Music of the Month: September | Zafira
Hi!
September lasted a total of 5 minutes and just like that, we’re 3 months away until the end of the year (thank god). It’s been quite the hectic month. I started uni again which has been a whole disaster in it’s own. In Manchester, it feels like it’s already winter. There is a very distinct chill in the air. The coats and boots are out, it’s all so exciting. I think this is my favourite time of year.
Anyway, here’s a bunch of my favourite songs and albums that I’ve been listening to this September:
nectar
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joji
It’s crazy because this was only released a week ago and it’s become the most listened to album in my library this month.
I love anything Joji releases, but Nectar definitely feels a lot softer and love-ier than anything he’s done before. His songs have this upbeat-moodiness about them. Something that can’t really be put into words but when you listen to one of his songs you can hear it straight away. They’re almost in this monotone manner but still the most catchiest songs.
There’s so many amazing collaborations on this album too which caught my eye straight away. It features Diplo, Lil Yachty, Omar Apollo & Yves Tumor (i’m a massive fan of these two), BENEE and lastly, Rei Brown.
My favourites are Ew, Tick Tock and Pretty Boy (feat Lil Yachty). But I could easily sit and listen to the entire album on repeat for days on days.
borderline - blood orange remix
Blood Orange is someone who peacefully lives in my mind rent free. Dev Hynes ,in my opinion, is a musical genius. Every song he makes and album he releases is masterpiece. So when I saw he released this Borderline remix, I knew straight away that this would be love at first sight.
It vastly contrasts the original which I adore. Tame Impala is classed by some as a modern type of psychedelic rock and this version by Blood Orange has this psychedelic feel but in a completely different way. It’s dreamier and so much softer.
run away with me - sufjan stevens
On the topic of dreaminess, Sufjan Stevens’ song Run Away With Me from his latest album is now my favourite song to sit and daydream to.
I haven’t listened to the entire of the Ascension but after hearing this one song from it, I think I should probably get around to it.
It’s incredibly synth-y which has recently become something I quite like in songs these days and has some powerful lyrics.
It will make you fall in love instantly. In fact, if Sufjan Stevens ever sang this to me or just anyone I would 1000% run away with them without thinking twice about it.
chip chrome & the mono-tones - the neighbourhood
I don’t think I’ve been this fond of a Neighbourhood album since they released I Love You in 2013. I love all the aesthetics they’ve done for this album too with Jesse Rutherford completely painted silver from head to toe. I’m here for it, it’s all very Ziggy Stardust.
Although this album is a little all over the place, I like that the songs all have different vibes. Whether they’re more electronic pop to hip hop, they’re all so great.
Some of my favourites have to be Cherry Flavoured, Lost in Translation and Devil’s Advocate.
whole new mess - angel olsen
Angel Olsen is someone who I’ve very recently become incredibly infatuated with. I think I’ve seen every single live session she’s done because there’s something just so mesmerising about her voice and presence.
Her voice is very old school and retro and so full. I haven’t heard the entire album yet because I’ve been so stuck on Whole New Mess for days now.
You can really hear the tenderness and vulnerability in her voice in this song. It’s amazing.
feel away - slowthai (featuring james blake & mount kimbie)
I love this song.
The way these three artists combine their skills so perfectly in this song is so beautiful.
I haven’t listened to a lot of Slowthai’s songs but I think I might have to after this. This was a pretty personal song dedicated to the memory of Slowthai’s younger brother which is so touching and sweet. You can hear the sadness in his lyrics and the addition of James Blake really adds to the melancholic tone of the song.
call me (freestyle) - blood orange & park hye jin
Whoops is this another Blood Orange song?
Dev Hynes vocals in this are truly the most stunning thing ever and with the piano in the background, it’s almost like he’s trying to serenade us.
I’m not too sure who Park Hye Jin is but I thoroughly enjoyed her addition to this.
It’s just so great.
