ZOEVA

Greetings,

Every now and then I do believe that it is a good idea to splash out and get something that your heart desires. (Especially when you've been thinking about it for a long time.) The Art student/Makeup lover in me knows a good brush when I see one. Therefore, as my makeup brush collection was not quite impressive as it should be, I thought, why not?

Zoeva Rose Golden Luxury Set 

Can I first off just say that I am in love. These brushes are incredible, honestly so amazing! They also look pretty which helps. Who else is a huge fan of Rose Gold?! because I am! I've been using them everyday since I got them and I can safely say that I don't think I'll be going back to just using my hands to do a brushes job. No more icky foundation fingers for me anymore! That shit goes everywhere. On a more serious note, the variety of brushes that comes in this pack is literally everything you would need to create your makeup look. They make applying your makeup so much easier. The brushes are so good for blending too! I feel as though my eyeshadow game has levelled-up! Now, I know these brushes are super pricey but they will last a very long time if you look after them properly. They come with covers on them, so my advice is that you put them back on after using them. They are also better than MAC brushes so far, for me anyway, so I definitely think they're worth it. If your Birthday or Christmas is coming up, maybe this is something you could ask for :-)
They are truly excellent brushes and I can say that as both an Art student and a Makeup lover! Don't worry though, I won't be using them to paint! That would be tragic.

Thanks for reading.

Jo - xo

Tarte & Milani

Greetings,

In the summer holidays, one of my besties flew back to the USA to visit family. Knowing this, I thought 'maybe I should ask her to buy me things that I can't get in Dubai/Ireland/UK' this is one of the best ideas I've had. Great job Jo. So I was online doing some research (Sephora&Wallgreens) and desperately trying to remember some American products that I've previously heard beauty gurus on YouTube mention. There were more products that I could think off the top of my head but I decided to keep it short and sweet.. and cheap! enough.

Products:
1. Milani Eye Tech Extreme Liquid Eyeliner, 01 Blackest Black
2. Milani Brow Fix Kit, 01 Light
3. Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara

Milani Eye Tech Extreme Liquid Eyeliner

For a while, I had considerably gone off using eyeliners in all forms. This is because I always, without fail, manage to get it smudged all over my face. My go to product for creating a top lid eyeliner-wing-look had always been MAC's gel pot liner in Blacktrack just because for me it always lasted the longest on and didn't smudge much. However, this eyeliner by Milani is really good. It is so easy to apply, although, I do wish that more product came out in each stroke. The product comes on quite smoothly and in thinner layers than I am used to, which is not a fault, I'm just used to the thickness of a gel liner. The product is said to be waterproof, which is correct. The only flaw with the product that I recognised was that by the end of the day, the wings had faded quite a bit. However, for $7.79/£4.78 it is definitely a bargain! and is overall a fantastic product and I most certainly would recommend it!

Milani Brow Fix Kit, 01 Light

I think I was in need of an actual brow product as apposed to using an eyeshadow to fill in my eyebrows. Alas, I present to you the Milani Brow Fix Kit. I could not give this product a higher approval! It is incredible. Now, I had asked for the 'Medium' but I am actually pleased that I instead received the 'Light' as the shade 'Brow 2' is the perfect colour for me. I worry that had I received 'Medium' that it would have been way too dark. As you can see in the image above, I use the middle brush to apply the colour (Brow 2) which I LOVE as it is the exact size and shape that you would need. I also LOVE the 'Hi-Lite' as it provides the most subtle amount of shimmer and really completes my whole eye look. Not only does the product provide 2 brow colours, a highlight and a brush to apply the eyebrow colour, it also includes a mirror and a miniature tweezer! This is EXACTLY what any travel/makeup obsessed person needs! I use it everyday without fail. Everyone should go out now and buy it, or try to find it on Amazon if you can't get it because you don't live in the States. Especially as all of that comes for the price of $6.79/£4.17!!! Thank you Milani!

