How To Get Inspired In Blogging Again

Anyone that runs a blog will know that there is always times when you can feel uninspired and demotivated to write. Particularly if you have been blogging for a long time, it is easy to feel like you have run out of ideas. I have went through a couple of periods were I feel brain dead in that I struggle with ideas and feel rather ‘meh’ about blogging in general. Yet, at the same time I love blogging and it would be rather sad to see an end to everything  I’ve put so much effort in to. Bouncing back from a time of feeling uninspired in my blog, I thought I would share my tips as to how you can get inspired again in blogging if you are going through a tough blogging time!

REMEMBER WHY YOU STARTED 

When I am feeling a bit put off by blogging, I like to remember the positives about it and of course why I started it in the first place. Thinking about the progress you’ve made is important and also the community of people who support your blog. I started my blog as a place to discuss the latest trends and offload on my love for fashion and style. My blog has grown throughout the years and changed along with my own interests which is such a lovely thing to look back on. There is times when I blog and I feel like I am talking to a brick wall yet I love discussing my interests and there is always someone on the other end who enjoys it. Blogging takes a lot of work but it can bring so much pride and it’s important to think about how far you have came and how there is also so much more to give!

TAKE TIME OUT 

There is nothing worse than running out of ideas and at the last minute writing up a quick blog post that is rushed and not to your best ability. There is no point in putting effort into something if your heart isn’t in it. There is nothing wrong with taking a bit of time out of your blogging schedule to refresh your brain for ideas. It is always quality over quantity. I read some blogs that only post every so often yet I am always going back as the quality of the posts is always on top form. Blogging shouldn’t be a forced thing, no one is going to stop reading your blog if you miss out a post on your scheduled day! Take some time off blogging and recharge then gradually build up your posts again!

LOOK FOR INSPIRATION 

I love reading blogs! They inspire me so much with my own blog and essentially keep me in blogging. I am always swooning over how beautiful a blog is and getting inspired to change up my own blog. When it comes to thinking of blog ideas, I want to create content that I would personally read. Looking at blogs that I read and the content they create can give you ideas as to what kind of posts you should be publishing to fit your own interests. Social media such as Instagram and Pinterest are also useful tools for inspiration particularly on images for your blog and can also have useful pieces of advice! Obviously when it comes to taking inspiration from others, you don’t want to blatantly copy anyone’s work instead just taking ideas that you can develop in your own way!

GIVE YOUR BLOG A REFRESH 

Coming from the last point on inspiration, I can often be inspired to change up my blog in terms of layout and style. When you are feeling a bit down in relation to your blog, giving it a fresh look can help inspire you again. We all love all things new so a new logo or design can be a great idea to help you get back into blogging. Also updating your about page or adding new pages and features can bring a little bit of new life to your blog and help get you excited about blogging once again!

How do you get inspired in blogging?

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Two Summer Scents

When it comes to fragrances, I usually go for something quite dark and musky. Basically my fragrance wardrobe is overloaded with overpowering heavy night-time appropriate scents which don’t really suit the Summer season too well. In Summer, I do love a light and fresh fragrance that isn’t too in your face and heavy. Recently I have picked up two newbies that fit the bill perfectly and I couldn’t be more obsessed with light airy scents!

First up is a real summer scent, Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess. This is essentially Summer in a bottle, in fact it is also a Summer exclusive as this scent is only available during the Summer so act quick if you are interested in this one! This scent is an Eau Fraiche so is pretty weak in perfume terms however comes in a hefty 100ml bottle at pretty good value. I picked this up when I was away so got it a good bit cheaper but it retails around the £50 mark. Moving onto the best bit however, the actual scent itself. With notes of Coconut, Vanilla and Mandarin, it’s not hard to get the Summer vibes from it! Basically, if you love something sweet and summery then you will love this!

Next is another new-ish release from Calvin Klein in the form of ck2, the second edition to their genderless fragrance.  A scent I have been desperate to get my hands on since it was released as this is just so beautiful! First of all, shout out to the unique minimalistic bottle design which is rather quirky. I picked up this scent in the biggest size being 100ml but there are smaller editions too. This size retails for £53 however I picked it up 40% off at Urban Outfitters when they had a deal on! That deal is sadly over but there are a lot of discounts around to be found! Again this is another beautifully fresh and airy scent with notes of Mandarin (similar to BG), violet leaf and sandalwood. I find this scent pretty long wearing which is good for an Eau de Toilette and it is isn’t overly sweet in scent probably because it is genderless but instead quite woody and crisp. I think this is going to be a fragrance I will love for a long time to come!

What is your favourite Summer scent?

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Beauty Blender vs Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge

The question every beauty lover wants to know, what is better; the original Beauty Blender or the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge? I’ve never been much of a sponge person when it comes to makeup application but I soon began daily using my RT sponge and could easily see the hype around using one. I had never been overly fussed about an expensive pink sponge but after enjoying using the RT one, I thought it was time to try out the incredibly hyped Beauty Blender. So having tried both is the beauty blender a waste of money or worth the hype?

