The Watermelon Mask You Need To Try

When I took a visit to Sephora, the Skinfood Watermelon Mask was on the top of my wishlist. This was something that reminded me of the Watermelon Glow Recipe Mask that made me want to try it and I'm so glad I did because it's an absolute dream for my skin type. Although I'm only been using it for nearly two weeks, I've got so much use out of this by nearly using it daily and I'm absolutely smitten. 

My dehydrated, lacklustre skin often feels parched around this time of year and I suspect that it'll only get worse once we officially start going into the transitional period between Summer and Autumn. It helps to nourish and hydrate the complexion, making sure that any dry patches are dealt with and that my skin remains looking plump. I used this every day when I was on holiday to help save my skin and it made my makeup go on beautifully as it smoothed the skin like nothing else. If I want an extra boost of hydration, I use a sheet mask first, pop this on for the required amount of time and afterwards my skin is looking restored and revitalised. 

One thing I would say is that if you've got sensitive skin, you may become a bit irritated if you used this longer than twenty minutes, so I like to make sure I've washed it off between 10-15 minutes just to make sure. Nevertheless, it makes my skin look healthy and dewy; great for use just before makeup application. I'm so glad that I found out it is sold online in the UK because it's definitely going to be a repurchase of mine. 

Have you tried this Watermelon mask out yet? 

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25 Transitional Blog Post Ideas

We're slowly making our way into my favourite season, but I know that the transitional period between Summer and Autumn can be hard to create content. For me, it's a little too early to go all out on the Halloween posts, but still a tad late to do full-on Summer favourites, so I tend to get a bit stuck with what to write about.  I thought I would share with you my top transitional blog post ideas just in case you're in the same boat as myself. 

- Five Things You're Looking Forward To 
- A Summer Round Up 
- Transitional Makeup
- Starting Afresh This September 
- Day In The Life 
- A Go-to Routine To Relax 
- Skincare For In-between Seasons 
- Share A Post That's Been In Your Drafts 
- A Fashion Wishlist 
- New Seasons Favourites 
- Cosy Must Haves 
- What's On Your Reading List 
- A New Season Makeup/Interior Switch Up 
- Five Things You Love About Autumn 
- What's In Your Bag 
- A Simple, Fresh Makeup Look
- Pamper Routine 
- Lipsticks To Wear When You Can't Decide 
- Show Us Your Go-To Recipe 
- Skincare Picks For Temperamental Skin 
- A Bedroom Tour
- TV Shows You'Ve Been Loving 
- Late Holiday Must Haves 
- Transitional Fashion Favourites 
- September To-Do List/Goals 

What are your favourite transitional blog posts to read? 

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A Charlotte Tilbury Round Up

It's been a couple of years since I last shared a brand focus for Charlotte Tilbury and even though my collection has grown, my love for the rose gold cased luxe products hasn't diminished at all. 

First up is the Filmstar Bronze and Glow, a cult favourite of many and for very good reason too. When I first got my hands on this, I really enjoyed the highlighter, but as someone who had quite oily skin back then I wasn't smitten. Now I'm obsessed, as it gives an ethereal glow to the cheekbones that isn't intense nor sheer. The contour powder is very bendable and is perfect at creating the illusion of chiselled cheekbones. 

I had a few testers of the Wonderglow and it was the main reason why I fell back in love with illuminating primers and started using them again. It really helps to minimise the appearance of pores and perks up my lacklustre skin - I'm still thinking I need to purchase a full size one. 

The Magic Foundation is the perfect full coverage foundation if you like something that will blend seamlessly into the complexion and is super natural. It's a got a demi-matte finish which conceals imperfections and smoothes the skin too.  

A concealer that is often overlooked is The Retoucher and it was a favourite of mine whilst I was using it, but as I now try and stick to just one concealer at a time, I've never gone back to pick up a new one. 

We're officially going into Dolce Vita Palette season and I'm so excited because this luxe feeling quad is great at creating a warm toned smokey eye or simply adding a wash of colour to the lid. They're super buttery to blend and can be easily used in conjunction with other eyeshadows too. I particularly reach for this during the Autumn/Winter, especially during the festive season as it's the perfect party pick. 

Aside for their quads, I feel like Charlotte Tilbury's other eye products go a little bit unloved. The Bette Eyes To Mesmerise, a golden amber is a great cream eyeshadow for dehydrated eyes and can be easily used without any tools. The Bronzed Garnet Colour Chameleon is another great offering as it's basically a smokey eye in a pencil and the red toned bronze shade is gorgeous paired with natural makeup. 

