The word 'contouring' kind of scared me a little. Not in the sense that I actually felt terrified, more that the whole thing just looked kind of daunting and almost a recipe for disaster. When you're not very skilled in makeup and do it for fun in ways you've taught yourself,  having contouring being a big trend in the beauty world and having no clue how to do can be a little scary. 

That was until I tried the Rimmel Insta Duo Contour Stick and now I haven't looked back. Never did I  think I would find contouring this easy, but this one product makes it feel so simple and comes completely natural to you. The stick itself comes with two cream based products either side of it, giving it the duo name. One side is the contour shade, a warm toned brown, the perfect colour for contouring with. And on the other side is the highlight shade. This stick is available in three shades. Light, medium and dark, so Rimmel really have catered for all in such a simple way. 

I have the light shade and it is perfect for my light skin tone. The contour shade is the perfect shade in my opinion. It's not too warm toned to give you that annoying 'mud' look, but it's not too cold tone either. It's somewhere in the middle. It has amazing pigmentation as well. The highlight is more of a pearlescent gold shade which is more on the subtle side, so I like to use this under my powder highlight. It works really well as a base and gives something for my powder to stick onto.

The creaminess of either side of the stick is very comfortable and light. You cannot even tell you have it on nor can you feel it upon application. The stick style of tool does not even make a difference either. It feels as light and smooth as almost using a brush. This also makes way for quick and easy application. The application process was obviously the thing I was most worried about and had put me off contouring for years, but this stick definitely takes away that fear and replaces it with ease.

You can easily use this stick when in a rush in the mornings or during the day if you're on the go or travelling. It's super compact and has no problems when used on the go. It's really easy to control and you have total rule over how much you apply and how light you want it to be. I like to apply mine in a '3' motion on either side of my face (this covers the cheek bones, jawline and the temples) and then down the sides of my nose, which is where I use more of a lighter hand as you don't want it to look too harsh. You can also achieve a really straight and precise line with the stick. So you don't have to worry about any wobbly lines appearing on your face and not having a smooth application!

In terms of what to do after you've used the contour stick, I have tried blending it into my skin with both a beauty blender sponge and also a contour brush. For the best result, I have found that the beauty blender when damp is the best option to use. It makes it a lot easier to blend it and makes it look more natural. There wasn't any harsh lines on my face (again, another contouring fear I had before) and it blended really evenly onto my skin.

I absolutely love the way the Duo Contour Stick made my face and whole makeup look. It creates such a well defined and natural looking structure to the face. I have such a round face, so for something as easy as this to use and to give me such a nice definition, I could not have been more happy than I was about this handy product. 

I honestly could not recommend this enough. It's all around a really good contouring product for any newbies or beginners like me. It's also perfect for on the go and to pop into your travel makeup bag. I love how easy it is to use and how good it makes my skin structure look. The affordability of it is also such a winner retailing at only £6.99 it's a complete bargain and must have. Some contour palettes are more than this and don't have specific shades for you like this does, nor do they have such an easy and quick application process.

Have you tried this?

Lauren x

Creating and starting a blog might have always been something you've always wanted to and the whole reason as to why you've stumbled across this post. You might have never had the guts to take the plunge and start one. Or perhaps you've just never know where to really start and the whole thing just daunts you. The truth is starting a blog really isn't as scary as it may seem. Sure it may be a little overwhelming at first, but you'll soon get the hang of things and ask yourself why you never started sooner. If you need that extra push as to why you should start a blog right now, then here are 6 reasons to try and persuade you...

I will be the first to hold my hands up and admit I'm not a huge fan of Autumn. I much prefer summer with the lighter evenings and the warmth in the air. I love being able to get outside and enjoy being away from tucked away inside. Although I do try to love the colder season by thinking of all the new beauty things that are coming my way since I am such a big beauty lover. There are so many ways a beauty lover can get excited for autumn, but here are five I have put together today..

Even though people are more aware of mental health and it's becoming more and more talked about nowadays, there are still a lot of common misconceptions within the world about mental health conditions. These misconceptions not not only add to the stigma, but also prove that there is a lack of education within society which disables the correct support for those who are suffering. I believe with the opportunity to be able to continue talking freely about mental health, building peoples knowledge and understanding, reducing the stigma down will enable people to be supported. 

