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I’ve been shortlisted! | UKYABA

If you’re a Blogger or avid reader, you just might have heard of the massively successful UKYABA’s. I definitely have. It’s been a dream of mine to be a part of the nominees. So when I was longlisted for Best CONTENT & DESIGN and Best ESTABLISHED BLOGGER a few days ago, I couldn’t believe my luck! I had sent away my nominations for friends like everyone else, but never thought in my wildest dreams that I’d get that far. But then, just like that, I was SHORTLISTED for Content & Design. As in, the final! 

I was in utter SHOCK. I couldn’t believe it for a long time. I scrolled the names, double, triple checking and tweeting my dismay. So here I am, still recovering from a throat infection and bad case of the Flu, making a little video and asking you, my readers and PLM Family, to vote for me. This is truly a dream come true. I’m in the running with so many incredible names in the other categories and in the same category is one of my dear friends that I wish I could vote for (but we can’t vote in our own category). The love in the bookish community makes my heart soar and I am forever thankful. Every single vote helps! So, if you’re eligible to vote for me, please do! It would mean everything to me. But even to just be nominated is an achievement and I’m so proud of myself and you all for getting me here. 

Taken from the UKYABA website, here is the information you need to vote for me (pretty please!):

To vote for me (Book Bloggers), email ukyaba@gmail.com with the subject: UKYABA Shortlist Voting – Book Blogger Voting Form. 


If you’re a UK Author, please email ukyaba@gmail.com with the subject: UKYABA Shortlist Voting – Author Voting Form.
To be qualified to vote you must be an active UK Blogger or Author. International family, I’m so sorry you won’t be able to vote. All you do is email the above address and they’ll send you a form back, you open it in Word and check the boxes of who you’d like to vote for and then email it back. Then they have your votes! 
If you want to watch a short video from me to you, it’s available here:

Thank you so much for everything. I owe you the world!

I also hit 100k (and a bit more!) views on Pretty Little Memoirs recently, and it’s just been a whirlwind of goodness surrounding me. You have no idea how much it means!

happy reading!

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My Daily Routine! (Casual/Formal)

any day, any time, these are my casual and formal looks…

Casual day = going out for a couple hours, staying in, etc. Pretty much anything low-key, though there’s not much difference between these two varied looks. Formal, or a little more “dressed up” would be = out all day, taking photographs, shopping, etc. Featuring favourite brands like E.L.F, L’OREAL and Maybelline, here are my looks…

On a casual day, I’ll start with my favourite BB Cream of them all; Nude Magique by L’OREAL. It has a pretty unusual formula (being a white-ish cream, turning into color when it is rubbed in to skin) and comes in a foundation sized tube. *Always apply moisturisor before this product as it can be drying on some skin types, and moisturising also evens out skin before applying any base.

For formal days, I’d start with Smashbox Photo Luminizing primer, to give a bright glow and even canvas to the face. This primer has quite a dazzling apperance, and will look off until a foundation is applied, then you can see the primer working underneath to smooth the skin out.
On top of the primer, I’d then work in my L’OREAL True Match foundation, or Bourjois Paris 123 Perfect Foundation depending on the weather (one is light, one more bronz-y). I’ll either use my magic egg-shaped sponge in hot pink, E.L.F stipple brush, or my Spoilt Rotten foundation brush. But nothing beats using your fingertips, as it works to heat the make-up on appliance, so if you don’t have any of the above products, your own fingers will do the trick.
On a casual day, I’ll skip the concealer, but with a heavier mixture of foundation, I’ll usually dot on some Maybelline Match Perfection Liquid Concealer in 010 onto imperfections and eyelids.

Next, on both Casual and formal days, I’ll apply Collection 2000’s pressed powder (only £1.99!) in shade 18 ivory, with a powder brush (the more bulkier the brush, the better outlook). This sets the foundation or BB Cream, and helps it stay in place all day. I think this powder suits Combination skin, and also people with sensitive skin because of the UVA and UVB sunscreen in the powdered formula.
The next step is getting Blushed/Bronzed. Blush adds slight defintion to your cheeks, while bronzer can add that “high-cheekbone” look. On chilled days, I’ll ditch the bronzer for an effortless look.
 
