Oscars | Best Dressed

Every year, Vogue dedicates much time and effort delivering each and every 'look' that were worn by the talented Actors and Actresses who attend the annual celebration of the Academy Awards/Oscars. I too, like those at Vogue and everyone else in the world, gawk at how amazing the clothes are. There is nothing else to say other than take a look yourself below, here are some of my favourites. All images are from the Vogue website.

Brie Larson | Gucci

Jennifer Lawrence | Dior

Cate Blanchett | Armani Privé

Daisy Ridley | Chanel

Everyday Make-up

Everyday make-up is a general term that I describe three days of the week, those being the days that I attend university. Each of the three days is a 9’oclock start and these mornings usually consist of a massive rush around trying to get showered, have breakfast and get ready and so on. If my timetable was kind to me and gave me a later start to the day, I would spend a lot longer doing my make-up and would possibly mix it around. But, because I have to get up and out the flat, I have a simple everyday routine that I stick to with ease and use products that will not empty my bank account.

Foundation

I am a major sufferer with oily skin, a foundation that I’m not only loving but has been a saint to me is the Revlon Colorstay for Combination to Oily Skin in the shade Buff. It’s a very soft foundation which helps blend into the skin with no difficulty, the foundation is also build-able for a higher coverage which is good for patchy parts of my skin. I apply this with a Real Technique Expert Face Brush.

Concealer
The concealer I use is the Collection Ever Lasting Perfection in the shade Fair. A lot of people may agree with foundation, its covers everything and anything, it’s like my own little genie. Again, like the foundation, this formula is also very soft to the skin. I apply this with a Real Technique Contour Brush from the Core Collection range.

Eyebrows
On my eyebrows I use the Benefit Brows Zings in Medium, this was a product my auntie introduced to me years ago and since its been my go to, I couldn’t think of using anything different. What I very find useful are the two brushes and a pair of tweezers which come inside of the packaging, these can be used to apply the product.

Eyes
I apply a slight wash of a No7 Stay Perfect Eyeshadow in the shade Beach Shine. It gives a darker tone to the eyes but is complimented by the lipstick, with a thin layer it doesn't make the eyes look heavy. I apply this with a Real Technique Accent Brush and Base Shadow Brush both in the Starter Set. 

Powder
I then apply my powder, the one I’m using is the L’Oreal True Match Powder in Golden Ivory. This is a medium to high coverage and on days that I only wear concealer the powder helps cover sections the concealer may have missed.

Bronzer/Blush
The bronzer that I have been using for a while now is the Bourjois Delice de PoudreBronzing Powder in the shade Peaux Claires/Medianes 51. I apply this slightly into the crease of my cheekbones, around my temples and under my jaw line, just to create a slight definition. Nothing too drastic for 9am. I then take my Revlon Powder Blush in the shade Racy Rose and dust that lightly onto my cheek bones.

Lips

This product was a purchase over christmas, this being the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lipstick in the shade Nude-ist. I love this as it ties everything together and its a lovely matte finish, which isn't too drying either. 

Mascara
Finally, the mascara I have been using recently is the Maybelline Falsies Push Up Drama. I have the worst eyelashes in history, they do not lengthen or curl so it takes a very talented mascara to do the job, which this one does. Well done Maybelline.

That is my simple everyday make-up routine. Are there any products above that you’ve tried? Are there any that you would recommend? Let me know below (that rhymed).

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Take 5

I noted in my last post how I am a big sufferer with anxiety and stress, which many others will be too. A way that I personally deal with these little issues is to simply make time for just relaxing, so I thought I’d share five ways I spend time relaxing, in the routine I’d most likely do it in.

Taking a Shower

I currently live in student accommodation and because of this I sadly do not have a bath to lay in for hours on end, instead have a single shower cubicle. Nevertheless, I do find a hot shower just as relaxing as a bath, the difference being you have to stand for a bit longer, effort. With the winter season still among us, after a long day/walk home the cold can effect how we feel and I admit I always feel a little deflated in colder weather. Like a bath, the bathroom can be created for a relaxing mood by lighting some candles, putting on some music that I know I’ll enjoy and purchasing a shower lotion with relaxing scents such as lavender or rose. Stick the heating on and lay some comfy clothes on the radiator ready for when your finished and you’ll stay warm and cosy, I do this most nights.

Pamper

After taking a warming shower it’s nice to carry on that relaxing process, the best way I find to do this is to have a small pamper session with myself. This could be either painting my nails, face masks, moisturising and maybe even sorting out my eyebrows, eek. I’ve been lovely dark berry colours on my nails as it matches the darker shades of clothing I’ve wore throughout the autumnal and winter months, one I’ve wore for a long time is a Barry M varnish in the shade Berry Cosmo.

Reading

I have always been a lover of reading, something that was heavily influenced by my parents when I was younger, because I’m comforted by reading its something that calms me and takes any stressful and anxious thoughts to the back of my mind. I’ll read anything and everything, from magazines such as GQ or Elle to reading fiction as I can escape into a different world an author has created, I’d do this cuddled up into bed with a cup of tea or something herbal. At the minute I’m reading ‘The Versions of Us’ by Laura Barnett, if you’ve seen the film ‘Sliding Doors’ featuring Gwyneth Paltrow, the book has a similar theme.

TV/Film

Some nights I may not be in the mood to read, especially if I’ve had a heavy day of reading and writing assignments, nights like this I prefer to watch something. At the moment everyone has been talking about the popular Netflix documentary ‘Making A Murderer’, but I find it dangerous to watch at night, I know I wont sleep as I’ll be hooked watching it all night through, plus I find it way to tense, not relaxing in the slightest. Instead, I’ll watch something light hearted. What I’ve loved recently is watching the full series of ‘Sex and the City’ all the way from the beginning, even though I’ve probably seen it a 1000 times, but its something that I know I enjoy, like reading I’ll watch this with a warm beverage.

Herbal Tea’s

I’ve talked about how I drink tea whilst I read a book etc. When I’m not drinking typical English tea (Yorkshire Tea to be exact) I like to drink something herbal, one that I’ve enjoyed recently is the ‘Pukka: Night Time Tea’, it includes organic oat flower, lavender and limeflower. These ingredients are known to help settle the body down, ready for it to slip into a sleeping state. The tea does in fact help me relax further and makes me feel a whole lot sleepier, which is key when feeling anxious.

I hope that some of these five ways of relaxing help you to also relax. Do you relax differently, how?