Tuesday 1 October 2013

Drugstore Highlighting Concealers: A Comparison

I'd have to say that concealer is one of my must-have products in my make-up. Ever since the age of around 13-14, those darling hormones kicked in and my skin has suffered with some pretty serious breakouts. Also, like a lot of people, I suffer from dark blue-ish circles under my eyes.

Concealer has been my best friend over those years and one day, my Mum kindly gave me her half used Yves Saint Laurent Touché Éclat highlighting concealer. I practised with it and noticed a huge difference in my face when I applied it under my eyes. The brightening properties of Touché Éclat awakened my tired eyes and I was in love.

However, I couldn't afford this new love so searched elsewhere for a cheaper alternative. I have tried 2 different types of highlighting concealer from 2 different brands. I have compared them both against each other so that I can recommend either one of them or in fact, both.

So, here are the two candidates:

Maybelline's Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer 
vs. 
Rimmel's Wake Me Up Concealer


L-R: Rimmel 'Wake Me Up' concealer and Maybelline 'Dream Lumi Touch' concealer 


Starting off with Maybelline's Dream Lumi Touch, I bought this a few weeks ago as I'd heard a lot of good things about it in the ol' bloggersphere. This product does not disappoint. The formula is very opaque and blends well under the eyes and around the nose. It has much more of a matte finish to it than the Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer. I think I prefer the matte finish just because I have oily/shiny skin and like to keep my base very matte and let my eyes and lips shimmer and shine! I really like the brush on the Maybelline concealer as it really reminds me of the Yves Saint Laurent Touché Eclat but without the price tag. 

Rimmel's Wake Me Up concealer I think is much more catered to those with dry skin or those who just like to have a dewy complexion. The formula is quite creamy so it blends well but can run the risk of being a little too sheer for my liking. Having said that, it is great and concealing under the eye circles especially if you don't want a heavy coverage finish. It also has a doe-foot applicator which I quite like but I do prefer the brush purely because of personal preference!

So, which one am I more likely to spend my money on? Probably the Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting concealer. I feel it's more suitable for my skin type and the finish I want. The Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer is great too and I still would recommend it. 

What do you think of these concealers? Have you tried any others from the drugstore that you really rate?

Thank you for reading this post!

Paris x






Monday 30 September 2013

Little Announcement!

Hello :)

I've been quite absent on my YouTube channel of late... This is because as a student, it was my obligation to not only go to my first lectures of the academic year, but also to go to the Fresher's Week events. Now I know I am not a Fresher anymore but hey, if I want to go out with my friends constantly for 2 weeks, then I am going to. Take that.

With October rolling in and the leaves falling, I've decided to come back to YouTube with a bang. Woah there. So, this month I will be vlogging everyday in a little series us YouTube fangirls call 'Vlogtober' (catchy right?). It is essentially me filming my day to day life (which I warn you in advance, could be quite mundane on some days). I've been wanting to do this kinda thing on my channel for a while now and would really like to do Vlogmas (vlogging every day in December until Christmas Day!). So I guess this will be like my practice run of vlogging for a whole month to see how I like it.

In addition to this, I will try and film proper videos for some of the days and I have a few ideas up my sleeve.

Also excitingly, my friend Dan whom I share my second YouTube channel with (GetMeThroughUniTV) will be daily vlogging as well in October! I will be making some cameos in these videos as obviously me and Dan go to uni together and are in the same group of friends.

That's a whole lot of news right there.

So yeah, if you are interested in watching my daily vlogs throughout October then you can click here to go to my channel. You can also click here to go to mine and Dan's YouTube channel!

Thank you for reading this post!

Paris x

NOTW: Barry M's 'Raspberry'

Now that Autumn is well and truly here (is anyone else excited about the falling leaves?!), I thought I should adjust my nails accordingly. When I think of Autumn I think of dark reds and purples with flashes of orange and just general warmth. It's safe to say that Autumn is my favourite season and I'm very excited about it. 

Moving on to the topic of this post after much digression, I switched back to my old favourite Autumn nail polish from Barry M, 'Raspberry'. It's the most gorgeous burgundy red which is so perfect for Autumn and Winter. The formula; as with all Barry M nail polishes, is incredible especially for the price!

In regards to base coat and top coat as this dark polish does have a tendency to stain the nails, I used the  Rimmel Lycra Pro in '445 French Rose' and Rimmel 5 in 1 top coat. 

Here are some photos of my Autumnal nails:




Have you tried this nail polish? What are your favourite colours for Autumn/Winter?

Thanks for reading!

Paris x


Tuesday 10 September 2013

NOTW: Barry M's 'Prickly Pear'

You all know how much I love lilac nail varnishes, especially my Barry M 'Berry Ice Cream'. When I saw this shade from their most recent Gelly Hi-Shine collection, I had to buy it!

I absolutely adore this nail varnish. End of.

It's the most gorgeous blue-toned lilac that has an incredible formula and shine. When I'm fake-tanned, I'm sure this colour will pop even more!

I'd say apply 3 coats to get full opacity, but 2 will be just fine if you don't have enough time to do 3.

I have included pictures of what each coat looks like on the nails and then of course the final result.

