Clinique Lash Doubling Mascara Review

Hey Everyone!
So, by this stage, you will probably know of my addition to mascara. I try out many, many different kinds in the hope of finding my HG and I think at the moment I have around 7 open (eek!). Now, far be it for me to refuse the drugstore praise, as I buy most of my makeup, there but when it comes to mascaras I think high end brands do it much better.

A mascara I've been absolutely loving lately is the Clinique Lash Doubling Mascara. I have the sample size (possibly from bonus time a while back) and I have been using it daily for the past few weeks.
The packaging is what you'd expect from Clinique: clean and simple. The writing has actually rubbed off the tube which I found surprising as this usually wouldn't happen with higher quality products but I'm just putting it down to the fact I use it so often and I've had it a while. 
The brush is the perfect shape and size for coating hard-to-reach lashes and gives you a lot of control. It goes on very easily and dries fairly quickly but you can then continue to apply it without clumping. It separates, flares, lengthens and defines lashes amazingly. It also holds a curl pretty well. In my opinion ticking even a few of those boxes is impressive. Admittedly, I have other mascaras which are more dramatic and volumizing, but this can be layered for a more intense effect.

It strikes the perfect balance between staying power and being easy to remove. It doesn't quite stay precisely in place all day (there is very slight smudging on the bottom lash line- though remember I have oily eyelids) but there are definitely no panda eyes or flaking. Its also very, very easy to remove compared to They're Real or Telescopic. I'd say its about 4/10 effort points to take off. 
The only downside of this mascara is the £16.50 price tag. I do think its worth it though- after all, its only a few pounds more than some drugstore ones and its pretty cheap compared to other high end mascaras.
I absolutely love this (and Clinique mascaras in general) and will definitely repurchase after I get through my many, many mascara tubes. 
Have you tried it? What do you think of it?

My Summer In Pictures

Hey Everyone!

In line with my 'end of summer' themed posts, today I'm going to share a few (or 21) snaps from over the summer! Apologies for some of them being bad quality as they were taken on my phone. I know 'summer', the season, doesn't technically end till well into September (yeah later than I thought too!) but to me summer = time off school. Maybe that's why it seems so short compared to other seasons.

 This was in Edinburgh very soon after my exams- the holidays hadn't started but in my mind they had! I stumbled upon this gorgeous shabby chic bathroom in Jenners and I literally wanted it all. I always worry that when I get a flat/ house there will be no variety of decor at all because I only like one style- shabby chic. 

At the beginning of June we had some amazingly sunny days! I loved wearing my £1 Primark wayfarer sunglasses!

This was the day I sat in my garden in the sun for about an hour and made a daisy chain. I took an alternative approach to it though and used a kirbie instead of my nail to make holes in the stems. It actually worked really well! Sadly the daisys began to wither within a few hours but I managed to preserve them by pressing them!

Despite my short, horrible looking nails- I love this picture! Its soo summery and cute.

Remember I had "Use fake tan" on my summer bucket list? Well I used it. And then some. I went for the dark St. Moriz because I usually need at least 4 coats of the medium for it to make the slightest difference. Fair to say my friends were a little taken aback when I came out this colour as apposed to my usual milk bottle white. It was pretty severe at first but after a couple of rinses it was really really nice!

This pretty much sums up how I spent my time before Africa. Eat, TV, eat, TV. It was fab!

This is just some of the piles and piles of stuff I needed for Africa. I think I actually used about 1/10 of the stuff I brought!

I had a superb birthday this year. It was a really quiet, family celebration and was perfect.

Yes. This is what happens when I'm bored and get my hands on my elf palette.

I had this in a fancy ice cream place having a catch up with friends. It was, as you can probably imagine, amazing.

I look a bit scary here haha! I had a fight with my enormous mosquito net. I won. Muaha.

My backpack was literally like carrying another person- I didn't know if I was going to tip backwards or forwards.

This was on Safari. I don't even need to caption this- its just so spectacular that it speaks for itself.

