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Showing posts with label saffron. Show all posts
Showing posts with label saffron. Show all posts


"Compassion for animals is intimately connected with goodness of character; and it may be confidently asserted that he who is cruel to animals cannot be a good man." - Schopenhauer 

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"If you don't like seeing pictures of violence towards animals being posted, you need to help stop the violence, not the pictures." - Johnny Depp

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So remember when I decided NOT to do YouTube and I wrote a whole blog post about it? Yeah, well, turns out I finally plucked up the courage to do one. It's just down there if you wanna have a look (get your mind out of the gutter right now).





It's not as scary as I thought it would be - the only scary bit is that people I know have watched it, and will probably continue to watch them. Don't get me wrong - I don't mind that friends and family see them. It's when people from my old school watch them and have nothing but negative things to say about them. You know the type. Thinking they're the best things since sliced bread and always have resting bitch face. But it's okay - because you're always going to have negative people trying to bring you down. You've just gotta try your best to not let them get to you. That's what I told myself whilst I sent her a lengthy Facebook message letting her know that being a bully gets you nowhere...



Do any of you guys have YouTube channels?


"Never, never be afraid to do what's right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society's punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way." - Martin Luther King Jr.
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A couple of weeks ago I got sent this gorgeous blusher in the post, and it's safe to say I fell in love instantly. I've never been much of a blusher person but I was so excited to try it out that as soon as I opened the package, I just had to have a lil swatch. The pigmentation of this blusher is insane, with the most beautiful shimmer I have ever seen. I'm genuinely shocked at the quality of the product...I've got to admit, I'm usually pretty adamant to try out new products from new brands, but I'm so glad I tested this out because - and big statement here - this could be my holy grail blusher. Especially this colour - 'Beyonce'. The name I'm not too sure about because I believe this shade is much better suited for fairer skin tones, which is one of the reasons why I love it so much - because I can actually pull it off! It's not too dark and has just the right amount of shimmer! It's best described as an iridescent coral with flecks of silver and gold running through it. The finely milled formulation ensures intense pigmentation without looking heavy on the skin, which is always a bonus.



The packaging of this is so sleek and classic, and nothing like anything I already own (surprisingly). It is predominantly clear plastic with an opaque black bottom (haha) and a matching black ring around the outer top of the lid. It simply clicks open, no force is needed but at the same time it stays securely closed. Might sound a little bit petty to some but I hate it when I'm opening this kind of click mechanism you see with blushers, bronzers, eyeshadows etc and it chips my nails. I know I sound like such a girl saying that but if you're like me and you can spend hours on your nails for them to chip because you have to use all your Herculean strength to open a frigging powder, you'll feel my pain.



The price is the one thing that would put me off purchasing this blusher. It retails for £13.95 at Beauty Crowd (my new favourite place to purchase make-up, by the way, but more on that in another post...) and don't get me wrong, like I have said it is absolutely stunning, but to me almost £14 for a blusher is pretty pricey. I always opt for cheaper blushers and splash out on eyeshadow palettes instead as you probably know by now that I'm a palette junkie! The quality is phenomenal so I do understand to a certain extent why it is a little expensive but at the same time this brand isn't well known yet, and personally I think that making it this price is gonna put people off from trying it out. Maybe that's just me and my reservation towards spending money on face products rather than my usual lip and eye stuff but I have a feeling many people will feel the same too.

Despite me being slightly put off by the price, I may have to repurchase when I run out because this colour is beautiful, and probably my favourite of the four (the others being Mariah, Shakira & Rihanna).


*This product was sent to me for consideration of a review*

Have you tried any products from Mesauda Milano?

"Each and every animal on earth has as much right to be here as you and me." - Anthony Douglas Williams 
♥

My love affair with make-up started when I was around 6 years old. I remember having these lip balms - I think there were 3 of them. I can't recall the shades but I do know one of them was orange - and that they smelt awful. You know that typical cheap cosmetic smell? Yeah, like that. I kept them in this little Tweety handbag and I would get them out every so often to look at them and smell them etc. There wasn't much wearing of the lip balms, mainly just admiring. I guess that's where it catapulted into me becoming a make-up collector.

