Fashion/Beauty Q&A

Hello lovelies :) 

I've always wanted to do some sort of fashion and beauty Q&A and since trolling through many MANY links... I didn't find anything particularly interesting. I then had a little lightbulb moment and thought, why not just make one up? I want to try and create a detailed Q&A that will hopefully help others if they had any queries. 

So lets get cracking...!

S K I N C A R E

What's your skin type? 

I'd say I was normal/dry. I find this question so difficult to answer in makeup stores because my face could go through a whole whirlwind of problems. 

Favourite drugstore skincare product? 

I'd have to say Simple products work a dream and are so cheap! Easygoing on the face and have no harsh chemicals in them. I'm also a fan of Olay when I'm wanting to change my skincare routine. 

Favourite high-end skincare product?

Skincare can be prettttttty expensive in brands such as Chanel and Dior. I wish I could justify paying between £70-100 for a tub of moisturiser. But I can't. Not for a student anyway. So I'd have to go with Elizabeth Arden. I always get a gift set for Christmas as I love it that much. The 8-hour cream is just on point. Plus it smells all sweet and lemony.

How often do you cleanse, tone and moisturise?

I moisturise religiously but I'm a little bit naughty and currently am forgetting 2/3 steps! Oops. I really want to try and get back into the habit of doing all 3 steps before I go to bed. 

Favourite exfoliator?

It's probably going to be a battle between Sanctuary or Laura Mercier. Whilst Mercier's body scrub is absolutely adorable and smells like heaven, Sanctuary's body scrub is probably the most amazing thing I've ever encountered. It leaves your skin feels amazingly/scarily smooth. I have no idea how they do it. 

Favourite body cream?

Definitely Laura Mercier. I think most of my friends/family would agree I live in Mercier's store. The body creams smell incredible. My favourite would probably have to be Ambre  Vanille or Creme Brûlée. The smell lasts for such a long time and they do amazing christmas sets that offer four small tubs. 

Do you wear primer?

I'm not really one to buy things like this but I have tried a primer from Rimmel that made my skin feel like satin and helped with my makeup! Primers to me are like marmite, you love them or hate them. I tried the primer from MAC a while ago and thought it was a waste of money. If I did wear primer I'd probably stick to drugstore. 

Do you wear lib balm? 

I do occasionally but not all the time. My two favourites would probably be Elizabeth Arden or Crabtree & Evelyn as they leave my lips feeling super soft. However, I can't leave out Lush's mint julep lip scrub! It completely eliminates any dry lip patches and works a dream! 

How do you make sure you keep your skin healthy?

I drink water a lot. I always make sure I'm carrying a bottle of water around so that I keep hydrated throughout the day. I try not to stress out. It's hard to do but I'm a big believer that stress causes breakouts!  I also make sure that I'm aware of the products I'm putting on my face and whether they have led to any breakouts. 

H A I R C A R E 

How often do you wash your hair? 

I wash my hair every other day. I would never have the time or energy to do it every single day. 

What is your hair type? 

I would describe my hair as being thick and naturally wavy. 

What is your hair length?

My hair length has just reached that awkward stage where you don't know whether to cut it again or grow it out. I've banned myself from cutting my hair for a long time now so hopefully it will grow!

What is your natural hair colour?

Light/medium brown. When it's grown out maybe some dark blonde ends. 

Do you dye your hair?

I have done a lot in the past. It's always been the same brown tones, other than when I ombre'd my hair. Earlier in the year I completely re-dyed my hair a complete brown colour and have banned myself from dying it for a longggggg long long time. 

How do you style your hair? 

I normally style my hair 9 times out of 10 by curling it. I like how it shapes my face and I like my hair to feel voluminous. I sometimes straighten my hair on rare occasions. Normally if I'm feeling a bit lazy!

What is your favourite shampoo?

My favourite smelling shampoo would have to be Aussie. Its very inexpensive and I love how it feels in my hair. If I have some cash to spare I sometimes venture out and buy a more expensive shampoo from L'oreal. 

What is your favourite conditioner? 

I used to put conditioner on my hair a lot. It completely thinned my hair out and made it feel greasy. I now use a deep conditioner from Tresemme that I used once a week that helps with dead ends and it works amazingly!

Favourite hot tools?

When it comes to drying my hair I don't have a particular preference. If it does the job thats fine with me. However I do prefer hairdryers that have a changeable heat setting and can alternate between hot/cold. When it comes to styling my hair, GHD wins every single time. I normally use the straightening tool to straighten and curl my hair. 

Favourite styling products?

I always use heat protectant spray on my hair. It's just to put myself at ease really. I use hot tools a lot on my hair so hopefully it helps a little bit! I also sometimes use hair serums that prevent frizz but I always seem to get that 'pea-sized' amount to look like a small golf ball and then end up with realllllly sticky hair. 

