Just my last couple of shoots where I asked both men and women their opinion of women. Here is what I got :)

"Women are the equal opposites of men"

"Sometimes scary, women fascinate men"

If there was no women, there'd be no life"

"I would never burn my bra or anything like that, that's dangerous!"

"Overall, I see them as quite judgmental"

"We're very much pressured to fit into various boxes, so what's on the surface isn't necessarily an accurate representation of what is going on underneath"

"We are empowered by raunch culture and I think that's a shame because more and more girls think they need to be sexy to be attractive"

"Women in society are criticised for everything we do, so I feel like they're viewed in a negative way. As a woman, this makes me feel very self conscious"

"I can be jealous if I think someone is prettier than me but then I never had much self confidence"

"Women are powerful, both physically and mentally, and we don't actually realise how powerful we are until we are pushed"

"In comparison to men, we have higher pain thresholds... but this possibly makes us more resilient"

"Women are beautiful creatures, deprived of their own rights by society"

Hello!

Today I thought I would do something a bit more personal and do the TMI tag. I'm going to answer 50 questions about myself, so here we go!

1: What are you wearing?

Black top, black jumper, black jeans, black Docs...

2: Ever been in love?

Yes, twice.

3: Ever had a terrible breakup?

Yes

4: How tall are you?

5'8"

5: How much do you weigh?

I haven't weighed myself since the summer but I was 8 and a half stone in June last year

6: Any tattoos?

Yes, 3, soon to be 4!!

7: Any piercings?

Yes, 8

8: OTP?

Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes from Downton Abbey

9: Favorite show?

I don't watch that much TV anymore... would probably have to be Friends

10: Favorite bands?

Shinedown, ELO, Twenty One Pilots, James Bay, I like a bit of Motley Crue and Rainbow too

11: Something you miss? .

Not having exams

12: Favorite song?

Hold On Tight - ELO

13: How old are you?

19

14: Zodiac sign?

Pisces

15: Quality you look for in a partner?

Funny

16: Favorite Quote?

I don't wanna say because it's on my ankle in Elvish and I'm not telling anyone what it translates to.

17: Favorite actor?

Jim Carrey // Rachel Adams

18: Favorite color?

Purple

19: Loud music or soft?

LOUD

20: Where do you go when you’re sad?

The bathroom (wtf Layla???)

21: How long does it take you to shower?

Usually like 10-20 mins

22: How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?

Sometimes it can take me over an hour

23: Ever been in a physical fight?

With my brother when we were younger

24: Turn on?

Smile

25: Turn off?

Feet

26: The reason I started blogging?

I just wanted to try it and then it turned into something that I really loved

27: Fears?

Heights, stairs, being alone

28: Last thing that made you cry?

My best friend threw a potato at the back of my neck

29: Last time you said you loved someone?

I don't actually know

30: Meaning behind your blog name?

My first name is Layla and one of my middle names is Aurora

31: Last book you read?

How To Be Normal - Holly Bourne

32: The book you’re currently reading?

Gone Girl Gillian Flynn

33: Last show you watched?

Er...

34: Last person you talked to?

Like in person? My grandad

35: The relationship between you and the person you last texted?

One of my close friends

36: Favorite food?

My grandad's spaghetti

37: Place you want to visit?

America

38: Last place you were?

As in abroad? Holland. On holiday? Wales

39: Do you have a crush?

Well I like someone yeah

40: Last time you kissed someone?

Yesterday evening

41: Last time you were insulted?

I get insulted all the time

42: Favorite flavor of sweet?

Cherry

43: What instruments do you play?

I used to play guitar and viola

44: Favorite piece of jewelry?

My bracelet my grandparents got me for my 18th. I never wear it because I'm terrified of losing it

45: Last sport you played?

Er... Probably basketball at the park 2 years ago

46: Last song you sang?

Gotsa Get Paid - ZZ Top

47: Favorite chat up line?

I don't have one

48: Have you ever used it?

Obviously not

49: Last time you hung out with anyone?

On my college break today

50: Who should answer these questions next?

Kirsty - kirstyhanson.blogspot.com

Katie - http://garnerkatie.blogspot.co.uk/

Hello, and welcome to my very first book review!

Over the past couple of years, I've fallen out with reading, which was actually a very sad thing to happen. I used to pretty much speed read, and I would finish a book in literally three days. But recently, I've started picking up books again and falling back in love, and I did in fact finish this book in 4 days!

The book revolves around the main character, Evie, and is in a diary form. The diary is basically her recovery diary as she attempts to come off her medication that is treating her OCD. Evie has an obsession with becoming a "normal" 16 year old, and doing the normal 16 year old things, like hanging out with friends, partying, drinking and of course, interaction with the male species.

What I like most about this book is that it's real. Not a true story, of course, but I feel like Bourne really gets what it's like to be a 16 year old going through struggles. She writes perfectly about the relationship a person has with their counsellor, that they are a person you can talk to a rely on, but you know at the end of the day they are paid to listen to your problems.

