LIFE OF A COSTUME DESIGNER.

I thought I'd try something a bit different and write about some of my work at university. I study a degree in Performing Arts and next week marks the beginning of the end for me. We have a module called 'Directing and Devising', better known to us as D&D, a module wherein we have to devise/adapt a show, and direct it as a performance shown to the public. We set ourselves a theatrical challenge, which basically means that we write our assignment brief which allows us to as creative as possible. It's a stressful period, lots of drafts, designs and hours and hours of directing to create a show which gets us an amazing grade - or so we hope!?

I've taken on the role of costume designer for two shows, one is an adaptation of 'The Breakfast Club', and one is a piece of children's theatre based on the works of Dr. Seuss. There's a rather common misconception that costume designer's not only design but make the costumes - that's not always true. I prefer to design and source - almost like a stylist. Simon says I'm a professional shopper and I guess that's kind of true. I've spent the majority of the past seven months scouring online websites, eBay, Depop, clothing shops, charity shops and as many other places you can think of in order to find the perfect costumes to fit both of my theatrical challenges for two completely different shows.

It's not all shopping though, and it's most definitely not as easy as it seems. There's lots of research and measurements and comparing and contrasting to do, and that's probably the most difficult part. I have to relay all of my finds back to various directors and producers and writers to make sure that they are perfect for the characters that I'm dressing. Most recently, I've had to research into 1916 childrenswear in order to dress a bunch of children for a workshop, and to make matters even more difficult, the costumes I designed needed to be of minimal budget, and consist of clothes they would possibly already own. It really does require some serious brain power.

There is a week and a half until show week - I've a small amount to find, simple bits. I need to dye a dress, make a pregnancy bump, do hair and make-up on a cast of around ten as well as ensure everyone is dressed perfectly before they head on stage. I've got things to do like stitch on buttons, find all appropriate hair tools and shoes and socks. I'm sure everyone else feels under as much pressure as I do, but the whole aesthetic of the show depend on me, which is a scary thought.

I'm so completely thrilled to be part of two amazing shows - but more so because I'm loving this work at the moment. It's really exciting being a costume designer, not only because it's one of the most important things in a performance but because it's so creative and there really aren't any boundaries for me. I'm so excited to return to university on Monday to complete the costumes I've been working so hard on for such a long time now, and I'm stupidly happy it's nearly over. As much as I've enjoyed it all, it's been rather stressful.

Of course I'll post pictures of the costumes in action when they're done!

THE LAZY GIRL GUIDE: REMOVING MAKE-UP.

I love the feeling of removing my make-up at the end of a long day - especially when I've got a lot on. I usually wear a face full, however today I only wore tinted moisturiser as a base, with some bronzer, filled in eyebrows and mascara - a pretty bare face for me. Although my 'proper' skincare routine is relatively simple anyway, sometimes I like to be lazy and I just cannot be bothered with a full skincare, bathroom job to remove the tiniest amount of make-up (let's face it, we've all been there) so I have a few simple, easy to reach products that I use to remove whatever scraps of make-up are left at the end of the day.

First off - something that's hugely raved about. Honestly, slightly overrated but still a relatively good quality product and that's the Garnier Micellar Water. It's suitable for all skin types - especially sensitive which I completely get as it's so gentle on the skin. It claims to remove make-up, cleanse and soothe the skin, which it definitely does to some extent. I tend to apply generously to a cotton pad and then wipe all over my face to get rid of as much leftover make-up as possible.

I then move onto removing my eye make-up as I feel as though the Garnier Micellar Water doesn't do this well enough for my liking. I use The Body Shop Camomile Waterproof Eye and Lip Make-Up Remover - a bit of a long name. It's suitable for all skin types which is brilliant as your eyes are the most sensitive part of your face, and what's great about this is that it doesn't sting at all. It's also one of those cool formulas where you have to shake to activate it - when you look at the bottle you can see the two different solutions atop of one another which is really interesting. I apply this to one cotton pad and use both sides - one for each eye - to remove my eye make-up.

