REVIEW || AVEDA SHAMPURE SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER - USED ON FINE AND STRAIGHT BLONDE HAIR

I had absolutely no idea what Aveda was until I started working in the beauty industry back in 2017. I thought that paying £15.50 for a bottle of shampoo was absolutely insane, especially as the matching conditioner cost £17.50 - that's £33 for a couple of essential items I will need to repurchase in 3-4 month's time anyway. We don't really bat an eyelid when we pay £10 for a bottle of wine that'll last around 2 hours, so why deny ourselves a luxurious hair care item that'll last much longer and won't give us a headache the next day?

TRAVEL || A LUXURIOUS STAY IN LONDON - WHAT TO DO IN THE CAPITAL OF UNITED KINGDOM

I, like many young women, love London for all the right reasons. It's a very multicultural city that offers luxurious stays, great shopping trips, and theatrical experiences. London is one of the oldest cities in the world, founded by early Roman settlers as a trading point, and has gone through several revolutions since ground was first broken. Now, London is known as one of the richest cities across the globe, which is reflected by the luxury that can be found when you decide to visit. To give you an insight into what sort of luxuries you can expect, this post should give you a few ideas of what to do when in London to maximise your experience. 

TRAVEL || GETTING THE MOST OUT OF THE SUN IN BEAUTIFUL MARBELLA - AD

*This image was sourced from Pixabay.

When it comes to the sun, sea and sand I think we can all agree that one of our favourite destinations in Europe is Spain. And what's a better destination than Costa del Sol in the south coast of mainland Spain, or to narrow it down even more - the very glam and popular area of Marbella. An ample share of beaches, villas, parks, and history make it a must-see city. Here are a few tips for you to consider before making your way to beautiful Marbella.

FASHION || TOP BASICS EVERY MIDSIZE WOMAN NEEDS IN HER WARDROBE

*These images were taken from the retailers' sites to create a collage for this post.

It took me a while to find the right items of clothing I wanted to keep in my wardrobe all year around. Now that I have found what works well for me (a midsize woman) I thought I'd share my picks with you so you can consider trying these out for yourself.

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 || POP BEAUTY PERMANENT POUT - LIQUID LIPSTICKS IN ALL SHADES

*This post contains gifted items.

I remember receiving this parcel out of the blue. There was no note and no warning that I was going to be receiving a wide range of POP Beauty's Permanent Pout Lipsticks. The excitement came rushing over when I realised that this brand is owned by Pixi Beauty who I work with regularly on a gifted basis and that they wanted to work with me on their new brand.

The Formula:

2020 || MY LOCKDOWN EVENING ROUTINE

*Off the Shoulder Loungewear set gifted by Femme Luxe Finery.

When we first entered the UK Lockdown I was very worried about my daily routine. My anxiety can get quite bad unless I have a strict routine to follow. 

After dinner, I like to sit down and watch some TV or YouTube. Once I feel like my dinner has gone down a bit I would usually tidy up the kitchen and make sure all the doors and windows are shut and locked. Once I'm satisfied with the way my kitchen looks I will go upstairs to my office/beauty room and take my makeup off (if I'm wearing any). As soon as I've got my makeup off, I will hop in the shower. I like to shower in the evenings as I find it relaxing before going to bed. I tend to scrub and moisturise after my evening showers rather than in the mornings.

REVIEW || BLOOD ORANGE BY HARRIET TYCE - BETH'S BOOK CLUB READ FOR APRIL

It has honestly been too long since I picked up a book and really enjoyed it. I used to be an avid reader for many years until going to university where I feel like my passion slowly started to diminish. It wasn't until September 2019 that I started to read again, maybe not like I used to but I found myself picking up a new book every 4-6 weeks or so. Since UK lockdown I found myself reading a lot more, but definitely not as much as I'd like to (I've got Netflix and Amazon Prime to thank for that!).

