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My Life in Thirty Seven Therapies by Kay Hutchison | Book Review
I was kindly gifted a copy of My Life in Thirty-Seven Therapies by Kay Hutchison, I'd never heard of it before, so went into reading it with no expectations, however, immediately I liked it.
The memoir tells the story how despite a very successful life on paper - with a good career, marriage and wealth, Kay found herself ending her marriage, feeling lost and being treated badly by men she cared for. She turned to alternative therapies in search of something more. In the book, she tries it all, from yoga retreats to reiki, counselling, the list goes on. She goes into detail tell the story of her experience which each therapy, what lead her there and the outcome. She shares details lesson learned, people met and funny anecdotes each of these experiences left her with.
I found the writing to be very light-hearted, she doesn't take herself to seriously, adding humour to her story. It made for a nice bedtime read as it doesn't require too much brainpower.
Although Kay had a slightly excessive amount of therapies - I found it completely relatable - I understand that need to search for more, and I love a good meditation session myself. This book made me want to try more therapies and feel so much more aware of all that is out there. Some completely ridiculous, and others I found myself itching to try myself. Each chapter told the story of different therapy, making it very digestible, like lots of different stories in one.
This book really did what it says on the cover... in a good way. I ate it up. Though the book you see how the writer life changes, how she grows and moves forward when facing heartbreaking. I dread to think how much money all of those therapies cost - but the stories which came with them made for good reading.
If you enjoy a memoir or an alternative therapy, I'd recommend picking this up.
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If you read my 2020 bucket list, you'll know something I wanted to do this year was to complete a 30-day yoga challenge, and as of January 31st, I'm happy to say, I am able to tick that one off the list.
I made the last-minute decision to begin the year by participating in the Home 30-Day Yoga with Adriene challenge. I'll be honest, when I first decided to do it, I expected to last a few days before I came up with an excuse to skip a session, however, I surprised myself by making it to day 30 without missing a single day, and I'll be honest, I'm pretty damn proud of that.
I thought I might feel out of my depth completing the challenge. I'm pretty new to yoga and have only ever practised at home from Youtube videos. I also have pretty poor balance and flexibility (something I blame on being born premature... but it could be that up until now, I've never pushed myself in those areas). Although there were definitely certain poses I struggled with, and a few a couldn't do, I found Adriene was great at making the sessions accessible for all abilities, offering alternatives depending on where you're at with your yoga journey.
Throughout the journey, Adriene keeps in mind where you're at, adjusting each practice to align with what you've already done, and allowing you to push yourself when necessary without jumping completely out of your comfort zone.
Some sessions definitely edged toward to mediation side of things with a lot of concentration on breathwork (for example day 12 and day 25), and others felt far more physical, like much more of a full-body workout (such as day 6). For me personally, I preferred the more physical sessions as I can find myself easily distracted when the session is more focused on breath than movement.
Yoga with Adriene 30-Day Challenge Review.
I made the last-minute decision to begin the year by participating in the Home 30-Day Yoga with Adriene challenge. I'll be honest, when I first decided to do it, I expected to last a few days before I came up with an excuse to skip a session, however, I surprised myself by making it to day 30 without missing a single day, and I'll be honest, I'm pretty damn proud of that.
The thing about daily yoga, is that does take dedication and time. So if it's something you're considering, like me, in the back of your mind you're probably questioning whether it's worth it - so in the blog post I thought I'd share my review of the challenge which will hopefully offer guidance on whether it's suitable for you.
The Sessions:
The sessions ranged from 16 to 40 mins, averaging around the 20-minute mark, so it didn't actually take too much time out of my day and was possible to squeeze in somewhere on those busy days. On the days I was lacking the motivation to make it to the mat, the thought 'it's only 20minutes' convinced me to take part in the practice, a decision I never once regretted.I thought I might feel out of my depth completing the challenge. I'm pretty new to yoga and have only ever practised at home from Youtube videos. I also have pretty poor balance and flexibility (something I blame on being born premature... but it could be that up until now, I've never pushed myself in those areas). Although there were definitely certain poses I struggled with, and a few a couldn't do, I found Adriene was great at making the sessions accessible for all abilities, offering alternatives depending on where you're at with your yoga journey.
