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.

FASHION || 5 SUSTAINABLE FASHION IDEAS FOR A GUILT-FREE WARDROBE

We all have a responsibility to prioritise sustainable items of clothing, including brands. I'm definitely pro thrifting and recycling old garments, but I do find myself shopping for new pieces to add into my wardrobe without a reason which is something I'm trying to move away from and make more sustainable choices. Eco-friendly alternatives are becoming a big part of our daily lives, and the fashion world should be no different. If you are looking to create a guilt-free wardrobe, then I hope some of these five sustainable fashion tips will help you as much as they've been helping me.

TRAVEL || WHAT TO DO IN ROME + TIPS ON WHERE TO EAT, HOW TO SAVE ON TRANSPORT, AND WHERE TO GO

Those of you who follow me on social media will already know that I have been on holiday to Rome back in July (2017). I did plenty of research before my trip and have also learnt a lot of helpful tips while on holiday. Obviously, this post will include the Colosseum etc. but I will also mention how I saved a lot of money and made the most out of my trip. This post includes my own photographs only - I have many, many more in my archives but I thought I'll stick with these ones as you should really see the city in person for all its beautiful glory!

HOW I CLEARED MY ACNE IN LESS THAN 90 DAYS (AD)

*Personal post alert*

I don't even know where to start... I have been struggling with bad skin for 12 years and it's something that has bothered me since I started secondary school and met some horrible people. I wasn't too fussed about having spots and looking after my skin more until I got bullied for it - how can someone say a bad thing about something so natural? Either way, I tried a great number of different products which were either a hit or miss, but all I can say is that going to see a dermatologist was the best decision I made.

I was given yet another set of pills which were so strong that if I got pregnant while taking them, the baby would have been deformed... Is it healthy to put your body at such risk just to get off some damn spots? Either way, they did go away after a year of being on those meds but along with losing spots, I have also lost my good eyesights and now will have to wear glasses for the rest of my life.

Guess what? The spots came back, haha. At the age of 21, I still feel like a hormonal teenager who can't wait to get rid of bad skin. It might be due to my contraception method (I'm on the implant) but I can't blame all my unwellness of that, can I?

When I came across Proactiv+ I thought 'it's just another brand claiming to fight blemishes', but when I received a 90-day sample to try out for myself I was very excited to try it out for myself - got nothing left to lose, eh? I researched into the company and have seen many adverts in which Jorgie Porter shares her acne story - I knew she suffered from bad skin as I watched I'm A Celeb while she was on it. So you can imagine how much I was looking forward to trying the Proactiv+ Trio (I was also sent their face mask).

Step 1: Cleanse and Exfoliate

The Skin Smoothing Exfoliator contains blemish-fighting salicylic acid and gentle exfoliating beads to slough away dead skin cells, dirt, oil, grime and makeup. It reveals fresh, smooth skin while helping to calm irritated skin as well as being oil-free and dermatologist tested + suitable for all skin types - hooray! I apply this product twice a day - once in the morning as soon as I get up, and once at night before going to bed. This exfoliator retails at £29.99 however, you can get it at a discounted price of £23.99 if you join the membership programme. I find this product very gentle for my skin without any irritation, if you have read my recent skincare routine you will already know that I have a combination skin type which makes finding the right products very difficult, so this one is honestly amazing for those who have sensitive skin.

Step 2: Target and Treat

The Pore Targeting Treatment is probably my favourite item from the collection. It's described as a blemish-fighting 'powerhouse' of the system which contains an exclusive Smart Target technology, helping to deliver salicylic acid into the pores where blemishes begin. It kills bacteria and eliminates excess oil and debris, and works deep in the pores to break down dead skin cells, dirt and sebum. Now you know why I love this product!! I feel like this treatment works very well as it pushes out all the nastiness from the debris (middle layer of the skin) which makes spots come out on the epidermis so that your skin feels fresh and clean from underneath as well as on top. I do find that when the nasties are pushed out on the surface of my skin, it makes me break out a lot but that's when I knew the product was working as it was clearing out my skin from the inside, plus the spots would only last a few days with continuous use. This little gem also retails at £29.99, and you can get it for £23.99 like the exfoliator. You get less product in this one but I would suggest buying this one over the other ones I've tried if you're after only one product.

Step 3: Hydrate and Perfect

The third and final step of the treatment includes the Complexion Perfecting Hydrator which is specifically designed to hydrate and nourish acne-prone skin. It addresses the skin tone, texture, post-blemish marks, oil, dryness, and lack of brightness. The salicylic acid helps keep pores clean and looking smaller, as well as leaving the skin hydrated, supple, smooth, even-toned and bright.
I use this as my daily moisturiser after the Pore Targeting Treatment sinks into my skin, I find it very cooling and smoothing which makes a great base for my makeup (I wear a full face of makeup most days). This moisturiser is also £29.99 but £23.99 at a member price, which will cost less than £1 a day to clear up your skin in just 90 days if you buy all 3 products.

