Everyone Hail to the Pumpkin Queen!

So Halloween is just five days away! With that in mind I dug through my old uni pictures to find a costume I could share with you all that is fairly quick to put together and easy to do!!!


Do you wanna be a pumpkin?!


Okay, lets start with the face and the hair.

First you are going to need some orange face paint!

(I found one on amazon for you so just copy this link : http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00FRE5EFK/ref=s9_simh_gw_p21_d1_i1?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=desktop-1&pf_rd_r=0ZF5MEY4AAYM4BD7BSC3&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=577048787&pf_rd_i=desktop )

You want to put this all over your face, and depending what other areas you have exposed those too. All you need to do is damp a sponge and go for it, you can build it up as much as you want. Being a student, at the time, I just used a washing up sponge so it doesn't have to be anything fancy!

For the eyes I used black eye-shadow and eyeliner, to make it look like triangles, again these are things that most of us ladies have! If you want something that will last but don't want to ruin your everyday make up I would highly recommend the Felt eye liner pen from Primark's P.S Love beauty range, at just £1 it is a bargain and I promise you it will last the night!

On to the hair! I just put mine it too a scruffy bun right on the top of my head to make it look like the top of a pumpkin. If you are unsure of how to achieve this then just copy the link and it will take you to Zoella's most recent 'Four quick and easy hairstyles' video and she shows you how to get a cute bun similar to that one!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CACC_A3DxLM (It's hairstyle number four if you want to skip ahead!!)
Once I had my bun I used two cans of green glitter hair spray and nearly gassed myself in the process!! Now I got mine from a shop in York called Zest, however I have found a green chalk spray on Superdrug! http://www.superdrug.com/Superdrug/Superdrug-Green-Spray-Hair-Chalk-Green-Green/p/445200#.Vi0OONXhDnA As an added touch a picked apart a Greek styled leaf headband that I had lying about, these things happen when you're a student, and I pinned the leaves into my bun, very simple!!!

Outfit as you can see, is nothing too special or complicated. I went for an oversized orange dress which I very luckily found at H&M, now this was two years ago so you went get that one but anything orange is good. Ask friends, family and check every charity shop you can find! Look hard enough and you will find something! With the mixture of orange face paint and green hair spray I wouldn't get anything too fancy or expensive, keep it cheap and simple!!!

Then I added some stockings and black pumps!! I also cut a strip from an orange fleece blanket to tie
around my waist to make my top half look more round and pumpkin like!!! Coppy this link for the stockings/tights http://www.amazon.co.uk/Smiffys-Adult-Tights-Striped-Orange/dp/B003B9HADC/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_img_4?ie=UTF8&refRID=0H3GZKNNBS4STMZNZ8P6


So that is it!! So easy and simple to do!! In case orange isn't your colour I have added a few other images of myself in fancy dress to help inspire you. And as for this years Halloween costume... Well I think three turns should do it...! Happy Halloween to you all!!

Find me on social media!
Instagram @annakimberley93
Twitter @annarailton1993

All About That Base

Finally ladies, a foundation has arrived that is affordable and works!! CELEBRATE!
I, probably like many of you, have faced the battle of finding the perfect drug store foundation, the one that gives perfect coverage and is long lasting while also not doing too much damage to the bank account.

Maxfactor's Miracle Match foundation has come to the rescue! It is literally perfect, in every way, if it was a man I would consider marrying it, it's that perfect.

It's not thick in consistency so it doesn't feel cloggy (does that make sense?!)  It gives even coverage and it doesn't wander off throughout the day it stays in place! YAY!  I have oily skin so it's been hard for me to come across a foundation that doesn't make me feel like I have just dipped my face in a deep fat fryer but this one doesn't make my skin look, feel or appear oily or greasy in any way! Although it does have a subtle dewy look too it :)

Now before you jump to conclusions that this could be because of a primer that I'm using you are wrong, I don't use a primer, just my daily moisturiser and that is Garinier Skin Naturals Moisture and Matte. Now I have to be honest, I was using this moisturiser before I switched foundations and I noticed a massive difference in the lasting effect of my foundation however even on days when I have changed my moisturiser the foundation has lasted all day! I should also mention that the colour is amazing, it matches my skin tone perfectly, which is hard since I am extremely pale, in case you are like me and also of pale skin, the colour foundation I use is Light Ivory 40 .

How do you apply your foundation? Well I'm glad that you asked that.

Until recently I was using the Real Techniques Finishing Brush to apply my foundation and it was amazing but as the weather has got colder I've been get drier patches on my skin and so blending in my foundation just wasn't happening, it was looking streaky and just plain awful HOWEVER thanks to Zoella I was pointed in the direction of the beauty blender, the holy grail of applying foundation!

