Products I Can't Live Without | Highlighters

Here is my list of highlighters that I love, all from the high street and therefore all within everyone's budget.

MUA 

I have loved this highlighter for about 4 years now and this must be my 2nd purchase I would bet as it last a long time!

From MUA, and therefore only £3 this highlighter is in the shade Pink Shimmer and is from the Undress Your Skin range.

It is super pretty and looks amazing. It is my go to, and is always in my make up bag as I know I will reach for this over all my others - as you can see I've already hit pan again!

No.7

This one is in a contour set and contains a matte highlighter. It costs £12.50 for the palette and includes a matte contour colour too and is in the shade medium/dark. 

This is great for when I'm out and about as it comes with a mirror and a contour shade I can use if required. 

I have also used the highlighter for eyeshadow when I've been in a pinch.

Make Up Revolution 

I've only had this since I received it in my Advent Calendar December just gone. I love the colour although I tend to only use this when I have a tan due to the shade. 

I feel like it is too gold for my skin without one as I am basically transparent, but I know that it looks beaut when I have a bit of colour so I intend to pack this for holidays this year. 

Costing only £3 it is super cheap too!

Swatches

What are your favourite high street highlighters?

Much Love, 

Medication | My Story

This post is a hard post to write as I've never really spoken about my diagnosis with anyone except close friends and family.

Rewind about a year and I started to realise that I was not ok... and that enough was enough.

I was fed up of feeling the way I had been... physically being sick in the morning at the thought of leaving my house... never saying no to anyone as I felt horrendous if I did... having to have things in the right place or ordering things in a certain way.

It all came to a head when I realised I was struggling to leave my house.

I had a loving, caring boyfriend that I lived with, two gorgeous kittens and my family and friends... so what was wrong with me? What was happening to me? I couldn't understand it, and actually it made me feel worse.

I don't really remember what happened next, with regards to the whys and wherefores. All I know is that I blurted out to my GP about how I was feeling and that I wasn't coping very well.

He was amazing, and went through a lot of options with me. This was the day that he prescribed me my first lot of tablets.

I had always brought into the stigma of people who take tablets are crazy, they aren't for normal people like you and me. How wrong was I... I'm not normal... no one is.

But I was also wrong about how much tablets can help.

At the time, my Doctor presumed I had slight anxiety and advised the 10mg he had given me would help immensely and I should be back to my "normal" self within a few weeks.

This was not the case.

My tablets were upped to 20mg within those few weeks and then doubled to 40mg which is where I have stayed.

Don't get me wrong, the side effects to start with were horrible and I still struggled, and actually... I still do. Tablets are not a 'quick fix' and anyone who thinks this must be lucky enough to not have had to go through this or know anyone who has.

It's a lengthy process.

I was also referred to counselling/therapy which I know has helped keep my tablets at this level. I strongly believe they work hand in hand.

I was lucky enough to be able to be referred very quickly as I have private health care through Jack's employer. So, since August I have been travelling an hour and half to see my therapist, give or take a few weeks for illness, holidays and more recently, the snow!

I was super anxious and nervous my first time especially as I hate talking about myself, but my therapist put me at ease straight away. She picked up my 'tells' straight away...some of which I hadn't ever thought about.

Don't get me wrong, I'm no where near finished, but I feel like we are making progress each week in some way, shape or form.

I also never realised how many people close to me suffer with anxiety or similar whether it be a big or smaller part of their lives now, they have been kind enough to share their experiences with me with has helped me massively, so I hope to do the same for you.

I plan to brighten your days and nights with funny moments during this process as well as be 100% real with you, dig deep and share some more unhappy moments too... because that's life.

So, I am proud to say that I have Anxiety, Obsessive Disorder and Panic Disorder. They are part off me and what make me the person I am.

I am doing something about it by taking my medication every day and seeking therapy, with the hope that one day I will understand my triggers better and be able to deal with them in a more productive way.

Please be nice... I know this effects more people than I could even know. This is just the beginning of  my story.

Much Love,

Products I Can't Live Without | Bronzers

I think I started using bronzer when I was about 15...ish...

Probably ending up with a look that was not becoming, especially teamed with my favourite blue lipstick (it was the fashion then ok...)

In recent years, as contouring has become more and more popular I use mine for various things.

Contouring, Bronzing and even eyeshadow!

Bourjois Chocolate Bronzer

I'm pretty sure this is a staple in most make up lovers make up bags, not just mine. This is the perfect shade for majority of skin tones and looks like a chocolate bar. 

It's matte and slightly smells of chocolate which is obviously a massive plus point!

It's perfect for bronzing when you don't want shimmer, and just as good for contouring too.

I have taken this with me to use as a triple threat before to save space:

• Bronzer
• Contour
• Eyeshadow

To use as eyeshadow I usually just use my finger and then blend with a fluffy brush into the crease. To be honest, I am guilty of using loads of my bronzers for this when I'm short of time or when I'm away from home. 

It retails for £7.99.

No.7 Match Made Bronzer

This was a present from my Auntie last Christmas and I love it!

Again I use this as a Triple Threat. 

It comes with a handy mirror too, which is great when you are out and about. I generally use this more for contouring than bronzing. 

It is also a matte bronzer and is in the shade Maple.

It retails for £12.50

Younique Beachfront Bronzer

This bronzer is great having a matte side as well as a shimmer side so you are able to mix and match as and when you want. 

This is in the shade Sunset, and as you can see, I need to repurchase rather rapidly, especially with summer approaching.

I love to use the matte side to contour and then the shimmer on top of my cheek bones to give that summer shimmery look. 

It retails for £25.