A Lot Has Happened in the Past Couple of Months...

Hey guys,

I'M BAAAACK! Well, it's been a bloody long time hasn't it. But I am back, and I have more posts scheduled for the upcoming weeks. Check me out, being all organised.

Not going to lie, a lot has happened since I last wrote one of these posts, including travelling Italy (if you want to see more, then head over to my Instagram where I basically spammed with travel photos #sorrynotsorry) and turning 21.

Although, we don't talk about the latter. I refuse to admit that I am 21, as when I was younger, 21 was the age that I thought that I became and adult and now I know that this is wrong and I was stupid. 30 is the age when I become an adult and do adult things. Not 21. Silly younger Grace, how foolish.

But anyway, I am in third year of university, studying in a pretty fantastic place that is a hell of a lot warmer than England right now, and I am loving life. It's one of the most beautiful places I have visited, and it's great to be within a vicinity of some of the most amazing cities in the world. I mean, the other day, I hopped on a train to Rome. Rome. As in, actual Rome. Mad.

Also, I have agreed to do something ridiculously stupid. I am going to do the Rome half marathon. If you know me, this is actually laughable. I am in no way a runner, and I am definitely not someone who enjoys running. I pretty much hate it. But one day, my friend just turned to me and was like 'want to do the Rome half marathon?' and I was like 'okay yeah, go on then'. Didn't think it'd actually happen. But here I am, 2 months on, running. Voluntarily. Genuinely think there is something wrong with me.

#prayforgrace. No, really. Help me.

All jokes aside, I am pretty proud of myself when it comes to this. I never thought that I would be the person that would agree to do a half marathon, never mind actually train and do it. Lol, go me.

Another pretty huge thing - I've been accepted to do a work placement at Penguin Random House in their PR and Marketing department. This, to me, is completely insane. Genuinely, when I opened that email, I could not control my excitement. As a book lover, this was so exciting, and to be doing it at such a big publishers - I just could not comprehend it. But yeah, I am doing that in January, so be sure to look out for a blogpost all about my time there!

So, that is basically what has been going on in my life over the past couple of months. I mean, in terms of travel, I will be posting more about my adventures in Italy, so be sure to look out for those!

Plus, the beach that the photo was taken on is called Spiaggia Pane e Pomodoro. Which translates to Bread and Tomato beach. The English language just ruins everything. Plus, it's pretty funny hearing it being read out on the loudspeaker in comparison to all of the other languages.

And remember, I'm not 21. Just to remind you.

Much love guys,

Grace x

A New Chapter

Hey guys,

So, I've kinda moved to Italy...

If you have been reading my blog for a while, or if you follow me on Twitter, then you will know that I'm on a year abroad in Bari, Italy. And I honestly cannot believe it.

It was pretty difficult trying to sort my year abroad in all honesty, but I am so happy to be here! The sun is out pretty much every day, my apartment is fab (although I'm on the top floor so I am very short of breath every time I get back into the apartment) and I have already made some amazing friends!

In all honesty, I was quite terrified about this next chapter in my life, but now I'm here, I just cannot believe that I was so scared, although I have learnt that I really need to brush up on my Italian! Word of advice, just knowing 'pizza' and 'pasta' does not get you a long way here...

Speaking of pizza, I literally had a pizza the other day that was too big to fit through the apartment door and I do not regret it one bit. I was in fact very happy that I can now carry a pizza that size through the town and not feel like I'm being judged. Not that I cared before, to be honest. #noragrets.

The seafood here is also amazing, so if you are a seafood fan, then Bari is definitely somewhere that you should visit. It's also very beautiful, with every street oozing history, and it is definitely perfect for getting that great Instagram photo. Wow, don't think I've ever sounded more like a blogger in my life. Apart from when I asked my boyfriend to not touch his drink until everything had arrived so I could take a picture. (Sorry Alex...)

Before, I was wondering if Bari was the right choice for me, and I'm not going to lie, my anxiety was just not good prior to coming here. But now I'm here, I could not imagine being anywhere else. And I cannot wait to document all my travels (and my very amateur photography skills) right here on Love, Ellena Grace. I'm also going to try and vlog some of my travels, although I am still pretty terrified of vlogging in public, but I'll get there. Anyway, I'd better get back to topping up my tan (lol, I joke, I still look like a ghost).

