REVIEW // MUA Cosmetics Undress Your Skin Shimmer Highlighter

Hey!

During the summer, and all year round in my case, we all love glowing and healthy looking skin right? Normally my go to, holy grail, product for this is MAC Soft and Gentle but the price tag often puts me off using it as I don't want to have to keep buying it, although it lasts forever but my point is I wanted an alternative.

I bought MUA Undress Your Skin Shimmer Highlighter from Superdrug for £3, bargain, and wanted to see if it lived up to the hype of my Soft and Gentle favourite.

I apply highlighters either with a fan brush or with my RT contour brush to the tops of my cheekbones, cupids bow, little on the forehead and half way down the bridge of my nose, basically wherever the sun hits naturally to give myself a natural sunkissed glow.

This highlighter has a pink/champagne iridescence to it which is beautiful and it goes on very easily, however I do find the powder, isn't loose or powdery at all so I feel like not a lot comes off in one swipe so you have to really get your brush up in there, if you know what I mean...minds out of the gutters please.

The colour pay off is beautiful but the effort to get it isn't so wow. Soft and gentle you literally have to tap the brush and the payoff is immense which is what I love about it. Regardless of the effort you have to put in this highlighter is really pretty especially for £3 so I would definitely recommend it if you were looking for a cheaper high street powder highlighter!

Have you eve tried this product? Let me know!

Alicia x
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The Monday Matter #15

It's been a few weeks since my last Monday Matter and how refreshing it's been, however, I am back and I am ready to write!

Travelling I've been travelling around a lot lately, not far, Manchester, Liverpool and so forth but it's been really refreshing not to spend the whole Summer in my small village and I really want to travel a bit more, maybe next year I'll go on my first ACTUAL holiday, I don't even have a passport I'm like a caged bird.

Quotes As corny as it sounds I've been reading and loving a lot of quotes lately and the picture above is one of them, every quote means something different to each person but to me this one is about making your own choices and taking your life where you want it to go, life is about having fun and being free to do what you want and what you can to give yourself the best shot at a happy life. This is definitely my mantra!

Instagram I've been lacking with my instagram photos recently due to working a lot but the other day I actually got three posts up in one day, record! I really love how easy Instagram is to use and how easy it is to connect your pictures with people of similar interests to you. Follow me on it  - @aliciajadex

Breaking Bad * No spoilers in this paragraph, don't worry * I've been glued to this show for the past two weeks and I'm nearly done, 2 episodes left. Can I just say, Aaron Paul (Jessie) is a god? He is so so sooooo yummy and Dean Norris (Hank) is my ultimate favourite I would love his as a best friend. Probably one of the best shows I've watched, definitely give it a watch!

So this is my few weeks in review! how has your week been??

Alicia x
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[CLOSED] GIVEAWAY // Makeup Revolution Iconic 3 Palette and Velvet Lip Lacquers

Hey!

So since I've been blogging (properly, as a hobby) for around a year now, I decided I would hold a giveaway to say thank you to everyone who has joined me and stayed with me, reading my posts, on this journey. 

I have 1 x Makeup Revolution Iconic 3 Palette and 2 x Salvation Velvet Lip Lacquers in shades "I fall in Love" and "You Took My Love" to giveaway, completely free, to whoever wins my giveaway. :)

Enter below for your chance to win, the giveaway ends on July 30th at 7.30pm GMT and is NOT international, UK only!

You must do ALL FOUR mandatory steps when entering to be considered for the prize, I will be checking when the giveaway ends!

Also, follow my blog through bloglovin' : http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/4587317

Good luck to you all!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Alicia x 

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The Good, The Bad and The Blogging.

So recently I've been thinking a lot about blogging, what it means to me, why I got into it and the whole aspect of the blogging world. Now I am by no means an experienced, well known blah blah blah super blogger, whatever but that doesn't mean I can't have an opinion right? Well I think I can anyway since I've been blogging a year ish now, plus, this is only my input on one subject, take it however you will :)

I started blogging a few years ago, on and off, I was into it but I didn't really have a subject or a cause for my blog so it kind of dwindled for a few years. Back in September 2012 I went to university and decided I would start it up again and base it around my love of makeup and beauty and I've been blogging properly, as a hobby, since May 2013 and I really do love it and the whole community surrounding it is really supportive, I feel a lot of love for my little corner of the internet.

