Just a little post on some cool graffiti in Bristol today (I have a weird obsession, and if it's done right, I see it as art). This also features Thailand Elephants, an amazing charity which helps raise awareness for the cruelness towards elephants in Thailand, so go check them out too!

Just some photos I took inspired by Nicolas Bruno.

Layla x

So recently, there's been quite a hype about Makeup Revolution, and here's why: the company is brilliant. Finally an affordable brand that dupes high end makeup, without losing a tonne of quality. When I first heard about Makeup Revolution, I wasn't sure, but as they gained popularity I began to get more and more curious, so I decided to buy one of their 32 eyeshadow palettes for £8. Yes, you read that right, only £8.

I wasn't entirely sure what to expect as there were no testers available, but when I opened the palette, I was pleasantly surprised. The colours are laid out from dark to light, and there is a wide range of shades. On top of the colours is a plastic film pointing out the colour of each shade (although photographing this proved more difficult than it should have been so I labelled the photo instead).

The pigmentation of the shades is a lot better than I expected, although it is difficult to see the lighter shades such as "Flawless" and "Dove", and "Blackest" isn't really the darkest of shades and needs some building. But for £8, the quality overall isn't too shabby.

My favourite shades have to be "Pug", and has nothing to do with the fact that I love pugs... And I also like "Bistre", and I think it is quite similar to "Hustle" from the Urban Decay Naked Palette, and I like to mix the two shades together.

Overall, I am very impressed with this palette, and I have recently purchased the Sugar and Spice blush palette. I would like to try the matte eyeshadow palette next I think as I do tend to wear more matte than shimmer, although these shades make a nice change to what I usually wear.

Layla x

From Day 1, the "norm" is drilled into us. Finish primary school, aged 11 with great SATs grades. Start secondary school, leave when you're 16 with great GCSEs. Go to college or sixth form and leave when you're 18 with great A-Levels. Go to uni and leave with a great degree when you're 21. Anything that differs from this will be questioned and scrutinised relentlessly.

Which is exactly what happened to me when I decided to repeat college. When I was 16, I was toying between being a Lawyer, a History teacher or and English teacher. So I took these three subjects along with Classical Civilisation with the hope of finding out what path I wanted to be on. But after my first year, I got some not so great results and I was completely miserable. But, determined to try hard, I stayed on at the same college for a second year, something that I regret from time to time.

However, as my peers decided to start their lives at university and were applying and writing personal statements and having interviews, I was lost. Watching everyone else know what they wanted to do with their lives and feeling so helpless about my own was almost heartbreaking. Was there something wrong with me? What was everyone else doing right that I was doing wrong? The answer was, of course, nothing. I'm very much a late bloomer, and this was just another aspect of my life that I was behind in.

I realised that I couldn't sit around and do nothing once I'd left college, and the idea of a full time job didn't seem too appealing to me. So I gave it a long hard thought, that actually took me a few months, before deciding that I wanted to repeat college. Two more years, but at a different college taking different subjects. I've always had an interest in photography and I slowly began to realise that it was a realistic job prospect, all I had to do was get there.

So I applied, had an interview and got my place, all the usual things. And when it came around to starting last year, I was incredibly nervous. Meeting new people seemed terrifying and being in a college much bigger than my last was quite daunting. Luckily, I knew some people there already, and I've also met some amazing people along the way. But soon enough I fell into the routine and I'm much happier than before.

Watching my friends move on to bigger and better things while I was still stuck in the same rut was, and still is, hard. But I wouldn't change my decision for the world. When I left my first college, I came out with terrible results and no chance of taking a degree. But after just one year at my new college I achieved my first A grade in two years, which was insane. And now I have a realistic chance of getting into a university of my choice and living my life constantly attached to my camera, which I am so excited for.

I guess the meaning of this post is to share my experience of not following what is drilled into you. The plenty of people find that A Levels or further study in general isn't for them, and it's never too late to change your mind. I'm definitely of the opinion that choosing your life path at 16, 17, 18 is far too much pressure and teenagers aren't always sure what they want. But there is always an option. And while I am currently 2 years older than those in my class, and a year or two behind those my age, I don't care. I am finally in the right place and it was the right choice for me.

So it's been a while since I've blogged, but I've been having somewhat of a writers block. However, today I bought something that I instantly felt the need to write about.

I've been looking at the B. Makeup and Skin Care range for a while now, and I am eager to try out their Sweet Popping Candy Highlighting Serum as I think not only the packaging but the product itself are beautiful. However, I've recently been more into my skincare and I've been needing a new day cream/moisturiser as mine doesn't seem to make the cut anymore. I decided to try the B. Ready Day Cream, and I am in love. The packaging is beautiful, I almost didn't want to touch the cream and ruin it with my clumsy hands. It's very minimal yet still pretty.

The cream is a thin consistency, and doesn't smell too bad (always a bonus) as well as being non-greasy. I tried some out on my nose as that is the driest area of my face, and already it is soft with no dead skin (ew). On the box, it says to use this in your 20s and 30s to "help enhance skin's youthful appearance", which nearly made me put it back down until I had the horrifying moment of realising that I am twenty next March. Early bird catches the worm I suppose. As I am so "young", I need to use the Skin Phase 1 products, and I assume as you get older, you would use the 2nd and 3rd skin phase products.

And if you already thought that this cream was too good, it's cruelty free and suitable for you vegetarians and vegans, bonus!

I'm definitely considering trying the night cream, as well as the eye cream, something that I need anyway to make myself look more awake, so watch this space for more reviews to come soon as I have just ordered them!

(I took these photos on my phone, so apologies for the quality)

Thanks for reading,

Layla x

Today the weather has been absolutely gorgeous, so naturally, I wore all black (nice one Layla). I went to the Wyre Forest which is near me, and took some photos with my friend for my project, and I figured while I had my camera out, I might as well do an OOTD. I haven't posted in a while because I've had sooo much coursework to do, but now I have about a months gap to blog away before it's exam season (boo), so I better get cracking!

I love this outfit, this top was the best £2.99 I ever spent!

Mesh Top: Ebay
Vest (underneath): Primark
Shorts (underneath): Internacionale (Similar here)
Tights: Amazon
Shoes: Converse
Bracelets: Assortment, mostly made by me except the silver chain, I managed to find a best friend's version, although mine says "daughter" from Claire's
Chokers: Buddha (the coin I got from a local market, but similar here) Tattoo

Peace and luvv

Layla x