If you have to try something, I would recommend you trying out the Pillow Talk Matte Revolution Lipstick. It's the perfect nude hue and I've shared a whole blog post on it because it's that good. It looks great paired with the Pillow Talk Pencil Lip Liner which is another product I'm smitten with. Bond Girl is a shade that was one of my first Charlotte Tilbury products I owned, but I haven't got much of wear out of it lately which is a shame. 

Another product I've not got much use out of is the Cheek to Chic Ecstasy Blusher as I just have so many in my collection that this barely gets a look in. I got to the point where I was going to sell it, but decided to keep it just in case I started reaching for it again. I can't say I have yet, but I'm going to give it a little more time. 

Although my collection is extensive already, I have a few new items on my wishlist including their Moon Beach Stick Cream Blusher which looks like it'll work perfectly on my dry skin and be a great addition to my makeup bag. I also have my eye on their Hollywood Lips Liquid Lipsticks and Hollywood Beauty Light Wand because they look too dreamy to miss! 
What are your favourite Charlotte Tilbury products?

If a product is marked with a * it is a PR sample. This post contains affiliates. 

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An Introduction To Sheet Masks

When I was making my Sephora wishlist, the first item on it was the Sephora Sheet Face and Eye Masks. I've been lusting after them for some time now and at under €4 a piece, I knew that I wanted to stock up on them whilst I could. They have a broad range, targeting different problems such as blemish busting and deeply nourishing ones, but I stuck to the ones that were aimed at lacklustre, dehydrated skin. 

As someone who has never tried a sheet mask before, I was sceptical about how much use I would get out of these, whether they would react well with my skin type and if they would actually fit on my face. When I first opened one up, peeled the back of the mask off and applied it to my face, I noticed that it's definitely on the bigger size, but it wasn't anything a little rearranging and scrunching in the nose area couldn't fix. 

The Lotus offering was far more pleasant in scent than I imagined, in fact I could wear it in perfume form if they made it. It's so delicate, and didn't irritate my complexion either. It was supposed to moisturise and soothe, and it did exactly that. When paired with the Skinfood Watermelon Mask, my skin looked perfected, radiant and plump. 

I went for the Pearl option for eye mask and I'm so glad I did because it's super nourishing and sensitive enough to use around the eye area. Unlike the face masks, I actually feel like this could be used more than once and is even better when you keep it in the fridge before use. My peepers look more awake and I love applying my makeup after using this. 

Lastly is the Rose offering and my favourite pick of the bunch. As soon as I peeled the mask off I could see a difference in how my skin appeared. It's deeply nourishing and compared to the other two, both of which I really liked, this sits head and shoulders above the rest. It smells dreamy and gets rid of my dry patches in 15 minutes - A true miracle worker for irritated, dry skin. 

What sheet masks would you recommend? 

If a product is marked with a * it is a PR sample. This post contains affiliates. 

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Battling The End Of Summer Lull

The Summer is slowly coming to the end; the first of September for me being the marker for the start of Autumn and I've got to admit that I've been in a bit of an end of season lull. Every year when it comes to late August, I get this overwhelming lust for the colder days, crisp leaves and pumpkins of all kinds. I've been feeling under the weather and unmotivated as, although I'm thinking of transitional makeup, I know there's a possibility we will get a second Summer. Here are the ways I'm battling the end of Summer lull when it comes to my blog: 

Embrace Autumn | If you've been following me on Twitter or Instagram, you'll know that I've been away on holiday for a large part of August. I told myself that once I got back and into the swing on things, I would allow myself to slowly incorporate more Autumnal things into my life. From cosy TV shows to blankets, I'm battling the end of season lull with the exiting prospect of a new one. 

Procrastination | Allowing yourself to procrastinate?  That's like music to my ears. Rather than stressing out about how much work I should be doing on my blog, I've decided to take some time to complete the tasks I've had no time for, like sharing my photographs on Pinterest, adding a wishlist page and planning posts. It's okay to not always being on the go; planning for the months ahead can get you excited for Autumn too. 

Use It To Your Advantage | Although I feel like I'm a little bit too late for Summer travel posts and a little bit too early for Autumn makeup round ups,  I am taking this time between seasons to write all the posts I usually put off for seasonal ones. From skincare collections to more lifestyle chats, it's easy to use the lull to your advantage when it comes to your blog. 

How do you battle the end of Summer lull? 

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Dreamy Makeup Pairings

There are lots of products that I love wearing, some of which work better when paired together than others and some picks being absolute dream pairings. I saw a similar post on The Makeup Directory and as I have quite a few great duos in my makeup bag right now, I thought I would share with you my top picks too.

