TOP 4: Underrated YouTubers

YouTube is bigger than ever and I am constantly discovering new channels with interesting and exciting content. However, which such a huge variety of channels now available, there can be an overwhelming amount of choice and it's becoming harder to make yourself as known as some of the big names which dominate audiences in different domains. Here are some of the YouTubers I adore and would recommend to anyone in search of new online content!

ONE | Meghan Hughes

Meghan's channel is the most recent that I have discovered but I fell in love with her personality straight away. She is so welcoming and funny, that her videos make you feel like you're talking face-to-face. Her relatable content and personality makes you feel as though she is your big sister, giving advice and having fun whilst doing it! It's clear Meghan loves what she does and her positive vibes really make it enjoyable to watch. Her videos vary, from makeup to lifestyle to spirituality, all of which are right up my street and, her care-free nature and quirky style makes her different from any other beauty guru I've watched - often wearing little or no makeup and standing up for fresh-faced beauty! If you're having a bad day or want a fun, bubbly YouTuber to add to your list, definitely visit her channel!

Click HERE for her channel!

TWO | MegSays

Meg is one of the sweetest people I've come across on YouTube and her soft, kind nature really makes her content so enjoyable. As a lover of all things beauty, Meg's videos revolve around makeup, beauty and fashion, yet not in the overly-produced and set-up ways of a lot of other beauty girls online. Often with a cup of tea in one hand, Meg sits in front of the camera and chats about different products as well as lifestyle topics. Suffering from a chronic illness, Meg spills love and happiness from her videos, channeling self-love and appreciation for the life we have. Not only is she adorable to watch, she is also very inspiring and feels like she could be your best friend. Her honesty and simple videos are an amazing change from the high-production of many beauty gurus, so watch her channel and I'm sure you'll love her personality as much as I do.

Click HERE for her channel!

THREE | Simply_Kenna

I'm not sure how I stumbled across McKenna's channel but her look, her vibes and her content really stands out from the crowd. Like a little pixie, McKenna has cute content ranging from DIYs to makeup to spirituality. Being a buddhist, McKenna seeks to envelope her audience in love and positive messages. She talks about topics that melt your heart and seek to drive you to a better way of living. Her love for animals, the earth and the people on it is passionate and inspiring, and even better, her personality is honest and likeable; she never kids to be an expert on anything, which I think makes her even more inspiring. Her voice is soothing and, particularly in her new poetry series, her videos are relaxing and calming, away from the hustle and bustle of many channels that fill the internet. It's clear she makes the content she loves and so, it's nicer to watch someone love what they do. For a passionate and positive channel that never fails to deliver, subscribe to this beauty!

Click HERE for her channel!

FOUR | Rose Ellen Dix (and Rosie) 

When I tried to explain Rose and Rosie's videos to Luke, my boyfriend, I realised 'they just sit there and talk and they're hilarious' didn't really sound like much, but, without a doubt, I can't watch wives Rose and Rosie without laughing. Their channel holds similar values to that of daily vloggers, in the sense they don't have a topic or script and just place themselves in front of the camera. However, where Rose and Rosie differ, is that they don't follow themselves around, but rather sit and chat about the things that spring to mind and funny stories and ideas they want to share. Their videos are so easy to watch and natural, completely breaking down a barrier between creator and consumer to show they are just like us. Bouncing off each other, this couple are sure to brighten your day and, if anyone can make just talking to the camera interesting, it's these two. What's more, they're pushing LGBT positivity too, which just makes me love them even more. I was lucky enough to bump into them at the cinema about a month ago and they are just as lovely and genuine in-person as in their videos online. A channel unlike any other, Rose and Rosie are simply comedy gold without even trying, which somehow makes it even better!

Click HERE for their channel!

So these are YouTube channels I would recommend in a heartbeat. Hope you check them out and show them as much love as I do!

~ Becca ~ 

Daily Skincare Routine | Part 1: Morning

I love being nosy into what products people use and how these fit into skincare routines, as I'm always on the look out for new tips and tricks to try! Being a student, my budget can't always stretch to the limits of a lot of bloggers' skincare items and so, I thought it would be helpful and interesting to share the cheaper products I use daily to look after my skin and show you don't always need to splash out for a good result! These products are all available in shops such as Boots and Superdrug and definitely won't break the bank! If you're just starting out in skincare and would like to build up a routine to start your day, these are some of the products I recommend!

| STEP ONE |

The first thing I do is take the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water, drench a cotton pad and sweep it all over my face to remove any dirt and left over makeup from the night before. The cotton pads are use are an oval shape and I buy mine from Primark for just 90p - definitely recommend these if you are on a budget! As well as cleansing your skin, this also very cooling and refreshing so perfect to wake you up in the morning! After this I just get another cotton pad with warm water and rinse off any residue - the bottle does say this isn't necessary but I find it feels more refreshing!

| STEP TWO |

This isn't a step that I do everyday but when my feel is feeling more groggy and I'm in need of a freshen up. I take the Boots Essentials Cucumber Facial Wash, which at an amazing price of £1.50, isn't life changing but definitely worth investing in to leave your skin fresh and awake. I have normal/combination skin and find this facial wash gentle and uplifting. The cucumber scent isn't too intense and the gel like consistency is easy to apply and foams up when washed onto wet skin. As I said, this range is very basic, but a nice way to leave your skin feeling clean without being too vigorous or drying! I normally take a small amount onto my palm, smooth over both hands and massage into damp skin. Once smoothed all over my skin, I add more warm water to create a lather and then splash off the product with cold water, to awaken my skin and close pores!