(to see Zoella's take on beauty blenders click the link ------> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HwDK1iJ7Qg

Until watching Zoella's video I was completely baffled by the beauty blender and was just not sure how to use it, seems silly now!! Most people dampen their beauty blender before using, however, as advised by Zoe, I use mine dry!

Three pumps of foundation on the back of my hand and then dab the beauty blender into the foundation dab onto face and carry on until you have full coverage. The wonderful thing about the Miracle Match foundation is that it is completely buildable and the beauty blender helps you do that so effortlessly, the combination of the two is just a dream and leaves you with a completely even coverage.

The before and after picture above is pretty self explanatory but please note in the after picture there has been no primer, concealer or powder used, that is just the foundation, amazing, I know.

The beauty blender that I am currently using is the one from Primark!!!! It is only £1!! It doesn't absorb too much product and is perfect if you are looking for something cheap to travel with so that you don't lose your more expensive one or if you are just looking to try one out!!! I have been so impressed by the beauty blender I will be upgrading to the Real Techniques one which you can get here ----->   https://www.boots.com/en/Real-Techniques-Miracle-Complexion-Sponge_1389470/

Miracle Match Foundation -----> http://www.superdrug.com/search?text=miracle+match

Thank you for reading I hope that you found this helpful!! Happy blending!

Find me on social media!

Instagram @annakimberley93

Twitter @annarailton1993

Boobs!

Today is the BIG PINK! A day were people wear pink in order to raise money and awareness for breast cancer (there is also wear it pink next friday, for the same cause)! So in light of that, and in light of it also being breast cancer awareness month I thought that I would write a post about becoming friends with your boobs and taking care of them! That includes you gents!

Now, to emphasise just how important all this is I went and and did a little bit of research, nearly 55,000 women are diagnosed each year with breast cancer out of those 55,000 about 12,000 sadly lose their battle and although it is uncommon around 400 men are also diagnosed with breast cancer each year which is why it's important you keep reading!

I personally check my boobs every night or at least every other night, that might seem a lot or maybe even over cautious but it's actually just sensible. I check myself whenever I'm in the bath because, well while I'm there I might as well, it's really the best time to check because you're going around that region anyway. Also by checking as often as I do it means I'm very familiar with my boobs so I will know straight away if there is a difference! Another thing you may want to know, something I didn't know, is that one of the best times to check your boobs is after you periods, obviously gents that bit doesn't apply to you!

The most important advice that I can give you is that if you think you have a lump go to your doctor!! Don't think that it could be nothing or that maybe you're being over the top because what if you're not, better to be safe than to be sorry!!

If you would like any more detailed information on breast cancer, or any other forms of cancer then here is the link to the cancer research website!
http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/

Now if you aren't getting involved in the BIG PINK today and won't have the chance to wear it pink next Friday here are a few ways that you can raise awareness and money!!

Currently Breast Cancer Now are raising awareness with the hashtag #ShowYourStrap in which you take a picture of yourself with your bra strap showing and share on social media with the relevant hashtag, you can also text Support to 70003 to donate £3 to their cause! (you can see my #ShowYourStrap selfie above!)

Also this Saturday starting at 12 noon is a massive youtube party in aid of Stand Up to Cancer featuring many of your favourite youtubers!! To find out more here is the link to their website: https://www.standuptocancer.org.uk/
You can also text Stand3 to 70404 to donate £3 to Stand up to Cancer.


So I know this has been a very wordy blog but hopefully it has been useful to you in some way!

Find me on social media:

Instagram @annakimberley93
Twitter @annarailton1993

Welcome to my Blog!!

Oh my word... It feels so good to be writing my first blog post.

Since the start of the year I have been dying to set up a blog but I haven't had a laptop or the confidence to get one going but now here I am brand spanking new laptop (HP Chromebook 14) and a sprinkle of confidence.

So what can you expect from my blog?? Well it is what it says on the tin. An essence of me.

I will talk about the latest beauty products I have been using and if (I think) they are worth getting.... Thoughts on any tv shows and films that I may be watching... Daily thoughts and notions, reflections on life and advice based on my own personal experiences... You know all the usual bloggy stuff!!

I will also share posts on lower back pain, bit of an odd one I know but at the age of 20 I began suffering with chronic lower back pain. After many tests etc I have just been told it's something I have to live with and that's exactly what I have been doing for the past two years -- I won't drone on about that though, at some point in the upcoming months I will share all.

Also starting next year I want to document decorating my room so for any of you out there, like myself that love homeware and decorating and everything that comes with it, that will be an interesting read for you!


For now though, yay to the new blog!! Hopefully some of you out there will enjoy my musings on the little things in life!