HIT DIFFERENT - SZA, TY DOLLA
$
IGN, THE NEPTUNES & PHARREL WILLIAMS
The return of SZA is something not only I needed this year, but the rest of the world needed it too.
I’ve really missed her voice and hearing it on this slow ballad R&B type song has made my dreams come true.
Here are a few other songs I’m also loving at the minute:
As always, you can check out my entire September playlist here.
Thanks for reading!
The Last of Summer on Film | Zafira
Hey guys!
And just like that it’s autumn. I haven’t done one of these ‘On Film’ posts in forever because my life midst this whole Corona business has just not been worth shooting on film so I took a little bit of a break. But I’m back at uni, back to doing things that require leaving my house so I’ve started shooting again.
Here are a few shots from the end of summer and this September that I hope you’ll like. This roll had a light leak so a few of my shots look a bit glitchy but I kind of love how that looks.
This is my very beautiful friend Britt who I used to shoot on film all the time when we were at college together. But we barely have time to see each other these days because we’re so busy. We had a very cute day out to Heaton Park towards of the end of summer and hung out and it was just like old times.
Some more shots at Heaton Park. I hadn’t been there for years I forgot how lovely it is to walk around.
I can’t entirely remember when I took this but the sunset was something else this day. I love the way the sunlight reflects on the white walls in my parents room in the prettiest shade of orange.
These bags were incredibly popular this year and it’s so wild to me because as kid, I used to get one of these bags every time someone in our family would go to Bangladesh. So when I see brands like Shrimps selling these for hundreds of pounds, it kind of makes me feel a bit weird because it feels almost extortionate.
As much as I love Shrimps, I do have a few issues with someone of the things they sell but that’s a story for another day.
This bag along with a few others like it were kindly made for me in Bangladesh and I think they’re so pretty.
As you can tell, here is the point in my roll where a light leak formed. I actually really love when this happens and you get the orange/red colours at the top of your photographs. I wear this outfit pretty much every summer and I adore it.
A few shots from the city.
I think this was my first day properly back in the city since March so I really enjoyed just walking around and taking a few snaps of places I walk by everyday.
This canal shot is my favourite shot on this entire roll because usually, this little nook hiding the canal on Oxford Road looks quite grimy and gross but on this particular day, the sunlight was hitting the water so perfectly. It was so serene.
What would a roll be without a shot of this cat that isn’t ours? We’re no longer friends because I was quite viciously scratched a few weeks ago whilst trying to stroke it.
This is my friend Tarek looking the coolest in Piccadilly Gardens. (sorry for being half an hour late, i hope this makes up for it)
I took these when I was shooting my uni lookbook which you can check out here if you haven’t already. Some very cute fits.
I’m starting to get back into the swing of shooting often again so there’ll be more of these soon.
Thanks for reading!
Back to Uni Lookbook | Zafira
Hi!
It’s sadly that time of year again where we all go back to school or college or university after a beautiful summer off (in this case, a corona infected, socially distanced, stay inside all day kinda summer off). For me, this will be last time I’ll have a summer off like this because I graduate next summer which is quite terrifying knowing I’ll be joining the real world very soon.
I thought I’d share some fun outfits I’ll be wearing either in my webinars or in my four hours of actual seminars that I have in a week! I hope that these looks help inspire you try some looks for this new academic year or for work or just in general.
the boiler suit that will change your life
If you’ve either been friends with me or followed me for some time now you will know that this masterpiece of a boiler suit is the most worn and adored thing in my entire wardrobe. Like, actually. I know I say I love this or adore this when it comes to clothes in general, but this boiler suit has been worn so much and was the best £35 I think I’ll ever spend.
This is a Levi’s boiler suit that I was beyond lucky to find in TK Maxx for less than a third of its original price. I wear it when I run errands, when I go out for brunch, when I’m doing a DIY job around the house (for the aesthetics), to my university lectures, just everywhere and anywhere I go. It’s the easiest thing to wear and style. It’s a whole outfit that takes less than 5 seconds to put on.
