Hello, Avon Calling.

There is honestly no happy medium with me when it comes to skincare; I either don't use anything and get breakouts and rough skin or I decide to try every beauty product out there to cure it. I think you can already guess I'm in the middle of the latter stage so I have a few reviews coming up but todays post is about AVON.

I highly recommend Avon to anyone. If you've been living under a rock it's basically a beauty catalogue where normal everyday people become representatives to try and sell their products. The prices are ridiculous, everything is so affordable and every issue they have a new bunch of offers on, loads of gift sets and the quality is so good. For example what I'm about to talk about was 4 products for £5 (Absolute bargain!) Honestly, it's incredible. I personally haven't had any reason to complain, they're brilliant. Although I do wish I didn't have to wait a week for it to arrive and wish they didn't discontinue some of my favourite products!

Avon Care: Royal Jelly Face Cream For Very Dry Skin. 100ml.

Okay, so I wouldn't say my skin is that dry but the more suitable option for me was in Cocoa Butter and the smell of coconut just reeks and completely puts me off anything that includes it; shampoo, creams, food, ice tea. Yuck! Anyway I chose Royal Jelly. As I haven't used a cream in a long time I can already tell the difference in my skin, it's so much more hydrated and glowy like girls my age should have! FYI it's smells amazing.

Avon Care: Royal Jelly Hand Cream. 100ml.

I mean it only makes sense for me to go all out and purchase the hand cream in the same formula and scent. I've always been quite funny about my hands because I've always thought they were wrinkly and not very feminine and soft compared to my friends so there is no harm trying cream to see if it makes a difference. At first I wasn't sure, it made my hands felt a bit greasy but it's actually softened them and personally can see/feel a difference which is all that matters! Plus working next to a hospital I need something to keep those unwanted germs away!

The last 2 products I bought in the offer was:

Avon Naturals Hair Care Winter Nourishment Shampoo + Conditioner. 250ml (each)

Now, at the best of times my hair is very fussy with what products I use but even more so now I've cut my hair short, I'm much more paranoid about keeping it in a good condition. My hair mood changes and becomes victim to extreme weather conditions and with the wind and rain approaching I need something to protect it. Before even applying the products I tell you now it is the most amazing smelling shampoo and conditioner ever. The Vanilla and Pear scent is far from overpowering but it also doesnt have the after smell of soap and chemicals you usually get, it definitely reminds me of the colder months, I love it! I also love the condition my hair was left in without having to use half a bottle to make it at least that little bit smooth.

Avon products are generally my Holy Grail, because as I've said before I'm not a fan of spending extortionate amounts on products that aren't always worth it. I buy most of my lipsticks from there and can be on par with MAC for half the price, the nail polishes are instant dry and generally only need one coat usually costing from £3? How can you say no ey? Every issue there's at least one thing I want and I will rave to anyone who asks.

Happy Bargain shopping!

Just a pointer, Avon offers and prices do vary every issue but eventhough these were 4 products for £5 even seperately you can buy them all half price in Brochure 17. (Oct 2015) for under a tenner!

                                      

All of these opinions are my own, and I am not an Avon rep.

Katie x

This Week's Primark Bargain Revelations.

So I decided to take a little trip to Primark and pick up a few bits and bobs since I hadn't been there in a while and I was so impressed with their A/W range I wanted to buy the whole shop! I will go back and buy everything but I resisted and sticked to the basics I needed to get.

Okay, first up I picked up a 5 pack of Silver (White) hoops. 

I live and die in hoops to the point where they literally rust to my ear but I never feel the need to splash out on them. I am a huge fan of Primark jewellery, eventhough it's all plated gold and silver it doesn't green stain on your body, it doesn't look cheap and nasty and although they don't last forever, you can afford to replace them easily (plus I am prone to losing jewellery.) I thought I'd push the boat out and buy 5 so I can switch it up and they will last longer and the best bit is they were £1! Incredible, when I was going to spend £1.50 on one pair. (Disgraceful, I know!)

Keeping on the subject of earrings I bought these flower earrings in pastel pink. 

