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

REVIEW || BOUX AVENUE UNDERWEAR - WHAT TO WEAR ON VALENTINE'S DAY WHETHER YOU'RE SINGLE OR TAKEN - TREAT YO'SELF

Who can exist a great offer on some pretty underwear? Not me! On my recent visit to Birmingham (Clothes Show Live) I had to pop into Boux Avenue did I not? Especially when I saw the offer '3 for £12' in the window!! I sprinted faster than Usain Bolt into the shop and started picking out some pretty thongs.

I love lacy underwear, it makes me feel so powerful as a woman and instantly improves my mood. I chose these colours as I thought they're best for Winter time (Yes, I choose colours according to seasons ha ha silly me..). I love the feel of the material, it's super silky and smooth bearing in mind it is made out of lace and stretchy material.

I usually go for a size 10 and have also done this with these pairs, but I thought they looked slightly bigger than they should have been - maybe they are true to size and I'm suddenly a size 8?! A girl can wish...

I feel like they come up way too big for the size, so I would suggest to go one size down at least because of the stretchy material - you don't want your bits jiggling about if you know what I mean.

I received amazing customer service by a lovely student who chatted with me for a while and complimented me on my makeup! - how nice is that?! She actually thought I was a makeup artist! Surely compliments don't get better that this?!

I also managed to see one of the loveliest people again - Abby whom I've worked with before! She's an absolute star and I love her to bits!

I was offered a VIP membership card which is only making me want to go all the way back to Bham just to buy some lingerie and receive points 🙄🙄 is that cheeky to say?? Oh well, I don't care! The knickers are lovely!!!

I really hope they will open a Boux Avenue store in Nottingham soon - I am getting so itchy just thinking about the pretty lace and mesh patterns!!!

What do you think about Boux Avenue? Have you tried any of their lingerie or PJ's?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

REVIEW || ARDELL DEMI WISPIES FALSE LASHES

I used to be obsessed with big, full lashes but now that I'm more experienced in the beauty industry I prefer a more natural look. I've tried many falsies before and have usually been pretty happy with my purchase until I bought these.

They feel so soft and the lash band is very thin, making the application process easy AF. I love that you get a Duo glue included in a set as I really do think it's one of the best false lash glue out there.

As it states on the packaging, the lashes are very lightweight - I honestly could not feel them on my own lashes, they didn't weigh them down either which is also a plus. The size of the lash band is also quite good as I did not have to trim it down when I usually do when I buy cheaper lashes i.e. Primark's sultry lashes.

I first came across Ardell 5 years ago when I was looking for false lashes to wear to my prom. I got some gorgeous human hair ones with glitter on the lash band for an extra special look. I really enjoyed wearing them and have been seeing the Demi Wispies around social media a lot recently!

I got these on offer from Boots I believe, I think they're buy one get second half price, so I'd say get them while they're cheaper because not only are they amazing but also long lasting!

You can buy them -> here.

Have you tried Ardell lashes before? If so, what did you think of them? What's your favourite brand for false lashes?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

REVIEW || PROCOAL ACTIVATED CHARCOAL TEETH WHITENING POWDER

I've recently got back into drinking lots of tea and coffee and feel like it has made my teeth look less white than usual. I'm not fortunate enough to have perfect pearly white teeth, however, they're not that yellow most of the time.

I came across the company Procoal when doing research into natural teeth whitening products, and I was kindly sent a jar to try out. Kieran was particularly happy about this seeing as he was going to buy a jar a few days before I received mine, so I thought I'll be nice and share haha!

First impressions: I like the small packaging, it's not too big yet not too tiny. Really good for travelling and storing in the bathroom cabinet as it does not take up much room. There is a lot of product in the pot and will last a long time! It says on the back of the jar to use it twice a day for best results. 

First use: I found it quite hard to use for the first time. I started brushing my teeth normally with a thin layer of the charcoal and it started spraying everywhere! I stopped immediately and cleaned the whole sink and walls and tried to give it another go. The powder is very fine, so you won't get any bits stuck between your teeth which is great news for those with gaps!

Few uses later: What I find works best for me is to use less powder as it creates a paste and foam while brushing so it makes it seem like I'm using toothpaste instead. This doesn't go everywhere either so it's actually a lot cleaner and better to use!

Results: I immediately noticed results after the first use. My teeth seemed a lot cleaner and shinier, as well as brighter than normal. I've been using this product for just over a week and I must say I'm very pleased with it. It's not made a huge difference yet, probably because I've not been using it for that long but I will continue to use it at least 5 times a week and see how I get on.

Final thoughts: I'm very impressed with this product. I would definitely recommend it to everyone who's wanting to brighten their teeth naturally with a long-lasting effect. I would also suggest using coconut oil to swish around in your mouth for 10-15 minutes a few times a week as well as using this charcoal powder for best results. Also, invest in a good electric toothbrush! I got mine from Oral B on offer!


*This post contains PR samples.

You can buy the Procoal powder here, it's currently on offer at half price and 2 for £15! Grab one before it's gone!

Lots of love,

Maya xo