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| Uni assignment: Not quite as stupid as I make out, am I? |
I'm not trying to be some kind of mediocre lifestyle guru, honestly. Here's my experience of receiving my GCSE and A-Level Results. (You best get your reading glasses out. It's a long one...)
My GCSE grades were average. I got seven Cs, three Bs and one D, which I'll not dwell on. I've always been a Jack-of-all-trades, and it's people who are okay at everything but don't particularly excel at anything that are ignored in a classroom environment. Those who are visibly struggling get help from teachers, so do naughty kids and those who are exceptionally good at subjects get noticed too. Those who are stuck in the middle, muddling their way through GCSEs and A-Levels often get overlooked, which doesn't help their confidence. If you're one of those people, as was I, remember: You're doing just fine.
I'll admit that my A-Level grades were quite bad. To me, they were abysmal, in fact. I'm so ashamed of them even today (five years later), that I shan't admit here what they were, but I still got into my first choice Uni. It's only at Uni that confidence grew and I started to work to the best of my ability, like I never managed at school. In the end, I really knuckled down and graduated last year with a 2:1. So I didn't do too badly in the end, did I?
Moral of that story? It's never too late to pull your socks up and try to excel... You might just surprise yourself.
Moral of that story? It's never too late to pull your socks up and try to excel... You might just surprise yourself.
Don't compare yourself to others. Most of my friends are ridiculously clever and usually put me to shame. I'm proud of them and proud to be their friend, but it doesn't mean to say that I haven't gone through phases of feeling inferior next to their exceptional intelligence and talents. You can only be yourself and achieve what you are capable of.
Let it go. If you're not good at Maths, try your hardest and then move on. Focus on what you're good at and; most importantly, what you enjoy. Not everyone can be good at Maths and Science and there's nothing wrong with being better at Drama and English. Those who tell you otherwise are the stupid ones.
Try and ignore the politics. I know Michael Gove is a tallywacker, to say the least, but he's gone now. (Cue a collective sigh of relief from teachers and students alike). I also know that it's desperately unfair that politicians are moving the goalposts and effectively playing with your lives. I was lucky that I never had to endure this added uncertainty when I took my GCSEs in 2007. You can only do your best, even though they're in ever-demanding circumstances.
Ignore the news. Every single news channel will broadcast live from schools across the land, bombarding you with those special kids who got 20 A*s at GCSE and are now going to study 17 million A-Levels at the best college that's ever existed. Well done to them. They even got to open their magic brown envelope live on TV. You literally can't escape the high achievers; the media LOVE them. It's no use letting that drag you down on what should be a special and memorable day for you (Hopefully for the right reasons...)
So you didn't get into the paper. Okay, so you'll never experience acclaim like having a picture of you literally jumping for joy whilst clutching that once-terrifying brown envelope, but that's alright. At least it won't come back to haunt you in fifteen years time.
It really isn't the end of the world if you fail. So, you got a D in Graphic Products (like I did...). Is it really the end of the world? Will you really need to complete Third Angle Orthographic Projection again in your future career? Or will you just forget it like most things you learned at school? You can retake failed subjects or forget them and move on. Like I said, focus on what you're good at and what you enjoy. I never really liked Graphics that much anyway...
Don't cry. Please don't do this. Embarrassingly, I did this once. I was so disappointed with my AS results that I walked home crying past some builders who clearly thought I'd lost the plot. It's not worth getting too upset about. Everything'll be alright in the end.
And if you passed with flying colours, well done!
Thanks for reading!
Katie
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Set of three rings:
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| N.B. I don't normally opt for the 'three rings chav-esque look'... |
Star ring:
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| Excuse the bad nail varnish job... |
Elephant Necklace:
Gold Butterfly Necklace:
I'm not really into gold coloured jewellery because I don't feel it matches my skin tone that well, so I tend to stick to silver tones instead. However, these bargains meant that I couldn't miss out on cheap, but pretty, jewellery - Just for the sake of them being the 'wrong' colour. This particular item cost £3, which I think you'll agree is a bargain!
Thanks for reading!
