Savage Beauty

This weekend, I'm travelling to a city for a university placement. Basically, it's a requirement by my university that you should choose your own placement at the end of your second year. My placement isn't too far from home, and is around ninety minutes away. But, that is way too long for me to travel every day, so I'm staying in an Airbnb (blog post on that experience coming soon). *SO* I decided to make a road trip/travel music playlist, to keep me entertained whilst driving to my Airbnb. And, as per usual, I thought that I would share some of my favourite songs from the playlist!


***Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research.***
Fred Falke 'It's A Memory'

Every time I listen to this song, I imagine myself driving in the summer, when the sun is setting. This song has an 80's vibe to it, and makes me want to get up and go.

Courier 'San Francisco' (Alex Schulz Remix)

I heard this remix on a Spotify playlist and I fell in love with the motivating, electronic beat. Apologies, because you will have this super catchy song stuck firm in your head for weeks!

Diviners ft. Dom Robinson 'Flowers'

This is a one of my favourite indie, pop songs because it's a super chilled, love song. The lead singer's vocals makes me think of the band 'Of Monsters and Men'. If you have heard of them and like them, then you will love the Diviners!

Dua Lipa 'Last Dance'

Would any of my playlists really be complete without a song from Dua Lipa? Her debut album has been on repeat in my car for months, and I genuinely love every song of hers. This song was released around two years ago, but it is still one of my favourites. Her vocals are outstanding!

Sky Ferreira 'Heavy Metal Heart'

I remember buying Sky Ferreira's EP when I first passed my driving test. I would always listen to it in the morning when I drove to my sixth form college, so it brings back (okay-ish) memories. 'Heavy Metal Heart' is such a pop anthem! My advice... turn it up loud as you can and drive.

Eden ft. Leah Kelly 'End Credits'

I love Eden. The combination of his dreamy vocals and the electronic beat is simply epic. This collaboration with Leah Kelly is superb, too. My favourite lyric is "we can slow down, 'cause tomorrow is a mile away".

Stephen 'Crossfire'

C'mon! If you know me, you'll know that I had to throw in a dark song, somewhere along the line. This haunting, rock/pop song almost has that old-school emo vibe to it. Which, of course, I love.

Post Malone ft. Justin Bieber 'Deja Vu'

I had to add a some rap music into this playlist, and since Post Malone is one of my favourite rappers, it seemed appropriate. He's just so easy to listen to! But, for those who hate the Bieber... I'M SORRY.

Lars Beck and Henri Purnell ft. Zekt 'Silent Games' (UOAK Remix)

"Eyes that creep into my mind"... I love that lyric. If you haven't realised by now, I really love *love* remixes of songs. I think that an artist remixing one song, and making it into something completely different, is so cool.

Axero 'Fire'

This upbeat, yet light, song is without any lyrics. And, I love listening to music that doesn't have some poor singer droning on about how sad, happy or lonely they are. Sometimes, artists need to let the beat speak for itself.

Sigrid 'Plot Twist'

I've mentioned Sigrid in my last few music playlist posts, because she's such an underrated artist. Her vocals are insane and she's super down-to-earth for her age. I cannot wait for her to release more music.

Tritonal 'Out Of My Mind' ft. Riley Clemmons

I *love* dance songs that contain an acoustic guitar. I just find it so pleasing to my ears. This song was actually released a few days ago. I discovered it whilst trying to complete my playlist, but I immediately fell in love with it.

Foals 'My Number'

If you have not heard this song before, I would be really surprised! This indie masterpiece is a road-trip essential, and is a big frick-you to everyone and everything. My favourite line is "I feel the streets are pulling me down"... tell me about it.

Two Door Cinema Club 'What You Know'

I remember being obsessed with this song in school, before it drove me absolutely insane, as it's so annoyingly good. I thought that the lyrics kind of applied to my situation right now, so I added them to my playlist. Plus, the song always cheers me up.

Jax Jones 'Breathe'

Here's a little bit of mainstream dance. I've heard this song of the radio (way too much) this past month, and I finally decided to give into it. Dum dum dum.... ah!

The XX 'Angels' (Kygo Remix)

Lastly, a long one to cover the last stretch of your journey. If you have not checked out Kygo's remixes then you have not lived... This one leaves you feeling super mellow, which is just what you need after a long drive.

Thank you for reading my post! Let me know if you have any song suggestions!