Mascara is a must for me. I’ve juggled so many different brands, looking for that “perfect” length, curl and long lasting colour. I’m currently using Colosal Volume by Maybelline, and I adore it. It’s a little different than other wands with it’s curled end and cat-like outlook. I apply one coat on my lazy days, and two for a fully lengthened day out. I’m also loving the new Lancome mascara, and will definetely be reviewing it soon!
 
So there you have it; day out chic or lazy day lush. Add or subtract things to suit your own make-up look, and let me know what you think of these products!
xo Becca Jayne

‘The Body Shop’ Haul! + save £’s

fair trade, against animal testing, protecting the planet, defending human rights and activating self esteem…what brand could do better?

The Body Shop sits on the corner of my local shopping centre, probably displaying the prettiest and most inviting products in the windows. To start with, I thought they were just another brand with expensive price tags and products that were average. Clearly, I was a little more than wrong. The Body Shop go to extents to make sure all their products are quite nearly perfect. They’re against animal testing since the early 1990’s, protecting the planet by recycling, using fair trade ingredients, whilst still staying true to the meaning and development of their products.

This was probably my favourite Haul yet. I ordered online, and because the sale was calling too loudly to wait until Monday to get my first glimpse of the gorgeous products, (about a week ago, there was a sale and a massive 30% off all products that qualified). So, here’s my detailed and envious product descriptions and reviews below! Enjoy…

pack of five smell-and-love soaps! these
two are my favourite! 🙂

Let’s start with prettiest looking…
These five mini soaps in scents such as Lime, Lemon, Strawberry, Vanilla and Orange were…amazing. Not only do they look cute, but they smell gorgeous! This pack-of-5 was half price, too–which made an even better bargain! Plus, who could resist animal shaped soaps? Not me.

Is this one of my five a day?
Beautifully Bananas…

I had read about this conditioner for so long before I had bought it, good things, mainly. How it detangled hair and had little real pieces of banana inside. It definitely lived up to my expectations, especially after using more than just the occasional once. My hair is long-long and wavy, so this product was much needed in that department. It’s a lovely change from the usual line of conditioners I use like Aussie or Tresemme, and I’d definitely repurchase if TBS has another sale to knock some £££ off the price tag.

Staying on the subject of clean hair… I absolutely love this product! It’s the “Ice Blue” menthol shampoo that’s supposed to knock all those other shampoo’s that promise super-clean hair out of the water…and it most certainly does! After just one use, my hair felt literally squeaky clean. And a little…goes such a long way. I have hair that just keeps growing longer and longer by the day, and I’m always finding my hair products are rapidly decreasing with my hair growth, but not this shampoo. SAD ALERT: I was walking past a TBS store just after purchasing this online, and saw it was being discontinued. I had already used this shampoo twice and thought…what’s the worse that could happen? And grabbed another bottle… and maybe more…
Clean skin in a couple bottles…
250ml bottles are my enemies. In hair products, they don’t last at all very long. But that’s all changed thanks to these little products, and the many facial products to come. Firstly, “Passion Fruit Cleanser” is up. This was the very first TBS product I used on my skin, and had almost the same reaction as when I tried the hair products…this leaves my skin so clean! I have combination skin, and this kept everything in the “right” balance, though still using twice daily, or as I do, switching from product to product whenever I feel like it. It’s basically your average cleanser with an oomph. That oomph being superpowers, the ability to clean your skin without the need of toner.
NEXT: “Cucumber Cleansing Milk” – this is…indescribable. It’s a formula that you almost moisturise into the skin, then tissue off, not wash. At first, I had doubts because I’d never used a cleansing milk, but I was totally swayed by the fact that this cleanser was the most wonderful thing I’d ever smelt. It also didn’t do a bad job on my skin, either. Even though it had the looks of a moisturiser, it left my skin feeling refreshed and clean.
NEXT: “Refreshing Facial Water” – the first word that came to mind when I first read about this product was…awkward. I had no idea how this would refresh my face, or how the rose water and tea tree oil would make a difference. But Rose Water is known for it’s healing presence on the skin, and tea tree being a big blemish blaster, this water and I have gotten on like a house on fire ever since. yay.
                                                                   
