Tag: Beauty

Lifestyle

Let’s chat!

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Hey M’lovlies,

So after a very sporadic couple of months I felt like it was time to give you a little update on what’s been going on in my life and why things have been so off with me. I am going to put a little warning here that there will be talk about mental health so if that is something that might upset you then please leave the post now and I will see you in my next one.

Around April time I started to notice myself becoming anxious over stupid little things like walking into my world lit lecture because the amount of people in there terrified me. Especially as they all had a habit of turning straight to the door to see who was walking in. There was a lot of things that my brain was trying to work through and they were things that I had no control over but my brain didn’t want to accept that. They were things that had already happened or things that can’t be changed as much as I want them to. I’m not going into detail about what they are right now because they’re very personal things that I’m not ready to put on the internet but I’m sure I will one day. I spent most of my time in my room panicking about leaving the flat and it became all I did which meant I was falling behind on work and the blog. It all just kind of built up to a massive shit show. My brain was taking to me some dark places but I didn’t want to talk about it anyone because I believed that I was just being stupid and people would laugh at me for it but my stepmum and me had a long conversation which really helped me put things into perspective.

On top of that, at the start of summer I started to find myself becoming ill and permanently exhausted again which I started to realise meant that anemia was probably back and in true ‘my body hates me’ fashion … It is. I couldn’t concentrate on anything and I had absolutely no creative ideas coming in which broke me because I don’t want to be doing the same as everybody else … I missed my ideas. I was napping for hours during the day and waking up so late which is just not me at all. My energy was gone but the iron tablets are finally kicking in and Im starting feel a lot better … Minus the dizziness and nausea (fun times!). I’m napping so much less but my concentration still isn’t fully there but it’s getting there slowly.

I also found that I lost a lot of my motivation because I just wasn’t seeing any interaction with my blog and I don’t mean that in a ‘omg I’m not getting veiws’ way but the aim for my blog is to be an escape for 5 minutes for people who may not be having it the easiest but I didn’t feel like it was doing that. It’s a blog about silly, trivial things like makeup because sometimes you just need to read something like that to take your mind off the big things. I couldn’t see my blog helping anyone but I’ve now realised that it is helping somebody … Me. It’s my break and it’s my escape. Obviously I hope other people are enjoying reading it and I hope people start interacting with me more but I can’t base how my blog runs off that or I may as well shut it down.

I found myself falling out of love with makeup as well which obviously hindered my ability to write as 90% of my content is about makeup. Well, I didn’t fall out of love with it as such but totally lacked any motivation with it and just didn’t feel like I had the energy to put it on. I wasn’t feeling confident with or without it and so I just didn’t see the point in bothering to wear it.

Now, 5 months down the line, I am back in London for university and already feel so much more positive. Im excited to start my new modules and meet new people rather than being scared at the prospect of it. Im still physically not in best place but my mental health is certainly on the up. My relationship is going so perfect and we have now been together almost a year and a half; Jack was absolutely amazing in supporting me through all this even when he wasn’t in the best shape himself. I’ve started to feel so much more confident in myself again and am wearing makeup more frequently while also finding myself so excited to try new products. I’ve completed a lot of the planning the my novel so I am now in the process of starting to properly write it out which I am so excited for as it has taken me years to get to this point.
I started a new job working as a residence ambassador for my university and while the first two weeks were very intense, Im enjoying every single second (plus my bank balance is going to love me at the end of it!). It’s made me ready to meet new people and help then as they start the scary transition of being in their first year of uni.

I hope you guys are not too annoyed at my upload situation but I promise you that I am going to be uploading atleast once a week from now on and they will become more frequent as I adjust to my new mindset and get even more positive about life. I know it doesn’t seem like I’ve said much but I didn’t want to get into things too deep as that is now who I am but I thought I’d give a brief explanation.

Please leave any ideas that you may have for me in either my Instagram DM’s or in the comment section below.

