Beauty Review: Collection - Cream Puff Lip Cream

Collection is a brand known for small price tags, they are a huge hit with the younger more inexperienced make-up wearers. When I was first getting into make-up it was definitely a brand that I used a lot, I remember those products not having the best staying power and sometimes not having the nicest packaging but I haven't used any of their products in years. With the blogging world really loving them at the moment, I thought I would give them another go!

I am loving liquid matte lipsticks at the moment, I find them great for lazy girls like me who just don't want to top up their product after every sip of drink so when I saw these Cream Puff Lip Creams and their tiny £2.99 price tag, I just had to buy two!

They are available in four shades, two pink shades and two nude shades. I think firstly these colours are not for everyone, they will not suit all skin tones (especially the nudes) and they really could do with there being a red colour because everyone loves a red! I purchased Cotton Candy and Powder Puff. 

They apply wonderfully, they slide onto the lips in a creamy smooth consistency and one dip in the tube will do your whole mouth. They smell delicious, like cake. Whats not to love about cake! Both shades are truly a dream to apply! 

Powder Puff

This is the lightest shade in the collection, it is a very yellow based nude. It doesn't suit me in all honestly, I definitely think it would suit a dark skin tone more because it seems to just wash out my colouring. It is very sheer compared to Cotton Candy which isn't a bad thing. It glides onto the lips and looks very natural but you do have to be careful not to layer the colour, this just causes caking and a visible lipstick ring of death on the inner lip. I did find however that this is a great product to use on top of other lip colours as it gives a dusky glaze to all colours which I have been doing a lot recently which I am loving! This fact is really making me love this product!

Cotton Candy

Cotton Candy is a beautiful dusky barbie pink shade and I love it! It smells insanely good and it keeps this smell through out the day, the feel of the product on the lips is so soft and a real treat to wear. It feels like a lip balm in a way. The colour really suits me and I think that this is a colour that the majority of skin tones can pull off, it is a bright colour but also somehow very wearable for day to day. 

Overall

These Lip Creams have good staying power, they don't last as long as the more expensive comparisons but the product does wear off easily so can be reapplied in no time at all. The shade range needs a few additions but all in all, these are great products. Creamy, deliciously scented and long wearing, an absolute bargain! If you are on a budget like me, I urge you to buy these! You will not regret it!

They can be purchased from drugstores such as Boots and Superdrug. 

Click Here to Purchase.

Music Review: The Wombats - Glitterbug 7/10

The Wombats were huge when I was a teen but I was never a fan. I didn't have my little indie kid phase, I went straight from pop to hardcore so I am not hugely familiar with The Wombats earlier releases but my boyfriend is a die hard fan and he bombarded me with their music since the first single, I had no choice but he hear it! So much so that I was as excited as he was for this release!

Firstly lets look at the album title and cover art. I am a sucker for great cover art as an artist myself, I really love this. I reminds me of Taylor Swifts theme for 1989, which is ironic really because usually these artists couldn't be more different but these albums are both 80's themed and use collage styles and city visuals in their artworks. "Glitterbug" is a beautiful name which matches perfectly with the glitter and glam of the 80's theme and the twinkling lights of the city which they represent in a way. 

The track themselves are hit and miss for me, I have been reading reviews myself in preparation and as far as I can tell this album hasn't been well received mostly. Considering the hype I do think this album is a slight let down as the singles really are the best tracks which upsets me because usually I find that the real gems in most albums are album tracks. Don't get me wrong this is not a bad album by far, for the most part it is a great album but it has its downfalls. I will review the album track by track as I feel this is the best way to get a real idea of what is worth listening to and what might require a skip...

Emoticons

This song isn't my favourite, most people seem to love it but I'm just not feeling it. I can't really pin point exactly why, its a slow paced song with a cliched hook. Its worth a listen and you may love it but usually I skip it.

Give Me A Try

I think this song is one of the best songs on the album, its cheeky and cheerful. Its a guy begging a girl to give him a try and just be open minded about him. This is the single that made me so excited for the album.

Greek Tragedy

Amazing song. Possible the best on the album. It begins with slow twinkling wind chime sound and then bursts into the song with an amazingly catchy beat. The lyrics are great on this track, it seems like a love song but the contrasting music video shows a fan who is completely obsessed with the band. The video may be the best part. Major album highlight. 

"She hits like ecstasy, comes up and bangs the sense out of me"

Watch the video here.

Be Your Shadow

Theres always a song on an album that will get stuck in your head first. That is also always the song you get bored of first. That is this song. It is catchy, the beat is smooth and seamless. It is a good song and currently I'm really feeling it but I can already tell that I am going to get bored soon, it doesn't have longevity. 

Headspace

This feels like its straight from the 80's, it would have fit perfectly on the soundtrack for "Drive". The lyrics are a bit weak, it is a simple song that doesn't pack a punch but it is enjoyable. It is a relaxing song which definitely isn't a skipper but its not a future single either. 

