Skin Top Tips- dot.dot.dot.

Hello everyone!

Recently my skin has been quite unstable and irritated. After doing some research online, i found some little tips and since sticking religiously to these tips, I've noticed a massive change in my skin, and I hope you will too!

1. Drink more water-
 I think this has made the most difference in my skin! Instead of my usual tea, I now go for a mug of hot lemon water.
benefits:
maintain your immune system
source of vitamin C
fights acne
antibacterial, antiviral
plays a vital role in the formation of collagen (strengthens skin)

2.  Cut down on milk-
 I don't mean 'never set eyes on a carton of milk ever again', simply reduce your intake. This has been a hard one for me, as I'm used to eating cereal for breakfast every morning. Now though, I'm enjoying having bagels with banana and honey on top! I much prefer this for breakfast, and I receive one of my five-a-day!




3.  Use a deep cleanser-
 Using a deep cleanser morning and night has also made a great impact on my skin; it feels cleaner, fewer blackheads and less irritated. I highly recommend this one Decleor Cleanser Link as it I feel like it does the job perfectly but doesn't leave you will awful tight and red skin. If you're looking for a cheaper alternative, I also recommend Simple's Foaming Cleanser which is also really great for sensitive skin.

4. Don't Touch your face!
 Everything is contaminated with bacteria! Your phone, keys, money, hands, doorhandles (etc) are covered in bacteria which are just waiting to infect your sensitive face and give you a break out! Forget resting your head in your hands when you're tired, instead sit up straight!



Hope these tips will help you too and let me know in the comments if you have any other helpful tips to share with others!



Goodbye!

Hannah
xxx

Keep Calm, Drink Tea and Read Books!

Favourite Music- dot.dot.dot.

Favourite music

Oh dear! It's been such a stressful week, I just want to live in tumblr; it's so much cooler than real life. But when I'm not drowning in tumblr pages, I'm usually listening to my music.
Since I got spotify premium for Christmas (btw: awesome present idea for the absolutely anyone!- as long as they have ears! ) I have been listening to lots of new albums and artists, most of whom I am now obsessed with! I just love it when you find something cool and you just want to shout it to the world 'this is my jammmm!'? Well that's me everyday on the way to school, ahhh!


Note: I have a very diverse range of music preferences!

1. Gabriella Aplin- English Rain
Omg how beautiful is the cover, ok I'll admit that I sometimes just play the song to have the picture as my lock screen... But seriously the songs are fabulous and her voice is insanely magical. I almost fall into a trance listening to the music, and it never fails to put me in a good, relaxed mood.



2. The Temper Trap- song: Sweet Disposition

Ok. No hate for the throwback but I have recently rediscovered this song and am just in love. I urge you to listen to it, with an open mind and just enjoy the jamming bits, the quiet bits and the whole beautiful song.



3. Catfish and the Bottlemem- fave song: Kathleen

Funky band name huh! Bit more of a rocky album but great all the same. Call me strange but I love listening to this album when I'm running; it helps me get powered up and motivated. (Also I like to imagine a little band in my head playing the songs and shouting me to run faster...)






Please go and check out the music and tell me what you think about it in the comments! Also don't forget to share with me some of your favourite artists at the minute!
See you soon!

Goodbye!

Hannah
Xxx

Latest Favourite Books - dot.dot.dot.

Hello Everyone!

Hope you are all doing well! I've been quite recently with exams and work, so I just wanted to make a quick blog post recommending some books I've been reading recently. I've forgotten how much I actually enjoy reading and I definitely recommend just taking an hour out of your day to sit down with a good book and a cup of tea. I find it really helps take my mind off everything else and helps push all the stress to the back of my mind.
Here are some of my favourite books I've read recently;

included are introductions to the books

Salvage- Keren David

This book really demonstrates what damaging effects humans can have on a child, leaving them with the burden for the rest of their lives. I really connected with the characters and empathised greatly with their situations.
"Aidan Jones was my brother. But I couldn't really remember his face. I couldn't remember talking to him or playing with him. He was just a gap, an absence, a missing person.
Before she was adopted by a loving family and raised in a leafy Home Counties town, Cass Montgomery was Cass Jones. Her memories of her birth family disappeared with her name. But when her adopted family starts to break down, a way out comes in the form of a message from her lost brother, Aidan. Having Aidan back in her life is both everything she needs and nothing she expected. Who is this boy who calls himself her brother? And why is he so haunted?"




