Battle of the Liquid Eyeliners

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First of all happy new year! Hope 2016 is good to ya all.
 
I've wanted to write this post for a long time as I get through sooo many eyeliners and thought it would be interesting to review a few I tried in 2015. I've worn winged eyeliner every single day since I was about 15 (it all began with an emo phase circa 2007). If I could only use one makeup product it would 100%, without doubt be my liquid eyeliner. Hell, I would take it as my sole possession to a desert island. My eyeliner skills are my pride and joy - I'm not a makeup artist, but this is my one and only skill in life, plz let me have this. With enough practice you can achieve amazing winged eyeliner in seconds. I honestly believe it's just a case of finding the right brush, and the right type of liquid, OH and a bit of practice.

The eyeliners I'll be reviewing vary in price. I'll discuss each in the photo from left to right.

Eyeko Fat Liquid Eyeliner - £12.00
This Eyeko eyeliner definiely has the fattest brush I've ever seen! This eyeliner came as part of my October Birchbox and I've increasingly seen the brand in magazines lately. I was surprised at how easy this glides on to your eye. Although the tip is fairly big, it is still possible to draw a thin-ish line. The difficulty however comes when trying to create a flick. It is possible but it takes a bit of practicing due to the size. I think this would be perfect if you wear a thicker line, or maybe if you don't tend to flick it out at the end this would work.

Benefit They're Real Push-Up Liner - £18.50
I had such high hopes for this because I adore pretty much every other Benefit product out there. Sadly, I cannot get on with this liner! The key characteristics of this are the gel formula and the AccuFlex tip which "hugs" your lash line. I still haven't managed to successfully apply this to my eyes... The consistency is quite thick and you can't help but drag the skin on your eyelid. This results in a wobbly line. One positive is that it is durable - each time I've attempted to use this it's been reaaaally hard to wipe off! So if you can get the hang of it, at least you know it won't smudge! I have tested it on my hand and it does look very slick, however I can't seem to achieve this on my eye. Let me know if you have any tips!?

Maybelline Master Precise - £5.99
This eyeliner shocked me because it was SO easy to use, straight away. This is another felt tip style brush but this is much thinner than the Eyeko brush, so you have far more control. Also, creating the winged look is less of a struggle than with the fatter Eyeko felt tip liner. The liquid is very dark, which means you don't have to keep redrawing over the line to add colour. It's also very easy to remove, so if you make a mistake you won't end up with a big smudge! This is the perfect eyeliner if you're looking for a felt tip style liner that does't require too much practicing.

Mac Superslick Liquid Eyeliner - £18.00
Obviously you can always rely on Mac for a great product. Although the pot is only small, this eyeliner lasted me quite a long time. What's fab about the Mac liner is that when they say superslick, they really mean SUPER FRICKIN' SLICK. Like this looked glossy even when it was dry which was AMAZINGGG. There is unfortunately a BUT - if you draw a thick-ish line with this eyeliner, after a few hours it has a tendency to rub off on to the top of your eye lid. Sometimes it left a vertical line from the bottom to the top of the lid which meant I received some jugdemental looks in the office! This is still amazing, so if you do want to pay a bit extra for this, just make sure you don't draw the line too thick!

Rimmel ScandalEyes - £5.49
Rimmel offer this in a thin and thick liner, I opted for the thin precision micro eyeliner. I hadn't used a felt tip liner prior to this, but I gave it a go. The tip is ultra thin making it relatively easy to apply. However, despite claiming that it "dries quickly" and provides "24 hour resistance against sweat, water and smudging" THIS WAS ALL A LIE! Before I'd even finished my makeup, I was retouching the line, and after a few hours the line had rubbed off on to the top of my eyelid and smudged everywhere - which wasn't at all embarrassing..... Basically this is no bueno.

Rimmel Glam Eyes - £5.29
This is by a mile THE BEST eyeliner out of all six of these  OH AND THE CHEAPEST. (We'll forgive Rimmel for the above eyeliner). Obviously everyone has their own preferences, but for me Glam Eyes ticks all of the boxes. It makes winged eyeliner incredibly EASY to accomplish. The brush is very thin - this is SO important for your control when applying the product. A lot of people think a thinner brush is more difficult to use, but you can draw little strokes and build the line up. The consistency of the liquid is FAB and it glides so easily on to your eye.  My biggest problem with eyeliners is when they are too thick or dry and they drag your eyelid meaning you're more likely to make a mistake or end up with a jagged line. The Glam Eyes liner is honestly an absolute dream to apply because of the brush and the consistency of the liquid. This eyeliner has SERIOUSLY been my war paint, it's the power behind my sassiness. Without it, I am nothing. I think this proves you definitely don't need to spend tonnes of money for a eyeliner, when you can get this one for a fiver at Boots. Wonderful. 

Let me know if you have any other eyeliners I should try! 

                                                                               

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6 Tips for a Happier Life in 2016

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With 2015 coming to an end and 2016 on the horizon, I thought this post would be a great idea! This time last year I was in a rubbish place and there were so many aspects of my life that I wanted to change. I felt like I had SO many goals which I *still* hadn’t achieved. I decided that 2015 would be my year (like we all say on December 31st lolz) and you know what – it’s actually been pretty great. I honestly believe that if you follow these tips that I’ve shared below, you can have a happier life in 2016. 

