Huge Holiday Hair Help

In the last few months, Edinburgh has become just about one of my favourite places in the whole world. But there is something that Scotland is a bit lacking in: vitamin D. I’ve had such sun withdrawal, I forgot what it was like to walk outside and feel warmth on your face! Luckily, this was remedied with a holiday with friends to Greece over Easter break! Ever since getting back last week I’ve been thinking of two things: “I miss the beaches” and “I should write a blog post on it.”

I think my body knew that I needed to be back in the sun, because I felt so healthy while we were there. Sleeping was great (which is a big problem for an insomniac like me) and I noticed another big change too: my hair. And when I mean big, I mean literally: my hair got huge! 

I have problems with losing extra hair when I get stressed, and as it was around finals time, my rather sad ponytail suffered. I’m always looking for a good volumising product, as I’ve learned to fully embrace the crazy that is my hair. But I think the combination of sun, sleep, and a few new products that I’m devoting this post to really helped. 

Of course, holidays are the perfect opportunity to have a browse/splurge around the travel-sized products in drugstores. I like them anyways, because such small packaging is really good for trying things out. The small lotions and hair products are especially good for tossing into a purse, which is probably how I end up with about six little bottles in a bag! However, I actually did need to purchase a shampoo, and I ended up picking the Charles Worthington Volume and Bounce Shampoo. I’d heard about the brand in other blogs, and I use the line’s Texturising Spray (which I mentioned here). 

New favourite shampoo (plus a bit of my holiday hair!)

The shampoo is - simply - amazing. Most volumising shampoos don’t really do much more than advertise, in my experience, but this actually works. My hair really feels thicker.  Since coming home I’ve continued to use the travel-size bottle, but I’m going to get another one, as it is running out. It leaves your hair so much fuller and thicker, and I absolutely love it. I would recommend it 100% to anyone who wants to give their hair a bit of a boost: with one wash I noticed a difference in the fullness, and it didn’t go away after repeatedly using it.

Once I was done washing my hair, I put in a (generous) amount of another one of my mentioned favorites: Tony&Guy Sea Salt Spray. The result was tons and tons of wavy curls. With this combination at first, I was a bit unsure of what to do with all the hair! So I took two bobby pins and took bits of hair from the front of my face and fastened them back loosely on either side. The messy look was very beach-y and it was my go-to look for Greece.

My last favourite product also came from the travel-size section, and it was the Sanctuary Spa Body Moisture Spray. It’s an oil spray that you’re supposed to use for hydrating your skin when it’s in the sun. I knew when I got it that it probably wouldn’t noticeably work, but it smells absolutely amazing. I used it a few times before going into the sun, but the best use of it was pouring a bit into the bath: it smelled amazing and was a good substitute for bath bombs or salts. After hectic days of ferry rides and flights, it was nice to pour a bit in and have a nice, relaxing soak.  

So, those were my favourite hair (and body) products for a warm holiday! What are your current favourites? What do you always bring on a trip? How do you handle your hair? 

Spring Kisses

Lipstick and I have an odd relationship. I will try something daring and then - if I decide I like it - it will no longer be daring for me and I'll pretty much wear it every day. I go through intense lipstick trends where it will be all I wear for weeks and weeks, and then switch to something else. My last blog post was about mascara and brow pencils (please check it out), but lipstick is something I'm also always trying out. While the last post was about staples, lipstick is something I can sometimes be lazy with and get into routine/forget to apply. However, even if it's not an every day thing, a good lipstick can make me a very happy girl indeed!

This winter, my two lipstick obsessions were the Kate Moss 107, which is a lovely berry red, and the Revlon Black Cherry, which was a dark plum. Both were lipsticks that I bought, tried out in the privacy of my room late at night, looked in the mirror and freaked out before rubbing it off and claiming that red/plum just didn't suit me and I'd have to find something else. Then, I'll warm to it and instantly swear that I will never find something as perfect! 

http://sheimagazine.com/

That being said, spring is happily, happily upon us. With the weather starting to get warmer and the meadows outside my window blooming with flowers, I am excited to pull out the sundresses and struggle to walk in strappy wedge sandals. However, this also sadly means trading in my darker shades of lipstick. Because as much as I am loving the warmer weather and promises of sun, it doesn't look too good for my current lipstick faves. So, just like before, I braved the mirror and a few new shades, and I'm finding some new ones that will definitely make recurrent appearances thoughout the next few months.

