Zoe's Musings

Source: entreletrasycafe.blogspot.com

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My song of the week this week is Ain't it Fun by Paramore. It's so good, so catchy, and I love the video, where they try to break as many world records as possible. It's very Paramore, and I love Hayley's hair, and her style.

Other songs I've been loving this week:

Source: http://www.mhonorato.com/creativity/

When one of these creative bursts hits, I try to make the most of it, by sitting down with a nice cuddly blanket, a big cup of tea and some relaxing songs, and I just write. I can just sit there for hours, and read and write blog posts, queue posts, plan the content for my blog for the next few months, and just get so much done. If only I was that motivated to do my uni work!

Just a random little post that I wanted to upload. What gets you in the mood for being creative? How do you utilise that creativity?

Love,
Zoe xxx

Hi everyone! Take two of writing this post as I got to about halfway done & it didn't save -.-

Today  I'd like to show you the makeup I wear for lectures, when I am having a bad skin day or I want to make a bit more of an effort.

The products!

I start off with the Bourjois Happy Light Matte Serum Primer (although I don't always, depending on how oily my face feels after I cleanse and moisturise -- check out my skincare routine if you want to know what I use to get my face ready for makeup). I really love this primer, however I didn't use it the other day and my makeup stayed all day without it, but I don't find that the case all the time, and definitely would use it in the summer, as my makeup always slips :(

I then use the Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation which I have recently started using & am testing out.  I like it, as it makes me look more fresh faced & ready for my early morning lectures! At some point soon I am going to do a comparison between this foundation and the other one I'm using at the moment, which is a Rimmel Lasting Finish Nude Foundation (I think I'd go so far as to say that the lasting finish is my favourite foundation I've ever tried!).

I don't bother with concealer, as I feel as though my foundation provides enough coverage, and it's an extra step that takes me a lot longer than I can afford! I use the Rimmel Clear Complexion powder in translucent *not pictured*, although mine got smashed recently so I need to get a new one and might give the Bourjois one a go.

Then I go in with blush and highlighter, both of which are from this Studio London palette, which I got as a part of the Studio London Fresh Faced makeup (I've only really tried the blush, not sure how good the rest of it is. Not sure it's that great as it's quite cheap but ah well). I like the more orange/coral colour on the right as apposed to the pinker shade, because it looks more natural. The highlight in the middle is really nice and really natural, and goes on to the skin really nicely.

For eyeshadow I usually use a Collection Work the Colour eyeshadow pencil, either in Vintage Blush or Hot Chocolate. These are really nice as bases, or they work very well on their own too. They don't crease if you blend them in pretty well, and they last a long time too.

Then I use the Natural Collection Eyeliner, which I talked about here *apologies for the awful photography etc, I was new!*. It's not bad, but the brush is really fiddly & I never really attempt a wing, but it's not bad, and it stays pretty much all day.

The mascara I'm trying at the moment is the Collection Supersize Fat Lash mascara, which isn't bad if you want length, but if you want volume then this won't be for you! It gives a very natural look, which is good for those effortless makeup looks where you don't want to look too made up.

To finish off I use my beloved Revlon Super Lustrous lipstick in Demure (which I've not been able to find for years, I'm so sad! It was my first ever lipstick, and it's the perfect natural your-lips-but-better shade for me!).

Then the body spray I use is the Impulse Temptation Vanilla and Peach body spray, which smells really nice, isn't too expensive, and makes me feel like I'm ready for my lectures.

And here's the finished look! Let me know what you think, and whether or not you've tried any of these products and what you thought of them!




Love,
Zoe xxx

I have been LOVING Fall Out Boy recently, and this song has been constantly in my head. It's so much fun to sing along to!

It's from their most latest album, American Beauty/American Psycho, and I'm loving their new sound, though I know not everyone is. Also, I know this isn't everyone's cup of tea *exemplified by my boyfriend & best friend both rolling their eyes every time I play it!*

Other songs I've been loving this week:

• L.A. Love (la la) // Fergie
• Honest // Kodaline
• Time Machine // Ingrid Michaelson
• A little Party Never Killed Nobody (All We Got) // Fergie ft Will.I.Am

Hey everyone! This post is inspired by Vivianna Does Makeup's youtube video. I thought I'd follow her lead and do a morning & evening skincare routine post for you all. I tend not to use a ton of products on my face as I try to keep it as minimal as possible to try and prevent breakouts (I have sensitive and very acne prone skin).

So here are the *few* products that have made it into my regular routine. Obviously I'm always switching up my products, but these are the ones that have enabled me to mostly clear up my skin.

