Anastasia Cream Contour Kit

No long ass introduction required for this one; I got the Anastasia Cream Contour Kit from CultBeauty and it is beautiful.

I already own the powder version of this palette and I love it, it's perfect for the every day subtle contour look. However, it's no secret that I love drag and drag makeup. My queens give me life and a yearning for some serious contour looks that powders just can't quite provide. Thus enters the Cream Contour Kit. 

Being the ghostly pale girl that I am, I decided to go for the 'fair' kit; it comes in fair, light, medium and dark. (Can I just say I am loving the inclusion of a palette for us fair people out there, reppin' the Casper look.) The fair palette gives me two matte highlight shades, 1 shimmery highlight and 3 cool contour shades. As far as I can tell, the fair palette is the only one of the 4 to include a shimmery highlight and the other two highlight shades are as pale as you can get without being full-on white. It's a dream. The first of the contour shades is gorgeously grey-toned, giving an un-clockable contour. The other two contours are definitely more on the brown side, but super blendable. I like to use the darkest shade right next to my hair line to really define those shadows. Something to note is these do not look orange at all. Nobody wants an orange contour. 

The creams in this are so highly pigmented that I've taken to wearing this without foundation. The highlight shades are close enough to my own skin tone anyway that if I blend enough with my trusty Real Techniques sponge, I can create a flawless and foundation-less finish. Although the creams are very thick, they do sheer out a lot when blended, especially with a damp sponge. The finish isn't overly tacky or slippy and I like to set with a loose powder all over the face before spritzing with my Urban Decay Setting Spray for a totally budge-proof finish. 

Eager as always to try out all the new makeupz, I wore this for a casual trip down the pub with my friends and lost track of the amount of compliments I received. 'Has your face lost weight?' was my personal favourite of the evening. I tend to measure a good product by the amount of compliments I receive so Anastasia, you've done it again.

2015 IN REVIEW

Seeing the #2015bestnine hashtag on Twitter, where you can view your most liked Instagram posts of 2015, has inspired me to have a look back over the past year and highlight all of my favourite things about 2015. It's been a strange year of learning how to be a grown up and learning how to go out into the big world all alone and I think I killed it. In a good way. I think.

• Started a new job in an office, which I swore I would never do. But it's helped me grow as a person, mature and learn how to work in an adult environment. And I'm still there 11 months later!

• Learned how to adult. Sort of.

• As a musical theatre nerd, I crossed plenty of shows off my list this year: Wicked (for the 6th time), Matilda, Jersey Boys, War Horse, Phantom of the Opera, Gigi, Hedwig & The Angry Inch and The Woman in Black. Next up: The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

• I made a pact to myself at the beginning of the year to read at least 20 books and I swear I'm almost there! Personal favourite of the year? After The Crash by Michael Bussi.

• I WENT TO NEW YORK. Again. This time with two friends and I navigated the week long trip like a pro. Me and NYC are made for each other, my one true love.

• Finding myself in a new environment and surrounded by a constant stream of negativity, I've had to become a beacon of positivity and love for myself and other people, meaning my outlook on the world really had changed for the better.

• I saw Idina Menzel live for the second time and cried like a baby when she sang No Day Like Today.

• Through binge-watching Rupaul's Drag Race on Netflix multiple times, I have discovered a love for everything drag. It has opened my eyes to new parts of my community, new people and has cemented my love for everything and everyone LGBT. If you're at all curious, check out my favourites Jinkx Monsoon, Courtney Act, Violet Chachki, Alaska, Miss Fame and Katya, you won't regret it.

• I crossed something major off my bucket list by going for afternoon tea at The Ritz for my 21st birthday.

• For 10 months I worked 6 days a week, at two jobs. I like my sleep and I love my bed, so I've always thought of myself as a very lazy person but the fact I worked 6 days a week for so long has proven to me that I'm actually not lazy at all. I just like my bed, okay?

• I learnt how to save money. One of my New Year's Resolutions was to get better at saving, and now now on the 28th December, my savings account balance is looking very healthy indeed. Go me! 

• In September, me and my sister flew out to meet my Grandparents in Dubai. It was the best week of sun, relaxation, shopping and food. Oh lord, I cannot tell you how good the food is in Dubai. Plus me and my sister got upgraded to a suite because I won't go in lifts. Score.

• The Pretty Little Liars finale. No spoilers, but can I just say that I guessed who A was months before it aired and everyone laughed at me saying how stupid my theory was. WELL WHO'S LAUGHING NOW?

• Halsey released Badlands. I died.

• Demi Lovato released the Confident video featuring freaking Michelle Rodriguez. I died again.

• Cara Delevingne consistently being the hottest human being I've ever seen. Still dead.

• Series 3 of Orange Is The New Black featuring Ruby Rose. Hello.

• Brighton Pride WHERE I SAW RUBY ROSE IN THE FLESH. LIKE ACTUALLY STANDING IN FRONT OF ME. SHE WALKED HALF A METRE AWAY FROM ME AT ONE POINT. I'm having heart palpitations just thinking about it *fans self*

• Of course, starting this blog has to feature on the list! Even if I am rubbish at blogging. I'm trying to get better, promise.

