Finding your skin type

A lot of people get fustrated when they cant find the right product for them (make up or skincare) or when something doesnt work for them as it does for someone else.. its all about your skin, obviously application helps too!

Which is why i wamted to write this.

 Something that may seem easy, but actuallly can be very more confusing than one might think. Although i have a beauty qualification, it is still something i found very baffling until i did some more research and took the time to actually care about it! BUT I am no means a expert or specialist.

Many types of skin and soo many types of products but which one is right for you?

Firstly if you are struggling i would suggest going to see someone (more than one actually) at a skincare counter and get their opinion. 

☆ Just because your skin may not feel dry doesn't mean it isnt dehydrated- some people mistake them for the same thing.

  Dry skin may feel rough or only come up in certain patches of flaky/scaly textures, it might look slightly more coarse than normal nd products may stick to patches. Whacking aload of cream on it isnt going to help, it helps if you use a oil or serum and a cream that is oil based to bring moisture back. When it comes to cleansing, i have found foam cleansers tend to dry your skin out more, so i would stick to a cleansing balm or something you know isnt drying.

 Dehydrated skin may mean your skin looks slightly duller and can some times be noticed if you have fine lines on your forhead from not drinking enough and staying, well... hydrated. This means you cant necerssarily use the same product as you would for dry skin, its best to use a serum and a moisturiser that is water based. 

☆ You could have a certain shine to your skin, it could sometimes be released sweat and not necessarily oily skin.

Oily skin is excess oil (excess meaning over producing natural oils) which can cause black heads and spots. Majority of people with oily skin will have open or bigger pores which causes it to clog easier sometimes causing said spots and black heads. Over cleansing your skin will not help this as your skin once its clean, has to restore the natural oils and starts to work harder the more it gets taken away.

Combination skin is probably the hardest to maintain as it requires you to balance your skin. You may sometimes be oily or some days you might have drier skin, like wise you could get an oily T-zone and the rest of your skin is dry. I find what is best is giving it products for dry skin and oily skin, so if you cleanse your skin with something oil free then your moisturiser could be oil based to balance o

ut your skin so you're hitting the right amount for each skin types.

Obviously a lot of people know when it comes to make up oil free products are normally for oily skin so you're not adding to the mass and your makeup wont go south and oil based products tend to be good for drier skin.. putting a oil free primer on oily skin is good because it normally means you've got bigger pores so a primer for oily skin tend to be oil free and mattifying whereas dry skin works better with a tackier textured, oil based primer so your makeup with press into your primer instead of your dry skin.

Again.. combination skin just means you need to combined a variation of products, so a mattifying primer with a dewy foundation or vice versa, if you really wanted to apply certain products to certain parts of your skin to counteract you skin type.

Having the right skin care routine can work wonders but what I will say is :

1. Try to switch your products up every now and then just so your skin doesn't get used to it (because that may cause problems)

2. Sometimes a simple skin routine could be what you need, why feed your skin more than it needs? When it could occasionally benefit from the minority of products on your bathroom shelf.

Again I'd like to say im not a professional, this is just what I have learnt and somethings that I find work.

If you are still intrigued about what your skin is truly like, you can always visit a few skincare counters to get a few different opinions.

Thankyou for reading.

Meg x

To gym or not to gym?

Its time for gin... oh no wait, gym!

The majority of people dont necessarily like going to the gym or find it more of a chore.. I am one of those people!

Exercise, in any form, It is one of those things that kind of has to be done, not to lose weight but to keep healthy.

I have always been similar a weight, I yo-yo between a few pounds but nothing drastic.

Going to the gym for me is more about staying healthy and mainly to tone up; I like to keep a bit of muscle in my legs and keep the shape in my bum!

My problem is not with working out at the gym its with actually going, I have to find the motivation to actually put on layers of Lycra and find the effort to go!

When people think of the gym, they think: sweaty betty's, huffing and panting leaving all stiff which admittedly is part of it but what I actually enjoy is being able to clear my head and leave with increased energy whilst staying fit.. basically killing two birds (or three) with one stone.

