Wednesday, 29 June 2016

OOTD || Day At The Beach - Holiday Edition

Hey Everyone!

What have you all been up to? Finishing school? Doing your exams? Working? Well, you all must know by now that I'm in sunny Greece for a few more days so I've been making the most of it while still trying to blog and I've got some really exciting posts coming up once I'm back so make sure you stay tuned!!


I've been loving this high waisted bikini from Topshop so much that I've noticed I haven't tanned my stomach and lower back due to wearing it so much haha! This set actually cost me £1.80 including student discount as the pieces were reduced to £1 each around November time. WHAT?!!! I still can't believe I got myself such a great bargain! It's really comfy and flattering even for my figure where my waist isn't defined. The cute little playsuit is from the Coachella edition at H&M it's sooo pretty and looks great on. H&M have really been surprising me with some of their stuff lately, and I can't wait for their collab with Kenzo as their one of my favourite designers. The sandals are my trusty Primark ones which I've had probably for a couple of years now and they're still in perfect condition. I believe they cost me around £5 so they're really cheap and the quality of them is amazing, especially for this kind of price.

What outfits have you been loving recently? Let me know in the comments section down below!

Lots of love,
Maya xo

Tuesday, 28 June 2016

2016 || May Favourites

Hi Lovelies! 

May was a crazy month for me. I had my end of year exams and the weather had its ups and downs. However, this does not mean that I didn't have any beauty favourites! This month I've mainly been loving Makeup Revolution products but I tried not to include too many haha!


The things I've been loving in May 2016:
-Makeup Revolution Salted Caramel Palette £8
-Makeup Revolution Ultra Strobe Cream £8
-Makeup Revolution Contour Kit £3.50
-MAC Paint Pot in Painterly £16
-MAC Brook Candy Edition Matte Lipstick in Whirl £17


What have you loved in May?

Lots of love,
Maya xo

Monday, 27 June 2016

FOTD || Summer Glam Glow

Hey Everyone!

I've recently been loving wearing lots of highlighter and creating glowy-glam looks. Today I'll share my most recent one with you and I hope you all enjoy it!


So here's the look, quite simple yet classy, still glowy and glam.


These are the products I had used for this look:
-Barry M Chisel Cheeks Contour Palette
-Benefit Porefessional License To Blot Stick
-Benefit Porefessional Primer
-Collection Liquid Eyeliner
-Loreal Infallible Matte Foundation
-MAC Painterly Paint Pot
-MAC Brow Fluidline
-MAC Whirl Lipliner
-MAC Whirl Lipstick
-Makeup Revolution I Heart Chocolate Palette
-Makeup Revolution Contour Palette
-Maybelline Sensational Mascara
-Primark Contour Sticks
-Primark Eyebrow Gel
-Primark Black Kohl Liner
-Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation








I hope you all enjoyed this look. Let me know if you have recreated it or have done some fun FOTD posts too!

Lots of love,
Maya xo

Sunday, 26 June 2016

Review || Nivea Men Post Shave Balm

Morning My Lovelies!

Who hasn't heard of the wonders that Nivea's Men Post Shave Balm does to your skin? I've certainly heard all sorts of positive comments so I decided to try it out myself. I must say that I was really excited to try it, not only for the way it works but also the smell because it reminds me of Kieran haha!


The packaging is quite nice, to be honest, it looks like an aftershave bottle and it's glass, and all this time I thought it'll be in a plastic bottle! So, as you can imagine it's quite heavy so not the best item for travelling, sorry but I had to leave it behind in England this time.

The smell is amazing if you like musky men-like scents. If that makes sense? If I pour out too much then I always end up rubbing it all over my arms and end up smelling them throughout the day.

The consistency, on the other hand, is not what I expected at all. It is very runny and feels quite slimy but once you've put it on it feels like you've splashed yourself with water. I find it very refreshing for my skin and usually use it as a moisturiser rather than a primer.

As a primer, I think this product is good if you don't wear luminous makeup and want a satin/matte finish to your foundation as I've noticed it makes makeup stay on longer if you use such foundations. Personally, I love this product, I think it's definitely worth trying as it's really inexpensive and it feels great on the skin! And if you don't get along with it then you can always pass it on to another member of the family!

Have you tried this product at all? What did you think of it?

Lots of love,
Maya xo

Saturday, 25 June 2016

How To Stay On Top Of Revision - Top Last Minute Revision Hacks

Hi Everyone!