• I hit 8000 subscribers on my Youtube channel which was all kinds of awesome.

• Me, my sister, and two of our best friends went away to Disneyland Paris for 4 days and had the most magical time of our lives. We're all Disney fanatics and getting to visit as sort-of-adults was just as magical as when we were 6. Nobody should ever be too old for Disney.

• I discovered my soulmate in MAC 'Soar' and we've been inseparable ever since.

• Continued having the best friends ever. You're all just awesome and I love you. But if you ever mention I said that I'll deny it.

• Took major leaps with my anxiety. This is something I never talk about online as I feel it's become a cliché. It's something I've suffered with for my whole life, especially when I was a child and it's taken me years to combat it. I still definitely have anxiety and those invasive thoughts are still very much in the forefront of my mind, but I've learnt how to manage it my own little way. I said to myself at the beginning of the year that I wouldn't let anxiety rule me anymore, and although it was a bit rocky through the summer, I've come back fighting. I've travelled the world alone (aka parent-less), tackled my fear of public transport and made a conscious effort to fight my social anxieties. I'm a work in progress, but I'm so proud of how far I've managed to come this year and hopefully 2016 will be even better. Maybe I'll even be able to combat my fear of lifts. Probably not though.

Hopefully in 2016 I'll be able to do even more awesome things and I'm already looking forward to writing my 2016 review this time next year. Maybe I should sit down soon and write my New Year's Resolutions post, you know, I might be able to actually stick to them if they're down in writing. For now though, I have 3 days of 2015 left to enjoy and I'm going to spend them doing what I love most. Sitting on the sofa and watching Rupaul's Drag Race on Netflix. 

Mini MAC Haul

I've been so restrained with my MAC purchases recently. I hadn't been into MAC for at least a month which is nothing short of a miracle, so I decided to treat myself. With a visit to MAC.

I went in with 2 very specific purchases in mind: 'Cyber' lipstick and 'Vanilla' pigment. Of course they didn't have either in stock so I switched up my game plan and even added two extra products to the basket to console my poor broken Cyber-less heart. And so we have four new products in the MAC family: eyeshadows in 'Coppering' and 'Amber Lights', alongside two lip liners in 'Nightmoth' and 'Soar'. (Yes, I FINALLY GOT A NEW SOAR!!!)

It's well documented that MAC eyeshadows are up there in my favourites, and so to quench my thirst for orange eyes at the moment, 'Coppering' was ideal. A true warm copper, packed with shimmer and super pigmented, this shade looks gorgeous swept over the lids and messily blended across the lower lash line for a 90s grunge-esque look. Even more shimmer can be found in 'Amber Lights' (What? It's Christmas!). It's a gold shade with that coppery undertone and will be perfect for the upcoming Christmas party I have to attend. 

As for the lip liners, I'm not sure I ever told you the tragic tale of 'Soar'. A real-life Romeo and Juliet. After months of searching, I found a lone liner hidden away in MAC Times Square and we fell in love. We were totally inseparable until I lost it. So, the hunt for Soar started again. When I say I searched everywhere, I mean it. Even the sales assistants in Dubai could smell my desperation. Finally, after three months we are reunited and the pink-mauve beauty hasn't left my lips since. 

'Nightmoth' came along when 'Cyber' wasn't in stock. I asked the sales assistant what the closest shade was and she suggested this, and I have to admit, it's very very close to the shade I wanted. A very dark purple, this seriously packs a punch when I layer it over my lips. Almost black. Not one for the faint hearted, and I love it.

Hopefully that'll stop my MAC itch for the moment, but anyone got any MAC recommendations if I ever maybe might happen to pop in again? Maybe.

Side note: in the 20 hours between taking the above photo and writing this post, I have also bought another lipstick in 'Viva Glam II' and 'Half-Red' liner because clearly I have a problem, but I'll save that post for another day.

Love Me Beauty

I've tried many beauty box subscription companies over the years, but none of them ever stuck. I would be paying money for products I wasn't interested in and it all seemed a little bit pointless. Then Love Me Beauty got in contact and they intrigued me. They offer personalised boxes tailored to you, so you get to chose what you get in your box every month. Love Me Beauty offer a personalised experience, you have to answer a load of questions specifying your skin type, hair type, skin colour, interests, etc. and then you're given a shortlist of all the products that will work for you. Fabulous. 

Love Me Beauty sent me a box so I could try out some of their products and I was so impressed. I've tried the Lord & Berry lip crayons before so I was so excited to find this beautiful bright red shade 'Kiss' in my package. I'm also a massive fan of Ciate nail polishes, so this neon coral shade was an absolute treat! The eyelash curlers are a totally new experience for me because they sort of terrify me, but even though I have nothing to compare them too they definitely curl my lashes! I'm not too sure what else you can expect from eyelash curlers but they're cute and have 'Love Me Beauty' engraved on the top.