Katie
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It's been really quite warm* recently and my skin's beginning to suffer. (*for England...)
Advantages:
I don't know if I'm alone in this, but when the weather heats up a bit, my skin seems to get oilier? This means that if I continue to use more moisturising, heavier, liquid foundations I just break out in spots. Half the time I opt for going without foundation or even tinted moisturiser - Just enough moisturiser to help out the dry patches of skin and then a bit of concealer on top of any blemishes.
I've opted for the past few days to use a mineral foundation. The one I've chosen to use (as you've probably guessed) is Lily Lolo Mineral Foundation. I bought this product towards the end of last summer and found that, during winter, my skin was a little too dry and delicate... and I wasn't daring enough to use powder when my skin was in such a dry state.
I find that warmer weather, however, is perfect for the mineral foundation.
I find that warmer weather, however, is perfect for the mineral foundation.
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| Lily Lolo Mineral Foundation in the old packaging |
This foundation is SPF 15. The coverage is build-able. There are an array of different shades (including ones for ridiculously pale people, like me...), and you can even order really cheap tester pots from their website to find out which shade suits you best before you commit to splashing out on a full sized pot.
One reason that I turned to this foundation in the first place was because it's non-comedogenic (i.e. it doesn't block pores and then cause spots) which is a huge bonus. I've been using this foundation in the lightest shade 'Porcelain', which Lily Lolo describe as: 'Very pale, neutral with balanced undertones'.
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| Lily Lolo Foundation in Porcelain |
It does cost £13.49; but the pot that I have seems to have lasted ages. I've used it quite a few times over the past few months and I'm still not ready for a new one.
I did find the prospect of applying mineral foundation quite daunting after years of using liquid foundation; but once you've done it a couple of times, it's really easy.
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| H&M's £2.99 Mini Kabuki Brush |
I've been using Collection Lasting Perfection concealer on any blemishes and then just buffing this powder over the top with my H&M mini Kabuki brush (Pictured above - which only cost £2.99!) You do have to make sure that you really work the brush into the powder and then tap any excess off; or else you look a bit too powdery. Lily Lolo also offer finishing powders and a range of other products too!
I find that this, with the concealer underneath, gives me light to medium coverage. It does make my skin look good though; providing that I make sure I exfoliate and use a good moisturiser. (I've been using L'oreal Triple Active Day Cream for Dry and Sensitive skin - To ensure that it definitely won't dry my skin out).
I find that this, with the concealer underneath, gives me light to medium coverage. It does make my skin look good though; providing that I make sure I exfoliate and use a good moisturiser. (I've been using L'oreal Triple Active Day Cream for Dry and Sensitive skin - To ensure that it definitely won't dry my skin out).
They're also vegan friendly and have active antibacterial ingredients - Another reason why this foundation is great for preventing spotty skin!
This foundation seems to leave my skin looking really lovely; not too matte, but not really shiny either. I'm very impressed.
Advantages:
- Build-able coverage,
- Huge range of different shades,
- Non-Comedogenic,
- Anti-bacterial and vegan friendly.
Disadvantages:
- £13.49 is relatively expensive for some people,
- Probably not ideal for dryer skin,
- Lighter coverage,
- Not available in shops - You can only buy this product over the Internet.
You can buy Lily Lolo Mineral Foundation here.
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| La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water |
Another product which I recommend for this weather is La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water. It's so cooling when you spray it on your face! It costs £4 from Boots; but it's so worth it. I am trying to save it, so only use it for those moments when my skin feels really flushed.
This product also doubles up as a great setting spray; especially with the Lily Lolo Mineral Foundation!
Thanks for reading!
Katie
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Thanks for reading!
Katie
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(There's also a really worrying article in there about the rise of size 000. (Yes, that really exists?!), but we'll not dwell on that).
I don't about you, but I'm a bit of a Starbucks addict. (My card's been on Gold Level since Christmas and I seem to suffer withdrawal symptoms if I don't have their Via daily and their Cappuccino a handful of times a week...)
If you're a fan of freebies or Starbucks drinks (or both!), then it's probably worth taking advantage of this offer.