They are studs with a slight drop and they were super pretty and are the type to make any hair/make-up/outfit look that slightly bit more elegant. I also have my Nan's 90th coming up so I've bought a boho type maxi dress in the same colour so they match perfectly. They were only £2 and can wear them with anything. 

Next up, I bought the egg make-up sponge. 

Now, I purchased this for a reason. Everyone has hyped about the beauty blender for so long and at £1.50 this is a very similar, bank account friendly version. I have and will never comprehend paying out for the real one and as someone who has never got on with make-up brushes and use my hands, i thought this was the time to try it out. I've seen so many bad reviews and beauty snobs dissing it but personally, it might be because I've never used anything before, it applies my make-up evenly and so much better than I ever did and I can't complain. It doesn't absorb the water very much, which I find a plus because who wants a soggy face? The only thing I would say is the sponge does stain a little and it is harder than a sponge but I think people expect far too much considering the price. At £1.50 I will be repurchasing when needed. It's a major revelation for me.

It's Halloween next week so I had to end this post with the theme and my favourite purchase. Black, glittery, spider-web fashion nails.

I have to admit I squealed a little when I saw them, they were so cute and were only £1, I just had to buy them! Unlike some cheap nails, these actually contain nail glue instead of the crappy adhesive stuff which is a major plus. I've heard good news about Primark glue and it didn't disappoint. The nails were simple to apply, they immediately stuck and literally do not budge. (I only lost a few because they got stuck in my jean pocket!) The pointed edge are manageable and overall just add that subtle touch of Halloween spirit without going overboard. With 24 nails you can use them multiple times and even if one pops off theres enough glue to re-stick! Again, incredible for £1 and look at the quality!

So that's it. My satisfactory haul! 

Oh Primark, you never disappoint! 

Katie x

Dear 12 Year Old Me ...

Beaut Year 11 School Photo.

Dear 12 year old me,

You've just started your first year at Secondary School, to put it bluntly it's going to be an emotionally draining, rollercoaster ride and that's on a good day! But eventhough I came out alright, I survived, there are a few things I'd like to give you hints and tips on to make the school experience just that bit more bareable. 

• It is NOTHING like Primary school, not everyone is your friend. Just because they said hello to you doesn't mean you're suddenly in their clique, oh god no. Those "popular" groups you secretly want to impress and be a part of, they don't last long by belittling everyone. By Year 9 the majority of your year group would have integrated a bit like High School Musical so they are virtually unheard of by Year 11. Concentrate on the real friends you have made.

• Do not do that dreadful Bebo chav pose when you make your profile. Honestly, it is not worth the stick or hype. You will definitely regret it. HAHA.

• Brands you wear do not define you as a person. Without sounding like a middle-aged woman, this isn't a fashion show no matter how much everyone makes it one. It's school, we all wear the same uniform just in different ways, BE COMFORTABLE. Do not splash out on an ugly Helly Hanson coat or Nike trainers that will apparently go out of fashion within a week. Trust me, Primark will open soon in Plymouth and 90% of girls in your year will be rocking £3 envelope bags that you can't fit anything into. (WHO REMEMBERS THOSE BEAUTIES?)

• I'm all for being yourself but girl invest in some tweezers and stop shaving your monobrow, you will soon regret it and end up spending the rest of your teens trying to even out your brows, I wish I was told this sooner!!

• Girl, foundation and lippy will change your life but please you are pale as a snowflake, you need to use 000 or 001, don't raid your mothers or use 3 different Miss Sporty liquid foundations, absolute no no! And don't get me started on that pastel-pink-mixed-with-foundation lip shade.

• Hair. Now everyone suffered with the last little bowt of headlice in the first year but to prevent this, use Full Marks Mousse and wash your hair frequently WITH conditioner. Also your natural hair colour is bland and it needs taking care of but here's a little spoiler; by the time you are 16 you will be that dream blonde you've wished for. Maybe even invest in the colour sooner to avoid the ginger stage.

