Marc Jacobs highliner matte gel eye crayon review

Well hello to you my reader chums! A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to be sent a VoxBox  as a complimentary gift by Influenster UK and it contained 2 Marc Jacobs highliner matte gel crayons in the brown (earthquake) and light blue (deja blue) shades.

Here's my review of Marc Jacobs highliner matte gel crayons...

Marc Jacobs highliners review

Marc Jacobs are my favourite all time perfumes that I own quite a few of the collection. When I got sent these eye liners, I couldn't wait to see how their makeup compared. The eye liners are a versatile product in all the ways you can use them. I decided to use the brown liner as a replacement for my liquid liner above the lashes and to fill in the tight line. This made a nice natural change and didn't look as harsh on the eyes that a liquid liner would. I think it's the perfect look to rock on an everyday basis. As the blue liner was super light, it was almost like a white and I decided to give it a go along the water line to brighten my eyes.

Forumlation

The best thing about these crayons is their creamy formulation. As you apply it on they eyes, whether its the lid or water line, the eye liner is ever so smooth, it doesn't tug at all. It has the same formulation as an eye shadow stick, making application easy. Also, since they're a creamy consistency, you're able to apply and then blend them out to rock a fabulous smoky look.

Pigmentation

These liners have intense pigmentation and really show the colour on the pencil. With one swipe, you're able to get the full colour pay off that you don't need to draw the line over again and again. The brown shade is a very natural brown colour but as the pigmentation is so strong, in some lights it can look slightly black.


Marc Jacobs highliners

Pencil design

The Vox Box came with a booklet full of images that show you different ways to use the eye crayons but I felt some of them are hard to achieve given the pencil design. As it is slightly thicker, if you wanted to create a line above the lashes or create a wing, it can be quite tricky. However for lining the water line, tight line and under the eye, they're the perfect shape/size. I think it all depends which sort of reason you'd use the eye liners for and how much you practise you have.

Colour range 
Something Marc Jacobs have excelled in is their colour range. These highliner crayons come in a variety of colours from your standard blacks and browns to vibrant turquoises, pinks and blues. I love this range, as it lets us makeup lovers go wild and be a bit more daring with our eye looks.

Lasting power

As the eye liners were rather creamy, I was a bit concerned how well they would last on my eyes. After a little testing, I found the brown to hold quite well when I've used it on the upper lash line and tight line, however with the lighter blue shade along the water line, it didn't last long at all. I'm not too sure if that's down to the lightness of the colour or how much my eyes watered which took away the colour. I'll need to test out the darker shade on the water line to fully clarify that point. Yet, for super pigmented and creamy gel liners they give off the perfect natural look.

Marc Jacobs highliners review

Overall, I'm very impressed with Marc Jacobs highliner matte gel crayons. The pigmentation is insane, they have the most creamy formulation and their colour range suits everyone. Their lasting power can be improved a bit, however other than that, I'm excited to keep trying them out for different looks. If you'd like to treat yourself to a new eye liner, I'd highly recommend giving these a go. Thank you again to Marc Jacobs Beauty!

I hope you enjoyed this review! Have you tried these highliners?

Thank you for reading <3

Book review: 'After Anna'

Well hello to you my reader chums! I'm an avid book reader and even though I read a lot of stories, there are only a few novels that I think 'wow, this book was intense' and 'After Anna' fits that description. I finished this a few weeks back and couldn't wait to sit down and type away my thoughts.

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Here's my review on 'After Anna'...


After Anna book review

Plotline

The blurb goes as follows - Five-year-old Anna vanishes from school without any trace of where she could be. A week later she's found by the authorities without a smidge of evidence to what could have happened and Anna herself having no memory of the ordeal. The nightmare begins here for Anna and her family. It's one of those plots that have surprises and unexpected moments at every turn of the page, that you keep on wondering what will happen next.

