9 Lessons That Every Girl In Her 20s Should Learn


So after nearly a year of graduating from university and entering the adult world, I feel like this stage has been a massive learning curve. Sorry to be cliché but my 20s have been like a roller coaster (and I'm only 22 now ha) and I can confirm that the quarter life crisis does exist! I feel like no one ever really explained how much of a huge adjustment this stage is. This has left many of us thinking ‘why has everyone else got their shit together except me?’ When in reality, from speaking to my close friends, we are all experiencing the same fears and anxieties about our 20s. There is a sense of comfort in knowing this, so I thought I’d make a list of lessons that us girls need to practice in our 20s!

1) Scrolling through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram constantly every day will make you feel rubbish. People obviously portray the best version of themselves online and it’s not healthy to read constant updates like ‘Omg just got my dream job, love my life!’, ‘Moving to London with my BFFs’ or ‘Starting my journey around the world, see ya in 6 months’ – DON’T TORTURE YOURSELF. Also you don’t want to become jealous – that’s not an attractive quality nor a trait of a successful person. No one is going to post that they had to move back home because they couldn't pay their rent. People have the same worries as you and things aren't always as dandy as they seem. Don’t worry about what other people are doing, focus on what YOU are doing!

2) If you don’t feel confident fake it. This is something I preach but haven’t fully mastered! Just in the last few days I got told in both my annual review at work and in my driving lesson that I need to be more confident and doubt myself less. On both occasions that struck a chord because I was fully aware that this was an issue holding me back. You will never be 100% confident and you can’t always predict what it going to happen, but you can change how you react to obstacles. Don’t react by going home crying and end up in a downward spiral of misery. When one thing goes wrong it’s very easy to focus on all the other negatives in your life. Try to control that. Go and challenge your failures or insecurities and believe in yourself.

3) Writing a list of everything you like about your life will make you feel 100% better and focus your mind. This is a great way to achieve lesson 2. It's so easy to list all of the negatives in your mind, I've sometimes tried to think of the positives and it’s quite difficult. Force yourself to actually jot them down with pen and paper – your list will grow and it will remind you of all the times in the past that you've achieved something great, perhaps something against the odds. It reminds you that you have the capacity to accomplish greatness when you’re in the right frame of mind!

4) Take the time to figure out what you want to be. At university I was dead set on being a surveyor, I was obsessed and after countless applications and months of trying it didn't work. I felt like I’d failed, this was what I wanted to do but it wasn't happening. When I moved back to Essex I frantically applied to do any job and starting working as a Finance Assistant in an advertising agency. I’d occasionally go to surveying interviews until one day I had a massive realisation that I don’t think I would even like that job. No offence but I felt that it was a bit of a snobby industry - would I even like the people I worked with? I started thinking that I’d be suited to something creative, maybe PR or advertising – this had literally been in front of me the entire time! What I'm trying to say here is that you might think one career path is right for you, when it’s not. Use this time as an opportunity to try out different sectors and find your passion! And don’t worry if your passion is something like playing piano that doesn't pay much, if you love what you do and work hard, the money will come!

5) If you don’t have a hobby find one. Apart from making you seem like a super interesting individual, having a hobby is great outlet for you. I set up this blog because my soul was desperate for a creative outlet. I sometimes have an awful day at work, but once I’m at home posting on my blog my mood is totally transformed. If you are ever having a down day, go and play tennis or learn a language, whatever is good for your soul. You’ll stop wallowing in sadness and feel really productive!

6) Stop analysing your horoscopes. This may not apply to you, but a lot of girls I know analyse their horoscope – I in fact used to as well. I spent like a solid month reading my horoscope and analysing it every single day. I took it as gospel. I needed that reassurance that things would be ok and that something amazing would be right around the corner – I noticed I was only reading this when I felt sad or out of control of a situation. Instead, I should have spent that time working on changing my situation, not relying on the words in a cryptic horoscope. If you talk to guys not one of them will say they read horoscopes – probably because we live in a male dominated society where men believe they can do anything whilst women feel less in control of their life events. But you can be in control, so quit reading the damn things!