I know summery lipsticks is far from ground-breaking, as peaches and oranges and pinks just about scream summer, so the lipstick I have been loving is a bit different, which is why I wanted to talk about it. Like others before, I was dubious both when I picked it up, and when I first tried it out. Firstly, because it's not actually a lipstick, and secondly, because it's purple.

Selfie bravery

I'm going to blame it on the fact that I was procrastinating during finals last semester and therefore read far too many fashion magazines and beauty blogs. However it happened, I saw Pantone's color of 2014, which is called Radiant Orchid. It is a gorgeous shade of purple, and I saw lots of pictures of it making its way not only onto the runway in the fabrics used, but also in the makeup trends. The purple looks lovely as eyeshadow, of course, but I was really drawn to the color on the lips. I think it looks like just the right amount of futuristic to be a bit daring, but not costume-y. I was scared that it would looks as though you were super cold and your lips were going purple (attractive, I know) but the color actually looks amazing as a lipstick shade. At the same time, Maybelline came out with their Color Elixirs, and I was immediately in love with the liquid lipstick idea, as well as the pretty packaging. So, I decided to go ahead with the purple, and picked up their shade 040, Vision in Violet. 

 

Oooh, artsy shot! Spring candle with
aforementioned spring lipstick!

Despite the fact that I've had it since about mid December, I didn't actually leave the house with it on until a few days ago. I was feeling a bit daring and the weather was particularly good, so I decided to break out some spring colors. So, I tried on the purple lipstick…and actually kept it on! And after several checks in the mirror to make sure that I didn't look like a Capitol extra from The Hunger Games, I decided I really liked it. It's a bit bolder than I'm used to, and the brightness of the purple scared me a bit (and it looks very bright in the photo) but on your lips it looks so pretty!

This lipstick, as well as other orchid lip colors I've seen, is such a lovely shade, and I think it could compliment so many different skin tones. I'm quite pale from the winter, so the purple was a bit bold, but I can imagine it looking equally as good against a tanner complexion. As I was going out, I paired the lipstick with a bit of a dramatic eye, but again there are so many different ways to wear the color. And I'm excited to try out other looks with the purple. All in all, I'm glad I took a risk in picking up purple lipstick, and I can see it becoming a spring/summer favorite.

What do you guys think? How would you wear the color?

Big Brows and Beautiful Lashes

So, I originally had this fantastic goal set for myself that I would post once a week since I really need to start posting more often. But in what seems to be the theme of the last few months - I had computer trouble! Charger totally snapped in half with wires and everything, and my computer stuck on nine percent battery! Anyway…moving on from that, I am back and my goal is still there, even if I don't quite meet it…

To quote the ever-so-amazing Jennifer Lawrence, "I'm a girl. I'm never going to look in the mirror and be like 'Yeah!'". However, there's maybe one or two things about my face that I think with some help, I can look in a mirror and feel a bit more okay with this girl. One of them being my eyebrows, and the other being my eyelashes. I'll start with the lashes. 

I think if there was one product that I could not live without, it would have to be mascara. I know it's an odd one, and probably not everyone's go-to, but it has always been a staple of mine. Besides horrid black eyeliner rimmed everywhere a la panda, mascara was the first makeup item I was allowed to own. And since then, I pretty much have not gone a day without putting it on.

Luckily, I was given a pretty good set of eyelashes. They're pretty long and dark, so it's not like I have nothing to work with. But even with the natural starting point, I like going BIG. I don't care if spider lashes are in or not, I need my mascara…top and bottom lashes! Ever since it came out, I think, I've been a worshipper of the very popular Maybelline Flasies. It's an amazing mascara and it makes your lashes soo long. However, in the last few weeks, I've gotten a bit bored of having the same mascara and eyeliner duo. Plus, I felt that sometimes the Falsies pulled on my lashes, and I have a weird fear of pulling eyelashes out. So I decided to try out something else. 

Boots was having an amazing three for two deal on all of their makeup products, and I ended up with a small, travel-size of the Benefit They're Real! I blame it on the fact I needed a third item, and I was in the queue, and I just sort of grabbed it. I was a bit hesitant to try it, since I have trust issues with mascara, and pretty much nothing can match up with the Flasies. But the Benefit mascara is amazing, and I actually prefer it to the Falsies, which is a first. This may be my opinion, and I know people are a huge fan of the Maybelline mascara. But the Benefit one is amazing: it makes my lashes look even longer, as well as thicker. The wand is wonderful, it has a dome-tip brush with little bristles on the end which are really good for getting the lashes in the corner of my eye, and making each lash stand out.