Characters

One of my favourite things about novels is getting to know the characters and what happens to them in the storyline. Julia is a strong, caring mother figure and shows every difficult task that motherhood entails throughout the book. She's a determined character, who's in an unhappy marriage and goes to every strength (literally) to get what she sets out for. Brian (Julia's husband) is a weaker character I found. Under the thumb and control of his mother, he always done everything in her favour and still tries to make her happy instead of his wife. Brian is conveyed as a man who is content with his career and his home, that he doesn't seek anything more than that. Then we have Anna who is a curious and clever little 5 years old. Brian's mum, Edna is odd and you discover that from the beginning. She is very snobby, likes the finer things in life, and turns her nose down at those who don't. As Anna is her main grandchild she is still in contact with, she wants the very best for her including private education. As the novel goes on, you see how all these characters' relationships grow and clash with many other low-key characters coming in between. It unfolds in such a way, I couldn't believe it.

After Anna book review

Structure
The structure of this book is very interesting and gripping. It switches between the narrator's voice of what's going on with the family unit of Julia, Brian, and Anna to the kidnapper's thoughts. That switch is super intense, however, it puts you in the mind of the kidnapper and helps you unfold what actually happens to Anna. I love the way this book is put together and how the chapters reveal different information.

Ending

I won't give away the ending, however halfway through the book, I began to have my suspicions of what happens and I was correct. The last couple of chapters are even more intense than the rest of them and you discover exactly what happens to Anna. What I can say is the book does end with a happy, content finish.

Overall, I'd highly recommend this book to any enthusiastic reader. It leaves you in suspense, wanting more after every page, and has too many unexpected moments to count. The author is a truly clever and creative writer. It's a 10/10 from me.

I hope you enjoyed this book review! Do you have any book recommendations?

Thank you for reading <3

Aladdin themed afternoon tea and west end show!

Well hello to you my reader chums! I'm a huge west end fan and when I booked to go see Aladdin, I couldn't wait to see what it was all about - and I booked a matching afternoon tea too, to get me in the Disney spirit.

Cutter and Squidge Aladdin afternoon themed tea

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I saw on Facebook an Aladdin themed afternoon tea at Cutter & Squidge (a bakery) in Soho. As I was going to see Aladdin in the evening, I decided to book it. When you walk into the bakery, the staff take you downstairs to this room that is designed to look like the 'Genie's cave'. The dimmed purple lighting, glittery decorations and gold lamps everywhere screamed Aladdin to me and we couldn't wait to see what was in store with the tea. Disney music also rang through my ears from film to film so I couldn't help but sing along.

Before the main afternoon tea came out, I got a little starter, a glass of prosecco and this pot filled with candy floss, a yummy yogurt concoction and meringue on the top. I then was able to choose our tea, I went for the 'very berry'. My tea was brought out in the quirkiest jugs that looked just like the genie's lamp (I wanted to bring them home)! The food consisted of an assortment of different sandwiches, savoury pastries, macaroons, 'flying carpet' shortbread, cakes and even more macaroons to finish! Every single nibble was bursting with different flavours from coronation chicken sandwiches, feta pastries, chocolate macaroons to strawberry cake and raspberry tarts. There were so many delicious treats to try!

Cutter and Squidge Aladdin afternoon themed tea

Cutter and Squidge Aladdin afternoon themed tea

This was the walkway that led to the 'Genie's cave'. Every single decoration has so much detail and a lot of thought put into it - you felt a part of the Disney magic.

I had the most incredible time at the afternoon tea! If you're a massive Disney fan (especially Aladdin), book yourself a table at Cutter & Squidge as I promise you, it'll be a magical experience. 

Aladdin show London

After lunch, I had a mooch around Covent Garden, stopped off for dinner at Pizza Express, and then it was showtime. I'd been listening to the soundtrack prior to the show so couldn't wait to see it brought to life.

