I've stripped back my once timely, product full makeup routine. I'm enjoying keeping things simple with more minimal make.  It saves precious time, plus a natural look can be more than enough.

Of course, it helps that I seem to have come across some products which really work for me. I find pleasure in using these quick and easy items, and with the finished result I feel put together and fresh - without using 4 different eyeshadow palettes, and spending a good 20 minutes blending.


IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream: It will come as no surprise this is still my favourite base products, I've raved about it so much. It really lives up to the name 'You Skin but Better'

Maybelline Eye Erase Concealer: I'll be honest, this isn't my favourite concealer, but it's doing the job for now. I find the package a little too messy. Although the shade is perfect, and it looks on application, I find through the day it goes a tad cakey. If you have any concealer recommendations, please send them my way!

Tanya Burr Cosmetics Contour Stick in Medium/Light (discontinued): I really love the formula of this product, it's so creamy and blendable making it quick and easy to apply. I wish there were more shade available as I find the light/medium is a tad orange toned for me. It creates more of a sunkissed look which a bronzer would create, rather than the shadows more of a grey tone would create. It's great as a bronzer/contour hybrid but if you like a more intense contour, this may not be the one for you.


Glossier Cloud Paint in Dusk: Again, I've banged on about this so much, that I won't ramble on for too long. I love this as a way to give my cheeks a quick flush of colour. It's easy to apply and just makes you look healthy. I can see a few of the other shades entering my make up bag soon.

Marc Jacobs Glowstick in Spotlight: This cream highlight is so underrated. The shade iridescent shade sits somewhere between a gold and silver-tone, meaning it's suitable for any skin tone and offers a colour which other highlighters don't. It's so creamy and easy to apply and blend out. Your highlight pops while still giving a somewhat natural glow. The shape of the packaging also makes it really easy to apply.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Luminous Light: I've finally hit pan on this, and I feel like I need to repurchase ASAP. This fine powder is great for setting your make up if you like a glowy look. It's got some glitter in it, but it's subtly beautiful on the skin.

Benefit BrowZing in 2: I've sworn by this brow product since long before it had fancy silver packaging. The combination of the wax and powder products are perfect for filling in brows.

Glossier Boy Brow in Brown: This gives the brows the most incredible texture if you like them too look a little hairy this is the one to go for.

Surratt Eye Lash Curler: They are the most life-changing eyelash curlers ever, it gives my lashes volume I didn't know they had.

IT Cosmetics SuperHero Mascara: The product actually gives a bit of thickness, and length to my fine, unimpressive eyelashes.

Tanya Burr Cosmetics Selfie Last Mascara (discontinued): The mascara grabs each little hair and defines it. It stays in place too which is always a bonus.





I also filmed a full, Get Ready with Me using these products, so if you want to see them in action, and listening to me have a little chat you can find that on my Youtube Channel... or you can watch it below!




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I've recently entered a familiar realm of sadness, and while I think it's important to ride it out, allow myself to feel. I also think it's just as important to control it before it spiralling. So here are some little things I'm doing to ensure my sadness is shortlived.

1) Reaching out to friends: I've recognised I've been feeling a sense of loneliness and isolation, so rather than dwell on that, and feeding my paranoia, by mentally listing all the reason I could believe that my friends don't actually like me and are attempting to ghost me, I'm simply texting to ask if they want to hang out.

2) Unfollowing: I'm terrible when it comes to following. I see a picture I like, or one tweet I relate to and immediately hit that follow button. I guess because there's no limit on who you can follow. However recently, I was on a friends twitter and noticed she only follow 80 odd people, and I thought to myself with envy "her twitter must be a nice place to be", and then I realised I follow thousands of people which make my social media feeds just as loud as my brain. So not to be that dick who unfollows but I'm going to be doing some unfollowing, for my own sake.

3) Facemask - My once completely clear skin which would cause me to brag how I never get spots, is cluttered with angry blemishes. I think stress has caused my skin to have a bad time. Rather than dwell on the fact my skin isn't looking great, I'm taking it as an excuse to do some facemask, give it that extra bit of love it's looking for.

4) Eating Healthy - The temptation to binge when I'm feeling down is high, but I'm trying my best to shake my head no to the overload of snack that I want and eat well because it just makes me feel a little nicer

5) Exercise - I mean, I'm yet to put this one into practice if I'm completely honest, but I'm trying my best to incorporate exercise into my life again because I know what good things it does for the mind. I want to try out Yoga, considering I've never met someone less flexible than me, it could be interesting.

6) Meditate - As well as moving your body, I think it's just important to be still, and alone with your thoughts. I'm going to get back into meditating, if you've been reading my blog a while, you'll know used to be obsessed with the Headspace apps, it's time to start using it again.

7) Delete the social media app which I mindlessly scroll on - I recently deleted my Facebook app from my phone, I don't miss it, and I don't waste time scrolling, or meeting with the devil of comparison. Snapchat will be going next.

8) Clean - It's not only therapeutic, but it creates a more inviting environment. I was having a terrible day yesterday, I walked into my bedroom, and was reminded I changed my bedding earlier that day and just one thing was slightly nice, and sometimes the smallest things, really count. I know clean bedding's not going to change the world, but it makes it the tiniest bit brighter.

9) Tweet less, blog more - I find it far too easy to tweet out a few words which poorly describe how I'm feeling which might not always come across how I intend and can make space feel quite negative. I'm going to try to take to blogging more when I've got something to say, so that I can talk about how I'm feeling in a longer form, that way I can hopefully understand it, and explain it better.

10) Write in my Diary - I'm trying to get back into the habit of writing down my thoughts each day, taking the time to explore my thoughts and pour my heart out into words on a page, just for me. I find this helps understand how I'm feeling, and gain a sense of control over it, plus it encourages me to practise my writing for no one other than myself.