Imagine this, you’ve got a 9am lecture, you’re running late because you spent all night binge watching New Girl on Netflix so you’ve ended up waking up late and the last thing you want to waste your very limited time on is what you should wear. So what do you do? You throw on a boiler suit and run out the door. All your what to wear problems are solved in a matter of seconds and you look cute for the day.
Have I sold you on buying a boiler suit yet?
This sadly isn’t available anymore but here are a few similar alternatives:
the v neck jumper & comfy printed trousers & funky boots
If you’re a big jumper fan like myself, you definitely need to get your hands on a v neck jumper because they are one of the easiest ways to smarten up your look for the day. I think they also really help take your outfit from looking slouchy and casual like a regular round necked jumper would do and make it look that little bit more formal.
This lovely pastel blue one is from Mango and it is the softest thing I think I’ve ever felt. I’ve paired this with these super cute floral printed trousers I got from the Zara summer sale. Printed trousers are your new best friend because you can style them easily with any kind of plain top or jumper and you’re ready to go. I’m also wearing what looks like those Zara pearl boots that everyone and their mum was buying last year, however, these are just the Primark ones because I didn’t manage to grab a pair of the Zara ones in time. I know, it’s the saddest story you’ve ever heard.
This outfit feels very spring/summer-y but because you’re wearing a jumper and boots, I think you’ll be able to get away with it during these early days of autumn.
BUY THE LOOK
You can buy the jumper here.
These trousers aren’t available anymore sadly but get your hands on any printed trousers you like and find comfy.
The pearl boots are also not available but here are some very cute alternatives:
another jumpsuit?
Any one piece outfit is great for uni which is why I threw in another jumpsuit in here.
This is a Bershka pinafore style jumpsuit with this really nice retro style checkered print which are in such autumnal colours. This is a lot more formal and work-chic than the rest of the outfits in this lookbook but I think this looks super flattering on. I’m wearing a plain black, frilly sleeved jumper from Ralph Lauren underneath since the days are getting a bit chillier here in Manchester but you could away with so many things underneath this. A crop top, t-shirts, anything you want.
I’m also wearing these beautiful black heeled boots I got a few weeks ago from Asos that you’ll see in nearly all of these looks.
BUY THE LOOK
brown skirts are life changing
The star of this extremely autumnal look is obviously this amazing brown corduroy vintage skirt. I found this baby at Cow a few weeks ago and it’s technically not vintage, it’s just old Brandy Melville but I think this has major vintage vibes. I love how well this shade of brown compliments not only my skin tone but my green leather jacket (old River Island).
Something about this look screams “I’m a uni student” to me and I’m obsessed with it. It’s such a simple look that can pulled off by anyone and everyone.
BUY THE LOOK
This jacket is from a few summers ago but here’s a similar one.
coloniser-esque white collared shirts and slip dresses are an excellent combo
I love that these collars have come back into fashion because I think they’re absolutely stunning. Collars like this give me very Christopher Columbus/white man colonising countries that don’t belong to him vibes but I think they’re so pretty. It makes me feel powerful almost as a brown woman throwing this shirt on as a part of my outfit.
This shirt paired with your slip dresses from the summer? An iconic and unbeatable combination of pure greatness. I love how this looks paired with my green gingham slip dress from Cow.
BUY THE LOOK
Cow has so many styles of these Ralph Lauren re-work slip dresses, you can check them out here and find one that you like.
I hope you liked this lookbook! If you want to see more uni/everyday outfits I usually do an outfit of the day over on my Instagram stories a couple of times a week so make sure you follow me to keep updates with those. There’s a link to all my socials at the end of this post.
Thanks for reading,
Music of the Month: November | Zafira
Hey!
How is there only a month left of this year? I can’t even remember feeling like it ever began.