The only two problems I have with it is that: a) it's quite pricy. But I am going to ignore that for right now, and pretend that the conversion from pounds to dollars doesn't exist, and b) it's really hard to get off! I have to do a few rounds of makeup remover, and I still wake up with it under my eyes a bit. Anyone have any suggestions about this? I'd love to hear them!

Second up is my eyebrows. Unfortunately, they were ignored by the beauty-fairy who gave me good eyelashes. I got my dad's generous eyebrows, and waxed the heck out of them in high school. The result is an okay-set of brows, only if they are given a ton of love and attention. I spent several years trying to thin them out, and then the last few years deciding that I actually liked my thicker eyebrows - courtesy of my girl-crush on Cara Delavigne - and wanted them bold again. After watching Factory Girl and feeling a deep connection with Edie Sedgewick, I went through a phase last year where I darkened my eyebrows. With black eyeliner pencil. The result was jut as horrific and Groucho Marx-esque as you would imagine. 

This is a snapchat picture...
hence the weird/serious face! Sorry!

Since then, I've wisened up and ditched the scary drawn-on look in favor of adding a bit of brown eyeshadow in the areas where they're a bit sparse, and adding a bit to my arch (courtesy of the girl-crush on Karlie Kloss). When looking in a mirror, long lashes will always make me feel a bit better, but a good brow can make me feel great. I don't know what it is, but something about the combination just makes me feel more confident. 

In the same Boots trip, I picked up the Soap & Glory Archery, which is a double-ended product with a brow tint and a pencil. I've been wanting to try it forever: not only am I always looking for something good for my brows, but I'm also a massive Soap & Glory lover. Their skin products are amazing, so I decided to try their beauty products (side note: their Thick & Fast mascara was a huge disappointment, but I won't dwell on the bad…) Since buying it, I've been using the brow tint every day. I've stayed away from the pencil. since the above story has made me a bit scared to put another pencil to my brows. It's a light stain that's really good for filling gaps and adding a bit of an arch. It's very subtle and natural-looking, and the tiny marker-like tint is really good for precision. Also, it's easy to apply, and very easy to get off!

Those two new products are things I have been loving, and both have been making my makeup process much more exciting. They're things that I will definitely be re-purchasing when they sadly run out, so I thought I'd just share! What products make you feel best about yourself? What new things have you picked up? 

JLaw quote: http://uk.eonline.com/news/300617/jennifer-lawrence-talks-hunger-games-premiere-jitters-i-feel-like-a-shaking-chihuahua

Top Products in Scotland

Oh my, it has been a shockingly long time since I have posted anything! I was trying to think last night of the best way to sum up the months (yes, months, I'm terrible!) I've been absent. and it seems as though one long and ramble-y blog post would be a nightmare to read and write, so I fell back into my default: lists! I love my lists, and I'm a big believer in the to-do list when I need to be productive. So, I thought I'd make a list of my top products/favorite things in Scotland. I guess this is like a monthly favorite post, but its been a few months, so the task is a bit daunting! Anyway, here is my list of top Scotland products, things I've been loving overseas! 

1. Toni & Guy Dry Shampoo: I actually had this before I came to Edinburgh, but I use it so often that my massive can is nearly out, and I'm going to need to purchase a new one soon! This is probably the best dry shampoo I've ever used, and I use it lots! When I was traveling a few weeks ago, I bought the tiny Batiste one to stick in my purse, and I was excited because everyone seems to use it! However, I was slightly disappointed. It turned my hair white, which the Toni & Guy one actually doesn't, and the smell just wasn't the same. I absolutely love this produced because a quick spray at the temples will make your hair look so fresh, and it smells as though you've just walked out of a salon!

2. Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer (in Light 1): This was a beauty blogger favorite that I couldn't wait to use when I got to the UK, having heard so much about it. And all of the reviews were right; this is probably the best concealer ever! Again, it's something I use every day, and on lazy days where I'm doing a quick makeup look, I will just apply this and not bother with foundation. The product has such good coverage that you don't need anything else! Not only is the coverage amazing, but the way it blends into yours skin makes your skin look perfect! I've been using the one tube and constantly switching it from my makeup table to my book bag to my purse, because it's something I literally can't go without having on hand! I need to stock-pile a dozen and just have them everywhere!

