WHY I DON'T WEAR MAKEUP TO WORK

I started wearing makeup at the age of 11. Originally this was a powder foundation compact I borrowed from my Nans house and then, like most girls this age in the noughties, I graduated to the ever so coveted dream matte mousse.  3 shades too dark and thick as mud this launched me into the world of cosmetics – uneducated and easily influenced I was obsessed with covering my face with whatever all of my friends were wearing. This continued into my teens and although I finally dropped the dream matte mousse and glitter eyeliner the demand that I needed to have flawless skin and rosy cheeks had embedded itself into my brain. I remember waking up for school each day – 2 hours before I was due to leave the house to start the lengthy process of making myself look ‘presentable’. I would wash my hair, blow dry it and then curl it each morning (those that know me know that I have natural ringlets so why I felt this was necessary is beyond me). Then I would sit on the floor of my bedroom opposite my mirror and obsessively cover every blemish, coat my lashes in mascara and apply about 10 layers of lip gloss.

Fast forward 10 years from my Nan's powder foundation compact and I have been working in beauty PR for over a year. Moving into the professional world of work was scary, not to mention working with people that had literally moulded the beauty industry into what it is today. So I would show up every day as always, with perfectly styled hair and a full face of makeup – contour and all. Unexpectedly this is when my unhealthy attitude towards beauty changed. I had always worn makeup to feel comfortable and confident, and I worried people were scanning me thinking ‘you look tired’ or ‘your skin is awful’. I began to notice that the people around me who I admired and looked up to would show up one day with blue mascara and a red lip, and the next with just a hint of tinted moisturiser. They didn’t care. They weren’t wearing makeup because they felt the need to blend in, they were wearing makeup because they were excited about it and if they weren’t, they didn’t wear it. So one day, months into my first job, I bit the bullet and headed into work fresh faced and completely makeup free. And no one cared – obviously. Making this step has had an overwhelming impact on my mental health. It has taught me to love the way I look but also allowed me to rediscover the love I had for beauty. I own more nude lipsticks than days in the month and I am constantly having to adjust my storage space to accommodate my every growing collection but this love no longer stems from insecurity in myself, but a passion in something that has pushed me to where I am today.

If you wear makeup every day and love the way it makes you look and feel then that’s amazing, but if you’re waking up 1 hour early every morning to do you makeup because you're worried about what other people will think – don’t. If you embrace how you look and learn to love yourself others will too. 

Want to give this a go and head out fresh faced? If you are worried about stripping your face completely here are four products I use on a daily basis that make me feel more confident in myself and around others…

An avid fan of the winged liner and the “I’m not wearing false eyelashes but I’m going to damn sure try and look like I am” look, heading into work at 9am with nothing on my eyes was definitely an adjustment. Although I enjoy the freedom having no eye makeup on gives me I have found two tools that boost my lashes – and my confidence. The Joan Collins ClassAct Lash Treatment Gel, a peptide booster containing extract of seaweed, sea algae and lemon flavenoid promotes growth and fullness. I apply this treatment every evening before I go to bed and I love that this works to give me fuller looking lashes without the damaging effect harsh mascara and makeup remover can have on them. The Space NK EyelashCurler, perfectly contoured and easy to use as the curved metal surface fits easily over the lashes – gently curls my lashes and gives the illusion of bigger and brighter eyes, which I definitely need in the am!

I would not be exaggerating to say wherever I go, land or sea, I will be with lip balm. You could find them in my office drawer, dotted around my flat and in every bag I own. My absolute favourite however is the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Nourishing Lip Balm. This treatment uses eight essential vitamins, nutrients and minerals plus advanced sun protection against damaging UVA/UVB rays to keep them soft, smooth and healthy looking.

Since I stopped wearing makeup on a regular basis in mid-2016 I have seen a transformation of my skin. This change means the need I had to cover my face in maximum coverage concealer and foundation has faded away. I do however still suffer from discolouration and dark circles when I’ve had an especially late night and I’ve found the By Terry Cellularose Brightening CC Lumi-Serum  has been my new best friend. Targeted towards all those concerned with dulled, dehydrated complexions in need of a radiance boost, this blurs the visibility of imperfections and leaves my skin feeling bronzed and even.

RICE RICE BABY

Sozai Cooking School

As a country girl born and bred I was definitely guilty of romanticising London and all that it had to offer. Since my move to London just over 6 months ago however, I quickly came to realise that although the nations capital, even London had its limitations. I found that working 9-5.30 5 days a week unsurprisingly limited both my energy to go on the hunt for and the accessibility of new and exciting activities. A mixture of being content with both my work and personal life and injecting all of my energy into my job often resulted in the same old routine. 

Dinner.Drinks.Cinema 

Dinner.Drinks.Cinema 

Dinner.Drinks.Cinema 

and so on and so on...