So, it’s December. It’s freezing, it’s pitch black when I wake up at awful times to go to uni and it’s also…deadline season. I’ve been a little preoccupied with my assignments for the past month or so which explains the lack of content over on here which is incredibly unfortunate because I was feeling like I was on a roll with these posts a few months ago. Anyway, I have to prioritise what’s important to me right now and that is uni sadly. But I have a few weeks off for Christmas to rejuvenate and get my life into order so expect some very cute things next year.
For now, let’s roll on with my favourite songs this November!
In the midst of political nightmare, numerous breakdowns, a bad haircut (might as well call me Noel Fielding at this point) and nothing but stress pilling on top of me as the days pass, this month has definitely been a highlight in terms of music.
You can check out my entire playlist for November here.
FKA TWIGS
FKA Twigs’ new album was the most beautiful thing to have ever happen to me this entire year. I remember hearing Cellophane for the first time a few months ago and knowing that whatever she had prepared after that would be insane. And it was. Magdalene has been angelic. Like you know when you see those ads of like honey or golden syrup being drizzled in slow motion? That’s Magdalene felt like.
In NME I read that Mirrored Heart ”vibrates with Twin Peaks-style synths” and as a Twin Peaks fan from the age of 12, it resonated with me so much. I love Twin Peaks and FKA Twigs so this was the best of both worlds. Mirrored Heart sounds like a deeper version of Angelo Badalamenti’s Twin Peaks theme song it’s so weird. I love the lyrics in this too.
I love all the songs on this album equally but Thousand Eyes definitely stood out the most and has probably been my most listened to song in November. It’s so sad. I think it’s about Robert Pattinson which is strange considering nearly a decade ago this boy, sorry this man, was a nation’s heart throb for sparkling in the sunlight. It’s so haunting but I could totally sit staring into space and listen to this song for hours upon hours on repeat.
2. HELENA DELAND
If you’ve read some of my other Music of the Months, you’ll know I’m a huge fan of this music based YouTube channel called La Blogotheque. I watched the most stunning performance by Helena Deland and have now officially become her no.1 fan. You can watch her La Blogotheque performance here.
My favourite two songs by her are Two Queries and There Are a Thousand. They are the dreamiest songs ever. Even in her live perfomance, I had never felt so zen. I love listening to these at night or even if I’ve had a little bit of stressful day (everyday).
3. SLO BIRD WHISTLE - APHEX TWIN (PEEL SESSION)
This song emanates chaotic energy and I love it. I have nothing else to say about this other than it’s so so so great.
4. JOY CROOKES
I’m ashamed and embarrassed to even admit that it took me this long to find Joy Crookes.
I’ve struggled finding artists that I like that having a similar background or ethnicity to me so for me to find Joy (like literal joy), who’s Bengali (and half irish) and who sings like a literal angel was truly like hitting the jackpot. Her voice reminds me a lot of Amy Winehouse which I honestly never expected.
Since I Left You has been on my mind ever since I listened to it a few weeks ago. It feels so raw and melancholic and she sings it so effortlessly. The music video is filmed beautifully too. Early, which is another fave of mine, has a totally different vibe. It’s so upbeat and catchy and I love Jafaris in this. I’ve recently started following her on Instagram too and her outfits and makeup looks are so cool.
5. SO HEAVY I FELL THROUGH THE EARTH - GRIMES
As weird as Grimes is, I completely adore her music.
So Heavy I Fell Through the Earth feels and sounds very futuristic. There two different versions of this, so there’s the algorithm mix which is the version I personally have been listening to and there’s also the art mix. They’re both pretty similar and both amazing and I can’t wait for her to release her new album next year.
6. JOSÉ GONZÁLEZ
I’ve been listening to José González for years now but there’s just something about this time of year that makes me go back to listening to him on repeat for weeks on end.
Heartbeats is in my opinion, is the perfect song for a winter’s morning. I don’t know whether it’s because the guitar strums in the beginning sound like the soundtrack to a snowy day or because I found this song during the winter a few years ago. I also really love Crosses. I think these are both very love-y songs and I love love love them.
