REVIEW || PIXI BY PETRA ON THE GLOW BLUSHER TRIO

*This post contains gifted items and affiliate links.

I don't think I've ever liked the formula of cream blushers until trying these Pixi On-the-Glow Blush Sticks. I've tried a few in the past including MAC cream blushers and just felt like they were too hard to work with, especially when it came to blending.

TOP TIPS FOR UPDATING YOUR DIGITAL BRANDING (AD)

*This post is sponsored.

When I tell you that I've been crying over the smallest things when it comes to my blog, I ain't lying 😭 Especially domain authority - MOZ you have been very mean to me over the past few months but I forgive you as I've been working super hard to make my blog stand out even more (which has helped me improve said DA). One of the main things I've been doing over the past few weeks is updating my digital branding, starting off with the ads that I place on my website and the way I structure my paragraphs.

LIFESTYLE || DATING IN NOTTINGHAM - WHERE TO GO & WHAT TO DO? (AD)

*This post is sponsored.

Those living in Nottingham might not appreciate it for the multi-cultural city that it really is, with so many different types of people visiting/moving over here every year. Having lived in Nottinghamshire for over 13 years I can say that sometimes I forget about the lovely places there actually are to visit, especially the ones that are free where you can meet all kinds of lovely people. I've met some of the best people that I know will be in my life forever, especially during my time at university and working in the beauty industry. I can also proudly say that my friendship group is very diverse and that we all bring something culturally unique to the group (food being the most important thing of course 😂).

FASHION || MY FAVOURITE ACCESSORIES FOR DRESSING UP

It's been a while since I got to dress up all fancy and be able to enjoy a normal night out where I can truly enjoy myself without any worries. But where those nights the best!! Over the years I have accumulated many accessories that never fail for when I'm looking for something to wear. Whether it's a lovely sunny day, or a dark cold evening these are my staples that can make my outfit go from a 7 to a 10 in minutes!

LIFESTYLE || I OPENED AN ETSY SHOP!

I don't have to remind you of what a shitshow 2020 has been because you all already know. So many people have lost their jobs, and not been able to pick themselves back up. This year I was made partially redundant and accepted the first full-time position I applied for due to desperation and wanting a change of lifestyle. I met some amazing people in my new job but I hated working there. I thought I was getting myself a lovely social media management job at a very well-known company, but unfortunately, it turned out to be a shitty call centre job that did not pay enough for what was asked of me. So here I am, nearly two months since I left my job and I'm still unemployed (looking for work DAILY). Now, with all this extra time that I've had, I finally started my own little business which is something I've been wanting to do for many years.

FASHION || KATCH ME HAUL AW20

 *AD - This post contains gifted items.

I was recently contacted by KatchMe to try some of their AW20 staples, so me being me obviously said yes because I'm always on the lookout to test out new brands!

LIFESTYLE || LOOKING AND FEELING YOUR BEST THIS SUMMER

Summer is finally here, well the season is definitely here if not the weather. With Summer comes the idea of getting into healthier habits, whether that means exercising more or eating better I will share with you my top tips for feeling your best this Summer.

There is no hiding the fact that we all like to look our best, we just all have different versions of that. However, health doesn't always have to do anything with the appearance and has much more to do with how you feel on the inside. We often neglect the time to take care of ourselves the way we used to when we had fewer commitments and more time to ourselves. Sadly, the days where we would soak in a hot bath for hours, relax with a face mask and take our time to get ready are gone. Nowadays we might be lucky enough to have an extra 5 minutes to ourselves other than being in the bathroom! Although I do not have any children yet, I can only imagine what it must be like for parents or carers having to sacrifice every minute of their day to other people! But all those things don't mean that we can't all be a little more health-conscious and use the Summer as the ideal time to focus on our physical and mental well-being. With that in mind, here are some of the small changes that can make a huge difference in how you look and feel this Summer.

FASHION || FEMME LUXE HAUL - SUMMERTIME PASTELS, HOW TO STYLE PASTEL CLOTHES SS20

*This post contains gifted items by Femme Luxe Finery.

I love pastel clothes a lot for someone who doesn't actually own anything pastel-coloured in their wardrobe. So I thought I'd dedicate this post to styling my brand new pieces from Femme Luxe and show you what I picked up. 

I feel like the only colour missing from this haul is a pastel yellow top, which is something I will certainly pick up in my next order. As pastels are really trendy right now I decided to stick to a theme. The items that are mentioned in this post were gifted to me, however, all opinions are honest and my own. Now, let's get to the haul!

FASHION || TRYING OUT FEMME LUXE FINERY'S JUMPSUITS - FULL REVIEW & STYLING TIPS

I was recently approached by Femme Luxe Finery, asking if I'd like to try a few of their jumpsuits so of course, I said yes because I already work with the brand on a gifted basis and really enjoy trying out new clothes.

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

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

REVIEW || S+ BY RESMED - HOW TO GET A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP (AD)

So, I bet you're all wondering 'How can I get a good nights' sleep?' well, listen up folks because I think I found a solution!

I was recently sent a monitoring advice called S+ by ResMed which has been designed to detect your breathing and monitor your sleep cycle.

I couldn't wait to try my S+ out and when it finally came I opened it up straight away. I went through the instructions with Kieran as we both suffer from sleep deprivation (his is much worse than mine so I thought it'd be best for him to try it out and see if it made any changes).

We set the monitor up next to our bed pointing towards Kieran's chest so it can monitor his breathing and movement. It has two charger ports so you can charge your tracking device (you have to download the app to see results) as well as turning on the S+ by ResMed.

It didn't come packaged quite like this, but I do try to keep it in the box as it is a valuable product to both myself and Kieran. The cable is long but I feel like it would benefit from being slightly longer as I do have to use an extension lead to place it comfortably near our bed (sucks not having closer plug sockets).

This is what the app looks like when you open it up. I have already registered and got Kieran to answer a short(ish) quiz about his sleeping habits, such as if he sleeps with the light on or if he watches the telly before bed.

As you can see, the S+ is a small monitoring device which (to me) is quite stylish. I would easily keep it out the box and store it on my bedside table but with my OCD I prefer to keep it in the box ha ha.

Here you can see one of the nights when we used the product and Kieran's sleep score was quite high, bearing in mind he only slept for 6.5 hours. The recommended amount of sleep a person our age should get is 8-9 hours so you can only imagine how tired he felt when he got up that morning!

Here you can see the tracking of Kieran's sleep. It's hard to get a good nights' sleep being a student and living in a noisy accommodation!

The quality of your sleep also depends on your mental health, so if you suffer from anxiety then it's likely your sleep won't be as good as it should be. If you do suffer from anxiety and find it hard to sleep then I suggest listening to calming music/sounds or meditating before bed.

Here you can see that my details are included on the app which I had done to protect Kieran's privacy however, he filled out the survey and information (such as weight etc).

Overall, I think this device is great for monitoring sleep cycles and try to overcome insomnia as well as learn to get better sleep. It's very handy and doesn't take up too much room. Kieran has mentioned that he feels slightly better about his sleep knowing what it is that wakes him up throughout the night and how to improve, therefore we both think that S+ by ResMed is a great investment to those who suffer with sleep deprivation.
The only issues I have with this is that you need to use wifi overnight which drains battery (it is suggested you charge the device your app is installed on using the same port the S+ is connected to), and also it would have been useful if it monitored both of our sleep cycles rather than just one person's at a time.

You can buy the S+ by ResMed here.

*This post includes PR samples.

Do you struggle with sleep? Have you got any helpful tips on how to get better quality sleep?

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