Clinique is a brand that I've grown up knowing, my mum's used their products, my grandma has used them, in fact pretty much every woman I talk to use and love Clinique products. My skin is quite sensitive and I struggle to use fragrance skin products on my skin in particular moisturisers as they just irritate my skin. I gave their Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief a try, I was expecting it to be too greasy for my skin. However it has become my all time favourite moisturiser.
It's quite thin and light which I personally love as it doesn't feel like it's clogging up my skin. It also sinks into your skin very quickly and it doesn't feel sticky in anyway. I've found that it's really helped the dry patches that I kept getting on my face, in particular around my nose and my skin looks brighter and clearer. I can't say that it's this alone that's helped my skin in such a dramatic way as I have switched up most of my skin care in the last six months, but I definitely think that this is one of the main reasons as to why my skin looks healthier. I use it both morning and evening at the moment and I've been getting quite a few comments on how much softer my skin looks too since using this product.
I've really been loving using this classic product. Before I had only used cheaper brands and Clinique's Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief is pricier than most you'll find in boots but I definitely think it's worth the extra money. The product feels more luxurious than what I was using before and most of the cheaper brands I find the formula to be quite thick and heavy which I don't really get on with. Whereas this feels incredibly light. I found it worked really well throughout winter also when my skin did become a lot drier and chapped from the cold weather. Clinique's skincare products are also fragrance free which means that they are suitable for people with sensitive skin. My pot is nearly out which is what encouraged me to write this post as I know that as soon as payday comes I'll be going to my nearest Clinique counter and picking up a new one so that I don't have to stop using it.
I tend to get into a rut when it comes to my makeup, for as long as I can remember my look has always consisted of mainly black eyeliner. When I was fourteen I used to wear heavy eyeliner (I was going through my 'emo' phase). Eyeliner on my waterline has always been the look that I consider 'me'. It's what I'm comfortable with - mostly because I can't do winged liner. Anyway, I've recently been trying to use new products and finally stopped wearing so much black khol liner on my waterline.
When I don't have much going on with my eyes, I like to have a bold lip and I find the Charlotte Tilbury lipstick gives me a bit more colour but still looks very natural too. This is the look that I've been loving wearing at the moment and I think it's a perfect look for spring.
What are your favourite makeup items at the moment?
It's very unusual these days to hear a new artist that their sound of music is so unique that it makes you really stop and listen to their songs, however, Camden based electronic pop band, The Salvador Darlings, managed to do exactly that, for me, with their single 'Show World'. The band offer a darker side of the genre which makes them stand out from the rest of the crowd in this market.
Listening to 'Show World' you can hear a lot of atmosphere within the music which is something that I really like as it gives you that ghostly feel.The atmosphere is likely to be created as additional vocals for the track were recorded in Trafalgar Square. This works really well within this track for The Salvador Darlings, as it adds a bit more mystery to the song and takes it away slightly from what is stereotypically electronic pop music. The vocalist, Carine Fierobe, has a really unique sound to her voice, it's strong and has a very sexy and temptress sound to it. Her voice and the atmosphere in the music creates a darker and edgier sound to the song which sounds incredible.
I feel like The Salvador Darlings approach to music is very different and unique which makes them very interesting to listen to. I was impressed with their first single and can't wait to listen to what they have to release in the future. They are definitely worth watching as this song is incredibly beautiful.
You can listen to The Salvador Darlings debut single 'Show World' below:
I met a friend for dinner the other day and we did a spot of shopping and so I kept my outfit quite simple. For me, there's nothing worse than wearing something that's really difficult to get off when you're trying clothes on. So here's what I opted for.
And some very awkward posing on my part. I went for my Topshop Jamie Jeans with the rips in. I wear these as much as I can when I'm off because it's the only time I get to. Followed up with my ASOS Boyfriend Stripe Tee which is the comfiest thing I own. My River Island Black Blazer I basically live in at the moment, it just smartens up any outfit but as it's slightly oversized still looks casual. I wore an old H&M Scarf that I still love and my Converse. I also took my Urban Outfitters Burgundy Bag.