As a final step, I use the Kueshi Pure & Clean Revitalizing Face Toner. It's aloe vera, camomile and calendula scented which smells gorgeous when you apply it to your face - I would love to apply this all day, just saying. I originally got this in a Glossybox, and I've never looked back. It's most likely my most used product from a Glossybox ever! Again, using a trusty cotton pad, I apply this all over my face and then bask in the scent. I love it. It's gorgeous, and a little definitely goes a long way.

So that's my honest, lazy girl guide to removing make-up - and not a single face wipe in sight (although they do pop into action every now and again).

What do you use when you just can't be bothered to remove your make-up?

WHATS ON MY FACE: LUNCH TIME.

Photograph stolen from my Snapchat, again :).

Today I went for lunch with my family to celebrate my Grandad's 85th birthday. We went for a carvery which was lovely and then back to my grandparents house for tea and cake :). When I'm with my family I don't particularly like to wear too much make-up, however it was a special occasion so I thought I'd make an effort.

I decided to use no primer today, which I'm immediately regretting as by the time I've got home (only a few hours later) my make-up has decided to break up on my face. I used the L'Oreal True Match foundation in the shade W3 Golden Beige and buffed this into my skin using a Real Techniques Buffing Brush, which is my go to foundation brush. I followed this up with my MAC Prolongwear concealer in NW20 under my eyes and my MAC Mineralize concealer in NW20 on any blemishes. I buffed and patted this in using my fingers, as well as the same Real Techniques brush. Rather than a harsh contour, I decided to use the Soap and Glory Solar Powder bronzer to bronze up my skin slightly, and then used the Benefit Rockateur blush to give some colour and life to my cheeks. I used my trusty Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Medium Brown to fill in my eyebrows, and the Eylure Brow Control and Shape Gel to set them. I went for a simple winged liner look using the Soap and Glory Supercat liner, and the Avon Supershock mascara which I've been loving lately, and then finished the entire look with an Essence XXXL Nude lipgloss in the shade 03 Taste The Sweets.

GET READY WITH ME: ELSA.

Totes stole this photo from Snapchat.

Firstly - apologies for my absence over the Easter weekend, I thought I'd use it for a bit of relaxation time, that and the fact that I've been absolutely rushed off my feet at work. On Sunday, I made my debut as Elsa at our brand new, 'Frozen' parties - something my boss and I have been planning for a long time now. I take on the role of Elsa, and stay in character throughout the party - I play lots of party games with the children and most excitingly - I SING! We've worked hard planning the perfect outfit and wig so I wanted to make sure that the make-up for Elsa was perfect, and appropriate for a children's party.
I cleansed as usual, using the Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser, Kueshi Aloe Vera, Camomile and Calendula Toner, Simple Kind to Skin Hydrating Light Moisturiser, and Benefit's It's Potent eye cream before moving onto make-up. In terms of make-up, I primed my skin with The Body Shop Instablur primer and then moved onto eyes, using the MAC Prolongwear Concealer in NW20 to prep my eyes and conceal any blemishes. I like to conceal blemishes before foundation in order to create a much fuller coverage for my foundation. I used a taupe shade from the Make Up Revolution Iconic 3 palette as a transition shade, and then moved straight onto my 120 Summer Tones palette where I used the brightest pink shade to work through the crease and the outer corner of the eyelid. I really packed this on to make the colour pop before I decided to add the purple to the main eyelid. I used a flat, fluffy eyeshadow brush to apply this and blend into the pink in the crease. I continued to build up these two colours until I was entirely happy with the pigmentation of the eyes. I then moved on to using the pink glittery shade from the same Make Up Revolution palette and applied this in the middle of the eyelid to add extra dimension. I tightlined the eyes using the Avon Glimmerstick Cosmic in the shade Blackened Night. and lined my upper lashline, without a wing, using the Soap and Glory Supercat Liner. I lined my waterline with the Rimmel Kohl Kajal pencil in the shade Nude before applying mascara - I used two, firstly the Avon Supershock mascara, mainly to the upper lashes, before applying a coat of Rimmel Lash Accelerator Endless to the bottom lashes and a small amount to the top lashes to complete the eye look.

