P.S. Lip Liner - £1 each 

A few months ago I ventured into the world of Primark beauty for the first time in years. I remember a good few years ago they used to have a range of beauty products but they were pretty awful, however now they've really improved. I've previously written a review on the Brush Cleanser which you can read here, but it's safe to say I'm really enjoying the products from the P.S. range that I've tried.

The lip liners don't have any names or shades (at least I can't find any) so that's the only downside I really have to them as it's a little annoying. They're a bargain at £1 each and in my local Primark there's about 6 different shades. 

The liners aren't too drying, and they have good lasting power too which in all honesty, shocked me considering the price. The two shades I have are nude shades and I sometimes wear them alone, or sometimes I apply a lipstick as well and I love the results either way.

Overall I'm really impressed with these liners and I recommend you check them out when you're next in Primark because I think you'll be pleasantly surprised!

Have you ever tried any of Primark's beauty range?

S&G Ultimelt Hot Cloth Cleanser - £10 

A few weeks ago Soap and Glory had 1/3 off selected skincare products so I decided to try Ultimelt Hot Cloth Cleanser as I had heard great things about it and wanted to try a hot cloth cleanser. I love S&G products anyway so I thought this would be a great place for me to start regarding hot cloth cleansers.

The cleanser itself has a slight typical S&G smell, you all know the one, but I find it quite pleasant as it's not overbearing. Since I've bought this cleanser I've really enjoyed using it as it makes my skin so smooth and therefore it gives me a better base for my makeup.

I massage it into my skin for a good few minutes (around 4-5) before using the damp muslin cloth to wipe it off. When I first used this I was shocked at how much makeup was on the cloth, it was quite gross in a way haha! 

Overall, I am really pleased with this cleanser and I'd definitely be happy to repurchase it as my skin feels a lot smoother and I've had less breakouts too which is great.

The only downside to this cleanser is that after a few uses the packaging ends up looking quite battered and squashed, but that's my only gripe with this product.

Have you tried this hot cloth cleanser?

I will be honest here, until a couple of years ago I had no skincare regime at all. Throughout most of my teenage years I was lucky enough to have fairly clear skin with the odd typical breakout here and there but nothing major so I didn't bother. I do regret this now as I'm sure I'll be paying for this later on in life but I do now have a skincare regime, it's still pretty simple but it's something.

All of the products I use are really affordable too as I'm a student and can't afford to be splashing out on luxurious skincare at the moment, but I love the products I use.

Garnier Micellar Water £4.99 | I can't rave about this product enough, I love it and swear by it and that's the end of it. Okay, well I'll tell you a little more but it's my favourite cleansing water I've tried and I recommend it to anyone I can and a few of my friends and my Mum have started using it after me going on and on about it! It's gentle on my skin and also removes waterproof mascara too. It's on offer quite frequently in Boots so keep an eye out for that. I've only tried the original formula but I know that Garnier have brought out a Naturals and Pure version which I'll try at some point.

Simple Revitalising Eye Roll On £5.19 | I bought this a few weeks ago whilst it was on offer and mentioned it in my haul here and I'm so glad I did. It's really soothing and moisturising and I apply it both morning and night. 

Simple Illuminating Radiance Cream SPF 15 £6.59 | I also picked this up whilst it was on offer and I'd definitely pay full price for it when I repurchase it. It's a lightweight moisturiser that doesn't leave my skin feeling sticky and clogged and it also has SPF 15 which is a bonus. Some illuminating products I've tried in the past didn't really do much for my skin, but with this I really can tell the difference. Alternatively, I used to use the Simple Rich Moisturiser which I swear by in the colder months. 

There you have it, my favourite skincare products that are also really affordable. Like I said previously, my skincare routine is pretty basic but that's how I like to keep it as I'm usually in a rush in the mornings. 

Have you tried any of the products I've mentioned?

I feel like nowadays no-one really prints out photos, they just keep photos on their phone and put some on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter etc and forgets about them. I realise I sound super super old by saying that (and I'm only 20!!) but I love getting photos printed out. I can then put them on my walls, in photo albums, give them to people or put them in my journal. 

So if you're one of those people who never prints photos out or always does, I have a brilliant offer I had to share with you. All you need to do is download the Snapfish app and you will receive 50 free prints every month for a whole year! You only have to pay for postage which is £2.99 every month which is an absolute bargain. 