I hadn't heard of the final two brands in my box, but I think that's the beauty of these subscription boxes; you get the chance to try out products you wouldn't usually pick up. The Lottie London nail polish is absolutely gorgeous and it's been on my nails for weeks now, and the Monu Hydrating Moisturiser has been godsend for my dehydrated winter skin. Discovering new skincare brands is a favourite of mine, because there's so much to try out there.

I've been so excited to be working with Love Me Beauty, and I think you would all love to go and have a look at their website here to see what products they are recommending for you this month.

I have a discount code 'georgia50' for an amazing 50% off, so make sure you put that in at the checkout - it really is a bargain!

Super Liner vs. Super Liner

Now, L'Oreal has a lot of different liners in there collection under the name 'Super Liner'. I'm unsure why, because only one of them is actually super. For anyone who has been following my Youtube/blog for a while, you will know the struggle I have with liquid liners. For anyone new here, I have crazy oily and slightly hooded eyes which is possibly the worst combination for a fierce winged liner. I spent years searching high and low for the perfect liner which wouldn't smudge or flake, would stay black, and was easy to apply, allowing me to get the perfect sharp wing. Seriously, I don't ask for much. 

Enter the L'Oreal Super Liner Eye Liner Ultra Precision. What a mouthful. I first discovered this about 3 years ago and it's been my go-to ever since. The felt-tip style nib makes it easy to draw on with precision, it stands the test of time and doesn't flake/smudge/disappear throughout the day and it manages to stay fairly black. For under £10, you really can't get much better. In fact saying that, for over £10 you can't get much better either.

So my logic is that if I love that Super Liner so much, surely the waterproof version has to be even better right? All of the above with the added staying power, fabulous. Except it's not. I've worn this on three occasions: once to the cinema, once whilst I filming a 'get ready with me video' which never saw the light of day and once for a trip to Nandos. Each occasion ended the same way; with massive panda eyes. Not hot. I really don't know what is wrong with this eyeliner, but I can't seem to wear it for more than one hour without it disintegrating into a slick, oily mess that can't seem to stay on the lids. 

I don't think I need to expand on my point any more, go for gold.

A Beginner's Guide To SFX Makeup

Now I don't claim to be a SFX makeup artist, but I first picked up some SFX makeup two years ago and I haven't looked back since. I used good ol' Youtube to teach myself the basics, starting with simple bullet wounds and abrasions, and after two years of practice and a lot of aspiring to be like my new Youtube queen Mykie, I can now make it looks like my entire face is peeling off to a rather convincing standard. No biggie. I really, really enjoy everything gory and squeamish isn't a word in my vocabulary, so around this Halloweeny time of year I'm totally in my element.

I've done quite a few basic SFX videos in my time on Youtube, but I figured I would compile a blog post consisting of everything a beginner in SFX makeup would need to help all you guys out there who don't know where to start. It's a bit of a minefield. 

Wax: Wax is my best friend when it comes to any special effects look, it's the best choice for creating those realistic deep wounds and cuts. I'm a big fan of the Ben Nye Nose and Scar Wax nowadays, but when I was starting out the Snazaroo Special FX Wax was my go-to.

Latex: This is a bit of a must-have multiple-use item, but it's particularly useful for blending out the edges of wax to a more natural finish and combined with a little tissue, it's my favourite way of creating burn looks. I use the Kryolan Liquid Latex.

Fake blood: Duh. This one is self-explanatory. Where there's gore, there's blood. I'll admit I'm a bit of a fake blood snob, and I have found that the cheaper fake bloods do tend to look orange and they peel when they dry. Shudder. The Ben Nye Scab Blood is where it's at, it's more of a congealed, thicker, darker blood and it's just the best.

Cream colours: Now you can totally just use eyeshadow for any SFX looks, however I personally couldn't do any gore looks without my trusty Kryolan 4 Colour SFX Wheel in 'Old Age'. The red shades are just perfect for creating that burnt/crusty/dead/anything gross look on any SFX look ever. 

Red lipstick: See above; if you can't afford a proper colour wheel, get the right shade red lipsticks and you're laughing. I relied on my red lipstick collection for a whole year when I was doing SFX makeup and it served me well. The experts may have a different opinion on this, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do, right?

Foundation: Whether you're using wax or latex or anything else, it's not gonna look natural unless it's the same shade as your skin now, is it? I've had a lot of trial and error with finding the perfect foundation to use over SFX makeup; liquid is too wet, mousse looks like you've just layered, well, mousse over everything, and powder ain't going to be covering anything. The Maybelline Fit Me Foundation Stick is the best, it's just the right consistency and the stick form makes it easy to use around the awkward contours of your new grossness.

Vaseline: Strange, but true. You handle wax too much, it's going to get too warm and then it's no good to use for anything. It's a whole sticky messy situation. A trick I picked up on is when handling wax, put a bit of vaseline on your fingers and it's so much easier to shape and use. Trust me, wax and vaseline should come hand in hand. 