1. Find what you love and go for it
Sadly not all of us land our dream job straight away. Most of us don't even know what we want to do when we leave school or university! The new year is not only the perfect time to change jobs but to really figure out what it is you love, and to go and get it. At the beginning of 2015 I was working in finance which I hated. Like seriously I would cry in the toilets once a week, not fun. I was desperate to escape, and after some soul searching decided that I might like PR. Getting into a different industry is soo hard, but if you are persistent and passionate someone will give you a chance. Luckily I was given a chance in PR and it transformed my happiness levels for sure. Even if you have to start on a slightly lesser salary in your new industry, if you love it, you'll work hard and the money will eventually follow. Money is obvs to an extent important I'd rather do what's good for my soul ANY day. What I'm trying to say, paraphrasing a Steve Jobs quote - don't settle, do what you love.


2. Write down your short term goals and take action 
We all have little things that we *keep* saying we’ll do ‘this year’ then never happen. Whether it’s to lose 10 pounds or to learn French. Mine was to learn how to drive in 2015. Thankfully I was able to do this and I passed my test in August. This didn’t just happen though. It involved a lot of time and sacrifice at the expense of my social life. PLUS omg how expensive are driving lessons? I don’t get home until late during the week so I always had to do my driving lessons on Saturdays. Friday nights were a big fat write off for what felt like FOREVER. Visiting friends in other cities for the weekend was really hard too. It really was horrible (first world problems eh?) BUT it was so so worth it to finally pass and know that I had actually achieved one of my goals for 2015. So whatever it is that you keep saying you’ll do, write it down and stick to it this year if you know it’ll make you happier. It’ll feel amazing next December when you know you can tick it off the list!


3. Cut ties with people who are a negative influence in your life
As sad as it may sound, I've felt much happier in my life after disassociating myself with a couple of people in 2015 that I was previously close to. From speaking to lots of people it's become apparent we all have at least one person in our lives who has a negative influence - maybe you fight with them, maybe they bitch behind your back, or maybe simply they're just not there for you. It could be a friend, family member or a boyfriend. I honestly feel that I've been happier and my life has been going really well since cutting ties with people that weren't a positive influence. The people in your life should bring out the best in you. They should be fun to be around. Most importantly it should be easy to be around them. This probably sounds brutal to some people, but it's important to look out for yourself!

4. Find what de-stresses you and incorporate it into your life
I'm talking about meditation or exercise here. Taking up yoga is not only relaxing, but boosts your mental and physical strength which can only have a positive effect. I personally am planning to start Pilates in 2016, which builds core strength as well as relaxing you. Or there's the good old fashioned gym session or team sports which definitely can help you distress you in a really fun, positive way. Whatever you choose to do make sure you keep up with it. Exercise and meditation can work wonders for your inner peace.

5. Find a skin care regime you can actually maintain
This is my resolution every single year. Don’t get me wrong I love trying new cleansers and moisturisers -I buy heaps of them - but I’m oh so bad at regularly using them. I’ve got a lot better lately, but I still miss a few days in a week. From what I’ve told you so far it sounds like having a regular skin care regime wouldn’t make me happy (ha) but, has anyone ever regretted cleansing after they've done it? Nope! It might be that you want to start using a serum every day (I probs should be) but it's just extra effortttt. This year I’ve had quite a few break outs (so sexy at age 23) which I hadn’t suffered from before and well, I’ve basically felt rubbish about my skin. Adding something into your every day routine is hard, but you'll thank yourself when your skin is FLAWLESS.


6. Listen to your body
I have a difficult time doing this sometimes! It's easy to get into a bad sleeping routine where you're going to bed late or only getting 5 hours sleep every night. Or you might be getting ill and you carry on working long hours, when you really need to chill in bed with a hot chocolate and watch friends. Or you keep going out every weekend when your body is just screaming NO, like seriously Nicole just have a nice bubble bath and do not consume any more white wine. You HAVE to listen to your body and understand what's best for your well being. Everyone (especially when you get in your mid twenties) needs time to chill the hell out, and think what you really should be doing. Should you be going out getting smashed like you're 18 when you didn't sleep last night, and have spent last week feeling horrendously ill? - nope! Let your body recover from whatever it is so that it doesn't have to suffer. 



                                                                                    

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December Favourites

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Okay so we're only 2 days into December but there are sooo many products I'm excited about this month! I've had time off the last few weeks before I start my new job on Monday, so I've been trying out new cosmetics which I've had in the box tucked away! I've got some green and red thrown in there, so there's totally a slight Christmas vibe going on...

Mally Precision Brow
Do you ever have those days where you're not feeling the big, bold eyebrow look? Like you're going to an interview and should prob tone it down a notch, but you can't wear nothing cause you're too used to big eyebrows now and feel naked without them filled in? WELL MY FRIEND. This is the perfect brow wand for those days when you actually just want a natural look. The precision brow wand only comes in one colour - universal - so it's a medium brown colour. If you've got dark hair like me, it's perfect for achieving an every day look. It also has a brush on one end, which you can use first to tame them crazy long eyebrow hairs.

Smashbox Primer
Despite being the holy grail of primers, I've never used the Smashbox primer for some strange, unknown reason. But I have now and oh mah gahd it's fabulous. Like my makeup literally stayed on the entire day. I don't think this has ever happened - it usually tends to have melted off by about 4pm. But this was about 10pm and I was still working the dewy look. This definitely lives up to the hype!

H&M Green Bag
I was in a mad rush in Westfield's at Stratford when I found this really cute green bag in H&M. I was going out that night and desperately needed a bag that was small enough to take to a club - which is actually really hard cause every bag in every shop was bulky or expensive! I chose green solely because my whole wardrobe is black, and I need some colour. I have however fallen in love with Green, it's a good alternative to black if you're like me! AND it was only £7.99 so it kind of saved my life that day.

