Reading 2015

Shamefully, I have never been to a festival before. I know, I'm a disgrace. I've always wanted to but have just never had to organisation skills to get it arranged with friends. However, Friday the 28th of August my friend and I headed to Reading festival for the day so I thought I would share the experience.

I know, going for one day and not even camping is hardly the full festival experience, but there was two reasons why we didn't go for longer 1) money (a weekend ticket is EXPENSIVE!) and 2) I wasn't a big enough fan of some of the Saturday/Sunday line up artists to warrant spending that much money. Don't get me wrong, I would LOVE to go for the full weekend and camp- Summer 2016 maybe?

Outfit 

I have literally no good photos of my outfit from the day...sorry. However for outfit I decided to keep it simple with a summery cami top from Primark that had this lovely blue and white flower pattern on, shorts from New Look and a grey hoodie from Asos. Of course, wellies were essential. I also put a pair of leggings in my bag which I was grateful for around 9pm when the temperature dropped and I started getting very chilly. And sunglasses were a must as we were actually very lucky with the weather and it was beautifully sunny. 

Make Up

I kept make up pretty simple, just going for a decent base, bit of bronzer, mascara and then making sure my brows looked neat and defined. I used suncream on my face to keep my skin protected, then a primer and made sure I set everything with a powder. I even used a setting spray which I'm never entirely sure makes much difference but I figure doesn't hurt to use it right? 

Eucerin Sun Fluid Mattifying SPF 50

Benefit PoreFessional (Sample Size) 

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum in Vanilla

Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer in Ivory 

Benefit Rollerlash Mascara (Sample Size) 

Topshop Brow Pencil (Brown)

Topshop Bronzer in Sandcastle 

Rimmel Lasting Finish Powder Foundation in Light Porcelain 

Make Up Revolution Pro Fix

Real Techniques Powder Brush

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush

Real Techniques Nic's Picks Duo Fibre Face Brush 

And a random stippling brush I got from a set off ebay

Music

We saw some really amazing acts, from Panic! At The Disco, Bastille, All Time Low (who are two of my all time favourite bands) Alt J and the headliners Mumford and Sons who were incredible. We also caught some artists we hadn't heard before on other stages such as Elle King who was fabulous and I am now officially a fan, and Sunset Sons who my friend had heard of but I hadn't but were really great! 

I don't have too many good photos as I was too busy enjoying the live music but I thought I'd post them anyway. 

P!ATD

ATL

Bastille

Mumford and Sons

Top Tips From A First Timer

• Be prepared for all weathers- that means suncream, sunglasses but also wellies and something to keep you warm. 
• Take tissues, hand sanitiser and wet wipes. Festival toilets are certainly not pleasant and you don't want to be caught short.
• If you can take some snacks/something to keep you hydrated (water not vodka preferably) as food and drink on the festival site is ridiculously overpriced.
• Check out some of the smaller stages, you might discover your new favourite bands! 
• Portable chargers are a life saver- this meant I could take as many photos/videos as I wanted and use my social media to my hearts content whilst not worrying about have no battery for the journey home. I have this Anker one and I highly recommend it.
• Make use of the app. Reading and Leeds has a free app that has the complete schedule for every stage which was super useful for planning our day

So that's my Reading experience in one post, as I have said I was a newbie but will definitely be heading back for more. 

Have you been to any festivals this summer? 

xxx

Summer Make Up: Minimal

I find in Summer the last thing I want to do is wear a thick face of make up. Unless it's a special occasion and I really want to look nice, I tend to stick to concealer, powder, lashes and lips. These are my essentials for a bare faced look.

Eucerin Sun Fluid Mattifying SPF 50+

In order to keep my skin protected SPF is a must in Summer, considering I burn ridiculously easily and I don't want skin cancer thanks very much. I got this in a Latest in Beauty box and I love it. It doesn't leave my skin greasy at all and doesn't break me out at all. It leaves a matt finish so is perfect for applying make up over. Also at SPF 50+ I know my skin is safe from UV rays.

Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer in "Ivory" 

My favourite concealer ever. Concealer is lighter on your pores than foundation so I find a layer of this over any blemishes and dark circles gives me the coverage I need but feels like I'm wearing nothing. It isn't full coverage so it still leaves my skin looking natural but hides any imperfections. I will continue to repurchase this until Rimmel stops making it (but I pray that day never comes). 

Rimmel Lasting Finish Powder in "Light Porcelain" 

 This powder whilst not full coverage at all and I definitely would not say replaces a liquid foundation, when buffed in over concealer makes my skin look pretty much flawless. It lasts on my skin for a while before I get oily again, and is small enough to slip in my handbag. The compact even has a mirror. Highly recommend, Rimmel really know how to make some decent make up. 

Natural Collection LashCare Mascara in "Clear"

I find mascara really helps complete a make up look and makes me look much more awake, but for days when I really don't want to look like I'm wearing anything a clear mascara is my go to. Also I always rub my eyes (damn you hayfever) and so a clear mascara means I don't end up with black all over my face! This gives my lashes lift and curl just like any other mascara but looks completely natural. It's also only £1.99 which is a complete bargain and does such a good job. 

Zoella Beauty Tutti Fruity Kissy Missy Lip Balm 

I'm not going to lie, I'm not a massive Zoella fan and I haven't purchased any of her products before, purely because none of them really appealed. However when I saw this lip balm in Superdrug for only £3 I figured why not give it a try? And I was pleasantly surprised. It's moisturising and gives really good pay off considering it's only a tinted lip balm. It gives a nice barbie pink tint to your lips that can be built up and has a nice fruity smell. Super easy to keep in your bag for days out, so if I'm bothering to put anything on my lips this is a great choice. 

So those are my very basic make up essentials for summer, what are yours? 

xxx

Best summer reads

Summer is over- although I don't go off to uni for another three weeks (eek!) all the schools are going back so I thought I'd do a quick post summarising the best books I've read this summer. Most of these were perfect summer reads that made me feel all warm and fluffy inside and so I would definitely recommend for a holiday but some were just absolutely incredible books that I happened to read over the summer.

Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

The final part to the Anna and the French Kiss series did NOT disappoint! I read this in about a day, it was so good and made me feel so warm and happy inside. I would recommend this series to anyone at any time of the year!

Written in The Stars by Ali Harris

When I picked this up on a whim in WHSmith I hadn't heard of it before, but since then I've seen it on iBooks and best seller charts and I'm so glad it's doing well. This book is so unique and such an interesting perspective on the whole "what if?" idea.

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

This book needs no introduction. It's not a feel-good read but it's amazing and I can understand the hype. It made me laugh and cry and I loved Teddy and Adam so much. Read this before you go see the film!


My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

This was the best summer read. I read this in America which was perfect as it's based in the USA. A great book about summer romance and first love and I can't wait to read Huntley Fitzpatrick's next book.


Landline by Rainbow Rowell

Rainbow Rowell is possibly one of my favourite humans of all time.  Her new book is much more mature, it doesn't feature teenagers as the protagonists and I would definitely give this to my Mum to read. I already can't wait for Rainbow's next book!

Those were the best books I've read over summer, let me know if you've read any of these and leave any book recommendations for me in the comments!

Follow me on goodreads!

xxx

The Summer Tag

Today was the warmest day of the year so far in London so as I thought this would the perfect time to do the Summer Tag!

What is your favourite thing about summer?

I love the freedom. I love how in summer I can make last minute plans with my friends and still have the best day, or spend long summer evenings out before crashing at my friend's with the knowledge that there's nowhere that I need to be

Do you have a favourite summer drink?

I do love a decent milkshake, but I also love Pimms

Is there a location you like to go to each summer?

I love going to the beach, especially the one near my grandparents in Worthing

Favourite make up look for summer?

I like really natural looking bronzer/highlighter to look glowing and radiant

Dresses or skirts?

Tough choice, but probably dresses

Sandals or ballet pumps?

