Orogold

Our skin is so hard to maintain and keep beautiful when our environment is so dirty and when we already use way too much product on our skin, whether it be makeup, different creams or masks and cleansers this does not make the search for healthy skin any easier. If you have skin that's dry and that's not neccessary spot prone but is unfortunately leathery, like mine, then this might be the product for you. 

The Orogold 24K deep peeling leaves your skin feeling beautiful and rejuvenated. It essentially is a gel infused with fine, luxurious ingredients that act as a facial scrub which you needn't use more than 2-3 times a week. It's a great investment because it's not an everyday product, and when you do use it you don't need to use more than the five focal points on your face (forehead, nose, cheeks, chin) so it lasts up to 24 months. Paired with the beautifully scented Orogold 24K Deep Day Moisturizing cream this product makes you feel and smell prettier than Cleopatra. It's so gentle on the skin, but unlike the deep peel, the cream must be used everyday to maintain the glowy, refreshed look over the course of the week. So far, so good. But I won't lie this product is not cheap. In fact I can say it's probably the most expensive thing I've purchased and even then I got a discount because I'm a student. The products separately are valued at around £100, however if you are a student they can give you both for that price. Regardless, the amount of time this product lasts and the way it makes your skin feel- it won't feel like an expensive burden. It's an investment that in the long term will keep your skin beautiful forever. Please make sure that if you purchase the product from anywhere other than Orogold stores, there is a authentification card that shows the gold is real and sourced in Italy (as all Orogold products containing gold is sourced there.) I have attached a picture of what it should look like.

A x 

Palazzo Pants

Palazzo pants or trousers are a summer must have. As much as printed trousers are fashionable and sold everywhere, I like to keep my style simple with block colours because it's more impressionable. They're perfect for the modest ladies out there, but they can also work for those of you who might want to keep the style sexily conservative by simply pairing them with a pretty bandeau or crop top. They can easily fit into any style category from classy to boho-chic. Either way they are my favourite summer piece. My white ones are from H&M (£10) and my bronze ones are from Mango (£11.99). I purchased mine at the end of season summer sale in 2014 so I'm sure this year you'll find loads of fabulous pairs without the hefty price tag- happy hunting! 

A x

The One

Finding the perfect foundation isn't an easy quest. I've been searching for years, and after trying out loads of samples from a variety of designer brands to drug store products, my perfect foundation has the consistency of cream and looks like silk as it melts into your skin. It's dear, but it's worth it. When you've found the one, you can't put a price on it. It'll stick with you forever, and while you still continue to experiment with new brands and new lines of foundation, Tom Ford's Traceless foundation will be a stable staple in your makeup bag. It's amazing, my favourite makeup product ever. Whenever I wear it, I am told my skin looks flawless and glowy, which is funny because I only use the smallest amount! It lasts a long time if you are reasonable with your dosage, which makes it affordable in the long term... I think of it as a neccessary investment. I'm the shade 'Natural'. Give it a go, I think it's perfect for any skin type and there are so many colours! (The pictures have been unedited and are unfiltered to show you the colour and coverage.) 

A x

Ephesus

Ephesus, an ancient city preserved to reveal the truths of Greco-Roman antiquity and Byzantium is beautifully displayed on the hilltops of the Aegean region. The second you step through the cracked pillars the desert heat hits you, so if you ever visit the ruins, my top tip is to make sure you take a bottle of water with you. My taxi driver told me that the city does not take more than an hour and a half to explore, and when I entered Ephesus I thought he was wrong because the site was so overwhelmingly huge. But of course he wasn't wrong, it surprisingly didn't take that long to view everything. This city back in its day was a great trading centre. It was a market town, the equivalent of our Oxford Street in London today, of course rather than the sale of luxury cosmetics and clothing, this market saw the transaction of exotic spices and was part of the Silk Road as the western terminus for East to West trade. 