I've just ordered my first batch of photos, and I will say the photo credits only last until the end of the month every month - am I making sense?! Basically, the credits don't roll over so if you miss a month you've lost the credits! 

Let me know if you download the app and take advantage of this offer!

p.s. I am in no way being sponsored or paid by Snapfish for this, I just had to share this offer with you. 

UPDATE: My photos arrived and I am so impressed with the quality of the photos themselves as they were all from my iPhone!

I'm sure all you know that blogging can become quite expensive as you're reading a lot of blogs and lusting over tonnes of products that you've seen other people blog about. The odd purchase here and there won't break the bank but it does all add up, so I have few tips for those of you who are blogging on a budget. As I'm a student my main priorities in relation to my money is paying rent, bills, food and of course nights out but I do still like to treat myself.

Plan Your Monthly Budget | It can be a daunting task at first, but once you get the hang of it it really does make a difference. You'll then be able to see how much disposable income you have left after spending it on all the necessities.

Shop Around For Offers | I rarely buy products now unless they're on offer. Boots and Superdrug almost always have some kind of offer on their beauty products, whether it's 3 for 2 or a 1/3 off products and this is the best time to buy.

Loyalty Cards | I love my Boots card in particular as I'm part of their contact lens scheme so I get points monthly anyway. However, I popped into Boots today for my Mum and she managed to buy everything she needed with her points which is brilliant. Points cards are really worth having and they're so easy to sign up to.

NUS Card | This one is specifically for students and those of you who have an NUS card. In Superdrug if you present your NUS card at the till you'll receive 10% off your purchases which is great.

Shop Your Stash | Before you buy new makeup see what you already have in your stash and whether you already have a backup without realising. At uni I have a whole drawer of make up that I'm yet to open and most of the products are mascara, so for now I'm not buying any mascara until I've used all the ones I've got.

Only Buy What You Need | It's easy to see other bloggers talking about the new products that are coming out and want to buy all of them, trust me I've been there. However, if it's a product that won't suit you or you don't really need it, then put it back on the shelf and spend your money elsewhere.

Do you have any tips for blogging on a budget? If so, I'd love to hear them so comment below!

Maybelline Dream Flawless Nude Foundation | 10 Ivory | £5.99

I picked this up on a whim a few weeks ago (see my haul here) and I hadn't seen any reviews of this foundation, and even now I've only seen 2! I was a little sceptical about this foundation purely because I find Maybelline foundations hit and miss for me, however I'm pleasantly surprised. It's available in 7 different shades, which isn't bad and the shade I have is 10 Ivory which is the lightest shade.

The packaging is unlike any other foundations I have, but the shape of the bottle is interesting and it's compact for travel too. 

Now, this is where the foundation gets interesting. Until I've tried this foundation I've never used an applicator like this. It's a teardrop shape and the idea is you just drop it onto the back of your hand until you have the right amount you need. I personally prefer just swiping it on the back of my hand as I get more product that way. I actually quite like this applicator, even though it's different.

The foundation itself is very lightweight and offers a light coverage, however it is build able to medium coverage. Once applied, I don't even notice I'm wearing foundation which i love for 'no make up make up' kind of days. It blends easily, whether I use a beauty blender sponge, a brush or my fingers however I personally prefer using a brush. The shade itself is a little darker than my trust L'Oreal True Match, but with a little more time blending means it doesn't look too dark for my skin. 

Overall I am really impressed by this foundation and would definitely recommend it if you're looking for a lightweight foundation to try out. It's also only £5.99 at the moment as an introductory offer. 

Have you tried this foundation? If not, do you think you would pick it up?

p.s. I've now made a new instagram account for all things beauty. I just wanted it separate from my personal one, you can view my profile here and follow me if you want to!

I thought it was about time I did another post for my Uni Guide Series since I haven't done one in a while. This post will all be about food shopping on a student budget. Now, if you're anything like me you'll try and avoid any talk about finances or budgeting, I tend to bury my head in the sand. However, I have a few tips that I think will make food shopping a little easier for you.

1. Shop Around

I know it's easy to go to the closest supermarket but I find the ones closest to student residence and student houses are always more expensive. For me, that's been Co-Op so I try to avoid doing my full food shop in there if I can. Personally, I prefer Tesco as they have good deals and I get Clubcard points, bonus! 