Skin Purifying Mask:

Like I've mentioned before, I was also kindly given the Skin Purifying Mask to try out. This mask is formulated to help clear existing blemishes and help prevent new breakouts from forming. It's very tightening on the skin which makes me feel like it's actually doing something to my skin, such as clearing out and minimising my pores and getting rid of sebum. I try to use face masks once or twice a week, so I usually switch between this one and a moisturising mask each time.

The Results:

After using the Proactiv+ 90 Day 3-Step Core System and face mask, I can honestly say that I have noticed a massive difference in how my skin looks and feels. Unfortunately, I don't have a good enough image of my skin before starting the treatment but if you've been following me for a while then you'll know how bad my skin can get (the bumps are usually visible in makeup posts). I highly recommend the trio to anyone who is suffering from bad acne and has tried many products which they weren't happy with. If you're not wanting to spend a lot of money then I suggest you try out a 30 day 3-Step Core Kit with Proactiv's membership programme which allows you to get the whole bundle for only £19.99 (special discounts apply to members and occasionally regular visitors).


*The kit was kindly sent to me by Proactiv+ however, all opinions are my own. The post may include affiliate links.

Would you try the Proactiv+ kit? Do you suffer from acne?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

MY GYM/WORKOUT MUST-HAVES

I've lost track of how many times I've attempted to stay motivated and exercise a thousand times now with the same excuse - "I'll try again tomorrow". I've had enough now as I feel so bad about what I eat and how I feel on the inside when I don't work out, so I finally decided to eat cleaner (but not deprive myself of chocolate etc.) and work out more. I think what's motivating me the most right now is the fact that I'm going away in July so I want to feel good in my own body and reduce bloating! Honestly, even a cup of bloody tea makes me bloated now!

My absolute workout must-have is weights. Even if they are very light, such as 1kg, they make a huge difference and make any workout more intense and I always notice the difference whenever I'm able to move up a weight. The most important thing when using weights is to make sure you do it the right way. You can watch a very helpful video on how to tone up your arms with or without weights here. I always ensure that I have my gloves with me as my hands get really dry from doing weights, this helps me reduce the dryness and prevent getting calluses.

Another staple is a good sports bra. I'm currently loving this one from H&M. I feel like I work out better knowing I have nice sportswear and am comfortable. I'm currently obsessing over yoga tights - I have some gorgeous tie-up ones that make a cute bow on the calves from Primark which only cost me £3 in the sale (I bought them in black, and grey!).

My favourite gym top has to be the Ivy Park Oversized T-shirt as it covers my bum up (reduces the number of looks I get from both girls and boys) and covers up my sweaty back hahaha!! I don't think I'll ever be one of those girls who wears a sports bra as a top because I'm way too self-conscious. Also, if you already do or want to do Yoga then I suggest you wear a vest or a tight top as it makes it easier to move around.

My no.1 tip: ALWAYS stretch before and after exercise to reduce achiness the next day!

What are your staples for working out? Any particular outfit that you love to wear?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF REVISION

I, alike many others, have always struggled with revision. I didn't know how to use my time well and optimise revising to its full potential to gain as much information as possible. I have since found the perfect solution to my problem which is - organisation is key.

I really love notebooks. No, I really really do love them - I have a very big collection of them in a huge storage box under my bed. I don't know what it is, but I love buying stationary and using it up, I find it so satisfying! Are you like this at all?

My favourite way of revising is writing up notes in different colours. For example, if you need to learn about a theory then write it down in either black or blue, and then use red for the disadvantages and green for the advantages. I do this for the majority of my modules at uni, especially History of British Social Policy as it involves a lot of Prime Ministers and their accomplishments and failures.

Flashcards are always a good idea. Once you've finished writing up your notes, you should condense them into bullet points and write them on flash cards, so when you read that sentence you automatically remember everything you've learnt about it, and if you need a reminder then use the other side of the card to write the answers!

It's always useful to ask somebody to test you. Just give them a list of key words and ask them to read them out loud which you will then reply with the correct definition.

I also like to use dividers in textbooks where I find certain quotes or theorists that I want to include in my exams. Colour coding also works if you want to separate radical theorists from democrats etc. Make sure you take breaks every 30-45 mins of intense revision, or every hour if you're doing light revision. I like to switch my wifi off and only check my phone once I feel happy with my notes.

What are your pro tips for optimising revision? Do you use any methods I mentioned above?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

5 EYESHADOW BRUSHES YOU NEED IN YOUR LIFE - FOR ONLY £7.99!

I bet you're all wondering what sort of brushes can do the same job as a £19 MAC 217 brush? Well, tune in to hear about a few of my favourites which retail at only £7.99 for 9!

I bought this set with 4 more (face) brushes which cost me £7.99 for the set, however, I've seen just the eyeshadow brush set for just under £5. Of course, the power of how the eyeshadow looks is in the hands of the person applying it, but brushes can speed up the process haha.

