June Favourites

It's hard to believe that it is already the end of June and we are in the middle of summer when, at the moment I am writing this, it is a grey, gloomy day with rain hammering against the window. However, after checking that we hadn't skipped summer altogether and jumped straight into autumn, I realised it was time for my monthly favourites again, which I swear seem to be coming around quicker each month. I have discovered some real gems this past month, with products that I know I will continue to use and will remain a favourite for probably the rest of the year, so without further ado, here they are...

Topshop Lip Contour "Outline" & Topshop Lipstick "Mink"
Another month means another nude lip product for me to love, however this time it is actually a lip combo that I have constantly been wearing on my lips throughout June. I am obsessed with the 90's trend at the moment and so the liner is a perfect 'my lips but better' shade for slightly overdrawing my lips to give a plumper pout, whilst "mink" is a pretty dusty pink with brown undertones, which for me is a perfect dark nude. I have been loving pairing this with winged eyeliner and loads of mascara lately for a simple 90's inspired makeup look.  
 

St Ives Blemish Fighting Apricot Scrub
I have been on the hunt for a product to give me smoother and healthier looking skin for quite a while now but I never seem to have much luck as I have quite fussy, sensitive skin. However, I decided to give this scrub a go as I've heard so many rave reviews about the St Ives brand and now having tried it for myself I can easily see why. The product itself has quite a thick formula and is also extremely grainy, yet it doesn't feel harsh on my skin. Instead it gently exfoliates to reduce blackheads and blemishes and since using it I have noticed quite a difference in my skin, which now looks clearer and healthier. I also love the refreshing apricot scent as it reminds me of summer holidays and it has definitely become a skincare staple!


Sleek All Night Long Palette
I have been a fan of the Sleek eyeshadow palettes for a few years now and the couple that I already own are pretty battered as I love and use them so much, so when I was deciding on my makeup for an event I had recently I immediately went to purchase a new one as they are so affordable and I think could give some MAC shadows a run for their money. I went for the 'All Night Long' palette as every single shade looked wearable to me, which I find to be quite rare, and as there is a mixture of mattes and shimmers it is the perfect palette for creating more subtle looks in the day and darker, more dramatic makeup for the evening. I have done so many different looks with it already and I will definitely be experimenting more, especially over summer. 

Aveeno Skin Relief Shea Butter Moisturising Lotion
I have been suffering with quite dry and sensitive skin lately and so needed a pretty hydrating body lotion to give my skin some much needed moisture. I have used and loved an Aveeno moisturiser before as it thoroughly hydrated, yet didn't irritate, my skin and this one was no different. It is an extremely rich lotion that sinks into the skin almost instantly without feeling greasy or sticky, and it left my skin feeling ridiculously super soft and smooth whenever I used it.   

L'Oreal Infallible Fixing Mist
I had wanted to try a setting spray for so long as I was finding that using powder to set my makeup wasn't really doing it for me anymore, and so rather than splash out on a higher end one I decided to try the much more budget friendly offering from L'Oreal which I am now obsessed with. As someone who has combination/oily skin I never thought my makeup could stay looking so fresh for longer than 2-3 hours, yet a few quick sprays of this all over my face at the end of my makeup routine seems to lock in every bit of makeup I am wearing, keeping it fixed in place pretty much all day, without the need to powder or touch-up. I even recently managed to spend an entire day in London with my makeup on for about 14 hours with no need to touch up, so for fellow combination/oily skin sufferers this is honestly a (budget) miracle in a bottle!

Snapchat 
Out of all the social media platforms Snapchat has always been the one to allude me as, although I have downloaded it a couple of times previously, I was never that keen and didn't really get the hang of it. However, after a bit of a crash course from my sister I finally started using it properly and became obsessed with it the past month. I feel like it is a much more casual way to document your day compared to Twitter and Instagram, and I love having more of an insight into celebrities day to day lives as I am very nosy! The fact that Jim Parsons recently started using it as well makes it a 100x better!

What have you been loving this past month?