Essie A List Polish
When winter comes you need to bring out the obligatory deep red nail polish. Essie have a thousand shades of red which, makes it quite difficult to choose. 'A list' is a really cool shade, it's not too dark, so it's still bright and quite striking with your outfit. Also this stays on forevs so this makes me happy.

L'occitane Cherry Blossom Hand Cream
I received this as part of a gift set when I left Grayling and it smells incredible! I don't think I ever even mentioned to anyone from Grayling my love for L'occitane hand creams, but maybe everyone is starting to realise how despite the price, they are life changing (and a great gift). FYI if anyone is still struggling to pronounce L'occitane, it's said like - Loxitan. 

Number 4 Super Comb Prep & Protect
If you are signed up for Birchbox you'll probably recognise this product. I'm quite bad at applying protective spray before drying my hair, but as it came in my Birchbox I thought I'd give it a go. It really helps to detangle your hair, and your hair feels healthier so it's definitely a win!

Bare Minerals Precision Face Brush
This is one of those brushes that you can stroke for hours and it'd probably send you into a little snooze. It's created for the Bare Minerals Ready foundation, and I have to say I prefer it to the Bare Minerals Flawless Face brush cause that malts everywhere! 

Benefit Roller Lash Mascara
This is without doubt the best mascara ever. No seriously. Let's be honest when has Benefit brought out a mascara that wasn't good? I actually have two of these, one I'm currently using, and one on standby for when it runs out (which is taking ages btw so that's also good) You only have to apply one coat to achieve long, curled, and flawless lashes. This should definitely be on every girls Christmas wish list!


                                                                                    

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Next's Make Me Beautiful Cosmetics (Yes, Next!)

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It came as quite a surprise this week to discover that Next have their own makeup and beauty range called Make Me Beautiful. I knew they sold the odd shower gel/body lotion set, but makeup?! I was scrolling down my Instagram and eyeing some beaut nail polish colours that a fellow blogger posted, before realising they were from Next. When did this happen? In utter shock I googled the closest Next, as I was already on Oxford Street and had time to kill. 

Before I knew it I hunted down the nail polishes and there were SO many gorgeous colours. They literally had it all, cool nudes, pearly polishes in quirky blues, lilacs and greens, and a whole tonne of glitter and texture polishes. Seriously they have it all. I picked quite unusual colours I wouldn't usually go for...mainly because I already have a drawer full of nail polishes at home...

I was apprehensive about what the quality would be like but honestly they are AMAZING! The blue I've used is called Fantasy and is one of the pearl polishes, and on my ring finger I've used Electric Violet. I initially applied one coat, and you can deffo get with just one. I did end up applying a second coat - (but if you're busy and haven't got ages to let it dry, you can totally get away with one). The glitter polish is also fab cause you get a whole tonne of glitter in one coat! I also bought Teal My Thunder (loving these names) as it was 3 for 2 and at £4 each you can't pass that offer up! So basically £8 for 3 polishes.

The Make Me Beautiful range also have some shimmery eye chubby sticks which I had to resist because I was meant to be buying Christmas presents for my family, not myself lolz. They looked lovely though, as did the lipsticks. They also do sets of nail polishes and other stuff so you can just go crazy!


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Makeup Christmas Wish List

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Christmas is upon us and it's super exciting! I don't know about you guys, but when my family (or Santa) ask what I would like for Christmas I never have any suggestions - mainly because when you're older you just buy the things you want for yourself! Having said that, Christmas is always a perfect time to ask for any makeup products which you have been eyeing up on Instagram, but are perhaps a bit expensive. These are a few treats which I would happily open on Christmas morning!

Here is my makeup wish list!

1. Urban Decay Naked Smoky Palette 
These things are pretty much everywhere at the moment! There are a few different palettes, but this smoky one is by far my fave. I need to try this ASAP!

2. Nails Inc by Alexa in Silk and Sequin
Any colours that Alexa has put her name on are gonna be cool aren't they? Now that it's winter, the dark-glitter nail combo  is obligatory.

3. Bare Minerals Prime Time 
There are hundreds of primers out there now, but the Brightening primer from Bare Minerals has a hint of colour in it which I find gives you a healthy glow. It's so dreamy and I need it!

4. Nars Audacious Lipsticks
I've never bought anything from Nars but I've heard amazing things and these lipsticks look life changing tbh. They're both from the Audacious range, the colours are called Charlotte (left) and Annabella (right).

5. Benefit Gimme Brow
A really lovely girl who works on the Benefit counter in John Lewis on Oxford Street did my eyebrows using the Gimme Brow and they looked SO good. So this is definitely on my wish list!

6. NYX Wonder Stick
Ok so I actually have this contour stick already (and written about it on my blog) so it's not personally on my list BUT everyone should put it on their list to Santa because it's incredible. 

7. Mac Studio Foundation
I've probably picked this up ten times in the Mac store before quickly putting it back down again after feeling really guilty for spending £22 on foundation. Don't get me wrong it's prob gonna be so worth it, but I need money for you know, food and stuff lolz. 

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10 awkward dilemmas every girl in her twenties faces

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Every girl in her twenties (including me) knows that these years are a mixed bag of emotions. This is the best time of our lives but it involves a ridiculous amount of soul searching.  The inspiration for this post follows my own attempts to be the adult that we think we're supposed to be. So here are 10 awkward dilemmas that every girl in her twenties will have experienced. You know the struggle girls. 


