Maiyabellexo

I don't know about you but I really struggle to think of ideas of what to do for Mother's Day. One because I don't live close to my mom anymore and two because she's quite hard to please (don't worry, she doesn't read my blog haha). I always try to buy her a nice gift when I can but over the last couple of years we've been focusing more on things we can do together so today I wanted to share three simple, budget-friendly ways to treat the special lady in your life.

three simple ways to treat your mom this mother's day

This post is a gifted collaboration with Nivea. All opinions are my own.

Go For A Coffee Date | I don't think I've ever heard anyone say no to a coffee date - unless you're one of the few people like my brother who hates hot drinks. Starbucks, Costa and all of the pretty pink cafés with flower walls have become the new social meeting hubs and whilst it's such a simple thing I personally love setting aside forty minutes to an hour to just sit, enjoy my drink (or two) and have a good catch up. Plus it's the perfect opportunity for a photo op!

Have A Pamper Day | You guys know I love a good pamper sesh and whenever my mom and I are together I'm always showing her new beauty bits that I'm testing or giving her a mini makeover so this year I'm definitely going to turn that into a full-on girl's day. We both love finding new bath and shower products and because our skin is so similar we tend to love the same products. I've recently been loving the Nivea Shower Silk Rhubarb Raspberry Mousse* which smells absolutely amazing and leaves my skin so soft and smooth. I'm definitely going to be buying her a bottle! I've also discovered their new Q10 3 in 1 Radiance BB Cushion* which is a great pick for after the pampering when you want something a bit lighter and fresher on the skin It has a gorgeous sheen, hydrating formula and anti-ageing properties! It's definitely one to check out! We're both guilty of putting our hands through the works and the Nivea Intensive Nourishing Hand Cream* is a must-have for keeping them properly nourished and hydrated. It's formulated with almond oil and smells incredible - love!

Girls Night In | You can't really go wrong with a girl's night in and for my mom and me that usually means one thing - junk food and Netflix. We both love finding a new series or movie, especially if it's a horror/thriller. Friends has been the recent go-to (shocker) but we really want to try something new so if you have any recommendations send them my way! Of course, no girls night is complete without pizza, popcorn and a G&T if you're feeling extra spiffy. Oh and chocolate, don't forget the chocolate!

Do you have anything fun planned for Mother's Day?

Maiya

Thursday, March 28, 2019

Three Simple Ways To Treat Your Mom This Mother's Day

This post is a gifted collaboration with Nivea. All opinions are my own.

Do you have anything fun planned for Mother's Day?

Maiya

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I absolutely love finding new salons and going for beauty treatments and never in a million years did I think I'd get the chance to experience one through blogging but when an email landed in my inbox from Roxanne Campbell, it was a real 'pinch me' moment! Earlier this month, Roxanne kindly invited me along to visit her new (and absolutely stunning) nail studio in Fulham which is in collaboration with Rose & Wild Hair Concept. Of course, I said yes and today I'm going to walk you through my experience and also give you a bit more background on Roxanne and her incredible brand!

This post contains a complimentary treatment by Roxanne Campbell. All opinions are my own.

So who is Roxanne? Apart from being an absolute sweetheart, Roxanne is a multi-award winning Celebrity Nail Care Expert who over the last 13 years has built an extensive profile and become one of the most well-known nail artists in the industry. Not only is she the leading Manicurist and Nail Artist at London & New York Fashion Week but she has also worked on some amazing fashion campaigns and editorial spreads with Elle, Tatler, Vogue and Marie Claire! Oh, and she's created nails for celebrities like Adele, Jourdan Dunn, Winnie Harlow and Dua Lipa? What a #GirlBoss!

When I arrived for my appointment Roxanne was there to greet me straight away with a very warm welcome. Everything was ready for the treatment to start and as we went to sit down and get comfortable all I could think about was the stunning decor throughout the salon. Roxanne designed her studio herself and I think we can all agree that it's stunning and totally Pinterest-worthy! The teal chairs look super chic and the gold accents and greenery help keep everything really open yet cosy at the same time. It really is a blogger's dream! One thing that definitely stood out to me the whole time was how luxurious and relaxing the experience was! Even something small like my latte being brought out on a gold tray with a choccy, for me little things like this just add a touch of indulgence!

