REVIEW || LANCOME HYPNOSE MASCARA & LANCOME BONUS TIME - IS THIS THE ONLY TIME YOU SHOULD PURCHASE LANCOME PRODUCTS?

Lancôme is one of the most known and loved high-end beauty brands out there and there is a good reason for it. They sell their Hypnose mascara every 15 seconds across Europe and you can’t blame people for stocking up on this beauty.

I don’t want to give too much away from this review just yet so carry on reading for my opinion on this mascara and whether it’s worth your money.

The packaging:

I believe that the brand is known for its very luxurious and sleek packaging and this product does not disappoint. The mascara handle is narrow on the tip making it easy to grip and manoeuvre for the most precise application. I like holding the mascara by the tip to add on extra volume after applying the first coat.

The wand is quite thick with a lot of bristles for more precise application. The bristles are quite short which allows the wand to get very close to the lash line for a ‘false-lash with liner’ effect.

The formula:

The formula of the Hypnose mascara is different to most I’ve tried before as it applies absolutely beautifully from the first use up until the last, meaning that even when it dries out it still works just as well as it did the very first time I used it. The product doesn't feel sticky, it feels more smooth and creamy to touch (yes, I have touched the actual mascara to check the texture).

The longevity:

I have currently been using the travel size version of it which I received as a part of the free gift with purchase, and I must say it has lasted me nearly two months! I was told that a full-size mascara should be replenished every 8-10 weeks because of the hygiene reasons and best effect but it can usually last me around 4 months with daily use so I tend to pick up two every time they’re on gift! The product itself lasts all day/night long on my lashes and doesn't seem to wear off at all. Having very fair blonde lashes I find some mascaras difficult to cover my full lashes as no products ever seem to reach the roots of my lashes, but this mascara is definitely the best one I have tried so far that gently combs over my natural lash and defines my eyes without clumping.

The Overall Verdict:
Obviously, if you are reading this review then you are already considering whether to purchase the Hypnose mascara or not. Let me make this decision a lot easier for you - BUY IT. Try it out, if you don't like it or feel like it's not doing anything for you then return it back to the retailer, but I promise you that you will not be disappointed with this product. £25 might seem like a lot to spend on a mascara but this can last you up to 6 months which will only make it £4.30ish a month which will actually save you a lot of money as you don't need many coats of the product for the desired effect, but you might go through one drugstore mascara a month which will cost you £10-£12 a month.

Lancome Bonus Time - Gift with Purchase
To be honest with you, I didn't even know what 'gift with purchase' was until I started working in the beauty industry. I always assumed that high-end makeup brands never offered any samples or gifts, so I stayed within my budget and continued to purchase drugstore branded makeup. After finding out about the bonus time I was in shock because you could actually receive nearly £200 worth of free gift just by picking up your favourite products! I know I will most likely only purchase Lancome products when they have bonus time unless I run out of my beloved Hypnose mascara then I will just have to buy it anyway, but I know it's worth every penny!

I usually buy my makeup from House of Fraser in Nottingham as I want to support my friends and their businesses in the store. I believe that Lancome has bonus time twice a year - once in March and once in September. This year was the first year I bought enough Lancome items in one transaction to qualify for the free gift with my purchase. In March I bought two sets of the Hypnose mascara as I know how much I love the product and as the third item I bought the Honey Foaming Cleanser which melts makeup away (it's great).

As a free gift, I received:
- full-size Micellar water £23.50
- full-size Rose Sugar scrub £30
- travel size Hypnose mascara £8
- travel size Genifique serum £11
- sample size Teint Idole Ultra Wear foundation £5.50
- travel size La Vie Est Belle perfume £7
- travel size Absolue day cream £39
- travel size Absolue night cream £45
- travel size lipstick £10

More recently, in September, I purchased a Monsieur Big mascara set, Gel Eclat cleansing gel, and Creme Mousse foaming face wash. This time I already knew that I really liked the honey cleanser and thankfully it was a part of the free gift this time around so I thought I'd try something else.

As a free gift, I received:
- full-size Honey Foaming Cleanser £24
- full-size Hydra Zen Jelly mask £31
- travel size Hypnose mascara £8
- travel size Genifique serum £11
- sample size Teint Idole Ultra Wear foundation £5.50
- travel size Hydra Zen day cream £12
- travel size Hydra Zen night cream £13
- travel size comforting toner £8.50

I really hope that this post has helped you decide if Hypnose if the best mascara for you, I absolutely love it and I can't imagine myself replacing it with any other mascara, but I cannot wait to try the Monsieur Big mascara as this is my Mum's favourite.

