What's in my (very small) makeup brand

I'm not a beauty guru, or at least one who tries product after product. I'm a woman of routine, who finds one product and sticks to it. Or maybe it's because I'm not particularly adventurous in my makeup search.

That being said, I though it would be nice to share my 'must-use' products that I use on a day-to-day basis, and in some cases, I get through at an alarming speed. Silver lining of that is that I acquire Boots Advantage Points at lightning speed. 

No7 Beautifully Matte Foundation

This is definitely my splurge product. I think if you invest in one beauty product it has to be foundation. I like a foundation that actually covers, and if I can skip concealer I will because foundation does exactly the same task. Also if you go to the No7 counter they use that clever gadget to find your exact shade!

Maybelline Matt Maker Powder 

I have to give an honourable mention to the Revlon Powder here, as it was one I used to use for a long time. But then I simply decided that spending that much on a powder was a bit pointless, since I get through them at lightning speed (no really!). So I ended up going for this one, mainly because it's matte, and pretty cheap.

Rimmel London Natural Bronzer

In Essex we like a bit of bronzer, so I like a bit too. Mainly because I hate being pale, and it warms me up a little bit, especially in the winter. I'm not particularly fussy about my bronzer. Rimmel London is a pretty safe brand with affordable prices. I think I picked this up at random and it's served me well.

Rimmel London Soft Kohl Eyeliner Pencil

I actually own this eyeliner in black and brown, with the brown getting used more as a daily choice. It's quite light and has just enough 'makeup' in the look without looking heavy. That and its much easier to remove. I also have an Avon eyeliner pen in black which is a bit heavier for a real impact.

Rimmel London Scandaleyes Reloaded Mascara

I'm definitely team eyes over lips, so a good mascara is an absolute must. I think at one point when I was at school I would apply four at the same time! I've been using this Rimmel Mascara for a very long time, and I still use it now because it never lets me down!

I don't have a specific lipstick or lip-gloss I use day-to-day. I prefer to just apply a slick of Vaseline, or a tinted lipbalm.

And before you think, what about scent? Well I am so fickle, I don't have a signature scent, although I love the small of vanilla!

So there you go, my makeup essentials. Unfortunately they are not particularly exciting, or extravagant. But I thought it would be a fun, girly thing to post about!

I've discovered The Great British Bake Off!

As crazy as it sounds, considering its sky high ratings, innuendos and memes making many hours of happy posts for an avid tweeter, I have never watched The Great British Bake Off. It just never drew my attention. Also when I was on a diet seeing all the cakes (and the bread. OH THE BREAD!) just made me a bit food-sad.

So when the show made a move to Channel 4, causing massive backlash and the departure of three of its key players, Mel, Sue and Mary Berry, my interest was peaked.

This wasn't because I had an expectation that the show would be completely reinvented on a new channel, but actually something far more boring.

I was looking for a new show to check out, upon the end of Love Island, in the lead-up to the return of all my favourite US shows in late September (see my previous post about what I'm watching on TV right now). So I had nothing to lose, and set my recording since adverts irritate me.

And the verdict? I enjoyed it very much! I haven't grown very emotionally attached to any of the bakers yet, so Peter's elimination did not fill me with any permanent sadness. However I like Steven and Flo as of now, and the gentlemen who made a spreadsheet to nail his cake is officially one to watch. Baking admin is always a win in my book (although his chocolate mini rolls ended up being of weaker quality. Perhaps a signature challenge in Powerpoint form would have been more to his style)

But I felt the drama and stress when bakes were not going well. That intensity of whether a bake would deliver when a first attempt ended up in bin. And it was cake week this week. I love cake!

In terms of the new hosts, I do like them. There is no forced humour, and I find 'The Mighty Boosh' nostalgia on Twitter very funny. That was a big thing when I was at school.

It actually surprised me how much Prue Leith sounds like Mary Berry, so I don't see any substantial difference there either.

