Obsessed With Olive Oil.

Recently I have found a new beauty/skincare obsession... in the kitchen cupboard of all places! I'm sure most of you will have tried olive oil drizzled over fish or potatoes or even mixed up in a salad dressing, but, have you ever thought of using it for non-food related purposes? Like on your skin?

Extra virgin olive oil has been used as a beauty product for centuries as it is known to be full of anti oxidants which have been proven to slow ageing, shrink pores ad even help reduce acne.
You can mix it up with sugar for a home made facial or lip scrip. You can massage it in to the ends of dry hair for beautiful soft and silky ends. You can even dab some on a cotton pad to easily remove even the trickiest of waterproof mascaras! Just be sure it is extra virgin olive oil!

I suffer from pretty oily skin which means an abundance of blackheads and spots. As of the past few weeks my skin has been exceptionally difficult which has left me scouring the internet for remedies and products which might help get my skin back under control.
That's how I came across the idea of using olive oil to treat blackheads. At first I was sceptical, why would I want to rub oil on my already greasy face? Wouldn't that just further clog my pores?! However, the more I read into it, I realised that using a lot of oil-free or harsh products can actually strip the skin leaving it having to produce excess natural oils to compensate! So, in hindsight, giving oil back to the skin will, in time, control the amount of oil the skin naturally produces!
Not only that but olive oil is great for breaking down make up and dirt make it easier to remove and, thus, thoroughly cleaning out your pores. It's also cheaper than most cleansers and most people already have a bottle lying around the kitchen somewhere!


Here is how I have been using it:

Once a week (usual a Sunday night), after I have removed all my make up, I take a little olive oil and (with clean hands) I massage it on to my face and neck. I then leave it on my face for about 10-15 minutes to allow the oil to really sink into my skin and break down any make-up residue, dirt, etc. Next, I steam my face for as long as I can (usually I only manage a few minutes though) and take a few cotton wool pads to dry it off. TMI - the colour of the cotton pad will be disgusting!
I then apply my favourite face mask (Arbonne Sea Mud Face & Body Mask) and voila! I don't even need to moisturise afterwards as the olive oil has already done so. Just some eye cream, lip balm and thats it. My face looks and feels so clean afterwards, my skin is less oily and I have noticed a reduction in the amount of blackheads inhabiting my face!

Another type of of Olive Oil...

These are just some of the benefits and uses for extra virgin olive oil but a quick search on Google and you will probably find loads more! If any of you give it a try, or have any other natural/homemade beauty treatments, let me know in the comments below :).

New Week, New Month.

I don't know about you but there is just something so pleasing to me when the first day of a new month is a Monday. It all feels very fresh and it motivates me to be very productive and organised. This mood/feeling is only amplified by the fact that September, to me, also represents the beginning of Autumn, a new season.

To mark all these new beginnings I have had a very productive day: I have ate healthy, drank plenty of water, met up with a good friend, attended a meeting, ran some much-needed errands and planned out a few upcoming blog posts. I feel like today has been a day of looking forward, a day of planning. I am left with the belief that this will be a good month.
Autumn and Winter are definitely my favourite seasons. I love the food, the colours, the fashion and (most of the time) the weather. Everything just feels so cosy.

I thought, for today's post, I would share some of my goals for the month of September...