Have you tried any of the products mentioned above? Would you recommend any other Lancome items for me to try for my next purchase?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

REVIEW || KERASTASE ELIXIR ULTIMATE OLEO-COMPLEXE 6 SHAMPOO & BALM

Kerastase is one of those brands who not a lot people speak about as they are on the pricey side of hair care products, but I can never resist buying new products to try out and see whether they are actually worth their high price tag. Now, these two retail between £20-£30 which seems ridiculous for a shampoo and an oil balm, as I usually go for products like VO5 which only cost around a quid and do a great job.

The balm has a weird consistency, it's like the Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream but dry? It makes my hair feel matted, but at least I get to wash out the product soon after applying it. I have used it several times but I'm not the biggest fan of it. The texture is odd and I don't think it does anything for my hair -I have definitely tried better products. I also don't see the point in using a hair treatment on dry hair? Not sure if it's just me, but isn't a treatment supposed to be used on clean hair?

The shampoo, on the other hand, is quite nice and smells great. I wouldn't say it's the best I have tried before but it does make my hair super shiny and soft - something that most shampoos can achieve.
Overall, as you can see I don't have much to say about these products as I don't think they're very good. You can find much better alternatives from other brands like Aveda or Matrix.

What was the most you have ever spent on hair products? Would you say it was worth your money?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

REVIEW || PIXI BY PETRA EYE REFLECTIONS EYESHADOW PALETTES & EYE BRUSHES - REFLEX LIGHT AND NATURAL BEAUTY EYESHADOW PALETTES REVIEW

When I came home after a long day last week, my partner told me that I had a parcel delivered earlier that day and I couldn't believe my eyes and screamed when I saw a giant light green box with the label 'Pixi' written across it. Pixi is definitely a brand I love and have wanted to work with for years now! My dear friend Sophie from Life of Little Things introduced me to Pixi's Glow Tonic and I absolutely loved it - I can't wait to get my hands on the other ones, especially the milky lotion.

In the giant box that was delivered, I received two of the new eyeshadow palettes - Reflex Light & Natural Beauty - alongside 3 eyeshadow brushes in a very handy travel case. I have used the two palettes quite a few times since receiving them so have enough knowledge of the products for a full review.

Reflex Light Eyeshadow Palette £24:

This palette is definitely something I would pick up if I was browsing for some new makeup. The shades are gorgeous and very wearable, especially when paired with thick eyeliner, false lashes and a nude glossy lip. The shades swatched beautifully, and I know that a lot of the time an eyeshadow might swatch nicely but look patchy on the eye so I put this palette to a proper test.

My favourite shades have to be 3D Peach, Auburn Blaze, Vintage Gold and Antique Bronze. I found that these eyeshadows applied very easily with a flat shadow brush (I used MAC 248) or if you don’t own a flat brush then I’d suggest using your finger to apply for best results.

One thing this palette is definitely missing are matte shades for blending and transitioning the metallic colours. I do think that the shades will be great for cut creases as the pigmentation is very strong with a lot of shimmer. 

Natural Beauty Eyeshadow Palette £24:

This palette is definitely a great choice for those who prefer a natural eye look. It’ll make a great gift for Mother’s Day along with the brush set. I particularly love the shades Metal Mauve and Rose Clay and use only those two shadows for a natural smokey-eye look for work.

I found that the matte shades in this palette were a little bit powdery and had some fall out so I would recommend either applying the shadows before the base or tap off any excess before blending. The pigmentation is very good, especially in metallic shades. I do think that this palette would be slightly better if it had a neutral transition shade to make blending a little bit easier, but I don’t mind too much as I use MAC’s Brule as a base for all my eyeshadows.

I highly recommend buying this palette if you’re only starting out with makeup and want a bit of everything from your palette. This one has a mixture of mattes, satins and shimmers with one metallic shade so it’s perfect for anyone wanting to learn new looks.

Unfortunately, the brush set isn’t available for sale and I don’t think you can buy the brushes separately at the moment either. I’m hoping that Pixi will bring this set out as I really like the pencil brush (E03) and the fluffy brush (E02) is amazing for applying highlighter. The small eyeshadow brush (E01) is great at applying eyeshadow to the bottom lash line but I find it a little bit too firm to use on my actual eyelid.

Overall, I have been really enjoying wearing these eyeshadows and know for a fact that I'll get much more wear out of them than some of my other palettes (e.g. Urban Decay Naked 2). I hope you've enjoyed my mini review - if you have any questions about these palettes then pop them in the comments section below & I'll get back to you as soon as I can!

*This post includes gifted items and affiliate links.

Have you tried any Pixi makeup products before? Do you have any recommendations?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

GIVEAWAY || DRY JANUARY & VEGANUARY GIVEAWAY - WIN A MAC LIPSTICK AND LIP LINER OF YOUR OWN CHOICE

As a massive thank you to those who have participated in either dry January or Veganuary (or both) and give you a chance to win a Mac lipstick and lipliner of your choice. I have cut alcohol from my diet for over a year now and I couldn't feel better. I'm also trying to eat a lot less meat and dairy and when I eat a plant-based meal I feel 10 times better, so my main goal is to become vegan by the end of this year!

The rules of the giveaway are as follows:
- you must over the age of 16 or have parental consent to enter.
- if you unfollow/undo an action you will lose your entry.
- you must use a valid email address for me to contact you if you're a winner.
- if you show any negativity/hate towards myself or anyone participating you will be disqualified.
- Have fun! This giveaway is open to everyone & is international.

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS NOW ENDED.

Good luck to everyone! I wish you all the best! ❤️

*This giveaway is not associated with MAC and the prize will be funded with my own money.

Lots of love,

Maya xo

2019 || JANUARY FAVOURITES

Origins Night-a-mins £32:

This is hands down my new favourite night cream. I used to really enjoy wearing Decleor Neroli Oil or Night Balm but I’ve been completely diverted. Night-a-mins has recently had its formula changed to fruit-derived acids to make it more effective as a treatment and more environmentally friendly. The cream consists of grape, apple and beetroot acids which help resurface the skin as well as peel the dead skin cells off overnight. It took me a couple of weeks to get used to this product as I found it a bit tightening at first which gave away an uncomfortable sensation on my cheeks, but now I use it daily and can’t imagine myself going back to anything else.

MAC 217s blending brush £21:

I don’t know what I did before I got this brush. It has honestly changed the way I apply my eyeshadow, making it so easy to blend any harsh lines or shadows together. I bought this brush exactly a year ago for my 22nd birthday and I got another for Christmas last year which will make my life much easier because I won’t have to wash the brush as often if I’m in a hurry (I try to wash my brushes at least once a week). Even though this brush is very expensive, it really is worth every penny. Especially now that the bristles are synthetic instead of real hair (much more environmentally friendly) it makes it a lot easier to blend all sorts of eyeshadows and it doesn’t shed at all. I think this is definitely a great brush to add to your collection and a staple in my daily routine.

Papier Disney dotted notebook £12.99:

I first came across this brand after seeing it on the Tribe app and once I saw that Papier sells Disney themed notebooks I had to get one. They offer quite a big variety of different styles and types of notebooks and diaries but for my first one, I picked this Alice in Wonderland one. I’ve been wanting to start a proper bullet journal for months now so when’s the best time for one if not now? I started filling this one out in the last week of December last year and I can’t seem to put it down. I also use another dated diary for everyday use but I enjoy the fact that I can customise my bullet journal to my needs. You can get £10 off your first order when using this link.

Heather Morris’ The Tattooist of Auschwitz £4:

I bought this book back in October and attempted to read it twice but couldn’t really bring myself to sitting down and focusing on a book due to some personal issues I was going through. Now that I have finally made time for myself I managed to finish this book in a couple of weeks time and wow, it is bloody brilliant. The writing is phenomenal and the way that Heather described Lale’s story is so personal and made me feel all the emotions in the world! If you haven’t read this already, please do - you won’t regret it.

Soap & Glory The Scrub of Your Life £7:
This is a gem that I re-discovered at Christmas when I received a large Soap & Glory set from my partner. I forgot just how good this smells and makes my skin feel after cleansing. Thankfully, the brand has stopped using microbeads in their products in 2014 (according to their Twitter account) which is why I was happy to start using this product again. I find that the product works well on its own, however, I prefer to use it with exfoliating gloves for a super smooth effect on my skin. If you haven't already tried this scrub then I suggest you do as it smells great and will make your skin feel brand new!

What have you loved this January?

*This post includes affiliate links.

Lots of love,

Maya xo

FOOD || CURIOUS MANOR AFTERNOON TEA IN NOTTINGHAM

Earlier this year I had the pleasure of trying out a boozy afternoon tea at Curious Manor in Nottingham, thanks to the lovely team at Gemini. This was a part of a very fun day out which included a mini flashmob style fashion show (which was bloody amazing).

I've been wanting to go to Curious Manor for a while but the price has put me off (it was around £20 pp), so you can imagine how excited I was to finally try it out with some fellow blogging gals. 

We started off with a glass of prosecco each (I don't drink alcohol so I passed mine on) and then we were asked for any dietary requirements. At the time I did not have any special requirements so I was given the standard afternoon tea to share with another blogger. 

My platter included: cream cheese and salmon or cucumber sandwiches, and egg mayo sandwiches. There were also a couple of different savoury pastries but I'm not the biggest fan of pastry so I didn't give it a try. Obviously, there were scones (do you say sconnes or scohnes?) which were very yummy, alongside macaroons, red velvet cake, pain au chocolate and a coffee & walnut cake. I believe that all platters had different sandwiches and cakes because we all had different dietary requirements, but there was something there for everyone including vegans, celiacs and lactose-intolerant people.

Of course me being me, I had about 5 cups of tea with my food hehe. I find that tea outside of home always tastes better, would you agree? Now I really want to get myself a cute set of teacups and saucers to serve when I have some friends around. I’d love to host my own little afternoon tea party! I’d feel like such an adult 😂

The décor inside was absolutely beautiful. It was so different from anything I have seen before and gave me proper inspo for when I have my own house!

*I have since found out that sadly, Curious Manor does not offer afternoon tea anymore. This post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own, however, I was treated to the afternoon free of charge by Gemini PR & Marketing.

Lots of love,

Maya xo

SS19 || HOW TO STYLE A MIDI SKIRT THIS SEASON

Throughout my childhood, I always thought that midi skirts were for Grannies as my beautiful Great-Grandmother (bless her soul) always wore them with a T-shirt and a big chunk cardigan. One family member, in particular, kept telling me to wear either full length or short skirts to make my legs look longer - being 5ft3 clearly has its downs, but now I'm embracing my height and rocking the midi skirt trend (if I do say so myself)!

I now own 5 (I think) midi skirts which I have collected over the past year and I can't wait to get more wear out of them this season. This particular snake-print one is my new favourite as it is the softest thing I have ever touched and looks amazing on. It's from H&M and is only £12.99 - I managed to get mine for only £7.99 as I'm a member of the H&M club and had a £5 reward to use up (it is free for anyone to join and you get unlimited free delivery with no minimum spend).
In this picture, I'm wearing it with a cute 'You Glow Girl' slogan tee (similar here), and these gorgeous croc style burgundy boots from Topshop.

I feel like a cute slogan tee will always look really good with a midi skirt, however, I also like to style them with an oversized jumper tucked it. At first, I felt really silly wearing a long skirt with a big knitted jumper but I received so many compliments when I wore that outfit that now I'm kicking myself for not taking any pictures to share with you!  But I do have a couple of pictures of a different skirt and t-shirt combo that I thought you'd appreciate:

The 'Honey' t-shirt is from New Look which I bought a while ago (similar here) and the Burberry style skirt is from H&M (similar here, here and here). I absolutely love this combo and it upsets me that both original items are sold out so you can't get your hands on them anymore, but if I were you I'd definitely look up the skirt on eBay as someone might be selling one!

As you can probably tell, I really like to wear my midi skirts with t-shirts, but as I previously mentioned they also go great with oversized knitted jumpers or even sweatshirt style jumper! I'm definitely down for this trend this season and you should be too!

What are some of the trends you're loving this season? 

*This post contains affiliate links.

Lots of love,

Maya xo

REVIEW || SUPERDRUG VITAMIN E SKINCARE REVIEW - DUAL PHASE CLEANSING OIL, MICELLAR SOLUTION, OATMEAL EXFOLIATOR & HOT CLOTH CLEANSER

If you’re like me then you’re always looking for good and affordable skincare. We’ve all heard of Origins, Clinique, Liz Earle etc but these labels also carry a high price tag with their great products. Since coming across Superdrug’s Vitamin E range a few years ago I wanted to pick up a few of their skincare products and give them a proper go before reviewing them for you guys.

Vitamin E Gentle Oatmeal Exfoliator £2.99:

I have previously tried the Oatmeal Exfoliator and loved the smell but didn’t really remember the product so I had to buy it again and see if it was any good. As I already mentioned, the scent is really nice - it reminds me of a Lush soap I’ve had before. It feels very gentle on the skin as it’s sort of creamy but the oat grains are effective enough to scrub away the dead skin cells and sebum. I do find that the grains get stuck in the tube a bit making it harder to squeeze the product out but as long as the little nozzle is cleaned after every use it shouldn’t get blocked.