1st coat


2nd coat

Final result after 3 coats.


Have you tried this colour, or any of the others from the Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine collection?

Thank you for reading!

Paris x

Monday 9 September 2013

Back To School Make-Up Tutorial | New Video!

I know that a lot of you are going back to school this week or are even back already! School was a mixed bag of emotions for me. I loved the lessons and learning new things, but I just didn't really like the whole social aspect of it.

Don't get me wrong, I made some wonderful friends who I am still friends with now. I'm talking about the negative side of social. The pre-determined 'cliques' were evident in my school as they are in many other schools. We had the 'popular' group who would be 'so cool' because they smoked round the back of the sports hall or in the woods, they drank alcohol before they were legally meant to. I'd always look up to the girls because of their perfect hair, perfect make-up, perfect everything really.

But in hindsight, none of those girls were perfect. I guess I thought being popular meant you were perfect?

Ugh, school stereotypes exhaust me. Don't they with you?

Make-up in my school was like a pandemic. Near enough every girl wore make-up. I remember in my science lessons, girls would have their bags on the table with their cakey foundation layered with their cakey powder and cakey bronzer. The orange look was very popular in my school, you see. I also remember that flesh coloured lips, well baby pink/white, was very popular in my school.

Couple that with the orange face, I guess you could say I went to an oompa loompa school.

Now I think make-up at school should adhere to the rules. You are at school to learn, not to show off your make-up bag.

I've created a look which I think is very suitable for school and a far cry from the make-up looks some of the girls in my school sported.




To see how I created this look and all of the products I used, check out my YouTube channel by clicking this link: 


Be sure to LIKE the video and SUBSCRIBE to see more!

Thank you so much for reading!

Paris x

Review: Maybelline's The Rocket Volum' Express Mascara

As a student, I cannot afford to repurchase my favourite high-end mascara, Effet Faux Cils by Yves Saint Laurent every few months. Thus meaning I am constantly on the look out for a drugstore mascara that will achieve very similar results, for a fraction of the price.



I'd seen Ingrid from MissGlamorazzi on YouTube raving about this mascara from Maybelline and it did look like it really lengthened and volumized her lashes. So I thought I'd give it a go...


In all honesty, I was not blown away by this mascara. I'm not sure whether it was just my lashes, but it just didn't really do anything amazing like it seemed to do with Ingrid or other beauty bloggers.

It had a thick, plastic wand which is an automatic turn off for me with mascaras. I find them (and this mascara was no exception) to be very scratchy on the eyelid when applying. Despite that, I persevered with it and it still didn't make my eyelashes look any better.




The formula is OK, nothing ground breaking either. I think the thick wand which isn't curved does let it down somewhat.

Would I buy this again? Definitely not, especially at £7.99. There are many other drugstore mascaras which do a much better job at lengthening and volumizing my lashes.

Have you tried Maybelline's The Rocket Volum' Express mascara? What did you think of it?

Thank you for reading!

Paris x

Sunday 8 September 2013

My August Playlist!

It's a fair judgement to say that I listen to music pretty much all day. I listen to a wide variety of music spanning from acoustic to dub step to rap/hip-hop.

With August over, I thought I'd share some of my most favourite tracks that I've listened to here with you.

On the acoustic side of things, I have rediscovered my love for Ed Sheeran (seriously, I love him so much) and his debut album '+'. It's an amazing album and I love all of the songs on it. I'd say my absolute favourites are 'Give Me Love', 'Kiss Me', 'Wake Me Up' and 'U.N.I.'. He is a lyrical genius and I find his songs so relatable to my life. That's the best kind of music to me.

A slightly less known artist (I think anyway, I don't know many people who have heard of him) is Francis Dunnery. I have always loved his song, 'Good Life' ever since I first heard it last winter. It has very special meaning to me and sometimes it makes me well up just listening to it, it's that powerful of a song to me. It's not just an August favourite, it's a constant favourite.

Ever since I heard 'Let Her Go' by Passenger whilst I was listening to Radio 1 and working on my first year portfolio at university, I've kind of become a little obsessed with them. It's a beautiful song and I couldn't wait to listen to the rest of the album. In August, I have been listening to 'Things That Stop You Dreaming', 'Patient Love' and 'Life's For The Living'. 

It's no secret that I am a Taylor Swift fan. I love her newest album 'Red' and some of my favourite tracks this month have been '22', 'Begin Again', 'Red' and 'I Knew You Were Trouble'. 

I have also rediscovered Vanessa Carlton's classic hit 'A Thousand Miles'. I relate to this song very easily and it's just a classic song to sing along to!

Creeping into the 'more rap but still kind of poppy' genre, I LOVE Jay Z's newest album. I love his song 'Holy Grail' with Justin Timberlake. They are just a slick duo. Love it.

Lastly, I have been listening to Jason Derulo's newest track 'Talk Dirty' featuring 2 Chainz. I love 2 Chainz and I love this song. It's definitely my new 'getting ready for a night out' song.

L-R: Ed Sheeran, Passenger, Taylor Swift, Jay Z (Magna Carta Holy Grail album cover)

Have you listened to any of these songs? What's your favourite songs from August?

Thank you for reading!