Tarte Light, Camera, Lashes Mascara

Tarte was a brand that I had never heard of until I watched Ingrid Nilsen's YouTube channel, aka - Missglamorazzi. I would like to take this opportunity to thank her, first of all, for all of her videos and content, because she's honestly one of my favourite vloggers. Also, because she is so honest to the point where I would trust her if she told me to buy a product. So cheers to Ingrid because you are brilliant at what you do. When I first used this mascara, I was a bit like 'meh, not as good as YSL Babydoll' so I put it aside for a while. Then one fine day, when I was looking through my beauty bag and saw this beautifully parcelled mascara, I was like 'it deserves a second chance'. From that day on I have not looked back. I use about 2 coats and I must say it makes your eyelashes look phenomenal! It adds colour and thickness whilst separating the eyelashes. This is something I always look for in a mascara, the ability to separate as many eyelashes as possible so that the false lash look is there. I'm starting to worry about what I will do when I've finished the product as I live in London and you can't buy it here. Might have to hit up Amazon... If I have any money left. For $20/£12.28 I would highly recommend it! It is a truly magnificent mascara and even though it is a little more pricey than I'd like, it is worth it. So worth it.

Jo - xo

Life Update!

Hello :-)

So it has been a while since I last posted, even though I said before that I would post at least once a week. Oops. My bad. Life happens you know? I was in Dubai for my last post, which was 2 months ago! I have since travelled to both Ireland & England.

I flew with my Dad and Sister to Ireland to be reunited with our Mum and to see all of our Irish family. Although, we kept it very quiet as I had come up with this amazing (If I may say so myself) idea to surprise 3 of my cousins of whom my sister and I are closest to.. *cough* Meabh *cough* The plan went accordingly and we even have a video to prove it! I don't think I had ever been so pleased with surprising a person before! Let alone 3 of them! I think I cried of happiness.. Yep. Our time in Ireland could be described as short and sweet. I feel like we're never there for a significant length of time, and even if we are it never feels like it. I thoroughly enjoy being in Ireland and seeing all of my Irish family, always a comfort.

With my mum flying back to Dubai, my dad and I travelled to the UK. Leaving Ciara in Ireland with my best gal cousins. We flew to Bristol, rented a car to Bath and sorted out some stuff there before heading up to London. My dad and I had to move a total of 7 boxes and 2 suitcases from my friends flat on one side of London, to my new room in halls on the other side. I can tell you now that it took 2 stressful and very, very sweaty trips.  Then I knew it was time to say bye to my dad again for another 3 months! Lucky for me, I have the crying gene (thanks mum) so of course, I cried like a baby when it came to saying that final bye to my dad. Yallah December.

However, on a brighter note, I was presented with the challenge of decorating a new room. Hardly a challenge! I quite enjoy decorating rooms. Think I've played too much of The Sims. Anyway, after living here for almost 2 weeks, I can say that I have settled in and my room is definitely feeling more homely. Oh, almost missed out the reason why I moved to London! I was accepted for my first choice of a University which is London College of Communication UAL (University of the Arts London) :-) I am very excited about this, and nervous, which is completely normal for a Fresher! Even if it is round 2. I don't start for another 2 weeks though, but I do have a project to crack on with.

It has been fantastic being back in the UK as I have been able to meet up with friends from Dubai who live in London or are just passing through, as well as my friends that I made last year in Leicester! I've also been attempting to make new friends here in halls and it is going great. I feel like living in London, and it being my first year here, that it is completely acceptable for me to be taking tourist photos of everything. I mean now is the time to do it. I'm hoping to see a lot of friends and family being in London, as it is a popular place that is always buzzing. That's one of the reasons that I chose to apply to London, there's just always something going on! I think I missed that being in Leicester, it's not quite as big. Moving to Leicester from Dubai, I wasn't expecting to miss the whole big city vibe but I did! So glad to be in London now and obviously it is probably the best place for a creative person, so many resources.

No matter where you are I think it is very important to appreciate all that is around you. Even living in London now I find myself missing little details from Leicester that I never imagined I would. You learn something new about yourself every time you go somewhere different.

Jo - xo