PRICE AND SHAPE 

One of the most obvious differences between these two sponges is the price. The Real Techniques sponge retailers for a much more affordable price at £5.99 whilst the Beauty Blender comes in at more than double at £16. In terms of the shape of the sponges they also differ quite significantly. The Beauty Blender is simply a rounded egg shape whereas the Real Techniques Sponge has a little more shape to it in the way that is offers a flat edge for using round the eyes. The texture of the the two also differ with the Beauty Blender being much more bouncy and lighter compared to the Real Techniques which is more firmer in texture. For me, the Beauty Blender comes out on top for the shape/texture with the bounciness making it easier to work with.

APPLICATION

In terms of application, the Beauty Blender wins outright. One of the problems I had with the RT sponge was that it soaked up a lot of product so I never got on with it when applying foundation and stuck to using it for patting in concealer. I’ve found the Beauty Blender to be much superior, it doesn’t seem to soak up the product probably from the lightweight texture. Even when wetting the sponge, the Beauty Blender doesn’t hold as much water compared to the RT one which I was always having to squeeze the excess out of. The bouncy texture of the Beauty Blender also makes it far superior for working with and it blends much better on the skin than the RT one. The flat side of the RT sponge can be useful for under the eyes but really I have no problem using the BB and the texture is much better to work with.

OVERALL

I think it is clear to see that the Beauty Blender wins the game for me. It is pricey for a sponge but it is so worth it in comparison to the likes of the RT sponge. The texture of the BB is unbeatable being soft and bouncy which works so well in application. The stiffer texture of the RT sponge and the soaking up of product makes it much weaker in my eyes. Whilst I got good use out of it and the price is great, I just think for better results it is a good and better investment to pick up the Beauty Blender. Well worth the hype!

Are you a fan of the beauty sponge?

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My Top Drugstore Beauty Products

In my last post, I spoke about some of my favourite high-end beauty products so I thought it was about time I spoke about some of my favourite cheaper alternatives. The drugstore seems to be getting better and better and there is a handful of products I couldn’t live without. I’ve rounded up my top 6 products from the drugstore that I rate to be the best out there.

Max Factor Excess Shimmer Cream Eyeshadows

I am not the biggest wearer of cream eyeshadows but these are incredible. The formula is super creamy and easy to blend as well as having amazing pigmentation. The shade range isn’t the best and I do think this is something Max Factor could work on but nevertheless the shades Copper and Bronze are two beautiful wearable colours that could work on many skin tones. I haven’t tried a lot of cream eyeshadows but I think these could rival many high end options!

L’Oreal Infallible Matte Foundation

I say it all the time but I do struggle with a lot of drugstore foundation formulations (tongue twister right there!). That was until I tried this matte offering from L’Oreal and was pretty much blown away by how good it is. This is my go-to everyday foundation and it just works so well on my skin. Matte foundations aren’t what I usually go for but this isn’t drying in the slightest and it’s not overly matte either offering a bit of natural shine to come through. It blends and applies nicely and also has such a nice finish and lasting power. What more could I need, oh and it’s affordable! Full review here.

Maybelline Colour Tattoos 

Another cream eyeshadow that I love. These Maybelline offerings come at a price under £5 and could rival the likes of Mac Paint Pots. In a similar style, these are more of stiffer consistency particularly compared to the Max Factor ones which are more creamy and whipped in texture. For an amazing price, there is a pretty decent shade range to choose from with my favourites including Metallic Pomegranate and Creamy Beige which makes a really nice base shade. These work great as a base colour or even as a one wash wonder type of eye look and they also stay put really well too!

NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams 

A more recent favourite since NYX finally hit the UK. I had been desperate to try out these lip creams for such a long time and I was not disappointed when I finally got my hands on them. At £5.50 they come super cheap and the shade range is very impressive. The formula is super creamy and comfortable on the lips with a pretty decent lasting power. My favourite shade probably has to be Prague. See more here.

Max Factor Creme Puff Blushes

A product you’ve probably heard me talk about countless times! These are by far the best drugstore blushes I’ve ever tried.  These swirly effect blushes act as a strong rival to the Hourglass blushes which are stunning but super pricey! At just a fraction of the price, these are so similar with a highlighting effect on the skin and a pretty range of shades to pick from. My favourite shade has to be Lavish Mauve which is a pretty good dupe for Hourglass Mood Exposure.

The Body Shop Honey Bronzer

Last but not least, in fact probably my all time favourite drugstore product. I was never really into bronzers until I tried this Body Shop offering. As someone with pale skin I always have the problem in bronzer shades that are too dark and muddy on my complexion. Enter this range of honey bronzers from The Body Shop with a shade range perfectly suitable for fairer skin tones. Seriously, if you are a pale milk bottle like me and haven’t tried this then go try it! This bronzer adds a beautiful amount of warmth to the skin that isn’t too much as well as adding a bit of definition and sculpting the face. Amazing!

What are your favourite drugstore products?

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