Lilly Blush

Tiffany Sunglasses Review

So I have always loved Tiffany but never thought I would ever own anything Tiffany mainly because it’s too expensive for me and knowing me I would end up buying something and as usual not really liking it and it getting left in a drawer somewhere for years. But... a couple of months back I had some money left over from my birthday and really fancied a nice pair of sunglasses as I live and die in mine and the £8 ones I had for what seemed a lifetime were ok but falling to bits! I decided to treat myself….

I went into town with mum with the aim of buying some sunglasses. The first shop I went into was John Lewis and I happened to discover the Tiffany stand (as if my magic). So the first pair I picked up I immediately as usual fell in love with, not only did they have my favourite colour (light blue) around the frame inside and a cute gold bow on the edge, they also had £30 off! Obviously I wanted them but I thought can I justify spending £248 on a pair of sunglasses? My heart said yes of course- my head was saying nooooo!

I made my way around the sunglasses section trying on the most amazing pairs of sunglasses from a variety of designer brands and I also had a browse in a couple of other stores along the way. Despite all of this all I kept thinking about was those amazing Tiffany sunglasses that were just screaming BUY ME!

After a well-deserved coffee break with mum I gave in to temptation and went and purchased those adorable Tiffany sunglasses. I am usually strong willed but when I tried them on I was just dying to have them!

As soon as I bought them I wanted it to be summer as I couldn’t wait to wear them! Any excuse (it may get sunny later) I used to wear them and I can honestly say 4 months on they are truly one of the best purchases I’ve ever made.

On a serious note they are so protective for your eyes and they have not scratched or marked one bit. When I bought my sunglasses at John Lewis I also purchased the glasses cleaner which has unlimited life refills, meaning you can take the bottle to any John Lewis store and get it refilled for free, which is amazing as it only cost me £9 to start with. I’ve realised this is also great to use on my phone screen as it also provides a shield to protect against scratching. You also get a microfiber cloth and a screwdriver to tighten the screws in sunglasses. One of the really great things about my sunglasses is that they easily wipe clean with the cleaning kit, which is a real benefit for make up lovers like me who usually find half a bottle of foundation around the rim of the sunglasses. I no longer have this problem and I would definitely recommend the Tiffany sunglasses.

The frame is really strong and does not bend easily. I often put my sunglasses on the top of my head and they haven’t bent so far at all - which is a real benefit. You can also really see the difference when in the sun as before I still struggled to drive as my old sunglasses weren’t as protective against the UV rays, however my Tiffany’s do block most of the sun and I have noticed a great difference when driving. I am not saying Tiffany are the best as I am sure the majority of the designer brand sunglasses and others would also do the same job but I can only talk about my experience with the Tiffany ones. They came in a blue case as well as in a blue Tiffany box, which can be used as a jewellery box.

Just remember they may seem expensive at first but when you weigh up how much you actually wear them and that really they are a health necessity to protect your eyes I guess you can justify the money… right?

Thanks for reading.

D x

2Comments

, by Lilly Blush

In lifestyle,

Top tips for students living at home while at university

Most people want to go to university not only for their degree but to also move out of home and experience some freedom. However I was different. I have been an only child all my live which has made me quite a home bird and I knew that I would have hated moving away from home. Don’t get me wrong I know most people love the idea of moving away but after looking at student halls and accommodation I was not prepared to give up my comfy double bed and clean house! It was also a bonus that I actually really liked my university in my city and it was also a good university to go to for my course.

I am now going into my third year of my four-year course and I can honestly say that for me personally I made the best decision by choosing to live at home. I have recently become a course ambassador and I was shocked at how many people that I have spoken to that actually want to live at home, which made me think I cant be the only one who genuinely wanted to live at home while at uni. So I thought today that I would share my top tips of how to still enjoy university while living at home.

Tip 1: It is so important to make friends on your course

I can’t stress this tip enough (hence why it is number 1). Being a student who lives at home you don’t have the advantage of having flat mates who most likely are from your course. On my first day I remember seeing lots of people on my course turning up with others that they had already met from their halls. As an outsider you have to chat and meet new people, otherwise you will be sat on your own everyday. Luckily for me I happened to get talking to a group of girls on my course that also all lived at home so we stuck together and are still close friends now.