Throughout the journey, Adriene keeps in mind where you're at, adjusting each practice to align with what you've already done, and allowing you to push yourself when necessary without jumping completely out of your comfort zone.
Some sessions definitely edged toward to mediation side of things with a lot of concentration on breathwork (for example day 12 and day 25), and others felt far more physical, like much more of a full-body workout (such as day 6). For me personally, I preferred the more physical sessions as I can find myself easily distracted when the session is more focused on breath than movement.
My Experience:
If you read this blog post of mine, you'll know I find yoga to be a great stress reliever and this 30-day challenge couldn't have come at a better time for me. I found myself looking forward to a yoga session at the end of each day, seeing them as a way to release any tension. Honestly some days it felt like the yoga was the only thing which kept me sane.
As I mentioned previously, I thought I might struggle in places with the practice, and although my poses weren't always perfect, I saw improvements as the journey went on, finding myself able to do poses which were initially a no-go, and feeling more in touch with my centre to balance and having built strength. I can now also officially touch my toes, something I've never been able to do.
Something I didn't expect, was to be able to see the physical changes in my body. I decided to complete the challenge because I thought it might be good for my mental health, and simply to see if I could. I did not really consider that I might impact the appearance of my body, however challenging myself and moving for that 20minutes every day I found myself seeing some toning on my stomach, and my bum perking up, something I've only had back when I saw a personal trainer - nothing major, but small changes. I also lost some weight, however, I'm not completely sure whether that was related.
As I mentioned previously, I thought I might struggle in places with the practice, and although my poses weren't always perfect, I saw improvements as the journey went on, finding myself able to do poses which were initially a no-go, and feeling more in touch with my centre to balance and having built strength. I can now also officially touch my toes, something I've never been able to do.
Something I didn't expect, was to be able to see the physical changes in my body. I decided to complete the challenge because I thought it might be good for my mental health, and simply to see if I could. I did not really consider that I might impact the appearance of my body, however challenging myself and moving for that 20minutes every day I found myself seeing some toning on my stomach, and my bum perking up, something I've only had back when I saw a personal trainer - nothing major, but small changes. I also lost some weight, however, I'm not completely sure whether that was related.
Finding Motivation:
I didn't expect to find the motivation to unroll the mat each day, but I did - and that alone I found rewarding, so I thought I'd share my bit of wisdom on that.
It's very unlikely you will feel like doing yoga every day for 30 days because, life happens - but if you push yourself to do it, you'll be proud, and it will be worth it.
- Figure out when works for you and do it the same time every day. A lot of people like to do the morning to get it over and done with. For me personally, I find yoga session in the evening most rewarding as they offer me a way to unwind from my day.
- Put a positive spin on it, think 'I get to do yoga today' rather than 'I have to do yoga today'.
- Plan well: If you know a day is going to be particularly busy figure out when you can fit in your practice. If you're away from home take your yoga mat. Be organised and it will feel less like a chore, squeezed into a busy day, and you'll really be able to appreciate the time you've taken to do it.
- Accept that you're not always going to feel like doing it, but understand you're always capable of doing it.
- Tell others about your challenge, have them hold you accountable. Maybe post about it on social media - I posted about it on my Instagram story and knowing I'd mentioned it in a public place, motivated me when I just didn't fancy it.
- Think about how you'll improve over where you're at. If at the start of the challenge I let my frustrations of not being where I wanted to be, get to me, I would have given up much earlier. Instead, I used that frustration to motivate me to work to improve.
It takes time, and dedication, but if you're looking for more zen and movement in your day, I'd recommend this Yoga challenge. Since completing it I've kept up doing yoga most days because it makes both my body and mind feel good.
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Headspace was the first meditation app I ever used and where I learned the basics of meditation. The meditations are all guided by Andy, whose voice you soon become familiar with. The app is great for learning about why meditation is important, and to help you understand how your mind works. There are instructive animations which make the process of meditation and it's importance easy to understand.
There is the option of different courses on this app, from Reframing Loneliness, Creativity, Managing Anxiety and more. The courses tend to have 10, 10-20 minute meditations to complete over 10 days. There is also the option to do the meditations or view the animations as one-offs.
