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

2016 || DECEMBER FAVOURITES

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Toner - £17 

Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Perfume - £91

Urband Decay All-Nighter Make-up Setting Spray - £23.50

MAC Star Trek Highlighter in Luna Luster - £24

December was an amazing month for beauty products. I managed to get hold of some great items which are all high end, but are they worth the high price tag?

I haven't tried many Kiehl's products before but after hearing some of my favourite bloggers - including Emma - rave about them, I had to buy something to try out for myself. I decided to pick up a toner, as I always buy the Clean&Clear one which I love but I feel it's too harsh for my skin type. My skin is dry in some places and oily in others so I thought I'll try the oil-free toner to use daily. I love the smell and consistency of it. It feels like it's gliding onto my skin making it feel fresh and plump. I definitely recommend it to those who have combination or oily skin, if you have a dry skin type the go for the original toner as I've also heard some pretty good reviews about it.

One of the items I asked for last Christmas was the Black Opium perfume as I've been lusting over it ever since it came out two years ago. It smells amazing and I couldn't pull myself to spend so much money on a fragrance, whereas my parents were struggling on what to get me so I thought I'd ask for this beauty! Oh boy, I am not disappointed at all - it smells divine and I can wear is as an every-day scent as well as in the evening.

The Urban Decay setting spray has been so hyped up by so many bloggers including Jeffree Star and Nikkie Tutorials, so I finally decided to get one and try it out for myself. I find that it sets my makeup well and makes it last longer, however it's not as hydrating as I was hoping for it to be. Don't get me wrong, I think it's a great product but I was expecting slightly bit more from it for the price. I do like the new design of the packaging though and know for a fact that I will be repurchasing this product!

Last but not least, the Star Trek for MAC limited edition highlighter in Luna Luster is a-m-a-z-i-n-g!!! It's great for those who love to collect LE pieces, as well as enjoy a natural glow to their face. This highlighter isn't as blinding as I was hoping for it to be, but it's still very beautiful and great for an every-day makeup look.

What did you love last December? Have you tried any of the products I've mentioned?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

RECIPE || QUICK AND EASY ROCKY ROAD

As most of you will already know, I've got a massive sweet tooth. I love anything to do with chocolate - whether it's solid or liquid haha - but one of my all time favourites has to be Rocky Road.

I didn't research any recipes for this as I know that many people like to put either raisins, nuts or jelly tots in there. I'm all about the chocolate chips and marshmallows!!

Ingredients:

- Marshmallows

- Chocolate Chips

- Digestive Biscuits

- Milk Chocolate 

Method:

- Take a few biscuits and crush them in a bowl

- Add the chocolate chips and marshmallows to the bowl with crushed biscuits

- Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl on the stove

- Pour the melted chocolate in the biscuit mixture and mix 

- Empty the bowl in a square dish

- Leave to cool

- Serve!

That's how easy and quick this recipe is! So if you have guests coming over and want to whip some dessert up quickly without putting too much effort in then here you go! This is also a great treat for the little ones, and perfect for lunch boxes!

What's your favourite pudding?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

REVIEW || SKINNY COFFEE CLUB - HOW I MANAGE TO STAY SLIM

I get bloated really badly 90% of the time, every single day. It gets really exhausting and I've had enough. When I came across the company Skinny Coffee Club, I was very excited to find out that their coffee isn't only a saviour for the caffeine addicts, but also improves complexion, increases energy levels, makes you lose weight without having to exercise and tastes amazing.

The packaging is so cute, it looks like a little parcel - a gift to you from you :) It's very easy to store too as it isn't too big. My cupboards are full of seasoning, rice, pasta etc so I don't have a lot of spare space, but this little bag of heaven fits in there perfectly!

The taste is just phenomenal. I can't explain it.. I like the taste of normal coffee and I like the taste of green tea - combine the two and you've got the taste that I LOVE. It tastes fresh, and I feel energised 15 minutes after finishing off my cup. And the great thing about this product is that you only need one cup a day to see the results!

I highly recommend this coffee for all those who need help with losing weight but hate/don't have access to the gym. I actually have a gym membership and try to go as often as I can (usually 3 times a week) and work hard to gain muscle and tone up, but this coffee prevents me from getting bloated and I feel 10 lbs lighter every day just by drinking it.

Along with the coffee and gym, I try to eat healthily too. I cook my meals from scratch and always try to include a lot of veg as I feel like I don't eat enough of them. But, like I've said before you can drink this coffee on its own and notice amazing results just after a week. So, go on and give it a go!

You can use the code 'voguebymaya' for some money off!

Lots of love,

Maya xo

2016 || NOVEMBER FAVOURITES

Essie Nail Varnish in shade Worth The Wait. OMG, I cannot stress enough about how good Essie nail polishes are! I have quite a big collection of them now and I love every single one of them. I own a lot of nude shades as I'm not allowed to wear any 'unnatural' colours at work (haha I know right...), but this one is a new favourite at the moment. It's a very subtle shade and is more of a Spring shade, however it makes me feel very cute and girly when wearing it, so why not eh?

