It has reached the point of quarantine where I'm dying to go shopping - honestly, I really miss the girly days out that my mum and I would have while trying on matching Primark outfits (which she always looked 10 times better in) and filling tubs with foundation samples ready for us to test. Obviously, we haven't been able to do this in a while due to all the shops being closed, and although it's not the end of the world and there are much worse things happening right now, I am eager to test some new makeup. I was reluctant to order anything as I don't want to fuel the potentially unsafe factory and delivery conditions, and so I decided to delve into my makeup collection instead. Although I don't actually have a lot of my old makeup any more due to it being out of date or used up, I do still own a few of my old holy grail products, which long-time readers of my blog will definitely be familiar with. I decided to give them a go and see whether these products have stood the test of time or don't deserve the praise I used to give them, so keep reading to hear all of my thoughts!

Despite only owning it in sample size, I used to be obsessed with this blush and almost used it all up since it was my go-to for a long time. Not only did I find that the bright colour was perfect for my skin tone, but this intense pigmentation was also very easy to blend out. I used to be a sucker for a matte blush and this one was potentially my favourite, although the sample is definitely easy to lose within your makeup bag!


Honestly, I forgot just how much I loved this blush! I thought I wasn't going to like it due to the matte finish, as I prefer something with a bit of shimmer in it these days, but I adored using this. It gave a gorgeous flush that was still natural whilst perking up my appearance and making me look healthy, and it can be built up as much as you'd like. I honestly forgot how pigmented this product was and accidentally applied way too much so I had to blend it quite a bit, but nonetheless, I was pleasantly surprised and have placed this back in my everyday makeup bag. I'm actually very tempted to invest in the full-size product, so let me know if you think I should go for it!

Remember the days when the Naked palettes had cult status and everyone was obsessed with them? I swooned over the palettes for years until I received this one for Christmas and I loved it since. The shades are perfect for the springtime and I used to get quite a lot of wear out of them. This fell to the bottom of my collection as I actually stopped wearing eyeshadow for quite some time, instead only opting for a neutral, brown-toned shimmer if I wanted a little something on my eyes.


These eyeshadows were nice, but if I'm being completely honest they didn't blow me away. Whilst some of the shadows were absolutely gorgeous (especially the shimmers which can be blinding), some of the matte shades and darker tones in the palette weren't as pigmented as they appeared in the pan and required a few layers to build them up to the desired look. I also felt like it was really missing a darker matte colour, as I wanted to make this more of a smoky look with a darker colour in my outer corners yet there was no option to unless I used a shimmer. I really like the look that I ended up creating, however it did take quite a bit of work getting to that point. While it's a really nice palette, I definitely have others in my collection that I prefer and aren't as expensive.

Although I used this mascara quite a lot, I don't know if I ever actually featured it on my blog. I quite often layered it with another mascara to really create a bold, intense look, as I'm all for big, clumpy lashes. Surprisingly this product wasn't dried out when I dug it out of my collection, so I knew it was the perfect time to give it another chance.

I really love the voluminous, almost clumpy look that this mascara creates, although I was disappointed that it didn't do much for the length of my lashes and they still appeared quite short. I also found the huge wand was quite difficult to manipulate and I struggled to get to the root of my lashes without smudging it everywhere, although this is a struggle I have quite often with mascaras. I definitely like the look that I achieved after I applied a few coats, I just wish it could've been a bit more lengthening (but if you're naturally gifted with long eyeshadows this won't be a problem!)

I've always been more of a lipgloss person, as I prefer something shiny and comfortable on my lips rather than a drying matte lipstick that I'll have to keep topping up throughout the day. Although this product was marketed as a liquid lipstick I definitely applied it more like a gloss and found that it created an incredibly pigmented and comfortable look.


I decided to only apply a small amount of this lipgloss to create a sheer wash of colour rather than a bold pink gloss on my lips, and not only did I think this was pretty but I actually preferred it this way. The pointed wand made it really easy to apply with precision and it was also comfortable to wear (unlike some cheaper glosses which can be quite sticky). This is another one that I'll definitely be putting back in my makeup bag to wear again!

Are any of these products in your list of forgotten favourites? I'd love to know what makeup items you're revisiting at the moment, so let me know down in the comments!

I'm sure that you've all had a point in your life where you've felt out of control and like everything is going wrong. Well this is exactly the struggle that Queenie is facing - she doesn't see eye-to-eye with her Jamaican-British family, she can't quite let go of a toxic relationship and her journalism job isn't all that she hoped for. We are whisked away into Queenie's coming-of-age story that is all about finding out who she truly is and her place in the world, and the turbulent journey that she has to go through to get there.

What I found most important about this book is its resilience to openly vocalise topics such as mental health, race, consent and female empowerment, yet it does so in fairly subtle ways. You will experience Queenie's pain as if you're right beside her yet you'll also be laughing whilst turning the pages - this novel really encompasses all of the uncertainties that we face in life. Click here to order a copy of Queenie now.