All my love,
Paige X

Beauty

Foundation for ABSOLUTE beginners.

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Hey M’lovlies!

Well, it turns out that my ass isn’t lazy after all and is just in need off another good dose of iron tablets. I’ve started taking them as of Thursday last week and am on them for three months but I should be on the way to full health again very shortly.

All misery aside, I wanted to talk to all you makeup newbies about the beauty of foundation. When starting out with foundation it is very easy to get it wrong because there is so many things that have to work in harmony for it to look right. You have to get the colour right, the finish that’s best for your skin and the coverage you desire.

So, generally foundation will have one of three finishes; light, medium or full. Light would be for those who just wanted to cover a little bit or just even out their skintone. Medium would be for those who have a little bit more to cover but don’t want to totally wipe out their face. Full coverage would be for those who want to make their face a totally blank canvass and cover EVERYTHING but I only recommend full for special events as it can look heavy for everyday.

My first piece of advice would be to start with something light coverage and work your way up because lighter coverage is a lot more forgiving if you get it wrong. Besides, If you wanted more coverage you can always use concealer to go over the areas you want to hide a little bit more. My personal favourite light coverage foundation is the Rimmel Match Perfection as it has a gorgeous finish and an even better price tag.

My second piece of advice would be to always use a primer! They can honestly transform how a foundation sits on the skin and often help to keep it on all day. If you have dry skin then you’re going to want something very hydrating like the NYX hydro touch primer and If you have oily skin then look for something a little bit more matte like the L’Oréal infallible mattifying primer. It is okay to double prime! There may me multiple things you want to sort out about your skin before you move on to foundation like hydrating your skin and maybe filling in some pores. It’s okay to use two primers to do this as it will mean your skin will be totally ready for foundation.

When it comes to matching your foundation shade, the most important thing is to get the correct undertone as you can’t hide that if you get it wrong but you can always blend the foundation down your neck if the shade is slightly light or dark. Getting the right undertone is probably the most difficult part which is why I have a little tip for you because the one about looking at the colour of your veins or what jewellery suits you don’t work!. Think about what happens to your skin in the sun because if you are :-

Pink toned – you’ll go red all over.

Neautral – you’ll go red in certain areas.

Yellow – you lucky buggers will tan so easily.

Once you’ve worked out your undertone then finding the shade shouldn’t be too difficult because all you have to do is test 3 shades you think it could be on your jawline and remember that it is the one that disappears into your skin. If none of them do then keep testing.

I can’t tell you what finish is best for your skin as everyone is going to prefer something different but what I can do is tell you a few different finishes that foundations tend to suffer and that is dewy, matte, natural and satin. Natural and satin tend to work for most (not all) skin types whole dewy works better on dry skin and matte works better with oily skin … generally. Dewy foundations tend to make oily people look like they’ve dunked their face in a bucket of olive oil and matte foundations tend to cling to dry patches or look cakey on dryer skin.

Now when it comes to the application of foundation, I recommend using a beauty sponge like the real techniques one because they’re a lot easier to work with than brushes. I personally way prefere the finish of a sponge anyway! Start in the centre of your face, working out to the jaw and use gentle bouncing motions to really work the foundation in. Always bring in down your neck.

Finally, I always suggest setting your makeup with a light layer of powder and the one I recommend for this is the RMCA no colour powder as I have found that it works for everyone and because there is no colour, it’s fool proof. Just dust a light layer over the skin with a setting brush and you’re good to go. You can spray some setting spray over the top if you find you went a bit overboard but I always use a spray anyway as it melts everything together.

I hope you guys found this helpful. I am hoping to get back into regular posting now that I know what is wrong with me and will have lots more coming soon. Let me know what you guys thought in the comments below.

See you soon 🙂

Beauty

Make-up tips for summer.

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Hey m’lovelies,

Summer is here … apparently (insert cliché joke about living in Wales and having no summer here) and that means it is that time of year when trying to get your makeup to stay on your face is more difficult than it is for me to reach the top shelf. It also means that different kinds of makeup looks will suit you better and you will need to adjust what tones you are wearing.

This post is to give you general tips on what will make your makeup last, what’s going to be the most flattering and how to take care of your skin during the summer. Obviously, not everyone is going to agree with me and what works for me isn’t going to work for everyone as we are all different. I am simply sharing what I have found to work for me personally but I do hope everyone finds something beneficial.

that being said … enjoy.

1 – Wear as little on your skin as you possibly can.

Now, I wanted to make this my first one as I feel it has the most benefits. Your skin naturally creates more oil during the summer months anyway which is why it does not need layers upon layers of oily product on top of it; you’d be clogging your pores even more and making your face oil city, which is just asking for a breakout. This is not me saying cut out all complexion products as I know confidence doesn’t magically appear and skin issues don’t just disappear.  However, I am suggesting using a lighter foundation that is oil-free and going in with concealer to hide any redness and blemishes because this will let your skin breath. If you do feel confident to just wear concealer then that is what I recommend personally as it is even lighter again. Natural looking skin is just such a flattering look during the summer as it gives off fresh, glowy vibes especially for those with freckles.

 

2 – Matte can look a bit too flat

People often think that by mattifying their entire face and wearing extra powder or matte foundation is going to stop them looking oily throughout the day but this is not the case. You’re actually making your skin very angry as it cannot breathe and you’re just trapping the sweat beneath the powder, clogging your pores and causing breakouts. Makeup naturally wears off throughout the day anyway but mattifying it to excess will make it look horrific as it wears off because the oil will cause the powder to congeal, which isn’t a good look on anyone. Wearing a small amount of powder to start and blotting throughout the day will help makeup breakdown less visibly noticeable. Besides, matte can make your skin look really dull during these months which is the last thing you want. Embrace the dew and make your skin look healthy.

 

3 – Peaches, pinks and reds. 

Whether it is on the lips or cheeks, peach and pink tones are the way to go because they bring so much warmth back the face and I have said reds because who doesn’t love a bold lip. In my opinion, reddy brown lipsticks look absolutely phenomenal on darker skin tones during the summer months and I fall in love every time I see people walking through the street wearing those tones … just yes! is all I have to say.   They are just truly so flattering and bring a healthy flush of colour.

 

4 – Switch up your skincare 

Switching up your skincare during the summer is so important because your skin is going to be asking you for different things than in the spring/winter months. It isn’t going to want a thick, creamy moisturiser because it going to feel and look quite heavy as they contain a lot of oil (even when they say they don’t). A more gel/water-based formula is what is going to be the most beneficial to your skin in these months as it is still giving the hydration while being a lot lighter on the skin. Breakouts are going to be more frequent during the summer but using the right products to wash your face, such as a tea tree face wash, will help to prevent them or make them less prominent when they do.

 

5 – Warm your brows up a bit. 

I have found that people hair tends to get a little bit warmer in tone during the summer months which is why I recommend using a warmer tone for your brows as well because it will really flatter the changing hair. Obviously, you’re still going to look amazing using your normal brow colour as there isn’t going to be a drastic difference but it will also help to warm up the face.

 

6 –  Setting Spray is important. 

Now I don’t mean setting spray in general because not everyone chooses to use it but if you do, then the one that you pick is important. You’re better off using one that is going to lock your makeup in place rather than a mattifying or dewy one because they don’t generally have any benefits. I personally recommend ‘Urban Decay All Nighter’  or  ‘M.A.C FIX+’ because they genuinely prolong the wear of your makeup.

 

I hope you guys have found this post somewhat helpful and if not, pop any suggestions you have in the comment section or send me an email through the contact page as I am constantly checking them.

Head over to my Instagram (@paigebwrites) to check out my go-to summer look which I will be up by 1:30 today (20th June 2019).

Beauty · Lifestyle

My March Favourites

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Hey M’lovelies,

As March has officially come to an end, I thought it would be appropriate to put up a favourites post.