Primers are a stage in the routine that I feel like most people miss, but me? I now use two. The Becca Backlight Priming Filter* and Glossier Priming Moisturiser work together to not only add hydration to the skin, but a subtle glow too. It helps to illuminate the complexion and when you apply your foundation, your base looks healthy and radiant. 

I've been colour correcting for some time now, but recently came across two new shades, the LA Girl Lilac* and Yellow* offerings. They help to correct redness and brighten the skin too. Since using these, I've really transformed my going out makeup as it helps to create a really even base throughout. 

When it comes to finding a foundation and concealer that work together, it can be harder than expected. I recently found a duo which is perfect for when I need a bit of extra coverage or I am in need of a long lasting base. The Too Faced Born This Way Foundation and Kat Von D Lock In Concealer work in sync to conceal imperfections, even out my complexion and add a natural finish to the skin. Due to them being both medium-to-full coverage products, I was initially worried that they would be detectable together, but when buffed in using a Beauty Blender, I've never known a full coverage base to look better. 

For as long as I can remember, my eyebrow routine has barely changed. I dye them every month to keep them looking preened and I still fill them in with the same two products that I have done for over a year now; the ABH Dip Brow Pomade and Sleek Brow Kit. With a few strokes, my brows look more defined and full. The pomade helps to add colour and the powder from the duo helps to set them. 

The Glossier Dusk Cloud Paint is a natural blusher that blends seamlessly into the cheeks with ease and what a perfect pair it makes with Becca Capri Coast Sunlit Bronzer*, another natural pick. They work great to add colour to my complexion without running the risk of being too overpowering. 

What are your favourite makeup pairings? 

If a product is marked with a * it is a PR sample. This post contains affiliates. 

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A Sneak Peek Into My Skincare Collection

This year I've really fallen head over heels in love with skincare again, finally figuring out what works best for my skin and collecting many products that suit my changing skin type too. I've still got quite a few bits and bobs on my wish list to fill in some empty spaces or to just try out, but I thought I would share a sneak peak into my skincare collection:

Starting of with a new addition; the Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Toner, one that has already stolen my heart a little despite not having it for very long. Although I obviously can't see any long term effects yet, it really does help to smooth pores, soften the skin and calm my complexion too. 

Of course, a new addition to my face mask collection is both the Sephora Sheet Mask and Skinfood Watermelon Mask, both of these being targeted at dehydrated, lacklustre skin. The Watermelon offering has been a skin saviour of mine whilst feeling poorly and with all the travelling I've been doing. 

The Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser has quickly made it into my top cleansers as I have been using this cult favourite daily since I got it. This light floral scented product helps to melt away makeup, cleanse and soften the skin. I'm already planning on re-purchasing this -although I have barely made a dent- just because I love it that much and the Origins Modern Friction Cleansing Oil is next on my list to try - Have you tried this? 

Talking of cleansers, a favourite of mine for some time was the Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel which works in a similar way to the Milky Jelly Cleanser. It's great for sensitive skin like my own and I really ought to purchase another bottle of it soon as I'm running low. 

If there's a skincare brand that has taken the blogging industry by storm recently it's The Ordinary, a range of products that are super affordable and can be used for targeted skin problems. Their Salicylic Acid Solution is a great blemish buster, whilst the Caffeine Solution helps target dark under eye circles and the Glycolic Acid Toner deserves all the recognition it's getting because it's a staple of mine. 

I really want to add to my Pixi collection this Autumn as both the Glow Tonic and Peel and Polish have both impressed me. The latter is perfect at scrubbing the surface of my skin without being too abrasive, but instead helps to keep any dry patches at bay. I can't wait to see how this works on my skin during the colder months as I'm always in the market for any effective exfoliator. 

When it comes to moisturisers, I have a few of my go-to favourites including the Origins Ginzing and Kiehls Ultra Facial Moisturiser. They both hydrate my complexion, work great when in conjunction with other oils and soothe my skin too. 

There are many long serving favourites in my skincare routine including the Bioderma Micellar Water, Origins Face Masks and Aesop Fabulous Face Oil. They're ones that I have repurchased time and time again, meaning as a skincare addict like myself, they really are the creme de la creme of skincare. 

Of course, I can't feature every skincare item I own otherwise we'll be here all day, so I thought I would put together a few of my other products here too: 

What are your favourite skincare products?

If a product is marked with a * it is a PR sample. This post contains affiliates. 