Soon enough, I started buying magazines. Not really for reading, more for the free make-up. I remember I used to buy like 6 different magazines - Sugar, Mizz, Top Of The Pops, Smash Hits, Bliss and Shout. I rarely missed an issue. Now that I look back, it would've been waaay cheaper for me to just buy proper make-up!

I had this big box where I would store all my magazine make-up, and it was filled to the brim. At this point I was around 8 or 9, and obviously I didn't wear a full face of make-up but I would rock a bit of lipgloss, eyeshadow and mascara once in a while. I just loved dressing up, and to me make-up was an extension of that.

I guess when I started wearing a full face was probably in Year 7, so I would've been 11 at the time. A girl in one of my classes said that I'd look better with make-up on (in a nice way) - so I took her advice and started wearing some. I went to my Mum and she gladly said that she'd share her make-up with me. Now if you haven't realised - I'm very pale. So pale that still to this day, I struggle finding a foundation that will match my skin tone. My Mum, on the other hand, has very tanned olive skin. You can see where I'm going with this. I guess it wasn't too bad as it was a tinted moisturiser rather than a foundation, but instead of using powder to set it, I used bronzer. Shimmery bronzer. My Mum knew absolutely nothing (and still doesn't - I love you Mum!) about make-up so her 'tips' were pretty unhelpful. Despite the super-tangoed image you have of me in your head - it surprisingly didn't look too horrific. I'm not saying it was a good look by any means - but it wasn't so bad either.

At this point I started experimenting more with make-up - glittery liquid eyeliners, turquoise eyeshadow etc. Very 'retro-disco' if you will. To be honest I'm kinda proud that my younger self actually had the balls to wear hot pink glitter eyeliner - cause I'm not too sure if I'd be able to own the look so much now...

So now I'm around the age of 13 and I've become obsessed with Avon. And before you say anything - they didn't used to test on animals but yes, they do now. Anyways, my Mum would bring the catalogue home from work as her assistant was an Avon representative. I used to get that feeling like when I was younger and my Mum would hand me the Argos catalogue and say "Circle what you would like Father Christmas to get you and I can send it to him.". It really did feel like Christmas every time. Even more so when the products actually came! I would spend around £30 each time on various different bits and pieces because it gave me this ecstatic buzz when I opened the little white bag to see what I'd ordered. Usually I had forgotten so it was always a nice little surprise.

Mum would always tut whenever I bought make-up - and still does to this day. I try to constantly remind her that I could be like most other young adults and instead of spending my money on eyeshadows and lipsticks, I could be spending it on drugs, alcohol, and admission into sleazy nightclubs. Also known as the complete opposite of me. She should count her blessings that I'm an angelic little princess with a penchant for eyeshadow palettes! It could be worse, Mother.

It's gotten to the stage where I'm asking myself on a daily basis: 'Is my love for make-up getting out of control?'. Heart says no. Head says yes. Despite me rolling my eyes over the opinion of my conscience - I know it's becoming - or has the potential of becoming - an addiction if I'm not careful. Addiction. It feels weird writing that word. Something I've always associated with alcohol, nicotine, and not-so-legal narcotics. Make-up 'addiction' seems extremely mild in comparison.

To be perfectly honest, I can't see myself going down the 'I will sell one of my Dad's kidneys for an Urban Decay eyeshadow palette.' road. Not yet, anyway. Despite my almost blasé attitude on the matter, I know that I need to be careful. I've always been good with my money. Very good, in fact. So good that I have the ability to turn a few measly £s into designer accessories and top-of-the-range techno gadgets. I honestly have no idea how I do it - I guess I'm just good at saving money for the things I really want. And maybe make-up just happens to be one of those things. I'm trying to get my heart to synchronise with my brain like it does any time make-up is not involved. Maybe one day I'll have the strength to ignore the countless e-mails from Illamasqua telling me they have a sale on, or I'll be able to walk through the Beauty Department in Debenhams without batting a perfectly cut-creased-and-cat-eyed eyelid. Or maybe, just maybe, I will find it deep within myself to throw away *gasp* those Boots vouchers offering 200 points when I spend £20 or more. I did say maybe...