Bourne explores many issues that regular teenage girls have. Evie has to start college, and her best friend from school, Jane, has essentially ditched her for her new boyfriend. I feel like this is something that a lot of teenage girls go through, and something that definitely happened to me when I started my first college. Another problem that I related to was making new friends. When I started my second college, I had to make entirely new friends, which I did, but I definitely related to Evie with wanting to keep these new friends and not look like a freak straight away. *insert crying laughing emoji*

The story also delves into some more serious issues revolving around mental health, which can often be a difficult subject to talk about. But Bourne just seems to get it. And she also wrote about how mental health issues are commonly used like "I was so scared, I had a panic attack" and how much of an issue this is, creating further stigma around the issues. Finally, someone said it!

Overall, I feel as though Bourne really understands not only what it is like to be a 16 year old in this day and age, but also understands what it is like to have a mental health issue. I really enjoy her writing style, it's very personal and relatable, I felt as though I was walking by Evie's side as she went through this journey. I really want to read Bourne's other books as I have heard many good reviews!

Thank you for reading.

Layla x

Hello!

So recently in the internet-sphere, I've been seeing this idea of baking your face with talcum powder. At first, I thought it was a bit weird, but then I decided that I should give it a go. I am quite pale, and even some translucent loose powders still come up on me, which sucks. I started baking with loose white eyeshadow, but I can only find it in small pots so I barely get that many uses from the pot when baking my whole face.
I used Nivea talc rather than Johnson's because when I was a baby, I was allergic to Johnson's, and I know skin changes but I don't wanna risk it. Plus this was like, 99p from Bodycare and it's quite a big tub! I was very impressed with the result, so here's what I did :)

I took my face sponge from elf as this is what I normally bake with. I'm thinking of getting the Real Techniques setting brush but I don't know???

Then I took the talcum powder, and I put it in the little lid thing that came with my Collection loose powder just so I didn't make a mess trying to get it straight onto the sponge.

Then I made myself look like a cray-zay person and put the powder where I normally bake my face. I then left it on while I did my eyebrows, and swept it off with my Real Techniques buffing brush.

And I was so impressed with the result! I didn't notice much of a white colour from the powder which I was unsure about when I first decided to try this, so that was a bonus. I feel that my skin looks very smooth and even, which is exactly what I wanted. However, this is messy! The talc came off as it was baking and went everywhere, but that generally happens to me anyway when using loose translucent powder. Overall, I love this, I especially think that it's great for pale people and I will probably be doing this all the time now.

Thank you for reading!

Layla x

Hey baes!

Today I have a look that is inspired by my one and only Queen, Jeffree Star and his beautiful hair.

If you don't know who Jeffree is, then please educate yourself. His makeup skills are just on another level, and his hair is actually stunning, so I wanted to create an eye look inspired by this.

(https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/319333429807871390/)

So once you've discovered Jeffree (and his amazing makeup, which you can get from Cocktail Cosmetics in the UK), we can start with the look!


After placing my tape and priming, I first used Freshly Toasted from the Zoeva Cocoa Blends palette as my transition colour.

For this look, I decided that I was going to use a blush palette rather than eyeshadow, and I am using the Makeup Revolution Blush palette in Sugar & Spice. I have numbered the colours in order that I used them as they don't have names.

I took the first colour and applied it over the initial transition colour, extending it up a little to show some subtle pink. I focused mainly on the outer corner with this,

Then I took the second colour to add a more pinky vibe.

I wanted a little bit of depth so I added Naked from the Naked palette with a pencil brush just to lightly add a bit of shade because I didn't want to go too dark with this.

Moving away from the blush, I added Virgin also from the Naked palette in my inner corner. To add a bit more shimmer, I added Set Me Free from the Makeup Revolution Death By Chocolate palette on top of the Virgin shade as I thought these two made a great combo.

Coming back to the blush palette and using the final third shade, I applied this in my outer corner, buffing it along the tape.

I found that this reduced the intensity of the shimmer colours, so I went back over these, and added the thinnest line of Sin from the Naked palette inbetween the third blush and the shimmer colours as I felt this made the transition look a bit neater.

And this is the part I well and truly messed up. You know when one wing goes absolutely perfect, and then the other one really doesn't but you can't wipe them off because then you'll ruin all of your hard work with the shadow? That's what happened to me with this look. But it's okay, because no one has perfect eyeliner days everyday, even with the aid of tape.

After doing my face makeup, I drew a kohl liner along my waterline

Then I added a mix of the second and third blushes directly under this in a smooth line to add an extra pop of colour.

I added mascara and lashes, as per, and the eyes were complete.

On my lips, I decided to use the Makeup Revolution lipstick in Scandalous Depraved. I quite liked how the pink and purples mixed well, and I also liked how this lipstick got darker the longer I was out, that was pretty cool.

Please excuse my hair, my straighteners literally exploded on me so I need to buy some new ones.

I hope you enjoyed this look, it was definitely a lot of fun playing around with colour for a change, and something that I would like to do again.

Thank you for reading,

Layla x

Hello!