Again, the most beautiful and remarkable picture. My view of Mt. Kilimanjaro on my last nights in Tanzania.

I have been loving these lately! I just finished my tub of body butter and the perfume has been my go-to everyday. The scent is soo yummy!

I'm actually so proud of my photography skills here! I have been keeping this for special occasions only and absolutely love it. I will be so gutted to finish it. Although- my mum was so kind and bought me Eau So Fresh which I cannot wait to try!

I think this is the best I have done my eye makeup ever! I was so proud of myself but haven't quite been able to recreate it. I'll need to keep working on it. 

I cannot describe how amazing the feeling of getting rid of old school stuff is. I literally filled the recycling bin! I was so pleased when my results came in and one of the first things I did was clear out all the stuff I won't be needing this year.

I have fallen in love with Costa this summer (despite the fact I don't actually like coffee!). My favourite drink is the Red Berry Fruit Cooler but I've tried the Belgian Chocolate and Raspberry and White Chocolate Creamy Coolers too. Yum!

My family and I took a little trip to Blackpool before the schools went back. Its kind of a family tradition and we always stay in the same hotel (which is lovely!). These arcades are so fun but seriously addictive.

While we were in Blackpool, there were shows by the Red Arrows! They were amazing but soo noisy!

So that's been my summer! I know I've said time and time again how quickly it has went but it really has whizzed by. I'm glad to say though that I done a lot and enjoyed every day!

What was the highlight of your summer?

My List of Lists!

Hey Everyone!
You may remember in my 'The Summer Bucket List- Review' post I mentioned that list making is my new obsession. Primarily, lists are great for keeping track of what you need to do and your goals. I have also found that they're a great alternative to journal writing to look back on and think "Oh! Remember I used to spend my time doing that!".
One day during the summer I took it upon myself to fill a whole notebook with different lists. It was actually really enjoyable! I got most of my ideas online but took bits and pieces from different places so I thought I'd share the ones I did to maybe inspire you!

Lists to make...

• Bucket list
• Achievements
• Things to do on a rainy day
• Things I love
• Things I'm good at
• My dreams
• My favourite songs
• My favourite TV shows
• My favourite makeup items
• Things I find funny
• My dream home would have...
• Causes I believe in
• Why I love spring / summer / autumn / winter
• Qualities I admire
• Things to buy
• My favourite places
• My hobbies
• Things I should do more
• What's in my bag
• My favourite animals
• My good traits
• My bad traits
• Words / phrases I use frequently
• I may be young, but I know...
• Things to do if I won the lottery
• Foods I like
• Ways to save money

Filling up the lists was, in general, a lot easier than I thought and they're great to have to hand. I found "Things I find funny" difficult to do as it wasn't very specific and also, the "My Favourite Animal" one only consisted of "Giraffes". Other than those though, I filled most pages! And I was glad to use up a notebook that would have otherwise been doing nothing.

Do you have any ideas for other lists I could make? Will you be giving any of these a go?

PS- I have said the word list so much while writing this that the word has lost all meaning!

Real Techniques 'The Core Collection' Review

Hey Everyone!

Ever since buying my Real Techniques Stippling Brush over a year ago I have been determined to get my hands on more. After psyching myself up to part with the £21.99 that they cost, I bought The Core Collection a few months ago. It has actually taken me ages to get around to reviewing these but it means I've given them a proper road test and I am certain of my views.

The Core Collection comprises of 4 brushes: the pointed foundation brush, the contour brush, the detailer brush and the buffing brush. They claim to be all the tools you need to create a flawless canvas. Like other Real Techniques brushes, the ultra-plush, synthetic bristles are hand-cut and 100% cruelty free.

They also come with a carry case and stand as well as a guide to using each of the brushes on the back.

All of the brushes are sturdy, soft and tick the oh-so-essential box of no bristles falling out. They all wash very nicely too. I don't personally use the case as I find it a bit tricky getting the brushes in and out of it and I use a glass jar to hold my brushes for easy access.