Have you got your make-up obsession under control, or is it running wild like mine?

"There are barbarians who seize this dog, who so prodigiously surpasses man in friendship, and nail him down to a table, and dissect him alive to show you the mezaraic veins. You discover in him all the same organs of feeling as in yourself. Answer me, Machinist, has Nature really arranged all the springs of feeling in this animal to the end that he might not feel? Has he nerves that he may be incapable of suffering?" - Voltaire

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Recently I was on holiday in the beautiful Island of Fire - also known as Lanzarote. Lanzarote has fast become one of my favourite holiday destinations - not only because of the breathtaking landscape and friendly locals - but now the shopping too. I never thought much of the shops there as they always seemed to be kinda tacky, cheap shops. Turns out I wasn't looking properly. I've known about Playa Blanca having a Mango for some time now - and I've been on several occasions each time I've been there this past year. Last time I was in Lanzarote (back in October) I discovered the Biosfera Plaza Shopping Centre in Puerto del Carmen which houses one of my favourite shops of all time - Zara! I sadly didn't have a chance to go either time, but it's not too bad seen as there are Zaras near where I live at home. One shop that I adore but can't get at home is Springfield. I discovered it a few years back when I was on holiday in Portugal and I've been in love ever since. I've passed loads of Springfields over the years but for whatever reason I never had the chance to return, including this time. Sad face. Oh well, I'm sure I'll drag my parents to one when I return this October.. But for now, here you have it - my Lanzarote Holiday Haul!






Paco Rabanne Lady Million Eau My Gold! Eau de Toilette 50ml - £46.50

You know how you're sat on the plane, flicking through the magazine that shows all the things you can buy on board? Yeah well I caved and bought something. Like usual. This time, I bagged the Paco Rabanne Lady Million Eau My Gold (great name) as my favourite Lady Million was beginning to run out and I thought I'd give this one a try. Turns out it's amazing, but nothing like the original LM. That means I'll just have to get the original too...







Mango Printed Cotton-Blend T-Shirt in White - £9.99
Mango Printed Sweater in Black - £9.99
Mango Skinny Olivia Jeans in Open Grey - £39.99
Mango Skinny Belle Jeans in Open Grey - £34.99

And here we have Mango. I always get excited in Mango as the stuff actually fits me for once! I guess that's why I love brands like Mango, Zara and Springfield so much because unlike the hefty majority of British and American brands - they actually cater for very slim girls like me. And trust me when I say that is very rare. Many people have complained that said brands don't cater for those that don't have tiny frames when they can get their clothes from anywhere. Don't be greedy, guys!! Anyways, back to Mango... I bagged two pairs of skinny jeans, two jumpers (of course) and an adorable Mickey Mouse t-shirt!



Have you been on holiday recently?

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." - Mahatma Gandhi
♥
Now that Festival season is fast approaching, and to celebrate the fact that I am attending a festival myself this Summer (yes, you read correctly), I thought it would only be fitting for me to do a little Summer festival outfit post seen as the one I did last year for garden parties (here) was such a huge success! Prepare yourselves for lots of crochet, fringing and a very scary amount of white. You've been warned...




Latitude (total outfit - £199)

Jack Wills Aubourn Embroidered Organza Dress in White - £129
Urban Outfitters Vegan Leather Water Bottle in Mint - £10 (on sale)
Topshop Felt Floppy Hat in Camel - £28
Marks and Spencer Limited Edition Caged Sandals in Black - £15 (on sale)
Accessorize 10 x Capri Styling Rings - £17






Glastonbury (outfit total - £197.97)

Topshop Gold Glitter Plastic Rain Mac - £25 (on sale)
Mango Fringe T-Shirt in Off-White - £9.99 (on sale)
Zara Short Denim Dungarees in Blue - £19.99 (on sale)
Hunter Women's Original Short Fringe Wellington Boots in Black/Dark Slate - £130
H&M Hair Decoration With Flowers - £12.99






V Festival (outfit total - £216.98)