HERE’S A FEW MORE SONGS I’M LOVING…
Thanks for reading! I can’t believe this will be my last Music of the Month this year, it’s flown by so fast.
Lots of love,
October on Film | Zafira
Hi!
It’s been a wild month. I’ve finally settled into uni after 4 months off. I’ve realised that I don’t really talk about uni a whole lot on here but that’s mainly because I have the biggest love/hate relationship with it (by this i mean i cry not to go but i still go in everyday). Brexit has been postponed. Zac Posen has closed his beautiful fashion label. Harry Styles released a new song. CO2 levels probably rose a bit. Like I said, it’s been a wild month.
But as always, I tried to capture this month as best as I could so here is my October on Film!
We start October off with this beauty of a dress.
Me and my cousins had a lovely day out towards the end of September and one them kindly bought me this dress from Zara and obviously, I had to wear it to Uni the next day. I love dresses in this style and cut because they are such classic pieces to have and super easy to style. This dress is also the comfiest thing ever. I spent the day running around Manchester and uni in it and it didn’t get in the way at all.
Can we also talk about how great I look in this photograph? Not to like toot my own horn or be a complete and utter narcissist but I love this picture of myself. Thank you Victoria!
Since these photographs were taken I have also accidentally accumulated this dress in black too.
On every roll there’s always an odd shot of my room. Here is my dad’s boutonniere from my cousin’s wedding over a year ago that I haven’t had the heart to throw away yet.
Here’s Vicky applying lip gloss after our little brunch date.
I’ve weirdly been spending a lot of time in Harvey Nichols recently because I love walking around and looking at things I can’t afford. This is a shot from either the second or third floor.
I was walking back to uni one day and ended up walking past a massive protest on Oxford Road. This was about what’s happening with Turkey and Rojava and to raise awareness. I can’t say I’m too educated or read enough on the topic to fully explain to you what’s happening but there’s a page over on the Independent that cover a lot to do with it. You can check that out here.
I feel it all it looks like I’ve done this month is go for brunch. I promise you I’ve done a lot more. This is my cousin Zahrah on our brunch date at Evelyn’s where we spent so long taking pictures of our food that it went cold.
There’s also always a shot of me drinking something on every roll now too. I’m actually wearing the black version of my blue dress here but you can’t see it very well.
I bought this Ralph Lauren tweed blazer at the Thrift Shop in Manchester for £12 and not only did I buy this for an absolute bargain but I met Oli Sykes too from Bring Me the Horizon! I have nothing but a badly taken picture on my phone to show for that but it was truly a great day. The 13 year old in me was filled with pure joy.
This is Jack being a hardworking student and also looking very grumpy because he wasn’t too happy about having his photograph taken.
We had a wedding in the family (again) so the end of this month was spent getting dressed up and hopping from wedding event to wedding event.
I took this because we were at a wedding at the exact same time last year at the exact same place and saw this exact same cat. You can’t see the cat very well but it’s been strolling around the British Muslim Heritage Centre for a year now. Maybe even longer who knows.
I love autumn so much.
It’s your favourite child bride! I really have to stop making that joke now that I’m no longer a child. But here I am all dressed up on a freezing cold autumn day.
Here’s my cousin Zahrah again looking pretty.
Daylight savings happened this month too which contrary to popular opinion, I actually really love. I like it when it gets dark earlier. How beautiful is the sun setting behind the marquee?
The Cowboy Boot Edit | Zafira
Hi!
I’ve been trying to stop myself from buying cowboy boots for months now but the more we delve into autumn, the more brands are releasing more and more varieties of the beloved cowboy boot. It’s pretty hard to stay away.
A cowboy boot is a great way to add a little unique touch to your outfits and can turn any basic outfit into something a little more interesting.
In this post, I’ve rounded up some of my favourite cowboy boots on the market place at the moment. They range from very expensive (they were too beautiful to leave out) to some very affordable cowboy boots to have in your collection this autumn.