Megan  

Springing into Summer

Topshop Cami | New Look Skirt | Leather Jacket (old) | New Look Belt | Primark Socks | New Look Boots (old)

I have been obsessed with midi skirts and dresses for quite a while now, yet I never thought I would be able to wear one as I didn't think they would suit my short stature of 5 foot 2. However I recently decided to try this pale blue pleated one for a party I had a couple of weeks ago and, after receiving so many compliments on the night, it has become one of my favourite items of clothing, not least because it kind of makes me feel like Cinderella! I love mixing styles and pairing girly and feminine clothes with more grungier pieces, so I thought I'd team the skirt with a leather jacket and cut out ankle boots for a *slightly* edgier look that is perfect for transitioning from Spring into Summer. 

Do you like midi skirts? What is your favourite way to wear them?  

Megan 

Review | Becca x Jaclyn Hill Champagne Collection Face Palette

I am not normally one to jump on the bandwagon when it comes to hyped up beauty products or celebrity collaborations, however when Becca and Jaclyn Hill's latest collection was announced and I saw this beauty of a palette was part of the line-up I knew I would have to try and get my hands on it. So, when I happened to be on the Space NK website about three weeks ago to repurchase my favourite concealer at the same time that this palette went on pre-order, I couldn't resist, and when it arrived yesterday I immediately wanted to share my first impressions and swatches of my highlighting palette of dreams...

The Packaging- I think I can easily say that this is definitely one of the most beautiful beauty products I own as it looks and feels so luxurious and expensive. The Champagne Collection Face Palette is made of a pretty sturdy gold mirrored plastic with a white face that has a simple, yet elegant, gold confetti design. Despite it being quite a reasonable size (it fits in the plam of my hand), it isn't too bulky or heavy, so I think it will be pretty easy to travel with in the Summer for my holidays and the huge mirror encased inside is also a bonus!

The Products- Inside the palette there are five shades, four of which are completely brand new, all created by Jaclyn. There are two Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Champagne Pop, the original white-gold, peachy shade, and Prosecco Pop, which is more of a 'true gold' highlighter, as well as two Mineral blushes in Amaretto (a matte, toasted almond) and Pamplemousse (a matte coral pink) and a Luminous Blush in the shade Rosé Spritz, which is a peachy pink with a pale gold shimmer. All of the shades can either be worn alone or mixed and matched together to create a layered, customised glow. 

The products are all extremely pigmented, with a soft and creamy texture that applies to the face beautifully and blends seamlessly. From first impressions my favourites are definitely Rosé Spritz and Champagne Pop as I think these are the most wearable on an everyday basis, whether worn by themselves or layered together. Whilst all of the shades are supposedly universally flattering and are able to illuminate any skin tone, I definitely think that Prosecco Pop and Amaretto are more "summer" shades and will suit my skin tone more with a bit of a tan. However, with that being said, I love all of the shades and am pretty excited to start experimenting with all of the colours as it is such a beautiful palette!

Have you tried the Champagne Collection? What do you think?

Megan

Diabetes Awareness Week- Setting The Record Straight

This week (12th-18th June) is Diabetes Awareness Week here in the UK, with the theme being "Setting the Record Straight." I previously wrote about my diabetes experience/story back in February (which you can find here) but as it is such a big part of my life I wanted to become involved during this week and speak up even more, especially as this years theme is so important. Over the past 12 years in which I have suffered with this disease, I have seen and heard so many myths and misconceptions surrounding the condition, so today I thought I would share some facts about diabetes and what it is like to live with on a daily basis, to hopefully raise some awareness and set the record straight. 

1. There are 2 MAIN Types 
This is perhaps the biggest misunderstanding and area of confusion surrounding diabetes, not helped by the fact that the media only really focuses on one type. Whilst there are a number of different forms of the condition, such as Gestational, Neonatal and Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young, the 2 main types are Type 1 and Type 2.

Type 1- where the body produces very little or no insulin, which means that people with this type need regular insulin injections everyday for the rest of their lives. It can also be known as Juvenile Diabetes/Early Onset Diabetes as it most commonly develops in childhood and teenage years. Insulin is administered either using a syringe/insulin pen, or via a pump which is attached to the body. As this is the type I suffer with I currently have to have at least 4 injections a day, yet it can quite often be more depending on my blood sugar levels and what I have eaten. 

