To Do List #1

1. Follow more photography blogs and take more photos. Not to become a hardcore photographer wannabe: simply because I like taking photos and want to be more creative with the ones I do take, be they personal or blog-related.
2. Get into my social media. I've recently joined Twitter and Pinterest; the former I am thoroughly enjoying, the latter I have yet to get my head around effectively. 
3. Read more. And, in doing so,
4. Spend less empty time on the internet.
5. Save some money, then spend it on the right things - trips to visit friends I've not spent quality time with since before my YA started last year being the main example.
6. Get used to an earlier bedtime.
7. See more of my favourite people. I think I am getting better (and this will improve as my friends graduate and move home, or return from foreign lands) but I tend to get myself wrapped up in a little bubble of "it's my day off, let's do basically nothing" and not reach out to be more sociable.

A Fun Weekend Vlog

My queen Lizzie came to stay so I filmed it and put music on it and it was great.

If you like animals, this one is a reworking of Dr Dolittle so you're gonna love it. Probably. A thousand brownie points to anyone who counts how many beautiful creatures are features of this vid.

It's A Ring Thing

So over the last few weeks I've developed a bit of a jewellery obsession... And at the moment, it's rings I can't get enough of. I started gathering a little collection for myself from Dixi, who impressed with their great Instagram, regular discounts and speedy delivery. This post is obviously not sponsored but I still wanted to show you my favourites!

Endless Infinity Heart Knot Ring - £6

La Lune Ring - no longer available! Gutted! The Wanderlust Ring is a similar idea though - £14

Wishbone Midi Ring - £8

Night Visions Ring in Antiqued Silver + Moonstone - £10

Plain Band Midi Ring in Silver - £8

And there you have them (sorry for my sad, cut off nails by the way!) I am obsessed with these rings and am still wanting more (the rose gold rings have me tempted!)

Where do you shop for your jewellery? Actual serious question, I am on a mission for more!

A Week Vlog What I Done Made

If you like the idea of a modern non-fiction re-telling of Waiting For Godot, and let's be honest why wouldn't you, then I have the thing for you in the form of this vlog I made of last week.



FYI there are cats GALORE.

Gimme Five: Face Masks

Well done me for the world's greatest gif (not!)

Hello and welcome to Just Bananas' latest feature: a series in which I road test five products of the same category and give you my honest, inner most thoughts on each. It's gonna be hella exciting folks... hence the gif... or at the very least it may be mildly interesting, I hope!

Today's edition, as you may have guessed, is about face masks. A couple of these you will probably have heard of - there's one pricey little pot you will definitely be familiar with - but there may be others you may want to keep an eye out for...

First off we have Glam Glow and as I've mentioned previously, it was a major disappointment... For £40 for a very small tub, I had some very high hopes and I must say I was underwhelmed. It's got a very strange, fizzy feeling that I found mildly irritating, but after washing it off (you are meant to rub it into your skin, as it contains little green bits to help exfoliate) I can't say my skin looked or felt any better than it does with any other mask. I will say it did kill the head of a spot near my mouth, but otherwise... Go to Lush I say, I feel like their masks have a similar vibe to this!

Next is a current nightly favourite, Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask. It smells so freakin' good: apricot is one of my favourite smells and this is a gorgeous, apricot scented leave-on treatment that contains plant glycerine, avocado oil, apricot kernel oil and (YAY!) hyaluronic acid. It provides a really nice layer of hydration and has not broken me out. I bloody well love it.

Liz Earle's Brightening Treatment Mask is a strange one to me: you leave it on for no more than a couple of minutes and as it's an off-white cream, there's no chance of it setting whatsoever. It says contains camphor oil and witch hazel and promises to brighten dull, tired and lack-lustre skin. I found that it didn't seem to do anything slapping on a moisturiser wouldn't... It's the cheapest one of this line up but one that I think made the smallest difference to my skin.

I really liked the Aromatherapy Associates Rose Hydrating Face Mask. It was joint favourite with my next mask until I picked up the Origins one, I liked it so much! It's a clear gel that can be applied for ten minutes or as an overnight treatment and contains aloe vera and rose to hydrate the skin. It's lovely but I won't be repurchasing it, at its £37 price tag.