1.INCH 2 - HIGH WESTERN BOOTS
We’re starting off with an amazing brand called Inch 2. These boots are £512 which honestly make me feel a little dizzy but they’re so wonderfully crafted. Inch 2 is a brand that I found recently on Instagram and I’m so smitten with them. They create the most stunning shoes, boots and bags and if I wasn’t broke student, I’d buy everything from them.
This type of boot is great if you’ve got long legs because it’s quite a high boot. The heel adds a little feminine touch and the colour is perfect for not only autumn, but for so many outfits. They’ve styled the model in the pictures with a cute floral dress and I’d probably do the same. I love a good pair of cowboy boots with a pretty floral dress, maybe even an oversized v neck jumper or an oversized wool cardigan on top too.
2. BROTHER VELLIES
I think Brother Vellies are who really started me on this insane obsession with cowboy boots. They do the whole ‘I’m a modern day cowgirl’ so so so well and in such a different way. I couldn’t pick just one pair from their brand so here’s a couple of the best things you could ever put on your feet. I love the mix between the animal print and doodles, it’s very cute. If one pair of these boots didn’t cost around £900, you’d be seeing me in a different pair of these everyday.
One thing that’s always stood out with Brother Vellies is their photography. If you check out their Instagram, you can see more cool photographs of their products. It looks very effortless and casual which is so different than other brands where they try and go very over the top. Also can we talk about how insanely good every model is styled on there?
3. MANGO
Delving into our usual high street and into the more affordable (kinda) stuff, Mango have been playing the cowboy boot game better than anyone else. Their range of cowboy boots for a high street store is beyond words. I can see these boots lasting a life time and being a classic piece in so many people’s wardrobes.
Let’s start off with these two boots on top which are so beautifully made. The first is a similar design to the Brother Vellies Doodle boot but way way cheaper. It’s a really good dupe and also great if you’re not ready to put a £900 dent in your bank account. The second pair are a pair that will never go out of a trend. It’s a very classic cut and style of boot.
Cowboy Leather Boots with Doodles: https://shop.mango.com/gb/women/shoes-boots-and-ankle-boots/cowboy-leather-boots
Goodyear Welted Leather Black Boots: https://shop.mango.com/gb/women/shoes-boots-and-ankle-boots/goodyear-welted-leather-boots
It was so difficult trying to narrow down 4 pairs of boots from Mango because there are so many styles, colours and cuts. These two are a little different from the previous two because they’re definitely a lot more casual and suitable for everyday attire.
The first black pair are a perfect autumn boot and are a more subtle take on a cowboy boot. You could pull these off with a dress or even a pair of jeans. They’re super versatile and are a great staple boot, The second pair are a little more daring. I love the contrast of black and white because they remind me of cows which is indeed, very cowboy. The prettiest aspect of this boot is 1000% the the square toe. It’s unique and makes the boot, in my opinion, look so much cooler.
Leather Cowboy Ankle Boots: https://shop.mango.com/gb/women/shoes-boots-and-ankle-boots/leather-cowboy-ankle-boots
Leather White and Black Cowboy Boots: https://shop.mango.com/gb/women/shoes-boots-and-ankle-boots/leather-cowboy-ankle-boots
4. ZARA
What would a fashion based post be on here without including Zara?
Zara has a pretty versatile mix of cowboy boots in this season ranging from a classic black booty to something quite dazzling and funky.
Let’s start off with the lady in red. I actually tried these on in store and had a little epiphany about how happy my life would be if I bought a pair (i didn’t buy a pair and now i’m sad and miserable) and they’re also the reason why this post exists! I think these are such a pretty shade of red, a very daring shade but so wonderful. I also love the steel toe cap, it’s such a nice touch to the boot.
The second pair are insanely good. They’re on the verge of being very tacky but I think the classic black with white stitching on the toe of the boot really help to balance it out. These are also probably the hardest style, I’m not even sure how I would style them. I think I’d probably just put them on display because they’re pretty beautiful.
