Featured Blogger: #15: November

Featured Blogger posts were always intended to be a happy, upbeat post sharing the love for other bloggers, so It almost feels wrong to start of with a massive apology for essentially *disappearing off the face of the Earth* for the past few weeks. I haven't even been tweeting, which anyone that follows me will recognize as some pretty odd behavior. I had to take a little break from blogging but I'm hoping to be back. What better way to return than with a Featured Blogger post? I only recently met Alexandra (you may remember she wrote an amazing guest post a few weeks ago which you can read here). You'll all know by know I'm very very fond of Alexandra's blog 'The A Style'. Her photos are honestly some of the best I've seen, and its one of the few blogs that I love absolutely everything she posts about. If that wasn't enough to make you want to pop over to see what she's all about - she's also Canadian, do I need to say anymore?! Once again I've pestered Alexandra for a little blog interview, so you can learn a bit more about her and her blogging antics.

In less than 50 words, tell us a little about yourself, and your blog

Hello my name is Alexandra. I'm from Montreal, and am 21 years old. I'm a lover of anything beauty related, books, and TV shows. I will soon be starting a makeup artist course, and am so excited! My blog is something that I love to work on, and includes loads of beauty reviews, wishlists, and some lifestyle bits with bright clear photographs. 

When and why did you initially start blogging?

I started my blog a year ago in September really out of nowhere! I had been reading blogs on and off for years, and felt like I too could be a fashion blogger but that quickly switched to beauty after a couple months in because I was and am more passionate about that subject! I mainly started it because I wanted to have a hobby that would bring some creativity out of me, and writing was the one thing I was good at! I also discovered that photography was something that I started being good at! 

 
Do you have any tips or ideas for someone wishing to start a blog?

Don't go into it head first without any research like I did! I didn't know anything about blogging and how it worked. Here is an example: For months I didn't know I could enlarge my pictures and was never happy with them being too small and when I found out, I felt stupid because of how simple it was! Also be true to who you are and don't write about something just because others are doing it because the readers will know when it doesn't come from the heart! Just write about what you are passionate about and have fun!
 
Do you feel you've taken anything out of being part of the blogger community?

I've learnt how to manage my blog so that it is constantly updated with new posts without me feeling like I had to write anything! I've never had a hobby that I've actually enjoyed, and my blog is something that I love writing and realized that if I truly enjoy doing something, it won't be something I will dread! I also love the fact that I can read honest reviews on other people's blog, and love to see their perspective of things! Also the best thing that has come from blogging, is all of the amazing people I've gotten to know! It is good to see that other people are as passionated about something as I am because nobody in my friends, or family understand how much I love writing! 
 
What are your 5 favourite products right now?

Nars - Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla

Revlon - Lash Potion in Black Mascara 

L'Oreal - La Lacque lipstick in I laque you a lot

Urban Decay - Naked 2 palette

Escada - Cherry in the Air perfume
 
Who are your 5 favourite bloggers right now?

Megan from Thumbelina Lillie

Charlotte from Style and Splurging

Emma-Louise from A Day in Beauty

Becca from Becca's Fashion and Life

Laura from Laura Through the Lens
 
Where can we find you? (twitter, lookbook, bloglovin' ect.)

You can find me on Bloglovin', Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Tumblr! I really hope you will come and say hi! 

 
Any final words of wisdom?

They would have to be to have fun and to truly enjoy your blog, because it's meant to be that place for you where you are supposed to be proud of something, and not the place that stresses you out! Do whatever you want with it, and be happy with your hard work!! 

Click Above To Visit Alexandra's Blog!

Remember you can follow AIFA on Bloglovin' and Twitter!

MUA Make Up Academy 'Build Your Own' Palette Review & Swatches

Hello lovely people! For those of you who don't know me, I'm Megan and I blog over at student-stylexo I am a beauty blogger who likes to review and talk about student friendly beauty products. I'm excited to be guest posting for Rachael and sharing my views on the MUA create your own palette with all her lovely readers! If you like what you read then head on over to my little blog for more of the same kind of thing.

So, on my latest browse of the MUA website I discovered that you could create your own blusher, bronzer or eyeshadow palettes for under £8! Like a typical blogger I was hooked and had to buy two. I decided to purchase the black & red palettes, one for eyeshadows and the other for blushes.

The palettes were on sale for £2 each and the shades were also on sale for £1.65 which is super cheap. I chose 4 eyeshadows and 4 blushers, you can also buy bronzers too. The shades come in individual packaging which you then pop out and press them into the palette. It was really simple and easy to do yet it looks so expensive.

Eyeshadows

Top to bottom - Shade 2 'Silver Lining', Shade 28 'Honey', Shade 42 'Berry Brown', Shade 7 'Double Take' 

I love all four of these shades for different reasons, they are all shimmer shades and Double Take is a baked eyeshadow with several different colours blended together. I love Silver Lining to use in the centre of the lid to reflect the light. It's also a really lovely colour to use to create a dramatic smokey eye in the inner corners. Honey is a shade I would never buy but it's really nice blended with Maybelline 24 hour colour tattoo in pink gold and applied in the crease. Berry Brown is a gorgeous brown with speckles of gold and purple which again looks gorgeous in the crease. This is a really nice colour for this time of year and looks lovely as an everyday shade. Finally, double take is a browny, gold shade that create a lovely copper shade. I love using this as a base shade with Berry Brown in the crease. All the shades are really pigmented and last on the eyes for around 4-6 hours without a primer which I think is pretty good. They are also really easy to blend.

Blushers

Top to bottom - Shade 12 'Cinnamon', Shade 7 'Flush', Shade 4 'Amber Glow', 'London'

I love a good blusher and I think a girl can never have to many so I tried to buy a few varied shades than my current collection. Cinnamon is a lovely matte brown shade which could be used as a bronzer, this would be perfect for when you have a lovely tan. Flush is a gorgeous nudey pink shade which I use for every day wear. It applies lovely and give a nice pink tint to the apples of the cheek. Amber Glow is a crazy pink, coral, glitter shade I've not used this much as it is SUPER pigmented and I'm scared of looking like a clown but as the Christmas season approaches I think i'll be giving this a whirl. It reminds of an 'in your face' version of Sleek's Rose Gold. Finally, London is another baked product mixed with brown, pink and rose coloured pigments. This is my favourite of the four blushes as it gives a lovely, subtle wash of colour. Just be careful when applying these blushes as they are so pigmented that you can end up looking a little silly.

I hope you've enjoyed reading my review because I really enjoyed writing it. Let me know if you have or are going to buy one of these palettes and let me know which shades you get. If you've enjoyed my guest post then you can head over to my blog now :)! Thanks for reading.

xo