Confidence

I was really excited this morning. I planned to do my first ever OOTD and FOTD post. I thought I looked really great and was flaunting it to no end in front of my mirror. And then came out the camera. I set up my tripod and put the camera on the right setting, spent 20 minutes trying to find the best place for the photo and then decided that everything was wrong. My bun was too high on my head. I have the wrong shade of lipstick on. My legs are too fat for this dress. 

So here we are. No OOTD. No FOTD. No more excited Katie.

Confidence is a really tricky thing. Sometimes I have so much of it that I think I'm queen of the world, and sometimes I have absolutely none so I stay in my pyjamas all day because there's no point in me even trying to make myself look good. I don't like the way I look, I don't have amazing hair and makeup skills, and I have a very unflattering wardrobe. 

Recently, I have had very little confidence in most things I do. I desperately want to start a youtube channel but I don't think I'm interesting or pretty enough, I feel like my blog will go nowhere, I have no confidence in my college work so I haven't been concentrating on my summer assignments, and I have completely given up with dieting because, at the end of the day, I'm still going to be me. 

It's a very sad thing that this happens to me, and millions of other people all over the world for millions of different reasons. It's so easy to get wrapped up in other people's success that you lose sight of your own, so I'm making a list of everything that I have achieved that I've lost confidence in.

1) I successfully put lipstick on today, for once. I'm really cack handed so lipstick usually just doesn't work, but I took extra care and did it really well.

2) I'm wearing an outfit that is very daring for me. Or I was, until I lost confidence in it and took it off. But the fact that I considered wearing it was quite a big step for me.

3) I took some beautiful photos in the woods recently, which has boosted my confidence for my A-Level photography course. I'm nowhere near as good as other people in my class, but I'm getting there.

4) I've been exercising. And enjoying it. Going to exercise classes 4 times a week has really boosted my confidence with exercising in front of people, and I'm pretty sure that I don't care what people think of me when I exercise now. At the end of the day, everyone is there for the same reason - to better their body. Whether that be to lose weight, gain muscle, or just keep fit. 

5) I've started being quite independent with my cooking. Usually my mum would cook for me, but recently I've been making lots of super easy meals such as gnocchi or pasta parcels, breakfast bagels, tasty smoothies, and even just tins of soup. I'm finally taking the initiative to make myself nice meals, instead of eating the same thing everyday.

These are tiny little things, and I'm sure that plenty of you guys do all of these things easily and amazingly, but for me, they're big things to becoming a happier person. If you struggle with confidence or self esteem like me, take a look at these little tips to see if they improve your mindset.

• Make a list like I did of all the things you've achieved that you thought you were bad at or had lost confidence in. You may surprise yourself. If you find it hard to make the list by yourself, ask your friends or family who know you best.
• At the end of each day, think about all the good things you did, or inspiring things you saw, and write them down. Take them into account the next day, and actively try to improve on the previous day. That way, you'll be taking into account your accomplishments, while bettering yourself at the same time.
• Make a playlist of songs that make you feel big and important. My favourite song to make me feel happy and cool is Sail by AWOLNATION. I don't know, it's just fun to make stupid faces to and feel kind of like an alien. I'm not making sense. 
• Try something new. If you don't have any body confidence, try a completely different style when you try clothes on. Pick up a lipstick colour you wouldn't usually take notice of. Maybe you just need a change and don't know where to start. Little things make a difference.

I hope these little tips help, and there's plenty of other really lovely tips on the internet, so if you're feeling down, just look some up!

Sorry for the word heavy post! Happier posts to come.

See you soon!
Katie xo

Monthly Favourites | July

So July went by super quick and quite a few exciting things happened.. I joined a gym and went swimming at 6:30 in the morning, quit my waitressing job and got another job working at a holiday park with some really wonderful people, and finished my course of CBT training with a lot of improvement, go me!

This month's favourites are a lot more makeup based than usual, which is quite strange because I've been wearing less makeup this month - it's too hot, and I'm too lazy! Anyway, here's what I've been loving this month...

