Hello you beauties!

Today, the final day of 2016, is going to be a very different post to what I'm used to writing. It's going to be happy, but possibly sad too, as I reflect on the past year in terms of what has happened to me. I would love to hear about your 2016 and I hope it has been an amazing year for you all.

I would love to say that 2016 has been an amazing year for me, and while it has been better for me than 2015 was, I have to say 2016 still wasn't brilliant. I started the year feeling great.

For those of you who didn't know, I'm not in my third year of doing A Levels. Yes, I should've been in university now. But from September 2014 to July 2015 I attended a college that I absolutely hated. It made me feel so depressed being there. So I moved to a different college in September 2016 and being there has made me a lot happier. So in that sense, I have felt a lot happier in 2016 at college (despite the usual A Level stress).

My personal life is not really something that I usually talk about (I prefer to keep it all private) but now that I'm spending time looking back on my year, I don't see the harm in mentioning it for just this one post.

At the beginning of the year, I was in a relationship and a genuinely was very happy. But then we broke up and I was quite upset about it. I never really mentioned it before because we broke up quite early on in the year, before I started this blog. Me and the guy are still pretty good friends but it's a memory that I try my best to not remember.

I have also lost my best friend this year, but in losing that friend, I have made many new friends. Losing friends is never easy but sometimes they turn into the sort of person you hoped they would never become. And you realise you are better off without them in your life. I have learnt to be happy with the friends that I do have rather than focus too much on the past.

I have also been very ill this year, which is something I dread every day. I have a really really bad immune system, so when I get ill, I get really ill. What started off as a cold early this year turned into really bad tonsilitis... so bad that I ended up in hospital to have tests. So that definitely was NOT a highlight of my year.

However, despite all this negativity in my life, some great things have happened to. I am happy in my job, my family manage to make me smile everyday and I have so much to look forward to in 2017.

I have finally been offered places at 5 different universities to study English, which I am extremely excited for. I just now have to accept the offers at 2 of the universities, which is going to be so difficult as all of the universities I have offers from are amazing (Brighton, Chester, Nottingham, York and East Anglia). However, I am leaning towards Brighton and Chester as my firm and insurance choice at the moment (Brighton has always had a special place in my heart). I am looking forward to visiting Brighton in a couple of months with my mum.

Moving out is going to be a very strange experience but I know it is going to be the right thing for me. By the time I move out and go to university, I will be 20 and that definitely shows that it is time to move on and live in the big wide world on my own. I can't wait to explore a new city and be able to show people that I can look after myself.

I hope you all have a great new year and I can't wait to see what 2017 brings to us all.

Have an amazing night with whatever way you're celebrating and I will see you all in 2017!

I'll be back tomorrow with the first post of 2017 for you all.

If you liked this post, be sure to subscribe/follow, comment and share with friends.
Byeeee!

Hello you beauties!

Being a massive Potterhead, my favourite time of the month now always is receiving this subscription box! It arrived earlier than I thought, as I wasn't expecting it to arrive until after Christmas, but it actually arrived on the 21st. However, with so many posts already planned for Blogmas, I have only just been able to bring this post to you all! So I'm sorry, but I hope you enjoy it!

The first item in the box is the t-shirt. We get one every month and I always love them. This month, I'm not the biggest fan. I like everything about it apart from the colour. It says "Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home" which I think is really cute. However, the t-shirt I got is a bright yellow which is not really a colour that I like to wear. I would've preferred the black one. But I'll still wear it and I still like it.

We also got an embroidered badge of the Hogwarts logo which is a lovely addition to the box but I don't really think I'd use it.

We also got a Hogwarts crest magnet in a neon colour (I got the neon orange one) which is cute and I can't wait to use it on my fridge.

We then got a Harry Potter mug (a plain white mug with a wool-y Harry Potter warmer for it) which is absolutely adorable and I can't wait to use it for my hot chocolates.

The print we got this month is a Newt Scamander one, and it is actually amazing! I can't wait to add it to my growing collection of Harry Potter prints on my wall. I will admit though, I still haven't had chance to watch 'Fantastic Beasts' yet and I feel like I'm missing out!

We also got a Hogwarts crest keyring (as you can probably tell, this month's theme was simply Hogwarts) which I think I'm going to use on my car keys once I finally pass my driving test.

The final two items are my favourite things in the whole box. Every month we always get items linked to our preferred choice of Hogwarts house, and each month I always choose Slytherin. This month these items were a beanie hat and smartphone gloves which are perfect for the colder weather. I am so excited to use them.

So, as per usual, I love this month's box. I really can't wait to see what the new year brings to the subscription box, and I am more excited than ever. I would love to know if any of you actually have this subscription box and your opinions of it.

I'll be back on Saturday (New Year's Eve!) for my final post of 2016! It's going to be a really special post, especially for me.

If you liked this post, be sure to subscribe/follow, comment and share with friends!
Byeee!

Hello you beauties!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and got many great gifts! I'm personally so sad that Christmas is over already (especially as it means Blogmas is now over too), but I'm now looking forward to welcoming in 2017!

I thought today I'd do a simple post, as you're probably all still feeling sleepy after the masses of food we all consumed yesterday. So I thought I'd follow the trend and share with you what I got for Christmas this year! In no way am I trying to brag, but I know how much I love seeing what other people get as gifts so I thought you all might like to see what I received. My parents truly did spoil me this year.

1. An iPhone 5S
2. Slippers
3. White Grace perfume
4. Britney Spears Fantasy perfume
5. Along Came Betty She Mist Me scented body mist
6. Lynx Attract for Her deodorant and body wash
7. Some silver heart earrings
8. Baylis and Harding limited edition bath set
9. 'Girl Online Going Solo' by Zoe Sugg (Zoella)
10. Body Shop body set in the Mango scent
11. Emax Design Makeup Brushes
12. Just Dance 2017 for the Wii
13. 'Fantastic Beasts' colouring book
14. Chocolate
15. Money

I genuinely love everything that I got for Christmas this year, especially my new phone! As you all know, that was on my Christmas wishlist this year and I am so happy.

I would love to know what you all got for Christmas too, so feel free to tell me in the comments below!