I hope this helps some of you, and have a look at a couple of my Halloween tutorials on Youtube for some inspiration on how to get started:

A Week In Dubai

I took my camera to Dubai with me with full intents to vlog and photograph the entire holiday, but when I was there I realised that I didn't want to. I decided (for the most part) to cut myself off from technology, to not worry about shoving my holiday all over social media and just live in the moment, something which is really foreign to me. I found it so relaxing to leave my phone and camera locked away in the hotel rooms safe, grab a book and just have some time out. So I apologise for the lack of photos, and for the only photos I do have being hurried iPhone snaps, but they do bring back some lovely memories.

We stayed at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel and I would totally recommend it to anyone. I have a severe phobia of lifts and they were every single staff member was accommodating and helpful, giving us a room on the first floor and throwing in an upgrade to a beach-view suite (?!?!) while they were at it. The hotel was incredible and I'm counting down the days until I get to go back. It has it's own waterpark and I miss sleeping my days away in 40 degree heat on the lazy river.

The only time we needed to venture away from the hotel was to pay a visit (okay, two visits) to the Dubai Mall. Let me tell you, you ain't ever seen extravagance until you've been to Dubai. They had more shops than I've ever seen in my life, a entire floor dedicated to food (the dream), massive waterfalls, a dancing fountain display, an ice rink, and it's own souk. I felt like a kid in a toy store. Or an adult in the biggest freaking mall in the world. 

I love Dubai.

Shade & Light

I went into Sephora to get the Tarte Tartelette palette and I left with the Kat Von D Shade & Light palette; my logic being that as they didn't have Tartelette in stock, I couldn't leave matte palette-less. Duh. I was a little bit disappointed when I left the store Kat Von D-in hand, but let me tell you, it's been one of the best disappointments I've ever experienced!

The Shade & Light Eye palette consists of 12 matte shades, all of which I would describe as very autumnal colours, mostly brown and reds. The thing I love most about this is the base colours being in bigger pans, they base shades are usually always the first to run out and I think Kat (yeah that's right, we're on first name basis) has really listened to the needs of us beauty consumers when designing her makeup range, something so refreshing.

Another unique selling point of this palette - the different shade ranges. The palette features cool-toned shadows all grouped together, the neutral tones together and my personal favourites, the warm toned shadows together so you know which shades are going to match. Being an olive-skinned gal - yes I have got olive skin, I have a medical condition that makes me ghostly pale okay - the warm-toned shades are where it's at. 'Lucius' is a warm reddy-brown which I have been throwing on my lids near enough every day for the past month, and it gets bonus points for it's Harry Potter-esque name. 'Laetus' is also a really unique shade. Peachy eyeshadows are hard to come by and this one is really flattering on the lids! Of course they're my two favourites but I genuinely don't think I have a least favourite shade in the palette, they all get fair usage from me don't you worry. 

All in all, it's a wonderful palette. The shadows are super buttery and blend like a dream, and the majority of them are crazy pigmented. I do however find 'Shax' to be a bit lacking on the pigmentation front, it's very difficult to get a black shadow to please me as they all tend to lean a bit to the grey side. If you're a matte shadow lover then this is the palette for you, and the gothic-style packing is giving me all the feels. I'm just a little vamp at heart.

Georgia

xxx

12 Things I've Learnt From RuPaul's Drag Race

Welcome to my newest obsession and all round new lifestyle: RuPaul's Drag Race. If you love the gaudy, the bitchy, the fabulous, darling, then this is the show for you. I've always been an advocate for literally anything LGBT and anything camp so really it's a surprise it took me so long to jump on this bandwagon. I'm really not kidding when I say this is possibly the best TV show of all time (sorry Vampire Diaries). Formatted like America's Next Top Model, but with drag queens. Like, duh. There's the showgirl, there's the avant-garde, there's comedy queens, there's the fashion queens. They're all freaking awesome.

So here are the following things I have learnt from my back-to-back binging of RPDR on Netflix, and I don't regret a single second. I'm on season 4 so I've got a while to go, but this journey truly is fierce.

Makeup is magic. Seriously. You learn how to apply that contour, you get that cut crease on point, you figure out how to make your face work for you, and you can be literally anyone you want to be. The more makeup the better, just shove it all on, beat that face. Makeup can give you the power to enhance what you already have, or turn what you already have into something else entirely. Screw natural, drag is where it's at. And if in doubt, glitter. You'll look sickening*.

 'If in doubt, freak 'em out'. Nothing good comes from being ordinary. Queens win because they're different, because they're extraordinary. Dressing like a pageant girl ain't gonna get you nowhere, you've got to be creative, you've got to be adventurous, and you've got to stand out from the crowd. Even if it means bleeding from the mouth as you sashay down the runway a la Sharon Needles. You better werk, girl.

 Drag truly is an art form, it's a visual art. Drag has a reputation as being totally camp (which is can be) and a bit of a joke (which again, it can be), but it continues to blow me away how these men transform themselves with nothing more than experimentation with makeup, fabrics and well thought-out personas. You forget that in the majority of cases, these are purely characters. The creativity astounds me and I can only hope that put in the same situation, I would be able to match up.

