13/01/2016

2016 Goals & Resolutions

So, hello there. Long time no see?

Well, happy new year! Hope you've all had an incredible Christmas and a fantastic New Year! Apologies for the radio silence on my behalf but I've been focusing on spending time with family so unfortunately the blog has had to take a bit of a backseat. (And of course piles of university assignments have put a bit of a dampener on things...)

But onwards.

I'm not big on New Years Resolutions - I very much believe that if there is something you want changed, do it. But I decided to list a few of my goals for the upcoming year as writing these things down can make them seem that bit more realistic.

  1. Schedule my blog posts at least a couple of months in advance. I know this seems ridiculous but as I approach the mid point of my degree, I have no way of predicting when assignments are coming about so scheduling a couple of months in advance leaves room for those weeks where anything outside university is basically impossible. It's going to be a big job to take these photos but it'll be worth it in the end.
  2. Actually go to the gym. I'm one of those people who always enjoys going to the gym once I'm there but the thought of venturing out into the icy cold to walk there gives me chills (bear in mind it is literally down the street from where I live). Pure laziness. But so far, I've been three days in a row which isn't too bad. Lets keep it up.
  3. Watch my meals. I'm actually quite good with food and based on the amount of nutritional information that I actually know, I should be a size four. But alas, Dominoes two for tuesday was becoming a habit and the day the delivery man recognise me was a day I knew it had to stop. Currently on day three of not eating crap and it's not going too badly. 
  4. Make room for friends. This sounds silly but there was a point where I was not seeing my friends because I was getting so lost in either my laptop, netflix or my bed which was becoming increasingly unhealthy for my state of mind. But I'm already making a conscious effort to spend time with them whether thats going to do the food shop together or just relaxing. 
  5. Go for it. I'm naturally quite a confident person but I do get nervous about new things - my biggest fear being meeting new people. Once I'm there, I'm fine but it's the getting there where it gets tricky. 
What are some of your resolutions and goals?


1 comment
27/12/2015

The Youtube Venture


So, belated Merry Christmas and all that!

Sorry it's been a little bit quiet on my end but who reads blogs on Christmas? (I do.) But anyways, I decided to let all of you know that I'm venturing out into the world of youtube. I absolutely love blogging so there will still be posts going live at least three times per week but I'll also be doing three youtube videos a week (Wednesday, Friday and Sunday) which I'm going to try and keep on top of.

But anyways, one of my first videos has gone live which is a festive Christmas Get Ready With Me where I also do a mini tutorial. This look is seriously classic and perfect for things like New Years or any general night out! Feel free to subscribe for videos and don't forget to let me know if there is anything particular you'd like to see or what kind of videos you enjoy watching!

This is my youtube so feel free to subscribe - there will be more videos on their way such as hauls so it's not just makeup looks (but of course please feel free to leave feedback!).

I've also just done vlogmas so there is plenty to watch!

Enjoy your holidays! x




4 comments ,
23/12/2015

Brand Spotlight #2: Soap&Glory


So I'm obsessed with Soap&Glory and adore a large range of products so thought I would share some of my favourites! Soap&Glory is a brand I've loved since I was thirteen and living in Thailand where I was introduced to the Righteous Butter (something my mum and I still use!).

But as we have a lot to get through, let's get going.

Makeup wise, I haven't tried that many things but it should be no surprise that Brow Archery is one of my favourites. It's the perfect ashy brown for my hair and it just looks wonderful. The nib is really fine and the spooly is wonderful! But recently, I've been trying the Brow Archery 2-in-1 which is similar to the brow archery but instead of a simple pencil, it has a tinted brow wax which has the perfect amount of colour and waxiness. Ideal for those no makeup days where the brows still need to be tamed.

Soap&Glory skincare has been something I've seriously ignored until recently but I'm a woman obsessed. I've never been big on day creams but the Speed Plump All Day Moisture Marvel is brilliant. It smells incredible (the marshmallow Soap&Glory scent) and works really well. It sits really well under makeup but doesn't make it look greasy or anything like that. And then for night, I've been loving moisture masks and with a fourteen hour flight looming, I needed something that worked in flight as well. The Beauty Sleep Accelerator is incredible and I honestly think it might be a slightly thicker dupe for the Origins Drink Me Up Moisture Mask. It smells of mango and is incredibly moisturising but leaves my skin fresh and glowy in the morning. 