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A First Time Goers Guide To Paris

As someone who has never visited Paris before, I didn't head to the city with many expectations other than that I was probably going to spend a fortune in Sephora, I would eat my bodyweight in cheese and I would most likely see the Eiffel Tower at some point. I researched places to eat and the best places to visit, but when I got there a lot of my original plans went out the window. Today I thought I would share with you a few tips and guides for anybody looking at going to Paris for the first time. 

The Food 

Between the crowds and your feet hurting from walking, the many food choices of Paris can be a little overwhelming and you will probably contemplate getting a McDonald at least twice a day. We didn't go for one at all because we tried to persist with finding a restaurant that would suit our needs and looked okay. 

For meat eaters you will be in your element as every toastie, every side dish and every snack seems to have some sort of meat in it. Initially I struggled with the idea that I would have to ask for my complex orders in French, but once I got used to it, I was good to go. The Latin Quarter was our favourite place to dine out as they have everything from fondue to pizza, so you really are spoilt for choice. 

I couldn't leave Paris without having a taste of macarons and I knew exactly where I wanted to go to pop my macaron cherry; Ladurée. With a quick Google, you can find out where they are and I would definitely recommend taking a visit. 

There are many stands that sell ice cream and crêpes which were a great lunch time snack for us as they were super cheap and easy. They were often around the tourist attractions like the Eiffel Tower and along the Champs-Elysées. 

As for price ranges, we both noticed that the food itself was pretty inexpensive, cheap if anything, but it was the drinks that made the price go up - We're talking €6 on average per drink, but only €9 for a pizza! During the day, we did stop off at several cafés which were super cute, so I would definitely recommend doing it at least once - It's great for people watching too! 

Tourist Attractions 

Of course, one of the main reasons we went to Paris was to see the sights and with four days to explore, we managed to get around everything with ease. If you don't want queues or you're a little bit more clued up with exactly where you want to visit, then I would recommend booking your tickets online before you go because we didn't and regretted it.

When it came to tourist attractions, most of them are free unless you want to go up things or in the Louvre. The gardens were my favourite part of the trip because not only were they huge, they had the prettiest plants, sculptures and food places too. The Jardin Du Luxembourg is a must see and despite going in August, it was the perfect mixture of the crisp, fallen leaves of Autumn and the fresh blooms of Summer. 

The Notre Dame was simply beautiful and although we wanted to go up to the top, we couldn't as they didn't sell day tickets without downloading an app.  It's important to note that if you're under 26 years old, you can get into most attractions for free, so with ID, I managed to get into the Louvre free of charge. The Louvre was so interesting, even though we had to queue up we got in super quickly. Seeing Mona Lisa was definitely a highlight of the trip! 

Most of the attractions were near each other, so we got to see the Arch De Triumph and Champs-Elysées in one go and the Louvre, Jardin Du Luxembourg and Place De La Concorde in one day too. It's important to note that the Pont Des Arts- the bridge in Paris with all the locks- is now lock free, but instead there's a specific place you can attach your locks nearby.

The Eiffel Tower was the first place I went to and despite being lucky enough to have a view of it from our hotel room, at night it was even prettier. The twinkly lights go off at 10pm, 11pm and 12pm and it's definitely one to catch because it's truly magical - One of my top three moments of the trip (In fact I'd go back just for that!). I'd recommend going at the back of Parc Du Champs De Mars to get the best view of the tower. 

If you're a beauty lover like myself, then Sephora will probably be a tourist attraction on its own. I went to five in total and despite having high hopes for the Champs-Elysées branch, I was highly disappointed purely because of how stuffy it was and how pushy the shop assistants were. My favourite was hands down Rue De Rivoli followed by the Cluny La Sorbonne branch. They have nearly every brand and as someone who ended up getting four Sephora bags, I think it's safe to say the shopping trip was a success. 

Travel

Although it was hard to get to grips with where to go in the beginning, we decided to travel via the metro for the majority of the time. Not only did it make travelling so much cheaper, it made it easier too. If you're familiar with the underground in London, then it works in a similar way. Purchasing tickets were the hardest element to it, but with a little help from the ticket desk we were good to go and I would highly recommend getting yourself a day pass as it works out much cheaper that way. 

Most of the city you can easily get around on foot too and in the centre of Paris there are metro stations pretty much everywhere, meaning you can get to several tourist attractions in one day with ease. 

The Must Haves 

If there's something I wish I knew beforehand it was how much walking we would actually do because I really recommend packing only your comfiest shoes and clothes. As we went in Summer, the weather was great and I cannot fault it, but I would probably note that even on the cloudiest day we were there, the trains and busiest areas were still humid and rain coats were certainly not needed. Think culottes, airy t-shirts and trainers. 