3. Primark Super Cosy tights: These have been an actual godsend in the chilly Edinburgh mornings and late-nights, especially for a girl whose wardrobe consists of mainly skirts and dresses! These tights have been keeping my legs nice and warm, and even for all of the wear I get out of them, they are still in really good condition! I am used to buying a pair of tights, wearing them once or twice and then crossing my legs under a rough table or catching them with a nail: I cannot keep tights for more than  a week! But these (and all of the Primark tights, I've noticed) last so long, considering I got them back in January! And the best part is the fleecy lining! They help keep your legs warm without being bulky or uncomfortable to wear under little dresses. I wish they had something like these in the states, because I can't picture a winter without them!

4. Kate Moss for Rimmel in 107: Again, this is a well-known and loved product by many, and it is also something that I came her with, and then repurchased because of my love for it. The lipstick color is such a beautiful dark red, and it has the best staying power. The only problem I have is that it leaves my lips a little dry, so I have to make sure to apply lots of chapstick before. But the color is so wonderful and rich, and I will unfailingly get compliments on it whenever I wear it, so I had to put it down as my top products! Although I am so, so excited for spring, I am slightly sad that all of the beautiful dark lipsticks will have to go. Even though I've been adding beautiful corals and pinks to my collection in anticipation for the warmer months…I am sad to see the dark colors go! Can you wear dark red lipstick in July…please?!

5. Soap and Glory Mist You Madly: Call it a weird habit of mine, but I love spraying scents in my room. It's like the quick version of a candle but without the ambiance! I usually buy some of the Bath and Body Works mists, but I forgot to bring anything over, so it was a perfect excuse to once again look at Soap & Glory. I love their scents (and there are more of their products further down this list) because they're fresh and feminine without being overpowering. And it helps that they have about the cutest packages and product names ever! So when I was looking for a spray, I immediately turned to Soap & Glory's "Mist You Madly", which I've been using like air! It is "a flirty floral body spray" and I guess that's as good as any description of it! It has the slightly powered smell that I feel all of their products have, which is nice and reminds me of old-fashioned makeup, as well as a but of a sweet and fruity smell. It's nice and fresh and I can't leave my room without spraying it…is that weird?! 

6. The Daily Smooth: Body lotion is something that I very often neglect; it's annoying to get all slippery, and I hate the feeling that you can't touch anything or put on clothes because of the feeling of lotion! However, I know I need to take better care of my skin, especially in the winter months. So, I told myself that if I got a nice lotion that I would be excited to use, then I would be more likely to use it. Soap & Glory is one of the brands that I automatically look for whenever I'm in a shop: even if I don't know what I'm looking for, something in their product descriptions will jump out at me. Everything there sounds and smells so appealing! So, I decided on the Soap & Glory The Daily Sooth body lotion. I know its one that isn't talked about very often (I've heard loads about the body butter, which I very nearly bought) but this one just smelled so amazing, I couldn't leave it! I don't know how well smells well come across on the page, but I will try: it smells kind of sweet and citrus-y. The bottle says that it contains "mango peel extract, rose hop seed oil and shea butter with fragrant notes of bergamot, blackcurrent, magnolia, freesia, vanilla, and musk." It smells amazing, and even though I am still not great at always using lotion, I will definitely use it more often now!

7. Sleek Contour Kit (in Light): To be very honest, I am not the best at contouring. I usually go for a color that is too dark for my skin and end up with a streak of brown down my face which is unattractive and not the look i am going for! But the Sleek Contour kit has been amazing! Sleek is another company I was dying to try in the UK, and along with Soap & Glory, I am always looking at their products when I don't have something in particular in mind. The contour kit has been wonderful because the brown is light and blends easily, which gives an amazing effect on your cheekbones. The highlight that comes with it is a nice shimmer (not sparkle!) and it definitely helps the effect of more-defined cheekbones! I use this practically every day, and it will hopefully last forever, especially since the pigmentation is so good, you literally only need to touch your brush to the product to get the amount you need! I usually pair this with the Sleek blush in rose gold, and it looks (I think) amazing!