Vitamin E Dual Phase Cleansing Oil £2.99:

When I picked this cleansing oil up I was really excited to try a new cleanser that will remove my makeup properly - including my waterproof mascara. I thought of this as a more affordable and cruelty-free alternative to Clinique’s Take The Day Off makeup remover which is one of my favourite products, but for obvious reasons (not being cruelty-free & price) I want to find a perfect alternative. At first, I thought that this oil was a bit rubbish as the bottle would leak after I applied some product to a cotton pad, it really got on my nerves as this would happen every time I used it!

The instructions say to shake the bottle to combine the two oils and then apply to a cotton pad ready to use to take any makeup off as well as to cleanse the skin from any impurities to leave the skin feeling clean and soft. I can say that this oil does work in a very similar way to the Clinique makeup remover, however, it doesn’t take waterproof mascara off as well which is slightly disappointing. It feels lovely on the skin as it glides on over the face and melts the makeup away but I feel like I need to double cleanse after (which I always do regardless of the makeup remover I use) therefore this might not be the right product for you if you want something fuss-free an easy to use, but at only £2.99 I think it’s definitely a product worth trying.

Vitamin E Gentle Micellar Solution £2.99:

I really love the scent of this micellar water, it smells very fresh and sort of sweet (similar to the exfoliator). This micellar water is designed to remove makeup and any impurities from the skin but I used it as a toner after double cleansing my skin. It’s an okay cleanser, I don’t think it takes off any makeup off however it feels great on the skin as a toner but that’s the only use I get out of it. I've noticed that my skin felt softer since using this product but it still has quite a lot of texture so personally, I don't think this works as a very good toner either, so for £2.99, I can’t be mad but probably won’t buy this again.

Vitamin E Hot Cloth Cleanser £4.99:

Well, where do I start? I had really high hopes for this cleanser, especially after hearing that it’s a great dupe for the Liz Earl one. When I opened the box this cleanser came in, I found a cloth inside which I thought was a very good addition to the product as not everyone owns a face cloth (I have around 10 because I obviously lack self-control). The first time I tried this product I thought it was okay and it did cleanse my skin nicely but I had a feeling like it wasn’t enough so I’d always use a scrub after because I didn’t want to leave my skin feeling congested. Another time I used this was a completely different story and, to be honest with you, it was the last time I used this. My face was burning and carried on stinging after I removed the product. I don’t know what it was that made my skin react so badly but I haven’t touched it since. It does say on the bottle that it’s suitable for sensitive skin but I wouldn’t recommend it if you suffer from acne, rosacea, dry flaky skin etc. So this little guy will definitely not make it back into my bathroom cabinet unless they change the formula or create one for very sensitive skin!

Have you tried any products from the Vitamin E range? I know there are so many more, so if you’d like me to review any please let me know in the comments section down below!

*This post contains affiliate links.

Lots of love,

Maya xo

2019 || NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS

So here it is, 2019 has finally arrived and I couldn’t be happier to say ‘goodbye’ (and fuck you) to the previous year. 2018 was honestly one of the worst years of my life, even though I still made some amazing memories. In this post I will share my highs and some of my lows of 2018, as well as my aspirations and goals for 2019.

2018:

January - I turned 22 and celebrated my birthday with my friends and boyfriend.

- I travelled to Birmingham for work by myself.

February - I went to the re-launch of Las Iguanas in Nottingham with my boyfriend.

- I celebrated my friend's engagement party.

March - I had my first freelance job in months and modelled for a new brand.

April - I handed my dissertation in - a whole lot of words that I now have forgotten.

- I attended a fashion show and met lots of lovely bloggers thanks to Judi from Gemini.

May - I handed my last bits of coursework for my final year of uni.

June - I and my other half went on a fabulous holiday in Majorca.

July - I started a new job at Origins.

- I graduated from the University of Nottingham with a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Criminology and Social Policy.

- I injured myself in the second week of my new job which resulted in some time off.

- I moved to a new house with my boyfriend.

August - I found out that my Master's application was unsuccessful.

September - I worked with one of my favourite brands (Sanctuary Spa).

- I travelled to London for the first time ever (by myself) and got lost on my way to the building and also lost my train ticket for the journey back.

October - I travelled to London again for work, this time with a colleague and I loved every minute of it.

- One of my closest friends at work handed her notice in :(

- I and my partner hosted our first Halloween party at our new house.

November - I found out I was going to lose my job (a job I really love) because the department store I work at is closing down.

December - I met some more gorgeous girls at a blogging event (Thanks to Judi).

- I celebrated being with my boyfriend for 6 years.