Happiness is something we all want in life. Happiness is something we all want to feel more of and never let it go. Happiness is something I felt like I could never experience again when I went through the year of hell last year. But happiness does exist and it does come back round even after the hardest times. Happiness is something I've felt so strongly this year and it's made me feel so much better about living life again. 

When you go through hell and back, you grab that happiness with both hands and nurture it with all you have. You never take it for granted and you appreciate all those little moments because they mean a hell lot more than those 'big fancy things' that society tells us that they're suppose to make us happy. Reality is these rarely bring us happiness or only can once. But each person has individual happiness within them and knows what or even whom makes them happy. Everyone's is individual and personal to them. So here are 50 things that make me happy:

1. Fresh fruit smoothies 

2. Waking up and feeling so refreshed

3. Hitting publish on a new blog post

4. Morning cuddles with the one you love

5. Bike rides

6. McDonalds Mcflurry's

7. Overcoming a fear

8. Laughing so much your belly hurts

9. Long hot bubble baths

10. Freshly painted nails

11. Baking cupcakes

12. Consuming said cupcakes

13. Deep chats at night 

14. Long walks

15. Going to the beach

16. Sharing the blogger love

17. Testing new makeup

18. Seeing your favourite band live

19. Singing your heart out to said band

20. Car journeys 

21. Reading a good book in bed at night

22. Getting into a clean bed with fresh sheets

23. Matching your underwear

24. Buying new underwear

25. Getting cosy when you're freezing cold

26. Being tanned and radiant 

27. Puppies!!!!!

28. Wearing a new outfit

29. Ice lollies in the sunshine

30. Playing the sims 

31. Hearing the autumn leaves crunching under your toes

32. Feeling so content and at peace

33. Going to cromer and being by the sea

34. Wearing a new lipstick 

35. Inside jokes with the family

36. Waking up next to Matt in the morning
37. Reminiscing on old memories with friends
38. Starting a new notebook
39. Being really creative 
40. Christmas time
41. The sound of rain from inside
42. When someone just gets you 
43. Watching the snow fall down 
44. Wearing my favourite lipstick
45. Buying fresh flowers
46. Feeling really confident and positive
47. Long car journeys 
48. Back tickles when I'm feeling down or stressed
49. Hearing my therapist say how well I'm doing
50. Fish finger sandwiches #enoughsaid

A flawless base is something that sounds hard to achieve if you believe you have too many imperfections. Whilst I am a firm believer in that no one is perfect and you should embrace any imperfections you think you have, a flawless base to our makeup look can really help us to feel more confident and beautiful in our own skin. It also helps the rest of our makeup sit on our face properly and enables the whole makeup look to come together as a finished look. So in today's post I'm going to share 6 easy ways to create a flawless base to your makeup..

I think most bloggers are pretty competent on how to accept brand collaborations for brands and how to work with them to benefit your readers experience, what comes from one one of the pretty amazing perks of being a blogger and building an interactive audience. But what about those brands that do not suit your blog criteria or do not make good enough offers to you for you to even consider working with them? Those are the ones that can become more difficult to respond to and decline. You can sometimes feel guilty or disappointed with not being able to go through with a collaboration for whatever reason it may be. If you struggle to decline some brand collaboration requests, then keep on reading because I'm going to share with you just how you can decline brand collaborations:

When it comes to skincare, I'm all for affordability because testing out new products to find the perfect ones to suit your skin can wrack up quite an expense if you're not careful. That's why T-Zone's new bamboo and charcoal range is the skincare brand you need to try to combat oily skin and any stubborn blemishes you want to get rid of. We all know how beneficial charcoal ingredients have on our skin due to the high surface area it contains which helps with absorption. The bamboo and charcoal range aims to use its ingredients to draw out impurities, absorb excess oil and dirt that can be found in our pores to make way for clearer and healthier skin. The past few weeks I've been testing out a few products from T-zones new range and just know that they are perfect any oily skin sufferers...

So far this year for me personally has been the most life changing, challenging, hopeful and exciting year I've had in a long time. It is all down to stepping out of my comfort zone more and more, even if it is small steps, it has still counted for something and I have already achieved some incredible things, that this time last year I could never imagine overcoming. This has given me so much hope and excitement to achieve more, to get better and continue to face my fears, all whilst finally being able to actually enjoy life! It's made me actually look forward to things that I am no longer afraid to plan in advance and I thought it would be a good idea to share some of the things I want to do before the year is up...