I always like to look incredibly casual when I'm shopping just so that I'm comfy throughout the day.
I'm always on the lookout for new music - as you are probably aware of if you read a lot of my posts - and the other day I was contacted about Kristyna Myles and her new music video 'I'm Getting Rid of This' after hearing how quirky and catchy it was, I jumped at the chance to listen to her album 'Paint a Brighter Day' ahead of its release which is set for March 23rd.
Kristyna Myles starts her album off with 'New Page' (Interlude) which sets you up for the album. With it only being half a track it quickly shows you what you can expect from the entire album with her strong vocals and a pop and jazz approach to music. Her single 'I'm Getting Rid of This' is my favourite on 'Paint a Brighter Day'. Its incredibly catchy and has a fun approach to it, telling the story of getting rid of the negative things in your life whether that be within your relationships or just in general. She has a very different and unique tone to her voice which I always love as it makes artists stand out and she sounds like nobody else.
Within her music there is also a lot of character such as 'Drop Me A Line', 'It's Not About You' and 'I'll Guess I'll Never Know'. Its quite a unique quality to music, whereas I'm used to hearing stories being told in music, it's rare that you can hear character which again makes her a very unique artist. 'It's Not About You' I can almost hear a little bit of the style that Lily Allen had in her '22' album which I loved but Kristyna Myles has a more powerful voice similar to that of Caro Emerald and Paloma Faith. This track is another favourite of mine, I love the beat of the track, it sounds a little quirkier to other music I listen and really stands out on the album, for me.
You cannot help but smile throughout the entire album. It has a very positive feel to it, and the album name, 'Paint a Brighter Day' is perfect for this album, as it does just pick you up. Particularly track 'Halfway' it has that optimistic feel good sound to it that reminds me of summer. 'Heaven Knows' is another track similar to this, though they sounds very different. 'Heaven Knows' shows her gospel influences as the verses are very subtle and quiet before building into a fun choir in the chorus. I feel 'Heaven Knows' sounds very theatrical and a strong image is given which I love. You also get to see the softer tones of Kristyna's voice and her runs are silky smooth.
I was thoroughly impressed with Kristyna Myles' unique style and her voice is absolutely gorgeous and powerful. I love her unique tone and the qualities that she puts into her music, it makes her stand out from everyone else. If you're looking for something that's a little different to everything on the radio then I would definitely give Kristyna Myles a listen. She will certainly have you captivated.
Check out Kristyna Myles' music video for 'I'm Getting Rid of This' below:
I'm the kind of person who usually sticks to plain clothing and monochrome, but over the last few months I've been trying to get more colour and prints into my wardrobe. I was in Topshop awhile back now and came across the most gorgeous dress ever and for some reason (*cough* the price *cough*) I got put off buying the dress, after all I didn't have a reason to wear it either. However, when a couple of my work friends turned 18 and we decided to go out as a group to celebrate I took the opportunity to buy the dress.
Awkwardly, me and one of the other girls wore the same dress but we both styled it different and as we are both completely different body shapes it looked different and equally as nice on both of us. It's one of those dresses that really stands out from the crowd and makes a statement, in my opinion, without being bright. I also like the cut outs on the side - which I tried to photograph but I couldn't well - it just adds a bit of detail.
I teamed the dress up with a black biker jacket because it was freezing and some block heeled boots. I also wore a small, long strap bag that I picked up from River Island. They're also selling shorts and a blouse in the same print, I've got my eye on the shorts too. I think the print is very different and unique which is why it keeps drawing me in. And here's what I wore.
Mumford & Sons are back and I cannot tell you how happy I am about this. I've seen a lot of comments about people missing the banjos and the more folk vibe that they've always had to their music prior to 'Believe' and as much as I loved their old sound. I am also really liking this new vision that they've created. Finding out they had released the audio for their new song yesterday, it's fair to say that I was straight on my laptop to listen to the song and I'm already obsessed with it.