• Be more outgoing. Stop being so insecure, it makes you an easy target. Be comfortable in your own skin and if you know the answer to a question, girl put that hand up high! If some girl starts on you, don't be a push over, you are more intelligent and worth a million of that little wannabe. Rise above it, these girls and boys are not intimidating at all, they are no different from you they just have a gob on them and think it's big and clever to disrupt a class. FYI it's not at all. 

• Work hard. Doing all your homework, listening to the boring bits, even doing the "optional" classes will prove very beneficial in the future. Take every opportunity and choose your subjects wisely.

It's going to be okay. Life will give you obstacles and there will be rough times throughout but stick with your friends and be yourself and you can't go wrong. It's a long 5 years but it truely is the best days of your life so make the most of it.

20 year old Katie.

[Disclaimer: This is based on my experiences and lifestyle choices throughout school. All my own views and opinions.]

Time To Face The Chop

 

Over the past 3 years, I have become infamous for having the bleach blonde long hair but recently I have been getting bored and fed up with it. I have to use literally half a bottle of shampoo and conditioner to even make it feel smooth, it gets caught in EVERYTHING, it takes too long to dry and even more effort to style. As you may know, I can be very lazy but I think the final straw for me was when I was casually eating my dinner a few days ago and spaghetti sauce got stuck in it, I mean HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE?

Don't get me wrong I love my hair and the colour but I think it's time for a change, to get rid of my split ends and to give my hair a tone down and rest. It's also the perfect transition from teens to adulthood since in 21 in 4 months! Christ that's scary!

I think every now and again it's healthy to make a change so goodbye my long blonde mane, it was nice knowing you, it's been emotional! And hello my look. Debuted on my blog eeeek!

A massive thank you to my best friend Becky for braving the chop and change with me, you did an incredible job what a talented girl!

I haven't had shorter hair in such a long time and I'm searching for products that will really give it a boost and make it feel lush so any suggestions would be much appreciated!

Tweet me: @kayteepook

Email me: lifebeyondthetill@outlook.com

or leave a comment down below!

What do you think???

REVIEW // Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water

TIME TO FIGHT MY DRIED PRUNE SKIN!

I'm very lazy when it comes to looking after my skin, it tends to be very dry and I don't moisturise as much as I should and I barely take my make-up off at night which is really bad. I'm quite lucky in the sense I have never suffered with acne or been through the spotty teen phase, I just get the odd annoying spot every now and again but I'm also very cautious when it comes to choosing what to use; my skin does become prone to irritation especially from perfumed based products. But recently, I have really become determined to improve my skin care routine so I feel confident without make-up and prevent looking like one of The Twits, when I'm older.

I've decided to try out Garnier's Micellar Cleansing Water along with my Skin Therapy Slightly Fragranced Face Wipes that I already use (when I can be bothered) to get me motivated. When watching skin routines on YouTube so many vloggers rave about cleansing water being perfect for removing make-up and generally making your skin smoother, it also doesn't require rinsing, what's not to love?!

I've been applying it with a cotton wool pad in the morning to refresh my face before make-up and I've found my foundation applies alot better than it used to which is a major bonus point. Another plus is that it's bank account friendly with proven results. Sometimes you don't have to pay extortionate prices for the best outcomes.

However, I think when using it to remove make-up you have to take into consideration how heavy your make-up is and what type of products you use. Don't get me wrong it does the job but I must have gone through at least 6 cotton wool pads and it's time-consuming so I've been using a face wipe aswell to speed up the process.

I would recommend this product, and other cleansing waters as it makes your skin feel amazing and clean. If you wear minimal make-up this is perfect for you, however don't rely just on this if you enjoy applying alot more make-up especially eye make-up unless you have time and a bag full of cotton wool pads before you go to bed!

I will keep an update of my progress, I'm already seeing alot of difference and I've also purchased some face cream from Avon to treat my dry skin so I may do a review on how I get on with that aswell. 

Katie x

How To Stay Safe On Dating Sites/Apps.

Eharmony, Tinder, Grindr, POF, Love Match, even social media sites are being infamous for finding dates!