Lately I've been really getting into my skincare and completely surprised myself with this new found obsession. I think it stems from realising just how important skincare is and how much it can affect other areas of your beauty regime like your makeup. I've also really enjoyed seeing the results of particular products on my skin and feeling pleased with the way my skin looks and feels. This all comes from having a good skincare routine in place, something a few years back I didn't even have nor did I bother with. But now I would never look back. 

Coming up with a skincare routine can be tricky when you're unsure of what products work best for you, when you should be using them and how to keep up your new routine without slacking behind with it out of laziness or time constraints. So today I'm going to be sharing with you some top tips on how to start a skincare routine and more importantly stick with it...

Know what products you'll need - Everyone has a skin type and with this said skin type comes certain products other than the basics that you'll need to use. It's also handy to have a think about any problems you may also have with your skin. Do you suffer from acne? Do you have any redness? Do you experience large pores? Do you need anti-aging products? Does your skin look dull? 

When you have a good idea as to what skin type you are and any problems you need to try manage, you will be able to suss out what products you're going to need to use within your routine. A cleanser, toner, exfoliant, serum, moisturiser and an eye cream is a good place to start. You can then add on according to any of the problems you want to try target, such as a skin lightening cream or an acne treatment. 

The basic routine - If you are after a straightforward skincare routine that treats the basic requirements your skin needs each morning and night, then a good basic routine would include having a morning routine that consists of you using a cleanser, a toner and then moisturiser. Using these three products as your base/must do products can ensure a good morning routine. From there, you can add products into your routine to treat any other problems you might have, such as an eye cream to wake up any tired eyes or a spot treatment to minimise spots throughout the day. 

In terms of your night routine, because you will tend to have more time without having the morning rush to get ready for the day, you can add more products and care into your routine. Repeat the same steps as before with your base products, a cleanser, a toner and a moisturiser. Then follow up with any other treatments, like an exfoliator or a serum, anything to give your skin that extra boost before bed. You might also want to throw in a face mask a couple of times a week to give your skin that extra love.

Trial and error - Remember finding that 'perfect' skincare routine that works 100% round for you may take sometime to achieve and might not always be so perfect. But having a good solid routine that you have the time for and gives you the benefits and results you are after is essential. Trialing and error different products and different ways to do your skincare routine is great for finding what does work for you. Think about the quickness of your routine. 

Is it easy to carry out during the morning when you're in a rush or are you skipping out products because you don't have the time to do it all? Maybe strip it back to the basics and focus more on your treatments at night to save yourself time. Are you getting the results you hoped for? If not, then try out some new products. Maybe not all at once. But swap out your current moisturiser for example for a new one and see how that goes. When you find the best one for you, then you can continue to swap out different products according to when you feel you're ready for something new or to find one that works best for you. 

Have fun with it and never see it as a chore! It can be fun and rewarding when you see amazing results. 

Keep everything together in one place - Having all your skincare products that you are going to use within your routine in one place can easily ensure you are going to stick with your routine. If you find yourself going from room to room, carrying products to mirror from all over the place, then you're going to find it tiresome and not efficient. Instead have all your skincare products in one place in one room with a mirror so you can see what you're doing. This might be at your dresser, in your bathroom or in a draw etc. 

Make your products look like you actually want to use them - If your products don't look aesthetically pleasing enough to make you even want to look at them, then it's unlikely you'll find yourself reaching for them either. Instead make them look like you want to use them and can't put them down. There are so many products in my collection I'm always reaching for because they just look good. 

To make them look more pleasing to the eye, a good step to take first is to ensure they're organised. Wherever you plan to store them, make sure they're organised and neatly in one place, whether that's by category or even product order within routine. Make them look welcoming and like they want to be used. Ensure there is good lighting coming into the area or room they are being stored in. Add pretty decor around them or place them onto pretty decoration, like a jewellery tray or some acrylic storage. You could even place some fake flowers beside them to make them look even more pretty and inviting. 

Set yourself some reminders - It can be hard to remember to carry out your skincare routine, especially if you're tired from a hard day at work. Setting yourself reminders to carry out your routine can help massively. You could do this by placing sticky notes up around the house telling you to do your routine or setting reminder alters on your phone for a specific time. If you are setting it to alert you at a certain time, ensure you're doing it as a reasonable hour, when you're not going to get too comfy on the sofa or can't be bothered to move out of bed later on in the night. Also think about the time within the morning, never leave it too late and end up having to rush, especially if you apply makeup afterwards. This will help to motivate you to do so and also remind you if you do have poor memory. 