Wigs should be a thing. Why aren't wigs a thing? My hair would be truly fabulous every day if wigs were a thing. Just look at Ru.

Raja is the Queen. Yes they're all drag queens, but Raja will always be number one. If you haven't watched the show yet (erm, why?), the beauty of Raja will not yet have been bestowed upon you. She is everything I want to be: fierce, talented, fearless and out there to win. (Top tip: season 3 is the best season, thank me later) (Also, Manila Luzon)

Learn to read. In drag terms, the art of 'reading' is throwing shade to someone's face. Being passive aggressive to a person, instead of behind their back? That's something I can get behind. It's the skill of using your wit to call out another Queen's weakness, but it's all taken lightheartedly. I'm actively practising not being two-faced and telling someone when I have a problem, but for some reason that's more frowned upon than the former. The library should be open for all. (For the best reading, just see Jujubee)

Learning how to lip sync may just save your life. For those unfamiliar with the show, the contestants in the bottom two in each episode have to 'lip sync for their life'. A skill which few perfect, but get it right and you too can be a fully fledged queen. Even if you're just having a down day, put on 'Champion' and lip sync fo' yo' life.

If in doubt, pineapple dress. Manila got this one so right.

Know your own strengths. Something I've picked up on season after season in Drag Race is that each Queen comes in with their own personal style. They then get criticised for doing the same sort of thing every week, so they change it up, inevitably end up in the bottom two because they're not working it, then go back to their original style and (mostly) end up winning. You need to know what your good at and you need to stick at it. Everyone has their personal style, it's just you.

Do whatever it is you need to do to feel fabulous. Nobody ever quite got me when I was growing up, I think a lot of people always thought of me as that weird kid who was too shy to speak. But through fashion and makeup I've learnt how to express myself even when my brain doesn't quite let me get the words out. When I'm wearing the right clothes, I find I can put on a persona and be who I want to be. I think that's the beauty of drag, it allows you to be whoever it is you feel like you are inside.

If you can't love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else? Can I get an amen up in here? RuPaul's mantra, and perhaps the most important message from the show. You've got to love yourself, no matter how weird and wacky you are. You do you, and you love you.

And finally...

Georgia

xxx

(*sickening: when someone looks so good it makes you feel sick)

(Gif overload? Sorry bout it.)

Aruba Blue

Today's post is just a quick heads up on possibly my favourite nail varnish ever. I know I say that a lot but I really mean it this time, okay?! I was on one of my lunch break browses around Boots and spotted this beautiful pearlescent blue shade screaming out to me on the Essie stand, and of course I had to have it.

When I say I have no other shades even similar to this, I mean it. I'm usually more of a mauve-y, dusky pink, 'granny colour' kinda gal, but for some reason this called to me. Two coats leaves you with a perfectly opaque royal blue with a pearly shine and it lasted three whole days on me before it began to chip, which is completely unheard of on my brittle nails. I even got compliments on the shade and people asking me where I got my nails done! Crazy, because my nails are all kinds of gross.

I just figured it's my duty as a general internet-beauty-person to share this beauty with you. Go buy it, I dare you.

'Georgia Pops Into Boots...'

In this week's edition of 'Georgia pops into Boots', I went in to grab a new Soap & Glory Archery Brow Pencil as mine had run out (that's right, I actually used a product up). What ensued was a rather mad dash around Boots on my lunch half-hour and £35 very swift disappearing out of my bank account. But it's all totally justifiable.

As mentioned, I picked up a new Archery from Soap & Glory. This pencil/spooly combo is a dead-on dupe for the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz and comes in at about £8 less, and I find it lasts a lot longer too. I can get one of these babies to last at least 2 and a half months of daily use before I need to buy a new one.

Also on the make-up wavelength, I decided to pick up a couple of the Rimmel Lasting Finish lip liners as I've heard rumours that they rival the MAC liners. The shade 'Spice' looks vaguely similar to the elusive MAC 'Soar' and 'Black Tulip' looks as if it will be the perfect pairing for my autumnal berry lip shades.

My trip to the Essie stand was a short one. The shade 'Aruba Blue' immediately caught my eye and was in my basket faster than I could blink. A beautiful pearlescent royal blue and the perfect summer - autumn transition shade.

Another product that I genuinely needed to pick up (promise) was a new Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water. I do prefer Bioderma but the £5 price tag on the Garnier means that it tends to win out every time. It's gentle, good for removing eye makeup and doesn't break the bank.

Finally (and possibly most exciting) is the Real Techniques Deep Cleansing Gel. I haven't seen this in store before and I haven't heard anything about it online, so I figured it's my duty as a blogger to pick this up and see what the deal is, right? My last brush cleanser has just run out so it's the perfect time to give this a go and I'll let you know my verdict when next brush washing day comes around, which is more than overdue and probably still won't happen for a while. We all have our beauty vices and mine is not washing my brushes. Ugh.

