March Goals 2019

March Goals 2019

Wednesday, 27 February 2019

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I never ever know how to start my monthly goals posts. I could go super basic, which is the option I usually plump for, and marvel at the passage of time, or I could come up with something original. Option A it is. Guys! It's basically March! We're nearly a quarter of the way through the year. Seriously! I'm hoping this fact will shock me into action, because I haven't achieved everything I'd wanted to by this point.

Elemis Superfood Collection #gifted

Elemis Superfood Collection #gifted

Wednesday, 20 February 2019

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Guys, let’s be real here, I’m not a big name in blogging. To be even realer I’m barely a name in blogging. I’m just a small voice in a sea of thousands and because of that I don’t tend to get invited to a lot of events. However, in my real life I’m a journalist, and sometimes I get to do some really cool shit because of that fact. Like when I was lucky enough to go to the press launch of Elemis’ new Super Food products for instance.

February Goals 2019

February Goals 2019

Wednesday, 6 February 2019

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A new month (FINALLY! January lasted forever) means new goals. I didn't set any goals last month because I made the decision that instead of a laundry list of resolutions I was just going to let myself be. Yes, there are things I want to achieve, but ultimately my main goal for this month, this year, this life is to accept myself, warts and all, because it's something I should have done a long time ago. 

The Art of the Everyday Bold Lip

The Art of the Everyday Bold Lip

Wednesday, 30 January 2019

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Lipstick could be called the great love of my life, it’s right up there, second only to music, as one of my favouritest things and I wear it every single day. As a result I have very strong opinions on what makes a good lipstick - matte, long-lasting, pigmented, comfortable -  but more importantly in my 7-year lipstick wearing career I've learned a thing or two about how to get the best out of it. See below.

Beauty Rediscoveries

Beauty Rediscoveries

Wednesday, 23 January 2019

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There are few things I enjoy more than stumbling across things I’ve forgotten I love. Whether it’s a song, book, podcast or, in this case, beauty product(s), I just love that feeling of rediscovery. It’s almost as satisfying as drinking a cup of tea while it’s still hot, which I never manage to do.

How To Read More

How To Read More

Wednesday, 16 January 2019

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Read more is probably one of my most frequently set monthly goals. Because I love reading, always have, and I just don’t do it enough. It’s a story I’ve told time and time again. Reading was my passion, two English degrees killed that passion - don’t study what you love kids! - and, in the four years (!) since I graduated, I’ve desperately tried to claw it back, but try as I might I just couldn’t seem to get in the right mindset to read more and incorporate reading into my everyday life. For something that used to be completely effortless for me, it’s been really hard work. But finally, FINALLY, I’ve cracked it and am reading more than I have in years. Here’s how: 

Accountability

Having a book club with my best friend has been amazingly helpful to get both of us back into reading. It works really well as we love the same kinds of books - trashy crime thrillers mainly - and have a soft spot for pretty books. We also don’t trust people who say they don’t read and both of us organised our bookshelves by colour, something that is aesthetically pleasing, outrageously statisfying and completely useless! Anyway, having that accountability to another person is a great motivator to get reading. Plus spending an hour or two talking about books over hot chocolate and millionaire’s shortbread is a delightful use of time. It’s the best! 

Consciously choose to do it, and then do it

Firstly, I must apologies for that particularly wanky phrasing, I couldn’t think of a better way of framing it. Let me explain, I was listening to The High Low, my fave podcast, when Pandora Sykes was asked how she read so much and her response was brilliant. She basically said that people have the attention span to carry out whatever task they need to do, including reading, and that it just comes down to being aware of your distractions - phones,  music, social media etc -  so you can minimise them. I’m notorious for trying to read and listen to music at the same time and sometimes I can concentrate on what I’m reading, but more often than not I can’t. I’m also really terrible for taking out my kindle and then playing on my phone. It’s so easy to get distracted. So when I say choose to read I mean getting rid of all distractions - phone, music, food, whatever - so I can focus entirely on my book. It’s infuriating that it works but it does. 

Make time

I managed to read 22 books in the second half of last year purely by reading on my commute. Instead of spending my bus journey pointlessly scrolling through Instagram, I’d get a book out instead. Also when filling my hot water bottle. That’s an oddly specific time that’s probably not applicable to everyone. I really feel the cold, guys! But if you, like me, are a cross between a young grandma and a lizard and take a hot water bottle to bed with you too, then this is a great time to read. It takes roughly 10 minutes for me to fill and boil the kettle twice so my hot water bottle gets full. You can do a lot of reading in 10 minutes. Just sayin’. I think the most important thing to remember is that there are definitely pockets of dead time that aren’t being used effectively, you just need to find them. Reading before bed is also a great shout, for loads of reasons, it helps you sleep, it’s relaxing, and, my personal favourite, it’s cosy af!