Commit to the basics - If you do find it hard to keep up with a routine or even to find the time to do it, then always ensure you commit to the basics no matter what. If you are in a rush in the morning or too tired at night, then carry out the basics and remember to go back to other treatments at a later date. Sometimes you might have to force yourself to even carry out the basics, but try your best to because it will soon become a habit not a chore the more you do it. Also remember that the basics will give you more benefits all around, so doing them will give you beneficial results anyway. And always remember to remove your makeup at night. Do not leave that on whatever you do!!!!!

Don't give up - Do not whatever you do give up straight away. As mentioned before, it's all about trial and error, whether that's the products you use or finding the more efficient routine in the time you have spare. You won't always find instant results with your products or routine either. When testing out products, I like to give a minimum of two weeks before I start to analyse the results. The benefits can happen anytime after then, so don't give up and jump to conclusions before you've given your skin a chance to get the full effects of the product. Plus you'll find that routine that works best for you and it will all become a habit that you carry out daily with no problems.

How do you stick to a skincare routine?

Lauren x

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Even though baths are more associated with the winter time, I really do love to enjoy a bath all year round. There's just something about soaking yourself in some warm water, with lots of bubbles and your favourite body care products around you to have the ultimate pamper. In the summer, I like to add more fruity and fun scented products to my bath time and also continue this theme into some bodycare I carry out after my bath. This summer I've been really into trying out new products and really upping my body care game, because it's just as important as it is in the winter time.

Whether you're a keen photographer or a blogger who enjoys taking photos for their blog, a bright image is something we all aim for and know looks a lot more aesthetically pleasing to our audience. It can be difficult to always achieve a bright image with things like the weather, lighting or using the wrong camera settings getting in the way. I know for me when it comes to taking photos for my blog or Instagram, I do struggle to achieve a bright image and have to rely on editing tools to help me out. But sometimes my images do come out bright with a good white balance and looking crisp. And not only is this such a good feeling when this does happen, but it also means I've been able to pick up some good tips and tricks to follow to even achieve this process to make it work in the way I want to. 

Of course the high end market is one of luxury and you can genuinely find some really great quality products when you do spend that little bit more. But for me personally, you really cannot go wrong with the drugstore. Drugstore makeup is not only affordable, but you can also find some really gorgeous products that work amazingly well without having to spend a fortune whilst doing so. This also means repurchasing products is also easier and doesn't come with that hefty price tag. In today's post I'm going to be sharing with you five of my favourites right now from the drugstore. Most of these I use on a daily basis and absolutely love, so I hope you will too.

There seems to be some misconception within the blogging world that we need to be on our game 24/7 with making content, promoting said content and thinking of new said content. Whilst doing this can be good for progressing your blog along and bringing success, it can also be toxic if you burn yourself out, especially if you are already feeling deflated with your blog and know that you need sometime away from it. Blogging breaks are fine. Blogging breaks are needed. Everyone needs to have a break from blogging, the same way we have days off work or education, breaks are highly beneficial for so many reasons. The same applies for blogging and taking breaks. The benefits you can get from taking a break from blogging is endless. 

Beauty is a wonderful thing. It is not only so much fun to experiment with, but it also provides you with so much confidence that you might not have had beforehand. It is especially useful on those days when you don't feel so good within yourself, where you need some help boosting your self esteem and help you to feel better. Beauty can enable you to feel better about yourself and make you feel confident even when you're feeling rubbish. There's a fair few products that I always reach for when I'm not feeling so confident and need a pick me up or perhaps I reach for on important days, like an interview or a special date.

When it comes to packing for a short break, it can sometimes be hard to know how much you actually need to take without packing too lightly and then regretting not taking a particular item or two. It's a good idea to ensure you're packing the essentials and that the things you do pack are practical. This will help to keep things light for your short break and avoid you overpacking. Here are some of my top tips on packing for a short break:

I think most girls can relate to the insecure feelings they experience when it comes to bikini season, knowing that they might be venturing off on holiday and having to bare their body for the world to see, feeling pressures to get this 'summer body' or be 'body goals' before they go. However we all know that this is unrealistic. Our bodies do not change with the seasons and not everyone is going to be a body goals. So to stop ourselves from feeling unconfident and uncomfortable about stepping out in swimwear this summer, it's important to try change our mindset and by following the tips below, you can say goodbye to your insecurities and hello new found bikini confidence that we should all be able to have: