I'm not too sure about how I feel about this month fitness wise. My excersize has gone up and the healthy eating has improved without a doubt. I've been having a lot more water and green tea's too which I have to say isn't something I ever imagined myself enjoying drinking! My main issue this month has been going on night outs! I'm sure any of you who follow me on instagram will agree the level of drunk selfies with friends has definitely gone up. What with the amount of alcohol in my system and the four in the morning pizza runs that my stomach is hardly the most toned it's ever been!

One thing  I have been enjoying more and more is going through excersize videos. I think it's because the person you're watching is doing it with you and it's almost as if you're doing it with a friend. This so called "warm up" nearly killed me though! I really enjoyed it and I think in the future I'll be branching out into a bit more cardio!

This month I'm proud of the fact I kept going even through I've had so many nights out and the definition I'm beginning to see in my legs, next month I want to have less nights out and cut down th alcohol!

We'll see what happens next month let me know how you're doing if you're on a fitness journey?

xxx

Empties #1 | EJEbeauty

I've done plenty of empties blogposts over the years, but here's my first one in video form! 

xxx

DollyBowBow Purchases:

I'm sure you've all already heard of Kate from DollyBowBow whether through the stunning pieces on her website or through her super cute Youtube channel. I've been a huge fan of hers for years now we seem to have the exact same tastes and styles so not only is her online store DollyBowBow a dream come true when it comes to shopping for me but her channel has added up to many happy hours of viewing on my part.

The first thing I picked up was the Libby Flower Crown, I have to say that when it arrived I didn't realise just how large the flowers would be nonetheless I love it! I'm gaining confidence lately so the fact the flowers were quite large means I had to give myself the push needed to wear it! I love the colour I chose it's such a dainty and pretty pink. The band itself is wrapped in a brown twine like material that makes it look almost branch like and I love that about it! The flowers rest in leaves too, all of this helps blend the band together brilliantly as opposed to just some flowers stuck on a band which can be what you get from some stores.

The necklace I picked up was the Evie Statement one. It is just stunning! I've wanted a statement piece like this for years but I'm very fussy. I love everything about this piece including the chain which as you can see is very different from just a plain chain. All of the colours used throughout the necklace compliment each other perfectly, also I'm a huge fan of pastels so that's an added bonus! 

I hope you enjoyed this post, let me know if you did and if you've bought any jewellery lately.

xxx

My Sister Stole My Camera...

As I'm sure many of you know by now my sister has a huge thing about photography (something which comes in very handy when you're a blogger and need help with photos). A few days a go she was helping me out with some blogging and started snapping away through my bedroom window because she was bored while I tried to plan out how I wanted the photos and posts I was writing staged. I don't really have much to say about these photos I just think that she's extremely talented especially considering she's only 13 and hasn't ever even been taught how to work with cameras. She acts entirely on instinct and wherever we go she'll ask to borrow my camera once she seems something she thinks would look good. Lately nature is her thing to capture and I didn't want these ones to go to waste...

Soap & Glory One Heck of a Blot:

This powder wasn't actually supposed to be used for a few months yet since I was still working through my old one, however on a recent (drunken I might add) night out it fell out of my bag and smashed into tiny little pieces. The silver lining to that heartbreaking moment was that when I got home this little beauty was there waiting to be opened up.

The packaging is beautiful, retro just my style and the way they've thought it all through is so clever too. The mirror is the size of the whole lid which means you don't have to worry about carrying a mirror around with you too.  

I love the POWder print on the product itself too. This is something I really like about the brand as a whole they always add little thoughtful details which make you smile and enjoy using it just that little bit more. It comes with a puff too which may not be ideal for all but for taking it out during the day this is a dream come true. 

The powder itself is beautiful. I've fallen well and truly in love with it already! It's a super fine powder which has just the right consistency to be lightly dusted over your face with a brush or packed on a little thicker with a puff. It seems to last almost all day so far although it's not been too hot and sunny lately so I'll have to update you as to how it deals with heat. It mattes out the face but not in a way where you look dead it allows some dewiness to shine through, but at the same time it's not so light that you're left constantly reapplying through out the day. 