Let me know if you enjoy these mini blog hauls or if you'd rather I waited and did massive hauls on my YouTube channel!

Autumn Berries

With Autumn just around the corner, I feel like it is only right that I give you all a heads up on the ultimate autumnal lip colours. Deep red/plummy/purple-y/autumn-y lip colours are my thang. I'm a bit of a baby vamp at heart.

First up we have MAC 'Rebel', the ultimate autumn lip. As you can tell by the teeny tiny nub of lipstick left, I wear this a lot. Slightly different from the other two lipsticks, it's more of a pinky purple and one that never fails to get me a compliment every single time I wear it. You can dab it on for a stain-like colour, or layer it up with lip liner for a real punch of colour.

Topshop lipsticks are crazy underrated in the beauty world, they have a huge range of shades and they definitely rival MAC in terms of formula. 'Beguiled' is my absolute favourite shade from the range and it's a nightmare to get my hands on so whenever I see one on the shelves I make sure I snatch it up quick. It's more of a deep wine shade and has a beautiful pearlescent sheen when it sets on the lips. You can keep laying it for a really deep vampy shade, which I love to do for nights out.

Finally, we have L'Oreal Colour Riche lipstick in 'Mon Jules'. I've done a full review here so I won't ramble on, but it's the most 'red' shade of the three but leans more towards the berry side than your classic red. The first time I used this I was amazed at how long it lasted on my lips and it's perfect if you're going for a classy meal out and don't want to worry about the embarrassing faded-lipstick situation. 

What's your favourite autumn lip colour?

Raspberry Is The New Black

(Ignore the dodgy painting I'M ONLY HUMAN)

You know me, I'm a monochrome (minus the white) girl through and through so when I want to get a bit of colour in my life, I head straight for my nail varnish stash. Winter calls for glitter, spring is reserved solely for pastels, summer for the bright yellows and autumn? Autumn calls for the wine reds and deep purples. My favourite nail varnish (perhaps of all time) is an autumn polish, being slicked onto my nails the moment the weather begins to turn; Barry M 'Raspberry'. Each year I buy a new one, and each year I'm left with an empty bottle by the end of the season.

You can never go wrong with a Barry M nail varnish. Cheap as chips, easy to apply, quick drying and a whole range of colours from the very summery to the very wintery. I can't comment on the staying power as I'm very heavy handed with brittle nails, a killer combination for chipping like crazy, however I'm sure you've tried a Barry M polish before and I'm sure you have your own opinion. Whatever the opinion, can you really complain for £2.99?

The shade name 'Raspberry' would suggest to me a more pinky toned red, but I would describe it more of a true red wine colour; a deep red. Two coats gives you the perfect non-streaky finish and I've been reapplying it every couple of days for the past week. Today is officially the first day of autumn, didn't you know?

Dubai Wishing

I'm heading off to Dubai next week and as excited as I am to melt under the sun, I'm possibly equally excited to visit Dubai Mall. I've heard some wonderful things. Another very exciting thing about Dubai is they are home to both Sephora and Bath & Bodyworks. THE EXCITEMENT.

I've formed a little wishlist of everything I intend to pick up whilst I'm over there, consisting of candles and makeup, the two loves of my life. I'm lusting after some of the autumnal Bath & Bodyworks candles (is autumn even a thing in Dubai?!) which I'm hoping I'll be able to pick up and bring home thanks to Emirates massive 33kg baggage allowance. And of course I'm gonna need a top up of my hand sanitisers, however it looks like they've changed the packaging though which is disconcerting. I don't like change. 

I've managed to keep my Sephora list short and sweet, possibly due to the sheer amount of money I spent there on my last trip. When I visited New York in June I fell in love with the all-matte Tarte Tartelette Amazonian Clay Matte Eyeshadow Palette, but of course it was sold out everywhere. I visited 5 NYC Sephora's and nada. I'm pinning all of my hopes on it being in stock in Dubai otherwise I am going to have to bite the bullet and order it online. Other products that have made the cut are the Kat Von D Lock-it Foundation as foundations and my skin have been having commitment issues at the moment, the Bite Beauty Matte Creme Lip Crayon in a yet-undecided colour, the Urban Decay Sheer Revolution lipstick in the oh-so-autumnal shade 'Shame', and finally a few of the Formula X nail polishes, one of my favourite formulas around.

This reminds me, I need to get those ££ changed up...

Urban Decay Do It Again

I told myself that I wasn't going to buy the Urban Decay Naked Smoky palette. My foray into eyeshadow ends at dark-ish matte browns and I don't venture enough into eyeshadow to justify a £38 eyeshadow palette that I most likely won't use. So naturally, I bought it.

And shockingly, I have actually been using it! The dark matte brown shade 'Whiskey' is obviously my favourite (who would have guessed?) but I've also been finding myself reaching for 'Armor' a super glittery true grey and 'Dirty Sweet', a shimmering champagne-gold, on a regular basis. I don't own any palettes, or even single shadows, similar to this and it's shocked me that I've actually been reaching for it every day. To my friends who have been questioning my dark racoon eyes this week: here is your answer. Who knew I'd ever venture out of my matte brown comfort zone? My inner Taylor Momsen is making an appearance, and I must say I'm rather enjoying it.

