Everyday Face: the Summer Edition

Having recently had a few questions about what I'm loving on my face at the moment, I thought I'd make it into a post. I never go too bold, but for an every day make up look that I like to think is relatively classy yet quick, this is what I go for.

(you can follow my instagram here)

So, in chronological order. 

• For my base, I always opt for Mac Prep and Prime Skin . I find this sits really well underneath my makeup, gives me a radiant base, and also helps my makeup last throughout the day.

• For foundation, I always reach for my Chanel Vitalumière Aqua in shade 10, and have done for about the past 18 months. It's such a light weight foundation you can hardly feel it's there, and leaves such a natural finish on the skin. 

• For concealer, I've been a loyal user of the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer  in shade 1. It's the cheapest concealer I've ever found, yet the best. Only last week I was chatting to a Chanel rep in Boots about how much we both love it. 

• For my contour, I reach for the Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit and work it into my cheekbones and around my temples. This also comes in a cream form, but that scares me a little. 

• On my eyebrows I use the Soap and Glory Brow Archery in the shade hot chocolate. I was using the Anastasia Brow Wiz, but found this to be a much more affordable dupe!

• On my eyes I use the Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette.  I use limit all over the lid, then work mooner into the crease. 

• For eyeliner,  I am a huge fan of felt tip liners. Again, I've found the Collection Felt Tip Liner to be the best! Sometimes 'you get what you pay for' isn't true. 

• Mascara wise, I tend to reach for Maybelline Lash Sensational , though I do switch up my mascara now and then. I find this one to have no fall down, and have enough volume yet it doesn't clump. 

• I use Mac's DollyMix for blush, though you only need a light dusting of this. 

• To highlight, I take Benefit's High Beam - the only highlighter I've ever found that I like. I hate looking gold, or sparkly. This one just gives a pearly shimmer to the cheekbones. 

• Finally, on my lips I've been using Mac's lipsitck in Mehr, and lipliner in Whirl, for a subtly bold yet summery lip. 

What are your favourite products this summer? 

India x

My Skin Saviour: Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair

Estée Lauder's Advanced Night Repair has well and truly saved my skin. I was introduced to this product in mini form, within an Estée Lauder gift set. Though the serum is essentially marketed for older skin, claiming it reduces the signs of ageing and helps skin look younger, it has solved all my (21 year old) skin problems. 

Shop here

At a bit of a hefty price of £52 per 30ml bottle, I really do think it's worth the money. You need a small amount, and even my tiny bottle has lasted me 2 months - and I've been using it daily! The standard 30ml bottle comes with a pipette feature, making it super easy to use and limiting any mess. 

The serum has given my skin a lift, and made me look, what I can only describe as a little more alive. It's given my complexion an even tone which I never had before. I have had zero break outs in the two month period I've been using it - though I'm not sure I can claim that these two variables are 100% related. 

All in all, this is a beautiful product and I cannot recommend it enough. What are your skincare favourites and what is your go-to saviour? 

India x

Albums to ease your revision

It's exam season and that means one thing; revision. There's nothing worse than revising in silence, you go crazy. I find revising to albums I don't know too well (so can't sing along and get distracted) help me stay in the zone. It's nice to change things up every so often to keep it interesting!

So, here are my top albums to revise to at the moment:

1. Sept. 5th - dvsn. Turns out dvsn is signed to OVO (drake's label) so it's no wonder I'm enjoying this. It's a very slow and chilled album so easy to make notes to. 
2. Know-it-all - Alessia Cara. Her voice makes me feel really happy and positive, so maintains good vibes for revision. 
3. You Should Be Here - Kehlani. Kehlani's back story makes me feel a lot of things, and even that, the thought behind her album, is really good for keeping motivated. Her words often make me feel able to tackle any obstacle, so helps when studying and losing motivation. Plus, her voice is relaxing so is good when you're panicking. 
4. Views - Drake. I'm already overplaying this album so no doubt soon I'll have to stop revising to it. But drake's voice keeps me calm and this album is full of good songs - good for the boring revision topics. 
5. Beautiful Lies - Birdy. Not my usual taste in music but great for revision. I find this really nice background noise but not too distracting. 
6. Take me to the alley - Gregory Porter. Also not my usual kind of thing, but a really happy and soulful album which keeps you upbeat when doing work. Got lots of good instrumentals too. 
7. Souled Out - Jhene Aiko. Jhene Aiko is my go to artist if I need some soothing music - her voice is good for the soul. This album helps concentration and keeps you in the focused zone. 
8. Twenty88 - Twenty88. Jhene Aiko and Big Sean teamed up for this one and it really works. Some songs you need on a little quieter to stop distraction but overall it really works. Similar in a sense to souled out but a little more upbeat with the addition of Big Sean. 

