There's nothing worse than doing a fabulous makeup look, for it to only then wear off after a few hours and you find yourself running off to the bathroom every so often to top it up. No one wants to feel like their time and effort has been ruined nor do you want to have to keep reapplying it throughout the day when you could be doing other important things. I wanted to share with you some tips on how you can prevent this from happening and instead make your makeup last longer. Everyone's skin is different and not everyone uses the same products, so just bare this in mind when trying out these tips that not every single one will work for you the same as it will for someone else. But give them a go anyway and hopefully they'll be one or two that works perfect for you!
Within the past year or so, my bedroom has basically been a work in progress. Due to being on a small budget and not having much DIY skills, the changeover from having blue and floral details to blush pink with gold and grey accents has taken quite some time. I've been on the hunt for more accessories to finish off my room with and make it feel completely whole. One style of decor I really wanted in my room for a long time were some wall prints but could never find anything that I had envisioned. I even contemplated making my own so I could exactly what I was after. But then when the lovely people of Posterlounge got in touch, it was like one of my room wishes had been fulfilled and the best part was I could also run a giveaway for one of you to win a print of your choice!!!
I had been wanting to get my hands on this swoon worthy highlighting palette for the longest time. I'm so excited to finally own it and to also share it with you on my blog. This is the Ultra Glow palette from Makeup Revolution. If you're a massive fan of highlighters, then I know you're going to love this one. It contains eight stunning shimmer powder highlighters, which also happens to be my favourite formula for highlighters as powder based are so easy to apply and wear.
One of my goals for this year was to be more active on social media for a couple of reasons. The first being I wanted to meet new people, create friendships with others in the blogging world and build a community of like minded people. But also wanted to up my engagement and interaction with current and potential readers of my blog. We all know that social media can be a great way to get our blogs out there, so if you're like me and want to up your social media game this year to help with the growth of your blog, then I've got a plenty of simple ways you can do so and how to maintain the amount of activity you have.
Makeup is all about experimenting with different products and looks. The same applies when it comes to the tools you use to apply these products onto your face to create a desired look. You want something that performs amazing all around. The most favourited methods of application comes down between either using a sponge or a brush. For years I used my beloved buffing brush by Real Techniques to apply and blend my foundation onto my skin. Then the beauty blender craze came and I was hooked on using this damp sponge to apply my face products to achieve an airbrushed finish. But the most recent method of application I have been trying out has completely over taken the previous two application choices.
It's not always easy to switch off from the world and go to sleep when we need to, with things like our smart phones and tasks for the next day taking our full attention from anything but going to sleep. From someone who use to have terrible sleep from anxiety and had to resort to anxiety and insomnia medication to help improve their sleep, I am fully aware of just how frustrating and unhealthy it can be to try get a good night's sleep each night and fail miserably.
Everyone knows that sleep is super important and has many health benefits, like helping us to function properly, gives us the ability to learn new things and solve problems more effectively, it helps to strengthen the immune system and helps us to heal and repair. That's why in today's post I want to share with you 10 good habits you can use to get a better night's sleep and maintain it.
1. Turn off technology - We all know this is one we should all be doing more of, but we also all know that it is difficult to close that laptop lid down and switch our phones off, when all we really want to do is continue scrolling. But if we all did this a lot more, we would see all see a huge difference to the way in which we fall asleep and how long we stay asleep for. So instead, try switching off your phone or leaving it on the other side of the room half an hour before you plan on going to sleep. This gives you a good amount of time to notify your brain that its time to unwind and prepare itself to go to sleep. Your phone will be still be there in the morning, along with all your followers on Twitter and the videos in your subscription box on Youtube that you still need to watch.
2. Get into a good routine that actually works - You'll probably have a bedtime routine you follow every single night without much fail. It might be only small or it might be quite a lengthy one. But as long as it actually works and it's a healthy one then keep at it. Once you've put your phone away, get changed into your sleep attire, go do your skincare routine and clean those teeth of yours, get into bed with a book or a notebook, do something you find relaxing and unwind for the night until you feel yourself start to get sleepy.
3. Do some wind down activities - This plays a huge part in a good bedtime routine. There are plenty of wind down activities you can do to help relax you and get yourself in the right state to then go to sleep. Activities should include things like meditation, listening to an audiobook, reading a novel or nonfiction text, colouring in, knitting, journalling or even just some simple stretching.
4. Carry out your skincare routine - Taking care of our skin is just as important as maintaining a healthy sleep pattern. It can also be included within your bedtime routine or even be used as a wind down activity. Ensure you remove any makeup off you've worn throughout the day properly, I like to use the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish to remove mine. This feels so light yet creamy on my skin and once cleansed it leaves my skin feeling so smooth and fresh. When you finished cleaning, follow up with any other skincare products you love to use like moisturiser, a tone, a night cream or an oil.