The Rimmel 60 Seconds Super Shine and Rita Ora nail collections are my obsession this month, I think I've bought about 10 different colours this month alone. They're only £2.99, which I think is amazing as the quality of the polish is so amazing. The colour is really shiny and lasts a long time on the nail, as well as only needing two coats at most to cover the nail fully. The only downside to them is that I don't have more! In the picture you can see Berries and Cream, Lose Your Lingerie, and Rain Rain Go Away, pretty pretty pretty!

The Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow foundation is literally a godsend at the moment. My skin has become a bit horrible recently with a lot of breakouts and discolouration, probably from the heat we're getting at the moment. This foundation gives me a gorgeous coverage which isn't so heavy that it looks like I'm wearing foundation, but heavy enough that I honestly feel flawless. It's the only high-end makeup I own (for now..) so I cherish it dearly. It was £26 but I feel like that's a good price to pay to feel flawless. Plus, it has SPF 25, yay!

The W7 In The Buff eyeshadow palette is quite a recent buy for me, but I saw it everywhere and thought the colours were way too pretty to leave on the shelf. I've wanted a nude palette for ages as I'm not very adventurous with colours, and this was exactly what I was looking for. I think this cost around £4.99 which is an excellent price for so many colours. The shadows are really pigmented and last ages, so I'm as happy as Larry!

I wanted something lighter as a base for the summer, what with it being so hot at the moment. Something lighter would benefit my skin and would also be really useful for when I'm having pretty good skin days, but just want a little bit of coverage. I picked up the Rimmel London BB Cream in light, and I can't tell you how much I love it. It is literally the perfect colour for my skin, it lasts all day and longer, and makes my skin look normal, healthy, and dewy, and we all want that, right? If I were to recommend anything in my favourites, it would definitely be this.

I heard a lot of people talking about the Lash Sensational mascara by Maybelline, so I couldn't help but feel intrigued. I had recently finished my mascara so was looking for a new one anyway, and this makes my eyelashes look really long, really full, and really thick. I haven't had any clumps which I got a lot with my old mascara, and the packaging is really pretty which is obviously essential.

Lastly, and the only thing that isn't makeup related, are candles! The Tesco Travel Tin candles, to be precise. I've really been getting into candles and saw these for 75p, which is an amazing price for such amazing smelling candles. I have Awake, which is grapefruit and lime leaf, and is basically just a burst of citrus which really wakes you up, Sleep, which is lavender and jasmine, quite herbal and sweet, Laugh, which is pink lemonade and peach, really sweet and light, and Indulge, which is bubble bath and rose petals, and basically smells like fancy soap. They're really cute and burn for ages, so go head to Tesco's and pick yourself up a bunch!

What have you been loving this month?

See you soon!
Katie xo

July Glossybox

Salut!
This month's Glossybox is by far my favourite of the ones I have received so far. The collector's edition box was inspired by French skincare, complete with illustrations and a box designed by the phenomenal artist Jamie Lee Reardin. 

This month's box featured 4 French skincare products, as well as an adorable exclusive Glossybox travel pouch. I'm not even a little bit disappointed with any of these products and I'm really impressed with the amount of effort that went into the July Glossybox! I have a weird obsession with France and think it is a beautiful country, so I was really excited when I saw that this box was French inspired.

First of all, a little bit about the artist! Jamie Lee Reardin is the fashion 'it' artist of the moment, and has done work for Chanel, Givenchy, Christian Dior, Cara Delevingne, and Anna Wintour. Ooh la la! She was the brains behind the gorgeous design of the box and the adorable face of the box, Mademoiselle Glossy. Check out her Instagram here.

First up is the noxidoxi Enhancing Serum Base which aims to protect your skin from external aggressions - fancy!

noxidoxi Enhancing Serum Base

Glossybox Says: A serum is the power-house of any skincare regime. From Bordeaux-born brand noxidoxi, this has a CRC6 moisturising complex, which hydrates the skin's surface as well as deeper layers, while a cocktail of antioxidants and anti-inflammatories protect the skin. Layer under moisturiser.
My Review: I have never used a serum before, although I've really wanted to. This stuff shields your skin from environmental damage, so no matter what the weather, or how polluted your surroundings are (smokers, cough cough), your skin will still be amazing. I actually really like this. I put this on in the morning after cleansing and toning, and before moisturising, and found that it left my face feeling healthy and protected. I do believe this stuff works really well, and for something that protects your skin from smoke and pollutants, I don't think £33.46 is bad all all! You can get it here.