At £12 it's not dirt cheap but hardly pricey either. If you're looking for a new powder I'd recommend giving this a go. 

xxx

The Best Friend Tag! | EJEbeauty

She's back! My video with Charlotte seemed to go down so well, I thought why not get her in to do the best friend tag? We've wanted to do it for a while anyway so here it is! 

xxx

Review: Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Range:

I finished these products all at different times and so one by one they added themselves to my empties pile (video should be coming soon) until I saw the three of them together and thought why not write up a review of the range as a whole. I hope you enjoy the review and who knows it may lead to you enjoying the range yourself.

The first thing I'll say about the range overall is that if you want to buy it then you should do so now whilst it's getting warmer because the lime infused sugary sweet smell is a Summer's dream! 

As for each of the products themselves I'll start with the body wash. This claimed to be "fresh and foamy" and it certainly didn't disappoint. The formula created lots and lots of fresh almost cool feeling bubbles and the smell of limes really helped wake up the senses. This often left my skin feeling so smooth that I almost didn't feel the need to moisturize afterwards. The 500 ml was enough product to last me a good few months so you get great value for money too. All in all I'd say that as long as you're a fan of sweet citrus scents this is an absolute dream of a body wash.

An alternative to the wash was the scrub, this was sugar based so it could be quite harsh at times. The sugar was held together in what almost seemed like a gel consistency. I do quite like the fact it felt a little harsh though because every so often I like to really give my skin a hard scrub to remove any dead skin cells and get me blood circulating. I find it really helps you wake up, also this would be the perfect type of scrub to use if you're about to fake tan because there's no way any scaly bits would survive.

Last in the trio of goodies comes the Body Buttercream. This I found was different to the brands usual body butters as it was a little lighter (both in consistency and scent). It left my skin feeling very well moisturised but at the same time it sank in super quick so you got the best of both worlds really. The scent was the same throughout the range which I really liked. Personally I think it smells exactly like lime Starburst sweets but most people tell me it smells like Drumstick sweets (apologies if you're not a British reader and have no idea what these sweets are!).

All in all I really enjoyed the range, if you've used it before let me know what you thought and if you haven't would you like to?

xxx

Bedside Beauty #2:

I've put up one of these posts before and it seemed to go down very well. Since then however, almost all of the products that I like to keep at arms reach have changed. With that in mind why not take another look at my bedside beauty?

Garnier Summer Body:

I've been using this as a light tanning lotion lately and I really like it, it's very natural and gradual which means that streaking is not an issue. If you want to start trying out tans then I'd recommend this as a first product.

Right Guard Women Ultra Cool:

I much prefer antiperspirant's to deodorants, I don't really see the point in using a product designed only to cover up the smell of sweat instead of just one that stops you sweating. This one fro Right Guard works really well I find.

Soap & Glory Hand Dream Super Cream:

I find this to be a really good hand cream. It doesn't sink in as fast as the Hand Food does but nonetheless it does good to the hands and smells nice as do most Soap & Glory products. This products is perfect to apply just as I head out the door on the way to work or University.

Soap & Glory Heel Genius:

I've mentioned this one a million and one times and I'm sure you guys know by now my feet have little to no circulation so after I get in bed I like to use this foot cream. I find that it has a nice cooling effect when I've been on my feet all day but not so cooling that I end up with cold feet. It also really helps smooth out dry skin. 

Botanics Micellar 3 in 1 Ultra Calm:

I keep this one by my bed because there are many a night when I've gone through a busy day from an early rise for University to working the night shift at work where by the time I'm at home in bed I just can't bring myself to do a full cleanse and this I can do in bed with no water which is just so much easier. I will say one thing though do no get this in your eyes! It stings like nothing I've ever felt sting before! 

Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel:

For the days when I'm not left near collapse by night time and I'm doing a proper cleanse I use this cleanser instead. I enjoy it so much it's been given a full review here so do go and give it a look.