The Buffing Brush

I was originally drawn to the Core Collection purely because it contained this brush and it wasn't sold separately. It didn't disappoint. The Buffing Brush is second to none for its multi-tasking qualities. I started off using it for foundation which worked well but I found it gave a slightly lighter coverage than I wanted so switched back to my Stippling Brush. I then one day (actually by accident!) discovered that this is amazing for applying powder. Because of the density of its bristles, it picks up the perfect amount of powder and spreads it evenly across the face. I personally think that this brush is the reason for the staying power of my powder. The brush is lightweight, stands on a surface (which I always like!) and is big enough to cover the entirety of your face with product in a few seconds so is great if your in a rush. Its also a great blender.

The Contour Brush

This is a lovely brush for powder bronzer, blusher or highlight. I am currently using it for bronzer as a contour as it is the perfect size to get into the hollows of the cheeks and the different length bristles ensure the product blends well. I'm thinking of giving this a wash and trying it with my MAC MSF as I think the precision it offers would make the skinfinish look even better. 

The Pointed Foundation Brush

Its weird that in the picture above this looks round- I can assure you it is infact pointed (especially when there is product on it!). I've never been a fan of these kinds of foundation brushes so when I bought this collection I expected this to be put in a drawer and forgotten. How wrong I was. I have been using this every single day for- wait for it- concealer! I have never found the right brush for concealer and used to just use my fingers and go over it with my foundation brush. Now, I use this as it is the perfect size, shape and density for under my eyes and covering spots. It blends out Collection Illuminating Touch under my eyes so well and even works with the thicker Lasting Perfection Concealer. Win win! Albeit I still go over the concealer after with my Stippling Brush but that's just to blend out the slightly different shades of concealer and foundation.

The Detailer Brush

Last, and sadly, least, is the detailer brush. After this hanging around doing nothing with my 'everyday brushes' since I bought the collection, it has been demoted to 'spare brushes'. I tried to use it with concealer but found it didn't blend very well. I think it would work well in applying lipstick but since I don't wear lipstick very often (and when I do I don't tend to apply with a brush), I'm not using this at the moment. The one plus is that it washes up the best of all the brushes-a little bit of shampoo removes all traces of product. 

I totally love these brushes and definitely think they're worth the money (and probably more!) even though I only use 3/4 on an everyday basis. I think they will last me years and I couldn't be happier that I bought these over cheaper, lower quality ones. Although the Stippling Brush is still my No.1- these are right behind in the best brushes list! I would highly recommend these to anyone who doesn't want to pay high end prices but is looking for great quality brushes. I now want all of my brushes to be Real Techniques!
Have you tried these? 

Primark Haul

Hi Everyone!

Ever since I stopped filming videos of hauls I seem to completely forget to show you all what I've been buying recently. Hauls are one of my favourite kinds of posts on other people's blogs so I need to start remembering to photograph my purchases to share with you rather than putting them straight away.

Like most people, I have quite a love hate relationship with Primark. Sometimes I'll go in and see nothing and walk out disappointed and others I'll want to buy everything in sight. I have been in twice recently (once in Glasgow and once in Blackpool) and picked up quite a few bits and bobs. I'm actually bought quite practical things and manged to resist picking up even more summer dresses because I won't get any use out of them until at least next year.

I have been looking for a statement necklace for absolutely ages and finally found this one which is exactly what I was looking for: weighty, not the cheap looking yellow-gold colour and really compliments a variety of tops. And the best part? It was only £4! I've already worn this twice and really like it for making an outfit smarter. I wouldn't recommend wearing it if you're going to be moving around a lot though as it does clink a bit. 

I also got this royal blue blouse for £8. This is available in a lot of different colours but I liked this one in particular as it goes so well with the necklace. I also like that the sleeves are sewn up and that it isn't sheer like many other Primark blouses. 