Next, the Lollipops Lip Balm Delicieuse, the only full sized product featured in this month's Glossybox.

Lollipops Lip Balm Delicieuse

Glossybox Says: A wonderful French find. This rich and creamy balm immediately soothes and softens with antioxidants and vitamin E, as well as protecting the lips from UV damage. Perfect for the summer!
My Review: I'll be honest, lip balms aren't something I tend to worry about very much anymore, simply because I've found my holy grail lip balm which is the Body Shop Cocoa Butter lip balm, but there's definitely no harm in trying new things, especially if they've come all the way from France! I'll start with the bad point first - there is barely anything in the tube. I had to squeeze it really hard to get any lip balm out, so I probably won't repurchase it simply because you're not really getting much! However, this stuff is really good. It smells quite sweet, I can't quite put my finger on what it smells like but it's definitely familiar! It does hydrate your lips and I found it was a lovely base in my skincare routine. It's only £4.15 for a tube and is available here. It is also available in two other flavours!

This is the only product I haven't actually tried yet, and you'll see why in a minute... Presenting the Teoxane Cosmeceuticals Perfect Skin Refiner!

Teoxane Cosmeceuticals Perfect Skin Refiner

Glossybox Says: Why hyaluronic acid to plump and hydrate skin, 10% glycolic acid to help resurface the skin and calming ingredients to reduce irritation. Start by using it every other night (you'll feel a mild tingling at first), and as with all potent treatments, a high SPF is a must during the day.
My Review: Okay, when a product makes your skin tingle, you know that either it's working it's magic, or you're going to die. Well, not really, but it's easy to be intimidated by products that affect your skin that way, so I am a little scared to try this, but even more excited. The only reason I haven't tried this yet is simply because I don't own an SPF, gasp! Shock horror! I know, I need to buy one, but they're pricey and I never go outside because I'm a winter girl. However, at £70 a pop (!), it had better be good. If you can afford this then head on over here to purchase it!

You can never have too many perfumes, so you can imagine my happiness when I saw the Yves Rocher Comme Une Evidence Eau De Parfum in the box (what a mouthful!)

Yves Rocher Comme Une Evidence Eau De Parfum

Glossybox Says: This quintessentially French musky floral scent is light, feminine and airy. It intertwines notes of violet leaves, rose, lily of the valley and patchouli for a subtle scent that lasts all day (or night) long.
My Review: Gorgeous. Wonderful. Love, love, love! This is such a beautiful scent, it makes me feel so feminine and bubbly, I don't even know how to describe it! Y'know when you're wearing your favourite lipstick or your most flattering jeans and your mood is instantly lifted? This is the perfume version of that. SWOON! It's only £24.50 which is really good for such a lovely perfume, and is available here!

Lastly, my personal favourite, the Glossybox Exclusive Travel Pouch! Peachy keen, jellybean!

Exclusive Glossybox Travel Pouch

Glossybox Says: With exclusive artwork by fashion illustrator Jamie Lee Reardin, this zip-lock pouch is the chicest way to keep your beauty essentials safe through security, or use it as your everyday make-up bag.
My Review: The little bag features an illustration of Mademoiselle Glossy on it, and it is just so cute! It's the perfect size for my daily make-up essentials, so it's brilliant for carrying around in my bag for touch-ups throughout the day.

So that's the July Glossybox! It looks absolutely gorgeous sat on my makeup desk with my other boxes, and I have not been let down! If you don't already have a glossybox subscription you can get one on the Glossybox website, and receive 5 surprise goodies every month! I highly recommend, it's so exciting!

If you haven't already entered my giveaway, you can do that here. There's still a few weeks left so get in while you can!

Until next time, au revoir!
Katie xo

What I Got For My 17th Birthday

It's been over a month since my birthday now (only 11 months until I turn 18, woo) and it's been a long time since my last blog post. I lost my mojo for a little while but now that it's back, I have a good few blog posts stirring away excitedly in my head.

I wanted to show you a few of the things I got for my birthday, however, I know a lot of people don't like posts like this, but I would just like to point out that I am in no way bragging. I was spoilt a lot this year by my friends and family and simply wish to appreciate that on my blog. 