For the base, I wanted to create a pale, rosy, lightly contoured look - to do so I mixed Illamasqua Skin Base in SB04 and MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NW20 to create a paler 'your skin but better' foundation - I knew Elsa was the Ice Queen so I wanted to look appropriately pale without looking silly.. I buffed this into my skin using a Real Techniques Buffing Brush. I then used my MAC Prolongwear Concealer, again in NW20 to highlight under my eyes and the high points of my face before moving onto contour. For contour I used the Anastasia Beverly Hills contour kit and the shade Java to very lightly contour and Banana to highlight. After, I used the BellaPierre cosmetics Cheek and Lip stain in the shade Coral on the apples of my cheeks to create a really rosy look - I then went over this with Benefit's Rockateur blush to accentuate the rosy cheeks that I wanted to create. Rockateur also has flecks of highlight which made the cheeks look frosted, which was a lovely touch. The final touches to the skin were a light dusting of MAC Select Sheer pressed powder to set the foundation, and a touch of The Balms Mary Lou Manizer to the high points of my face, and the inner corners of my eyes.

I always do my brows after my base - I don't know why, it's just something I do. Elsa has dark brows (thank God!) so I went with my usual Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Medium Brown. Might write something on my brow routine sooner or later, but I just brush them upwards, fill them in and brush out any excess product with the attached spooly.

For lips, I'd prepped them with Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream, and then lined with an Essence lipliner in the shade 12 Wish Me A Rose. I then filled in with my Avon lipstick in the shade Pout. I felt like this was too pink, so chose to remove and just use the lipstick instead. After the lips, this make-up look was complete.

When I got to work, I got changed and a work friend of mine french plaited my hair because my hair was so thick I couldn't get my wig (we finally settled on the Fever Wig Collection: Rhianne wig) on properly which I was really grateful for! We took some photos, I practiced my singing and off we went!

I really really enjoyed being Elsa for the day!

SS15 MUST HAVES.

Today was such lovely weather - I managed to go all day without a coat and just a lightweight jacket. I thought I'd start the official Spring season by compiling my Spring/Summer 2015 must haves. I've found my must have beauty products stocked by Zest Beauty for the season!

First off, the Dermalogica Favourites Gift Set. This is a travel gift set of all of Dermalogica's favourite  products - SS15 is the best time to debut your perfect clear skin and Dermalogica is a highly esteemed brand to use in order to clear up your skin. The set contains travel sizes of PreCleanse, Multi Active Toner, Skin Hydrating Booster, Gentle Cream Exfoliant and SkinPerfect Primer with SPF30. This travel size set seems like the perfect kit to kick start your Spring season!

In keeping with clear skin - the Medik8 Titanium Dermaroller. Covered with 0.22mm microneedle lengths this is designed to enhance the penetration of active ingredients of skincare products, allowing them to sink further into the deeper layers of the skin. I personally love to go out with clear skin and minimal make-up during warm weather - I don't particularly like to wear too much make-up when it's warm, and if my skin isn't clear that's something I would probably do. I've wanted something like this for a long time, I've been on a mission to make my skin brighter and clearer for quite some time and I've heard something like this really works.

Next is the Moroccan Oil Treatment for all Hair Types. Hot weather can really dry out your hair - so using a product like Moroccan Oil allows you to keep your hair hydrated and soft without looking dry and damaged. I've been using Argan Oil recently but I've heard so many good reviews on this particular brand that I'm eager to try it!

I first saw the Makeup Eraser in an Instagram video and immediately I knew I wanted it. This allows you to remove your make-up by only wetting this cloth with warm water! It even removes waterproof mascara which is amazing. You can flip the cloth over to use it to exfoliate your face. This is such a brilliant concept for all year round, but washing your face can really cool you down and make you feel clean after being out in the sun all day - perfect for hot days!

I'm a flip flop freak - I will wear them until the weather is physically too cold for me to survive any longer. The Burt's Bees Peppermint Foot Lotion is perfect for keeping your feet in check in flip flops, sandals, and any other type of dainty footwear. I danced for a long time, and I'm always on my feet in my job so my feet aren't exactly the nicest feet in the world - this lotion contains ingredients such as hazel, rosemary, peppermint oil and teatree in order to provide the correct nutrients to keep feet smelling fresh, and feeling pain free after a long day on your feet.