Today's post is aimed at those who hate revising and usually leave it til last minute only to regret it - aka me.
I'm usually very organised when it comes to revision and create a timetable for it so I can achieve the highest grades possible. Due to lack of revision I actually forced myself to stay a year behind at sixth form as I changed my a levels at the end of the first year as I really did not get on with the teachers and subjects themselves. My original choice of subjects was:
-History
-English Language
-Sociology
-ICT
Which I then substituted History and Sociology for Media Studies and Psychology and I can honestly tell you all that staying on an extra year was one of the best decision I had made for myself. Unfortunately I did have to pick up another subject in my third year, which was Business Studies however it wasn't too bad and the workload was tiny compared to ICT.

My first year at uni was a rollercoaster of ups and downs and at the end it turned out okay and I can't wait to start year 2 in September as I know I'll be more determined to achieve nothing but a 1.0.

But, this post isn't about my experience at school but about tips I can share with you that should help you while revising last minute before the exam.


Clear work space - a very important tip which as you can see above I did not yet master myself. However to my defence I was actually printing some texts out to read and highlight so I didn't need that much space! But if you have a clear desk and lay out your revision materials you'll be more focuses on getting your work done rather than procrastinate by looking or touching the things around you.

Don't panic - you probably have a few days left before your exam so take it easy and try and revise as much as you can. Cramming info doesn't usually work but only if you do it wrong. If I'm running out of time before an exam I tend to read my notes out loud as I find it helps me remember them better. You could also try and teach a family member or a friend the topics you need to learn as this way you'll be talking about it more and it'll be on your mind as well as the family member gaining some wisdom!


Using coloured pens to make notes - I have noticed that this is my favourite thing to do! If you use one colour e.g. Blue to write up an event that occurred such as WW2 then use red to write the cons and green to write the pros of this event. You can do the same with approaches and treatments used in Psychology etc.

Block out noise - I usually listen to classical music while revising as its relaxing and there's no lyrics to distract me or make me sing along! It's best if you also put headphones on rather than listen to the music on full blast on the radio as it will cause chaos in your head and demotivate you to get on with your work.


Flash cards - I think that flash cards are a great way of remembering things. They're really simple to write up too and you can test yourself by asking a family member to ask you questions from them. E.g. Write down on one side saying 'WW2' and then on the other the main events and timeline of the war which you'd have to remember.

Drink lots of water - it's very important that you stay hydrated while revisin as studies have shown that drinking plenty of water keeps your brain going and you actually tend to take in more than you would if you weren't drinking it.


Taking breaks - it's very important that you take breaks in between revision sessions so your brain doesn't go blank. I usually do around 45 minutes of revision in one go and then give myself a 15 minute break to go on my phone and get something to eat etc.

I hope these have helped as that's what I like to do when I don't have much time left before an exam. Good luck for the exams and results day guys!

Lots of love,
Maya xo

Friday, 24 June 2016

My Workout Routine

Hi Everyone!

Who's ready for the summer? Certainly not me! Im actually in Rhodes as you are reading this and I have still not managed to reach my goal figure :( I am giving myself up until September this year to get a lean and toned body. Come on guys, we can do it!


My workout routine is quite simple. I usually stretch for 5 minutes and then do some burpees to warm up. Then I drink some water. Make sure you have plenty by your side to keep yourself hydrated.

Then I grab my weights, I'm currently using 2.5lbs in each hand. I do all sorts of arm exercises which I don't exactly know how to explain?? Just your average lift up above my head and then put them back down.

Then I do squats. Around 3-4 sets of 50. I know it seems like a lot but I'm trying to tone up my legs and butt ASAP.  
I then add 2 sets of 10 lunges. I hate doing lunges the most, they really hurt my calves and make my legs tremble, but that's how I can tell that what I'm doing is actually working.

I add a few more arm exercises with the weights until they feel numb. Usually 2 sets of 15 as my arms are quite weak and I am gradually trying to improve my strength.

I then hop onto the cross trainer for 10 minutes on level 8. this KILLS ME. It makes me want to cry but I know that once I have a hot shower or bath and my muscles will relax that I'd feel 10000 times better.

Last but not least, I do crunches and sit ups. Worst part of the whole workout. I get tired from this really easily as my body holds the majority of fat on my stomach! I don't like my figure because of my stomach as I don't have a defined waist and just go straight down from the waist to my legs. There is NOTHING wrong with this figure, but I dislike it on myself as it makes it really hard to find jeans and shorts that fit me well as my waist and stomach are bigger than my hips and legs.