FREE GIFT ALERT!
Yes, it’s true, that (I’m pretty sure it’s all orders right now) The Body Shop give a free gift with online orders! I got the most adorable little Pink Grapefruit Body Wash that’s perfect for travelling and leaving your smelling yummy. It’s a 60ml bottle, like the ones they usually have in gift sets, (I also have the white musk scent), so I was no stranger to the shrinked-size product! 🙂
You can save money with The Body Shop, too…
At the moment, The Body Shop have a promotional offer that can save you up to £25 on items (certain days they also have free standard delivery, otherwise it’s a small £2.99). You can spend £15 and save £5, £25 and save £10, or £50 and save £25! How amazing is that?! All you have to do to be counted into the savings is enter the promo code: SPLASH
Happy savings!
have a great weekend, and stay beautiful!
xo Becca Jayne
what am I listening to at the moment?
Where the Lonely Ones Roam – Digital Daggers (hear it in Pretty Little Liars!)

Foundation Review: True Match by L’Oreal

A classic foundation that preforms to match skin tones exactly & perfectly…

In twenty shades, light to dark, yellow toned to pink toned, this match made in heaven foundation sure puts up a competitive variety of pros that will knock competitors with it’s true to you formula.

C1 Rose Ivory (their lightest shade, my shade)

I decided to try True Match by L’Oreal because of two things. 1) Supermarkets always seem to have lower priced cosmetics during certain seasons like Summer or Winter. 2) I had heard amazing things about this foundation that led me to try…and love.
On L’Oreal’s Website, it states that the foundation is super blend able, hides imperfections, and mimics the texture of your skin. Yes, it is super blend able – in fact, it blends away to just a flawless appearance and the feeling of no makeup on your skin at all. Maybe, it sort of hides most “flat” imperfections like pigmentation problems or redness, but for teenagers or adults with acne, it does not “mask” the acne, but it does minimise. Luckily, L’Oreal have tons of concealer shades to pick from, so acne should never be a problem with this brand.

A swatch of True Match with a swatch
of blush to show vibrancy.

 When I first tried the foundation, I admit it was a “thinner” consistency to the likes of Bourjois Paris 123 Perfect Foundation which is “thicker” upon applying. Though after several uses, the consistency isn’t a bother, but a plus, because of it’s illuminating appearance. Another bonus for girls/women with Oily or Combination skin is that this foundation is Oil-free and non-Comedogenic.
I use C1 Rose Ivory, which is L’Oreal’s lightest shade in this foundation. I’m actually lighter in this brand than the Bourjois foundation (52, Vanille). Nevertheless, considering all the uses and bonus features of this foundation, it would’ve been better if L’Oreal had displayed on the bottle (which has a pump, and is hourglass shaped), that it is a sort of 4-in-1 foundation; Vibrancy, Blend able, Mimics Texture, Hides Pigmentation.

Here’s my “product scores” and more, that should and hopefully will help you make up your mind about considering to take a further look into True Match.

Pros
Hides redness
Mimics skin texture
Comes in a variety of shades for all women
Doesn’t clog pores (to lead to acne)
Oil free (beneficial for Combination/Oily skin)

Cons
Doesn’t hide all blemishes
Bottle is quite small if you’re paying full price (get on sale)
Doesn’t state just how good the foundation is in advertising or product info

Overall Rating: ****

Wishing you beauty and happiness,

xo Becca Jayne

P.S. I’m now on Twitter! Either click the little birdy on the right side of this blog, or click here.

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