Enjoy your boxing day, and I will be back on Wednesday with another post for you all!

If you liked this post, be sure to subscribe/follow, comment and share with friends!
Byeeeeee!

Hello you beauties!

Welcome to day 24 of Blogmas!

I can't believe how quickly the past few weeks have gone. I am so unbelievably excited for tomorrow to come, as Christmas Day is definitely my favourite day of the year. I will not be posting any blog posts tomorrow as I will be spending the day with my family, so I am bringing you an extra special blog post today. The Christmas Tag!

1. What is your favourite Christmas film?
Definitely has to be 'Elf'

2. Have you ever had a White Christmas? 
Oh yeah, multiple times but not recently.

3. Where do you usually spend your holiday?
Every year without a doubt I will be at home for the holiday with my parents and brother.

4. What is your favourite Christmas song?
Santa Baby by Eartha Kitt

5. Do you open any presents on Christmas Eve?
No. I've heard about people doing that but I save every single present for Christmas Day morning.

6. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? 
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and of course Rudolph

7. What holiday traditions are you looking forward to most this year?
Trying to finally beat my dad at Monopoly and watch all of the Christmas specials on TV, such as Strictly Come Dancing, Eastenders and Mrs Brown's Boys.

8. Is your Christmas tree real or fake?
It's fake.

9. What is your all-time favourite holiday food/sweet treat?
Always has been and always will be mince pies.

10. Be honest: do you like giving gifts or receiving gifts better? 
While I do love receiving presents, recently (in the past few years) since I have been earning my own money, I love buying people gifts that I hope that they will love, and I especially love watching them open them.

11. What is the best Christmas gift you've ever received? 
I can't just choose one. There have been many over my lifetime that I love, and I appreciate everything that people buy for me.

12. What would be your dream place to visit for the holiday season? 
I would love to go to New York one Christmas. I've heard it's magical.

13. Are you a pro-present wrapper, or do you fail miserably?
It depends what I am wrapping. If it is a simple box, then I can make it look decent and maybe even add a few bows to make it look cute. However, if it is something else, then my wrapping looks like  blind t-rex had actually done it.

14. Most memorable holiday moment?
When my dad dressed up as Santa and we all went to visit my Grandad in his care home.

15. What made you realize the truth about Santa?
My parents sat me down and told me how it all actually worked. Being the eldest child, it was hard as I had to continue lying to my brother about it. But even now, I still have the child-like belief of Santa. It's not Christmas without Santa bringing us presents...

16. Do you make New Years Resolutions? Do you stick to them? 
I've only made some in the past couple of years and unfortunately failed within the first month. However, this year I plan to make one or two and I actually intend on sticking to them this time around.

17. What makes the holidays special for you?
Being able to forget the stress of my life (such as with college and work and uni stuff) and spend more time with my family because, especially this past year, I have hardly had any time to spend with my family.

I tag you all to do this Christmas Tag too!

I'll be back on Boxing Day to tell you all about my Christmas Day (if any of you are actually interested).

If you liked this post, be sure to subscribe/follow, comment and share with friends.

I hope you all have an amazing Christmas!

Hello you beauties!

Welcome to day 23 of Blogmas!

I personally know that one of the hardest things about Christmas is deciding how to wear your makeup that day. So I thought I'd share with you my decision so that maybe it could help you to decide too.

Face Primer: Illamasqua Hydra Veil Primer

Foundation: Bourjois Healthy Mix in 'Light Vanilla'
Concealer: Collection Lasting Perfection in 'Cool Medium'

Powder: Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in 'Translucent'

Contour: Benefit Hoola Bronzer

Blush: Bourjois Blush in 'Golden Rose'
Highlight: Sleek Solstice Palette - the shade 'Hemisphere'

Eye Primer: Gosh Prime 'n' Refresh

Eyeshadows: NYX in the shade 'Suede' on the whole lid, the shade 'The Chaser' in the crease and the Makeup Revolution in the shade 'New Tral Red' also in the crease. Then MUA in the shade 'Oyster' in the inner corner and then NYX in the shade 'Flustered' (a glittery red) on the lid.

Mascara: Benefit Roller Lash

Eyebrows: Freedom Brow Pomade in the shade 'Blonde' and then coated with Benefit Ready, Set, Brow!

Lip Liner: L'Oreal Le Lip Liner Magique in the 'Clear' shade

Lip Colour: NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in the shade 'Abu Dhabi'

So I hope this has given you some inspiration. I would love it if you would all share your Christmas makeup looks with me in the comments or emailing me at instaurabeauty@gmail.com.

I'll be back tomorrow for the last day (day 24) of Blogmas!

If you liked this post, be sure to subscribe/follow, comment and share with friends.
Byeeee!

Hello you beauties!

Welcome to day 22 of Blogmas (we're getting so incredibly close now!)!

Day 22 of Makeup Revolution calendar: Liquid highlighter

I am so excited about this month's Look Incredible box, especially as it is now so close to Christmas. So let's get straight into it rather than waste any time.

1. Korres blush in the shade 'Apricot'
After trying out one of their mono eyeshadows, I have been looking forward to trying some more makeup from the Korres brand. Whilst an orange shade isn't really what I would wear during the autumn/winter months, I am very impressed with this product and I love the pigmentation of it.

2. Spa Retreats Smoothing Body Scrub
I always love a good body scrub and I have literally just ran out of the Zoella one I have been using for the past year or so. This one smells great and does wonders for the skin too!

3. Buxom lip gloss in the shade ''
I have never actually heard of this brand before but it looks great. I don't usually wear lip glosses as I find they are quite sticky and not very pigmented. However, I love the colour pay-off of this lip gloss and seems easy to apply so I'm really looking forward to trying this out over the next few months.

4. No7 Intense Volume Mascara
Yet again, another mascara. I am just happy that I recently ran out of my No7 mascara that we got in a Look Incredible box a few months ago. However, I am not very impressed with this mascara so this is a product in this month's box that is the downfall for me.

5. Laura Geller Sheer Hydrating Lip Colour in the shade ''
I love that Look Incredible seem to be including a lot of Laura Geller products in their boxes recently, as I am really starting to love this brand! With it being a sheer lip colour, I wasn't expecting the colour pay-off to be great but I was actually pleasantly surprised.

Overall, despite the disappointing mascara, I am very happy with this month's box, and I think they ended the year in style. Let me know your thoughts on this box in the comments below.

I'll be back tomorrow for day 23 of Blogmas!

If you liked this post, be sure to subscribe/follow, comment and share with friends.
Byeeee!

Hello you beauties!

Welcome to day 21 of Blogmas!

Day 21 of Makeup Revolution calendar: Baked blush in the shade 'Bang Bang You're Dead'

I know that sometimes I am guilty of leaving my Christmas shopping until last minute, leaving me basically no time to find things for anyone. So the best thing to do is to look around your house or maybe some local craft shops, get creative and make something to gift to your loved ones!

1. Bracelets
Bracelets are always so great to make for people no matter what age or gender they are (of course make sure you're not giving any to any young young children as it's a potential choking hazard). You can find a variety of beads in many many craft shops so you can cater for any type of person.

2. Personalised Photo Frames
Reminding a friend of the great moments you have shared with them is always a great idea so be as creative as you want.

3. Cookie jars
Everyone has seen these. Put all of the dry ingredients for any cookies in a lovely mason jar (layering is lovely too) and add a little tag with any further ingredients or instructions on it and then you have the perfect little gift for your friends! Everyone loves cookies!

4. Personalised cushion covers
These are so easy and so fun to make and your friends will love them! Find a plain cushion cover (and maybe a cushion if you had time to) in any colour you want. Find scraps of fabric in all colours and patterns and fabric pens and decorate to your hearts content!

5. Personalised mug
Everyone loves mugs, and can always find a use for them. So why not make a personalised one for your friend or family member!? You can buy many kits out there to do just this and the person you're sending it to would love it too.

If you have any more ideas, then just let me know in the comments below!

I'll be back tomorrow for day 22 of Blogmas!

If you liked this post, be sure to subscribe/follow, comment and share with friends!
Byeeee!

Hello you beauties!

Welcome to day 20 of Blogmas!

Day 20 of Makeup Revolution calender: Mini angled brush

Having a pamper night is always a great idea, no matter what time of the year it is. It's such a great way to de-stress, which is especially perfect for the Christmas time as everyone seems to get so stressed out around this time of the year. So here are my tips to make sure your pamper night is just brilliant.

1. Set aside a whole night
There's nothing worse than feeling like you have to rush something, because that will just make you even more stressed and what's the point of the pamper night then? Take a whole night and dedicate it to pamper yourself, you'll thank yourself later.

2. Use candles
Find candles with a lovely scent (maybe something Christmas-sy). There's nothing better than being surrounded by a great scent while pampering yourself. I would recommend the 'Candy Cane Lane' one from Yankee Candle

3. Listen to music
I love listening to music to help me relax during a pamper night. Set up a playlist so that you don't have to keep finding a new song to listen to every 3 or 4 minutes.

4. Wash
This is especially great if you've been wearing makeup all day. Wash your face properly, like using micellar water and exfoliate. This gets most of the dirt away before you have a bath and feels so satisfying too.

5. Bathe
Just relax, wash and take time to yourself to think. You can spend as long as you want to just wind down. Make sure to shampoo and condition!

6. Face mask
I just love love using face masks. They make my skin feel great and are so relaxing too. I would personally recommend the peel-off H&M ones, especially the Manuka Honey scented one.

7. Moisturise
Make sure your skin will be left smooth and healthy the next morning by moisturising with your favourite moisturiser.

8. Get in bed
Even if its still early, after you've dried your hair and gotten yourself ready for bed, actually get into bed. Watch Netflix or Youtube videos (and maybe even get a cheeky little snack). You'll automatically feel relaxed and probably get an amazing night's sleep.

Please share with me your pamper night tips. I'd love to know how you all manage to relax.

I'll back tomorrow for day 21 of Blogmas!

If you liked this post, be sure to subscribe/follow, comment and share with friends.
Byeee!

Hello you beauties!

Welcome to day 19 of Blogmas!

Day 19 of Makeup Revolution calendar: Mono eyeshadow in the shade 'Velvet Luxe'

This is the post that I have probably been looking forward to writing the most. That is simply because I just love Christmas films. There is nothing better than cuddling in front of a TV with a hot chocolate watching some amazing Christmas films. So today, I've decided to share with you all my favourite Christmas films!

1. Home Alone
2. Jingle All the Way
3. Elf
4. The Polar Express
5. All I Want for Christmas
6. Arthur Christmas
7. Scrooge
8. Love Actually
9. The Muppet Christmas Carol
10. Gremlins

Out of all of these, I'd have to say that Jingle All the Way or Elf are my favourite because they just catch the essence of Christmas and are so funny too. I could watch them endless amounts of time without getting sick of them.

Feel free to share your favourite Christmas films with me in the comments below.

I'll be back tomorrow for day 20 of Blogmas (we're so close now!)!

If you liked this post, be sure to subscribe/follow, comment and share with friends.
Byeeee!

Hello you beauties!

Welcome to day 18 of Blogmas.

As well as spending time with family over the festive period, you would also find yourself wanting to spend more time with your friends too. But sometimes it is hard to think of what you can do. So I've thought of a few ideas for you and I hope it is useful for you.

1. Ice Skating
I am lucky enough to live in a city (Nottingham) where we have the National Ice Centre so if I wanted to, I could go ice skating whenever I wanted to, but the Winter Wonderland that we get each year also means I can go ice skating outdoors. And it's a great thing to do with friends as you find yourself laughing so much and just enjoy spending time with those important to you.

2. Go for a meal
There's nothing better than going out for a meal with your friends, so why not make it festive? Many great restaurants do a festive menu or offer festive parties over the Christmas period so why not book a table for you and all your friends.

3. Have an ugly Christmas jumper party
Choose someone's house to have the party at, invite everyone you want, blast out the Christmas music and all wear your ugliest Christmas jumpers. It will be such a great night for you all.

