How to: Empties

This is less of a 'how to' and more of just a normal post. It's an empties of all the products I have finished in the past few months and for me I've finished a fair few. Most of it is body and skincare but there are a few makeup items that I've come to the end of.

Skincare

I've been through two different micellar waters this month. The first was a new try and was the Soap and Glory Total Drama Clean Micellar Water. It was slightly pricier than my usual Garnier one but I thought that I'd give it a go. It was a lot different to any micellar waters that I've tried as it was heavily scented with cucumber and stung a little bit on the eyes. It removed makeup easily but I didn't like the fact that all I could smell was cucumber. Also there was less in the bottle for a little more money so I think I'll be sticking to my old faithful right now. My ultimate favourite makeup remover is the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water. I've repurchased it so many times and I love the fact that it doesn't smell and doesn't sting when I use it. It lasts me a couple of months, and that's using a lot on each cotton pad, and it's just so quick and easy. I also finished my Nivea Refreshing Toner which was a new toner I'd been trying out. I didn't repurchase it after I finished it and I'm gutted because it was such a good affordable toner! It smelt a little but just of what I'd class as a 'standard Nivea smell' but that was quite nice when applying it. I could feel it cleaning my skin but without stripping it completely. One of the best toners I've tried.

Bodycare

Two minis in the body care category and I bought them both in Summer last year but haven't used until recently. The first one was the Body Shop Satsuma Body Butter. Standard Body Shop Body Butter. Smooth, not too thick like some of the body butters, great smell and made my legs silky smooth. Next up is the Soap and Glory Flake Away Body Scrub. First off, I don't like the smell. I can't really describe it but I love the smell of other Soap and Glory products (Sugar Crush and Smoothie Star) and this was just boring and floral. The scrub however was great. It did the job but I didn't feel like I was sandpapering my legs.

Haircare

The first hair item is a mini of the Batiste Dry Shampoo. I used to use Batiste a lot but when Collab came along I moved to that instead because I loved the smell and the way it gave texture to my hair. But when I was going on a trip to Spain in Easter, mini Batiste's were on offer so I thought it would be a nice addition. It did the job and was good but I think I'll be sticking to Collab. Next up is the Lee Stafford For Hair That Never Grows Past A Certain Length. I've had a couple of these before over the years and I have to say that it does make a difference to the speed that my hair grows. Although you use a lot in one use there is still a lot in the pot and you can get a fair few uses from it. I seriously need to repurchase this one.

Makeup

Three products in this category, the first being the L'Oreal Super Liner. I got this free with a purchase about 12 months ago but I only started really using it just before Christmas. I love the thin, flexible tip and the fact that it went along the lash line so smoothly. I love this eyeliner which is why I repurchased it in the Superstar version. Two mascaras that I got free in magazines to finish off the empties. First is the Benefit Roller Lash Mascara which became one of my favourites when I used it. I liked the way it hooked around my lashes and curled them whilst lengthening and voluminising. I do however think that there are mascaras that are just as good for the price because it is rather expensive and it really drags the lashes when it dries out a bit. Finally I finished the Clinique High Volume Mascara. I had two tubes of these and it still remains to be one of my favourite mascaras, but I am loathed to pay full price. I loved the way it volumised my lashes and they didn't smudge all day, I was just obsessed. It lasted so long as well so if I did buy it it would be worth the money, so watch this space!

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How to: Work Experience

If you didn't know I'm doing work experience (because I don't mention it enough!). So I thought that I'd compile this handy little how to so that if you go on work experience then you'll be prepared because I don't think I really was.

1. Suitable clothing

Before I started I literally had one pair of smart black trousers and a couple of shirts. It was getting to the point where in my second week I'd exhausted my smart wardrobe so much I'd worn everything three times. I still only have one pair of trousers but I now I have a selection of long and short sleeved shirts as well as a couple of skirts. I'd suggest having one pair of smart black shoes and the a smart pair of sandals, something that I currently need in this stupid heat!

2. Take makeup with you

These past few weeks have been the prime opportunity to test out some long lasting makeup products so I've been testing out primers and eyeshadow sticks to see which stays on my face the longest. But the reason why I'm saying to take some makeup with you is not just in case you get a bit shiny or some concealer rubs off but because anything could happen. For example, last week my dad was driving me to work experience and I was drinking a smoothie in the car. The smoothie had frozen a bit and was really thick and hard to get out. Cue an awkward brake along with a big attempt at getting out smoothie and what do you get? Smoothie all over the face. Then follows having to wipe all of my makeup off and now having anything with me to reapply. Don't make the same mistake I did, take makeup with you...and don't drink smoothies in a car.

3. Prepare

Make sure you know what you need to do with your work experience before you go. In the sense of if you need to log it, like I did for uni, and if you need to get a form signed. It took me until my second week to find out where I needed to log my work experience and then it needed to be approved. Also I've only just found out where the appraisal form I need to get filled in is, and I finish next week. Don't be like me, be prepared.

How to: Kick a TV Addiction

If you've read my blog before then you'll know that I have a serious problem when it comes to TV. Binge watching a series a night to getting so obsessed with a weekly programme I just can't get enough and I think it's time for it to stop. So, in the true 'how to' style this is how to kick a TV addiction (that was very TV presenter-ey). If anything this post isn't about helping you, it's really about helping myself, because I seriously need the help.

Step one // Pick up a book

I watch TV all the time, and when I say all the time I mean all the time. I take my laptop everywhere I go because if there's no one to chat to then I'll sit and watch something, even if it's just going downstairs to make a cup of tea. So, instead I'm going to start reading more, at night and during the day because at the minute the only time I'm not looking at a screen is when I'm asleep, and even then there's something on in the background! By reading a book, especially before bed, I'm hoping that it relaxes me so that I'll go to sleep earlier, because everyone knows the struggle when you're in the middle of a series and 'one more episode won't hurt' turns into a three 'o' clock binge sesh.

Step two // Limit the programmes

This is especially relevant in Autumn when all the really good dramas start. From September until January I get so bogged down with the amount of programmes that I need to watch and catch up on that my social life definitely decreases. Yet when it comes to Summer, so right about now, there isn't as much to watch and my body gets withdrawal so I tend to re-watch the programmes from Autumn. Now to not put so much strain on my social life it makes sense to not watch some of the shows as soon as they air and leave them for me to watch about six months down the line, that way I won't be overwhelmed in September and I won't be deprived in the Summer. Sorted!

Step three // Don't Google!

Part of my problem is that when there's a programme that I really liked, and when I say really liked I mean REALLY liked, I delve into that world like no other. For example, after I'd binge watched all five seasons of pretty little liars I became so obsessed with the cast that I followed them on Instagram, Twitter, looking daily on Pinterest at their makeup looks and watched YouTube videos of interviews with the cast, behind the scenes, etc. Now that is a girl with a problem. So from now on there is no googling allowed as it just makes the obsession and addiction worse because when I see photos and videos (especially of the PLL cast) I get the overwhelming urge to re-watch all of the episodes. And come on now, I just don't have the time to do that again!