This Is Not A Party

On first listen I didn't like this song, the lyrics felt wrong and the main hook felt clumsy. Such as the lyric  "Charlie's coming onto every person he can touch" really should have been "...every person he can see" It just fits better, the song is definitely rushed lyrics wise. I persevered though and it has really grown on me, the lyrics "I dream in technicolour but I live in black and white" are awesome, they really sum up how young people feel especially myself. It might be one of my favourites now, I think its a marmite song, you will love it or hate the shit out of it. 

Isabel

This is the only ballad on the album which is a good thing because they clearly don't do them well. Its not a bad song but it is boring. Really boring. The lyrics are quite beautiful in some place such as "..you can't leave me alone laying in this bed, covered in your sweat and my fears" now that is a lyric. It really is one of the only redeeming qualities. The song also has some rather awful lyrics such as..

"Did they teach you all of this is a school around here"

"I think its you thats the true rockstar around here"

They are just awful and I cant believe they actually made it onto the album,  childish and fumbling just like the lyrics on "This is not a party"

Your Body Is A Weapon

This single has been out for so bloody long I'm not sure it even deserves to be on this album, not because its bad but it came out over a year and a half ago which seems ridiculous. This song sounds like their old stuff, its a good upbeat party song, the indie kids will love it. It will get them all up dancing in their skinny jeans with the girls swinging their fringes while wearing a band t. Probably for a band they have never listened too, ever. 

The English Summer

Again, reviewers love this one but for me its a skipper. I don't like it, its bumpy and cliched. Another song that you may enjoy but for me, it is exactly the reason I've never liked them before. I like smooth production and this sounds like some shitty garage band have recorded it themselves on a mac, works for some but not for me. Skip.

Pink Lemonade

I think this is my favourite on the album, it is so summery and perfect. The sun has only just made an appearance where I live so this sound just feels like a long car drive drinking a bottle of pink lemonade on the way to the beach with the boyfriend. I feel like a moment in time which is something I love in a song. 

"I don't want to be the blinking rabbit to your wilder beast"

Lyric wise, it talks about a girl cheating on her boyfriend and his asking her not to rub it in his face, he is a scared rabbit and she is a wilder beast hurting him, breaking his heart. These lyrics is perfect. 

Curveballs

This is my boyfriends favourite song on this album and I do think it is pleasing to the ear. I feels smooth and sexy, I really like it. My only negative is that the lyrics could have been deeper. It talks about being in love with a girl who is making things hard to love her. It is a deep subject and this wasn't explored as well as it could have been in the lyrics, a little depth would have really benefited this song.

Bonus Tracks: Sex and Question Marks 

 : Flowerball

Bonus track for me are usually the best sounds on an album, this is often the case but with these two bonus track, the album would have been better off without them. The arne't terrible but I can't say I would care if they didn't exist. What the fuck is a flowerball?

Overall, I like this album. For the most part it is lighthearted and happy. A nice summery car album, I can imagine myself driving fast with the windows down singing along. You might have to skip a few but it is still a good effort for The Wombats.

If you are ok with a few flops and hollow lyrics here and there then you might well enjoy this offering. There are definitely some great tunes in here.

Purchase Album Here.

Movie Review: The Duff 9/10

A week ago I read and reviewed The Duff book in preparation of seeing the movie, I was really excited for this because embarrassingly or not my favourite genre is teen. Teen films are easy to watch, funny and just light hearted, I feel like I can watch them over and over again. Due to this reason I was already familiar with some of the actresses such as Bella Thorne who is a Disney Channel Queen and also Skyler Samuels who has has countless small parts in teen shows and movies, both girls are talented little gems. Newbie Mae Whitman who plays the title character, Bianca, really gives the role her all and she is fantastic. She will have a long career ahead of her for sure. 

As I mentioned in the book review, the film does not follow the books story pretty much at all. The main idea of the Designated, Ugly, Fat, Friend is the same and the love interest between Bianca and Wes is the same but every other detail is different. The thing is, the film was great. Really funny and enjoyable but the story didn't need to be changed to do this. The original story would have been equally as good. This fact just bothers me because the book was better, the book was slightly raunchy and sexy which the film is not, obviously due to the teen audience but thats no excuse in my opinion. 

The boyfriend and I have been quoting the film since we saw it.

"Is that a weener in your mouth or are you just happy to see me?"

"Start dressing more like you and less like Wreck It Ralph"

The film really is funny and I thoroughly enjoyed it, loved it even. There is no one scene that I can say I loved the most because it was genuinely great all the way through. I already know this film won't get the reception it deserves which is a shame but I will most definitely be buying it on dvd when it comes out. It will be perfect addition to be insanely huge collection of teen movies. 

Watch the trailer here.

Final Major Project

If I haven't already mentioned, I am a Fine Art student in my last year and I am nearing the end of my course. For my final major project I am looking at the infra-ordinary, the way animals see the world and the way humans see the world in comparison. 

