The Wanderer Returns

Surprise! I'm back and more committed then ever!

I thought for my first post back I'd do a quick little FOTD and a life update to explain my long absence.

 I went for a very natural eye today but with a flick of liquid liner to really define my eyes.

I used my most recent purchase: the Make up revolution Ultra Eyeshadow palette in Flawless. It contains some beautiful warm and shimmery rose gold shades as well as some smokier matte shadows. This palette is beautiful for everyday use, but also includes everything you need for the perfect sultry "night out" eye look and at only £8 its a pure bargain, you can pick yours up from most local boots stores now!

Another one of my recent purchases in the Maybelline Lash Sensational mascara, it comes in this beautiful metallic pink packaging, and I have to say it is one of the best drug-store mascaras that I have ever tried, it's non-irritant and does not transfer at all, even if used on your bottom lashes, once this mascara is on, it will not budge (saying that it's still fairly easy to remove with a simple eye make up remover)

I have recently been using the Primer Plus by GOSH and love the way it makes my make up go on and last all day (although it is silocony, it's nothing like the Benefit Porefessional or the Maybelline baby skin) it's perfection transitional primer for the weird in between winter and summer phase.

I also recently picked up a Tanya Burr lip gloss in Just Peachy and it will definitely not be my last purchase from her range, not only is it a beautiful formula and goes on smoothly but it also smells amazing - just like Haribo Strawbs!

What did you think of the look? let me know in the comments!

Life update:

I know that I haven't posted in a LONG time (understatement of the year really) but everything just went so crazy, I left college and didn't seem to really know what I was going to do with my life.

but I think I've finally got it sorted, I've got amazing people around me who I love and care for and I have gotten rid of all the negative people (trust me it does you a world of good and if you think the negative people are going to change then sadly they're not, you're just better off without them in your life)

I have also been working as a trainee dental nurse for the past 5 months, which I am really enjoying, It's not something I ever thought I could see myself doing, but I'm glad I applied for the job. 

And if all that wasn't enough I've been quite ill recently, but don't worry I'm on the road to recovery, I've got my Roids (I'm not turning into a body builder dw, my immune system is so shit that my body needs extra help to to get me through this) and my antibiotics and lots of chocolate and cookies, right now I am one happy girl! 

Thank you for reading, don't forget to like, comment and follow, maybe even let me know how your life is going!

Thanks,

Robyn :)

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The MAC-Daddy Of All Presents

As you may, or may not know, Saturday was my 18th birthday, yep! that's right, I am now officially an adult (God help us all!). I also share my birthday with my beautiful twin sister charlotte, who is now my favourite ever person for buying me my first MAC palette, insert and eye shadows EEK!!

L-R: Sable, Wedge, Amber lights, Shroom, Retro-Speck and Nocturnelle

I had always wanted a MAC eye shadow palette and I was speechless when I woke up on Saturday morning to unwrap these beauties!!! do I have the best sister or do I have the best sister!?
I had written down a list of shades that I wanted and she got it spot on with the bronze/goldie tones that look amazing on my blue eyes! MAC eye shadows are really as amazing as everyone says they stay put all day, not a crease in sight! with their beautiful buttery soft texture with hardly any fall out. although they're £10 a pop I have definitely found my new obsession, I reckon I'll have about 3 more palettes by the start of 2015 (there goes my bank balance). I'd say although I'd wish that they were cheaper, they are definitely worth the money, I've never had eye shadow even half as good as the lil' circles of joy!

L-R: Sable, Wedge, Amber Lights, Shroom, Retro-Speck, Nocturnelle




 

Have you tried any MAC eye shadows? What did you think and what shade is your favourite (I need suggestions).

 

Thanks

 

Robyn :)

 

 

 

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The Mother of all Birthdays

 

 

These past two weeks have been filled with joy, love and family birthdays, one of which being my beautiful Mummas birthday. Mum has never failed to make a single one of mine and my siblings birthdays amazingly special and happy and for that I am eternally grateful.
when we asked what she would like for her birthday she simply said "your time" she's so selfless and generous that us kids decided to do something special for her for once!

once I'd woken up and wrestled a furry monster (see the picture of the cat) off of my bed, my sister (Charlotte) and I tidied the whole of the house, I cleaned the kitchen whilst she made a birthday cake that was yummy!
Once we'd done the house we popped in to town on the bus, of course we couldn't resist a bus stop selfie, we just needed to pick up a Sanpellegrino Limonata (the best lemonade around) and a few last minute birthday essentials - after all what is a birthday without a helium balloon and some chocolates?
when we got home charlotte and my brother (jack) put up some cute fairy lights (from Primark) and some cute bunting whilst I relaxed for a bit with a white hot chocolate with marshmallows, it tastes like unicorns <3
when my mum came home she was so pleased with all of her presents and what we'd done to the house, I think my favourite part was when Jack sang the song he'd written for mum for her birthday it was so good!
So I thought I might just write a little lifestyle post and show you my day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Thanks