Trying to be down with the kids, but also wanting to just listen to your music from the nineties
Since entering my twenties I swear I have no clue who is even in the charts. I’m stuck in a period between the nineties and the noughties and I'm not ready to leave yet. I just want to listen to Destiny’s Child and TLC and anything else they play on Kisstory. I’m okay with this on the one hand. But on the other, not knowing that The Weeknd is one person, and not a band, does make you feel about 50 years old in front of your mates, and will entail many a joke at your expense.  

The dilemma of where to shop now that you’re meant to dress like an adult?
I swear you spend your entire teen years buying everything from Topshop and H&M – and now it’s got boring. Suddenly you’re over it. Also when you see a 16 year old girl wearing the same Topshop top as you, something needs to change, doesn’t it? Then you’re like where the hell do I go now? It’s deffo too soon to be shopping at Next. Well basically I had this dilemma a few weeks back and discovered that Mango is my new favourite shop. Despite previously thinking it was for 40 something women, it’s actually a good mix of cool and sophistication.

Thinking you should have sensible conversations with friends, but just talking about poo
Now that society has decided you’re an adult, you’re probably making an effort to discuss cuts to tax credits or your opinion of Jeremy Corbyn with your friends. But somehow things always revert back to the same filthy chat that solidifies our friendships. This will most likely be comparing your sex life or describing your poo. Neither of which will expand your mind. Will our need to discuss such obscene things ever stop?

Wanting to party all night, but also just wanting to go for a civilised dinner
At this point in your life there have been a million drunken messy nights that you can’t remember. Therefore a civilised meal and glass of wine at restaurant with your pals is a sensible outing to look forward to, as is getting home at a reasonable hour (no one wants to waste the following day hungover). But then we STILL insist that we ‘need’ a night out, telling our friends we need to plan a BIG night. Then when you finally go out everyone in the club is 18 and horny, the music is far too loud and slowly you realise you don’t belong here. You don’t need a big club night out cause you’re just gonna hate it. But then abandoning big nights out is like saying farewell to being young forever!
  
Deciding whether you care about healthy eating or not
Now you’re in your 20s you’ve probably accepted and embraced your body by now which is great. So you can just enjoy life because eating is basically a hobby, and we’re always being told we need a hobby right? But even though you don’t care about being stick thin anymore there is an overwhelming paranoia as you plough through your second McDonalds of the week that you might get diabetes or a million other health problems. And that just *maybe* next time you should just have McDonalds once and maybe alternate with some kind of quinoa and edamame salad. (It’ll be rubbish though).

Wanting to see your friends but also just wanting to stay in bed
When you leave school or uni, it definitely takes more effort to meet up with your friends. But by the time the week is over and you’ve finished work, all you want to do is have a quiet bath, watch Gogglebox and crawl into bed, even if it is 9pm on a Friday night. Yes it’s bad and you shouldn’t ditch your friends but OMG 12 hours sleep without an alarm, um yes please!

Debating spending your pay cheque on nice clothes or on extravagant food
When I was young I spent all my money on clothes (like Playboy and Pineapple – what a waste of money FFS wish I could get that back).Anyway, I remember thinking it’s gonna be SO GOOD when I’m older and earning money and can afford loads of nice clothes. Except this hasn’t ever happened because I spend £££££££ a day on food, because a breakfast ham and cheese croissant and a lunchtime burrito can really get you through a tough day.

Flipping between caring and not caring about how others perceive you
Fortunately, by the time you reach your 20s you’re no where near as insecure as your teens. But obviously, everyone still cares a bit. I think it comes down what kind of validation you want. I don’t care if someone thinks I’m unattractive or weird, but I’d get upset if someone assumed I’m dumb because I’m from Essex, or that I was a bitch when actually I’m squinting because I need glasses.

Feeling like you’re a super successful go-getter, but also feeling like a pathetic loser
Sometimes you can feel so positive about where you are in life now. You can have the confidence of Beyonce. Then the next minute you’re crying in the foetal position wishing that Monday’s or taxes didn’t exist. My friends bought me a mug for my birthday which says “Britney survived 2007, you can handle today” and as well as being hilarious, it’s also all you need to hear when you have one of those days.

Wanting to please your family, but also wanting to do your own thing
You’ve heard this all before. Sadly we don’t all dream of being a lawyer which upsets our parents who just want you to earn loads of money and be stable. But I’d rather do what I love and be a bit financially unstable. Your twenties are of course about figuring this out on your own. So while there are a lot of awkward dilemmas in your twenties, it's pretty cool that we can determine for ourselves who we want to be as a person.



                                                                                   

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NYX Wonder Stick: The easiest contouring ever in 3 steps

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I was lucky enough to receive the NYX Wonder Stick for my birthday last month which is just seriously AMAZING. I came across the contour stick on Instagram and after a quick Google search I was reading the reviews online. There are many mixed messages in the reviews so I wasn’t sure what it would turn out like. Thankfully I can safely say it is pretty fab. They have different shade combinations including a universal one which seemed to have the worst reviews. I decided on the medium/tan shade as I have a slightly olive skin tone, and it’s perfect!

Kim Kardashian has always been my guilty pleasure and whatever anyone says about her, you can’t deny her contouring is killer! (I mean obviously the thousands she’s spent on her face also helps) I also received her book Selfish for my birthday (thanks James and Soph!) and it basically contains A LOT of pictures of her, and very little text (also omg those boobs). So then armed with my NYX Wonder Stick AND photos of Kim K’s contouring, this post seemed only natural! This is in no way an experts guide, it’s an easy 3 step guide to contouring that ANYONE can do in 5 minutes! This was my first ever time using the Wonder Stick, so hopefully I'll get better! 