• Be happy. I know it's not realistic to plan to be bursting with happiness every single moment of every single day. But I genuinely feel like too much of the time I let stress take over and let silly things get to me too much. It's not that I'm not happy just now, just that I want to focus more on doing things and being around people that make me happy. 
• Live more in the moment. Similar to my previous goal but, again, I feel like I am letting my life go by and not seizing the moment enough. I feel I need to get up and do more. Be a bit spontaneous. Get out of my comfort zone; wear that bold lipstick, send that risky text, take that trip and seize the day.
• Get more exercise. I know this is on most people's goals and is one of those things that people say they need to do but always end up putting it off until tomorrow... I know that I don't get anywhere near enough exercise and I'm not saying that I 'm going to do anything crazy or join a gym. But I do feel like I should start doing small things a few times a week to take better care of my body and health. I'll start small by fixing up my bike and encouraging myself to walk to the shop instead of jumping in the car with my mum. I know it will be beneficial to my mood as well.
• Learn to drive. I have been taking driving lessons sporadically for a few months now but don't really seem to be getting anywhere. This month I want to start knuckling down and making some serious progress. Maybe even get my test booked?
• Get a weekend job or an internship. 
• Cook more meals. Although I don't eat super unhealthy, I also rely very heavily on convenience food (popping things in the microwave, etc.). That's okay sometimes but I really want to learn to cook a bit better (especially from scratch) and use more fresh ingredients.
• Take better care of my skin (and nails). Lately my skin and I haven't exactly been on the best of terms. I've been breaking out like crazy and, despite it being very annoying, haven't exactly been taking much initiative to fix this problem. This month I want to try out some new products and remedies to help improve my skin.
• Be a bit bolder with my make up. When it comes to make up I usually play it pretty safe. Recently though I have started experimenting a bit with new looks and products which I would like to continue with, and expand on, throughout September.
• Get started on my A/W wardrobe! This isn't exactly a goal, more something I'm just really excited about doing! As I've mentioned before, I love Autumn and Winter fashion and have already spotted a few things which I will definitely be getting my hands on! Plus I just completely cleared out my wardrobe in the process of our move so... what better excuse to go shopping? 

I'd love to hear if you have any goals for the month of September? 

Tumblr Tuesday?

I've been an avid tumblr scroller for years now but for some reason have only just gotten around to actually creating my own account. I love scrolling through my dashboard and getting new fashion/style inspiration!

If you fancy following me, my tumblr is justjordane.tumblr.com.

A little self promo never hurt anybody, right?

Back To Blogging!

July and August have been very busy months for me. I've had work experience, family things, moving house, etc, etc... Basically no time for blogging or any sort of social media activity (booo)! Anyway, life is finally starting to settle down a bit so, going forward, I should have a bit more time to work on my blog and write some posts.
In the process of moving house, I decided that it was time to majorly clear out my wardrobe and make-up collection and I am now in desperate need of a shopping trip- expect lot's of hauls (however, as the seasons are changing anyway at this time of year, this would probably be needed regardless)!
Also, the stress and lack of sleep that comes with being a working girl has left my skin resembling a pepperoni pizza (acne problems, bleugh), and my recent food choices have been less than nutritiously balanced, which means a shake up in the skincare department and a visit to the health food aisle is in order!
A huge thank you to anyone who is still reading this blog, as I know there hasn't been a post in weeks!
If anyone has any skincare recommendations they would be very greatly appreciated!

See you again soon :) ...

June Favourites.

June was a bit of a mixed month for me this year. The weather was up and down: somedays were sunny but mostly it rained or it was very overcast and cloudy. This was also this first month in a long time where I hadn't really had anything big to look forward to, as the last few months I've been fortunate enough to have attended several concerts and went on a few trips/holidays. But I guess you have to get back to normality at some point and sometimes it can actually be quite nice just to have a bit of time to chill out and enjoy home. I spent quite a bit of time with family and also became reacquainted with a really good friend of mine whom I hadn't really seen or spoken to in over a year!
I also cannot believe we are officially at the half-way point of 2014! In some ways it feels like Christmas was only last week!! When time is flying by this fast it really makes me realise just how important it is to live in the now. It can often be too easy to get caught up in planning for the future or dwelling in the past. And sometimes thats ok, but just remember that the present is just as important and that you could be missing out on so many opportunities and good times if you're always looking back or forward.
Anyway, here are a few of the things that I've loved and enjoyed during June:

SKIN-CARE

Olive Body Scrub | The Body Shop
I have a few of The Body Shop's olive-scented products and I have to say that it's my favourite range in the whole store! There is definitely something quite luxurious about pamper/skin-care products that smell of olives and olive oil! This scrub leaves my skin incredibly smooth and feeling very clean. I feel like a new person every time I use it!