8. Charles Worthington Dry Texturising Spray: I heard about this when I watched Fleur's top high street products, and when Boots does a 3 for 2 promotion on pretty much anything in the store I would buy, I couldn't not pick it up! I was so interested because I've wanted to try Oribe, but the price is a bit much for a student, and this one was about six pounds. I'm usually dependent on my Toni & Guy sea salt spray, but as it's a small bottle I keep in my purse, I was looking for another product, I picked this up a week ago, so it's a product that I don't have quite as much experience with as I do with some of the others on this list, but by my first use I knew it was something I would love. it instantly gives texture to your hair, which is so important as the ends of my hair are bleached, and can sometimes look like they need a bit of life put in them! A few sprays at the end through your roots gives the look of beach-y tousled hair, which is basically the daily look I go for!

9. Sleek Palette (Original): Sleek already appeared on this list, and it's a company I know I will be missing when I get back home, because the products are so wonderful. This was one of the first makeup items I bought here, and I use it all the time. I want to build up my collection of their palettes, because they have such pretty colors, but for now my original one has been doing me good! The colors I am usually drawn to are the pink and rose gold, mainly because I'm not so adventurous with my eyeshadows so blues and greens scare me! But the pinks look so good for a daily look, either on their own or with a bit of a darker color in the crease. The other day I started with the Maybelline color tattoo in the color Metallic Pomegranate over the lid and crease, then lightened it with the Sleek pink and it was so pretty. The Palette makes my list because i will usually  use at least one of the colors in some way in a daily makeup look. The quality and pigmentation is amazing, and they stay all day. 

10. Sainsbury's shortbread: I thought the last thing I mentioned should be a deviation from the norm of all the beauty products, and this is definitely different! I hope it's okay to throw in something so random, but it's another Scotland favorite. I love Sainsbury's: it's where I do all of my food shopping, and whenever I go, I usually pick up shortbread. It's less than a pound and it's so yummy! I had never had shortbread before coming here but it tastes so nice! It's good with coffee or tea, and I just have to be careful I don't go through a package while sipping tea!

Well, that was a monster of a post, and I hope that this has been nice to read without being too long! I could talk forever about the products I love! What have you been loving this winter? Is there something I should try, or is there something I mentioned that you love/hate? 

Also, please find me on twitter (@uv-rae), instagram (uv_rae), or tumblr (uv-rae.tumblr.com) and say hi! 

Hello from Scotland

Once again, I feel like I should preface this with the fact that it is not an all-beauty post, despite my desire to have a blog simply devoted to this! However, hang in there through the rambling and there will be shiny packages to come...

So I will blame my more-than-a-month-long absence on the fact that the semester was wrapping up, and there were exams to take and an astonishing amount of thrift store sweaters that had accumulated over the semester to pack into suitcases. Somewhere in that mess I resolved to write blog posts more often, though that promise got packed with the sweaters, it seems! Despite the hectic-ness, I cleaned out my dorm room,  headed home for a few weeks (spent mostly sleeping and on tumblr, no shame) and then off to Scotland!

I was terrified at first - I never been to a foreign country on my own. And even though I knew that there would be no language barrier, and that I would be faring far better than some of my friends scattered around Europe this semester, I had several weeks of anxiety and little sleep. Mostly, the idea of being away from home for so long scared me, as well as not making new friends! Typical worries I think, but I didn't have much head space for chatting online!

The famous Edinburgh Castle - from the hotel at orientation. 

However, I have been here a little over a week and I absolutely love it! Not only does my inner-Harry Potter fan do a little happy dance at all of the massive stone buildings (I pass a school on the way to my lectures that is partially based on the castle in the films, I've heard) but the history is amazing, the people are so wonderfully friendly, and I have met some lovely new friends! I honestly sometimes walk around the streets with my headphones in and smile because I feel so lucky and happy!

I have loads and loads of travel stories to tell, and I could certainly do so if anyone would be interested. Again, I am kind of held back on the fear that no one would want to read it! 