Next, I picked up these burgundy suede pumps/loafers/ flats for £6 as I wear a lot of burgundy in the autumn/ winter and they'd go well with the royal blue top. They also have some sort of cushioned sole which I thought was good. I've worn them twice and they have been digging into my heels a bit and the back is creasing and probably won't last long. Ga why do I never learn my lesson about buying Primark shoes? I think I must walk funny as I ruin 99% of the pairs I buy within a few weeks.

I also bought some essentials: white shoe liners (7 for £2), white invisible socks (2 for £1.50) and a pair of navy socks with black frills for £1.50. I like the shoe liners for around the house and with converse so thought I'd just chuck out my old ones and replace them since they're so reasonably priced. I wear my grey Primark invisible socks most of the time (they're so much better than the H&M ones- and a lot cheaper) so I thought I'd get another set in white. These seem to be a bit smaller than the grey though and keep slipping off my feet. Maybe they'll stretch out though after a few washes. I really love little frilly socks especially in winter with booties and I already have these in black so I thought I'd pick up another pair. They're a great alternative to the Topshop ones (which I have in grey) for a smaller price. I also got some underwear which I thought was a bit weird to include so I just included these navy trimmed pants. I thought that was acceptable as I actually saw them on another girls blog and was inspired to get them. 

Then, on my next trip (in Blackpool last weekend), I got this polka dot shirt which I love! I originally wanted the pale blue one but everywhere I went they only had size 14 and up which was so annoying. I ended up picking up this though and its actually very similar to one from Topshop which I featured in a wishlist a few months back. It was £10 which is now standard for a Primark blouse (I personally think its too much but admittedly I am a bit tight.) Again, I love the sewn up sleeves and how its very 90s. I think this will be lovely all year round tucked into jeans or shorts or even skirts. 

Finally, I got these brogues in the sale for £6. "Whatt?!" I may hear you ask, as I have just said myself that I do not get along with Primark shoes. However, these are the exception. I bought a pair this time last year and have worn them consistently all year and they have not fallen apart or given me any injury. YAY! So I thought I'd get another pair so I'm sorted for another year. 

Geez I don't think I've went on like that in a post for a longgg time! Well done (and thank you) if you read all of that! 

Which of these is your favourite? What have you bought in Primark recently?

The Sunday Post #12

Hey Everyone!
I haven't written The Sunday Post in ages! I thought that because I'd neglected it so much I'd give it a little revamp with a new picture (which I think is extremely pretty- if I do say so myself!). 
My Life  Well, summer is officially over as I went back to school on Thursday. I've never experienced 6 weeks going by so quickly! It seems unfair how summer is so short while winter is so long. I am going to post a few snaps from over the summer towards the end of this month so look out for that. At the moment I'm so reluctant to get back into the 'school' routine. I was partly looking forward to seeing everyone in school and getting to wear my new uniform but now that's over its just work work work. I'm going to try harder this year not to let school take over my life and make blogging a priority too. 
Highlight of the week was definitely Saturday. 2 AMAZING things happened- I got a job (finalllyyy!) and while out walking me and my friend found a £20 note!! WOOOHOO! Seriously-my lucky day :D
Update You may of noticed a couple of small changes I've made to the layout such as new social media icons and a new signature at the end of each post. I'm really happy with the design now as all the colours tie in with each other. Also, I've been really making an effort to get myself organised with upcoming posts and  ideas for posts so that I can finally get back into posting every other day. I even found some printable blog planners which then led me on to some amazing organisation blogs. Don't you love it when you stumble upon a whole genre of blogs that are so inspiring and you didn't even know existed? So the plan is to post every other day at 5pm until at least the end of this month. I have also made a mental note to start using my instagram again as I was looking back on the instagram posts I used to do and had forgot how great a way it is to mark the week. If you aren't already- follow me julz_obsessions and I'll follow you back!
Current Favourite I have soo many favourites at the moment because I haven't shared one in so long! I'm loving Avicii's Wake Me Up- in my opinion its the summer song of this year. I've also been loving Clinique Lash Doubling Mascara (review coming on the 30th) and MAC MSF in Soft & Gentle (review coming next month).
Let me know how your week has been :) Happy Sunday!

