Mask Off.

I'll be really honest with you, the wet, cold texture of using a sheet mask always reminds me of that time in school I got hit with a wet soccer ball in the face. Not a pretty sight I tell you. But, now that I am getting older and my skin concerns have escalated to things other than teenage break outs, I found myself being brave enough to give sheet masks another shot.

Ponds recently launched three new  serum sheet masks and even though the word "korean"  on the packaging initailly grabbed my attention...I was really keen to find a sheet mask  that could possibly change my mind. I bought two out of the three masks and I could not be more ecstatic.

Yes the gooey, wet texture is still there but this time I didnt mind so much. According to the packaging the  "Firming" mask contains Collagen, Hyaluronic Acid and Brown Algae extract and promises to boost skin's natural plumping power while the "Brightening" mask contains Niacinamide, Vitamin E and Sea Daffodil and boosts skin's glow from within. Each sheet has a 30x serum intensity and you feel the difference the moment (and long after) you use the mask. That is what really stood out for me; that amazing feeling ages after I have used the mask. They retail for R49,95 each and they are well worth it: trust me.

No doubt I'll ill be keeping these in my skincare regime for a long time to come. I am keen to know however, have you used these masks? What was your experience like? I would love to hear from you.

TILL LATER, LAUREN!

Redirection

Disappointments used to hit me very hard.To the point where it was sometimes so crippling that it didn't make sense to ever try again. I would have this victim mentality so often that I didn't even consider the fact that, whatever it was that I wanted, might not have been in my best interest.

We often feel lost and disapointed when things don't work out the way we expect them to. Frequently we have built a whole narrative around that specific idea. How it will impact our lives, what others will say and in a way we somewhat prepare for that situation way before its actually happened. It becomes a slice of your reality which is probably why the dissapointment can be so paralyzing sometimes. This is how I used to feel. Whenever something would not work out according to plan I would take it personally. Why me? What did I do to deserve this? It's easy to fall into the abyss of self pity.

 Lately, I've been trying to look at things with a different perspective. This came about when I a had a "wow I dodged a bullet" moment recently. It dawned on me that in most cases when I was desperate for something to go a certain way, I ended up being glad (maybe even relieved) that I had after all not gotten what I wanted. You see, I firmly believe in redirection now. Those little hiccups along the way or those huge stumbling blocks are put in place for a reason and I am glad I have finally realised that.

There is absolutely no reason to spend time wallowing in your sorrows when you should be looking for the lessons that came with it. And I know this is much more difficult than it sounds especially if you are going through some real shit. But trust me...things will turn out the way they are meant to be...and you'll be delighted that, you too, dodged a bullet.

TILL LATER, LAUREN!

Toasted Brown

Last year was all about matte lipsticks for me. I was on a mission to find a good, budget friendly matte lipstick and while, that went very well, I was pleasantly suprised  to find a beautiful, brown, creamy lipstick and all by accident.

Maybelline's Toasted Brown Colour Sensational is an absolute joy to use.

First of all the rich brown colour suits just about everyone and the creamy formula glides on and sits comfortably on the lips. I just love how it feels.

Another thing I adore about this lipstick is the fact that it smells like freshly baked biscuits.  I say I encountered this lipstick by accident because it came as a freebie with another product I bought. So I never intended to actually buy this lipstick but, I will definitely repurchase it. The lipstick retails for about R140 and the hue is called 755 Toasted Brown.

I'm on the lookout for more new lipstick to try out now so I would appreciate it you share your favourites with me.  Drop me me blog links aswell.

TILL LATER, LAUREN! 

Look posts and life lessons

Wow. Can you believe we are only a few days away from the new year? What a rollercoaster 2018 has been. I'm really surprised that I made it through without having some sort of a breakdown. It's been a rough one.

But let me not pretend 2018 was all bad. For starters, I got engaged this year to my best friend. My child is happy and healthy and excelling at school and I finally feel like I've found a balance between work and a social life. 2018 is also the year I made a conscious decision to put my mental health first. With the year riddled by so many celebrity suicides; it was no longer something I could take lightly.

Lastly, this year I learned to accept  this body of mine exactly as it is. I'm no longer walking around thinking I have be a certain size in order to be fashionable or stylish. I appreciate my curvier body and I work with it instead of trying to cover it up.

I'm not one to do look posts too often but I couldn't resist showing of my fanny pack :) While I love being on trend, comfort will always be my first priority. I just wanted to do a simple boots and jeans combo because this  is something I would actually wear on a regular day. I'm so glad my love convinced me to take some pictures. I hope you guys enjoy it.

What is your wish for 2019? I would love to hear from you .

*Jeans, glasses and fanny pack : Mr Price
*Boots : Miladys
*Top: gifted

TILL LATER, LAUREN!

Pencil me in.

I live for pencil skirts. They are just about the only kind of skirts I can wear without looking frumpy. When your behind is as big as mine you dont take chances looking frumpy. 