Type 2- where the body does not make enough insulin or cannot use it properly. This type of diabetes is constantly being reported in the news as it is linked to obesity, however there are actually a number of different factors that can cause the development of Type 2, including age (being over 40), ethnicity (being of South Asian, Chinese or African-Caribbean origin) and genetics. It can normally be controlled with diet, weight loss and regular exercise, however tablets and insulin injections may be needed in some cases. 

2. It is a Serious Condition
I don't think some people actually realise how serious a condition diabetes is and I sometimes feel like it is a bit of a forgotten about disease, despite the fact that more people have diabetes in the UK than Cancer and Dementia combined. There are around 4 million people living with diabetes in the UK and a further 590,000 people who are undiagnosed. This equates to more than 1 in 16 people who have diabetes in the UK and, with around 700 people being diagnosed each day, it is therefore an extremely serious chronic condition affecting a lot of people. 

 3. It Can Cause Many Symptoms
Whilst most of the time I can just get on with my day to day life without too many complications caused by my diabetes there are some days where it is more of a struggle than others, which I don't think some people sometimes realise. When my blood sugar goes low (known as hypoglycemia), I often get symptoms such as shakiness, dizziness, pins and needles, sweating, going pale and an intense "black hole" of hunger, whilst hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) causes symptoms such as blurry vision, increased thirst and urination, and a dry mouth. Aside from this however there are also days where I am physically exhausted, waking up with headaches and nausea, especially after erratic blood sugar levels overnight. 

4. "Diabetes is Caused By Eating Too Much Sugar"
If I had to pick the biggest myth and wrong assumption about diabetes that I have heard or been asked numerous times over the years, it would definitely be "Diabetes is caused by eating too much sugar." Now, I'm not blaming anyone who thinks that consuming an excess amount of sugar leads to the development of diabetes, especially with all of the memes and jokes floating around on the internet implying otherwise, but I personally think it is extremely important that it is made clear that this is not how diabetes is caused. 

With Type 1 diabetes, the immune system destroys the insulin making cells in the pancreas, which is known as an autoimmune reaction. It is thought that this reaction could be caused by a viral/bacterial infection, chemical toxins in the blood, or even an underlying genetic disposition. Type 2 on the other hand is thought to be most likely caused by a family history of the disease, with a number of risk factors as I mentioned previously, such as age, weight and ethnicity, increasing the chances of the development of the disease. 

Obviously, a diet high in sugar is bad for anyone and can lead you to become overweight/obese, which is a risk factor for Type 2 diabetes, however, it would be wrong to say that eating too much sugar causes the condition as there are numerous other factors that can contribute to the disease.
 
5. "Does Having Diabetes Mean You Can't Eat Sugar?" 
Again this was a question that I was constantly asked, especially at school, and I can actually understand why people would think this, but I am going to set the record straight and say 'No, people with diabetes can eat sugar!' Diabetics should have a healthy and balanced diet low in salt, fat and sugar just like any individual, however we are still allowed and are able to eat pretty much whatever we want, in moderation, as long as we administer the right amount of insulin to keep our blood sugar levels controlled and in range. 

For more information regarding the condition and to find out how you can get involved this week, you can check out https://www.diabetes.org.uk/Get_involved/Diabetes-Week/

Thank you for reading,

Megan 

My Summer Goals

With Summer just around the corner I have lately been thinking about everything I want and need to achieve throughout this season. I feel like Summer is the busiest time of the year as there are always so many fun things going on that I like to get involved with, however this year I have five specific goals that I will hopefully accomplish over the next few months...

1. Become Fitter and Eat Healthier
I am pretty sure I include this in every "goals" list I make, however it is something I always want to improve at. I find I have a lot more motivation during the summer to work out more as hopefully the weather is a lot better than in the winter and so can be taken advantage of for more outdoor exercises. I also find it a lot easier to eat healthier in summer as I have less "comfort food cravings" than in winter and so this year I am looking forward to experimenting with more salads, smoothies etc...