2020 || SUMMER SKINCARE WISHLIST

*The images used in this post have been taken from the Cult Beauty website, and are not my own.

I haven't bought any skincare since December 2019, can you believe it?! I have so many unused products put away in the drawers that I wanted to get through before buying new products to try, but I can't help but create a wishlist of a few products I am dying to try! To be honest with you all, I have never tried any of these brands other than a couple of body products from Caudalie which I really liked. I'm hoping that my family members will come across this post and decide to treat me to something nice 😂

REVIEW || GARNIER SKINACTIVE ROSE SOOTHING GLOW MIST AND ROSE SOOTHING TONER

I've never really been fond of rose-scented products as I had an allergic reaction to a Lush product before. It was hard for me to get used to the scent of these two products at first as I found them slightly overwhelming, but now that my skin is used to them I have really been enjoying using the products.

REVIEW || THE BODY SHOP WONDERFULLY WONKY BANANA BODY YOGURT

I love The Body Shop body care ranges. I tend to pick a few bits up every now and then, especially when they're on offer. In my last haul, I bought 4 of the body yogurts - a product that I've been wanting to try ever since they came out in 2018. I chose the scents: Pink Grapefruit, Wonderfully Wonky Banana, Almond Milk, and Cactus Blossom. Seeing as I cannot find neither Cactus Blossom nor Wonderfully Wonky Banana online, I'm assuming that these were limited edition last summer.

The scent of this product is just phenomenal. I love bananas and banana flavoured and scented products, so it was no surprise that I fell in love with this product straight away. The packaging is very handy as it is not too wide but deep enough to easily take out the cream. I like the banana details on the top of the lid, it makes a nice addition to the product.

The consistency is very smooth, cooling and lightweight which is perfect for this time of the year. It applies very easily on the skin and instantly absorbs. I have tried it both on wet and dry skin, and I prefer the application on dry skin as I find that it absorbs into the skin quicker; whereas wet application made my skin feel a bit sticky before it dried properly.

The overall verdict is that this product is my new favourite type of body moisturiser. I absolutely love the way it applies to the skin and how quickly it absorbs. This really is a perfect and versatile moisturiser, especially during hotter weather. The only downside of this product is that it is limited edition and you might not be able to get hold of this scent in the future. The Body Shop tends to bring out a few different scents for a limited amount of time, so when you find a scent that you really love make sure that you stock up!

You can buy The Body Shop body yogurts here.

*This post does not contain affiliate links.

Lots of love,

Maya xo

REVIEW || DECIEM / THE ORDINARY AHA 30% + BHA 2% PEELING SOLUTION

I was hesitant to try anything from The Ordinary for a while. The low price tag was very appealing but I was worried about trying any form of acid on my sensitive skin. Having decided that 2020 is going to be a year where I'll be on a beauty spending ban, I knew I had to do a mini haul of a few of the Ordinary's bestsellers to try out before my spending ban started.
I ordered the AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution among a few other items as I heard many people rave about how good it is. I love the Origins Night-a-Mins cream which has fruit-derived AHA's, so how much different is this product going to be?

FASHION || HOW TO STYLE A BLAZER DRESS

A blazer is one of those staple items of clothing that everybody needs in their life. Got an interview? Wear a blazer. A Baby shower? - Blazer! Daytime drinks with your friends? - A BLAZER DRESS!
This is why my favourite item of clothing is a blazer, it automatically smartens up any outfit which you can then dress up or down however you like.

I bought this gorgeous blazer dress for my (cancelled) trip to Amsterdam as I thought it'll be perfect for a few games and after drinks at Glow Golf. Unfortunately, as the trip was cancelled, it also meant that I wasn't going to be able to wear my dress anywhere at this moment in time.

If you want to look extra bougie in this dress, then you can play around with different accessories that accentuate its classy cut and fabric - I would go for silver and gold mixed together. A well-chosen brooch can add a dash of culture, or you can shop for a pair of glasses that will make it the ultimate businesslike outfit. The only limit is your imagination, with an outfit that is this versatile!

