Sunday 27 November 2016

November Favourites 2016

November 27, 2016 0 Comments
As November draws to a close, I thought I would do a post about some of the things I've been loving throughout this month.


M&M Hot Chocolate


With the weather getting colder I love nothing more than drinking a hot chocolate before bed, topped with whipped cream and marshmallows. This month I discovered M&M hot chocolate and it is one of the nicest hot chocolates I've had in a long time. It contains mini M&M's which melt when water/milk is added, to give you a chocolatey taste right down to the last sip. It is so easy to make as well, you put 3-4 teaspoons in a mug then pour in warm milk or water (I prefer to use milk as I feel that it gives it an extra special taste) stir with a spoon then it's ready to drink. 


Cadbury White Chocolate Fingers


Anything white chocolate is going to be a favourite of mine. I love Cadbury products anyway because let's be real who doesn't love chocolate? but this is probably one of my favourite products. It combines 2 of my favourite things (biscuits and white chocolate) to make the perfect snack. I tend to eat them whilst watching TV/a film or when reading a book (I did eat a whole box once without realising but ssh). They are definitely moreish and once you've had one you'll keep wanting to go back for more.


         Simple Clear Skin Oil Balancing Exfoliating Face Wash


My skin can be quite sensitive at times so I swear by Simple products. I actually picked this up in Boots because my normal face wash was out of stock but I've definitely noticed a difference in my skin since using it. My skin is not as red or as oily after using the product and it leaves my skin feeling super smooth. I use this in the morning and sometimes in the evening as well just to freshen my skin up a bit. One of the best things about this face wash is that you don't need to use too much of it for it to work, which means it lasts longer.



Clarins Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil


This is a product I have been using for well over a year now. This is always in my handbag but I find myself reaching for it more in Autumn/Winter when my lips become dry. It leaves my lips feeling soft and moisturised all day long. One thing I particularly love about this product is that it leaves your lips with a bit of a shine, so even if I'm not wearing another lip product it can seem like I am. I also like the applicator that comes with it, it is a sponge tip applicator which makes applying it so easy. I've only ever bought the honey flavour because honey seems to work well on my lips and stops them from becoming chapped, but they also sell a raspberry flavour and a red berry flavour.


Teddy Robe Dressing Gown



 This is the softest dressing gown I've ever owned. It's from Topshop and costs £32.00 but is worth the price tag. I've practically been living in this dressing gown every evening/weekend and if I could wear it to work/social gatherings I probably would. I love the detail on it especially the little teddy ears on the hood and it's really thick so even if the heating is off you won't be cold.


               I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here


I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here is back on TV and I couldn't be more excited. It's one of my all time favourite shows and as soon as November rolls around I count down the days. For those not familiar with the show it involves 12 celebrities going into the jungle down under (Australia) Whilst there they complete in trials involving lots of bugs/animals in order to win food for their camp mates. The show is hosted by Ant and Dec (aka the best presenters ever) This year I'm rooting for Scarlett or Joel to win because they're both amazing and so funny.

Sunday 20 November 2016

15 Facts About Me

November 20, 2016 2 Comments

Today I thought I would do 15 facts about me to make my blog a little more personal.

 If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram (My username is @Barbsxoxox on both btw) some of you might already know a little bit about me, but if you're new follower/reader I hope you learn something about me. I'd love to know some facts about you as well so please leave them in the comments section.

1. My name is Barbara and I'm currently 19 years old (get the boring facts out the way first)

2.  I'm an only child (sometimes I wish I had a sibling though)

3.  I have 2 pets, a cat and a dog and my phone camera roll is 90% pictures of them

4. I really want to go to Disney World in Florida

5. My first concert was JLS in 2012

6. I'm scared of spiders (small ones are ok I guess but anything bigger than a penny nope don't even go there)

7. I don't do well with early mornings unless I'm going somewhere exciting such as on holiday

8. Talking of holidays I've never been abroad (I did go to France for a day trip in year 7 at school but it wasn't a holiday, it was educational and we went to a small village with hardly anything there)

9. I love buying presents for other people especially at Christmas

10. I want to visit Canada so I can meet my internet best friend of 3 years (you know who you are)

11. I'm currently learning to drive after putting it off for 2 years because I was scared

12. I am a shopaholic especially when it comes to clothes (sorry bank account)

13. I am addicted to watching Netflix and Youtube videos

14. I don't have any tattoos yet although I want to get a small one on either my wrist or my foot

15. I would love to live near the sea when I'm older

Sunday 13 November 2016

What's In My Make Up Bag

November 13, 2016 0 Comments
Today I thought I would do a post about what's in my make up bag. 