I had the Roxanne Campbell Ultimate Luxury Manicure* which starts with reshaping and tidying the nails followed by a cuticle treatment which surprisingly I couldn't feel at all (I've had bad experiences with people being rough and even cutting me!) and then the hand exfoliation which was probably my favourite part of the treatment! A mix of brown sugar and shea oil, this homemade scrub smells divine and left my hands feeling seriously soft and nourished with no irritation. She then moved onto the hand and arm massage which felt absolutely glorious - I'm a sucker for a good massage! Finally, after choosing my lacquer from Roxanne's own line of seasonal-inspired colours, she painted my nails with the shade Expensive Taste* which is a gorgeous black cherry offering. It was hard to choose my shade as all 10 lacquers are stunning but in the end, I couldn't resist going dark! Her formula is beautifully shiny and opaque and the final look was just so shiny and polished, I could hardly recognise my hands!

roxanne campbell expensive taste nail polish

I've never really been one to set aside time for my nails but after meeting Roxanne and experiencing a luxury treatment from her I'll definitely be making it a regular thing! I can't wait to go back for a pedicure and a catch-up, she really was one of the sweetest people I've met through blogging and just, in general, to be honest! If you're looking for a new salon or perhaps you want to treat yourself or a friend then I can't recommend Roxanne enough! You'll feel like royalty from start to finish! Be sure to check out Roxanne's Instagram and website and let me know if you decide to pay her a visit!

Maiya

Monday, March 25, 2019

The Ultimate Luxury Manicure With Roxanne Campbell

This post contains a complimentary treatment by Roxanne Campbell. All opinions are my own.

Maiya

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I think we all lost our shit when we heard that Makeup Revolution was venturing into skincare. It was like all our prayers had been answered. Their range has been out for a few months now and is quickly expanding but I wanted to wait to see what other bloggers were saying before I picked anything up for myself but just before I placed an order I won Sam's (Violet Hollow) competition on Instagram, bagging myself five picks from the line - talk about meant to be! I haven't been trying everything for that long so for now, this is just an introduction into the products I have and I'll do an updated review once I've been able to see long-term results but so far I'm pretty impressed!

Gold Elixir Rosehip Seed Oil* | Starting with the simplest pick (in my opinion) this can be used as a primer or as a facial oil. I'm a massive fan of Rosehip Oil but often it can be too heavy for my skin and just suffocate it rather than hydrate and actually absorb. It can also have quite an overpowering scent which this doesn't have. It's fragrance-free but it definitely has a slight citrus scent (from the Lemon Peel Oil) which I personally like but just be wary if this is something you look out for. Rich in antioxidants, this lightweight oil nourishes and softens the skin, helping to get rid of dry patches and give a lovely radiance to the skin. There are some gold flecks in the bottle but it doesn't transfer onto the skin although this doesn't bother me and it still gives an amazing glow. I've been using this under my makeup, applying 2-3 drops and my foundation just glides over top and blends effortlessly. I definitely recommend checking this out if you're looking for an affordable multi-use oil!

EGF Skin Conditioning Serum* | I've never used an EGF product before so I was really excited when I saw that this one of the prizes. EGF is a protein that is found naturally in the skin but Revolution Skincare has used a plant-based version which is supposed to help boost a youthful complexion. It's also designed to help rehydrate and condition the skin which it definitely does on application. I was expecting it to have a fairly thick consistency but actually, it's a really thin watery-gel which I really like as it gives a slightly tacky finish which helps your moisturiser adhere better and give a lovely cushiony feel to the skin. I can't really think of any skin type this wouldn't work for but I think it would be especially good for dry, dehydrated and mature skins! I haven't used it long enough to say if it has made a huge difference but I'm definitely enjoying the formula and finish so far!

