2017 || FEBRUARY FAVOURITES

February was a massive emotional rollercoaster ride for me. I had to battle my depression and anxiety as well as distance myself from toxic people, yet I also met some very lovely like-minded people and been really successful with blogging and university work. Moral of the story - don't let temporary people affect your future, and that hard work does pay off!

Anyway, I must say the product I've been loving the most last month was something that I've had since August and had only used it once. It is the Natural Collection Lipstick in shade Fig Leaf. I don't know why I didn't use it, probably because I have so many lipsticks I usually stick to the old trusty ones like Jeffree Star's Celebrity Skin or NYX's Soft Matte Lip Cremes. With the weather not being so great, I've been wanting to just wear lip balm but I felt like I needed a bit of colour added to my lips, so that's when I turned to this natural shade that's full of moisture that locks in all day long and it only costs £1.99! Fantastic bargain and I must say it will definitely suit all skin tones!

My next favourite (especially in Spring) is the Urban Decay Beached Bronzer. I've had this since January and been using it nearly every day since. It's a beautiful shade that instantly adds warmth to my skin and makes me look sun-kissed in seconds which also lasts all day long! It is slightly pricey, however definitely worth the price if you wear bronzer every day.

I recently bought the whole range of Lee Stafford's Hair Growth products and I've been really loving the Leave-in Treatment. I've been using it after every wash and I've noticed the difference on how much thicker my hair looks thanks to the pro-growth complex and caffeine. I will do a full review of the whole range soon.

Another one of my oldies but goodies that I've completely neglected is the Benefit It's Potent Eye Cream. It is amazing for brightening up your eyes and reducing the appearance of dark circles. I tend to use it in the morning before applying my makeup, but it's also BENEFITcial (see what I did there haha) to wear it overnight as then I wake up feeling fresh and with bright eyes - not horrible droopy 'what is sleep' sort of eyes!

Wikaniko's Moringa oil is one of my newest additions to my skincare routine, and OMG can I just say that this is bloody amazing?! I've not had it for long but I've been using it every night since receiving a bottle to review and it makes my skin feel absolutely amazing; it's so soft and reduces the appearance of fine lines (a full review will be up soon).

I've probably spoken about the L'aimant fragrance before, but I honestly love this scent. It smells great and is very dusty but still refreshing - perfect for Spring. It's also a very handy small bottle which fits perfectly in my handbag without weighing it down too much! If you're a big fan of Chanel then I'd definitely recommend this fragrance as it smells identical to Chanel No5.

What have you been loving this February? Have you tried any of these products before?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

HOW TO MAKE MONEY ONLINE

Many of you would know by now that I spend my wages as if I had an unlimited trust fund haha. I sometimes find myself having to sell my old clothes in order to buy new ones or when there's a new release of a makeup collab I have to have, then I will literally not buy anything at all for weeks just to be able to afford the products. I know this isn't healthy but that's the way I am - I am addicted to shopping.

I try to be good now, I've been saving quite a lot of pennies and even considering going on two holidays. But how do I manage to save up and make some spare cash outside of work? Well, read on to find out!

Surveys - probably the most common way to make some spare cash. The companies get paid and so do you, even if it means you only get about 10-20 pence per survey it all adds up at the end.
I've had an account with InboxPounds for a few months now and I've finally cashed out last week! You need to make at least £20 in order to receive your check and I waited until I reached that amount. Now I'm back to £2-3, trying to earn another 20 quid. This will probably take me a month or two spending around 10-30 mins a day (depending on amount paid for each survey).

Another great website to use - especially for shopaholics like me - is SwagBucks. You basically make money while spending it.. Sounds too good to be true? Well, find out for yourself! If you buy something online from, for example New Look, and go on the website via SwagBucks then you will either get cashback or some $$ put into your SwagBucks account!

Another great way to make some spare cash is by doing cashback deals from debit/credit cards. My bank offers cashback deals when you shop within certain stores/brands which is amazing as I shop everywhere 24/7.

Considering making money with your blog? I would suggest inserting relevant adverts or singing up to websites like Amazon Affiliate. This is an amazing program which allows you to insert links within your blog and for every click/purchase made you receive commission. This is great for those who do a lot of product reviews, as you can link the product to Amazon and get paid for it.

