Dont Let Jack Frost Nip Your Nose

Before I start with this post, a quick apology for being rather MIA for the past few posts, Kate has been holding fort on the lifestyle digest whilst I've been busy with work demands. BUT I'm back with some of my favourite skincare secrets for the winter season.

I have picked out some of my favourite skincare items, which with the winter months i feel are essential with skin becoming dry dehydrated and that tight tingling sensation you feel when you've had a long cold walk becomes ever too common. These weather conditions call for some serious TLC in the skincare department, and I always depend on my oils, serums and balms to help see me through the cold months.

First things first, cleansers and make up removal. Cleansing is easily the most important thing in a persons skincare routine yet its the one so many of us miss out, or opt for the ever so easy make up wipe! Don't do it. A good cleanser will not only give you a clean base to allow the rest of your products to work to the best they can, but it helps circulate the blood and get rid of excess sebum (dry skin - had to clarify that as it sounds dodgy) I look no further than the three products above;

Estee Lauder Gentle Eye Make-up Remover, not too oily so it leaves a residue but not too water based so its difficult to get your mascara off, perfection.

Elemis Tri Enzyme Resurfacing Facial Wash, this is the best cleanser I have ever used. It is from Elemis' Anti Age range, and after trying a sample of it, I ran back for the full size, the rest is history. This milky cream cleanser gets every scrap of make up off, whilst giving your skin a real deep cleanse without leaving your skin feeling uncomfortable and tight. I honestly cannot tell you how much it helps with regulating oil production and keeping spots at bay, so if you suffer with oily skin, go grab a sample at your nearest counter. 

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, I originally bought this product on a complete whim. Dermalogica has been a brand I have dipped in and out of, but nothing has ever really excited me, until I found this little baby. The small granuals once mixed with water turn into a ex foliating paste and without being abrasive at all to the skin, buffs away any dead skin cells. Do be careful; use infrequently, excessive use can be too much!

Eye Cream, always seems quite a tedious step in a skincare routine but something I make a conscious effort to never leave out. Dehydration lines left untouched can quickly turn into fine lines. I have used every single eye cream on the market, but stopped my search at ANR eye cream from Estee Lauder, a light gel consistency but incredibly hydrating, I wake up in the morning with no bags in sight, bye bye puffy eyes. Two to three times a week I use Bobbi Brown Intensive Eye Balm, an intensive balm that feels a little sticky and uncomfortable in the first hour, it takes its time but once sank in, works wonders! Just go and try it!
If I could insert sound clips into this post, I would insert a little squeal of joy here. Everybody has heard of La Mer, ridiculous in price but like someone has waved a magic wand on your skin, it is worth every single penny. I use the original moisturising cream. This is not for the faint hearted, so thick you need a spatula to get it out, you have to warm it up with your fingers to break it down into a lighter cream, a small amount of this goes a long way, so even though you're spending a small fortune it really does last a long time. This is a miracle for healing spots or acne scars and I wouldn't be without it.

Okay so time for my favourite bit, serums and oils.
If you would have asked me a year ago to lather my face in oil before bed, I would have run a mile, as mentioned before, I'm always battling with an oily T-Zone so the thought of putting If If you would have asked me a year ago to lather my face in oil before bed, I would have run a mile, as mentioned before, I'm always battling with an oily T-Zone so the thought of putting oil on oil? disaster combination! However once I got my job in the industry and started to get a better knowledge of skincare and their ingreadiants, I started to dip my little toe into the world of serums and realised oil actually helps regulate oil production and by giving your skin the oil it needs, helps the skin to stop producing so much of its own oil. My love affair started with Estee Lauder's, Advanced Night Repair. If you haven't heard of it, you must have been living under a rock, possibly the most over hyped serum of all time and enough bottles sold every year to earn more than Bobbi Brown do as a company! Yeah, its pretty big. And so justly deserved, my skin drinks this up every night and without going into too much detail, the benefits for your skin are phenomenal. 
Kiehls also have a lot to offer in the serum/oil department, my favourite is the midnight recovery concentration, a pure oil, you need a mere 2 drops to cover your whole face. I would really recommend this product if you are looking for something to help your skin deal with the cold weather, this little bottle builds up a protective barrier of hydration overnight and allows you to see results instantly!
Who doesn't love a face mask? Sometimes all I want to do after a long day is get home, get my make-up off, pop a face mask on and slip into a warm bath! I picked out a selection of my favourites at the moment. Sisley, a skincare brand from Paris, definitely doesn't come cheap but their facial masks are always in magazines top 50 beauty awards. I love these two in particular;  The Radiant Glow mask, an orange clay mask which you allow to set on the skin and once buffed off, leaves the most radiant complexion, perfect before a night out or a important meeting. I also really enjoy their flower gel mask, Sisley's most popular mask, this is like a drink for the skin, advised to be left on for 20 minutes I prefer to sleep in it for a really intensive treatment overnight. The REN and Origins masks are both clay based masks, designed for problem skin, these help pull impurities out of the skin and speed up the healing process. If I ever feel a breakout coming, I can always rely on one of these two to calm it down.
BY MIMI.

