CLARISONIC DIAIRIES

Me (looking dorky + my mega round face) and my Clarisonic Mia (£120)

This is a *really* expensive purchase for me. But a long term investment I hope *looks at my DLSR*. I've always heard good things about it but I never thought I needed it. Fast forward to my favourite YouTubers having one, constant battle with dry patches and an ASOS discount code floating around.....the face toothbrush was mine.

Back story: my skin is for the most part is OK - occasional break out maybe once a month but nothing to complain about.

My main issue is my oily t-zone. And I mean really oily. I'm kind of hoping my skin type will change as I get older but I think I've inherited my mums skin..... her skins still really oily at 48! The Clarisonic doesn't claim to reduce oiliness but if I'm cleaning my skin properly, hopefully the skincare products I do use will work better and improve on that situation.

My second issue is flaky skin. The easy and cheaper solution is just to exfoliate (I mix bicarbonate soda with face wash and it does make your skin squeaky clean) BUT it's still a constant struggle because it only lasts a couple of days before the dry patches reappear..... and you can't hide flaky lizard skin (I get it all over - and it's most noticeable after foundation) - it's just gross.

Also I have to say I'm sorry there's no photos of my bare skin for 'before and afters' but I think you guys can take my word for it if its working or not. If anything I'm going to be pissed if nothing major happens!

AND if you wondered why my skin looks 'OK' in photos, I just hide my gross skin texture with lighting and flash ;)

I'm aiming to use it maybe twice a week for a deep cleanse because I hear people can get hooked with it and it can actually do more harm than good to go hardcore sonic-cleansing mad. Aim is good skin= less foundation. Win. Well, that's the idea.

28*/03/12 (first time): Can't believe how much additional make-up it has taken off after my initial make-up cleanse off (Liz Earle's C&P). So all this time whilst I was thinking my skin is clean -  it's not!  It's got ridden of my dry patches and I've been mainly concentrating the brush on my open pores/t-zone area to see if there will be any differences.

9/04/12: Still no purging! I'm still on my Easter break (aka lazy week) so I've only whipped out my Clarisonic if I've been wearing make-up. Skin texture has definitely changed. Much smoother and I'd say 95% of my dry patches have gone and not reappeared. No change on the oiliness but I've used a new product that has coincidentally helped  with that (Invisible Zinc face and body - apparently it's the zinc!)

21/04/12: Still really impressed. No purging.... huzzah! My skin is probably the best condition it has been for years and I *really* don't think it could of been achieved if without the Clarisonic. My skin is more luminous and my dry patches are so much better- nowhere near as bad as it were. Note: sorry if I sound really LAME. I am really this lame and cheesy.

Hey guys, I kept this purchase on the low because I was a bit skeptical and wanted to test it for awhile before I shared my thoughts on it. And..... so far it's been a good investment!

I don't think my skin could be like it is right now if I had just carried on with my old routine - which I'd say is quite 'intense' for a 20 year old anyway - damn you blogging world for making me aware of these lotions and potions!

I'd 100% recommend it to anyone who is wanting to improve their skin texture and just to really deep cleanse the skin.

If you have 'OK' skin and your current routine isn't helping you go to the 'YAY' skin mode..... go for it and incorporate a Clarisonic into your routine!

L.F RAMBLES - I MET GARETH PUGH

Queuing up for the talk *_*

I'm the one in all black with the brown Aztec style bag on the right. The guy next to me was a photographer  papping at Newcastle's 'street style' offering. I knew I should of made some effort because the photos will probably emerge on the 'net at some point of me looking like a black sheep amongst the fashion students..... which you can kind of see already. FAIL.

Back to Pugh and McDowell!

Stalker shot

Stalker shot 2

First of all... YES I WENT INTO FAN GIRL MODE. Which is: I get giddy, smile a lot (for me to is rare - unless I'm drunk or I 'like like' you) and say "OMG!" repeatedly like a prepubescent teen. No offence. 
It's one of them very surreal moments when you meet someone in real life who you've always really admired.

I remember first seeing his work around GCSE/A-level time and I was just amazed. It really was something new and innovative. No real heavy references to the past just a strong new wave of Pugh vision. And, the boys done good since graduating 9 years ago and now showing in Paris with a strong cult following. 

The talk was part of Fashion Fringe's tour and it was an hour long conversation with founder Colin McDowell with a short Q&A session with the audience at the end.

It was a really fascinating talk, with memories from the past, his opinions on the fashion world and how he's got to where he is now. 

For someone with such a strong conviction with his aesthetic, it was kind of charming to find him kind of quiet/shy (he loosened up after a couple glasses of wine) and very modest.
He made a point that he doesn't kiss ass with the industry and he hates fashions designers obsession with celebrity culture/social media. He just wants to be a designer. And I like that about him.

He stuck around at the end for a tiny bit and I managed to sneak a quick question (he was literally walking out) on how he made his contacts in the beginning, did he have to do the chasing or did his work make people come to him? His answer was something along the lines of they come to you, just do your own thing (my memory sucks).

Yep, that's my story! Have you guys ever met someone you've always really admired? 

L.F RAMBLES - NOSEY

 With (obvs just an example of what it might look like)....

or without! I'm wearing MAC's extended play also.. one of my fav' muted reds that doesn't say POW! AND I'm in my pj's... don't judge.

Ugh, I'm having one of those impulses again. Basically this girl with a nose ring popped up on my Facey wall and now I kind of want one. Talk about being easily influenced (I'm not usually this bad). What do you guys think? It's a tad 'hipster' or 'hippy chick'..... which I'm neither but I kind of like it, even though my nose ain't exactly my favourite feature.
I go home for Easter in two weeks so I'll get it done then if I decide to. I have to consult the parentos first though - good daughter here. And if they say no, I'll use the "I'M 20 YEARS OLD THOUGH!" card ;)

L.F RAMBLES - UPDATE

My first ever pub crawl! I know I'm about 2 years too late...