Miss Selfridge Indigo Denim Flared Dungarees - £25 (on sale)
H&M Jersey Crop Top in White - £6.99
Miss Selfridge Mint Embroidered Kimono - £65
New Look Ankle Strap Espadrille Wedges in Lime - £24.99
Ted Baker Vellae Round Metallic Sunglasses in Orange - £95






Leeds & Reading (outfit total - £178.97)

Metallica 92 Poster Ladies White Vest - £16.99
Mango High Waist Shorts in Open Grey - £9.99 (on sale)
American Apparel Ribbed Modal Over-the-Knee Sock in Black - £11
Dr Martens Vegan 1460 Boot in Cherry Red - £125
Zara Feather Necklace - £15.99 (on sale)






Wireless (total outfit - £162.59)

Urban Outfitters Native Rose Hummingbird Kaftan Dress - £35 (on sale)
Marks and Spencer Faux Leather Piped Across Body Bag in White Mix - £23.60 (on sale)
New Look Black Ankle Strap Flatforms - £19.99
River Island White Orchid Flower Hair Garland - £15
Swarovski Stardust Red Double Bracelet - £69





Creamfields (total outfit - £189.99)

Jack Wills The Otford Pointelle Dress in Optic White - £46 (on sale)
Ted Baker Omenie Embroidered Fringe Kimono in Black - £90 (on sale)
ASOS Jaded London Mermaid Sequin Bum Bag - £35
River Island Silver Glittery Jelly Shoes - £15
Models Own Festival Face Paint in Neon Pink - £3.99



I'm super excited for Latitude seen as it's the first proper festival I will have ever been to. I'm just hoping that the weather will be glorious so then I can actually wear the outfit... Please keep your fingers crossed for me!

Are any of you attending any festivals this season?

"One day the absurdity of the almost universal human belief in the slavery of other animals will be palpable. We shall then have discovered our souls and become worthier of sharing this planet with them." - Martin Luther King Jr. 
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Topshop Sleeveless Peter Pan Blouse

About forever and a day ago, I took a trip to Harrogate with Shannon. She's probably the worst person to go shopping with because if I am debating on buying something, she'll respond with, 'Get it!!!!' which is always helpful when you're on an almost-constant spending ban. Despite me ignoring her and instead listening to my willpower, I still caved and bought a few bits and bobs. I'm still Saffron, after all...


H&M Knitwear - £7.99

Soap & Glory Crazy Sexy Kohl - £7 (on sale - RRP £14)


Batiste Medium & Brunette Dry Shampoo x2 - £3.99 each
Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in No1 Fair - £4.19
Natural Collection Solo Eyeshadow in Willow & Butterscotch - £1.99 each
Bourjois Happy Light Matte Serum Primer - £8.99 (on offer - RRP £10.99)
Boots Baby Moisturising Bath 500ml - £1.50

I did pretty well for once, actually getting things I needed and only one or two (or five...) things that I didn't. I think that's a cause for celebration! More shopping, anyone?


Have you been shopping lately?

"The awful wrongs and sufferings forced upon the innocent, helpless, faithful animal race, form the blackest chapter in the whole world's history." - Edward Freeman 
♥

Last but certainly not least, we have Paris. Home to some of the most beautiful fashions in the world, here are my picks from the ones on this seasons catwalks that caught my eye and tested my willpower...

Alessandra Rich
Alessandra Rich
Alessandra Rich
Alessandra Rich
Alessandra Rich
Alessandra Rich
H&M
H&M
H&M
H&M
H&M
H&M
H&M
Olympia Le Tan
Olympia Le Tan
Olympia Le Tan
Olympia Le Tan
Olympia Le Tan
Olympia Le Tan
Olympia Le Tan
Olympia Le Tan
Olympia Le Tan
Olympia Le Tan
Olympia Le Tan
Olympia Le Tan
Olympia Le Tan
Olympia Le Tan
Stella McCartney
Stella McCartney
Stella McCartney
Stella McCartney
Stella McCartney
Stella McCartney
Stella McCartney



What are your favourites from Paris Fashion Week?

"Our task must be to free ourselves by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures." - Albert Einstein 
♥