Ballet pumps! I live in ballet pumps all summer long

Do you prefer to have your hair up or down for summer?

I hate my hair being up anytime of the year so down!

Deep smokey eyes or bold lips?

Hmmm probably neither if I'm honest!

Favourite perfume for summer?

I really love my Hollister one (not sure of the name, sorry)

Favourite music for summer?

At the moment I'm loving 5 Seconds of Summer, but I think All Time Low have a perfect sound for summer

Let me know what your favourite things about summer are and enjoy the sunshine!

xxxx

Summer make up essentials

I''ve been meaning to write this post for a while, but I haven't had the time until today. Plus, I've been doing so much shopping over the last few weeks that I keep discovering new goodies! However, the shopping has ceased now (my bank statement shot me back to reality) and I've got my summer make up bag sorted. So, these are the products I've been using and loving to create a light, radiant summer look!

Firstly is the Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream in light. Wearing foundation just feel too thick on my face in summer, and I can literally feel myself melting (not a nice feeling). I was looking for a lighter coverage foundation when I started browsing BB creams. This one claimed it would do all kinds of wonders, as well as having SPF 30. I brought it and started using it instantly, and I love it! I apply it either with a brush or a sponge, but it is so like a moisturiser that you could use your fingers to blend it in. It is so lightweight that it doesn't feel like your wearing anything, and obviously it doesn't have such a good coverage as a foundation would give, but it still covers blemishes and radiates your skin. It makes you look so glowy, that combined with highlighter and bronzer you look like you've spent all day out in the sunshine! I normally prefer the matt look with foundation, but with this BB cream I've been experimenting with the dewey look, as I think it looks much nicer to be glowing and radiant in summer than to be mattified.

Secondly is my Sleek Face Form Pallette in light, which is a blush, bronzer and highlighter in one. I've been using this for a while now, but it's recently come back as a staple in my everyday make up routine, particularly the blush and highlighter. The highlighter is really pinky, which makes your skin look lifted and glowing. The blush I haven't used much in the last few months, but it's perfect for when you don't want to look like you're wearing blush at all. It just gives a subtle pinky shimmer to add a bit of colour to your face and I love it.

Thirdly is the Seventeen Instant Glow Shimmer Brick in Gold Bronze. This is a beautiful little box with four shimmery bronze colours. The top colour is a really nice highlighter, that you can blend with with the second colour for a gorgeous colour. The colours are shimmery so for contouring etc I wouldn't really use them because no one wants shiney cheekbones (or maybe they do idk) but I just tend to put a light wash of this on my face and it makes me glow and look really bronzed!

Now for eyes. I like to try and keep my eye make up quite subtle and light, with no harsh tones or dark colours as I think summer is the time for paler, brighter colours! For eyeshadow, I have been using the Sleek palette in Au Naturel. These yellow and browns are perfect for creating a subtle everyday eyeshadow to lift and brighten your eyes. There's a mixture of matte and shimmery tones, and the eyeshadows are so pigmented it's unreal considering each palette is only around 7 pounds.


I also picked up the Maybelline Colour Tattoo cream eyeshadow in Pink Gold. This eyeshadow is the most beautiful colour ever. I apply it with my finger and it is sooo pigmented. It's not cheap, but for a good cream eyeshadow it's quite a good price. It stays on all day and is so easy to blend. I love this and I really want to buy some more!

I love my pencil eyeliners, particularly the body shop ones. For a softer summer look, I use the Body Shop eye definer shade in 02 which is "Rich Brown". This is amazing for any everyday look as it isn't too harsh. I would recommend any of the Body Shop eyeliners as they are amazing!

Finally, I use the Body Shop Born Lippy in Pomegranate. I do not suit red lipstick..at all. My two best friends will vouch for that! But using this makes your lips really soft, and gives a subtle pinky tone to your lips. I also love the pop art casing! Would definitely recommend any of the born lippy range from Body Shop.


So those are my summer make up essentials! Let me know if you've used any of these products and what you thought of them. Enjoy the sunshine!
xxx