There is a sleep section of the app, with different sleep sounds, and meditations to wind down before sleep.
You can also add buddies and track your progress.
A lot of the features are available for free, however, to unlock all of the meditations you can either pay £74.99 per year, £9.99 weekly, or £399.99 for a lifetime.
This app has a friendly feeling to it, it's inviting and easy to use.
Happy, Not Perfect is my current favourite meditation app. I find the graphics across this app are aesthetically very pleasing, which just make it nice to click on, and inviting to explore.
I'll be honest, this is the only app I've included which I don't regularly use. The main reason I don't use Calm all that much as there aren't very many features available on the unpaid version of the app.
I hope this was useful! Please let me know if you've used any of these apps before and how you got on with them!
Love C x
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4 Meditation Apps - The Best Meditation Apps, Review and Comparison.
Something I've begun to integrate into my daily life is meditation. It is helping me learn how to manage my feelings, become more mindful, and calms my nerves. As it's such an important part of my life, I thought I would share my favourite meditation apps, and their pros and cons to help anybody who fancies giving it a try
Headspace
Headspace was the first meditation app I ever used and where I learned the basics of meditation. The meditations are all guided by Andy, whose voice you soon become familiar with. The app is great for learning about why meditation is important, and to help you understand how your mind works. There are instructive animations which make the process of meditation and it's importance easy to understand.
There is the option of different courses on this app, from Reframing Loneliness, Creativity, Managing Anxiety and more. The courses tend to have 10, 10-20 minute meditations to complete over 10 days. There is also the option to do the meditations or view the animations as one-offs.
There is a sleep section of the app, with different sleep sounds, and meditations to wind down before sleep.
You can also add buddies and track your progress.
A lot of the features are available for free, however, to unlock all of the meditations you can either pay £74.99 per year, £9.99 weekly, or £399.99 for a lifetime.
This app has a friendly feeling to it, it's inviting and easy to use.
Happy, Not Perfect
Happy, Not Perfect is my current favourite meditation app. I find the graphics across this app are aesthetically very pleasing, which just make it nice to click on, and inviting to explore.
Alongside the meditation tool, there is also the option to do a mind 'work out', which contain 7 steps to help manage your thoughts and feelings. Some steps in the work out include keeping a gratitude journal, writing down what is bothering you, playing a soothing game, a quick meditation and more. It doesn't take long, which makes it very easy to integrate into day to day life.
There are many different meditations featured including sleep well, break up S.O.S, crush comparison and more. The meditations have many different guides who are experts on the topics (you can also read more about the guides on the app). The meditations themselves last different amounts of time, so you can choose what will fit best into your schedule. You can 'heart' your favourite meditations to make them easy to find again.
There are also many other tools, such as some games which are good for the mind and the option to send good vibes.
To unlock all of the meditations and features it's £52.99 per year.
I mainly use this Stop, Breathe, Think when I've not got much time as there are tonnes of great 1 minute meditations. On many of the meditations, it gives you the option to choose which voice you'd rather hear it in and there is often the option of longer or shorter versions of the meditations. The app asks you how you're are feeling both mentally and physically, and recommends several meditations based on this. I've always found the recommendations to be suitable, and it saves the hassle of scrolling, wondering what would be best. You can then record how you are feeling post-meditation so you can see the impact of the practice. There is also the explore option if you wish to choose your own meditation. The meditations are sorted into sections including One Minute, Fresh Start Challenge, Heal and Forgive, Pregnancy and more. I find this app has fewer features than the others, there isn't much beyond the meditation feature and the tracking of your feelings and meditation habits. You can also earn stickers which encourage you to meditate more often. To unlock all of the meditations on this app it's £54.99 per year or £9.99 a month.
Stop, Breathe, Think.
