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

2017 || MAY FAVOURITES

For me, May was a good month full of amazing new beauty products I got to try out! I love trying out new things, as well as using up old products haha - I don't know if it's just me but I find it so satisfying to use up products and chuck out the empty packaging??

First up, we've got my beautiful Vivienne Westwood Orb Earrings which I received for my birthday from the other half. I love them so much and try to get a lot of wear out of them but they're so precious I'm scared to lose them :( One of my close friends lost her VW earring down the sink, so imagine how painful that must have been for her!!

The fragrance I've been constantly using throughout the month of May is Viktor & Rolf's Flowerbomb - come on now, the clue is in the name haha, it's the most perfect scent for spring! I love the cute bottle, it comes very handy if you're travelling as the bottle is easy to store.

I don't know about you but I've never really seen/heard any makeup gurus rave about any high-end face powders but when I got my hands on this little number by Lancome my life literally changed haha. The packaging, for one, is gorgeous. I love the lid - it screams expensive. This powder was a part of a limited edition collection for Christmas in 2014 called 'Parisian Lights' and has bits of shimmer in it. I got this from my mum as she works in makeup and is lucky enough to get her hands on LE stock that can't be sold to the public anymore - sort of like Bicester village.

Another one of my May favourites was the Makeup Revolution Contour Palette. This bad boy only retails at £3.50 (last time I checked anyway). It comes in a cute compact with a mirror, a cool-toned bronzer shade, bright highlighter and rose-gold blusher. I've already used up one of these but the one I had before didn't come with a mirror which makes me feel like this one might be slightly more expensive, but most likely still very affordable. My favourite part of this palette is probably the highlighter as it is BLINDING. It looks great on my pale skin which is hard to find, to begin with, so if it shows up crazy bright on my skin tone you can only imagine how piercing it'd look on darker skin tones. The blusher reminds me a lot of Nars' Orgasm but for a fraction of the price. The bronzing shade is also great for those who prefer cool-toned contour shades over warmer shades.

What best way to tone up than using a Firming Anti-Cellulite Gel?! Haha don't get me wrong, this isn't going to make you look like Rihanna but it will help reduce the appearance of cellulite wherever you desire to get rid of it. I've been using this for a while now and have noticed a slight difference in the cellulite on my thighs. I've also been trying to drink more water and work out harder at the gym so I can gladly say my Summer body is coming along nicely! (Update: 16/02/2021 - I was very obsessed with having to look a certain way and have since become confident in my own skin and would never recommend a cellulite 'removing' product as 1. this cannot be done, and 2. cellulite is normal!!!)

Last, but not least the Benefit It's Potent Eye Cream - the saviour. I had a lot of deadlines and a few exams in May so it resulted in many sleepless nights thus making my eyes very puffy. This cream is amazing and I have raved about it many times before so if you'd like a further read on it, check my post here.

*This post contains some affiliate links.

What have you loved in May? Did you have any important deadlines to meet or exams?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

REVIEW || URBAN DECAY BROW BEATER IN TAUPE

Urban Decay never fails to surprise me with new launches. I absolutely love their collaboration with Pulp Fiction, the Naked palettes, All Nighter Setting Spray etc. You know the gist! So when I saw that they came out with ABH style brow pencils I had to try it for myself. The colour range isn't the best which is a shame, but I opted for Taupe as it seemed most appropriate for my hair colour.

I usually use blonde shades and they often turn out to be too warm for me so I thought that Taupe would be the best colour choice. The packaging is very similar to their eyeliners which is nice as they stuck to the original theme however, I feel like it looks too much like the ABH brow products.

I must say that I was very happily surprised with how pigmented this brow pencil was. It applied very easily and wasn't too waxy which made it look very natural once applied to the brows. The tip is very small and thin which makes the application more precise and easy to draw hair like strokes for a natural look.

