Beauty Boxes: Latest in Beauty

Although I haven't invested in a lot of different brands, I honestly think beauty boxes are just the best idea. They give you the opportunity to try out new products and brands that you never would have bought for such a great price! The majority of products I receive last me for a really good amount of time that lets me know whether I need this enough to buy the (more often than not) expensive full size product.

Personally, I wouldn't want a MASS of skincare in any beauty box that I bought, just because I don't really want to overload my skin with a ton of different products to find good ones- I just know that will end in disaster. Plus I'm super happy with the routine I have now! I also don't particularly want to pay for a subscription- so Latest in Beauty is a complete favourite for me. I am always super excited and inpatient for a new box to come out because nearly all of them have such a good range, as you will see below!

THE GLAMOUR BEAUTY POWER LIST 2014: £15.99

1. Phillip Kingsley Daily Damage Defence Conditioning Spray (mouthful?)

Really enjoying this spray, it has such a nice smell and makes my hair super soft- although nowhere near the Moroccanoil Treatment, obviously.

2. Nude Maybelline Colour Sensational Lipstick

Was too light for me, and most people I would have though, so I don't really have much to say here.

3. Laura Mercier Foundation Primer

I totally have not stopped using this, completely my favourite primer- post soon!

4. Eyeko Mascara Off Eye Makeup Remover Wipes

These are lovely, super refreshing and moisturising- but I wouldn't spend this much.

5. Bourjois Volume 1 Second Mascara

I actually prefer this to Benefit's, They're Real but in a different way- it makes my lashes huge.

6. James Read Sleep Mask Tan

I don't tan so I can't really comment on this one!

7. Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser

You probably know how I feel about this, but just in case you can read about that here. 

GET THE GLOSS BEAUTY INSIDER'S KIT: £19.95

1. Essie Nail Lacquer (...)

These colours are super nice and I love the formula 

2. Laura Mercier Foundation Primer 

This was in the previous box- which I totally appreciate because i'm still using this everyday

3. Therapie Roques Oneil Cherish Skin Repair Serum

This smells so relaxing, I think like lavender, and feels lovely to use!

4. Daniel Sandler Concealer Brush 

I dont prefer this to Real Techniques but I do think it works very well.

5. James Read Sleep Mask Tan

Again, I still don't use this.

6. Shiseido Ultimate Power Infusing Concentrate

Ive been using this around my eyes under moisturiser and Pepta-Bright and it actually does seem to have made my eyes less dark and stronger. I can't say I would buy this full size because of the price but I'm enjoying it!

7. Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner 

I'm considering doing a liquid eyeliner comparison post because I use it literally daily, but as a first impression I don't particularly love this. I feel like it rubs off the line you've just done and slips throughout the day. Sorry I know it's loved!

8. Glamglow™ Supermud™ Clearing Treatment 

I feel like my skin was slightly brighter and clearer after using this but I feel like it might not be best for the long term since it is pulling out all the oils that you need. I'm not sure yet!

9. Balance Me Radiance Face Oil 

I love this after my first use. It feels lovely and I wake up with such brighter skin, it also seems to help with troubled, dry, oily skin and break outs so don't be worried because it's an oil! Super in love.

As you can tell I haven't gone into massive detail about all of these products because that would be a very long post, but I'm sure that whatever I love I will make a post about. If you love any brands of beauty box let me know because I love the days when I get these in the post! 

Tips for Learning a New Language!

I'm taking Language for my university degree, so I think it's no surprise that I completely love them- but my bias-ness (?) really doesn't make any of this post less true! 

I think language is one of the most interesting things you can learn, whether it's because you can say completely new things that are not even expressible in your native tongue, or because you can say normal things in a completely new way. I just think that's really cool? And it's not like language is the only thing you learn, the culture of the place it came from will accidentally come up because the two can't entirely be separated! A lot more things are open to you when you can use another way of conversing or reading or writing, like books or movies that haven't been translated (or translated well) or even just making a holiday 10x better because you can actually be a part of the culture and understand it- also no fumbling around with phrase books and awkward conversations. So yeah, I think languages are just the best, and will probably continue learning new ones for as long as possible. Because I like them, I thought I would do a small post on little things you can do to make yourself better at learning a language, and make it more fun.

1. Books Books Books Books Books

This is the boring part, but totally necessary! There are tons of amazing resources online that are made for this purpose, but even if a (decent) book wasn't most likely more reliable for the stuff inside- it's just better for something to follow. Like sometimes it's difficult to know where to start or what to look at next and that gives you an easy reason to get less interested or motivated. A book will probably stop this because it has lessons in an order that makes sense. A lot of the time they also come with homework book-type things that you can set aside a couple of hours for each week/day/whatever to keep motivation goooing!

I would suggest researching which books are better for the particular language you're trying to learn, and really, I would suggest spending some money on it. But that really does depend on your funds- still research though! Alternatively the library usually has a language section and can actually be super useful so have a look before going to amazon.