My last pick is the Clarins HydraQuench Cream Mask which was specifically formulated for dehydrated skin, according to the Clarins website. I thought this was really wonderful stuff; at £33, it's not cheap, but you're getting a product that does everything it says on the tin (and it contains our best mate, hyaluronic acid). It's a good mask, but for now my Origins love fest continues!

I am definitely going to do another Gimme Five: Face Masks so let me know of any masks that are rocking your world and I'll happily give them a whirl! Also brownie points to anyone who guesses what the next Gimme Five category will be...

Exciting News For Pale People...

It's not often that the drugstore caters to anything but medium skin tones; those of us with skin tones at either end of the colour spectrum are rarely catered to by cheaper brands.
I am planning a post about brands and products for paler girls, but I felt this couldn't wait: Rimmel have introduced a new shade, 10 Light Porcelain, to their Wake Me Up and Match Perfection lines. It's actually a match for my skin, to my shock, and while I didn't feel the need for another foundation I was still chuffed to see this addition.
The Wake Me Up Concealer hasn't come out with a paler shade, but I still feel this is a step in the right direction; let us hope other high street brands take note!

That Whistles Jumper Though...

I have been after a Whistles jumper for a good old while now, and deciding which to go for was quite the challenge... I knew I wanted there to be French on it, so the 'W' version was a miss... Then the Je Ne Regrette Rien version had sequins on the front, so it was a no to that too... I liked the idea of a navy one, but ever since I saw Fleur de Force wearing the Fleur version, I knew I couldn't wear it as no one else could rock that so well, right?
So it was between the Jolie one (God, I was tempted) and the L'Été one. I tried on both in John Lewis last week and in the end, L'Été one for the colour combo (blue and grey and my babes) but I was worried that I'll be limited to wearing it in the summer, which for a blummin' gorge long sleeved sweatshirt, seemed a bit daft... so I'll be wearing it ironically all year round, I've decided, and may be keeping my eyes on the autumn/winter offerings to see if they have a navy one to fill that wardrobe hole in my life...

Body Shop Hauling

I shopped. Then I shopped again. And here is the evidence...

Raiding Momma B's Beauty Cupboards

I reckon if you guys saw the size of my momma's beauty stash, I am pretty sure you'd agree that my love for all things beauty-related is most definitely hereditary. Mum has been a very generous donor of products to review since I moved home from France, so here's a post of the bits I've been liking and loathing...

THE RATED
I was so impressed by the Clarins Hydra Drench Mask. It's perfect for the dehydrated skin on my cheeks as an overnight treatment and has only been beaten for this role by my lovely bottle of Origins Drink Up Intensive (which smells of apricots, so was only ever going to come out top...)
I also really got on with the Sanctuary Body Wash - to the point where I'm surprised it was less than £6 - as it's a really nice, somewhat hydrating little gel. I even got on with the smell of it too; I may pick this up for myself sometime...

THE HATED
A big name here - and not one I thought I'd be slamming given its price and reputation - is Glam Glow. Cashing in at around £40, I had hight hopes and I have to say, I didn't think it was all that... I'll save my thoughts for my more in-depth face masks comparison coming soon!
Also a serious no go for me was the Clarins Toning Lotion with Camomile. This really doesn't stand up against my beloved Guerlain Super Aqua Lotion in terms of hydration and the smell... to me it whiffs of baby shampoo, not the most pleasant or luxurious of pongs I must say!

THE TOLERATED
They do the most beautiful, on point colours around (besides Essie - I love you Essie) but the formulas of Chanel's nail varnishes are just so awful. They sometimes really do chip within hours of application... it's just a hard pass for me. Mum has since said that some of the newer colours have better formulas - stay tuned for a Nailed It post when I let you know my thoughts! (They're saved from being in The Hated section as those colours... they're so good...)
A product I've read lots about is the Clarins Beauty Flash Balm - and I think on this occasion, I just don't get it. It is another Clarins product whose sent reminds me of baby shampoo (curse you, Clarins!) but aside from that, I just think the claims it makes are a bit ridiculous... Brightening and tightening? Really?! Perhaps if you do have dry skin and you want a boost of hydration, you'll like it more than I do... as long as you can figure out how to make it work, that is...