Don't get me wrong though, the best thing about the Smoky palette is that you can create a super natural every day look using the matte shades or you can go full out for the evening with ALL the shimmer. I own the original Naked, Naked 3, Naked Basics and now this, and I can say that in terms of versatility, Smoky wins hands down. The only area in which it lets itself down is the lack of a matte black, and I do also think it could have benefitted from a matte burnt orange shade for crease deepening and for blending purposes. Can't have it all though I suppose.

I feel like there's not much point talking about the formula because everyone knows that Urban Decay eyeshadows are some of the best in terms of texture and blendabilty, but for anyone wondering, these do match up to the rest. The more shimmer-packed shades do have some fallout as to be expected though, so I do recommend going down the eyes first, base second route when going for darker looks. 

I'm planning on filming some of my favourite makeup looks using this palette in the next couple of weeks so make sure you keep an eye on my channel for those, but for now I'm going out for dinner with my friend and I have some smoky eyes to apply.

Writer's Block

I think every writer or blogger gets writer's block at some point. I took English Literature for a-level and I could find myself writing essays up to 8 pages long. I love writing and words and letting the creativity flow, but I've found myself out of practise since leaving school 3 years ago. It's 8pm on a Sunday night and I've been sitting with my laptop open in front of me, hands poised to write since 10am. Nothing. I told myself I wouldn't cop out and do a tag post, but I feel as if I need something to prompt me to get the words flowing. So here I am, attempting to start off my evening of blogging with 20 things you might not know about me.

How tall are you?

I am 5ft 2 and a half. Ask any short person, the half inch counts. 

Do you have any hidden talents?

I can bend my thumb right back to touch my wrist. I can also double roll my tongue. Google it.

What's your biggest blog-related pet peeve?

Blog posts about lip products but don't show a photo of the product on the lips. What's the point if I can't see what it actually looks like?! 

Whats's your biggest non-blog related pet peeve?

I'm unsure how to describe this, but when people play with their nails. You know when they try and get dirt out from underneath them with their other nails? And it makes that clicking sound? Weirds. Me. Out.

What's your favourite song?

Ever? Elvis Presley 'Can't Help Falling In Love With You'. Of the moment? Hedwig and the Angry Inch 'The Origin Of Love'.

What's your favourite Etsy shop?

I'm going to state it now: I've never actually bought anything from Etsy. Shock horror. However, I have had my eye on this Etsy shop for a while now. So many Gossip Girl inspired items, I'm going to snap and order it all soon.

What's your favourite way to spend your free time when you're alone?

I love to just switch off, and the best way to do that is to stick on the latest series on Netflix and marathon an entire series in one night. My most recent love is Once Upon A Time, of which I've only got 6 episodes left! I'm seriously in need of some new series recommendations.

What's your favourite junk food?

Cheesy chips with bacon pieces. Oh lordy.

Do you have a pet/pets?

My family have lots of horses but I don't. So no, but yes.

What are your favourite fiction and non-fiction books?

I would feel awful if I didn't mention Harry Potter as my favourite fiction books, because they were my whole childhood. So Harry Potter, but a quick shoutout John Green's Paper Towns. I read it recently and fell in love with the story. Non-fiction has to be Amy Poehler's Yes Please. I giggled the entire way through.

What's your favourite beauty product?

The Wet Brush. Longer-than-waist length hair is made so much more manageable by this miracle of a product.

When were you last embarrassed? What happened?

I spend my entire life in a state of mild embarrassment so it's difficult to pinpoint a single embarrassing moment. I suffer awfully from second-hand embarrassment and to be honest, my entire existence and everything I do is slightly cringe-worthy. I messaged someone on Facebook earlier and they haven't responded so I'm in a cringing limbo until I get a response. Ah, life.

If you could only drink one beverage (besides water) for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Me and lemon green tea are currently having a moment.

What's your favourite movie?

Sweeney Todd, without a shadow of a doubt.

What were you in high school: prom queen, nerd, cheerleader, jock, valedictorian, band geek, loner, artist, prep?

Loner. Thanks for that one, anxiety.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?

I think we all know the answer to that one. New York City. Upper East Side/Midtown East, if we're being specific.

PC or Mac?

Tricky one because I use a MAC, but I think I'm pro PC. Sorry Macbook.

Last romantic gesture from a crush/girlfriend/boyfriend/spouse?

Genuinely can't think of anything, not to be depressing.

Favourite celebrity?

My babe Cara Delevingne. She doesn't know it yet, but we're going to end up together.

What blogger do you secretly want to be best friends with?

Remember the earlier question about embarrassment? If I name anyone here I am going to live in a severe degree of embarrassment for the next three months. Anyway, there are too many girls I secretly stalk online to pick just one potential best friend. I want you all to be my besties.