P.S they also have these in black and white!
This last black pair are again, another classic cut. This is a very safe but amazing option if you want to try out the whole cowboy boot thing but not go over the top. I love how plain these are and I can see these being a staple and basic item in many wardrobes this autumn.
Red Leather Cowboy Boots: https://www.zara.com/uk/en/leather-cowboy-heel-ankle-boots-with-metal-trim
Green and Metallic Leather Cowboy Ankle Boots: https://www.zara.com/uk/en/multi-piece-leather-ankle-boots-with-cowboy-heel
Black Cowboy Heel Boots: https://www.zara.com/uk/en/cowboy-heel-boots
5. & OTHER STORIES
When it comes to classic, timeless pieces, & Other Stories is always a good choice. This black cowboy boot is such a sophisticated, smart cut and would be perfect for work. I like that this cut is in between ankle and knee and especially love how pointed the toe is. I think this will make a wonderful addition to anyone’s wardrobe.
My second choice of boot however reminds me a lot of cheese. I can’t tell if I really hate it or really like them but I think they’re kind of stunning. I wish I was brave enough to wear bright colours like orange because these boots are actually really cool. I think it’d be interesting to pair these with either with an all white outfit or even maybe with some blue denim.
Black Cowboy Boots: https://www.stories.com/en_gbp/shoes/boots/ankleboots/product.square-toe-leather-cowboy-boots-black
Orange and White Cowboy Boots: https://www.stories.com/en_gbp/shoes/boots/product.duo-toned-leather-cowboy-boots-orange-white
Thanks for reading! If you want to see more posts like this then let me know :)
Lots of love,
AW18: Skincare & Makeup Faves | The Zafira Edit
Hi!
Ever since Uni began, my skin has become a metropolis for everything that's just not cute. Whether that's a herd of acne, horrifically clogged pores or dry alligator-like skin, you name it, my skin has been suffering from anything and everything. It's been quite the sh*t show.
To help combat all of this I've been using a range of things. I usually keep my skincare routine pretty simple and try not to change it that often because I know that since I have pretty sensitive skin, I have to be very careful with what I use. Because of this, I mostly use things that specifically say they are targeted towards dry and sensitive skin.
Like I've probably mentioned a million times now on my blog, I'm a uni student now which means one thing and one thing only. I'm broke 24/8. Skincare used to be the one of the biggest dents in my bank alongside makeup because my mindset was that if it cost more then it would probably be a lot better but I was so so so wrong. A lot of the skincare and few makeup bits I'll be mentioning in this post are all things you can find in drugstores such as Superdrug and Boots.
I love Rejjie Snow. I think he's talented and just super cute. I love everything about him so when I had heard he came out with a lip balm with a pretty great skin/body care brand I knew I had to get my hands on it. I actually ended up getting it as a gift for my birthday in June from my cousin but she ended up only giving it to me a few weeks ago lol. It's such a good lip balm. I honestly wasn't expecting anything as good as this. It's made with all natural products and it's vegan and it's the best thing you could ever put on your lips. I put this on a lot before wearing matte lipsticks and my lips don't get dry at all. I use this a lot at night too to keep my lips mosturised all night long.
I'd say the mini collection (well more like 2 items but ok) of Glam Glow products that I own are probably some of the more expensive items in my skincare routine but they are completely worth it. This is one of the quickest and most effective face masks ever. I use this nearly everyday because it really does refine your pores and make your skin look so much healthier overall. I am finally starting to look like I didn't just rise from the dead and it's truly amazing. You just pump out the smallest amount and apply all over. It's a funky purple colour but with Glam Glow, you're probably expecting the most vibrant and colourful of face masks. It applies like a normal face mask at first but after a couple of seconds it starts to bubble and turns into a frothy-like consistency. I like to use this in the shower because I just leave it on whilst washing my body and then wash it off once I'm done. It's fun, it's purple and it's a miracle. It's definitely something you should your hands on.