This dress is very oversized. I ordered a size 10 and it feels more like a 12-14 so I would suggest you size down for a more fitted look. A blazer dress looks great with a waist belt to really synch in on the waist to show off your body's curves. I love this chain waist belt with this dress as it really finishes off the outfit perfectly. I wore this dress to my back garden (a week before lockdown) and my sister came round to have a coffee with me - and to take outfit pics for me too. So, because I was in the comfort of my own house I decided to pair this dress up with a pair of white high-top converse. If I were going 'out out' then I would have worn heeled ankle boots and a pair of tights with this dress. I also wore my Moschino sunglasses which I got super cheap from TKMaxx for a fraction of the original price!

SHOP THIS LOOK:

How would you style a blazer dress? This is one of my current favourite looks!

*This post contains affiliate links.

Lots of love,

Maya xo

2020 || FUN THINGS TO DO IN LOCKDOWN

*The jumper in this image was gifted by Femme Luxe Finery and comes in a Frill Waist Loungewear Set.

I don't want to talk about the quarantine or lockdown as I find it a very stressful and difficult topic, but I want to say that my heart goes out to those who have lost their lives due to the virus and the biggest thank you to all the key workers for doing amazing jobs.

During the first week of official lockdown, I was supposed to be jetting off to Amsterdam after 5 years of planning my trip. It is okay to be upset about a cancelled trip. So, I have been keeping myself busy doing a few fun things during this difficult time and I thought I'd share them with you.

1. Play The Sims.
I have been playing The Sims since I was 6 years old. I really loved the original game and I feel like none of the new ones will ever compare to it because of the sentiment behind it. The Sims 4 was free on Origin at some point last year so of course, I had to download it. I have recently purchased the Cats and Dogs Expansion Pack because let's face it, the game isn't as fun without the expansion packs!

2. Learn a new recipe.
I really enjoy cooking and baking but I hate the mess I make during the process. Washing up is such a huge chore that I often stick to simple recipes that don't require plenty of pots and pans. Since buying both of the Pinch of Nom recipe books many months ago I haven't used either of them, not even once. Now that I have plenty of time to cook and clean up the mess after, I wanted to give some of the recipes a go. So far, I have tried the Firecracker Noodles (I used chicken instead of prawns) and have planned out a few more recipes to test out for the following week.

3. Join a book club.
I've been a member of Beth's Book Club for a year now, but never really stuck to the plan and only read the books I came across when passing WHSmith. Now I have finished reading one book from the club, and even though it was a book to read throughout February I still really enjoyed it and I can't wait to start May's book (I'm currently reading April's book - Blood Orange by Harriet Tyce).

4. Declutter your wardrobe, makeup and skincare.
This is not my strongest point as I do think that I am a bit (definitely not a bit) of a hoarder. I find it hard to chuck out a foundation sample that's three shades too dark for me, so think about the things I actually use! This year I have decided to go on a makeup and skincare spending ban, which has allowed me to use up quite a lot of beauty products already - I love me a good old empty! So far, I have not bought any beauty products and have only purchased a few items of clothing that I wanted for a while from Zara and NastyGal; overall I spent less than £250 on myself this year.
As I work in the beauty industry, I am lucky enough to receive a little bit of monthly credit to use towards a product purchase which I always disclose in my hauls/posts. So if I ever need anything that I'm running low on e.g. the Origins Mega Mushroom Treatment Lotion (I use this a lot) then I will use my credit to buy it, so technically it doesn't cost me anything. I also receive PR samples from PIXI and others from time to time, which I am very lucky and grateful to try. I know that not everyone is going to be in the same fortunate position as me, but you can try great skincare on a budget while you try to avoid overspending. Decluttering will also help to clear your mind and make you feel super organised!

