Julia Speaks: June 2018

Showing you around two of my favourite spots in Bath.

Although it is not really noticeable on my blog, I currently live in Bath, England - aka one of the cutest cities in the UK. I love it there, and every time that I walk around the centre I count my blessings for living in such a beautiful little place. I wanted to dedicate a blog post to my favourite areas of Bath that I have been exploring this spring - the city has turned into a wonderful blooming garden, which I could not wait to share with you all! So if you're around Bath in the upcoming weeks or summer months, here are the two top places to go to enjoy a relaxing sunny afternoon...

Sydney Gardens, the hidden gem

The Sydney Gardens are often overshadowed by the Royal Crescent, but they are my favourite place to go for a lie in in the sun. On Pulteney Bridge, turn right and walk all the way through possibly the longest street in Bath. On Laura Place, admire the symmetry that's in front of you... And make your way through the beautiful Georgian street until you reach the beautiful Palladian building of the Holborne Museum. The houses of Great Pulteney streets lead the way to the museum, and you will find yourself looking through the windows to satisfy the curiosity of seeing what the interiors are like – or is it only me?

Although I have been to the Horborne Museum some time ago, I do not have the clearest memory of what I saw, so I will leave it aside and move on straight to the Sydney Gardens, behind the museum. The gardens were designed for pleasant walks and on your way, you will spot a few beautiful gems, from the antique temple facade to the bridges overlooking the canal.

In the spring, the trees bloom in white and pink fluffy blossoms, and the ground gets covered in a pastel blanket of flower petals. The park is rarely crowded, and you will always find a good spot in the sun for a bit of reading or a joyful picnic with friends. The perfect area if you want some piece and quiet. I even spotted some lilac there - my favourite!

The Royal Crescent and the Georgian Garden

Although the Royal Crescent is always crowded when the nice weather and longer days come, it is always worth having a look around. In that area are some of the prettiest back streets. After a visit at the Fashion Museum, wander around and you will find the perfect photo opportunities.

I took these photos at the beginning of wisteria season, and finding these blooms at the Royal Crescent almost made my day. There was a wedding on the Crescent, for a lucky (and probably rich) couple who definitely picked the right place to celebrate such a special day.

You could easily spend hours at the Crescent, watching the world go by and petting the numerous dogs who are taken out for walk there, but follow me on the little paths behind the Crescent to find the tiny, curious and peaceful Georgian Garden. Walk along the side-paths to see those typical Bath buildings, which are as pretty from the back as they are from the front...

The Georgian Garden is located behind one of these impressive houses, and you have to go through the garden door and climb a few stairs to arrive in the cute haven which will take you back in time. It is the perfect place for a little break away from the bustle of the city. Sit on the pretty garden bench and let the world go by...

My list of places around Bath could go on and on - it is such a lovely city, full of spirit, History and life, and there is always something going on. I keep discovering new places and will keep sharing my favourites, which I plan on doing more often on the blog!

I also post a lot of photos of Bath on Instagram, so make sure to follow me over there!

What is your favourite place to be in the spring time?

Lots of love,
Julia x

June 20, 2018 22 commentaires

We all have products we would use 'til the end of time. Here are mine.

I used to be a makeup hoarder, but since being more reasonable with my money, I have been creating a small makeup collection and using only products that I love. Out of all my products though, there are a few, that I incessantly go back to and that you'll see me use all the time. I've decided to gather these little gems in one post, to hopefully give you inspiration as to what you should try out.

NYX, HD Studio Photogenic Concealer [buy here]

I have mentioned this product time and time again these past few months, as it has been the only concealer I've used! NYX is such a good brand - both quality and price are amazing. The HD concealer is a medium coverage concealer, but you can built up the coverage really nicely. It looks very natural on the skin, and stays put quite well throughout the day. It hides most of my blemishes and scars, apart from the really red blemishes maybe. But add powder on top and gives you a lovely finish. I've compared it to the Naked Skin Concealer, I think they are quite similar - but the price makes all the difference!

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder [buy here] & Real Techniques Powder Brush 1401 [buy here]

Again the Stay Matte Powder is a product I've been using for years, and I'm still perfectly happy with it. At £3.99, it's the best drugstore powder I've ever had - I am yet to reach for high end powders, but now is not the time for it. I'm not very familiar with Rimmel in general, however I would definitely recommend this powder. It is a pressed powder, which you can get either translucent or in your shade. Unfortunately, the shade range is not great (I don't remember there being any shades for black skins...) however because it's so thin, you can get away with not having a perfect match. It doesn't look cakey at all and is really light, even though it is labelled as a powder foundation - it doesn't have the coverage of an actual foundation. I usually use it with liquid foundation underneath, or just my NYX HD concealer for quick, everyday makeup looks.

I apply the powder with the Real Techniques Powder Brush 1401. It's big, fluffy and soft, and although I've used it for years and washed it lots, it doesn't lose any of its bristles and still looks brands new. I would say Real Techniques is a great brand for all makeup brushes, and still more affordable than brands like MAC or Make Up For Ever.

MAC Fast Play lipstick [buy here] & Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Lolita [buy here]

These two shades are my go-to lip colours, I wear either of them every single day when I want a simple, neutral lip for work and I could not see myself without them in my collection!

Fast Play is a mauvy pink shade, in the Amplified finish - my favourite finish in MAC lipsticks. I've had it for a couple years now and I love it just as much as I did before. It stays on the lips for hours too, although you do have to reapply a thin layer after you eat - overall it stays put for a good amount of time! I have steered away from MAC now and will probably not purchase from them again since they are not cruelty-free. I've been more sensitive to the cause these past few months, and although I do have a lot of non-cruelty-free products in my collection (I was not informed back then) and I still use and love these products, I am trying to make smarter purchases and turn to cruelty-free brands only.

The Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks had been quite hyped up the past few years, and for good reason - they are amazing! This is my favourite liquid lipstick, it's super easy to apply, the texture is not too liquid nor too thick, and it stays on all. day. long. Even after you eat. This product is a blessing, especially since I work in a school - so I've got no time for frivolities like touching-up my makeup during the lunch break! Lolita is a nude, beige shade leaning on brown. It's a beautiful every day shade throughout the year - especially in the autumn and the summer I would say! It really makes me want to try other Kat Von D products - although, and I have to say, I am not a fan of the packaging, a bit to Avril Lavigne-esque for me..!

Urban Decay, Naked Palette 1 [buy here]

Do I even need to write anything about the Naked palette? Probably not. But I still want to share my love of it, because this is a product that will never get old! To be honest, I should probably throw this palette away - I've had it since I was in high school, and it's about seven years old. Oops. However I haven't had any bad reactions to it, so I'll keep using it until I die. And probably be buried with it too.

I'm really happy about the quality of the eye shadows still, although you do have some fallouts on the cheeks, especially with the more sparkly shades, the pigmentation is beautiful, and the palette is very versatile, I use it for all sorts of looks. The shades I use the most as those swatched below, in order: Sin, Sidecar, Half-Baked, Smog, Toasted and Hustle. I love to use Sidecar and Half-Baked in little touches in the inner corners or on top of other shades, to add that touch of glitter that I love.

In short, you probably have this palette too, or have already used it in your life, and don't need another post about it - but it really is a product that never fails me, even though it probably is past its expiry date. Gotta love your classics!

What are the makeup products that never fail you?

Lots of love,
Julia x

June 11, 2018 13 commentaires

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