After my workout is done I do a few stretches and drink loads of water before hopping in the shower.

How do you stay fit? Are there any tips you could give me?

Lots of love,
Maya xo

Thursday, 16 June 2016

Review || MyProtein.com

Hey Everybody!

I've been battling with my weight for the past year now, actually it's been since I started university back in September last year that I had noticed a significant change in my weight. Due to the stress that has welcomed my life back then, I had actually lost just under a stone, but once I turned to food for comfort and oops here comes a brand new stone and a half. I haven't been this weight since I was 15 and I've always had problems accepting my figure. I was a size 10-12 back then, causing me to lose a lot of weight and being a size 6-8 until now which has brought me back to being a full size 10.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think I'm big/fat and I certainly do not think that a size 10 is big, however I feel tired and not like myself now that I eat more etc. I have recently been working out a LOT which is making me feel amazing every day for doing so. I feel tired and the pain I feel the following day is horrendous but it's sooo worth it because I feel much more energised and overall better about myself.

My goal is to lose 2 stone before I get back to uni this September. I know it's an unrealistic goal and it will take a lot of hard work to reach my goal but I'm feeling determined!

I have recently purchased some products from MyProtein.com and I am beyond impressed with their protein shakes. I bought the Strawberry Shortcake weight loss shake which I try to drink at least once a day as a meal replacement. I usually drink it in the morning instead of having breakfast as I always skip it! I know it's really bad and that I should always have something to eat first thing in the morning, but I always feel sick in the morning and find it hard to keep food down too :(

I usually put one scoop of the mix in a blender and add some fruit - usually a banana and a handful of berries for taste, and also half a teaspoon of the green tea extract which is equivalent to 8 cups of green tea! I then add half a cup of whole milk and half a cup of water making the shake thicker and tastier. You can also add some chia seeds which I've heard many good things about them but am yet to try them out myself.


This is definitely the best protein shake I've had! I've tried several ones before, all different flavours but this one, especially with fresh fruit, tastes amazing. I would highly recommend it to those who like fruity flavours and want something sweet as well as healthy in their shake.


Moving onto the green tea extract, I think this is a fantastic invention and wish I got my hands on it sooner. We all know how good green tea is for us, it makes us feel more energised, increases our metabolism and many, many more benefits! I think you can also add this to your regular drinks like orange juice or even to food like yogurt. I, however will be sticking to adding it to shakes as then you can't taste the powder.

When I was buying those products I used a voucher which gave me a 50% discount on all weight loss/gain products. So I also added some pills to my basket to see whether they'd help at all. I went for the White Kidney Bean Extract and CLA which are both meant to help with losing weight.
I can't say that I've noticed a difference since taking them, however they do make me burp a lot throughout the day with a slightly weird after taste. Gross, I know but I had to warn you! I might start taking them without exercise and protein shakes to see if they actually do anything to my body.

Have you tried any products from MyProtein.com?

Lots of love,
Maya xo

Wednesday, 8 June 2016

Massive High-End Makeup Haul

Good Morning Everyone!

How much do you love hauls? Because I really enjoy reading/watching other peoples hauls, especially high-end ones so I can drool all over everyone's new stuff which will obviously then go on my wishlist!

I have been splurging over a few weeks time so I thought I'll put all the new stuff together and do a big post on my recent buys. Just to clarify, I am not bragging about any of these products and that I can afford them, I work very hard and am very good at my job so I can spend my money on myself. Anyway, let's get to it!


As you can see, I bought a lot of make-up! Many of the products are amazing, some of them I wish I never bought. The total price of these comes up to £372


Jeffree Star Cosmetics Velour Liquid Lipsticks in shades Breakfast at Tiffany's and Redrum. These retail at $18 in America, however, I bought them off a website called cocktailcosmetics.co.uk for £14 each, which is cheaper than a MAC lipstick and I am over the moon with them! Since taking this picture, I have added another shade to my collection - Celebrity Skin. It is by far my favourite shade.


Illasmaqua Nail Varnish in shade Noble. These are normally £14.50 but I bought it for £3.99 in TKmaxx. Bargain, yess!


Too Faced Shadow Insurance Glitter Glue RRP £17, but I had bought it for £6.99 from TKmaxx.



This is by far my favourite fragrance this summer. I've been meaning to buy this perfume since it had come out but I was hesitant with the price as it retails at £50, but I found an amazing deal for this perfume which was only £27 from allbeauty.com! I've bought about 5 different fragrances off that website now, and I highly recommend it.