As always, money is not my friend so there is not going to be many items on this list but the items that are on there, are my ride or die at this point
Too Faced HangoverRX Primer

The description of the product says “Hangover Primer is the ultimate quick face fix, soothing, smoothing and brightening skin to create a dewy, healthy-looking finish”. I have never agreed with a products claims more than I have this. As a sufferer of dry skin, I personally feel like this has transformed my make up game and powder sits so much better on it. After applying this, I feel like my skin has had a huge drink and its health has been restored.

img_20190404_2015254336248754546880979.jpg
ABH Matte Lipstick – Kiss

Imagine my happiness when I walked into TKmaxx and found an Anastasia Beverly Hills lipstick for £9.99 and then … found out that it is a pinky nude. It has an absolutely gorgeous formula that applies incredibly evenly but I have very dry lips so it can be drying on me, I always make sure to use a lip balm beforehand.


Douwe Egberts Pure Gold Coffee

Need I say anymore?. This has become my favourite instant coffee because it is such a smooth taste that it goes down a treat. I am not the biggest fan of really strong coffee because it tastes too much like tar but this one is a perfect balance of rich and smooth. I chuck teaspoon in a mug with 2 sugars and milk … then call it a day.


E45 Moisturiser

As anyone who has followed my blog knows, my skin had been feeling the effects of moving to a less humid area and has been incredibly dry. My problem area has been around my nose, chin and forehead but I simply have not been able to get it under control. However, the E45 has been the only thing that has really made any difference and has made my skin feel incredibly smooth. It is £7 and you get 500ml of product but a pea sized blob is enough to cover my face and neck. A little goes a very long way.


Woodland Warmer

I never used to suffer from any period pain at all but the last year or so I have been. My Woodland Warmer really helps to ease it and makes it so much more manageable. All you do is remove the wheat bag from the back, pop it in the microwave for a minute and then put it back into the animal. They’re incredibly helpful … and incredibly cute.

I hope you guys have enjoyed this post. What have you been loving in the month of March … Let me know below.

Beauty

Let’s talk concealer

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Hey M’lovelies

Today I am wanted tackle the topic of concealer because I know it’s been the biggest pain in my ass since I started make up. I’m going to cover as much as I can on this post so it may be a long one. So, grab a coffee and relax.

I’m going to start by telling you that I have very dry undereyes and so the concealers and powers that I recommend will be catered towards those who have dry skin.

The first thing I notcited improved my concealer application was not putting it right into the corner of my eye but a bit below the eye and blending up. I initially thought this would reduce the coverage but it didn’t and it meant there was less product in the corner of my eye to cake up.

To follow on with that, I want to say that the worst thing you can do is over apply. One swipe of the applicator is all you need to start then you can add a bit more once that is blended if you fell you need it.

I always recommend blending your undereye out with a damp beauty sponge as it help to add moisture back into the skin and stops over applying. However, if you are using concealer to cover a spot then I recommend using a densely packed brush to really focus the coverage in one area then go over with a sponge to smooth it out.

Finding the right concealer shade is paramount and that Includes for highlighting. I love when my undereyes look bright and awake but I have seen some people wearing a shade 3 shades too light which is not a good look as its way too bright. You only need to go a shade (2 max!) lighter than your skin tone to get the highlighted affect. For spots, make sure concealer matches your skin because you don’t want to draw attention to them.

Shade is important but so is formula. I need a very hydrating formula which is why I use ‘Maybelline fit me’. It’s no use me using something like the collection 200 under my eyes because it is just too drying for me but it could work for those with oily skin. A dry formula for my eyes is just a recipe for cakeiness and not the good kind.

Finally, it’s time to talk about setting the concealer. Baking needs to stop, all it does is suck the moisture from your skin and leaves you looking 10 years older when you’ve got dry skin. To set my eyes I take my ‘RMCA no colour powder’ and place a small amount on the damp beauty blender and pressing it under my eyes. I sometimes take a small fluffy brush and lightly dust it over the undereye.

I hope you guys have enjoy and found this post useful. Please let me know if you have any concealer tips in the comments below.

Beauty · Lifestyle

Are there really any benefits to make-up?

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Hey M’lovelies,

Today I wanted to discuss wether or not make-up truly has any benefits for us.

Anybody who knows me knows that I love my make-up and if you know me really well … Then you know why. I do wear a full face almost everyday but I always keep it quite simple and don’t go very dramatic.

I personally wear make-up because it helps me to feel more confident about what I see in the mirror. I love that it can help me feel more like myself and ready to face the day.

However, for the longest of time I noticed my self confidence drop to an all time low because I wished I could look like do with it, without it. My make up kept getting heavier and heavier until I no longer recognised myself when it was on. I decided it was time to cut down on what I was wearing bit by bit and my confidence slowly grew back.

“Less is more” is something that I do truly believe and think wearing make-up that enhances your natural beauty can actually improve your confidence without it. You’ll eventually see that you don’t look as drastically different without it and you will learn to appreciate your natural self.

I do however think that it can almost become an addiction if you are not careful. It is very very easy to become dependent on it because we all love to feel like we look amazing. Just remember that make-up is hella expensive these days.

I asked my friend Sarah what she thought of make-up and she said ‘make up is a way of expressing yourself. In my opinion, I enjoy applying makeup whether it’s minimal or a full coverage. It allows me to be who I am. If you were to ask me that question two years ago, I would’ve completely disagreed with that statement mainly due to the fact that I wasn’t sure what make up was applied where or the fact that it was covering the natural beauty. However, I’ve learnt now that it’s a way to express yourself and adds on to the beauty that someone already has.’

To conclude, I think there are many benefits to make-up including the fact it can help bring your confidence. Your wallet won’t thank you for it and your skin may get the odd spot because of it but if you feel it works for you then rock the confidence it brings you.

I hope you guys have enjoy this post. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Lifestyle

5 Things I Can’t Live Without

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1. coffee

It is no secret that I am addicted to coffee. I will not start my day properly until the kettle has been boiled and I have my life essence in my hands.  My days are generally quite busy and coffee just keeps me going which means that I can get everything done. I do drink too much and the likelihood is that will never change.

2. My animals

Nothing feels as good as walking in through the front door to be greeted by cuddles of your pets. My dog Hugo doesn’t even allow you to sit down before he is jumping on you and giving you kisses, which just fills me with unexplainable amounts of happiness. My cat, Snowy,  is a lot calmer when greeting people but she is an incredibly affectionate little girl who loves to be cuddled and will often meow for me to pick her up. We recently got a new dog named Honey who I have met briefly as I had to come back to uni but she was such a sweetie and I can’t wait to get to spend more time with her.

3. My Bullet Journal

I am personally obsessed with organization and so my bullet journal is my baby as it allows me to get my life in order. I don’t go all crazy arty with it because drawing is just not my strong point but it is certainly incredibly useful which is what I wanted it for. It has helped me to get into better habits and keep a record of the tasks I have to do.

4. My Hardrive

As a writer, having somewhere to save all your work is essential. Every single one of my posts and ideas are on there, which means that I would be totally lost without it. I never delete or throw anything away so I need somewhere to store it, just in case I go back to it at a later date.

5. TV Shows

I am that person who needs something playing in the background but can’t quite handle music all the time. I like to hear talking. That is exactly why I always have a TV Show playing in the background and end up binge watching way more than I ever intended to do. My show count is currently 64 … yes, I have a problem. One Tree Hill will always be my favourite show and the fact that Sophia Bush is joining the final season of Jane The Virgin made me so happy.

I hope you guys have enjoyed this post. I just wanted to apologise for my lack of posting over the past few weeks. I have been incredibly busy and not in the best mindset but things are on the up now and posting will resume as normal.

Have a good evening xx