Benefit Do The Bright Thing ♡

Ever since I started watching YouTubers and blogging, I have always wanted to try something from Benefit. A while back I got a mini of Porefessional which I love, but when I was at Duty Free at the airport, I couldn't stop myself from going over to look at the Benefit stand.

I saw this set and thought it looked so gorgeous, it was also quite a bit cheaper than if I had bought it from any other shop, as I got it for £22.50 when the RRP is £26.50. I know, its quite expensive but I had been saving up as I know I wanted to buy something high end at Duty Free.

It comes with five mini sizes of some of their most popular products. All the products are quite brightening (hence the name) and I am in love. May I add the packaging is so beautiful!

The first product is a mini of That Gal. It is basically a highlighting face primer that you put on before the rest of your makeup. I have only tried it once but it seemed to really brighten up my skin and keep my makeup on for longer, although I will let you guys know more about how I like it when I have tried it more.

Next up is High Beam. It is marketed as a luminescent complexion enhancer, but basically its a liquid highlighter. I have tried it once and I am absolutely IN LOVE with it, it looks like the sun has naturally hit your face.

The third product is Dandelion. It's one of the boxed blushes and its a pale peachy pink. I like how its quite natural so its not too bright on the cheeks.

Also, there is a BadGal Waterproof Liner. It's a black pencil liner, I haven't tried it yet but it was so black and easy to use when I tried it so I have a feeling it will be really amazing.

Last but not least, is a mini of They're Real Mascara, I've tried it once and honestly, I really like it, its buildable and volumising and lengthening. Also, its amazing on your bottom lashes, although I'm not sure its as good as some of my other mascaras.

This set is such good value and its packaged so nicely, as well as all the products being the most amazing quality, I am so excited to properly try it.

Ellie xoxo

Obsessions & Disappointments ♡

There are two things which I have been looking forward to for AGES. Now they are both here I decided I should do a post talking about my opinions on both.

Let's start with the disappointment...

So, as you probably know from my August Favourites, I was reading Paper Towns by John Green. I finished it yesterday and I absolutely LOVED it. In the evening, I went to a Spanish cinema and we saw the film. In my favourites I said I was really excited to see the film but I am honestly so disappointed.

Right. Where do I start. They changed the ending COMPLETELY. I won't give any spoilers but the ending in the book made a lot more sense. They changed the whole timeline of the story and I feel like they really just rushed it. Also, they changed parts and missed important details and things that made it special.

I absolutely love the book but the film just didn't do it for me. I was especially disappointed as I had loved The Fault In Our Stars so much but this didn't live up to it. I'm sorry if you liked it but personally, I didn't and everyone has different opinions, that's okay.

Onto the obsession...

Just like Paper Towns, I was looking forward to this thing so much. And I wasn't disappointed. WILD by Troye Sivan. It's incredible. I loved TRXYE so I was so excited to listen to his new album and I love it more than anything.

I have listened to the album through now at least 15 times, because although it only has six songs, they are all amazing and I don't think I'll ever get sick of them. I can't even pick a favourite, it used to be Wild and The Quiet when I first listened to them but the rest have grown on me and now I love them all equally.

Troye's voice is BEAUTIFUL. And it's not just me who thinks that, the amazing Taylor Swift thinks that too. I was not disappointed with this, I am obsessed. And I will carry on being obsessed. Probably forever. You bet you will be seeing this in my September favourites if I do one.

Two opposites. I was looking forward to both, but only one was worth the excitement.

Also, another chatty not beauty post! I know! I'm thinking of changing my blog name (URL) as although I still love makeup and beauty and will continue blogging about them, that isn't all my blog is about and also its just a mouthful at the moment, so if you have any names you think would suit my blog please let me know as I'm currently brainstorming names.

Have you seen/listened to either of these?

Ellie xoxo

A Day In Spain ♡

When I woke up this morning, I was sure today was a staying in on my electronics day, but my mum reminded me I need to make the most of being in Spain, so we decided to go out to this park place where there are normally peacocks but they weren't there today (sad times). We basically just stayed in and watched telly in the morning. I took a lot of pictures (all on my iPad mini) so I decided to pick some of the nicer ones and put them in a blog post as it is a beautiful place.

We had to walk up a lot of steps (this wasn't even all of them) but it was worth it when we got there!

The entrance to the place.

This picture makes it look like it was horrible weather - it was so warm, it wasn't as sunny as the past days but it was still quite humid.

There were loads of palm trees there, why can't we have them in England!

There was a wedding here that they were setting up for, what a great place to have a wedding.

Then we finished off with an ice cream from our favourite place - I had Avellana (it was hazelnut as I wanted to try something different) and Straciatella (my staple, it's basically chocolate chip).

Then we're about to go out for some tapas somewhere.

That's it for this post, I hope you liked it, it was different to my normal posts but I can do more like it of you guys want.