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| I always read magazines by candlelight, don't you...? |
You'd better hurry up though, as this voucher is only valid until tomorrow! (Monday 30th June).
Thanks for reading!
Katie
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I would definitely recommend spending £2 on the magazine just to get the eyeliner as it's normally worth £12.
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| The Skinny Tip Enables a Precise Application |
This eyeliner is great for staying smudge-free, which tends to be bane of my life when I wear eyeliner and dark eyeshadows. The finish is a matte one as opposed to a more shimmery look.
I got this eyeliner free in a magazine some months ago and it's definitely my favourite liquid eyeliner. Bold, thick eyeliner doesn't really compliment my eyes that much, so this is perfect for creating a more subtle look - This eyeliner is perfect for the daytime.
I was really tempted to buy this product after my first one (pictured) virtually ran out. I do think that £12 is quite a lot of money to spend on eyeliner, so I opted for Soap and Glory's Supercat Eyeliner instead, which is half the price of the Eyeko product. The tip of the Soap and Glory eyeliner is thicker and therefore tends to leave a much bolder line. So when I saw that this month's Glamour had the Eyeko product as a free gift, I jumped at the chance to get it for a mere fraction of the price.
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(If you don't believe me about it being a fantastic eyeliner; Alexa Chung's a fan, so it must be good...?)
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As I said, I'd definitely recommend getting the magazine, even if you're not that bothered about the other contents... It's a deal that's not to be missed!
Thanks for reading!
Katie
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Yes, it's yet another foundation review...
I was, up until quite recently, an avid user of Max Factor's Lasting Performance Foundation. Seriously, I'd wear it everyday. Come rain or shine. Even if I had a break out or eczema attack, that foundation would be stuck to my face all day long.
Now, the reason that I stopped using it was because I thought I looked a bit orange. The whole 'orange face/white neck' look is never one to strive for... And instead of just putting foundation on my neck and fake-tanning my entire body to match my darker face, I went on a quest for a paler foundation.
As you've probably already noticed, I'm an ardent tester of Rimmel Foundations. Mainly because they're one of the only high street cosmetics companies who bother to cater for super-pale people.
Anyway, back to Max Factor. I like the company. I know they're at the higher end of high street cosmetics in terms of price, but I feel that the quality outweighs cost with most of their products.
I bought this foundation quite a while ago but never really used it. It seemed to be a similar colour to the Lasting Performance and I didn't want to return to my orange-faced roots. So, I just left it, sitting in the bathroom, all alone; unused and gathering dust. But, last night, I had a change of heart and decided to try it out again. I was a little impressed, so I decided to use it again today.
Again, I was quite impressed. I bought this foundation in Light Ivory. Don't think that 'Ivory'; means 'pale' with this foundation. It doesn't. It's not pale-pale. Just lesser orange than most foundations available. I would say that, in terms of texture and finish, I would still favour Lasting Performance, but only just.
It's quite pricey at £9.99 for a pot. Luckily though, a little goes quite a long way.
I'd say that this foundation provides medium coverage. You could build it up, but I would guess that too much of this foundation could look potentially cakey.
I actually used this foundation without powder and it looked wonderfully radiant, for a while. Eventually, after a couple of hours, the dreaded shininess kicked in and I wished I'd used powder after all...
I would definitely recommend this to people who have combination skin, because this foundation seems to hydrate those dry patches (without clinging to them) whilst simultaneously making those oily bits look a bit less... Oily. It's great for evening out combination skin, but I'm sure it's great on most types of skin.
Advantages:
Now, the reason that I stopped using it was because I thought I looked a bit orange. The whole 'orange face/white neck' look is never one to strive for... And instead of just putting foundation on my neck and fake-tanning my entire body to match my darker face, I went on a quest for a paler foundation.
Anyway, back to Max Factor. I like the company. I know they're at the higher end of high street cosmetics in terms of price, but I feel that the quality outweighs cost with most of their products.