4. Have a Christmas film marathon
Who doesn't love watching Christmas films? I do, and sometimes it'd just as fun to watch them with a couple of friends or maybe a bigger group of you. Dim the lights, grab your favourite snacks and spend hours enjoying your favourite Christmas films with your favourite people.

5. Go to a Christmas Market
If you are lucky enough to live near a Christmas market or can get to one easily, why not go to one with friends? They're great to get you all in the Christmas spirit but also a great shopping experience for you all too.

I hope this has give you a few ideas to help you out this Christmas period. Let me know what you all get up to with your friends this festive period.

I'll be back tomorrow for day 19 of Blogmas.

If you liked this post, be sure to subscribe/follow, comment and share with friends.
Byeeee!

Hello you beauties!

Welcome to day 17 of Blogmas!

Day 17 of Makeup Revolution Calendar: Light glittery pink lip gloss

Although getting gifts is a brilliant feeling, I also love giving gifts. What's the best part about giving gifts? Wrapping them. Here are my hints and tips about making your wrapped gifts look great this Christmas.

1. Choose appropriate wrapping paper
Think about who this present is for. Is it for a young child or an adult? You don't want to be giving an adult childish wrapping paper! If all else fails, stick with brown paper. It's simple but so effective.

2. Use gift bags
Have multiple gifts for some people? Put them in a gift bag. It makes it a lot easier to get all the gifts from one place to another and looks a lot better than a tacky plastic bag would.

3. Use ribbons
Ribbons make everything seem so festive! Make sure you use really festive colours but don't overdo it otherwise it'll be a pain for people to unwrap and look messy.

4. Add a bow
Bows always look great on wrapped presents, especially if they are placed perfectly. Just stick to one though - anymore will look too clustered and gross.

5. Add a cute tag
Of course you need to remember who you're giving each gift to. So a beautiful Christmassy tag is just what is needed. A lot of people have been using chalkboard tags the past few years which I think are so cute, especially if you use brown paper to wrap your presents.

So I hope this post was useful for you all! Feel free to share your wrapping tips with me. I would love to hear from you all.

I'll be back tomorrow with day 18 of Blogmas.

If you liked this post, be sure to subscribe/follow, comment and share with friends.
Byeeee!!

Hello you beauties!

Welcome to day 16 of Blogmas!

Day 16 of Makeup Revolution Calendar: A baked highlighter

One of my favourite things about the festive period is being able to wear Christmas jumpers! I feel like everyone should own at least one, even if you only wear it on Christmas Day. But where can you find great festive sweaters? I hope my little guide will help you out!

1. Peacocks
I love buying Christmas jumpers from Peacocks! While they may not be the most affordable, as the price range is usually £16-£22, they all look great and are worth every penny.

2. Romwe
This is a company that I have only just recently heard of but they have such great products on their website! This website is great for Christmas jumpers too, as they have such a great range at such affordable prices. Most items are usually £20 or less and there always seems to be a sale on, so get your Christmas jumper from there while you still can!

3. New Look
New Look is always a great place to look if you're looking for a great but affordable Christmas jumper. With prices starting at just £14.99, the Christmas jumpers are so cute and great for casual wear during the festive period.

4. H&M
I have definitely become obsessed with H&M over the past few years and I always love the products there. They sell amazing Christmas jumpers too and I feel like they'd be great for teenagers and young adults. Especially as they're so affordable, ranging between £5.99 and £14.99.

5. Primark
Out of everywhere you could buy Christmas jumpers from, Primark is definitely my favourite. They range from the super cute and casual all the way to the cringey ugly ones - you can find one perfect for any occasion! They're the most affordable too, as I've never seen one any more expensive than £14.

Feel free to share with me your favourite places to buy Christmas jumpers and also share your favourite Christmas jumpers in general with me! I hope you all found this post helpful today.

I'll be back tomorrow for day 17 of Blogmas!

If you liked this post, be sure to subscribe/follow, comment and share with friends.
Byeeee!

Hello you beauties!

Welcome to day 15 of Blogmas!

Day 15 of Makeup Revolution Calendar: A little mirror

There is nothing better than lovely winter-y, Christmas scents filling your house during the festive period so today I wanted to share with you my favourite Christmas scents!

1. Berries
Berries just scream Christmas to me. I love berry scents all year round but I usually use berry scents (especially wild berries) around the winter months.

2. Peppermint
Who doesn't love peppermint!? It's the perfect scent for Christmas as it just reminds me of candy canes which is honestly one of the best parts of Christmas. Also, it provides a sweet scent to counter the usual spice scents that we relate to Christmas.

3. Apples
Everyone loves apples and apple scents around Christmas, especially the scent of a nice glass of cider during this festive period. So why not have this scent spreading around your house these winter months?

4. Cookies
I love baking during the winter months, to have some sweet treats to enjoy while watching Christmas films.

5. Cinnamon
Cinnamon is definitely the ultimate Christmas scent. It's great to put in hot chocolates and a great scent to have all around the house.

Please feel free to share your favourite winter/Christmas scents with me!

I'll be back tomorrow with day 16 of Blogmas!

If you liked this post, be sure to subscribe/follow, comment and share with friends!
Byeeee!

Hello you beauties!

Welcome to day 14 of Blogmas!

Day 14 of Makeup Revolution Calendar: Mono Eyeshadow in the shade 'New Tral Red'

I personally know how hard it is to sleep on Christmas Eve with the excitement about Christmas Day being so close. So here are some of my tips on how to fall asleep easily on Christmas Eve night.

1. Keep Moving
If you keep active during the day, you'll end up tiring yourself out and will find it easier to fall asleep.

2. Help Out
If you help out around the house, or maybe even go to work if you've been given a shift at work than day, then you'll find yourself being distracted and not waiting around for the day to end. So that way the day will seem to go by quicker.

3. Relax
The more nervous or excited you keep getting about Christmas Day, the harder you will find it to fall asleep. So try your best to relax throughout Christmas Eve.

4. Listen to Music
Listening to music in bed always helps me to relax and fall asleep easily, so I encourage you to try that out on Christmas Eve if you're struggling to sleep! Maybe make yourself a playlist of Christmas songs as it'll remind you what you have to look forward to the next morning and help you to fall asleep.