7) Start saving money. I spent my first few pay cheques mostly in Topshop, Pizza Express, the work bar, and on taxis home from the bar… I hadn't saved a penny and I wanted to enjoy myself which was fun until everyone I knew suddenly jumped on a plane and went travelling. How did they have the money? How can they afford to go travelling? How can they afford that new car? Whilst some have generous rich parents, most people probably knew what they wanted to do and saved for it. They probably weren't going out every week like I was. What’s even worse than not saving is getting into debt – I haven’t ever had an overdraft or credit card, but I have so many friends that have racked up thousands in loans and the only worst thing than having zero in your bank account, is having a minus! Even if you save £100 a month, you’ll feel so much better having something to show for all those hours at work!

8) If you have a dream, write down a plan. Say you want to save up for a deposit for a flat, write down a logical plan for the next year for example. Plan how much you can realistically save each month and how long it will take to save the amount you need. Having a logical plan stops you from getting depressed and saying things like ‘omg I’m never going to be able to move out’ or ‘omg I’m never going to go travelling’ Write those goals down and plan how to attain them!

9) Find inspiration wherever you can. A few months after graduating, my friends Soph, Marie and I were endlessly Whatsapping each other motivational quotes. We’d just find them on Instagram and send them to each other– It was funny because when we were in our bubble at university we’d judge people posting these quotes like ‘lol that’s so cringe no one cares’. Then once we’d been thrown into the lonely adult world of uncertainty we were like 'OMG YOU NEED THESE QUOTES JUST TO GET THROUGH LIFE'. I'm not saying you should spend hours finding these quotes or reading self-help books, but you definitely should put the advice into practice if it does motivate you. I have a postcard in my room which states 'doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will' and I always have that in the back of my mind when I hesitate on an opportunity. The majority of the time you will be your own worse demon.

Let me know if you girls have any other lessons to add! x

Desk Essentials: 8 Beauty Products You Should Keep at Work



It's a sad thought but we spend an awful lot of our time at work. In those 7 hours I'm at the office, literally anything can happen, and when your makeup is smudged or your hair is frizzy from the rain, 7 hours is a LONG time to wait until you can get home and can sort your appearance out. I cannot stress enough that this post is in no way a 'how to look fabulous at work' type post (that desire goes out of the window at 6.30am) instead it's more a guide of how to look presentable in the office, like a serious, respectable adult you know.

I work in an advertising agency so we can wear what we want, which sounds great but it is actually SUCH a struggle omg - it's like at school when non-uniform day was the best frickin' thing ever but if it was everyday would have been horrible. So whilst one can look smart and presentable in jeans and a nice top, that work chic look gets totally ruined when you've had a bad hair day and now look like a tramp. Anyway after a rather lengthy intro which I did not anticipate, here are my 8 essential beauty products to keep in your desk or your work bag or wherever the hell ya like if you hot desk or something!

1. Invisibobble Hair Band

I admit these look a bit weird, and the whole point of this post is to look presentable but these are SO COOL! I'm no expert but SOMEHOW the spiral shape of the Invisibobble prevents you getting a kink in your hair when you tie it up. This is so necessary during the week when no one has the energy to wash their hair every single god damn day, and you're relying on your hair staying perfect for 2 days. Also you don't get that overwhelming pain in your head when you finally untie your ponytail! (What is that?!)

Hair bobbles in general are an absolute must for your desk for when your hair is flicking out at all directions, and you need to tame that mane.

2. Floss

OMG the amount of times I have been walking around the office with food in my teeth after lunch, smiling and chatting to colleagues is just embarrassing. Why are all the good foods herby like lasagna, or seeded like bread? I am not lying when I say I have literally boycotted poppyseeded bread for about 10 years - it is just not worth the embarrassment and the shear pain of trying to unlodge the seeds from my teeth - so so tragic! Floss is the ultimate essential which I keep in my work bag at all times.

Luckily for you, I have suffered these embarrassing moments so you don't have to! The floss I keep in my bag is from Boots it must have only cost £1 and it is such a life saver.

3. Rimmel Lasting Finish 25 Hour Foundation

While liquid foundations can be bad for the skin, this Rimmel Lasting Finish foundation does provide amazing coverage all day. I'm out the house for 12 hours on a normal day and even longer if I stay out for drinks, but I never have to worry about reapplying this stuff! I also have the Rimmel Lasting Finish 25 Hour Powder which is amazing. You can't go wrong with this!

4. Compact Mirror

For sly little check ups at your desk. I mainly use mine for a quick peak of my teeth - damn that leafy, herby seeded goodness!

5. Perfume

This is the most obvious one, but definitely the most important! Now that summer is almost upon us and it's getting pretty hot, you'll want to make sure you're not stinking. I usually keep a small bottle of perfume like this mini Estee Lauder one in my bag, samples are great for this! Alternatively, I often just buy a cheap body spray like Impulse which you won't mind smothering your clothes with throughout the day.

6. Hand Cream

I've already written about how much I love these mini L'Occitane hand creams - so I won't repeat myself! Hand cream is an essential to keep on your desk. You're always being introduced to people at work and handshakes are generally awkward enough without having dry rough hands. There are too many potential handshake faux pas as it is, so it's good to have smooth paws.

7. Lip Balm

I get through this Blistex lip balm really quickly, mainly because it smells a m a z i n g. It's raspberry lemonade flavour and I can confirm that yes, it does also taste like raspberry lemonade.

8. Barry M Clear Nail Polish

A good clear base coat not only makes your nails look presentable, but can be there on guard for any potential ladders in your tights! I've never seen anyone with ripped tights at work before, and I can't help but imagine the judging looks I'll get when that inevitably happens to me one day.

May Favourites


MAC - Eye Brows

Buying anything from MAC is a truly exciting experience, and despite the price tag there is no doubt that it isn’t worth the whole £13.50! I’ve bought this eyebrow pencil a few times now and I only use little strokes to fill in the brows and add colour. THANKFULLY I narrowly avoided that ‘pluck your eyebrows until there’s nothing left’ phase of adolescence and can embrace the big brows a la Cara Delevingne. So despite being the weird Greek with a monobrow when I was 11, it brings me so much joy to finally say WHO IS LAUGHING NOW to those thin eyebrow-ed girls. I’M DIGRESSING SORRY – The darkest shade they do in this is called Stud which is a dark brown shade and you really don't need to use much to see a dramatic difference. Go buy it girls!

Seventeen - Stay Time Concealer

I often question where I would be without concealer. It is my true partner in crime. We fight dark circles together, we tackle spots together and we deceive others through contouring together. What I’m trying to say is if you use concealer as much as I do, you’re hardly likely to buy YSL Touche Eclat every time (I used it once and it lasted me like 5 minutes seriously).

Seventeen from Boots is a great high street brand which is amazing for every day use, especially for your work makeup. It claims to last 18 hours which is absolutely necessary to get through a tough day at work, and then to look fresh for those unplanned work drinks which you are totally unprepared for!

Benefit – They’re Real

I don’t think Benefit have created a mascara that hasn’t been amazing. Like can you name one?? Bad Gal was amazing, but I definitely prefer They’re Real. I love the plastic wands over the natural bristle ones because I find they prevent your lashes sticking together turning into 1 big scary spider eyelash.

I honestly believe that a good mascara like this one is worth the money – you save SO much time. This makes it totally effortless to get your eyelashes looking longer and flawless within seconds.

Rimmel - Rita Ora Nail Polish

Unlike everyone in the rest of Essex I don’t have gel nails or acrylics or whatever the hell people get? No, I am old fashioned or maybe just plain cheap but I paint my own nails. As it’s almost summer, it seems only right to invest in some pretty pastel polishes. People are always complaining that I wear too much black and white and grey, so bright nails are a great way to add a splash of colour! This colour is called Go Wild-er-ness and it is fab-u-lous.

What's on my bed side cabinet?



My Diary

I like writing things in my diary, it makes me feel responsible and organised and like an adult. Although, I tend to use it meticulously for a month then forget about it for the next...

Nivea Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Eye Cream

I’ve decided that 22 is an appropriate age to start using anti-wrinkle cream if I want to avoid looking all haggard. While I wanted an eye cream that can prevent wrinkles, what I really wanted was one that can minimise dark circles too. I recently googled ‘why do we get dark circles?’ (praise the Lord for Google eh?) and it’s because blood passes through large vessels beneath your under-eye skin which is thin. When you’re tired, your body produces more cortisol to keep you awake, which means more blood passes through these veins.

SO ANYWAY I guess the ingredients that prevent your skins loss of elasticity must in turn minimise the appearance of these veins.

That was long, but important, I think?

Nivea Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Day Cream

I bought this after seeing good results from the Q10 eye cream. It always seems like a good idea to combine products from the same range. Is that just marketing spiel that they tell you on adverts though? Am I just a dupe of the market?

American Psycho – Bret Easton Ellis

I love reading the classics, and ‘reading more’ seems to be the only New Years resolution that I’ve held down. Basically (and I mean very basically, as there is SO much to analyse here) American Psycho is about a banker on Wall Street who that is also a serial killer, and the book highlights how the American Dream has been distorted through materialistic consumerism and the main character's obsession with his appearance. I did not anticipate how gory this book would be. It’s also slightly awkward reading this on the commute because of the violent murdering and the graphic sex! I feel like I have to rush those chapters in case the guy next to me on the train thinks I’m a freak, or just reading Fifty Shades of Grey.

It – Alexa Chung

You don’t have to read this book in any order, so it’s interesting to pick it up now and again. Plus you can do what they do in Urban Outfitters where they decoratively place it around the store to make it look edgy LOL. It looks cool okay.

The Dating Game – Lucy Watson

Yes that’s right I bought this and she knows what she is talking about. To be entirely honest though, I was given most of this advice from my friend Eva when I was 16 (how was she so wise?) but I didn’t put any of it into practice until now. I would like to say I know what I’m doing now in this arena, but I probably really don’t!

Lamp

Always nice to be able to see when it’s dark.

Coaster

For coffee obviously!

Bare Minerals 30 Day Complexion Starter Kit

This 30-Day Complexion Starter Kit is a great way to try a few of the Bare Minerals products to get the full experience. Bare Minerals is the one brand that I always push on all of my friends to use, and let me tell you why…

1) YOU CAN SLEEP IN THIS STUFF. I’ve already told you guys that I am pretty lazy and sometimes sleep in my makeup after a night out (even reaching for a makeup wipe is a struggle). So as you can imagine, when discovering this, Bare Minerals foundation quickly became a staple in my makeup bag.

2) This is a god send when you’re having a spotty day. (No one tells you that you still get spots as an adult!) My skin is always looking healthier when I use Bare Minerals over a heavy/liquid foundation.

3) Your foundation won’t feel like it’s sliding off your face on a hot sunny day. Let’s be honest, we’ve all suffered from a melting face in the summer and it’s not pretty! I honestly don’t have this problem with Bare Minerals though.

Unless you have a QVC obsessed Auntie (like me) that can explain to you, Bare Minerals can be a bit confusing to use so let me run through the products!

The Prime Time Primer should be applied first after you have moisturised. I honestly never saw the point of primer prior to using this, but I’ve never looked back!

The Original SPF 15 Foundation is where the true magic happens. You pour the powder into the lid, swirl with the Flawless Face Brush and buff it into your skin and voila. I use medium beige which does sound dark, but I would usually opt for ivory in any other foundation, so bear that in mind.

The Mineral Veil is a pearl coloured powder that seals everything in and is applied using a similar buffing method.

The only negative I have about Bare Minerals is that their brushes have a tendency to malt. This has resulted in me leaving the house like a mad, hairy, bearded woman if I ever do my makeup in the dark. I would love to know if anyone has ditched this for a different brush!?

The kit also includes their SPF 20 Concealer powder and the Mini Concealer Brush. If I’m honest I have AWFUL dark circles, and as a result go a bit Kim K with my concealer, using a liquid one to hide everything. I have however applied the powder over my liquid concealer – This has stopped my mascara rubbing off on my under eyes and sticking - never a good look!

My favourites from this set are definitely the Prime Time primer and the foundation which I buy again and again. Bare Minerals can be a bit pricey so if you’re watching the pennies, the foundation on its own is great, and can be used in combination with your other favourite products.

April Favourites

Benefit - The Porefessional Pro Balm Primer

I was given a sample of The Porefessional after a massive splurge on Benefits products one afternoon, and I definitely will be buying the regular size when pay day arrives! Do you ever catch a glance of your face in the toilet mirror at work at around 4pm, and start to doubt whether you even applied makeup that day? Where does it go?! This happened to me constantly BUT I honestly can say this stuff prevents any 4pm mirror meltdowns, and ensures that your foundation stays put. Not only this, but it conceals any visible pores – perfect for when you’ve sat there squeezing spots in the mirror prior to applying your foundation!

L'Occitane - Verveine Gel Crème

I was sceptical of this hand cream when buying it because it sells for £8, but I’d heard wonderful things about L’Occitane so I treated myself. Although you don’t get a huge amount for your money you are paying for quality. My hands get so dry to the extent that they crack and even bleed - mmm nice! This hand cream has been an absolute dream and worked miracles. Plus it smells amazing.

Boots Slanted Tweezers

I have lost about 5 pairs of tweezers in the last year and I’m so intrigued to know if this happens to anyone else?! I just do not understand where they go, so I refuse to buy the Tweezerman ones which are £20. I’ve been using these Boots own brand slanted tweezers which are amazing and only £1.80!

Benefit - Hoola

This bronzer doesn’t even need an introduction, and now that summer is upon us everyone needs to invest in Benefit Hoola bronzer. A lot of people throw the brush away in favour of using a professional brush. I personally love the shape of the brush and usually brush a line under my cheek bones to define my face. Then I’ll apply it lightly to the upper part of my cheekbones and blend. If you have a round face like me, this bronzer is also amazing for defining the rest of your face. My friends actually say that I look like the moon emoji in photos because my face is round – it’s funny but also very true - so I tend to apply Hoola lightly to my jawline, the top of my forehead, and on the sides of my nose to look more defined (and less moon-like).

Bare Minerals - Lash Domination

Anyone that knows me knows I am BIG on mascara and apply a generous amount. Despite this habit, this mascara has lasted me a good few months without drying out. My lashes definitely did dominate.

Rimmel - BB Cream 9-in-1

To tell the truth this has been sitting in my draw for a LONG time and initially I saw BB creams as pretty pointless. However looking back, when I first used this, I applied way too much. You definitely don’t need as much as normal foundation and as a result it didn’t blend very well! I gave it another shot last week and have to say I’m impressed. I’ve had massive breakouts in the last few weeks, so I love that this isn’t too heavy on your skin. Also it says 9-in-1 so you know, that’s got to count for something?

First Post: Let's Introduce Ourselves



Hello! This is my first post on Nicole’s Beauty Journal so I shall introduce myself!

My name is Nicole Louis, I’m a 22 year old graduate from Essex that works in an advertising agency in London. When I was 5, I stole my mum’s red lipstick then smothered it over my whole face, and I have pretty much been obsessed with beauty products since this tragic experience! Also, when I was about 13 I looked a lot like a boy, so any female beauty product became my saviour!

I absolutely love experimenting with new makeup cosmetics and skin care products. Like most of us I tend to mix high end, expensive products with cheaper ones. For me, the ritual of getting ready can be super quick or take hours – there is no in between! My greatest skill in life is my liquid eyeliner, which I hope to share with you guys soon.

While I adore looking after my skin, I must confess that I am also extremely guilty of sleeping in my makeup after a late night– I know, it’s awful. But I want to use this blog to write about my favourite beauty brands which are not only innovative and kind to our skin, but are also compatible with our busy (sometimes drunken) lifestyles.

I’ve been desperate to create this blog for a really long time and have finally plucked up the courage to start it. Let’s have fun with it!
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