Thanks for reading, and I can't wait to share my adventures with you all!

Much love amici,

Grace x

Veil Cover Cream | A Make-Up Brand for Eczema Sufferers?

Hey guys,

So I haven't posted in such a long time, which feels weird, but I just felt like I needed a bit of time away to chill - this past year has been pretty hectic. However, I am back, and am back with a post about a blogger event that I very fortunately recently attended - the Veil Cosmetics blogger event.

As someone who suffers from eczema, I was intrigued to find out about this product, as I had never heard of the products before. As well as eczema, it is used for rosacea, acne, scars etc., and has been listed by the NHS to be effective in helping those with a skin condition.

When we arrived, we were offered welcome drinks, and offered cakes and popcorn (these looked way too good to eat!). We then had time to take a few photos of the products and the venue, which looked amazing! Bright, white and pastel themed - a blogger's dream!

We were then given demonstrations by a top make-up artist, who has worked with models who have walked at the likes of London Fashion Week. She told us that she has been using Veil Cover Cream on her clients for years, and said that she has worked with models who have skin conditions such as eczema, and that they love it. We were then shown how it looks on a model who has rosacea, and the results were amazing. The tiniest amount of product was used, and it gave a completely flawless finish. I was still a bit sceptical, even after seeing the product being used up close, yet later tried it on the back of my hand, and was amazed at the results!

The Veil Cover Cream comes in a range of shades, including colour correctors. Also, the products can be used as concealer and foundation, which I found to be really useful. For example, if you only want a full coverage on blemishes and a more natural base, then you could use this as a concealer, or for a more full base, as a foundation.

We were also very lucky to receive a goody bag filled with samples of a range of shades of the Veil Cover Cream, plus a range of other beauty bits!

It was such a fab event, and I want to thank Veil Cover Cream for having me! Have you ever tried any of their products before?

Much love,

Grace x

Learning to Love Yourself (or the Journey Towards It)

Hey guys,

Confidence is always something that I've struggled with. I wasn't particularly 'popular' at school, and puberty definitely hit me like a ton of bricks. Genuinely, I showed a picture of my teenage self to my housemate and he was shocked at how much I'd changed.

But in reality, I don't think I've changed. I'm still that 14 year old who pretends to be absolutely fine and pretends to have some sort of confidence about her, when in fact she has very little. I've never been the prettiest girl or the slimmest girl, but that's not what affects me. I have completely accepted this fact. It's the fact that I compare myself to everyone, and that if someone points out something about myself that I already feel is a flaw, it just replays in my mind. I still can remember the time when someone made a pretty nasty comment about my nose, and when someone pointed out how ugly I was to the entire class.

But then I think, that was school. And I'm not the same person that I was at school. And there is more to life than the way I look. I got good grades, and yes, I got mocked for it, but I'm now studying at a Russell Group university studying something I really enjoy. I was also called boring at school, yet if you actually get to know me, I am pretty damn hilarious. I am genuinely the most sarcastic person you will ever meet, and I love to take the piss out of myself. I was also told how I was too nice for my own good, and to be honest, this one is correct, as I let people get away with walking all over me and treating me like shit, but I guess you can't win them all.

I mean, I'm still not completely there yet, and I may not ever get there to completely loving myself, but I'm definitely learning to accept myself. The picture above was taken at a point where I was happy, my make-up had gone okay (considering my very mediocre make-up skills) and I was feeling somewhat confident within myself.

I'm not the brightest, or the funniest, or the prettiest (thank god for make-up), but I'm me. I'm Grace, the 20 year old who sometimes has a bad confidence day, but is learning to come to terms with myself. I'm a good person, I'm a good friend, I'm the most loyal person you will ever meet, and I love my friends and family more than anything. I'm just me, and I need to learn that this is nothing to be ashamed of. Even though I have been told that I'm not good enough and I'm not this and I'm not that, I'm learning to accept that people can have their opinions. But it shouldn't make me feel worthless because other people want to push me down. But I'm learning. I'm learning to love myself, or at least I'm on the journey towards it.

Thank you so much for reading,

Much love,

Grace x

Top 5 High-End Make-up Products for Fair Skin

Hey guys,

So, if you have read my blog before, or if you know me in real life, then you will know that I am very fair-skinned. As in, I literally blend into walls, I am that pale.

