How to Spend More Time Offline

Having spent a lot of time offline recently with a much reduced usage of internet and social media since my personal desktop decided to essentially crash and burn, I have much seen the benefits of less online time. We live in a digital age and it is scary to think about how much we rely on the internet. Yet whilst it has its many benefits (like blogging!) it is also nice to have time without, rather than spending hours searching the new-in page on ASOS. We can all admit to wasting so much time online browsing so I thought I would round up some of the ways we can enjoy our time outside of the online world.

• Have a dedicated online time and stick to it
• Go for a walk
• Conquer that book list
• Bake some sweet treats
• Clear out your wardrobe/beauty storage
• Give yourself a fresh manicure
• Take on some fitness such as running, yoga etc.
• Get crafty – good with paint?
• Visit friends/family
• Visit a local attraction such as a museum/art gallery
• Take a day trip
• Redecorate
• Clean your makeup brushes!

How do you spend time offline?

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How to Clean Your Makeup Brushes

Cleaning makeup brushes is weirdly something I take pretty seriously. I always can’t help but think back to when I first started wearing makeup dabbling between a variety of sponges and cheap useless makeup brushes including that unusual spongy applicator eyeshadow brush (I still don’t understand them) and I cringe thinking of how I never cleaned my brushes. Cleaning my makeup brushes is only something that really came to me when I really got into makeup and I started to learn more about it thanks to blogging. Just to think that I used a makeup brush on a constant basis that had never been cleaned and sat in a pot to gather dust makes me wince. I know that many people still aren’t great when it comes to brush cleaning but its pretty important, so important that someone nearly died from a unclean makeup brush – true story, check it here, apologies for scaring anyone. Anyway here is how I clean my brushes…

Daily Clean

Now the word ‘daily’ may seem slightly over the top to many of you when it comes to makeup brush cleaning but strangely to me its part of my daily makeup routine. After applying my makeup I like to give each brush a quick spritz of makeup cleaner and wipe the brush on a paper towel to give them a little refresh ready for the next use. I used to use the Elf Brush Cleaner however I have found that the MAC Brush Cleaner is actually must better value for money considering the size of the bottle. The only annoying thing with this product is that it comes with a pour style lid rather than a spray so I usually put the product in my empty Elf cleaner bottle which has a spray making it so much easier! Again this step of daily cleaning is something most people wouldn’t do so this is pretty optional, if you were to clean your brushes I wouldn’t just use a product like this alone.

Thorough Clean

Now this step is a lot more important. If you were to pick one out of the two then this is the one to go with. Daily cleaning is simply something I do to refresh my brushes and take off the top layer of makeup from the brush while thorough cleaning does what it says really and gives brushes a good deep cleanse by clearing out all the dirt left behind. It depends on how often I wear makeup to decide how often to give my brushes a deep cleanse but this can vary from weekly, fortnightly and monthly. For thorough cleansing I go for an affordable but effective option: baby shampoo. By putting a drop of the shampoo in the palm of my hand, I then swirl the brush around and rinse under hot water. It is also important when cleaning your brushes with water to lie them down flat with the bristles hanging off a table to prevent the water from damaging the bristles in the brushes. If you are a newbie to brush cleaning then this is a step I recommend.

So are you guilty of not cleaning your brushes or are you a clean freak like me!?

 

 

 

Staying Organised

Today marks a difficult day for me, first day back at uni after Christmas break. Okay well I won’t be feeling too bad knowing that many of you will have been back studying or working earlier this month but nevertheless the painful thought of another 12 weeks of lectures, essays and studying is enough to feel uneasy. Something I can take pride in is being organised, I am one of those annoying individuals that has to plan everything carefully and write everything down but when it comes to uni, school, work or even blogging a little organisation comes in handy!

1. Plan ahead – Being off on Christmas break for a while has been handy as its time to get organised for the next semester or preparing my blog schedule. Take a note of every major task that is due in the next few months i.e. essays, blog posts and take a note of the deadline so you can see what needs to be prioritised and when you can begin to work on it. Its a good idea to buy a notebook, I use mine to write down my list of assignments for the semester as well as my monthly blogging schedule.

2. Keep a diary – As deadlines loom you want to ensure you are able to commit to completing tasks on time so keep a diary and take note of all deadlines and note down when these tasks will be completed. This means no clashing with social events or any other deadlines that crop up at work/school/uni. This allows you to manage your time effectively and know what times you can work and when you can also have time to yourself.

3. Prioritise – Leading on from the first point ensure that tasks that are required more quickly are completed before others. There is no point writing a blog post for February when you haven’t even completed the posts for the week ahead. By putting the right tasks first means there is no rushing to finish them.

4. Keep it clean – It can be even more stressful if you are working around a messy and untidy environment so ensure your desk or work area is kept neat and organised. This can help motivate you to work harder and not get in such a panic. It is also a good idea to keep motivational images around your workspace, remind yourself of the benefits of your work and what they can help you achieve.

How do you keep organised?

Makeup Tips for Glasses Wearers

Glasses used to be seen as being “uncool” and “geeky” however times have moved on and now glasses are seen as a trendy fashion accessory. I’ve had pretty bad eyesight for around 10 years now *gasps* and so glasses are more a “necessity” rather than a “fashion accessory” to me however I would feel strange looking without them but whatever the reason behind them there are a few cautions to look out for when it comes to applying makeup. Eye makeup always makes me feel that little more confident and when it comes to applying makeup for glasses wearers, one thing; its all in the eyes!

1. Mascara – Depending on your vision eyes can appear either smaller or bigger with glasses. Being short-sighted (close up vision) my eyes appear smaller so its important to me to make my eyes appear wider. Mascara is a great way in opening up your eyes and using eyelash curlers can also be a further help.

2. Eyeliner – Eyeliner is very important. The tip is to match the thickness of your eyeliner to the thickness of your frames. As I have pretty large frames I tend to go for a more thicker line of eyeliner. Also adding a white or nude eyeliner to the inner corner of your eye can help them look wider. Also if you tend to adopt a cat-eye winged eyeliner look ensure that the flick can be seen from your glasses and isn’t hidden behind the frame for those with smaller frames.

3. Eyeshadow – Wearing glasses means that the focal point is straight to the eyes so its important to keep things neutral. Try to avoid bright shades of eyeshadow and stick to more neutral shades so if you don’t already then think about asking for Urban Decay Naked palettes for your birthday, they are a treat! Also avoid applying eyeshadow higher than your frames reach.

4. Eyebrows – Eyebrows are important when it comes to wearing glasses as they are more noticeable so ensure they are kept tidy and are shaped to the style of your frames.

5. Concealer – If you are prone to dark circles or bags under the eyes be sure to conceal this area to get an even colour (i.e  Maybelline Instant Age Rewind concealer) and also use an under eye brighter such as the YSL Touche Eclat or even a highlighter to bring a little life to your eyes.

6. Cheeks and Lips – And last but not least, by leaving the eyes neutral don’t be afraid to add a pop of colour to your cheeks and lips. And also ensure to add a little highlight to your cheekbones 🙂

I hope these tips were helpful. Everyone has different preferences and its up to you how you apply your makeup.

How do you adapt your makeup when wearing glasses?