Benefit's new summer collection is amazing. I wanted to cry when it first came one, primarily because I knew I couldn't afford the whole collection. However, I managed to get my hands on Dew The Hoola (£23) which is a liquid bronzer, and Dandelion Shy Beam Liquid Matte Highlighter (£19). On the other hand, the blot stick was in my wishlist for quite some time and at only £15.50 I had to buy it.


In my April Favourites, I mentioned that I love Benefit's travel-sized products and got my hands on the whole collection, and I really did mean it haha. Because the skincare range was not available to buy separately I thought that I'd get the whole set for £18 which means that each product only cost me £3!!! I love Benefit's skincare range. Especially the emulsion and eye cream, I have doubles of them because I'm scared of running out! But I thought that the travel-sized ones will be better for my holiday to Rhodes in less than two weeks time!


These were £5 each, however, I got them on offer at Boots 4 for £15 plus a free make-up bag. If the offer is still on I suggest you drop everything you're doing and get some NOW!


Just look how beautiful this bronzer is... Not like I need any new bronzers, with my trusty Hoola and Make-up Revolution palette I shouldn't be buying any more, however, I feel like this one is perfect for the summer as it has bits of shimmer to it and looks beautiful on tanned skin. Will definitely be taking this with me to Rhodes!


Now, for those who like me are MAC junkies. The two collections I've been loving! I got three lipsticks at £17 each, I got Hot Chocolate from the Tribe collection, and Whirl and Mind Control. I also bought two lip liners for £12.50 each in shades Spice and Whirl (I had lost my other whirl pencil so had to repurchase!). I bought my favourite mascara by MAC which is the False Lash Extreme Black Mascara which is around £18/19, and a paint pot in shade Painterly (£16) as I love their paint pots and have heard lots of good things about this particular one. I had also bought two travel bottles to carry my make-up remover and blush cleanser in during my holiday for £4.50 per set. And moving onto the Tribe collection, I bought a blush in shade Mandarin (£18) and a cream colour base in shade Yellow Topaz (£16).





Last but not least, the Bobbi Brown BB Cream in shade Extra Light (£29.50). I was so disappointed with the service I received at Bobbi Brown and the product was even more disappointing :( I had issued a complaint and thankfully I will get my money back in new products. I would not recommend this BB cream as it looks horrible on, but it might have just been on me as my skin is hard to please.

So, did you enjoy my haul? I certainly enjoy using these products! Have you got any of the products mentioned above? If so, let me know which ones in the comments section down below!

Lots of love,
Maya xo

Saturday, 4 June 2016

Review || Beaver Professional Hydro Repair Shampoo + Conditioner

Morning Everyone!

I hope you're all having a lovely first week of June! As soon as it turns June, it's officially Summer!
I recently subscribed to Birchbox, which is a beauty box that is shipped out to you monthly for £12.95 including postage and is full of great new/old products for you to try out!

In my March Box I received a sample of the Beaver Professional haircare products. I got the hydrating and repairing shampoo and conditioner. As you can see the conditioner is really small so it did only last me for one use, however the shampoo bottle was quite big and has lasted me a few washes, and I always double wash my hair so imagine how many times you'd be able to use this if you wash your hair once! Amazing bargain if you ask me!



I LOVE this combo. it is simply a m a z i n g!! The shampoo made my hair feel really nourished and clean, whereas the conditioner made it silky smooth and easy to manage. I adore the scent of these products as they're very floral but clean at the same time, if that even makes any sense haha?

I will definitely try and get these in full size when I run out of my trust Aussie products!

What do you think? Have you ever tried any Beaver products? What about a Birchbox subscription?

Lots of love,
Maya xo

Friday, 3 June 2016

2016 || April Favourites

Hi Everyone!

I know it's sooo late for an April favourites post, but you should be grateful that there is one at all hahaha!! I bought loads of Benefit products in April so I thought I'd dedicate this post to the brand (NOT sponsored). 


So as you can see I went all out and bought nearly every single travel-sized product that Benefit does. As Boots had an offer on the minis (4 for £15 + free makeup bag) I bought 8 products from the offer and one travel-sized Hoola bronzer which was £9.95.

I absolutely love every single product I had bought, especially the baby sized Hoola! I definitely recommend all these product for those who are travelling light this year or want to save space in their makeup bags!

Have you tried any of the products mentioned above? What's your favourite?

Lots of love,
Maya xo
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