The Morning After

In the Shower.... 

At the Mirror

Somewhat improved right? 

New Years Eve over and the party season is gone for another year, and I certainly partied like it was 1999 2014. Honsetly, by this stage I'm so grateful that the holiday season is over; right now I don't think I could physically consume another cocktail but until the detox can commence I've got the morning after hangover to deal with. Work starts at 11.00 which gives me exactly two hours to resemble something living.

9:30 I'm still lying in bed, trying to find the energy to leave wondering how 18 year old me used to cope with doing this every single weekend?! I've also chugged my first half a litre of water. 

9.45 Hit the showers: I'm finally starting to feel human amazingly. Once in the shower I used the Elemis Spa @ Home show cream a luxurious feeling body wash the leaves my skin feeling nourished and comforted but with no scent at all didn't affect my sore head and queasy stomach. I also used the Clinque Sparkle Skin Exfoliator to remove the remnants of Xen Tan of my legs. For hair I whipped out the Macadamia Natural Oil Flawless cleansing conditioner to quickly spruce us my tresses. I managed to slough the dead skin of my lips with the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment, and give my skin a bit more pep with Liz Earle Brightening treatment mask a seriously fast acting mask that helps tired skin look a bit more alive. I used the L'Oreal Skin Perfection cleansing water to get remove the remains of last nights mascara (a total Bioderma dupe if your interested).

 10:00 Make up time: After applying some of the the Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment I roughly blow dried my hair and pulled it into a bun. I popped on the Origins Ginzing eye cream which contains a small amount of simmer to try and hide my dark bags. For base I kept things light, and tried to let my skin breath a little bit. I used the Clarins Beauty Flash Balm  which also acts as a moisturising mask throughout the day and imparts quite a glow. I applied a little bit of Nars Sheer Glow with my fingertips since my buffing brush was still dirty from last nights shenanigans and my skins suffering to much from christmas over- indulgence to let it go bare. On my eyes I used the Clinque Chubby Stick for a bit of subtle colour, used the a tiny bit of the densely pigmented Clinque All About Eyes Concealer  underneath to try and hide the bags. In my waterline I popped Chanel eyeliner  in Beryl which has a lilac hue to try and disguise some of the redness. On my lips and cheeks I'm wearing another Clinque Chubby Stick  in Two Ton Tomato because obviously if I'm wearing red lipstick I'm  going to be able to fool everyone that I'm not hungover (I wish).  It did however give some much needed colour to my complexion. I did my brows as usual, applied a couple of coats of mascara and was pretty much ready to go.

10:30  Out the door: New Years resolution Drink less, buy more makeup. 

Trying Something New

Normally when it comes to make up I keep it safe. However the other day I was watching the gorgeous Lily Melrose's 'Wild Beauty Challenge' and felt inspired. Dutifully I along with some friends went to the makeup mecca that is the Harvey Nichols Beauty Bazaar to pick up some bits to try it myself. 

I ended up buying Vibrant Grape eyeshadow from Mac, a bright magenta purple and Nars laguna bronzer (not necessarily 'wild' but crazy compared to my usual).

I swapped gel liner for some Chanel Liner in Beryl in the waterline since having purple all around my eyes it seemed more important to make sure my waterline was bright and clear. I also added mascara to my bottom lashes which I never do! I made my brows more groomed than usual with the Suuqu brow felt tip and finished with lipgloss rater than my normal lipstick/lipliner combo. 

All in all, I'm not going to be trading in my brown eyeshadows and cream blushers any time soon, but I actually loved wearing something different for a change. I felt like a badass for five minutes, until I started to run around my house looking for half decent lighting to take phone selfies in.

Back To School

Since I'm about to head in to my final year of university it has occurred to me that this will be the last year I can legitimise spending ridiculous amounts of money on stationary... (hopefully!). So I dutifully popped down to John Lewis, and Paper Chase and thought I would share the damage.

Personal favourites include pastel sharpies - a dream for anyone who makes mind maps, and the unicorn rubber which I have adopted as my spirit guide on the journey of procrastination and education known as higher education.

These pencils are so wonderful and uplifting, from Happy Jackson!

And if you don't love this rubber then I don't think I want to know you. 

I also decided to take the opportunity to give my desk some much needed love. I wrapped washi tape around the vase, and filled them with my favourite flowers Peonies and bought this adorable owl pencil holder from anthropologie.

Awkward Introductions 2.0

Hello,

I thought I made this post about two weeks ago, apparently I didn't. Always good to start things off with a nice little fail isn't it? If you do read this all I ask is that you assume the original introduction was considerably funnier, more eloquent and overall more compelling; many thanks.

So on with the show. ..
My names Charlotte, I'm 21 years old originally from Liverpool currently residing in London. I've always lived my life by this self imposed time table, it was actually a picture from an article in Bliss magazine when I was 12. I know longer have this picture (its housed somewhere in one of my many old diaries). Still the image key experiences housed within bottles marked with best before date is ingrained on my brain. So militantly I stuck to them, having my first kiss at 11, first boyfriend at 12 you get the drift... ensuring each experience was achieved no sooner or later than stipulated. Until now... I'm 21 and my list has ran out and I don't have a bloody clue what to do next.

I've come out of a rather strange and mostly crappy two year relationship and I'm about to move back to Liverpool (in my Mum and Dads house) for my final year of university a prospect that fills me with both excitement and trepidation.

Ultimately I've been feeling pretty low and lost lately and its about time to stop that because it is so not my style. So here I am being very much the modern cliche and starting a blog.

Frankly have no idea what its going to be about, I assume it will just be a collection of the things that I like, that inspire me, make me happy, and the things that I fill my day with. I haven't got a fancy camera (or any camera for that matter) so if you like dodgy Iphone pictures of Nandos chicken this could very well be the place for you!

So if you read this thanks, and hopefully the next one will be more optimistic.

Love

Charlotte
xxx