I hope you liked this post - I am positive I'll be helping myself to more from Momma Bananas' collection in the future (sorry Mum!) but in the meantime, what products are you lovin'? I'm always down to know (and Mum is too!)

Guerlain Skincare Additions

After a lovely Guerlain facial a few weeks ago, I decided I was going to get some serious hydration in my life. My Clarisonic has sat unused since then as the lovely Shelley, my Guerlain consultant, pointed out my skin was dry as a result of over exfoliation and she also bashed me for using an alcohol based toner (Caudalie Beauty Elixir is also banished from the bathroom).

Weekend Makeup on Lizzie

I did a makeup look on my bestie Lizzie (prepare to swoon at her eyelashes) and we had a ball making it - here's the video if you are interested!

Sunday Wishlist #1

So, it's a Sunday and I am chilling in my pjs in bed, with a mild hangover and the cat.

Fun fact: I woke up to find I had drunkenly spent this week's wages on a Monki order (well done, last night me, well done). When that guy comes I'll probs do y'all a haul on here, because I've been buying but not hauling for a while now and I feel like you guys are missing out...

Anywho, I woke up feeling spendy despite being skint so here is what I am lusting after:

All Things Anomie

dumb and ugly tee | kelly jumper | seaglass candle | hammered stacking ring = all Anomie

Oooh God. I am planning a style heroes post soon (to go with my makeup heroes feature from a month ago) and I know that Chelsea from ChelseaWears is so gonna be in it. She is pale, she is edgy, she looks far cooler with roots than I do and her shop Anomie is da bomb. Dot and com.

Don't get shirty with me - oh wait please do

silk shirt | sleeveless striped shirt = Zara | shirt collar tips | cropped vintage shirt = Nutshell Vintage

I wanna get into wearing collared shirts. I had such a phobia of wearing them after school, but now I am just all kindsa loved up for 'em. I also love the idea of changing up some cool collar tips - all about makin' one garment look like it's actually five. Also Nutshell Vintage was started by one of the gals I was pals with back at school and it looks so cool (its FB page is full of some good chuckles). Desperate to go hit it up sometime!

Some Stylish Reads

Paris Street Style | Betty Cornell's Teenage Popularity Guide | Popular: Vintage Wisdom For A Modern Geek

You're all probably a bit fed up with seeing the Paris Street Style book so I won't dwell on it too much (other than to say I NEED IT) but the other two reads are ones I have been keeping an eye since reading about them in the Daily Telegraph magazine; they both sound thoroughly fascinating!

I'm gonna call it off hear and chow down on some form of brunch (Momma Bonanas bought bacon, the beauty that she is) so I will see you in video format on Tuesday, definitely not hungover I swear!

Disappointing Products

It's sad times here folks, with some products that disappointed. Let's stay strong and try and get through this together <3

Hangover Survival Guide

I've done a lot of preparation for this post - as in, I went out last night and consumed many spirits - so I feel extremely qualified for briefing you on how to survive what the French call a guele de bois; so elegant sounding in French, the literal translation for their word for hangover being "gob of wood" or something similar.

