Remember Me?

Just in case you forgot, I'm Rachael, I'm 17 and I'm technically the owner and not-so-regular poster of A Is For Ayla. I'll be honest and come out and say it, for a while I've sort of avoided my blog, I'm not sure whether It's because I feel out of the circle, or it's because I dread logging on and being faced with a list of 280 posts I feel just aren't 'me' anymore. Either way, occasionally I have thought about logging back on and having a browse about, I love seeing how lots of my old friends and followers are doing, and how their lives have changed. I can tell you now, my life has changed a fair amount.  I won't promise I'll post regular beauty posts from now on, because the reality is I just don't *care* about it as much as I used to. However moving away from one interest only means moving closer towards another. I'm lucky enough to be coming in to that part in life where I have access to some pretty nice sums of money, but don't have the restraints of a full time job to content with. As a result, I've found myself travelling around a lot. I'd love to share all the things I'm doing, and all the places I'm travelling to, but only if you'd like to read it!  I guess more than anything this was a post to let you all know I am still alive, just in case you ever remembered my blog as I remembered a lot of yours! 

A Is For Ayla: Another Blog Birthday!

credit I appreciate I haven't exactly been the most active blogger in the past year, partly down to exams, work, moving schools and whatever else the average 17 year old has going on. I even feel the need to address the fact that yes, I am 17 now, just in case you didn't know (let's be honest you probably didn't I've been so absent). It almost makes me feel guilty writing this post as the point in posting to day is it thank all my lovely readers, followers, guest posters, PR amigos of the past year for being so fabulous. Today is actually A Is For Ayla's 3rd birthday. Quite odd to think that if my blog were a baby (pretty sure I used this analogy last year ...and the year before) It'd now be a toddler. A huge thank you to everyone I've worked with over the past year. Everyday I receive so many lovely emails from new bloggers seeking advice, old bloggers I haven't spoke to in a while and an ever increasing number of PR fairies. Despite not posting, I have been responding to the majority of emails relating AIFA, don't think I forgot about you altogether! Thanks to everyone that joined the AIFA familia this year, hopefully I'll still be back to post this time next year. xox

Clarins Water Comfort One-Step Cleanser

Aswell as being the winner of 'The Most Difficult Product To Photograph' in my own personal blog awards, the Clarins one-step cleasner was also hailed the 'Best Cleanser' from 'In Style' 2007 Best Beauty Buys. Since then it's recieved rave reviews so I figured I'd give it a go because unlike many hype skincare product this comes in at £19. It has a peachy scent to go with the coloured liquid, probably not one for those with a sensitive nose as it is quite strong. It's a nice soft cleanser to be used without water, but is extremley poor at removing eye makeup or liquid foundation. I think this is a cleanser for those who don't wear makeup on a daily basis really and so, as a beauty blogger this really wasn't worth the money. I can recommend this for those who wear very little makeup or want a simple cleanser for mornings. For those who wear much more makeup or have sensitive skin I would not recommend.

Have you ever tried this, or any other Clarin's skincare?

MAC 'Angel' Lipstick

 
 
  
 

You may recognise this lipstick from my 'What I Got For Christmas Haul'. It is was a staple in my everyday makeup look because its a gorgeous mid-pink that adds a hint of colour to the face, perfect for a dreary Winter day. It's of the 'Frost' formulation, ideally I wouldn't pick this formula but the shade was too pretty not to buy. The thing about 'frosts' are that they have a small amount of sheeny-glitter, as apposed to a glossy or a matte finish. It does feel slightly grainy on the lips and can settle in the crevices of the lips if you don't blend it out (not necessarily with a brush, fingers work well too) straight after applying. In the bullet it is a little harder and drier than your typical lipstick, but it's really not much of a problem. I know I've said a couple of negative things about this lipstick, however it is a good, easy everyday shade that stays on the lips for ages and smells pretty good too! Not sure if it's worth the £14 price tag so I'm currently looking out for a dupe to compare it to for all those who want the shade without the price. Annoyingly I lost this lipstick at school however I will undoubtedly repurchase, probably for the novelty really!

Have you tried Angel?

Trips to Oxford, England

While the weathers terrible, I figured it might be nice to share some of my trip to the South. The weather in there is always 10x better than up here in the North, can you believe it didn't rain once in the entire week I was there?! We traveled around quite a bit, we managed to cover Oxford, Windsor, Eton, Warwick and some other smaller places. Probably the most momentous occasion was when I VISITED BICESTER VILLAGE, yes, I had my first experience of discount Vivienne Westwood. I have to say, I didn't actually buy a lot as the stock is generally pretty bad in outlets, but I did get a few bits and bobs.  Between all of the photos above (of which some are disastrous in quality, sorry, I was too busy being a tourist to check them) we've pretty much covered both city Oxford and University Oxford. Call me a massive nerd but there's something about the Bodleian Library that makes the language student within me want to cry like a fan girl. Writing this post is particularly exciting for me as I'm rekindling my love affair with the South in a few weeks. I'll be going down to Oxford and Cambridge in a few weeks for University trips. Provided this more lifestyle-y type of post goes down swimmingly with you guys, I may treat you to Part 2 - Eton & Windsor, and perhaps Part 3 - Uni trips soon!