A map, oh where would we be without the map? Probably still in Paris actually. We travelled via Eurostar to Paris which was super easy and straight forward, but as soon as we got out of Gare Du Nord we were lost. As I've previously mentioned, we traveled via the Metro which I would highly recommend to those on a budget or who would like to travel at their own pace, but when it got to locating the Metro at the Gare Du Nord we were left scratching our heads. The only thing that saved us was our phones, but I would highly recommend getting a map before hand if you can, just so you can find your hotel. Once we got to our accommodation, they luckily handed us a double sided map of both the city and the metro - I still feel slightly attached to it now. 

Are you planning a trip to Paris anytime soon? 

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Three Failsafe Shades

After reading A Girl, Obsessed and From Roses's blogs on shades they often go for, I decided to do my own about my top three failsafe shades which I tend to reach for on a regular basis. When it comes to makeup I tend to gravitate towards similar shades (as the ten nude lipsticks at the bottom of my handbag suggests), so here are three of my failsafe hues that I wear regularly: 

Mauve | Mauve hues are a regular in my makeup bag as they are a variation of the typical nude shade and can be easily worn with a variety of looks. I often wear them on my lips, Colourpop Lumiere Lippie Stix and the Sephora Marvellous Mauve Cream Lip Stain being two of my current go-to's. I can often sport the hue on my cheeks to give a healthy dose of colour. 

Champagne | Whether it's through the use of eyeshadow or highlighter, champagne hues have been a permanent fixture in my makeup bag for some time now. The Nars Rigel Eyeshadow is great at brightening the eye area, whilst products like The Balm's Mary Lou Manizer and 3ina 201 Highlighter* are great at illuminating the cheek bones. They can both be worn with ease on a daily basis and are great at creating a radiant finish. Champagne shades can also be found in primers like the Becca Backlight Priming Filter* whereby you can add a "lit from within" look to your base. 

Berries | It doesn't have to just be the classic burgundy shade to be considered a berry, I have been reaching for warm toned eyeshadows on the lids too in the form of the Colourpop Muse Eyeshadow and Urban Decay Naked Heat Palette. In the colder months, which we're slowly but surely approaching, berries are almost a daily occurrence and as an Autumn enthusiast, I have built up quite a collection. 

What are your go-to shades in makeup?

If a product is marked with a * it is a PR sample. This post contains affiliates. 

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A Sephora Haul

When we were planning our trip to Paris, on the top of my personal to-do list was taking a visit to Sephora. I wasn't planning on spending nearly half as much as I did, but what was supposed to be only one trip quickly turned into four consecutive trips and a very large haul. 

First up is a product I've lusted after for some time, the Too Faced Blinded By The Light Highlighter. I was completely enabled me with this purchase and I'm so glad he did because although I've heard varying views on this, it's great for everyday, natural wear. It's only been a few days, but I can imagine this being dreamy on the cheeks come Autumn too. 

The Too Faced Born This Way Foundation was a completely on a whim purchase as I had a few euros left and was lusting after a new base product to try out. I've heard quite a lot about this one and as I was there to try out the shade range, I decided to go for it. It's lightweight and natural on the skin, making it's 'unidentifiable on the skin' claim to be true, but it is a little heavier than what I'm used to. However, once blended with a beauty blender it creates a flawless base with ease. For the days that I've been wearing it, between the humid heat and having a cold, this has impressed me with how long lasting it is and how as the day goes on, it actually looks better. 

Like the Too Faced foundation, the Kat Von D Lock It Concealer was one that was never on my wishlist to begin with, but I couldn't leave Paris without. The two paired together may be my new transitional base duo as they're super long wearing, medium to high coverage and look great together. It doesn't look cakey at all, so is perfect for wearing underneath the eyes and covering up any blemishes. 

When I first looked at the Sephora Lip Creams, I found the shade range slightly overwhelming. But after a few swatches, I fell in love with the Marvellous Mauve shade and have been wearing it daily ever since. It's got great longevity without being super drying and it can easily be layered if a little bit wears off through eating - So far so good! 

Lastly- for makeup at least- I picked up a new Beauty Blender after my makeup sponge looked worse for wear when I arrived in Paris, so I thought I'd pick another one up. Once you start using a new one, it's crazy to think how you coped with one that was falling apart! 

Skincare was always going to be on the top of my wishlist as I'm slowly preparing for the colder season ahead. The Sephora Sheet Face and Eye Masks were the first items I put into my basket and I could have picked up so many more. I haven't tried any of them yet, but I can't wait to give them a try. 

