more than that.
Would I buy it again? Probably although I’ve had better mascaras, but for a subtle look this is the perfect mascara.
Le Petit Strober – £6.49
I only picked up this highlighter because it was free (it was a spend £12 get a free highlighter deal) and I am really glad I didn’t pay for it…
It looks like such a stunning colour but it is so hard to get any pigmentation! Which is super annoying, however if you are after a more subtle everyday glow then this is the highlighter for you. After all we can’t all wonder round looking like glazed donuts now can we!
It comes with a little brush which to be honest isn’t very useful, and more than anything just gets in the way.
Worth the money? No, I’ve had £5 highlighters that are 1000 times better than this one.
Would I buy it again? No, I doubt I’ll even use it that much to be honest.
Nyx
Honey Dew Me Up Primer – £15
I have wanted to try this for SO LONG! I’ve put it off for ages but I couldn’t resist any longer.
It smells amazing, and it really does remind me of honey with its colour and sparkles suspended in it.
The little plastic spatula style applicator is a bit odd but I found it means I don’t apply too much. When I first put it on it felt a bit oily but it soon sunk in and became more tacky feeling.
Worth the money? Personally I don’t think I can be dropping £15 on primer all the time, but this is a really nice primer. It has a really lux feel to it.
Would I buy it again? Definitely!
Soft Matte Metallic Lip Cream – £6
So I actually thought I had picked up the non-metallic version of this and was a bit annoyed at myself when I realised I in fact picked up the metallic version. This is the shade Copenhagen.
I have the soft matte lip cream in the shade London and really like the formula so thought I would try another colour. Despite it being metallic I actually love this colour! It isn’t to shiny or sparkly which is a relief and means its actually quite wearable. I also picked up the matching suede matte lip liner (also in the shade Copenhagen – £4) and the suede matte lip liner to match my other lip cream (London). The lip liners apply really nicely so I’m glad I got them. Never underestimate the importance of a good lip liner!
Worth the money? It’s quite a small tube for £6 but it is a nice formula. Nyx is a little bit more expensive than other “drug store” brands so I would expect to pay a bit more for anything from them. I suppose it is worth the money.
Would I buy it again? Yes but in the matte version not metallic, I am a much bigger fan of matte lipsticks.
Contour Powder – £3.50
I needed a replacement contour powder, and I didn’t want to splash out on a whole palette so when I saw that Nyx sold these little single powders I picked one up. I went for the shade Sienna which is described as “matte light brown with pink undertones”. I tried to pick a cool shade, but I didn’t want to go too cool because it can look grey.
Worth the money? I think so, it’s cheaper than buying a huge palette and only using one colour. There are also so many shades to choose from so you could definitely find the shade that’s right for you.
Would I buy it again? Definitely, depending on how I like the shade, I might choose a cooler or warmer toned powder.
Rimmel London
Scandaleyes Wow Wings Mascara – £6.99
Firstly the packaging is super cute, I am a sucker for anything with a holographic logo!
I bought this because I was intrigued by the wand more than anything. One side is like a normal styled wand, the other side is shaped like a wing.
When I first started using this I have to say I found it really hard to use, it made my lashes so clumpy! Now that its been used a little bit and has started drying out slightly it’s much easier to use and I like it a lot better.
Worth the money? £7 isn’t a lot to pay for a mascara so I would say definitely.
Would I buy it again? Yes, but I wouldn’t wait for my old one to run out fully because it takes a while to get to a point where it is actually usable.
Revolution
Conceal and Define Concealer – £4
Hailed as the must have dupe for Tarte Shape Tape I had to try this!
It comes in LOADS of shades, I picked up the shade C8 which is perfect for me at the moment post summer while I still have a tan, I think I’ll need a lighter shade for the winter. Also it’s worth knowing that the shade does change slightly when its applied as it oxidises quite quickly.
The doe foot applicator is a quite big, which is nice and makes it feel a bit more expensive.
Worth the money? Hell yea! £4 is so good for such a nice concealer and they now do a supersize version for £7!
Would I buy it again? I would, and I would probably pick up the bigger bottle as well!
And that concludes my (massive) drug store make up haul!
What make up should I try next? Leave me a comment if you have any good drug store make up suggestions or products you think I should try and let me know if you want more hauls (make up or otherwise)
I was guilty of neglecting my skin care routine because I’m too lazy for hundreds of different lotions and potions. So I simplified it. Here are my must have products and my lazy girls guide to skin care.
Today I am reviewing two different style of legging from the brand Queenie Ke sold on amazon. Queenie Ke approached me to send some of their leggings to me to review and as self confessed legging addict I couldn’t very well pass up the opportunity!
First up is the “Queenie Ke Women Yoga Leggings Ninth Pants Power Flex High Waist Gym Running Tights” – such a catchy name – in the colour teal. I ordered a size small and they fit perfectly. They’re good and stretchy but still tight enough on the waist. All of the Queenie Ke leggings have an elastic in the top for tightening the waist as well as a large phone pocket inside on the back of the leggings.
These hit the perfect point on my waist, not too high and not too low!
I really like this colour too, its different to anything I own. Good for spring (if we ever have one!) because its colourful but still dark enough for days when its a bit grey and you don’t want to crack out anything too light or bright.
The stitching on the back is slightly curved which is nice and flattering on the booty. Straight seams can create a sort of double butt look…no one wants that! The curved seam sits above the booty giving it a nice shape.
The material is thick enough to be squat proof but still breathable so they’re sweat proof as well.
All in all these get a 10/10 from me! And only £15.88!
The second pair is the “Queenie Ke Women Yoga Legging Power Flex High Waist Running Pants Workout Tights” in space dye purple again in size small and these ones cost £16.88. These fit well BUT omg the high waist is SO high, these are not made for my gals with short torsos! They come all the way up to my sports bra! They don’t have any compression either so theres not really any advantage to this super super high waist.
These have a straight seam but its high enough that the leggings are still flattering. The seams on the legs are slightly slanted so really make your quads pop. All in all a nice flattering fit.
The material of these is more shiny than the other leggings, and the elasticity can be mistaken for sheerness. Definitely squat proof though – I put these through two heavy leg days and they fared really well! They were nice and breathable and didn’t show sweat at all!
The colour is really cute and the space dye effect is a nice way to add pattern and texture without it being too in your face.
I think I would give these an 8/10. Comfy but the waist is too high! Its almost double the size of the other leggings! That being said the quality is great for such a cheap pair of leggings.
Both leggings come in a selection of colours and for a cheeky 5% you can use these codes:
The weekly pop culture and current affairs podcast ‘The High Low’ covers a range of stories as well as recommendations hosted by Dolly Alderton and Pandora Sykes. This one is great for finding books and programmes you might not have come across other wise – plus listening to Dolly and Pandora I often find myself laughing out loud (a bit awkward when you are on a train!)
‘David Tennant does a podcast with…’
‘Serial’ and ‘S-Town’, both produced by This American Life, are real stories toldweek by week. S-Town is only one season but it is a great story taking you on all sorts of twists and turns. Serial has 3 series each covering a different story.
Blush Crush – £4.95
Glitter Switch liquid lipstick – £6.95
Eye Foil metallic eyeshadow topper – £4.95
Healthy mix Anti-Fatigue Concealer – £9
The stitching on the back is slightly curved which is nice and flattering on the booty. Straight seams can create a sort of double butt look…no one wants that! The curved seam sits above the booty giving it a nice shape.
a blog by lottie 