Just my stream of consciousness

I'm pretty sure that most of us know the basic of skincare such as; cleanser, exfoliator, toner and moisturiser, but do you know everything in between? Nowadays Korean skin care has become so popular that the jargon can be a tad confusing. Today I am here to try and help you with all of this new skincare terminology!

Toner/Refersher/Softener | Typically have a watery consistency with the aim of removing leftover dirt and excess cleanser and rebalancing the skins pH. Nowadays, you can get toners for just about any skin ailment there is, from dry skin to dull skin. It preps your skin ready for the next step by helping your skin absorb product more readily making latter products used more effective. Often applied with hands and patted on for extra hydration!

Ampoule | Contain much more active ingredients compared to serums hence why they are usually used after the toner step in your skincare routine to be the most effective and are called super serums or a booster. Due to the high concentration of active ingredients, they tend to be on the pricier size, but ampoules are more often used sparingly/temporarily as a skin rescue solution, specifically targeting skin concerns.

Essence | Thinner in consistency compared to a serum, quite similar to a lotion. Adding an extra layer of hydration to your skin and supposedly works by increasing cell turnover time, helping your skin recover faster.

Serum |  Mainly are used to target certain skin concerns such as: brightening, wrinkle care, pore tightening, whitening etc. as they are able to penetrate into deeper layers of your skin. It also preps your skin for moisturiser, so it can work more effectively.

I enjoy using whitening products as they improve my overall skin tone and my scars have been significantly reduced. My skin seems to be perpetually dry and dull nowadays, but nothing but a little whitening face mask to help brighten up my skin!

For the longest time I have been eyeing brushes in Boots and Superdrug but, I have never taken the plunge and bought a make up brush for every step of my routine. This was probably due to how ridiculously expensive they are and cheaper brushes also seem a tad hit or miss, you may find the best softest brush ever, or a really crap one.

So, seeing most bloggers rave about the Zoeva brushes, I thought I would buy a whole set! Yes, it seems a tad crazy for the first time but they were very good value for money and they are so beautiful. This is the Rose Golden Complete Set Vol. 1, which comes with 15 different brushes, for all of your needs. It costs €130, which means each brush is approximately a little over £7.

Favourite Perfume | Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy! It might not be to everyones taste because it is quite a sweet scent, but I love it. It also comes in rollerball form (which is rare in the UK) so I can put it into my bag and it is extremely easy to travel with.

Favourite Lip Colour | Lip tints are a must in the Summer for me, I can't deal with worrying about whether my lipstick is half way down my face or not. YSL Volupté Tint in Oil #6 is my current go to colour, it is a pretty fuchsia pink, perfect for Summer!

Favourite Drink | Peach Iced tea.

Favourite Blush | I know Summer is when you can bring out the bright and shimmery blushes, but I am currently loving the Maybelline Face studio Blush in #40 Pink Amber. It is just a simple matte dusty pink blush, very natural and pretty!

Favourite Clothing | This shirt from Pull & Bear.

Favourite Movie | I love Kill Bill Vol. 1&2. So much.

Favourite TV Show | I am loving K-dramas right now, especially W. (ahem I love Lee Jong Suk)

Favourite Food | Fried rice. Probably not the most summery of foods but it is extremely versatile and easy to make for a lazy girl like me.

Necklaces are the perfect jewellery for everyone. Earrings are for people who have their ears pierced, bracelets and rings may be too loose or tight on some people, but necklaces are just right. I do prefer quite simple jewellery and these two necklaces are my current favourites!

Oh My Clumsy Heart - Don't be a prick cactus choker | This comes in: silver, gold and rose gold. I obviously got the rose gold one and its such a pretty colour! Its a small dainty necklace which you can wear as a choker or lower. The message is very cheeky and its one of my favourite necklaces.

Dixi | I have always loved hands and this is so beautiful. It sits in between your middle/lower chest, which is much lower than I prefer my necklaces but, it sits in the perfect spot if you're wearing a low v neck top. The hand is small and minimalistic and compliments most outfits as a subtle quirky piece.

I may be just a tad late to this peel off make up hype, but better late than never right? Anyway, today I will be talking about the Etude House Tint My Brows and my experience with it!

The Etude House Tint My Brows comes in 3 different shades - #1 Brown, #2 Light Brown and #3 Gray Brown, which is the shade I bought. The product has an extremely gooey texture and the brush applicator makes it quite hard to apply this product evenly and neatly. Fortunately if you do get it all over the place, it is quite easy to clean off as it doesn't stain too quickly. It has a distinct chemically sweet scent which may be a tad strong for people who dislike scented products.

The instructions tell you to keep this product on for at least two hours and if you want a bolder colour - to leave it on over night for 'stronger colouration'. I have tried both of these methods and personally I prefer leaving the product on for at least two hours because leaving it on over night...let me tell you, you definitely get 'stronger colouration', I looked absolutely ridiculous. However, the packaging instructs you not to use any product with 'detergency' or put pressure on your eyebrows within 24 hours of using this product, so you still have time to fix your eyebrows if they do go terribly wrong.

The colour changes over time. Initially it is a true gray brown, but as the days go by it does start to give off an orange tinge, which isn't too noticeable but just enough. This is apparently only a problem with the #3 shade? However, don't quote me on that.

