Scentered || A Natural Remedy*

 

I feel invested in every collaboration I choose to partake in, but this one guys, this one is pretty close to my heart. This post contains anxiety-related content: trigger warning.

 

For me, the first sign that the day is going to take an unwanted turn in terms of my anxiety, is a heavy feeling in my chest that I can't seem to shift. This is usually accompanied by a fast heartbeat and a click in my mind that begins to tell me that its going to be difficult to continue to breathe. Although panic attacks rarely affect me as much as they did when I was sixteen, feeling it creeping up on me every now and again is still one of the scariest moments I find myself encountering. I'm pretty good at breathing exercises (you can find a lot of these online!), but I've found a natural remedy that instantly helps to soothe me and clear my airways - even if they were most likely clear already, it eases my mind.

 

 

When I attended #CarnLIVal a while back, I received a 'Scentered' therapy balm; you apply this product to pulse points in times of stress, inhale, and hopefully the scent will bring you back to a calmer reality. I have to admit I'm a cynic, and I was unconvinced that a 100% natural balm had the ability to do, well, anything. Determined to persevere with the product, I used the 'Love' balm (Rose, Patchouli and Cedarwood) in the middle of the night when I woke feeling anxious, and holy moly this stuff is incredible. I am unbelievably impressed with these balms - regardless of whether the effect is psychological or physical, I continue to be amazed when these calm my mind.

 

Obviously, this doesn't promise to immediately and consistently rescue you. It would be a miracle if it did, and if the antidote to panic did actually exist, I'm sure I wouldn't be first to discover it.  However, focusing on such a strong scent manages to detract focus away from other thought processes, and anything that might help a little is worth looking at, right? I contacted the team at Scentered after keeping the 'Love' balm in my handbag for a couple of weeks, to let them know how much I appreciated the product, and they were kind enough to send over two other balms for review. The 'Be Happy' balm (Grapefruit, Lemon Myrtle and Spearmint)* is described as 'sunshine in a stick', which I think is adorable. The 'Stress Less' balm (Chamomile, Neroli and Mandarin)* is definitely a balm I was grateful for in the last week during my first year university exams. 

 

The balms retail at £14.50, and you can browse the range of natural remedies here, and over on their twitter. If you have a friend or family member with anxiety it can be really tough to know how to help them; mental illness leaves a lot of people feeling powerless. I think this could be a lovely pick me up to give someone to help them through a tough period of life; I wouldn't recommend a product that I don't truly believe in, particularly when it relates to issues like this.

 

Thank you to the team at Scentered for such a comforting product, and I hope some of you benefit like I do from this natural anxiety aid.

 

 

*These products were sent to me to review, but all opinions are my own.

The Bare Minerals Buttercream Lip Glosses || Lip Swatches

 

If there's one beauty find that I've been ecstatic about in the past few months, its definitely the Buttercream Lip Glosses by Bare Minerals. I know what you're probably thinking; there is no way that she can be devoting yet another post to glosses. But here we are, and yes I am. Believe me when I say that these glosses? Life changing.

 

I'd wanted to try these ever since Jaclyn Hill and Kathleen Lights started raving about the shade 'Groovy' (way too light for my liking, but I was obsessed with the idea of a non-sticky, pigmented formula. For those of you who've read my heartfelt dedications to the Colourpop Ultra Glossy Lips, you might recall that that particular formula is the definition of right up my street.) For £17, they aren't the cheapest product, but if you're someone like me who prefers gloss over any other lip category, its well worth a try. I liked the formula so much that I went back and purchased a second shade!



 

The first shade I picked up back in April was 'Flirt' - a beautiful mauve gloss with no shimmer, just high pigmentation and an unreal finish considering that these aren't sticky, at all. Obviously, the universal lip gloss rule still applies, if it's a windy day, don't wear your hair down and pop this on and hope to avoid chaos. It is a gloss, after all. The formula is thick and long wearing, and the colour pay off is so beautiful. I'm not sure how well the paler shades would look (I'm not a fan of the milky lip gloss look), but they've got rave reviews from high profile gurus, so I would probably be assured in the fact that they look just as lovely as the darker shades I chose.

 

The second shade I bought was a bit of a risk considering I usually stick to mauves and brown nudes; 'Heartbreaker' is a dark pink, a step up from the traditional mauve but not yet gravitating into hot pink territory. And surprisingly, its my favourite. It makes my lips look healthy and hydrated, whilst being one of the prettiest pink glosses I've ever laid eyes on. The only thing that doesn't deliver with this product is the "subtle vanilla scent", which must be hella subtle, because I'm just not getting it. It would have been nice to get a buttercream scent that lives up to the name, but we can't fight all battles at once.



