Recent Reads | January 2021

 Last year I set myself a goal of reading 60 books (which is a lot) and I miserably failed. I am an avid reader but sometimes it's much harder to keep up than you think it will. I have set myself a high goal again this year of 50 books and I am 6 books in already so it's a good start. I'm going to share my favourite books of each month and give a quick over view of each in case anyone else would like to read any. I own a lot of books that I haven't gotten around to reading so I have a lot to catch up on. I have also been very behind on updating my blog so I have a few more of these posts to write in a short amount of time. 

The first book I really enjoyed this month is Q&A by Vikas Swarup. This book may be familiar to a lot of people as the movie Slumdog Millionaire is based off this book. I was drawn to read the book as I really loved the movie. I knew exactly what the book would be about as I had seen the movie first but I was surprised by a lot of it. There were a few differences between the book and the movie and some of the plot was rearranged between the two. I found that because I had seen the movie first I was picturing the movie's story first rather than reading what was in front of me. I think I would've preferred to read the book first as it would've been more enticing that way as it didn't suck me in as much as I thought it would. I would recommend the book first but I honestly enjoyed the movie more. I'm sure most people have seen the movie by now as it is a very popular movie. Yet overall, the book is gritty and shows the harsh reality of living in India through the rough journey of an orphan and the character's he means a long the way. It is both a happy and troubling journey to read.

If you have never seen or read it the book is based around the main character Ram Muhammed Thomas, who starts the novel off in jail. He is accused of cheating and winning a Billion rupees in a T.V. game show. The novel starts from there - in showing how a poor, uneducated orphan could possibly know all the answers in this quiz through his life journey. Every question becomes an anecdote in his life which has given him the knowledge for the questions he is being asked. The book raises lots of philosophical, religious and political questions.  

The next read that I have loved in January is a more popular book that I think a lot of people will recognise. Midnight Sun, is the fifth instalment in the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer. I loved the Twilight books and movies when they first came out so when this book was announced, I knew I had to buy it straight away. I bought it as soon as it came out but it took me a while to read it as it is a huge book and I knew it was a huge commitment. If you've never read or seen any of the Twilight series, where have you been?

This book is strange in it's story as it is actually the first book in the series, Twilight, written in the perspective of Edward instead of Bella this time. In a way, it is exactly like reading Twilight again, but with more detail. I really liked the new perspective of the first book and getting to read Twilight again as if it were the first time. I found that the story moved a lot slower than the original, and I spent a lot of time waiting for the next thing to happen, as I already knew what was going to happen. It was good to get to know the backstory and personalities of Edward's family a little more. For such a big book, it still seemed to not go into detail about new things and storylines, and still focus on what the readers already knew and experienced from the first reading over ten years ago. I did expect a lot more interesting insights from Edward, the story teller, but the focus still lingered on Bella, and we already knew a lot about Bella. I still rate the book very highly as I love the other books and it does fit in well with the others that have already been released. Yet, it could definitely have been more and I could understand if it disappointed some fans, but I still enjoyed bringing a teenage obsession into adulthood with me. 

Has anyone read either of these books? What did you think of them if so?

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Collection | Review

Over the years I have seen nothing but hype for Charlotte Tilbury's Pillow Talk shades. I saw that they were doing a set of lip products in that shade so I snapped it up very quickly. It's the Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lip Secrets set. This set includes a lip liner, a lipstick, plump effect lip gloss, and shimmer lip gloss. I love this set as I feel the price is not too bad for all of the products and allows me to try all the different textures and applications of the different variations of the products. The shade looks like one I would love before I used it, and after trying these I definitely am hooked. 

When I bought the set I also got the option of picking some sample products along with it which I thought I'd include. I chose the lip bath; collagen enhanced lip plumping effect, and the multi miracle glow. I haven't tried these yet but I really appreciate the idea as Charlotte Tilbury products are not cheap so getting to try some means you'll be able to see if you enjoy the product without wasting your money on it. 

The packaging for these products are beautiful. I love the rose gold packaging, I think it goes super well with the shade of the products. So far I have really enjoyed using all of them and will put a variation of them on depending on my mood. I think the lipstick is the best out of the bunch, and it's the one I've seen the most highly rated. The lipstick is super creamy and smooth. It applies thickly and makes your lips look full. It is a really good quality and I love how the colour looks against my skin. I'm quite pale so it goes very well. The lip liner is perfect for all of these products, and although you could use it on its own if you'd like too, it's best used for finishing touches on your look. 

The two lip glosses are very similar. If they weren't packaged differently I wouldn't notice the different.  They're not as pigmented and as thick as a general liquid lipstick which I would've preferred but as they are glosses there is a noticeable difference. It's a little sticky but it helps to plump out your lips. One of the shades is shimmery which also adds more dimension to the colour but they're not as pigmented as the lipstick and liner and I prefer to use them as a top coat.

 The above swatch is of the lipstick shade which is the most pigmented so it shows the true colour of the shades in the set. It's just the most classic nude which goes with every look. 