Elderflower Unperfumed Eye Gel | The Body Shop
I think I got this on offer when I was purchasing the body scrub for about £2 or something crazy! It doesn't say anything about improving puffiness but I definitely do notice a difference in that. Most importantly it cools and soothes my eyes wonderfully! I use this every single morning and it instantly makes my eyes feel refreshed and awakened.

FC5 Oil-Absorbing Day Lotion with SPF 20 | Arbonne
This is honestly one of the only "oil-free" moisturisers that has actually worked for me. It leaves my skin fresh and with a nice matte finish but still takes care of the little dry patches around my nose and eyebrows. I have very oily skin so it's definitely a welcome change not having to walk around looking like and oil slick! The SPF is also a nice bonus.


MAKE-UP

'Hoola' Bronzing Powder | Benefit
This product is a staple in anyone's make-up collection! It's matte which makes it really nice for contouring and also great for us oily-skinned gals! As I said, we had a few nice days in June which meant everyone was tanning, both in the sun and by the bottle. Neither of those options seem to work for me so it's nice to sweep this over my cheeks and give myself a light, natural-looking glow. I think this bronzer works for most skin tones as it's not too dark or orangey. It also lasts really well- I've had mines for ages and still haven't "hit pan".

'Plush Lash' Macara | MAC 
I had been on the hunt for a good volumizing mascara for a while. I have quite long eyelashes to begin with so don't really have much use for most of the mascaras on the market just now (as they all seem to be geared towards lengthening). The girl in MAC was so friendly and helpful as she recommended this to me! Since I started using this I've gotten several people asking me "what lashes are you wearing?" !! The brush is quite big and this really helps give the appearance of thicker and fuller eyelashes and gives quite a striking and defined look.

'Brow Fantasy' Pencil and Gel in Bruntte | Revlon
The gel side of this product is life changing! Okay maybe I wouldn't go that far... However, it is a fantastic brow product! For someone like me, with really bushy/crazy eyebrows, it is the perfect tool. It's basically a small, thin mascara wand that you just brush through your eyebrows to tidy them up and even out any lighter patches. I don't really use the pencil side that often, as I'm very lazy with my eyebrows and kind of prefer the "un-groomed" groomed look, but I do occasionally use it if I have any sparser areas.


FASHION

V-Neck Viscose T-Shirt in Grey & Black | Topshop
I have barely had these off since I purchased them! They are just so comfortable and easy to fling on with jeans, shorts or leggings for when you're feeling quite casual but still have to look presentable. They just sit really nice and are so simple. They have a bit of a slouchy fit without being too oversized and I can't wait to go back to Topshop and look for more colours.
(No picture as both t-shirts were in the wash- just shows how much I really love and wear them!!)

RANDOM

'Champaca Blossom' Medium Jar Candle | Yankee Candle
Usually I only buy the smaller jars or candles from Yankee Candle as I often get fed up of the same smell after a while but I just had to go with the bigger size for this scent! It's honestly the perfect everyday scent for my room! Its very floral, fresh and slightly sweet without being to strong or overbearing. I think it creates a nice, clean ambience but with a touch of fun and "girly-ness".

'The Fault in Our Stars' | Movie
This is honestly such a great book to movie adaption! I read the book at the end of last year and, like most, thoroughly enjoyed it. This story is the definition of "emotional roller-coaster": you'll laugh, you'll cry and you'll pull big cheesy grins at how cute some scenes are! It's really inspiring and beautiful to see how these characters don't let their cancer stop them from living, laughing and loving. It really makes you appreciate how lucky you are! I also thought they chose the perfect actors for these characters: Shailene Woodley is just so likeable, and Ansel Elgort has that cute-but-cheeky little smile dow to a tee! Definitely worth a trip to the cinema (but remember the tissues!).