Paris x

Saturday 7 September 2013

Review: Garnier Body Intensive 7 Days Hydrating Lotion

Despite having very oily skin on my face, the skin on my body is actually quite dry and sensitive. I've tried so many different body lotions over the years but this one from Garnier is very impressive!



Along with Aloe Vera; a known ingredient for soothing sensitive skin, Garnier have also included L-Bifidus which supposedly helps the skin to reinforce its natural protective barrier. I can 100% agree with this, my skin felt very moisturised after the first use.

The formula is very light which is great as it doesn't sit on the skin, but actually does sink in. This is great if your in a rush and don't want to wait around for ages for your body lotion to dry.

This product smells great too! The aloe vera just make its smell so clean and fresh, rather than overpowering or heavy which you can get from other body lotions.

Overall, I love this body lotion and would definitely recommend it. It is available in Boots and Superdrug very inexpensively at around £2.99; unless of course it is on offer!

Here is the link to the product if you would like to see more reviews or prices:

http://www.superdrug.com/hydrated-skin/garnier-intensive-7-days-body-lotion-aloe-vera-250ml/invt/239471&bklist=

Have you tried this body lotion? What did you think of it?

Thank you for reading!

Paris x

Friday 6 September 2013

New Video! August Favourites!

I'm filming again! Woohoo!

I filmed my August Favourites for you all where I ramble on about all of the products I have been loving this month!

Please go LIKE, COMMENT and SUBSCRIBE! I would appreciate it A LOT.




Thank you :D

Paris x

Review: Avon Natural's Moisturising Shampoo

After years of colouring my hair as well as using heat when styling, it's fair to say that my hair has really been through the ringer. Whilst the condition of it now is the best it's ever been (my hair used to be like straw), I'm still always on the look out for products that will protect it even more.

My Mum gave me GIANT bottle of shampoo from Avon in a little university box she put together for me. After a few uses, I have formed an opinion on whether this product actually does live up to it's promises on the back of the bottle.



This shampoo claims to 'replenish dry, damaged hair restoring it to its natural healthy shine.' With the help of almond oil and avocado; known ingredients for rescuing damaged hair, all I can say is that it smells great but it did not actually do anything wondrous to my hair.

After use, my hair felt pretty much the same as it did before. There was no sign of shine restoration, no sign of improved softness or care to dry ends. All it did was clean my hair, which is very disappointing as it promised much more.

Overall, I would not repurchase this product or recommend it to anyone else. Having said that, products work differently with different people, so this shampoo could be amazing for someone else. However, I doubt this because it didn't help with my dry and damaged hair as it's intended to.

Have you ever tried this product? What did you think of it?

Thank you for reading!

Paris x

Where are you?

Hello strangers!

Firstly, I'd like to apologise for being away from my blog and YouTube channel over the last 1-2 weeks or so. I have been extremely busy doing 'grown-up' things (well, that's what it feels like). I recently got the keys to my new flat and I have been on the phone to various companies sorting things out.

Now also more excitingly, I've also been busy because... MY BROTHER GOT MARRIED!!! As you can tell, I am extremely jolly about that! I have been running around for the last few weeks preparing for the big day and just haven't had time to sit down and blog or film videos!

However, I am now settled in my new flat and I will be writing a load of new blog posts for you! Lot's of reviews to come as I have finally organised a system of harbouring all of my 'products to review' products in one place. Hurrah!

So keep your eyes peeled for some good reading :)

Hope you are all well!

Paris x

Wednesday 14 August 2013

A/W 2013 Fashion Trends: Monochrome!

Hello again everyone!

I'm back today with another fashion trend for this coming season. Now, this particular trend has seen the test of time and can be worn by everyone.

So what is this amazing, timeless fashion trend, I hear you say? Well, it is 'Monochrome'.

I have picked out a few pieces from the high street and online that you can try to work this trend!

The golden rule (one of many) is that every woman should have a LBD (little black dress, in case you didn't know) in their wardrobe. So, why not branch out into an LMD? If you are quick on my little pun there, you'll know that means Little Monochrome Dress.

I love this dress from ASOS.com as it is very form fitting and has a flattering neckline. This dress would be great for nights out with your friends, you'll definitely get the right kind of attention in this. It's currently in the sale right now and is a bargain at £20!

ASOS.com, £20

For a more casual look, I've chosen this playsuit that also features a lovely monochrome pattern. Playsuits are so comfortable to wear as you don't have to worry about any awkward up lifts of the skirt from the wind; yes we've all had one of these moments!

ASOS.com,  £35

This can be paired with some black ankle boots and a cute boho-style drawstring bag. The print I find, is also very flattering on the body as it's not too large that it smothers your frame.

I've also picked out a camisole that features this trend and can be easily paired with some black jeans, smart skinny trousers or even a midi-bodycon skirt.

River Island, £15
I love the print of this blouse as it is has a taste of aztec which was very popular last season. These camisole tops are also very flattering as they draw the attention to the shoulders and bust but the loose fit also conceals the stomach; if you have tummy hang-ups. If you have a boyish frame, this top will also suit you as the loose fabric and busy print gives you added curves!

Moving onto accessories, I have chosen these classic black ankle strap heels. These type of shoes have been incredibly popular in the last season and look set to stay into the colder months.

