Why Do I Even Bother...? An Explanation

The title of this video may suggest that this is going to be a rant at whoever is reading this, it's totally not, its for me to try and explain why I do Youtubing and Blogging...

My passion is English, ask anyone in my year group at my school and I can guarantee that at least 50% of the people that you ask will say that they either don't like English or it's one of their least favourite subjects, this may be due to the teacher, or just their mental attitude; however I love English and it is one of my favourite subjects at school.

Being at the age where everyone is being asked what subjects they want to do at 6th form/ college, whether they want to go to university or not, what their main goal/ career aspirations are, this has made me realise that English is my passion, but more specifically journalism.

You reading this blog post is helping me improve my posts as I can see what people prefer to read. Having people tell me what they liked and didn't like about a blog post is helping me. But having someone slag off my posts/ videos does not help me, but lets sidetrack past that as I said at the start that this isn't a rant.

Being able to tie together two out of my three passions of English/ journalism and makeup/beauty/fashion (music is my third passion) is just incredible and I have to owe my success to every single one of you that reads my posts and watches my videos.

Sometimes I do ask myself why do I bother? Why do I put so much time into these posts and videos when I could be spending it on something that someone may perceive to be more 'worthwhile' but this is my passion and I am going to do what I love.

I don't get paid for blogging or Youtubing, this is all paid for with my own money but if I have an ever growing audience now it could set me up for an incredible career in journalism when I'm older.

So I am eternally grateful to every single one of you that reads the odd blog post or Youtube video or the incredible people that religiously read each blog post and watch each Youtube video, so thank you and hopefully one day you will be reading one of my articles in Vogue or Elle.

LauraLaura

Roller Lash VS they're Real! Benefit Mascaras

Recently Benefit have released their new mascara 'Roller Lash' which is inspired by 1960's/70's hair rollers; the mascara claims to grab, separate, lift and curl your lashes. The 'they're Real!' mascara has been the number 1 selling mascara for the past 2 years. 

Roller Lash 

This mascara is really good for length, I have short to medium lash length and this is perfect for helping my lashes look longer. Compared to the 'they're Real!' mascara it applies beautifully and I get hardly any around my eyes (I always create a mess when applying mascara!) but if I do it removes so easily which I love! It doesn't leave me with black specks all around my eyes and over my cheeks from crumbling off which is great for me as I like to not have to reapply my makeup half way through the day. The brush is great as it really coats the lashes but it is hard for getting into the deep corners of your eyes. Every time that I have applied the mascara I have never had clumps which again, adds to the amazing length but takes away from the volume. It is great for natural looking, fluttery lashes. 


they're Real!

This mascara is great for lots of volume and some length. As I said before I have medium length lashes but this mascara really helps coat them to give them lots of volume but it does sometimes make my lashes look like 'spiders legs' which isn't that attractive! The brush has a rubbery spiked end which is great for reaching the inner corners of your eyes. The formula is very wet which is quite messy for me as I get it all around my eyes and the formula makes it really hard to remove (so if I get it around my eyes I need intense scrubbing to get it off!), but it does mean that it lasts a long time but it does sometimes crumble if I apply a lot of mascara for more volume. 