I love make up and love nothing more than trying new products. Although I don't always wear all of these products every single day I wouldn't be without them. 


This is my go to primer. I tried out a few primers before finally taking the plunge and buying this one and I'm so glad I did. I tend to use this product before I put my foundation on but you can use it over the top of make up as well. This makes my foundation look really smooth and it definitely does what the product is designed for which is to erase pores.


Rimmel London Match Perfection Foundation - £7.99


Rimmel London is my go to brand for foundations. I used to always wear their lasting finish 25 hour foundation but I recently purchased this one as I saw so many amazing reviews about it.  I bought it in the shade ivory and it's perfect for my skin tone. It applies effortlessly and doesn't have a cakey finish which I have found with other brands of foundation. 



Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer - £17.50

Urban Decay is one of my favourite make up brands. Although some of their products aren't cheap they're worth spending a little bit more on. I use this concealer under my eyes and also to cover any blemishes that appear on my skin. It blends really nicely and you're able to build it up using layers without it looking too obvious. It gives a full coverage and stays in place all day, this is something I really like particularly if it's a hot day and I don't feel like putting loads of make up on.


 Revolution Ultra Brow Palette - £7.99

I've never really had much experience with Revolution products but after using their brow palette I will definitely be trying some of their other make up products.





This palette contains 4 different shaded eye brow powders, 2 tinted eyebrow waxes. eyebrow arch enhancing cream and brow bone highlighter. You also get an eyebrow pencil, applicators and some tweezers. I think this is such good value for money as it lasts a really long time and gives you everything you need for perfect looking brows all for under £10. The palette also includes a mirror which I don't use because I tend to do my brows at home rather than out and about. I also don't use the applicators because they're so small and fiddly, so instead I use them to mix 2 shades together to get the correct shade of my eyebrows.



This was something I saw in Tanya Burr's Back To School Makeup Tutorial and thought I'd try it out. I bought it in the shade Permanent Tote. What I like about this product is it can be used as a base and eye shadow can be applied over the top, but you can also wear it on its own. It has long lasting power and really helps to bring out the colour in your eyes.

Tanya Burr Birthday Suit Eye Shadow Palette - £5.99

A friend of mine gave me Tanya Burr's Birthday suit eye palette for my Birthday and I'm so in love with it. It has 4 different shades - marzipan, toast, cocoa sugar and truffle.


The shades I wear the most are marzipan and toast but I also use soft truffle to define my lash line. I am yet to use cocoa sugar purely because I feel it's more for a going out look rather than my everyday make up look for work. I love all the colours in this palette and I love the way they blend together. The packaging is also so cute and includes a mirror which enables you to do your eye make up whilst out and about.



This is one of the best eyeliners I've ever purchased. I'm not the best at doing eyeliner and give up trying to do a cat flick but using this makes it so much easier to get my desired look. The brush enables you to draw lines smoothly and effortlessly, and it's easy to do a thick line as well as a thin line. It also leaves you with a shine finish which is a bonus, and is long lasting which everyone wants in their eye make up. It removes easily as well using make up wipes or micellar water and cotton wool.
Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara - £7.99

I've had a love/hate relationship with this mascara. When it first came out I'd thought I'd try it because people were saying it was a cheaper alternative to Benefit Roller Lash (my all time fave mascara) but I just didn't see it and stopped using it. However recently in the past few months I've fallen in love with this mascara. It leaves my lashes looking full and long and adds volume to all of my lashes both big and small.


If you're familiar with YouTubers you'll know that this is Zoella's favourite lipstick and I couldn't agree with her more.


This lipstick is perfect for Autmun/Winter to add a splash of colour to your lips. It is a matte lipstick which I have always been cautious of, because some I've used in the past have been so drying on my lips, but this one is the total opposite. I can wear this all day and my lips are still moisturised come bed time. In my opinion this lipstick really brings together a make up look and is so affordable.


