The Perks of Being A Wallflower

{Book Review: The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky}

I recently found out how to use an online photo editor and went a little overboard...

Hello!

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is amazing. It is full of witty and intelligent lines, the characters are beautifully written and the (super talented) author has chosen to write from the perspective of a very funny guy who comes of age during the novel. This may be my favourite book of the year (even though I read it last year).

I Actually I first heard about the book when I was in my Logan Lerman phase (I'm talking about it like I got over it - I haven't) . I was Wikipedia-ing, as one does, and saw he was to star in the movie. It seemed like an interesting title to I decided to read the book. Best decision ever! This book is so fresh, and unlike anything else I've ever read that has come out of this period of time. There are no vampires, no ghosts, no supernatural love triangles. Just a collection of honest letters written by a fifteen year old, telling you about his life and experiences.

Read this book. A definite 10/10. If you haven't seen the movie, go watch it. Here is the trailer. I haven't seen the movie, but only because the stupid cinema company decided to show it for the one week that I was busy at school! *silent scream* The cast is amazing, full amazing actors and actresses (e.g. Emma Watson, Nina Dobrev, Ezra Miller). The Perks got great reviews from critics - not that they really matter, anyway. Go see for yourself.

And I'll be here, jealous. Dumb cinema.

I would say that you should be around fourteen or fifteen when reading The Perks. There's a bit of content that you wouldn't want a little kid reading.

Enjoy - and take your time reading, you can't rush this book.


xx Tina

Lasting Finish Matte Lipstick by Kate Moss for Rimmel

{Phew, long post title, right?}

 Hey!

I recently went out with my mother and purchased this lipstick in the shade 107. It is so lovely! I rarely find bold lipsticks that look nice on me so it's definitely a keeper! This is quite a bargain, you can check it out here on ASOS. The packaging is also very nice.

The colour is wine-red/dark pink. It's very pigmented and does not dry out a lot during the day. I like wearing it with lip balm underneath. As you may have guessed, this lipstick is very much for those who prefer a bold look. I'm not bold - I shall be wearing it only in the evening.

In the sunlight.

Isn't the casing cute? Aw.

xx Tina

Stop Stressing!

Hey!

So, I just finished this term and I'm looking forward to a couple weeks of rest and recreation. It's been a very tough term and I am so glad it's over!!!

I'm looking forward to doing as little as I possibly can.

By the way, this was just a spare sheet of rough work. 

Anyway. I've had my fair share of scholastic disappointments, and I know just how hard it is to look at an exam result and feel like crying (not the good kind). 

I think it's really important to realize that school is where you learn. You are allowed to make mistakes because when you make a mistake, you learn from it and never repeat it. If high school was just for the perfect, smart over-achievers, every school in the world would shut down. You aren't born smart. You learn. You fall down then you pick yourself back up again. You don't want to remember the bad points in high school. Remember meeting your friends, becoming confident, becoming the person you are because of your mistakes, not in spite of them. 

If you put in the work and try as hard as you can, that is what counts. A test score or exam result shouldn't dictate the way you see yourself. That being said, studying should be your main priority as a student.

Be the best you can be and if you do that, you are set for life. 

Keep smiling!

Tina

Getting Good Skin For School

Hey!

Beauty and school don't mix. Stress causes breakouts and since school can be a very stressful place during your later years, it's important to feel confident and happy with your appearance.

I'll just take this opportunity to say that old, cliché (but true!) phrase:

Beauty is not skin deep, it's what's on the inside that counts.

However, when you have a major zit on your forehead, your self esteem can go down very fast. My solution is to have a good skincare regime that will keep you looking good for school and feeling great inside!

Firstly, cleansing. Your cleanser does not have to be expensive, it needs to do the job. Figure out what kind of skin type you have (e.g. dry, oily, combination, etc.) and Google away!. Figure out what cleanser is best for you. Scour your local pharmacy or drugstore. Look at reviews, and find out what the general consensus is on cleansers. Chances are, if a lot of people have given the product the thumbs up, you will too.

You can use a daily scrub instead of a regular cleanser. My scrub of choice is the Blackhead Clearing Scrub by Clearasil. I don't have blackheads, but I absolutely love the feeling of this cleanser. It doesn't strip your face of its natural oils but leaves your skin soft and manageable. A definite rating of 10/10.

Next, moisturizer. This needs to suit your skin type, too. I have to say a moisturizer with sunscreen is very important. Sunscreen can save you a whole lot of trouble later in life. My mother gave me a bottle of Olay Complete Moisturizer with SPF 15 and that is my facial lotion of choice. It's smooth and makes concealer easy to blend. Another 10/10 product.

Last thing: lip balm! You need to carry a little tube of lip balm around everywhere to make sure your lips don't chap (or crack and bleed in some cases). My favourite lip balm is the Maybelline Baby Lips in Mango Pie. It usually lives in my locker at school. My rating is 8/10. It's a bit pricey but apart from that, it's great. Of course, using Vaseline is fine too, and works especially well in those freezing winter months.

Well. That's it.

I know. Easy, right? Of course, if you have bad breakouts and need acne cream, add that onto the list. Make sure your acne cream is not too harsh on you skin, as zits can leave scars. This is a reason to moisturize, lotion keeps pimple marks soft, as when they dry out, they scar. Also, you can use a toner, but I feel like that is an optional beauty product. Make sure it's suited for younger skin, as toner tightens your skin.

Now, for school, make-up can be a little bit of a risk if you aren't allowed any. My suggestion is to stick by the rules as you will probably forget the Great Zit Wars of '09 in a few years. If you can't bear to be seen with a pimple or mark in public, try some concealer. Make sure you don't cake it on, because it won't let your skin breathe and heal itself.

Happy cleansing!


Tina