Skinesis Overnight Facial:

This too has a full review so again here is the link if you want a indepth look at the product.

Laroche- Posay Effaclar Duo:

I think I've found my dream day cream in this product. It tackles both my blemishes and my dry skin, as well as evening out my skin tone in the long run of use. I really want to give this a full review in the near future so if that's something you'd be interested in then please do let me know. 

VO5 Nourish My Shine:

I've mentioned this one over on my Youtube a few times and this too has it's own review.

John Frieda Frizz Ease Serum Original:

If you have curly hair then you'll know that usually one serum is just not enough. This one I like to use when my hair is still wet to prevent it from drying into a frizzy disaster. It works very well and I'd say that with the amount of heat I've been using on it lately it must be part of the reason my hair is not covered in split ends at the moment.

The Body Shop Peppermint Cooling Foot Spray:

I know you may be bored of reading this by this point but here is the full review of this wonderful little spray. I've been using this so much more lately since I've been going on so many nights out with my friends lately. 

LUSH  Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter:

I'll admit I've been using this product less and less lately but I still keep it by my bedside for when my nails are in dire need of some moisture. It's a very oil based product so I only use it when I won't be touching anything for a long time because it takes a long while to sink in. I also use this on my heels, elbows and knees whenever I want to boost up their moisture levels too. 

The Body Shop Vitamin E Night Cream:

This is a lovely night cream. It's thick but does not sit uncomfortably on the skin and when I wake up my face doesn't feel weighed down with product instead it feels well moisturized and it has sunk in well. I'd say unless you have very oily skin this would work pretty well for all skin types.

Khiel's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avacado:

I've not been using this one for very long but I've fast fallen in love with it. It's an extremely thick formula which takes only a tiny amount of product to cover  both under eyes. It becomes almost gel like in the way it sits on the skin after use and leaves you waiting for a little while before you're able to put make up on but the wait is very much worth it. I've found not only that the condition of my under eyes is much better since I've been using it but also that my makeup sits so much better and lasts so much longer too.

Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Balm:

I've had this for so long and I'm still so close to the top of the tub. It lasts forever and you need the tiniest amount. I try to limit myself to before bed and first thing in the morning when it comes to lip balms so my lips don't become immune to the product and this one is so lovely. It's helped to heal my lips from many a dry spell and I'd recommend giving it a go if you fancy treating yourself soon.

New Look Haul! | EJEbeauty

Looks like I'm making a habit of this making videos thing doesn't it? I've really enjoyed it so far and here's my latest offering, hope you guys enjoy it! 

xxx

Thoughts on Feminism:

Happy International Women's Day everyone!

This is a post that I've wanted to write for a very long time and I thought what better day than today? I'm fully aware this may be a controversial one and I'd just like to stress that these are my opinions and if you disagree then you are more than entitled to do so.

First thing's first my understanding of what a Feminist is. To me a feminist is someone who strives for social, political, economic and cultural rights for everyone. to reiterate that's everyone, both men and women. A feminist to me is not someone who doesn't shave their legs, not a lesbian, not someone who wants to be a man nor a man hater (these are just some of the things I've been called).

I'd also like to address those who say feminism is not needed in these countries. We already have the vote and we already have access to education after all. These people are wrong in my opinion. Yes women in Western culture have  a lot more rights then we do in the underdeveloped world. And yes those countries where a girl has little to no access to education and is expected to be nothing more than a cooking, cleaning and baby making machine are in desperate need of a different type of feminism than we do. Although in this country it is proven that women still to this day do not have equal rights. On average we do not get paid the same for the same work, the same things are not expected of men than they are of women and this needs to change. My little sister came home from school the other day and told me that her Physical Education lessons consist of Yoga, Gymnastics and the new edition of cheer leading, whilst the boys at her school play football, and rugby. She told me he would love to play football but her teachers told her that only the boys play it. How on earth is this equal?

