Hello June

Not to state the obvious or anything but it's June already! We're half way into the year and I remember the 1st of January like it was yesterday. Really where are all these months going? We really need to take things slower and think for longer than a second. Rushing around isn't getting you anywhere really so I've learned to take things slower and do whatever I'm doing more thoroughly and efficiently. This month is about doing things for yourself and learning to say no once in a while.

At work for instance if someone wants you to do something, do it when you can and do it slowly and thoroughly so the person doesn't bore down on you like 1000 hungry bears that have been hibernating forever and even if they are rushing you do it in your time. I'm not saying to leave it for next week when you have free time, do it that same day they asked you but do it when you've cleared through most of your work. Where I work they all ask me to do something and one person in particular will rush me and ask for it constantly and then I end up rushing and stressing and then end up not doing it right and that person decides to do it themselves. Firstly anybody who asks you to do them a favour should in turn remember that you have your own work to do and that most importantly you are doing them a favour. Now this person where I work has now realized I work better when I work slowly and they've learned not to rush me even though they are impatient for it.

Also learn to say no once in a while even though its hard but really if you have a lot to do and somebody asks you to do something for them just explain to them that you're very busy and (in the kindest possible manner) politely ask them if they can do it themselves or the other alternative is ask if its okay if you do it tomorrow or whenever you feel your work load won't be too much. They should understand this since they are clearly busy to do it themselves as well. And remember once you do one person a favour everyone will come running to you for favours. People don't use their own initiative anymore to come up with plans, they would rather off load it onto sombody else to deal with their problem and you don't want to be that person. I'm not saying be horrible or unapproachable and always say no but make sure people know that if you're busy you're not going to be able to do their jobs for them. Make sure people know that you're a really nice person that they can't take advantage of all the time but they can still ask for help and they can still approach you.

I guess it's hard to listen to a 19 year old about life advice but I really have learned a lot in life as I've had my fair share of high school drama's to fall back on for life lessons and obviously I've studied other peoples mistakes and I learned from that too. I've learned that Sometimes in life you have to disappoint a few people and sometimes you have to put yourself first. Just remember those people asking you to do them a favour are putting themselves first too so why can't you do it too? Do things for yourself too not just others. Theres more to life other than making other people happy.

xxx

Budget Beauty: Catrice Prime&Fine Smoothing Refiner



The Catrice Prime and Fine range consists of this primer, an illuminating base, a highlighter, an eye primer and a translucent loose powder. This range prepares your skin for makeup and reduces the size of your pores and fines any wrinkles or lines you have. I have the highlighter and this primer. I haven't got the illuminating base product as it looked quite shimmery and I didn't want to look like a disco ball but I might try it out soon.

Anyways this primer is very soft and "fluffy-like" and it feels light on the skin. When I first put it on I was sceptical as it felt very oily on my skin but as it settles it makes your skin feel soft and moisturised, the oily feeling goes away and thankfully it doesn't make my skin break out. This is great for foundation as the foundation just glides over my skin and stays put and doesn't fade or slide over my skin during the day. I don't have very visible pores so I can't really comment on that front but it does eliminate the site of fine lines like the ones under the eye area. My concealer that I use used to settle in the lines under my eyes after a while and this primer stops that from happening. My eyeshadow doesn't crease at all anymore and it doesn't stray from my eye area. I find my blush stays on for longer too and its easier to blend when I wear this primer. It creates a moisturised, smooth base for makeup and makes all makeup stay on for longer. Even with all the makeup on you can feel your skin is softer and smoother and you can visibly see a difference in your skin as it smoothes and fines everything out.

It comes in a small jar but you literally need a little bit for all areas so this product will last for a long time and at only R54.90 a pop I think its pretty worth it for such a great product.

xxx

Links below:

Catrice Cosmetics

What's On My Nails #5 // Absolutely Blue

Essence Colour & Go Absolutely Blue - R24.95

Tip Top Nail Chic Protein Base Coat - R41.50

The Essence Colour & Go range is a quick drying nail polish. Personally I don't find it dries all that quickly but it dries quicker than normal nail polish. The colour I got was Absolutely Blue, I was stuck with this colour and a minty colour when I bought this. Eventually I put down the minty colour and I got this instead because I have a minty colour already and I had nothing like this colour - it was pretty hard to put down that mint colour though! This colour is like a powdery, blue and almost bordering on slight purple. I love this colour, its so pretty, feminine and it draws attention to your nails without being too "in your face".