It's easy TV, so I can just cosy up in bed and enjoy it without much thought. And it's very understated, with minimal dramatic music and long pauses for effect. 

If it sounds like I'm saying stuff that has been said about Bake Off many many times before, then that's probably the case. That being said, I like it, I am a fan, and though I am seven years late to the party, I will be sticking around for the forseeable, soggy bottoms be damned!

TV Review: Victoria Season 2 Premiere

It's finally back! One of my favourite period dramas finally returned, and I was ready when it began, tea and biscuits at my side (yes I'm that traditional). 

When it was announced Victoria was returning for a second series, I was slightly worried. When I watched the first series, I viewed it as one with a start and an end. In a way it is still like that, but I wondered where they would take Victoria's story. Would there be a time jump? What elements of Victorian history would be focused on? WOULD LORD M BE RETURNING?

I can say, after a few minutes of this episode, I relaxed into the sofa knowing that we are in safe hands. The episode begins with Victoria (Jenna Coleman) confined to a wheelchair six weeks after giving birth, something Her Majesty is not happy about. It leads to one of her first brilliant lines of the episode, and it made me laugh. 

That's my first positive. The humour in this episode is out in spades, far more than the first series. While I began this with shades of The Crown in my mind (mainly as I finished the series yesterday) it soon separated itself. The tone is lighter even with the darker tales interwoven within the story, that are starkly true.

As a history-buff, I found the story about the invasion of Afganistan fascinating. Not only did I know nothing about it, leading to some immediate Googling, but the mirroring between that war and the Afganistan war on terror today is very poignant. Using the 19th Century framework to document these modern events captivated me, especially in the scene where Her Majesty meets the sole survivor of the Khyber Pass crossing out of the 4000 soldiers. The ongoing theme of 'The Soldiers Daughter' as the episode is titled was very smart on Daisy Goodwin's part.

Even that early in the Queens motherhood, she was making waves, as a monarch and woman. I had never heard of the concept of being 'churched', and it sounds ridiculous today. Not so much as a religious act, but that she had to undertake it in that manner. She was treated as an invalid after having a child, and you can see how we far we have come since time. Can you imagine a woman going through all that today? I don't think so!

Without getting all feminist, the two highlights of this episode that made me want to stand up and applaud, where firstly the scene where she reprimands her husband Albert for trying to keep secrets from her about Afganistan. As the wife, she is expected to submit, but as a Queen she rules. Torn between two worlds, it was great to see her bite back. (Shoutout to the Duke of Wellington here, hes one of few characters who treats The Queen as she should be treated: as a person. I like his character a lot.) And secondly, one of the concluding scenes in which she stands on HMS Trafalgar after the loss of troops in Afganistan. Not only was her speech just plain epic, but I viewed the scene as her saying "We are British we carry on!" I've seen that a lot recently in British historical media I've watched and read, and I just love it.

And as a hopeless romantic, I also loved the dynamic between Victoria and Albert (Tom Hughes). I'm still a hardcore Victoria and Lord M (Rufus Sewell) fan so hear me out! If you read my review of The Crown I sound like I am repeating myself here, but never mind. They feel real, and not in that 'real' way you see in reality tv land today. I mean they actually loved each other, they wanted to be intimate for them not for the needs of the royal bloodline. As Her Majesty greatly said, in my favourite line of the episode: "The country needs a Queen not a broodmare." 

I could write another paragraph about the acting, but I will save the words and typing time. Everyone is excellent. The Queens Mistress of the Robes (Dame Diana Rigg) is also great, and I mainly liked her because of her no-nonsense approach towards some characters I really dislike.

As it is only the start of the series, I won't give a substantial verdict just yet. I'm beyond excited for the return of Lord M next week, so we shall see where this series goes. 

TV Review: The Crown Season 1

So I know I'm a little late to the party on this one, since The Crown came out last November. But after a lot of planning to watch it, my Mum telling me how good it is, and a little bit of chance time off, I finally sat down and watched it! I'd like to say no spoilers, but all this stuff is British history, so it's a bit hard to spoil.