I personally love the brush on the far end on the right-hand side the most. It's my ultimate favourite eyeshadow brush and I use it daily without a fail. I've been wanting to get my hands on MAC's 217 for a very long time now but the price has always put me off; now these have gone up by whole £3 which is more than this set of 5 costs?! Absolutely ridiculous if you ask me... (Update 16/02/2021 - I have since bought 2 of the MAC 217 brushes as they are a m a z i n g)

I use the flat brush from this set to either blend out my crease or apply eyeshadow primer with. The pointy one is great for applying dark shadow in the crease as it doesn't let fallout drop everywhere and keeps the shadow in place instead of when using a fluffy brush. The other two - which are slanted, are great for blending shadows together. I personally prefer the 4th one (see the last pic) over the 2nd, but that's a personal preference.

It also depends on which eyeshadows you are using when creating a make-up look. I suggest you try these out with trusty shadows to test these out properly! In this post, you can see my Morphe eyeshadow palette which consists of a mixture of Morphe, NYX, and Makeup Geek shadows. You can read my '4 eyeshadow palettes you need in your life' post here.

*This post contains affiliate links.

Have you tried cheap brushes which you swear by? Have you got any recommendations for good, affordable eyeshadow brushes?

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

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

Preparing for uni life

Hi guys,

Today's post is slightly different and I decided to share with you my honest opinion of my first semester at university with tips on how to survive and prepare yourself for the drastic change after college. Whether you're staying at home while at uni or living in an accommodation you will still need as much financial and social help as possible.

I was entitled to a grant as well as a loan so I did receive a large amount of money to spend on the things I needed for my studies. I have decided to spend my first instalment on everything I needed for the first year and then save the following two instalments for the future. I spent my money on an iPad Air 2 with 128Gb with a wireless keyboard and a new pair of headphones. That was a pricey investment but I'm very glad I bought it as it is a lot easier for me to take notes as it speeds up the process and automatically correct my spelling haha! It is also easier for me to carry as I don't have to drag heavy books around with me all day! 

The next product I splurged on was a new pair of straighteners - GHD coral edition. I needed new straighteners as my Vidal Sassoon ones broke after being a very dear friend to me for 5 years :(. I had to treat myself for getting into my first choice uni! I bought most of my books that I will need in order to pass my first year (duh, kind of the most important thing) and lots and lots of stationary! 

I also splurged on makeup and clothes for winter - so I'm warm and cosy all season round! On top of that I needed a haircut and was going to have a regular trim at one of the hair salons I usually go for, but I decided to go to Vidal Sassoon to see for myself what all the fuss is about and you'll find out soon with my upcoming post featuring their hair products! 

I do regret splurging so much and not saving enough money, however I have learnt from my mistake and have now been putting away some money to the side for whenever I might need it seeing as I do spend my monthly wages on random crap! I have realised that becoming an adult comes with a lot of responsibilities especially if you go to uni and stay at home. I feel more independent but not independent enough to take many matters into my own hands. I feel like I'm rarely at home and don't spend a lot of time with my family which is upsetting but I do have a lot going on with my uni work and my actual job as well as trying to maintain a social life and attend society events. 

The first rule is - pack all the necessities and more. You can never have too many clothes - bring everything that you need with you as you might not find the time to do your weekly wash, so you need to have some spare clothes to wear on laundry days! Make sure you bring a medicine cabinet with you (literally). Even though I live at home I have bought so many types of medicine, plasters, creams etc. To keep in my room away from everyone so they don't nick any of it and that its always available to me. I keep a packet of ibuprofen tablets and plasters in my handbag just in case I needed them. Next step -food. Make sure you have a lot of 'emergency' food such as baked beans, spaghetti hoops, soups etc. As you might not always have the time to cook a proper meal or lack ingredients, so this is the easiest way to survive! I would also recommend purchasing a water filter jug instead of spending loads on bottled water as it does taste exactly the same and is always available, saving you time on running to the shop for some water.  

Another rule is - you can never have too much stationary. I own tonnes of ring-binders, refill pads, pens, pencils etc. The only thing I want now is to have my own printer as I don't like to carry all the printouts from uni to my house, because when I do print out things there's millions of it and I'd hate for it to crease in my bag.

Make sure you join societies in order to make friends who share similar interests to you as this will help you gain needed social skills and make you more appealing to employers. Sports are also important as they keep you fit and you also get to meet a lot of people with similar interests and hobbies. I personally haven't joined any sport societies or clubs, but I am a member of the Sociology Society and Fashion Society. I just wish there was a Blogger society!!

I think what helped me the most to organise my free time and study time was creating a timetable of when I have my lectures and seminars and when I'd like to revise and ow long for. We are supposed to do 20 hours of independent work each week after all....


How have you guys prepared for uni? Are any of you staying at home while studying like me?

Lots of love,

Maya xo