A Visual Journey- Ed Sheeran

I enjoyed this book mainly because of the incredible illustrations done by Philip Butah, but it was also fascinating to understand the journey Ed has travelled, to be where he is today.
"With words by Ed Sheeran and illustrations by his childhood friend, artist Phillip Butah (who produces artwork for Sheeran's albums and singles), and accompanying photos, Ed Sheeran: A Visual Journey is an exclusive, fully authorised, first-person account by Ed of how he became an internationally renowned singer-songwriter.
In the book, Ed explores his early musical experiences and influences as well as his time recording and touring, right up to the release of his second album, 'x'. The book reveals what drives and inspires Ed as he continues to evolve as an artist, while coping with stratospheric success, and is an honest account of what it takes to make it in the music business."




I am Malala- Malala Yousafzai

What an incredible woman. I am truly awestruck by her determination and courage to stand up for everything she believes. Her powerful words are inspirational.
"In 2009 Malala Yousafzai began writing a blog on BBC Urdu about life in the Swat Valley as the Taliban gained control, at times banning girls from attending school. When her identity was discovered, Malala began to appear in both Pakistani and international media, advocating the freedom to pursue education for all. In October 2012, gunmen boarded Malala's school bus and shot her in the face, a bullet passing through her head and into her shoulder. Remarkably, Malala survived the shooting.
At a very young age, Malala Yousafzai has become a worldwide symbol of courage and hope. Her shooting has sparked a wave of solidarity across Pakistan, not to mention globally, for the right to education, freedom from terror and female emancipation."




I hope this inspired you to grab a good book and take a break from real life.
Let me know in the comments what books you recommend, I would love to hear!

Goodbye for now!

Hannah
xxx

DIY Nail Varnish Storage

Hello again!

Recently I've been getting so frustrated about all my nail varnish collection. Until now it's been disorganised  in an old shoebox, and I was finding it difficult to find the colour I actually wanted.

So whilst I was procrastinating on Pintrest, I came across this great idea as a way to store nail varnishes neatly.

(btw, the ones in my box without colours on are either top coats, base coats or nail caviar.)

Here's what you will need:

• Hole punch
• Nail Varnish
• Dotting Tool / cocktail stick / tooth pick
• White stickers
• Cute box (or decorate)

Firstly you will need to take your white stickers and hole punch them to stick on the top of the nail varnish. This will help the colour of the nail varnish be bold.

Using the dotting tool, take a small amount the nail varnish and dot it onto the sticker.

Leave it to dry and then place in your beautiful box (I got mine from a stationary shop, alternatively you could use pretty wrapping to line your box!). 

So far I'm loving being able to see all my polishes arranged so neatly and I find it so satisfying (sad I know!). I hope you find this post useful and maybe inspire you to have a sort your nail varnishes (and life!) out.

Goodbye!

Hannah

xxx

Happy New Year! - 3 Words

Happy New Year! - 3 Words

Hello again!

Firstly I want to say a rather late Merry Christmas; I hope you all had a great day with family, irrelevant of your beliefs! I actually spent new year in Gozo, Malta in an amazing house in the hills (expect a blog post about Malta soon).

The last year has been a tough one to me for many reasons, but I'm so excited to start a fresh; and leave certain people behind. This year I really want to stay positive, because last year I found it difficult to keep smiling with my head up.

Instead of making cliché 'New Year's Resolutions' I've decided to choose three words to focus on, and use as a reminder of how  I actually want to live my life.

THANK- Be thankful for everything and everyone in life and make sure they know how much they mean to you.

LIVE- Enjoy everything and say 'yes' to opportunities that you might not previously accepted, if you know you will benefit from them in the future.

MOTIVATE- I think it's so important to enjoy what you're doing, but if it's something that you understandably don't enjoy (eg. work) try and see the positives in it to help you push through and achieve. This year I feel I must motivate, encourage and compliment those around me more often too.


I wish you all the best for the new year in health and happiness, and don't forget to appreciate the world around you.

Goodbye!

Hannah
xxx

Chritmas Nails!

Christmas Nail Art

Who's enjoying the winter holidays? *raises hand* ME!
It's been great to lounge around in pyjamas for the majority of the day and watch back to back episodes of Gossip Girl... :)

With all the free time on my hands I've been pampering myself and painting my nails regularly. Here's a cute nail art design that's perfect for Christmas time!

Colours:

China Glaze-   Tip Your Hat (81931)
China Glaze-   Snow (80411)
Ciaté-    Ditch The Heels (PP060)
Barry M-    Green Berry (426)
Green glitter polish

• Paint all nails except your fourth with two coats of Tip Your Hat
• Paint the fourth with two coats of Snow
• With a dotting tool, draw a ring using the two shades of green and layer with the green glitter.
• When those layers have dried, use Green Berry and Ditch The Heels with a dotting tool to draw a small bow on the wreath
• Don't forget to finish it with a clear top coat!

Merry  Christmas! I hope you all have a great time and enjoy all the food and family time.

Goodbye!

Hannah 

xxx