5. Watch a Film
Watching Christmas films is always a great idea especially the night before Christmas. Get into bed, turn off all the lights and put the film on. By the time the film is over, a couple of hours would have passed and you may even feel tired enough to go to sleep almost straight away. I will be uploading a post about my favourite Christmas films over the next few days if you need an idea of which one to watch.

So even though it is still over a week until Christmas Eve, I thought (and hoped) that you may all find these tips helpful. While I have made this post Christmas themed, you can use these tips to help you fall asleep all year round, especially if you have something important and/or exciting to do the next day. Do you have any more tips that you'd like to share? Then let me know in the comments below!

I'll be back tomorrow with day 15 of Blogmas!

If you liked this post, be sure to subscribe/follow, comment and share with friends!
Byeee!

Hello you beauties!

Welcome to Blogmas day 13, and it is finally time for the first beauty box of the month; Look Fantastic! As you all know, I'm not usually that fussed with this beauty box (Look Incredible is so much better in my opinion) but they really did impress me with the contents this month. So let's get straight into it!

Day 13 of Makeup Revolution Calendar: a Bronzer

Price of box is £11.25 per month (if 12 month subscription). No fee for P&P

There are 6 products in this month's box

          The brands included in this box are: Philip Kingsley, Skin Republic, Bubble T, Balance Me, Illamasqua and Mellow

As per usual, we get an issue of the Elle magazine, and I am so excited to see that this month's issue is all about feminism! I might actually read this one this month.

1. Philip Kingsley Elasticizer
I have heard a lot of great things about this brand before but never actually used any of their products. I always welcome hair products and I am always very keen to try new things out. I'm really hoping that this product will be great for me, and that it'll help me sort out every problem I ever have!

2. Skin Republic Caviar and C0Q10 Face Mask
This is a product that I have a feeling I'm going to love! It's a sheet mask, and I have never used this sorts of products before but I hope that this means they'll be a lot easier to use than other face masks. Plus I love anything that will help sort out the dry skin on my face.

3. Bubble T Bath Bomb in the scent 'Hibiscus and Acai Berry Tea'
I really was not expecting to see this in a beauty box! I have never had a bath bomb before, especially in a subscription box, as I don't really use this. This is such a lovely scent though so I definitely see myself using this one day over the festive period as part of a pamper night.

4. Balance Me Pure Skin Face Wash
This is one product that, unfortunately, that I'm not really a fan of. I don't know why, but I have always hated Balance Me products, (and I prefer using my Neutrogena face wash at the moment) so I'll probably pass this one onto someone else.

5. Illamasqua Hydra Veil Primer
I was actually shocked when I saw this product in this box! I have never actually owned an Illamasqua product before, even though I have always wanted to, so I am so excited to use this more, especially because I love trying out new primers. It has a jelly like texture that feels strange at first but this product actually works really well. It really hydrates the skin too, which is another feature of this product which I really love.

6. Mellow Cosmetics Lipstick in 'Madness'
I love getting new lipsticks, and this is a brand that I have never heard of before, which makes getting a new lipstick even more exciting! I have never really worn red lipsticks before, but now that we are getting closer and closer to Christmas, I was wanting to start wearing red lipsticks more, so this is the perfect addition to my makeup collection.

I can't believe this was the last Look Fantastic box of the year! But I honestly cannot wait to see what Look Fantastic presents us with in the new year.

If you liked this post, be sure to subscribe/follow, comment and share with friends!
Byeee!

Hello you beauties!

Hope you are all well. Welcome to Blogmas day 12! I can't believe we're already halfway through! Not long until Christmas Day now! And in preparation for the big day itself, I thought I would bring you a little guide on great stocking filler gifts for those beauty lovers in your life. And the great part is, everything is under £10 (so they'll be great for Secret Santa gifts too).

Day 12 of Makeup Revolution Calendar: Eye Primer

1. Tanya Burr Manicure Sets
I have always loved using Tanya's products and these are perfect little sets for a friend. Coming with a nail file and a gorgeous nail polish in a winter-y shade (all of her nail polishes are such good quality too), these perfect stocking fillers are currently only £4 in Superdrug!

2. Hershey's Movie Mix Lip Balm set
Who doesn't love lip balms!? I know every beauty lover would love to receive a lip balm set in their stocking this Christmas, so why not try this chocolate-y set, for only £8 from Boots this Christmas!

3. No7 Glamorous Nudes Eye Palette
Want to treat your friend to an eyeshadow palette this Christmas, but don't have enough to splash out on a Too Faced or Stila palette? Then try this No7 palette for only £10 this Christmas! With 8 lovely nude shades, it is everything a makeup addict could want.

4. Lottie London Makeup Brush Kit
Every beauty lover would always appreciate a few new brushes for their collection, which is why this Lottie London set makes the perfect stocking filler! With 4 mini brushes, it's a great price at only £7.99 at Superdrug.

5. Ciate Paint Pot Duo To Go
Everyone always needs a new nail polish, and what is better than Ciate nail polishes!? Nothing! These cute little nail polish sets come with two mini nail polishes in gorgeous colours, and are perfect to give to a friend for only £10 this Christmas.

So that was a few ideas for stocking filler gifts this year! If you have any other suggestions, be sure to let me know in the comments below!

I'll be back tomorrow for day 13 of Blogmas!

If you liked this post, be sure to subscribe/follow, comment and share with friends!
Byeeee!

Hello you beauties!

Welcome to day 11 of Blogmas! I know a lot of you may have already sorted out all of your Christmas shopping, with a lot of it already beautifully wrapped, ready to take to the various people. If you're like me, then you probably haven't even started yet. You'll have no clue where to start. And that's okay, despite how annoying it can be.

Day 11 of Makeup Revolution Calendar: Lipstick in a purple shade

Today I'll be giving you my Christmas shopping tips to help you make this stressful period slightly easier.

1. Do it all in one day
I know this probably sounds exhausting, but honestly, to get it all done and dusted within one day is so rewarding. That way, you're not worrying about it for days after. But if there's something you can't find while you're out shopping, you can always look for it online, and shop from the comfort of your own home.