'Believe' has a different approach to music than what we are used to from the band, leaving their banjos to one side they've picked up their electric guitars instead, but they are undoubtedly the same band as before, creating a unique sound with meaningful and honest lyrics. I like the soft approach at the beginning of the song that sounds almost magical and Marcus Mumford's voice is gorgeous in this softer tone.
The song then builds with a solo that is very reminiscent of prior Mumford & Sons just with a heavier and fuller sound. It works well with the softer side that we heard at the beginning as it creates more atmosphere and sounds more like a fight for what they want. It takes a quiet song into something incredibly powerful but equally as beautiful as before.
I was blown away with this new release from Mumford & Sons and cannot wait to see what they are going to release in the future with 'Wilder Mind' being released on May 4th. I have no doubt how amazing it will sound.
Check out the audio for Mumford & Sons'Believe' below:
The other day, I was on Twitter when I noticed I had a new verified follower. It always surprises me when I get a verified follower, especially when they are singers and it makes me curious to find out more about them. The person who followed me the other day was Daniel Pearson after checking out his Spotifypage I was pleasantly surprised.
'Mercury State' is a very relatable album for most people. Daniel Pearson comes from a working class background in Hull, and this shows through the lyrics within this album describing his struggles that have come from the recession. Guitar driven opening track of 'Factor Floor' describes this with Daniel Pearson's striking lyrics. I love the echo-y sound that the track features as he sings 'what more could you want from me' which gives the feeling of unity.
The first song that I played was 'I Still Believe' which is a slow song that is so beautiful, there's a long piano introduction which gave me the chills and then Daniel Pearson'ssilky voice comes into play, which makes it even more beautiful. It's a song that makes you think, and for me it's about cherishing every moment, regardless of what is happening in the world. 'There's still some power in the smallest of dreams', I love that lyric. It's a very hopeful song and very honest which I think is refreshing.
Daniel Pearson also has a heavier rock and blues feel to his music in tracks 'Promises' and 'Hard Times'. I feel like he has subtle digs at the government in 'Promises' and talks about their broken promises which is quite gutsy in opinion. It's also different, as a lot of the music that I hear are more love songs, so this is quite a different approach in modern music to talk about the issues of day-to-day life rather than lost love. It's very much reminiscent to how music used to be. I like the lyrics of 'hope has disappeared, it won't be coming back' and the 'lies you tell by the money you make'. I love the feel and the sound of 'Hard Times' it has that heavier sound and gives the feeling of people fighting back and surviving regardless of the difficulties that the state has put them into.
As well as his different approach to telling stories about real life, and not romanticising life. I think that Daniel Pearson is a great lyricist. Quite a lot of his lyrics stick out to me, not only do they reflect life struggles but I feel like you can take those lyrics and turn them into motivation. Such as in 'Rat Race' when he sings 'it's a hard race to run when you're running with the rats/when you're running out of time', it kind of makes me want to pursue my own dreams more to prove everyone wrong. Also in 'Old Friends' which sees Pearson return to his country/folk vibes with the ending lyrics of 'whether it rains or pours' it's just a reminder that you've got people there who will stick with you through the hard times of your life and they're the ones who count.
I was impressed with Daniel Pearson's completely honest and open lyrics and singing about topics that we don't normally hear. He also shows his range and what he is capable of when he sings with just a guitar and sounds more folk, or then amps it up with a heavier guitar and more production work and then slows it down again with a beautiful song of just him and his piano like 'I Still Believe'. He's quite a unique artist and one to definitely one to watch.
Check out the lyric video of Daniel Pearson's 'I Still Believe' below:
Have you checked out Daniel Pearson yet? Who are you currently listening to?