1. Get some aqua in ya. An ocean's worth if you can. Your body is mentally dehydrated and water is what it is needing my friend.
2. SHOWER. YOU SMELL DISGUSTING. EVERYTHING SMELLS DISGUSTING. WHY DID YOU DO THIS TO YOURSELF AGAIN?!
3. Relax. Deeeeep. You are not going to be productive today my friend. Anything you make yourself do, you'll probably have to redo the next day, or whenever it is you start feeling human again. So, get a box set, or some crappy films, your favourite comfy clothes (I, as your temporary advice giving sister, will let you have a pyjama day if this is what is needed. Just make sure they're clean ones.)
4. If you're feeling seriously rough, eat some bland food that you won't mind chucking back up again. We're talking bread, rice, paper... I am joshing about the paper but stick to all things dull and you will thank me from your slumped stance across the toilet bowl later.
5. Get enough sleep. For me, this is legit the only real cure. A lot of the reason you're feeling crappy is not because you stayed up drinking till 4am, it's simply because you stayed up till 4am. Get some rest my babe.
6. Put on your hangover jam. For me it's listening to the albums Jenny Llewellyn or Sophrosyne (all about 80s pop elements in my chill tunes) by WMD. So deliciously mellow. Bon Iver is also a nice shout.
7. Bond with whoever you were out with. Hangovers are best served with company and chances are you are all in a similar state of disrepair. Let your hangover gel you together, growing in experience but probably not in wisdom because your brain cells aren't capable of learning anything just yet.

And that's it my darlings. If you are after some product recommendations that I like for when I am a bit worse for wear, do shout and I'll pop them in a separate post for you. Excuse me while I lie down with Parks and Rec and down this litre of water.

If you do one thing this month... Buy the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge

I know, a bit of an out-there statement, right? Last month's Do One Thing was a healthy walk recommendation, but this month I'm telling you, here and now, get thee to Boots and get thee that blummin' sponge.

Does it apply a base flawlessly and evenly? Check.

Is it good value? Check.

Is it a multi-tasker? Check.

Is it endorsed by one of the Pixiwoo sisters? Double check.

Whether it's cream blush, liquid highlighers, concealer, foundation or just about any other cream base product you can think of, this little orange sponge has got you covered. Literally.

To keep it real for a sec, sponges do absorb more product and stain like mad, but given this is £5.99 on Boots's website, I think it is totally worth it for the results it gives and the multi tasking properties it boasts.

I love dampening it so it swells up, wringing it out then using the flat side to apply my foundation and then rolling the sides to blend. It's frankly a lil bit amazing.

So you've heard about the T Zone... but what about the U Zone?

So I'm pretty sure we're all familiar with the concept of the T zone. That oily bit in the middle of ya face. It ent exactly the new skincare fad on the block... But has anyone else heard about, and more importantly, been pampering their U zone?

Thoughtful Present Giving Made Easy

Celebrating other people's birthdays is genuinely something I look forward to above celebrating my own (though let's be real, I do still love my bday - I'm not that selfless). Sometimes giving really is better than receiving. (Minds out the gutter, come on.) Since starting uni, I've found that I love giving presents even more, as Lizzie and I always made a formidably thoughtful gift-giving team. My mum and twin are also exceptional present givers, so it's nice to keep it in the family.

The reason why I thought this post may be a useful one is that I wasn't always so confident in my gift giving abilities, and hopefully this may give you some ideas for the future.

Scheduling Notice

Here's an old shot of my desk in France to kick this post off...

Why hello there! I hope you are doing well. I figured it was about time that I shared my blogging and Youtube schedule on my blog (having already mentioned it at the end of my May Beauty Favourites,  in case you missed them, shameless plug shameless plug...)
So without further ado, here are the days you can expect to hear from me:

Monday: -
Tuesday: Youtube
Wednesday: Blog Post
Thursday: -
Friday: Blog Post
Saturday: Youtube
Sunday: Blog Post

Also, as a fair warning, my university studies start again in October and I do plan on seriously cutting back the amount of blogging I will be doing (we may be looking at one video a month, and blog posts when I have the time, but I will of course have a better idea come October!)

But, for the moment, my job and lack of studying means you have a summer full of JustBonanasMADNESS ahead of you, and I'm sure you're just as pumped as I am (!).

So, see you Friday! ;)

This Month's Finest... May Lifestyle Favourites

So I've been thinking - unusual stuff I know - and I reckon I may start posting my monthly lifestyle favourites on my blog instead of onto Youtube as I just feel it will work better format-wise. Plus it comes with the benefit of me being able to do bloggy/Youtube stuff when I'm feeling run down... why am I coming down with a cold yet again??? Not fair.

Anyway, on to brighter things. I hope you're sitting comfortably as this may be a long one!