2. Write a list 
Of course, write a list of what you intend to buy and who you intend to write it for. This again makes the day so much easier, because you're not having to think there in the moment about what a certain person may like. That way, you can organise your day so you know exactly where you need to go and so it doesn't take hours and hours.

3. Sales
Find out when and where the sales are. This can save you a lot of money, just as long as the gifts you want to buy don't sell out too quickly! Look for the offers/sales at places like Superdrug and Boots to buy that special gift for the beauty lover in your life.

4. Go alone
The last thing you want is a distraction. At least if you're alone, you can just focus on going to where YOU need to go, rather than where a friend might want to go too. It makes the whole experience, while possibly slightly lonely, a lot more easier and quicker.

5. Sleep
Make sure you get plenty of sleep the night before, and get up at a reasonable time. There;s nothing worse than feeling extremely exhausted during a shopping trip, because then you lack the motivation to actually do it.

So those were my tips to make sure your gifts for friends are all ready in plenty of time before Christmas day! If you have any extra tips of your own, make sure to let me know in the comments (and I might even add them into this post - with credit to you of course!)!

I'll be back tomorrow for day 12 of Blogmas!

If you liked this post, be sure to follow/subscribe, comment and share with friends.
Byeeeee!

Hello you beauties!

While I know it isn't winter officially for another week or so, but the weather is certainly suggesting differently! It's so cold. That makes the Winter Tag appropriate now!

Day 10 of Makeup Revolution Calendar: Mono Eyeshadow in the shade 'Paper Luxe'

1, Top 2 Winter Beauty Essentials
Definitely a nice moisturising lip balm (preferably a Body Shop one) and a dark lip (loving my Topshop Matte lipstick in 'Beguiled')

2. Top 2 Winter Fashion Essentials

Scarves and cozy jumpers are definite must haves for me during the winter months!

3. What shoes do you tend to wear the most in the winter?

Definitely boots! Right now, I am loving my knee high black boots.

4. Favorite Winter Accessory

Other than scarves, I really love cute gloves/mittens. They especially keep my hands warm while I'm cycling to work and college

5. Favorite Winter Nail Polish

I love my deep purple nail polish from Nails Inc

6. Hot Chocolate or Apple Cider?

Hot Chocolate definitely!

7. Favorite Winter Candle?

Candy Cane Lane from Yankee Candles

8. Snowboarding or Skiing?

Neither!

9. Have you ever gone Ice Skating? Are you any good or do you FAIL miserably?

I've been a couple of times when I was younger and I wasn't too bad at it, but I haven't been ice skating for quite a while now.

10. Does it snow where you live?

Occasionally

11. Have you ever made a snowman?

Yes, but I've only ever made 1!

12. What holiday do you celebrate?

Christmas!!!

13. Favorite Christmas song?

Santa Baby by Eartha Kitt

14. Favorite Christmas movie?

Jingle All The Way or Home Alone

15. What is your favorite winter treat?

Gingerbread

16. If you were to ask Santa for one thing and you were guaranteed to get it, what would it be?

A guaranteed place at a university! 

17. Do you have anything fun planned for this winter?

Just spending time with my family like I do every year. Is very fun though

If you do this tag, make sure to leave the link in the comments below.

I'll be back tomorrow with day 11 of Blogmas.

If you liked this post, be sure to subscribe/follow, comment and share with friends!

Byeeeee!

Hello you beauties!

While I am mainly very positive about the Christmas period, as it is my favourite time of the year, there are just a few things that I don't like too much. I'm not to keen on being negative on my blog but I thought this would be an interesting post to write for you all.

Day 9 of Makeup Revolution Calendar: Lipstick in a peachy nude shade

1. The Build Up
While I love counting down to Christmas, I hate that some people (especially shops) start their countdown back in August. I hate seeing Christmas cards in the shops so early on, and the Christmas decorations follow not long later. The countdown should be saved until 1st December!!

2. Delayed Deliveries
With how busy I can often get, I often struggle to find time to go out to the shops and do my Christmas shopping. So I rely on buying presents online. However, even if you order something early December, it's not always guaranteed to be with you by Christmas. Everything just seems to take so much longer during the festive period and it's really frustrating.

3. Christmas Shopping
Linking with my previous point, sometimes I do manage to get out to the shops to do my Christmas shopping, but immediately regret it. The crowds are horrendous, and no one seems to care about anyone but themselves! You have to fight your way through the shopping centres just to get to the one shop you want, just to find out that they item you want has either sold out or is extremely expensive! Sometimes it's just not worth it.

4. TV Adverts
I can understand a company/shop wanting to advertise their Christmas stock (etc), but I personally find it ridiculous when people become obsessed with these adverts and are constantly judging them (e.g. which one makes you cry more, which has the cutest animal characters). I don't mind Christmas adverts, I just don't like and don't understand why people make such a big deal out of them,

5. Boxing Day Blues 
Of course, the worst part to anyone's Christmas is when it's over! I am not a fan of Boxing Day. Christmas Day was literally just the day before, but now you have to admit that Christmas is over - for another 364 days at least. And you know that year is going to take forever to come around, and you just wish it could be Christmas everyday,

So only a few things I hate, but I know some people do actually share the same views as me. Feel free to share your opinions about what you love/hate about Christmas in the comments below!

I'll be back tomorrow for day 10 of Blogmas!

If you liked this post, be sure to subscribe/follow, comment and share with friends.
Byeeee!

Hello you beauties!

Day 8 of Makeup Revolution Calendar: Amazing Sheer lip gloss in a bright pink shade

Christmas isn't Christmas without the music. What music do you love listening to during the festive period?
Here is my very own Christmas playlist.

1. Fairytale of New York by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl
2. All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey
3. Last Christmas by Wham!
4. Merry Xmas Everybody by Slade
5. I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday by Wizzard
6. Santa Baby by Eartha Kitt
7. Baby Its Cold Outside (Michael Buble version)

Obviously there are many many more songs that I love listening to during the festive period, but these are just a few of my favourites!

I'll be back tomorrow for day 9 of Blogmas!

If you liked this post, be sure to subscribe/follow, comment and share with friends.
Byeee!

Hello you beauties!