Hope that's a little bit helpful and eases the bore of revision season. What are your favourite albums to revise to?

India x

Easy Interiors

I'm massively into interior design, so thought I'd show a few little, inexpensive touches you can add to your room. I tend to keep things monochrome and minimalist; enjoy! 

Lamp: IKEA 

Candle: H&M home 

Clay roses: Velvet 

Photo frames: IKEA 

Copper "I": Oliver Bonas 

Wooden "I": Velvet 

Lantern fairy lights: IKEA

Nude palettes: my top picks

As many know, I am a sucker for a nude palette and live by the rule that you can never have too many. So, I decided to post about my top 5. 

1.) NAKED - £38

I got my naked palette back in 2012 and it is definitely my most loved and most loved palette. It's looking a little worse for wear but I cannot emphasise enough how long lasting and pigmented the shades are; so easily blendable and so many different looks can be created with the 12 shades. 

2.) Soap and Glory's "lid stuff" - £10 

This palette looks similar to a Mac quad, but at just £10, is a steal. I've found the white to be perfect for the browbone, and I use the matte brown on my brows. Perfect if you've not got much room in your make up bag!

3.) "Natural Eyes" by Too Faced - £32 

Unfortunately I don't think this is available in the UK; I picked it up in Sephora in New York (Sephora do ship to the UK however, if you're interested). What I love about this palette is that it comes with a manual, so shows you exactly which colours to pick and where to put them in order to create different looks. I like that it's relatively small but still has an amazing range of colours. 

3.) "Eyes Uncovered" by Collection - £3.99

I have to say I was AMAZED when I saw this in boots - £3.99 for a palette which could be seen as a 'mini naked'! I admit I thought it was too good to be true and the actual eye shadows would be rubbish, but I was definitely mistaken. If you're on a budget, I'd honestly say it's just as good as Urban Decay!

5.) NAKED 3 - £38

And last but not least, naked 3. I think this palette really is beautiful, but I haven't found all that much use for it. It's all very pink toned, which doesn't suit me massively. However, as you can see, I fell in love with "dust" - a very similar colour to "silk teddy" in the too faced palette.

What are your favourite nude palettes? 

Love, India x

Injecting a little colour into my wardrobe

As most people know, I rarely wear anything colourful. I tend to stick to black, white and grey; not only because I like the minimalistic look, but because it's practical.

However, as it's summer, I thought I should branch out a little. I found this A-line skirt on asos and fell in love. I thought a block piece would work well, because I can just pair it with a black or white top etc. I find A-line skirts to be flattering for my figure, and at just £20 it was a bit of a steal! It comes in tons of other colours so I think I might have to pick up a couple more. 

How do you inject a bit of colour into your outfits? 

Love, India x

Skirt - ASOS

Top - ASOS

Cut out boots - Topshop

Hat - H&M

Sunglasses - Urban Outfitters 

Watch - Olivia Burton 

The Breakfast Club

Exciting news for Brighton locals - The Breakfast Club has now opened on Market Street. If like me brunching is your favourite hobby, you might have heard of this chain. The Breakfast Club have a few restaurants in London (Soho, Canary Wharf, Angel, Hoxton, Spitalfields, London Bridge and Battersea Rise), so of course expanding to Brighton was next on the list.

Whether you're looking to eat healthily, or indulge, the Breakfast Club is top of my recommendations.

Where do you like going for brunch?

Love, India x

Summer Picks 2014

Long time no post! I've finished university for the summer, so thought I should probably get back into this blogging malarky. Here are my picks for this summer! 