Hopefully that's helped to get my creative juices flowing, let's see what I come up with next.

Georgia 

xxx

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate

The Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate Serum is something that I lusted after for a long time. Expensive skincare is something that I tend to debate buying for months, years even, before I finally take the plunge because they are always so hit and miss. £40 on a facial serum is a small price to pay if it works, if it doesn't work then it's a complete waste of money.

Let's just start with this: for me personally, this product was the latter. I know plenty of people rave about the Midnight Recovery Concentrate and due to my easily swayed willpower, this is the reason I picked it up. I've been using it on and off for two months now and depending on how hormonal my skin is feeling, it either has absolutely no effect or it makes my acne worse. My skin is awkward to explain: it's definitely not cystic acne, it's just very very textured with a few under-the-skin spots on both cheeks and chin. Could be worse, could be better, I just take what I've got. 

I'm 99% sure the main reason why this product sometimes aggravates my skin so much is due to the high essential oil content. When you have sensitive acne-prone skin, it's always best to stay away from heavily scented products with essential oils. I knew this, and yet the allure of a raved-about skin product was too much. Ah, the beauty blogger life.

The front of the bottle states to 'visibly restore the appearance of skin by morning', so I applied 3-4 drops of the serum to my skin at the end of my skincare routine, just before bed and waited for a miracle. Obviously this miracle never came for me, but I can imagine if you have acne-free skin then it would plump and hydrate your skin. One positive I did notice when I was using this nightly was that my scarring did start to heal, especially on the apples of my cheeks. I'm eager to retry this product when my acne finally clears up (I'm on medication number 5 and next up is Roaccutane if this one doesn't work) because I really feel like it could make a difference to how healthy my skin looks, but for the moment it's going to the back of my stash.

Sorry Kiehls, I love you but this one isn't for me.

Georgia

xxx

The Most Requested Video EVER

Sorry for the slightly-cop-out style blog post today, but in case you haven't seen on Youtube (if you're not subscribed, you can click just here), I have finally filmed my updated makeup collection video! I filmed my last one a year and a half ago and I think it's safe to say my collection has tripled since then, and with the addition of the cult Ikea ALEX drawers my collection is now something 18 year old Georgia could only dream about. Thank god for a lack of willpower and way too much disposable income. 

It's a long-un but if you love watching makeup collections as much as I do, then you can thank me later. Enjoy! 

Georgia

xxx

It'll Be Okay

It's partly due to my anxiety, partly due to my inability to live in the moment and partly because of the world we live in, but I'm constantly worrying about the past, present and future. I think in these times where we are linked to anyone and everything we could ever want at the touch of a button, a world where you can so openly see everyone's lives (or lives they choose to portray, I should say), a world where anyone can be successful if they work hard enough, it's easy to get caught up in thinking you're not good enough. I feel like my brain is full of ideas, full of the potential to do something amazing, but I really struggle reach that potential. Perhaps I'm indecisive and perhaps I worry too much about the outcome so I hold myself back, but I'm definitely a cryer these days. God, I spend so much time crying about life. 

That's deep for what was intended to be a not-so-deep post, but I find myself down a lot. However, the smallest things can lift me back up. I feel like all I need is someone to say to me 'you can do it' and I feel motivated again. It's probably not healthy to depend so heavily on other people's validation. I crave acceptance. So, in conclusion to this deep not-so-deep post, here are some motivational photos I've found floating around on the internet that always manage to give me the boost that I so need:

I just wanted a place to store all of the inspirational quotes/photos that I've gathered over time, I hope some of you pull as much inspiration from them as I do.

Side note: it's a happy accident that all these photos are black and white. Yay aesthetics!

Georgia 

xxx

Brighton Pride

This weekend I took a trip down to Brighton for what was one of the best experiences I have had in a long time: Brighton Pride. It was so refreshing to get out of Reading for a day and escape to mind-numbing monotony that is my life. For the first time in a while, I was able to completely let go and just enjoy the moment.

I spend the entire day surrounded by people who believe in love, happiness, kindness and most importantly, equality. I think humanity spends so much time looking out for themselves, that when you end up somewhere where everyone is celebrating two things: equality and love it's a shock to the system. If I could spend every day in a crowd like Pride, I would be the happiest girl in the entire world.

I have so many memorable moments from the day, including seeing Ruby Rose (oh my GOD), drinking way overpriced vodka, laughing away at the drag queens in the cabaret tent, screaming, laughing and almost peeing myself on the Waltzers, and people watching for hours. I spent the day surrounded by so many beautiful people and so many beautiful couples, it just proved to me that love is the most important thing in the world. As The Beatles said, 'all you need is love'.

Love is love, happiness is happiness and equality is the most important thing in the world. I feel like if I devote my life to any cause, then it's going to be fighting for equality for everyone LGBT. If anyone knows of any ways I can get involved, then please let me know. It's a big field to look at getting involved in, and to be honest I'm finding it fairly overwhelming trying to get involved but I'm determined.

See you next year Brighton, but next up: Reading Pride!

Georgia 

xxx