While I know some people have already bought and wrapped all of their Christmas gifts, I also know there are some people who have no clue what to buy. Here are 7 gift ideas for beauty lovers.

Day 7 of Makeup Revolution Calendar: Baked Blush in the shade 'Hard Day'

1. Acrylic storage and brush holders
I feel like these are things that EVERY beauty lover needs. They'll make perfect gifts, especially as someone keeps adding to their makeup collection - they're gonna need more storage space. You can buy great ones for all sorts of prices, but my own personal acrylic storage (which I love) was less than £20!

2. Cute Makeup Bags
Who doesn't want a cute makeup bag!? They're brilliant for travelling, or if you only have very few makeup items. You can get them for all price ranges, but my favourites include Zoella's makeup bags and Nails Inc.

3. Eyeshadow Palettes
I know personally that I would love to receive an eyeshadow palette as a gift. And there's always something for everyone when it comes to eyeshadow palettes. The great thing about eyeshadow palettes too is the range of colours - you can basically make tons of looks just from 1 palette. They come in all different price ranges too, and while you can treat someone to a Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette or the Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance palette, but then there are cheaper but equally as good quality palettes such as the Makeup Revolution Iconic Pro 1 or the MUA Hall of Fame.

4. Fragrance Sets
Who doesn't love a good perfume for Christmas? Feeling like splashing out? Treat that lucky person to a Marc Jacob's 'Daisy' perfume set. On a bit of a budget? Consider Zoella's body mist set.

5. Nail sets
For those people who love their nail art, then a nail polish and nail art set would be great for them. I really love the Ciate sets for nail art.

6. Makeup Brush sets
Every beauty lover needs brushes! So surprise them this Christmas with a beautiful set of makeup brushes, or just a few individual ones. There are brilliant brushes from all price ranges too, such as Real Techniques, Spectrum and Zoeva.

7. Lipstick sets
I personally find that great lipsticks can be the perfect finish for any look. Without a good lipstick, it can ruin the whole look. So why not help your beauty lover friend out this Christmas and treat them to a lipstick set, where they give you a great range of colours in just one box. Try checking out sets by brands such as NYX, Makeup Revolution and MUA.

I hope this gift guide was helpful for you all. If you have any gift idea suggestions, then leave them in the comments below.

I'll be back tomorrow for day 8 of Blogmas!

If you liked this post, be sure to subscribe/follow, comment and share with friends.
Byeeeee!!

Hello you beauties!

Now is around the time of year that people start sending Christmas cards to each other. Sometimes however you might find that all of the cards in the card shops just aren't what you're looking for. So why not make one for yourself? I'm here to give you just a few ideas for this festive season!

Day Six of Makeup Revolution Calendar: Mini Face Brush

1. Colouring in
This might sound childish, but I genuinely did this for Christmas cards last year. From many craft shops, you can buy Christmas cards to colour in, or you could simply print out a Christmas picture from the internet and stick it to a card! These are especially great to give to children as a Christmas activity.

2. Draw a Christmas-sy picture
Not all of us are amazing artists, but if you are, add a more personal touch to a Christmas card and draw a picture on it yourself! It might be more time-consuming, but people will love the personal gesture.

3. Collages
Collages are great for anything, especially cards! Pick out some pictures that represent what Christmas means to you, or maybe make it personal like pictures of you and you family and glue them in a creative way to the card.

I hope this post has given you a few ideas to get started. Feel free to send me pictures of your creations either through the comment section or by emailing them to me at instaurabeauty@gmail.com.

I'll be back tomorrow with another post for day 7 of Blogmas!

If you liked this post, be sure to subscribe/follow, comment and share with friends!
Byeeee!

Hello you beauties!

I don't know about you, but Christmas is definitely my favourite time of the year. Not just Christmas Day itself, but the whole build up to Christmas too. So here are 11 things that I love about the Christmas season!

Day Five of Makeup Revolution calendar: lipstick in a bright fuchsia colour

1. Putting up the Christmas tree and decorations
I usually spend the day on the first Sunday of December putting up all the decorations all around the house, and making the house my own version of a Winter Wonderland. Unfortunately I won't be putting the decorations up this year as I have a shift at work that night, but my parents and brother will so I am looking forward to coming home to a lovely Christmas-sy house!

2. Christmas Jumpers
There's nothing better than being cosy and warm while looking extremely Christmas-sy! I love collecting Christmas jumpers and I wear one (sometimes Christmas T-Shirts too) each day during most of December.

3. Christmas Scented Candles
Having the house smelling of Christmas is just as good as it looking like a Winter Wonderland. I am loving the Christmas Yankee Candles this year, especially the 'Candy Cane Lane' one (I just love the scent of mint at this time of year!)

4. Wrapping Presents
Is it only me that finds wrapping people's presents so relaxing? I'm looking forward to wrapping presents in the cutest ways possible. I'll be uploading a post all about this soon!

5. Christmas Music
Christmas-sy music really is all I ever listen to during the festive period. From the moment I wake up on December 1st, I am blasting out the Christmas music all day every day. I'll be sharing my favourite Christmas songs with you in a couple of days.

6. Advent Calendars
Every year, without fail, I have 1 or 2 chocolate advent calendars, so I usually have one to open first thing in the morning and one to open when I get home from school/college each day. This year I am so excited to be trying out the Makeup Revolution 2016 Advent Calendar, as I've never had a makeup advent calendar before!

7. Receiving and Sending Christmas Cards
I love sending and receiving cards at Christmas, as the designs are often so beautiful and it is great to think that people have thought to send you a card. They're great to decorate around mirrors with too!

8. Comfy scarves
I love wearing Christmas-sy scarves during the winter, as it adds a little bit more warmth to an outfit, and makes everything seem perfect for the winter season!

9. Baking
I love to bake during the winter months, especially things such as cookies and gingerbread. It's also great to bake as a family too, especially if you have younger children in your house.

10. Christmas movies
I just love watching Christmas movies, cuddled up on the sofa with a hot chocolate. I usually watch Christmas films on Netflix, as they always have such a massive range, and I have managed to discover so many great Christmas films just from owning a Netflix account.

Please share what you love about Christmas with me in the comments below.