I would highly recommend this shade and the quality of Charlotte Tilbury products. Has anyone else tried these before? Have you any shade recommendations?

Beauty Bay X Nikkie Tutorials Palette | Review

I received the Beauty Bay x Nikkie Tutorials eyeshadow palette as a gift recently, and although I have never watched her personally (I've heard a lot of good things though), I was really interested in the palettes design anyway. I love the contrasting features. If you have never seen this palette before one side is dark and mysterious and the other half is bright and vibrant. These are reflected in the shades which lie underneath the specific sides of the palette. The left side is full of bright shades, containing light blues, yellows and pinks. While the other half is dark with reds, browns and greens. So you could use either sides for different looks depending on what you are feeling on a specific day. You could mix the two sides together to create a full look also as the middle of the palette blends the palette together to keep it cohesive.

I love the duality of the palette. It has some shades which I feel are not usually included in a regular palette. I love the deep red, Mikai, the light blue, Plot Twist, and the bright orange, Redemption, as they are colours I haven't seen in a palette I own. They're all very vibrant so this palette is very good value if you love to play with colour and different designs. The darker shades are very pigmented and they may be a little bit harder to take off, which is both a good and bad thing. The shimmer shades are very pretty on also and they don't dull when put on.

The palette includes 20 pressed pigment shades altogether. They do seem like a random mix of shades but I do think they go together well. I think it's a good mix of neutrals and bright shades. It sometimes seems hard to see how they all go together but I think seeing shades that seem in a random place, help to show how you can experiment and combine different colours. I do like to use colour, but I usually tend to to stick to a neutral base. 

Above swatches are in order top row; Redemption, Bend & Snap!, Ivy, Slasher, and 5am. 

Second row; Roxy Catan, VLA, Mikai, Mila, and Underground.

Third row; Plot Twist, Aura, Basic Trut, All-in, and Ew.

Last row; Pride, Zomer, Mama Tutorials, Amsterdam, and Mr Tutorials.

Has anyone tried this palette before? What do you all think?

 

Natural Extracts | Mud Masks

Over the years I've used many face masks, and not many have done much difference to my skin so I'm always buying new ones to try to see if they will do anything different. I bought the Natural Extracts trio mud masks on a recent shopping trip as they looked quite natural and I'm always up for simple masks as I feel they work the best. Plus having them in a tub rather than a single use plastic wrap not only means its better for the environment, but that you'll also get a lot more uses out of them. I find that the single face masks usually help my skin a bit more but I prefer buying things I can get more than one use out of.

These are very light in texture and also in scent. They do smell like they are meant to, one is avocado and green tea, one is grapefruit and yuzu and the last is oatmeal and shea. These dry into you skin and after leaving for 10-15 minutes you wash them off. I have found that these dry very quickly and fade into your skin. In terms of what it does for your skin, I didn't notice much difference at all. It makes your skin feel nice and soft, and leaves a nice scent, but it doesn't do much in terms of helping your skin anywhere. It doesn't clear your skin in anyway or help reduce any redness or any qualities that you would generally expect from a face mask. I will continue to try them and see if after prolonged use whether they do a little bit more. Even at that though the packaging itself doesn't say what the product does so overall I don't think it's the best thing for your skin. At least its natural and makes your skin smell and feel smooth though.

Has anyone tried these before or have any mud masks you would recommend?

The best products for using on sensitive skin | Skincare Routine

It took me a long time to realise how sensitive my skin was. I was trying so many new products with so many chemicals in them and not understanding why none of them seemed to work on my skin. Over the years I've realised that less is more and usually the more natural products are better for you. Also to have a good skin care routine. I still believe that there is some amazing products that will be really good for my skin that I haven't found or tried yet but currently the Simple products that I've been using have been kind to my skin and don't leave me with breakouts and help my skin feel soft. 

I've used Simple products over the years so I always knew that they were good for my skin, but I recently picked up a set that goes really well together as a skin care routine. The first thing I want to mention about these products is that they come in really cool packaging. Well I think so. The packaging on these products is a pouch rather than the usual tubes that most things come in. This uses less plastic and also means that you can get the most out of the product. You can squeeze it as much as you can to get it all out, which is a lot harder in tubes when they're much harder plastic. I really love this aspect which is something that I was drawn to about them.

Firstly we have the moisturising facial wash, which is a generic kind of face wash which you can scrub into your skin and wash off to remove any dirt and clean the skin, helping to make it soft and keep it clear. This feels smooth on the skin and leaves the skin feeling clean and doesn't feel too heavy on the skin. 

Second we have the micellar cleansing water, which does again what it says on the label. This cleanses the skin, I would usually use this with a cloth after I have taken off my makeup with a cleanser to get the rest of the make up off and make sure my skin is really clean. Also great to use before a primer to make sure the pores are clean too.