XO Zoe

When I tell people that I meditate every day, and I have religiously done so for the past seven months, I think that they imagine me sitting cross-legged on the floor in a robe, humming to myself. But, honestly that is just not the case (although it would be so cool).


Yoga International defines meditation as "resting the mind to attain a state of consciousness", and the HuffPost describes this as a "higher state of consciousness". From my experience, I'd describe meditation as being hyper-aware of your surroundings but, feeling physically relaxed and drowsy at the same time. A quick google search of the term "meditation" will pull up many variations of the practice, ranging from visual meditation to Zazen (Zen Buddhism). So, there is something for everyone.

Today, I'll be focusing of the form of meditation, which is known as mindfulness. This practice encourages you to hone in on your breath, allowing you to remain in the present moment. There is ever-growing research that suggests that there are many therapeutic benefits of this practice. For example, a two year clinical trial by Oxford University found that mindfulness-based-cognitive-therapy may be just as affective as anti-depressants, when treating depression (Full article here). And, you can practice it in your own home. All you need is a comfortable bed or chair, and a quiet place to sit or lie down. The time you want to spend meditating depends on you.


I was sat in a university lecture when I first heard about mindfulness. Whilst the lecturer described the benefits of it, I rolled my eyes, thinking it could not possible alleviate an individual's anxiety. The lecturer spoke about an app called Headspace. It is a free app, offering a subscription service which provides guided mindfulness meditation sessions. In August 2017, I remember feeling overwhelmed and anxious, and I downloaded the Headspace app. Now, I am aware that there is some controversy surrounding the app's owner and the cost of the app's subscription service, which I won't delve into at this minute... Regardless of the cost, you do receive a free ten day trial of the app, when you first download it. The first ten days lets you have a little play with the prospect of mindfulness. I think apps like this are great for people who are interested in trying meditation, but do not know where to start. The thought of it seems quite strange and daunting when you first try it.

(This image is the property of Headspace)
After using the free trial on the Headspace app, I decided to search for free meditation videos on YouTube and I came across Jason Stephenson. He is a meditation coach who uploads relaxing sleep music, guided meditations and inspiring talks to Youtube (free of charge). His guided meditations are targeted towards anxiety, stress, depression, insomnia, ptsd and chronic pain management. The mindfulness meditation sessions range between ten minutes to two hours long.

(This video is the property of Jason Stephenson)
Nearly seven months after discovering the practice of mindfulness meditation... has it benefitted my life?

Put it this way.... I used to be what you would call an "over-thinker". Every night, I would lie in bed and as soon as my head hit the pillow, my mind would start to whirl like a tornado. My thoughts would pull apart every detail, critiquing all of my actions from the day before. I would lie awake, tossing and turning all night, with my thoughts battering my brain. I'd wake up exhausted, frustrated and bitter at everything and everyone. And, the cycle would continue every day and night.

After becoming hooked on Jason Stephenson's guided meditation sessions, I now use one of his videos to practice meditation every night before I go to bed. The mindfulness sessions encourage you to keep your breath as your focus, to avoid the whirl-wind of thoughts. But, the sessions train your mind to accept the thoughts from your inner critique, encouraging you to easily let go of those thoughts, and hone back in on your breath. These sessions calm my mind after a hectic day at work, letting me easily drift off to sleep. These days, instead of tossing and turning for hours, I fall asleep within around five to ten minutes.


Of course, you can't just jump into meditation over night. At first, during the sessions, I found it incredibly difficult to *simply* "let go" of the random thoughts that were bouncing around in my head. However, Mindful.Org says that mindfulness is a skill that you need to learn. It's almost like learning a new language, you must be consistent and timely with your teachings or you'll get nowhere. So, if you're new to either mindfulness or meditation in general, keep your sessions regular and at a similar time each day. So, do not give up! Practicing meditation has improved the state of my mental health, and dramatically reduced the level of my anxiety. And, I can't thank the creators of the free meditation apps or youtube videos, enough.

Thank you for reading this blog post. Let me know in the comments, if you have tried mindfulness, before!

XO Zoe

It is *finally* Friday and it's been a hell of a long week, if I do say so myself! After the week I have had, a severe pamper session is definitely in order! I was picking out my favourite products that I love to de-stress with, and I thought that I would write a post about them!


It's Bath Time!
Nothing makes me feel more relaxed than a nice hot bath with a good playlist or Netflix show. I know that some people think baths are gross, but that's what cleaning products are made for! After Christmas, I practically bought all of Lush's Christmas stock... I then placed a ban on my Lush addiction until I use up all of the products I purchased. Tonight, I'll be using the Golden Wonder bath bomb. This is one of my favourite bath bombs from Lush, as it smells absolutely divine. It like your bathing in green "mermaid" water and the bomb releases gold glitter... and I love me some glitter.