I've never been into products like this because I'm not a fan of super brightening and illuminating skin. I always find that I just look sweaty. I bought this in a set with the other Glam Glow product above and ended up trying it one morning before applying my makeup and it makes me look heavenly. The thing I love about it most is how mosturising it is. I have skin as dry as the Sahara desert and it still keeps it quenched all day long. It's not glittery at all but more luminous. It gives you the healthiest and most natural glow. It also smells a lot like children's antibiotic medicine which is a bit strange.
Much like the Vitamin E mist that I mention further down, I've been using Bio Oil for years now. It's so essential in my skincare routine. I mainly use this to get rid of acne scars and old eczema scars too. I think a lot of people get annoyed when using this because they don't see results straight away. You have to use it quite consistently for about a month or so and then you can really see a change. It's also a pretty good mosturiser for the body.
I was reading an article online that said that this is Bio Oil's first new product in 30 years. I saw this in Boots a week or so ago and I knew I had to pick this up. I've started to use this on my face and the gel consistency is wonderful. I don't even use the oil on my face anymore just this. It has a thicker and gel like consistency so it absorbs so much quicker into the skin and isn't as greasy. I could even get away with wearing this in the day now.
If you've been reading my blogs since the beginning then you'd know all about this baby. It's truly the love of my life. If I don't use this at the beginning of my day then I can
100%
tell that it is not going to be a good day. I use this just after washing my face in the morning as a somewhat pre-mosturiser, on my Real Techniques beauty sponge instead of using of water and then in the night after washing my face. It's one of the best things I've ever used on my face and it's one of the cheapest items in the my entire skincare routine.
Once upon a time I was in Superdrug having a little browse round when I spotted one of these So...? Body Mists. I gave it a little spritz and it smelt so so so good. I ended up buying it just so I could throw it in my bag. And in present day, I pretty much use these body mists everyday. They are so inexpensive and so handy for when you're out and about.
I am a massive face mask lover. I'm trying to get into the habit of using one at least once every week. It's the perfect way to relax and get healthier and happier skin. I've started using this sheet mask from Soap & Glory and it's a literal miracle just like it says. Since my skin is super dry, this mask combats the dryness so well and makes me look like I've bathing in mosturiser for days. It smells pretty good too just like most of the other Soap & Glory products.
I have never been a big eye shadow person but I think that was down to me wearing not a lot of colourful outfits. But now I've started incorporating a lot of colour into my wardrobe, makeup is starting to become a really fun and experimental thing rather than a daily chore. I recently bought a pair of flowy pants in this mermaid green colour and thought this was the perfect opportunity to venture out in the experimental makeup world. I also saw
and fell in love with the look. I haven't had a chance to actually wear this eye shadow yet but just swatching it and seeing how well it reflects the light makes me want to cover my entire body in it.
In my entire life, I have only used one foundation. It was the Bare Minerals Pure Brightening Serum Foundation and it worked so well that I didn't even bother trying anything else. But it started to become a bit expensive using a £28 foundation on a daily basis. I decided to venture out and went for this Maybelline Fit Me Foundation. Now I know I have dry skin but after applying all my mosturisers and oils in the morning, the last thing I want to do is apply something dewey that is going to intensify the shine from my mosturisers even more. This works perfectly. It matches my skin extremely well and has an amazing finish.
I think because I quite a few products before starting my makeup or thick products, my makeup tends to cake here and there which is not what I want
ever.
A few months ago, I decided to try out this powder from Collection and it's drastically changed my life. I've found that I don't get that annoying cake-like finish anymore and my makeup looks a lot more natural. I don't know whether it's the powder or just me finessing my makeup skills but my base makeup looks more set into the skin rather than just sat on top. I love this and it's so inexpensive!
Thanks for reading! (All the backgrounds of my photographs are pages of the latest issue of Dazed magazine)
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