 

I would highly recommend these, even when taking the price into consideration. As always, the quality of Bare Minerals packaging is 10/10, and if you leave the disappointing scent out of the equation, I'd give the glosses that score to match. They definitely rival my Colourpop favourites; currently on my makeup shelf at university I have all my essential glosses lined up, and the Bare Minerals/Colourpop combo is all that I need. I know without a doubt that these babies are going to make it into my 2017 roundup.

 



Flirt, Heartbreaker

 

A Little Bit of Truth || Mental Health Awareness Month

 

As you can probably tell from the ominous title and the non-descript photo, this is going to be a rambly, personal post. Welcome. One of my favourites to write but definitely my least favourite to publish; I've never been the bravest fish in the sea.

 

It bugs me how social media can make life look a lot more shiny that it actually is, and I'm well aware that the nature of my posts portray my everyday life as a series of new lipsticks and planned instagram shots. In reality, those moments exist, but they're a tiny fraction of my life and it isn't all sunshine and rainbows, all the time (particularly when you live in the North). In the spirit of Mental Health Awareness Month I thought I'd write a little something real, a little something true. There's been an ache within me lately to transition mental health writing onto this blog, so I guess we'll start here. With me. And hopefully, it might help.

 

Christmas was a tough time, I'm just going to blurt that out and hope for the best. Putting things in writing often clarifies them for me, and the truth is, I was extremely close to not going back to University. For those close to me that might read this, I don't think you'll ever understand just how close. As a girl who spent most of high school thinking about university and how I couldn't wait to be surrounded by likeminded people, finding it to be tough was a little bit heart breaking. When I chose my accommodation, I was immediately drawn to self-catered. I'm a picky eater, meat isn't always my best friend, and it just made sense. Until it didn't. During significant periods of my teenage life, food has been my most difficult, toxic relationship. I've had the heartbreak of a manipulative boyfriend, but nothing compares to the manipulation you can force upon yourself. And pushing myself into a new situation, completely in control of my own eating habits, brought some pretty ugly thoughts back to the surface. There's nothing quite like sobbing on the kitchen floor at 9pm because of a bowl of pasta. It's hard to understand, I know. But Mental Health Awareness Month is here, so let's all try, shall we?

 

It's extremely easy to deny mental illness; to push it away and try to "be brave". For a long time, I blamed my food issues on other things. And its true, low points in my life in other areas, do bring out the worst in my mind. Addressing the issue head on, however, has been a huge part of the last few months. Going back and sitting alone in my uni bedroom on that first day of semester two was, I think, probably the bravest thing I've ever done. Bouncing back from a shatter of confidence is not an ideal situation to deal with, but sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do. And I know that dropping out would have been my biggest regret in the long run. Now, when I look back at the December/January period, I don't even recognise the girl crying on the kitchen floor, and thinking of how much I nearly gave up scares me. Things aren't perfect (is perfect even real?) but putting yourself on the right track is just as important as reaching the end of it.

 

Don't get me wrong, I still have bad days/weeks, and despite the fact that I'm an extremely happy/excitable person, I still lie in bed at night and deal with a lot of thoughts. And that's okay. I'm prepared to get there, and I realise now that I'm never alone, even if those close to me struggle to understand what my mind conjures up when I least expect it. If you're reading this online confession, and thinking, hey, this sounds familiar, you aren't alone either. Tell someone, anyone. A doctor, a friend, maybe even start with your cat. Talking helps, I promise.

 

These past few months have not been easy, but they've taught me a lot about my own strength. *Cue Whitney Houston* I might be small, but I am mighty. And believe me, you can be too.

 

Two New Concealer Picks

 

And I'm back!

 

Getting into the swing of things again at university has been time consuming and I haven't had a lot of time to sit down and write, but I thought that after trialling these two new concealers for about a month now, it was time to give them a review.

 

Concealer is my number one essential when it comes to make up, and whether you have blemished skin or not, its a lifesaver for those days when you wake up and those under eyes make it seem like you haven't slept in weeks. The new pick that I'm most excited about is definitely 'Fit Me' by Maybelline - a product I've heard lots about but never managed to pick up in my shade before this. I bought it from Amazon for around £5 in the shade 'fair', for porcelain skin.  I don't know if you've noticed, but my skintone is as pale as you can get, and this concealer does the job.