I mainly use this Stop, Breathe, Think when I've not got much time as there are tonnes of great 1 minute meditations. On many of the meditations, it gives you the option to choose which voice you'd rather hear it in and there is often the option of longer or shorter versions of the meditations. The app asks you how you're are feeling both mentally and physically, and recommends several meditations based on this. I've always found the recommendations to be suitable, and it saves the hassle of scrolling, wondering what would be best. You can then record how you are feeling post-meditation so you can see the impact of the practice. There is also the explore option if you wish to choose your own meditation. The meditations are sorted into sections including One Minute, Fresh Start Challenge, Heal and Forgive, Pregnancy and more. I find this app has fewer features than the others, there isn't much beyond the meditation feature and the tracking of your feelings and meditation habits. You can also earn stickers which encourage you to meditate more often. To unlock all of the meditations on this app it's £54.99 per year or £9.99 a month.
Calm
I'll be honest, this is the only app I've included which I don't regularly use. The main reason I don't use Calm all that much as there aren't very many features available on the unpaid version of the app.
I really love how this app looks, it feels as though it transports you to a whole different place. There is also the option to change the background scene and sound effect which comes with it if you wish, personally, I'm happy with the mountain scene and sound of the water.
Alongside meditation on this app, there are tabs for sleep and music. Under the sleep tab, there are tonnes of sleep stories told by different narrators. There are stories such as The Velveteen Rabbit and The Little Mermaid or soundscapes such as Symphony of Rain. The story narrators include Stephen Fry, Matthew McConaughey, Leona Lewis and more.
The meditation section of the app contains many 7 day courses, such as 7 days for Calming Anxiety, and 7 Days of Happiness.
The meditations are sorted into categories such as Beginners, Less Guidance, Relationships and Personal Growth to make it easier to find what will work for you at the time. There is also the option to heart your favourite meditations, and have them appear in a 'liked' sections so they're easy to find.
The music tab of this app contains different types of relaxing music and soundscapes, such as Piano Healing and Great Ocean. Again it's sorted into categories to help find what is right for you at the time. The categories include Nature Melodies, Focus, Lullabies and more.
The app cost £34.99 per year to unlock all of the features.
Love C x
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I thought I'd start (another) new blog series, this one on the books, as I am a massive bookworm. where I want to discuss several books for different genres in each post, including the ones I've loved, what I'm currently reading and those on my to-read list.
So today I wanted to jump right in with career books. I've noticed especially over the last year or so, a lot of stigma surrounding self-help career books is beginning to dissipate, and rightly so. Now we proudly show off the career books they're reading on Instagram and the genre seems more popular than ever, which personally, I'm over the moon about because I'm always looking to read something which can help with self-improvement. I think it's important to always try to better yourself, and career books seem the perfect way to do so.
I heard endless good things about this book, so could help but pick it up. I'm a little shy of 100 pages in, I'm finding there are some points in the book I love, and there's a lot to learn from it. However, certain parts feel too dragged out, which make them slightly boring and repetitive. Having said that, what the book teaches I feel could be life-changing. It explains how to stop fear holding you back, and how to 'play big' in whatever way is right for you.
I've read this book twice, and I think it's probably the best ' self-help' style book I've ever read. It is full of advice and wisdom on how to live to your full potential. I know any description I give it, will not do it any justice, so I'm just going to advise you to give it a read. 'You Are A Badass' (along with Big Magic) got a mention in this blog post.
#Girlboss by Sophia Amoruso
#Girlboss serves as both a memoir and a career book at the same time, it is, of course, the story of how Sophia Amoruso built Nasty Gal essential from nothing. Alongside that it offers to the point advice for things like writing a CV, interviewing for jobs, and insight on how to become a successful #girlboss. It's both funny and informative and Sophia style of writing is very relatable, as is she. This book makes you feel like you can do anything. I was sceptical when I first began reading, as it was after Nasty Gal shut down, but despite that it's still great, I learnt a lot and considering Sophia has just continued building the GirlBoss empire after losing Nasty Gal I think it goes to show she is a #Girlboss and we could probably all learn plenty from her (and I was also gutted when they didn't continue the Netflix series after season one because I kind of loved it.)
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
Big Magic is a book about living creatively. It personifies creativity, talking about how it finds you if you are open to it, and how creativity moves between people if you ignore it for too long. I'd never heard creativity described like this before, but on reading this something clicked, it's the only definition of creativity which I have found myself nodding along to. There's a lot of knowledge in this, but I think you need to be open-minded to use that knowledge to its full potential. If you're a creative person, this book is eyeopening and wonderful. Here's a blog post I previously wrote about the things Big Magic taught me.