I got lots of things this year, including some lovely candles, chocolate, a hair dryer and all sorts. A lot of what I got is homeware related so they will be featured in another post that I plan to do shortly.

Ghost Sweetheart is my favourite perfume by far, and has been ever since my big brother bought it for me years ago for my birthday. He's good with his girly presents, I'm telling you! My mum got me this as she knows it's my favourite, and I'm cherishing it so much that I haven't even used it yet. It's a very light, sweet fragrance that makes summer much more bearable (I'm definitely an autumn/winter person, I've been looking at Christmas on Pinterest - don't judge me!).

My wonderful boyfriend got me a little box full of Lush and The Body Shop goodies. I received a Smoky Poppy fragrance, a Strawberry and Pink Grapefruit Soap, and a Satsuma Body Puree from The Body Shop, and the Happy Hippy Shower Gel, Charity Pot Hand and Body Lotion, Bohemian Soap and Green Fun (which isn't pictured) from Lush. The Smoky Poppy fragrance smells absolutely divine, however I do think it's a little too heavy for the summer months, so I'm going to end up using this religiously come autumn. The soaps smell amazing too, my favourite being the strawberry one. You just can't beat the smell of strawberries! The satsuma scent is by far my favourite from the Body Shop, and I've been absolute loving the puree! The Charity Pot from Lush is so handy to throw in my handbag because it's so small and is perfect for when my skin is feeling a little dry. The soap and shower gel smell good enough to eat, and the green fun looks a little intimidating but I'm excited to try that out at some point. Extra points for the boyfriend for being such a sweetie!

I bought this necklace for myself as an early birthday present as I loved it so much. I'm really into elephants right now, anything elephant patterned will be in my basket! The chain is quite long so the charm comes right down to my chest which is my favourite length for necklaces, and I literally haven't taken this off since I bought it! This was from Accessorize if you guys are interested.

The Soap & Glory Supercat eyeliner was a present from my friend Eanna (hey babe!) along with a few other Soap & Glory products below. I own quite a few different eyeliners but this is the best one of the lot. It's so easy to use and is really pigmented so it comes out black as opposed to a weird grey colour you have to draw over and over again. Super cute packaging too!

I also got the Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Buttercream and Body Scrub from Eanna. These smell like lime which is absolutely heavenly, and is such a good scent for summer. It's a burst of freshness in the mornings and makes you feel wide awake. The Body Scrub (top right) is so good at removing dead skin cells and dirt from your skin and leaves your skin feeling amazing and healthy. The Buttercream (bottom right) finishes off your skin perfectly and leaves it feeling silky smooth and smelling amazing. Fave body skincare at the moment!

Lastly from Eanna, the Hand Dream Super Cream. Not going to lie, this stuff is amazing. It makes my hands feel so soft and fresh, and really picks me up when I'm not feeling quite right - bad skin day maybe). I always have this in my handbag and find myself using it even when I don't need it just because I love it so much!

Similarly to Soap & Glory, my mum bought me the Along Came Betty One Pot of Polish, which is really similar to the body scrub by S&G. This stuff smells like apricot which I find is much nicer in the evenings as it's not such a fierce scent like the lime, so it's better for winding down with. I also find it's got smaller particles in it so it's less harsh on the skin, which again I find nicer in the evenings as it feels nice rather than something I have to do.

Another thing from Along Came Betty I received is the Pure Pores Face Mask. I haven't actually tried this yet, but I'm really excited to - I plan to have a facemask tonight while I watch Desperate Housewives, so we shall see!

The Glam Guide by Fleur De Force was probably my favourite present out of the lot! I've been wanting this for ages and mum took notice! I absolutely love this book, it's so handy for little hints and tricks, and is written so beautifully. Definitely go and buy it if you haven't already!

I got the Made In Chelsea perfume from my dad. This perfume smells really lovely and I've been wearing it a lot, even though I've never seen Made In Chelsea! The bottle is so cute too. The only thing I find is it doesn't last very long so it's more like a body mist, but other than that, I love it!

Lastly, I got the Lush Comforter Bubble Bar and the Brightside Bubble Bar, which is bright orange. I haven't used either yet but I'm really excited to!

