Dear 2014,

Thank you. I can't quite grasp the fact that you're actually almost over, but you deserve the biggest thank you out of all my years so far. I have learnt so much, varying from the happiest I've ever been, to the lowest, where I thought I wasn't even going to manage to see 2015. I have made new, very close friends, I loved and lost, I travelled to places I always wanted to go and saw things I'd always wanted to see. I started writing my first book, which admittedly is going to take a lot of editing and time, but it has been a dream of mine since I first learned how to write. I found a new love for beauty and fashion, but also expanded loves for other things, for example acting and films. I am a completely different person to who I was this time last year, and for that I have never felt so strong and so capable. 2014, you have been both kind and cruel to me, and for that I thank you. 

Goodbye,
Shannon 

x

Before I say anything about the product, can we just admire how defined my jawbone looks? If only that were real life.

Anyway...

I bought this product on recommendation of Zoella in her November favourites due to the fact it looked incredibly similar to the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvets that I do love so much and also the fact it looked an incredible colour on her lips. This is in the shade 005 Parisian Passion and I thought it would be an incredible A/W shade.

Honestly, I am incredibly disappointed by this product. I have applied this a grand total of three times, and two times out of the three I have wiped it off not half an hour into wearing it due to how uncomfortable it felt. The colour pay off is not incredible, it is quite sheer unless built up a lot and is nowhere near as dark as I expected. However, the main issue with this product is the formula. It is much more of a gloss than a lacquer/liquid lipstick which I am not a fan of, especially with a bold lip. I like my darker colours to be matte in order to pack a much harder punch. It is very sticky, which is another pet peeve of mine, and does not stay put. It smudges everywhere even when applying, meaning that your lips look a mess from the beginning. I don't know if it's the formula or doe foot applicator which makes applying it so hard, but I found it difficult to apply it and get clean lines. It also came off quite patchy which is an absolute no. 

All in all, despite my expectations, this product has made me incredibly disappointed. I don't know if this formula is due to the shade, but I am not particularly keen to spend another £8 on a product I dislike this much. I'll stick to my Bourjois thank you!

xx

Sometimes playing "The Tourist" in your own city can be fun. You see it in a way you didn't before because you were too busy getting to where you needed to be and the surrounding areas were the same things you saw every day. Cities are amazing and definitely in the right lighting can look like a completely different place. 

I'm not being funny but where the hell is 2014 going? October flew by so fast, but as another month passes, another favourite is here!

FTN beanie; I've been wearing this a lot recently as it goes with pretty much everything I wear as I only wear monochrome, and adds a bit of colour and warmth to my outfit. This link will take you straight to it;
http://www.findthenomads.com/collections/products/products/script-beanie-burgundy

Revlon BB Cream in Light; In rushes for college in the morning, foundation isn't always an option, and this is where this BB cream comes in. It's a really quick lightweight option that I can just throw on and go in comparison to my Sheer Glow which takes a lot of blending. It is slightly too dark for me but I can pull it off if I blend it into my neck well, and this doesn't take much time at all so I feel it's worth it!

Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeliner in Nude; I love this eyeliner for again, rushed college mornings where I seem to lose time and end up having none. It makes my eyes look bigger and makes me look awake when really I'm falling asleep. 

Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eyeliner in Damsel; This comes with the In The Light Palette and I love it. For days when black is too harsh or I'm too scared/tired to attempt to use my Maybelline gel pen, this is a great alternative. It's ridiculously pigmented and creamy, and very easy to use, and once it is on it does not budge at all. 

Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeshadow Stick in 011 Bluffing; I feel like the theme of running late is popping up a lot in this post, and I won't lie, it happens a lot. This is my eyeshadow of choice when I'm late because it is such an easy thing to apply. It is very easy to blend as it is a creamy texture, but isn't crazy pigmented meaning it can be applied a bit hap-hazardly and you won't be able to tell. It gives off a bronze shimmery texture that looks like you spent time and effort on your eyeshadow as it gives a small amount of definition and is all round a great product.

Seventeen Falsifeye HD Mascara; When I first used this product I was not impressed as I found it just made my lashes blacker and did not add anything to them. However, after about a week I came back to it and found it much better. It really grips the lashes and coats each individual one and gives them both length and volume. I really love this mascara now, and my first impression definitely wasn't right!

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Audrey; I don't have any lipsticks like this colour, and I think that says a lot already. It's warm toned which makes me feel slightly uncomfortable usually as my teeth usually look yellow-er, but this lipstick doesn't which is a huge plus. It is very pigmented and goes on creamily but has good staying power and lasts a very long time. Because of how pigmented it is, it's not a good idea to put it on in a rush but I love it anyways. 

Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in Vintage Pink; This colour is great for days when you don't want a bright lip but you don't want a nude, and is super hydrating. The formula is really creamy and goes on so easily. The staying power isn't great but it's understandable due to the creaminess, but reapplying isn't a hassle as it's easy to apply. 

MUA Lipstick in Shade 11; This is a really nice nude colour as it has coral tones to it and gives your lips a bit of colour without giving them too much. It's very creamy but not moisturising or drying. The staying power again isn't great and you have to apply it very frequently but it's my go to college lipstick if I can't find one I like, and so I just reapply it whenever I have the chance. 