ASOS.com, £42

One piece of advice that I would give with wearing these type of shoes is to make sure your feet are well manicured and moisturised. As there isn't a lot of coverage, the colder weather could dry your feet out and cause unsightly dry skin on your heels. 


So there you have it! I hope you have enjoyed reading this post and have gotten an idea about what you can incorporate into your wardrobe this season. Monochrome is such an easy but stylish trend to wear, so don't be afraid of it!

Thank you for reading and I'll see you in my next post!




Friday 9 August 2013

A/W 2013 Fashion Trends: Androgyny!

Hello everyone :)

I am writing this post about Autumn and Winter fashion and hold on, it's August. What?! Where did our summer go? Fashion is so crazy sometimes, I can't believe that shops are now stocking winter clothes. I've just whipped out my bikini!

Without further ado, let's get into this! I have been doing a bit of research on the ol' tinternet about what kind of trends we'll be seeing in the shops very imminently if not already. Just remember that you don't have to buy a whole new wardrobe, you can pick and choose which trends you like because let's face it, we're not gonna love everything we see.

ANDROGYNY

First up, it's all about androgyny. Nab your boyfriends or brother's tailored jackets and add you're own feminine twist on them. Razor-sharp tailored suits, skirts and blazers are key this season. However, this doesn't mean you don't still look like a woman. If like me, you're a bit unsure of how to pull of this look, then ease yourself gently into it. Why not pair a cute, clean-cut blazer with a cute dress? That way you still maintain your femininity but you're still on trend!


Here are a few pieces I have found from the internet that can help you achieve this look! (P.S. I've made sure that all these pieces are kept on a budget. I understand that there's no point in me telling you about things if I wouldn't or couldn't afford to buy them myself!)


River Island, £50


I fell in love with this River Island blazer! It has the clean cut lines but is still girly with the hot pink colour and the jacquard print! Love, love, love this!

Missguided.com, £29.99


This is a gorgeous fitted blazer which is suitable for the workplace over a smart dress or even for dinner over a cute skater dress. For an incredible price, I like the fit on this as it brings in the waist and flatters over the hips.

River Island, £22


I think this hat is SO cute and can finish off any outfit and give it that boy-ish twist. Add it with a skater dress and some boots and a bag for that boy-girl look :) Even paired with a blazer will look great!


Mango, £16.99

Collars aren't just for the men in the office. Us ladies can rock a collar. I love this embellished sleeveless blouse from Mango, it's still got that masculine feel but the beading and cute pussy-bow just makes it that bit more girly.

ASOS.com, £30

I really love these trousers. You can pair them with a shirt like the model or with a cami and blazer if you don't want the all over masculine look!


So there you are, the first insight into what this season has in store for us! I will be posting every 3 days a new fashion and beauty trend for you to make sure you are up to date and know how to shop for your Autumn/Winter wardrobe!


Thank you for reading and see you in my next post! All the links for these products are down below!

Paris x

LINKS FOR PIECES MENTIONED:

Pink River Island Blazer: http://www.riverisland.com/women/coats--jackets/blazers/Pink-jacquard-unfastened-blazer-643250

Missguided Black Blazer: http://www.missguided.co.uk/catalog/product/view/id/73694/s/starla-leather-trim-blazer/category/589/

River Island Hat: http://www.riverisland.com/women/accessories/hats/Dark-red-bright-trim-fedora-hat-642599

Mango Blouse: http://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/Mango+Embellished+collar+blouse/178563528,default,pd.html?cm_mmc=ShopStyle-_-Women-_-Tops-_-Embellished+collar+blouse&_$ja=tsid%3a45090%7ckw%3aShopStyle+UK%7ccgn%3a79682&awinDCS=3100_1375888631_7860e4a7081e14c743a5a43138701458%7c%7c0%7c%7c0%7c%7c0%7c%7c751464624&awc=3100_1375888631_7860e4a7081e14c743a5a43138701458&cm_mmc=AWIN-_-Deeplink-_-NULL-_-NULL&istCompanyId=17910aed-1bae-4362-9580-b523eb87a91e&istItemId=imrqpqmx&istBid=t

ASOS trousers: http://www.asos.com/ASOS-Petite/ASOS-PETITE-High-Waist-Evening-Trousers/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=3181781&SearchQuery=womens%20trousers&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=36&sort=-1&clr=Black


Tuesday 6 August 2013

My Daily Skincare Routine!

Hello again everyone :)

Growing up and going through the wonders of puberty, my skin went from baby soft and blemish free to horrendously oily and broken out. Thanks, hormones! My skin since then has always been a problem for me and I've tried many a treatment to give it a helping hand and make it look as flawless as it once did look. My journey to perfect-again skin has and still is a work in progress but I have definitely gained a new knowledge about skin care and what works best with my skin. So, with that knowledge, I have been able to put together a routine made up of products that my skin likes and do a good job at controlling oil build-up and minimising break-outs. Hurrah!

Now let's start from the beginning, waaaay back when. At around 13-14 years of age, my skin became SUPER oily and I was breaking out all over the shop. I was very concerned that I was going to experience the same level of acne that my older brother had when he was my age. Thankfully, mine was not as severe but it still made me self-conscious and unhappy. So, with very little knowledge about skincare, I went out and bought a few products that were very harsh on my skin. Whilst they dried up my spots, they also dried out the rest of my skin that wasn't affected. I thought having oily skin was bad, but having extremely dry skin that was difficult to hydrate again was horrible!

I then decided to go a little easier on my skin and work with less abrasive products. As I was still a teenager, I didn't want to spend a load of money on products that I didn't have much knowledge about. Plus the fact that I wanted to spend my money on clothes, shoes, handbags etc etc. I guess I had other priorities at that age.

Fast forward to now. I'm 20 years old and I still have problem skin. However, I have discovered an array of products that have been a blessing to me and my skin.

I've now done away with facial wipes as I have learnt that they don't actually help remove all of the make-up from our skin. Thinking about it, a percentage of my break outs are due to make-up residue clogging my pores! So, I have been trying out Micellar waters. My last post you will have seen that I reviewed the B. Pure Micellar Solution. I do like this product but it did sting my eyes a little. I saw MissGlamorazzi (over on YouTube) rave about the L'Oréal Paris Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution. I've been using it for about 5 days now and I really like it, it's very gentle around the eyes which is great and it's really good at removing make-up. I've also changed to using the cotton pads from the baby section in Boots. They're the same price I think as the normal ones but twice the size!



Once I've used the micellar water, I move on to a scrub. I use the Simple Oil-Balancing Scrub to remove any dead skin that could clog up my pores and generally freshen my skin up. It's a creamy consistency and gentle enough to use everyday. When I need something a bit more abrasive, I will use the Lemon and Aspirin DIY mask I blogged about a few weeks ago. This is more 'gritty' and I'll do this as an end of week or Sunday treatment just to really clean my skin.




So now I'm all scrubbed and feeling fresh, I will move on to moisturiser. I have used a range of moisturisers that have all claimed to be oil-free but these have been from budget brands and I can assure you, they are NOT oil-free. I broke out with them like no one's business! I decided to spend a little more money on a higher end brand. I fell in love with the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo earlier this year thanks to the matte finish it gave my skin and the way it controlled excess sebum (that really is a horrible word). I revisited the stand in Boot's and decided to go for the Effaclar Mat Sebo-Regulating Moisturizer, which if memory serves me correctly, is priced at £13.50. Not breaking the bank I know, but it's still more than my teenage self would be prepared to pay! I've got to say, I do adore this moisturiser! It's specially formulated for oily-skin and just does an absolutely great job! I will definitely re-purchase this when it run's out!


There you have it! I'm still wanting to try out different products for my skin. I do want to venture into the conspicuous world of eye creams as I am quite honestly terrified of wrinkles and not looking as youthful (ha, says the 20 year old).. but you know what I mean!! Do you have any recommendations for me?

I would also like to try some of the Michael Todd skincare products as I've heard a lot about them and they look really effective! Plus I love anything organic! If you have tried them and have oily skin like me, what were your favourite products?

Thank you for reading and I will see you soon on here or on my YouTube channel!

Paris x

Monday 5 August 2013

REVIEW: B. Pure Micellar Water

Hello everyone :)

I've been trying to branch away from using face wipes to remove my make-up simply because they do a good job on the surface, I still go to bed with make-up on which the wipe hasn't removed.

I've always known about Bioderma and the wonders it does for beauty bloggers and vloggers alike but it is not readily available in the UK... yet. So I saw this little bottle by the brand B. Pure in Superdrug and I thought I'd give it a whirl!




It does a good job of removing all traces of make-up from my face that a face wipe could not. It also has an added bonus of cleansing the skin as well. I use cotton pads with this product and with my eye make-up, I will leave the pads on my eyes to dissolve my mascara and eyeliner rather than rubbing at the sensitive skin around my eyes. One word of warning and whilst it may seem obvious, make sure your eyes are completely shut when applying to your eyes as it will sting slightly when in contact with eyes.

The product feels very clean and fresh on the skin which is great for when you've been wearing make-up all day and you just want to have that fresh feeling again.

Overall, this is a lovely little product and I would recommend this if you too are new to beauty waters and don't want to splash out on a high-end product that may not work for you.

You can buy the B. Pure Micellar Water at Superdrug for £3.49 (Bargain!)

Thank you for reading this post and let me know if you have tried this and what you thought of it! :)

Paris x

Saturday 3 August 2013

July Favourites! New YouTube Video!

Helloooo :D

So with August upon us, it's time for my July Favourites! I just uploaded the video to my beauty channel where I chat about my favourite make-up, skincare, fashion and music picks from July.




I hope you enjoy it and like the video, subscribe to see more of my ramblings :)

Paris x

Monday 29 July 2013

New YouTube Video! Everyday Make-Up Tutorial

Hello lovelies! (Is that how you spell it? I'm not entirely sure)

I have just finished editing a BRAND SPANKING NEW video for my YouTube video for my beauty channel. I wanted to start doing more make-up tutorials so I thought I'd start off easy and make a video of me doing my everyday make-up. This make-up is not ground-breaking, it's just very simple :) But give me time, I will soon create some more colourful, more exciting looks.