What seems like a deceptively simple tale on the surface - two mismatched teenagers that share a kind of connection - blossoms into a heartfelt story of intimacy, yearning, mistakes and passion. We get to follow the shifting landscape of their relationship in moments of unspeakable closeness and undisclosed distance, charting their undeniable yet fluctuating connection throughout their youth. It ultimately depicts the impact a single person can have in shaping someone's life, as we see Marianne and Connell's personalities grow both intertwined and in opposition to one another.

What I loved most about this novel is Rooney's insistence on conveying 'normal people' - it's a raw depiction of the course of a connection and the influence that this has. It's refreshing to finally hear a voice that isn't afraid to adhere to the 'happily ever afters' or brutal heartbreaks that pervade literature; Normal People conveys a realistic relationship of our modern day. If you'd like to order Normal People then click here.



You may be familiar with Nora Ephron from When Harry Met Sally and Sleepless in Seattle, but her collection of memoirs is perhaps one of her best works that are a rite of passage for all women to read. This glaringly real book shares the truths of being a woman that you will undoubtedly relate to on some level, regardless of your age. Whether it's the shopaholic syndrome, navigating dubious relationships or the often poisonous view of our own bodies, Nora Ephron covers it all.

This book almost feels like a handbook for womanhood and will have you laughing along at how unbelievable accurate it is. Not only will you learn many lessons from Nora Ephron's undeniable wisdom,  but it'll also be a comforting read proving that you're really not alone in any of your life experiences. Although this is probably best suited to someone older than myself, I'd highly recommend all women to read it, as there will definitely be lessons you can learn. Order now by clicking here!



The front cover of this book perfectly captures it, detailing the many disastrous dates, lifelong friendships and struggles of establishing yourself that all women may face in their lives. This is an eye-opening glance into Dolly Alderton's life and you get to watch her grow up as though you're living it alongside her, and I can guarantee that you'll be both laughing and crying along throughout this book. It really captures how messy yet beautiful life can be, and cherishes how every moment can shape a person.

Although this is ultimately an autobiographical text, it springs to life on the page and feels like fiction as you're transported to Dolly's adolescent world of disparate bars and unruly flings. There is honestly something so perfect in the way that she describes both pleasant and tragic life experiences in their true rawness, and I highly recommend you pick up this book and experience the journey of growing up alongside her. You can purchase Everything I Know About Love here.



This is perhaps a bit of a rogue one to include on this list, but I absolutely fell in love with this Women's Prize for Fiction winner. This novel examines the extent that you'd go to for passion, loyalty and in searching for an identity, all of which is bound together in a complex relationship of siblings. Radicalisation and love don't seem like two topics that go hand-in-hand, but Kamila Shamsie perfectly weaves together these two spheres in a way that you won't be able to put down.

Like the other books I've listed, Home Fire also deals with the struggles faced in everyday life, yet it instead depicts a teenage boy's terrorist involvement and the consequence this has on his entire family. Alongside this are ideas of Muslim-British identity and finding yourself in a constantly shifting world, and regardless of whether you relate to these issues or not this novel will have you hooked. Click here to order a copy of Home Fire.


Hopefully there is something for everyone in this list, but there is no doubt that they are all essential reads for young girls and women alike, and I'd highly recommend them to anyone. If there are any books you feel as though are missing from this list, I'd love to know down in the comments!

If you're reading this blog post then I'm sure you'll agree with me - quarantine can be boring. Don't get me wrong the first week or so was great - finally having the time to relax, being able to lie in without consequence etc. But then it started to get old and repetitive: I felt like I'd watched all the good Netflix shows, my Youtube subscription box had nothing exciting in it, and I was incredibly bored of being stuck inside. As someone who likes to be busy and always doing something, I decided to come up with this loose structure for my days, which has massively helped me to think of a variety of ways to spend quarantine and be constantly entertained. So if you're like me and want some structure in your day, or you're simply looking for some things to do whilst stuck inside, then keep reading this post.

My morning routine 
I've found that quarantine is much more manageable if I have an established morning routine and wake up around the same time every day, rather than messing up my sleep schedule and waking up in the middle of the day. Having said that, since I'm not in a rush to leave the house for university or work I'll let myself chill out and scroll on my phone for a bit, simply because I can and it feels good not having to jump straight out of bed. Once I do decide to get up, I make sure that I eat a proper breakfast, get dressed (although usually into comfy gym wear) and make the bed, and instantly my mindset is transformed into feeling productive and ready to kickstart the day. I may also give myself a moment of peace before the busy day starts, often sitting down with a cup of tea and reading a few pages of my book.


Getting some fresh air outside
As we're still allowed to have one form of outside exercise per day, I've really been trying to make the most of this whenever possible. Although I live in the middle of a city, there are actually a few parks nearby that are lovely to walk or jog around, especially since the weather has been gorgeous lately. I'll admit that going for a run isn't really my thing, but getting some fresh air and walking whilst listening to music or a podcast always puts me in a better mood, and it feels nice to leave the house, even if it's just for a little while.

