REVIEW || COLOURPOP PERSUEDE ME LIPPIE STIX COLLECTION

Ever since hearing about Colourpop I've been wanting to try out their products. I finally decided to make a big order back in October (I think) and bought a set of Lippie Stix along with other items and I must say that was one of the best decisions I ever made! Even though custom charges killed me after already spending around £50 on products D: - but when I think about MAC I usually spend the same amount on 2-3 things.

I don't really like the packaging that much. I mean, it is nice but nothing exceptional; it kind of looks like a jumbo eye crayon by NYX, but then again this is a drugstore product retailing at only $6 so the packaging isn't the post important.

They have a variety of lovely shades to choose from but because I chose a pre-packed set I was 'stuck' with all nudes. I'm not complaining though - they are lovely! My favourite shade has to be 'Le Freak'.

The consistency is very creamy and easy to apply, the lipstick literally glides on nicely and stay put all day. I do have to touch up after eating/drinking and it builds up quite easily so it's best to apply a thin layer with a lip brush to avoid it gathering.

Overall, I would rate these a solid 9/10 as the formula and price are amazing but the main issue for those who live outside the US is the VAT and custom fees :(

Have you tried any of the Colourpop products before? If so, which ones?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

WHAT'S HOT THIS SPRING/SUMMER - #NOTTMFW PRESS EVENT

Last month I attended a press event hosted by Gemini Marketing in Nottingham which was a cheeky preview of what's hot in SS17 before the fashion show in Nottingham on the 25th March.

I was greeted with the most beautiful glitter bomb cocktail, oh my, I was in heaven. There was also lots of tasty snacks varying from cupcakes to MOD pizza (my new favourite pizza place). The staff at the Beauty Temple were very lovely and welcoming, and I got complimented on my outfit and makeup (yes, get in haha!!).

The mini show was presented by two lovely ladies (forgive me for forgetting their names) who looked amazing in their outfits! I actually bought the same top one of them was wearing - thanks for the inspo! The two models - Jamie and Ryan rocked the SS17 looks.

*the micro bag is my new favourite statement piece - but will our huge phones even fit in?!

So, what are the hot trends for this year? I'm so excited that it is officially Spring so I can use it as an excuse to buy loads more clothes hehe...

Back to the Fuchsia - definitely one of my favourite trends as I love bright pink colours - I know for a fact that my mum is gona go crazy over this trend and wear pink head to toe as she owes so many gorgeous fuchsia pieces!

Born in the 80's - say yes to Madonna Rock 'n' Roll leather trousers and cowboy boots! This S/S is all about shoulder pads, ruffles and neon - yes, yes, YES!!

Statement Sportswear - probably the most comfy of all of the trends! I'm looking forward to styling
up plain joggers with some fishnets tights and cropped jumpers.

Twisted Tailoring - who doesn't love a funky detail to their outfits? Like one of those 'half and half' jumpers you can buy in Topshop. If you don't want to splurge on a new outfit but make it look very trendy then put on an old checked shirt (Gingham is very in atm) and pin it up wonky - this was our biggest nightmare a few years back but it's now turned into a trend!

Check-Mate - like I mentioned above, gingham is very much in and I couldn't be happier. I saw a gorgeous checked dress in Primark and I wish I bought it! Now I'm gona have to go back and try it on to see if I can pull it off haha!!

Spring-Bling - if you're very much into sequins and sparkles then this is perfect for you. I love glitter, I would bathe myself in it if I could so this is a great opportunity to add some bling into your wardrobe.

We were all spoilt by the organisers of the event (thank you so much Gemini!). In my goodie bag I received a bottle of Orangina with a cute paper straw, a free pizza voucher from MOD pizza (yum yum, a full restaurant review will be up soon!), some perfume samples, a front row seat ticket to the Nottingham Fashion Show, a magazine and some other bits and bobs!

I'm very excited for the fashion show, I will take many snapchats and insta stories so be sure to follow me on those: @missmayasx 

Lots of love,

Maya xo

TOP 4 EYESHADOW PALETTES YOU NEED IN YOUR LIFE

I have spent years searching for the right eyeshadow palette to suit my skin tone and that's affordable, but after finally finding the 'one(s)' I can confidently say that you shouldn't search for a palette with colours that will suit the colour of your skin, but ones that you actually like. Don't listen to people who say you don't suit bright purple eyeshadow - if you like it then go ahead and buy it!

I thought I'd share my wisdom when it comes to eyeshadow palettes and share with you my 4 staples that you just might have to buy hehe.