- Got spoiled at Christmas with lots of presents, but also had my mood spoiled.

- Celebrated NYE by staying in and ordering a takeaway with my best friend.

So, as you can see my year was full of surprises - from graduating to losing my job. Like I’ve said I mentioned all the highs but only some lows as they are too difficult and painful to talk about at this moment. I am very grateful for everyone who made 2018 special but also glad that I cut out toxic people out of my life. There is nothing worse you can do to yourself than keeping nasty people in your life.

Moving on, here are my goals and aspirations for 2019:

1) Get a graduate job

2) Start doing yoga daily

3) Eat well

4) Go to Paris

5) Start saving up for a house

6) Start driving lessons

7) Stop eating dairy

8) Eat less meat

9) Visit the Harry Potter Studio Tour

10) Reach 10K followers on Instagram

11) Re-launch my blog

12) Read at least one book a month

13) Start writing a novel

14) Educate myself on SEO and web design

15) Drink more water

16) Go on a summer holiday

I think that’s pretty much it for now, I will probably add a few more goals to my list as I tick off the others (finger’s crossed). I just really hope that 2019 will be my best year yet and I cannot wait to share my journey with you all.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE ❤️

What are your goals and aspirations for 2019? What did you do for NYE?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

2019 || JANUARY WISHLIST

Now that I’m out of my writer's block I wanted to bring my blog back to basics and write about what I have always enjoyed but stopped doing - a monthly wishlist. Even though I might not necessarily buy the products I mention, they have definitely made it onto my birthday/Christmas lists on my phone for those who need help with what to get me, or if I want to treat myself I can always go back to that list and pick an item (or two) of what I’d like.

I am currently obsessed with Soap & Glory products because I was given a huge set of their best-selling products for Christmas. I think I was 14 years old when I tried my first S&G product (I believe it was the Hand Food hand cream) and have loved their products ever since. Did you ever go through a phase of wanting every S&G bath product, or was that just me?

The products that have made my wishlist are the No Woman No Dry body cream, The Way She Smoothes body lotion, The Righteous Butter shower cream, Sugar Rush body wash, and Smoothie Star Breakfast Scrub. Wow, that’s some list haha!

One makeup item that I’ve been lusting over for a while is this beautiful liquid lipstick by Jeffree Star in shade ‘Hi, How Are Ya?’ as it is the most beautiful red shade, well, equally as beautiful as my favourite red - Redrum.

Another lost love of mine is collecting Yankee Candles. When we first started getting these in the UK I have bought at least one large candle a month and went through them very quickly. Now I really love to treat myself to a more luxurious candle or one that’s less accessible (Bath and Body Works), but I have recently come across these two scents which sound very lovely. ‘Belgian Waffles’ sounds right up my alley and I really want to get my hands on it as I can imagine it to smell absolutely beautiful. The other one, ‘Strawberry Lemon Ice’, also sounds amazing and fresher than what I usually buy - perfect for Spring this year.

Now, would it really be a Vogue by Maya wishlist if it didn’t include an item of clothing (or three)? Snake print is one of my favourite prints this season so when I saw this gorgeous midi skirt from H&M for only £12.99 I had to include it on my list! This is definitely a staple piece that you’ll need in your wardrobe - get it quick before all the sizes go out of stock!

With Spring just around the corner, I thought I’d include a little cardigan as it will soon be too warm to wear big coats. This particular one caught my eye as I can picture it with so many outfits already, so no wonder it made the list and at only £17.99 it makes the perfect Spring jacket. There seems to be a slight pattern going as the clothes I had picked out are all from H&M but it is one of my favourite high street stores! The last item on my list is the pair of the chunky trainers for £29.99 which are absolutely stunning. I’m not one for trainers usually but these caught my attention as soon as I saw them and maybe have even put them in my H&M basket hehe ;)

What items have been on your wishlist this month?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

TOP HOLIDAY MOVIES AND TV SHOWS TO GET YOU IN THE FESTIVE SPIRIT | AD

Can you actually believe that we’re already in December?! I’m sure it was July not long ago? This year has definitely been full of surprises. I graduated from university, moved to a new house with my boyfriend and started a new job which I absolutely love! Anyway, with December having approached us so quickly it only means one thing - Christmas is just around the corner in precisely 23 days!!! I’m so excited to finally be in my own house for Christmas this year and am very excited for next year. There is one thing that I always look forward to during this festive season - watching Christmas movies and tv shows. Surely I can't be the only one who constantly googles 'top Christmas movies' or 'what to watch in December'? This made me want to create my own list of festive shows and movies to share with you all, whether you celebrate Christmas or not I'm sure you will enjoy at least one of my choices!