MORNING

In the morning I'll use the Boots Tea Tree & Witch Hazel Charcoal Facial Wash, which has loads of ingredients that are great for acne prone skin. I really like it, and think it's definitely helped to clear up my skin. I've used many other products from their range, including their daily moisturiser, night treatment gel, and peel off mask.

I have recently incorporated a toner into my skincare routine, as I read up on the skin benefits and figured it was something I needed to start using! As well as prepping the face for makeup, it helps to refresh my face after I sleep, and it cleanses dead skin and shrinks my pores. I got a mini set, so I'm  using the Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner . It's a really handy little travel size too!

I then use my moisturiser, which is the Nivea Oil Free Moisturising Day Cream for oily & combination skin.  I really like this moisturiser, it's not greasy, sinks in well and makes my skin feel so fresh.

If I'm wearing makeup that day, then I'll go in with my Bourjois Happy Light Matte Serum primer *not pictured*, which I adore. It's really smoothing, you don't need a lot, and it acts as a perfect base for your makeup. I've used up about half of it and will definitely be repurchasing, it's the best mattifying primer I've ever used.

EVENING

If I've worn makeup that day, I'll take it off with the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water and a cotton pad. It's pretty good at taking the majority of my makeup off, although it does sometimes leave some behind, but I sort that out with either another cotton pad or by washing my face. I use the same face wash as I use in the morning. I don't always wash my face in the evening if I feel that my makeup remover and poree cleansing pads have done the trick.

I then use the Superdrug Deep Action Pore Cleansing Pads. They're really good at making my skin feel extra clean, they don't dry my skin out, and it really makes me feel ready for bed.

I'll then moisturise my face using the Simple Kind to Skin Vital Vitamin Night Cream. I'm not sure how much I like this as I've just started using it, but my first impressions are that it has an odd smell, kind of like play-doh. The texture is also odd, as it's really bouncy and light. It makes my face feel really moisturised, but almost to the point that it feels greasy. I'm not too sure about it, but I'm going to stick with it for a bit longer before I review it properly.

EXTRAS

If I'm in the shower I like to use a manual exfoliating cleanser just to properly clear away the dead skin and gunk. I use the St Ives Naturally Clear Blemish Fighting Apricot Scrub, which I really like & which smells really good. It's great as it's not too harsh but is really good at exfoliating and making my skin feel really clean and soft.

Occasionally I use a peel off mask, this one is from Boots Tea Tree and Witch Hazel collection. It's not great, but does a decent job of taking off the dead skin & dirt.

That's it from me for today, hope you like this post. Also, I'm looking for a good drugstore eye cream, do you have any suggestions?

Thanks for reading, happy Valentines day, and I'll see you on Tuesday!
Zoe xxx

This song has been on repeat for the last few weeks. I wasn't so sure about it the first time I heard it, but it is so so good. I hate the video to this and it's not very family friendly so I won't link it, and instead will link this lyric video. It's part of the 50 Shades of Grey soundtrack, so you can imagine what the video is like..

Apart from the strange video I really like the song, it's always stuck in my head, and The Weeknd have really nailed it with this song. It's just fantastic.

Other songs I've been loving this week: 

• The Nights // Avicii
• Sugar // Maroon 5
• American Beauty/American Psycho // Fall Out Boy
• Fourth of July // Fall Out Boy

Source: sedans.com

Hi everyone!! I know I'm a little early with this one, but I figured this would be helpful in advance in case you're stuck for what to do on valentines day. I'm always really bad at planning dates. I'm happy when my boyfriend plans them for me, because I never know what we should do. I figured I'd come up with some date ideas and share them with you in case you are all stuck for ideas too.

If you're going to be alone for Valentines day, there are lots of things you can do too! You can treat yourself to a nice new present, or to dinner, or you can snuggle up on the sofa with trashy tv and junk food. Or you can hang out with your other single friends, that's always fun to do! I'm going out with my boyfriend and a bunch of my friends for Valentines day.

If you do have a partner, then here are some ideas of cute/fun date ideas for Valentines day, or for anytime you're stuck for a date idea. Some of them are going out dates, and some are staying home dates.

The most important thing is to think about your and your partner's interests, and what you would both enjoy. There's no point spending time and money going somewhere if one of you won't have a good time!

1. Visit a museum

2. Cook a nice meal together

3. Go exploring 

4. Go out for a meal

5. Have a night in and watch films

This week I'm loving Girls Chase Boys by Ingrid Michaelson. Her voice is so gorgeous, and I've totally fallen in love with her sound. She just has great vibes, and she's definitely someone I'm going to be listening to a lot more.

The song sends a pretty strong message, but it does so in an upbeat and catchy way. It's great to sing and dance along to as well!

I also love Afterlife by her, which I believe I listed in my first SOTW post.

Other songs I've been loving this week: