Books | Warning: do not read this book.

Okay so I'm late to the party on this one: The Fault in our Stars by John Green isn't a new release and I'm sure you know someone that has read it if you haven't yourself. I actively avoided this book after seeing reviews including  words like 'tragedy'. I'm not a masochist, I'm actually a master of self-preservation and anything remotely tear jerking is not for me. I like books that remove me from reality rather than bringing reality into sharp resolution, but when my friend (who has excellent taste in books) passed this one on to me, I gave it a shot. Mainly because I had nothing else to occupy myself with on a break on a night shift, but I started it nonetheless. And, not counting the short break I took to you know, deliver a baby, I read it start to finish without stopping.

I'm not going into the plot line, that's insulting; you can read the blurb as wells as the next person. In short; This book broke my heart. I sobbed like I haven't done over a book since Angela's Ashes, and being as I was approximately 11 and the book was about the foot and mouth disease epidemic (if I rememeber rightly) I'm not sure the emotional pull felt is really comparable.

This book made me feel. Excruciatingly tore me from my pleasant little world and thrust me into Hazel's without an apology. It's so much more than the story of a kid with cancer, it's a story of love and death and the unfairness of it all, but how despite that unfairness the world still goes on. Hazel's voice continues in my head even now and that's how you know a book is good, when you continue to try and live in that world even after it's over. 

I loved it but it's given me an emotion head ache. The worst sort. 

I don't suggest you read this book if you're after a heart warming, feel good happy ending, Hazel is a hypocrite in that her story doesn't finish, much to my annoyance. I want to email John Green and demand to know what happened to her, it's frustrating. I do however suggest you read this book if you want an insight to coping, to living and loving, to losing and to how, actually, the universe doesn't give a either way. Fantastic, inspriring and a whole lot of tragic. 

EDIT: despite the title of this post, I'm not trying to put you off the book! It's wonderfully written, charming and laugh out loud funny (cliche) in more than a few places. I feel better for reading it, I'm so glad I did. I realise my review doesn't actually state this outright but I thoroughly enjoyed it. So, do not read this book...except do, because it's great. I promise you won't cry the entire way through. 

Ps, I apologise for the photos and their irritating placement. This entire post was formulated and posted from my iPad. This isn't a permenant arrangement but I couldn't not write about the book, and  also couldn't drag my sorry self to get my laptop. Normal service will resume soon, promise. 

 

Review | Benefit 15hr primer

I think this is my first proper beauty review, non? Which makes the product in question a pretty special one! When I ran out of my favourite Revlon photoready primer I decided I would branch out, as despite loving Revlon’s primer offer, the packaging is just a killer- I ended up digging out a good couple of week’s worth with a cotton bud because the glass bottle and pump system leave so much in there!

I don't really have large pores or an uneven skin tone luckily, my main skin issue is my acne scars. A primer can't really do much to help the appearance of these (if you know one that can, please spill!) but when my foundation slips off my face less than 6 hours into the day, they become more obvious. Revlon's primer does a pretty good job of securing foundation for around 8 hours but by the end of a working day I'm looking a little worse for wear.

I grabbed this primer from the Benefit stand in Peterborough as soon as the lady told me it literally sticks your makeup to your face. I guess this is why the packaging is kind of like a pritt stick?! Very clever, Benefit! I love it, it does have quite a sticky, thick consistency and needs some furious blending with either your fingers or a flat foundation brush (I use a real techniques one) but it does exactly what it's supposed to and my makeup doesn’t budge for the whole time I’m at work and beyond...well over 12 hours! 

Once blended it's weightless and, although it does nothing for the appearance of my skin, it works wonders on the appearance of my foundation and when I layer it with Laura Mercier's radiance primer, I feel like I've discovered the dream team of the primer world. I do apologise for the lack of pictures of the actual product, it swatches to nothing so is impossible to photograph! I couldn't get the focus on this one right either, but you get the idea; application is a breeze, you just sweep the stick across your t-zone and blend outwards. Lovely job! 

Review | My MAC lipstick collection

My little collection was born and grew pretty quickly. I bought one lipstick from MAC on whim and was completely won over by their formulation, colour range and (let’s be honest) luxurious packaging and hype. I've always been a massive fan of drugstore makeup but I'm yet to find a cheaper alternative to these beauties that deliver the same level of pigment and staying power!

And it does help that they look so goddam pretty in the bullet! 

From L-R I have:

Pink Plaid (matte) a lovely dusty pink shade which I’m dying to wear on a night out with a dramatic smokey eye.

Lady Bug (lustre) a vital component to any collection this is a really wearable red that I love to vamp up a fresh dewy face that has little more than a slick of mascara on!

Coralista (lustre) I bought this in the summer, a gorgeous bright coral that I wore a lot with lots of bronzer and cat flicks!

Freckletone (lustre) a glossy brown toned nude is my newest addition, bought from the lovely Kate at sugarfixx. I haven’t quite worked out how’s best to wear this one as yet so any suggestions welcome! 

Lickable (lustre) is exactly what it says, lickable! I had a similar colour called Lusterlings but lost it, and this came a close second when I couldn’t find a replacement Lusterlings in store. I think a nice bright pink is vital to any collection, goes really well with a subtle brown smokey eye or a slick cat flick!

Fanfare (lustre) is probably my favourite and most worn, this is a great ‘my lips but better’ shade that I put on in the morning and can reapply pretty much perfectly without a mirror! I love this for everyday wear but with a few more layers would definitely stand out on a night.

If you're looking to expand, or even start, your MAC lipstick collection I'd really recommend all these shades! are there any you think I need to bump to the top of the 'next to purchase' list? Am I missing some classics? I always get really baffled by the choice when I go to a MAC counter or store so please let me know in the comments or on Twitter!