The Summer Bucket List- Review

New obsession alert: LISTS. 
Hey Everyone!
I have always been a sucker for a to do list- especially at school or when I'm really busy. Recently though, I've taken list making to a whole new level and filled a book with different lists (I may do a post on that if anyone is interested?) as well as writing bucket lists. One was the traditional kind: things I want to do in my lifetime and the others were mini ones of things I want to do per season. I then saw this post on The Trendy Chic which really inspired me to blog about the lists I had written. I thought sharing this this would be a fun way to let you know what I've been up to over the past few months and maybe inspire you to do your own. I want to make this a feature on Julz' Obsessions: at the start of a season I will post what I want to achieve and at the end I will let you know how I got on!

• Spend 2 weeks in Tanzania
• Get a job
• Have a massive clear out of my old stuff
• Go thrift shopping
• Make a bracelet out of Starburst wrappers
• Watch loads of TV and Youtube
• RELAX
• Go on the trampoline
• Buy a hula hoop
• DIY projects
• Find one new HG makeup item
• Go walks
• Get back into blogging routine
• Start a new memory box
• Have days out when it's sunny
• Have a picnic
• Blow bubbles 
• Read 
• Use fake tan

The things I accomplished are in pink and the things I didn't manage are in brown.

As you know, I did indeed spend 2 weeks in Africa and it was the most amazing experience. When I got back, I had a major declutter of my room and sold some old stuff on ebay and the rest will be sold at the next boot sale I do. I also went thrift shopping and actually found brand new things donated from H&M (does that defeat the purpose?). I made two Starburst wrapper bracelets: one for my blogger friend Melanie and one for me which I posted about here. I certainly watched a lot of TV and YT before Africa: I watched all of Miranda, caught up on Pretty Little Liars, watched Geordie Shore from the beginning, Friends and Sex and the City. I went on the trampoline (only twice though) and done DIY projects such as the bunting featured here. I completely fell in love with MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Soft & Gentle (full review coming soon!) and decided to walk to complete a few errands rather than taking the bus. I used the personalised storage box I created here for my new memory box and had many days out. I didn't have the traditional picnic in a park but my family and I had one on the train down to Blackpool so I think that still counts. Blowing bubbles was a bit of a random goal but it is something really summery and I done it in Africa visiting the primary schools (the kids went crazy for them!) I didn't read the books I intended to (that would help my advanced english course this year) but I did read Cheryl Cole and Gok Wan's autobiographies: both of which I thoroughly enjoyed. Finally, I did put on fake tan- in fact it was pretty much as soon as I came out of my final exam! I was pretttyy dark (to say the least) but when it washed off a bit I liked it!

As for those I didn't manage: so far, I haven't found a job- though it certainly isn't through lack of trying! I also didn't relax as much as I wanted but I'm actually glad because I feel sooo unproductive doing nothing. I haven't bought a hula hoop yet- but its still on the agenda! I just need to wait till I'm passing ASDA in the car as I'm not up for walking or getting the bus home with one haha. I also failed to get back into the blogging routine- sorry about that! I'm going to try and post regularly again as I go back to school and autumn arrives.

Overall I think I did really well in completing the goals I wanted to and can only hope I will be as successful in autumn.

What goals did you accomplish this summer?

The Last of Summer OOTD

Hey Everyone!

I haven't posted an OOTD in ages which is weird because I have now figured out a way of taking the picture that doesn't involve boxes and pillows and chairs and drawers stacked on top of each other. Since summer is drawing to a close *sniff* I thought I'd share this rather summery outfit that I wore yesterday. Just as always my luck, I actually missed most of the good (!) Scottish weather while I was in Africa and haven't saw a lot of sun since I've been back but I've just adapted by replacing shorts for light coloured jeans etc. 