 

Robyn :)

 

 

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The Super Foods

you may of heard the term "super foods" being thrown around a lot lately, all foods (even deep fried, chocolate-coated sugar) have some sort of nutritional value, but there are foods that are so beneficial to your health that they are known as "Super Foods"

Apples:

There are over 7.500 varieties of apples and they are all packed full of antioxidants (to fight against those nasty free radicals) especially vitamin C for healthy skin and gums - one apple provides 1/4 of you guideline daily allowance (GDA) of vitamin C.
They also contain pectin (a soluble form of fibre) that helps lower cholesterol levels and keep the digestive system healthy
Apples are great in juices, salads, deserts or just as a delicious snack!


Broccoli:

Now I know not everyone is partial to a floret or two of broccoli but I just love the stuff! did i mention it does wonders for your health?
just two florets - raw or lightly cooked - count as a veggie portion
not only does broccoli contain antioxidants including vitamin C, it's also particularly a good source of folat (a naturally occurring folic acid). Increasing your intake of folic acid  is thought to play an important role in preventing heart disease!
and if that does convince you to eat these gloriously mini green trees then just know that broccoli also contains a phytochemical called suiphoraphane that has specific anti-cancer properties.


Tea:

The beloved drink of the Brits, including me (although I only link green tea), has a range of useful properties. The caffeine content is helpful for stimulating alertness, mood and motivation (which is much needed if you ask me!)
Tea, whether black or green, is a rich source of catechins (an antioxidant). Studies suggest that catechins protect the artery walls against damage that causes heart disease and prevents formation of blood clots.


Yogurt:

Yogurt is an easily absorbed source of calcium (perfect for those who have trouble digesting large amounts of lactose).
It is said to have a range of different theraputic benefits. The bacteria Lactobacillus GG in yogurt are not digested but instead they reach the large intestine intact where they "top up" the other friendly bacteria.Friendly bacteria fight harmful bacteria.
And it makes the perfect on-the-go breakfast as it's delicious with some fruit and granola and it helps out your insides!

Some other super foods include:

• almonds
• apricots
• apsaragus
• avacados
• bananas
• beans and lentils
• berries
• chia seeds
• dark chocolate
• flax seeds
• grapes
• kale
• oats
• quinoa
• spinach
• sweet potatoes

And many more.....

what are your favourite super foods or recipes including them? let me know in th comments!

Thanks

 

Robyn :)

 

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The (Super)Powers of Sleep

So why do we sleep?
this questions has been asked for centuries and the answers is... that no one is really sure.
We have to sleep because it's essential for maintaining normal levels of cognitive (to do with the brain) skills such as speech, memory, thinking and therefore sleep is significant in brain development.

sleep also allows our bodies to rest themselves and prepare for the next day (I'm sure we all know what hell it can being having an early start at work on only a few hours sleep!)
Sleeping also allows our immune system to regroup to be able to fight off all sorts of nastiness, research shows that people who do not get enough sleep are more susceptible illness and recover more slowly from an injury then those who get more sleep.
It also help us live longer!

Sleep is one of the single most important health steps you can next next to a good diet and exercise to keep your body strong (what more reason do you need to sleep!?)

But how much sleep is enough?
If you're thinking the 6 hours you managed last night was sufficient enough, think again. the National Institutes of Health reports that although the amount of sleep differs for each individual the average adult needs 7.5 to 9 hours to be well rested and awake.

So there you go sleep is essential for a long and healthy life! now I'm off to sleep in the college library to restore my immune system and to help my brain concentrate ;)

Thanks

 

Robyn :)

 

 

 

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Brows: The One Stop Shop

I'd had my eye on this nifty little brow product ever since I'd heard of it's existence about a month ago. 

you might not know but I'm absolutely hopeless at filling in what little eyebrows I have (for some reason they always end up looking like uneven, furry slugs?) and it is almost impossible to find the right colour to suit me, they're either to red or too dark.
So when I heard about the new Benifit Gimme Brow with it's tiny mascar-like wand and endless fibers to give your brows that effortlessly natural look, but with enough oomph to really frame the face, I just had to venture on down to my local benefit counter to have a closer look!

The lovely ladies at the Benifit counter in boots offered to try it out on me and my sister before I brought it (I was fairly sure I'd leave with it in my bag anyway). They showed me just how easy it was to apply and what a difference it made to my face but without making me look like they'd been drawn on in sharpie!
This Little product really did have me at hello with it's cute packaging and unique concept.

Before
(please excuse the state of my brows)

The brilliant thing about this is that the tiny fibers adhere to the hairs and skin to add colour and thickness, creating brilliants brows where previously there had been none!

After

It doesn't leave a crispy or sticky feeling like some fiber mascaras and the tiny wand means no brow gel were you don't want it. Although it does have that chemical smell that is associated with most mascaras but you can't smell it once it has dried.

I have the colour light/medium which is a really universal taupe colour that can be layered and built up to create your perfect brows.

I will definitely be repurchasing this although at £17.50 a pop (for how small it is) it does make me wince about handing over the money, but as there is nothing like this in the market I'm willing to part with my dinero.

Until the drugstores (hopefully) start developing a similar product I don't think I'll be without this one stop shop for my non-existent brows

Let me know in the comments what your favourite brow products are and if you've tried the Benifit gimme brow what did you think of it?

Thanks

 Robyn :)

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Liebster Award

First of all I'd just like to apologise for being MIA I've had a rather crazy month and have been unable to post as frequently as I'd have liked due to personal reasons but don't worry I'm getting back into the swing of things and I'm going no where!

Thank you so much to Emily for nominating me! make sure to go and take a look at her blog

 

 

Rules of the Liebester Award:



 

 

1. create a blog post about the award - and remember to thank and link the wonderful person that nominated you
2. share 11 facts about yourself
3. answer the 11 question that the person who nominated you has created
4. nominate other bloggers with less than 200 followers (do not re-tag the person that nominated you)
5. and finally create 11 questions for your nominees and comment on their blogs to let them know about their nomination

Basically the point of the Liebester awards is to share the love around the blogging community which I think is a wonderful idea!

 

 

11 facts about me:

1. I'm currently studying biology, chemistry and psychology for my Alevels
2. I suffer from severe anxiety and often have anxiety and panic attack especially in college 
3. I love Teenwolf and Stiles is my favourite character (I swear if they kill him off idgaf I don't know what I will do)
4. I'm a twin and have been for almost 18 years now :P
5. I love science and cosmetics/skincare and hope to combine these later in my career
6. I work at a large Primark store
7. I have a spending problem and cannot save money for the life of me
8. although I love surrounding myself with my friends, I often need space and time to be on my own and blogging helps me relax
9. I have 4 piercing (my nose, ear lobes and 2 on my ear cartilage, I did have my belly button but I took that out) I love them and I also love tattoos and can't wait to get my first one
10. putting my makeup on and washing it off at the end of the day is my favourite thing to do
11. I am quite amazing at cooking (if I do say so myself)

 

 Emily's questions:

 

1. Night in or night out? normally it would be a night in but recently I have become a social butterfly and love a good night out with great company

 

2. Sweet or Savoury? savoury, I can eat crisps for days!

 

3. Current staple beauty product of yours? Rimmel stay matte primer, you can read my review here

 

4. Any pets? I have one fluffy, old black and white cat called minstrelle, he's very lovely when he's not grumpy

 

5. What's the first thing you notice about a person? probably their smile

 

6. Summer or Winter? definitely summer!

 

7. What do you like most about yourself? features wise probably my eyes and personality wise I like that I'm a caring person and that I will always put others first

 

8. One beauty/hair regime that you can't get the hang of? using hair masks, sure they smell great but every single on I have tried has made my hair greasy and lank

 

9. What's your guilty pleasure? listening to one direction really loudly and scream/singing all the lyrics (not really a very guilty one)

 

10. Who is your style icon? at the moment I just love taking style inspiration from blogs and just people in the street

 

11. Current favourite song? it's either she looks so perfect by 5SOS (they are just beautiful human beings in every single way) or sweater weather by the neighbourhood

I nominate:

 

• Maddie from madelinemtodd.blogspot.co.uk
• Katie from bonjour-Katie.blogspot.com
• Sophie from sophiesskincare.blogspot.co.uk

Make sure to go and have a look at all three of their wonderful blogs!

 

 

The Questions

 

1. what do you love most about blogging?
2. skincare makeup or fashion?
3. what do you hope to achieve over the next year
4. when it comes to fashion do you prefer comfort or style?
5. what's the last thing that made you cry with laughter?
6. favourite book of movie?
7. how old are you?
8. what country would you most like to visit?
9. which person has the most influence on your life?
10. day or night?
11. favourite food?

 

 

Thanks for reading look out for my up and coming review of the Benefit Gimme Brow Gel; HINT, it's a good one!





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Healthy skin starts from within.



Image from: wiki fitness



 

Vitamins, minerals and other nutrients do wonders to achieve that "healthy glow" that us mere mortals crave so much.

sure you can spend £££'s on the newest serums or creams that all claim to improve the look of your skin OR you could just consume a bunch of yummy food containing skin loving ingredients, that will not only make your skin look better but are also a general all round pick me up for your health!

Vitamin A: if you don't have enough vitamin A then this could cause a dry and flaky complexion this is because vitamin A is necessary for the maintenance and repair of skin tissue (with out it you'll notice a difference) specifically it is Topical Vitamin A that makes a difference to your skin. be careful though too much vitamin A will not make a difference to your skin and will probably make you feel unwell.

Vitamin A in food: paprika, chilli powder, sweet potatoes, carrots, dark leafy greens, lettuce, butternut squash, dried apricots, cantelope (melon)


Vitamin B: perhaps the most important B vitamin is Biotin as it forms the basis for skin and hair cells, without sufficient levels of Biotin you may experience a dry and itchy scalp or even hair loss! your body is capable of making Biotin but it also has to be consumed from food. vitamin B is important for hydrating cells and improving the overall tone of skin. Niacin is a specific type of Vitamin B that helps to retain moisture to make your complexion look plumper and younger, it also has anti-inflammatory properties to help soothe dry and irritated skin. Niacin also helps produce energy from the food that we eat and to keep the nervous and digestive systems healthy, not only will your skin look great but you'll feel great as well!

Vitamin B in food: bananas, oatmeal, eggs, rice, peas, wholegrain bread, milk, chicken, pork, beef, potatoes, salmon, cod, cheese, broccoli, soya beans, spinach, chickpeas and loads more!


Vitamin C: one of the most important new dermatological discoveries is vitamin C's ability to counter act the effects of sun damage on the skin, it works by reducing the damage caused by free radicals (a harmful by product of sunlight e.g. smoke and pollution, as humans don't have the ability to make their own vitamin C you need to ensure that your diet contains lots of vitamin C enriched food which can replace the loss of the vitamin through the skin. Vitamin C is also essential to help wounds heal.

Vitamin C in food: oranges/orange juice, strawberries, blackcurrants, potatoes, broccoli, brussle sprouts, red, yellow, orange and green peppers.


Vitamin D: Vitamin D is essential for Strong, teeth, bones and nails and also strengthens the eyes and prevent conditions such as Osteoporosis, as well as this Vitamin D is amazing for treating skin conditions such as Psoriasis. Vitamin D increases skin cell metabolism ( how quickly skin cells are renewed) It is very common to have a vitamin D deficiency (not enough) and this can cause a long list of harmful ailments, one of our main sources of Vitamin D is from the suns UV rays. vitamin D is also required for calcium absorption.

Vitamin D in food: Found in a variety of everyday food such as, eggs, butter and margarine, oily fish, milk, button and shiitake mushrooms ETC...


Vitamin E: Vitamin E is one of the best known Antioxidants (Antioxidants neutralise free radicals that could otherwise harm the skin- free radicals "consume" the collagen and elastin, which are the fibres that support skin structure, this produces wrinkles and other signs of ageing) and is frequently used in skincare as it is used to reduce the appearance of blemishes but it also boast anti-aging effects and can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles! Also "Adequate amounts of vitamin E can help protect against heart disease, cancer, and age related eye damage"
Read more at healthaliciousness

Vitamin E in food: Tofu, kiwis, mango, blackberries, spinach, almonds, sunflower seeds, avocado, shellfish, plant oils, tortilla chips, low fat popcorn, broccoli, squash and pumpkin to name but a few.

These are just a few of the vitamins we should be eating but remember like with anything, it is all in moderation!
I hope this post has taught you something new and feel free to leave any comment or questions and share this page!

Thanks
Robyn :)



Clarins; Lotus face treatment Oil

 

Clarins Lotus oils £30

Recently my skin has been quite oily and no matter what skin base and setting powder I would uses, about 2 hours after applying "my face" all my make up would be separated and blotchy (not the look I was going for!) and I decided I need to treat my skin a little bit.

now you might be asking "AN OIL ON OILY SKIN!?" but don't worry, oily skin can often be dehydrated and instead of stripping your face of all natural oils and using hundreds of different chemicals, you should use a "balancing" and "nourishing" product and the Clarins lotus face oil for combination skin aims to do both of these things as well as minimizing pores and controlling the production of excess sebum (an oily substance secreted by the sebaceous gland, too much sebum causes blemishes and imperfections).

this face oils contains essential oils of rosemary and geranium to help balance the sebum production and purify skin, it also contains lotus extract (as the name would suggest) to help refine skin and is dermatologist tested (always a good sign)
I've recently been applying 3-5 drop morning and night and I have been extremely happy with the results, the oil absorbs into the skin almost immediately and leaves skin smelling lovely (quite floral, warm and herby) and felling soft and supple, don't be scared of it's bright yellow colour, it doesn't stain at all!
The morning after the first use I could see a dramatic improvement in my skin, my pores were in fact reduced and my skin looked much more even and my old sallow looking skin had completely vanished, and I noticed that throughout the day my make wore extremely well and there were no signs of separation until the very end of the day.
Although I have cut down to only using 3-4 drops at night on problem areas (my T-zone and the pores on my cheeks) as the end of my nose felt quite dry and tight so I've avoided putting any on that area just in case it's the oil that's drying it out (although I haven't experienced this on any other parts of my face)

Overall I am extremely happy with this purchase and I think it's wholeheartedly worth it's (quite) hefty price tag of £30 as you only use a few drops everyday which increases the longevity of the product.

have you tried this or anything else from Clarins? what are your favourite products for oily to combination skin?
let me know in the comments!

Robyn x

Happy new year from me to you

 

 

 

As most of you will (hopefully) be aware it's no longer 2013, we have in fact ventured into a new year full of new possibilities and experiences. After writing so many posts and not publishing them as they are not what I would like for my first "real" post on my blog, I decided what's better than posting about than my new years resolution's and hopes (it's not what my blog will be mainly about as the majority of post will be on beauty and skincare as that is my massive passion, but what better way for you all to get to know me in the new year).

 

 

I hope 2013 brought you everything you wanted and you had a happy and healthy year, for me 2013 was not the greatest year, you could call it my year of Anxiety and hopelessness and quite frankly I'm glad to see the back of it, all though not all of 2013 was a complete let down, the way the last month was turning out was awesome; shock horror: I actually went out, had a social life and had a brilliant time! I am hopeful that 2014 will indeed continue this way and thought I'd put my resolution's and promises in writing so that I have no excuse at the end of 2014 to say "I don't even remember my resolution's (ooppsie)". so, here we go!

 

1. care less about what people think of me: I'm one of those people who are normally worrying about what's going on around them and how people perceive them and it's just stressful! stress is something I definitely do not need and it should only matter How the people I care about think about me and more importantly how I think about myself!
2. Go out more: now I know this is a bit backwards people are normally like "I need to stop going out, spending money and drinking" but I never used to go out (especially to bars, clubs and pubs) for fear of old drunk lairy men and having a panic attack, but last month my friend was relentless and persuaded me to go to a bar/pub with her and I actually had FUN and met some really funny (and attractive ;)) people and I want to do it again! and I feel like it actually made me a little bit more confident and as 2014 is also my 18th year in this world I foresee me going out very soon in the future.
3. actually turn up to college: I have been struggling for the past year and a half to force myself to go into college (to the point where it has actually affected my education) but this year, with my new found confidence, I'm going to actually turn up and make an effort if not solely for my sake then for my poor mother's sake who has been wonderful with putting up with my crazy insane ways and somehow is still the most wonderful person in the wold!
4. Get Fit: normally when I get home from college I'm so tired (emotionally and physically) that I just end up sitting in the same seat and stuffing my face, unfortunately it's become a bit of a routine, I'm not over weight but I'm am definitely not healthy and this year I plan on doing something different, even if it's just going for a walk when I get back from college or after tea, Ideally I'd like to go to the gym twice a week and do at least half an hour of exercise everyday just to help stay healthy, but I cannot guarantee this will happen as often as I hope it will (as I'm writing this I am stuffing my face with mini Kinder Maxi's - YUM!) but I will try my hardest!
5. Save money: if any of you knew me you'd already know that I have a bit of a spending problem, almost all of my pay check has disappeared as soon as it enters my bank account! and with university (very quickly) approaching I desperately need to stop spending! so I'm going to try and put most of my pay aside so I won't touch it (fingers crossed this lasts)
6. DO SOMETHING!!: this may sound utterly ridiculous to most of you but I have realised that in my (almost) 18 years on this planet I haven't really done anything that spectacular or memorable and having only just realised that there just over 12 years until I turn 30 (sorry If this depresses anyone) I want to do something, like run a marathon for charity and go sky diving or leave England to visit a new country and explore it's culture.

 

Sorry this was such a long and rambley (first) post, but I hope you found out a bit more about me, do you have any new years resolutions that you really want to stick to? - let me know in the comments!

I'll speak to you soon

Happy new year!!

Robyn x