CONFIDENCE

As I sit at my desk looking at the pictures on my walls of my friends and I over the last few years, the first thing that comes to mind is how happy, carefree, and most importantly, confident, I look. Now that I’m in my second year of university I can safely say that the person I am now is very different to the person I was a few years ago, and that is all down to self-confidence, something which 5”2, frizzy-haired me certainly didn’t have back in secondary school.

Confidence means different things to different people, but for me, one of the biggest hurdles to overcome, leading towards self-confidence, is not caring what other people think. It’s so easy to get caught up in other people’s opinions and wanting to fit in, but really, in the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t matter if the Regina Georges of the world don’t like your skirt; if you do, then rock it. During fresher’s week I was beyond stressed about what my new flatmates thought of me, trying to fit in and worrying that I’d be judged for going down to breakfast in halls in pyjamas, that I nearly forgot to have fun. One year later and I’m best friends with the people I lived with in first year and some of my closest friends are those I bonded with over our slipper choices. Remember, you do you.

As someone who has always been very insecure, learning to love my imperfections was one of the most difficult, but most important steps to 'being' confident. So what if you’ve got a spot resembling a unicorn horn in the middle of your forehead (like I did for prom, and yes, it was almost the end of the world back then)?! You accept it, apply a face mask and move on because everyone is in the same position. Coming to university presented a whole new audience to hypothetically laugh at my insecurities, but inevitably, as I’m sure many of you can relate to, this didn’t happen, because we’re not in primary school anymore. Everyone has elements they don’t like about themselves and that’s ok.

Although I feel like I’ve got a lot of traits down to a T when it comes to confidence, something I will always struggle with is self-belief. I’ve never been able to sit down and say to myself ‘hey, this is going to be really good’ or ‘you can do it!’ – it can be something as simple as attempting a perfect winged liner, to something just as nerve wracking like a driving test (which I still haven’t passed 2 years later), self-assurance just doesn’t come naturally. I keep reminding myself that becoming confident in yourself is a journey and it takes time – it’s something I’m constantly working on.

So, if I could go back in time, what would I tell my 16-year-old self? The main thing would be ‘you’re fab, don’t listen to what anyone one else says’. Do what makes you happy and what you love, it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. There are so many things that I didn’t do because I was so worried about other people’s opinions and it’s only now I’m that little bit older that I’ve finally realised it doesn’t matter. Also, don’t hide the amazing things you’re doing from the people around you because you’re worried they might laugh – I wish I’d told my friends about my blog back in 2014 when I first started writing, instead of keeping it a secret. The most important thing I’d tell myself though? Wear that black lipstick to your Year 11 prom with pride, you looked fierce.

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask Review

When the winter begins to roll in, not only do temperatures here in the UK start to fall, but the hydration of my skin plummets too and as someone with combination-oily skin, this is very stressful. OK, maybe that's a slight exaggeration, but I just didn't have the right products in my collection to bring my skin back to life, until I came across this beaut. 

I've always favoured clay-based, anti-blemish face masks (which I talked about here), but I've been interested to try the Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask for a while now. At around £20, I didn't really fancy the investment, and put it off for ages. However, whilst wandering around the CCO the other day, I found the mask in mini size for only £9, and instantly fell in love.

The mask itself is a pale yellow shade, and is extremely thick in consistency. The idea is that you cover your face in the product, leave it on overnight, and wake up with beautiful, hydrated skin. It claims a lot... but boy oh boy does it deliver. I was super impressed at how amazing my skin felt in the morning - it was plump and glowing! I find that using this mask just once or twice a week is sufficient, and I will definitely be buying the full size version when I've run out of the mini.

Do you have any winter skin saviors? I'd love to hear them!

Autumn, You're Making Me Blush

It's that time of the year again where I break out those berry hues, put away the bronzer and whip out my heavier foundations, as we finally reach autumn. I love autumn - the crisp chill in the air, the red leaves on the ground and switching up my makeup for deeper, darker shades. Not only do I tend to wear darker lipstick and darker nail polish, but I also swap my coral blushes for something a bit more season-appropriate, so here are my favourite autumn blushes. 

(L-R: Sleek Fenberry, Tarte Fearless and Bobbi Brown Desert Rose)

The Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Fearless is a deep, pinky coral shade, and although I said I tend to put away those summery hues, I really just can't help but keep this one close to hand - I'd say it's more of a pink with a slight coral tint to it. It gives me a beautiful glow, and has a brightening effect on the face, which is especially useful in these colder months when I tend to resemble a ghost.

For a more natural blush, I go for the Bobbi Brown Blush in Desert Pink (18), which is a matte, rosy shade. As with all Bobbi Brown products, it has fab pigmentation and is great quality. I think this would look good on many skin tones, and is definitely worth a swatch, despite its misleading, slightly dull appearance in the pan. 

Sleek's blush in Fenberry completes my autumnal trio, and is the perfect matte, brown-toned, dusty rose shade (it appears more orange-based on camera). It really sculpts the face, making my cheekbones more prominent without the use of a contour, and adds a nice warmth. Unfortunately, this colour was limited edition a few years ago, as part of their Berry Collection, but Sleek do another blush which is extremely similar, in the shade 'Flushed'.  

So there you have it, my top 3 blush picks for autumn. I'd love to hear some of your favourites as I'm always on the lookout for new products (c'mon Amy, restrain yourself). 

GOSH Holographic Hero Nail Polish Review

I'm a magpie. There, I said it. I may not have wings but I am obsessed with anything shiny or sparkly, and that's where this nail polish comes in. Whilst chatting over a Wagamamas, my friend (hi Ellie) showed me a picture of the GOSH Holographic Hero Nail Polish, and it was love at first sight. 

(Taken with flash)

I had high hopes for this nail polish, and although it isn't as holographic as some of the more expensive ones I've seen, it certainly has a sparkle to it. GOSH is stocked in Superdrug here in the UK, and for £3.99 you can't go wrong.

The polish itself is fast drying and has a pretty basic brush, but glides on smoothly and lasts well without chipping. I would still advise finishing your mani off with a top coat to get extra wear out of it and to give it a shine. In normal light, the polish looks like a sparkly silver shade, but when the light hits it, it produces a beautiful holographic, multi-coloured sheen which is AH-MAZE-ING. 

Do you have any other holographic nail polish suggestions? I'm currently more than a little obsessed.