So many things have happened in the past few months. I've gone from living with my mum to now living on my own. I've gone from a full-time job to a part-time job. I'm doing a degree which will hopefully take me on to my future job and best of all I have made some amazing memories in such a short space of time.

One thing university has taught me is life is hard, money doesn't go far and being on your own sometimes can be difficult. There are times when I get in and just wish I didn't have too cook dinner and do the dishes and tidy away things. There are times I wish my bathroom would clean itself but at the end of the day it's all part of growing up and I love it really. 

Having to now support myself and buy my own food etc I get how expensive life really is. My mum supports 3 children, raises them by herself, has a full-time job and manages to keep her house pristine clean! I admire and honestly am amazed at how she does it all. Food is so expensive and I now get really annoyed at myself for wasting it.

Another thing Uni has taught me is I am not a "typical" student. I don't go out nearly every night of the week and consume half my body weight in alcohol, I like to eat nice foods and also spend a lot of money on clothes and make-up! Guilty of living beyond my means, I still have a fantastic time here and have made life long friends! 

I've managed to get myself a job as a supervisor at a retail store! I recently was voted in as head of beauty for the fashion beauty and lifestyle society. I've gone to Monaco and Cannes with my course which was an amazing bonding holiday! I attended the BBC good food show and watched Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry cook live (some people wouldn't find this exciting but for me oh my god *fan girl alert!!!!*). I've been to my first Winter Ball with my gorgeous boyfriend of 2 years, been trusted with a lot of  responsibilities (which I love!) and realised Netflix is the equivalent of a best friend! 

I've met a life long best friend! She's blaidey amazing!! I've never laughed so much as what I do when I am round her and to be honest she makes me realise what a weirdo I actually am!! It's crazy how two people from opposite ends of the country can become best friends?! 

I have signed a contract to live in a 6 bed house next year with 3 guys, myself, Rachel and Claudia and I am so excited to move in! However it's going to be strange going from a studio flat on my own to living with 5 other people! 

Overall I am loving my time at Uni and think it's the best decision I have ever made! I've made amazing friends, amazing memories and fantastic progress with my confidence and commitments! I can't wait to see what the rest of this academic year brings me and am looking forward to starting my second year in September, organising and planning amazing events with the fashion, beauty and lifestyle girls and creating even more memories! 

PRODUCTS I REGRET BUYING | FEBRUARY EDITION | ALEESHA MARIAH

Hello lovelies! I was in boots a few weeks ago and I thought I would test out a few new products which I had seen advertised. The first thing I bought was the L'OREAL Paris False Lash Sculpt mascara. The mascara claims that in just one stoke you'll get 3 effects, a tight line at the root, volume at the core and a fanned out effect at the tip.  Personally I don't believe you can achieve this in one brush and it takes a lot of wiggling to fan your lashes out to. 

The brush is awful! It's plastic and I find it difficult trying to get it to cling on to my lashes. The little plastic tips which are meant to cling onto your lashes are so small that it hardly touches them. When I finally did get it to work my lashes clung together and it looked horrible. I like things that are easy and hassle free so this mascara is definitely not good for that. I wouldn't recommend this product and if I'm honest I think I'm going to chuck it away! I'm really disappointed me because I love L'OREAL Paris but they have let themselves down with this product. 

The second thing I bought also links in with the third product. I've set out a task for myself to try out as may high-street and drug-store foundations as possible so I can try and find the best one in my opinion. 
I purchased REVLON PHOTOREADY AIRBRUSH EFFECT FOUNDATION in the shade 003 shell. The application of this foundation was disappointing because it felt very heavy and cakey on my skin and also clung to dry patches making my skin look flaky. I have combination skin so it would probably work better on oily skin types. It also has shimmering pigments in it which you cant see through the bottle but when its on your skin you look like a disco ball. Another product I will not be using again. 

The third product is the REVLON PHOTOREADY PERFECTING PRIMER. The issue I have with this primer is it has a pink tinge to it and makes my skin look a bit strange. Again like the foundation it's very heavy and with the foundation it doesn't look the best.

Have you tried any of these products? What do you think of them? Did they work better for you? Let me know in the comments below of tweet me at @aleeshamariah_ :) 

Two Faced Born This Way Foundation Review | Aleesha Mariah

Hello lovelies! So I may have wasted my food shopping budget this week on a new foundation but I really needed it...a lie I tell myself every time I buy new make up! Two Faced is a brand which I adore and I have read/watched so many blog and video posts on this foundation that I had to give it a go myself. 

The packaging of this product is beautiful. The bottle looks expensive and so does the design. Also it looks really pretty on my make up stand too.

Now trying to choose the correct shade for my skin tone was very difficult considering I had to get it online. I went for the shade light beige and if I am honest it's a tad dark for me when I'm not fake tanned but, I would mostly wear this foundation if I were to go out on a night out. 

The ingredients are amazing! It's probably the only foundation that I know of that has coconut water in it. Coconut water is great to replenish the skins moisture levels and it also makes the foundation smell like a summer holiday. Also mixed in is Alpine Rose, which brightens and promotes elasticity, as well as Hyaluronic Acid which makes the skin appear smooth and youthful looking. 

I have combination skin so I have oily and dry areas. I do find it quite difficult when using oil free foundations because sometimes they can make my dry areas even more drier than they already are. However because this foundation has coconut water in it and it acts as a natural moisturiser. 


If you like full coverage this foundation is definitely for you. I personally like a medium coverage foundation during the day so this is definitely a special occasion/night out product. It blurs pores and imperfections so perfectly and you only need to use 1-2 pumps. I asked my friends what it looked like on and they said it made my skin radiant and healthy looking skin.  

I would say it's worth the money personally and overall I would give this product a 9 out of 10. 

If you want to get this foundation then click this link which will take you over to Debenhams :) 

I hope you liked my latest post and please comment below and let me know of any new make up products you've been trying that you think I might like :) 

Much love, 

Aleesha 

xoxo

10 Beauty & Lifestyle Resolutions For 2016 | Aleesha Mariah

Happy New Year lovelies! I hope you've all had a fantastic start to the new year and wish you all the best for the rest of the year to come. My idea for a blog post today was to list all my new year resolutions but realised I have never stuck to them, mainly because I don't enjoy them! However I was reading through Just Jodes most recent blog post and it inspired me to list out my very own beauty and lifestyle resolutions for 2016. So without further a due lets get into it! 

1. Invest in a good moisturiser

I am really bad when it comes to moisturising my skin. I either always forget to do it or go through phases where I do it everyday without fail but then usually misplace the bottle and lose interest in it. When watching make-up tutorials and get ready with me routines on YouTube everyone seems to worship moisturisers and it's making me feel bad for not taking care of my skin. I think this year I need to do some research and find the best moisturiser for my skin and give it a little treat. 

2. Drink more water

Again I am so bad at keeping hydrated! I always forget to drink water or any kind of liquid for that matter. My boyfriends mum got a jack wills gift set for Christmas and it came with a water bottle and since then I have been drinking a lot more than usual. I now probably drink just over 1L a day but, I need to stick at it! 

3. Go to bed at a decent hour

Since moving out and living on my own my body clock is all over the place. I come from a home of sleep talkers and weirdly there is something quit comforting in it now that it's gone. It's so quite in my studio that I struggle to get to sleep! However I am getting used to it and because I am working as well as being a student I am finding myself getting very tired! So hopefully I will get into a routine and start going bed at 11pm instead of 3am! :O 

4. Step out of my beauty comfort zone

I latch onto things very easily and when I find something that works it takes a lot for me to give it up! This year I want to try something different.I want to mix up my everyday foundation and find a new one maybe even 3, who knows! All I know is I latch on to the same look everyday and it's starting to get boring!

5. Have a proper skin care routine 

My current skin care routine is literally; make-up wipe/micellar water, face wash/scrub, done! Bad I know but I plan on fixing it! This year my mission is to set up a proper skin care routine where I can actually start to notice a difference. 

6. Eat healthier!!!!!

Literally I am the worst person when it comes to eating! I am such a pig and I will eat as much chocolate and sweets as I want and I will not feel guilty at all! However getting older I realise that, that needs to stop! I haven't got that fast metabolism that I had when I was younger and now eating a whole bar of chocolate results in my bum getting bigger and bigger! So it's time to dust of that active blender and get out the healthy cook books and start meal prep-ping again! #letsgethealthy

7. Get back into my gym routine 

I used to go to the gym 4 times a week but I took a gap year and started working full time and found I had no time to go. I used to really enjoy it as well and felt a sense of accomplishment at the end of each work out. So my plan is to sign up to a new gym and dedicate some of my evenings and mornings to working out and getting back to fit! Oh and also follow so many fitness accounts on Instagram that I start to feel guilty for eating a bar of chocolate whilst watching YouTube in bed!  #letsgetfit

8. Travel more 

I suffer with anxiety which is triggered by new surroundings. I struggle when I go away on holiday or to places I have never been before. I hate not knowing where I am and what's happening around me. It actually makes me feel secluded in my own body. I can't really explain it but when it happens I really, really struggle. When my boyfriend Adam and I went away to Portugal I was fine for the first few days as the bar that we were going to most nights was lovely and I felt settled and safe there. Then one night we went and a massive street party was taking place outside and in the bar. It set my anxiety off so bad we had to go back to the hotel. Because I didn't know what was happening and I didn't know what to do with myself I just felt awful. This year however I wan't to tackle my anxiety and stop it from controlling where I go and what I do. I really want to go to London this year and I know it's going to be hard but I want to fight that awful feeling I get and concur and realise it isn't such a big deal. I know it's not a big deal but something inside of me thinks it is a big deal. Who knows what it is that makes me feel that way but this year I want to stop it from controlling me. 

9. Start learning to drive

I should have done this last year but I was saving for my deposit on my student accommodation, a holiday and paying bills!! This year however I need to start learning to drive. I actually get jealous and annoyed when I am in a car and I'm not aloud to drive it! So what am I going to do?? BOOK LESSONS!! 

10. HAVE FUN, ENJOY LIFE AND MAKE MEMORIES WITH THE PEOPLE I LOVE! 

I think that one explains itself! 

Thanks for reading guys! I would love for you all to tag me in you new years resolutions maybe you'll inspire me to do more! Hope you enjoyed the post. 

Much love,

 Aleesha Mariah 

xo

The Autumn Tag | AleeshaMariah

1. Favourite Candle

I am bit of a candle fanatic. I love burning candles especially when it gets to Autumn, it just makes me feel cosy and relaxed. As much as I love Yankee Candles, they are very pricey and for a student it's not really worth it...even though they smell like heaven! Primark have just released their new Christmas range and the candles they have brought out are gorgeous! My current favourite is Snow Drops and it burns for up to 40 hours! I think I only have about 5 more hours before it completely goes but for £3 I will most certainly be repurchasing it. The packaging is so cute too. 

2. Favourite Lip Colour

I love deep coloured lips at Autumn but I also love nude shades too. A recent purchase of mine, which I have fallen in love with, is the Revlon Colour Burst Lip butter in the shade sorbet. It's beautiful on and suits my skin tone.  

3. Favourite Drink

This is a simple answer for me. I love, and when I say love I mean LOVE, a nice cuppa tea. There is nothing nicer than coming in from a cold day and chucking on your pj's and snuggling up with a nice cup of tea!

4. Favourite Blush

I'm going to be honest I am not much of a blush lover. I think it's because I feel like I don't suit any of the shades that I actually have. I need an expert to help me out with this! 

5. Favourite Clothing Item

I have two. I genuinely can't decide which is my favourite so I'm just going to go for both. My first is my H&M Black heeled boots. They literally go with anything and there so comfy! My second is my Jack Wills Tweed Skirt. It's so easy to were and I always get compliments on it. 

6. Favourite Movie

So because it's close to Christmas I am going to have to say National Lampoons Christmas Vacation. It's a proper feel good film which always makes me laugh! It also reminds me of Christmas when I was younger and my Nan would put it on in the background as we made popcorn tree decorations. 

7. Favourite TV Show

At the moment I am watching Gossip Girl which I am far to into for my own good! However I love The Big Bang Theory and will binge watch it all day if I could. 

8. Favourite Thanksgiving Food

My family used to live in America so we do celebrate thanks giving. My favourite thing has to be my nan's home-made treacle tart. It's scrummy! 

9. Favourite Halloween Costume

This Halloween I dressed up as dead Dorothy from wizard of OZ so I should probably say that but I could have done so much better! I wasn't prepared this year!

So that's it for the Autumn Tag! Hope you liked it :) 

More soon, 

Aleesha 

x

Luxurious Leather | Jewellery House FORTEDEMARMI Launches

High end accessories are reinvented this year with the launch of a luxury Italian jewellery house retailing an exclusive range of leather accessories and bejewelled clutch purses. Crafted with the finest materials sourced from around the globe, every FORTEDEMARMI piece embodies the essence of up-to-the-minute luxury. 

Unique, extravagant and definitively dazzling, FORTEDEMARMI re-imagines conventional approaches to jewellery. Viewing accessories as more than just a fashion statement, the boutique is driven by a desire to embed every piece with intrinsic meaning and beauty.

Alessandro and Alena Lotti, co-owners of FORTEDEMARMI said, “Yes, jewels can be material objects but to us a pure jewel is the heart and soul of an individual surrounded by an aura of light. Our creations bring together the inner illumination of a person with the tangible beauty of precious jewels.” 

Every piece is handcrafted in Italy using age old goldsmith techniques passed down from generation to generation. The result is a collection of custom made masterpieces, each boasting its own unique characteristics.

Using luxurious crocodile skin and python leather Italian artisans handcraft clutches with meticulous attention to detail.

Clutches are crowned with an 18 carat gold clasp encrusted with dazzling diamonds and gemstones. Crafted with luxury materials and customised jewelled clasp a FORTEDEMARMI clutch is love in its purest expression. 

Referring to a carefully curated colour palette clients can customise pieces to suit their unique skin tone or taste. This allows fashionistas to create bespoke accessory sets that reflect their individuality.

“The full effect of the FORTEDEMARMI philosophy can be achieved by flaunting a unique jewelled clutch as well as a handcrafted ring, bracelet and pendant that captures the look and feel of evocative fashion,” adds Lotti.

This season’s looks are bold, vivacious and fabulously feminine. Think vibrant purples, rich burgundies and fuchsia pinks that are guaranteed to get heads turning. All leather jewellery is encased in FORTEDEMARMI’s trademark gold sheathing to give the pieces a lustrous sheen. 

While the company makes it grand debut in 2015 its history can be traced back to 1963 when Italian artiste Otello Lotti founded a company manufacturing metal clutches for high-end brands. Over the next three decades Lotti established his business as a leader in the Italian made luxury accessories sphere. In 1993 Alessandro and Alessio Lotti joined the company and began to manufacture customised jewellery and embellished clutches for VIP clients around the world. This year the company was refined and re-launched under the name of FORTEDEMARMI. Since its 21^st century revamp the brand has quickly emerged as one of the most prestigious brands in contemporary fashion.

For brides on the search for the ultimate in ceremonial chic the FORTEDEMARMI is a discerning choice. All pieces are handmade with love and can be customised to create the perfect wedding ensemble. 

To find out more about FORTEDEMARMI and browse the stunning collection of bespoke Italian made jewellery and clutches, visit the website at: http://fortedemarmi.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fortedemarmi/483695495106535

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fortedemarmicom/

Instagram: http://instagram.com/fortedemarmi/

REVIEW | Revlon ColorStay Moisture Stain

Some facts are incontrovertible. My make-up obsession is beyond help. Not only am I running out of room for it but it cost's me a small fortune! My money during the winter months seems to vanish quite quickly. I would like to be able to blame this on Christmas gifts for family and friends but then I would be lying to you. Myself, Superdrug, Boots and the MAC counter have a very love hate relationship. My thought process if always the same..."I will only pick up what I am running low on...oh look it's 3 for 2...spend £10 and get a free gift it would be rude not too!". <<<< That's why I have no money!! 

Anyway after watching a vast amount of reviews on YouTube I finally went and bought a dream in a lip-gloss bottle! My Revlon ColorStay Moisture Stain has been put to the ultimate test. I wore it on Date Night, my Christmas work meal, days out shopping and day-to-day work life so it has been through a lot of tough challenges. 

I don't particularly like wearing Lip-Gloss I find them a little bit of a handful, especially when it's windy. We have all been there, wind blowing in our hair, trying to pull the majority of it from our lips still trying to look glamorous. 

However this one I haven't really had that problem with weirdly enough. It doesn't specify that it is a lip-gloss but I see it as one. Whilst out for my Christmas meal, even though the moisture wore off the stain lasted for a very long time and looked matte. This saved having to constantly re-apply it- BONUS. 

The shade which I purchased was the Parisian Passion. A deep purple shade, perfect during the autumn months when you are trying to create vampy lips. The application is okay, probably would be easier if you had fuller lips however. The pointed end is great for precise edges. 

The packaging some may say is quite boring but I actually love it! It's so neat and tidy, a classy looking gloss. 

:)

My advice is, if you wear a dark shade of lipstick or lip gloss line your lips!! It helps everything last longer and also provides a great base and outline for application. I bought a Natural Collection lip liner in the shade Mullberry. It's the perfect match and it only cost £1.99!!! 

I probably, day-to-day, have to re-apply about 3-4 times which isn't actually that much to be honest. 

I am sold on the Revlon ColorStay Moisture Stains and will be purchasing the entire collection yet again leaving me skint! All in the name of beauty ;) 

I hope you all liked my review! Have you used Revlon ColorStay Moisture Stain yet? What do you think? Comment below :) 

Aleesha 

xoxo

To get your Revlon ColorStay Moisture Stain and lip liner click the links below :) 

http://www.boots.com/en/Revlon-Colorstay-Moisture-Lip-Stain_1500693/

http://www.boots.com/en/Natural-Collection-Lip-Lines-Pencil_1543933/