THE ORDINARY SKINCARE: LACTIC ACID 5%, HA 2%

The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5%. HA 2% - £5.50

I stumbled across The Ordinary brand whilst doing my routine browse of ASOS and I couldn't believe the range of products they were selling - and for the price tag too! I quickly did a little bit of research and settled on the Lactic Acid 5% and HA 2% serum.

Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and Hyaluronic Acids (HAs) are all the rage in skin care products at the moment. Lactic acid is an AHA and is said to exfoliate your skin which over time should improve texture, fade pigmentation and reduce fine lines, Whereas HAs hydrate your skin and also has anti ageing properties. Having dull, dry and congested skin myself, I always wanted to try Hydraluron however I couldn't justify splashing the cash knowing there was a (pretty high) chance it could lead to my eczema flaring up. So I was so excited to bag a bargain at only £4.95 (10% student discount holla).

With this particular product, it says to apply once a day and preferably at night. The product is dispensed through a little dropper, helping you to get the correct amount you need - which isn't much!
I apply this after I've washed my face and follow up with moisturiser. I was a little concerned this might make my face feel tight/dry but it hasn't so far!

I have been using this for about a week now and I feel as though I've noticed improvements mainly in my skin texture; I don't have half as many little bumps as I used to! I haven't noticed too much of an improvement in terms of hydration yet. I've been make up free for the past week due to revision so I think I will notice more when I start wearing it again (next fri!!!).

My only issue with this product is that I have noticed a few little spots on my face recently. I don't tend to get little ones, only huge horrible ones so this is a change for me! I don't know if its due to this product or stress from exams, but I'll be sure to keep you updated!

Overall I have been really enjoying this product and will definitely carry on using it! I really want to try a few others from their range too.

Have you tried any acid based skin care?

Love, Liv x

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DEALING WITH EXAM STRESS

Yes, my tea really is that milky.

Exam season has reared it's ugly head once again. No one enjoys it, no matter how much you love the subject you're studying. The library's full. Your room's a mess as you don't have time to tidy it. Your mind says hummus and pitta but your summer bod says salad with no dressing. Overall it's just a very, very stressful time. Whether you're doing GCSEs, A-levels or Finals, everyone can benefit from these top tips to de-stress whilst studying.

Take a break
Revision breaks are an absolute must. You can't sit there and concentrate on one subject for hours on end, it's just not physically possible. Scientists say you should adopt the Pomodoro technique - 20 minutes of work and 5 minutes of rest. Although I don't use this technique religiously, I do make sure I have plenty of breaks and switch up the subjects I'm studying as to not get bored.

Exercise
Now I'm not asking you to run a marathon or do an intense session in the gym (but if you're up for that then GO YOU, BOO!) but I find getting up off my arse really helps motivate me.. even if that is just to walk to the fridge. Jokes aside, walking in the fresh air on a nice day can really help to clear your mind and help you to feel refreshed. I like to walk around the local park on my revision break - kill 2 birds with one stone!

Don't burn yourself out
You don't want to burn the candle at both ends during the exam period. If you work better in the mornings, perhaps go to bed a little earlier to ensure you get enough sleep. Similarly if you work better in the evenings, there's no point finishing your work at 3am then trying to wake up at 7am! You'll just be exhausted for the rest of the day and end up getting less done that if you'd woken up at 11am.

Stay hydrated
Staying hydrated is really important for brain function, and being dehydrated can give you headaches which are not fun when you're studying! Keep a bottle of water by your desk (preferably a big one so you don't have to fill it up) and remember to just sip on it every now and then. Your whole body will thank you for it.

Have something to look forward to
This can be in the short term or the long term, but it will make you feel more motivated to get your work done sharpish! For example, maybe have your favourite meal for dinner after a long day of studying. Or even plan a night out with your besties after your last exam! I've got a holiday planned at the end of June with my friends to Malaga and I can't wait. Remember, exam period is only temporary but the results are permanent...

