Beauty. Fashion. Lifestyle.
Essentials
The Blogging Process: Stationery
1
3 years
For me, blogging is so much more than just sitting down with my laptop and reeling something off in a few minutes. It involves planning, making notes when the moment strikes, drafting, taking and editing photos, organising my time, and of course, writing and publishing the final post! Over time I’ve noticed that I’ve hoarded quite a lot of stationery to aid these stages, so I thought I’d share with you my stationery essentials for the process of blogging.
Notebooks and Pens
As a writer, and an Academic Support Worker, I always carry notebooks and copious amounts of pens with me at all times, as I need them for my work. But I have special notebooks that are dedicated to just blogging. I carry a little one with me in my handbag so I can make notes when I’m inspired whilst out and about, and I use a bigger one at home to roughly draft post ideas, make lists of upcoming posts, and doodle nail art designs etc.
Sticky Notes
I use sticky notes a lot when I need to remind myself of something, such as sending invoices or replying to PR emails. My notebooks and bedside table are covered in them!
Highlighters
I love to have a highlighter or two handy so I can highlight important points in press releases. It just makes getting all the relevant information into a post that little bit easier!
USB Stick
After 3 years my laptop is well and truly on its way out, so just to be safe I like to back up my blog posts and photos on a USB stick. That way they’re portable too, so I can organise posts on someone else’s computer or laptop if needs be.
Paper Clips and Rubber Bands
Not an essential, but I like to be organised, so I use these to keep press releases neatly together!
After all this planning and prepping, I like to settle down on the sofa with my laptop and a cheeky chocolate treat, and type away whilst I have something good on TV in the background.
What are your stationery must haves for blogging?
Naomi x
*This stationery was sent to me on behalf of Viking Direct for review purposes. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*
Student Fashion Essentials: Ball Dresses for a Night Out
1
4 years
Today’s post is the first in a series of features about Student Fashion Essentials, the rest of which will run throughout September. Whether you’re starting life as a student this year or are a university veteran, every student should have a few specific wardrobe essentials that will make your time at university that little bit easier, and a lot more fashionable! As I can vouch for, most students live on a tight budget, so you’ll be pleased to know that a lot of these fashion essentials are very kind on the bank account, but in my opinion it’s worth investing a fraction more of your student loan on some items, as if you buy quality you’ll save in the long run as you can avoid buying replacement after replacement.
So, without further ado, in no particular order, fashion essential number one is aimed at the ladies with beautiful ball dresses for a night out! For a lot of people a big part of university life is going out and having fun, and looking good whilst you do it. In my experience, the best place to go for these glam night out outfits is New Look, as their dresses are affordable, but also versatile and very good quality, so you can wear them time and time again with different accessories, in different situations, and you’ll always get complimented on how good you look.
Here are my picks from New Look’s current range of dresses, some of which are even in the sale!
Black Embellished Neck Keyhole Sleeveless Skater Dress – £34.99
Madame Rage Pink Floral Prom Dress – £30.00
Dark Green Sparkle Drape Sweetheart Strapless Dress – Was £34.99, Now £18.00
Purple Embellished Cut Out One Shoulder Prom Dress – £44.99
Vila Yellow Mirror Print Dress – Was £34.99, Now £18.00
Yumi Dotty Tunic Dress – Was £39.99, Now £27.99
You can view the rest of New Look’s range of dresses here.
Keep an eye out for the rest of my Student Fashion Essentials posts, coming soon!
Naomi x
*This post is a collaboration.*
Top 5 Summer Make Up Essentials
12
5 years
by Naomi in Essentials
Just as it isn’t necessary to wear thick, heavy clothing during summer, it’s also a good idea to avoid thick, heavy make up, and I’m sure a lot of you will agree. After all, if you cake too much onto your face it’s more likely to sweat off in the heat, which is never a good look. For me, every day summer make up should be light, quick and easy to apply and use as few products as possible, as I like my face to look fresh and natural at the time of year when my skin is at its best. So, I have put together a list of my Top 5 Summer Make Up Essentials to show you that, with the right products, you really don’t need to carry a bulging make up bag with you when the sun is shining.
1. MUA Professional Matte Foundation (RRP £2.00)
Those that read my blog regularly will remember that I wrote a rave review about this foundation in July. I have been using MUA’s Matte Foundation in the shade ‘Soft Sand’ all summer now, and it is perfect for the sunny weather for various reasons… For one, it is mattifying, leaving you with no unwanted shine from excess sweat or oil, which can be a problem during summer. Also, the creamy formula gives fantastic coverage (check my review for photos), so it isn’t always necessary to use concealer or powder, which really lightens the make up load. At £2.00, this foundation is amazingly affordable too, and is available from Superdrug stores or online at the MUA Store.