Talking of skincare, the Skin Food Watermelon Mask was an item I wanted to try purely because of it's resemblance to the Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask. I used this every evening throughout my holiday and it's safe to say I'm smitten already. It's unlike any mask I've tried before as the lightweight, dreamy scented gel formula helps to deeply nourish and replenish my complexion in ten minutes. I'm so glad you can get you hands on this in the UK as I know it'll be a repurchase of mine if I run out of it in Winter. 

The Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Toner has been one of my most coveted items and I'm so glad I picked it up, not just because of the gorgeous bottle, but because of the product itself too. It's too soon to know if I love it or not, but so far so good as it's smells beautiful, is a great finish to my skincare routine and has so far been good at smoothing the skin before makeup application. It was a little bit more expensive through Sephora than if I was to buy it in the UK, but I decided to treat myself there and then whilst I had the excuse. 

What would be on your Sephora wishlist? 

If a product is marked with a * it is a PR sample. This post contains affiliates. 

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What A Year Of Daily Blogging Has Taught Me

It's now been twelve months since I started my daily blogging journey and I can't believe that it's come around that quickly. I've had ups and downs as I slowly learnt what worked well and what didn't, what inspires me to write and how I motivate myself to finding new ideas. Here is what a year of daily blogging has taught me:

You Get More Ideas, Not Less | The most common misconception of daily blogging is that you run out of ideas super quickly and although I've had a few spates of writers block, I've never had as many ideas as I have since daily blogging. Saying this, I can't count the amount of times I've sat down to write a blog post and then realised I've actually already wrote it before.

You'll Have Your Favourite Topics and Seasons | Hands down Autumn and Christmas are my favourite months to create content, I always get inspired and motivated to write blog posts and I rarely feel like I'm churning out content. During the Summer especially towards to end, I end up getting into a bit of a slump, but that's okay, as I soon snap out of it.

My Blog Has Grown and That's Okay | I used to be ashamed to congratulate myself on my blog successes, whether that would be in page views or a brand collaboration I'm super proud of. In the first month of daily blogging, the amount of people reading my blog almost doubled and has continued to grow with each month ..and you know what? I'm proud. I'm proud of my hard work and that people are enjoying it too, but I get quite a lot of people telling me that they blogged daily and saw little to no difference, so I do think it's differs from one person to the next.

Scheduling Helps You Take Time Off | From scheduling your tweets to your blog posts, scheduling has encouraged me to take time off and although it's taken a while, I'm slowly getting into a "normal" work routine where I don't work 7.30am - 11pm 7 days a week and instead I've replaced it with shorter hours and given myself time off at the weekend too. I feel more revived and inspired to get writing come Monday, but it wasn't easy to get that work/life balance.

To-Do Lists Are Your Best Friend | I thought I could last doing the same thing I was doing when I was posting every other day, but soon began to realise that I needed help from calendars and to-do lists too. They help me to keep everything in one place, plan posts in advance and generally feel more organised.

Do you daily blog? Would you consider it?

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The Only Eyeliner I've Been Wearing

Eyeliners are one of those products I always have to have in my makeup bag, but when it comes down to replacing them, I never get adventurous and instead stick to the same one. When I first set eyes on the Clarins Graphik Ink Liner* I didn't think I'd like it, let alone do a whole blog post dedicated to it, but it is truly one of the best gems I've found this year.

The felt tip liner has a nib applicator that's slightly fatter than other one's I've used, but it can still create precise lines and a flawless cat eye. On first swatch, I thought that it would bleed into lines too much and not give the pigmented, black finish that I crave. I was totally wrong as it's long lasting and super intense when applied, meaning I get a sharp winged eyeliner every time. This has lasted through rain, exercising and humid weather without transferring onto the upper lid or wearing out on the outer edge of the wing, so it's safe to say that this has extreme lasting power.

Although it's more expensive than other eyeliners I've been using over the past years, I'm not sure if I could go back to them and this offering is now a firm favourite in my makeup bag.

Have you tried this eyeliner yet?

If a product is marked with a * it is a PR sample. This post contains affiliates.

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The Evening Double Cleanse

In the evening, I like nothing more than to spend a little time removing the day's makeup, cleansing the skin and nourishing it with lotions and potions. I've recently discovered a couple of cleansers that have switched up my evening skincare routine; two dreamy offerings that have transformed the way my skin has felt.