Kate's 19th Birthday Getaway

I was shaking in my boots with excitement when my boyfriend, B told me that he had planned a romantic birthday escape to celebrate my 19th birthday.
I had known for a while that he had been planning to whisk me off my feet, yet I was unsure where he would whisk me off to!
However once I saw the Cheshire Oaks sign when we where coming off the motorway I knew I was in for a treat.
We were only able to spend the weekend celebrating my birthday, but it was just the right dose of leisure, shopping and fresh air.

Whilst we were shopping in Cheshire Oaks we stumbled across Harry Ramsden's fast food restaurant which B had been desperate to try. We were blown away with the crispiness of the chips and the spiciness of the curry. A great way to burst some extra energy into you after so much shopping!

The next day B took us to Delamere Forest for a refreshing walk which was just what we needed after a stressful week. We spent quite a long time wandering around the magnificent forest, it was magical with all of the leaves blanketing the grass.

Had to stop off for some lunch, it was cold outside so we needed to pump some heat back into our bodies.

Tranquil scene, B's walking on water!

     

{Hollister coat, G Star Raw scarf, Hollister Super Skinny Jeans and Hunters}

It's most certainly autumn! Looks like a river of leaves.

{Silk Tee and Fuchsia Cargidan: Reiss, Michael Kors watch, Tiffany earrings and necklace}

We stopped off at Wagamama's for a well deserved tea, just what I needed after such a long walk! Would definitely recommend the Firecracker.

BY KATE.

This Week

{Double date night)

{Quick visit to the Brow Bar}

{Friendly receipt}

{Death by whipped cream}

{Catching up on the news}



Kate's 19th Birthday Celebration

Due to it being my 19th birthday, I decided that it would be appropriate to celebrate it by going for a traditional British Steakhouse Meal with my best friend, Mimi.
We dressed for the occasion, Mimi wearing nearly all Zara and I wearing bits and bobs from a few different stores.

I decided to go overboard on the calories, why not it was my birthday! I got the 'Build Your Own Burger' so I opted for Jalapeños, Salsa and Fries to compliment the Bacon and Cheese Beef Burger. I forgot about the saying 'A second on the lips, forever on the hips'. A girl's got to enjoy her food!

We decided to also share some Tomato and Garlic Bread.

Mimi chose a healthy meal, Sirloin Steak Salad with a side of Fries, it looked delicious.

Mimi got me some naughty gifts from Chanel and other presents shown below

I was gleaming with joy when I opened the Chanel bag of treats, inside were two Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colours (June and Holiday), Gold Limited Edition Shu Uemura Eyelash Curlers, Tom Ford Illuminating Highlighting Pen and Limited Edition Vaseline in Pink Bubbly which I seem to have unfortunately misplaced.

It had to be done! Chilled, refreshing Rose after a stressful week at University. We most definitely drank that quick! Oh the pleasures of University.

I wore a Hollister cardigan, French Connection dress, Michael Kors watch, Tiffany jewellery (ring and necklace), Mulberry Bayswater and Zara loafers.

Whilst Mimi wore Zara shirt, jumper, riding pants and bag with (unseen) Topshop boots.

BY KATE.

Sunday Guide

Sundays can often be quite boring if you haven't got anything planned to do. Therefore it is important to make the most of your day of relaxation, whether you want to stay in by the television or be out and about.

Below are some hints of what you could get up to on a Sunday, instead of sitting in eating all of your unhealthy foods.

Go for a walk, it is important to get some fresh air into your lungs. It's also a great way to clear your head for a busy week ahead. This is a chance to escape the chaos in your hectic schedule and enjoy the natural surroundings.

Got a bit of retail therapy to catch up on? Make a full day of wondering round the shops. This is the best time to be getting your Christmas presents early - before the mad rush!

Natural History Museum, London.

Go to a museum, but check the opening times so that you don't get an unpleasant surprise.

Grab a drink, Costa do the best Hot Chocolates and the Strawberry Lemonades are very refreshing!

