Ciara Sims

This year is absolutely flying by. It seems like yesterday that I was having my 16th birthday party and now I'm 17, learning to drive and have a job. A lot can change in a year, and usually I hate change and try to avoid it wherever I can, but I think the changes this year have done me good and I might even be starting to like it! Anyway, lets get on to talking about what I've been loving this month.


This month I've been trying to use as many products in my makeup collection as possible. So, I've been regularly switching up what eye shadow palette I'm using. The palette that has stood out to me the most this month and the one that I've been gravitating towards is the Maybelline The Nudes Eye Shadow Palette (£9.99) because it is just so simple to use. I very rarely leave my comfort zone when it comes to eye makeup and tend to stick with golds and bronzes so, this palette contains such a wide range of colours for me to be able to create what ever look I'm in the mood for. My go to look for during the day, has been putting the middle colour on the top row all over my eye area and then packing the first colour on the bottom row all over my lid and softly blending it out. I love that nude colour because it's just the perfect base for any look. It has a colour correcting effect and makes any shadow you put on top pop. The quality of these shadows is brilliant, they don't crease or fade throughout the day and they blend out easily. I'm really glad I picked this palette up and it is great for travel.

The weather this month has actually been really nice so I haven't wanted to hunt out my more autumnal shades yet. Instead I've been sticking with fresh summery colours like the Topshop Cream Blush in Head Over Heels (£7). This is such a pretty coral blush and I know I keep mentioning it, but it's just gorgeous. The cream to powder formula means you get that fresh and youthful glow without it being sticky and heavy on your skin. Head Over Heels blends really easily which is fantastic as I've always steered clear of cream blushers because they scare me and the wear time is good. Also how cute is that packaging!


Right to Left - Topshop Cream Blush in Head Over Heels, Seventeen Mirror Shine Lipstick in Beehive

Another product that I keep raving about is the Seventeen Mirror Shine Lipstick in Beehive (£4.79). This has definitely been my most worn lipstick this month and I've carried it about with me everywhere (which is why it now looks so disgusting and mashed up). Beehive is a really pretty peachy pink that is perfect for the transition between summer and autumn. It's a Mirror Shine lipstick so it's quite moisturising and almost glossy which I like during the day, because it doesn't feel heavy and you don't have to worry about it misbehaving, it just wears off naturally. My only criticism is that the packaging feels cheap and my lipstick did break quite easily because of how soft it is but I don't really mind too much because it doesn't cost the earth at all.

Me and white musk have always had a bit of a love-hate relationship. I do think it is one of those scents that you either adore or can't stand but, for me, at the minute I think it is beautiful. I've been wearing *The Body Shop White Musk Fragrance Mist (£7.50) all throughout September because I just think it is perfect for the slightly colder weather that we've been having. It's such a velvety and comforting scent that really makes you feel like you're being wrapped up in a blanket. The *Fragrance Mist is perfect for the day time because it isn't as strong and overpowering as the *eau de toilette but it's still got that deep mix of rose, jasmine, amber and wood. Beautiful.

Last but not least, no outfit has been complete this month without my Asos Rose Gold Tiny Triangle Earrings (£4). I don't usually wear earrings that much because I feel like it makes me stand out (weird I know) but these earrings are small enough that they add a bit of colour and something special without screaming out to people. I think they are so pretty and I love them.

So that's what I've been loving this September. What have you been loving this month?

Ciara x

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*This post contains items which were gifted to me. Full Disclaimer.

I never used to wear makeup to school, but now that I'm in sixth form and I can wear my own clothes I think having my makeup done just pulls everything together nicely. The makeup I've been wearing recently has been quite natural, not because I have to do that for sixth form, but because I don't have a lot of time in the mornings so I don't want to risk it all going drastically wrong. I thought I would share it with you today because its a really simple routine that is great for everyday especially if you are at school and you're not allowed to wear a full face of slap.

If you are going to be having a busy day then you need your makeup to last, and the only thing that I have ever tried that keeps my makeup on until I want to take it off is *Benefit's The Porefessional (£19.50). It smoothes out the skin leaving you with a flawless base to apply your foundation on and makes sure your makeup doesn't slip and slide all over your face. My mum swears by this stuff and there aren't many products out there that get the seal of approval from my mum, so it must be good. It is expensive for what it is, but even a small sample size of *The Porefessinal lasts forever so it is really worth the investment.

My go to base has been the Maybelline Dream Pure BB Cream (£6.99) purely because of the fact that I'm lazy and this doesn't need to be applied with a brush. No matter what foundation I try, I always come back to the Maybelline Dream Pure BB Cream because it is just so easy. It's lightweight, doesn't cling to dry patches, doesn't break me out and is a really nice colour match. It isn't super full coverage because it is a BB Cream, but it does do a great job at improving the overall appearance of my skin. It looks natural and is great for when you're having a lazy no fuss day but still want a bit of colour and coverage. The only thing I will say about this product is that the shade range is awful and Maybelline needs to do something about that right away. I did a full review ages ago that you can read here and cringe about how bad that photo is.

When I do need a bit of extra coverage I always reach for the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer (£4.19). I wont bang on about this, you know the drill by now. This stuff is amazing and you all need one. You can read more about it here.

I've talked about this blush loads of times on my blog recently and that's the Topshop Cream Blush in Head Over Heels (£7). This is a really pretty cream to powder, coral blush that does a great job of perking up the skin and giving you a natural girly flush. I think this colour is really radiant and because it is a cream product it is versatile. You can dot a tiny bit on for an inner glow kind of effect or go the whole hog for a really bold pop of colour on the cheeks. I love applying this with my Real Techniques Blush Brush.

I then set my makeup using the Soap and Glory One Heck Of A Blot Translucent Powder (£12). I used to love this stuff and think it was amazing, and it is good don't get me wrong, but recently it's not been working for me as well as it usually does. I don't know if that's because I've had a couple of breakouts and so my skin is a bit oilier but I've noticed that this needs applying a lot more than usual. However, this is a fantastic powder and one that I would recommend to everybody who likes a matte base. It isn't heavy or cakey on the skin and is great at blending out your blusher or bronzer when you've gone a bit too far. The compact also contains a giant mirror so it's great for on the go.

For those of you who are at school, I think one of the best budget, neutral eye shadow palettes out there is the Collection Eyes Uncovered Eye Shadow Palette in Nude (£3.99). This contains every single colour you will ever need for school. I love this palette for everyday because you've got a really nice highlight and liner colour and some gorgeous goldy, browny, taupey shades in there. The quality is amazing for so cheap. The eye shadows are really buttery and the colours never fade and fall out isn't an issue. Collection is such a great budget brand and one that is really overlooked (apart from that famous concealer of course). I seriously recommend that everybody picks themselves up one of these palettes.

For mascara I've been using the L'Oreal Telescopic Mascara (£10.99) for my top lashes and Natural Collection Water Guard Mascara (£1.99) for my bottom lashes. I've had the L'Oreal Telescopic Mascara in my collection for a while now (it probably actually needs binning) and it's just such a good staple. It's a really good all rounder in that it curls and lengthens the lashes while making them jet black and keeping them looking almost feathery. The Natural Collection Water Guard Mascara is perfect for bottom lashes because it's waterproof so doesn't budge and leave you with black marks all down your face. It also comes in a Brown/Black offering which I use during the day because it's really natural and adds definition to the eyes without being too harsh.

This month my everyday lipstick has been the Rimmel London Lasting Finish By Kate Lipstick in 03 (£5.49). It is such a pretty pinky brown nude that just looks effortless and cool. This is such a blogger thing to say but it's the perfect cross between 'my lips but better' and that famous Kylie Jenner lip. I love it. 03 is just a standard lipstick in that it isn't drying or mositurising and just lies somewhere in between. It does have a tendancy to bunch up around my lips when I'm talking a lot, so I have to watch that and carry it with me, but overall it's a really nice budget lipstick and smells amazing. I definitely need to look into getting some other colours in the range.

So there is my (very tired) September face appropriate for school. What's been your go to beauty product recently?

Ciara x

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*This post contains items which were gifted to me. Full Disclaimer.

We all have days when we are in need of a little bit of inspiration and even if we don't need it, it's nice to be surrounded by stunning images and breath taking quotes. Here's how I keep inspired.

Tumblr is my inspiration station. I love it so much and I wish the mobile app showed the blogs how they really look on the computer. I've spent quite a bit of time getting my Tumblr to look just how I like it and I love looking through other blogs. The creativity on Tumblr is amazing.

Whenever I buy a magazine I always cut out images that stand out to me and stick them into a sketch book. This is something I find really relaxing and it's somewhere I can look to for fashion and beauty inspiration. I guess I am a bit old fashioned in the sense that I really like to write things down and stick images into books or on my walls rather than always doing it on my phone. I just really like to be able to physically hold something. Also this sketch pad doubles up as photography backgrounds sometimes.

Pinterest. Not a lot to say about this one really. Pinterest was made as a source of inspiration. If you're not on Pinterest then you need to be and you can follow my Pinterest boards here.

I take film studies at A Level so clearly that is something I am interested in. I love cinematography and think it is so fascinating. Often I will scroll through the film accounts on Twitter for inspiration because some of the shots from films are breath taking.

Two walls in my bedroom are absolutely covered in posters, postcards and pictures. I love it so much and each thing either creates a memory or gives me something nice to look at. Also, I'm not allowed to paint my walls so it allows me to make my room a bit more colourful and more 'me'.

Recently I've been really getting into Instagram. I've had it for years but I never really used to post that much. However, now it is something that I really enjoy doing. I also love seeing all my friends pictures and there are some amazing accounts out there that will give you endless inspiration. Some of my favourites are - @isaboleta, @sihamhamdan and @cecietcelacestca.

How do you find inspiration? Don't forget to leave me your Pinterest/Instagram/Tumblr links!

Ciara x

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Kicking it all off we have the Bourjois Bronzing Primer (£9.99). I picked this up during the summer after hearing that it was apparently a dupe for the Soleil Tan De Chanel and I love it so much. It's so different to any other product that I've ever used before. It's a cream bronzer that can be used just like a normal bronzer, to warm up the face under or over foundation, or it can be used all over the face but under your foundation as a tinted primer. It evens the skin and even mattifies slightly while giving you a gorgeous glow. I don't like too much tan on my face and often I skip bronzer all together, so I tend to just use the Bourjois Bronzing Primer on my cheeks and temples to create a nice warmth underneath my foundation. It seems a little scary at first but it's actually really easy to apply and a little goes a long way. Because it is a universal shade it's really blendable to it's hard to go over board and if you are applying it under your foundation you don't have to worry about it looking perfect at all. It's a small step that makes a big difference for me.

My foundation of choice is the L'Oreal Infallible 24 Hour Matte Foundation (£7.99). It's probably no surprise that this has ended up in my top 10 because I've raved about this foundation loads. It's honestly the best mattifying foundation I've ever tried. It's really easy to apply and blends into the skin perfectly leaving you with a flawless matte base. It's high coverage so you don't need lots of concealer over the top and it lasts throughout the whole day. I am yet to try out the 24 hour claim, but it does last a good 10 hours and that is more than enough for me. You can read my full review here.

If you read a lot of beauty blogs or watch a lot of beauty YouTubers then this next product won't come as a surprise to you either - the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer (£4.19). This is hands down the best concealer out there on the high street. I don't know anybody who has tried this concealer and doesn't love it. It's high coverage, blendable, stays put and isn't super heavy. I only have two criticisms - the shade range is rubbish unless you are pale and the black writing on the packaging rubs off and looks ugly. But for such a cheap product I guess this is kind of expected. A little tip that I've picked up while using this concealer; because it is a doe foot applicator, first put it onto the back of your hand and then use a brush or your fingertips to conceal any blemishes. Otherwise you may contaminate the product which would cause you to break out even more if you have spot prone skin.

I really do believe that Topshop Beauty is one of the best beauty ranges out there on the high-street. Especially their blushers. I picked myself up the cream blush in Head Over Heels (£7) mainly because I wanted to try out a cream blush and I was pulled in by the pretty rose gold limited edition packaging for the 5 years of Topshop beauty. This pretty coral blush is a cream to powder formula so it lasts ages on the cheeks and doesn't feel slippy and heavy like some cream blushers do. It's really easy to apply and blend, which is a relief if you're a little bit scared of cream blusher like I am and the compact comes with a handy little mirror for on the go. All round this is a fantastic product and I think I'm going to have to pick myself up some more colours.

Now I'm normally more of a matte kind of girl and I stay away from glitter on my face (minus eye shadow) at all cost, but recently I've been absolutely loving the Bourjois Java Rice Powder (£9.99). I picked this up because I wanted to try out a loose powder and I was horrified when I discovered that it was in fact glittery. But I gave it a go and I think I may have been converted. The glitter contained in the Java Rice Powder is so finely milled that it's almost impossible to see it on the skin and rather than a glittery face, it creates this lit from within glow. It's a universal shade so sets your makeup without adding any colour and leaves your skin looking smooth and radiant. Also because it is a loose powder, it isn't cakey at all so doesn't interfere with your makeup underneath.

I found the next category really hard to pick because there are so many amazing eye shadows out there on the high-street. I really do think that is one area where the high-street knows what it is doing. In the end I went for the Makeup Revolution Redemption Palette Iconic 2 (£4). You can see straight away that this is a copy of the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette and it is a fantastic alternative for those of you who want the beautiful colours without breaking the bank. For a few quid you get 12 very pigmented and versatile shades (you can see full swatches here) that blend well and last all day. I love this palette because it contains a wide range of neutral colours to take you from day to night and create any look you want. The formula is exceptional for just over 30p for each shade and I never have a problem with fall out or creasing even without a lid primer. Makeup Revolution has so many different palettes to offer and I'm definitely going to be picking up some more for myself!

Recently I've been getting back into wearing eyeliner but I've been finding that black looks a little bit too harsh on my eyes during the day so instead I've opted for the Revlon Colorstay Eye Liner in 208 Topaz (£6.29). Now I think of topaz as being blue but this Revlon Eyeliner is a lovely soft bronzey copper colour that looks really pretty and frames the eyes nicely. The formula of the Revlon Colour Stay Eye Liners are really nice, they're not as soft as other eyeliners but this means that once they are on, they don't budge. They're waterproof and don't fade or smudge throughout the day. There is a little sponge smudger on the other end of the pencil but I think this is absolutely useless and if you want to smudge the line then just use your finger. It's a lot more delicate and doesn't add any black in. There is also a sharpener on the end of the pencil to allow for a precise line, but I don't bother sharpening the eye liner because it creates a fine line anyway and I don't want to waste any of the product.

Another product that I have raved about loads on this blog is the Natural Collection Water Guard Mascara (£1.99). This is the best mascara I have ever come across for your bottom lashes. It's waterproof and doesn't smudge or flake and because I have it in brown/black it looks incredibly natural. You can read my full review here.

Now no look would be complete without a good lip product and oh boy are there some amazing lip products on the high-street. Now I know everybody has labelled Mac as the gods of the lipsticks but there are plenty of lipsticks out there on the high-street that are just as good. Yeah the packaging may not be as elegant but it's what's on the inside that counts hey? I found it so difficult to pick a lip product to go into my top 10 so I just went with the colour that I have been wearing the most recently - Seventeen Mirror Shine Lipstick in Beehive (£4.79). I bought this because of Lilly Melrose who I am a little bit obsessed with and I am so glad I picked this up because the colour is gorgeous. It is exactly that 'my lips but better' colour. It's a really natural peachy pink that goes on smoothly and is actually a little bit moisturising. I think the packaging is quite stylish and it even has a little pop out mirror which at first I found annoying but it's actually really handy. My only problem with Beehive is that it's soft and because I've been carrying this around with me everywhere I go, it's become so smooshed. I don't know if this is a problem across the range or just because of the terrible way in which I have treated mine but for under a fiver I really don't care.

Essie is such an iconic nail polish brand. I don't think there are any nail polish lovers out there that don't love Essie nail polishes. They offer such a wide range of colours, their packaging is extremely elegant and the formula of their nail polishes is unlike anything else out there. The lasting power is great and they don't chip until around the 4th day without a top coat, they dry quickly and are always opaque in 1-2 coats. For autumn I am loving the shade Sole Mate (£7.99). It's a lovely rich oxblood colour.


So there you have it. My top 10 beauty products under £10. What would be on your list? Do you prefer high-street or high-end beauty?

Ciara x

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It always annoys me when I see a blog post or YouTube video raving about Nyx products because it's quite hard to get hold of them here in the UK. But when I was over visiting my grannie in Ireland, they had a Nyx stand in her local chemist and so I couldn't resist picking something up to try. After a lot of swatching I picked up a powder blush called Mauve (£6).

Now I don't know whether mauve means something different in different places but, to me, mauve is a pale purpley colour and not bright pink like this blush. Anyway, regardless of the name, this is a beautiful colour blush and perfect for the transition into the colder months. During the summer I tend to lean towards for peachy coloured blush but in the winter, I like something a bit deeper that will give a really pretty natural flush. Like you've stepped outside and it's a bit windy and you've got a bit of colour on you. Because I'm pretty fair skinned this works nicely for me and the Nyx blush in Mauve allows me to create this look perfectly.

Mauve is a really nice matte pink. It is bright but not too bright and is still soft enough that it looks natural. I actually think this blush is quite pigmented so if you are heavy handed like me then be careful. Also, unlike some matte blushers, it isn't chalky.

One of the main things I love about this blush is its longevity. This is one of the only blushers I've tried that has serious staying power. I can wear Mauve to school and walk home in the wind and the rain and it is still left perfectly on my cheeks. This is brilliant if you're like me and don't have the effort to constantly touch up your makeup all day.

I wish Nyx makeup was more readily available in the UK but if Nyx is available to you and you would like to try something out, then their blushers are a good shout! Something to note - I think Mauve is really similar in colour and quality to MUA Bon Bon so that's worth a look if you can't get Mauve.

Have you tried anything from Nyx? What do you recommend?

Ciara x

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It's my birthday tomorrow and I haven't asked for anything this year. I don't know why, but whenever someone asked me "What would you like?" I couldn't think of anything! However, I always have a little beauty wish list going and it is filled with products that are way too expensive and hurt my purse just to think about. But I still like to think about them! So I thought I would share that list with you instead, rather than a classic "this is what I want for my birthday list". I think an ultimate beauty wish list is much more fun.

• Mac Tempting Eye Shadow
• The Balm How 'Bout Them Apples Lip and Cheek Palette
• By Terry Ombre Blackstar in Bronze Moon
• The Balm Mary Lou -Manizer Highlighter
• Nars Copacabana Liquid Highlighter
• Urban Decay Naked Palette
• Nars Sheer Glow Foundation
• Hourglass Ambiant Lighting Blush in Mood Exposure
• Zoeva Vegan Face Brush Set
• Benefit Hervana Blush

What products are on your ultimate beauty wish list?

Ciara x

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I've had the Ecotools Retractable Kabuki brush (£12.99) for a long while now and I've been meaning to talk about it since the first time I used it, because this is just my favourite brush ever. If you're on the lookout for the perfect bronzing brush, or a brush that you can carry about with you without making loads of mess, then this is it.

First off, the Ecotools Retractable Kabuki brush is one stylish brush. The smooth, bronzed metal casing is to die for and looks super sleek and elegant whether you're pulling it out of your handbag or just have it on your dressing table. I love that it has the brush name and Ecotools logo printed onto the side without being too showy. It's just a really nice touch. Oh and the retractable case is made from recycled aluminium so it's good for the planet too!

Inside the beautiful packaging is an equally beautiful brush. This is the softest brush I have ever felt. I've washed this brush over and over again and I use it nearly everyday and it hasn't lost any of it's softness at all or shed a single bristle. The bristles are synthetic and so are cruelty free which is always lovely. Synthetic brushes are great for cream products but I prefer to use the Ecotools Retractable Kabuki brush with powder bronzers, especially the Body Shop Honey Bronzer. The brush is the perfect size to get an all over bronze or add some warmth to the cheeks. However, I can see this being a great powder brush too, especially for on the go.

I love this brush so much and have no idea why I have waited this long to share my love for it! It's a firm favourite in my collection and a brush that I think everyone should own.

What's your favourite makeup brush brand?

Ciara x

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