5. Work out.
This is something that I do not enjoy doing at all but it makes me feel amazing after I did a kick-ass workout! I have recently tried going for a 5-10 minute jog and I absolutely hated it! So now I've been really enjoying doing a 30-minute Zumba workout in my kitchen (with the blinds shut of course haha) and I have loved every minute of it! It's so much fun, and I absolutely love Nicole!

So those are the few fun things I've been enjoying during the lockdown. Let me know what you guys are doing to keep yourselves busy!

I hope you're all staying safe ❤️

*This post contains affiliate links.

Lots of love,

Maya xo

BEAUTY || LIP COLOURS YOU WILL LOVE THIS SUMMER

I can't be the only one who saves certain lip colours for specific times of the year, right? Especially when it's a bright orange or pink shade.

MAC Matte Lipstick in The Fashion Flock
This is definitely one of my favourite shades to wear in the Summer. I never go abroad without it as I believe that this is the perfect Peachy shade that goes great with a tan.

If you are after the actual lipstick, I found it on eBay. However, bear in mind that it might have been used/swatched or might be out of date if previously opened.

SS20 || BEST AFFORDABLE DRESSES YOU NEED THIS SPRING - SUMMER

It's so easy to decide on an outfit based on what the weather is like, but have you ever thought of a gorgeous outfit and then got annoyed when you couldn't find anything remotely similar in your wardrobe? I'm definitely one of those girls and try to really control my spending and up-cycle what I already own. In this post, I wanted to share with you my top picks of high-street dresses that are mainly under £35 (I tried to find the best and most affordable dresses across 8 different online retailers).

One of my favourite stores to shop for holiday/Summer outfits has to be River Island as they never fail to bring out gorgeous prints which I always keep in my Summer wardrobe ready for my next holiday. I particularly love this White Polka Dot Dress as you can wear it anywhere in the world either during the day or night and look super fabulous! For £36 I think it's a great bargain and that everyone should own a dress like this in their wardrobe.

I think that this White Leaf Print Beach Dress (also from River Island) is super cute and would be very flattering for all body shapes. The cut-out detail and the belt are nice additions to this dress, and for only £25 I think it's a great steal! It also comes in khaki.

I love H&M all year round, but I feel like they always up their game around Summertime. Neon has been a huge hit for the past couple of years, especially in the Summer, so it's not a surprise to see bright and colourful dresses making an appearance on the H&M website. This Smocked Mesh Dress is only £9.99 and is a part of a collaboration with the movie 'To All the Boys I've Loved Before Part 2'.

Another great bargain from H&M is this beautiful Polka Dot Lyocell Dress for only £19.99! This would make a great wedding guest or baby shower outfit.

Now, this dress is absolutely stunning. It's a gorgeous colour and a trendy print and style - what else could we ask for?! This Warehouse Satin Jacquard Midi Tea Dress is in the sale for only £25 and would make a great summer outfit.

Missguided is one of my go-to online stores for Summer clothing, and let me tell you when I say I found some amazing gems that I am not lying! For instance, this beautiful little White Satin Crochet Dress is currently in the sale for £17.60! It's everything you could ask for in a summer dress, especially for exciting cocktails with the girls once it's safe to go out!

I love this dress so much! It's super cute and flattering, and only £28! This Pink Floral Midi Dress is perfect to wear on a cold-ish Summer night and would look great paired up with little sandals.

So, these are my top dresses for this Summer and I really hope that we will all get a chance to have a proper Summer this year. This is a very difficult time that we are going through right now and I'm sending everyone my love and lots of positive thoughts.

*This post does not include affiliate links and is not sponsored. The images used for this post are not mine and have been saved from the retailers' websites.