The Little Black Book by Otegha Uwagba
This pocket-sized book is full of practical advice when it comes to careers and living successfully. From budgeting and knowing your worth. It's written in small sections which makes it easy to pick up and put back down.
I have had a copy of The Multi-Hyphen Method since it came out, and somehow still haven't got around to reading more than the first chapter, mainly because I want to make sure I give it my full attention when I read it, rather than reading it whilst I've got other books on the go. I love Emma's writing and I most certainly see myself as a multihyphenate so I am excited to dive into it.
Please let me know any of your career book recommendations, and your thoughts on any of these if you've given them a read!
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6 Career Books.
So today I wanted to jump right in with career books. I've noticed especially over the last year or so, a lot of stigma surrounding self-help career books is beginning to dissipate, and rightly so. Now we proudly show off the career books they're reading on Instagram and the genre seems more popular than ever, which personally, I'm over the moon about because I'm always looking to read something which can help with self-improvement. I think it's important to always try to better yourself, and career books seem the perfect way to do so.
Currently Reading:
Playing Big by Tara MohrI heard endless good things about this book, so could help but pick it up. I'm a little shy of 100 pages in, I'm finding there are some points in the book I love, and there's a lot to learn from it. However, certain parts feel too dragged out, which make them slightly boring and repetitive. Having said that, what the book teaches I feel could be life-changing. It explains how to stop fear holding you back, and how to 'play big' in whatever way is right for you.
Previously Read:
You are a Badass by Jen SinceroI've read this book twice, and I think it's probably the best ' self-help' style book I've ever read. It is full of advice and wisdom on how to live to your full potential. I know any description I give it, will not do it any justice, so I'm just going to advise you to give it a read. 'You Are A Badass' (along with Big Magic) got a mention in this blog post.
#Girlboss by Sophia Amoruso
#Girlboss serves as both a memoir and a career book at the same time, it is, of course, the story of how Sophia Amoruso built Nasty Gal essential from nothing. Alongside that it offers to the point advice for things like writing a CV, interviewing for jobs, and insight on how to become a successful #girlboss. It's both funny and informative and Sophia style of writing is very relatable, as is she. This book makes you feel like you can do anything. I was sceptical when I first began reading, as it was after Nasty Gal shut down, but despite that it's still great, I learnt a lot and considering Sophia has just continued building the GirlBoss empire after losing Nasty Gal I think it goes to show she is a #Girlboss and we could probably all learn plenty from her (and I was also gutted when they didn't continue the Netflix series after season one because I kind of loved it.)
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
Big Magic is a book about living creatively. It personifies creativity, talking about how it finds you if you are open to it, and how creativity moves between people if you ignore it for too long. I'd never heard creativity described like this before, but on reading this something clicked, it's the only definition of creativity which I have found myself nodding along to. There's a lot of knowledge in this, but I think you need to be open-minded to use that knowledge to its full potential. If you're a creative person, this book is eyeopening and wonderful. Here's a blog post I previously wrote about the things Big Magic taught me.
Dipping in and out of:
The Little Black Book by Otegha UwagbaThis pocket-sized book is full of practical advice when it comes to careers and living successfully. From budgeting and knowing your worth. It's written in small sections which makes it easy to pick up and put back down.
To read:
The Multi-Hyphen Method by Emma GannonI have had a copy of The Multi-Hyphen Method since it came out, and somehow still haven't got around to reading more than the first chapter, mainly because I want to make sure I give it my full attention when I read it, rather than reading it whilst I've got other books on the go. I love Emma's writing and I most certainly see myself as a multihyphenate so I am excited to dive into it.
Please let me know any of your career book recommendations, and your thoughts on any of these if you've given them a read!
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A few weeks back, I found myself giving into temptation, and clicking 'buy now' on my rather pricey Glossier basket. Today in the blog post, I thought I'd give you the low down on my purchases, what is living up the anticipation (I've been lusting after the many hyped products for such a long time), what I won't be repurchasing and all the other details you might want if you're considering a little Glossier haul yourself.
