Face Wash Favourites

7 March 2015

Eldwick, Bingley, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16, UK
Garnier Pure Active Gel Wash
This has become a favourite because it smells ridiculously good. I'm a sucker for a fruity fragrance which drew me straight to this wash. The great thing about this daily wash is that it's thick and soapy unlike a lot of brands which sell thin facial washes despite the great scent. The amazing aroma fills the room, but I also use it as a mini mask when taking a bath allowing the suds to take over. The smooth serum doesn't leave my skin dry which I value due to my skin type. The was is full of moisture and plenty of bubbles which I use twice a day. This product is a great way to alert me in the morning as waking up early is by far the worst thing about being a grown up. A quick facial wash in the morning preps my skin for make-up and helps me actually keep my eyes open throughout the day. The wash rinses well with water which makes it really use and effective to use.

Garnier Pure Active Gel Scrub & Neutrogena Visibly Clear Daily Scrub
I use two different scrubs to help me exfoliate my skin. Dirt and filth don't always come off with the face wash so I use both scrubs once a day. This is just to ensure tough and long-lasting make-up products like my foundation are cleared from my skin to prevent spots. I also use preventative scrubs just to give my skin that extra push in really keeping the blackheads away. I had a full fring for about two years which meant the skin on my forehead was basically neglected, leaving me which a few spots on my forehead and that area being prone to break-outs. Using these scrubs together has really helped to keep this area clean and moisturised. I have used a few products in the past that were too damaging to my skin despite my soft approach. Both scrubs are exfoliating and don't rub too hard, but rather massage it without tearing off layers of skin.

Pull Your Socks Up

4 March 2015

Eldwick, Bingley, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16, UK
Working full time has helped me to realise I have a very short attention span. Getting bored easily is becoming natural and finding the motivation to do anything is slipping away. It's strange how quickly the time disappears in the evenings in contrast to during the day. My to-do list is getting longer, whereas the days are getting shorter. Every so often I go through these phases of "okay, let's sort out" but it never gets done, or what is completed only lasts a few days. 2015 has already been an eye-opening, reality-slapping year and now is the best time to really pull my socks up. 

Getting into a Routine
This is an essential. Waking up early every day is a shock to the system when waking at around 11 and scrolling through Bloglovin' all day is the norm. Getting into a routine is difficult, but once the ball gets rolling and the internal body clock has adjusted, it's the best way to get the day started.
Eat Real Food
I'm rushing around left, right and centre during the day which leaves me nibbling snacks and unhealthy food. Not only is this terrible for my health, but it also leaves me with headaches and less energy which isn't fair on my body. Packing a lunch or planning where and when to have meals is a great way to maintain a diet and cut down on the caffeine. 
Actually Use the Calendar
The app on my phone has never been more useful. I do have a calendar hung above my desk, as well as a day planner, but electronic reminders are an amazing way to keep the day in check. With voice control and automatic alarm clocks, there's no reason to be late or miss a meeting!
Plan Everything
I can become a control freak with organisation, which is really a double-edged sword. Everything in my day must now be planned the night before, from my outfit to where I'll stand on the train platform. A packed bag keeps my mind at peace and less anxious on a busy day.

Gucci Says Bye-Bye to Bling

28 February 2015

Eldwick, Bingley, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16, UK
Fashion week is known as the most glamorous in the industry. The front row demands the attention of showbiz bloggers while the fashion fanatics wait for the highly anticipated shows. Alessandro Michele’s first show as creative director of Gucci awaited the eager crowds and Italian fall women’s wear season. Notorious for being one the most glitzy fashion houses, Gucci surprised majority of the audience and journalists on Wednesday. Devotees of the brands are used to the clear and precise references to the high fashion, first class lifestyle. Diamond-encrusted knitwear and dressed down ball gowns were to be expected of the line, but as the show began it was clear this year was very different.

