Random Days: I hate my skin!!

This is not so much a post as a rant.. but seriously. I hate my skin right now. The thing is, I ought to be grateful. Compared to when I was a teenager, full of hormones and covered in acne, my skin is frickin awesome. But I am not. Because it is driving me crazy.

I seem to have all skintypes in one. It's sensitive, dry, oily, with blackheads and acne... so what on earth am I supposed to use on it? I've been wanting to do a skin routine forever, but I have no routine. Instead, I have something akin to a skincare wardrobe. I have at least 5 different serums, none of which I really like. Even more moisturisers. I just feel like I'm forever playing catch-up while it throws another hissy fit. I go for a moisturising sensitive formula, I get blocked pores up to my eyeballs (and above come to think of it). I go for an oily formula, my cheeks turn bright red and physically hurt.

I'm not saying I haven't found hero products which I love. I have some I completely adore, and I'm thankful for it. But then I've bought 'miracle products' which my skin hates too. I just wish I wasn't endlessly googling products in confusion because I have no idea whether my skin would love it or freak out. Skin. I'm begging you. PLEASE BEHAVE.

Have you got misbehaving skin? Any tips?

Love B xxx

Random Days: Blah Weeks and Make-Up Crushes

Ello my loves!

Sorry for being a bit rubbish lately. I've been a bit under the weather this week and have ridiculously huge amounts of stuff to sort out (basically my whole life needs sorting) so blogging hasn't been my first priority! In addition I have no money, which is incredibly annoying because I want to buy so many things! Mainly I'm crushing on:

Nars Sheer Matte foundation in Siberia

Yes even after the whole Sheer Glow debacle, I still desperately want to try this. My justification is that the Sheer Glow may have been an issue because it contained oil (I think) whereas the Sheer Matte doesn't, and my skin really doesn't like oil.

Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella

Apparently this is an amazing shade of red with those with Snow White colouring (pale skin, dark eyes, dark hair)- winner! Also people have said it lasts for ages without smudging.

Guerlain Shalimar Perfume

 I really want a perfume to have as my signature scent, and this one is top of my list. I love a dark sexy scent and this fits the bill totally! The only problem is I liked it when I sampled it in the shop, but it's very expensive to buy and find out it's not for me!

Illamasqua Skinbase Foundation in Shade 2

 Another item I really want to try, but I don't live anywhere near a counter and I'm worried this will be too pink for me (being a neutral toned gal). I suppose there's always eBay if I don't like it...

Illamasqua Lipsticks & Intense Lipglosses

Basically all of them, but particularly Faust which is an amazing red. Again, if only I had a counter nearby to do some swatching! *must move to London*

Also the Seche Vite topcoat, the Nars lipstick range and the Faux Pas nail varnish from the new Illamasqua collection :) Anything you guys are wanting at the moment?

Love B xxx

Photos from Illamasqua, Fragrantica and Nars.

Random Days: Hellooooooooooooo

Hello my lovelies!

Sorry I've been a little absent recently, I've been off doing work experience for about 10 days and had no internet for the whole time (it was traumatic I won't lie). I had an amazing time, but was very very tired and bruised when I returned! Am hoping to get back to normal soon.

On another note, a blog sale is up on this page, with mostly foundations, featuring products from Clarins, Gosh, Nyx, Loreal and more! Please have a look and pass it on to anyone who might be interested :)

Hope you're all well,
Love B xxx

Random Days: I shouldn't be allowed to exercise

In recent months I've been trying to do more exercise. I've talked here about my problems in recent years, which have really led to a lack of exercise and my weight creeping up. My weight really suffered last year, when I had serious sprains on both ankles (we're talking hospital visits because I thought they were broken, crutches and limping for months), so again exercise was very low.

Since I've been home, I was hoping to try and kickstart it again. I take our dog out most days, and I've done a little routine with push-ups and so on in the dead of night every day, partly because I look totally ridiculous when doing then, and partly because I'm a night owl and that's when I have energy.

It all fell apart a bit last night though. I was walking around my living room (I walk a lot with music on around our ground floor, looks insane but I enjoy it) when my ankle buckled under me, I fell on a coffee table and managed to collapse it. At 1am. My mother looked slightly bemused when she ventured downstairs to find out what was going on.

So I need to exercise. But being the unbalanced heffalump I am, it's clear I should spend my life in rooms with padded walls and cushions on the floor so I don't break me or anything else.

... I can't really win can I?

Sigh.

Love Bex (I'm using my real name from now. Exciting times.) xxx

Random Days: Graduation Day!

This week was my graduation! And it was a bit crazy. Exhausting, emotional, wonderful and awful.