Talking about Christmas movies, what do you watch yours on? Laptop? Tablet? TV? Because if you're after a new screen then I would highly recommend looking at 4K LED TV by Panasonic which can be found for as little as £660! I've been lusting over a new telly for a couple of years now and I'm hoping that my boyfriend will finally decide on which one to get!

If you’re struggling with finding what to watch this season, then go ahead and take a look at my choices down below:

MOVIES:
1. Home Alone
2. Home Alone 2
3. Home Alone 3
4. Home Alone 4
5. Elf
6. The Holiday
7. Love Actually
8. How the Grinch Stole Christmas
9. The Grinch
10. Arthur Christmas
11. Polar Express
12. The Nightmare Before Christmas
13. A Christmas Carol
14. Gremlins
15. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
16. A Christmas Story
17. The Family Stone
18. A Family Man
19. Jingle All the Way
20. Jack Frost
21. The Princess Switch
22. The Nutcracker
23. The Muppet Christmas Carol
24. Mickey's Once Upon A Christmas
25. Miracle on 34th Street

TV SHOWS:
1. Gilmore Girls
2. Friends
3. Vampire Diaries
4. The Office
5. Once Upon A Time
6. Sherlock
7. Gavin & Stacey
8. That 70's Show
9. Gossip Girl
10. Miranda
11. Anne with an E
12. A Series of Unfortunate Events
13. Doctor Who
14. Good Witch
15. Gilmore Girls - A Year In The Life

I hope that this post has helped inspire you this festive season movie and tv show-wise. I’ve already started my day by watching an episode of Friends and will definitely finish it by watching one of the movies I’ve mentioned above 🎄

*This post is a collaboration with Panasonic and is sponsored. All opinions are my own as always.

Lots of love,

Maya xo

TOPS PICKS FROM THE H&M X MOSCHINO COLLECTION

Every single year I look forward to H&M's designer collaboration and get annoyed with myself for not being able to afford every single piece from the collection. Last year I really wanted a pair of Erdem's kitten heels and they had sold out within 5 mins - literally. But over the years I have managed to collect a few pieces since the Balmain collab and forever wish I started sooner because their Alexander Wang collection was amazing!

This year I have my eyes set on a few pieces and wanted to share with you my top picks and what I think will sell out first. The pictures used throughout this post are all from Vogue's article on the collection. You can shop the HM x Moschino collection here.

The main theme running through Moschino's new collection is actually one of my most favourite things in the world - Disney. For those of you that don't know, I used to work for Disney for nearly 3 years so I'm pretty much obsessed with it haha. Anyway, here are my top picks + prices:

Do I need to say anything other than that I am obsessed with this T-shirt? It retails at £29.99 and comes in a few different colours and designs (there's a Mickey and Minnie one which I am DYING to get my hands on!). I think the sliders are also very cool and an SS19 must-have, they retail at £59.99 which is a bit on the pricey side for a pair of sliders but a lot cheaper compared to other designers.

This faux fur coat (£149.99) will definitely be the first item to sell out! The colour is beautiful and the chains on it add that Moschino look to it. The knee-highs (£14.99) will make a great stocking filler for anyone that's into fashion.

Another one of my personal favourites is the leather sleep mask and earring that the model above is wearing. I wouldn't wear the sleep mask (£29.99) because I'd be scared to get it caught on my bed and pull a thread but I'd love to get my hands on those earrings (£29.99), they are absolutely gorgeous and I'm pretty sure will sell out very quickly.

I wanted to save the best til last - even though this is the same image as the one at the top of this post, but I can't get over this beautiful jumper dress (£79.99)! Jumper dresses are a big hit for this A/W - you can read my post on what's hot in AW18 here - and I really love the colour of it too. Can you just imagine it with chunky cable-knit tights and over the knee boots? Erm yes, please! The model is also rocking my new favourite earrings and the sleep mask. Love, love, LOVE.

What are your top picks from this collection? Will you be picking up any? I can't wait to share with you what I manage to get my hands on! Follow me on Instagram for the latest updates - MissMayaSx.

*Disclaimer - the images used throughout this post are not mine and were taken from Vogue's latest article on the H&M x Moschino collection.

Lots of love,

Maya xo

NUDE MAC LIPSTICKS YOU NEED IN YOUR LIFE

I've been a huge fan of MAC lipsticks ever since wearing Snob was huge. Has anyone actually touched Snob since 2012? I know one person who still swears by it and it looks beautiful on her but I feel like it's too light for me to wear now, does anyone else feel the same?

