Primark

Sunday 29 May 2016

FOTD || USING ONE BRAND - TESTING OUT PRIMARK'S MAKEUP - DOES IT REALLY WORK?

Hi Everyone!

I have officially finished my first year at uni, woo! Now I'm just looking forward to my holiday (I'll reveal the destination in an upcoming post).

Has you ever tried using just one brand to create a whole look? Well, I've decided to give it a go with Primark's makeup collection. They have recently brought out a professional range, however I wanted to keep this look as cheap as possible for those who don't have loads of money or are starting out with makeup and need to find out more about Primark's collection.







The whole look came up to £29.80 including the makeup bag.


I had bought a foundation, powder, bronzer, eyebrow kit, mascara, eyeshadow palette, kohl liner, lipliner, lipstick, beauty blenders and brushes.


I'll start off with the foundation. When I first saw it I was surprisingly shocked. I think there are 5/6 shades and they're not silly shades that you'd get from Rimmel or Loreal, but in fact the shades go from really light to mid-dark which means that everyone can enjoy these foundations. 
At first, I didn't like the scent at all. It smells a bit plasticky and not nice, however once I swatches it on the back of my hand I fell in love with it instantly. The consistency is very thick and it glides on really smoothly. I would say it's medium to full coverage and is suitable for all skin types. I, personally have combination skin and found this foundation very long lasting and very suitable. 
I chose the shade 'Porcelain' - as I'm whiter than white - which was the perfect shade for me, especially when I don't fake tan. I give this foundation a strong 9/10 especially for the amazing price of £5!



I had applied my foundation using the teardrop shaped beauty blending sponge and the double ended foundation/concealer brush for better coverage. I've used the brush many times now and I really enjoy it, however the sponge was fantastic. It is soft and stiff at the same time making the application process so much easier and quicker. I'd say that everyone needs those sponges in their lives, particularly if you don't have too much time to spare to do your makeup. Both applicators were £1.50 each, so grab a bargain!


Next up, I used the mineral loose powder in shade 'light'. This was only £2 and you get a lot of product. At first I didn't like the colour as I do prefer translucent powders, however once I've applied it onto my skin to set the foundation I really liked it. It added slightly more coverage to my face, making it look more flawless. 
I did find the packaging slightly annoying as it took me a while to get the product out, however this can be easily overlooked once you try this amazing powder. If you like baking under your eyes then I would highly recommend this powder! Especially with the application of a wet beauty blender/sponge. However, I did apply it with the flat powder brush which I think retails at £1.50



Then of course I had to bronze up! I couldn't find a matte bronzer and the one they did have was really shiny/glittery and looked more like a highlighter :( so I actually bought a pressed powder in the shade 'dark' as I thought it'd give me a nice sun kissed look. But, I didn't like it very much. The colour pay off was rubbish and it was slightly orange. I don't know, maybe it'd be a good powder, but it was crap as a bronzer. However, I did love the brush I used for applying bronzer. It's a double contour brush - double? Huh? I don't even know! It looks like a split fibre one for better coverage. I had used it with different products and absolutely love it - everyone needs one in their makeup bag.



When I was done with my face, I tried to do my eyebrows. You can see I said 'tried' because it was a long and messy process haha! I hate this crayon, it's so bad!! It say on top of my eyebrow hairs rather than give me a fuller brow look. I think I'd stick to my Brow Archery next time D:
I definitely would advise everyone to stay away from this! However I did really like the brow gel, and thought the set was really cute as it comes with tweezers and a spoolie, as well as the crayon and clear gel.





The eyeshadow palette made me tear up. It's so gorgeous and looks a lot like the MAC x9 palettes. Oh how i disappointed myself :(( the shades look similar to each other and are very chalky. The fallout is dangerous - there's so much of it!! They were however easy to blend, but only because the pigment was DISGRACEFUL!! I would say that these are good for those who like subtle eyeshadow or are starting to play with makeup and want some Eyeshadows which are easy to blend. 
I used the double ended eyeshadow brush to apply these which was okay. I think a fluffy brush would have been better, but it turned out okay.



Next up, I applied the kohl liner. I put on my upper lash line as I wanted to create a smokey effect. It's actually really good, you know! As it was only £1 I didn't expect much, but I was pleasantly surprised and absolutely love it. I'd say it's a very good dupe for the Benefit BadGal liner.




Another favourite - the mascara. At only £1 it is AMAZING. I love it so much that I might buy a few more just in case they are discontinued! It's perfect for when you're rushing and want a bit of volume and a lot of coverage! I wish they did it in more colours as its really hard to find a good mascara that's not too pricey and comes in lots of colours. Remember old Primark makeup?? With the liquid glitter liners and mascaras?? Those were the days hahaha!!