This city proved it was diverse and cosmopolitan not only because three different civilisations were able to settle here, but also because the Library of Celsus was able to hold up to 12,000 scrolls of different kinds of text. The library was built to look bigger than it actually is. When you see it from a distance it looks huge, and even when you're up close it's massive, but this is because of course because those famous Greek columns make everything look larger than they actually are. Nevertheless regardless of the library's convex facade, it was probably my favourite part of the city, it stood out beautifully tall and its golden hew made it the prettiest building of all. 

But, of course how can we talk about an ancient city whose second settlers were of course the Romans and not mention gladiators? As part of the Holy Roman Empire, Ephesus was the second largest city of the empire after Rome and under the Emperor Augustus was the first city of the Roman province of Asia. The vibe as you leave the central market square of the city becomes eerie. As you walk along the set path, around you there are gladiator graves. After climbing more steps than I care to imagine even thinking about, the stadium built by the Greeks originally was converted into a breath-taking colosseum, with the capacity to hold 50,000 people to enjoy chariot races and gladiator combats. 

This ancient city really reminds me of my time in Rome as a child, if you're a history fanatic like me, or just enjoy the more historical and cultural aspects of the countries you visit then Ephesus is a must-see. 

A x

Kuşadası - 'Bird Island'...

Kuşadası is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to. Its views of the Aegan sea and the Greek island of Samos offer a vision so spectacular you cannot take your eyes off of it. Having been to Istanbul I must say I was shocked to see such a relaxed and calm side of Turkey. The hustle and bustle of the town does not come from the market stalls nor does it come from the sounds of tourists haggling, rather it is the harmonious crash of the tides and the blasts coming from the ships at the Marina. It is town so relaxed that even its animals are embraced just as humans are. Birds fly low as though there is not evolutionary hierarchy; Cats do not fear humans as they sit and watch the world go by, just as dogs do not bark, they lay in the sun and sleep silently alone. It's a world so different from my own. Really it's a beautiful thing that animals and humans can be one, and that the town offers more than just a few markets, it offers a history of antiquity, breathtaking scenery and a buzz of a city that never sleeps. 

A x

Fairytale Hair

Ok, so when it's summer and you're bored of sticking to a pony tail, or you feel like your bun needs to be spruced up a bit then this post is definitely for you! 

Now I am no Jen Atkin, nor do I even think or consider myself a hair stylist or hair dresser in any way shape or form, but I like to experiment when I'm really bored, like most girls do and I somehow managed to create these really funky and whimsical up-do's! 

The first one is Grecian goddess: 

1.) wrap an elastic headband over your head with your hair out (hair can be in any parting)

2.) tuck the loose ends of your hair over and under the back of the headband (pin any loose bits of hair in place) 

3.) hairspray all over & pin headband in place if it's feeling loose. 

Second up-do is the fairy-bun: 

1.) Part your hair in the middle so that you can leave two chunks of your hair dangling at the sides of your face & tie your hair in a pony tail with a hair band 

2.) Plait the loose end of your pony tail and wrap it around the hairband to create a plaited bun, tie in place with another hair band (preferably one that matches your hair colour) 

3.) plait the dangling bits of hair at the side of your face separately and bring them around & pin them to the back of your head

4.) Finally hairspray any loose frizzy bits of hair.

Enjoy! 

A x

Not so falsie

Eyelashes are the second thing that can make or break your face after fleeky brows. I always get asked what mascara I use because my lashes always look voluminous and long! So I thought I would share my eyelash secret with you.

Truth is I wear 3 different mascaras of atleast 2-3 coats each, but I wait for the coats to dry before I apply the next mascara. Sorry the picture is unclear but to clarify I use: 

1.) Loreal Punky Miss Manga Mascara

2.) MaxFactor Masterpiece Transform Mascara

3.) Loreal Telescopic Mascara 

(In that order) 

I know you could buy a designer mascara for the same price, but I find that none of them (and believe me I have tried so many) give me the same effect as these three combined! Plus most drug stores always have offers on these mascaras/ranges, so it can work out cheaper.

The picture below doesn't do any justice to my eyelashes but it's one of the clearest ones I could find! I am not wearing any falsies, it's simply the magic of mascara! 

Trust me it looks way better in person! 

A x