The final product in my make up bag is my Urban Decay make up setting spray. This is a recent purchase for me and my first ever experience with a make up setting spray.  I was torn between this one and an NYX one, but after reading all the reviews and asking other people for advice I decided on this one. I'm so glad I did though as it leaves my make up looking amazing and keeps it in place all day. It is available in 2 different sizes (30ml and 118ml). I opted for the 30ml one because it was my first time buying it but when it runs out I'll definitely be getting the 118ml one.

Sunday 6 November 2016

10 Films To Watch On Netflix

November 06, 2016 1 Comments
Before I start this post I just want to say I'm really sorry for not posting in almost a month, my laptop broke but it's all fixed now so expect lots of blog posts :)

I like probably every young person in this day and age am obsessed with Netflix. I love nothing more than watching a TV series/film on my laptop with loads of junk food and drinks! So in this blog post I am going to say what my 10 favourite films that are currently on UK Netflix are (November 2016)

These are in no particular order ....


                         Angus Thongs and Perfect Snogging


Angus Thongs and Perfect Snogging is without doubt in my top 5 all time fave films. It will leave you laughing out loud and is the perfect film to watch at a sleepover/girly catch up. The film is based on the Louise Rennison books (which I highly recommend to read) and follows the love of 14 year old Georgia Nicholson, and the stresses she faces planning her 15th Birthday party and trying to get a boyfriend. 


Naomi & Ely's No Kiss List

Naomi & Ely's No Kiss List is a film all about 2 best friends who do practically everything together. They are so close they've even made up a list of people they are forbidden to kiss. This film will take you on an emotional journey about falling for the wrong person and kissing someone you shouldn't. All teens/young people will be able to relate to this film in some way.



The Fundamentals Of Caring


The Fundamentals of Caring is a Netflix original film and is one of the best films I've seen in a long time! In this film a disabled teen called Trevor and his caregiver Ben embark on a road trip, that changes their perspectives on life. Selena Gomez also stars as Dot, a girl who catches the eye of Trevor.



Love Rosie


Love Rosie is a film about Rosie and Alex who are childhood best friends. They end up going their separate ways as they get older but time eventually brings them back together, with some surprises along the way. I love how warm this film is and the message it portrays that if something is meant to be it will be.



Catfish


Everybody is familiar with Catfish the TV show and the film is just as good. I first watched this film when I was 15 and it was a real eye opener. It made me realise that you sometimes don't know who you're talking to online, and that not everyone is who they say they are. This film/documentary follows Nev trying to meet the girl he fell in love with, who of course has been lying to him. 



The Woman In Black


The Woman In Black is based on the book by Susan Hill. In the film Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) portrays a lawyer called Arthur, who is sent to the house of a deceased client to sort out her paperwork. The house he is sent to is haunted by a ghost who has come back to claim what is hers. This film does include some jump scares but is not as scary as other horror films. The ending is particularly moving and I almost cried at the final scene.



Gnomeo & Juliet 

Gnomeo & Juliet is a film about 2 gnomes from rival families who fall in love with each other. There are plenty of twists and turns in this film that the whole family can watch together. I love how it puts a modern day twist on Shakespeare's classic play Romeo and Juliet using something as simple as garden gnomes.


Bratz the movie


I was 10 when this film first came out and I still love watching it almost 10 years later. This film like the dolls/cartoons focuses on 4 best friends - Chloe, Sasha, Jade and Yasmin. It follows them on their journey through high school and shows how they each become involved with a different clique group. Throughout the film they overcome problems and their friendship is tested like never before.


Clueless


This film is an absolute classic and one that everyone has to watch at some point in their life. It follows the life of teenager Cher who always gets her own way, and her friend Dion who sticks by her through everything. When new girl Tai arrives on a transfer programme Cher attempts to change her, and ends up learning a lot about life along the way. 


A Girl Like Her


This film is a real tear jerker and focuses on a subject that is all too common these day - bullying.  It follows teenager Jessica who has been getting bullied by fellow student/ ex best friend/most popular girl in school Avery. Jessica finally decides to tell someone so confides in her best friend Jimmy, who suggests she wears a hidden camera. Jessica then does something that shocks the whole community and leaves them questioning everything. This is one of the few films I've actually cried at, and would recommend everyone to watch it if they haven't already.


Have you seen any of these films?

What films have you enjoyed watching recently?