Bare lashes

Roller Lash

they're Real!

~~~

If you are someone looking for length I would definitely try the new 'Roller Lash' mascara but if you are looking more for volume and slight length then 'they're Real!' is the one for you! I would really recommend both of these mascaras and even used together they look incredible because of the combination of length and volume. I have only tried the mini version of the 'Roller Lash' but it was still incredible, I can only imagine the full sized version will be even better! However I have tried the full sized version of the 'they're Real!' and it gave me the same results as the mini version. 

Buy 'Roller Lash'- https://www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk/product/view/roller-lash?ext_id=ppc_6517_roller%20lash%20benefit&gclid=CjwKEAiA68WnBRCJxZr5qoaL3iMSJAAXIrr3Mr9VgQoxo_mvDV6xBWxNIkJfvdUp_TqBD6OO9oLp0hoCy_bw_wcB

Buy 'they're Real!'- https://www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk/product/view/theyre-real

This post isn't sponsored and all opinions are my own but the links above may be affiliated.

LauraLaura

Lush Review: Unicorn Horn (Valentine's Day Exclusive!)

Lush have brought in a few new products for Valentine's Day 2015 and when I saw the Unicorn Horn bubble bar I fell in love! 

The Horn has lavender and neroli (derived from an orange) essential oils which creates the most amazing scent in my bathroom as well as making my skin feel great!

It is so brightly coloured and it smells so faintly of lavender. I crumbed my bubble bar under the running tap and it created an amazing sea of bubbles but there wasn't much of a colour change of my bath water, maybe a slight pink tint. The sugar stars eventually melt away in your bath water.

The bubble bar is £3.25 but you can break it into 2 or 3 if you want to therefore it isn't too expensive!

I would definitely recommend this product if you like the smell of lavender or if you simply just want to try a limited edition Lush product! 

Available in store or online-https://www.lush.co.uk/products/valentines-day/unicorn-horn

Thanks for reading!

 This isn't sponsored and all opinions are my own but the link above may be affiliated.

Lauralaura

How To: Simply and Subtly Wear Brightly Coloured Makeup

When it comes to bright colours it is so hard to get it right and not look like a 60's gogo dancer. 

So I have photographed some easy ways to add colour without also looking like you've done your makeup with a crayola crayon... 

(Mini disclaimer that my skin isn't looking at it's best at the moment and the camera likes to focus in on my spots so if you could sidetrack past that it would be greatly appreciated!)

 Lips! One of the most common ways to add colour into your makeup! Reds are so easy to wear, but I would suggest not wearing with heavy eye makeup as you may look a bit too overdone. Bright pinks and orangey corals are also some of my favourite colours to wear on my lips. Also if you have a mark or spot you want to draw attention away from, lips are a great attention grabber so people don't tend to notice!

Eyes!  The next 2 images are of my eyes with some subtle purple mascara on. Coloured mascaras are a really pretty way to add some colour into your makeup which will show up in some lights but look normal in others; it also looks really cool for festivals and concerts as they have just the right amount of colour pigment. If you're planning on wearing a coloured mascara I would advice using a colour close to your eye colour, such as purples or blues for blue eyes (as mine are), greens and browns for green and brown eyes and unless its a dark red or orange I would advice not to wear red or orange mascaras as it may make you look like you have an eye infection...

Eye shadow! Very easy to get wrong but if you know how to do it right is such an easy way to match your makeup to your outfit or really make a certain colour in your outfit pop! When wearing bright colours make sure you don't go all the way up to your eyebrow, you want it to make your eyes look beautiful, accentuate your assets! Simply applying super shimmery colours in blue, green, pink and some shades of red can look really gorgeous, but remember don't over do the colour! 

Blush, one of the most subtle ways to add colour into your makeup! Applying pinks and reds to the apples of your cheeks can finish your makeup look. With some sharp contouring and bright highlighting, blusher will tie the whole look together and give you a Kim-K-esk finish. 

The eye shadow that I used was from the Fearne Cotton makeup line that has now been discontinued, I have tried to find one similar! 
http://www.superdrug.com/Bourjois/Quad-Smoky-Stories-eyeshadow-I-LOVE-BLUE/p/287801#.VLwRvCusWSo

My favourite type of coloured mascara that not only adds colour but also length and volume.

I wore shade 01 Violet.
http://www.kikocosmetics.co.uk/make-up/eyes/mascara/Super-Colour-Mascara/p-KM00301008

One of my favourite reds as it is non drying but it has long staying power. Also if you dab it on a tissue it makes it matte! 
Topshop's lipstick in Hazard

Click here for the link straight to 'Hazard' on Topshop's website

I love the gorgeous Benefit Benetint, I have the mini version from their 'Best of Benefit' Christmas set from boots.
I could only find the full sized version.
http://www.boots.com/en/benefit-benetint_2526/

Thanks for reading!
 This isn't sponsored and all opinions are my own but some of the links above may be affiliated.

Lauralaura

Cosmetic Review: Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paint By Barry M

