January Favourites and Achievements

The most long, grey and miserable month of the year is finally over! *cheers and confetti emoji!*

Can you tell I am glad that January is over? Onwards and upwards to the month of love and pancakes aka February.

Beauty Favourites

During January I have fallen back in love with the Soap and Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub. Last time I ran out of this I ditched it for the Breakfast Scrub because I fancied a change but have since gone back to Sugar Crush and I think I'll be sticking with it for the foreseeable. I love the scent and I prefer sugar scrubs to the grainy ones. I really like how harsh and scrubby the S&G body scrubs are which means a little goes a long way and they last for ages. There's nothing worse than a body 'scrub' that is more like a shower gel with the odd stray grain in.

 

I also really love the Revlon Nearly Naked foundation, the shade Ivory is a near perfect match for my skin. I have normal/dry skin but at the moment it is very dry and this foundation doesn't cling to any dry patches - Yay! I love the light/medium coverage it gives, it is perfect for everyday and it gives a glowy/healthy look. I will definitely be using this foundation going into spring.

 

The next product  have been loving is the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer. I can tell I am going to go through the concealer super quickly because I've only had it a couple of months and can see i have used about a third of it already.. Whenever I heard people talk about it, I was adimant I didn't want it as they said how light the coverage was and I thought, concealer needs to be as thick and full coverage as possible why would you want it to be light coverage! Surely that's a waste of time and it won't do its job! ...But actually I was wrong and I love this soooo much! I have the shade 15 which I use for under my eyes (I prefer to use something like the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer for blemishes or spots). It gives a really lovely brightening effect and because it is so light in coverage, it blends really easily (I use my ring finger to pat it in, then the Real Techniques contour brush) and it doesn't look cakey or too thick and heavy.

YouTube Favourites

I have been enjoying quite a few new YouTube channels during January. The first is the lovely Meg from Meg Says. Not only is she possibly the most gorgeous person on the planet but she is a fellow ME sufferer and beauty lover.

 

The beautiful Emma from Emma Drusilla started her channel this month. She is a fellow ME sufferer too and is such a natural at talking to a camera and engaging with her audience and I am really enjoying her videos. I am so proud of both Emma and Meg #spooniesistersunite

 

I also found Leanne via Instagram at the beginning of January. She has ME and Lupus and has been vlogging and talking about make up on her channel M.E Myslef Leanne. Leanne is so positive and relatable and such a joy to watch. I really look forward to her videos.  

 

Book Favourite

 

My book favourite for January (along with One Million Lovely Letters that I wrote about here) is Pretty Honest by Sali Hughes. I have loved Sali's website and YouTube channel for quite a while, her 'In the bathroom' videos are my absolute favourites so I knew I would love her book. You might find this strange (I think I do) but my favourite chapter was probably the Anti-Aging one. I love reading about skincare so it was really interesting for me but everything is written really simply so it is informative, witty, relatable and easy to understand. Every beauty lover (or woman!) needs this book. It is amazing and I already want to keep it forever and pass it down to my daughter(s).

 

 

Achievements

 

 

During January I have got my anxiety under so much more control and my anxiety medication has started to work really well. 

I don't feel like I've done much at all in January but actually when I write it all down, it does seem like quite a bit. 

Here's the list:

Went to my nans for an hour for a cup of tea

Went to the doctors 

Went to the bank and opened my first bank account 

Went to nannys for Christmas take 2 

Washed hair 3 times

 

Goals for February:

Try and make a homemade green smoothie - find out what I do/don't like and practice a recipe 

Go shopping at least twice (already been once)

Wash hair once a week 

Carry on with walks and stretches  

Eat some pancakes for pancake day! - hopefully I'll fancy one and wont feel too nauseous so be able to eat it - nom!

 

How was your January?

Avon Coral Beat

Avons Coral Beat is a very well loved and used polish of mine. Although the formula isn't great, I love to use it as a transition colour between summer and autumn. The polish is more orange than it shows up on camera and is very water-y and sheer in consistency so 3 coats (at least!) is needed. 

I understand that orange isn't everyone's cup of tea. I think it is quite a controversial colour, you either love it or hate it. What do you think? 

The Budget Cleansing Balm

I've mentioned (and declared my love for) this cleansing balm by Boots Botantics before but I love it so much so that I've dedicated a whole post to it! 