B E A U T Y

Favourite foundation?

My favourite drugstore foundation varies a lot. I tend to stick to Rimmel or Bourgois  as they safely offer good coverage and blend into my skin well. They also have good colour matches! If I have a bit of money then I would go for foundations such as Chanel Vitalumiere which is so luxurious and smells incredible. I've also been wanting to try Illamasqua's foundations as they look perfect for wearing on a night out!

Favourite concealer?

I've heard a lot of hype about Collection 2000's concealers but I never seem to find my colour. I am currently using Benefit's Erase Paste which is magical. However, it does become quite dry on my skin and has a dark yellowish tone to it that does not always sit well with my own skin tone. I haven't yet found my perfect concealer so I will keep you updated!

Favourite blusher?

I have always stuck to one blusher and that is Chanel's powder blush '82 Reflex'. It's a very rosy/gold colour so it gives you a bit of highlight too! It was pricey but it has last me a very long time so it was definitely worth it!

Favourite bronzer?

I am currently using Mac's Mineralize Skinfinish Natural bronzer which is a darker face powder that I use on my cheek bones. I do however love Bourjois's chocolate bronzer! I have also seen bronzers from Bobby Brown which look stunning and I am lusting after!

Favourite mascara?

Anything my Rimmel. Literally anything. The adverts do make me chuckle a bit as they seem to force the idea across that every single mascara they make is unique in its own way. Realistically they all do the same job which is to make your eyelashes look thicker and longer. I have currently moved onto Bourjois' Dark Khol Mascara which is amazing. I would have to say my all time favourite is Benefit's 'They're Real'. Its just gorgeous! 

Favourite Lipstick? 

Definitely anything by Mac. I'm obsessed with their Russian Red Lipstick and a few of their nudes. The consistency is amazing and I always think they small like Milky Way which is just an added bonus really!

F A S H I O N 

Favourite high street store?
I would definitely say either Topshop or Urban Outfitters. It can be a little pricey but I always find myself eyeing clothes up online in these stores!

Favourite designer store?
I don't own anything 'designer-esque', other than some Alexander Mcqueen jeans that were passed down to me. If I was rich and had money to spend on lovely clothes I would love to shop in places like The Kooples and Aldo. They offer clothes that I would consider similar to how I'd want my style to be. If I was going to go 'all out' and splash the cash it would definitely be Chanel. 

Favourite designer?
Definitely Russian designer Ulyana Sergeenko. She has so much creativity. I love how she takes her generations' roots and incorporates it into her style. She offers adorable dresses that cut above the ankle and little head scarves. The stuff however is very haute couture so its not exactly 'wearable' but pretty to look at!

Best worn piece?
Probably my fur gilet I bought from Topshop. It's literally my baby. I am forever wearing it because it's so warm and it literally goes with everything. Plus its black which means it definitely goes with all my outfits!

How would you describe your style?
I would consider my style to be quite classic with a hint of a rock/grunge feel to it. I think its best to try and think about your style and what really fits with what you wear. It gets you out the habit of buying any random piece that you'll end up never wearing and wasting your money on! 

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Crazy for Paisley

OOTD

I am obsessed with paisley at the moment. For me, it works all year around. 

As it is summer, I have to basically force myself to wear some element of colour (such a hard task). 

Sometimes I feel as though there is underlying pressure to force yourself to buy some sort of coloured clothing, knowing deep down you just want to grab that beautiful black/grey/white ensemble off the rail. 

Patterned clothing however is the answer to my prayers because it looks cool, plus you have a sneaky bit of colour in there. In this case, paisley! 

This blouse is from Primark and definitely looks more expensive than what it actually was. What I like about Primark is that you're able to buy something so cheaply and if you start to get bored of it, at least you didn't pay £80 for it from a designer store! 

If you do start to become attached to a certain design/pattern, then I feel its best to venture out into an expensive range. Until then, keep to the high street stores!

I went with more of a summer theme to this look. It's not exactly Mediterranean weather in England but it still gets pretty warm so I want to at least look remotely content about the sunshine! 

I paired this paisley blouse with some white jeans I bought from Zara and it gives the whole outfit a sleek, fresh look. 

I had to get some black in this outfit somehow! I am obsessed with this duster coat from Topshop. I've seen them in white and lilic but this one totally won me over. It was a bit pricey but its shaped beautifully. I love how I could style this with a casual outfit like this one but also pair it with a nice dress for the evening. It will also look great in the Autumn time!

I wouldn't necessarily say this coat was perfect in summer, but during those windy, breezy days, it keeps you content! 

