February Favourites

Hi beauts. I don't understand how it's March already, This year has flown by completely already. Throughout February, I tried some new things but also fell in love with some old favourites. February was a tough month for me, as was January. However, that didn't stop me from loving a lot of products. 

First up Pantene Pro-V dry shampoo. I like most beauty bloggers am a huge fan of dry shampoo, I'd do anything to save myself from having to wash my hair and make it last a day longer. I am not a fan of the Batiste dry shampoo anymore, it makes my hair feel weighed down and dusty. I also hate the white marks it leaves in my hair, Whilst in boots last month I spotted this in the corner of my eye and decided to give it a try. It smells amazing and makes my hair look super clean, and for once it actually feels clean. Usually with dry shampoos my hair doesn't feel clean but with this one it does, It's weightless and gives my hair volume. There's no white marks either, Praise the lord for this dry shampoo. 

MAC Prolong Wear - my all time favourite foundation. If you know me, you know I only reach for this foundation. I can't seem to find a drug-store foundation that compares. It's amazing high coverage, lasts all day and works perfectly for my oily skin, I have already bought a back-up for when I run out because I dread when I start scraping around the bottle. I know for some people this is a little out of budget, but once you go MAC you can't go back. 

Speaking of MAC, you all know my love for their lipsticks. This month my favourite has been Velvet Teddy, I've been wanting a more subtle nude lip recently and this is the perfect shade for that. It's a matte lipstick and it goes with every single make-up look. There's not much to say about this lipstick apart from I LOVE IT. 

A good old favourite of mine. Revolution bought this out a year or two ago, I think, Its their ultra sculpt and contour kit. As you can see I've really dug deep into the bronzer. I tend to use this little for school, because I don't fancy using my hoola bronzer for school because that isn't cheap to replace. I adore the highlighter also, I actually use this highlighter every time I wear make-up because it's my favourite highlighter ever. I find myself choosing this highlighter over my higher end brands. I'm not as keen on the blusher though because it it quite shimmery, so hopefully I'll love this more in summer. 

Over the last month I have been tanning a lot, I don't know why I've just fancied being tanned and having a glow to my skin. As you probably know if you fake tan, you need to ex-foliate before to stop the tan clinging anywhere. I also use this to scrub off my tan once I'm over having a tan. Sometimes I do like to embrace the pale skin. I mainly love this body scrub because of how soft my skin feels afterwards. It isn't too harsh either, it also has a lovely scent to it which clings to your skin after you've had a bath or shower too. I love Zoellas beauty range and this is one of my favourite products from her range too. 

Another Zoe product. Now I am not usually one for hand creams, I often forget to use them and they soon fizzle out of my routine before they even stick. This time round it's different though, I've been using this every morning and evening along side my skincare routine. I love the scent and the packaging is absolutely beautiful which I think is why I am so drawn to it all the time. It look's beautiful on my beauty table, I'm proud of myself to sticking to using a hand cream especially since it has been very cold recently and you do often forget that your hands get dry in these colder months. 

This was actually a sample I was given mid month, I soon fell in love with it, I have heard a lot about the La Roche-Posay brand and their skincare being amazing. So when I received this I was super excited to try it out. I can honestly say just by using this gel every morning and night my skin has begun to clear up already. This mini sample has lasted me a while because a little really does go along way. I am seriously considering buying the full size version. This also targets oily skin so is perfect for me!! 

I actually had a book favourite this month. Recently I have been putting my phone down for an hour or two in the evening, and picking up a book and reading. It's good to take myself away from social media especially with the hard time I've been having lately. The book I've been loving this month is Zoellas second book Girl Online On Tour. I get so sucked into books when I read,  and once I start I can't stop. 

Those are my favourites of February.

                                                                ♥

In Memory of Rosalind Upton ( My Nan ) ♥

This is something personal and mainly written for myself and family members to read. My family like to take photos. So we took photos of nans two very special days. If you don't agree with taking photos at funerals then I wouldn't advise you to read this post, As heartbreaking as those two days were, they were the celebrations of my nans life and we wanted to have memories of her beautiful send off.

On 22nd January 2016 around 1am, my nan fell asleep with my family around her. My beautiful nan has gone to heaven. My nan was battling cancer for many years and we had ups and downs throughout. If you knew my nan you would know she was an amazing, beautiful women who was such an inspiration to us all. Her smile would light up the whole room and make everybody's day a whole lot brighter and happier. She was the happiest person with the wackiest sense of humour. Her jokes would have you in fits of laughter and I'd always end up in tears from laughing. My nan is the reason I am as strong as I am now.

Nan was our family's rock, she gave us all strength and the courage to do whatever we wanted and to never give up. Even when nan was in the most excruciating pain she would smile and laugh just to make her family happy.  When I found out nan had cancer I didn't know how to react. I wanted to think positively and not allow it to get to me. I was strong a lot of the time( although I am in tears as you read this ). To tell you the truth throughout nans whole battle of cancer I mainly felt numb. You never think these sorts of things will happen to you and your family. But they do. The emotions however have hit me fully right now.

My family are all heartbroken. We have done the hardest parts, the funeral and the burial of her ashes. I still don't feel like I have fully grieved from the loss of my nan and I don't know if it will ever hit me properly. I sometimes forget that nans not here anymore, mainly because I think about her all the time and all the memories we shared. I know nan will always be a massive part of my life. I can't wait to have children of my own and tell them about my amazing nan who thought such a tough battle, until she left us peacefully.  I am so proud of my nan and I am so proud to say I am one of her grandchildren. She helped shaped me into who I am today and without her guidance I'd be lost.

Nan had the most beautiful, heart aching funeral. I know she'd be proud of us all. 

I loved going to my nans house on Boxing Day and spending the day with the whole family, eating a lot of left over food and playing games. Just having fun. Something I will never get back. At least not with my nan any more. Last year was my nans 66th birthday. It was a lovely day and I'm glad I got that last birthday with her. She was so happy and had done her makeup all pretty. She looked stunning. I try to focus on all the good memories I have with her. Sometimes it all gets too much. I especially loved popping in to see her at a weekend when she'd get out more food than necessary and made sure you always left her house full.

I mainly feel anger right now, I was heartbroken and still am. But at this moment in time I am angry and frustrated because all I want is to share one last special moment with my beautiful nan. I took time with my nan for granted because part of me always thought she would be with me forever. I believed nan would watch me leave school, go to uni and maybe even start a family of my own. I know nan will witness all these things from up in heaven as she watches over me.  I want my nan back. She was so young. My mum is a carer for the elderly and she looks after people of 90+ who are still able to walk around and look after themselves. So why at 66 was my nan made bedbound?! WHY. It isn't fair.

Cherish those moments with loved ones. Because before you know it they are stolen from you, I feel robbed. Make every moment precious, And take lots of photos. Don't take those moments for granted. Family is everything. I am so proud of my family and I couldn't ask for a better bunch of people.

The aim of this post was to let out my emotions, I did. It helped.

I love you forever nan, you will always be a huge part of my life. I miss you so much. Sleep tight.

♥