However, pencil skirts are often associated with the more formal or corporate world and its not an item you would consider to be casual. But fashion leaves nothing untouched. I love the idea that a pencil skirt can be dressed up or down. This post is dedicated  to finding ways to making the pencil skirt an everyday item instead of only for the office.

Denim anything is the perfect way to bring some casual into your wardrobe. And a plaid shirt; but tuck it in to give you that carefree but polished look.

Or try a bad ass leather skirt and take it a step further with a leather jacket.

If its slightly chilly outside pair your pencil skirt with a shirt and sweater. Side note: how cute is this skirt?

Be your most authentic self. Add layers and over-the-top shapes if your skirt is more on the plain side.

Last, but not least. Switch up the footwear. Nothing says "modern" like adding a pair of sneakers.  Add a lightweight bomber and you are good to go.

How do you wear your pencil skirt? I would love to hear from you!

*I do not take credit for the images in this post

TILL LATER, LAUREN! 

It's a REVOLUTION!

I remember buying my first matte lip kit not too long ago. It was very cheap and, everytime I wore it, I couldn't smile. Luckily, I have since learned from my mistakes. 

I'm very hesitant when it comes to trying new products because I always think, if its not broken why fix it? But,I was beyond curious when I saw everyone raving about Revolution Make Up on social media. Initially, I wanted to try out a foundation but, the matte lip kits had my attention right from the start. Allow me to tell you what I thought about the product.

The Revolution Retro Luxe matte lip kit  contains a lip liner and a matching liquid matte lipstick. The shade I chose is called Echelon and it's a beautiful blush shade that actually suprised me. I'm usually into browns. I love the texture because its not dry at all and I can actually smile with this one on. Bonus!  The lipstick looks and feels gorgeous for most of the day and when I do reapply it doesn't feel uncomfortable. We've all been left a little tight lipped by matte lipsticks before.

I adore the packaging as well. The black and gold box looks chic and expensive. And the best part is that it doesn't cost an arm and a leg. This retails for R124,95. How often do you find a liquid lipstick that is affordable and great quality? I love it when I can actually afford something and it doesn't leave me dissapointed. (Unfortunately some of us still have to buy our own things lol).

So now I'm setting out the get to know the rest of the Revolution crew and  I look forward to it.  Is there any Revolution products you think I should get? I would love to hear from you!

TILL LATER, LAUREN!

Trend post: The dad sneaker

Who would have thought that something  so impossibly unattractive  would become so incredibly  COOL. Do we have Kanye or Virgil Abloh to thank for the dad sneaker becoming the  ultimate  style symbol?

I remember  when I first saw the Yeezy collection and thinking  "who would pay for something  this ugly"? And now, I desperately want a pair. But this is a tricky trend to pull off.  It could either go surprisingly right or horribly wrong. It seems that the only rule is the uglier the sneaker; the higher the confidence level has to be.

Remember  when Kim was parading around in biker shorts and dad sneakers? If that's not the epitome of confidence than I don't know what is. The actual reason I fell inlove  with the trend is because  of blogger Sian Eckles from www.ivywolfe.com . Not only is she the queen of the dad sneaker, she makes it look sexy and effortless. Which is what I think the trend embodies.

The fashion industry is moving away from the notion that something has to be painful of uncomfortable in order for it to be recognized as "fashion". This is definitely  a concept  I want to embrace  wholeheartedly  which is why I was inspired  to write this post.

So what are your thoughts on this trend? Is it something you would try? I'll wait until I find a pair that speaks to me and by then it would probably be long forgotten. But for now...I don't see the trend going anywhere. Except maybe a few front rows.

*I do not take credit for the images in this post.

TILL LATER, LAUREN! 

On the fence: Beauty Edition

Hi everyone! 

Hopefully  the week has been  treating you well and if it hasn't, we can only go up from here. I had a lot of fun doing my previous  post (On the fence) so I decided to extend  the series to beauty products as well. While I'm not necessarily on the fence about  the two products  I'm reviewing  today...I was in the beginning.

 I am a  creature  of habit so it's not unusual for me to stay inside my comfort zone.  I had been looking for  a new mascara for quite some time and I have had my eye on this one from Maybelline for longest time so I decided to take the plunge. I'm also not someone who takes hand cream too seriously ( not that I like being ashy), but its just never been a proirity. Let's talk about the products.

This mascara really frustrated me in the beginning. I kept getting it all over my lids, but I was determined to give it a shot because  I have heard amazing things about it. I'm not sure if it's the small brush or just the way I was holding the wand, but I couldn't get a proper application  at first. However, I was dead set on liking this cult favourite. I paid less than R100 for this one so I'd say it's not a bad investment  for such a low price. Eventually I figured out how to handle the small brush properly and now I reach for this mascara  everyday.

Maybelline Great Lash in Blackest Black.

The hand cream from  Isabella  Garcia   was a gift from my mom and it really surprised me. I'm unlucky enough to pick up greasy, not easily absorbed formula's but this one is exactly  the opposite. This one is part of a limited edition  set of three so I have two others to try as well but, so far I'm thoroughly impressed.