The MacBook Pro is my newest edition to my life. I needed a new laptop seeing as my old one had broken over a year ago - it was an amazing laptop and very dearly loved. I feel like an utter Apple whore now that I've got their laptop, iPad and iPhone. I absolutely love this laptop, even though it's soooo expensive (I bought the one with Retina display), but I'm glad I had gone ahead with it. There are many good laptops which are cheaper, however I really dislike anything newer than Windows 7, and I'm used to iOS due to having an iPad and iPhone.

Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick Dupe in shade Bow N Arrow. I've wrote a full review of these which you can read here. This shade is very wearable and long-lasting, therefore perfect as an every-day colour!

Sleek Highlighting Palette in shade Cleopatra's Kiss. Oh my, what can I say about this palette?! It's absolutely stunning. Just look at these gorgeous shades, they're perfect for wearing not just on your face, but also as eyeshadows as they're very shiny and have a lot of shimmer. I feel like they're suitable for all skin tones and definitely a must-have.

What have you loved last month? Have you tried any of the products mentioned above?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

GIVEAWAY || 5K FOLLOWERS CELEBRATIONS! AUTUMN/WINTER GIVEAWAY

What you'll receive:
1. Zoella Makeup Bag
2. Zoella Lip Balm
3. Primark's False Lashes in 'Sultry' and 'Full Look'
4. Cooling Eye Mask
5. Metallic Temporary Tattoos
6. Primark's Strobing Stick
7. Primark's Nail Varnishes x 3
8. Primark's Blue Fairy Lights
9. Primark's Tea Lights
10. Primark's False Nails x 2
11. Kiko Eyeshadows x 4
12. Kiko Lipstick
13. MUA Metallic Liquid Lipstick
14. MUA Lip Liners x 2
15. Loreal Soft Khol Eyeliner
16. Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray
17. Makeup Revolution Liquid Lipstick

*RULES*
- not allowed to unfollow/unsubscribe -> you'll be disqualified
- only one entry per person, unless stated otherwise
- can repost main picture on Instagram and tag me in it & hashtag 'voguebymayaxgiveaway' for extra entries (this can be done more than once, but only once a day)
- have fun!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Lots of love,

Maya xo

2016 || OCTOBER FAVOURITES

October is the month of Halloween, so everything I've been loving last month was super vampy.
First up, I've been a huge fan of Mac lipliners for ages now and keep constantly buying new shades to add to my collection. My recent addition was the shade 'Plum' which is beyond beautiful. It's perfect for the Autumn/Winter time as a dark and bold lip is everything at this time of the year!

Next up, is the Makeup Revolution Light & Shade eyeshadow palette, which is a dupe for the Kat Von D Shade and Light palette. The pigmentation is amazing, the shadows are creamy and easy to blend, however the only issue I have with this is the fallout!

Rimmel lipsticks were a massive craze for me when I was younger, and when I purchased one of their darker shades I remembered just how good they are! I feel like I have to get the full collection now, but I need to calm down with all the spending, especially with Christmas coming up! I bought the shade 'Starry Eyed' and it's a perfect Autumn shade, paired up with a gold eyeshadow and ta-dah! You've got the perfect look for this time of year.

Who doesn't love a bit of new stationary, especially when it's from Tiger! I love these thin felt pens, they're so easy to work with and don't smudge - which is vital for bloggers (we tend to be fast writers). I mainly use these for writing up blog post ideas, making lists and notes for revision.

What did you love in October? Have you tried any of the products I mentioned above?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

2016 || SEPTEMBER FAVOURITES

Ever since I tried out Primark's makeup range, I've been obsessing over these ideas and have bought a whole face of makeup from brands such as Natural Collection, Poundland etc. Today, I wanted to share with you guys my September favourites featuring only makeup from Poundland.

Liquid Lipsticks have taken over the world just like drawn-on eyebrows, they're a must for most. So when I found out that Poundland has released a new range of products, including liquid lipsticks, I had to rush over and pick out every shade!

The nude shade is absolutely perfect as an every-day kind of colour. I feel like it goes with all skin tones, and because it's a cool-tone it suits me more than any other nude liquid lipstick! YAY.

The pink shade is gorgeous for the night time. I feel like it would look amazing with a grey-black smokey eye or a feline liner flick and extreme wispy lashes! The scent is great, it smells like vanilla cupcakes and applies really easily. If I had to compare them to another product, it would have to be the NYX soft matte lip creams.

On the other hand, the contour duo's are also amazing for the price. I feel like both of the bronzer shades are great and would suit up to medium-dark skin tones. The highlighter shade is very pretty, however it's in a cream format so it's quite hard to work with. Same thing goes for the blush shade, however I feel like it's more bendable, especially on darker skin.

I've been using the liquid lipsticks practically every day throughout September and would highly recommend them. I would also say that the contour kits are worth buying, if you're on a budget or are feeling like trying out a new beauty product.