Quinoa Night Peel Gentle Night Peeling Serum* | I think it's so cool that Revolution Skincare has used Quinoa Husk Extract as a key ingredient in this serum - it's just so different especially for a high-street product! This has a very similar texture to the EGF Serum* and has a light fresh scent but again, nothing offensive! Unlike the others this is a night-time only serum that is designed to help lift away dead skin cells, increase cell turnover and give a softer, smoother appearance to the skin. Now I haven't tried this one yet as I've recently been retinol-ing and I didn't want to use anything 'exfoliating' in case I had a reaction but I can't wait to start testing it properly as it feels lovely and I love anything that's designed to add radiance and improve my skin's texture!

Superfruit Extract Antioxidant Serum & Primer* | This is definitely the product I was most excited to try, one because of the super cute packaging but two because I'm a sucker for illuminating primers. It contains Tamarind Seed which is a powerful antioxidant that helps boost elasticity and increase hydration and smoothness. It also helps protect against free-radicals which is great if you are constantly surrounded by pollution and environmental stressors. The primer has a milky texture and iridescent finish - think unicorn tears. It also has quite a sweet almost sugar cookie scent which I personally love! I've used this under makeup a few times and although the iridescence didn't really transfer onto my skin, I could still see a gorgeous radiance through my foundation. I think pretty much anyone will love this as it provides a really soft, plump base but also doesn't add glitter or chunky flecks which can look really unflattering!

2% Hyaluronic Acid Plumping & Hydrating Serum* | I think most of us have at least one Hyaluronic Acid product in our skincare stash. It's been deemed a sort of miracle ingredient and whilst its probably not as beneficial as Vitamin C and Retinol, it's still a must-have for everyone but particularly those with dehydrated skin - which is most of us! I've had a very similar product to this from The Ordinary which I think we all know is what this range was 'inspired by' and I did enjoy that serum but it wasn't as effective as I would've liked so I've got high hopes that this one will be much better. Hyaluronic Acid works like a magnet to bind moisture to the skin making it a really easy way to help boost your skin's plumpness and moisture levels. This is a very thin formula which I like as it means I can layer it with pretty much all of my moisturisers and oils. It feels gorgeous under the Superfruit Extract Primer* and I find the two together create a perfect base for foundation! I'm really looking forward to seeing if I notice a long-term difference after using this!

Have you tried anything from Revolution Skincare yet?

Maiya

Wednesday, March 20, 2019

An Introduction To Revolution Skincare

Have you tried anything from Revolution Skincare yet?

Maiya

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So last week Maiyabellexo turned four (where has the time gone?!) and to mark the occasion I thought I would do a quick post talking about what I've learnt during that time and also share a few things that I wish I'd have known when I first started all the way back in 2015!

I still can't believe that I've been doing this bloggy thing for a whole four years, it's taken a while for it to fully sink in! That being said, blogging is without a doubt the best thing I've done in my life and I'm really proud of my journey and what I've achieved along the way. It hasn't been easy though and as soon as you add things like Instagram into the mix it all goes a bit tits up but I've loved every second of blogging and I've learnt some really important things along the way that are key to being 'successful' in the industry.

It Doesn't Happen Overnight | It took me quite a while to find my feet and figure out what made me and my blog stand out amongst the thousands of others that are out there but once I did I used that to my advantage and was able to create content that caught people's attention. For a long time I wondered if my blog would ever really pick up and although I'm still a very small fish in a mahoosive pond, I've definitely grown and have established myself as a pretty decent blogger. When I started I had no real examples to learn from so it's taken lots of research and trial and error to make my little corner of the internet something that I'm proud of and both my readers and brands enjoy. The hard work was definitely worth it!

Do It For The Right Reasons | Blogging/influencing/YouTube and all of these things have become the career goal for so many people over the past few years. Young, old, girls, guys, you name it - they all want a piece of the action. Personally, I don't think there's anything wrong with that but there are a few bad apples who do it for all the wrong reasons and eventually it's just going to come back and bite them in the arse. Readers and brands aren't naive and they can spot someone who's just looking for a quick path to 'fame' a mile away. They're also very quick to spot people that have bought all of their followers or is just in it to make a quick buck so if you're only doing it for the dosh and freebies, you may as well stick to your day job because nowadays it's a lot harder to fool people and above all your followers and brands want authenticity and honesty.