 

I absolutely adore this concealer. The coverage for such a simple product is incredible, I regularly skip foundation and just use this to even out my skin. It blends perfectly with a make up sponge (I'm honestly not sure what I did in my life prior to using a sponge to blend out concealer), and stays put all day long if you set it with a powder. My personal favourite combination is the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer and the Soap and Glory translucent powder, which is quickly becoming my all time go-to. £5 for a concealer that applies easily and covers any blemish is a win in my eyes, particularly when the finish is matte.

 

The Liquid Concealer from 3ina however (you can check it out here) is a different story entirely. When I took a trip to London I visited the store and the make up artist tried the concealer on my skin, and at the time I was completely convinced that it was a product that I had to have. I bought the shade 101, which is a light concealer with yellow undertones to counteract the redness in my skin, and although the shade is ideally matched, I'm not a fan of the consistency or formula of this product. The applicator applies the make up in a patchy, feathery way so that not enough concealer is transferred, and the finished look is rather cakey. I think we all know that that isn't quite what we're looking for when we cover up our dark circles. 

I'd be interested to try more from the brand regardless of this one minor fail, because you can't judge a new company based on one thick concealer - which reminds me, if you're a fan of thick and creamy concealers, you might actually be on the right track with this one.  The saving grace for this purchase is that the packaging is very simple and chic; matte black does things to me like no other make up design can.

 

Let me know what you thought if any of you have tried this, I'd be intrigued to know if anyone else felt the same about either of these concealers.

 

A Few Thoughts On 13 Reasons Why

I realise that this post doesn't have flashy photography or the most light-hearted of topics, but some things just need to be said, you know?

If you’re a regular on Netflix, then it’s likely that you’ve stumbled across or heard about the newest viral TV addiction; 13 Reasons Why. Primarily, the buzz surrounding the show might have been related to Selena Gomez being the producer, but now that eyes have turned to the production itself, the focus has changed. It’s a teenage suicide storyline, and one that I have my doubts about the safety of.

When I was sixteen, and my high school conducted mock interviews, I remember sitting there, hands shaking a little, when the interviewer asked what my favourite book was. Finally, a topic that I felt I could talk about for hours. The answer came immediately to me, I had never read a book as poignant as 13 Reasons Why (written by Jay Asher), a book that taught me the power of words and the consequences that you think nothing of in the split second it takes you to act. The TV show, clearly aiming to do the same thing, seems like a misguided attempt in my eyes. A creation made in support of the vulnerable, without actual thought for the vulnerable audience watching.

I am all for raising awareness about mental illness; it’s critical that we step up and address the issues that affect such a large proportion of the population. There’s a difference however, between raising awareness, and completely missing the issue at hand. 13 Reasons Why portrays Hannah’s suicide as a mystery; who will the next perpetrator be, the next tape? Teenage suicide is a subject often skirted around, so it makes no sense that when a team decides to address it head on, it’s treated like a game. There is also an extreme lack of attention paid to mental illness itself, the basis behind such realistic storylines lost in the revenge plot. If you're a member of the audience, watching in the hope to better understand mental illness, I don't think this is the best platform for it.

My main dislike for the adaptation manifests itself in a few, key scenes. Mental health organisations have expressed concern for the audience watching episodes containing suicide, self-harm, and sexual assault, all of which are intense. And graphic. Awareness is important in today’s society, but surely some elements should remain subtle. Trigger warnings are included, which is one saving grace for the show, but the graphic content still remains an issue. Not everyone that should listen to trigger warnings, do. That vulnerable audience, sitting in their bedrooms and relating to Hannah, being presented with a glorified instruction list, need to be protected. If you identify with the classmates that added to her justification for death, you’re likely to walk away slightly more conscientious. If you identify with Hannah, there is a potential to leave with something a lot more dangerous. A justification for your own.

It’s clear when you press play that this was a movement with innocent, and well-intended, motives. For the majority of people watching, it has likely had a positive influence – left room for thought, and time to consider the way in which we treat our peers. For those like the protagonist, I am left with the fear that the programme may have inspired the opposite of what they set out to do.

 

I would love to hear your thoughts about the programme; talking about this is something that should be encouraged, not shied away from.

 

The New-In Drawer

 

If there's one task I turn to if I want to chill myself out, its re-organising my Alex Drawers (I've only just realised how sad that sounds, but I'm sure some of you will relate). During my latest therapeutic sort-out, I decided to incorporate a 'new-in' drawer, since I constantly have new products that I need to trial and review, and shoving them in the back of other drawers occasionally leads me to forget about them. I thought it might be interesting to show you a few items from the drawer, as a little sneak peek of what I'm currently trying out, and what might feature over here during the next few weeks.