Blogging isn't without it's up and downs, you definitely have to take some negative comments with a pinch of salt and not let them get to you because that's when you really start to let your blog and your mindset surrounding it suffer. I definitely feel like my blog is a bit of light hearted fun and just somewhere I can just share my thoughts and feelings on anything and everything that I find interesting. But lately I feel a lot of pressure to get my posts out on time, not just because of my "blogging schedule" but because I feel I will lose readers and my blog will just fade into the distance and I'll become irrelevant. 

I've been feeling this way a long time and it's been putting me off posting anything at all because I just get this feeling of dread whenever I think about posting or scheduling a post, this isn't how I wanted to picture blogging and this is not how I want to feel when it comes to my blog so I've taken a step back and thought about what it is that is making blogging seems this way.

It all hit me when I read Katie's post from her blog Scarphelia, the way she worded it and the way she wrote about it just made me think "That's exactly how I'm feeling" and that post is basically what inspired me to write this one. Bloggers shouldn't be feeling like they HAVE to post every single day because "it's their duty" fair enough if you're a full time blogger but a blogger like me? I shouldn't be feeling pressured into writing my OWN blog which isn't even a full time thing and I shouldn't feel dread when it comes to it. I recently took a week off blogging to clear my head but it didn't really help and the dread was still there and I feel really sitting down to read Katie's post and to think about my own blog really helped me to feel more positive about blogging in general.

Yeah, my blog may be "small" but who is to measure small and big? What is a "big blog?" A  blog with lots of followers? You can have 10,000 readers and 0 interest or you can have 100 readers and lots of interest (not specifically) so my reader count isn't what's important, it's the feedback and the comments and the people who take the time out of their day, to make my day!

It goes without saying that I have sometimes posted a post and not got any feedback on them whatsoever, this doesn't upset me too much because I know myself I'm awful at commenting and leaving feedback even if I do appreciate a post I've read but it is always nice to get comments (I'm not fishing, scouts honor.)

All in all I'm not the most "got my shit together" blogger but I do try and put out posts that you guys would like to read and what I myself find interesting so I hope this is interesting to you, my thoughts and feeling spread across the internet.

So deep, much wisdom, wow.

It seems a lot of people have been smacked in the chops with this overwhelming guilt that seems to creep up with the so called "responsibility" of blogging. 

My advice is - "Do what you feel like" - Bart Simpson.

Alicia x 

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REVIEW // Smashbox Photo Finish Primer 12ml Travel Size

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer 12ml, £12.50 - Boots

Hey!

This primer has quite the hype around it in the beauty world so when I saw it in Boots I decided to give it a go and see what the hype was about. I was a bit hesitant to try it because it was so expensive for the small version and I had never tried it before so I felt like I'd thrown myself in at the deepend a little but hey, someone's got to take the risk! (not that I'm the only person...)

This primer has a clear formula and is very lightweight. When I first tried it on my skin I couldn't feel it at first so I basically slathered it on. Oh how I was wrong in doing so. A little tiny bit of this stuff goes a long long way. I just take a pea sized amount - if that - and warm it up between my fingers and then dab it on my cheeks, chin, forehead and nose and then just rub it into my skin in circular motions. After I've done this I also dab it so it settles into the skin a little more and then I leave it to set for about 30 seconds or so whilst I brush through my hair and what not in the morning. After this I go on with my routine as normal, does my foundation and so on. When I first used it I didn't really like it as like I said, I used too much so I found it would make my makeup slip and slide but just the right amount does wonders.

I wouldn't say it mattifies my skin for as long as the Benefit POREfessional does but it certainly does keep my makeup on longer than without a primer at all and it's so light weight it doesn't feel like it has created another layer on top of all my other products it literally feels like nothing is there. I like to use this on days where I don't wear a lot of makeup because it keeps it on for longer without the heavy feeling.

This primer has not exceeded my expectations but I do like it, would I buy it again? I think I'll have to finish the bottle to know that and will do a follow up review!