And now for the beauty. Back home, I follow several bloggers and feel so frustrated when the products they use aren't available in the states. But now that I am on the other side of the pond, I have been enthusiastically looking for everything I've been practically pining over for months (with some restrain - I am here for five months, and the goal is not to go broke in the first week!) However, I have been to a massive Boots and picked up the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer. And it is just as amazing as everyone who raved about it said it was! I have to go and pick up a few of them, because it is constantly moving around from my purse to my book bag to my dresser - I cary it just about everywhere I go. It has the best coverage I have ever seen, and it makes you feel so good about your skin! I also picked up the Maybelline Color Tattoo in the color Metallic Pomegranate, which I know are sold back home, but I just couldn't find the color anywhere! It was in stock at Superdrug and I picked one up. Lastly was the Bourjois chocolate bronzer, which I was so excited about. Unfortunately, I got a shade a bit too dark for my complexion (blame it on the excitement and the shoddy lighting in pharmacies) so I'll have to go back and find one a bit lighter. That's the haul so far, as I usually am in pharmacies with a group of people and don't want to hold everyone up as I swatch lipsticks! So, I'm planning on taking a nice long trip on my own one day next week to give myself a bit of time to walk around and explore. 

The view from my bedroom window - so beautiful!

Next on my list is a thorough investigation of the Sleek counter, as well as the Barry M nail polishes (all of mine got left sadly at home, as nail polish - I was told - is flammable). If anyone has any more brands to try out, let me know! 

I also did a (relatively) controlled Primark shopping trip, and the details of those purchases can certainly be shared for anyone and everyone who would like to have a peek in my  new closet (that sounds very naughty!) I have a growing, dangerous obsession with Primark and they're cute dresses and sweaters! 

Thanks for reading anyone! If you would like to follow this blog it would make me ever so happy! I can also be found on twitter and instagram (both under the name uv_rae)

“Without friends, no one would want to live, even if he had all other goods.” -- Aristotle

Although I have - in my short, short blogging history - only addressed the forms of beauty that come in a pot or a pencil, there's something I'd like to talk about, even if it goes a bit outside of the range I had originally set up for myself. But, I think, that this sort of exploration can be fun, and I never wanted to confine myself anyway, so here it goes!

Beauty - the really, really important kind - isn't something that is found in products. Beauty is so much more than that, and it's important to really think about it - and to love it and appreciate it - before raving about lipstick.

Recently, I was in a bit of a bad place: I won't go into detail but I had a lot of anxieties that were weighing on me so much it felt physical. I just felt…down, like the world was so heavy. And then, I don't know what happened or why, but I finally found the deep breath I was looking for. And things just got a whole lot easier and happier. And that all started when I began to really appreciate the beautiful things.

I know this sounds like a massive cliche, but I wouldn't share this if I didn't feel it to be in some way important. I was just suddenly able to see this incredible beauty all around me, and no matter what mess was going on inside my head, I felt okay in the end, because I had this realization. I was so happy and thankful for being me and for being in a good place with even better friends (more on that soon). And beauty is everywhere and stepping back and really knowing this makes life…wonderful.

Back to friends. Friendship is - I think - one of the most powerful forms of beauty I have ever come to understand and feel. I don't think there can be anything more beautiful than finding a friend with whom you can share just about everything with.

I am writing with my best friend in mind, and I am constantly amazed with how blessed I am to have her in my life. She has shown me beauty in so many things, and I think this is what friendship does. It forms this amazing relationship between people, and this organic thing that people can create can never be destroyed…how perfect! Although we met a few years ago, she's become such a massive part of my life, and there have been so many huge moments that we have shared (both incredibly joyful and incredibly sad) and this has made - and will make - us both stronger. And friendships seems to me to be a sort of armor against all that happens in the world: when the good things happen, friends are there with you to celebrate and hold your hand, and when the bad things happen, they're there with you to cry and rant, and hold your hand, too. I think the true beauty of friendship is that it can stand the test of life: we need it, and we create it, and once it is formed, nothing can ruin this sort of bond. And I think this is absolutely amazing, and Beautiful. 

In my own personal life, trying to understand the beauty of things has made me much, much happier. And my beautiful friends have made me much, much happier. And I know that whatever happens to us, whether it be the best things in life, or the absolute worst, we're going to make it. And I know this because I believe in this beauty, and I believe in the beauty of friendship.

Anyway, I just wanted to put all of this down because it's been circling in my head for the last three weeks, and I am trying to make sense of it all. And I don't know if I did the job well, but it's now out there - and I hope this can also mean something to someone. 

I Heart Rimmel

In the last few weeks, a certain brand has been creeping into my makeup boxes. It was unexpected, and not a brand I considered one I loved until I took a closer look at the products I'm most likely to grab for in the morning. And I came to this conclusion:

I love Rimmel.