The finish of the brow pencil is very odd, it's not quite matte but it's not shiny either... satin maybe? Either way, it looks great on and I would highly recommend it to those who want to try something new without it disappointing you. I must add that I have never tried any of the ABH brow products so I can't compare the two, but this one has worked for me well and I will continue to use it until I find the ultimate most perfect brow product ever!

Do you have a favourite brow product? Have you tried the UD Brow Beater?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

THE TWO BENEFIT PRODUCTS WHICH CAN BE A HIT OR A MISS

I have always been a big fan of the Benefit Porefessional, so when I found out that the product range was expanding I knew I had to try something out. I chose the Licence to Blot (discontinued) as I've not heard much about it and it sounds like a dream, right? Also, it was rather affordable for £14 (at the time) unlike the other products from that range.

Of course, Benefit's packaging is always 10/10 so I won't say much about it other than I love it. The product on the other hand, not so much...
It says to use under or over makeup, but from the reviews on their website I saw people complain about it moving their makeup around too much when used over foundation, so I knew I had to try it under my foundation but over the primer to see best results.

It says that it's an 'oil-blotting stick' but I don't think it is haha 😂😂 It actually makes my face more oily if that's even possible?? I was so disappointed with this product that I know for a fact I won't re-purchase it again and sort of don't want to use it now either... HUGE disappointment, as I really do love the original Porefessional!

On the other hand, the Dandelion Shy Beam (discontinued) has been a huge hit for me. I've heard a lot of people moan about this product saying it doesn't do anything for them because they like a blinding highlight, but why complain when it clearly says subtle MATTE highlighter? I think this is perfect for those with acne-prone skin, as it doesn't bring too much attention to pimples or imperfections on the skin which is a win-win for me.
I also think it's great for pale skin as it is a lighter shade with a pink undertone, which looks great on in Winter. I would also suggest wearing it to school if you're not allowed to wear a lot of makeup as it gives a lovely and natural glow without looking too extreme.

*This post contains affiliate links.

Have you ever been disappointed with a Benefit product? If so, which one did not work for you, and which one do you swear by?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

REVIEW || COLOURPOP ULTRA MATTE & ULTRA SATIN LIP

I feel like this whole Colourpop review thing is becoming a trend over on Vogue By Maya haha. I have already written full reviews of the Colour Shock Shadows and Lippie Stix, but now it's time to talk about the famous Ultra Matte and Satin lipsticks.

I'm a massive Colourpop fan in general. I love their prices and their products - especially the packaging! I recently placed 2 orders (naughty, I know) and will soon share with you my whole Colourpop makeup collection, so stay tuned for more!

First up, I bought this trio as a set for $15 on offer. I really like the shades as they're all pink toned natural(ish) shades which I love for an every-day look. I have the shades: Baracuda, Viper, and Times Square with Baracuda being a satin finish liquid lipstick.

The packaging is very pretty, it reminds me very much of the Anastasia Beverly Hills liquid lipsticks but with slightly different lids. To say these are only $6 each they look great, and I bet they would look even better stacked up in an acrylic stand! (I keep mine in their original boxes because I love the packaging so much, haha).

The formula is very thick, almost like the NYX Lip Lingerie lipsticks. I love that these lipsticks do not bleed. I find that many liquid lipsticks, including Jeffree Star Velour Liquid Lipsticks, bleed a lot into fine lines in the skin around the mouth area.

The applicator is very simple, but effective. It does the job well however, I do feel like I need to line my lips before using these lipsticks as it's hard to stay in line without doing so!
The longevity is quite high as I usually wear these to work or uni and they stay on all day long, but I do feel the need to touch up a little bit after eating which isn't unusual.

Overall, I really love the formula of these. They don't feel sticky and glide on nicely, but if I had to choose I would probably pick the Lippie Stix over the liquid lipsticks as the formula of them is very unique which draws me to them.

Have you tried any of the Colourpop liquid lipsticks? If so, which ones?

Lots of love,

Maya xo