P.S these pictures aren't AMAZING quality cause I took them quite late in the day and also my hair is bit frizz. Don't judge!!



So this is me (soz for the gross pic but can't not show the before pic LOL). This is after cleansing, moisturising and applying my eye makeup.



Step one: Apply foundation: I’ve used Rimmel Match Perfection foundation here for a full but light coverage. Next apply your concealer, here I've also used the Match Perfection concealer. It's best to apply it under the eye and bring it down to the corner of your nose and the outer corner of your eye which wakens up the eyes! It illuminates that part of your face, making it appear less concaved by covering up the shadows.


Step 2: This is where the NYX Wonder Stick works its magic (and you also look a bit like an alien?)
As you can see I’ve applied the darker shade to the top of my forehead and the edge of my jawline which will both appear more defined as a result. I’ve also applied the darker shade to the sides of my nose and underneath to give it a slimmer look. I apply the lighter shade to the bridge of my nose, centre of my forehead, above my cheekbones and on my chin to illuminate those areas. This adds a glow in all the right places. The Wonder Stick glides on with ease and is really easy to blend which  is so important when you're using a darker shade. It's not too heavy either which means you can build up the colour gradually, and you avoid applying too much in one go!



Step 3: Blend blend blend. This is so important, especially when you’re using the darker shade. If you don’t blend it properly you’ll just look like you’re melting or something! Once it’s all blended you can apply a powder - I used Rimmel Lasting Finish (I did not realise I used so much Rimmel until writing this post!) I’ve added bronzer (Hoola by Benefit) to my cheekbones to add a bit more colour. I wanted to achieve more of an every day look, but if want something more dramatic, you can forget about the bronzer, as the blended darker areas from the NYX Wonder Stick will have created a strong defined look. 

And that's it, then you’re done! If you want to try the NYX Wonder Stick, you can find it here.

This was the first ever time I'd used the contour stick - I’d love to know what contouring products or tips other people have, so let me know! x

                                                                                      

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October Favourites: Finding a Balance

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Anyone that is a blogger will understand that running a blog can take up a lot of time – is it worth it? – of course. However if you’re not a full time blogger like myself, it can be difficult to fit a blog into the chaos which we call life. As with everything in life it’s so important to find a balance. The last few months have been crazy for me. I’m working at a PR agency which I LOVE but it’s longer hours and a longer commute which has meant less time blogging. But today I Nicole Louis, solemnly swear to post more frequently and find a balance! I turned 23 at the end of September and my October Favourites illustrate my sheer panic to prevent ageing, my attempts to buy beauty products on a budget, and the need to engage in sensible books. In other words, my October Favourites each help me to find a balance and embrace the chaos of life!

Maybeline – Baby Skin Primer
Primers are one of the beauty products which are quite pricey…think Benefit Porefessional, or Smashbox Photo Finish Primer, both around £20. They get us hooked and they drain our bank account and all because we long for that silky smooth feeling. However as the popularity of primers have grown in the last year or so, this Maybeline Baby Skin Pore Eraser has been a life saver (not exaggerating) at £7.99. It’s the ultimate cheap and cheerful alternative!

Dirty Works – The Ultimate Detox Mud Mask
As of late my skin has been suffering with a bad case of late nights, junk food and an absence of any deep cleansing ritual! I came across this Dirty Works face mask in Sainsbury’s of all places! It’s a pretty sweet bargain at £5 and you don’t need to use much of it for results. I only ever buy clay masks because I’ve tried a few and I think they’re the best. PLUS they go hard and you have to really try not to laugh and crack it – cause everyone knows that face masks are actually more hilarious than relaxing. ANYWAY this contains green clay and Kaolin (a white clay) with blueberry and willow bark which clears the skin and draws out impurities. TOP TIP – for best results don’t look at funny memes whilst wearing the face mask…

Dirty Works – Banish the Bags Eye Cream
I’ve been using an eye cream for a couple of years now and I believe it’s really important – mainly because I don’t sleep an awful lot. The skin around your eye is different to the rest of your face so you can’t just slap on your usual face cream there. When browsing the shops, eye creams can be £20 and upwards which isn’t an option on a budget, or if you’re young and just annoyed that you’re having to prevent ageing already…This Dirty Works eye cream was also £5 and does the trick. It contains tightening peptides which improve circulation and light reflectors to help brighten dark circles. It’s an absolute saviour after a sleepless night!

Nivea – Essential Care Lip Balm
I’m usually distracted by the jazzy lip balms in exotic flavours that smell great but that you end up just eating... This Nivea lip balm however is fairly basic, no scent, no fancy colours but it’s oh so dreamyyy. Jojoba oil and shea butter are what makes it so luxurious. I’m about to stop typing in a sec to go and fish it out from my bag cause it’s actually bliss! Sometimes all you really need are the basics!

Aliza Licht – Leave Your Mark
This book is just fab – I’ve been reading it on my commute and it’s very insightful for anyone working in Media/PR/Fashion, or anyone just starting out in their career.
Aliza Licht is the PR girl for DKNY and she’s written about her career while also giving lots of amazing advice for people just starting out. I don’t work in the fashion industry, but everything she discusses about her career is relevant, and will be to most people at the bottom of the career ladder. What’s brilliant is that she tells you how to conduct yourself in particular circumstances, and how to deal with office politics. There is a chapter on being savvy at social media which is applicable for a lot of people today working within the media sector. Let’s face it, even if you don’t work in that sector everyone pretty much wants to rock social media!