The Nourish Skin Renew Cleanser* is a lotion that works more like a cleansing oil at dissolving any traces of makeup without stinging the eyes or irritating the skin. Enriched with a variety of ingredients such as Rosehip oil which nourishes and Kale, an anti-oxidant which claims to keep the skin supple. It's works in a similar way to that of the Oskia Renisannce Cleansing Gel but doesn't lather up on the skin like the Oskia one does.

After removing the majority of my makeup with the first cleanse, I go onto my second. The Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser is a fairly new addition to my routine, but one that I'm already smitten with purely because of it's scent and very unique formula. When applied, it looks like it'll lather up just like I thought the Nourish one would because of it's almost clear consistency, but instead it doesn't. It's refreshing and makes a bit of change to the usual cleansers on the market. Once I run out of this, which won't be a while yet because I haven't even made a dent yet, I will definitely repurchase it.

What are your favourite cleansers for your evening skincare routine?

If a product is marked with a * it is a PR sample. This post contains affiliates.

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A Becca Round Up

Over the course of the past year or so my Becca collection has expanded, going from just one highlighter to owning a palette, a primer and a few illuminators too. I thought it was about time I shared a brand focus post.

The Backlight Priming Filter* was on my wishlist for some time before I received it and I'm so glad that it's a member of my makeup bag now. This helps to illuminate the complexion- perfect for dull, lacklustre skin- and it never fails to make the foundation I apply on top of it to look perfectly radiant. When applied alongside the Glossier Priming Moisturiser it creates an even base that prolongs the wear of my foundation and plumps the skin too.

I've gone through different phases with the Champagne Pop Highlighter as although its a gorgeous colour, it doesn't always suit the makeup look I'm going for and can sometimes be a little unwearable if I've not fake tanned. When I first tried this and up until recently, I really enjoyed it but slowly it's been making its way to the back of my makeup collection - Maybe I need to rekindle the love again?

A highlighter than completely took me by surprise was the Light Chaser Rose Quartz* offering as the pink hued pink is unlike anything I have in my makeup bag at the moment. It's pink, but also has a gold shift that makes it looks far more natural on the skin than I once thought. It easily brightens the inner corner of my eyes up and can be used heavily on the cheekbones for more of a striking, intense look.

Lastly the highlighters in the Jaclyn Hill Split Pan which has Pamplemousse blusher and Prosecco Pop highlighter; this duo is a great addition to any travel makeup bag and it's shame that they are no longer sold. Prosecco Pop is slightly lighter than it's Champagne cousin which means it does get more use.

The Sunchaser Palette is the newest addition to my Becca collection after I won it in a giveaway and I'm so glad I did as the Opal hue has quickly become a favourite of mine already,;so much so that I can't see how I didn't pick that one out in the first place. It adds a subtle glow that can easily be sheered out or built up for an intense look. The Apricot Blossom blusher is the perfect peachy, pink shade that adds just the right amount of colour to the cheeks, whilst the Ipanema Sunset Sunlit Bronzer is a few shades darker than my other Becca bronzer, but still works great with my skin tone.

Talking of the other Sunlit Bronzer* I own, I have the shade Capri Coast; a shimmering, subtle bronzer that looks absolutely divine with applied on bare skin or with minimal makeup. It's powder formula is still slightly creamy in texture and the finish is very natural, making it great for everyday use.

What are your Becca top picks?

If a product is marked with a * it is a PR sample. This post contains affiliates.

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Keeping Your Blog Photography Interesting: Styling and Composition

Back in the new year I did a blog post all about keeping your blog photography interesting with the use of props and backgrounds. Today I thought I would add to this series by sharing my top tips on how switching up composition and styling your photography can keep your blog images alluring. I've spotted a few of these lately from Gemma Louise and The Beauty Sanctuary, so I thought I'd share my top tips and tricks too.

Flatlays vs From The Side | I love a healthy balance between flatlays and blurry background shots ,as I find that it switches up my blog photography a bit more and enables me to experiment more with props. The angle in my main photograph in this blog post isn't from the side nor a flatlay, so it's important to consider different angles and options when wanting to get the perfect shot.

The Product Can Decide How You Style A Photo | If a product has a reflective surface, is transparent or just hard to photograph, I like to avoid doing flatlays as I get too frustrated too quickly. Contrasting the product with a coloured backgroundsor shooting from the side with the product in the foreground and some other products in the background are possible ways to make it stand out.

A Set Up Can Be Used Multiple Times | If you look back through my photographs, you may find a few sets up that are fairly similar to each other and this is done on purpose. When a particular set up works, I like to chop and change products in and snap away, getting a few images to use throughout the month for different blog posts. This is also a time hack as it can easily help to keep you organised and save time too.

