Ciara Sims

Excuse the dirty bottle and chubby hand but the Rimmel London Lasting Finish Nail Varnish in 198 Azure (£2.99)  has been my weapon of choice recently.

 

I don't often wear nail varnish but when I do it is usually a shade of blue. I recently rediscovered Azure and instantly fell in love with it. It's a bright sky blue that reminds me of mermaids. It has a shine to it and contains these really tiny particles of glitter, so small that you can't really see them but they just catch the light and make the polish look really pretty.

 

But here is the best bit - it doesn't chip. This picture was taken 3 days after I first applied it and directly after I had played a netball match. Oh, and I'm really lazy and never apply a base coat. Amazing huh?? It's also opaque after 1 coat and doesn't dry up or go tacky. I've had this bottle in my collection forever! Oh and it's cheap as chips.

 

It's too good to be true, there has to be something wrong with it, right?? Well when I find out what it is I will let you know.

 

What nail varnish have you been loving at the moment?

 

Ciara

BB creams are a bit new to me but I really wanted to try wearing something lighter than foundation because I really don't like the way it sits heavily on my skin and I often feel like it doesn't allow my skin to breath and I will end up with loads of spots. (I stress too much I know). So I popped along to Superdrug a couple of months ago and picked up the Maybelline Dream Pure BB Cream (£6.99). Maybelline also offer a Dream Fresh BB Cream, but I picked up the Dream Pure BB Cream because it is aimed at oily skin however if you have normal skin, you may want to get the Dream Fresh BB Cream instead.

 

The packaging is nothing fancy it's just a basic soft plastic tube that allows you to squeeze all the product out. When buying makeup from the chemist I really don't expect much from the packaging as I know it's just budget friendly.

 

The Dream Pure BB Cream contains 2% Salicylic Acid which helps fight spots for clearer skin. Spot fighting ingredients aren't something I usually look for in my makeup products as I'm not really convinced that they work that well and I believe it should just be left down to skincare products. I don't think the Salicylic Acid in this product works at all and really wouldn't be a reason for me to buy this product. However this product does come with SPF 15 which as I've said before is great for me as I burn really easily. (Even in the Winter).

 

On the back of the packaging it says this BB Cream is designed to conceal imperfections, minimise the appearance of pores and conceal redness. But don't be fooled. This BB Cream doesn't give you much coverage at all. It does take away redness but it doesn't cover spots and blemishes that well so you will need concealer if that is what you are after. Funnily enough though, it does give you the look of natural clearer skin. How that works, I'm not too sure. It is also oil free and doesn't leave your face feeling greasy. I set this with a quick swipe of my Rimmel London Stay Matte Pressed Powder and it's a good 4 hours before my face begins to feel slightly oily, however it is manageable and my face just looks dewy rather than greasy. It also doesn't oxidise and leave you looking orange which is fab. Maybelline say that there is no need to wear a moisturiser with this BB Cream but I would strongly advise that you do moisturise first as this sometimes has a tendency to cling to dry patches.

 

I just apply this with my fingers and it blends in perfectly. I don't see the need to use a brush but it does work well with them too if that is how you prefer to apply your base.

 

The shade range is extremely limited, with only a light and a medium shade. So all you girls out there with deeper complexions this isn't for you. I have the shade Light which is perfect for me and I say it would suit most fair skinned people. However don't worry if you get the medium and it looks a bit dark for you as these do blend out super easily and have a buildable coverage.

 

On the whole: a great little budget BB Cream. What is your favourite BB Cream?

 

Ciara x

My School Makeup Routine by ciara-cris

One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six

 

        I'm nearly 3 weeks into my new school term so I thought I would share with you the products that I use on a day to day basis in my school makeup routine.

 

What's your school beauty routine?

 

Ciara x

makeup on, I feel like mascara makes me look presentable. I don't have tiny eyes but I just feel that I look so much better when I have mascara on as it brightens my eyes and makes them look bigger. I've tried a number of mascaras over the years and to be honest they all seem pretty much the same. However I do think this one is really nice so I thought I would share it with you.

 

I got given the Rimmel London Scandaleyes Retro Glam Mascara in 001 Black (£6.99) for my

birthday last year and since then I have repurchased it a few times. This mascara lasts for ages but it is always nice to have back ups. I think this mascara really thickens my lashes and gives them a lot of volume. When I'm wearing this mascara I always get comments like: "ohh your eyelashes are so long!" Seriously guys it's just this mascara. It doesn't clump my lashes together and it really gives that false lash effect without looking completely unnatural. There is an extreme black version of this mascara but I haven't tried it. Although this version is a really intense black colour which may look a bit harsh on some people so I cant imagine how the other version can be any darker? I'll have to see. My only issue with this mascara is that it isn't waterproof so I don't tend to use it for every day-day outings like school and such and I never wear it if I know it's going to rain and I will be outside. Because running mascara isn't a good look on anyone ladies. I tend to wear this mascara for parties or whenever I just want some extra oompf on my lashes. Overall besides it not being waterproof this is a great little mascara and an affordable one too.

