“Millenials are obsessed with their phones/insta/snapchat.” Yes, I guess you could say this is a little bit true but it isn’t all together true. If there is one thing that annoys me, it is when someone makes a mean and derogatory comment about millenials – “we’re too obsessed with material possessions” “we’re entitled” or “we don’t know how to actually hold a conversation with someone” – this really isn’t true, in fact most millenials that you will meet are very driven to improving themselves, their outlooks on society and learning how to make something of themselves. I get it, we do spend a lot of time on social media but that is one of our outlets, how we learn and how we communicate. Lately I’ve been feeling a little bit down about blogging and really engaging on social media; there seems to be so much pressure and judgement on social media that it can really start to affect your mood. One thing that I’m sure is the bane of most bloggers lives is the Instagram algorithm – as a blogger we work really hard to create content that we are really proud of and genuinely can’t wait to share with people. BUT lately engagement has seemed to be really difficult to achieve and for me this really affected how I felt about blogging. I had those inevitable “I’m not good enough feelings”. After this feeling it occurred to me that maybe a break from social media would be good – so I went ahead and did it. I stopped consistently checking it, didn’t particularly post and relaxed my mind. A social media detox was exactly what I needed; so I thought I’d share with you the 5 things I learned whilst on my social media detox. #1 A break will de-stress you Okay, I would love to say that I’m completely laid back 100% of the time but that is definitely not even close to the true – probably about 70-80% of my time I feel stressed out. This could be down to university, creating content or just general life happenings; I know being this stressed is not healthy. Taking my focus away from social media and posting consistently actually allowed a huge weight to be taken off my shoulders. I know what some of you may be thinking “Why are you stressed about something as trivial as social media?” – well on one hand I’m not but on the other I am – I love blogging and really want to continue to grow Haute on my Heels and the best way to do that is to create amazing content for both my blog and social media. #2 I stopped comparing myself I am constantly comparing myself to others; particularly those that I look up to and I’m sure that most of us are guilty of this especially with social media. However, when I took Instagram away from myself I remembered that most of the time Instagram isn’t really life – these snaps that we proudly share are created through lots of work and as much as we hate to admit it – they aren’t effortless at all. From this I stopped comparing my life to others. Most of those I look up to have put in so much work, (blood, sweat and tears) to create their content and the lives they lead – and after all whilst I may not be where I want to be with my blog yet, “Rome wasn’t built in a day”. #3 I gained perspective Okay, as a blogger social media is super important to me – however I’ve also gained a little perspective on this. Not everything NEEDS to be an Instagram opportunity, sometimes other things are more important. Yes - as a blogger “likes”, “follows” and “comments” (or engagement) is what we are striving for but why was this what I was currently concerned about when instead I should be doing uni reading, or learning more about the world or spending time with those who I love (which brings me on nicely to my next point). #4 Time with loved ones is always needed So I’ve spent the majority of the past few months in London on my internship, away from my family, boyfriend and friends and I realised just before my social media detox that I really needed to spend more time focused on these people. These are the people who are truly important to me and are there for me all the time – I’ve been trying to make more of an effort to spend time with these people or talk to them as much as possible. A like on Instagram is not going to give you the same feeling as time with a loved one will. #5 I gained motivation Whilst I was having this social media break and focusing my energy on other things, I seemed to have an influx of ideas and motivations for exactly what I want from Haute on my Heels. The break made me really think about my content and how I could be constantly improving it and with that my long list of blog post ideas has finally been formed!
I am in no way bashing those who spend a lot of time on social media because I do too – and as a blogger I know how important social media really is to help is grow and share the content that we create. From my break, I’ve gained more respect for each and every blogger. We should be using social media as a platform to promote ourselves, build up others (not bash them down) and educate about important issue. So whilst my break has made me really want to up the content I create and build up everyone around me; it has also made me realise that I need to take little breaks every so often to gain perspective and spend as much time as possible with everyone that I love!
This post is in collaboration with Ideals of Sweden and contains products that were gifted to me; however all views, opinions and words remain my own.