Therefore, I thought that I would share with you my favourite products that match/suit fair skin-tones. Even though the products that I mention are all high-end, this is only because the majority of products that I have found that match/suit my skin tone have been high-end, but I definitely want to try more high-street brands that cater for fair skin. Therefore, if you have any suggestions as to high-street beauty that caters for paler skin tones, then definitely let me know in the comments, as my bank account would very much appreciate it!

First of all, let's start with foundation. I absolutely love the Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation, I swear by it, and use it daily. Apart from it being super long-lasting and full coverage, Estee Lauder actually produce a colour that matches my skin tone. And you may think that I'm being ridiculous here, but a lot of brands do not produce foundation that is pale enough for my skin tone. That's when you know you're pale.

Also, that fact that my mother is ginger and has a darker skin tone than me. Yes, I am that pale.

I buy this in the shade 'Shell', as this is for skin with pink undertones, and is the lightest of the range. But hey, at least it's easy for me to colour-match myself. #lightestshade4life.

I also love the Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow, which is described as being perfect for fair to medium skin, which I completely agree with! This is quite a subtle bronzer, so you can go for a more natural bronze, but can be buildable for a deeper contour. The highlight is also good in this palette, and gives you a very natural glow. I feel this palette is perfect for a more natural look, which is perfect for summer. However, they can be buildable if you want a more defined look, perfect for a glowy night out make-up look!

The Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer is also a favourite of mine. I used to use the Collection Lasting Perfection, which is also an amazing concealer, but even the lightest shade ('Fair') is a bit too dark for me now, so I have been looking around for a concealer that will brighten up my skin a bit.

My boyfriend bought me the Naked Skin Concealer earlier this year (he picked the shade Neutral Fair because it was the palest shade they did, the boy knows me well), and I have been in love with it ever since. It can be used for under your eyes and on blemishes, and is a full coverage concealer, yet feels creamy when applied, and not at all cakey.

Another favourite of mine is the Kat Von D Illuminating Powder, which is perfect for under your eyes and defining the contour on your cheekbones. This product has been described as being ideal for baking, but I'm too impatient for baking, so just dab it under my eyes with a beauty blender and use a powder brush to blend and wipe away the excess. This makes for a great under-eye brightener and is pale enough for even the palest of skin tones! Plus, a little goes a long way with this product!

In terms of highlight, I absolutely adore the Anastasia Beverley Hills Glow Kit in That Glow. Even though Golden Bronze is too dark for my skin tone, the other three are perfect. I have used Bubbly the most frequently, as I feel that it compliments my skin tone. Dripping in Gold is also a firm favourite of mine, and is perfect for when I've been using my trusty Bondi Sands Tan and need more of a bronzed glow. I also feel that Sunburst is perfect for an inner corner highlight, or just to amplify (is that he right word?) your cheekbone highlight a bit more. Again, a little goes a long way, as these highlights are insanely pigmented.

So there you have it, my top 5 high-end make-up products for pale skin! I absolutely adore each of these products, and use them on a daily basis! Even though they are a bit on the pricey side, they really do last, and manage to make my very dull, pale skin look somewhat dewy and a bit bronzed (well, let's not get too hasty)...

I hope you have enjoyed, and let me know your favourite products for fair skin below, as I'd love to try out some new products. Plus, if you have any suggestions for any high-street products that I should try, then please let me know!

Much love as always,

Grace x

8 More Reasons Why I'm An Idiot

Hey guys,

So, long time no speak! I'm back after a VERY long break from blogging and I'm not going to lie, it's been a pretty weird few months, but things are finally beginning to settle down and come together. Kind of. Well, second year is over and I survived, so that's got to count for something, right?

So I thought I would get back to blogging with a good old self-deprecating post about stupid/funny/random things that have ever happened to me, as this is where it all started. Me taking the piss out of myself on the internet. Get in. Hence the very unflattering picture of me at the top of this post. I am so incredibly awkward.