Do some form of exercise
It's very easy to let all kinds of fitness slide when you're stuck in the house all day, especially when you're confined to a fairly small space and not walking around as much. My personal favourite way to combat this is doing an at-home workout on Youtube, as there are tons of different ones that are easy to follow and you can tailor it to your specific fitness goals. They're also quite short, which is great if exercise isn't your thing as a 10-minute video can seem a lot more manageable and easy to get through. I also really enjoy doing yoga and find that it's the perfect balance of fitness and mental restoration, so if you want something that is lower impact but will leave your body and mind feeling better then this may be great for you. If all else fails and you're really opposed to the idea of exercising, try and be a bit more active in your daily routine, whether that's by running up and down the stairs a couple of times or having a dance whilst you're washing the dishes.

Studying and engaging the brain
I'm a university student and all of my classes have been moved online, and since I have deadlines throughout May I've been using a portion of each day to get some of this work done. Whether that's by planning essays, attending online lectures and seminars or completing my required reading, there's been tons to do and it has been nice to have a sense of normality in my studies. However, I've tried to be less harsh on myself and recognise that we're living in quite a stressful and unprecedented time. Whereas I'd probably be doing long days of studying if I was in university or the library, I've been more relaxed with my university work and only do what I can manage. Some days I've been super productive yet others I haven't even been able to pick up a book, but that's okay.

However, if you're no longer a student, it doesn't mean that you can't do something for your brain. Now is the perfect time to learn something new or develop an old skill, whether it's something that'll help in your career or an external passion that you've been wanting to follow. A great way of doing this is through Skillshare - I signed up for their free two-month trial and there are absolutely tons of online classes and workshops, so if you're looking to learn more about graphic design, social media management, interior design or even cocktail making amongst many others, there will be a course for you to try.


Do something productive
You know all of those boring household tasks that you always put off due to being too busy? Well now is the perfect time to tackle them! Whether you have some home DIY projects to start or simply want to reorganise a room in your house, it's a great way to spend your time productively in quarantine. As well my usual tasks and keeping on top of housework, I've been doing things like reorganising my wardrobe, decluttering my drawers, washing my makeup brushes and even making myself a new CV. It's also a good time to be digitally productive and do things like clear out your camera roll, sort through your spam emails and organise the files on your laptop - the list is endless but you'll definitely feel the benefit of it!

Following my heart and doing my hobbies
Although a lot of people are saying that you should be using the quarantine period productively with endless projects and new business ventures, it's completely okay if you don't want to do this or don't have the mental energy for it. Instead, one of the best ways to treat yourself is to revisit your hobbies (or find some new ones) that may have been pushed aside in your busy daily life. My biggest hobby is blogging and so I've been spending a lot of time planning posts and photographs ready to create some amazing content for you guys, so perhaps starting your own blog is something you could do during the quarantine? Another great idea is to get creative, whether that's through art, journaling, crafting, learning how to knit, crochet - the list goes on! I've decided to learn how to sew during this quarantine, and so I've been ordering fabric online and watching lots of Youtube videos ready to hopefully start making some cute little skirts!

I've also been using this time to do a lot more reading, which is a huge passion of mine but something that I don't have a lot of time for outside of university. It feels great to finally pick up some of my own books to read (rather than the classics that my degree entails) and I've been powering through my TBR list! If you're still stuck for ideas then here are some more: start a scrapbook, listen to or create a podcast, start gaming, learn a new recipe, work on a sport (that's possible to do from your house or garden), write a book, learn a new instrument - I could honestly keep going!

Keeping mental health in check
It's important to not forget about your mental wellbeing during this difficult and uncertain time, and so I've been doing a few things to keep my mind in check. I've started meditating a few times a week, which is something that I've done over the past few years but never regularly, but a great place to start is the Calm app that'll provide soothing guided meditations that are easy to engage with. I've also been remembering to take my medication and drink a lot of water throughout the day, as little things like this make a huge difference. It can also be quite an isolating time so it's good to keep in contact with friends and family - whether that is through messaging them, talking on the phone or through Facetime, it's nice to hear a familiar voice and check in. Why not even write them a letter, I'm sure it'd be appreciated!


Relax and wind down of the evening
Although it's easy to be swept into the mindset of being busy and productive during quarantine, you should also allow yourself some time to relax and wind down. My favourite way to do this is to have a cosy film evening or start watching a new Netflix series accompanied with some chocolates, or binging through my Youtube subscriptions. It's also the perfect time to allow yourself to mindlessly scroll through social media, and there's no guilt attached since you've been productive throughout the day.

My nighttime routine
Much like my morning routine, I find it really useful to have an established evening routine and I try to get to sleep at a reasonable hour (although this isn't set in stone, so if I want to stay up late one night and have a lie-in the next morning, nothing is stopping me). I kickstart my evening routine by having a relaxing shower and indulging in my skin and body care - normally I'd skip on body moisturisers and face masks if I was in a rush but now is the ideal time to use them. I also take the time to pray and give gratitude, which is really important to do in such a tough time. When winding down to sleep I tend to either watch something or read, and every night without fail I will fall asleep whilst listening to a podcast, but do whatever works best for you.

I hope you enjoyed hearing what I'm doing during this quarantine period, and if you have any other recommendations I'd love to hear them, so be sure to let me know down in the comments!