Don't get me wrong I love pink, and makeup and doing my hair and wearing dresses. These are my choices I don't like these things because I am a girl. I also love to go to Rugby matches, so what? There are many women out there could never see themselves in a dress or who love playing football and frankly why shouldn't they? There should be no difference in male and female activities in my eyes. If a man wants to wear makeup or doesn't like sports then there are some groups of people who would laugh and attack him for this calling him a girl. Now first off since when was being a "girl" a bad thing and secondly why does this make him a girl?

I don't really know what will come of this post if anything at all but I just wanted to add my thoughts to the mix. Whether you agree with me or not when I'd love to hear your comments. Does feminist include mens rights in your eyes as it does in mine? Let me know.

I'll leave you with this video that went around last year, I really enjoy it.

xxx

Currently Coveting #1:

I've been into a real mix of drugstore and high end lately and there's a few products that I just can't get out of my mind. Here's what's been topping my lust list lately...


Barry M Kohl Pencil in Navy Blue:

I booked my tickets to Reading Festival in February and since then I've been pinning festival hair, makeup and fashion on a festival devoted Pinterest board ever since. With that in mind what better time than a festival to try out some fun and bright looks with eyeliner? Also since it's a festival I'd prefer to go for a cheaper brand so they don't get lost!

Beauty UK Eyeshadow Palette in Earth Child:

This is actually an eye shadow palette I bought myself a very long time a go. In fact I think it was my first eye shadow palette and lately I've been missing it a lot. I loved the colours and the colour pay off too. This would be the perfect every day palette if you're just starting out in make up.

Shu Uemura Eyelash Curlers:

Are there any bloggers that haven't raved about these eyelash curlers? I really think I should give them a go soon especially since the ones I'm currently using are near breaking point. One of the only things that put me of is the fact they're twenty pounds, I've heard it's worth the splurge though so I'm sure I'll be picking them up soon.

Bobbi Brown Blush:

I'll be honest I'm really not too fussy about the colour I'd like lately, I'd really like to give these a go though because everyone I know who owns one says they're amazing blushers. I feel like one day a Bobbi Brown blush would make a nice little high end treat for myself. If you guys have any colour recommendations then please let me know!

Marc Jacobs - Daisy:

I've been obsessing over this perfume for years. Those borrowed spritz's from friends and sneaky sprays in shops have been keeping the obsession alive for years but I don't actually know how it's taken me so long to decide I really do need to pick it up! I'm going to finish off a few perfumes that I've almost finished up so I can justify buying a bottle.

Are there any products you've been lusting after lately?

xxx

February 2015 Monthly Favourites | EJEbeauty

A new video came up tonight. I know it's perhaps a little late to be putting up my favourites but better late than never. This month I've tried out a different format, I've mixed in my personal favourites too. Let me know if you like things that way because I'm interested to know.

xxx

My Fitness Update February:

It's been an up and down Month fitness wise I'll be honest. I've really kept up with my excersize though, which is something I'm proud of, although I do have to admit that there was a week or so mid-month that I was really dreading excersizing. I powered through though and now I'm seeing the benefits I'm beginning to fall back in love with it again. My routine hasn't changed much at all so I won't bother retyping all of that again, you can just check out last months fitness post for that one. I have been doing much more walking around this month too though. I really enjoy walking not only for excersizing but also for the fresh air that comes with it.

On the flip side to all those benefits however, I don't think I've had a month eating this much junk in a very long time. Dominoes orders, midnight chocolate raids and chocolate spread on toast for breakfast you name it I ate it. I'd say that with the increase in excersize and increase in junk food my body has stayed the same if not very subtly improved. The bad foods I've eaten seem to have had their impact on my skin instead.

All in all like I said an up and down month. This month I'm most proud of the definition I'm beginning to see in my arms and least proud of the bad food I've been eating. My goal for next month are to eat much less rubbish. I think I'm going to set myself a goal at the end of each month for the next one but instead of just focusing on the bad I also want to mention what I'm most proud of so I have the chance to be proud of my achievements.

xxx