I first tried this colour without a base coat or a top coat and it lasted a day literally - that was my fault too but generally Essence nail polishes don't have the longest staying power - I wish Essence nail polishes lasted for longer than two days because they have such great colours. I then applied this Tip Top protein base coat, that I got when I bought this Essence nail polish, the second time I painted my nails and this really makes a difference! When you remove your nail polish it makes the nail polish just glide off instead of you having to vigorously rub it off and it also protected my nails from getting stained. It made my nail polish last for an extra day too which is great for the Essence nail polishes.

All in all I think I'll only buy Essence nail polishes because of their wide range of beautiful colours and because they are very affordable but I wouldn't buy it if you're looking for something that'll last longer than two days. The Tip Top Protein Base Coat is excellent, easy to apply and at R40 a pop its very afforable for a product that works so well. Tip Top also have a wide range of colours and the base coat has convinced me to try their nail polishes out very soon.

xxx

Links below:

Essence

Tip Top - their Facebook page

The Beauty Obsessed Confessed // Part 1

Confessions from a beauty obsessed addict:

Nails:
When I paint my nails I don't always apply a base coat. I'd like to say I forget...but I don't forget I'm just lazy and impatient and applying a base coat requires me to wait even longer for the nail drying part. I have been applying a base coat recently though - the last two times I've painted my nails, GO ME! I also use a base coat as a top coat too... Not sure if that's bad or not but again that's me being lazy. It works the same way though, it keeps my nails from chipping and adds shine so why not?

Makeup:
I don't wear makeup everyday and I don't feel like I have to justify why I don't wear makeup everyday just like I don't have to justify why I wear makeup but I will explain why I don't wear it everyday. My skin has a mind of its own really. It's like trying to teach an old dog new tricks - did I just compare my skin to an old dog...? My skin gets clogged up easily and it leads to breakouts even if I remove my makeup at night and wash and tone my skin and repeat this in the morning, makeup still clogs my pores. It drives me crazy and I thought it was because I wasn't washing my face right or that some products were making me breakout - it wasn't my products because I would swap my products and I still had problems - but I tried going without makeup for 2 to 3 days out of the week and my skin didn't have a breakout the whole month when I had days off of my makeup routine. So I'm sticking to what works for me! Also while we on the topic I'll explain why I wear makeup. I don't wear makeup as a "mask" or to hide my natural self, I wear makeup because I like the way it looks on me, I like having a routine and I like playing around with makeup. I think makeup is amazing when you try out what it can do and I think that it's really fun. My morning routine feels empty without that 20 minutes that I save for applying makeup. I also don't like people telling me I don't need makeup because that's like telling people you don't need clothes, I feel almost naked without a slick of mascara and some tinted moisturiser the same way we would all feel going to the supermarket without clothes on. Also people have a warped idea that putting makeup on consists of a whole bottle of foundation and eyeshadow and mascara and they couldn't be more wrong, I wear makeup to enhance my natural features and I wear a minimal amount of makeup. I get the basic meaning of them telling me I don't need to wear makeup but really... I wear makeup 4 or 5 days out of the week, cut me some slack! I don't wear it everyday.

Shopping Addiction:
I can't enter a shop without wanting needing to buy something. There will always be something that I want in a shop. It's scary too because I never used to be like that, I used to be very money conscious but lately I can't leave a shop without spending a little money and I usually walk out with nail polish, blush or something.

Spa:
I've never had a professional manicure, pedicure or facial or anything of that done. I've been thinking of a facial and a massage but really day spa's are so expensive and most of the things they offer you can do at home, its not the same thing but still day spa's are just not worth it sometimes.

Cat Eyes:
For the life of me I cannot do cat eyes. I think it's because I have a really unsteady hand so mine just goes wonky and the flick just doesn't come out right. I've watched tutorials and everything and I can't get it right. I have heard that using a pen is easy so I'm going out and buying a eyeliner pen soon so I can start practicing the classic cat eye. I also think that the shape of my eye or something just doesn't allow for a cat eye but I'll try and if a pen doesn't work then I'll give up on my hopes of having cat eyes.

xxx