You can follow Aliza’s Twitter on @AlizaLicht and find out more about her!

                                                                                    

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How to Have the Ultimate Chill Out Weekend

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Every once in a while a chilled weekend at home is absolutely necessary. When I say chilled I definitely do not mean 12 hours curled up in bed with your laptop on Netflix kind of weekend. Oh no. This is for an ultimate relaxing yet productive weekend which will leave you skipping contently to work on the Monday. One which will leave you so refreshed you don’t even need your morning coffee. We spend so much time constantly on our feet rushing around, so every few months you need a chilled weekend like this to really slow things down.

The past few weeks have been hectic to say the least. I said my goodbyes to Ogilvy, hopped on a plane to Ibiza and sadly my poor little blog has suffered in this time. I've been waiting to publish this post for a few weeks and on day 4 of my Ibiza recovery, now seems like a suitable time as I shall be following this ritual myself before I start the new job on Monday! So anyway take notes and enjoy!

Kick things off with a ‘weekend breakfast’. You know what I'm talking about. Instagram worthy breakfast accompanied by hashtags such as #instafood, #foodporn and simply #yum (we’ve all done it). I ABSOLUTELY love avocado on toast. What’s so wonderful about this is not only does it look and taste nice, but it’s super healthy and therapeutic to make. Also eggs are pretty great so the avocado and a fried/poached egg on toast combo is you know, kind of like heaven. I also recently had my breakfast outside on the balcony one Saturday and it literally got me in the weekend spirit.

Write lists and plan things. It can be for your week ahead,  clothes you’re dying to purchase, things to buy for your home, or goals you want to achieve in the next few weeks. It’s so much easier to do this on a weekend when you’re not rushing around or knackered after work. It will also prepare you for the week ahead – you’ll be organised and it’ll make ya feel good trust me. I got these beautiful Moleskin and Aspinal notepads as leaving gifts and I can’t wait to start jotting down in them! Plus they have my initials on so I'm gonna feel totally important using them lolz.

Reading – you guys are probably thinking jeez Nicole again with the reading? But there are some books that you just don’t want to read in public. I once bought How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie and I'm quite apprehensive of people thinking I'm a loser if I read it in public. Same goes for Lucy Watson’s The Dating Game. Unless you have a kindle then you escape this problem.

Plan what you’re going to wear on Monday. I can quite easily become the most angry person on a Monday morning when I have no clothes to wear. When I say no clothes I mean I just cant decide. And it basically results in me shouting at inanimate items of clothes telling them to stop ruining my life and that I hate them. So yeah be organised, plan ahead and prevent any psychotic tendencies on Monday morning.

Take a long hot bubble bath where you can use your massive bath bombs from Lush which are deffo not a mid-week treat (PLUS they take at least 20 minutes to even dissolve so you’ll HAVE to stay in long enough) But don’t stop there my friend, why not go all out. As you sink into those bubbles why not sip on some white wine, light some candles and listen to calming Bonobo tracks for ultimate dreaminess?

When the bath water begins to chill, your skin starts to wrinkle and the bath bomb is a distant memory, sadly the bath has come to an end. BUT what a perfect time for a pamper session. The weekend is pretty much the only time I ever paint my nails, because you essentially have to sit still and are useless for half an hour. If you put in the time on a Sunday you wont have to worry about chipped disgusting nails during the week at work! This is also a perfect time to do a face mask. I've bought a few sachets of the Montagne Jeunesse face masks which Primark sell for about 90p each that are fabulous. Personally I think the mud ones cleanse your skin more deeply so opt for those ones for ultimate indulgence! 

Enjoy your weekend! x

                                                                                     

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The Ibiza Prep Post: Losing my Ibiza Virginity

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In August I will be flying to Ibiza for a week of sun, partying, beaut sunsets, and most probably very little sleep. In other words I will be losing my Ibiza virginity, which by the sounds of it is gonna be better than losing your actual virginity. So naturally I'm super excited. Ibiza is a strange holiday though, much like how I imagine Marbs to be. People seem to get glammed up during the day when they're partying by the pool. Hair done, makeup done, bikini always accompanied by a kimono, bum bag and cool sandals - edgy vibez - or heels if you're feeling the towie vibez. Clearly, preparation is key. So here is what I've prepared for my first time in BEEFA.

Create an Epic Playlist
So pretty much as soon as I booked Ibiza I compiled an Ibiza Playlist on Spotify which has been FAB. Especially when you're in a bad mood, like those days when everything goes wrong and you're like WHY ME GOD?? But it doesn't matter. Just listen to your playlist and your troubles will quite literally fade into the chilled sounds of summer house music, as you imagine yourself sipping a vodka tonic by the sea.

Swimwear
Never has there been so much choice in swimwear than this summer. Swimsuits are fashionable (thank god) so if like me, you know that eating paella and patatas bravas is inevitable, and you're gonna feel insecure, then NO NEED TO WORRY GURL. There are tonnes of beautiful swimsuits on Missguided. However my fave thing this year has been the 90s style bikinis (like the leaf one in my pic). My fave selection was on ASOS, where mine is from. AND what is even better is that these seem to suit most boob sizes - I mean I'm no Gok Wan, but they're comfort than a bandeau. But it's not just bikinis or swimsuits you have to worry about. I've spent as much time tracking down beach cover ups, sandals, sunglasses and jewellery - YES people are wearing chokers so mine will probs make an appearance. So basically there is the whole shebang! So enjoy mixing your beach look up!

Plan Your Outfits
Although crop tops and shorts don't take up huge amounts of space, it's nice to plan out which pieces go together. Plus, there are so many beaut swimsuits at the moment which can totally double up as a leotard/top for a night look (and will save space!)

Learn How To Braid Hair
Marie and I are starting to panic cause we really wanna have French braids whilst in Ibiza - like really badly! So unless anyone teaches us, I'm probably going to watch a YouTube tutorial the night before and hope for the best. I'm particularly keen to acquire this skill as I'm prone to a Monica in Barbados hair disaster (if you don't watch Friends, who are you?) So anyway, as well as rhi's being a fun hair style, it will also maintain that crazy mane if you have curly hair like me!

Tanning
I don't want to wait until day 3 before I'm brown enough to wear my white denim shorts - these bad boys' sole purpose in life is to make me look tanned in my pictures. I've started getting sunbeds which if you're reading mum I *know* are so bad, but I promise I'll stop after my holiday! St Tropez is the king of fake tan so obviously this deserves a mention also. The tan optimising moisturiser is also perfect for avoiding any patches. I've invested in some Piz Buin sun cream, SPF 30 and will move down to SPF 15 once I'm sure I've successfully avoided the lobster look. Both of these have UVB which means protection + enhancer - amazing.

Waterproof Mascara
Usually on holiday I wouldn't touch mascara during the day, but is Ibiza during the day different? I really do not know! Anyway, just to be safe ive been on the hunt a decent waterproof mascara. I finally decided on this Maybelline Lash Sensational one. They have a good selection with different types of brush, so you can find one similar to your everyday mascara.

Hair Removal
Waxung is so necessary for a holiday. Shaving your bikini line every few days is no bueno. Get it waxed and it's one less thing to worry about.

Feel Confident With Your Body
I'm definitely not preaching to eat celery and go for a run - we all saw what happened to those 'get beach body ready' ads. But everyone wants to feel confident on the beach in a bikini. For me I would love to tone up - literally writing this hours after eating a huge burrito from Wahaca, so as you can imagine I'm finiding it difficult! Don't get distraught if you've not reached your goal weight - I've accepted that it ain't 'appening. Just remember A TAN MAKES YOU LOOK LIKE YOURSELF TIMES 1000. So babe, you're gonna look gr8. 

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6 Ways to Stop Feeling Like You're Getting Dumber After You Graduate

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The inspiration for this post derives from a level of anxiety I had that I wasn't using my brain after I graduated from university. If you’re still in education but on your summer hols you’ll probably know what I am talking about too. I mean sure, when you finish your finals you’re all like ‘I NEVER WANNA LEARN A THING AGAIN’. After a solid few weeks of cramming you feel like you physically have no room left in your brain. But then a month later suddenly you can’t even remember what you were cramming. Then you get this overwhelming fear that you’re not using your brain and hence are becoming fick. Like even right now I'm not sure that the title of this post even makes grammatical sense, pls help meh. Anyway here are my 6 ways to stop you feeling like you’re getting dumber by the day and remind you that you are in fact amazingly intelligent!

1) Read Books: You won’t believe how nice it is to read a book that isn't a text book. You can actually choose what you read. For me, commuting can be mind numbingly boring, and exhausting – seriously, scrolling through Facebook for an hour sat down is tiring. There’s not much else to do on the train so you’ll get totally immersed in the book. I decided to read all the classics when I graduated and it's fab cause it makes you feel super smart.

2) What’s better yet is casually bringing up these well known books in conversation. Nothing makes you sound more sophisticated than comparing a political situation to George Orwell’s 1984 or Animal Farm.

3) If you’re not into novels, you can always read the paper – please note that reading certain papers will not result in higher levels of intellect. I'm not naming names but if you know who I mean – well done you are probably intelligent.

4) TV can be educational. When you’re in bed in summer, and your days are simply distinguished by which season of Friends you watched, MAYBE you should alternate and watch something like, you know, David Attenborough (I'm actually more of a Michael Palin kinda gal). But don’t put yourself down too much – memorising every line of every Friends episode IS a skill okay and it’s one you should be proud of.

5) Look at your graduation photos. You know the one where you’re in your gown holding a piece of tube pretending it’s your scroll? (I must admit my framed one is still in the box and yeah I should really practice what I preach, and *maybe* this is a new level of laziness but whatever) You’ll look at yourself and think ‘I actually have a degree and the world is my oyster’. Or if you’re thinking jeez Nicole this is so lame, you could even read over a piece of work you got a 1st in – One time I legit read my entire dissertation for reassurance that I was in fact not stupid. LOL too many confessions.

6) Find challenges at work. Most people’s first adult job may as well be titled ‘admin bitch’ because you feel like you’re not doing anything important. I remember in my first month at Ogilvy getting frustrated that I couldn't do something on Excel – suddenly the guy who didn't go to uni knows more than you. Work is a completely different way of learning to school or university. It's much more practical and you’re also dealing with lots of characters you wouldn't usually interact with. Just completing your projects on time and forming relationships with colleagues is a learning curve – and an important one. Don't let yourself feel too stupid if you're not ending world peace just yet.

                                                                                    

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Why You Should Ditch Your Microbead Exfoliating Scrub

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I recently discovered that the microbeads found in exfoliating scrubs pollute the sea and end up in the stomachs of little teeny tiny plankton. Beauty products containing microbeads are having a devastating effect on the environment and sea life.