To be honest I would use this again because I am extremely lazy and it gave me pretty good results. As long as you know how to control the 'colouration', it's a pretty decent product that is good value for money!

Dry Skin Since Birth

• Flaky Skin
• Dry Skin No Matter What
• Small Wrinkles around your lips
• After you wash up your skin is immediately dry and tight
• Your skin is dry regardless of the weather and seasons
• Make up clings to your dry patches                                                

Prep your Skin

Anyway, if you haven't gathered, I am starting to use liquid eyeliner again. For some people this might be confusing because how can liquid eyeliner not be in your everyday make up? Personally for me I do enjoy my make up being a lot more natural and simple which is pretty much code for - I am a lazy sod. But, recently I have been wanting to incorporate liquid eyeliner back into my routine and I decided on the Soap & Glory Supercat liquid eyeliner.

I specifically chose an eyeliner pen because I thought it would be easier to use and this has quite good reviews! However, when I first swatched this on my hand the line produced wasn't all that thin and sharp, nor was it 'black extreme' as it claimed. You may have to go over the same spot a few times for the line to be completely black and solid. The harder you press the blacker and thicker the line is, if you press lightly the line is thinner but not as black. The felt tip end is quite flimsy so it is even harder to get your wings precise.

The eyeliner does the job and it is pretty cheap and easy to handle. I do think that Soap & Glory have actually reformulated this eyeliner? (Don't quote me on that) So maybe I have to try it out again. I am quite disappointed because I love other Soap & Glory products so much. Maybe I am extremely unlucky and eyeliner pens don't work for me?  But, I think I will be looking elsewhere for liquid eyeliner.

Yes, it is nearly summer holidays and you can all relax! Think again. You might be questioning why I'm choosing to talk about picking universities so early, but is it really that early? It is always better to be prepared. I remember the first day of my second year of college and everyone was running around talking about university applications . I thought I would make a little list which will help you decide on your university choices.

Available Courses | There are so many courses out there that you haven't even heard of. Depending on which subject you're doing, there are usually variations such as; with a year abroad, with industry experience, foundation year, etc. Look more into these and see if they will benefit you in the long run or if your grades aren't the best, taking a foundation year lowers the grades you need to get, it just takes longer to obtain a degree. For you guys wanting to do a masters possibly, now is the best time. A few universities offer a built in masters with your undergrad, which means less money to pay overall!

Grades | Yes. The dreaded grades. In this one instance, they mean a lot. However, don't feel down if you feel like you have low grades because you can do something about it! Clearing is a magical thing.

Campus | There are many types available but the main two types are: where the whole campus is in one place and where the campus is spread all over a wide area. Obviously when the campus is enclosed and everything is found in one spot, its pretty easy to feel like a community because you have a high chance of bumping into people and less chance of getting lost! Whereas if you go to a university where the campus buildings and accommodation is spread through a wide area, makes you more likely to become lost and a bit overwhelming, especially if you're not used to urban areas.

Location | This is completely up to you. Some people like to move quite far away from home, whilst others like to stay quite close. Another factor is whether the University is located in an urban area or a rural. Location is all about your personal preference!

Accommodation | There are a lot of accommodation and your budget may affect what you can rent. This is also completely up to your personal preference. Ensuite, shared bathrooms, on campus, off campus, boys only, girls only, single beds, double bed...do your research on each uni!

Rose Jam | Bubbleroon

I love the dewy skin look, so finding something to set you make up without the matte effect is pretty hard. This is where the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder comes in! It is a finishing powder which utilises 'photoluminescent technology' that emulates flattering light source by capturing, reflecting and diffusing light to improve your overall complexion. They are designed to brighten and conceal imperfections such as pores and wrinkles.

They have 6 different shades:

ETHEREAL LIGHT: An opalescent sheer, cool white powder that mimics a moonlit glow—even in broad daylight.

DIFFUSED LIGHT: A soft, warm, pale yellow powder that conceals redness and gives skin clarity—like a soft ray of morning light.

DIM LIGHT: A neutral peach beige powder that blurs imperfections and highlights a radiant complexion with the perfect balance of warm and cool tones.

MOOD LIGHT: A soft, sheer lavender pink powder that mimics the softest, most forgiving light and brightens the complexion.

LUMINOUS LIGHT: A champagne pearl powder that creates a soft, incandescent candlelit glow—day or night.

RADIANT LIGHT: A sun-kissed golden beige that enhances overall complexion with believable, subtle warmth, and also extends a summer glow.

I was extremely excited buying this because everyone and their mum has tried these out before and I couldn't wait to see how this would transform my skin and me into a goddess. I ended up getting Diffused Light because I have quite a lot of redness in my skin and it promises to give clarity to my skin because who wouldn't want that?

The packaging isn't my favourite as it easily gets covered in fingerprints, which isn't cute! It also feels pretty plastic and cheap, but it does look deceptively expensive...well it is pretty expensive. I had such high hopes for this powder, however it has not lived up to these expectations. It is a decent  product, but with this price tag it just isn't worth it. There are also pretty noticeable glitter bits when you use it and to be honest there isn't much of a difference. Overall, I may try out other shades because I still have hope, maybe Diffused Light isn't the one for me.