1.)  Tile Print Runner Shorts // Topshop // £12

2.) Black Strappy Seam Bralet // Topshop // £8

3.) Orange Pacha Abstract Cut Out Bikini // River Island // £34

4.) Moto Floral Hallie Hotpants // Topshop // £30

5.) Cancon Large Icon Shopper Handbag // Ted Baker // £45

6.) Cat Eye Logo Sunglasses // Dolce & Gabbana // £136

7.) Giggle Geek Shoes // Topshop // £28

I hope that's helped inspired some summer wardrobes, I'll be back to posting regularly from now on; let me know what you'd like to see!

Love India x 

Face of the day: 21st June

Hi everyone! Thought I'd do a FOTD today, seeing as I dug out and finally charged my camera! My hair looks really greasy but it's wet as I'd just washed it, promise! This is pretty much my every day make up. I'm no make up artist, so I do apologise if things are going on in the wrong order etc, just how I like to do it!

// Bobbi Brown corrector in 'Porcelain Peach' //

A recent purchase - so far I'm loving it! I get the darkest circles under my eyes and sometimes concealer just doesn't do the job. I apply this with a Space NK concealer brush. 

// Bourjois 'healthy mix' foundation in shade 'Light Vanilla' (51) //

Another recent purchase which I'm also enjoying. I don't personally need a really high coverage foundation, so this is perfect, and what I have been searching for for months - almost in between a BB cream and a heavy foundation. I apply this all over my face with a Real Techniques 'expert face brush'. I really recommend this brush - although it seems like a lot of money, it's well spent, as it can be used for pretty much anything on your face and leaves a very even coverage. 

// Urban Decay Naked Palette // 

As you can see, this palette is well loved. For my every day look, I tend to apply 'Virgin' to my tear ducts and brow bone. I then apply 'Naked' roughly over the whole lid, and put 'Sin' on top of that. I then add a tiny bit of 'Sidecar' to the corners/crease. I apply with the brush that comes with the palette, then blend with a No. 7 Blending/Contour brush. The Naked Palette is definitely one of the most versatile palettes out there, and is really useful! 

// Collection 'Extreme' felt tip liner in black // 

I don't get on very well with liquid eyeliners - I'm not sure if it's me or the fact that my eyelids don't cooperate! I find felt tip liners, however, really easy to apply because you have a lot more control. I used to buy a Maybelline one, and have tried several other brands such as No. 7, but they all dry out really really fast, and when you add it all up, I was wasting a lot of money! 'Collection' is pretty much the cheapest you can get, but I've found it actually lasts the longest - I'm very impressed! I usually apply a thin line to my lash line and do a small flick, sometimes I just leave it though. 

// Maybelline 'the Collossal Volum' Express' Mascara // 

I usually use 'the falses' but since that ran out last week, I'm trying to use this up before I go and buy another! I have naturally quite long lashes so all mascara seems to work kind of the same, which is lucky! 

// Rimmel 'Wake Me Up' Concealer in 'Ivory' // 

Everyone raves about the Collection 'Lasting Perfection' concealer, but I'm so pale that even the lightest shade comes out super orange on me! I think this is the next best thing - I apply this under my eyes and to any blemishes, using my Real Techniques expert face brush. 

// Mac Pro Long wear blush in 'Stay Pretty' // 

I don't think this blush is anything special to be honest, but I spent a reasonable amount of money on it, so force myself to use it! It is pretty though. I apply a small amount to the apples of my cheeks using a Space NK Blush Brush. 

// Revlon Lip Butter in 'Berry Smoothie'//

I mentioned this product in a previous blog post, and I really really like it. It doesn't last that long but it's so much less effort that lipstick. It also feels nice on your lips, I find that lipsticks really dry my lips out, and I spend forever checking and reapplying. Definitely a good find! 

Do you use any of these products? Have you got any recommendations? I'd love to try some new things!

Love, India x

Rainy day: Mini beauty/haircare haul

Aussie - Luscious Long Shampoo & Conditioner // Herbal Essences - Dazzling Shine Shampoo & Conditioner // Simple - Soothing Facial Toner & Purifying Cleansing Lotion // Toni & Guy - Sea Salt Texturising Spray // John Freida - Full repair deep conditioner // Bourjois - Healthy Mix Foundation in Light vanilla // Revlon Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie // 

 This morning was a very drizzly and dull morning, and having spent weeks indoors with text books, I couldn't resist a little retail therapy. I really shouldn't have, my funds are lacking somewhat at the moment due to holiday bookings (!!) and I am actually going shopping in London next week, but hey ho. 