• When I was about 2, my dad didn't strap me into my push chair properly (it was an accident may I add), and I ended up falling out. He then proceeded to run me over with the push chair and stand on me before he realised I was on the floor. You can imagine how heartbroken he was, but we laugh about it now. And also blame my lack of common sense on this.
• I genuinely thought that Bob was short for Bobert. And I wasn't even young, I was 13.
• I used to be in the Brownies, and I absolutely hated it. However, my sister told me that Brownie camp was really fun and they all ate midnight snacks and had a whale of a time. This was not the case. Grumpy and feeling lied to, I wrote a very unhappy letter to my parents saying that there were not midnight feasts, the Brownies did all the work and the leaders ate all of the food. I was very annoyed when they did not come and get me straight away, as I was adamant in the letter that they should have come ASAP. I was such a little shit.
• Speaking of the Brownies, my Mum came in to help, so we obviously had to pick a name for her. All the other leaders had names such as Tawny Owl and Barn Owl, but apparently I did not want my Mum to have a nice name. So when I was asked what they should call my Mum, I came out with 'Water Rat'. Yes, water rat, a creature that I didn't even know existed (it does by the way, it's a rat that lives in water). How kind.
• I am a 90s baby, in case you didn't know, and was 3 when it was the millennium. However, I was a stubborn little bugger and refused to go to bed for a nap when it was New Year's Eve, as we were hosting a party at ours. I had never dressed myself before, and came downstairs in a strop with all of my clothes back to front and inside out insisting I wasn't tired. Not gonna lie, I was probably wrecked, but that didn't stop me from staying up until 5am singing Downtown by Petula Clark with my Granddad.
• I had a weird love for camper vans when I was younger, so when my Dad was cleaning it on the drive of our house, I used to climb into it and refuse to move out of it. I also slept in it when it was on the drive, because who sleeps in the house anymore?? Weirdos, that's who.
• I used to think the world was in black and white before the 1910s, and wouldn't believe that it was in colour, regardless of how many times people told me. This continued until I was about 18. No joke. Only just got my head around it. 
• My boyfriend actually disliked me for two years before we got together, and, in his own words, thought I was a 'weirdo' and 'annoying'. Lol. To be fair, it's pretty accurate, so don't know what changed his mind. Maybe it's my dazzling charm. Or maybe it's the fact that I buy him food and he laughs at me when I fall over (this happens a lot).

So there you have it guys, 8 weird things about me. I think we have learnt that I was a stroppy child (to be fair, I wasn't, but most stories are only funny when I'm being moody), and that I have zero common sense. Yay. 

I hope you enjoyed, and had a laugh at my expense.

Much love guys, 

Grace x

Eyeko Lash Alert Mascara* | Review

Hey guys,

So, if you follow me on social media, then you will know that I was very kindly sent Eyeko's new mascara to try out.

I'm going to be honest, it is very hard to win me over when it comes to mascara, as I have very short, straight, light brown eyelashes. Therefore, I was excited to try this, as it was described as adding volume and curl to your lashes, which I most definitely need!

The mascara itself includes ingredients such as shea butter and caffeine, so helps to strengthen your lashes. Therefore, I had high hopes; but, how did it wear on the lashes?

When you first take the mascara wand out of the tube, it isn't clumpy, and you don't have to wipe off the excess mascara that's on the end of the wand like you do on most mascaras. The wand itself is curved, which adds curl to your lashes. This is something that I love, as some of my other favourite mascaras have the same wand (Benefit's Roller Lash and Maybelline's The Falsies Volum Express), as I feel the curved wand really makes a difference to my eyelashes in terms of curling them.

I also thought that I would show you what it looks like on the lashes. As you can see, it adds a lot of curl and does lengthen your lashes. I also apologise about my eyebrows, but that's apparently how they like to be. I have blonde hair, somewhat ginger eyebrows and brown lashes. Fab. I'm just a big mismatch.

I also wanted to point out that I do use an eyelash curler, as my eyelashes would be 100% straight if I didn't, but even the best of mascaras can't keep my eyelashes curly. This photo was taken 4 hours after application, which shows that it is long lasting and does keep your eyelashes curly all day!

As you can see, it doesn't smudge or wear off, and leaves your lashes looking natural and long. Love it!

So, as you can probably tell, I love this mascara, and it has definitely made it into my top 3 mascaras! This is a big deal for me, as I am really picky when it comes to mascara.

Thank you so much to Eyeko for sending me this amazing product, and it is definitely my current go-to mascara!