I felt like it was time for a change so this valentines day I suggested myself and my boyfriend forget the jewellery and roses and opt for something a little more, well, fun. After spending weeks searching the internet for interesting (and not bank braking) casual date nights that we could do on a weekday evening I came across Sozai Cooking School's site offering multiple different Sushi Classes. After flicking through their site I finally settled on the Dinner Party Sushi course.

Fast forward 1 month (Yes that's right Spring is fast approaching) and yesterday evening we headed into Soho to the class. Starting at 6.30 it was the perfect time for the both of us to leisurely make our way there after work. The class takes place in a building in Soho that doubles up as a canteen style Japanese during the day. With only 4 participants our Instructor, Akemi Yokoyama, and her sous chef, the environment was intimate without that sense of awkwardness you can sometimes feel with small parties. Akemi Yokoyama, our culinary instructor, is also a chef, presenter and writer who has orchestrated many gastronomic events in London and taught sushi making to both children and adults. Her friendly teaching style is easy to follow and informative, whilst still being fun and informal.

During the class we learnt the importance of good sushi rice and how to work with ingredients such as: prawns, egg, bean curd and smoked salmon to create a selection of classic Japanese dishes (see picture above). 

The class lasted just over 2 hours, with a refreshment break 1 hour in offering a choice of complimentary Japanese alcohol and soft drinks. On the conclusion of the course an informal Q&A session took place where we were given the opportunity to quiz Akemi on her knowledge of Japanese culture and where to find the best sushi in London spoiler alert it's not Yo Sushi. We left 2 hours later with a bag full of homemade sushi (that I'm currently finishing off whilst putting this post together) and a genuine understanding on the art of Sushi and Japanese cooking.

If you are looking for something a bit different to do in London, be that with a friend or a partner, Sozai Cooking School is the perfect option.

At £75.00 per person you'd be forgiven for hesitating but I personally really enjoyed this experience and I would 100% recommend. 

You can check them out here

What have you done recently that's made you smile?

HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT HANNAH?

I have been a fan of Hannah’s work and delightful personality ever since discovering her Instagram account in the summer of 2016. The beautiful images often featured her work, including her coveted ‘love’ designs, and it wasn’t long before I felt I had to get in on the action.

That being said, I’d like to introduce you to the two most recent additions to my collection...

Hand Cuff: £28.00
Silver Wrap Ring: £20.00

Each piece is individual and has its own unique identity. The material Hannah uses means each design (including the hand cuff featured here) is slightly adjustable. This is amazing if, like me, you find it difficult to pin point the exact size you require. Every single one Hannah makes has its own personality and I love that!

Hannah’s original designs and creative energy have established her in mine and many others mind as the first port of call for all of your jewellery desires.

Use discount code: HANNAHCODE to get 15% off everything!

Check her out here!
*This post contains PR Samples

5 STEPS TO BECOMING A (not so terrible) MORNING PERSON

I know New Years Resolutions aren't for everybody but I for one love the start of something new. Be that a new year, a new month, or even a Monday, I always find myself more motivated to achieve my goals and improve my wellbeing. This year, as I am 6 months in to my first official 9-5 job, I thought it was only appropriate to start working on one important thing - mornings. Below are the attempts I have pledged to make in 2017 to encourage me to embrace those early morning starts!

Drink water
The minute your alarm goes off give yourself a few minutes to wake up and then head to the kitchen and pour yourself a large glass of water. I personally like to have cold ice water with a slice of lemon and a dash of salt. Always try and finish the glass before you head out of the door.

Shower
I've always been one to shower in the evening (and granted this was largely due to the fact I never had enough time in the mornings) but it was a routine that I'd always followed. However, making time to shove your hair up in a bun and hop in and out of the shower only takes me 5 minutes tops, and always leaves me feeling revitalized!


Wash your face
Now the first step of this can be done in the shower. I leave my current cleanser in my shower and like to wash my face whilst the waters running. Once out and whilst I'm drying off I like to spritz my face with toner and moisturize. Feeling clean makes me feel refreshed and less like I've just got out of bed 10 minutes earlier.


Plan your outfit
Now without a doubt this saves time in the morning. If, like me however, you don't meticulously match your nails to your clothes or your bag to your shoes you may be thinking this is overkill. I'm not suggesting to line up your entire outfit with the accessories and makeup to match, just have an idea in your head of what you plan to wear. Is it a midi dress and tights kind of day, or gym leggings and a hoodie? Having some idea in your head of what you plan to wear prevents your room being turned upside down in that mad morning rush so you can leave the house with a tidy room and a tidy mind.


Eat breakfast
Now if you're not normally a morning person like me then you may be thinking this is an impossible task. I'm not into the standard cereal and toast option as it was never something I had as a child, but granola and fruit is a great option when you're pushed for time. Also because I'm a basic b*tch I just can't function without avocado. This takes a tad too long in the morning though so what I often do is bring an avocado into work, buy some toast, smash it up and bring it to my desk. This helps me ease into the start of the working day whilst feeling fulfilled and ready to go.

Are you making any steps to become more of a morning person? I'd love to find out what works for you in the comments below.