For anyone who doesn't know, The Crown is the story about our Queen Elizabeth II, from her marriage to Prince Philip right through until the present day.

The first season covers her engagement to Philip in 1947, coronation, and concludes with the dissolution of Margaret and Group Captain Townsend relationship. So in timeline terms, it's from 1947 to 1955.

I've always been a sucker for a good period drama, so I always planned to watch this show when it came. With it being on Netflix I knew there was no rush, especially since Season 2 isn't due out until December.

Despite it coming from the land of the binge-watch, each episode is very heavy and lush, so I wouldn't call it a show you can binge in one sitting. I couldn't watch more than one or two episodes before I had to take a break. That being said, if you like a challenge, or being one of those people who is found sitting in the living room muttering sweet nothings at the end of a TV binge, then knock yourself out!

The performances are solid too. For a bit of extra info, to faithfully document the entire life of the Queen correctly, the main characters are going to be recast every two seasons, with six seasons to cover the entire story, so the actors you see in this season will only feature in Season 2 from then on and that will be it. No news on the recasts just yet.

Claire Foy blends perfectly into the role of Her Majesty, presenting that 'fish out of water' idea as she was thrown into the role very early following the death of her father (sidenote: For a bit more background on George VI, Colin Firth does a fabulous job in The King's Speech). She starts off the series happily married, living a nice life in Malta with her two children, and then that all disappears as soon as she becomes the Monarch. She puts duty first, and some would say that is why she is still so well-loved today.

And while I was very excited to see Matt Smith play the Duke of Edinburgh, mainly as I am a big Doctor Who fan, I did not find his performance quite as compelling. Smith captures the mannerisms perfectly, but he just does not have as much to do. And that's fine, since I still enjoy his performance. I just hope we get to see more in later seasons of the way he is viewed today, for his quips and one-liners. I'm very intrigued who they get to play him next.

All props go to John Lithgow who plays Prime Minister Winston Churchill. His performance is by far the best in the show, in a role it would be very easy to stereotype. He plays Churchill in his second term of Parliament, when he had been viewed not as highly as in previous years, mainly due to his health and age. He was pushed to step down, and eventually he did. That being said, he absolutely nails the role of this fiery man trapped in an old mans body, and I'm sad he won't be in any future seasons.

Last mention goes to Vanessa Kirby as Princess Margaret. I knew nothing about her going into this, so to hear about her somewhat controversial past was fascinating. Her relationship with Townsend was very romantic, something out of Austen, and I am a bit of a sucker for that sort of thing. Her rebellious nature is something of an anomaly for the royal family (or at least in the 50s it was, not so much now), and I just loved it. 

I very much enjoyed The Crown, if I could sum up now. I can't deny that I've been obsessively Googling royal history to get more info, but as I'm a history buff that's pretty normal anyway. Bring on Season 2!

If you like reading my reviews, follow me on Twitter @bylauramfox. I live tweet some of the shows as I watch them. 

Kindle Chronicles: Caitlyn Moran, Moranthology

Since I've spent most of this week reading books on the train, I thought a review of my latest read would be on the cards. 

I've actually read Moranthology before, but since it was four years I fancied a re-read.

I remember the first time I read this book I was on holiday in Turkey, and worked my way through it as part of my days sitting by the pool. If there's one thing I do remember, I laughed. A LOT!

Moranthology is a collection of articles written by Caitlin Moran across her three regular columns, so she discusses a variety of topics, from Sherlock to Keith Richards to Gordon Brown (and everything in between).

I think the reason why I enjoy this book so much is because Moran reminds me of me. Just the awkward nature that comes across in her writing, and the random thoughts she has about day to day life.

Her views on celebrity news are given a new lens, criticising the culture without using defamatory or negative language. Her piece on the Michael Jackson Memorial was funny despite the circumstances, highlighting the highs and lows of the somewhat circus.

