This idyllic beach setting is perfect for taking a step back from hectic London life but not so great when it comes to playing havoc with your beauty regime. Salty sea air and fine hair just don't mix. Plus with all the dog-walking and sunbathing that's been going on, wearing a full face of make-up, contouring and all, just seems a bit out of place. I can say with authority that I'm never going to be a Newquay surfer chick, but I've perfected my beauty routine so I can at least look like one!
Make-up wise, I've kept things very simple. The Naked palette stayed at home - I've never given it any thought before but it's possibly the least portable thing I own! - and to my absolute delight, I discovered a tester of the NARS Tinted Moisturiser in the depths of one of my beauty bags and my skin loves it. Will definitely be purchased come pay day.
I've been getting a lot of use out of the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water while I've been down here because it's fab at melting away any dried mascara or forgotten foundation. It also leaves my skin feeling so fresh and clean which is ideal for this kind of laid back, relaxed holiday. A micellar water is also a bit of a lazy girl alternative to properly cleansing your skin as you get the desired effect with zero effort - I've fallen fast and hard for this dream product and have officially given up the face wipes... for the Summer at least! This particular micellar water is also really cheap, at just £4.99 for a bottle which *claims* to last 200 uses (I'd say more like 100 - the packaging makes it impossible not to spill excess), but Boots usually has it on special offer so it's worth keeping a lookout.
I hardly ever post about anything haircare-related on the blog just because it's not my area of expertise in the slightest. My thick blonde hair is a bit of mixed blessing - of course I'm lucky to have such fine hair but it can be a bit of a nightmare to manage at times. This side plait has become my signature the past few months but that's as far as hairstyles really go for me ha. Add salty beach air into the mix and my hair is nawt happy. Which is why I've really been enjoying using the Orofluido 'Zen Control Elixir'*. When we first arrived in Cornwall on Saturday afternoon, I could feel the change in my hair almost instantly - sea air has a very drying effect which is great for some ladies (just look at the success of the Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray) but not ideal for me. So that night I made a point of applying this elixir onto the ends of my damp, clean hair and brushed it through with my beloved Tangle Teezer, i.e. the miracle brush that can handle my crazy mane. Of course, the results aren't dramatic but I did notice a change in how my hair responded to the sea air the next day. It stayed hydrated and smooth despite the crazy winds down on the beach. And this stuff smells all kinds of gorgeous, I can only describe it as a kind of vanilla, floral scent. I love getting a waft of it as I swish my hair around - full-on Disney Princess stuff here. My only criticism is the application, you have to shake the product out to only get a few drops of the serum. I know you're only supposed to apply a little as this stuff is pretty concentrated but I personally have so much hair that I think I would have benefited from a spray applicator. Food for thought, I still love this stuff and it's salvaged my hair this holiday.
After the success of the Australian Bodycare Blemish Stick which I reviewed a fews week back, I was really intrigued to try the Tea Tree Oil Shower Wash* and Body Lotion*. What can I say, I love the smell of tea tree oil and find it really wakes me up in the shower. It makes you feel so energised and as tea tree oil is an antiseptic, you feel squeaky clean and wide awake. The body lotion is very lightweight and great for a speedy shower. I suffer from eczema on my legs and this is one of the only products, along with Cetaphil, that doesn't aggravate it and leaves my skin silky smooth. Fuss free and refreshing, a winning combo for a laid-back holiday.
You can take the girl out of London, but you can't take away her nail polish obsession. Don't worry, I know that a love of a good manicure isn't reserved for city girls but there was zero chance I was going to spend a week without 'Lilly Road' gracing my fingertips.
Beauty favourites aside, here's what I've been enjoying in the daytime - because a holiday is all about giving yourself a break and lazing around with a good book... at least for me it is #englishstudentlife. I'm already onto my third book ('Uncle Tom's Cabin' for my Children's Literature Module) but raced through Marina Keegan's 'The Opposite of Loneliness' and 'To Kill A Mockingbird'. If you're a young woman interested in writing than 'The Opposite of Loneliness' is a total must-read - I'd heard about it around the blogosphere and finally got around to reading it last week. I'm already resisting the urge to re-read, Marina's writing is accessible, articulate, and she has completely captured the voice of our generation. Her prose is beautiful and although it's tragic that we'll never get to read any more, we can at least celebrate the legacy she left. Such a moving selection of essays. And 'To Kill A Mockingbird' speaks for itself, I can't wait to finally study it. 
If you read my latest Diary post, then you'll know all about me dropping my iPhone 6 in water about two seconds before leaving the house for Cornwall. Three trips to the Carphone Warehouse later and all is good and well, even indulged in a new phone case as my last one died alongside the phone *sobs*. But while I was in Newquay, I couldn't help but notice this fab little storefront called the Watershed. More about it on Sunday but I bought this oversized baby blue sweatshirt and it's all kinds of soft and snug and I love it and will live in it forever. Plus, when I pair it with denim shorts I look like a beachy chick and I kind of like that. Come September I can see myself rocking it to Monday morning lectures because it's more socially acceptable than pyjamas but just as comfy.
If you read my latest Diary post, then you'll know all about me dropping my iPhone 6 in water about two seconds before leaving the house for Cornwall. Three trips to the Carphone Warehouse later and all is good and well, even indulged in a new phone case as my last one died alongside the phone *sobs*. But while I was in Newquay, I couldn't help but notice this fab little storefront called the Watershed. More about it on Sunday but I bought this oversized baby blue sweatshirt and it's all kinds of soft and snug and I love it and will live in it forever. Plus, when I pair it with denim shorts I look like a beachy chick and I kind of like that. Come September I can see myself rocking it to Monday morning lectures because it's more socially acceptable than pyjamas but just as comfy.
I haven't been keeping track of how much I've written, looks like this post will be slightly on the longer side! Maybe words are coming more naturally now that I'm so well rested, who knows. I'm back to reality on Saturday morning and I'll be sad to leave - this place really is a little corner of heaven. But I'll be heading back to London rejuvenated and rested - oh the joys of a beachy holiday!
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