Face It
Haha, "face it" get it? Okay, I'll stop using annoying puns, now! Seriously though, I love giving myself an "at home" facial. I do the usual step of cleansing before exfoliating my face with Burt Bee's deep pore scrub. It scent is peach and willow bark, so it smells very fresh, and it is great for removing dirt and grime from your pores. I follow this scrub with a face mask. At the minute, I am loving the Garnier moisture bomb sheet masks. They are so inexpensive and easy to use, just align the mask with your face and you're good to go. They are also sensitive on my acne-prone skin and help to reduce redness. I find that sheet masks leave me feeling so relaxed, as they're cooling on the skin, so tend to soothe away any headaches from the day.


Eye Pads
After using the sheet mask, I like to go one step further and apply eye pads. I discovered these very inexpensive eye pads by Pretty Smooth last week and I am already on my second packet! They are good at reviving tired eyes and I find them relaxing to use. I don't know if the synthetic snake venom actually works, but the cooling feeling of the solution under my eyes is enough to reduce the puffiness. I'd definitely recommend picking some up if you are cursed with dark circles under your eyes, like me!


Essential Oils
After I have a bath, I like to moisturise my skin. I use the Natural Spa Factory calming body oil when I really need to de-stress. The aromatherapy oil claims to have a calming affect and it contains orange, raspberry, ylang ylang and rose-hip oil. This product is designed to be used after a bath to relax you further, and send you off to sleep. I also like to place a few drops into my bath, allowing the scent to linger on my skin. Oh, and it makes my skin feel so soft, too!


Final Steps
Finally, after having a hot bath or using any facial scrubs or masks, it is important to moisturise your face. On special occasions, I use the Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine cream. I say occasionally, because this stuff is incredibly expensive, rolling in at £82 per 50ml pot. I received a free sample of this in the post a few months back and I love it! It smells luxurious and contains Mimosa, which apparently has an anti-inflammatory affect on the skin. It is hydrating on my skin and makes my skin feel smooth. Even though I love the product, just looking at the price point, I don't think that I would be purchase a full-size of this. But, maybe I would re-consider if I won the lottery?

Thank you for reading my post! What type of products help you to de-stress? Let me know in the comments!

XO Zoe

This month, I ordered my first Pink Parcel subscription box which is priced at £12.99 each month. It's a "time of the month" box for women that contains a selection of sanitary products, which you choose, as well as a variety of beauty treats. When subscribing, you decide the date which you would like your box to be delivered, so it always arrives before mother nature calls.

The Design
A big selling point for me was the beautiful packaging of this subscription box. It has a sleek and professional design. Inside the large box, you will find three smaller boxes and a little bag. Each box has a saying on it which indicates when you should use each section. There's a 'for later', 'for you' and a 'for night' box and a 'for now' bag.


For Now, For Later, For Night
The "For Now" bag is an adorable drawstring bag which contains six Bodyform pads and five panty liners. As I said previously, you chose whether you would like pads or tampons, and you also have the option to chose the brand! It is a perfect size to pop into your handbag and is very discreet.


My 'For Later' box contained ten pads and I chose the Bodyform ultra long pads with wings. Bodyform are my favourite brand of sanitary products. They keep you feeling fresh and fit comfortably. A pack of these contains ten pads and costs £1.79.

My 'For Night' box contained five pads and I chose the Bodyform (I told you I love them!) Goodnight pads. I like them because they are slightly thicker and longer than the ultra towels. A pack of ten costs £1.00. But, I feel like they could have provided more of these in there as they are quite cheap.


For You
***Every member receives the same items in the 'for you' box, so SPOILER warning!***
Let's get to the most anticipated part of the box. The 'For You' box is a little selection of goodies which are aimed to make your period a little more bearable! My box contained seven different items and they were a good mix.


In every Pink Parcel box, you receive a chocolate bar and a sample of tea, designed to help you relax during this time of the month! The box contained a bag of Yuyo's Yerba Zing. It is a blend of a yerba mate with grapefruit and rose-hip. I had never tried this brand before, but the tea was very tasty. As for the chocolate, this months box contained a bar of Doisy & Dam's maple, toasted rice and pink salt dark chocolate. It's 25g in weight so is a perfect size to sample!