I got all sorts for my birthday this year. I got a gorgeous notepad, a hairdryer off my brother, my ear pierced off my other brother, lunch out and lots more, and my mum made my day really special, so a huge shout out to my mum for some amazing presents, a delicious cake, and some balloons that say "Happy 6th Birthday!" on them.

I hope you enjoyed this post, let me know if you have used any of these things before!

See you soon!

Katie xo

Monthly Favourites | June

June has absolutely flown by, I have no idea where it went! We are officially in the second half of the year and I can't wait for the summer holidays, and the beginning of autumn to arrive. Right now, we've still got a good 3 months of summer left and even though I've got no exciting plans, I do plan on spending a lot of money on summer essentials, so stay tuned for my future monthly favourites to see those!

This month been loving a lot of new products which I recieved for my birthday, however there will be a separate post about that, so look out for that soon!

The first thing I've been loving this month, which is a bit of a boring one, is the Nivea Stress Protect deodorant. Basically, this is the best deodorant I have ever used in my life, and it lasts all day. It has a very fresh scent which isn't overpowering, but still lasts ages. It does irritate my skin, even if I've just shaved, and I just love it to pieces. I had been using a Vaseline roll on deodorant but repurchased this one after realising how much I missed it. 

Nivea Stress Protect, available here, £3.29

Next up, is something I got for my birthday. This lip tint from Lush is really moisturising and is a great alternative to lipstick and lipgloss. It has a very light shine to it so it makes my lips look super healthy, and I find it so easy to apply as opposed to lipstick, which just doesn't want to work for me. It has a really strong honey scent which can get quite sickly but it's not often that I use honey scented things, so it can be quite refreshing.

It Started With a Kiss Lip Tint, available here, £5.95

I've been using this mascara for a long time now, so I should probably buy a new one. This mascara instantly brightens my face and makes me feel more human, and it makes my lashes look thicker, longer and curlier - basically everything you need in a mascara! This was a pretty cheap mascara, and I'm going to purchase a different one, so if you guys could reccomend your favourite mascaras, I'd really appreciate it!

Maybelline the Falsies Volume Express Mascara, available here, £7.99

The moisturising gel by Etre Belle is something that was featured in my May Glossybox, and although I wasn't completely impressed with it last month, I've been using it a tiny bit at a time before I cleanse, and found it left my skin really soft and bright. I think I just used too much when I tried it last month, but at £15.93 a pop, I thought I'd better use it regardless, and I'm glad I did!

Etre Belle Moisturising Gel, available here, £15.93

So there's my monthly favourites for June, excluding some products that I got for my birthday. I feel like this is quite a small list, but there are quite a lot of things from previous months that I still love, so I thought I would leave them out as I had already mentioned them before.

What have you been loving recently?

See you soon!
Katie xo

P.S  If you haven't already entered my massive giveaway, you can do so here!

June Glossybox

I'll be honest, I wasn't particularly impressed with this month's Glossybox. It was The Festival Edit, and I didn't really feel like any of the products really benefitted me as I'm not going to any festivals this year, and it's rare that I show any skin, winter or summer. 

The products featured in this month's Glossybox include the Monu Spa Rosewood Reviving Mist, a spray to use to set your makeup or keep you refreshed through the day, Glossybox Flash Tattoos, Halo Fragrance Free Facial Wipes, Kueshi Anticellulite Booster, a cream to reduce the look of cellulite, and Essence Gel Nail Polish in a gorgeous bright red.

The first thing I tried was the Monu Spa Rosewood Reviving Mist. I wanted to know how it work as a makeup setter as I'd never used anything except pressed powder to set my makeup, and I was really interested to see if the liquid would ruin my makeup - it did not!

Glossybox says: This skin pick me up never leaves my desk. It's perfect for dull, stressed or flushed skin thanks to the zesty blend of essential oils including lemon, rosewood and geranium. Mist over the face to refresh and set make-up or spray all over to hydrate skin after a bath, shower or swim.
My Review: I was quite intimidated by this product, but was soon overcome with love when I used it. The smell wasn't quite appealing to me as I thought it was too musky, but it stopped my makeup from going cakey and clumpy through the day, kept my face cool and made me feel refreshed. I'm not sure if I love it enough to purchase it, but it's definitely a worth while little product. The full size version of this is £11.95 and is available here.