Now I definitely didn’t plan to cover serious environmental issues in my blog when I first created it. But this issue has a close tie with beauty and skincare brands that you and I have no doubt used. As a proud Geography graduate and a beauty blogger I would be mad to not to raise awareness of this environmental issue. Chances are if you’re reading a beauty blog, you probably have used products containing microbeads which are damaging the environment. So please carry on reading!

Microbeads that we wash down the bathroom sink are too small to be caught in filters that prevent plastic being discharged into rivers. These microbeads are about the size of fish eggs, therefore plankton and small fish mistake them for food. Lots of fish consume plankton - so yes you guessed it, this in turn affects a whole food chain of marine species. Oh and it’s not just scrubs, they can be in shampoo, soap and toothpaste.

This isn’t a brand new discovery - after a quick search online I discovered numerous articles on this topic. In fact, cosmetic companies such as Unilever and Procter & Gamble have already agreed to phase out microplastics but not until 2017. So how do you know if your exfoliator is a threat to marine species until then?

Look out for polyethylene and polypropylene listed in the ingredients of a product. Or if you wanna be super savvy you can download the Beat The Microbead App for free. How easy is that? After a quick scan of Boots it became clear that the Neutrogena and Clean and Clear scrubs are serious culprits. Johnson and Johnson which owns both these brands are one cosmetic company who are phasing them out by 2017, but until then you should use your power as a consumer to avoid them!

Well what can I use I hear ya ask? Thankfully my beloved St. Ives Apricot facial scrub is free from plastic which I discovered on this website, so naturally I’m excited about that. I also love the Korres Basil Lemon body scrub which is fab and plastic free. Also on the good list are Soap & Glory The Greatest Scrub of All. There are tonnes of other plastic-free products made with salt or other naturally occurring particles. So ditch your microplastic scrub and opt for a more sustainable one. Also if you want to keep it simpler, I sometimes get great results just from using a body brush, exfoliating gloves or a loofah. 

You may be thinking jeez Nicole I didn’t come here to read this, I just want to know which mascara is the best to use… BUT as beauty lovers we should exercise our power as consumers if it means that we can save marine life.

Let me know if you have any sustainable body scrubs that you love! x


                                                                                    

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June Favourites

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The Body Shop Virgin Mojito Body Butter

The Body Shop have launched a new Virgin Mojito range which is SERIOUSLY good. I don't even like Mojito cocktails (I know, so controversial, there's something strange about drinking mint) BUT anyway even I can't resist this body butter! So imagine if you actually do drink mojitos... The Virgin mojito range is pure lime scented zesty goodness, definitely not a subtle smell. For me this is especially important when its getting hotter, and a girls gotta do what she can to keep it fresh.


Rimmel Wake Me Up Anti-Fatigue Concealer

I'm in love with any concealer that comes with a wand - and this Rimmel one is fab. I think it's because you can apply the product and then just use your ring finger to lightly blend it in. The last thing you wanna do is really rub the concealer in and around your face - the trick is apply it in thin layers, dabbing your finger on your under eyes so you are adding another layer, as opposed to just moving it all around your face. Anyways, this concealer is perfect and completely fools everyone into thinking you've had a good nights sleep!  

Batiste Dry Shampoo Cherry

I praised the Lord when Batiste introduced some new scents. I can't even use the original scents anymore because to me they SO obviously smell like dry shampoo. Does anyone else get paranoid that people will know you have used dry shampoo just from the smell??? This one smells amazing and you can just pretend you washed our hair yeaaaah.


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Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser

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I've always found it difficult to maintain a cleansing routine, but Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish is the ONLY cleansing routine I've managed to stick with! I'm starting to make more of an effort to cleanse because is it even acceptable for adults to get spots??? Do you ever think your skin is fine than you catch it at an angle and see that your entire face is actually really bumpy - but the spots have nothing inside to squeeze!? Scary stuff eh?

So ANYWAY, I love this product, because its luxuriously creamy, and unlike other cleansers it doesn't have that gel like sticky consistency which I hate – and not to mention is so difficult to rinse off. Also what’s great is that this product doesn't make your skin feel tight. There is a HUGE misconception that if your skin is tight after cleansing then that’s good for your skin, when in fact it means you've stripped away too many natural oils and dried out the skin. So yeah actually the opposite! You really won’t get this with Liz Earle and that’s why I love it!
I also love the cleanse and polish method which I've outlined below for you girls….

1) Apply 1 pump of the cream to your face and neck
2) Fill the sink with hot water and place the muslin cloth in
3) Ring out the cloth and use to polish your face and exfoliate the skin in circular motions.
4) Once you've exfoliated and are happy, rinse face with cold water.

Quick tip if you’re in a rush: while the shower is heating up, apply the cream, and polish the skin whilst you’re in there!

I love indulging my skin in the natural ingredients that are used in the Liz Earle products. The cleanser contains chamomile and eucalyptus which are anti-inflammatory, and accelerate the healing process against flaky skin/acne. As well as this is contains rosemary which promotes healthy collagen levels, and cocoa butter which keeps skin hydrated (but who didn't know that anyway). The best thing here is that we can actually comprehend and pronounce these ingredients – usually a good sign that it will be kind to your skin!

The cleanser is around £14, or £15.50 with the muslin cloth. The cloths wear out after a few months, and you can buy the Liz Earle ones on their own, but I've found some cheap alternatives in discount shops like Savers which are practically the same! The cleanser I know is a bit pricey but Liz Earle is 100% worth every penny!

Let me know what your thoughts are! x

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