5. Stick to the same time each night - Now you've mastered what's involved in your routine, the next thing to do is figure out when you're going to go to sleep each night. Choose a time that is going to work best for you and ensures you get enough sleep in relation to when you need to get up the next day. Young adults between 18 and 25 should aim for around 7-9 hours each night. So if you have to be up for work at 6am, then going to bed around 10pm will ensure you achieve the right amount of sleep. Now you need to stick with this and train your body to know when to go to sleep. If you're always changing the time, your body will never know when it needs to unwind or when it needs to be awake. So it's best to get yourself into a good routine and go to bed roughly around the same time each night.
6. No sleeping in - Following on from my previous point, the same thing applies to when you wake up and get up in the morning. Getting up at different times each day or at different times on weekends or holidays can also confuse our brains. Of course, treat yourself to a lay in when you deserve it, such as when you're poorly and when you need to catch up on the extra sleep after feeling run down or distressed, but don't always do it and mess up your body clock. Keep in that pattern.
7. Avoid napping in the day - Whilst naps can be good for you, sometimes they can be the worst. I always find I wake up feeling worse when I nap and for this reason I do my very best to avoid them. Napping also makes your sleep pattern and body clock go out of synch, so it's best to try not to lap for long and opt for a short power nap for a maximum of 15 minutes or to not to bother at all. You can sleep when it's time to. Just hold on.
8. Make your room a calm place - If you're room isn't a relaxing and peaceful place to go venture to every night, then it's no wonder you struggle to get to sleep or even manage to achieve a good nights sleep. Make sure your room is dark enough for you to fall asleep. You don't want bright light coming from any windows or lighting to be keeping you up. Draw back those curtains, close the blinds and turn out the lights. You also want to make sure your room and home are as quiet as possible. Make sure you haven't left anything on like the TV or that you're sleeping close to anything noisy within your home (and yes, snoring partners beside you do count). It's also good to make sure you remove any distractions like your phone, work or tv and keep them separate. This is your time to unwind.
9. Be comfortable - Being uncomfortable at night can also keep you awake. It's a good idea to change your mattress every eight years to ensure you're always sleeping with comfort. You might also want to adjust any cushions or pillows on your bed to make it as cosy and comfy as possible. Temperature also might come into play with this if you have too much bedding on top of the bed you could end up overheating and being too stuffy, so ensure you're the right temperature before you go to sleep or open up a window to let some air in. This is especially important in the summer when it's boiling hot at night.
10. Be prepared for the next day - You don't want to get into bed at night and be worrying about the things you still need to do to be ready for the following morning. The best thing to do is get everything that you can ready an hour or two before you start your bedtime routine. This way you'll avoid having tasks for the night day circling around your head when you're trying to get to sleep. Write yourself down a to do list of what you need to do/get done tomorrow, make your lunch for work or school the night before, lay out the outfit you're going to be wearing tomorrow so you don't have to rush in the morning, get your bag ready and get other small tasks that you can do before you sleep.
What do you do to achieve a better night's sleep? What do you find helps you the most?
Lauren x
We all know that January is labelled as the 'blue' month, the one that comes after the festiveness of Christmas and now it's time to go back to reality. You also have all this new found pressure of it being a new year and having new goals to work towards for the next twelve months. It can all be a little daunting and one we wish away as quickly as another year comes around. If you've been feeling a bit down and have found yourself dreading the next few weeks, then I hope today's post will be able to make you feel motivated and positive enough to get yourself through January. I've gathered together some of my favourite thoughts/quotes that you could either bookmark or print screen either on your phone or computer to always have to refer back to, whenever you need a pick me up or to read daily to help get you through it.
- 'Flourish and be.'
- 'I have decided that this will be a very good year.'
- 'You can't change your past, but you can begin a new future.'
- '...And so the adventure begins.'
- 'New year, new feels, new chances, same dreams, fresh starts.'
- '12 new chapters, 365 chances.'
- 'This is your year to sparkle.'
- 'The best is yet to come.'
- 'This is the year I will be stronger, braver, kinder and unstoppable.'
- 'You can't start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading the last one.'
- 'When I'm lacking motivation to go to the gym, a new pair of leggings usually do the trick.'
- 'Nothing is impossible, the word itself says I'm possible.'
- 'Stop waiting for Monday, January first or anything else. Start now.'
- 'Don't wish it was easier. Wish you were better.'
- 'It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you don't stop.'
- 'Nature and a stretch - all the best things in life are free.'
- 'Never, never, never give up.'
- 'Life is one big lesson and I'm definitely working on it.'
- 'Life is better when you're laughing.'
- 'Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one simply remembers to turn on the light.'
- 'Bad days build better days.'
- 'Keep going. You're getting there.'
- 'Put on your positive pants.'
- 'On a bad day there is always lipstick.'
- 'If you get tired, learn to rest not quit.'
- 'The secret to getting started is getting ahead.'