Connect Connect Connect | I started my blog well before I joined social media and I kept wondering why I was wasn't getting many views. Until I joined Instagram and actually started promoting my posts on there, there was no way for anyone to find my blog. Four years on I've learnt just how important it is to engage with your readers and fellow bloggers! It's not just important for growing your success but it's such a lovely feeling when you meet a new friend through blogging. Sometimes you end up feeling more comfortable chatting to them about things instead of the people you know in 'real' life. It's also important to be as consistent and to really put yourself out there. We all know that the bloggersphere is heavily saturated so the only way people are going to find you is by posting frequently, sharing your posts across multiple platforms, commenting on other accounts and not being scared to be noticed!

Thank you so much to everyone who's stuck around all this time! It means the world!

Maiya

Monday, March 18, 2019

Maiyabellexo Turns Four | What I've Learnt About Blogging So Far

Thank you so much to everyone who's stuck around all this time! It means the world!

Maiya

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Call me boring but when it comes to eye makeup nothing beats a lazy - slightly messy warm toned smokey eye. As much as I would love to be super creative and rock a colourful winged liner or dramatic cut crease every day of the week, it's just not my style. I love anything quick that cuts down on my time getting ready and these shadows are perfect for that, especially creams as they're just so effortless! As we head into Spring and Summer I'm definitely going to be busting out my shadow sticks and those fudgy shades that just scream chic! Who doesn't want that?

warm brown shadows aka the moody smokey eye maiyabellexo

Zoeva Cocoa Blend Eyeshadow Palette | This palette really kicked off my love for warm-toned eyeshadows. It's perfect for creating something simple or really intense. I love the shade variety and formula wise it has some of the smoothest, easy to blend eyeshadows that I've tried! My go to look is to apply Substitute For Love and Freshly Toasted all over my lids, up to the crease and blended on the lower lashline for the ultimate blown out caramel eye!

KIKO Colour Crush Cream Eyeshadow | 06 | I haven't been crazy about shimmery eyeshadows for a long time now but if it's a gorgeous bronzey shade like this, I can't resist! A couple years ago I raved about this KIKO formula and it's still one of my absolute favourites! It's really hard to find a decent cream formula under £10 but this range provides a smooth finish, intense pigment and amazing staying power. They're a must-have!

MAC Pro Longwear Waterproof Colour Stick | Tea Leaves | Unfortunately, this range was continued not long after I discovered them which is such a shame as the formula is beaut but there are a ton of brands who do similar products (Bobbi Brown, KIKO, Charlotte Tilbury). For me, eyeshadow sticks make doing my eye makeup a total breeze and it's so easy to amp up the intensity. This particular shade has a gorgeous bronzey, J-LO-esque finish. Wow, another bronze eyeshadow - groundbreaking.

Natural Collection Eyeshadow - Milk Chocolate | I always worry that people think I'm a makeup snob because I often rave about high-end brands but I love a beauty bargain as much as the next blogger! I saw a YouTuber using this constantly at one point (sorry I can't remember who), and I remember thinking it was such a pretty everyday shade! It reminds me of something like MAC Soft Brown and is perfect for adding a bit of shape to the eye or adding some warmth. It's a gorgeous matte pinky-brown milk chocolate shade - the name really suits this one!

MAC Eyeshadows | Soba & Saddle | It wouldn't be right if I didn't include my beloved duo now would it? I think everyone needs a little compact like this with a couple of warm brown shades, you just never feel stuck and that's what I love. Soba is a really pretty medium brown with gold undertone which looks stunning on the lids and Saddle is a much richer rusty shade that gives that gorgeous finish that really emphasizes hazel eyes. Lush!

What are your favourite warm-toned eyeshadows?

Maiya