Audiobooks

Personally, I prefer reading to audiobooks. However, that’s not to say I don’t love an audiobook every now and then. Because I do. I think they’re a great way to get through a lot of books in a short space of time. They’re basically a podcast but longer! They’re also great if you’re on a particularly busy tube, feeling lazy and/or reading more than one book at a time, which is how I tend to use them. They’re also good for when I’m at work and not really in the mood for either music or podcasts. Side note: I’m currently listening to Jog On by Bella Mackie, it’s excellent! and she has such a soothing voice. 

Hopefully these will help you read more if you’re struggling. Let me know if you have any book recommendations! Xxx

Current Skincare Loves

Current Skincare Loves

Wednesday, 9 January 2019

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Me and my skin have been on quite the whirlwind adventure* these past five years. We’ve had our ups and downs, mostly downs to be honest, adult acne, clogged pores, sensitivity and a complexion that can't decide if it'd rather be too dry or too oily. But now, finally, I’ve struck the right balance between my skincare and medication and my skin is looking good. I’m still prone to a spot or two, currently rocking four right now, hiding behind my fringe. But for the most part my skin is generally clear and smooth now, and these products are playing their part in keeping it that way.

*It was a pretty shit adventure

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask

Designed to quench thirsty skin Origins Drink Up Mask has been a lifesaver for my parched chops this winter. Something of a cult classic in the online beauty community, and for good reason, Drink Up contains a host of natural ingredients - including avocado oil, Japanese seaweed and apricot kernel oil - that hydrate the skin, replenish it's moisture reserves, and repair the barrier function to prevent further dehydration and premature ageing. If that wasn't enough, it also protects the skin from pollutants and environmental damage, and is paraben- and sulphate-free. It's probably the most hardworking face mask I own, and I've got quite few... I bloody love the stuff.

The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution

Be warned this stuff is intense. It stings like a mofo and it makes you look like Red Skull from Captain America, but it is the best chemical exfoliator that I’ve come across and the results are more than worth it. Whilst it has a very scary, science-y sounding name, it's essentially an exfoliating facial in a bottle. It's formulated with Alpha Hydroxy Acids and Beta Hydroxy Acids that basically feed on dead skin cells. Sounds gross - it is -but it's worth it. Other ingredients include Tasmanian pepperberry to reduce irritation from the acid, vitamin B5 to aid healing and black carrot, which acts as an antioxidant. It's also cruelty-free, suitable for vegans and free from silicones, alcohol and oil.  I use it once a week and it has left me with a brighter, clearer and smoother complexion. Plus, at £6.25, it is a total bargain!

The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution

Similar to my beloved Pixi Glow Tonic, and just a fraction of the cost, this toner has quickly become a firm favourite. Containing slightly more Glycolic Acid than the Glow Tonic, which only contains 5%, this solution refines and mildly exfoliates the skin, removing dead skin cells to reveal a smoother, brighter complexion. It also contains ginseng and aloe vera to soothe and Tasmanian pepperberry to prevent irritation. Like most of The Ordinary's products, it's incredibly effective and incredibly cheap which means its a  nightmare to get hold of, but boy is it worth it once you do. It even comes with a twisty lid, which is very satisfying to play with.

Ren Evercalm Global Protection Day Cream 

Towards the end of last year my skin became super sensitive, becoming inflamed and red at the slightest change in my make up or skincare routines. It seems to have passed now but I still don't know what caused it, probably just general winteryness. Anyway during that time Ren's Evercalm Global Protection Day Cream was one of the only things I could put on my skin without it reacting. The Global Protection Day Cream is a really gentle and lightweight moisturiser, designed especially for reactive skin. It's formulated to soothe, hydrate, strengthen and even 'train' sensitive skin to become less reactive. And it totally works. My skin is so much better.

La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5

An oldie but a goodie, La Roche Posay's Cicaplast Baume is one of my absolute favourite skincare items. A bit of a nifty multi-tasker, Cicaplast is an intense hydrating balm, designed to aid recovery from chemical peels and soothe irritated skin. It has a non-sticky gel texture that absorbs into the skin almost instantly, and is formulated with a ‘mineral complex’ including zinc, copper and manganese which have anti-bacterial properties. It's a great moisturiser, and also works really, really well as a primer, but it really shines when you have a cold and you get a flaky, chapped nose. Hence, why I love this bad boy so much. 

Palmer's Skin Therapy Oil Facial 

I do love a facial oil, but they do tend to be on the pricier side of things.  Enter Palmer's Skin Therapy Oil, one of the best high-street offerings that I've come across. Packed with cocoa butter, retinol and vitamin C to intensely hydrate and improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It has a silky, non-greasy texture that is fast absorbing and packs a serious punch in the hydration stakes, it leaves my skin glowy and juicy-looking. Plus, it's  hypoallergenic, paraben-free and cheap as chips. Love it! 