I bought this foundation quite a while ago but never really used it. It seemed to be a similar colour to the Lasting Performance and I didn't want to return to my orange-faced roots. So, I just left it, sitting in the bathroom, all alone; unused and gathering dust. But, last night, I had a change of heart and decided to try it out again. I was a little impressed, so I decided to use it again today.
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| Shade - 40 Light Ivory |
I'd say that this foundation provides medium coverage. You could build it up, but I would guess that too much of this foundation could look potentially cakey.
I actually used this foundation without powder and it looked wonderfully radiant, for a while. Eventually, after a couple of hours, the dreaded shininess kicked in and I wished I'd used powder after all...
I would definitely recommend this to people who have combination skin, because this foundation seems to hydrate those dry patches (without clinging to them) whilst simultaneously making those oily bits look a bit less... Oily. It's great for evening out combination skin, but I'm sure it's great on most types of skin.
Advantages:
- Lovely texture,
- Hydrating and moisturising element which doesn't make oily patches worse,
- A little goes a long way,
- Great for combination skin.
Disadvantages:
- A little too dark for me,
- Quite expensive for a high street foundation,
- Potentially oxidises (on my skin),
- 18ml pot for £9.99 isn't that much for your money.
Thanks for reading!
Katie
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I'll be the first to admit that I'm quite picky about foundations. I flit from one to another, never truly happy about how well each one suits my skin.
I bought the product in 010 Light Porcelain, which is the lightest shade on offer. (Yes, I really am that pale...)
I really like the packaging of this foundation. The heavy glass bottle makes it feel like it's quite a high quality product to be using. The bottle has a pump dispenser, which makes it easier to control how much product comes out.
It's been my main foundation for the past couple of weeks now. I admit that I like it, but I still have some reservations about it that stop me from using it all the time. I prefer it to Rimmel's Stay Matte Foundation; mainly because I feel it nourishes the dryer patches of skin much more.
I really wouldn't recommend this foundation if you suffer from oily skin. I have oily patches, and it does tend to make them worse at times; even if I use primer, powder to set and blotting paper during the day too.
Regarding the longevity of the product, it doesn't actually tend to stay on my skin for that long. Even with primer, it still needs touching up after four or five hours. I use a setting spray with this foundation too; either Elf Studio Makeup Mist & Set or Anatomicals Stay Misty for Me.
As mentioned in my review of Stay Matte Foundation, I love the paler shades that Rimmel are now making foundations in. It means that paler people, like myself, don't have to look orange, mix loads of foundations together or fake tan ourselves up to the eyeballs just to have bodies and faces that match.
A lot of bloggers comment on the 'shimmering' effect of this foundation. I must admit that I haven't really seen much shimmer on my face whilst wearing this foundation. It does look radiant, yes, but I wouldn't go as far as to say I look glittery.
This foundation also boasts about its 'anti-fatigue' aspect. I'm not sure if it really has that much effect on how tired I look. If I look quite exhausted, this foundation doesn't really tend to hide it that well for me.
This foundation is great value at £8.99. It reminds me a little of Mac Studio Sculpt Foundation for its moisturising qualities and its finishing texture. (It's also much cheaper than the Mac Foundation).
Advantages:
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| Rimmel's Wake Me Up Foundation |
So... Does this much-hyped product meet my exacting foundation standards?
I really like the packaging of this foundation. The heavy glass bottle makes it feel like it's quite a high quality product to be using. The bottle has a pump dispenser, which makes it easier to control how much product comes out.
It's been my main foundation for the past couple of weeks now. I admit that I like it, but I still have some reservations about it that stop me from using it all the time. I prefer it to Rimmel's Stay Matte Foundation; mainly because I feel it nourishes the dryer patches of skin much more.
I really wouldn't recommend this foundation if you suffer from oily skin. I have oily patches, and it does tend to make them worse at times; even if I use primer, powder to set and blotting paper during the day too.
Regarding the longevity of the product, it doesn't actually tend to stay on my skin for that long. Even with primer, it still needs touching up after four or five hours. I use a setting spray with this foundation too; either Elf Studio Makeup Mist & Set or Anatomicals Stay Misty for Me.