It was amazing to graduate, to celebrate all our hard work and see everyone, but saying goodbye and knowing we wouldn't see each other for months (at the very least) because I live so far away was very hard. We also had to get up at 6am because we had to be there really early, so we were all shattered as well, and trying to cope with high heels in many cases! A few photos:

Make-up included Revlon Photoready Foundation in Vanilla, Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer in Fair 1, elf Complexion Perfection powder, Maybelline The Falsies Waterproof Mascara, lashings of my sister's eyeliner, and The Body Shop lipstick in Garnet 22. I was going to go for bright red lip colour, but I chickened out and went for something a little bit more sheer- which actually, looking back, was the right decision. The dress was from T K Maxx (a mere £29.99 thank you) and the painful loose shoes from New Look (I'm not good in high heels).

I also got this beautiful watch as a graduation present:

It's from Guess and the exact one I'd wanted! It's slightly masculine in that it's quite plain, but it's simple and elegant and that's why I adore it. It retails around £90.

So a goodbye to university- thanks Canterbury, it's been a crazy beautiful few years. I love you.

Love L xxx

Random Days: Moving is a form of torture

Ello my lovelies!

A big apology for being absolutely rubbish over the last week or two, I've moved back home now as I mentioned before. I have to say the whole process has been a nightmare really! Packing involved 3 days of solid work, no sleep and having to abandon half my possessions (bye bye TV :( ). Unpacking is a similar nightmare! I've been home for over a week I think, I've only just begun to find my clothes and frankly can barely get in my room or find anything. Ab-so-lute nightmare. Also saying goodbye... I can't even go into. I cried. A lot.

On the plus side, being home is lovely. I missed my dog like crazy at university, so glad to be home to make a fuss of him! Also warmth and proper meals is a total win. Yum. I'm slightly terrified about having to be grown up now- I'm having to look at work experience and try to work out what I'm qualified for (i.e. nothing). I'd also like to be not quite as completely broke as I am, but that's no different from usual *sigh*.

Anyway hopefully soon (although I'm not wildly optimistic) service will be resumed and blogging will recommence, there are so many things I should and want to talk about! Hope you're all well my lovelies.

Love,
L xxx

Random Days: Mini Haul :D

I had another mini haul yesterday and the day before, as I had a few girly days out to say goodbye to my friends :(

The first haul came from Folkestone, which is lovely (from the limited view of the inside of Primark) and got some little treats! I got several headbands from New Look, and some super cute dresses from Primark. I'll update this post with photos of them tomorrow once I've actually got some light to see them in!

The second haul came Canterbury, I was actually quite restrained (no really) especially we essentially went in EVERY shop in the town haha!

I came home with this little lot:

From M & S! I'm really not a orange person, but this is the first shade I've seen that isn't really harsh or neon. It's really pastel and sherbet-y and lovely :D This was about £3.

I'm not a big mascara buyer either, but I saw this Maybelline The Falsies on someone's blog (can't for the life of me remember whose it was!) and loved how amazing it made the blogger's lashes look. See my earlier post on the M & S eyeshadow to see how it looks on, so far it's amazing! This was on sale at the cheaper price of £6.19, but I managed to get it with my Boots points :-)

I'm happy with normal shampoo for washing my brushes, but after seeing this video by Tiffany D (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uT8LpwDjwNI) I couldn't resist a quick way to clean my brushes, hoping it will save me a lot of time! This was £8.50 I believe.

This actually came in the post this morning, but nevermind :D I have been lusting after this Light Liquid Foundation for a while because of Illamasqua's amazing shade range and brand ethos. First impressions are AMAZING colour (in the lightest natural shade LF115) but need to experiment with application because it's tough to blend and get even, but hopefully I can try it lots and get it looking amazing :-)

Will update with more pics tomorrow!

Love Luxie xxx

Random Days: This Week and its plans

Hello my lovelies,

Not sure how much I'm going to be around in the next week or two because next week I'm moving back home from university for good *sobs wildly*. I will try to do posts as normal, but obviously am going to be very busy!
It's not been a particularly good day, as in an experiment with some hair removal cream I'm managed to give myself some chemical burns. Ow is all I can say. Also I'm trying to avoid what would be my 3rd A & E trip in 18 months, so I'm attempting to suffer through the pain! They aren't actually that bad I don't think, so lots of healing creams should fix me up.