'Penny Dreadful' | Tv
I'll start by saying that this show is not suitable for younger viewers, or anyone who is easily scared or offended, as it has some very mature scenes/language.
This show is dark, twisted and incredible! The acting, particularly Eva Green's, is brilliant. The setting is creepy. And the plot is gripping! It takes all the old horror legends (Frankenstein, Dracula, etc.), reinvents them, and then flings them all together! And that's not even the main plot line! All the characters are corrupt and have dark secrets/pasts just waiting to come out! I feel like this is one of those shows that isn't afraid to really go all out on some scenes! It can be incredibly disturbing and/or grotesque but you just can't look away! The season finale is this week (boooo) which means, come this weekend, you can vegetate on the couch and binge watch the whole first season- It's only 8 episodes!

'Eleanor & Park' by Rainbow Rowell | Book
A beautiful and unconventional story of first love. So may teen romances are centred around the beautiful, rich or relatively popular kids where many of the characters have reasonably easy lives. However this story is centred around two very awkward and very real teenagers. The way they are almost forced in to one anthers lives and the way in which their friendship and love blossoms is so sweet and and beautiful to read. The author really captures what it's like to be a teenager and to experience love for the first time. Reading this book gave me that heart-melting, fuzzy feeling and I loved it!

'Anna & the French Kiss' by Stephanie Perkins | Book
I feel like this book is the perfect type of easy summer read as it's such a sweet, feel-good book. Yes, the book is all about privileged teens having first-world problems but, sometimes that's just exactly the kind of book you need! The experiences and fun the main character, Anna, has just make you want to hop on the next flight to Paris! The setting is beautiful and the love interest- St Clair!!- is the definition of "swoon" and I loved how they actually really got to know each other, as friends first, before their relationship blossomed. 

'The 5th Wave' by Rick Yancey | Book
In a world full of sci-fi books about vampires, boy-wizards and evil rings it was very refreshing to read a book about aliens, something i've never really read about before. I really enjoyed the way the story was told- the main character looking back on the previous attacks (or "waves") as she awaited the next one- it was a great way of getting to know the character, through her experiences. I really didn't know what to beileve or who to trust in this book and it constantly kept me on edge! The main(?) love interest-Evan- was so sweet (but maybe a teensy bit predictable). The book switched narrative points a few times which really helped bring everything together perfectly and added to the suspense. I seriously cannot wait for the sequel (The Infinite Sea) which comes out later on in 2014!!

'Kim Kardashian: Hollywood' | App
Anytime I have a spare couple of minutes you will find me playing this game! The Kardashians will forever be my biggest guilty pleasure. I don't know how or why but I just find them wildly entertaining and this app did not disappoint! It's actually really entertaining and is a great little time passer- my only problem is that you can pretty much say goodbye to your battery life!

I just wanted to add that I'm sorry this is up a bit late but I've been pretty busy the last week and this is the first chance I've had to just sit down and write!!
So now you know all the things I loved throughout June, what are some of the things you enjoyed? 

My Perfume Collection.

Hey everyone! I thought I'd do a post today just basically showing my perfume collection as I recently had a bit of a clear out.
I am a notorious perfume hoarder and had racked up quite the collection over the years! However, I decided that enough was enough and I had to either throw out or give away several of my older bottles that I hadn't used in a while. I actually haven't purchased any new fragrances in a while as I couldn't really justify spending the money when I really needed to use up some of the ones I already owned!
I generally tend to gravitate towards quite sweet, fruity and floral scents so most of these perfumes fall into that category.
So this is what my perfume collection now looks like (after a major overhaul):

(R-L) 'Reb'l Fleur' by Rihanna, 'Heat Rush' by Beyonce, 'Just Pink' by Next, 'Purr' by Katy Perry, 'CK One Shock' by Calvin Klein, 'Pink Sugar' by Aquolina, 'Zara Woman' roll on perfume, 'Coco Mademoiselle' by Chanel, 'Daisy - Eau So Fresh' by Marc Jacobs, 'Flash' by Jimmy Choo (the bottle is not facing the front here), 'Dot' by Marc Jacobs, 'Pretty' by Elizabeth Arden (which I cannot find the lid for) and 'Candy' by Prada.