So there we have my top five tips on how to make exam season a little bit less stressful. Of course, it's nothing groundbreaking but I think we all need reminding every now and then! 

I've got my end of first year exams in a few weeks and I'm so nervy, praying the Dentistry Gods will help me.

Have you got any studying tips?

Love, Liv x

NYX LIP PRODUCTS: MATTE VS GLOSSY

L-R: Butter gloss in Fortune Cookie (£5.50), Soft Matte Lip Cream in London (£6.00), Intense butter gloss in Apple Dumpling (£6.00), Lip Lingerie in Baby Doll (£7.00)

2017 is definitely the year of the gloss; beautifully glossy lips, eyes and skin are all over social media at the moment and I am loving it. Nothing better than a slapping a bit of lip gloss on and being good to go rather than being paranoid throughout the day that you have the dreaded crusty lip (cringe). Nevertheless, matte lips do have their place in my make up stash as I'm sure they do in yours too! For this reason, I thought I'd give you the lowdown on some of my go to glosses and most used mattes. Only a coincidence they're all from NYX - and all nudes of course!

Starting with my first EVER product from NYX, the Soft Matte Lip Cream in London (£6.00)is a brown nude that dries down to a matte finish. This one has such a lovely texture, it's not drying at all but comfortable on the lips and ever so easy to apply. There will be no flaky lips in sight with this one. The only downside is that it doesn't have the longevity of liquid lipsticks so you will have to reapply this during the day.

The NYX Lip Lingerie (£7.00) products had such major hype surrounding them, being the first affordable set of nude liquid lippies and all. I got the shade Baby Doll which is a light pink-nude, perfect for everyday. The formula lasts a hell of a lot longer compared to the SMLC but this does come with the added dryness.. You can combat this easily with a slick of lip balm underneath and a good exfoliator beforehand! I prefer to pat this into my lips for a lovely effortless glam look.

Now for the newest additions to my collection... the glosses! My absolute fave has to be the Butter Gloss in Fortune Cookie (£5.50). It's the ultimate nude gloss that makes your lips look SO plump that you could give Kylie Jenner a run for her money! It's perfect on its own for an everyday look or layered over the Lip Lingerie in Baby Doll. This has the longevity of a standard gloss but fades really nicely and is soooo easy to apply.

Onto the Butter Gloss's more potent sister, it's the Intense Butter Gloss in Apple Dumpling (£6.00). This gloss is extremely thick, verging on sticky but I love it nevertheless. It can be a bit of a mare when it's windy up here in Sheffield as you will get your hair and about one million other things stuck to it, but that's a sacrifice I'm willing to take. I tend to use this alone or just with a little bit of lip liner and it looks gorg. I'm tempted to get more of a nude shade next time as I think it would look really pretty.

I've got some of the new Lip Lingerie shades on my wish list, have you?

Love, Liv x

NEW FAVE ALERT: FLEEK LASHES "CAMI"

FLEEK LASHES - CAMI - £6.99

Let us take a moment to appreciate these eyelashes *insert praying emoji here*.

As of late I've been ditching my precious falsies on uni nights out as they end up half way down my chin about an hour into pre drinks. Or worse, down the toilet in Paris after having an emosh chat with one of my uni BFFs. Either way, due to my false lash abstinence during term time, I get giddy with the thought of a classy (as classy as a manc gal will ever be) night out on Bank Hol where I don't have to worry about getting a Blue Pint in my hair and feeling sticky for the next 2 weeks. And of course with any classy night out comes with a fab pair of fluttery lashes. I opted for the Fleek Lashes in the style 'Cami'. They're lovely and wispy so you can actually see your eyeshadow! The band is very thin so no need to go Winehouse style on the liner.  This particular style were a bit of a pain to apply so I would definitely wear these a few times around the house so they mould to your eye shape - you don't want them pinging off as you drink your Pornstar, do you?

Fleek Lashes in 'Cami' retail for £6.99 and can be found at www.falseeyelashes.co.uk!

Thank you for reading huns, what are your fave pair of falsies?

Liv x