I bought my first tub of this back in August last year. I'd been reading and hearing about the Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm from bloggers and Youtubers for a while and wanted to test out the idea of using a balm/oil to break down my make up at the end of the day but didn't want to splash out on something too expensive. 

At first, I hated the smell. It's very 'natural' smelling and herbal and I really didn't like it. But after a while, I got used to it and if I'm honest, 9 months down the line, I really like the smell!

I love the balms ability to break down all your make up and leave your skin feeling super plump and soft and hydrated. It's not stripping at all and doesn't leave your skin feeling super tight like some gel or foaming cleansers. 

Using a hot flannel or muslin cloth (you get a free cloth with the balm) you can remove all your make up, even waterproof mascara! 

The ingredients are all natural and readable and there are no harsh chemicals or god forbid, Mineral Oil! 

I'm on my second tub of this and although I only use it when I wear make up (and I don't wear make up too often), it has lasted me a good 8 months or so. (It would maybe last 6 months if you wear make up most days) 

I love that this balm retails at just £9 from Boots stores. 

What is your favourite budget cleansing balm? 

Sleek - Blush by 3 palette in Lace

This was the first Sleek product I ever picked up after hearing SO much hype in the YT/beauty blogging world last summer (or was it the summer before?) 

Sleek are known for their blushers and I do really like this product. You get a palette of 3 blushers for £9:99 (single blushes are £5, so you're getting 3 for the price of 2!) 

I really like the packaging of this product, it's black and 'sleek', although it does get kinda grubby and finger-printy!! There is also a big mirror that takes up the whole top portion of the palette which I LOVE and makes it super easy to use on the go! 

As I said, there are 3 blushes. Crochet is the first and probably my favourite. It is a matte orange which looks super pretty in the summer with a tan! I never thought i could get away with orange blush but it turns out, I can! I'm so glad I went out of my comfort zone! 

Guipure (please don't ever ask me to pronounce that!) is a super shimmery peachy gold blush. It's really pretty but I do find that the colour fades away quite quickly on the cheeks and that I am often left with just gold glitter on my face - not a good look! You could always use one of the matte blushes first, then layer Guipure on top as more of a highlight (you definitely wouldn't need a separate highlight with this!) to ensure you still have colour in your cheeks all day. 

Finally, Chantilly is a bright coral matte blush. It's super pretty and can be built up to be really bright so is definitely recommend using a light hand when applying this!

Overall I really like this product and I've since purchased more sleek blushes. They last a really long time on the cheeks and are really well priced! 

Soap and Glory - Beauty Sleep Accelerator

A lot of night creams or moisture masks are quite expensive and there aren't a lot if options from the cheaper brands so when I found out that Soap and Glory had an offering, I thought I'd give it a go! 

This can be found in Boots for £13 but 90% of the time, Soap and Glory is on 3 for 2! 

This cream smells AMAZING! Fruity, like peaches (which would make sense as it's got peach in it!) and is a slightly peachy tone! 

The moisturiser sinks in super quick to your skin and doesn't leave it feeling super greasy or oily even though the cream is super thick. 

I'd say this product would suit more normal/oily skin girls as I don't think it's moisturising enough for someone with super dry skin. 

The only thing I was a bit disappointed about is the size of the pot. You get 45 ml for £13 which to me is quite expensive really! Although if you wanted to take it on a plane with you, it would be the perfect size! 

Overall I definitely like this cream, it makes my skin feel really nice and plump and hydrated. I'd 100% buy it again but maybe to use in the warmer months as I think I need something more heavy duty during the winter. 

At home spa night - My pamper routine

I love having home spa nights/days and I think it's so important for us girls to have some regular "me" time and a time to relax.   

Spa nights are especially good if you've had a really hard or stressful day at work or school and you just need a bit of a treat at the end of the day. 

These are a few things that I like to do when I want to feel relaxed, pampered or if I am preparing for a big event. (I don't always do every single step so feel free to pick and chose and leave some steps out) 

Firstly I would suggest to start by tidying away a few things. I'm not saying you have to do a huge spring clean but if your bedroom/house is super cluttered and messy, you're not going to be able to relax properly. 

I love to light candles, they can be scented or unscented, in your bathroom, bedroom, around the house, you chose! 