Gone are the days where you bump into a handsome stranger in the street, he spills coffee over you and you both fall madly inlove.

Okay, so even the most cliche Rom Coms are dated now and I expect even if they did make a film about 18/Female/UK seeking 40 year old millionaire, they'll leave out the part where 90% of the people you find online are NOT NORMAL.

This is why Catfish is also one of my favourite TV shows because they show the reality of meeting someone online and how a fantasy can be crushed by one (or in most cases a few!) lies. Because it's so easy to lie on the Internet right? How many of us got a social media account before we were 13 and changed our DOB, or clicked the "I Have Read The Terms and Conditions" box? At the time we had no idea how much that one lie can escalate.

As a single girl, of course I have experienced going on dates with someone I have met on social media and I've recently signed up to Plenty Of Fish to see whats out there because I've found having Tinder and swiping right if I like what I see is so degrading and how am I going to tell what kind of person they are by their Profile Pictures on Facebook?

This is what our society has come to, modern technology has reinvented the way we communicate with new people so here are a few tips from my own experience to help you:

• I'm all for giving everyone a chance, so treat it as if you're meeting someone for the first time in person, if they were in your opinion "ugly" you wouldn't just ignore them if they said hi would you?

• Flirty banter is the current phase but know your boundaries and retain your dignity. If the conversation becomes uncomfortably inappropriate too soon, get rid! You aren't going to find The One by recieving a d**k pic are you?

• If you do find you are liking him/her, protect yourself. Don't go all Nev and Max on the poor thing but before you get in too deep, know who you're talking to. It's a very small world, 9 times out of 10 someone you know is bound to know them or of them but just to be sure, double check it's not psycho Derek down the road luring on you.

• Meet them before committing to them. Someone's personality written down is far too generic. It's a fact of life, not everyone gets along even if you're consdered a "perfect match" online who enjoys long walks on the beach and napping; so does a dog!?

• IMPORTANT: When meeting for the first time, day dates are perfect or even going for a drink in a public place. That way you're in a secure environment and it's preventing yourself from any danger.

If I've missed anything out, you don't agree with something I've said or you have any further tips, please let me know. I think it's our responsibility to look out for eachother these days.

Katie x

REVIEW // Disney's Descendants.

I am a sucker for Disney, I have a Mickey and Minnie tattoo on my back and I have no shame sitting at home spending the afternoon watching Disney Channel. However, even I have to admit recently, the standards that were set growing up has not been entirely matched, (A Dog With A Blog anyone?!)

However, when I saw Descendants advertised I thought the concept was genius. As a new generation is being introduced to Disney, I think collaborating old favourites and creating children of the characters to reinvent the fairytales is such a good idea, although, the realisation that our favourite stories and characters are aging with us is very unnerving.

Directed by Kenny Ortega; the mastermind behind the phenomenon and complete guilty pleasure that is High School Musical, this in itself gives high hopes for the film. Cheesy pop numbers, cheorography, "forbidden love" what more could you want from a tween movie?!

Here is a bit of a back story to help you understand and bring you up to date;

20 years ago, the notorious Fairytale Villains were banished to live on The Island of The Lost, a prison like island. with no use of their powers and a barrier which prevented their escape. This meant the Princes and Princesses could finally live 'Happily Ever After' in The United States Of Auradon where Belle and The Beast rule the kingdom.

Villains of The Island Of The Lost

Now, the story begins 20 years on, where Ben, the son of King and Queen Belle and The Beast, grants that 4 of the villains offspring should be given a chance to experience life in Auradon and attend Auradon Prep where The Fairy Godmother is headmistress. (genius right??) Of course, the villains; Malificent, Snow Queen, Jafar and Cruella De Vil see this as their perfect opportunity to seek revenge and regain their evil status, but they can only do that with the power of The Fairy Godmother's wand.

We follow princess of evil Mal, prince-hungry Evie, resident thief Jay and dog-hating Carlos (use your shameless Disney knowledge to work out which child belongs to who) on their mission to retrieve the wand and free their parents from the Lost Island for good. But are they really bad or were they just born into it? You're gonna have to watch to find out!