MAC eyeshadows are amazing, there's no doubt about that. There are many cheaper alternatives that are just as good however, I will never give up my MAC shadows as they were my first luxurious purchases. The refill pans retail at £10 each however, some of the ones I bought were actual eyeshadow pots which I then depotted to put into my pro palette (£8 + £2 for the insert). The pigmentation of these is insane, but you are paying a lot of money so you get what you pay for. The colours I have are: (top-bottom) Era, Amber Lights, Beauty Marked, Creme de Violet, Deep Truth, Naked Lunch, Tempting, Trax, Pink Venus, Steamy, Brule, Honesty, Mythology, Haux, and Electric Eel. I would say that creating your own eyeshadow palettes with the shades that you love and will get use out of is a must-do!

I recently got my hands on this limited edition Pulp Fiction palette by Urban Decay and I am in love... I'm a huge fan of Uma Thurman and to see that UD brought out a palette of one of my favourite movies I had to buy it. It is true guys, UD eyeshadows are amazing! Everyone has been going crazy over the Naked range (read my reviews here, and here) but I have to say that the Pulp Fiction palette is my favourite as the colours are very wearable and obviously because of the packaging haha! Tyranny is my favourite shade from the palette as I can even use it to contour my nose!

If you're looking for something more affordable but still amazing quality then I have to direct you to any of the Makeup Revolution palettes. I have been using their products for probably 4-5 years now and I absolutely love them, especially the palettes. MUR has been slaying the eyeshadow game for a while now, and I must say that this palette is my all-time favourite and I use it nearly every day. It's a fantastic dupe for the Kat Von D Shade and Light palette which retails at £37 whereas, the MUR one is only £8. I use this when I'm running out of time when doing my makeup as it always looks good, no matter how little it takes me to blend out the shades!

Last but not least, we have the Jeffree Star Beauty Killer palette. I've been lusting over this palette ever since it came out and then I was lucky enough to snatch it at half price in his sale at the beginning of March. I must say that this has lived up to my expectations completely and I'm in love. The shades are amazing and so up my alley, I really want his new Androgyny palette now!! (If anyone wants to donate one to me please do haha). The formula is very different from the three mentioned above as the shadows feel very buttery and are a dream to blend! I know that the shades aren't for everyone, but they will look amazing on literally anyone! My favourite shades from the palette are Confession, Princess and Violence - they look amazing together!

What's your Holy Grail eyeshadow palette? Would you recommend the ones I mentioned above?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

CHEAP AND EFFECTIVE LASER HAIR REMOVAL - PULSE LIGHT CLINIC LONDON

Who wouldn't want to have hair-free armpits, legs, face?! Please peach fuzz, just sod off already! I've been battling with hair since I was 11, come on now I've had enough...

I recently came across the Pulse Light Clinic that's based in London which was founded in the year 2000 as the first clinic specialising in rosacea treatment by Mary Maclean. She then went on to discover that Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) had better outcomes when nutritional therapy was used simultaneously with the IPL treatment. Mary also developed a precise technique for the treatment of rosacea which evolved as IPL technology become more effective. Rosacea is something that's quite close to me personally as myself and my mum suffer from it and it can only be hidden by layers of makeup. Mine has definitely calmed down and I only get bad redness if I touch my face (so practically half the time lol).

Anyway, I'm here to talk about annoying hairs, not my skin condition haha. Like I said earlier, I have hair everywhere - I'm so hairy I bet I can take over and become the new King Kong. Honestly, though I feel like hair is a taboo subject as many people get funny about growing it or even shaving it - everybody has a preference and I am not saying that everyone should be hair-free, but if you're unhappy with some hair (for example, like myself with my peach fuzz on my face or having to shave my armpits every other day), then this is something that you might be interested in.

Pulse Light Clinic offers many treatments varying in price from as little as £32 per session. I know for a fact that if I was based in London I would definitely try it out as it's really cheap compared to some of the clinic's I looked into before, and I know that I would be happy with the results after reading customer reviews.

Another great thing about Pulse Light Clinic is that they offer treatments to both men and women. This means that if you have some annoying nose hair or ear hair that you want to get rid of, you can do so very easily and shamelessly as many people have done so before you. Let's end the stigma around men taking care of themselves!!!

Like I mentioned above, the treatments are for as little as £32 but the best thing about it is that if you decide to go ahead with the treatments, you can pay for them monthly over the course of 12 months with 0% interest. Yup, that's right ladies and gentlemen - 0% interest!! So we can all enjoy getting rid of hair with a little bit of help from the clinic! Go on then, the consultation is free of charge so if there is some hair that bothers you I say let's get rid of it and be happy!