I pin daily over on Pinterest and have my own Inspiring Thoughts board if any of you want to check it out and always have somewhere to go for a positive or inspiring pick me up!
What's your favourite quote? Do you like any of the above?
Lauren x
It's very clear to all beauty lovers out there that 2016 was the year that the liquid lipstick became hugely popular within the makeup world. There were so many different brands from low to high bringing out their own versions of this different twist on the standard lipstick. The NYX soft matte lip creams for me were by far the firm favourite in not on my own collection, but probably a lot of other bloggers and makeup fans too. Not only are these drugstore favourites super affordable, but they're also one of great quality with good pigmentation, long staying power and maintain comfort on the lips, as well as showcasing a generous matte shade range.
When NYX first landed in my local Boots, the first ever products I tried from this brand included two of the soft matte lip creams. The first shade was Prague - a pink toned berry colour that's perfect for wearing all year round. This one is definitely for those who want to be bold and daring. It's perhaps not suitable for everyday wear, but it's great for special occasions and times when you just want to go out all. The pigmentation of this one is exceptional and achieves that matte effect. Like all the creams it also feels so creamy yet light on the lips.
The next shade I picked up in that same haul was Sydney another bold yet bright lip option. This one is definitely more suited to the spring/summer time with the soft pink lavender undertones it has to it. It's such a girly kind of shade that is probably won't suit everyone's tastes or colouring, but once you've fallen for it and it suits you too, you know you won't be able to stop wearing it. The two only two slight criticisms I have for Sydney is that the pigmentation can be slightly off, which is what I have found for some of the more lighter and darker shades of the soft matte lip creams. And for this reason, it can also dry a little patchy so it's definitely one you're going to do need keep topping up on throughout the day.
And the last three within my collection happen to be the three I recieved for Christmas from my parents. I have had my eye on Transylvania for the longest time. It's one of the darkest, if not the darkest shade within the soft matte lip cream range. It's a super dark plum colour that looks amazing during the autumn/winter season. It's also one of those bold and daring lip choices. Even though it has a great pigmentation, you definitely have to still build it up and perfect it to achieve a flawless finish. I just bloody love this one and going to get as much wear out of it as I can within the next few weeks before the Spring arrives.
The final two shades I also got for Christmas were more nude colours from the range. The first being Cannes a shade that I fell instantly in love with as soon as I put it on my lips. I was actually a bit worried before that it would not suit me, but however wrong was I? Cannes is a peachy brown coloured nude that would suit pretty much everyone. It's just so pretty and wearable. You could get away with wearing it for both during the day and at night. The pigmentation of this one also reminded me why I fell in love with these in the first place. It's a must have purchase!
The second nude in my collection is Abu Dhabi a more browny toned nude. I was also worried this one would wash me out. I always find nudes a bit hit and miss, but like just like Cannes, Abu Dhabi proved me totally wrong. It's such a lovely shade that again anyone could pull off. A great colour to wear everyday and with more relaxed makeup looks. Or if you want to keep things more relaxed on the lips and keep your eyes the star of the show, then Abu Dhabi will do exactly that.
Lauren x
With some of us taking part in Blogmas and others of us churning out lots of festive related blog posts over the past month, you might have found yourself stuck come January with a lack of ideas and need a little bit of help with getting your creative spark light once again. I've got 55 fabulous content ideas to kick start your 2017. There's a mixture of everything from beauty and blogging to general life and fashion. Have a read through and gather yourself some inspiration!
Happy New Year everyone! Can you believe it's 2017?! Where the hell has the time gone? I'm one of the majority it seems that is very glad to be saying goodbye to 2016. For me it was probably one of the hardest years of my life with many setbacks and downfalls, which I'm so glad to be saying a proper goodbye to now and being able to continue moving forward with my life. I'm so ready to make 2017 a really great year, no matter what challenges I might be faced with. I'm so determined to get through them and learn from the more difficult moments, just like I have been able to within the past year.
I haven't really set any 'life' goals as such, mainly because I don't want to put any pressure on myself at all and I want to set smaller goals as I go through the year. I think these are also much more achievable this year. Although mental health is my number one priority this year, as well as practicing regular self care and being kinder to myself. Anything or anyone that got down me down in 2016 or any negativity that was brought into my life is being left last year will not be returning for 2017. It feels so finally good to put myself first and think about my happiness rather than pleasing others.
I really hope you all have a wonderful 2017 and manage to achieve everything you have planned for yourself. I wish you all and your families the best success and good health for the next year. Thanks so much for showing your support to me in 2016. It literally means so much and I can't wait to see where my blog goes in 2017. I'd love to continue to grow and build a bigger community. I want to get to know lots more of you. So don't be afraid to get in touch. Let's make 2017 a great year together!
Best wishes everyone!
What do you have planned for 2017? What's been your highlights in 2016?
Lauren x