| STEP THREE |

After washing my face over with a flannel and warm water, to definitely remove any product excess and towel drying, I apply my eye cream around the contours of my eyes. For over a year now, I have been using the No7 Early Defence Eye Cream (Read a review of that here!) which I love and has really helped brighten and smooth my eye area. Recently, I have changed to try out the Superdrug Naturally Radiant Brightening Eye Cream, at about half the price, to see if there's any difference in the outcome - so far, so good!

| STEP FOUR |

The last step is moisturising my skin ready for the day ahead. My all-time favourite moisturiser, which I have used for years now, is the Ponds Hydro-Nourishing Face Cream, which is so creamy and hydrating, leaving my skin feeling drenched and smooth all day long. Sometimes, especially when my skin is feeling particularly dry, I will mix a drop or two of Bio-Oil into my moisturiser to give an extra burst of hydration. I normally do this on days when I'm not wearing makeup so my skin has a chance to fully appreciate and soak up the extra moisture! As the days become sunnier, I have also been applying SPF onto my skin to help with sun protection. The one I am currently using is the Boots Soltan Protect and Moisturise SPF50 Face Cream, which is easy to smooth over the skin without feeling as greasy as normal suncream while still hydrating and protective!

So, that's my super easy and budget-friendly morning skincare routine. Most of these products have been in my collection for a while now and I trust them all, so would definitely recommend you give them a try! Thank you for reading and stay tuned for part 2!

| Products Mentioned |

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water 
~ Micellar Water Link ~

Primark Oval Cotton Pads
~ In-store Only ~

Boots Essentials Cucumber Facial Wash
~ Facial Wash Link ~

No7 Early Defence Eye Cream
~ Eye Cream Link ~

Superdrug Naturally Radiant Brightening Eye Cream
~ Eye Cream Link ~

Ponds Hydro-Nourishing Face Cream
~ Face Cream Link ~

Bio-Oil
~ Bio-Oil Link ~

Boots Soltan Protect and Moisturise SPF50 Face Cream
~ Face SPF Link ~

~ Becca ~ 

TOP 4: Tips for Perfect Skin

Throughout school, work and even now, at University, the number one question that I get asked all the time is: How is your skin so perfect?! I'd never really put a lot of effort and time into my skincare routine, which shows that looking after your skin is much easier than you think! So, I thought I'd answer this question with my Top 4 tips, that have saved me all through my years, to keep your skin looking flawless and fresh!

ONE | Wash Away

For as long as I can remember, I have washed my face - not with fancy products but simply with a flannel and warm water - both morning and night, everyday and I genuinely believe this has really helped my skin be (and stay) in the condition it is! While you sleep, your skin becomes dirty and oily from sweat and dead skin etc. and to think about waking up and not washing that off really puts into perspective how bad simply not washing your face can be in the long term for building up dirt and bacteria on your skin! And then think about at the end of the day, all the dirt that will have built up on your skin! Getting in the habit of washing your face twice a day will really help keep your skin clean, which in turn will help to keep your skin clear.

TWO | Take the Day Off

By this I mean, never forgot to take off all your makeup before getting into bed! After a long day or night out (even I am guilty of sometimes!) it can be very easy to worry about your makeup in the morning, but this can be very bad for your skin, as the pores become clogged and the skin suffocated while it tries to repair itself overnight! The bacteria from your face, that has built up over the day, as well as the ingredients in the products not only dry out your skin and clog pores but also make your skin much more blemish prone. This point follows up the last on the importance of having a fresh face for when you're asleep! So ditch the day-old makeup that's masking your skin from any goodness and pack on the moisturiser to leave your skin healthy and healed in the morning!

THREE | Forget Foundation 

People are extremely surprised when I reveal to them I have never worn foundation; I am, though, proud of this and hold my skin's current condition to the treatment it received through my teenage years, as well as now. As difficult as it may be, foundation is not good for your skin, and the sooner you ditch it, the sooner your skin will thank you! Drying and pore-suffocating, foundation sits on top of your skin along with dirt from your fingers/brushes when you apply it and the sweat from throughout the day. Particularly through teenage years, although hiding spots, foundation really makes them worse by building up oil and not allowing them to heal. I know many people who have really benefitted from embracing their skin for how it is and letting it breathe. Your skin is constantly ridding old skin cells, so why leave these trapped under a layer of makeup? Choosing against foundation is the best decision for my skin I ever made and, as scary as that first step might be, drive yourself with all the positives and the result, to help motivate you to put that bottle down! Being comfortable in your skin isn't an overnight process, so of course introduce BB creams or concealers in the meantime to help build up that confidence to strip your skin bare! Give your skin the space it needs to develop and heal and, before long, you might not even want to wear foundation!

FOUR | Stay Hydrated

Water is a key part in not only making you feel great, but look great too! When you are dehydrated, your skin looks dull and feels dry and lifeless. As many 'glowing primers' as you try, nothing will make you look as healthy as drinking the right amount of water a day! Try to drink 6-8 cups (or in the region of 1.5L) to help your skin look plump and bright. Hydration is important for keeping your body awake and banishing tiredness throughout the day, so drinking water will help your skin look glowing and fade the dark circles under your eyes to help you not only feel, but look more awake. What's more, drinking water (teamed with a healthy diet) will mean less fat and sugar put into your body, for example through fizzy drinks or alcohol, which will make your skin less spotty from all the unhealthy oils that build up in your body. I have only in the last few years been able to manage and consume the right amount of water each day and my skin has only got better since I made this change. Honestly, there is no wrong you can do with this step and it's as easy as filling a bottle and taking it everywhere you go, or setting a reminder on your phone!

These are the tips that I believe can help you, as much as they helped me! I believe they are relatively easy, all being free of expensive products, just in need of perseverance! Of course, nothing happens overnight so be patient, see if there are any other life adjustments you can make (like exercise or dietary changes) and you'll be glowing soon enough!

~ Becca ~