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I am pretty much still obsessed with these makeup looks where it practically looks like girls (or guys) aren't wearing makeup yet their skin is still GLOWING. In fact I've been so obsessed with it, that from Spring onwards I looked into my own makeup routine and thought about how I could change it up to create my very own "no makeup makeup look routine". So I am loving the glowy/dewy looks I've been seeing all over Pinterest and Instagram but when you suffer with oily skin like me it's difficult to find products that will help you achieve this look and not just make me look like an absolute sweaty mess. After much searching and experimenting with different products; I've found 4 products that work perfectly for me, so I just had to share them with you! First things first, I use this spray every morning whether I'm wearing makeup or not because it is a great product for waking the skin up (I definitely need to stock up on this again because I am obsessed). Sometimes I will spray this all over my face and sometimes I will spray a little bit on a cotton pad and really focus it under my eyes as it really brightens up my skin! Rimmel Lasting Finish Primer I really love this Primer; I have searched long and wide for a primer that I can really rely on and I think that I have finally found it! This primer is great when you want your foundation to last all day BUT that's not the purpose I've been using it for lately - instead I've been using it just as my base as it is great at perfecting the look and feeling of your skin tone. I love to use this as my base recently instead of putting foundation on as it really brightens my skin and makes it feel natural rather than caked up in foundation. Nars Dual Intensity Blush in Jubilation I've raved about this product many times and I'm absolutely still obsessed with it! Featuring a shimmery yellow highlighter and a peach shimmery blush; this is the perfect blush duo for the summer; rather than your average pink blush, this creates an almost sheer glow that is completely buildable to create your desired look. Whilst most days I use a contour powder as well; when I am looking to have the bare minimum on my face - this product is perfect for creating that contour/cheek glow. Next "Make me Beautiful" Highlight Chubby Stick in Stardust Glow This is a fairly new product that has been added to my makeup bag but one that I am equally obsessed with. The creamy application is perfect for creating a subtle natural glow, however little or much you put on you are guaranteed to glow like a queen. This product is probably my most important when it comes to creating my "no makeup makeup" look as it looks so natural on the skin. If you want a more in depth opinion about this product then check out my review here. I love changing up my makeup routine and I'm loving that I can currently wear bare minimum products and still feel confident in my appearance. What products are you obsessed with to create a summer glow?
So as you may or may not know; I just finished my 2nd year of uni (woohooo!) and for my 2nd Year of uni I was lucky enough to undertake a 3 month placement. Now obviously this was one of the most nerve racking things in my life; just finding a placement was difficult enough. But anyway; I hauled myself to London for 10 weeks and undertook my placement in the Next Press Office in which I also got to attend the Next Autumn Press Day. This placement was honestly one of the best things I've ever done and everyone that I worked with were genuinely so lovely and so welcoming. I had the best time at my placement and really feel like I got so much out of it. In fact this week I'm back for a week to help out at their Christmas Press Day. Interning is such a good way to get experience and if you truly put the effort in you will get so much out of it - so since I really loved my placement and had the best time I thought I would share a few tips for getting an internship and completing one! #1 Broaden your horizons When applying for an internship I recommend that you apply to so many because odds are that over half of what you apply for won't actually get back to you. When I was applying to my work placements I applied for lots of different jobs in the field that I'm interested in - and whilst my greatest interest lies in PR; I applied for all sorts such as Visual Merchandising, PR and Digital Marketing. So even if you think the internship isn't exactly what you want to do in the future; you will definitely learn something of value or you may even find your true calling. #2 Say Yes to (almost) everything Work ethic is one of the things that I pride myself on most so I take on every job that I do and always do it as best that I can. Being an intern, sometimes you are going to get manual jobs as the industry isn't always as glamorous as it seems BUT never be that person who turns their noses up or moans about the jobs you are given. If you are asked to do some filing - fab, give a helping hand, if you are asked to pop out and pick up an order - fab, give a helping hand. Every job you are given as an intern is helping out the company and gaining you experience whether you think it or not. Whatever job I am given I'm always happy to do it, as it's likely that if they see you doing the menial tasks, they'll give you something amazing to do next time. However I will say, never say yes to anything that you feel uncomfortable with or that is going to put you in danger. #3 Ask Questions Okay, I mean this in two different ways. If you want to learn about the industry then definitely ask questions about it as you do your jobs or ask your employer if they would mind setting aside some time that you could use to get some answers to your questions. I did this when I was on placement and it allowed me to gain great insight into the operations of a PR. Secondly, if you are unsure about the tasks that you are given - then definitely do not be afraid to ask for help. After all it is better to ask and make sure you do it right then stay quiet and do it wrong! #4 Network, network, network Both in the professional way and in the social way. Obviously I'm not saying invite your new boss round to your house for a BBQ BUT instead get to know the people that you are working with. I was lucky that everyone was so nice where I worked so it was really easy to get to know everyone. Networking is one of the best things you can do, because not only does it create a good impression of yourself but also you never know what doors it may open. PLUS you never know who you will get on really well with!
I would seriously recommend internships for anyone looking to get experience in the job field they are interested in as it really helps with confidence (which if is something you struggle with you can read my tips here) and gives you a look into the industry you want to join. What tips do you have for anyone either interning or looking at interning?