Have you tried any of Poundland's makeup? What about their liquid lipsticks?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

2016 || AUGUST FAVOURITES

This might as well be a back-to-uni haul because all these items were new and bought specifically for uni, yet I loved them all haha!

My favourite has to be the pink diary I got from Poundland - yes, you read it right POUNLAND!
The second notebook is from Primark, and I believe it only cost me £2.50 but just look at the glitter and unicorns ahhh! It's to DIE for!
Next up, (also from Primark) I loved the 'Full Look' false lashes. They are only £1 and I usually go for the sultry lashes, however I fancied a change and saw these beauties. Oh wow, I was so happily surprised when I wore them! Of course, I reuse my lashes a few times before chucking them out, so I think £1 is an absolute bargain even if you do get rid of them after the first use!
I've been wanting to try the NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream lipsticks for a while now and I decided to purchase the shade 'Rome' - not only because it's a gorgeous colour, but also because I'm obsessed with anything to do with Italy haha (especially pizza). I absolutely love the formula, it feels like I've got nothing on, and smells a-m-a-z-i-n-g!! I'm definitely going to expand my collection soon, especially as they're only £5.50!
The whole hype about the Maybelline Eye Erase concealer turned out to be true for me too. I absolutely adore this concealer, I think the coverage is great and it hides my dark circles. The only issue I have with this product is the shade - it's not light enough!!! Come on Maybelline, sort your shit out and make some paler shades for us ghosts!!!
Last but not least, another spot cream. I don't get a lot of break outs nowadays (come on, I'm nearly 21 now, this needs to stop!), but when I do I get it bad. This little bad boy has been my saviour during August and I know for a fact that I will repurchase it until they bring out a spot cream that's better than this one, however I don't think you can top this 95p treatment from Wilko's.

What have you loved in August this year? Have you tried any of the products I've mentioned above?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

2016 || JULY FAVOURITES

This July I loved a few products, mainly skincare but there's also a makeup item.

First of all, let's talk about the Victoria Secret body sprays. I absolutely love their whole range and trying to pick out a few from the whole collection was quite a tough task. I've especially been loving Sheer Love as I feel like it's the perfect summer fragrance and feels so light on, unlike perfume which I find a bit too heavy to wear during hot summer days.

Next up we've got the Argan Oil heat defence leave in spray. I don't even remember how many times I've repurchased or spoke about this product, but I got back into using it as it works wonders, especially in humid weather where my hair tends to get frizzy.

And what's summer without dry skin? I feel like my hands get really dry in summer which is odd as most people tend to get dry skin in winter. This Soap and Glory Endless Glove hand cream has literally been my life saver this summer. I love the scent of it - it's very fruity, just what summer is all about.

Last but not least, the Bourjois 123 Perfect foundation. The coverage is great, the scent is great and the whole idea is just great. The only negative thing I have to say is that the colour range is very poor and I'm forced to mix this foundation with another in order to get a shade that suits me most.

What did you love this July? Have you tried any of the items I've mentioned?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

NETFLIX & CHILL - MY PREFERRED NIGHT IN AND FAVOURITE SHOWS

Who doesn't love a bit of Netflix and Chill? If it's on your own, with your friends or other half, Netflix = best night in.

My perfect night in consists of favourite TV shows/movies, snacks and a hot drink! Recently I've been loving different TV shows as movies don't entice me much anymore... I need a show to leave me guessing and wanting to watch on to find out what happens, yet I do love reading books before the shows too.

1) Sherlock - I've been obsessed with Martin Freeman ever since I watched The Hobbit (one of my all-time favourites I must say). I think that him and Benedict Cumberbatch make the perfect duo in this modern twist of Sherlock Holmes. 10/10 would recommend.

2) Orange is the new Black - Yassss! This show literally took over my life during my last year at college. I was hooked from the first episode and absolutely love the whole plot. I know that it's based on true events which tbh makes it even more exciting to watch.

3) The Big Bang Theory - If you're an open minded person then I'd definitely recommend this. I absolutely adore Sheldon Cooper and think all characters are fascinating. It definitely makes you look at things from a different perspective and learn about all types of personalities.

4) Black Mirror - A political satire which will make you think about everything that's gone off in 5 different ways (I'm not even joking). Kieran introduced me to this show a while ago, and I recently found out that it'll be returning to Netflix UK soon!!

5) Pretty Little Liars - Got a secret? Can you keep it? Ahhh! This show drives me insane! If you're up to date with it, you'll know who A is - rubbish, right? But, OMG when I first started watching this show (good few years ago now) I was so infuriated with wanting to find out who A was! And now I've got to wait until April for the last season to be released :(

6) Stranger Things - Oh my daysssss, have any of you watched this yet?! I've watched it the week it was released and I couldn't stop. I watched the whole season in a day and then rewatched it a couple of times (sorry, not sorry). This show is amazing, the acting is incredible and the setting is so realistic - I almost feel like I'm a part of the 80's!

What shows have you been loving recently? What's your perfect night in like? 

Lots of love,

Maya xo