Aladdin show London

Aladdin exceeded all my expectations! With the catchy songs, bright costumes, dancing, magical staging and electrical atmosphere, there was so much to take in. It's one of those musicals that make you smile the entire way through! I also love how much humour was thrown into the show and made you literally laugh out loud. The Genie had to be my favourite every character because he had it all - the singing voice, dancing ability and greatest humour which had the audience in tears. The show was phenomenal and seeing the magic carpet fly into the sky to a 'whole new world' topped it all off.

Aladdin show London

If you haven't seen it already, I'd 100% recommend getting yourself a ticket! It's such a feel-good show for all ages. 


I hope you enjoyed this post. Have you seen Aladdin in London?

Thank you for reading <3

Annual beauty favourites

Well hello to you my reader chums! Instead of posting my December favourites, I wanted to write a round-up of all the products I've been loving this year. There's been a fair few beauty discoveries this past year, many of which have now become my everyday staples.

Whether it's a new concealer, neutral palette or a natural face mask, here are my annual beauty favourites.

Annual beauty favourites

Revlon  'Colour stay' foundation

My everyday staple foundation this year has been Revlon's 'colour stay' for many reasons. It has the best medium coverage, easy blending ability, a flawless finish and wide range of colours suited for a variety of skin tones. There's also two different foundations for varied skin types and the pump is a God send. I couldn't recommend it enough if you're looking for a foundation that covers any blemishes and gives an even look without caking up the skin. Read my full review here.

Kat Von D liquid eye liner

When I was in New York, I finally got round to picking up the hyped Kat Von D liquid eye liner. I didn't think anything could top the L'oreal super liner, however I was wrong. This liquid liner is a staple black, holds in place all day long and the thin nib makes it really easy to get that perfect wing. Here's my full review.

Maybelline 'Lash sensational' mascara

I'm not entirely sure how long I've been obsessed with this mascara, but I'm pretty certain that everyday I wore mascara in 2017, I chose this one. It's the only mascara I've found that keeps my straight eye lashes curly all day long with the darkest colour. The wand is slightly curved that helps with easy application and doesn't add any thick bits of product to the lashes.

Tarte's 'Tartelette in the bloom' palette

I've tried a fair few new palettes this year but Tarte's 'tartelette in the bloom' has to be my favourite one. There's a variety of colours from nude shades, shimmery options and dark burgundy colours, that the palette can be use from day to night. I've loved rocking simple day looks to full on dramatic smoky eyes with this palette. The colours are intensely pigmented, they blend well and lasts ages on the eyes, I couldn't recommend it enough. View the full swatches here.

Hoola bronzer

I'm a massive bronzer fan and when I finally got my hands on Hoola bronzer, I instantly fell in love. It's the perfect shade to contour the cheekbones and add some colour into the skin. The packaging is super cute and it holds the contour all day long. If you want to treat yourself to a new bronzer, this is for you.

Urban Decay concealer

This concealer has it all. The thick consistency covers blemishes like a dream, it blends pretty easily and is very long lasting. As the concealer is very thick, you only need the tiniest bit to put under the eyes or on a blemish to do the full job. It's coverage, consistency and colour range have my vote. Here's my review.

Annual beauty favourites


Garnier micellar face wash

I'm not one to change my skincare up on a regular basis, however this past year I've been loving a new face wash. Garnier's micellar face wash is ultra gentle and leaves your skin feeling super fresh. It has the ability to take off light makeup and is easy to squirt out the correct amount with the handy pump. If you have sensitive skin and need a face wash that isn't too harsh, I'd recommend this.

Sleek eye brow kit

I feel like 2017 was the year of eye brows for me as instead of just using eye shadows, I got round to purchasing an actual eye brow kit. By using a kit, I've noticed a big difference with how much longer my brows stay in place and the colour being that extra bit prominent. This Sleek palette in 'light' is the perfect light brown shade mixed with the wax that matches my brows like a dream.