The last item that is always in my skincare routine is the hydrating light moisturiser. This is one I have used for years. I apply this before makeup and when my skin feels really dry. This does a really quick job at hydrating the skin and I've never had any issues using it underneath makeup or as a base. It dries quickly and doesn't make the face oily. 

Has anyone tried any of these products? They really are simple as the name suggests and I think they're perfect additions to some other skin care items you may use every day. 

 

Current Favourites 2021 Beginning

It's been a while since I've done a favourites post. It's mainly because my favourites don't change very often and I don't try a lot of new things if I have some things left to use. Being still in lockdown and it being so cold outside I tend to use a lot more products during this time of the year. The next few things I will discuss are items I've been getting a lot of use out of and would recommend.

The first item I have been using a lot is the Body Shop Vitamin C Skin Boost, this is enriched with vitamin C which comes from oranges. This is to help brighten the skin and help it glow. I really love this it really smooths out the skin and makes it feel really soft. It works really well as a primer and a base for makeup and also just for keeping the skin moisturised with something a little more beneficial for the skin. It feels really natural and enhances the skins natural radiance.

There's a few things from the Body Shop on this list so I may as well go through them all at once. The next thing is similar. It's the Body Shop sheet face masks. I've used a few recently but the one pictured is the Body Shop Vitamin E Quench Sheet face mask. These are super hydrating and perfect for a pamper session. These leave your skin feeling super soft and looking so clean. These actually clear blemishes really well by helping reduce their redness and size. The masks themselves are super moist and are a little uncomfortable to put on at first but they become relaxing very quickly. They're a little expensive for a single use mask but are nice for a treat for the skin every now and then.

The last thing from the Body Shop is something I feel like pops up in my favourites this time every year. It's the Body Shop hand cream in Pink Grapefruit - it comes in many scents. This is the best scent by far its super fresh and citrus-y. I believe they have these hand creams in every body shop scent. They are really moisturising and I feel like they really combat dry skin and help heal patches of it while keeping the rest soft. 

The next is a recent purchase, the Rituals Ritual of Sakura body and hair mist spray. This has a very pleasant and fresh scent, smelling of cherry blossom and rice milk. This leaves you smelling like you just came out of a bath and smells so clean. It's a very spring scent but it leaves a nice calming and relaxing feeling. I haven't tried anything from Rituals before but it seems like a really nice brand to give a closer look to. 

The last item is something I rave about consistently. It's a classic Carmex lipbalm. These are the best thing for dry lips or just keeping your lips generally hydrated. It's something I can't leave the house without at this time of year and keep it in my pocket at all times it also makes a nice base under a lipstick to keep damage from the products and the weather off your lips. 

What's everyone else's favourites from this month or recently?

 

The Child (Baby Yoda) Star Wars ColourPop Makeup Palette | Review

If you've managed to survive the past year without seeing how much the Child (Baby Yoda) from the Mandalorian has taken over every sector of merch and popular culture well done. Even if you haven't seen the series it is really hard to avoid this cute little creature. I am a big Star Wars fan generally but this series is my favourite out of all and this character may have played a part in it. Everything I have seen with the Child on it I have wanted. I am aware he has a name but for the sake of not spoiling anything from the series I won't use it. Plus it's much cuter this way. At the end of last year ColourPop released a collab with the character and it is much cuter in person than I could've expected. And also quite wearable for being inspired by a green creature. 

The palette is small, as you would expect with most ColourPop palettes, and all of the colours are inspired by the character himself. The palette has a really soft feel to it that I'm not sure how to describe. The decoration is precious. There is a picture of the Child on the mirror which states "cutest in the galaxy" obviously talking about both the reflection and the image itself. There is also a very cute frog image in the bottom corner which is a cute touch. The names of the shades are inspired by the character and the outer Star Wars universe which is always clever. Half of the shades are green and some brown neutral shade inspired by the Child's skin and outfit. I actually think the palette is really neutral which is strange for a green palette. The consistency varies between the different shades with the shimmer colours being slightly more coarse than the non-shimmer shades. The non-shimmer shades are a little chalky but still creamy. The shimmers are very shimmery and have big glitter chunks and are a lot more pigmented than the other shades.

The shades I like the most are Precious Cargo, a white slightly gold shimmer shade, Sipping Soup, which is the cutest name and it's a strange gold green colour and The Force, which is a brown orange shimmer shade with lots of colour in it.

Swatches are in order, the above is of Precious Cargo, Right Hand Mando, Just like Tatooine, and Sipping Soup.

The above swatches are of Baby Face, The Force, Little Frog, Float Your Crib, and Droid Protocol.

I really love this palette, you can tell a lot of thought was put into its production and the creators had a lot of fun creating the shades and design. I do believe it is now back in stock here, and for only $16 I think it's a super bargain of a palette. Plus I don't think it's something that they will have for much longer either so if you're interested I say snap this up as quick as you can as This is the Way.

Has anyone tried this or seen the series? What do you think of either? Let me know in the comments.