CHANEL TIFFANY

Griffin, a stranger, arrives at the local inn of an English village, entirely shrouded in bandages. Forbidding and unfriendly, he confines himself to his room. Driven away by the villagers and turning to an old friend for help, Griffin reveals that he has discovered how to make himself invisible, and plans to use his condition for treacherous ends. But when his friend refuses to join his quest, Griffin turns murderous, threatening to seek revenge on all who have betrayed him.

H. G. Well is well ahead of his time, I had no idea this book was written in 1897 and it truly is a "fascinating exploration of power, corruption and science". The language is quite sophisticated with a glossary included in the version purchased, so if you're looking to broaden your literary mind, I recommend buying Collins Classics books. Their collection features a wide variety of books that are must-reads featuring the history of the author and a glossary with words and phrases used in classic literature. Oh and Collins Classics books are extremely cheap, so if you don't have a book collection because you want to save money grab some of these bad boys, it'll only cost you a fiver, depending on your bookstore.

Back to The Invisible Man, the book in itself was highly detailed, and easy to read, with less than 200 pages, depending on the version you read, and the chapters being relatively short. Although it fizzles quite slowly, it ends up taking you on a wild ride with numerous twists relating to Griffin's adventures and mishaps with spats of exploitation and a little ostracising on the side.

I don't want to give too much away but to compare this to pop culture at present, The Invisible Man is quite similar to Breaking Bad's Walter White. In summary, if you want to read a book about a white man who abuses his power of invisibility then this is the book for you.

It's been a while but this bitch is back and I have a new beauty haul to talk about and this one is probably my favourite one!

So I saw this silicon beauty blender trend a while back and thought it was absolutely nuts... but of course I gave in and I was absolutely shocked by the results. I ordered a silicone beauty blender on Korah Beauty's website, at the time, the beauty blender was on sale so I grabbed myself a bargain. The shipping was pretty swift, it took about 3 business days, but this does depend on where you're ordering from. When I received it, I was surprised by the packaging. Although the item was cheap, I did feel the packaging was odd but when I opened up the little pocket, I found the crystal shaped silicon blender and realise why the packaging was the way it was. The packaging is little zip-lock envelope, this allows for easy storage, however, my only concern is how long this will last and if the it's environmentally friendly. The beauty blender is made from silicone so the applicator doesn't need to be soaked in water like a beauty blender. You simply apply foundation, concealer, etc. with the applicator dry and blend in your makeup by patting it down. Even though more effort is required to blend makeup compared to the beautyblender, it leaves makeup looking airbrushed. The best part about this product is the fact you don't need to use a lot of product when applying it to your face, as the silicone sponge doesn't absorb makeup like a beautyblender would. Every drop of product you're using will end up on your face rather than in your sponge and wasted when cleaning it. This little gem is a time-saver when it comes to cleaning, simply wash it in warm water, add soap if you need to and wham bam you're good to go. This is by far one of my favourite makeup applicators to use. Oh and a huge selling point for this makeup application is the fact that it's free from cruelty, paraben free and non-allergenic.

I saved the best for last and this is most definitely something I'm excited about. I've been using Kiehl's products for a year now and definitely feel it has become a preferred brand of mine when it comes to skincare. I finished every last drop of the products I used daily and decided to try something new. I was torn between a range of brands but finally went with Mario Badescu. I have read many reviews when it comes to this brand and did an extensive amount of research to see which products were best for me. I set my heart on the Anti-Ageing Regimen Kit as it was recommended this was the perfect set to get a feel for the brand, and I must say I am extremely impressed with the products. Although I am quite young and don't need anti-ageing products, this was the only kit that was made for sensitive skin, the others were for either dry skin or oily skin, there was no in-between, so I rolled with it. I love the step-by-step program that comes with the kit. My favourite part about these products is that they don't contain too many ingredients and the ingredients used are full properties that are fantastic for the skin.