Too Faced Perfect Flush Blush in Candy Glow; This is like a highlighter and a blusher in one and I love it. It has three different strips to it and mixed together gives a really healthy looking colour while still being natural. It is great for the colder months as it gives you the look of going outdoors and being in the cold while still making you look healthy and glowy like you do in summer. It does smell disgusting though, just a word of warning. 

Okay, ignore the hideous facial expression (why?) and the fact I have no make up on (creys), the reason I chose this photo was because it is the only one I own which shows the true extent of how pale I am. This was taken in summer time as well, just to further it, and I do not tan. Only burn. You pale readers will understand my issues with the sun and finding correct foundation colours etcetc, but I'm here today to let you know why you should embrace the snowy complexion and milk bottle body. 

1. Pretty much every lipstick/hair colour suits you. If you're practically white, everything goes with white and so you never have the issue of looking odd. Minus black. Never try black hair unless you're feeling like having a zombie phase.
2. The satisfaction of finally finding a shade of foundation/concealer pale enough for you. It's like a life ambition has been fulfilled and you want to cry with happiness.
3. u always look pastel goth x0x0
4. Freckles can make you look cute, heck Topshop released a freckle pencil! That's when you know you're in fashion.
5. It's the skin you're born with. No matter how much you tan/burn/cover it in make up, at the end of the day you will always have it and not embracing it makes life very hard. So embrace the pale and be proud!

Dear October, 
I'm sorry I'm writing so late, I haven't known what to ask of you. 
September was a hard one. Please be nicer. Maybe a new wardrobe would be nice? I'm joking, but new clothes is a necessity. I'm wearing the same four things on repeat and I'm starting to think the people at college think I'm homeless. A winter jacket. I definitely need that in my life. 
Materialistic things aside, I'm still not sure what I want from you October. More blogging motivation is a definite one, at least two posts a week. I want to take more photos this month, to just go out with a camera and see what happens.
I want to go out for a meal with my best friends to a cute restaurant I found in Manchester. A catch up with some of my closest friends is also in order, especially seeing as I've not seen some since July.
To really try and tackle the anxiety that is creeping up would also be nice. I'm finding it hard to live at the moment, I want to at least be able to leave the house voluntarily by the end of the month. I want to smile more, to really just hold it all together and build myself back up again. 
October, I know I'm asking a lot of you, but I have a good feeling about this month. We should be okay if we work together. 
Yours, 
Shannon



photo credit

I love Urban Decay and I love Pulp Fiction, so when I found out that this collection was a thing that was happening, I got incredibly excited. Unfortunately this is the only product I picked up due to money, but my god it was a good choice. 

Let's talk packaging shall we? I love it a lot. It is cardboard but feels durable. It isn't as easy to just throw in your make up bag as the Naked Basics palette but isn't as big as the normal Naked palettes. I love the reflectiveness of the black as it gives it a slightly edgier feel than just the regular matte black they could have opted for. I also like the use of the red font and the quotes on the front and back as it just adds a little something to the palette. I love the monologue anyway, and now to have it written on my make up just makes me feel a little bad ass. Only me? Yes? Damn okay. 

This palette has a very neutral array of shadows, and all compliment each other nicely. The quality of the shadows are what you expect from UD, creamy, buttery, easy to blend and great pigmentation. They are great for a natural smoky eye and can also be used for day or night. I love the touch of the shimmery black shade Furious which can be used as an eyeliner dupe if you're either looking to experiment or are just scared of eyeliner some mornings (me included!). Anger is also shimmery and is great for an inner eye corner highlight. It really widens my eyes and makes me look alive which is great for any early morning starts. The other three are matte which I prefer to shimmer. This means that there is no shimmer overload if you accidentally put a little bit too much on, a problem I found with the Naked Palette and ended up with discoball eyeballs. Not flattering. 

For £17.50 I found this to be a real steal, especially compared to normal UD prices, and I know I will be using this for a long time to come. In the meantime, if anyone wants to send me the lipstick from this collection in the post, that would be just grand! (Kidding.)

(Kind of.) 

Kate Moss Matte Lipstick in 107
Nars Sheer Glow in Siberia
Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lipstick in Nude-ist
Ghost Eclipse Sample
L'Oreal Nude Magique BB Powder
Real Techniques Contour Brush (used to blend concealer)
Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in 1 Fair
Zoeva Powder Brush 
Hair Grips
Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pen in BronzeBeam
Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeliner in Nude
Body Shop Hemp Lip Conditioner
Zoeva Silk Finish Brush
Zoeva Petit Crease Brush
Maybelline Colour Tattoo in On and On Bronze
Zoeva Soft Definer Brush
Zoeva Luxe Sheer Cheek Brush
Bourjois Blusher in Golden Rose
Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Liner
Benefit Hoola Bronzer
Maybelline Baby Skin Primer
Soap and Glory Hand Food
Revlon Matte Lip Crayon in Audacious
Cherry Carmex
L'Oreal Miss Manga Mascara
Urban Decay Naked Palette
Neurofen 

Urban Decay Naked Palette; This variety of shades is amazing for a neutral yet slightly smoky eye. For a girl who avoids shimmer like the plague, you'd think this palette was a no go for me and yet I love it so much and have really found a love for shimmer that I didn't know existed inside me. 
That came out a lot more dramatic than planned.