Tip 2: Ignore rumours that because you live at home you can’t go on nights out

This is not true at all. Obviously if you don’t want to go on nights out nobody is forcing you to but don’t think that by living at home it stops you doing this – it doesn’t! People always invite me to nights out from my course and I have been invited regularly to stay at their flats after nights out if I can’t get home. You will soon realise that people on your course aren’t bothered that you live at home and try to include you as much as possible. I regularly meet up with my friends who live at home and we go for meals and out for the day outside term time which is really nice.

Tip 3: Be organised!

The benefit of living at home is that you have plenty of space to work and keep all of your folders and assignments, however the disadvantage of this is that you are not 5 minutes away from your flat or house which means you can’t pop home quickly if you forget something or to grab lunch. This means that if you have an assignment due make sure you DOUBLE CHECK when you leave in the morning that you have everything as it’s not simple to pop home if you have forgot it! The last thing you want is to miss the deadline.

As well as this, always make sure you take lunch or have money to buy it. There’s nothing worse than having a two-hour lunch break and forgetting your lunch!

Tip 4: Always have some work with you to do

I can’t count how many times in my first year that a lecture got cancelled, moved or finished early and I was left with 2, 3 or even 4 hour gaps until my next one with nothing to do. I learnt quickly to always have something to do. Don’t get me wrong it is lovely to have an hour or so catching up with friends but 3 hours is a LONG time to talk and you soon get bored trust me. Also it’s a bonus as by getting ahead during breaks you have less to do when you get home.

Tip 5: Get other friends and course mates to read your assignments

The downside to living at home is that when it comes to assignment writing you don’t have anyone at home who is doing the same assignment and can help. If course mates live in the same flat they often help each other by reading assignments and giving advice of what to change, but at home you don’t have this. You can read assignments to family members like I do, but the problem is they aren’t studying your degree and can’t really help with adding knowledge. Therefore when you’re at uni get your course mates to read it if you want them to and it will really help when you’re sat in your room all alone attempting to reach the word count or even motivating yourself to carry on.

Tip 6: Before starting university make sure your transport is arranged

One con of living at home is that you have to be up early to get to uni for those 9am lectures, whereas those in halls can wake up 10 minutes before and manage to stroll in on time. This means that you may get caught in traffic or be running late, which can cause problems. Make sure if you are taking your car that you check beforehand if you can park (I know my uni won’t let anyone who lives in the city itself to park on campus) or check for areas around the campus where you might be able to park (for example some areas around my campus are for residents only and you can get clamped for parking there). Similarly if you are getting the bus or tram etc check times before the day and where you need to get on or off. If it helps you could try it before you start one day to test how long roughly it takes with rush hour traffic to make sure you’re not late. That’s the last thing you want on the first day is to stroll into a lecture late with EVERYONE staring at you! It also doesn’t create a great impression of you to your lecturers from the start.

These are only a few top tips but I hope it has helped if any of you are ready to start uni and are worried about living at home. For me and my friends we all agree it is the best decision we made as we are a lot happier - plus if you need to you still get your washing, ironing and cooking done and it is SO MUCH CHEAPER!! You also don’t have the stress of finding somewhere else to live each year, which from what I have heard is extremely stressful!

Feel free to comment or contact me if you have any questions. I will try my best to help. Thanks for reading.

D x

2Comments

, by Lilly Blush

In beauty,

What's in my make up bag?

My everyday make up products (see links to buy below)

My daily make up bag products are pretty simple. I use the same products each day to complete my daily make look. Early morning starts require me to quickly apply my make up and by using the same routine I can do this. Don’t get me wrong when I am going out somewhere special or to an event I love to use other products and try new looks, but today I will be talking about everything in my current daily make up bag.

Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation (Ivory 100) – I have used this foundation for a couple of years now and I really like it. As I have oily skin this foundation is perfect as it is a liquid mousse and leaves a matte finish. I have tried many foundations in the past and I have found that the liquid versions usually come off quickly after application on my skin, but this foundation really lasts all day. It’s reasonably priced and is perfect for everyday use. I use the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush to apply my foundation as it gives an even coverage and helps to blend in the product rather than using your hands.