I'll be back with another post for you all tomorrow, for day 6 of Blogmas!

If you liked this post, feel free to subscribe/follow, comment and share with your friends!
Byeeeee!

Hello you beauties!

With Christmas quickly approaching, everyone will find themselves being invited to at least one Christmas party - maybe for work or a friend's party. You need to make yourself feel as Christmas-sy as ever, but don't always know where to begin. So today I've decided to share with you my go-to Christmas party makeup look, and I hope you can all take some inspiration from this.

Day Four of Makeup Revolution calendar: Strobe Balm

1.Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation in 'Light Vanilla'
This is honestly one of my favourite foundations and I find it especially great during the winter months. It has great coverage but doesn't feel too heavy on the skin.

2. Collection Lasting Perfection concealer in '2- Cool Medium'
This is probably my holy grail concealer, as it offers such great coverage, is so easy to blend and doesn't crease. Plus it is so cheap, so is perfect if you're only looking to use it a few times over the festive period!

3. Rimmel Stay Matte powder
This is a product I have spoken about a lot before, and I genuinely love this powder. It's great to set your makeup so that it lasts the whole night while you celebrate the festivities with family and friends.

4. Bourjois Chocolate scented bronzing powder in the shade '51'
I must admit, I prefer using my Benefit Hoola bronzer to this, as it creates a sharper contour. However, during the winter months I like to tone down on my contour so I have been finding myself using this bronzer a lot as it is a lot softer in colour.

5. BareMinerals Ready Blush in 'The Indecent Proposal'
BareMinerals blushers are probably my favourite blushes by far. And this blush is perfect for the festive period, as while it is only a nude colour, it has the added shimmer that will help bring sparkles to your look this Christmas.

6. Sleek Solstice highlighter palette
This palette contains the best, but most intense, highlighters I have ever used, and an intense highlight is perfect for a festive look. For a Christmas party, I would personally use the shade 'Equinox' as it is a lovely peachy orange shade.

7. NYX eyeshadow palette
For Christmas, I love using red and pink toned eyeshadows as they're just shades that I usually associate with Christmas. So I was happy to remember that I had already put together a NYX quad of eyeshadows with these perfect shades in them! As a base and the inner corner, I would use the shade 'Cupcake' which is a lovely matte light pink. Then in the crease I would use the shade 'Starstruck' which is a lovely mauve pink shade. Finally, on the outer 'V' of my eye, I would use the shade 'Flustered' which is a deep red/rusty colour, perfect for the festive period.

8. BareMinerals Ready Eyeshadow quad 'The After Party'
As well as loving their blushers, I also love the BareMinerals eyeshadows. To complete my eye look, I would put the lovely silver shade 'Mingle' for that added shimmer this Christmas.

9. Freedom Brow Pomade in 'Blonde'
I find that my eyebrows can always make or break a look, and I really love using this pomade because it is so easy to use and perfect for making your brows look amazing this Christmas period!

10. Benefit Roller Lash mascara
Usually I stick to my favourite No7 mascara, but recently I have been loving the Roller Lash mascara. It gives great length and volume, and really curls the lashes too. It adds great finish to any makeup look for the festive look.

11. No7 moisture drench lipstick in 'Caramel Silk'
Although I sometimes enjoy a bold lip, with having the red/pink eye look, I thought a simple nude lipstick would be the perfect end to this look. I love the No7 lipsticks too, as they really do moisturise and have great pigmentation.

So that is my festive party look for this year! Please feel free to share your festive looks with me.

I'll be back tomorrow with day 5 of Blogmas!

If you liked this post, be sure to subscribe/follow, comment and share with friends!
Byeeee!!

Hello you beauties!

Everyone knows that a great lipstick completes a look. And I find that around Christmas time, it is more important than ever. And everyone loves their plums and dark reds at this time of year, so I thought I would share my 5 favourite winter lip colours of this year with you for Blogmas Day 3!

Day Three of Makeup Revolution Calendar: Anti-Shine Balm

1. Lord & Berry lipstick crayon in the shade 'Diva'
This is a recently new addition to my makeup collection (I received it in my Look Incredible box last month) but I am already in love with it. It feels so great to use, it is so creamy, it just glides on so easily and the colour pigmentation is amazing.

2. No7 Moisture Drench lipstick in the shade 'Shiny Conker'
This is the only lipstick mentioned in this post that isn't a purple shade, but it is probably one of my most favourite lipsticks of all time. It is a lovely darker brown shade than what I would usually wear, which gives it a slightly vamp-y vibe to a look but can also make me feel very autumnal/winter-y. It is also very moisturising and very pigmented.

3. Laura Geller lipstick in the shade 'Cab Crush'
I will admit, this is the lipstick that I use the least as, even though I love it, it is my least favourite out of all the winter-y shades I own. It is quite pigmented, although slightly more sheer than the others, and is quite easy to use, although you will need a lip liner to stop it bleeding.

4. NYX Intense Butter Gloss in the shade 'Spice Cake'
Everyone knows that I love NYX as a brand, but I was scared to try out these 'intense' lip products, because for so long I have been scared of my lips being too bright and looking stupid. However, this purple shade is perfect. While it is a very intense colour and really stands out, it does not look stupid on me, instead it completes the look. It is also very easy to apply this product and hardly needs reapplying during the day. The only problem I have with this product is that it is a little bit sticky, but that is bearable, and its worth it.

5. Topshop matte lipstick in the shade 'Beguiled'
This is my favourite winter lip colour of all time, and the first purple lipstick I ever owned. I was worried about buying it at first, as I didn't want to spend £8 on a product and not like it. Luckily, I loved it. I've always been wary about matte lipsticks before as I don't want them to dry out my lips but this product is the perfect matte. It dries into a matte perfectly and hardly needs reapplying during the day. It is also a very easy product to apply and the pigmentation is lovely. I would definitely recommend this product.

So these were my 5 favourite lip colours for winter. Let me know if you like any of these two, and also comment if you have any suggestions for me to try.

I'll be back tomorrow for Blogmas Day 4!

If you liked this post, be sure to subscribe/follow, comment and share with friends.
Byeeee!