Next I would take off my make up. I generally use bioderma to do this, then follow up with the Boots Botantics cleansing balm and a hot cloth. 

Now you can start pouring your bath. I love Lush bath bombs but I know some of you will prefer to have bubbles in your bath.

Next I would pop on a hair mask. I love using coconut oil or this macadamia deep repair mask and then I tie my hair up in a bun on the top of my head. 

Now it's time for a face mask. It all depends on your skin type, to what I would recommend but I don't think you can go wrong with a classic clay mask. These are some of my current favourite face masks: 

Then once I am in the bath, I like to wash my body and then exfoliate. My body scrubs of choice are anything by Soap and Glory, although I am currently using their Smoothie Star - Breakfast Scrub which smells AMAZING!! 

Next up, you can shave your legs. I like to use a conditioner to do this as I feel like my legs are smoother and it gets the closest shave. 

Wash off your hair and face masks. 

I know some people prefer to wash their hair over the bath and some like to do it in the bath, so shampoo and conditioner your hair as normal, whichever way you chose! 

Dry yourself with a big fluffy towel, put on your dressing gown and put your hair up in towel! 

Next you can either use your normal moisturiser or you might want to go for something a little more intense like this Superdrug Vitamin E moisture mask. 

It is so important to moisture your body and although I do this everyday, I sometimes like to take more time massaging the product into my skin, concentrating on the areas that I sometimes slack on, such as my feet!! 

Now that your are all moisturised, you can pop on your PJs and a girly film and start on nails. 

These are some of my favourite girly films. 

Whether you chose to give yourself a mani-pedi or just a manicure, make sure all nail polish has been removed before starting. I have a full post on my nail care routine.

A few of my current favourite nail polishes. 

L-R, Essie Fiji, Barry M berry ice cream, Barry N prickly pear, models own blueberry muffin and Essie mint candy apple

After you have painted your nails, you can just sit back, let them dry and enjoy the film! 

I hope this post helped you and that this has inspired you to have your very own pamper evening. 

Chloe 💕

My Nail Care Routine

As you guys know, I love painting my nails and I think it was over a year ago now that I settled into a proper nail care routine. 

For the past couple of years I have been using this Sally Hansen Super Shine top coat. I get mine from Xtras online and it is usually available for under £2. It leaves your nails super super shiny and glossy and I've been through several bottles. I just keep going back! 

At the moment, I am using the Avon Gold Strength base coat (£6 but I usually buy it when it's on sale) which seems to be going really well so far. In the bottle, it looks really shimmery but it doesn't translate like that on the nails. 

A base coat that I have also enjoyed using is the Avon Peeling and Brittleness solver (£6 but I usually get it on sale for £2:50)This helped a lot to make my nails super strong and if you paint your nails a lot like I do, I recommend using a treatment as a base coat. Another more expensive option is OPI nail envy.  

Another new step I have added into my nail care routine recently is this liquid freeze quick dry nail spray (£6) I have to admit that I was a bit sceptical when buying it as I didn't think it would work but it really does! It is a totally different formulation to what I thought it would be as it's slightly oily but it really does help my nail varnish dry quicker. 

My best friend has also tried this and she said that it did nothing to help her nail varnish dry quicker and that she hated the oily feeling it left to her fingers.... So maybe it's not for everyone. 

As for tools and cuticles, I use whatever I have around to push my cuticles back. In the photo here, there is an orange stick but I also like using the silicone cuticle sticks, I'm not fussy! 

I do cut my cuticles from time to time, (every 2-3 weeks) and I've never had any problems when doing so. I know that some people say you shouldn't cut them or push them back but I think it's totally up to you and it's just something I like to do to make my nails look nicer. 

To condition my cuticles I use olive oil (once a week) and I've found that this really helps to keep my nails looking healthy. I'm interested in buying the Essie apricot cuticle oil or the Lush Lemony Flutter Cuticle butter. Have any of you tried them? What do you think of them? Leave me a comment and let me know. 

I cut my nails with the nail clippers (shown in the picture). I prefer to use these rather than nail scissors as they have a fairly straight edge so give me the basic shape that I like to my nails. 

Beauty Wishlist #1

 

My beauty wishlist #1

 

 

 

 

1.) China Glaze - Winter Holly - Yes its July, but I've been lusting after this gorgeous green polish for EVER and it would be so perfect for A/W. I haven't seen anything else like it and it just looks gorgeous.