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| Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation in 010 Light Porcelain |
A lot of bloggers comment on the 'shimmering' effect of this foundation. I must admit that I haven't really seen much shimmer on my face whilst wearing this foundation. It does look radiant, yes, but I wouldn't go as far as to say I look glittery.
This foundation also boasts about its 'anti-fatigue' aspect. I'm not sure if it really has that much effect on how tired I look. If I look quite exhausted, this foundation doesn't really tend to hide it that well for me.
This foundation is great value at £8.99. It reminds me a little of Mac Studio Sculpt Foundation for its moisturising qualities and its finishing texture. (It's also much cheaper than the Mac Foundation).
Advantages:
- Large Range of Shades,
- Moisturising Effect,
- Great Value,
- Readily Available in high street stores.
Disadvantages:
- Doesn't last as long as some other foundations,
- Causes spots on oily patches of skin (despite using powder & primer),
- You have to use quite a lot to get really good coverage,
- Tendency to 'slide off' skin in certain conditions. (Especially when rushing about and busy or in hotter climes).
Thanks for reading!
Katie
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Rimmel have replaced their older Stay Matte with this newer version. I was never really a fan of the previous version, because the colour range didn't stretch to paler shades. I've always been a huge fan of the Stay Matte Powder though, so I thought I'd give this newer foundation a try.
One great thing about the newer version of this foundation is that it's got a bigger colour range. I bought the foundation in 010 Light Porcelain, because my skin's really pale.
(I love that Rimmel is leading the way in high street beauty brands making foundations for super pale skin.)
My skin is combination: Mainly dry, but with an oily T-Zone and chin. I'm quite prone to breakouts in these areas, so I prefer foundations that let my skin breathe a bit.
I do have sensitive areas of skin too; and this foundation did affect those areas. By the time I washed it off, my skin felt quite tight and a bit sore too, which is definitely something that would deter me from wearing it often. I also have eczema on areas of my face, which are normally under control, but this foundation did dry those areas significantly enough to make them feel a little sore.
It's a long lasting foundation; that offers really good coverage. I'm not sure whether I used a little too much, but it offered my skin medium to full coverage.
You could definitely tell that I was wearing this foundation, which probably makes it one to avoid if you're looking for a much more natural look.
It's a foundation that applies really easily if you've moisturised well. It is worth bearing in mind, though, that it's very easy to apply too much of this foundation. If you do overdo it, it tends to look cakey.
The packaging is quite simplistic, with a white and purple colour scheme. It comes in a squeezy tube, which has the downside of being tricky to get the remnants out of.
At £5.99, this foundation is fantastic value. It's also readily available in high street stores and supermarkets too.
One great thing about the newer version of this foundation is that it's got a bigger colour range. I bought the foundation in 010 Light Porcelain, because my skin's really pale.
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| The New Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation |
(I love that Rimmel is leading the way in high street beauty brands making foundations for super pale skin.)
My skin is combination: Mainly dry, but with an oily T-Zone and chin. I'm quite prone to breakouts in these areas, so I prefer foundations that let my skin breathe a bit.
I do have sensitive areas of skin too; and this foundation did affect those areas. By the time I washed it off, my skin felt quite tight and a bit sore too, which is definitely something that would deter me from wearing it often. I also have eczema on areas of my face, which are normally under control, but this foundation did dry those areas significantly enough to make them feel a little sore.
It's a long lasting foundation; that offers really good coverage. I'm not sure whether I used a little too much, but it offered my skin medium to full coverage.
You could definitely tell that I was wearing this foundation, which probably makes it one to avoid if you're looking for a much more natural look.
The packaging is quite simplistic, with a white and purple colour scheme. It comes in a squeezy tube, which has the downside of being tricky to get the remnants out of.
At £5.99, this foundation is fantastic value. It's also readily available in high street stores and supermarkets too.
I would definitely recommend this foundation to people who've got normal or oily skin. Those with dry and sensitive skin would probably be better off using a much more moisturising foundation, such as Rimmel Wake Me Up.
Thanks for reading!
Katie
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