So yet another month is over, how is it already nearly March? But I won't complain as March is my birthday month and I turn the big 2 0, leaving teenage-hood behind *cry*. But for now, I thought I would go over my February favourites with you.

Firstly, a big favourite has to be the Nivea Men Post Aftershave Balm in Sensitive. After watching NikkieTutorials (one of my favourite YouTuber's ever, seriously, check her out, she's fab), I have been using this as a primer religiously and it's brilliant. Silicone based primers are awful on my skin as they clog my skin up, but this doesn't. It's rather cheap and you don't need too much at a time, just rub it into your face until it goes tacky and apply your makeup over the top.

Carrying on with the makeup favourites, I've been loving this Extra Sculpt Star Volume Mascara from Kiko. It makes my lashes so long, and works really well on my bottom lashes when I'm wearing falsies on the top, although I have to be careful as the brush is quite big. I'm almost out of this, so I need to find another mascara to obsess over.

Talking of false lashes, I have found my holy grail. The Ardell Demi Wispies are perfect. I prefer more natural looking eyelashes, and these do the job just right (as you can see I wer these a lot and I only have one pair left). I wear these on an everyday basis, going out and even to work. I feel that they add a bit more drama to a look without going overboard, which is basically what I'm about.

This is just a small favourite, but the Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine top coat is great for making your nails look super shiny, especially when combined with the Gelly Hi-Shine polishes. I prefer shiny nails to matte ones, I'm not sure why, I just do.

Next I have this double ended brush from Primark. The one ens is a pencil brush, which is great for lining the lower lashline with eyeshadow, but also for cut creases to create that definition. The flat end is actually amazing for contouring the nose with powder, which I did not expect when I bought it. For only £1.50, I don't think anyone can go wrong with this.

An obvious favourite of mine if you have read any of my recent tutorials is the Substitute For Love shade from the Zoeva Cocoa Blends palette. Considering that when I first got this palette, I thought that I wouldn't use this particular shade, I've been using it a lot. I find it to be the perfect transition shade, although I do want to try Chickadee from Makeup Geek as it looks like a slightly brighter colour to this.

My next favourite is coconut oil. I recently featured this in my hair care routine, but it really is amazing. I'm going to try oil pulling with my teeth soon using this, but I'm kind of scared how it will taste. I've heard it is great as a face moisturiser too so I may try that as well.

I've never really used a body scrub before, but this has changed my view completely. It smells gorgeous and works really well. I use it twice a week, and now I don't think I'll not use a body scrub again.

I've only just started using this, as I just finished Snow Fairy, but it smells gorgeous. I think I still prefer Happy Hippy, but this is a close second. When I first used it though, it was so runny I thought I was going to be stained pink, but I'm doing okay so far.

Moving away from beauty, I've been absolutely adoring this necklace from Missguided. It goes really well with just a plain dress to add a bit of extra something. I've recently stopped wearing chokers and things all the time, and I quite like this as a simple but bold piece.

Next I have these earrings that I got at Accessorize in the sale after Christmas. I love silver jewellery (my aim is to have rings on every finger like Phoebe from Friends), and these earrings are so cute and delicate, I pretty much adore every piece of silver jewellery from Accessorize to be honest. I took my stretcher out over a year ago now in order to wear matching earrings, so I am starting to grow my collection.

My phone case is definitely one of my favourite things, ever. Yes, I know that there have been claims of these cases being filled with acid, but it's so pretty I'm gonna take the risk. Although I was disappointed because it said it was unicorns on the case, but when it arrived, it's just regular horses. But still, so, so pretty.

A definite favourite of this month was from the beginning when I saw Black Stone Cherry, Shinedown, Halestorm and Highly Suspect at the Carnival of Madness. Shinedown are one of my favourite bands in the entire world, and have been since I was 16 so it was amazing to get to see them again, alongside the other 3 incredible bands. While I realised I am far to old to be screaming in a mosh pit like when I was 16, it hasn't put me off wanting to go to another concert soon. (Steel Panther, anyone?)

Recently I have been starting to read more, which is great as I used to be an avid reader but I sort of fell out of love with it I suppose. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn is actually amazing, and I can understand what all the hype is about, and I really want to see the film once I've finished the book.

My all time favourite of this month, and will probably be my favourite of every month until they break, has got to be my Doc Martens. I've always wanted a pair, but I didn't want a conventional pair that everyone else has, However, I'm not one for spending a lot of money on a colourful pair of shoes that I will never wear. So I spent a long time just accepting that I'm too difficult and that I'll just have to go for a regular pair. But then somewhere, someone from Doc Martens must have heard my silent prayers and came out with these. They are the 1460 8 Eye Boots, and they are actually mens, but who cares about that really? I love wearing the colour black, and when I saw these were not only all black (even the label), but matte black, I knew I needed them. And they were in the sale, so they were basically meant for me. It's been pretty much impossible to get me out of these because I love them so much, i will literally make anything work with them.

I hope February has been a fab month for you, and I'll see you next time.

Layla x