I stumbled across The Shires music a couple of weeks ago when I fell in love with a song that kept playing at work. After googling the lyrics I found out the song was 'Tonight' by The Shires and I was going to write a post then, but I noticed that they were releasing an album soon so decided to hang out and check out their album. Anyway, The Shires released their album 'Brave' yesterday and my god, it may be one of my new favourites.
The Shires are a British country duo, and we all know how I have a soft spot for country music, who formed in 2013. Their opening track from 'Brave' is 'Tonight'. This is probably my favourite but that's because I've been listening to it for ages. It kind of reminds me a little of Lady Antebellum (who I love). The song is very romantic about falling in love, it's upbeat and cheerful, its optimistic and just describes the moment of falling in love perfectly.
On 'Brave' there are a few up-tempo songs that remind me of typical country but they have their own unique flare and sound on country music.I love 'Nashville Grey Skies' as it demonstrates this country sound that reminds me a little of Dolly Parton in the opening verse. I like how it sounds like they're bringing country to the UK, and creating their own Nashville in their home country. I also love how they sing about 'dancing in the rain' which is typical Britain. It's fun and shows their character. Another of their upbeat and fun tracks is 'Friday Night' its kind of like an anthem about letting loose and having fun with your friends. To me, it has a little bit of pop thrown into it, in particular on the chorus. My favourite of the uptempo tracks though is 'All Over Again' it's cute and tells the story of falling in love with someone over and over. Their voices harmonise and flirt with each other which I really love. It's also really catchy, I can't get the song out of my head.
The track that I find the most different on the album is 'Jekyll and Hyde'. Its more edgy than anything else on the album with a more rock/country approach. For me, I take away that they bring out a different side of the person that they are with. I think it's a good use of the story and makes them a little quirky. I love songs that use well known stories to help tell their own messages. It also shows a different side of The Shires and shows that they are quite a diverse band and have a wide range and tones to their voices.
As well as the up beat and fun tracks, they also show a more romantic and softer side to their character with slower tracks which I can't get enough of. Title track 'Brave' is one of my favourite tracks on the entire album. In the verses, their voices remind me a little of The Civil Wars who are my favourite folk act. Ben Earle's voice sounds silky smooth in this track and gives me shivers. I like how the track doesn't stay slow and peaceful throughout the entire song and builds in the chorus into something more powerful making it sound like they are fighting for each other. 'I Just Wanna Love You' is another favourite. It sounds very reflective talking about what they once wanted and how now that they've grown up that doesn't matter and how they would rather be that special person. I love how they tell stories within their music. It's an incredibly romantic song and I can see this being used on TV or in movies.
'Made In England' describes typical British things that living in Britain we probably don't appreciate or think of as a nuisance. They make rain sound romantic with the 'grey skies' and I love the line, 'vinegar and salt on my lips, nothing like Friday night fish and chips' that really gave me a craving to go to the seaside for fish and chips. It shows that they are patriotic to England despite this country sound that is more typically associated with America.
Following on with the more ballad and slower tracks, we have 'State Lines' which gave me shivers, as they sing about all the little things that make up the relationship. I think Crissie Rhodes voice sounds so beautiful and vulnerable. You can hear the raw happiness in their voices that sounds incredibly precious. 'Black and White' portrays a very clear image of how when you're in love you're just yourself and everything is in black and white. It's incredibly romantic. Finally, we have 'Only Midnight'. I think this is the perfect song to end the album. For me it tells the story of being brave and exposing how you feel to the person you love, it shows their voices off perfectly, with a lot of power behind their voices and there's that flirting in the music again and between their voices that I love. It's all about being brave and being vulnerable. Which I think sums up The Shires perfectly. Country music isn't something we hear a lot of in the UK and so for them to come out as a country duo and stay true to who they are as artists is incredibly brave. I also think their lyrics are very vulnerable and tells relatable stories. I was thoroughly impressed with this album and will no doubt be listening to it for a long time.
Check out The Shires music video for 'Friday Night' below:
Have you checked out The Shires album? What's your favourite track?
