Peacock Eyeshadow Tutorial

I'm super excited for this post! I've wanted to write this for a while but never got around to it. It's a little bolder than I would usually go for, so I've enjoyed doing something a bit different. I hope you all find this as much fun as I did.

First of all, let's go through the products I used for this look!

Concealers:

Natural Collection Liquid Concealer in shade Fair.

No.7 Match Made Concealer in shade Cool Ivory.

Foundation:

Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation (Sample).

Eyeshadows:

No.7 Stay Perfect Eyeshadow Single in Violet Shine.

No.7 Stay Perfect Eyeshadow Single in Matte Plum.

No.7 Stay Perfect Eyeshadow Single in Turquoise Shine.

Eyebrow Pencil:

Benefit Goof Proof in shade 3.5.

Mascara:

Too Faced Better Than Sex (Birthday Edition).

Eyeliners:

Crayola Beauty Face Pencil in Periwinkle.

Isadora Twist-Up Metallic Eye Pencil in shade 46 Silver Sky.

I also used the Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray and the Too Faced Rich and Dazzling gloss in Social Butterfly to finish off the look.

Step 1:

First I covered my blemishes with the No.7 concealer and put the Natural Collection concealer on my eyelids as an eyeshadow primer. Then I added a light layer of foundation.

Step 2:

I blended Violet Shine into the crease of my eyelids.

Step 3:

I pressed Matte Plum onto the outer edge of the eyelid.

Step 4:

I blended Turquoise Shine onto the inner half and into the inner corner of the eyelid.

Step 5:

I blended a tiny bit of the Crayola face pencil at the outer corner of the eye.

Step 6:

I lined my bottom lid with the Isadora eyeliner.

Step 7:

I added mascara and filled in my eyebrows.

Step 8:

I set my face and added a nude gloss. Then I took some selfies, because I really enjoyed this fun new look! I will absolutely wear it again.

Why I've Been Struggling to Settle Back in at Uni.

Two weeks ago I started my third year at university. Since I transferred last year, this was my first time not being a fresher. I thought this would make it easier to settle in but in fact I've actually been finding it really hard. There are several reasons why, and I thought I'd write about them to help me overcome them, and maybe comfort any of you who are feeling the same way!

Firstly, the work load is more immediate. While I normally wouldn't have any deadlines until week 6, my first essay this semester was due in week 2. This meant instead of having a couple of weeks for me to take it slow and start to get back into routine, I've had to get down to it pretty much immediately.

Secondly, there is a lot more pressure to do well. Third year is the one that holds the most weight, and I don't want to make any stupid mistakes. I know I'm capable of doing well, I just have to work hard to do it. This makes me stressed as I feel like I should be working whenever I take any time off, even though I know this isn't true.

Thirdly, I've been really homesick since I got back. I'm not sure why this is, maybe it's because I've spent a lot more time than usual with my mum this summer so I'm missing her more or maybe it's the lack of nerves emphasising this feeling but I can't be sure. I live with my boyfriend, so it's not even like I'm on my own! In the past, after a couple of weeks of homesickness I've start to feel better so I'm hoping that will happen again this year.

As well as this, my best uni friends are going through tough times in their personal lives. I worry about them a lot and I'm trying to be a good friend but I don't know how to help. I worry that I'm either forcing my support on them or not supporting them enough!

Finally, my flat this year is a new build and we've had various issues with administration and problems with the locks and things like that. There's nothing that will make you miss home like having to take a cold shower because there's no hot water...

The main reason for writing this post isn't for me to have a moan though! It's to make any of you who are facing similar problems at the moment. So here's what I've been doing to help settle down:

• Talk about it!! I've been sharing with my boyfriend and my friends how I've been feeling and they've been really great at comforting me and giving me advice on how to get myself out of a rut.
• Calling home. I don't miss my mum so much when I can have a good long chat on the phone.
• Create a set routine work-wise. If you have a preplanned rota for when to do what it makes it easier to force yourself to actually do it, plus you'll feel much more productive!
• Make manageable 'to do' lists. If you follow my Instagram (@klarablogs) you'll see I often share these on my stories! It helps me organise my week and I feel like I've achieved something  each time I complete one.
• Finally, make time for something fun at least once a week. Then you have things to look forward to, and it'll help you relax which actually makes you more productive in the long run.

