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

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!