Lots of love,

Maya xo

REVIEW || SANCTUARY SPA WET SKIN RADIANCE JELLY

I'm really bad at looking after the skin on my body. I rarely ever moisturise or fake tan as I find that these things take too much effort when I have to stand around for ages waiting for the product to dry.
I'm trying to be good and moisturise every time I shower now using the Sanctuary Spa Wet Skin Radiance Jelly.
In general, I love anything watermelon scented, so when I saw this product in Boots a few months ago I knew I'd regret not purchasing it. It was on offer for around £6 so I thought I was getting myself a little bargain! My initial thoughts were a bit all over the place. A jelly moisturiser to use on wet skin? What sort of sorcery is this?! Sounds like a perfect product for lazy people such as myself lol.

The texture threw me off a little bit as I don't particularly like slimy textures but I really wanted to try this product as I have heard many good things about the Sanctuary Spa Wet Skin Moisture Miracle. I bought this product just before going away to Alicante, so thought it'll be a great opportunity to try the product there as the watermelon scent will be associated with a holiday every time I use it. At first, I thought it was bloody cold to use on the skin straight after a nice warm shower, so I was a bit annoyed 😂. After I applied the product I dried my body as normal which was a bit weird as I felt like I was rubbing the product off my skin.

Once I dried my skin and put my pyjamas on, my skin felt super soft as if I used any other moisturiser but with a lot more lightweight feel to it.
After a few applications every time I showered for a few days, I have noticed that my skin felt softer and smoother than normal (I don't always moisturise my skin).

Overall, I think this is a great product for those who don't like the feel of a heavy body moisturiser and generally don't have much time to get ready after showering. It is great value for the quality of the product and lasts absolute ages as you don't need much to spread it evenly.

Have you tried this moisturising jelly before? What other products would you like for me to review from this brand?

*This post contains affiliate links.

Lots of love,

Maya xo

HOW TO MINIMISE SPENDING & SAVE MORE EFFECTIVELY

I'm very new to saving money and spending less. If you've been following my journey on Instagram or blog you'll already know that I'm not shy when it comes to spending money. In fact, I spend more than I earn - or at least I used to.
I kept a spending diary for a year which made me realise that I was spending way too much on things that I did not need. Did I need an extra coat this season? No. Did I buy one? Yes, I did.
After carefully calculating how much money I spend on unnecessary items I have decided that enough is enough and that I will minimise my spending to only things that I actually need.

As I work in the beauty industry I do get a fair amount of discount across many brands (most which I use). Occasionally, I receive free items from the brand that I work for as well as PR packages from some of my favourite brands. This puts me at an advantage to minimise my spending as I have heaps and heaps of makeup and skincare products laying around my house! So far, I haven't spent any money on makeup or skincare this year so I'm going strong 💪🏻

So far I have spent around £100 on necessities such as new tights, work uniform, toiletries etc. I have a holiday coming up and I have been very tempted to order new clothes specifically for the holiday - but why do I feel like I need a whole new wardrobe for a few days away? Instead, I have listed a lot of my old clothes that I haven't worn in a while online and whatever money I get from selling them I will allow myself to buy something new. My only rule is that if I really really want something, then I will treat myself to it as I do believe that we should award ourselves with nice things for working hard.

These are some of the things that I have done and that you can do to help you get better with money:
-> Open a savings account
-> Create a 'Save the Change' account
-> Declutter monthly - try and sell unwanted items
-> Cancel memberships you don't use/need
-> Recycle your old outfits
-> Use recycling programs to get free products - e.g. Back to Mac or Origins Recycling Program
-> Get insurance from Compare the Market to receive 2 for 1 cinema ticket and meal offers
-> Stock up on products you need when there are offers

I'm still learning how to become the best version of myself and to save up effectively. I want to have a constantly growing income, so I've started reading The Richest Man in Babylon. It's quite hard to read but the lessons it will teach you are very important.