All that being said, if you are feeling REALLY overwhelmed and these tips aren't helping there are TONNES of resources available. Don't suffer in silence! Contact your GP, your uni's student support services, charities such as Mind or Samaritans or if you feel like it DM me on instagram! I'm always happy to talk.

What's in my Gym Bag?

I saw a 'what's in my bag' video on YouTube recently, and I thought it would be fun to do a few posts like it (starting with this one)! There's not much in my gym back, because I like to stick to the essentials but hopefully they'll still be interesting to you all. *Please note: I am not being paid to advertise these products, nor were they gifted to me in any way. I use them all because they suit me for the purpose I need them for*.

My Phone

I take my phone to the gym for three reasons; firstly, I have loads of great playlists saved on it, secondly, I like to take selfies to see my progress and thirdly, I have the B_ND 'Get Shreddy' (both for home and gym) and 'Glute Gains' guides available to view on there. I highly recommend these guides if you're struggling at the gym or want to achieve a specific goal! They're fab and give extremely detailed workout plans that will have you seeing results in no time. If you're interested, I have an iPhone XR on EE. I love it because the battery and camera are really good and EE generally has great signal so I can easily access anything I need to. The case is from Casetify and is heavy duty to protect my phone properly.

T7 Headphones

Last year when my mum asked me what I wanted for Christmas, I told her I was trying to decide whether or not to get some AirPods. I knew that small wireless headphones like that would be perfect for the gym, but they were very expensive. I'd tried a cheaper pair from Amazon and they had been useless, so my mum being the superstar she is went online and did some research to discover these! Almost as good quality as AirPods for a fraction of the price. I couldn't tell you the exact price as they were a gift, but I know she got them from Amazon.

B_ND Short Band (Aqua)

I love the B_ND bands. Excellent quality resistance bands that add an extra zing to any workout. I adore the colour of this one, and the 'medium' strength of it is perfect for easing back into things after time off at the gym, or when I feel like a less intense workout. (Short bands are weighted from light to extra extra heavy). These cost £14 plus shipping and are 100% worth it, your bums will thank you.

B_ND Short Band (Khaki)

I bought this when B_ND was still Gracefituk so that's why there's a different logo on it. It's 'heavy' strength, so it really works your glutes (or other muscles if you use it in different ways)! This is my go to band to use with the 'Glute Gains' guide.

B_ND Short Band (Tropical)

I was actually lucky enough to win this in a giveaway on Instagram! This was also how I got the 'Get Shreddy Home Guide'. This beautiful band is extra heavy weight for days where I'd really like to push myself. Definitely not one for beginners.

B_ND Long Band (Khaki)

My long band is again 'medium' strength, although long bands are only available in light, medium and heavy. The long bands can be used in a huge variety of ways, and I often get inspiration from the B_ND instagram page. I got this, the aqua band and the 'Get Shreddy' guide as a uni bundle and saved myself some money! Normally these bands are £16 plus shipping though.

Chilly's Water Bottle (Pastel Purple)

As we all know it is extremely important to stay hydrated, especially while exercising. I love this bottle because it's pretty, environmentally friendly and it keeps my water cold (I hate warm water so much). I got mine from Urban Outfitters but they're also available from the Chilly's website for £20.

Amtech Padlock

I have to use a padlock at the gym to close my locker, so I got this one on Amazon because it was reasonably cheap but didn't look like it would break at any second. I can't remember how much it was, but it can't have been more than £5. So far I've been pleased with it, and I like that it's got a code so you don't have to carry a key around the gym with you.

Collection of Travel Toiletries

Last year I often showered at the gym because I would go places straight from there, so I always had shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and makeup remover in my bag ready to use. This year I live really close by so it's not so necessary but I have a couple in the bathroom to throw in if I need them.