2. Models Own Kohl Eyeliner Pencil (RRP £4.00)
After running out of my usual eyeliner, I started to use this Models Own Kohl Eyeliner Pencil as back up, but it soon became an absolute summer essential. For a pencil it is very easy to apply as it is creamy in consistency, so doesn’t drag across the skin. It smoothes onto the waterline in one sweep, and can also be used along the lashlines with no problem, as it gives very neat and even coverage. I’ve found that my eyelids can get quite oily in the summer, causing eye make up to smudge slightly, but this is long-lasting and doesn’t budge. Another thing that makes this ideal for summer is that it’s versatile. The pencil has a sharpener in the lid, and a smudging tool at one end, so you can create several different looks with it, and you don’t need to carry any extra bulky tools. You can go from a simple day look to a smoky evening look in seconds with one product which is fab. Models Own Kohl Eyeliner Pencil is available from Boots, or online on the Models Own website.
3. Hawaiian Tropic Lip Gloss SPF 25 (RRP £6.99)
I prefer glosses and balms to lipsticks in summer as lipstick can be quite drying, and this Hawaiian Tropic Lip Gloss is just wonderful. It is light and intensely moisturising which, combined with the SPF 25, stops your lips from drying out and being damaged by the sun. It isn’t sticky at all either which is always a bonus with lip gloss, but has incredible shine. The product has a lovely fruity scent, either Island Berry or Mango Papaya (the one pictured is Island Berry and is my absolute favourite) and also tastes really sweet. In fact, it reminds me of the ice pole lollies that I used to eat as a child – very summery indeed! As you can see, it has a sheer red tinge to it, which lasts a long time on the lips (as does the gloss itself) but it’s always best to reapply the gloss regularly to ensure the sun protection factor is doing its job! Visit Hawaiian Tropic’s website if you want to try this gloss for yourself, I highly recommend it!
4. Avon SuperCurlacious Mascara (RRP £8.50)
We all love to have long, full lashes, but do we really want to be wearing falsies when it’s hot? I certainly don’t, I’d be too worried about them sliding off! That’s why I’ve been on a mission to find a mascara which gives the look of impressive lashes without the bulk of wearing false ones. That’s where SuperCurlacious comes in… The mascara itself is quick-drying, lightweight and highly pigmented, which all good mascaras should be, but the real winner is in the brush. The curved shape of the brush wraps around your lashes, giving them natural curl, which ultimately makes them look fuller, longer and very eye-catching. The curl stays all day too! The mascara doesn’t clump or make your lashes stiff either, so you’ll always be comfortable whilst wearing this. Avon’s SuperCurlacious mascara is available to buy from me, using my Personal Online Brochure, and is currently on offer for only £5!
5. The Body Shop Lip & Cheek Stain (RRP £10.00)
Like the Models Own Kohl Eyeliner Pencil, The Body Shop’s Lip & Cheek Stain is another versatile product. I use the pretty shade of ‘Rose Pink’, and it can be rubbed into the cheeks for a healthy, girly pink glow, or worn on the lips for a sweep of red. The colour can be built up for a more dramatic look, and I like to layer it with the Hawaiian Tropic Lip Gloss to give it a glossy sheen, and to carry it through to the evening. The formula is quite runny so it’s easy to blend into the cheeks, but more care needs to be taken when using it on the lips. As it’s a stain, the product is extremely long-lasting and touch-ups really aren’t necessary. To try this for yourself, visit The Body Shop, or order it online via The Body Shop website.
I hope you enjoyed reading about my Summer Make Up Essentials, and if you like the sound of anything then please try it and let me know what you think! Be confident in how you look this summer, and Be Spontaneous. Why not let Hawaiian Tropic know what spontaneous things you’ve been doing this summer on their Be Spontaneous Facebook page?
Thanks for reading!
Naomi x
*The Hawaiian Tropic Lip Gloss SPF 25 featured in this post was given to me by Wilkinson Sword for review purposes. Everything else was purchased using my own money. All thoughts and opinions are honest and my own. Some affiliate links have been used*
Inside My Camping Make Up Bag
6
5 years
Tomorrow morning I am heading off on a camping trip until Sunday. This obviously means that I probably won’t be posting anything on Bewitchery for a few days, but worry not! I have plenty of things to share with you once I get back. In the meantime, I thought I would show you all what I will be taking with me in my make up bag. I usually carry quite a big make up bag, but when I’m camping I only ever wear basic make up so I have downsized somewhat for this trip, as you can see below. Foundation, a bit of blusher, eyeliner and mascara and a slick of gloss are all you need to take the rough out of roughing it!
The only tools I will be taking with me are a small make up brush (for face powder and blusher) and a pocket mirror. And the make up?
Face – MUA Matte Foundation in ‘Soft Sand’, MUA Pressed Powder in ‘Shade 1′, MUA Blusher in ‘Shade 2′ and Avon Colortrend Perfect and Hide Concealer in ‘Light’.
Eyes – Avon Glimmerstick Eye Liner in ‘Blackest Black’ and Avon SuperCurlacious Mascara in ‘Black’.
Lips – Avon Glazewear Lip Gloss in ‘Violetta Sparkle’ and Balance Me Rose Otto Intensive Lip Salve.
Have a great weekend everyone – see you when I get back!
Naomi xx