Next up was the Glossies Flash Tattoos. I haven't actually tried these yet, so what do you guys think of the fake tattoo trend going on at the moment?

Glossybox says: We're always working to ensure our Glossies are a step ahead when it comes to trends, so we've designed these exclusive faux tattoos. Make like the A-listers and wear them stacked around your wrists with a few bangles or apply them somewhere different such as above the ankle. I'm obsessed with mine!
My Review: I think the idea is really cute and I love the designs that were included in them, and I think I'll try a few next week when my summer holidays start! They're worth £6.50, which I think is quite expensive for fake tattoos, but there you go. They're shiny and nice, so who cares!

The Halo Fragrance Free Facial Wipes was one thing that I wasn't particularly excited about, as I'm pretty sure all face wipes essentially do the same thing. I always buy really cheap facial wipes and they always work perfectly for me.

Glossybox says: Perfectly proportioned to tuck anywhere, these facial wipes are fragrance free so they're suitable for anyone with sensitive or sunned-out skin. I keep a pack in my make-up kit, desk drawer, and my handbag!
My Review: This was a travel size product and I don't think there was anything special about these wipes if I'm honest. The packaging was really cute but they do exactly the same as Wilko's own facial wipes, nothing more, nothing less. I found them really handy for wiping little bits of makeup I had missed the night before but I'm not going to purchase them. 50p for 100 in Wilko's does me fine! The travel size is available in Tesco for £1.20.

I was quite intrigued when I saw the Kueshi Anticellulite Booster in this box, as I had never seen anything like it before. 

Glossybox says: This lightweight cream combines a hard-hitting mix of natural ingredients and antioxidants to stimulate blood circulation, in turn toning your skin and fighting off any dimples. Massage into your legs twice a day for summer-ready pins.
My Review: I have no idea if I have cellulite. I mean, I probably do, most people do, but it's not something I fuss about as I never get my skin out. Literally never. It was 29 degrees today and I was wearing black skinny jeans and a sweater. I think I'll keep this handy when I start to become more comfortable with my body, but until then, no review! This was a full size product, which is available for £14.55.

I love nail polish and am constantly after new colours, so I was very happy when I saw the Essense the Gel Nail Polish in my June Glossybox. However, I saw that it was a Gel Polish, which I had never used before, so I was also quite nervous to try it.

Glossybox says: Meet our latest nail obsession, This innovative nail polish has a long-lasting gel formula, for an amazingly shiny manicure that endures all week. Apply it as you would any normal nail polish, and invest in Essence's Gel Nail Polish Top Coat for a pro finish!
My Review: I've never used a gel polish before, but I now LOVE them. The finish was so shiny and gorgeous, and I only needed 2 coats to completely cover my nails. It's been 3 weeks since I painted my nails and most of them still look almost-presentable! I got the red colour as opposed to the green or blue, but I don't think it suits my skin for the summer time, so I'll probably wear it a lot around Christmas time. This was another full sized product which is available here for £1.91, bargain!

All in all, I wasn't amazingly impressed with this box although a few of the products were quite good. I'm excited for next month's box as it has been designed in collaboration with a celebrated fashion illustrator (fancy!), and marries French style with the best of French beauty inspiration. So exciting!

See you soon!
Katie xo

P.S  If you haven't already entered my massive giveaway, you can do so here!

Giveaway! Roller Lash Mascara and Yankee Candles!

So, I'm super excited about this - I'm doing my first ever giveaway!! I don't really have any major reason for this, except that I love you guys and would like to do something nice for you, so here goes.

You will win a Think Pink bath bomb, The Comforter bubble bar and the Mmmelting Marshmallow Moment bath melt from Lush, the Benefit Roller Lash Mascara, an Essie nail polish of your choice, a Starbucks/Costa giftcard, a Soap and Glory Hand Dream, a Yankee Candle of your choice, AND a few little surprises! So exciting!!

This giveaway will be open for 2 months, so you have plenty of time to enter. This is an international giveaway, so it's open to everyone! To win, follow the instructions on the rafflecopter. I will be checking for false entries!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


I will be notifying the winner via direct message on Twitter in two months time, and if there's something on the list that you already have/don't like we can arrange something else, so good luck!! 

Katie xo