The Glycolic Foaming Cleanser is deep-cleaning, which improves and brightens the complexion. The cleanser is so smooth and you only need a small amount, so it's definitely a money saving product. The Glycolic Acid Toner contains alpha proxy acids that rejuvenate dull skin, this is pretty much similar to the foaming cleanser, both products minimise fine lines and wrinkles while revamping the complexion. The only caution with these products is the fact that the packaging states its not recommended for use with sensitive skin so I did have to get samples of these products just to make sure my skin was sensitive to the ingredients contained in each product. Additionally, the alpha proxy acid in the toner increases the sensitivity of the skin so I would advise you, if you do intend on purchasing this product, to use the kit at night, which is what I do. This ensures that your skin won't be exposed to sunlight which could potentially harm your skin as the AHA causes your skin to become sensitive and may even lead to sunburn. I highly recommend you ask for samples if you're unsure how your skin will react to certain ingredients and whatnot. This will either guarantee the purchase of the product(s) or you'll simply find an alternative.   

The kit also comes with a moisturiser, the formulation has collagen and cottonseed oil, and even has SPF 15, so it's basically a lightweight, hydrating moisturiser and a sunscreen in one with added benefits of antioxidants. I use this in conjunction with another moisturiser that I apply before bed and my skin is firmer and incredibly moisturised, which is definitely needed when the cooler season hits. 

You may or may not know that I'm a huge fan of face masks. I always need a face mask and Mario Badescu Super Collagen Mask is insane. I was shocked by the size of the pot the mask is in but when I first applied the mask I realise that this product will last a while. The formula is like slime but more liquid based. When applied, it's smooth, but does tend to come out streaky due to its consistency. Once you've waited a few minutes, you can quite literally feel the mask working its magic. The only way to describe it, is like you're pushing your face back with your hands really tightly. I would imagine this is how botox would feel, you physically cannot portray any emotion on your face. This is probably the easiest face mask to take off. When you apply warm water to the face, the mask becomes a soft cleanser. The collagen plumps the skin and smooths the fine lines on your face. The key ingredients are also oatmeal which is perfect for sensitive skin, kaolin which is a mineral and creates the clay-like consistency of the mask, along with zinc oxide, this ingredient is widely used in skincare products to target skin conditions like dermatitis, eczema, rashes and acne. Even if you aren't a mask lover or you want to start become one, I definitely recommend this product, it's great for all skin types.

In the box of goodies, I received a little gift and let me tell that this is a little pot of gold for me. I don't know why but the perfect eye cream appears to be the hardest skincare product to find. Hands down, the Glycolic Eye Cream is the best I've come across so far. Although my dark under eye circles are yet to have completely disappeared, I have found the cream to be a positive experience. The under eye area is delicate and with this formula containing glycolic acid, cocoa butter, vitamin E and olive leaf extract, I've noticed that my under eyes are more hydrated and they do brighten, not to an intense level but if used everyday I'm hoping to complete eradicate my dark eye circles. The eye cream has the consistence of a lip balm that's a little softer and you only need to use a little to reap the benefits, much like the face mask. It should be noted that this product once again contains glycolic acid. 

Mario Badescu is fast becoming a beloved brand of mine. I've noticed that my skin is softer, firmer, brighter, and there is less redness on my face. Another added bonus to this brand is the fact that its free from animal cruelty, the only downside however, is that the products do contain parabens and I hope the brand tries to reformulate their products as parabens can be quite harmful.

And there you have it kiddos, that's the whole kit and caboodle. Hope you enjoyed reading this. If you'd like to get updates on my blog be sure to subscribe and follow me on social media via the links at the top of the page.

Trigger warning and a sort of spoiler alert for 13 Reasons Why. I've noticed that there's a lot of negativity surrounding the issue of suicide and mental health and it bothered me so here we go...

If I see one more person claim Hannah Baker was selfish, overdramatic and overreacted I'll actually lose it.

Hannah Baker, like many people, was bullied and suffered in silence, throughout high school, she was physically and sexually abused. Suicide and abuse of any kind is a serious issue, how dare people make it less than it is, belittling people who commit suicide or people who have mental issues. Hannah Baker left tapes to symbolically represent that no one listened to her, no one helped her, no one saw what she was going through, so she made them listen so they could experience what she experienced and learn from their mistakes and hopefully prevent further suicide. 13 Reasons Why is about vocalising that suicide and mental illness is a real issue, there are signs that people are not okay, that we should support each other instead of breaking one's mind, body and spirit. Hannah Baker didn't pin her death on the people mentioned in the tape, she clearly stated that certain events, certain people and the little things in life that we merely ignore affected her, like many others, mentally and socially. Every single thing added up and escalated to the point where one could not take it anymore. 

13 Reasons Why is a representation of suicide and mental issues, how it occurs, why people resort to it and how it affects everyone else. By claiming a character over-reacted or was over-dramatic, you're claiming that people who suffer with similar issues are also selfish, over-reacting and over-dramatic and you need to watch what you say about sensitive issues such as these.

I recommend every single person watch this. It's that show that touches anyone and everyone. I guarantee you will relate to a character, you will be emotional and you will want to binge watch the fuck outta this. It personally left me distraught.

Note: I'm going to re-read the book and once the TV show has been out for longer, I might review it. It's a little difficult to review a TV show without revealing spoilers and I know so many haven't watch it. I'll update this post once I've written a review, so watch this space.

Kidding, this is actually a serious post, like this is going to be about real-life, deep shit not about me talking about some new materialistic product.

Recently, I've become concerned with my health, I go to a general practitioner a lot to make sure my overall health and well-being are okay. I have had multiple health screenings or basic tests. I've had blood tests to check if I have any vitamin or mineral deficiencies and to make sure that my body is getting enough nutrients it needs. With regards to this I was diagnosed with what is common amongst women, being iron deficiency, this is an anemia where the number of healthy red blood cells in the body are too low. Red blood cells are the cells carrying oxygen to all of your body tissue.

Basically, there aren't enough blood cells in my system to carry iron and thus lead to symptoms such as feeling faint, shortness of breath, dizziness, headaches, fast or irregular heartbeat, pale skin, weakness and general fatigue, these symptoms which I experienced quite often for a number of years. Once diagnosed, I then was prescribed iron supplements that would hopefully make me feel a little better.

Other than iron deficiency anemia, physically, I'm as healthy as anyone should be at my age. I have a healthy BMI, my heart is healthy, however, my doctor did advise I slow down on the caffeine. Overall, my cardiovascular, digestive, endocrine, exocrine, muscular, nervous, urinary, reproductive and respiratory systems are perfect, while my immune system is still trying to get there.

I had been taking the iron supplements prescribed to me for two months, this was the recommendation made by my doctor, however, I didn't feel any different. As a result, I went back to my general practicioner, which lead to another prescription of iron supplements.

I hadn't thought about my mental health actually affecting my general health. I was asked the following questions:

- Do I experience stress? Well duh, I'm a law student, all I know is stress.

- Do you sometimes feel as though my chest is caving in? Yeah, that's what indigestion and heart burn feel like right?

- Do you experience faint-like symptoms? It happens every so often.

- Do you feel tired even after sleeping 7 hours or more? Always.

- Do you have trouble sleeping? I sleep like a baby, however, I stay up past 12:00am most nights, I blame coffee for this.

- Is it difficult to concentrate on certain things? Definitely, I am the ambassador of procrastination.

- Do you feel like you're choking or your throat is closing up? Occasionally. Like when? When I'm worried or fear something.

- Do you feel nauseous? Only all the time.

- Do you sometimes feel cold or hot when it's the complete opposite to how the weather is actually like? Yes.

There were other questions but I can barely remember most of them. Honestly, I didn't think anything out of the ordinary when asked these, these sounds like PMS symptoms. However, my doctor and I keep track of my menstrual cycle and noted I had already finished my menstrual cycle. I had no idea what was happening but my doctor said it loud and clear I recommend you speak to a psychologist, social worker or a counsellor. I was stunned by this recommendation.

It turns out my GP thought my iron deficiency was a connection to anxiety disorders, both general anxiety and panic disorder, as well as obsessive compulsive disorder and depression as I constantly clean, tidy and rearrange everything and then felt unintentionally emotional once the anxiety kicked in.

This was the first step, diagnosing me with a mental illness and connecting them to my overall physical health issues. They provided support and referred me to a mental health specialist. I was a little reluctant because of course I was in denial. How can someone like me have not just one mental illness but multiple ones. Turns out, people like myself who are socially orientated, independent and extroverted can in fact be impacted by mental health issues.

Once the denial period was finished I decided to open up to my doctor, I hadn't know my doctor for very long but so far they've been the best doctor I've ever seen in my lifetime so far.

However, I still wasn't ready to talk to anyone else about it. No one knows about this issue besides me, myself and I, and of course my doctor...  but of course now everyone reading this knows.

I feel as though this issue is important to talk about as many people, like myself, hide this from people they know and love. It's a stigmatising subject and you do not want to feel like an outsider, an outcast. Furthermore, you don't want to seem like you're seeking attention or making excuses for when life gets hard. However, mental illness is not an excuse to gain attention from the world nor is it something to put the blame on. It hits you without warning, it controls you and quite frankly if you haven't experienced it then you have no idea what you're talking about.

You may be reading this wondering, why would you want to tell everyone and anyone about your mental illnesses, the reason is that it is not spoken about enough and when it is, people ignore it, ignore you or even laugh about it. You cannot claim to be "woke" (I hate that term) and acknowledge issues such as racism, discrimination, sexism, the LGBT+ movement and general social and political issues but claim that mental illness is not a real thing, your ignorance is showing if you honestly think it is a myth or an excuse, or claim people are taking the easy way out. This type of behaviour from mentally healthy people leads to suicide, alcohol and drug addiction, and closeted mental illness sufferers.

If you know someone who's having a shit day, simply ask if they're okay, whether or not that person has a mental illness is not the issue. By showing such positive emotions you can help a person who has a mental illness(es) or a person in general. Regardless if someone has a mental illness or not, remember to watch what you say, by simply being aware of your actions and your words this will help foster a positive environment.

There are many resources one can utilise if you are suffering from mental illness or just want someone to talk to. Talk to your friends, family and/or health professionals. Make this issue known through social platforms which are so powerful these days.

I guess I'm using social platforms to raise awareness, to tell you that there are people out there who suffer in silence. Life hits us all hard enough as it is, we don't need further ignorance and lack of sympathy to hit us even further.

I regularly find myself having a browse at makeup online rather than shopping and testing in store these days. I think it's personally just become a habit of mine as the internet is convenient and sometimes even cheaper than what you're offered in store, however, it is a lazy method of shopping and you never get the full experience. 

I had never used Beauty Bay before, I've been guilty of having a snoop and placing items in my cart before realising I don't actually have the money for all this, crap. I finally did it and took the plunge! To treat myself I decided to purchase a few makeup products, it was an all-Zoeva haul order.

The brand was founded in 2008 and its roots are German. When researching the brand, I found it interesting the name is derived from the Greek word 'Zoe' for "life"and 'Eva' which is the name of "the very first woman". The message behind the brand is empowering as it is focused on women and embracing the fact that you're unique. Oh but that's not the best part about Zoeva, the brand does not test on animals, there is no cruelty involved so there's no need to worry when using their products in your beauty ritual. 

Thanks to Beauty Bay, my haul consists of two palettes, a collection of eyeliners and a brush set! I'll be adding more photos and reviews of my haul once posted on Instagram, so keep an eye on this post for updates, you can do this by subscribing to my blog and following me on Twitter, turn on my notifications if you want as well!

VEGAN BRUSH SET