If your blog is starting to grow and you can see an increase in views/follows then I would suggest asking companies for payment for collaborations. I know this might be slightly awkward to address, but at the end of the day a free makeup brush is great but it won't pay the bills haha. I mean, I haven't asked any companies for payments as I don't feel like I'm there yet, but if I'm offered payment as well as a freebie then I'm on board!

I hope this post helped, this is how I manage to make some extra cash outside of work in order to promote my blog. So, all money made is going to be invested into blogging anyway haha!

Lots of love,

Maya xo

2017 || JANUARY FAVOURITES

Oh, have I been spoilt for my birthday this year! Turning 21 really does mean you get old - but we only get better and wiser with age!

During my birthday month, I was enjoying the Lovestruck perfume by Vera Wang which I was kindly gifted by my other half. I really love the scent of it, it's very fresh and feminine - perfect for the Spring.

Of course, a nail varnish had to make my top 5! I've gone back to my old trusty Barry M in the shade 04. I can only wear nude nails for work (boring I know) and I've been loving this matte little number. You only need one coat and it covers the nail bed perfectly! I would definitely recommend this shade for those who like a cool-toned nude.

Benefit always manages to amaze me with their products. As soon as Dandelion Shy Beam came out, I knew I had to bag it up. It's the most perfect matte highlighter for pale gals like me. It looks beautiful on its own as well as with a dust of powder highlight on top. I would recommend this to everyone who has problems with finding the perfect highlighter for them! - Don't let the price tag put you off, as this is very worth it!

Colourpop is one of my favourite affordable brands, but it costs a fortune to have it shipped to England! :( I've only made one order with them so far, but I will definitely be buying more of their products for sure. I have been using the Ultra Satin Lip in shade Barracuda nearly every day. It is a beautiful pink shade which suits all skin types and feels great on the lips. It's not drying at all and I found that it doesn't smudge throughout the day - ding ding ding, we've got a winner!
Another one of my favourites is their eyeshadows (all shades tbh!). I don't remember the name of this shade, but honestly, the pigment and consistency of these are amazing! If you can get your hands on any of Colourpop products then I would definitely suggest getting the pressed pigments.

What have you been loving this January? Have you tried any of the products mentioned above?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

CLOTHES SHOW LIVE 2016 - LAST EVENT IN BIRMINGHAM

I met some lovely ladies who work for Freya, which kindly measured my chest and fitted me with the correct bra size! Believe it or not, but I haven't been for a fitting in 4 years!! So to find out that I've gone up a couple of cup sizes I was pleasantly surprised haha! I was also kindly gifted with a gorgeous nightie in a bright purple colour (perfect for this Spring!).

There are way too many brands for me to go through, so enjoy the pictures and if you have nay questions just drop me a comment and I'll reply ASAP!

Sadly, Clothes Show Live is being moved to Liverpool and will take place in the Summer to show all the statement pieces for Autumn/Winter - I am beyond excited! As much as I love Birmingham, I've always wanted to visit Liverpool and will definitely be coming this year.

Have you been to Clothes Show Live? Will you be attending this year's in Liverpool?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

REVIEW || PRIMARK LIQUID MATTE LIPSTICK

I'm a huge fan of Primark's PS PRO beauty range (you can read my review of their other products here), so when I found out about the release of liquid lipsticks I nearly collapsed.

There weren't too many different shades to choose from, so I picked one which I knew I would get a lot of wear out of. I thought this shade resembles Jeffree Star's Posh Spice, which I've been lusting over for a long time so this cheaper alternative is basically perfect.

This liquid lipstick only cost £3, which is an amazing bargain. The packaging is similar to Jeffree Star's in style, and even the applicator is very alike!

The colour, as you can see above, is quite different when swatched than what it's like in the bottle. It sort of oxidises as it turned out warmer than expected.

The consistency is quite thick and it is very opaque, if I had to compare it to another liquid lipstick it would have to be NYX's Lip Lingerie in Embellishment (read my review here) but at a fraction of the price.

I would highly recommend getting one of these to try out, I guarantee you will fall in love with the product and the price haha.

What's your favourite liquid lipstick? Have you tried any of Primark's beauty products?

Lots of love,

Maya xo