Do you like this primer? Let me know!

Alicia x
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REVIEW // OGX Argan Oil Of Morrocco

OGX Argan Oil of Morocco Penetrating Oil, £6.99 - Boots

Hey!

I mentioned this hair treatment in my favourites post which I posted yesterday and I honestly don't know why it's taken me so long to get round to reviewing it because it's just bomb dot com - no lies.

I bought this Argan Oil on a whim after seeing it was cheaper than all the other alternatives in my local boots, but local I mean I spend my life there because it's two doors down from where I work - it's an unhealthy issue, I swear the girl who works behind the till thinks I'm stalking her or something as I only ever seem to go in when she is doing her till shift, not going to lie it is a bit weird BUT I know it's because I am a beauty addict and not a weirdo. Moving on...

I saw this on the shelf whilst browsing Boots, I already had another Argan Oil treatment in my hand by Lee Stafford but decided for some reason to but that one down and buy this one. I don't know if it's the golden packagings to the fact it looks so luxurious that drew me to it but it was actually probably the price tag because let's face it, we're all broke.

This oil is a penetrating oil do when you apply it to the lengths and tips of your hair it penetrates deep and repairs hair from within therefore making it shine and look healthy on the outside. It's brilliant. I would just like to say it is no miracle oil, if you want rid of split ends then don't go looking for miracle hair healers, go looking for a hair dresser. I say this because I too was guilty of being scared of scissor happy hair ladies who chopped off my super long hair and since that day it took me 5 long frizzy, damaged, split ended hair years to pluck up the courage to set foot back in there.

What I'm trying to say is that I love this oil and it really does nourish your hair and keep it looking healthy and fresh for longer after a cut so I would definitely recommend it for people looking at a cheaper alternative to the high end Argan Oils.

Have you tried this hair oil? Let me know your thoughts!

Alicia x
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FAVOURITES // May

Hey!

This past week I took time off from blogging to just, relax, not have to think about anything and recuperate from stressing out so much lately. I am now back to blogging and feeling so much more positive.

Throughout May I've been really sticking to what I know whilst adding in small changes but mostly sticking to what I know. I always use a primer before I put my foundation on, I just find it's so much easier to apply my foundation flawlessly and the primer I have been using this month is Smashbox's Photo Finish primer. This is especially good in small doses, use to much (on my skin) and give it two hours and my makeup's none existent but use just enough and it will stay all day and stay matte.

Another new addition to my everyday makeup is Maybelline's The Rocket Waterproof Mascara. I bought this as it goes along with another favourite of mine but more on that in a minute. This mascara is amazing for giving that extra volume and lift to the lashes, I especially like waterproof mascaras for holding a curl after I've curled my lashes with the Eyeko Eyelash Curler which is another favourite of mine this month, it curls my lashes like nothing ever has and I can see a difference straight away, it's definitely going to be with me until it passes away *sad face.* I also start of my "mascara routine" with Benefit's They're Real! the end of the brush really helps to create and every bigger curve as you can really push the mascara right up from the roots to the tips of the lashes so you can really give them a good coat!

A lot of people know about the brand MUA and their infamous £1 makeup line. I myself am a sucker for a bargain but not all the products please me, you get what you pay for but with a fair few, you get more than meets the eye. This MUA Undress Your Skin Shimmer Highlighter has really impressed me, it's a sliver colours highlighter with a iridescent pink shimmer in it and its just beautiful definitely one of the bargainous products.

Moroccan/Argan oil is not secret amongst the beauty world and I myself would love the get the original Moroccan Oil but for now whilst I am penniless the OGX Argan Oil of Morocco is really doing the trick. It's made my hair softer and smoother and kept it looking as healthy, as when I just got it freshly cut, for longer. Obviously 8 weeks after my cut, the ends are getting a little split but other than that this oil has worked fab for me!

Other (non-beauty related) Favourites of May

TV Show: Breaking Bad/The Simpsons

Item of clothing: Neon Orange Court Shoes

Favourite Meal: Carbonara.

What are your favourites for May? Let me know!

Alicia x
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