To go with the post there is a video where I unbox and try on lots of the products so you can see them in action, with my first impressions, be sure to check that out on my Youtube Channel, or at the bottom of this post.
I have been using The Cherry Balm Dot Com since Christmas, so I knew I was pretty in love with the formula (it gets a mention in this post and this video if you want more of my thoughts on it), however this time I decided I wanted to give some of the other flavours/scents(?) a whirl. I opted to the pack of three offered on the website (why would I not? You save a fiver), and selected The Birthday Balm, The Coconut Balm and The Rose Balm
On paper, a glitter lip balm sounds all kinds of tacky, and a little too extra. However, this product really is not. The Birthday Balm has a very subtle, small, small glitter in it, which just adds an iridescent sparkle which occasionally might catch someone's eye. The balm isn't isn't super glossy looking, it gives slightly matte but moisturised finish, so the glitter adds a little something to do whilst not overdoing it. It smells like vanilla birthday cake, it's an inviting, yet sort of sickly scent.
This balm is my favourite of the three, mainly because I am a complete sucker for a coconut scent. It smells (and tastes) delicious. There isn't any pigment in the balm so it doesn't add colour to your lips but again gives the matte-ish, moisturised look.
I've got to be honest, I don't love this one, I'm not even that sure why I went for it, I'm not a big fan of rose scents. There is a pastel pink tint to this balm which I think is just a little too pastel for my lips, it doesn't really show up.
The Lidstars are one of the new editions to the Glossier family, which I've been itching to try since their release. Having heard very mixed reviews, and having given them a go myself, I still cannot figure out where my opinion lies. I either love them or hate them - it's hard to put my finger on which.
The formula is very blendable, if anything too much so, they blend down to very little, which is great when you want a casual wash of colour over the lid, but anything more than that takes a lot of building, which is such a shame because the colours look so beautiful when you swipe them across the skin, but a lot of the colour gets lost in the necessary blending process. As they dry they feel slightly sticky, I think it's important to blend properly before they dry to have a smooth finish if it's applied too thickly in places it can go sort of crusty, but you'd only ever notice that look up close on your own face. Application with them is quite messy. I like the doe-foot applicator, it's easy to use, but it is hard to be precise with, however, considering the bendability of the shadows isn't much of an issue. They also crease quite easily. Having said all of this, there's easy to use, and bloody beautiful shades. I went for Cub and Slip, both shades are stunning, I'm definitely want to give the shade Lily a go next.
I have been using the Cloud Paint in Dusk for a while now (I talk about it here) I just find it so easy to apply and I think cream consistent makes it look very natural. My only complaint would be, it's not all that long-lasting. This time I opted for the shades Puff and Haze
The Shade Puff is a very pretty pink which I love, I think it works really while mixed with dusk. The pretty shade gives a very feminine look.
The Shade Haze has a much more purple tone to it, which works really well if you're after something a little deeper and more intense.
I am sort of in love with the scent, it's somehow both musky, and fresh. I'm still not sure where I sit with the whole solid perfume thing, but it certainly makes it very handbag friendly, and the packaging is so satisfying.
My only repurchase of the bunch. I've been using Boy Brow in Brown on my brows ever since getting it for Christmas, it makes just look fuller. I talk about it in more detail here.
Have you tried any of the Glossier Products? I'd love to hear your thoughts! Follow
Glossier: Haul and Review. What's worth the hype?
To go with the post there is a video where I unbox and try on lots of the products so you can see them in action, with my first impressions, be sure to check that out on my Youtube Channel, or at the bottom of this post.
The Balm Dot Com
The Birthday Balm:
On paper, a glitter lip balm sounds all kinds of tacky, and a little too extra. However, this product really is not. The Birthday Balm has a very subtle, small, small glitter in it, which just adds an iridescent sparkle which occasionally might catch someone's eye. The balm isn't isn't super glossy looking, it gives slightly matte but moisturised finish, so the glitter adds a little something to do whilst not overdoing it. It smells like vanilla birthday cake, it's an inviting, yet sort of sickly scent.