Silver Summer Makeup ♡

I posted my everyday summer makeup recently but sometimes I am in the mood for a bit of a darker, not goldy look so this is a summer makeup look you could do which is more grey and purple toned.

So to start off you need quite a lightweight dewy base so instead of using just concealer I decided to put a small squeeze of my mini Benefit Porefessional and a small squeeze of my Rimmel 9 in 1 Radiance BB cream together on my hand and then applied them onto my face together with the Real Techniques Buffing Brush. This actuallly created a gorgeous flawless looking, light coverage base which I really loved.

Next up I will just finish up my face by adding a bit more colour again using the L'Oreal Bare Naturale Gentle Mineral Blush and set all that in place with my Maybelline Matte Maker (although some days if I want a more dewy look I will skip this.)

It is then time for eyeshadow and my eyeshadow looks change a lot during summer but this time I decided to do a bit of a more purpley, silver look using some trios I hardly use any more.

I firstly took the grey shade from this Rimmel Glam Eyes trio and packed it lightly on my eyes. I then took a light purple shade from a different Rimmel trio and packed that all over my eye, focusing on the outer half. It looks like you've taken ages on it but it is actually a really quick but pretty eyeshadow look. 

If you read my everyday summer makeup post you will know that I haven't been doing Eyeliner as much this summer but I thought it went well with this look so I just did a quite thin black line very close to my lash line and did a tiny little flick but not a big one.

I never actually say this in posts, but I obviously do these things on both eyes haha!

My essential step which really helps finish off the look is Mascara. I have tried out a lot of mascaras and this time decided to pair my favourite mascara: Collection No Clumps with the Maybelline Lash Sensational. This just created really long, fluttery Lashes.

Last but not least is lips, and for this look I picked a bright, glossy lip and used this mini Clarins lip gloss which is quite red and shimmery.

Whats your favourite look for summer?

Ellie xoxo

August Favourites ♡

August has flown past. I know I say this every month but I honestly can't believe it is September already and almost time to go back to school!

Like every month, I'm just gonna be talking about the beauty and random things that I have been loving over the past 31 (bit precise!) days.

Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer
I always used to use this but I thought it had run out as I couldn't get any product out but I tried to use it when I went to Cornwall and my sister helped me and I managed to get more out so I have been using this so much again and it is so highlighting and great for under your eyes.

Collection Eyes Uncovered Nude Bronze Palette
I picked this up around the beginning to middle of August but I have been using it so much. The shadows are so pigmented and the colours are literally perfect for me. They are all bronzey toned and there are two matte shades and four shimmers but they are super long lasting and I have been using this palette almost every day I have worn makeup since I got it.

Nivea Fruity Shine Peach Lip Balm
Sometimes I really can't be bothered to pick out a lipstick and carefully apply it to my lips, so this is perfect for my lazy days as it applies so easily and gives a little sheen of colour and shine but nothing much. This is also really moisturising as it is Nivea but I just really love this.

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm
In July, my mum gave me a load of her Clarins products to have as she had loads and didn't really want them so she gave me a load of lip glosses, a mini nascara and a couple of skincare products. Both of which, I have been completely loving.

The first is this 'Beauty Flash Balm' which I didn't know what to expect but it said to put it on before your makeup and I tried it out and it really brightens up your skin and makes your makeup glide on a lot smoother. I just have a mini but if you can get hold of this I recommend you do.

Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch
The other Clarins skincare product I have been loving is this. Again, I didn't really know what to expect from this but it claims to perfect 'wrinkles, fine lines and dilated pores.' However, I haven't really been sticking to that as I have been using it under my eyes at night and in the morning and it makes them so much better.

I can't describe what it does, it makes them smoother, less purple and stops my under eyes being baggy, as they normally are. I basically use this as an eye cream and I have noticed a lot of difference with my under eye circles when I use this.

Paper Towns
This book is great. I'm not a big reader but I really wanted to read this before I saw the movie and this is one book that I am actually enjoying. It is so gripping and there's something about it which I just really enjoy reading as I can't put it down.

DuoLingo
As you will know if you have read my post about Spain, I am going to Spain. So I have really been trying to brush up on my Spanish as we have learnt quite a bit at school, but not enough to be able to talk to everyone and basically live in Spain for a while. This app has really been helping me learn. I just practise for a life bit every day and it is great. It is free and you can learn whatever languages you want so definitely check this out.

Eve Bennett
What can I say, I have watched Eve since before she had even 9k I think! I can't really remember but now she is doing meet ups at SitC and going to the Isle Of White with Liz Earle, not to mention hitting 50,000 subscribers! Eve does beauty, fashion and life videos. You can tell she really loves it and her editing is flawless. I also love her vlogs so please go and have a watch, I'm sure you will love her!

Lucy & Lydia
These two are just great. They make me laugh so much and I love all their videos. Again, they do beauty, fashion and life videos.

What have you been loving this month?

Ellie xoxo