2. Become More Organised With My Blog
I have always been an extremely organised person and making to-do lists is one of my favourite things, yet when it comes to my blog I can be quite disorganised. There are times where I will not have even managed to think of a blog post to write about until the morning of the day it will be posted, leaving me to have to plan, write, take photos and edit in just a couple of hours, which is not the most organised/efficient way to do things. Therefore, over the next few months I am definitely going to try and make a more conscious effort to plan and schedule my blog posts more, especially as I have quite a few summer/holiday themed posts that I am excited to write about!

3. Be More Adventurous
I tend to have the habit of not really doing much in Summer, or I end up just visiting the same places which gets quite boring. This summer I definitely want to have more fun by going on more road trips and days out as well as visiting new places with my family and friends. I have got a couple of trips already planned for the summer- I'm going to London at the end of June and then my holiday in Tenerife in August which I am pretty excited for as I've never been there and I love exploring new places. 

4. Get Ready For University
As I leave home to start Uni at the end of September there is quite a lot I have to do during summer to prepare for that. I actually want and need to start planning this soon by making lists of everything I will need to buy, reading up on my course, and looking for cute and cosy dorm room inspiration. I am actually quite excited about this new chapter in my life so I am looking forward to achieving this goal over summer. 
 
5. Just Do More!
This summer I ultimately want to make the most of my freedom before I start University, so I am really hoping I can accomplish all of the smaller "bucket list" items and goals this season. I want to be more creative, from completing more of my Wreck This Journal to updating my art Instagram page with drawings more often. There are also so many books and TV shows that I hope to enjoy this summer and I would also love to start blogging a bit more by maybe adding an extra post a week and doing more OOTD's and food posts. 

What are your Summer Goals?

Megan

Book Review- Fangirl

"Cath and Wren are identical twins and until recently they did absolutely everything together. Now they're off to university and Wren's decided she doesn't want to be one half of a pair any more- she wants to dance, meet boys, go to parties and let loose. It's not so easy for Cath. She would rather bury herself in the fanfiction she writes where there's romance far more intense than anything she's experienced in real life. 

Now Cath has to decide whether she's ready to open her heart to new people and new experiences, and she's realising that there's more to learn about love than she ever thought possible..."

 

I don't think I have ever, in the 12-13 years (give or take) of reading, related to a character or book as much as I did with Cath in Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl. I'm not ashamed to say that I would definitely class myself as a fangirl of various book/movie franchises and TV shows, so when I spotted this on my sister's bookshelf whilst looking for a new book to read I knew I would have to give it a go. I actually haven't read a YA novel for a while as I've been favouring darker, heavier thrillers and science fiction more recently, so this was a nice little break from all that, so much so that I ended up adding yet another book to my list of 'What I wish I'd read sooner'...

The novel essentially revolves around what is, for me at least, quite a common young adult plot whereby a pair of best friends or siblings attend university together and end up drifting apart as they both want completely different experiences. Whilst it is a stereotypical story what makes this book different to me, and one of the reasons why I love it so much, is the unique ensemble of characters presented by Rowell. For example, the main love interest in the book, Levi, isn't exactly portrayed as an attractive college student, yet his extremely friendly personality and enthusiasm towards Cath's fanfiction ensures the whole audience (including me) falls in love with him. There is such a variety of characters featured in the book, which all contribute a different point to the overall storyline, making it quite an interesting and mutli-layered plot. 


For me, probably the biggest reason why this book struck such a chord was the way in which it dealt with some pretty difficult topics. Themes such as mental illness, alcoholism, isolation and parent abandonment were strongly presented throughout and made up the bulk of the plot yet, unlike other teenage fiction I have read previously, these issues weren't sugarcoated or manipulated into a 'happy ever after' love story. I was actually quite surprised whilst reading this as to how honestly and genuinely these moments of the story were dealt with and whilst some were resolved, others weren't cleared up the way I naturally expected them to which was an unexpected change from a lot of other YA fiction. 

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this novel as I found it extremely relatable due to the fact that I share quite a lot of personality traits with Cath. Being a reader of fanfiction myself I loved the interweaving Harry Potter-esque 'Simon Snow' plot and it actually served as a pretty interesting side story to the main plot. My inner fangirl was extremely happy whilst reading this and I can't wait to try some more of Rainbow Rowell's works. 

Have you read this book? What did you think?

Megan