Here is the link to the video on my channel where you'll see the video:




Please subscribe to my channel and 'LIKE' the video and comment on them saying 'Hi!' and that my blog sent you ;)

This week there are a lot of reviews coming up so stay tuned!

Thank you for reading :)

Paris x

Saturday 27 July 2013

The Beauty Blogger Tag!

1. Is your hair naturally curly or straight?
My hair has always been naturally straight with one wave at the back of my head. Although when I go to bed having just washed my hair, I will wake up with curly hair. 

2. Do you dye it yourself or go to a salon?

I've only ever gone to a salon twice before to have my hair professionally coloured. The first time it went wrong and I went elsewhere to get it fixed. Every other time I've coloured my hair, my Mum has done it for me. She used to be a hairdresser when she were younger so we would go into the hair dye shop (best way I can currently describe it haha) and buy tubes of tint and mix it with a developer.

3. Do you wear the same style everyday, or do you change it?

I usually do wear my hair straight everyday just because that it how it will go naturally or I just find it easier to straighten than curl. Plus my hair can struggle with keeping a curl so I usually don't bother.

4. Do you do your own mani/pedi or go to a salon?

I do my own mani/pedi's. I'd rather do it myself than pay out for someone else to do it because I can do it myself pretty well.

5. How often do you change your nail polish?

Writing a blog and featuring NOTW posts, I usually change my nail polish about 2 times a week. 

6. Do you polish your toes in the winter or just the summer?

I can't bear to have my toes unpolished so they are always done all year round :)

7. How long does it take for you to put on makeup?

If I take my time, it'll take like 25 mins. If I'm in a rush, it'll take about 10 mins. I'm more concerned with my base rather than my eyes.

8. What do you do first? Face or eyes?

I do the face first because I like to make sure I have the most coverage but still looks as natural as possible.

9. Do you collect makeup or just buy what you need when you need it?

I usually just buy when I need it but if something catches my eye, which can be very often in one given time then I will collect it. 

10. How often do you wear false eyelashes?

I will only ever wear eyelashes if I am filming, creating a make up look for my blog or going on a night out. They can be a bit of a faff (technical term there) on day to day business.

11. Do you do a full face of makeup everyday?

Not everyday. Sometimes I will just ditch the make up bag because I like to give my skin a break. But for everyday I usually wear just a very simple face base with a slight smoky brown eye. Nothing crazy.

12. Do you wear makeup when you're home alone or with family?
When I am home alone, I will usually not wear make-up at all. With family, I will put it on if it's a family party or something. If it's me going to my Mum's to do her hair and use the cross trainer, I won't bother.

13. Will you leave the house without makeup?
Yes of course! I'm not really bothered about people seeing me with no make-up. My Mum was always like "But what about when you meet guys?" and my simple response is that my future boyfriend/husband should find me beautiful if I've got make-up on or not :)

14. How many high-end products do you have?
Hmm... Not many. I don't usually buy a lot of high end products because I don't have the money to justify spending what I have on expensive products. Any high end products I do have are usually gifts from my Dad when he's been away on business and gets them from duty-free.

15. Do you plan your OOTD every night or decide when you're getting dressed?
Honestly, no. By the time I get into bed, I'm waaaaay too busy thinking about other stuff like what I'm actually doing the next day and things like that. Or I'll be scrolling incessantly on Tumblr, playing games or checking my Twitter feed. Some nights, I hit the pillow and I'm off.

16. How often do you change your handbag?
When I was younger, I used to change my handbag EVERYDAY. I had a bit of a problem when it came to handbags... Obsession, if you will. Now I only change my handbag if I want a big one or a small one. But my main handbag (the massive tan Primark one) has and probably will be my main handbag for a while. 

17. What time do you wake up and go to sleep?
It depends. My cat will wake me up at 5am every morning and then I'll fall back to sleep until about 9am. I go to sleep at about 11:30pm-midnight. If I need to wake up early, then I have no problem with that. I just like my sleep :)

18. How often or when do you workout?
I try to work out 4 times a week. Sometimes this works and sometimes it doesn't. I eat healthily though so I don't feel too guilty.

19. Left handed or right handed?
Righty :)

20. How tall are you?
5"2? I'm a shorty regardless.

21. Do you speak any foreign languages?
Not fluently. I can speak a bit of French and Spanish.

22. How many pets do you have?
I have a cat who lives with my Dad and a dog who lives with my Mum :)

23. How often are you on Blogger?
Everyday!

24. Do you read comments posted on blogs?
Of course! How else are we supposed to communicate with each other?

25. Do you keep a list of products to try as you see other posts?
Yeah I do. Not a physical list but a mental one.

26. How did you come up with your blog name?
Well, I wanted this blog to be predominantly a beauty blog (like my YouTube channel), which it still is, but it slowly evolved into a blog about me and my life. So 'Vie De Paris' means 'Life of Paris' in French.

27. What kind of camera do you use for your photographs?
I used to use my iPhone 4S and most recently I have been using my friends Canon 500D

28. How often do you clean your house?
Living with my Dad, I don't usually clean the house. I clean my bedroom but he is such a clean-freak with major OCD that I just let him clean the house because I know he'll never be satisfied if I clean it.