No7 Eyeshadow (Matte Mocha) – Although this is an eyeshadow I use this product to fill in my eyebrows. I have tried using eyebrow pencils in the past and I found that they were either never exactly matched to my eyebrow colour or I just made a mess of my eyebrows using them by filling them in wrong. This eyeshadow matches my eyebrow colour perfectly and is really easy to apply. I apply this with a Revlon Angled Brow Brush, which is fantastic at helping me fill in and get the perfect shape.

Liz Earle Mascara (Black) – I have recently started using this mascara and I honestly can say it is brilliant. Before this I was using a waterproof mascara from a premium make up brand and it used to run down below my eyes and create a mess. Although the Liz Earle mascara is not waterproof it is smudge-proof and it does not run at all. It lasts all day and makes my lashes look longer (which is what we all truly want)!

Rimmel Pencil Eyeliner (Black) – This product has been in my make up bag for what seems forever! I use it everyday and sharpen it regularly and I am now down to the smallest part left (as you can see in the picture)! I use it in my waterline everyday and I find that if you apply it once and then re-apply it again 10 minutes or so later it then lasts all day.

Benefit Boi-ing Concealer (shade 02) – This product is amazing! I have used it for about 3 years now and I would not take it out of my make up bag. Originally I purchased this to try to hide my freckles, as personally I hate them to be seen! It is fantastic for covering up blemishes and my freckles and I also use this everyday under my eyes to conceal.

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder (01 Transparent) – As well as the Stay Matte Foundation I also love this powder. I apply it all over my face and neck after doing my eyes once my foundation is set to help prevent my make up sliding off during the day. I use the colour 01 transparent purely because I have added my colour with my foundation and only use this to keep my make up longer, however this powder does come in various shades to add further colour if needed. I use the Ecotools Bamboo Powder Brush to apply this and I pat this powder onto my skin instead of brushing it on as I find that this also helps to keep my make up on.

Bourjois Little Round Blusher Pot (16 Rose Coup de Foudre) – I have had this blusher in my make up bag for a couple of years. I love the colour and it is really subtle on your cheeks. There is a mirror in the pot lid that is useful if you are out and it is easy to apply with a brush. I use the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush to push this product onto the apples of my cheeks, which again helps not to pull my make up off.

MAC Cremesheen Lipstick (Sunny Seoul) – This is my favourite product in my make up bag. I absolutely love the colour of this lipstick and the finish it leaves. It is easy to apply and lasts me ages, which is a bonus money wise. In terms of coming off throughout the day, it is pretty difficult to remove this from your lips (which is also a bonus) and it also it does not bleed.

I keep my daily make up products in my Cath Kidston make up bag. This was a present from someone and it is a brilliant size and easy to carry around. It also came with a small mirror, which is really useful if you need to re-apply throughout the day.

I hope this has given you an insight into the products that I use daily. Let me know in the comments any products you love – it’s always nice to discover new products! Please follow me and subscribe to my emails if you wish to and thanks again for reading.

D x

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, by Lilly Blush

In beauty,

My daily skincare routine using Liz Earle

My Daily Liz Earle Essentials

How did my skincare routine begin?

Up until a few years ago skincare was not something that I really considered important in my daily life routine. I was using regular face wipes from a brand in Boots and a branded moisturiser from the shelf. But then my whole outlook on skincare changed…

A while before this change of thought my mum had been trying to encourage me to use a cleanser and toner to use first thing in a morning and to remove my make up at night. I have always worn make up since being a teenager and I had never imagined that I was actually damaging my skin by using face wipes to remove it at night. I started to get blemishes and my face started to feel more oily than usual (I have always had oily skin anyway) and I wondered why this was happening. At the time I also spoke to a skincare specialist at a premium brand make up store and she informed me that my skin was oily and likely to breakout as I was clogging my pores by using the face wipes, so she advised me to use a cleanser, toner and moisturiser instead.

My mum has used Liz Earle since it began and she had always encouraged me to use their products so I bought a taster kit and tried it for a week. Honestly, I could now never go back to using face wipes and I absolutely love my Liz Earle products. I use them every single day and overall my skin has improved so much. My face is less oily, I now rarely have breakouts and it looks healthier and fresher each day. Mums always know best!