Either way, I wanted to make this post a bit more old-school like the posts I used to write as I've noticed myself finding it hard to write something that you will enjoy, especially as there are so many talented bloggers out there. I think I need to fall back in love with my blog and writing, so fingers crossed I get back into a routine!

My first ever MAC lipstick, or even my first MAC item, I purchased was Brave in 2012 I believe? I was honestly so obsessed with pairing it up with my trusty Satin Mauve Essence lip liner lol, I don't think I've ever received as many compliments as I did when I wore that iconic combo. I wore that lipstick every single day until I bought Velvet Teddy which became my new favourite, and once I got my hands on the Ellie Goulding's Only You lipstick there was no going back and my collection of nude lipsticks wouldn't stop growing... A few years on and I have acquired a little collection of my go-to nudes from MAC and I don't know what I'd wear if it weren't for them.

As you can see, the two shades towards the right have been very well-loved by me - and rightfully so. If I were to recommend two shades that everybody needs in their collection it would be those two (Brave and Velvet Teddy) as they look gorgeous on all skin tones and can be worn with all types of eye makeup (smokey, natural, colourful etc.).

The shades I haven't worn as much are Only You and Hot Chocolate as they were limited edition and I know I'll cry the day I run out of them. Saying that, I do need to wear them more often as unfortunately, they have an expiry date :( It might also look like I haven't worn Spirit or Mehr much either but Mehr was my most recent addition thanks to Back 2 MAC, and this Spirit lippie was a repurchase as I lose my very well-loved first one on a night out! RIP :(

Here you can see the lipsticks swatched on the inside of my forearm, I even labelled each swatch for you so you should be eternally grateful ;) Majority of the time I will wear Mehr or Brave as I do prefer a satin/matte finish and more of a pinky-nude but that doesn't mean that I neglect the other shades, well, not too much anyway.

Spirit: A 'muted pinky-beige brown' shade with a creamy satin finish. Well, this one has definitely been described as more than one shade haha! This lipstick looks amazing with a bit of Velvet Teddy in the middle of the lip to enhance the natural shape and size of your lip. (#TopTipsWithMaya)

Velvet Teddy: A 'deep-toned beige' shade with a no-shine matte finish. Like I've mentioned above, this was one of my most used shades when I purchased it. I think I wore it every single day for a few months so I'm surprised that I even have any of it left! Who remembers the massive hype over this shade? Was it Zoella who mentioned it?

Brave: A 'pink-beige with white pearl' shade with a creamy satin finish. Ah, my very first MAC purchase which will always be my favourite lipstick shade. I will definitely repurchase this over and over again as it's one of those classic shades that will never go out of style. I will be devastated if this was ever discontinued!

Mehr: A 'dirty blue-pink' shade with a no-shine matte finish. This shade was actually recommended to me by one of my good friends as it was her favourite during her time working at MAC, so why wouldn't I want to try it out?! It has now become one of my staples and I carry it in my bag wherever I go to top-up throughout the day. I urge for anyone with blue/green eyes and light coloured hair to try this shade out as it will make you stand out from the crowd.

Whirl: A 'dirty rose' shade with a no-shine matte finish. This is definitely one of my favourite shades to wear on days/nights out as it's a very versatile shade that goes with any makeup look as well as outfit. Does anyone else choose their lipstick based on their outfit?

Hot Chocolate: A 'cool-plum' shade with a creamy satin finish - limited edition. I know I said that you need this shade in your life but then I realised that it's a limited edition, oh I realised this after taking pictures so thought there's no going back #SorryNotSorry. This is a gorgeous shade and if you really like plummy-nude shades then you can find it online for a high price-tag. But if you don't feel so hot about spending £30 on a lipstick then try out Urban Decay's 1993.

Only You: A 'muted mid-tone coral' with a cremesheen finish - limited edition. Well, I can tell you that this description is complete BS because it is more of a pinky-nude shade with a lustre finish. It does look beautiful on though, especially if you don't like intense shades or the feel of lipstick on your lips. You can buy this lipstick online on Depop or Amazon, or try out MAC's Patisserie instead.

Which one is your favourite shade out of my collection? I feel like I should write this kind of post for red lipsticks too as when I don't wear nude lipstick you'll definitely find me in a red instead. Let me know if you use any of the shades I've mentioned and if there are any that I should try out!

*Quick disclaimer - two (Mehr & Spirit) of these lipsticks were from the Back 2 MAC program so I did not pay for them. This post also includes some affiliate links.

Lots of love,

Maya xo