Its not about losing weight or dropping dress sizes so dont pressure yourself, stick to what you are comfortable with and bring on the motivation by thinking of all the good things that is does plus I feel like I've achieved something once i've been which is fab!

Put the gin down!
I think exercise is something we should all be doing and not enough of us actually are. Just under 50% of the people I asked say they don't go to the gym because they have no motivation,  So..find what motivates YOU
, whether that be certain activities, (running, trampolining, yoga) just the fact you bought a super cute gym outfit or you love being outside!! It all helps.

Whats your fave way to excercise?
Meg x

The products that brought my healthy hair back

Although I have always had hip length hair, It's always been pretty healthy.
I get bored quite easily with my hair but then I also get bored and impatient in the process of a change.

Little back story: I've bleached my hair about three times (this being the third) and its been completely fine, might I add, either my hair couldn't take another go, or I put waay too much on, way too quick.

Lets get to the point.. my ends were dead after the ombre, they were shedding away as they had lost their elasticity.. so I cut it.
I cut it from my belly up to my boobs (ohh what a mistake, my tubby face can't handle a short cut).

If you've had both brunette and blonde hair you'll know you're hair looks much healthier, brunette.
Knowing this I went back brunette, to hide the hay until I could restore it.

Obviously what you're here for is to find out what products I've been using to give it a kiss of life.

Before I put anything on it after I cut it, I covered it in coconut oil to revive it a bit after it took a killing from chemicals!

I make sure I only wash it every other day, at most, just to get some of the natural oils back into my hair. Half of those washes I use a hair mask instead of a conditioner, my favourite is L'oreal Elvive restore mask.

I have been trying to do a few little things to help along the way but the main reason i'm writing this is because of the Tresemme Keratin Smooth shampoo and conditioner. I have always had a love hate relationship with Tresemme as I feel like they make your hair feel great but on the other side of things, they can make my hair quite greasy and heavy.. as someone with long, fine hair that was a bit of a issue because I never liked the flat look.

BUT (and a very big but) after wondering around Superdrug desperate to find something to make my hair look and feel some what normal again, I picked the Tresemme up.. mainly because I knew the brand made my hair feel soft, plus it was on offer too, so I thought it couldn't hurt to pick these up. I hadn't seen them around before, however I think that's due to them being repackaged? I'm not totally sure tho? ...

...Anyway, the first time I used this (bare in mind my hair was brittle and got really knotty) I was actually shocked and actually very happy that my hair felt great again! I could literally run my fingers through my hair with no interruption, which I've not actually been able to do properly since the bleaching. My hair was so soft, and had that newly dyed hair shine!

So as you can imagine i am very pleased to have found a product that has tamed my hair again, i've never really had much trouble with my hair until now, but i can finally straighten it with out it going bushy at the ends and finally brush it without it snapping!! I always finish my hair off after getting out the shower with Umberto Giannini Mend My Hair serum- it has been a life saver for a few years now, however i know they have changed their packaging too and can't seem to find the exact one.

Just a few products that have helped my hair and can maybe help you too!

what are your hair miracles?

Thanks for reading!

Meg x

Lessons I learnt when starting a blog

1. Everything is not what it seems

is one thing that circulates social media quite a bit, the fact people put themselves down a lot because their blog, instagram isn't quite as well polished as everyone else's or that their life doesn't seem so great. No ones life is perfect not even for the person themselves, Pictures are deceiving, yes they might be off at a luxe resort in Bali or be splashed across a magazine for an AD campaign but everyone has troubles: Relationships, Family, Money, Self confidence. It is all ok, no matter what your life is like, you are the only one who can make your life the way you want it.

2. A small start

Everyone has to start somewhere and unfortunately that is the bottom! Engagement isn't going to happen over night, it takes time; some longer than others. Keep at it even if you feel like you are getting no where. 