And onto bodycare, I couldn't not mention the Righteous Butter because I've been using it for donkey's years and it's the best. The scent isn't too overpowering and it sinks into your skin straight away. The one pictured is from the christmas scent, hence why it's little (which is great for travelling) but normally, the tub is much larger!

Have you tried Soap&Glory? What are some of your favourites? 

This post may contain items that have been sent to me for review. All opinions are my own.
6 comments , , ,
21/12/2015

The Foundation Edit


I've never been a foundation gal. It's never really been my thing which is why I've never shared a post like this before as it is slightly different to what I normally do. For some reason, I've surprisingly accumulated a fair amount of foundation and bases so decided to share!

Let's start with the high coverage bases...
Yves Saint Laurent Touche d'Eclat was one of my first foundations and definitely my first high end. This has a lovely full coverage finish but leaves everything really nice and glowy without seeming caked on. The only downside is the SPF which does cause major flash back in photos but for average day time, it's perfect. Then Bourjois Healthy Mix is probably a drugstore equivalent of the YSL as it gives a similar high coverage yet glowy finish. It's more high coverage than the YSL but the texture on skin doesn't make it obvious that I'm wearing foundation. And finally, the newest addition is a Kardashian favourite, Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk which has no SPF so is my choice for going out. It's an incredible flawless finish and doesn't need a primer to last all day.

Then onto lighter bases...
I definitely reach for these far more than any others as I rarely wear a full face of makeup to university. bareMinerals Complexion Rescue will always be one of my favourites as it's surprisingly high coverage for a gel like texture. The packaging says you can apply it with your fingers but I would definitely advise using a brush as it leaves a more flawless finish. Then onto a new one, NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser is a great one for days where you simply can't be bothered. It's easy to apply with fingers but has enough coverage that it doesn't need too much concealer. And then, Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint and this is exactly what it says on the tin, it is definitely a skin tint and wouldn't be ideal if you suffer from breakouts as coverage is limited, however, it does sit well over concealer.

And for matte...
Illamasqua Skin Base is a really nice finish. It dries incredibly matte so if you are drier, this probably wouldn't be the best finish as it can cling to dry patches. I definitely use a glowy base or an illuminator under it as I find it can make my face appear a bit one dimensional but it gives such a flawless finish that is ideal for a full face of makeup. 
And the L'Oreal Infalliable Matte is a blogger favourite and I love how it applies. Similarly with the Illamasqua, it does sometimes cling to dry patches but it does last all day and definitely doesn't need powder or anything like that.

What are some of your favourite skin bases? 

 This post may contain items that have been sent to me for review. All opinions are my own.
8 comments ,
20/12/2015

Raise Boys and Girls the Same Way

T-Shirt | Jeans | Heels | Leather Jacket | Bag | Sunglasses

This t-shirt is probably one of my favourite things in my wardrobe right now. It's statement, thought provoking yet not to the extent that I would feel uncomfortable wearing it in public. 

Let's be honest, it's not really difficult to say that boys are obviously raised the same way as girls considering we go to the same schools but it's really the way they're treated which creates the difference - the whole "boys will be boys" culture that seems to always crop up whenever sexual assault/rape/harassment occurs. But I digress, a post for this will be coming in due time.

I find with t-shirts, it's incredibly easy to look incredibly casual but I was feeling myself when I took these pictures so I wanted to add something glamorous to it, hence the heels and sunglasses. 

Paired with my fave coated jeans, there's almost a biker element to it that gives it a bit of edge. 

Mirrored sunglasses were huge in the summer and with this bright sunlight we've been blessed with, sometimes sunglasses are necessary even in Autumn and winter. 

It's definitely sometimes too cold to wear this out now but I'm obsessed and shall be keeping this t-shirt for forever. 

1 comment , , , , , , ,

Copyright Life of EllieGrace | Manchester Beauty & Style Blog. Premade design by gatto.