Keeping with the chocolate theme, this box contained a wax melt from the brand Emily Victoria Candles. It's scent is double chocolate chip and it smells good enough to eat! I though this was a great addition to the box, as it can get you in the mood for a proper pamper session. However, I now that some people do not own wax melters, so I feel that not everyone could use this product.


Moving on... The 'for you' box also contains a selection of beauty treats.

My favourite product was a sample of the Scentered therapy balm. This balm should be applied to your pulse points when you feel stressed, and it is designed to calm you. It contains 100% natural ingredients and it smells divine! It's a small sample which is perfect for travelling, so, I am going to use this at work to see if it makes a difference to my mood!

Also included is a Manuka honey sheet face mask by Vitamasques. I have not tried this yet, so I cannot give my full opinion on the product, but I do think that is a great addition to the box. I am a huge lover of face masks and I love discovering new brands. I think this a perfect product to help you unwind, and it is retailed at £4.00 per sheet mask.


As for make up, this months box contained a full sized Hikari bronzer, retailing for $17/£12. I was super excited to use this as I have read good reviews of this product. However, my bronzer arrived damaged! Luckily, the girlies over at the Pink Parcel are superb and are sending me out a replacement ASAP!

The last beauty goodie is one that I am very excited about.... The box contained a full size of Evelyn Lona's green tea primer. This retails in the US for $29.50 which converts to £20! The primer smells lovely and incredible fresh. I tried it today, wearing it for around six hours before removing it, and it kept my make up set and intact!


Overall, I think this a fantastic subscription box for trying new brands and products. I loved the addition of the tea and chocolate, as well as the variety of beauty products.. I was surprised that there were two full-sized products in the box, and I'm impressed that the products retail price exceeds the price of the box. Finally, there is a large selection of sanitary products which should keep you covered for the length of your period.

Let me know in the comments if you have tried Pink Parcel!

XO Zoe

I love splurging on expensive make up but, being a student has really wrecked havoc with my bank account. So, I'm always on the look out for make up dupes of high end products. I mean, if they're cheaper and do the same job then, why not try them? Today, I'll be sharing my favourite make up dupes and comparing them to the original product.


Benefit Porefessional Primer Vs. L'Oreal Infallible Primer
First off, I have combination skin with large pores. When I discovered Benefit's Porefessional primer a few years ago, I quickly became hooked and, it is now my all-time favourite primer. It smooths on to my skin and it immediately reduces the size of my pores. It allows for an airbrushed application of your foundation and I find that it makes my make up stay intact for longer. However, rolling in at a whopping £27.50 per 20ml tube, this primer has a hefty price tag!


I have tried a lot of primers and none of them seemed to work as well as the Porefessional... until I discovered L'Oreal Paris' Infallible primer. Whilst the Porefessional applies more like a cream, the Infallible is a gel primer. Like the Porefessional, the Infallible minimises large pores and provides an immediate mattifying affect on my skin. I wear this primer on my long days at work as it makes my make up stay put all day. And, compared to the Porefessional, this primer has a minuscle price tag, coming in at £8 per 35ml tube! Although the Porefessional will always have a special place in my heart, the L'Oreal primer definitely works just as well. I would recommend purchasing this if you're on a budget.

TheBalm Mary Lou-Manizer Highlighter Vs. W7 Glowcomotion
TheBalm's Mary Lou-Manizer is a cult classic highlighter, and I think everyone and their Mother is aware of how good it is! It works well with super pale skin tones and can be worn at a subtle or blinding highlight. It is a powder highlight but applies like a cream product and, it is incredibly soft on the skin. I tried this highlighter in TheBalm's TheManizer Sister palette and I have just hit pan on it, as I shown it a lot of love. A full size of this highlighter is priced at £16 per 8.5g.


As I was running out of this highlighter, I wanted to try to find a cheaper version that would work just as well with my pale skin. A friend recommended that I should try W7's Glowcomotion highlighter. I am so glad that I did! W7's Glowcomotion is advertised as three-in-one highlighter, shimmer and eyeshadow and is priced at £3.15 per 8.5g. The shades of both highlighters are just about the same *but* the Glowcomotion is very slightly warmer toned. But, in my opinion, the Glowcomotion highlighter is much more pigmented than TheBalm's highlighter, and lasts longer on the skin.