Infra-Ordinary is a term used to describe the things that go missed. The things that people ignore or assume to be pointless and therefore overlook, what is under our wallpaper and carpets, who else has walked on the floors we have. I wanted to look at the details that an animal might see because of the level they live at in a human world and in turn force humans to see the things they ignore everyday. The markings on the floor, the details that are so small that we really have to work to see. 

It is all about seeing our world differently and learning to see more of that world.

Below are some of the images I have taken for this project...

I will be posting photographs of my final show and how the project is displayed soon!

Wishlist: Shore Projects Watches

I am graduating university soon and as my graduation present from my boyfriend I have asked for a watch. I have never been much of a watch person but I feel like with the next step in my life being starting a career and essentially becoming a grown up, a watch is something that will be great to have at this point in my life. My boyfriend graduated last year and I bought him a superdry watch so I suppose it is sort of a graduation tradition for us. 

I have been researching for such a long time for that perfect watch that I can wear forever and ever, I was about to give up because I just couldn't find anything I could imagine myself wearing everyday for the foreseeable future when I came across Shore Projects.

I wanted something I would never get bored of and was great quality. Shore Projects watches are purchased as the watch face and then the straps separately, I thought this was perfect for me. When I get bored which inevitably I will, I can buy a new strap and not have to buy a whole new watch! This feature means that you can have both quality and be able to keep up with different trends. These watches are beautiful! 

I have already chosen the watch face that I want, I have chosen the rose gold face because it is gorgeously feminine and will look great with my pink tinted pale skin. 

Is that not the most amazing thing you have ever seen?!

These watches are expensive but they are so worth it in my opinion, the website has a bundle deal which is £170 for the watch face and three straps of your choice. I haven't chosen them yet because I think I will leave that to my boyfriend to chose because I love a surprise and he has great taste. 

These are the strap choices currently available...

This brand also originates in Whitstable, Kent and also takes inspiration from there. Whitstable has a lot of memories for me which makes these watches even more perfect. I can't wait to hopefully own one!

Click Here to go to the website.

Wishlist: Yankee Candle

I have never been into candles, I felt like they were too expensive just for a "smell" which is also why I don't buy expensive fragrances. But in the last year I have really started to enjoy them! I am fussy with smells, flower scents make my want to throw up and why the hell would you want your house to smell like baby powder or the beach?! I want my house to smell like cake! I mostly get tarts for my burner so that I don't have to commit to one smell but I do currently have a large jar of the vanilla cupcake which is nearing its end. So I have started investigating my next purchase...

Bunny Cake is a sweet, sickly and delicious children's birthday cake smell. Sounds like hell to some people but those smells just scream childhood happiness to me and that is exactly the way I want my home to smell. It is a special easter edition candle so I am hoping it will soon be in the sale!

I haven't yet had the chance to smell Jelly Beans but when on the Yankee Candle website I came across this one I just knew it would love it. I can't wait to head to my local store and bury my nose in it. I imagine it to smell like arcades, party bags and just general sweet deliciousness. Im not sure the boyfriend would approve of this one though!

I bought a tart of this one a few weeks ago, I wasn't sure at first but once it was lit the whole house just filled with the most lovely smell. It is the perfect mix of sweetness and fresh fruit. I am not usually a fan of fruity smells but this is so nice! I am seriously leaning towards this one! The boyfriend loves it too!

 Strawberry Buttercream smells an awful lot like the Vanilla Cupcake one I already have. It is sickly sweet, exactly like fresh buttercream. I literally just want to eat it! But do I need another candle like one I already have? Hmmm...

So overall, I still can't decide! Maybe Mango Peach Salsa? It's so different to what I would usually buy, should I risk it? Comments on this welcomed!

Click Here to go to the Yankee Candle Website!

Book Review: The Duff By Kody Keplinger 10/10

With the imminent release of The Duff movie adaptation I decided that before seeing the film I would read the book. I try and do this with every book adaptation I see. 

As far as I can tell, the movie doesn't follow the same story as the book which bothers me a little I must admit. It is my pet peeve with adaptations. I can deal with a few necessary changes but changing the whole story is rather annoying, especially when the book is as good as this one!

It's a teenage tale of a girl who is told by a boy in her class that she is the "Designated, Ugly, Fat, Friend" of her friendship group. She then starts a sexual affair with this boy to help her forget about the troubles in her life such as divorcing parents, ultimately she falls for this boy and he falls for her. It is a simple story but it is a fast paced read (took me a day) and it keeps you captivated from beginning to end. The whole book is just a light hearted love story and I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it, I was heartbroken when I finished it because I just wanted to keep reading! 

It is very well written, tackles some serious issues as well as simple teenage ones. From the trailers for the movie I think that the casting really matches well and I am really excited to see it! Although my local cinema doesn't see to be playing it! First World Problems. 

Read it before you see the film, it is a great easy reading book. I will be reading a few more by Kody Kiplinger for sure.