The Coconut Balm:
The Rose Balm:
I've got to be honest, I don't love this one, I'm not even that sure why I went for it, I'm not a big fan of rose scents. There is a pastel pink tint to this balm which I think is just a little too pastel for my lips, it doesn't really show up.
The Lidstars:
The Lidstars are one of the new editions to the Glossier family, which I've been itching to try since their release. Having heard very mixed reviews, and having given them a go myself, I still cannot figure out where my opinion lies. I either love them or hate them - it's hard to put my finger on which.
The formula is very blendable, if anything too much so, they blend down to very little, which is great when you want a casual wash of colour over the lid, but anything more than that takes a lot of building, which is such a shame because the colours look so beautiful when you swipe them across the skin, but a lot of the colour gets lost in the necessary blending process. As they dry they feel slightly sticky, I think it's important to blend properly before they dry to have a smooth finish if it's applied too thickly in places it can go sort of crusty, but you'd only ever notice that look up close on your own face. Application with them is quite messy. I like the doe-foot applicator, it's easy to use, but it is hard to be precise with, however, considering the bendability of the shadows isn't much of an issue. They also crease quite easily. Having said all of this, there's easy to use, and bloody beautiful shades. I went for Cub and Slip, both shades are stunning, I'm definitely want to give the shade Lily a go next.
Generation G Lipstick in Crush
This is another one which I can't figure out if I love or hate. I definitely love the effortless look this product creates, and the shade is a beautiful cherry red which somehow looks understated. But the formula is unlike any I've worn before - it's matte, and so far I've only applied it over one of my many Balm Dot Com, but I imagine without moisturising your lips beforehand it would cling to dry patches and applying it might become more of a challenge. As for the application, it certainly doesn't glide on, it takes quite a lot of work to get a decent amount of product on, its very sheer, which is great if you want a tint of colour smudged on, not so much if you want a more intense colour pay off. This lipstick somehow doesn't quite look as though you've got lipstick on when wearing it, the light texture of the matte product makes it appear simply as though your natural lips are of a deeper pigment.
The Haloscope in Quarts:
I've got be honest, I don't love this product as much as I wanted to, but I think a lot of this is due to the hype surrounding it, and I have a very similar product which I think I might prefer slightly (Marc Jacobs Glow Stick in Spotlight - I find the shape easier to work with). I love the shade of this haloscope, it's a beautiful, subtle highlight with a slight iridescent silver tone to it. I still don't understand the purpose of the circle in middle, but surely there's a reason for it. I find this cream product takes a little warming up, but once it's ready to go, it's super blendable and easy to use. I love the way this highlight simply catches the light sometimes and looks wow, but looks natural enough. I just don't really enjoy the shape the product, I think it's too large which makes it hard to be precise when applying straight from the wand.
I only brought this SPF because I have a holiday coming up and I'm so glad that I did, it's really not your average sunscreen! First I love the pump, it just makes the process of using it so much more enjoyable. The product is a gel-like formula which comes out of the tube a clear colour with a slight white tint to it. It's really easy to smooth over the skin. You cannot see or feel it at all when it's on, which is really all you can ask for in a face SP
The Shade Puff is a very pretty pink which I love, I think it works really while mixed with dusk. The pretty shade gives a very feminine look.
The Shade Haze has a much more purple tone to it, which works really well if you're after something a little deeper and more intense.
You Solid Perfume
I am sort of in love with the scent, it's somehow both musky, and fresh. I'm still not sure where I sit with the whole solid perfume thing, but it certainly makes it very handbag friendly, and the packaging is so satisfying.
Boy Brow in Brown
My only repurchase of the bunch. I've been using Boy Brow in Brown on my brows ever since getting it for Christmas, it makes just look fuller. I talk about it in more detail here.Some other thoughts on the brand:
- The branding and packaging is on point they are the perfect products to show off on the shelf
- The option to buy multiple products for slightly cheaper is genius (I did this the balms, lidstars and the boy brow and haloscope)
- The products are quite fun to use - this like mixing the cloud paints to create your own shade is just fun.
- You hardly need brushes at all for these products which makes them great for travel.