My all time holy grail lashes - the Primark Sultry style. At only £1 I own about 5 pairs and have been through many more before that. I didn't apply them for this look as I was staying at home all day revising, however I think they would really compliment this look and make it a bit more sexy.
If you like any of their other lashes then please let me know which ones! I do want to try more and ad they're so cheap I shouldn't hesitate, but you know the feeling when you spend money on something that you won't use again - worst feeling ever!



Moving onto lips now. I bought two different shades of lip products at different times so didn't want to add more to the collection as I wasn't amazed by them. The lipliner is okay, it feels really waxy and dry on the lips however it is highly pigmented and compliments my skin tone. On the other hand, the lipstick is really good for the price (£1.50). It does feel slightly waxy, but it smells great and is highly pigmented. You only need about one coat to get a nice look.


I wasn't going to include nails in, as I have so many false nails from Primark already, but I saw this cute little nail varnish and it was only 30p. Yup, 30 PENCE!!! For something so cheap I didn't expect much. Guess what?? It is sooo good! I only applied 2 coats and it lasted so long before chipping (around 3-4 days). The normal price of these is 60p which is still bloody amazing, they come in many colours so I will definitely buy the whole collection. These are particularly good for those who don't paint their nails very often, as I always feel bad when I get rid of old nail polish that could have gotten so much more use out of. A little bottle like this will definitely last you a long time, as like I've said earlier - you only need two coats to get the most out of the colour.

Overall, I was very pleased with the majority of the products. I will definitely consider expanding my collection next time I pay Primark a visit.

This whole look has cost me less than £30 including the tools which I think is incredible, as a whole face full of MAC would cost around £300! So I did grab myself a massive bargain!

What do you think of this look? Would you like to see more FOTD posts that feature one brand?

Lots of love,
Maya xo

Friday 22 April 2016

OOTD || Quick And Smart Uni Outfit

Good Morning Everyone!

What's a better start to a Friday than a nice and easy OOTD post! I thought I'd do a quick fashion post before my seminar this morning to share with you my quick go-to uni outfit.

I usually put an outfit together the night before so I don't have to rummage through my wardrobe in the morning and stress myself out because nothing goes together - I'm pretty sure we've all been there, right?! However, today has been a bit of a long morning already as I did my hair and makeup quite quickly (it usually takes me over an hour to get ready in the morning) so I thought I'd quickly put an outfit together.

I decided to put on a plain pair of Topshop's black skinny jeans. And what goes better with plain skinnies other than a shirt? A pyjama shirt! Yup, you read it correctly - I am wearing a pyjama shirt. Don't get me wrong, I didn't sleep in it! But it's so beautiful and the silky material makes it ever so wearable! I bought this beautiful shirt with matching bottoms (obviously) from River Island. To style up my outfit I decided to put on my gorgeous Michael Kors watch and Pandora and H&M rings and bracelets. The shoes I went for are my trusty and comfy pointy lace-up ballet flats (there's a mouthful) which I had bought from Primark for only £8! £8!!!!! 


What's your favourite simple but classy outfit?

Lots of love,
Maya xo

Monday 28 March 2016

OOTD || Day-Night Look, From the Office to Cocktails with the Girls

Good Morning Everyone!

I hope that everybody's had/having a nice Easter and got lots of delicious chocolate eggs, I certainly have! I realised that I haven't blogged about fashion for a while so thought I'd share with you an outfit of the day.


I'm wearing a long-sleeved playsuit from H&M which is my current favourite outfit. It is so easy to accessorise and is suitable for any occasion. Unfortunately, they are all sold out on the website now but I have found a few similar to the one that I'm wearing. 


I thought this outfit would be perfect for a two-in-one look to wear to work (especially for those who work in the fashion industry) and then it can easily be accessorised for a night-time look, such as going out for drinks with your friends.



Yes, I am aware that you can see my dad's reflection in my sunglasses - I don't know how to edit him out! I would appreciate any tips you have in order to do that, below in the comment section!
I'm wearing a big cotton floppy hat from Primark, I believe it was around £6-8.


My sunglasses are by Oscar De La Renta and I got these from TKMaxx for around £16. I'm wearing MAC Brave on my lips, lined with MAC's Dervish lip liner.


My gorgeous bag is from Primark and it only cost me £6. I take it with me everywhere as it's so spacious! It might not look it, but I can fit a lot of things in there! Usually my whole purse and a few makeup items, as well as pocket tissues, house keys etc.