My top 3 "go-to" fragrances right now are:

Coco Mademoiselle - Chanel
My all time favourite perfume! There is something so luxurious about Chanel perfume and you just feel amazing when you wear it.
This scent is a bit more "grown up" and "sophisticated" compared to those I usually go for but definitely still has a hint of that fresh, "girlyness" that I adore!
I love to wear this when I'm going somewhere where I want to look and feel my best! I could probably wear this perfume every single day and never tire of the amazing scent!
It can be a little on the pricey side but in my opinion it is definitely worth it if you ever feel like treating yourself as it does smell incredible and it is also pretty long-lasting.

Daisy Eau So Fresh - Marc Jacobs
I am not a huge fan of the original 'Daisy' scent but Marc Jacobs have recently relaunched and put a little spin on it and have come out with a few new 'Daisy' fragrances. This one is by far my favourite! I think it was originally limited edition but it's been out for a while and is definitely still available right now!
This scent is perfect for spring and summer- It's so fresh, charming and pretty and it instantly uplifts my mood whenever I spray it! Not to mention the bottle, like most MJ perfumes, is adorable!

Just Pink - Next (I bought this scent a quite a while ago and i think they may have changed it as I cannot find the one that I have on the Next site. Mines is a 30ml eau de toilette.)
Next is a UK clothing (and home) company. It's line of fragrances are great if your looking for something new but don't really want to splash the cash! This was one of the first fragrances I ever owned as my mum used to shop here quite a lot. To this day I still adore it! It's very fresh and floral and I always find myself reaching for it. I always take this perfume with me on trips or whenever I go away somewhere as I find it's just a really easy little bottle to travel with and a little definitely goes a long way with this perfume!
I do believe Next change up the packaging on their perfumes quite a lot as every bottle of this I've owned over the years has been different but the smell has always remained amazing and that's the main thing.

Heat Rush - Beyoncé
Celebrity fragrances aren't usually my thing as when I was younger I used to buy them a lot and usually because I liked the person and not so much the fragrance. But I guess that's how they get you! This perfume I purchase because I love both the scent and the celebrity endorser equally.
Beyoncé is one of my biggest idols. She is amazing. I don't even need to go any further.
This perfume smells good enough to eat! It's kind of hard to describe the scent but I'll give it a go: It's very fruity and sweet but there is definitely a hint of something vibrant and (dare I say?) sexy about it. I love to take this on holiday when I go abroad or wear it when it's really warm and sunny outside as I feel it just fits that mould perfectly! For instance this was the perfect perfume for when I was holidaying in the Caribbean!
The only problem, for me, is that I don't love the bottle! I like to keep my most used perfumes out on my desk but I'm just not a lover of this bottle and it doesn't really match my room but that's just me being nit picky!

(You are now most likely aware that I am not so great at describing perfume scents! This is why I've included links to where you can buy these perfumes as these sites will definitely give you more "professional" descriptions if you are interested.)

As I mentioned above, it's been a while since I last purchased a new fragrance and I'm thinking of treating myself to a new one soon so I would love it if you could leave any recommendations down in the comments! I'd really like to hear some of your favourite fragrances or even any you think I might like :).

Welcome!

Hey everyone! So this is my first ever blog post! Pretty exciting (for me anyway hehe)…

I don’t really know what to write just now as I feel like my first ever post should be about something meaningful or insightful but nothing like that seems to be coming to me right now. Instead, I’ll just say a quick “hello” and try to leave it at that :).

I hope to use this blog as a way of expressing myself and to write about my life; the things that I do, and the things that I love! It probably won’t be all that interesting but I’d love to have a go at it and I’d love it even more if you’d join me…?

Wherever you are in the world, I hope you’re having a wonderful day!