Photography: Madeleine Grace

Outfit Details
Dress: ASOS 
Jacket:  H&M (old, similar linked)
Shoes: DMs (similar)
Bag: Zara (old, similar linked)
Lipstick: Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet in 37 L'Exubérante



I hope you found this post useful, I'd love to hear your thoughts!


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Dior Hypnotic Poison 

Molecule 01 by Eccentric Molecules

Ambre Passion by Laura Mercier 

 Jimmy Choo

Notes from the Jimmy Choo website: Imagine femininity, luxury and style…bottled: introducing Jimmy Choo, the original fragrance.

A fragrance enveloping the woman with sensuality and seduction, with warm, rich and woody depths. Inspired by modern women - strong, empowered, beautiful, seductive and alluring with a mysterious sense of confident sensuality.

Angel by Thierry Mugler

Angel is a mouth-watering delicious and sensual fragrance, a delicate blend of sweet Red Fruits, Soft Caramel, Honey and Praline combined with the captivating power of Patchouli and Vanilla. Angel is a luxurious, chic and timeless fragrance with a seductive edge.

Vanillé Eau Gourmande by Laura Mercier

Notes from the Laura Mercier website: Captures the essence of vanilla orchid & vanilla liqueur, vanilla musk, heliotrope, daylily, bourbon vanilla, sandalwood & amber.

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I span in my garden one Tuesday because it felt nice.

Don't save your best, for best - you deserve to feel nice every day. 

Make the most out of the things that make you feel wonderful. 

Dress for you. 

Put the things on your body which make you want to spin with happiness. 

Every day can is an occasion if you make it one.

Your life is an occasion, don't forget to dress for it. Given the choice, why would you choose not to feel special?

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I found this piece hidden amongst the draft which never got published, and thought I'd share it two years later with fresh eyes. Here are some thoughts I had on loneliness in 2016:

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I have been considering writing this for a while now, however as it's something I've felt quite vulnerable discussing on the internet. For a few weeks now this has haunted the pages of my diary - however, I've decided to be brave and share online as I'm realising I find something quite comforting in giving people the option to read my thoughts, they don't feel so locked away then and neither do I.

I feel a cloud of embarrassment and shame as I admit this, but I feel quite lonely. I know this is an ordinary human emotion so it is not something I should feel so ashamed to state, which is partly why I want to write this blog post.

I am 24 for, and I am very single (I promise not to drone on about wanting a boyfriend throughout this blog post), when I say very single - I mean more single than I have ever been in my teen through to my adult life. I have had one serious relationship whilst I was a student which lasted just shy of three years, and although I that as real as my love life has ever got, I always had romantic interests, and guys I've been talking to and thinking about. But right now... I can honestly say there is no one at all I am romantically interested.

Now I know what you're thinking, loads of people are single, get over it Chloe, there is no need to be so desperate. However, as contradicting as this may sound, I am then happy being single - everything I have said so far is based on fact rather than emotion.

Of course, there is a but, otherwise, why would I be banging on about this. But... pretty much everyone I spend a reasonable amount of time with is in a relationship - which means a lot of third-wheeling, but why stop at third-wheeling, oh no, I've been out as a 7th wheel recently. To put it simply, it's just uncomfortable. Sometimes I feel as though I'm out with my friends on a double date, but I've forgotten to bring my date. I know, it's not my friend's fault and I am happy they're all happy and loved up, but it's hard to feel as though I belong amongst all of the couples.

Sometimes we'll have a girl night, and of course, boy chat comes up, as it always does... but where do I fit in this conversation, I am happy to listen to what my friends have to say because I understand the importance of listening, but what can I contribute, really?

Being very introvert maybe I've bought on this feeling of loneliness myself, as I have found rather than feeling awkward surrounded entirely by a couple I've been staying home instead, which obviously does not help the situation, and I'm narrowing down any chance of meeting new people and spending time with others. However when I do see my friends, even if partners aren't invited, all I find myself getting asked is if I've met anyone or if I'm interested in anyone. Although how's your work, have you written anything interest on you blog recently slips in, it doesn't always feel like that part of the conversation that valued - I guess we all love romance and gossip.

Of course, I know that's far from the truth and I will do bigger and better things than date someone cool.

When I had a boyfriend l though it was a very happy relationship throughout, still I lost a part of who I am and I feel like I've just begun to know myself and that's not something I want to lose again. I like being independent. Yet I don't like feeling alone.

I find myself feeling alone beyond romance, I have distanced from some friendships and I am unsure of how to get them back. I'm at an age now where I realise friendship ultimately changes, develop and disappear and life goes on, however, I feel like one of my closest friends has literally disintegrated in front of my eyes, and the other person either isn't aware of isn't bothered.

Either way. I have a few very close important friends at the moment, and that is it. I know that is more than some people. But I still feel sadness each night when I get home from work and sit in my own silence. I turn my phone on aeroplane mode for at least an hour every night, and when I switch it back on, I hardly have a single message.

I can hear your thoughts, mainly because I'm kicking myself thinking the same thing, why don't you make more effort with people? why don't you text people first? I do, with my few close friends, but anyone that not so close, not so much, simply because it's scary. And no, I'm not exactly been looking to find a partner. I don't want to meet someone knowing I found them out of loniless and not neccassiraly for all of the right reasons. I guess I'm leaving that up to fate. Just sometimes the silence is a little too loud in my head, and I feel like the support system is low.  There's no one I can tell everything too, someone to listen to and I miss that.

...

Although some aspects from the post still ring true today, some, not so much. I may post an update thoughts on loniliness post, to see how things have changed. 


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If you want to see the ins and outs of both my 2017 and 2018 bullet journals, I've made a full video about them which you can watch below (or on my youtube channel)

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