 It contains notes of white musk, amber, orange blossom, coconut and rhubarb. Fancy hey? It's amazingly creamy without  the greasy residue and leaves my hands both looking and feeling gorgeous. I guess I'm converted  now. The Isabella Garcia  La Parfum Creme Trinite retails for R325 on takealot.com last time I checked.

Isabella Garcia Last Parfum Creme  in Hypnotique

Are there any products  that you were not completely  sold on at first but adore now? Or maybe the internet really hyped up a product and it left you dissapointed. Tell me about it.  I would love to hear  from you. 

TILL LATER, LAUREN!

On the fence: See through shoes

I always post about the trends I love on the blog because I dont have the energy or time to be posting about trends I dont like (blogging is hard work yall). But today, I'm going to switch up things a bit. Today I'm posting about a trend I really want to love but, I'm a little on the fence about.

See through (plastic) shoes have been on my radar for a while now and, while I have seen so many celebrities and street style sensations pull off the look; I'm not sure it's a trend that the regular person can master. For starters, I think your feet have to be exceptional looking to even consider this trend.  Yep, you simply cannot be showing off your average looking feet. You have to do the trend justice.

My other thought is "what happens when my feet starts to sweat"? How will I be walking with slippery feet? Can I add powder to the shoes or how do I keep my feet from sweating in my see-through boots? Ok perhaps I'm putting way too much thought into one trend but, that's just what I do. I over think.

On the runway.

I could probably manage these hey?

Are fishnets the answer to sweaty feet?

As you can see celebs and models make it look so easy but ,I feel like it's their job to sell us dreams.  And as much as I am dying to get a pair of boots like the pair below. I'd rather approach this like I do most new things in life: with copious amounts of research. So if you are reading this, help a girl out. Is this a trend you have tried/would try?  If so...do you have any tips?

I want to need it!

Kim goes a step further and adds a see-through dress.

I would love to hear from you!

TILL LATER, LAUREN!

*I do not take credit for the images in this post

Hair 911!

I have been on a major mission to get my hair back in shape. And by shape, I mean looking at least decent enough. It gives my confidence such a boost. When my hair looks good, I feel great. So for the past few months I have been going out of my way to find hair care products that will improve my hair overall. In this post you will find three products that I adore at the moment.

*Elvive Extraordinary Oil Low Shampoo
This shampoo is pleasantly creamy because it contains Amla oil and 6 precious Flower Oils. It promises to nourish and detangle leaving hair more manageable. It's made especially for very dry, curly of afro hair and while I dont exactly fall into either of those categories I thought the shampoo would still be perfect for me. I love that it's a gentle cleanser and prevents breakage. This retails for about R99,99.

*Marc Anthony Grow Long Super Fast Miracle Treatment
I was very intrigued by this tiny little pink tub. For starters, it says "super fast miracle treatment" on the lid and that was enough to persuade me to pay a little bit more than R50 for a 30ml treatment. I've heard amazing things about the Marc Anthony brand and I love this treatment. I've been using it for less than a month so I am yet to see how much of a miracle it really is but, I'll continue using it. I love the thick consistency and the delicious smell.

*Pantene Repair & Protect Instant Split End Mender Serum
I've  been trimming my ends every six weeks but, I still needed a little extra help. The Repair and Protect range have always been good to me so this serum was a no brainer. It leaves my hair extremely nourished without weighing it down or making it greasy. I appreciate that. I paid R39,99 for this serum on special.

Getting my hair back to being even half way decent won't be an easy journey but, its one that I am looking forward to. What are your favourite hair care products at the moment? I would love to hear from you.

TILL LATER, LAUREN!

White noise

When I was little I owned a pair of white Spice Girl sneakers and let me tell you they were hideous. And then came my first pair of white church shoes and, if it's even possible, they were worse!

As you can imagine I don't exactly have cute memories attached to white shoes. Up until recently though. Now, I know white shoes have often been linked to being either frumpy or granny-ish, but the streets have changed my mind. I have slowly been falling inlove with how bloggers and street style stars have been incorporating white shoes into their looks. It makes me think that a regular ol' girl like me could pull off white shoes just as well. Let's explore.

Top to toe denim looks can border on being boring but, I feel like a white shoe adds an element of chic. It gives the denim such a modern look.

White shoes do not have to be bland . Try a pair with unexpected details to stop it from  looking to "churchy". Zips, frills and sparkles will take your white shoes to a whole new level.

Up until now I have never thought that white boots could look anything but cheap. An over the knee pair looks especially fashion forward. Keep the rest of your look simple so the boots can be the main focus.

As you can see, white shoes go with everything in your closet. From dresses to coats and even boyfriend jeans. It even looks fabulous with a suit.

White heels add an instant glam factor to any outfit and I can't wait to try the trend myself. Do you own a pair of white shoes? How would you style yours? I would love to hear from you!

TILL LATER, LAUREN!

*I do not take credit for the images in this post.