Velvet Lashes

Sunday 19 November 2017

Never feeling good enough

Never feeling good enough is something I always struggle with, always doubting myself and feeling like I can't achieve anything...does that ring a bell to you? I swear this has got worse as I get older, I know why it started and I need to learn to accept I am good enough.

So below are images that have been taken of me, and I instantly criticise myself from my hair to my figure to my teeth to my skin, I want to train my brain away from that.

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Society has built this image of "perfection" and the pressure to be "perfect" has never been so difficult, with Instagram showing the pretty pictures, the pretty faces and must have items that we all wish we had. When I was younger all that people started to use was acrylic nails, though not many had them, not much makeup and that was it! No fake tan, fake lashes, hair extensions, the desire to have straight white teeth, or a specific way to apply makeup we just did not have that kind of pressure.

I wonder what started this? I wonder how we got to this point? Its got to a point where such young girls are already wearing acrylic nails, hair extensions and on an extreme diet to be a certain size, if that is what they want to do then I have no right to say its wrong, I just want children to be children and for people to feel comfortable with who they are and with how pretty they naturally are without thinking they need to do all these things to be what they feel would be good enough.

Even at my age the pressures to look young is unreal, its so hard to feel that you look okay for your age and the pressure to be "youthful" and to be wrinkle free, cellulite free is getting to a point where its making people feel they aren't "good enough". I want my children to grow up where "perfection" is whatever you feel happy with, to feel that you are good enough, you are beautiful, this will be hard with the pressure from peers and society but somehow I want to make sure I teach them this.

How do you cope with the pressure of not being good enough? What do you do to make yourselves feel worthy?

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Culotte Jumpsuit

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If any item is out of stock I try to source something similar

A x

5 tips for a Happy Soul

I am my own worst enemy when it comes to feeding my soul, being happier and generally looking after my mental health, so I thought I would write a list of things that always spark some light and can then motivate me to ensure I make it a habit!

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One of the most important parts of my day, pre children, used to be my time to read! I would either buy or head to the library to gather up some books to get my mind wandering into pages of great literature, I found I would switch off from reality and my anxiety would reduce. Reading can relax the mind where it gets lost inside the words of a book rather then getting lost in worry and anxiety.

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Accept compliments, this is something I have struggled with over the years where I haven't got the greatest self esteem I find it hard to accept compliments but I started to consciously change this, instead of saying oh gosh no when someone would say something nice I now pause and thank them reiterating what they said in my head. This helps to accept what they have said and to store it away in a little lovely box inside our mind. We need to give ourselves more credit for being awesome.

Have a moment away from the fast pace lives we live. When I was little me and my family would go for walks every Sunday in beautiful places to feel free and have fun, these are some of my happiest moments. We recently moved home where our garden backs onto fields, I am so lucky and love the views! I try to make sure I take the children across the fields for a "bear hunt" like the ever so famous We're going on a bear hunt book, I want them to feel that sense of freedom, peace and fun exploring like I did as a child. Going on walks is a time I find myself feeling relief, where I can take a deep breath and walk off my worries. My favourite places are forests and beaches, they are the places I feel most at peace with myself, so when you feel like you can't escape your mind go for a long walk.

This is something I have always given to people I work with to help them recognise how they are good people, to recognise what makes them as awesome as they are. We aren't great at looking at us in a positive light, where we can stand in front of a mirror and with great confidence say why we are a great wife or a good friend.....so now let's do this! On a various pieces of paper draw a cloud in the centre of the paper with a heading on each piece of paper, one could be daughter, one could be friend, partner, colleague etc. Draw five lines out of each cloud and then write down a reason you are a good friend on each line....so a good listener? Loyal? And answer 5 positive reasons on each cloud.

Laugh. Laughing is good for the soul, surround yourself with fun loving people who guarantee to make you laugh, or pop on that funny film. The film that guarantees to make me laugh is Stepbrothers, basically anything with Will Ferrell! Even when I am at my lowest and feel so deep in sadness I am guaranteed to at least crack a smile when fun lovely people or a funny film come on the screen. Laughing is also infectious! Spread the laughter and the fun.

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Bag
Jeans
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Jumper
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Jacket- Primark

Hope these were helpful, I'm now off to read my book!

What tips do you use?

A xx

MAC Blush Collection

If you don't know already I have always been a MAC Cosmetics fan from the foundations to the lipsticks they are always a brand I turn to. MAC have such a pretty range of blusher colours from peach to pinks they have a shade for all skin tones and looks you desire to achieve. I thought it would be an idea to share with you all of my MAC Cosmetic blushers.

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I love a good blusher, I mean who doesn't right? My MAC blush collection has a variety of deep plums to more of a brighter pink and peach. I tend to wear my plum and pink shades in the colder months and my peach blushers when I have more of a tan during the spring/summer time.

Dollymix

Dollymix was actually the first blusher I purchased from MAC Cosmetics. I had a day out in London with the family and MAC had released a collection with Dollymix as a featured blusher, a beautiful sheertone shimmer blush that adds warmth and a subtle sheen to the skin. I would say the colour is sheer but you can build it up that little bit more, the shimmer is stunning and can give the skin a beautiful glow so no wonder why I had to repurchase this one.

Petal Power

This blusher is one I had heard of time and time again from blogs I had read. Petal Power is a mineralize blusher meaning it is made up of minerals which are then ground and made into tiny particles. This blusher is pink with a beautiful thread of gold going through it, it is pigmented and adds a stunning highlight and colour to the face.

Peaches

Peaches is such a pretty summery shade, it reminds me of all things summery! Peaches is a sheertone matte pastel peach that gives a gentle sweep of colour that you can build a bit more. The colour is beautiful with a tan but also super pretty on fairer skin. This is my go to spring summer shade.

Just A Pinch

Just a pinch is an extra dimensional blusher that has a striking metallic sheen to it, it is a blusher I think is a must have with a tan its absolutely stunning and gives my skin such a stunning finish. I have also used this as an eyeshadow, it has such a pop to it and mixed with plum shades its a perfect combination.

Breath Of Plum

As you can see Breath Of Plum is one that I use daily, it is beautiful on all skin types and gives a stunning "breath of plum" to the cheeks. This is sheertone blusher giving a little sweep of colour to the cheeks, it has such warmth and is perfect for those colder months.

So that is my MAC blush collection, what is your favourite blusher?

A xx

Morphe 35f

When you find an eyeshadow palette with pretty colours and a reasonable price tag you can presume it may not be great quality....

Morphe 35F is a palette which seems to be pretty popular amongst many bloggers so thought I would investigate this little gem. Morphe is a brand I would hear a lot from many well known Youtubers forever featuring in a favourites video, but like many great brands these were not available in the UK, until now. Morphe is available from www.cultbeauty.co.uk and www.beautybay.com.

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Morphe 35f is very much what I would say an autumnal palette with red and brown shades, you can create so many stunning looks with all of these colours. This palette is so pretty, when it came I could not believe how stunning the shades were, you get 35 shades with a mixture of matte and metallic shades that feel like a pressed pigment. For £23.00 the quality is on par as MAC Cosmetics, the eyeshadows are creamy, easy to blend with no fall out. I have such a big wish list with this brand now.

Have you ever tried Morphe?

A xx