2. Planning

Once you've found where it's cheapest for you to shop, plan what you want to buy first. If you try planning your meals then you'll be less likely to pick up 5 pizzas for a week (although, this is acceptable sometimes just go with it!). I look through my cupboards first to see what I'm running out of and will definitely need.

3. Food Delivery

I find doing my shop online is a lot easier for me. It saves me walking 20 minutes with 10 bags and struggling all the way, and also if a few of you do your food shop together the delivery charge can be split and will cost virtually nothing. I also find if I do my shop online that I find better bargains as they'll pop up telling me what's on offer. Many places also offer you free delivery for your first order if you spend over a certain amount which is even better.

4. Own Brands

Before coming to uni I wasn't particularly bothered about buying own brand or branded, but since being a student I've found I rarely buy branded items. I find most of the own brand alternatives are the same quality if not better than branded, obviously some items I still buy branded, for example nothing will beat Doritos for me!

5. Poundland

This may seem like an odd point to add in, however pop into Poundland and see what you can buy! I often find that they have a wide range of branded crisps, chocolate, coffee, salt, ketchup etc in there which will be cheaper than the supermarkets.

I hope you found these tips helpful. Do you have any tips for food shopping on a budget?

L'oreal True Match // Rimmel Match Perfection // Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum

One thing I've always struggled with buying is a foundation that's pale enough for my skin. I'm super pale, as in "you look ill are you okay?" kind of pale (thanks to my Irish genetics). These are my 3 favourite foundations from the drugstore that do match my skin tone yay!

L'oreal True Match - C1 Rose Ivory 

This is my absolute favourite out of the 3 and I know it's popular among other bloggers too. It's such a lightweight formula but still gives good coverage and a lovely finish that's not too dewy or too matte, perfect. I'm actually going into town this afternoon to repurchase this foundation as I need it back in my life!

Rimmel Match Perfection - 010 Light Porcelain

I remember finding this shade in Tesco last year and being so amazed that it was pale enough for me. Yet again this is also popular among bloggers. This was my go to foundation for months and it's the cheapest out of all 3. I sometimes have difficulty finding this shade in stores but when I do it's brilliant. 

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum - Vanille Clair 

This is the darkest foundation out of all 3 and does match my skin tone but I have to make sure I really do blend this well. It's a slighter thicker formula than the other too and gives a bit more coverage.  As this is a gel formula it is slightly different to what I usually go for, but it leaves a beautiful finish.

What are your favourite drugstore foundations?

When I was at home I would just use whatever shampoo and conditioner my Mum had in the bathroom but since moving back to uni I've been buying my own. I was in Poundland the other day when I came across these two. 

After one use I felt how nourished my hair was and it felt like the condition of it had improved instantly. My hair also feels a lot softer and I'm really impressed with this shampoo and conditioner, I really do recommend you to try it if you see it in the shops. It smells lovely as well which is important too. 

What's your favourite shampoo and conditioner?

Real Techniques Brushes Dupes £12.99 - eBay

Last Christmas I only really wanted some new make up brushes and I love the Real Technique's Core Collection so I was going to ask for another set of those so I always had some clean, however I came across these brushes instead. They're dupes for the Real Techniques brushes but they're from eBay so therefore, a lot cheaper! I was also really happy to find a UK seller for these so they arrived really quickly, I think they took about 4 days but as my mum bought them for me as a Christmas present I'm not 100% sure.

You can buy these brushes in either blue, hot pink or rose gold. I chose the blue because then they'd stand out completely from my Real Techniques brushes, but you could always buy them in hot pink or rose gold if you wanted them to really look like Real Techniques brushes!

I really have tried and tested these brushes for quite some time and I still love them and I've not had any massive problems with them as of yet. The only 'problem' I've had is that the duo fibre stippling brush has shed quite a bit, but that can happen with any brushes and I can still use the brush with no problems. 

Personally I don't find them quite as good as Real Techniques brushes however, they are very similar and definitely dupes for Real Techniques ones. They are a bargain for £12.99 + £1.99 P+P. I use these brushes daily and I am so glad I have them as they're multi use brushes. I especially enjoy using the tapered brush which I use for setting my under eye concealer. 

Have you found any other Real Techniques Brush dupes?