Top- H&M 

Jeans- Primark

Lipstick- MAC Girl About Town

I got this top in the H&M sale at the beginning of the summer for about £4 which I thought was great. I'm not usually a fan of tops with pictures but I absolutely love the colours of this one. I had also been looking for a cold-shoulder top for ages so was very impressed that something so on trend was in the sale. Its really baggy which I like and is longer at the back so can be worn with leggings/ jeggings too.

These jeans were a present for my birthday and I really like them! All my jeans are dark blue so its lovely to have a change (especially for summer when the weather isn't great) and they are also very comfortable. 

This is also the first time my new MAC lipstick has made an appearance (even though you can only just about make it out!) and I love love love it. But a full review will be coming soon! 

So there we have it! Do let me know if you'd like to see more OOTD's!

Current Drugstore Wishlist

Hey Everyone!

Once again, partly due to the blogger twitter chats and partly due to my never ending need to try something new: I have accumulated another list of current covets from the drugstore. This originated as a "What makeup I'd buy if I got a job" list (I'm job hunting at the mo!) but I thought I'd share it with you all. 

Revlon Colourstay Foundation

I have wanted to try this or Photoready for ages- which do you like better? I've picked Colourstay for this list as I've seen it in a discount makeup store and I'm more likely to pick it up. The only thing I think would drive me crazy would be having no pump.

Bourjois Colour Boost Lip Crayon

This is included purely because of the hype. I'm a sucker for a rave review, and unless you've been living under a rock for the last few weeks, you will know these are very, very popular with beauty bloggers at the mo. I am therefore very eager to get one to see for myself how good they are.

Sleek Face Contour Kit Light

I have wanted both the duo contour kit and rose gold blush by Sleek for ages so you can imagine my amazement when I discovered they'd launched a new palette combining the two. Surprisingly, I don't have one Sleek product but from what I hear, the blushes are a good place to start my collection.

Maybelline Baby Lips Balm

After months of lusting after this USA-only cult product, I was sooo excited to hear that they had launched in the UK! Next time I'm in Superdrug I'll definitely be hunting down one of these bad boys. They're also really cheap and have SPF!

Maybelline Falsies Flared Mascara

I'm a complete mascara junkie and I am constantly on the lookout for a drugstore mascara that can measure up to the high end ones. I have had my eye on this for a while and it will be what I pick up after my current mascaras run out.

L'Oreal Foundation True Match

I asked for some foundation recommendations on twitter and someone mentioned this and it is apparently great for my skin type.

So there we have it. What do you have your eye on from the drugstore at the minute?

L'Oreal Telescopic Waterproof Mascara Review

Hey Everyone!

I bought the L'Oreal Telescopic Waterproof Mascara quite a while ago now and have just given it a proper road test recently. I loved the regular Telescopic but when I wore it to school I ended up with severe panda eyes- so we had to part ways. Then the logical step forward was the waterproof version.

I really like the packaging of this mascara: it is a nice shade of blue, there is no rubbing away of the writing, its sturdy and handily: stands on a flat surface. The brush is super long, thin and angled at the tip which makes it really easy to get to the inner and outer lashes which are otherwise tricky, but it doesn't give a great deal of control. 

Application is a little tricky- I find the formula dries very quickly, so its sometimes difficult to work with and lashes can clump. 

On the lashes, the mascara offers great length and fair volume. I love how flared it makes the lashes and how it holds a curl all day long. Its also very black and remains like that all day with no flaking, fall down or smudging (which is an achievement considering my oily eyelids).

The thing that puts me off using this mascara is that its a nightmare to get off. I soaked my lids in Bioderma for a few minutes then and rubbed and rubbed until it finally came off. If an average mascara takes 5 points of effort to come off, this takes 20. On the upside, it doesn't budge a millimetre with water- so perfect for this time of year.

Overall, this is probably one of the better mascaras you can get in the drugstore, though it is also one of the most expensive. I'm a believer in you get what you pay for when it comes to mascara, and personally I would pay a few pounds more for a mascara that is just as nice on the lashes but isn't as difficult to remove. 

Have you tried it? What are your thoughts?