Instead of walking (if it's too cold) go for a drive, preferably around a rural place.

If you feel like having a lazy day in, watch a film or have a series marathon...

Or lose some calories and go to the gym, but remember it's a Sunday so treat yourself to some 'me time' afterward.

Surviving an Essay

Essays are always a daunting process, but the stress of an assignment can be easily minimalized if you follow these crucial steps.

It is always best to try your hardest in any type of academic work, whether it's included or not in your overall grade. This is ultimately because if you try your best in an assignment and the assignment is included in your overall grade; you will be at an advantage with the extra marks. The same is true of putting your all into a formative piece of work as you will be able to use this as revision when it comes to the exam period.

It is crucial to stay hydrated, with a glass/bottle of water.

Also, if you feel like you need an extra push to stay concentrated, make an espresso or a large cup of caffeinated filter coffee.

It is really easy to put on a lot of weight when you are revising or doing an assignment, so make sure you're eating the right stuff!

It is crucial to write down the deadlines in your diary or in your phone calendar so that you stay focused on what you need to be primarily focusing on at that point in time.

Additionally, it is paramount to start planning and assembling your essay ideas and information early so you don't have a great rush at the end resulting in sleepless nights.

Gather a list of books or articles you need to get from the library or electronically so that you know that you have to retrieve relevant information. This helps to keep your essay content focused; which also means that you will get extra marks for the inclusion of primary and/or secondary sources. However it is crucial to stress that if you are going to refer to other opinions, sources or author's views - remember to reference!

Once you have assembled all of your information, read carefully through it and make sure you understand the author's argument. This part of the process may take a long time but it completely worth it when you decipher what is relevant to include in your essay argument.

The best way to annotate books if they are borrowed it to use post-it notes because then you are not ruining the book and you can use the post-it notes when you have to return the book. However remember to reference the page which you have either quoted from or summarised.

Any student's nightmare is when the final product or the uncompleted essay disappears from the face of the earth/hard drive - so you must make sure that you back this work up! You can either do this by saving it to your computer hard drive as well as saving a copy to an SSD Card or a USB stick.



Key principle to live by: proofread. You can either do it yourself or get a friend to do it or both! This is such a vital part of your assignment process - it will improve your marks if you correct any spelling errors.

This Week

Still discovering hidden treasures on the University Campus.

Hello autumn!

Our weekly Fruit Tea fix.

Asparagus and Brie Tart to warm the heart.

The joys of being Theology students.

Make Up Must Haves

Being a make up artist, I am familiar with many different brands and from this, my collection has grown considerably. I thought it would useful coming into the winter season to show you the products making their way into my everyday cosmetics bag.
After months of tinted moisturiser and make up free days, Winter is perfect for digging into your collection and discovering old loves. This season, my favourite make up brands have got to be NARS, Chanel and Benefit. Whilst offering amazing colour palettes, these three companies in particular seem to offer great textures. As you can see, during the winter months, I always opt for cream based products, these not only help with dry skin but gives me a glow nostalgic of the summer months.
Soleil Tan De Chanel is my go to base product. Light and Creamy in consistency but heavy in coverage, this product is perfect pre or post foundation to give your skin a subtle sun kissed appearance. Although high in price, I truly believe this product is worth the splurge and should be an essential for all make up lovers.
Mascara is every girls best friend. This particular one from Benefit is one of the best I have found at volumising lashes and giving you that dramatic winged effect. Reasonable in price, this really will have people wondering if 'they're real'.
Blush, Blush, Blush, whether its cream or powder, is an essential. Live by this through every season and you'll be looking fresh and dewy all year round. I personally love Illamasqua for cream blush, this one in Rude is perfection, a dewy melon delight. A little further on the price range, NARS have equally wonderful offerings in the powder blush range, my favourite is Deep Throat.

Lipgloss is the best way to spruce up your appearance. A handbag's best friend, there is a shade and texture for every lady. These are my two favourites for the winter months. Chanel Rouge Allure in Genie, is a beautiful pop of coral reminiscent of summer, and perfect with some big lashes. NARS Turkish Delight, not only famous as being a Kardashian staple but also is one of the most universally appealing baby pink glosses that looks divine over any shade of lip. Go get it girls. 



 Whilst it's great investing your pennies on expanding your cosmetics collection, it's essential you have the correct appliances. Without these, that flawless, seamless effect I believe cannot be achieved. Real Techniques' is a superb, affordable brush range specializing in applying your base. My must haves are the Buffing and the Expert Face Brush; both under £20. With these say "ciao" to messy make up fingers!

BY MIMI.