Tangle Teezer; I've been doing a lot of swimming and au natural hair this summer and both of these require a good brush that gets rid of tangles easily. So of course the Tangle Teezer would be my go to brush and it has not let me down in the slightest!

Lancome Gentle Softening Cleansing Fluid; I have a strong love for everything about this product except the price. It removes make up easily and feels soft on the face as it is more of a cream than a liquid. It is definitely gentle, meaning I can use it on my eye make up without fearing for my eyesight if it gets into my eyes. I also love how easily it removes gel liner (spoiler alert!) It also smells good which for a facial product is always great. 

Benefit Hoola Bronzer and Zoeva Luxe Sheer Cheek Brush; These two are a bronzing dream. I feared the bronzer may be too dark for my almost deathly pale skin tone but instead it works so well and gives my skin a nice matte bronzed finish without looking muddy or orange. It also has great lasting power, and for someone who spends most of the day sat with their chin in their hand that is a huge bonus as it doesn't rub off. The angled brush makes it a lot easier to apply the product evenly, and also blends it into my skin well. 

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation in Siberia; I never thought I'd see the day when I put a foundation on my face and it was the same shade as my skin. This product is honestly amazing as it gives a glow without looking shiny and so makes me look more awake. It also matches my skin tone. Did I say that already? 

L'Oreal Nude Magique BB Powder; In the hotter parts of summer I opted out of foundation and instead just wore this and my trusty Lasting Perfection Concealer. I found this product to be so nice on my skin as it gives a good amount of coverage as it is a BB powder, without looking cakey. It also gives such a velvet finish to the skin that is so nice to look at, but also to touch. As you can tell by the fact I hit pan hard, I really do like this powder a lot. 

Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Liner; I love this eyeliner so much. I've not had the heart to spend £18.50 on the Benefit They're Real Liner, but I've had this since before the Benefit one came out and I've loved it a lot. It's really black and stays put all day, even in extreme heat. Miscellar water has trouble getting it off, hence why I've loved my Lancome product so much. I find the nib really helps with getting a line along my lash line even and has really helped with getting my cat eye equal on both sides. If you're looking for a dupe of the They're Real then look no further. 

Ghost Eclipse sample; This perfume is perfect for summer, so of course I'm gutted I managed to get a sample just as Autumn started rolling in. The smell of this is very fruity and isn't overwhelming while still strong. There is a lot in this sample bottle, and it has a roller ball as well meaning that it applies however much you need and there's no danger of you spilling the product everywhere. I need to get my hands on a full sized bottle!

I would like to start out by apologising for how rubbish I've been with posting recently! I don't have access to a proper camera, which is always a great thing for a blogger, so taking photos has been a nightmare. Because of this, please forgive the photo quality as I have had to resort to my iPhone in order to get this up today. I also have my driving theory coming up soon so my highway code has been engrained into my mind after hours of just staring. It's safe to say I am not going to pass...

ANYWAY! I have decided to start a new series called Most Worn, where I talk about my most used product of choice. As you can tell by the title, today's is lipstick. 

The packaging of the product alone shows how much I have loved this lipstick. Topshop lipsticks are widely regarded as high quality in the beauty world, and rightly so. I only own two, but both are favourites of mine. Beatnik is a your lips but better shade, and as a result, can be worn with any sort of look. It is my go to shade if I have no idea what look I am after and I feel it adds just a little something. It is quite glossy but not overpowering, with no or little glitter. It's extremely creamy to apply which feels nice on the lips but means the lasting time isn't great, which means reapplying throughout the day is a necessity. I also find the packaging annoying as when you first buy the product it looks really pretty as the white gives off a clean effect which for some reason I like a lot, but because it is white it means that it gets dirty. Quickly. It also chips easily which means if you just throw it in your bag with keys and coins lying around, chipping is unavoidable.

I do love this lipstick a lot despite the lasting power and tatty packaging, and when I go back to college it is definitely replacing my colours as my staple again. 

In my personal opinion, Autumn (Fall) is the best month of the year. It is usually not too cold but not too hot, although in England we are prone to the freak October heatwave. I don't celebrate Halloween because it's my dad's birthday, and yet Autumn/Winter is still the better half of the year, and here's why!

Photo Credit

Layering 
Autumn/Winter Colours; Tartan scarves, dark lipstick, monochrome
Cozy; It becomes acceptable to wear UGGS and leggings in order to be warm
Ankle boots
Colour of the dying leaves
Hot chocolate
Warm baths
Hats and scarves
Oversized jumpers
That natural flush you get that looks like really well done blusher 
STARBUCKS TOFFEE NUT LATTES 
Markets






(whispers) Christmas


That's right. I'm excited for Christmas already.



I'm whispering, therefore I can't get told off for being too early...


But yeah, these are some of the things I am excited for in the coming months!