KEY PRODUCTS:

DANIEL SANDLER WATERCOLOUR CREME-ROUGE BLUSHER - SOFT PINK

URBAN DECAY EYE SHADOW - GREEN GODDESS

SLEEK 'BAD GIRL' (GOD, I HATE THE NAME) PALETTE - DARK GREEN AND MATTE BLACK

MAYBELLINE EYESTUDIO LASTING DRAMA GEL LINER- BLACK

MAC TINTED LIP CONDITIONER - POPSTER

SHU UEMURA EYELASH CURLERS

BOURJOIS FLOWER PERFECTION AND 10 HOUR SLEEP EFFECT FOUNDATION MIXED TOGETHER

Day 2 of boozing! Excuse the hair, I'm growing out my fringe because it is too high maintenance. It's at that growing out stage where it won't sweep to the side by it self, so I have to do this Willow Smith-esque whipping hair motion constantly. 
KEY PRODUCTS:
MAC BLUSHER - STYLE
MAC PRO LONGWEAR FOUNDATION (ON ITS LAST LEGS, UNDECIDED IF I SHOULD REPURCHASE OR NOT)
BOBBI BROWN CORRECTOR - LIGHT PEACH
SMASHBOX WATERPROOF SHADOW LINER - FAN CLUB
REVLON MATTE EYE SHADOW - VINTAGE LACE

For none serious make-up posts my bedroom wall will be the backdrop so you guys can see more of my 'personality'. What you see behind me stuff is uni work I accidentally sent to the printers.

I've not been out out (as in town/clubs) since my birthday which was about 2 months ago. This is unheard of in uni' FRESHER world but hey I am self-proclaimed hermit, I do have friends don't worry... I sometimes get called "mysterious enigma" by them... how exotic. I thought it'd be cool for you guys to see what make-up I actually wear outside my 'blog world'.

W MARCH EDITION (£5.00), LOVE AND POP S/S 2012 (£6.00)

Indulging in my naughty editorial tear sheet collecting obsession - I have a cupboard full of magazines and tear sheets waiting to be framed one day *le sigh*.

I've learnt if you really want something and you won't ever get the chance to own it again (well there's Ebay but I aint paying no sky high price hike).... BUY IT. 

I know I look like a drunk mofo but this captures the make-up! Oh sacrifices. 

Anyone else ever wanted to shave off their eyebrows so they could draw whatever style they wanted everyday? I can still dream. 

You know when see someone with cool make-up and you feel compelled to copy it? I got it whilst watching AdoraBatBrat. Mines just vaguely inspired by her. NO-ONE can rock the Gothic style like her.

Manic Panic - Enchanted Forest

The secret is heat! Blast it with heat dryer and it'll be vivid. Though the up keep is too much for me.... looks nice for a couple of days then the FADE (my fault because I wash my hair too much). The goth look above is at the washed out stage (yuck.)

Hey guys, I've not done one of these 'L.F rambles' in ages..... I basically just talk about stuff outside 'L.F MAKE-UP' world.

I think I have roughly 5 weeks of uni' left before first year is over. WTF. Time has majorly flown! I'm starting to enjoy my course (graphic design) now too, I feel more comfortable with some aspects of it now and especially when you reference to 'geeky' terminology only people 'in the know' would know. It's all a bit clichey.

I wasn't ever going to quit but 2 months ago I didn't feel it was 'really me' and I was a bit 'down' about it. 

I get to choose a specific pathway soon - still undecided between illustration (technically isn't graphic design) or publishing which is more about layouts and typography *I think*. I don't know yet.

I know I said I would get more people on board on this blog too - I'm working on it. I'm only starting to 'branch out' a bit friends wise, especially whilst I was in my 'down' stage I hardly went into the studio to work which isn't ideal if I wanted to get to know my class mates.... actually I don't think they know I do make-up on a 'serious' level or about this blog actually (it's hard to bring up and I'm not someone to brag about stuff I do), no-ones ever mentioned anything to me. Pretty weird if they do read this but I don't know they do (which happened in high school and art college).

Lastly major hello to my new followers too - I always get a buzz when someone enjoys reading my blog and decides to follow *waves*.

My small giveaway is still running just click here and comment 'enter me' for a chance to win free stuff :)

PHOTO UPDATE 4

 I decided to venture into Primark for once

Why I don't go there often:

1. My spot-a-gem eye isn't so great there

2. The quality isn't that great.... *coff* most things made out of cheap nasty polyester *coff*

3.  Too crowded

4. Get knocked down by buggies

ANYWAY I found one thing which is the above. Oversized burgundy jumper with grey polka dots (£12.99). And surprisingly I got a lot of compliments when I wore it out. A gem I think. 

 This sums me up. I just look moody.

Some light reading.....NOT

 Have an essay to do.... blah. Decided to beat the rush and read some of the reading list before everyone takes them out. The last book is to cheer me up and give me inspiration for looks :)

 A bit of my wall. The collage 'poster' was part of a brief to sum up ourselves

FROM L-R:

ALEX BOX

THE KILLS

RODARTE

JESSICA STAM/ PAT MCGRATH

MARC JACOBS

EGON SCHIELE

I'm *trying* not to eat too much junk but yeah.. I picked up these in Morrisons today. BAD L.F. 

 I needed a Kinder Egg shell for a project and inside was these little penguin fellas from Happy Feet 2. Yay for penguin with jazz hands hahaa

Morris and nails are Essie's- Angora Cardi