And of course, her Sherlock and Doctor Who fangirling. Sometimes it felt like her thoughts were more eloquent versions of my Twitter.

It's a great read, and it's a great tease for Moran's feminist views. I'm planning to read her other book How to be a Woman soon.

As the columns are quite short, if you prefer you can read it in small parts. And there is a follow up in the same format called Moranifesto and it's just as funny!

If you like my review, then you can follow me on Twitter@bylauramfox where I post all my regular blog updates!

What I'm watching on TV right now

I watch a LOT of TV. A dangerous amount. Whether that be on Netflix, an actual TV (because they still exist apparantly!) or on my iPad as I try to speed up my commutes or pretend to ignore the people bashing my shoulder as they walk through the train aisle.

The types of TV I watch are a bit all over the place, but some of the shows are not as watched so I am here to give them some recognition and love with a list of the 5 TV shows I watch the most. I will try to keep spoilers to a minimum.

And these are CURRENT TV shows, ones that have ended do not apply. And yes, that includes Sherlock! It took me about a month to get over that ending though!

Let the list begin!

1. Scorpion: This show HAS to be first because I love it. It's definitely an example of a show with less of following, but we Scorpion fans are out there! Basically it's about a group of geniuses who are given problems only they can solve, and most involved nuclear weapons, international problems, or some kind of major tech meltdown. I don't just love it because of the different cases they undertake, but the characters are just so much fun. It's quite a light-hearted show, but can also rain down the feels upon us at the right moments. Relationships between the characters also drive the series (yeah, those kinds of relationships). It's on ITV2 in the UK, and the first two series are on Netflix as well. Literally counting down the days until Season 4 starts!
2. How to Get Away with Murder: Viola Davis is an absolute powerhouse,  and the twists and turns in this show keep me coming back. The title kind of explains the plot, but it's much more complicated now so I shall just say it's a courtroom drama about law students. It is a bit OTT sometimes, but I kind of love that because it has that guilty pleasure vibe (a bit like Love Island!). Again I cannot WAIT for Season 4, and it's on Netflix for UK watchers, but they are a tad behind in episodes so be warned!
3. Victoria: I love a period drama (Mr Selfridge was my show for four years) and I am beyond excited for the return of this. I was already on board because Jenna Coleman has been in another show that I will talk about momentarily. But it wasn't just her that got my attention after I started watching Victoria. I love seeing this feminist icon in her early days, stripping away that battle-axe persona of Queen Victoria that is engrained in history. She was a romantic too! And it's on ITV so easy to catch!
4. Doctor Who: This is a difficult one for me, because since my beloved David Tennant left the show, I've had very mixed views on the doctors that have come since, and I am extremely apprehensive about the idea of a female doctor. That being said, I love re-watching the Ten era, Eleven has grown on me over time and the 50th is flat out epic. It's still current so it makes my list, although it's older eps that keep me coming back. Obviously this is a BBC staple, and it might be on a streaming service but I'm not sure.
5. Will and Grace: I know, I know, this show has technically ended, but it's coming back this autumn for two new series at least so it counts. I got into Will and Grace after watching their Trump sketch last year, and while I don't have the time to catch up on every single episode, I have a jist of what's happened, and I've watched the finale several times. It's just such a funny show, and because it's only half an hour, it's an easy watch without too much substantial thought. I don't know when it will be airing in the UK or what channel, but I will probably tweet it when I find out. (Shameless Twitter plug @bylauramfox)

So yeah that's my favourite shows right now. Shoutout to Castle which is over now but that show was SO good (we won't talk about the finale. Just go on Tumblr to see how they ruined the end!)

Sidenote: I'm not really sure where I'm going to go with this blog. I kind of just want to publish my thoughts and musings on things at the moment. We shall see.

Either way give me a follow on Twitter @bylauramfox