Sleek highlighting palette in 'Cleopatra's kiss'

I love a good highlighting palette and Sleek always do the best kits. The 'Cleopatra kiss' palette includes two creamy and two powder based gold/bronzed shades. Even though it's better as a highlight for the summer, I found I could rock this all year round as the shades add that extra bit of warmth to the skin. You can really vamp it up to a full on highlight of go for a simple look with this palette.

Nyx's liquid lipsticks

Matte lipsticks have always been my go to as I've never been the biggest fan of gloss or a sparkle on the lips, that when it comes to liquid lipsticks I can't get enough. The Nyx's version have been a staple all year round and I've constantly had one of them in my handbag just in case I wanted a pop of colour. My favourite picks are 'Cannes' and 'Rome', both different nude shades, one subtle and the other, quite vampy. They do a whole range of different colours and apply ever so creamy on the lips. I'll be sure to buy more to add to my collection this year.

Nars matte lipstick in 'Cruella'

Red lipstick is my favourite shade to rock on evenings out and of course in the festive season. One I've been absolutely obsessed with in 2017 is Nars matte lipstick in 'Cruella'. It's the perfect red shade, has a creamy formulation, is long-lasting on the lips and keeps to its matte name. I couldn't recommend it enough if you're in need of a new red lipstick. Here's my full review.

Lush 'Cupcake' face mask

Lush Cosmetics is one of my favourite brands. There's nothing better than having a bath with one of their products after a long day. Their facemasks are also fantastic products and I've been loving their 'Cupcake' one this past year. It smells great, leaves the skin feeling ultra fresh and cleansed that I can't fault it.

I hope you enjoyed my annual beauty favourites. Which products have you been loving this past year?

Thank you for reading <3

Hello 2018 - New Years resolutions!

Well hello to you my reader chums and hello 2018! 2017 was one of my favourite years yet, packed with the most special moments, experiences and new adventures that I've featured on my yearly highlights post. Every year, I like to set a few goals and today I wanted to share with you my resolutions for 2018.


Our annual gals picture on New Year Eve

1. Have a little more me time and self care- In 2018, I want to take more time out to focus on myself and my mental health. For instance, to have more evenings where I just fully unwind with a book and bath, going on walks in the fresh air and pampering myself a little more. Even though 2017 was incredible, I was super busy a lot of the time, that I didn't have much downtime to truly relax, which left me feeling very stressed. That, this year by taking more me time, I'm hoping I won't get stressed by the little things life brings.

2. Cook more - I'm a big fan of cooking and baking but I don't really make the time for doing it on a regular basis. I'd love to cook more dishes from scratch and try out loads of new recipes this year, growing my skills in the kitchen. I see many lovely bloggers and vloggers cooking up a storm that it's got me all inspired to work with different flavours and create new dishes.

3. Live a healthier day to day life - Every year I always say, I'm going to eat healthier and be fitter, however I never fully stick to it once the first few months of the year pass. My aim this year, is to make healthier choices rather than diet. For instance choose not to have a glass or wine at dinner or pick a banana instead of sugary snack on my work break. That plus getting back into an exercise routine, whether that's a home workout or regular brisk walks.

4. Continue to visit new places - Travelling is one of my favourite hobbies and I adore exploring new locations. As I was lucky enough to visit a fair few new countries in 2017, I'd love to continue that this year. There's so much of the world to see and I can't wait to tick country off my list one by one. 

5. Be a little more spontaneous - As much as I'm a big fan or random adventures or taking the day as it comes, this year I want to put it in place more. I always like to have weekends booked up with plans or ensure I'm seeing these people this week or those the next that I forget to let life just take its course and experience a little spontaneity. Whether that's flipping a coin to decide where to go that day or just driving somewhere to see where you end up. Life is about adventure.


I hope you enjoyed this post. What are your goals for 2018?