Skincare is one of my favourite things in the entire world, I probably spend waaay too much money on new skincare to try every month. Despite this; when I came across a Sephora store on my trip to Rome the other week (you can read about what I got up to here) I just couldn't resist purchasing a few more little bits. In fact I decided to pick up the Sephora brand Tissue Face masks as I'd heard such good things however never tried them... I'm a big fan of Tissue Face Masks and always have a spare Garnier Moisture Bomb one on hand (you can read my review of them here) so naturally I was really excited to try these masks. Lately I have found that my skin is much better than it used to be, I used to suffer from quite bad acne but (touch wood) recently I haven't really seen any outbreaks - despite this though I still bought the Green Tea Anti-Blemish Face Mask. Also the past three months have been super super busy so the bags under my eyes have been bigger than ever so I decided to give the Pomegranate Under Eye Masks a go too! Green Tea - Mattifying and Anti-Blemish (Europe - €3,90 US - $6) Sephora promises that this facemask will "soothe the skin and reduce the appearance of outbreaks". Luckily I got to put this to the test as the very evening that I decided to use this mask I had a cheek spot that was bigger than ever. Like any tissue mask, it fit well to the contours of your face. The mask felt soothing on my face and the excess serum left over from the mask absorbed well into my skin. Thoughts? The next morning my face felt really soft and smooth as well as more hydrated. The soothing Green Tea also really helped the appearance of the spot that had taken up residence on my cheek, it was visibly less red and a lot small than the night before. A week after using the mask and my face still feels clean and smooth. Since using the mask my skin has felt really hydrated but also I have seen a decrease on oil that has formed on my face. Pomegranate Eye Mask - Anti-fatigue and Energising (Europe - €3,90 US - $5) Sephora promises that this under eye mask will visibly "reduce the signs of fatigue whilst also toning the eye contour for a energised look. This was my first time trying an under eye mask (I know behind the times right) so I had nothing to compare it too, however I was excited to see the results that followed. Thoughts? The eye masks are easy to apply to the eye as they come in a sort of present shape that fits the contour of your eye, upon application my under eyes felt instantly cooled due to the serum. The only thing I will say is that I found they slipped if I moved my face too much. After the 15 minutes my under eyes felt instantly refreshed and the dark circles seemed less obvious. Throughout the day, I noticed that my eyes didn't look as tired as they normally do throughout the day. I loved trying these products and I'm super pleased with how well they seemed to work as my skin still feels so refreshed and smooth. I'd definitely recommend the Face mask as it worked perfectly for my skin. Have you tried any of the Sephora sheet masks?
Confidence is something that I don’t often talk about and that’s because for so long I wasn’t really ever confident. I would always be known as the quiet one and of course that didn’t mean I had no opinions; it just meant I never really felt like I was confident enough to express myself even to friends – and if I did I would definitely hold back. Growing up, throughout school, my teachers would always tell my parents that I needed to contribute in lessons more, friends would make plans that I would just go along with and when my parents took me to their friends house I would most likely be sat there with my drink – listening to their conversation but really just daydreaming instead of attempting to join in any conversation. As I’ve got older and spread my wings more – both by studying at University and my embarking on a 3-month placement – I’ve found that I am actually confident and most of the time actually know what I’m talking about. Confidence is something that I definitely continue to work on everyday. There are things I remind myself everyday just so I can remember that I am confident and I can do anything that I set my mind too. So I’ve decided to share with you the few little things that I do daily, in hope that it could help others confidence grow just like mine has. DON’T COMPARE Comparison is the thief of joy. We all know this; but it’s also the thief of confidence. When I was younger I was worried that I wasn’t a smart, funny or pretty as other people and it really knocked my confidence. Hence why I wouldn’t offer full opinions or would sometimes skip out on certain situations. Comparing myself to people made me uncomfortable in my own skin, which in turn saw my confidence deteriorate. Now I’ve stopped comparing myself to others and I just do my own thing. By not comparing myself my confidence has grown as I’m allowing myself to explore my own thoughts, style and put myself in situations where confidence is key. EMBRACE YOUR QUIRKS If you ask those closest to me to describe me in one word; I can guarantee that it will be: “Quirky”. Those closest to me really get to see me, in all my confidence and weirdness. However, I used to be so shy, and concerned about my little quirks that I never would show anyone the real me. Recently I’ve started to embrace the little quirks I have as they are what makes me who I am; with me finally embracing these quirks it’s helped my confidence grow as I feel like I can share who I really am with everyone. POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE This is something my dad would always tell me to have before any exam at school – having a positive mental attitude can seem difficult at times bur it really does make all the difference. Recently I finished my placement; at the start I was super nervous and didn’t feel that confident at all. However, everyday I went in with a positive attitude, got on with all the tasks the girls gave me and embraced everything about the placement – thanks to my positive attitude my confidence began to grow and by the end of it, I even surprised myself at how confident I was at press day.
Whilst building and being confident is still something that I’m dealing with, I’m so proud of how far I have come. I feel like a completely different person from that I was back at school. Everyday I remember these little things and they really make a difference to my confidence, what little tips do you follow to help with your confidence?
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December 2018
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