The constant character references and inside jokes regarding the original stories makes my inner child squeal meaning that although this musical movie is designed for tweens and children, Adults and parents will enjoy it just as much for that reason alone.

Of course, you can't expect it to be completely mind-blowingly awesome, sometimes the acting and the jokes are a bit questionable but take it with a pinch of a salt, after all it's a children's fantasy played by teenagers who probably aren't even old enough to remember these classic fairytales!

Overall, the catchy songs (I've had 'Rotten To The Core' in my head for days!) and the credible, classic to modern storyline makes Descendants an easy watch for all ages, with all the traditional traits you'd expect from your typical Disney movie. For what it is, and for who the primary target audience is, I can't really fault it.

Although, I do have mixed feelings about the hip-hop esque version of 'Be Our Guest' ....

Have a watch and let me know what you think?

Katie x

The 5p Carrier Charge.

The whole of the UK seems to have gone into meltdown over being charged 5P for a carrier bag and personally I find it ridiculous.

Let's be realistic here, how many of us open up our purses (or wallets) and see a little group of coppers wiltering away in the corner because we never use them? They have no relevance to us and if they aren't in our purses (or wallets) we put them in a jar and forget about them. 

THIS IS THEIR TIME TO SHINE GUYS!

Use those 1ps and 2ps and buy a carrier bag! It will lighten the load and leave room for shinier coins we actually like to collect in our purse (or wallet).

People have made such a big deal about it and it's unnecessary really and also once you buy one bag, use your noggin and reuse it. Which actually brings me to another thing that I can guarentee most of the population have; a collection of carrier bags underneath your kitchen sink or stuffed in a cupboard that you have made over the years that you only ever use as bin liners or to empty the cat's litter tray.

THIS IS THEIR TIME TO SHINE NOW TOO!

And okay, it might just be me but there is something so satisfying about doing a daily shop, going to the counter with your basket and the cashier asking "Do you need a bag?" and you can stand there with a smug look on your face and say "No, I've got my own!" 

As a sales assistant, even I have a bit of a giggle when you get customers like that, they are so proud of remembering their bags, we need to aspire to be like that, we need more people like that in the world!

We all preach about wanting a better world to live in, and the whole purpose of this is recycling your old bags so you don't have to pay for another and preventing pollution. Also, I've noticed in most stores they give the 5p to charity, again another great reason to charge!

SO STOP THE MOANING AND EMBRACE YOUR COPPERS AND CARRIER BAGS PEOPLE.

Katie x

The Season of Strictly, Snowman Cups and Soggy Bottoms.

I cannot tell you how excited I am that Autumn is upon us, this is a sentence that usually you'd never hear me say. I hate the brisk cold mixed with that horrid drizzle and would rather be sunning it up in Mexico to be honest. But being born and bread in England we tend to have non existent Summer's anyway so as I've gotten older the more I've grown to appreciate this time of year.

Eventhough I'm only 20 and should be living the young and reckless lifestyle, for me, nothing satisfies me more than coming home after a long shift, getting into my pajamas, grasping a nice warm mug of tea and watching TV.

Speaking of TV, A/W is my favourite time of year for TV shows. The return of Strictly and The X Factor just screams Christmas and also watching The Great British Bake-Off, I mean who doesn't love a good discussion about 'soggy bottoms'?

Fashion in the Autumn is also so effortless, chuck on an oversized jumper, leggings and knee high boots and you're good to go. Simple but chic.

Halloween and Christmas; Well need I say more? The over-the-top commercialised holidays just adds to the excitement. (Although I do work in retail and we celebrate it at least 4 months in advance!) My favourite part is when my Pumpkin Spiced Latte comes in a snowman cup.

Also, everything just smells so much better?! Or maybe I've just inhaled too many scented candles.

I mean obviously it's not all idealistic, as I'm typing, the wind is banging against the windows and this past week it's been pouring down with rain non-stop but being snuggled up in the warm at night just makes it all that bit more bearable, right?

What are your favourite things about Autumn?