My Daily Skincare Routine

Liz Earle offers a wide range of products not only for skincare but also hair, make up and even men. Their products are all natural and smell incredible! If you only want to use the essentials then I would advise starting with a Cleanse and Polish, Toner (Instant Boost Skin Tonic) and Moisturiser (you can use a moisturiser that is not from Liz Earle but the products all work together so if you can I would advise getting one).

Cleanse and Polish – This is the very beginning of my skincare routine. The product comes in a pump or tube and I would recommend the pump bottle as it has measured quantities for you (1 pump = 1 application). I gently rub the product all over my face and neck for a light even coverage. Then I wet a muslin cloth with warm water (these are usually provided with the cleanse and polish), squeeze it out and then use this to wipe off the cleanse and polish. You can wrap the cloth around your hand to make it into a mitt if you wish to. After all of the cleanse and polish is removed rinse the cloth with warm water and then splash some cold water onto your face and pat dry with a face towel.

Toner (Instant Boost Skin Tonic) – The next step is to use a toner. I pour enough to fill a cotton wool pad and then wipe my face and neck with the product which removes any left over cleanse and polish or make up.

Eyebright – In a morning I use the Eyebright after my toner, which is a fantastic product. It does exactly what it says on the tin it brightens the eyes and trust me it actually works! I leave my Eyebright in the fridge, as it is a nice cool and calming sensation then when you apply it. Similar to the toner I pour it into a cotton wool pad and gently press and hold it for 10 seconds on my eyelids. You can also use this at night to further remove make up.

Moisturiser – The Liz Earle moisturisers are brilliant because they come in different types to match your skin type. They do one for dry/sensitive skin, one for normal/ combination skin and the one I have which is a light moisturizer for combination/oily skin (they also do additional moisturisers in the Superskin range). The moisturiser is in either a pot or tube and the product is very rich so you only need a small amount for the whole face and neck. I gently rub or pat it into my skin, avoiding under my eyes. This is important because this moisturiser is too rich for under the eyes; therefore you only go up to the orbital bone under your eye.

Eye Cream (Superskin Eye Cream) – The final stage in my skincare routine is the application of eye cream. Yes I am only 20 however when I turned 20 I realised that to slow down my ageing process and eventually the development of wrinkles (sadly) I wanted to introduce an eye cream. You only need a small amount of this as it is rich and goes a long way. I place a pea size amount on my finger and gently pat ONLY with your ring finger around the orbital bone and NOT on the eyelid. This is important to note! The Superskin eye cream is a great product that brightens the eyes. I have been using this now for roughly 4-5 months and I will definitely continue to use it as my eyes have looked so much better since introducing the product.

Why Liz Earle?

I love Liz Earle (as you’ve probably guessed)! Their products are all natural, contain no animal extracts, are made in Great Britain and have the most amazing smells. The ingredients are specifically chosen to target the particularly area where the product is applied. They contain all natural extracts and the packaging is pretty too!

Although the products seem expensive compared to using face wipes I really think they are worthwhile as they really do help your skin. If used daily the cleanse and polish and toner will last roughly a month and a half, but my moisturiser, Eyebright and eye cream last me at least 3 months so when you think of it like that it is not too expensive. You also regularly get free products from Liz Earle as a gift for ordering so many times and John Lewis also give loyalty cards where you receive free products when you buy so many times.

You can order Liz Earle products online, over the phone or you can visit your local John Lewis store, which may have counters. You can also now buy Liz Earle from Boots (See links below to websites). All products come with instructions for use on the back and the Liz Earle teams are always happy to help answer any queries.

I hope this has given you some information not only into my skincare routine but also Liz Earle incase any of you are like I was and want to try something different. I can’t recommend Liz Earle enough. Feel free to leave any comments; I would love to hear the products you use. Thanks for reading.

D x

Links to where you can buy Liz Earle

http://uk.lizearle.com

http://www.johnlewis.com/brand/liz-earle/_/N-1z13zv2

http://www.boots.com/en/Liz-Earle/

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, by Lilly Blush

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Lilly Blush

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Tiffany Sunglasses Review

Top tips for students living at home while at university

What's in my make up bag?

My daily skincare routine using Liz Earle

How did my skincare routine begin?

My Daily Skincare Routine

Why Liz Earle?

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