Which mascara are you loving currently?

Much love,

Grace x

*These products were kindly sent to me in return for a review. All opinions are my own.

Do You Know About 'Know Cosmetics'?*

Hey guys,

So I'm back with another beauty review, and this one is all about Know Cosmetics. I had never previously heard about this brand, but was contacted a while back about reviewing them, so was excited to try them out! I was actually sent these quite a while ago, and I have taken multiple photos of these, but they just never worked in the light in my university room as they were always too dark, so I had to wait until I was back home to take them. So I apologise about the delay, but I have really loved trying them!

I was kindly sent the No Thin Lips Lip Plumper, which is, as you can probably guess, a lip plumper. I have tried quite a few of these in the past, and I actually really like this one. It is clear, so doesn't leave a tint of colour on your lips, but it definitely makes them look fuller.

Like all lip plumpers, it does make your lips tingle initially, but it soon fades and leaves your lips looking plump and healthy. I have loved trying this, and I always use it when my lips are looking a bit dry and thin.

I often just use this on it's own, but also sometimes use this as a base for my lipstick, as it adds a bit more volume to your lips.

I was also kindly sent the No Dark Shadows Complexion Enhancer in 'Wow', which helps to brighten up your under-eyes. To compare, it is very much like the YSL Touche Eclat Illuminating Concealer, but more of a high street price.

To use it, you turn the bottom of the packaging, and the product comes out of the brush-like applicator at the top. Be careful though, as a lot comes out, so be watchful of how much you turn it! Here, you just dot it underneath your eyes, or apply it in a triangle shape underneath your eyes, depending on how much product you want to use, then blend in with a brush or sponge! I often opt for the Beauty Blender, as I feel that this blends product under my eyes the best, but that's just personal preference.

As someone who is very fair-skinned, it is light enough to highlight my under-eyes. I would say this is a light-medium coverage, so if you want more of a fuller coverage, I would use this as well as your normal under-eye concealer. However, it is very good at brightening those dark circles, which is exactly what it aims to do!

So there you have it, a mini review on Know Cosmetics. These products are available in Superdrug, so are accessible to buy in the UK, and aren't too pricey, so are great for students or those who love high street beauty (I know I definitely do!).

Have you tried Know Cosmetics? If so, what did you think?

Much love,

Grace x

A Little NYX Haul | Spring Edition

Hey guys,

So, if you follow me on Twitter or Instagram, or if you have read my previous post, then you will know that I recently visited Amsterdam. (I apologise about the 'Dam spam guys, as I really know that I have been going on about it so much, but I have major holiday blues).

Here, I decided to go into the NYX shop, as I saw that they had products that I had never seen at my local NYX counter, so thought that I would pick a few up. So yeah, I just thought that I would show you what I bought, my first impressions and swatches!

Firstly, I picked up the NYX Pump It Up Lip Plumper in the shade 'Elizabeth'. In all honesty, I didn't even know that NYX did lip plumpers, as I had never even heard of this range before. However, I was intrigued, so thought that I would buy one to try it out.

When I first put this on, I couldn't see a difference. However, after about 30 seconds, my lips started to tingle, in the same way that other lip plumpers react on your lips. When this started, I could see the results, and my lips did look fuller, so it pretty much did exactly what it says on the tin. Plus, it gives a really pretty subtle nude tint to your lips and is very glossy, so is super pretty for a light make-up day.

Next, I picked up the Bright Idea Illuminating Stick in the shade 'Pinkie Dust'. I thought this was such a pretty coral shade, one that would be perfect for a spring/summer make-up look. As someone who is very particular with blushes due to having very fair skin, I decided to pick one of the lighter shades in the range, as I thought it would add a pretty glow with just a hint of colour.

However, when I put this on, I managed to rub off all of the make-up on my cheek, so I've learnt to not put it straight onto my cheek and to maybe pat it on gently with my fingers, or maybe use a sponge? I don't know, I'm pretty useless with this kind of thing, so if you have a suggestion/know how you're supposed to apply this, then please let me know in the comments!

Lastly, I picked up one of the Butter Glosses in the shade 'Maple Blondie', as it looked like such a pretty pink, coral shade. (Can you tell that I love to wear coral colours during the spring/summer?) Strangely, I have never tried one of their Butter Glosses before, yet I have always wanted to try them, so I decided that it was the right time, and I was ready to make the commitment.