In terms of make-up I normally keep it simple and natural for the day time. However, I couldn't help but add some red lippy to this look because I felt like it just needed to be there! The pop of red just totally contrasts the rest of the look and looks great during the day in the summer! 

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Style Inspiration

Style Inspiration

When it comes to finding your own personal style, I find that one of the key ingrediants to achieve this is to look for inspiration. Inspiration can come from anywhere, whether it be celebrities, music, art, literature, architecture, photography... etc. 

Keep in Mind this post could potentially be in working progress... as my style develops, many things may be added so follow this style journey!

Here's a list of my personal favourites and how they inspire me to dress the way I want to:

Celebrities:

Alexa Chung:

In terms of style, Alexa Chung wins every time. The queen of being effortless. I love her twist on the preppy/schoolgirl look with her white collared shirts and brown brogues. Her style is effortless and achievable to copy at an affordable price. If you haven't ever read Alexa Chung's book 'It', I highly recommend it. Go buy it. Now. I love how Alexa is able to take an old pair of Levi shorts and pair it with an oversized blouse and some flats and it looks simply stunning. I also love how Alexa's style rarely changes. Her style is defined and classic. This is great for us as it shows that we don't have to follow every trend out there! Looking at Alexa's style is such a good way of piecing together how you want to dress and really helped me understand what my style actually was! 

Miranda Kerr: 

Miranda Kerr is simply my girl crrrrrush! In terms of fashion, I wouldn't necessarily say she was my go-to gal. However, her style is definitely something I admire because it is classic and effortless. I love her off-the-clock style days as she pairs jeans with dressy tops to balance out the look and make it seem multi-functional. Most importantly however, in terms of her make-up, her healthy lifestyle and her positivity, she is such an inspiring woman. If she's not doing her yoga she's eating her Chia seeds. Her instagram is addicting. Seriously. Follow her and you'll start to understand why life is so wonderful. 

Suki Waterhouse: 

Possibly one of the coolest dressed celebrities out there. I envy her hair, her style, her music taste. And she's dating Bradley Cooper which is enough to make any girl jealous.  I would say her style is very Rock' N' Roll/Sixties. The best part about this is that she effortlessly makes it work. Reading about Suki, I love how she talks about how she is inspired by the Sixties and how she reads about her inspirations, such as Pattie Boyd. It's so amazing how a celebrity talking about their own inspirations can influence how we see/think about fashion. 10/10 Suki. 

Olivia Palermo: 

We dress for our surroundings. Therefore, if I ever was to go live in Los Angeles then I would try and follow Olivia's style down to a T. Unfortunately, I don't live blissfully in the hills and have to come to terms with that. Therefore, her style for me is quite limited. I couldn't necessarily walk around in skirts and shorts in 12 degrees. However,  I take so much inspiration from this woman. Her style is impeccable. It's classy, its original, its fun, it's.. expensive. But... I love how simple her style is and how she can add accessories to glam it up. Plus she really reminds me of Audrey Hepburn... so without further ado.. 

Audrey Hepburn: 

I'm not sure how much credit I could give to Audrey Hepburn as from the outfits she has worn in movies such as 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' and 'Funny Face', her outfits have obviously been picked by famous designers such as Givenchy. However, regardless, I've always loved Audrey Hepburn for her elegance, her happiness and her acting.  She's an icon in her own right and from pictures I have seen of Audrey out of character, she dresses with simplicity and grace. 

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Awkward Weather

OOTD

So the weather in England has been fluctuating lately.  Some days it can be pretty decent outside with clear skies, whilst other days it's just painfully humid without a spot of sun in sight. 

Today is one of those cloudy days...

This means that it's so hard to find something that keeps you cool throughout the day without looking as if you're about to hit the beach. 

The outfit is pretty simple, it doesn't appear too "summer-ish" but its easy to adapt to the weather changes. 

It's so easy to wear crop tops on days like this because if it does get chilly you can layer it up with a jacket, cardigan or blazer and you will still be able to see the crop top underneath. I love how this top from Topshop is structured at the neckline as it offers more of a dressier feel. 

I'm also absolutely obsessed with these ripped jeans from Topshop. They're definitely a summer staple and offer a casual feel to the outfit, challenging the dressier crop. 

These shoes are from Primark and are honestly the greatest thing thats probably ever came out of the store. Unlike other pointed flats that I've seen, they're so inexpensive at around £6 and have surprisingly survived an array of climates. They're also great for making an outfit dressier. Plus because they're sandals, they'll keep you cool. 

In terms of accessories I've kept it to my basics that I wear with absolutely everything! My floppy hat from Topshop is probably the best thing I've ever bought. It's so amazing how one item can make an outfit appear more classic and 'done up'!

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