(My camera does not do these justice. These swatches show up super light on camera, but are blinding in real life!)
Benefit Roller Lash Mascara Vs. Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara
Another favourite of mine is Benefit's Roller Lash Mascara. This mascara easily separates and lengthens my lashes. It's buildable, providing a lot of volume to them. I've been through two full size tubes of this mascara and a few minis so, I swear by it! A real selling point for me is that it is non-transferable to my lower lids, so is perfect for long days at work! Like Benefit's primer, this mascara is fairly expensive and rolls in at £20.50 per 8.5g tube.


A great dupe for this mascara is the Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara. What drew me to try this mascara is that it has a very similar wand to Benefit's Roller Lash, with the exception being that Maybelline's wand is slightly thicker. I think this makes it easier for me to build up a lot of lash volume in a short amount of time. This mascara has an incredibly similar affect to the Roller Lash, as itlengthens my lashes without making them look spidery. The Lash Sensational costs £8.99 per 9.5g and is less than half of the cost of Benefit's mascara.


All in all, I think this mascara is an excellent dupe.

Thank you so much for reading my post! Let me know in the comments, if you have tried any of these products!

XO Zoe

These days, it seems like everyone is an ambassador for Tropic Skincare. In case you have not heard of them, Tropic Skincare are a British skincare and cosmetics brand. They feature everything from facial bronzers to foot creams, and they have become incredibly popular over the past few years thanks to word-of-mouth and their famous "tropic parties". Over the past few months, I have been using three of their face masks. Each mask retails on their website for £16 and, if I'm being honest, that does seem a little expensive. So, I wanted to review these face masks to let you know if they are really worth it!


Deep Hydration 'Soothing and Cooling' Mask
The purple pot is the Deep Hydration mask and it is designed for dry skin that needs a boost of hydration! I have combination skin, so this is great for my skin type as I need a boost of moisture! This mask contains "wild Australian superberries" and it is just like applying a strawberry yogurt to your face. The texture is creamy and it feels so soothing on your skin.

This mask is my favourite of the trio and it does what it says on the tin. It has a super cooling effect and does not dry down on your face. I really have to be in the mood for a face mask that dries down on your skin. You know the type of face masks that make you feel like your face is going to crack in half if you smile? Well, if you hate those type of masks then this one is for you!

Face Lift 'Brightening-tightening' Mask
The yellow pot is Face Lift. It is designed to tighten your skin and makes you feel like you've quite literally just gone under the knife! It contains agave nectar and seabuckthorn extract which aims to hydrate the skin, whilst closing-up large pores. In my opinion, the scent of this mask is very over-powering, and quite frankly... it stinks.

However, when I look past that, my skin always feels incredibly firm after using this product. I find that this effect lasts for several hours after removing the mask. I find that skincare products that claim to "firm" your face, tend to dry out my skin and, I liked that this mask did not dry my skin out further.

Clear Skin 'Blemish-fighting' Mask
This mask is designed to re-vamp your skin and get rid of those nasty blemishes. It has ginger and willow bark extracts which contain anti-bacterial properties to fight spots. A key ingredient in this mask is Charcoal, which is hidden in many blemish-fighting skincare products, as it kills off spots and reduces redness.

When I first bought the trio, I was mostly excited to try this mask as I suffer from blemishes and I have tried everything to get rid of them. However, I found this mask a little too harsh for my sensitive skin. It did not break me out, but it did dry my skin a little too much for my liking. Although I was not a fan of the product, that's not say it won't work for you! I can imagine this being a fantastic mask if you have oily skin.


Overall, my favourite mask is the Deep Hydration mask. As I said, I suffer from a combination of dry and oily skin, so this gives my skin a boost of moisture. I do like using the Face Lift mask if I feel that my skin needs to be firmer, but I'm not a fan of the scent. I would not recommend using the Clear Skin mask if you have dry skin, as it does remove moisture from your skin. However, if you have oily skin, this would be a great mask for you!

Thank you for reading my post! Let me know in the comments if you have tried any Tropic Skincare products!

XO Zoe

***I am not affiliated or sponsored by Tropic Skincare. I purchased these products myself and this is my honest opinion.***

Hi there!

I normally share my favourite songs on Mondays, but I thought that I would share what I am currently listening to a little early. So, here are my weekend essentials!


(Disclaimer: These are not my songs... Full copyright disclaimer at the bottom of this post!)

Noah Cyrus ft MO 'We Are'

I've talked about Noah Cyrus before but I cannot get enough of her music. I have adored every single that she has released so far, and I cannot wait until she releases a full album! This is definitely an angst-filled song, but it's so catchy.