 

2.) Macadamia Deep Repair Mask - Another product that I've been wanting for a year or more. One day I will bite the bullet and buy it despite the expense!

 

3.) Mac - "Hue" Lipstick - This is such a classic beauty blogger/Youtuber product and I have totally been sucked in! I really want to find the perfect nude/pale pink lipstick.

 

4.) Mac 217 brush - Out of all the Mac brushes, this is the one I want the most. I love the Real Techniques brushes and I think their face brushes are absolutely fab but I feel like Mac does eye brushes a little bit better. I don't have any  Mac brushes and will probably never own any, due to how expensive they are. But in my eyes, they are an investment and something I will keep for years. I'm not sure if that justifies the hefty price tag but we'll see....

 

5.) Rimmel Kate Moss lipsticks - I have the classic 107 lipstick which is amazing in the A/W and I love it so much, I want to try some more shades. I have quite big lips (and a big mouth, oops!) and if I wear bright lipstick, I like it to be matte because I think bright+shiny/glossy = a bit too much and my lips end up taking over my whole face!

Image Credit: Katies beauty blog

 

6.) Slek - Sweet Check blush-by-3 palette - I think this is the product I want the most. I have no idea what to say about it, other than I WANT IT. I have the blush-by-3 'Lace' palette and I love it but I really want this one too! These are such fab quality and so pigmented. I think they are an amazingly priced product for those who cant afford a Nars blush. You literally need the tiniest 'tap' of product and I can tell that my 'Lace' palette is going to last me forever. Another good 'investment'!

 

What beauty products are on your wishlist?

 

Lets go shopping!

I went shopping today to Ashford Designer Outlet which is a good 45 minutes or so away from my home. This was a huge achievement, as i'm sure you'll all agree and I walked so so far (I'll probably have payback tomorrow) but for now i'm really proud of myself and pleased with what I have achieved. I was out of the house from about 10am-3pm which is a long time to be constantly doing things. In the car on the way there, I felt awful (like I was gonna pass out, in so much pain, exhausted and just really ill) but I managed not to say anything, and I did end up feeling better after a while.

I got a few bits and pieces which include a bag from Next (outlet) for only £5, 3 books for £5 and I got some Yankee candles for only £1:20 each.

The scents that I got were, Fruit Fusion, Summer Scoop, and Pink Dragon Fruit.

I also got a Vanilla Body Mist from The Body Shop.

I hope you all had a fab day and I look forward to hearing about any achievements you have made recently.

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Why I wear make up

Spoonie: Why do i wear make up?

Surely if you feel so ill, you wouldn't bother with make up?

I guess thats what I'd think too if I wasn't sick but I am.

Being ill every second of every day is not like having a virus or flu that lasts for a few days. I understand thst if you are temporarily sick, you don't want to wear make up but if being sick is your day to day life, you have to try and get on with things and not let your illness get in the way of everything! If I had a bug or virus, I wouldn't be expected to work but having a chronic illness, I am.

ME and fibro is not going to go away. It could be with me forever, or for a good few years at least, so why shouldn't I make myself look respectful, 20 days a year?

I don't want to look back at photographs of myself on my birthday or at Christmas and think how ill I looked. I want to remember how hard it was to get to that point and how I survived, how I had a good time and how this illness did NOT win. It didn't stop me from going out or from celebrating. It's depressing to look rubbish all the time. I dont look like I used to. Some people might not realise this but I've put on weight, I don't wear the same sort of clothes and I don't wear make up everyday. I don't style my hair or wear fake tan. I look different than I used to. I've put on weight and don't wear the same sort of clothes.

I put on make up because it's the only thing I can do, to make myself look more normal. And that way, when I look in the mirror and see someone who looks healthy, it makes me feel less isolated and lonely and I get to pretend for a few hours that I am just a normal girl, not one with a chronic illness.

Putting on make up DOES take an awful lot of energy from me, and makes me feel ill, but then again, what doesn't?

I wear make up, about twice a month? Sometimes more, sometimes less. I always put it on if I am going to a family party or to see friends or something. If I'm going to the doctors, I don't bother but sometimes it's nice to make yourself feel special and concentrate on your appearance.

Inspired by Kelly Fricke