Finally - after a long day in the sun, theres nothing I want more than a refreshing shower to cool me down. I love the look of Burt's Bees Radiance Exfoliating Body Wash. This contains jojoba beads and a fruit acid complex in order to gently exfoliate, smooth and help even skin tone. What's a better way to wind down after a long day?

Those are my SS15 must haves from Zest Beauty. I'm so excited for the Spring-Summer season now, hot weather is my favourite.

Have you ever shopped at Zest Beauty?

THE BODY SHOP: SEAWEED IONIC CLAY MASK

A long time ago I received a sample of the GlamGlow Supermud Clearing Mask - a clay mask that seemed to pull all of the impurities out of your skin, leaving your skin feeling soft, fresh and clean afterwards. A brilliant mask, but for a hefty price tag of £40, it left me looking for the same results elsewhere. This is when somebody recommended the Seaweed Ionic Clay Mask from The Body Shop - just as good for a fraction of the price.

The packaging states that the mask is suitable for oily/combination skin, however I have normal/combination/blemish prone skin and it works fine for me. The seaweed mask contains Bladderwrack Seaweed which is well known for drawing out impurities and clarifying the skin - The Body Shop also have a Seaweed cleanser which uses the same ingredients however I'm currently using the Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser which is working amazingly on my skin. I tend to apply a thin layer and leave to set until the clay mask dries from a dark grey to a light grey. To remove it, I either use a toner or a hot flannel to remove it. This mask leaves my skin feeling so so smooth and clean, and helps to clear out the blocked pores on my face, removing all kinds of dirt.

I'm so glad to have found an alternative to the GlamGlow Supermud Clearing Mask thats less than half the price! I only use this once a week or once a fortnight - usually after a long weekend of work, but it's definitely made a difference on my skin.

Do you use any face masks? What are your favourites?

MY FIVE EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS.

I own a fair amount of beauty products and I try to constantly change up what I decide to use make-up, skincare and haircare wise every day. Anyone who says that they have a large amount of products yet use the same thing every day is probably lying to you! Saying that, there are always a few products I hardly ever stray from and use almost every single day - these products are things that really work for me.

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream.
I use this every single day on my lips before I go to bed - it's a thick formula which means that the amount of product can gradually sink into my lips overnight. This is also really good on any parts of your skin that are particularly dry or chapped as it's so thick it keeps the skin really really hydrated.

Models Own Eyelash Curlers.
There's no doubt that there are better eyelash curlers out there than these, however I was in a quick fix and needed a pair after my previous ones broke. These are pretty good for only £8.00! They create a gorgeous, long lasting curl that stays pretty much all day. However, the only down side are the handles - I much prefer it when you can loop your fingers through and get a better grip.

Real Techniques Buffing Brush.
There really is no other way to apply your foundation. I've tried a stippling brush, I've tried a normal foundation brush, I've tried the Real Techniques Complexion Sponge and we just didn't get along like I get on with the Buffing Brush. I can use this to apply foundation, concealer and even bronzer when I forget a brush! I haven't yet found something that matches this, although I'm willing to try. I buff my foundation in circular motions across my face, and use the brush to pat in foundation and concealer on those places that I'd like extra coverage. This brush works a treat, and is great for anyone on a budget.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Medium Brown.
I love this - its my holy grail eyebrow pencil and I love the spooly on the other end too! The spooly that is attached is really small and stiff which is perfect for combing through before and after. I love how narrow and thin the nib on the pencil end of the product is, it really allows you to create small, precise hair like strokes so your brows can be on point all day long.

Schwarzkopf got2b All Star 10 in 1 Styling Treatment.
This is something I recently received in a Glossybox and I adore it. I've been using Argan Oil a lot recently and I've been wanting to try something new haircare wise - my hair is thick and extremely knotty and I like to put some product in it when it's wet before I start to dry and style it. I apply 1 pump of this to my hair and it makes it sleek, smooth and straight. It helps me to get rid of any knots and actually brush it with ease. I'm not sure how much this retails for but I would definitely recommend this to anyone and everyone.

Do you have products that you use every single day? What are they?