Rather than the ever-flowing champagne along the front row and unnecessary bright lights, the walls and floor were black, creating an intense atmosphere. The audience were reminded “The Contemporary is the Untimely.” by show notes that referenced philosophers Giorgio Agamben and Roland Barthes. There were less ball gowns and red carpet wears but more midi skirts with both men and women taking to the catwalk. Nonetheless, flowers and floral prints were still incorporated into many designs, subtly celebrating the history and glorious traditions of Gucci.
The show was full of vintage treasures, hurling the spectators into a world of flea markets with a date of couture. Librarian chic was a running trend throughout each look, highlighting brains over beauty. With a mix of oversized and nerdy eyeglasses, rings on every finger, knit beanies and turbans, floral hair combs on top of slippers and clogs lined in fur at the back; Mr. Michele bought a new twist to Italy.
Gucci brought back the greatness of a fashion show. Letting go of the superficial highlights and bringing the focus to the clothing. The shift from colossal logos and immature intentions is a positive one, with the big brands stepping up to emphasise the prominence of classic high fashion. 

Saint Laurent captures Parisian Magic

27 February 2015

Eldwick, Bingley, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16, UK
In the eyes of fashion’s finest Paris Fashion Week is long gone. But for some of the world’s toughest catwalk critics, the City of Lights still lingers in their palette. The Saint Laurent show closed the menswear season, including both men and women taking to the runway. Aside from the shockingly thin appearance of many models, the show was stolen by the clean and simple take on Autumn/Winter 15-16 by Hedi Slimane. Despite multiple looks leaving the audience questioning the muse behind the collection, I think it’s very clear. Each charm represents the fresh and youthful street style seen all over Paris. Not one of the outfits would surprise me if they were spotted strutting down the Champs-Élysées more than they surprise me now. The overall taste had a 70’s feel, one aspect that keeps Paris feeling so ‘vintage’. The lack of colour doesn’t make the selection boring, rather, it causes outsiders to focus more on the details instead of being bombarded with colour and texture insanity. Hedi has notices lunacy on the runway isn’t always the best way to get attention.
Slimane’s Saint Laurent has a certain offbeat glamour which doesn’t demand an enormous fashion statement or ridiculous colours. The book “How to Be Parisian Wherever You Are: Love, Style, and Bad Habits” by Anne Berest, Audrey Diwan, Caroline De Maigret, and Sophie Mas is successful for a reason. There’s a certain je ne sais quoi about the way Parisians carry themselves. Their attitude and accent are enough to draw me in. This mystical element is captured in this line as the whole collection represents one gigantic shrug with a splash of shimmer from the City of Light. Saint Laurent’s models carried themselves with great arrogance that seemed to appeal to the audience. The line screams ‘too cool to care’ which is the best way to feel like the perfect Parisian. 

The Reality of 9 to 5

12 February 2015

Eldwick, Bingley, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16, UK
Working hard is something I have always weirdly enjoyed and I was more than excited when I got my first full-time job. School always taught me that jobs only came after university, but there's something about four more years of learning that I was never really keen on. The great thing about working is that I get paid, an obvious positive. However, working from 9am to 5pm has opened my eyes to reality and helped me realise that being an adult is not as amazing as it was made out to be. 

I have always had diaries, just because I like to be organised. But half the time they were empty or I completely forgot about them half-way through the year. Today, I rely on my diary and planner more than ever. The calendar app in my phone has become on the most useful tools over the past few weeks and without it I would probably be without a job. When I first started working full-time, I was still work-shy from missing having days at home and felt uncomfortable being squashed up against other people on a train. A few weeks later and it's almost like I'm a completely different person.

Working in a busy city has boosted my confidence and given me skills I never had at school. I'm now more than ready to move to somewhere much busier like London or even New York, after the experience I have gained in just a few weeks. Being shy always held me back, but today I have absolutely no issue walking around in a busy city and I'm astonished. School always felt like a burden, and on occasion work does too - but the reality of 9 to 5 is a much more useful step into life than the awkward years of secondary school.
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