August Love List

Where has August gone, like seriously? I feel like I haven't written a favourites in ages, so here is my Love List for August.

ICONIC London Illuminator Drops in Original - £30

The glow, the glow, the glow. I have naturally quite dry skin so I am all about that dew, and I have to say that Iconic London Illuminator Drops are insane at giving you that intense glow. I've been loving them both under foundation, for an all over glow, as well as on the tops of my cheek bones. There are three different shades, but I went for the medium one, Original. If you're after a more thorough review of these bad boys then click here for the one I wrote a few weeks ago. 

Kat Von D Bow N Arrow Everlasting Liquid Lipstick - £17

I remember all too well the day I said that Lolita would be my favourite ever lipstick shade, well, I was wrong. Turns out Bow N Arrow is even better and I truly don't think I will ever find a better nude shade. If you've never tried any of the Kat Von D liquid lipsticks I urge you to pick one up, especially if you're a fan of a matte lip. They aren't drying in the slightest and they last a really long time, if you aren't eating. Bow N Arrow goes with absolutely any makeup look, and it would suit so many skin tones.

Becca x Jaclyn Hill Palette - Discontinued (I believe)

I know you're all going to hate me for including a discontinued product on my August Love List, but I honestly couldn't not include this palette. I bought it on sale in Sephora when I went to Nice in July, and I fell in love. There was so much hype surrounding it when it was released, and I can tell you, it was all worth it. The blush shades are insanely pigmented, and although I probably wouldn't wear the bright pink, aside from at Halloween, the other two are very wearable shades. As for the highlighters, I'm sure I don't need to tell you how gorgeous they are. The shimmer in them isn't uber fine though, so if you like a more subtle or 'glowy' highlight, rather than a shimmery one, it probably isn't for you. 

Abott Lyon Watch - £99

When I graduated in July my parents bought me an Abott Lyon watch as my present, and its so stunning. All of their watches are so reasonably priced and look way more expensive than they are. They're insanely adjustable, so even my tiny wrists can comfortably wear it. I've been loving wearing this to job interviews as it just makes me look so smart and a little sophisticated (which is not a word I'd overly use to describe myself...). 

Graphic Tee's 

In general, I've been loving wearing graphic tee's this month. My all time favourite one is my ASOS one, here, but I've also grabbed a couple of others over the past month and they're just so easy to style. I'm definitely more into the relaxed/chill style at the moment, and these fit perfectly in with that vibe.

Prison Break

If any of you follow me on Twitter you will know I cannot stop talking about Prison Break. I started watching it at the end of July I believe and I am now almost halfway through season 3 (send help). I didn't actually think I would like it as much as I have done, but there's so much drama and suspense, and I absolutely love anything to do with prisons. I'm trying to persuade all my friends and family who haven't watched it to start watching it now. If you love action and crime shows you'll love Prison Break. Oh and if anyone has recommendations of prison documentaries please send them my way!

Taylor Swift's Comeback (!!)

HOW could I not include this in my Love List?! When Taylor starting posting all these weird snake videos on her Instagram I was a tad worried about what was coming, I won't lie. However, I was pleasantly surprised when I listened to Look What You Made Me Do. In all honesty, it isn't my favourite song of hers, and I don't think this will be my favourite Taylor era (RED era all the way!), but I am so excited to see what she has to come, and her comeback has been one of the most exciting moments of August. 

What have you been loving this past month?

Being A Typical Blogger ft. My New Fave Skirt

Be prepared for your typical blogger photos on the streets of London.

Is it just me, or are denim skirts insanely hard to buy? They are either too tight at the waist and flick out after the booty, or they're huge and give you no bum. I was so close to giving up on ever owning one, and then I found an absolute gem from Missguided.

This skirt is made from a very stretchy denim, so it is almost like a bodycon fit, which means it hugs you in all the right places (not to mention it does wonders for the booty!). I'm normally a size 10, or occasionally an 8, and I ended up ordering both sizes in this, but kept the 8 as it is stretchy anyway, and the 10 was a little too big round the back. 

I really wanted to pair it with a plain black crop, but typically, on the day of shooting my stomach decided to bloat like a bitch, so I decided against wearing a super cropped top. I love the look of the black denim with the white converse though, and I can imagine this skirt looking lovely dressed up with a pair of black or nude strappy heels, or with an oversized black denim jacket in the colder months.