Exciting things I've acquired/am acquiring/am doing in the next week or so:

• Got my nail art pens today (£6.99 for 12, thank you eBay!), which I'm very excited about because I'm quite messy and uncoordinated with nail art, so these will hopefully help!
• I do have a NOTD post coming up which is gorgeous, but I can't find the bottle to top up a few chips and the light is AWFUL here to do pictures in, so it's all going a bit wrong! Hopefully can get around to it soon!
• I've gone a bit Illamasqua obsessed. I've been looking over their website, and I ADORE their whole brand ethos (1920's nightclub, theatrical, dramatic). I have ordered the Liquid Light Foundation from Debenhams, mostly to check the colour, as well as try it out. I've got my eye on loads more stuff on the website, but don't really have the money to get said stuff... but I do have a discount code... It's just too hard dammit! 
• Also a bit MUA obsessed... another lovely blogger (hi Lena :)) is sending me their new Pro foundation to try, bit unsure whether the shade will work for me (I can't find anything about the shades online) but it does look pale!
• Got a fair few bits up on eBay, including a Maybelline 24H Superstay foundation and a Laura Mercier Oil Free one: http://shop.ebay.co.uk/luxiehoney/m.html?_trksid=p4340.l2562. Loved the Superstay formula, but too dark, and the Laura Mercier sadly doesn't work for me. Also nail varnishes, so check it out if you're interested!
• I've ordered my leaving gifts for my housemates... very excited :) I've had my eye on them since about January! Will def do some photos to show you guys, because they look amazing!
• Having a bit of trauma with sunscreen- just in such a mess with trying to find a moisturiser, sunscreen and primer combo that works for me! Also again don't have the money to keep getting expensive ones that don't work. Any suggestions of ones you guys love?

I think that covers most of the stuff going on... will try and keep posting through the chaos! Also I know I've promised you a lot of posts in previous posts as it were, they are going to be coming at some point. It's been tricky for a few of the things I'm reviewing because I keep changing my mind over whether they are good or not! So yeah... they'll turn up. Eventually.

Lots of love on this rainy Monday,
L xxx

Random Days: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HAPPY FACE :D

So I've just got my degree results!!!!! :D Got a 2:1 overall, which I was kinda expecting (I had a lot of coursework marks back already) so I'm pleased about that, but I also got my exam marks back for my Modernism exam and got a 70 (which is a first). SO pleased!!! :D And my house is empty and there's no-one to hug. You fail me house.

A lot of friends also got marks back including polkadani (see her blog on my list) and got either 2:1's or 1sts, so we're all really happy!! Congratulations to anyone getting results today, and good luck to those getting any in the next few weeks/months!

Lots and lots of love
Luxie xxxxxxxxx

Random Days: Foundation Crisis

I am going through something of a foundation crisis. I know most bloggers or beauty lovers have beauty items they tend to love more than others, and others items they don’t care about. I, for instance, like blushers and eyeshadows, but honestly… I’m very rarely bothered enough to actually spend money on them (or wear them when I do buy them), more of which I want to talk about in another post soon. Foundations though are my big draw at the moment. I have currently 13 of them (I think. I counted 5 minutes ago, but I’m very tired and not quite with it). And frankly, it’s too many.

I was particularly reminded of this on Friday, when I had to pack for a few days to go home and thought ‘Oh. No. How on EARTH am I going to narrow this lot down to a few for a couple of days?’. I got it down in the end (to 4… for 4 days…), but I really struggled. I mean really, I could wear a different foundation every day for almost two weeks at the moment!

The problem with foundations is you need time to experiment properly, work out carefully the best way to apply them, and frankly? I’m fickle. I’m easily bored. I quite often abandon something if I don’t love it instantly. So that is a fault I need to work on. What do I want then, from a foundation?

I want one I like. It doesn’t have to be Holy Grail status, but I want something I can pick up for a weekend trip and know it’ll work and I’ll like it. I want something medium coverage, that doesn’t look cakey, highlights my good bits and hides my bad bits and most, most importantly- MATCHES MY SKIN TONE (it’s a lot harder than it seems).

To this end, I am going to do a mini foundation series on my foundations- first the ones I loathe, then the ones I have a love-hate relationship with, and then the ones I love. I am hoping that to any girls who are super pale (N5-10 in MAC terms) it will be really helpful, particularly if you’re neutral toned like me and can’t take too much yellow or pink. I am going to try and generally cover the formulas of them as well though so those of the not ghostly coloured skin can hopefully get a few ideas of how they work! It will cover a reasonably wide range of brands and prices (I will tell you now, all the ones I love currently are under £13) so again handy for the budgeter! Most importantly- I want it to be useful for me in terms of learning to be brutal. I’ve been doing a lot of eBaying recently and learning to let go of things I don’t use. While I don’t totally encourage selling things without giving them a proper try, it is also a good idea to not keep something simply because you like a tiny aspect of it (but hate the rest of it). It’s better to have a small collection of products that work well and you can rely on than a huge bag of products, most of which you hate and will never pick up again.

To aid this, I give you a motivational Spartan:

See. Brutal. Grrrrrr. Foundations… watch out.

Love L xx