29. What's your favorite color?
Purple :)

30. Do you swear?
Yeah I do, not ridiculously. And never in front of my parents or family.

31. What are you doing with the rest of your day?
I will be writing a few more blog posts, getting ready for work and going to work. Yay!



Thank you for reading this post (I understand that it's a long one!)

Paris x

Monday 22 July 2013

What's in my make-up bag? New YouTube Video!

Whilst watching the news eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Royal baby (I'm quite the Royal enthusiast if you didn't know), I took the opportunity to film a quick video and upload it today :) I'm so happy to be back filming and editing regularly!

So here is the video - a peek into my make-up bag. Please like the video and comment saying hello :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_g7TTwfhe3s


Thank you for reading and I'll see you all soon!

Paris x

Monday 15 July 2013

DIY Skincare #1: Aspirin and Lemon Juice Mask/Exfoliator!

Hello again! Apologies for my absence, life has happened and I've been super busy! Little update for you: I'm back at home with family, seeing lots of my closest friends, working to save a bit of extra money for my flat and generally having a nice, chilled out summer!

Whilst I was away from my blog, I was brainstorming some new posts. With the hotter weather in the UK (I almost can't believe it either), my skin has been SUPER oily and make-up (when I bother to put it on) just slides right off within a couple of hours. So I decided to try something different and spend a little less money on store products that promise to fix my problem skin and fade my acne scars. I've always been really interested in natural home remedies for treating skin problems. Also, as I am eating healthier I am seeing some benefits but surely any natural exterior remedies must be a further benefit, right?

Over the next 4 weeks, I will be trying out 4 different face masks/exfoliators all concocted from various ingredients typically found in our kitchen cupboards. Little detail here: I have very oily skin, large pores and acne scarring etc. These remedies are specifically for oily skin and would not be suitable for dry skins and maybe even combination skins. However, some oily skins out there may not see the same results as I do as we all have different skins that respond in very different ways. Just thought I'd slip that in just so you are aware.

Okay so first up is the Aspirin and Lemon Juice mask. Now, I've also labelled it as a exfoliator because of the texture and personal opinion. Some of you will think of it as a mask, some will not.

Here are the ingredients you will need:


  • 3-6 aspirin tablets (these can be bought very cheaply in any supermarket or drugstore)
  • 1-2 tbsps of lemon juice
Note: 3 aspirin will require 1 tbsp of lemon juice and 6 aspirin will require 2 tbsp.


I was recommended to use aspirin by my brother who also suffered from a more severe case of acne when he was a teenager. We all know aspirin is predominantly used as an anti-inflammatory when taken orally but it does actually have benefits for the skin too! Due to these anti-inflammatory properties, it can help with aiding discolouration from acne and redness. It also contains salicyclic acid which is a proven ingredient to reduce the occurrence of acne. Having said all this, if you are allergic to aspirin, do NOT put it on your skin. It will sink into your pores and possibly cause an allergic reaction. Always check with your doctor before using it.

Lemon juice is also very good for the skin. If you mix it with warm water and drink it, it will detoxify your body of all those nasty toxins that are often come through the skin in the form of spots and pimples. It contains vitamin C which helps to build up your skins levels of collagen which prevents aging. If you are losing weight or trying to (as I am), lemon is great for keeping your metabolism high which means you'll digest your food quicker. There is honestly so much you can do with a lemon! I never thought I'd be saying that... What I'm trying to say is that it is damn good stuff and has amazing benefits for your skin inside and out! Hurrah!

Now that I've rambled on about how great aspirin and lemon juice is for your skin, you want to see some cold hard evidence and real opinions, right? Well here you go... (Note: all these photos were taken with my iPhone as I do not have access to my friends shiny and lovely Canon camera for the rest of the summer)

So here is my skin before I applied the mask:

You cannot tell a great deal from this picture except that my skin looks a little shiny and there is quite a bit of redness from spots and scarring.
And here is me with the mask on:


And here is me after I'd rinsed it off:


Here are a few pictures of the process so you can get an idea of what it's like:




So, what do I think of the results?

  1. My skin feels a lot softer afterwards due to the aspirin building up with the lemon to get rid of the dead skin cells.
  2. The consistency was very rough so probably not suitable for very sensitive skin.
  3. The mask sticks to the skin very well so no worry of it slipping and sliding off the face.
  4. Must be careful not to get fall out into your eyes when applying to the forehead.
  5. 6 aspirin and 2 tbsp of lemon juice is more than enough for 1 person. I'd say 3 aspirin with 1 tbsp is enough.
  6. I could feel my skin tighten but not too heavily that it was uncomfortable; more like it was doing it's job.
  7. More of an exfoliant that you would use once a week rather than a soothing and relaxing mask.
  8. Matte finish which is a massive plus for me!
  9. Doesn't leave the skin tight- just very fresh and rejuvenated!

Overall, I really like this face mask/exfoliant and I really like the results it gave! I would highly recommend this to anyone who has very oily skin like mine and is fed up of spending loads of money on store products that don't do that great of a job. In the grand scheme of things, I'd rather spend under a £1 on this than maybe 10x the price on a product that might not even work!

