The Power of Makeup

My passion for makeup started when I was just a little girl. I remember being absolutely obsessed with it, especially eyeshadow and red lipstick! I would sit in my room for hours, just playing with it and experimenting with my own makeup. 

Any chance I got, I would ask any grown-up I was around at the time if I could do their makeup. I say ask, but what I really mean is pester. I would always say…”When I’m older, I’m going to be a beautician”. I was captivated by the thought of making other people feel and look good. 

The Importance of Self Love

[eltd_dropcaps type=”normal” color=”” background_color=””]H[/eltd_dropcaps]ow many of us truly know the meaning of self-love or how to cultivate it into our lives? I am only just recognising in my 30s, how truly important self-love is. 
 
I have only recently discovered my own need for this practice, realising that this is something that has been missing my whole life. It is such a beautiful thing once you realise and start to practice it; The difference it makes alone is something quite spectacular, but you first have to recognise its absence and learn from scratch how to introduce it into your everyday life. 

F**K THE FILTERS

[eltd_dropcaps type=”normal” color=”” background_color=””]W[/eltd_dropcaps]hen was the last time you scrolled through your Instagram feed and honestly felt good about yourself? Don’t get me wrong, I love ogling Bella Hadid’s bikini pics as much as the next person, but let’s be honest – the way she looks is pretty unattainable for those of us who are quite partial to a Krispy Kreme or two (or five, or six…).  

Upon discovering that I was averaging a shocking five hours and twelve minutes (I KNOW?!) a day scrolling through the addictive app, I decided it was time to cultivate a more realistic feed. If I was going to spend that long staring at other people, why not make sure they were making me feel good? Of course, I’m still admiring Emily Ratajkowski and Hailey Bieber’s chiselled abs from afar, but I’m quick to remind myself that there are millions of others whose thighs are just as squishy as mine. So, here are some of my favourite people to follow for a much-needed, daily dose of self-love:  

Be Your Own Hype Man

[eltd_dropcaps type=”normal” color=”” background_color=””]I[/eltd_dropcaps] think we can happily say that the discussion of Mental Health is more encouraged and widely spread than around 10+ years ago. A large part of promoting a positive mindset, whether it be for yourself or others, is to surround yourself with kind, likeminded people in times of need. 

Some may favour chanting ‘love yourself’ like a mantra, as unfortunately we often have to be reminded to do so. 

It’s Time to Put the ‘Body Positivity’ Movement to Bed

[eltd_dropcaps type=”normal” color=”” background_color=””]B[/eltd_dropcaps]ecause it’s okay to not love your body every waking second of every day. The rise of the body positivity movement is one that has been carefully documented, analysed, scrutinised, applauded, and criticised. It’s a powerful movement that has helped women all over the world love and accept the body they were born in, in an age where size 0 supermodels are on the cover of every magazine on the shelf and influencers fill our social feeds.

It’s the same movement that’s pushed against those stereotypes; it caused the controversial Victoria Secret Fashion Show to be cancelled, saw Ashley Graham bring size acceptance into the mainstream, Harnaam Kaur, a self-proclaimed “bearded lady”, spoke in front of thousands at a Stonewall rally, and plus size women took over Times Square. There’s no denying that it’s a powerful movement, celebrated every year in May with International No-Diet Day, but it’s also superficial, grounded in a privilege that not everyone can access.

Just be yourself

[eltd_dropcaps type=”normal” color=”” background_color=””]”W[/eltd_dropcaps]hy fit in when you were born to stand out?” Dr. Seuss

We were all born with our own unique identity, a creative mind and no boundaries. Through childhood, many of us were conditioned to believe we should ‘be’ a certain way. Boundaries were set according to our upbringing, and we may have been taught to work hard at school, always try our best, speak nicely, have good table manners and be kind to others. This would be our set of tools to help navigate our way through life and be accepted by society.