Composition Can Change Everything | This is particularly important when styling flatlays as if you're shooting multiple products, I don't find it very helpful to have them all in the centre of the photograph, so instead  I prefer to strategically place them around the image. A fail safe way of mine is to put a blush pink blanket at the bottom, flowers in the corner and use a few products in the centre and some half out of the frame too. Using lids, makeup brushes and other beauty related items can help a flatlay look more natural and well composed.

What are your top tips on styling and composing your blog photographs?

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Simple Blusher Tips For Beginners

It's only been in the recent years that I've started to wear blusher on a daily basis, as previously I never saw the point in wearing colour on my already flushed cheeks, so instead I wanted to spend my money elsewhere. Recently I've been super smitten with it, so I thought I'd share a lazy girl's guide to it, including some of my own tips.

Cream Products Are More Forgiving | I've got to admit that it's only been this Summer that I've really got into it cream blushers, but the H&M Dusty Rose offering and Glossier Dusk Cloud Paint are two of my favourites. Not only for their dreamy hues, but for how they sit and can be easily applied to the cheeks. If you're a beginner to makeup or you just want a more natural look, then cream products are far more forgiving, especially when blended out using a beauty blender.

Start Small | If you're new to blusher or you've just got that one shade in your collection which you can't bring yourself to wear because you deem it too bright, I'd recommend grabbing a blusher blush, swirling it around, tap off the excess and apply it super lightly to begin with. To avoid too much, you can even apply it to the back of your hand before applying it to the cheeks to make sure you have as little as product on there as possible.

Different Techniques For Different Face Shapes | Of course it goes without saying that makeup is there to be experimented with and therefore you can apply it wherever you please, but I found that since learning where to apply blusher to compliment my own face shape, I've been wearing it much more. Brydie has a great guide to anybody wanting to learn more, but quite simply, I like to avoid the apples of my cheeks as I have a pretty round face.

What Shades Do I Start With? | Once again, I think that Elle will be able to explain it better than I can, but quite simply depending on your skin tone and undertones, different shades will suit you. Of course this is a guide and won't work for everybody, but as someone who is quite pale, I like to steer clear of anything too bright, sticking to neutral pinks.

Some Favourites To Check Out | As I've previously mentioned, the Glossier Dusk Cloud Paint is currently my most worn blusher, I've been wearing it everyday since I got it. The Hourglass Ambient Light Blushers are a long serving favourite of mine, but for a budget option Milani do some amazing picks too.

What are your favourite blushers?

If a product is marked with a * it is a PR sample. This post contains affiliates.

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Five Lifestyle Favourites

I feel like I always share my makeup and skincare top picks, so I thought I would go out of my comfort zone and share my current lifestyle favourites instead.

Shortlisted For Best Beauty Blog | Can you believe that I have been nominated for best beauty blog in the Bloggers Blog Awards? I certainly can't! I have been so overwhelmed with all of your lovely comments and reasons why you've been voting for me. It means so much to know that people still enjoy reading my blog, so if you would like to vote for me then you can HERE.

Game Of Thrones | I've got to admit I was apprehensive about the new Game Of Thrones series, but I've been pleasantly surprised so far. The most recent episode was one of my favourites and I'm really enjoying seeing the shift in characters and everything slowly coming to a conclusion - I'm sure we've got a few more dragons to see yet!

Having A Break | As you're reading this, I'm currently on a mini break and I'm so grateful that I have the ability to take nearly two weeks off from work to relax, explore and take a well earned break. It couldn't come at a better time as I feel in a bit of a lull, what with the weather being all over the place and feeling like Autumn, but expecting the Summer heat wave to return late August anyway. I'm hoping the break will mean that I will feel refreshed and ready to get organised upon my return.

Starting To Introduce Warmer Clothes | Talking of the weather, I've recently bought a blush pink rain coat that I'm super excited to wear as it was an absolute bargain and I'm sure it'll add a well needed pop of colour to my Autumnal wardrobe. In anticipation of the upcoming colder weather, I've stopped myself from picking up Summer clothes and instead am looking at pieces that can be layered and transitioned with ease.

All The Vegetables | I couldn't do a lifestyle favourites post without mentioning my current favourite foods. Baked sweet potato topped with either a pile of cheese or a spicy chickpea curry are two of my go-to's at the moment as it's filling, warming and super tasty. I've had to stop eating parsnips as I can't seem to find any in good condition, so I'm already dreaming of tucking into them come December.

What are your current lifestyle favourites?

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