I hope you have enjoyed reading this post and I will be back next week with another D.I.Y. skincare remedy for you all!

Let me know if you have tried this face mask and what you thought of it!

Have a wonderful week!

Paris x

Thursday 4 July 2013

My Hair Care Routine!

Hellooooo everyone! Today's post is all about hair. I have probably dyed my hair over 50-75 times in my lifetime (I'm only 20 years old!) and I've been all sorts of hair colours. From a dark brown almost black to platinum blonde and every colour in between. 

I have quite long hair now and it's very thick. I guess that bowl cut I had when I was 3 years old really did help my hair thicken out. Thanks, Mum.

Now I have embraced my natural hair colour which is a coppery strawberry blonde and haven't coloured it in over a year! This has done the world of wonders for my hair because colouring ruined my hair and now it's pretty well hydrated and soft. 

However, I do still style my hair with heat so it's still very important for me to find products that protect my hair from the heat, as opposed to colouring as well. 



I have loved the Herbal Essence shampoo and conditioner ranges for years. I always switch between different ones to test them out and see which one are best for my hair. When I used to colour my hair as well as heat styling, I had to use very intensive conditioners and hydrating shampoo to help give my hair a boost. However, take away the colouring and now I don't need as much hydration. 

The 'Beautiful Ends' range is my favourite because it smells AMAZING (a huge factor for me), lathers really well so it feels like it's really cleaning my hair and it's ideally suited for my hair length and type as I do suffer with split ends; largely because of heat styling. I know Herbal Essences is known for using silicone's in their products which give the hair the feel that it's nourished when it's just a cover over the hair but it honestly makes no odds to me. It does the job and that all I ask.


As I have long hair which is INCREDIBLY thick (this is no exaggeration, my hair is like a lion's mane!) it can get very tangled after it's been washed and bunged up in a towel to dry. Therefore, I need a good product that I can spritz in to get rid of these tangles but doesn't rip my hair out. I used this product from Aussie years ago and the smell always reminded me of banana muffins. After a few years of not using it and venturing into other detanglers, I decided to go back to it because it was a genuinely great product and I just adored the smell as well as the results it gave. 

Another great feature about this product is that it also have protective properties that help the hair from heat. This is great for blow-drying because it takes forever with my hair because it is so thick and acts like a sponge when it's in contact with water!


Lastly for when I want to straighten or curl my hair, I used the L'Oreal Paris Elnett Satin heat protectant. I use the straight formula just because I have my hair straight most of the time. I loved the Elnett hairspray and have done for years so was really intrigued to see what this would be like. I wasn't disappointed. I love the smell of this product and it spritz' so finely that it doesn't feel like it's weighing the hair down or dousing it with more moisture, which could make it greasy. I definitely think it does a good job of protecting the hair. However, I always remember that I am combining a lot of hair protectant properties in all these products so there's going to be some substantial protection going on!

So there you have it! Have you used any of these products? What are your holy grail hair care products?

Thank you for reading this post!

Paris x

Monday 1 July 2013

Motivational Monday!

Happy Monday!

I'm back today with a new post for you to get you motivated! I picked this favourite from Tumblr because I think it speaks a lot of truth. I find it very easy to try to stick my head in the sand and pretend like everything is OK when it's not. This does me no favours and it's a habit I'm trying to break. The best way to break this habit I find, is to accept the bad as well as the good. Yes, bad things happen and it feels horrible but you have to accept and say to yourself, "Yeah I feel rubbish that that's happened but it's OK, everything will be fine." So, I guess this quote by the filthily good-looking Johnny Depp is don't be afraid of feeling things that you don't want to or that you shouldn't. You're feeling them for a reason. Just figure out how to deal with them and you're on your way!


these-times-will-pass:

Love quotes? you will love this blog

Thank you for reading this post!

Paris x

Friday 28 June 2013

My Pamper Night Essentials!

Everyone loves a pamper night once in a while. I always make sure to have at least 1 a week where I completely relax and indulge in some 'me time'. A pamper night is the best way to unwind and feel good about yourself after a long week at work or even a long day of studying!

Here are the products I use when I have a pamper night:

(L-R: Boots Extracts Coconut Body Butter, B. Pure Micellar Water, Simple Clear Skin Oil Balancing Facial Scrub, Neutrogena Visibly Clear Pink Grapefruit Facial Wash, Bic Soleil Lady Gel in Aloe Vera & Vitamin E and just a standard razor!)


I use all these products usually on a mid-week pamper session because I usually don't have time to go all out and spend a long time pampering myself. Maybe I'll do a post in the future on my 'all out pamper evening'? We'll see.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this post and let me know of the products you use when you're pampering yourself!

Thank you for reading!

Paris x

Thursday 27 June 2013

Shopping Haul!

So I went shopping... and got quite a few things... Naughty Paris!

I went to Topshop, H&M, Primark and New Look; these are the places where you'll find me as they are very student-budget friendly ;) Okaaaaay, so without further ado, here's everything I bought!









An all round successful shopping trip! I am particularly in love with that statement necklace from New Look!

Thank you for reading this post and comment below if you want to know where some of these things are from!

Paris x