New Year, New Me? No thanks

New Year, New Me? No thanks

Wednesday, 2 January 2019

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Hello! And welcome to my first post of 2019. How are you? It's been a while! I hope everyone had a lovely festive time and are ready to take this year by the horns and make some magic happen. I know I am.

True Crime Podcasts I’m OBSESSED With

True Crime Podcasts I’m OBSESSED With

Wednesday, 5 December 2018

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’Tis the season to be jolly! Fa la la la la and all that! BUT, forever being a contrarian, I’m not quite ready for all this festiviness. It just feels too early in the year, and I don’t feel like I made the most of Halloween. I didn’t even watch Hocus Pocus this year guys! I KNOW! So now, in the midst of all this Christmassyness (not a word but I'm going with it!) I'm just not feeling it yet. I haven't decked the halls, I have yet to watch The Grinch or The Nightmare Before Christmas or Elf, and I haven't even been keeping up with I'm a Celebrity in a timely manner (sidenote: Nick Knowles x Biffy Clyro is fucking hilarious!)... it's like it's not even Christmas at all.

Instead, I've been embracing the bleak midwinter - be more emo, Lauren, I dare you! - and consuming all of the true crime podcasts that I can handle. Come January I'll regret this grinchiness but for now I'm quite content being a ghoul and listening to all these grisly crime podcasts. It's the worst kind of voyeurism, luckily, due to the sheer volume of true crime podcasts in existence, I'm definitely not the only one who finds murder fascinating. Anyway, if you like me aren't quite ready for Santa Claus to be coming to town - literally, never, ever thought I would type those words - then here's a list of some of my absolute favourite true crime podcasts to keep you busy.

West Cork

Set in the rural Irish town of the same name, West Cork explores the grisly murder of Sophie Toscan Du Plantier, a French holidaymaker, who was found brutally beaten to death just two days before Christmas in 1996. Hosted by husband and wife team; Sam Bungey and Jennifer Forde, West Cork is a compelling and addictive listen. It's fascinating and sad and intriguing and strange and I couldn't stop listening to it. It blow my mind, especially when considering the sheer amount of research, time and attention to detail that went into it.  I've listened to it twice now - sidenote: I've listened to most of these twice! - and it's still just as surprising and devastating the second time around. It's amazing!

Uncover: Escaping NXIVM

Escaping NXIVM (pronounced Nexium) is the first season of Uncover, a CBC podcast hosted by reporter Josh Bloch. It tells the story of Bloch's childhood friend Sarah Edmondson, who was heavily involved in and escaped from a cult. It is as batshit crazypants as it sounds. I don't want to spoil anything for anyone, I just think you need to go and listen to it because it is fucking insane. It's also a superb example of awesome storytelling. It's bizarre and compelling and actually really quite scary. When Bloch was explaining how the cult worked and the ideas and theories that it espoused there were some things that I could see myself buying into... it's fucking weird! 

Dirty John

Dirty John is one of my all time favourite podcasts. I don't say that lightly.  Produced by The LA Times and Wondery, Dirty John is a fascinating and horrifying story told by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Christopher Goffard. Goffard - who is in possession of the most soothing yet irritating voice I've ever heard - investigates the titular Dirty John, real name John Meehan, and his relationship with Debra Newell, who he marries and ultimately tries to con. It's full of sickening twists and turns and is incredibly frustrating at times, mostly because Newell, whilst a victim, isn't particularly likeable, so it's hard to be on her side. Having said that, it's completely addictive and I was hooked from the first episode. Also it's set in Newport Beach, as in the one from The OC. So cool!

The Teacher's Pet

Hosted by Hedley Thomas, a seasoned reporter at The Australian,The Teacher’s Pet is an examination of the disappearance Lynette Dawson, a devoted wife and mother, who vanished in January 1982. Lynette hasn’t seen since and is widely believed to have been murdered by her husband, Chris, so he could be with his school-girl lover. It’s a horrific story that only gets worse the more I listen, I haven't finished listening yet, but it’s also fascinating and sad.

Dr Death

Narrated by medical journalist Laura Bell, Dr Death investigates Dr Christopher Dunstch, a neurosurgeon with a hideous track record of making ghastly mistakes, leaving his patients paralysed, in terrible pain or dead. Is Dunstch really just inept? Or does he have deadlier motives? Like Dirty John this is an addictive listen. It's difficult to listen to in places because it does go into quite a lot of detail about how much damage Dunstch inflicts on his patients and the awful things he does to them in surgery. But it's brilliant. And terrifying.

What are your favourite podcasts? Send me your recommendations x