3. Social media is your best friend

Although this is quite a obvious one, it really helps! I, myself have always tried to spread the word about my blog, i can openly admit i have never pushed it hard enough. I realised this recently when i put a lot more effort in to my socials and stepped away from blogging (i am not saying drop the blog for the internet.. keep at it guys!) the time and effort i put in to engaging on instagram and twitter really proved its worth. Liking and commenting on photos, posting on blogging trains, Hashtags and retweeting others work!

4. It's ok to say NO

I agree it may be exciting getting your first collab/sponsor with brands, however don't let that stray you. It is ok to promote a brand just to get exposure in return, if you are comfortable with it, it is the best way to start getting involved with brands. Having said this once you hit the right time, the right following and the right engagement, it is acceptable to turn down things because they have not offered enough, you need to know your worth. You may be sent lots of fab thing, you might be sent nothing but make sure you are in it for the right reasons eg. compatible content, similar beliefs/interests, a brand you enjoy or something that's relevant to you! Everyone loves tea but dont go advertising a tea-tox if you blog about fashion and you're just doing it about the money or product, promoting lip plumper if you are a food blogger, if its not for you just say no! 

5. Ask for help

I dont think i need to explain this one but anything you are struggling with, near enough everyone has been there! if you dont understand ask someone: a fellow blogger, google, twitter. Express your concerns, someone will help you, even if you have run out of ideas, every blogger has been through the small struggles of, blogger or wordpress, URL, schedules. Even to this day there is a lot of things i still have no idea about, the same as some others!

Just a few things i have learnt from my small time of blogging and inevitably there is more to come!

please feel free to ask me anything or share your own lessons learnt.

Thank you for reading!

Megx 

Beauty favourites that tested time

Every month there is hundreds of new beauty products that appear on the market and dont get me wrong I LOVE testing a new product in the works BUT that doesn't mean I forget my originals.

Here I am going to be talking about my oldies but goldies because there are still some products that I cant get over that I first fell in love with.

Lets jump in with a first favourite which is a high-street foundation. Rimmel 25 hour foundation is a lovely foundation however i will openly admit it wont last all day if you are up and about all day, other than that it is a lovely thick base with lots of coverage but still lets through a  natural glow, for those who like the best of both worlds.

Obviously I couldn't write this post without including collection lasting perfection because well it was one of the first concealers I bought and I still use it now. Its thick and creamy, that's all i'm going to say about that, because you should already know!

Rimmel long lasting lip liner, firstly they are retractable which are my fave kind of liners and the creamy texture to them are lovely to apply, these are pretty much the only lip liners I buy!

Estee Lauder sumptuous infinite mascara is a high end product I will always re purchase because its rare for me to find a mascara I love! I was shocked to fall in love with this 2/3 years ago when I realised it had a thin, plastic wand (not normally ma thing) damn was I surprised,  any time my eyelashes are looking on point, I'll be wearing this.

Maybelline falsies mascara, I feel like there was no drugstore mascara before this one, it was a fave for everyone and for everyone who didn't think so, you are doing life wrong. Such a basic mascara with a wand from the heavens that made it work! Obviously i like a bristle wand so that's a plus, but it also has great staying power, the non-waterproof formula stays just as good as the waterproof ones.

Malin and Goetz lip balm, one for all you dry lip lasses. I use this still to this day, lip balm is a thing you have about 100 of and apply constantly because you think its working but more than likely its just sitting on your lips, BUT this one I can actually feel it working even after all these years, minutes after having it one my lips they feel renewed. Also no stick which is what we all want. It has a protective layer which stops it from budging off your lips the second something touches it.

I feel like I have gone on a bit and could go on even more for another few paragraphs, I could.... but I wont for your sake.

Any way I hope you enjoyed my post of products that have got me through from the start of my beauty life and will forever (hopefully) be on this list.

What beauty products have been your day ones? Mwah!