I'm so weird.

But yeah, I really like it, it suits my skin tone really well, as it's not too bright, but adds a bit of colour to my lips. I also really like the formula, as it doesn't feel too sticky like a lot of glosses do, and it glides on really well without looking gooey. (If you've tried a bad gloss before, you'll know what I mean).

I also thought that I would include swatches of all three products so you can see what they look like. From left to right: Elizabeth, Maple Blondie and Pinkie Dust. As you can see, they are all perfect colours for a pretty springtime make-up look.

I absolutely love these products, and they will all definitely be a staple in my springtime make-up look.

What products do you love to use during the springtime?

Much love,

Grace x

Amsterdam Travel Diary | Spring 2017

Hey guys,

So, as you probably know by now, I visited Amsterdam last weekend, and I had such an amazing time. It was one of the most beautiful cities I have visited, and I loved every second of exploring it. Therefore, I thought that I would write a travel diary, as one, I love looking back at what I got up to (I have major holiday blues right now) and two, I thought it'd be fun to do!

On the first day, we decided to just have an explore of the central part of Amsterdam, so wandered around the canals and the nine streets. It was such a lovely spring day (we were so lucky with the weather, it was bright sunshine every day that we were there), so it was great to just amble and see what we came across. As you can probably guess, we stopped for a lot of pictures.

On the second day, we decided to visit the Anne Frank House. Even though it was incredibly emotional, it's definitely somewhere that you should visit. It was quite surreal to be in the actual house where Anne Frank and her family hid for 2 years; her story is truly heartbreaking, but one that needs to be known by all.

We then visited the Rijkmuseum, after getting a few photos next to the Iamsterdam letters of course! We were a bit late visiting the Rijkmuseum, but still got to see a couple of exhibits, and it was really interesting to find out more about the history of the Netherlands.

We then visited the Heineken Experience (which was Alex's favourite part), where you were given a tour of the original brewery, and shown how they make Heineken (as well as given three half pints to enjoy!). It was very interactive, with photo booths, a ride and videos to show you how it was (and still is) made. Plus, at the end, you can sit in the bar and enjoy your beer for as long as you like, and it's such a great atmosphere.

We then decided to go out for cocktails, as it was our last night. I had found one on Trip Advisor (did you really go on holiday if you didn't use Trip Advisor?) that looked amazing called Door 74, but when we got there, it looked like a boarded up building. However, I had read that it was a 'speak-easy' kind of bar, so I was determined that this was where we were meant to be.

However, Alex was adamant that it was closed and was no longer there, yet there was a doorbell to press. After a while of us debating whether to go or try the doorbell, Alex finally tried it, and a man came to the door (I was very smug, as Alex only rang it to prove me wrong). Here, he ushered us in, took our coats and gave us a table. He then gave us a menu, which was the coolest menu I had ever seen. It was designed like a map of Amsterdam, and had all the cocktails listed on the back. It was great to try these out, and we ended up having two each because they were honestly the best cocktails I have ever had.

So if you are ever in Amsterdam and looking for a cool, quirky place to have some cocktails, then definitely check out Door 74. And don't be put off by the fact that it looks closed, as it's very much open! However, I would recommend booking, as we were very lucky to walk in as we did, as every other table was full.

Alex very much liked his owl cup.

On the last day, we decided to have an amble again, and ended up in Vondelpark. This was such a beautiful park, and was perfect for blog photos. We ended up spending the majority of the day here, as it was such a gorgeous, sunny day, so we just laid on the grass and chilled.

We then went for an explore of the park, and obviously took pictures of the surroundings. I also made Alex take picture for future blog posts, as you never know when you're going to need a candid picture of yourself in a park, am I right?? I also 'made' him pose for photos (I say 'made' as he posed himself, and even though he moaned, he absolutely loved it).

We then sadly had to leave this beautiful city to come back to crappy English weather. Sad times. However, I will definitely be returning to Amsterdam, as it was such an amazing place to explore, and there is plenty left of the city that I haven't yet seen.

I also hope to travel to more places this year, and I hope to document it all on here. I hope you enjoy these posts, as I genuinely love writing them.

Where would you like to visit?

Much love,

Grace x