I really think that waist belts are much underrated nowadays. They can make a simple outfit go from a 6 to a 10 instantly. Not that this gorgeous playsuit needed a belt - I just love to accessorise!


I actually forgot to put my Micheal Kors watch on before having my pictures taken, but I thought that it'll go great with this outfit because of its navy and gold shades.


These pointy loafers from New Look only cost me £6 in the sale last year! I absolutely love them and wear them all the time. I think they add a nice touch to this outfit and are comfy to wear all day at work and don't look too casual for a night out.


My gorgeous name necklace was a gift from my boyfriend, and the other was a gift from one of my closest friends that I received for my 20th this year. I think it's from Accessorize.

Lots of love,
Maya xo

Monday 23 June 2014

Recent Purchases

Hello beauties!
Who's been enjoying this weather? Me, Me, ME!!!! It is absolutely boiling in Nottingham, and I caught a bit of the sun. There is nothing better than having tanned skin and enjoying a beautiful weather. What I got up to those past few days is shopping, working and hitting the gym! I am determined to get very fit over the Summer just in time for my first girly holiday in August!
Anyway, here are pics of a few things I recently bought.
My little sister is obsessed with loom bands at the moment so I decided to buy some myself!!
Primark sunnies are the best. The prices vary from £1-£3. The white aviators were £1 and the mirror effect aviators were £2. 2 pairs for £3!!! BARGAIN!
Birkenstocks are a bit expensive, so I opted for the cheaper way and got some look alike sandals for only £5 from Primark. I've been wearing them every day since the day I got them and that was over a week ago. They are extremely comfortable.
This gorgeous handbag cost me £35 from River Island. Pricey but totally worth it!
I found this camisole in Vero Moda and had to try it on ASAP. It looks great on and weirdly suits my new hair colour! It was only £10, an amazing bargain especially as they accept NUS card so I got 10% off the bill.
This lovely skater skirt was reduced to £12 from I think £25 or £30 which is also a total bargain. It's great for this Summer and will look fantastic with a tan.
I've wanted to buy a 90's string top for a while now. I had a look around a local Miss Selfridge store and couldn't find any that I liked off the website, and you know what it's like when it comes to online shopping - it doesn't always turn out so great and something might not suit you. So I went into Topshop and found this lovely white top for only £6!!! I tried it on and really loved it. I will definitely purchase this top in more colours!
I've never tried Topshop's make-up but it would be a sin if I didn't buy these items for 50 PENCE EACH. I found this eye crayon in gold, a lip marker (lip stain) in red, and two sets of nail varnishes in variety of colours. I shall do a review on those products very soon.
This gorgeous velvet headband was reduced to £1 from £6 which is a total bargain for Topshop. Personally, I don't think I would have paid £6 for a headband as it's just an accessory.
Lots of love,
Maya xo

Wednesday 21 May 2014

OOTD - Daytime Date

Hey everyone,
Just a quick update of what I got up to last week. I went to see The Amazing-Spiderman 2, which really was amazing, and also out for a meal to Tamatanga - again. I love that place. If you have any questions then don't hesitate to contact me :)

I always look so awkward trying to pose. Also, my camera makes me look so blurry!

My whole pretty outfit! My jeans are from H&M sale for £5, My top is from Tesco FF for £8, My necklace is from Primark for £3 and my Kimono is from New Look for £12.
My necklace is from Primark. It was reduced to £3 when I bought it.
The pattern on my jeans.
MY FAVOURITE SHOES THAT HURT MY FEET SO BADLY. Miss KG by Kurt Geiger.
Cinderella, is that you? Sorry about my wrinkly foot hahaha, I don't know what happened to it!
Look how pretty my shoes are!!! My feet/legs look so pale, it's unreal. That's just before I applied fake tan.
My beautiful Kurt Geiger jelly shoes close up!!

You can see how bad my roots are in this picture! I was so fed up with the colour as well, so you will have to wait till my next post to see my new hairdo!

Big forehead alert!! My eyelashes look extra long! I use the 17 Va Va Voom mascara in extreme black.

Here you can see my messy little bun? I think that's what I should call it, even though it looks like a knot!

Cheeky little selfie of my make-up. Sorry, I'm always making awkward faces trying to pose for the camera!
Mmmm yummy chicken wrap! It was a mixture of spice and sugar, but it was the best of both worlds.
 
Mint and Mango chutney to dip my chips and wrap in! It was delicious. I will definitely have this next time I go to Tamatanga.
Best chips in the world. They were really salty and just tasted heavenly.
What's a dinner date without a glass of Coke or Sprite?
Lots of love,
Maya xo
© VOGUE BY MAYA. Design by Fearne.