Watch the Pulse Light Clinic's video here to help you understand more about the brand.

Would you ever consider taking laser hair removal treatments? What about enhancements?

*This is a sponsored post, however, it is always 100% my own opinion.

Lots of love,

Maya xo

REVIEW || WIKANIKO'S MORINGA OIL "THE BEST NATURAL AGE DEFYING OIL IN THE WORLD" - OVERNIGHT MIRACLE

My skin has been really dry the past few weeks and I don't know what products to use to get rid of the dryness :( It seems like my trusty Benefit Triple Performing Facial Emulsion just wasn't working and it usually does, so when I came across Wikaniko and got kindly sent a bottle of their Moringa Oil to try out, I was very happy!

With the oil, I also received a detailed note of how the oil works and what it's good for - now there's a company that's passionate about their customers and company! The note also includes different types of how Moringa can be consumed (such as powder to add to meals). I learnt that it is important on where you buy Moringa from, as some countries that grow it can also pollute the plants with lots of nasties - some people have actually stated that they bought products containing dead insects and cigarette ends!!! Wikaniko produces their own Moringa on their farm in Spain, so they practise what they preach and take special care of the plants.

The different types of Moringa products include powder (perfect as a superfood added to smoothies), this cannot be heated over 47C as it will lose its beneficial vitamins and minerals, it also comes in a form of capsules for those who do not like the taste, and last but not least it comes as an oil which is labelled the "best natural age-defying oil in the world". It is now being used in cosmetics due to its anti-ageing properties - if you don't want to use the oil directly to your skin you can mix a few drops with your moisturiser. It's supposed to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, acne, fine lines etc - erm hello?!?! Take all my money haha!!!

Since I started using this product I've noticed a massive change in my skin; it feels much smoother and plump than usually. I still have dry patches under my eyes but this could be due to exfoliation, but it is very soothing so I like to wear it before going to bed as I let it soak in overnight and wake up with beautiful and glowing skin.

I would definitely recommend this product to all who suffer from any skin imperfections, especially those with ageing skin - I know for a fact that my mum would be very interested in this product! Mother's Day gift perhaps? Either way, I've only been using this product for a week and I have noticed a huge difference to my skin in how it looks and feels. A definite 10/10 ladies and gents!

Good news everyone!! - I have a 10% off code for you: MOR10 - use it to save some pennies! :)

Have you got a holy grail skincare product? Would you try this Moringa oil?

*This post contains PR samples, however, it is 100% my own opinion.

Lots of love,

Maya xo

REVIEW || PRESTIGE FLOWERS - PERFECT MOTHER'S DAY GIFT

Recently I came across the brand Prestige Flowers and I instantly fell in love. I'm a huge fan of gorgeous bouquets and with Kieran being a big believer of buying practical gifts and avoiding buying me flowers that will die quickly, I knew I wanted to treat myself ha ha. I was kindly sent this beautiful bouquet by Micheal from the Prestige Flowers team and I couldn't be happier with it.

The flowers arrived two days after me sending out my details which is amazing bearing in mind these are hand decorated by highly qualified florists in Britain. The delivery service also offers deliveries to EVERYWHERE in the UK, how amazing is that?! So if there's someone who is very important to you and you feel like treating them to something sentimental, then you found the place to turn to!

Along with my order, I had received a cute note from Micheal. Little things like this can really make someone feel amazing! I had a really shitty week then, and receiving these had really cheered me up tons. That's why I believe that this is an amazing gift for upcoming Mother's Day. Prestige Flowers has specially created new bouquets which are absolutely beautiful, there's plenty to choose from and majority are on offer! I believe that you can also receive 10% off on your first purchase which is just a right bargain! I know which direction to point my dad to for some ;)

Along with your purchase, you also receive a Flower Care Guide which will direct you on how to make the most out of your flowers - ha eat your heart out Kieran! These do last ha ha ;) I've currently had these for a week and have followed the care guide carefully, exchanging the water every (other) day and trimming the stems so they absorb lots of water and remain beautiful.

Overall, I would rate these 10/10 for quality, price and life span because they really are beautiful and last a while. I know for a fact that I will keep these for at least 4 more days because they still look as good as new and the Stargazer Lilies have started to open up which has made my room smell a-m-a-z-i-n-g!!!!

What will you be buying your Mum this Mother's Day? What do you think about Prestige Flowers?

*This post contains PR samples, and no affiliate links. 100% my opinion.

Lots of love,

Maya xo 

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