 

First up is a repurchase, but I know that the product had a rebrand, and let me tell you, I'm kinda in love with the revamp. The Urban Decay setting sprays cannot be beaten in terms of keeping your make up in place, I remember reviewing one a couple of years ago after I used it in Death Valley (one of the hottest places on Earth), and my makeup didn't slide. I know. This time I went for the travel size; the spray lasts forever and it seemed more economical to just buy the small version for now. So far, I love this just as much as the large version, and this only set me back £10. 

 

Next up is the bareMinerals Gen Nude Buttercream Lip Glosses, which I won't talk much about considering I have a lip swatch and review post scheduled, but man these are beautiful. Formula, colour range, pigmentation, you name it, this product has it. So much so that I went back and bought another one. You know how critical I can be of glosses, but these just hit the spot.

 

The Tropic 'Spotlight' highlighter was sent to me to review, and I have been absolutely loving it under my foundation for a light, natural glow. You can read my full thoughts on this product (and another Tropic Limited Edition summer addition) over here. As someone that usually gravitates toward powder highlights, I was surprised at how easily I took to this. I'm keeping it in the new-in drawer however, so it doesn't get lost in the chaos of my highlight drawer, which is a hot mess.



 

The Makeup Geek Plush Matte Lip Cream in Daredevil is a liquid crème lipstick that I was gifted at a blogger event, and when I saw how bold this colour was, my heart sank a little, as I don't usually stray much from the nude/mauve spectrum. I was also given a bright pink, which sadly is way too bold for me to pull off, but I tried Daredevil a couple of days ago and its a beautiful lilac. Not too neon or bold to be wearable; I am over the moon to have found a lilac that I feel comfortable wearing, so this is staying in my trial drawer for the foreseeable future.

 

Finally, for my 19th I received the Real Techniques Blush Brush, something I've had on my wish list for a long time. The Real Techniques brushes make up the majority of my collection, and since I don't own any other brushes that cater specifically to blush, this seemed like a good choice for an addition. So far I really like the way that this applies blush, but I still need to play around with it as I don't quite have the blush technique down. One thing I will mention though, it that this brush is incredibly soft, a factor that I find makes it much easier to apply a light layer of product. 

 

What products have you got lined up to try next?

Tropic Shimmer Collection || Summer 2017*

You all know how much I adore my Tropic skincare routine, so when their PR contacted me to ask if I wanted to try out the new Summer launch of products, I practically jumped at the chance. I was sent the 'Spotlight' Cream Highlight* and the 'Summer Goddess' Shimmering Body Oil*, but I also know that they've released some sun protection products and deliciously scented shower gels. If summery products tickle your fancy, you can check out the whole collection over here.

Let's start with the cream Highlight, which retails for £18 and is described on the website as a "soft shimmer highlighter to brighten and illuminate your complexion, while enhancing cheekbones and creating a dewy glow". I'm usually much more of a powder highlight girl, I find them easier to apply and sometimes I find that cream/liquid highlights are too intense for the natural look that I prefer. Spotlight is perfect for pale complexions, a pale pink shimmer that looks beautiful underneath or over foundation for a soft glow. I like that this works well under my base if I want a natural look, as a lot of creams don't blend into foundation well. This is an expensive highlight, but you don't get any texture (it contains Vitamin E for moisture) which is a major bonus, and it feels lovely on the cheeks. I would label this as a less intense and more wearable version of High Beam by Benefit, and although it isn't it's primary use, this also looks gorgeous dabbed onto the eyelids!

The Shimmering Body Oil (£28) is by far what I was most excited to try out, considering I've never played with a product like this before. You apply the body oil onto your skin and massage until the oil sinks in - I was worried that this might give my arms and legs the glittery disco ball effect, but in reality it just leaves a gorgeous summery shimmer that looks amazing for a night out or on holiday. A little amount goes a long way, which is ideal since the price is quite high, and it smells incredible. The oil has "scents from Tahitian and bourbon vanilla", and whilst this isn't sickly, it does leave a subtly sweet scent on your skin, like the summery sun cream scent you associate with the beach. Another element that I love is that it doesn't leave your skin feeling tacky or oily like some body oils would, but just adds moisture so that you can get away without your typical body butter/cream. This product would make a lovely gift for someone spending time in the sun in the upcoming months, and you need to catch it quick as this beauty is a limited edition product.

Thank you to the team at Tropic for giving me a glimpse inside the new summer collection; I'm so impressed, particularly as I've never trialled their makeup range before. If you're looking for a couple of new additions to your routine to spice things up for summer, then I'm confident that you'll love these items.

*These products were sent to me for review, but all opinions are my own.