Another thing I have started doing is buying multipacks of drinks, chocolate bars and crisps and keeping them in my locker at work. I don't always bring a packed lunch with me so this is a great way of trying not to overspend in shops when I'm hungry. On average I would spend around £5 on my lunch if I didn't bring one with me but now that I have snacks in my locker I will only spend £1.50 on a sandwich from the nearest supermarket. Still, the best option would be to make a packed lunch every day (it's best to use slow energy releasing carbohydrates as then you'll remain fuller for longer, but that's a lesson for another day haha 😂).

I hope you've enjoyed reading this post. Let me know in the comments section if there's anything you can relate to from this post 🥰

Do you have any tips on how to save money? Comment them down below for others to see! 

Lots of love,

Maya xo

FASHION || HOW TO STYLE A LACE BODYSUIT FT FEMMELUXE - AD

* This post contains gifted items. 

As some of you already know, I’m working with Femme Luxe on a gifted basis which means that I receive some items from them for free in exchange for a blog & Instagram post.

In my most recent order, I have picked this gorgeous Black Lace Long Sleeve Plunge Bodysuit and I couldn’t wait to wear it. I’ve paired it up with a white Primark ribbed high neck t-shirt, Primark mom jeans and Gucci belt. I’m not brave enough to wear this out on its own and I love the layered look in Winter.

The quality of this bodysuit is good, it also fits really well. If you wanted to wear it on its own then I would suggest getting nipple covers or wearing a bra underneath. I did find that it was slightly too small for me in the cup area so I'd suggest to size up if you have bigger boobs. It is also super high cut so is very flattering around the hip & waist area!

This bodysuit only comes in black, however Femme Luxe have a variety of gorgeous lace bodysuits in different styles and colours which you can find here.

*This bodysuit was gifted but the post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own.

Lots of love,

Maya xo

BLOGMAS 2019 || BEAUTY LOVERS' GIFT GUIDE FOR ALL AGES - WHAT TO GIFT A BEAUTY JUNKIE

*This post contains a PR press sample and affiliate links.

Being such a big fan of anything beauty related, I feel like I could be seen as a trusty source when looking for Christmas presents.

The Ordinary has been a brand that I've been wanting to try for a while but never quite got round to researching the right products for my skin type. Some of the products I have bought are 100% Plant-Derived Hemi-Squalane, Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%, and High-Adherence Silicone Primer. The first and third products are great for all skin types, especially for those that are looking for a radiant complexion look. The second item is best for acne-prone skin as it helps to unclog pores and clear the skin from bacteria. It is one of my favourite skincare products I've ever tried. 

Eye Majic World's First Instant Eyeshadow (PR Press Sample) is a press on eyeshadow, giving an instant colourful look on the eye. This product is available in 24 shades, so you won't feel limited to just one eye look. I think these are great for those who don't have much time to get ready in the mornings but want to add a bit of colour to their daily makeup look. Eye Majic is also very hygienic (one-use product), cruelty-free, paraben-free and recyclable which makes it the perfect product for everyone! It retails at £5.99 for 5 applicators or £19.99 for 20. You can find Eye Majic Press On Shadows here.

Lancome has to be a mum's favourite brand, doesn't it? My mum was the person that introduced me to the brand, and even though it might be seen as an "older lady's brand" it definitely has some amazing products for all skin types and ages. The best, and probably the priciest, range from Lancome is Absolue Premium. The ones you can see in the picture are the day cream and the night cream, and I have received them as part of Lancome's Gift with Purchase. These make great gifts to those who are looking for anti-ageing products or really like the brand.

Another great choice for gifting a beauty lover is anything from Morphe. I bought the 25B Bronzed Mocha and 25D Oh Boy palettes to give to my sister this year as they were amazing value at only £12 when I bought them! Whether you're shopping for someone who has "too much makeup" or doesn't wear much eyeshadow, I feel like you can't go wrong with a basic neutral eyeshadow palette especially at such an amazing price.

I hope you can take some inspiration from my post next time you look for Christmas presents for a beauty lover in your life!

Lots of love,

Maya xo