 

What is your favourite mascara?

 

Ciara x

On a recent shopping trip to Urban Outfitters, I picked up the EOS Lemon Drop Lip Balm SPF 15 (£6). I tried to justify buying another lip product with the fact that its easy to carry around in my blazer for school. However to be honest I only wanted it because yellow is my new favourite colour and I love lemon scented things. This is my first EOS lip balm (I'm really late to the party I know) and to be honest I've read mixed reviews. Beauty bloggers out there seem to all agree that these things are hugely over rated and don't moisturise at all, but everyone I know in person that owns one really likes them. I knew this was a product that I was just going to have to try out for myself.

 

I really like the EOS packaging. I know that it's hugely gimmicky, but the brightly coloured spheres made to suit each flavour look really pretty in my opinion. Saying that I don't really think it is practical for application. I feel like there will probably be a lot of product wasted.

 

I chose Lemon Drop because of its colour really. There are no testers in Urban Outfitters so you can't smell the lip balms so I can't even say that I chose this one because it smells the nicest. (It smells gorgeously of lemon sherbet by the way and I have found myself just getting it out to give it a sniff). Lemon Drop is also the only EOS lip balm that includes an SPF. I like to have SPF's in my lip products when I can as my lips can be quite sensitive to the sun sometimes.

 

I do actually think this lip balm is really nice. It doesn't feel heavy or sticky on the lips, and doesn't leave them white like lots of balms that contain an SPF. It's a little bulky for a pocket, but looks pretty on your bedside table. It isn't the most long lasting lip balm but I do think it leaves my lips lovely and soft, it also smells and tastes amazing and makes me happy when I use it. I don't know whether I would purchase again as there are plenty of cheaper lip balms that work much better, but I'm really glad I picked this one up.

 

What do you think of EOS lip balms? What's your favourite flavour?

With my birthday coming in 6 days (not that I'm counting) I thought I would share with you my birthday wish list. Now these aren't things that I am expecting to receive. I haven't actually asked for anything from my family as they are throwing me a party (excitement). Really these are just things that if I get some birthday money I will be going out to spend it on. Plus if any of you have a birthday coming up soon whether it is your own, a friend or a family members and are stuck for present ideas this may just give you some inspiration.

 

I start back at school today. My first day of year 11 and it is killing me. I dread going back to school after summer and this year its even worse. I don't struggle at school but I'm often referred to as "the thick one" in my group of friends and it always surprises them whenever I get a good grade or know how to do something that they don't. My maths teacher even called me "a dumb blonde" once at parents evening. My mum just pointed out to him that he was wrong. Not only am I much smarter than I first come across; my hair is brown. I may do things in a way that is different to everybody else and to them it may seem like madness but it makes perfect sense to me and I always get there in the end. I pick things up quickly and I learn by doing things. That means I start doing the task the teacher has set before they have time to explain how to do it. This isn't always the best thing and I am probably just making the task harder for myself, but it means that if I make mistakes I learn from them and discover things for myself. When I have learnt something new or completed the task I really do feel good and proud of myself. However it also means that when I am stuck I will sit there getting frustrated for ages until I finally give in and ask for help. All I'm trying to say is that if you too are like me and are given labels like "thick" and constantly find yourself surprising people, don't let it bother you. Make it your mission to surprise them. Some of the most successful people aren't the ones who were top of the class at school. Grades aren't a true measure of intelligence at all.

 

How do you find school?

 

Ciara x

 I'm a greedy little thing. I always have been. I've been baking with my mum since I was little. I guess my interest in baking only really started because I would jump at any opportunity to lick chocolate off a spoon or nick chunks while my mum was busy chopping them up. I just love to eat.

 

 

Ingredients:

 

For the shortbread:

 

For the caramel:

For the top:

Method:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 180'C/Gas Mark 4 and line a 33x23cm baking tin with greaseproof paper.
2. To make the shortbread mix the flour and caster sugar in a bowl. Rub in all the butter .
3. Tip into the baking tin and with the back of a spoon press it all down until it is flat and covers the whole base of the tin.
4. Prick the shortbread lightly with a fork and stick it in the oven for 20mins. Then allow it to cool in the tin.
5. For the caramel, put the butter, sugar, syrup and condensed milk into a saucepan and stir over a low heat until the butter has melted.
6. bubble the mixture gently for about 20mins stirring all the time. (It's good to make this with another person so you don't get achy arms) It may take 20mins or it may take more just keep going until it looks thick and fudgy.
7. Pour it over the shortbread in an even layer and leave it to cool.
8. Now for the fun bit. Break up the chocolate and stick it in a microwaveable bowl. Add the knob of butter too (this stops the chocolate from cracking so much when you cut it). Stick the chocolate in the microwave for 20 seconds, take it out and stir. keep doing this until all the chocolate has melted.
9. When the caramel has cooled you can pour the chocolate on and stick in the fridge to set.
10. Leave it all to set properly or it will be impossible to cut. I was impatient and cut mine a tinsy bit too early so the chocolate cracked a bit.