2. Internet Resources

Out of everything on the internet, I would most highly recommend Youtube. I would figure, as someone who is reading blogs (or just as a person who uses the internet actually), that you guys all watch youtube. The amount of content for language learning on there is incredible. As well as really really helpful songs for learning random stuff like verbs, conjunctions, weather, numbers, dates- you get the idea, there are actual structured lessons with people teaching you all these things and more. It depends on what kind of learner you are, but I think a hell of a lot learn visually, so youtube will be extremely useful. Please try it!

3. Audio Lessons

When I first started being interested in languages, not that I'm a master now, I began learning with audio lessons and this seemed to help me progress more than anything outside of physical lessons. I used Pimsleur but I know that people like others which you maybe can get naughtily online. They have structured lessons and help your listening comprehension a lot, obviously. They also make you speak a lot more authentically as you are listening to an accent and pronunciation. Even ignoring all of this, I think this is one of the best ways simply because you can listen to it at any time of the day. Even if you just listened to it whenever you were out of the house- that would be a lot of easy studying! yay!

4. Finding Lessons

This is an obvious one but worth pointing out. Physical lessons with other people also trying to learn that language is genuinely the best way you can learn. Doing this will get you learning all types of writing, speaking and reading much quicker because you are with other people and you are forced to go, so no chance of being like "uhhhh...not today!" which was me like, everyday. This isn't always doable for everyone because of time and money things, but I would really recommend it above everything else.

5. Apps

Apps are useful because I assume that you will always have your phone on you. I usually use quiz type apps when I'm on the bus or something so that time isn't wasted!
Also I think it's completely worth mentioning that Anki is one of the best programmes (computer & app) that I've ever used if you can get used to the way it works. It's literally made me learn much faster and remember much better than anything else.

6. Everything as a language tool!

Make you're environment and lifestyle a way of learning. Like Putting up post-it notes labelling the object in the other language or even just grammar notes that you can see frequently. My friend even put them up everywhere with questions on them that she would answer differently every time, just to make sure she was thinking in it everyday. You can also put up calendars in that language, write shopping lists in it, set a reminder on your phone with a question, change your phone's language, and again you get the idea. 

7. Hobbies 

I think immersing yourself into the language you want to know is a really good idea, it will help with casual, everyday speaking and cultural knowledge as well! So make an effort to watch foreign TV shows, movies, listen to music and all that. It will honestly help your little brain keep moving.


So they are pretty much the main things that have helped me a lot. Really though, you need to figure out ways to keep yourself motivated most of all because it's just so easy to fall out of something like this. You don't want to do that because you will feel so so lovely inside when you hear someone speak in that language on a bus or in a movie and you can understand what they said, its like voodoo magic and it makes you feel super smart and knowledgeable.

Good luck!

Weekend in Cambridge

Hello!

Wherever it is, I completely love going different places in the UK. I love seeing how different cities look and the independent stores that I don't get to see everyday. I also take hundreds of pictures whenever I leave my own city, or for any reason really, and would love to keep them on here so I can keep track of the lovely places I miss. I also love seeing this on other blogs, so I hope this makes you happy and more interested in exploring!

My random and favourite parts of pretty Cambridge: Hot Numbers Espresso Bar- Pleease buy a chocolate croissant and any of the baguettes, plus they have such a good selection of teas and amazing coffee! The Fitzwilliam Museum- They had a great mannequin exhibition on and the Egyptian section if fascinating. Cafe Oriental- I can't explain how amazingly lovely and authentic the food was here, and they had such lovely bubble tea! Quayside is such a pretty part of Cambridge and has such a good selection of restaurants. And then there is the Botanical Gardens which would have looked amazing in spring but not so amazing in winter, and obviously the super pretty university. 

Liz Earle Loveliness

Hey Guys!

I'm totally aware this is a completely overdone post in the world of beauty blogging but I feel the need to get in there and be a part of it just so the hype for this amazing product continues! If you have read some of my previous posts you will know that my skin went a little mad after reacting to some Lush skincare, it was really crap. I read a lot of things on what I should be doing to help and the 'as little as possible' advice seemed to be the best, and I think Liz Earle works very well for this!

Since being interested for quite a while and then receiving a generously sized sample of Cleanse and Polish in a beauty box (post coming!), I have become completely hooked. It wasn't a super quick process but I have got to the point where my skin is not coming out with any new blemishes and you have no idea how happy that makes me! I have a lot of scarring sadly but I believe that is also fading, especially with some help from Pepta-Bright. I'm sure you have already heard everything you need to know about Cleanse and Polish, but you massage it over dry skin, wet the exfoliating cloth with hot water, wipe it off and splash your face with cold water to close your pores. It's also super good at removing makeup, just make sure that if you are doing this that you need to do this process twice! Personally I feel like it's a waste and so remove my makeup then cleanse. I literally can't even compare how soft my skin feels to anything else, it's feels amazing, nothing like I've ever used before. I also personally love the sort of herbal smell all of these products have, it's quite relaxing!

I then use the Instant Boost Skin Tonic which has completely brightened up my skin tone, wipe my eyes with the Eyebright Soothing Lotion which feels looovely and cold, and then moisturise. All of these products have very much changed my skin in such an amazing way. All of them feel so refreshing and natural and caring while clearing my face up so well, I genuinely thing all of these products (Eyebright Soothing Lotion might be a luxury) are well worth the money. I will most likely continue to use all of these things and recommend them highly!