Megan
    X

A faux tan to start the summer off

I haven't posted for a little while but I thought I would talk to you today about a fake tan.
Fake tan is definitely a hit or miss! There's so many disappointments out there that leave you with a oompa loompa glow or have that 'covered in jam' feel.
I however have found one that I am loving recently!

Superdrugs Solait tan.
They don't really have a specific name and im not 100% sure whether these are new
Or if they have just been repackaged. If you don't know Solait is Superdrugs own range of sun care and if I am totally honest I seen a photo on someones instagram and I just thought the packaging was super cute so when I went in to Superdrug to pick up a few bits, again the packaging just drew me in, I couldn't decided which formula to get but then I realised it was on buy one get one half price (wooo!) So I picked up the dark foam and the medium lotion.
I used the foam first because im slightly more used to a foam tan so I gave that one ago, first impression was the smell (IT IS NOT A FAKE TAN SMELL!!) It smells slightly tropically so that's always good. So this one is an instant then after a few hours the colour builds up, the initial colour is a tad orange because its quite dark but once I had washed it off the next morning if was such a lovely streak less colour which im really happy with.

I then tried the lotion which is also instant but this is a wash off formula so great to use for a night out or if you need a quick faux tan, I wouldn't really recommend putting this on top of another tan to darken it up... it doesn't work well, but on its own it actually works quite nicely and rubs in really well, I found it is good to use on the face because you don't use alot and it rubs in without leaving your face like a wotsit.

I am actually very surprised by the results of these tans and I am now in love especially with the foam tan, normally with own stores brands you'd think they would be a little crap but these fake tans work just as good as some bigger brand but a a quarter of the price...bonus!

Let me know whether you've tried them? I think they are going to be a gem in peoples lives!

Also if you didn't see my last video click Here.
What's your fave tan?

See you soon lovelies x

Empties // Beauty products

So i thought i would do my first Empties post, so you can see whether i've been loving these products or not. I thought this time i would do it as a video instead of a blog post, so here is my very first You Tube video. Be patient. Here.

Thanks for stopping by.
Meg x

Products Youtube made me buy / Beauty

I don't normally give in to all the beauty hypes that everyone seems to obsess over unless i instantly get hooked as soon as i see it.
There is a few products that i wasn't too fussed about getting hold of but eventually gave in and here are my thoughts.

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish: A very raved about product but they were not wrong in doing so, also a product i have wanted for a very long time but never got round to buying it. Its a lovely lightweight cream cleanser, it definitely does its job and worth the buy but i do have a few other cleansers i may reach for first however i don't regret buying it as it does leave my skin feeling super soft.

One product that i think everyone has tried at least once as it had such a good turn out for a smaller high street brand. Collection Lasting perfection Concealer, for me since they released that concealer their make up game got that little bit stronger and started bringing out some other really good products. Personally i think its a really good coverage but it doesn't look cakey or crease loads paired with the right powder, the best thing is they even have a pale enough shade for my skin which is normally quite hard to find in a concealer.

On to another concealer that I'm not all to impressed with is Maybelline Eraser Eye concealer, firstly they have very limited shades so unless you're a shade nude or light (meaning the tiniest bit lighter than nude, not light) then you might want to try a different concealer. I have shade light which is a little bit darker than my foundation.. so not really light enough for us ivory chicks. It also has a medium coverage but i don't find it does an awful lot for me.

Urban Decay all nighter setting spray was one hyped up product.. although i kind of went along with this one because i hadn't really heard any bad reviews plus the primer potions work fab, so i thought this might work just as well. Being quite excited when i bought it, it disappointed me as i didn't see a massive different, maybe i used it wrong or something but this product didn't quite do the trick for me. Hence why it isn't in this photo as i gave it away.

Lastly a highlight brighter than the moon, one everyone, their friends and their friends dogs were talking about, even now after its been out for a while. I do to agree with all those people that it is a lovely highlight, maybe a little too powdery for me but it lasts ages and the iridescent glow it gives also lasts all day, it is definitely one of my favourite highlighter, it is quite handy to take with you too as it has quite a big mirror and is very slim.