The products are available at all drugstores, which is great for a student like me, who can run out and get what is needed with a quick trip to Target. And my (frequent) Target trips have revealed more and more of the Brit-brand! Here are the particular products I am absolutely loving.

The Rimmel Match Perfection is now a daily must. I am so, so picky about foundations and I often stick to one if I like how it looks. Satisfaction is key: and it's risky trying out foundation if it's not a good match (as it's on your face for everyone to see)! So I was hesitant, but after hearing so many bloggers rave about it, I thought I would give it a try! I was so skeptical at first: it came out so thick and seemed heavy on my skin. But with some good blending, and a step away from the mirror to reflect (ha) I instantly fell in love! It leaves such an amazing finish, I now use it every day. I find the coverage incredible as well: my skin isn't too bad, but I have a few places I'd like to perfect. With this foundation, I feel like they're instantly fixed!

On top of the foundation I use Rimmel Matte Finishing Powder to finish off my skin look. The powder sets so, so nicely: I rarely have to touch up my makeup throughout the day. It also gives such a perfect, polished look. I use a cute little kabuki brush and just touch up areas on my face that get a bit shiny later in the day, and it looks great!

With the fall in full force, I've become so enthusiastic about fall colors! Bring on the orange and the cranberries! Nothing says autumn like some good dark colors paired with a good dark coffee! I wasn't sure about the Rimmel eyeshadows: in the palettes they looked a bit opaque so I tried them with a bit of hesitation. But they are so incredibly pigmented I instantly loved them! To get my fall look I've been using two of their palettes: Smokey Brun and Afternoon Tea (which I shamelessly bought for the name) to create a rose-gold smokey eye. They look so great and they blend really well. Even better: they stay all day long and into the night for my busy study schedule!

And lastly, where would I be without the Kate Moss for Rimmel lipsticks! I have a bunch in my collection, ranging in color based on what I was loving at the moment. Right now, for a good fall look I love dark lipstick. 107 is my absolute favorite, and I had a mini-panic when it wasn't at the store when I went last time, as I think my current one is getting a bit dried out. So, I'll be on the lookout next time, as it is one of my all-time favorite lipsticks. it's a beautiful deep, deep red color, and I love how it makes my lips feel! 

What are your favorite Rimmel products? I'd love to hear any suggestions, as I am always on the hunt for good products in a brand I love!

Hello My Name Is: Ultraviolet Rae

Hi everyone!

My name is Rae, and I am a twenty-year-old college student. Clothes, hair, fashion, health, and makeup have always been very important to me: I come from a family of awesome role models when it comes to this. However, until quite recently I was happily entrenched in my daily routine of applying several coats of mascara, possibly some winged eyeliner if I was feeling fancy (or had time to spare), dragged a brush through my hair, and ran out the door.

Then – perhaps a bit late in the game – I discovered the wonderful, wonderful world of beauty blogging. I instantly fell in love and began to experiment. Enter foundation, contouring, makeup brushes (and brushes, and brushes, and brushes!), blushes, highlighters and bronzers, and too many eyeshadows to count. Hair products were quick to follow with dry shampoos, curling cremes, sea salt spray, and many bobby-pin battles. Soon, I began to really love the whole process and kissed my quick twenty-minute routine goodbye.

Honestly, I wanted to test out everything purely for myself: I loved how different eyeshadow palettes transformed my eyes, how a good filled brow could change your face, and how a beautiful shade of red lipstick could make a great pout! It gave me this boost of self esteem that I happily welcomed in. I guess people started to notice, and I began getting a lot of compliments, and a lot of desires to share what I was doing with other girls.

After some prompting, I considered starting a blog of my own. The thought was daunting: these people have years of experience to my dipped-toes-in-the-water. But the more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea. I have become really happy and excited with makeup and beauty, and I think doing what makes you happy is so, so important. And I would love to share this happiness with others. And additionally, blogging has always appealed to me: as a writer, I've always found them great reads.

And, here we go. I don't know what will come of this, but I am excited! I want to share my experiences, things I have learned, and learn from others. As well as beauty I'd love to explore other things, like daily musings, health, love, books...I'm not really sure! We will see how this goes, and go from there! 

So, hello everyone...it's so nice to meet you! Thank you for reading this, and I am so thrilled to start this!