When it comes to a good drug-store nail varnish I find that it is hard to find a consistant brand but as soon as I tried the Gelly Hi-Shine nail varnish's I knew that I have found a very reliable brand.

The nail varnish's apply like a dream, not too thick, not too thin and I apply 2 coats, for good measure, which makes the finish incredible for such a good priced varnish. 

There are so many different colours to choose from and each colour is consistently brilliant. If you apply a top coat the varnish can last for around 5 days, maybe even up to a week but without a top coat it lasts 3 maybe 4 days which is incredible for a nail varnish which costs less than half of a high end brand (plus superdrug and Boots usually have a 3 for 2 offer on so you can get the varnish even cheaper!). If you are ever looking for an amazingly priced varnish I have to recommend the Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine varnishes!

I have only photographed a few of the varnishes in my collection. The green (cardamom 30), burnt red (chilli 33) and mustard yellow (mustard 31) are from the autumn range whereas the turquoise blue (green berry 12) and white (coconut 28) are more for all year round but maybe more summer suited. 

 I have only managed to find a link to the autumnal colours online but you can buy other colours in store instead http://www.superdrug.com/search?text=barry+m+hi+shine#.VJ7qk14gKA

This isn't sponsored and all opinions are my own :) The link above may be affiliated.

Lauralaura 

Candle Review: Yankee Candle 'Christmas Cookie' and 'Snowflake Cookie'

Yankee Candles are my absolute favourite brand of candle; they smell amazing, are amazingly coloured and relatively good priced. I love the Yankee Christmas range.

 I always buy the 'sample' size because I like to burn my candles in a pretty tea-light holder I have and I can never find a use for the big glass pots after I've burnt the whole candle as well as the trouble of trying to light the damn thing when you cant fit your hand in the pot! 

These two flavours are very similar in scent but however the 'Snowflake Cookie' is slightly sweeter smelling than the 'Christmas Cookie'. The 'Christmas Cookie' is also quite heavily vanilla flavoured with hints of buttery softness whereas the 'Snowflake Cookie' is almost icing flavoured (it would make sense since it is a 'cookie' flavour) these are definitely my two favourite scents of the Yankee Candle Christmas range! 

http://www.boots.com/en/Yankee-Candle-Large-Jar-Snowflake-Cookie_1505611/

http://www.boots.com/en/Yankee-Candle-Large-Jar-Christmas-Cookie_1505603/

This isn't sponsored and all opinions are my own :) Some links above may be affiliated.

Lauralaura 

Film Review: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay- Part 1

Finally, after just under a year, the 3rd Hunger Games film has been released to follow 'The Hunger Games' and 'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire'. The standards were set very high and there were very high expectations due to the many speculations of where they were going to cut the book in half to make the two parts of the films ('Mockingjay- Part 1' and 'Mockingjay- Part 2'). I confess, I have never read any of the books but honestly, I prefer it that way because I had no clue what to expect apart from a few spoilers that my friends had told me...

The film was directed by Francis Lawrence and based on the book 'Hunger Games: Mockingjay' by Suzanne Collins, it has an age rating of 12A due to the mild violence.

When Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) was rescued during the 75th Hunger Games (the ending of 'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire), she got taken to District 13, an underground rebel District which had been built under the ruins of District 13.  Katniss was then reunited with her mother and sister, Prim (Willow Shields). 

While recovering she got introduced to President Alma Coin (Julianne Moore), the leader of the rebels in District 13, and got told that because of her actions, she had sparked riots against the Capitol, and she needed to be the 'Mockingjay' or the 'symbol or rebellion'. Katniss declines, stating that they had left Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) - her fellow District 12 tribute- behind in the arena. Katniss then, after visiting the makeshift hospital in District 8, agrees to be the 'Mockingjay', this then sparks a huge rebellion in District 7. Then when the Capitol found out what Katniss and District 13 had been doing they launched an attack on  District 13. 

You will have to watch it to find out what happens to District 13 and whether Peeta and the other surviving tributes are rescued! 

I absolutely loved the film, the music was empowering, the graphics where astonishing and the acting was just incredible. I would definitely recommend this film, especially if you have seen the first two you, will love this film. But even if you haven't seen the first films, you may not understand some of the character's roles or small links to the previous film (if you spot the pearl that Katniss frequently has in her hands, Peeta gave it to her in the last film), you will most likely be able to understand it by the end of the film. 

I would give this film 4 stars out of 5 as  the story line was easy to follow and you could feel the tension in the room which was created due to amazing writing, directing, editing and acting. 

This isn't sponsored and all opinions are my own :)

Lauralaura