Have you tried any of the Glossier Products? I'd love to hear your thoughts! Follow
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Marc Jacobs Beauty Haul
So, I have recently begun working as a Retail Artist from Marc Jacobs Beauty. I'm a big fan of Marc Jacobs as a whole, and I'm sure if you read my blog you will know I'm a lover of all things beauty, so being able to play with luxurious Marc Jacobs Beauty products during my 9-5 somewhat feels like a dream so far.
Today I wanted to share some of the products from the brand I've got my hands on and have been enjoying using.
#instamarc in Mirage Filter: I'm sure you can tell by the name of this product, that is very much inspired by Instagram filters, and wearing this, you're supposed to feel like you don't need a filter because you put your filter on with you makeup - at least that's what I got from the name, and I think it's also a genius idea. The contour palette is nice and simple with just the two shades, so it doesn't get overwhelming and confusing. I mean, as much as I love using my Anastasia Beverly Hill Palette, I don't get use out of all of the shades and sometimes find myself staring at the similar colours for a good few minutes while I figure which one to dip my brush into. This palette simply cuts out the confusion. The contour shade isn't too muddy or too grey - it creates a natural looking shadow and you don't look dirty or grey - it's the perfect shade in between. The highlight shade in this palette is basically a banana powder. These powders are so fine you don't feel as though you are wearing anything and they blend like a dream, I think this palette is perfect for a quick natural looking contour. I definitely think I'll be getting more use out of the contour shade than the highlight shade, though.
The shiny black packaging has a sophisticated edge, the only issue I find is fingerprints really show up. Although this palette only has two shades, it is very oversized, meaning it will last ages, and you have a huge mirror on the inside which is a decent size for doing a full face of makeup. Although the palette is huge it's also very slim so you should easily be able to squeeze it into your handbag.
Twinkle Pop Eye Shadow Stick in Au Revoir: This eye crayon very much reminds me of the By Terry Ombre Blackstars. The cream eye shadow stick in highly pigmented and the shade is a beautiful glittery silvery bronze shade. The shape of the stick makes it very easy to apply all over the eyelids, or at an angle, you can create a line or more precise shape. The colour simply glides along as you apply it and you have a little time to blend, then once it dries will stay put. This is perfect for creating a quick and easy look, which will give the impression you've put a lot more time and effort into your eye makeup than you have - it's great for if your running late. It also makes a great base for other eye shadows.
Fineliner Gel Eye Crayon in (Truffle)d - I love this gel eye pen, it's easy to use and once it's dry it does not budge. The gel formula means it glides on, you've got a little bit of smudge time - it's very easy to create a wing using this liner, you can simply pull the liner out slightly and the use you finger to smudge the end into a wing. This also works really well in the waterline. This shade is a deep brown, it is perfect if you want something a little less intense than black.
Le Marc Lip Crème in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang - This lipstick has definitely been our best selling lipstick shade since launch day. The shade is a deep plum pink, it seems to suit most skin tones, and quite seems to be similar to many people natural lip colour, just a couple of shades darker.
This lipstick is a semi-matte formula, which means it's pretty long lasting, it also isn't too drying on the lips considering the finish. The package once again has that luxurious feel with the magnet as you pop the lid onto the lipstick.
Lipgloss in French Tickler - the Marc Jacob lipglosses are one of the only lipglosses I have ever found myself enjoying wearing, this is for the simple reason, that they are not sticky. I can wear this lipgloss without having to constantly pull my hair away from my lips. This is life changing (dramatic, I know, but it really is) if you like a glossy lip. It is also minty, which is also a great little touch to add to a lip gloss. This shade is really pretty, it's a peachy pink which works really well on top of a lipstick or alone. I've definitely been stepping away from a matte lip more since I've owned this.
Nail Polish in Lola -The nail polish is such a 'me' shade. This is bright red colour, which I love on the nails. It applies smoothly and one coat is really enough to cover the nails completely. It drys with a shine to it, and as nail polishes go, it's fairly long lastly. Once again the package in on point here, even it bottle of nail polish just feel lovely to hold.
Have you tried any of the Marc Jacobs Beauty Products?
*although I am employed by Marc Jacobs Beauty, I am choosing to write this blog post in my own free time and all opinions are 100% my own.
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