Paramore 'Fake Happy'

I used to be a huge Paramore fan and I was lucky enough to see them live before the band split. If I'm being honest, I kind of went off of them for a while, but the re-introduction of Zac Farro has taken the band in a great direction.

Chloe Howl 'Do It Alone'


I found Chloe Howl on YouTube a few months ago and I needed to share her music. Her vocals are outstanding, and she reminds me of Dua Lipa. This is one of my favourites from her... not forgetting, that she looks amazing in this video!

Rudimental ft. Jess Glynne and Macklemore 'These Days'

Macklemore is one of my favourite rappers so, I generally like any of his songs. But, this new release is an epic combination. This song is sad, longing, uplifting, lonely, upbeat and chill all at the same time.

Noah Kahan & Julia Michaels 'Hurt Somebody'

I'd never properly listened to Noah Kahan before I listened to this song, but boy, is he talented. His voice, combined with the stunning vocals from Julia Michaels, makes for a heart-wrenching duet.

Marshmello ft Anne-Marie 'Friends'

This is a new one from Marshmello and I love how blatantly honest this song is... I mean, it is branded as the "official friend-zoned anthem". And, it has been released just in time for valentines day.

Sigrid 'Strangers'

You have probably heard this song about 475633 times and it is probably still doing your head in. This song has actually driven me crazy for months! However, I've succumbed to this annoyingly catchy song over the past week, and I love it! It's one of my new favourites.

Nina Nesbitt 'Somebody Special'


I first heard of Nina when 'Stay Out' was released a few years ago, but I recently discovered that she has been releasing a lot of new music lately. If you like this, listen to "The Moments I'm Missing". It's *so* good.

Madison Beer 'Teenager in Love'

I've never really been a huge fan of Madison Beer. I have heard her old pop songs and did not really like them, but her new album is pretty good! And, I really like this song. It reminds me of Ariana Grande's Honeymoon Avenue album, as it sort of has that smooth jazzy vibe to it.

Carlie Hanson 'Only One'

Last, but not least, I'm sharing a favourite from 2017. And, I cannot believe this video on has 33k views on YouTube, as Carlie Hanson is incredibly talented. This is great song and deserves so much more recognition!

Thank you for reading my post! What are you listening to at the minute?

XO Zoe

*** Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. ***

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Next month, I start my final year at university and one of my resolutions is to stay organised. Like the previous years, I will be attempting to juggle deadlines, work placement and a job. So, it's essential that I keep up to date with my work! Well... It's easy to say that, but actually turning promises into solid actions is much harder than it seems. So, I want to share my tips on how I stay organised!


Plan Ahead
It's not rocket science, we know that we should be planning ahead. But, what I have learnt at university is that we should be planning months ahead! You think I'm joking?

Right. You will need a cheap calendar or a wall planner (HERE) and your academic timetable. This is particularly important if you're taking a course which requires days in university and placement, as you can get confused about where you should be! You will need to go through your academic calendar and record your annual leave, your days in university and placement and all of your assignment deadlines.

As well as yearly calendars, I love weekly planners and I purchased this one (pictured below) from Sainsburys for £2.00. They're great for planning your week ahead, and I like them as they tend to not have dates recorded on them so you can use them all year round!


Keep Two Diaries

This is kind of a life hack but kind of creates more work for you... But, building on the point raised above, I find it really helpful to keep two diaries. I'm not greedy; they just serve different purposes for me.

I like to keep an A5 diary in my university bag as this bag contains more room for a bigger diary. For this year, I bought a copper leather-like organiser from Sainsburys (in the sale!) for £1.50. It is spill-proof and contains card slots, too. I will be using this diary in university as it has a wider daily section. This means that you can write in more detail, which is perfect if you have a few lectures or meetings in one day!

I also have a smaller A6 diary, which is perfect for placement as I have less room in my placement bag. I also purchased this from Sainsburys for £1.50! I bought this one, as it has smaller daily sections and it is ideal for recording my shift times. Just a side note... this may not work for everyone as you need to keep both diaries up to date. But, these suit my situation perfectly!


Colour Code

Who says adults don't like colouring in? In my first year, I wrote my lecture notes with black pen and did not add a single drop of colour. Consequently, I have no idea where I put those notes. So, I decided to put more effort into my notes by adding coloured diagrams and highlighting important information. Because of this, I've kept those notes (SHOCK HORROR!) in files and I actually do look at them every few weeks!

