Wednesday 26 May 2021
Etsy Cottage Core Shops To Check Out
Wednesday 19 May 2021
Simple Spring Makeup
Thursday 13 May 2021
Summer Dark Academia Outfit Ideas
Wednesday 12 May 2021
Four Books I've Recently Read
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There's nothing better in the warmer months than a sunny day and a light breeze to inspire me to immerse myself in a book for an afternoon. I've been on a quest to read more and I know many people are in the same boat, so I thought I'd share four of my recent reads and review them a little so you know what to expect.
The Cosy Read
The Thursday Murder Club was a book I picked up on a whim, if I'm honest purely because it had a pretty hardback cover - what can I say. This fast paced book in based in a retirement village where a group of elderly friends set out on a quest to solve a murder. It's fast paced and has short chapters which means you'll get through this book in no time. It's equally charming and funny, whilst taking a spin on the classic murder mystery. It's unlike many thriller books, in that it never began to feeling like it was being dragged out, plus the comedy throughout lifts the mood of the entire book making it a great fit for a Sunday afternoon read. There's a second book to come which I'm absolutely delighted about and will no doubt pick up.
4/5
One With Witches
I love a YA fantasy book as much as the next person, so after being recommended Serpent & Dove many times, I finally decided to pick it up. I love when a whole new world is created in the pages of a book especially if it involves witches and magic, so this book definitely delivered. The only downfall to this book was that I struggled initially to get a grasp of the characters and storyline, but as it moved on, I almost wished it delved a little bit further into them. The main characters, Lou and Reid, have a great connection, but overall I did find each turn in the story a little predictable. Despite all of this, I would be tempted to read the next two instalments of the series as despite Serpent & Dove not taking the top spot in my YA fantasy category, it's still a solid choice.
3.5/5
The Classic Thriller
Looking through Goodreads, I have always had my eye on The Hunting Party, but when it came down to doing a book order I decided to opt for The Guest List, written by the same author. It promised a classic whodunit which will have you on the edge of your seat. It tells of a story of Jules, an successful online magazine owner and her husband-to-be Will, who is a famous TV star (a Bear Grylls type). Initially the chapters, which flick forward and back in time, does get a little confusing, but that wasn't the only issue. I found the characters to all be rather unlikeable especially Will and his friends, so if you enjoy rooting for a character, then this probably won't be for you. That being said, I did find myself turning each page, wanting to find out what happened next and I was pleasantly surprised by all the twists and turns. Unfortunately in the end I felt like the last 50 pages were rather rushed and the ending fell flat. I was left wanting more explanation and longer chapters, but the book wrapped up a little too quickly.
3/5
Spook Yourself Silly
I've recently been on a mission to read more classics, I want to delve into the world of Jane Austen's Emma and spook myself silly with Frankenstein, but I knew that I needed to ease myself in gently. Dracul, is no classic, but instead it's a prequel to Dracula, a very well loved book for many. It's written by his great grand-nephew, Dacre Stocker using Bram Stocker's own notes and it had me hooked from the get go. It's not fast paced like many of the books I read, but I didn't mind at all as I enjoyed engrossing myself in every word and page. It's dark and spooky, allowing your imagination to run wild!
4/5
What boos have you read recently?
Thursday 6 May 2021
My Spring Skincare Routine
I feel like I've stripped back my skincare and makeup routine a lot over the past year, focusing on the products that my skin needs. As we transitioned into Spring from Winter, I had trouble keeping on top of my changing skin as it tends to break out a little, become more sensitive (thanks hay fever!) and still be a little on the dry side. I have been using a handful of skincare products to keep my skin feeling great and I wanted to share them with you today.
I run the Garnier Reusable Micro Fibre Pad* doused with a micellar water over my eye makeup to remove most of it and give it a quick rinse underneath the tap once I'm done. After that, I'm ready to do my first cleans. I opt for the Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel* which melts away the makeup once you start massaging it in. It's great if you enjoy a cleansing balm, but you don't like dipping your hand into the tub, but it still isn't as messy as a cleansing oil - the Oskia cleanser is the best of both.
The Fresh Soy Face Cleanser is one of my favourite cleansers ever and for Christmas I was kindly gifted their huge bottle version as present - to say I was delighted is an understatement. I use it as a second cleanse to make sure that all my makeup is off and the gentle formula leaves my skin feeling soft and soothed.
Typology is a brand I have been meaning to try for some time, their simple yet aesthetically pleasing packaging definitely drew me in. I wasn't too sure how I'd get along with the Regenerating Facial Scrub* as my skin can be rather temperamental to physical exfoliators. This formula goes from a gel to a milky consistency when mixed with water and although it took a little while to get used to, it has over time made my skin feel softer and smoother.
A face oil for me is essential in Winter, but when Spring rolls around it is tempting to ditch it. I like to turn my face oil routine into a massage, using my Jade Roller to de-puff. The Herbivore Emerald Oil* is my go-to as despite taking a little while to full absurd into the skin, it always make my complexion look more radiant and glowing.
For moisturiser, I have rediscovered an old favourite, the Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream which is a tub that is often fought over in our house. It feels so gentle on the skin and is lightweight in formula meaning it sinks in and feels comfortable at night and under makeup. This doesn't mean it lacks moisture though as my skin never fails to feel nourished after use.
Underneath my makeup, the Volition Snow Mushroom Water Serum* has been a god send these past couple of months. Like it suggests from it's name, it has a consistency like water which makes it lightweight, yet it still has great moisturising properties that works well at making my makeup look and sit better on my skin. Even when I'm not wearing foundation, I'll put this on as although it has no shimmer to it, it somehow transforms my skin from being lacklustre to glowing.
What products are part of your Spring skincare routine at the moment?