Black Denim Skirt - Missguided - £20

Sunglasses - River Island - £14

Top - New Look (old) 

Shoes: Converse - £50

I hope this helps out my fellow denim-skirt strugglers! I believe this skirt also comes in a gorgeous khaki colour (which I am definitely tempted to).

MY Sort of Trainers

Warning: todays post is short, it's basically just an appreciation post. 

I'm not going to lie to you all, these trainers squeak like a bitch...but they're so beautiful I can deal with it. You have to wear little 'pop socks' or something with them, else they are a little painful to start with, but they do break in, thank the lord!

I love wearing them with an all black outfit just to add a pop of fun to the outfit. I'm also dying to wear them with my new black denim skirt and a blush pink crop; I think they'll look so cute together.

Link  - WAS £35, NOW £28 

If anyone has any other pretty trainer recommendations please let me know!

I've Graduated and I Feel Lost...

I'm sure I am not the only person in this position, but hey, I just graduated and I feel completely lost. University has, without a doubt, been the best experience of my life, but I cannot help but feel slightly overwhelmed at the sheer number of opportunities available, and be disheartened by the number of jobs I have applied for and not heard anything back from. I feel as though I am the only person who feels this way, as I have many friends who have just graduated but have found their path. 

Let me share some photos from my graduation day before I ramble any more...

Graduates, in my opinion, are given really limited help when it comes to finding jobs after they graduate, and no one really tells you that you're pretty much going to be earning the same as someone who didn't go to University. It is such a myth that those people who go to University get "better paid jobs" than those who don't (in a lot of cases). The majority of the jobs I have been applying for haven't even required a degree, and are paying no more than £20,000 - excuse me if I don't think that's a huge amount considering I've spent £27,000 on studying alone?! Don't get me wrong, I don't at all regret going to University, it was the biggest learning experience for me, and not just in the sense of lectures etc. I learnt so much about myself as a person, and developed hugely in terms of confidence, and for that, the debt of going to University will always be worth it to me. Oh, and I also met the best friends I could ever ask for.

I know I am not the only one in this position, although it may feel like everyone around me has moved on and isn't struggling with this, but I wanted to write this little rant/post so that others of you out there don't feel alone. I think I am going to take the rest of August slowly, applying for jobs which I am generally interested in, and if it comes to it, I will just get a part time job on the side. I'm a firm believer in 'good things come to those who wait', so maybe if I am a little more patient something will come my way.

P.S. Congratulations to those of you who have also recently graduated!

My Thoughts: L'Oreal Fine Flowers Cleanser & Toner

I'm a sucker for new skincare and I'd be lying if I said the colour of these bottles didn't make me buy the new L'Oreal Fine Flowers Cleanser and Toner. I was in the market for a new toner anyway, as my Pixi Glow Tonic ran out, and I wasn't quite ready to fork out another £18 whilst I'm floating in the unemployed sea. These two were on offer at Superdrug, at only £3.99 each, and I have to say, so far I am very impressed.

I found the cleanser in particular to be very hydrating on the skin, which you would expect from a product which is aimed at dry skin. I've not used a cleanser that you don't need to wash off before, so this was a new experience. The instructions tell you to put the product on a cotton pad and wipe gently over the face, and let me tell you, I over-pumped the first time, a little goes a very long way with this. Overall, I feel that this cleanser removes my makeup, however there is always still a tiny amount of foundation that comes off when I use the toner, but that is probably down to stubborn foundation rather than the product. My skin never feels stripped after using this, and any excess moisture left behind always soaks in quickly.

Both the cleanser and the toner have a rose and jasmine scent, and I'd have to describe it as a very clean and not an overpowering scent, which is ideal on the face. I wouldn't say I have particularly sensitive skin, but it does lean more on the dry side so I can vouch for it being perfect for those of you with faces on the drier side of life. 

The toner has a very bizarre texture, it's not as liquidy and watery as most other toners I have used in the past, it has a slightly thicker consistency. Similarly with the cleanser, it does leave the skin feeling super moisturised, but any residue left on the skin soaks in fast. As I mentioned before, after I use the toner I really feel that all my makeup has finally been removed.

Overall my skin always feels so silky after using these two together, and that's before I apply a moisturiser on top. There's not been any drastic changes to my skin since using these, but I can definitely say my skin feels more hydrated, and much happier with me. 

I believe that there are four products in the Fine Flowers range altogether, including the Toner, Cleanser, Face Wipes and a Gel Cream Wash. I think I will be heading back to Superdrug to pick up the Gel Cream Wash if it's half as good as these two!