This can be applied to your every day life. I like to highlight important events in my planner, such as assignment deadlines. Doing this, helps me to prioritise the tasks which I should be completing before a certain time. I mean, if I have a deadline date written in red marker on my calendar, I tend to get a little stressed about it. This stress may either cause me to rip the calendar off of the wall or it will encourage me to get started on the task! Let's hope it's the latter!


Just Say "No"
I understand that it can be difficult to turn down work or say no to a friend. But, particularly if you're a student, it's important to prioritise your course... AND your mental health! At the start of my second year, I was in placement Monday to Friday and I worked weekends. On top of that, I was just starting my academic year so I was working towards assignment deadlines. Basically, I did not have any days for myself and I paid for it. I was mentally burnt out and it reflected badly in my university work, as I was so tired.

This year, I'm super lucky and I work a flexible job where I can chose my shifts. I know that not everyone has that luxury, so if you're a student make sure that your employer is aware of your other obligations. As for saying no to other people, don't feel guilty for turning down social events. Instead, try to negotiate with your friends or family and set aside at least one day every week (or fortnight) to catch up!


Take Time For Yourself
Through everything, it's important to take time out for yourself. This is a whole blog post in it's self but, you know the drill. Eat five a day, drink plenty of water and get eight hours sleep a night... Blah blah blah!

Seriously... It's so important to wind down and relax, so taking time out of a hectic day is essential. It's also key in avoiding physical and mental burn out! It's as easy as setting aside thirty minutes a day to exercise or watch your favourite YouTuber. It can be something easy or a something wacky, it does not matter. As long as you find something that eases your mind and makes you happy, there's no problem.

(Picture of the Lush 'Thundersnow' bath bomb swirling away!)
Thank you for reading my post. I hope it was helpful! In the comments, ;et me know what your tips for staying organised are!

XO Zoe

Hi there!


A few weeks ago, I was having a conversation with a friend about how we relate our favourite perfumes to situations or memories. For example, my all time favourite perfume is 'La Vie est Belle' by Lancome and my Mum always buys me a bottle for Christmas. So, whenever I smell this perfume, I am always reminded of Christmas morning! Because of this conversation, I was inspired to write a blog post about my current favourite perfumes.

'Coco Mademoiselle' by Chanel

This fragrance is a cult classic and is a seductive blend of grapefruit, jasmine and rose. Growing up, this was my Mum's signature fragrance and when I was a teen, she wore this everywhere she went. I think that is why I love this scent so much. However, when I originally tried it, I did not actually like it! This was my fault as I sprayed *way* too much on my skin. Like all Chanel fragrances, you have to spray them very lightly and allow the product some time to develop on your skin. Once I realised that this perfume was not like my old trusty "So..?" perfumes (and I did not need to spray half of the bottle) I loved the smell of it! It is priced at £62 per 50ml bottle (HERE).

'Black Opium' by YSL

I bought this fragrance early last year and it has lasted such a long time! It has notes of white floral and vanilla, and it is very much a "night out" fragrance. When I first tried it in-store, the sales assistant said that it had "vanilla and black coffee" which is a main reason why I bought it. C'mon, I love anything with coffee! Lastly, the design of this bottle is simply stunning and I could not resist the glitter. It's priced at £44 per 30ml bottle (HERE).

'Little Black Dress' by Avon

I thought that I would throw in a budget friendly favourite of mine, because these other perfumes are a little pricey! I was given this perfume for Christmas by my Aunt and I love it. It has notes of honeysuckle and milk heart, and it smells similar to Hugo Boss' 'Nuit Femme' fragrance. It is priced at £5 per 50ml bottle (HERE), but the scent and packaging make it look far more expensive! I have been using this fragrance daily and I tend to throw it in my bag, using it to freshen up at work or university. As I said before, I'm weird and I associate fragrances with places, so I tend to wear my cheaper scents to work... as I usually end up hating them after a few months. But, at the minute, I really do love it!

'Modern Muse' by Estee Lauder

I've realised whilst writing this post, that I tend to go for musky, floral scents containing jasmine, rose or honeysuckle. And, Modern Muse is really not that different. This is another one that reminds me of my Mum, as I used to buy it for her for Christmas. I recently re-discovered this and this has to be my favourite " dress up and go on a day trip" fragrance. It has a sweet floral scent but it is not over-powering, and I find the scent tends to nicely linger all day. It is priced at £29.50 per 30ml bottle (HERE).

'Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet' by Dior

Finally, I had to mention this as one of my favourites over the past few months. I was given this as a gift for my 21st birthday and I love the scent of it. Both the packaging and the scent are so luxurious, and the perfume brings back lots of lovely memories for me. This fragrance is a mix of Sicilian oranges, peonies and roses, and the floral scent comes across as incredibly fresh. It is perfect during the day or in the evening, but it can be overpowering if you spray too much, so have a light hand. It is priced as £42 per 30ml bottle (HERE).

Thank you so much for reading my post. Feel free to comment down below and do let me know what your favourite fragrances are!

XO Zoe

Urban Decay's 'All Nighter' make up range guarantees to keep your make up looking flawless for hours on end. The range includes a popular foundation and a cult-classic setting spray, and last week Urban Decay added the All Nighter concealer to this range. And, I was very excited! This concealer is priced at £20 for a 3.5ml tube, and it is guaranteed to keep your make up smudge-proof... In theory. As I swear by Urban Decay's incredibly popular Naked Skin concealer, I knew that the All Nighter concealer had a lot of hype to live up to. In this post, I'll be sharing my thoughts on this product and if it lives up to my expectations!


First Impressions
When I went to purchase the new concealer, I asked the assistant on the Urban Decay counter what she honestly thought of the product. She told me that it was "very full-coverage" and compared the product to Tarte's Shape Tape Concealer.

On application, I found the coverage just right. I have a lot of freckles, and I have never been able to find a concealer that covers them without making my make-up look "cakey". The finish is matte and it had a blurring effect on my pores. I'm not lying when I say that it made my skin look airbrushed. I took the photo (pictured below) just after finishing my make up, and I did not edit it or add any filters. Overall, I was really impressed with the product on application!

Longevity


The whole selling point of this concealer is that it will last a long time. And ideally, I want my make up to last around 12 hours, as that is how long my shifts are. I interact with so many people and I want my make up looking set and natural at all times. I decided to test this product at home first, to avoid looking crazy in public if it did not work for me. I applied this at 9am and I set the concealer in place with my trusty Laura Mercier translucent powder, before finishing everything off with the All Nighter setting spray.

I wanted to really put this concealer to the test so, I decided to workout wearing it... And, I just wanted to say that I never normally exercise whilst wearing make up! But, I wanted to see if this concealer would sweat off easily. On this particular day, I combined thirty minutes of HIIT (high intensity interval training) with thirty minutes of total body strength training. By the end of the workout, I was a sweaty mess! However, when I looked in the mirror, I was actually shook... in a good way. My make up was glowing, but my face did not look like that much of an oil-slick. And, when I cooled down from workout, my make up dried and set back into place, like I had never exercised in the first place.

(After my workout!)
Later in the day, I decided to take my dog for a long walk and it bucketed down with rain. Still, my concealer stayed on and it looked exactly the same! I decided to remove my make up at 6pm. At this time, I looked a little bit dewy and my blusher had faded, but everything was still in place... I still looked presentable.

How It Compares

Due to the popularity of the Naked Skin concealer, it's only fair that I compare the two concealers. First off, I want to compare the price and the amount of product you receive. The All Nighter concealer is priced at £20 for a 3.5ml tube, whilst, the Naked Skin is priced at £19.50 for a 5ml. This means that you get more for your money when you buy the Naked Skin concealer!


I also wanted to swatch each concealer next to each other, to see if the shades swatched the same. Pictured above is both concealers swatched in the shade "Fair Neutral", and at first, they do swatch exactly the same. However, when the All Nighter concealer dries down, it does oxidise to a slightly warmer shade. This makes the two shades look slightly different, but it is not a massive colour change and it did not make a difference to me.

That leads me on to the next thing... The All Nighter concealer dries down *VERY* quickly! I applied the concealer to one side of my face, blended it with a damp Real Techniques sponge straight away and it blended flawlessly. On the other side of my face, I left it for between 15 and 20 seconds. Then, when I tried to blend it out, it was difficult to move around as it had dried down so quickly. I'm definitely one for getting distracted when I apply my make up, so be aware!

Overall, I really did love this concealer. It's easy to apply and dries down to a smooth, matte-finish quickly. It's full-coverage, but does not my make up look unnatural or cakey. It also lasts a long time on my skin. The real downer for me is that you're paying £20 for 3.5ml of product, so, you're basically paying a hefty price for the packaging! And, although the packaging is nice, I would prefer more product!

So, what do you think of this concealer? Leave a comment down below, letting me know your thoughts!

XO Zoe