Thank you for reading <3




The best of 2017

Well hello to you my reader chums and a Happy New Year! I can't believe 2017 is over and we're a few days into 2018, the time has flown by way too quickly. For me, 2017 was a year of change in many different ways but 12 months packed with plenty of exciting moments. Today, I wanted to share my highlights of 2017...

Holidays - I'm a massive travel addict and when it comes to holidays, 2017 was no short of those. I visited Milan, New York, Malta, Amsterdam, Rome and Venice! When I look back, I still can't believe I was able to see all those places in one year and tick 3 more destinations off my bucket list. In February, my gal pals and I visited Milan for a short weekend break, seeing all the sights and soaking up the Italian culture. May brought a 5-day venture to New York with my twin sister to celebrate our 21st the following month. To this day, I'm amazed I was able to walk through Time Square, go up the Rockfeller Center and see a show on Broadway. The summer holiday happened in June, where a group of 10 of us vacated to Malta for a week of sunshine, sea and all things relaxation. In September, I jetted off to Amsterdam for a weekend away and saw all the best sights including Anne Franks House, Van Gogh's museum, Dam Square and the famous canals. My last trip of the year was a 5-day venture to Rome and Venice. Rome was everything I remembered it to be with the historic sites, fantastic food and bustling city. Venice took my breath away, it was like walking into a dream you never wanted to wake up from. The canals, gondola ride, St Marks Square and all that gelato were my highlights.

36 hours in Milan

Central Park New York

Malta group holiday

I can now say I've been to another continent besides Europe, rode on a gondola, seen Anne Frank's house, returned to my favourite Italian city and truly experienced travelling that little bit more. 

Turning 21 - 2017 was the year I celebrated my 21st birthday. My twin sister and I threw a party and invited all our loved ones. It was the most fabulous night surrounded by all my family and closest friends that I couldn't be more thankful. We danced the night away to all the best party tunes and sung our hearts out.

21st birthday

Concerts - I'm a massive fangirl and love attending concerts. There's nothing more magical than watching your favourite artist sing live, surrounded by other adoring fans. I went to see Shawn Mendes, Scouting for Girls at a university summer ball, Olly Murs, Robbie Williams, Collabro and my favourite artist Harry Styles. Every single artist put on a corker of a show and I feel incredibly lucky to have watched them live. I also went to the Vicars Picnic, a family-style festival filled with fantastic tunes and activities.

Harry Styles on tour

Shawn Mendes tour

Meeting celebrities - I wouldn't say I'm a big celebrity follower, however, I do admire quite a few famous names. This year I was lucky enough to finally meet my favourite YouTuber twins, Lucy and Lydia and superstar model, Cara Delevingne. 

Youtubers Lucy and Lydia

Cara Delevingne book signing

Theatre shows - Going to the theatre has got to be one of my favourite activities. Whether it's a musical or comedy show, I can't get enough. This year I was lucky enough to see Les Miserables, a musical I've been wanting to see forever, Lion King on Broadway in NYC and Sister Act. 

Les Miserables musical in London


My best friends - I have a close knit friendship girl group and even though there's been a few life changes this year, I know we've still always got each other. 2017 has been a big year filled with celebrations, adventures and a whole lot of laughs. Thank you to my best friends for being you and accepting me as me.

Glamping in Brighton

Family - 2017 brought a lot of exciting family memories. There were many more meet ups, a wedding and meals out, to ensure we had that time together. I'm so lucky to have a big yet close family with all my cousins and I hope 2018 brings even more family time.


A few more favourite snaps from 2017...






Thank you to my family and close friends for making 2017 a truly special year. I've broadened my horizons with travelling, learnt more about myself and really grown within me. I've tackled my anxiety, even more, met new people and had some of the best experiences. 2018, I can't wait to see what you bring! Here's to another year of adventures, self-growth and special moments with my loved ones.

I hope you enjoyed this post! What were your favourite moments in 2017?

Thank you for reading <3