 The first couple of things are a bit boring - with shampoo and conditioner, I usually just go for the cheapest I can find. Recently, my hair's been looking a bit sorry for itself, so I thought I'd buy some things that would do it a bit of good. I couldn't decide between Aussie and Herbal Essences, but as it was 'buy one, get one free', I decided to go for both! I also got a deep conditioner from John Freida, because I wanted one that will last, not just a silly packet one, which gets finished in one wash! I also got some sea salt spray (from Toni&Guy) for styling purposes. It was relatively cheap (only about £3 I think) so, why not! 

I then moved on to foundation. At the moment, I'm using Rimmel's 'Wake me up!' foundation, which I've got to say, really is good. However, it's a shade too dark for me, and it quite high coverage. For going out in the evening, it's perfect, but for every day use, it's not really for me. I read a review of the Bourjois 'Healthy Mix' foundation the other day, and from what I gathered it's a lot more sheer, so thought I'd give it a whirl. I'll let you know how I get on with it. 

 And finally, I got a Revlon lip butter. I REALLY hate the packaging, I'm not sure why, I think it kind of reminds me of old women?! I'm not really a lipstick kind of girl, I find them a pain to put on, and a pain to keep checking all is still in tact, and re-applying. The consistency of the lip butter is a lot more like a balm, and it's not too highly pigmented, so is pretty perfect for me. It was quite pricey, at £8, but after wearing it today, I think it's worth it. It's got to be said, it doesn't last for hours on end, but sometimes, that's what you want. I got it in the shade 'Berry Smoothie', which I am beginning to regret - it's a shade which is not all that different from my natural lip colour! Overall, a really nice product, so I think I may go back and buy another in the near future! 

Have any of you tried any of these products? I'd be interested to see what you think! 

 Love, India x

Review: Barry M Gelly Nail Polish

A very quick post today, as I'm in the middle of exams and need to crack on with the revision! A couple of months back, I purchased the 'Dragonfruit' Gelly polish by Barry M and fell in love, not only with the colour but the consistency of the polish itself. 

The other day I was browsing on ASOS and saw they sold the Gelly polishes! With ASOS doing free delivery, I quickly snapped up 'Blueberry' too as a little treat. 

The Gelly polishes, as you can probably guess, are more gel like than a usual nail polish, which means you don't have to bother with a top coat - they're super glossy! They feel like they're more sturdy (if a nail polish can be sturdy) so last for ages and don't really chip! I am in LOVE. 

Gelly Hi-Shine nail paint by Barry M, in 'Blueberry' 

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Lots of love, 

India x 

Going out make up

SORRY I FORGOT TO DO AN OUTFIT POST! Next time, promise!

Anyway, I did take a picture of my face (as usual ha ha). 

A few months ago, I bought the Rimmel 'Wake me up' concealer and I've been wanting to try the foundation for ages. So, the other day, I decided to treat myself and buy it. 

At £9.99 (Superdrug), it's not the most pricey foundation and I'm really liking it! Definitely recommend,  it's not too heavy which I like, and has a slight shimmer in it, so really does 'wake you up'. 

On my eyes, I used my Urban Decay Naked palette, Mac Fluid Gel Liner and my Maybelline 'The Falsies' mascara. 

I also recently received a MAC voucher, so spent that on a blush which I'm really liking too. 

Review: Topshop 'Leigh' Jeans

I thought I'd do a little review of my favourite jeans in the world. I've always loved Topshop jeans, but I find jeans a bit awkward because they're always so tight and uncomfortable, so I used to live in leggings. In about September last year, I came across the 'leigh' range in Topshop and I now own roughly 4 pairs. Not only do they come in what seems like a billion colours, they are the comfiest things in the world. They're stretchy, so they're easy to feel good in, yet they still look like jeans. Personally I'm a bit of a boy, so I literally live in them. They're priced at £38, which I do think is quite a lot considering they're not actually denim (I don't think anyway). If you're a student like me, you can get 10% off, which makes them £34.20 which seems a little more affordable.
With the amount I wear them, I definitely think the price is worth it, so go get 'em!
Lots of love, India x