Review: Beat blackheads and breakouts with Dermalogica

DISCLAIMER: The products in this post were gifted to me by Dermalogica.

   In case you did not know already, I am so pleased to announce that I am now working with Dermalogica as a #skinfluencer and I am ecstatic as this is the first big brand I have had the pleasure of working with!

   Subsequent to them inviting me to be a part of their influencer programme, they asked me a few questions about my skin to get an idea of what products would be best suited to me and now I am very excited to be sharing these products with you.

   In this post, we will begin with their blackhead clearing fizz mask and breakout clearing booster from their Clear Start range.

The toxic side of the blogging community

   This post has been a long time coming. There's just never the right way to word it. Everyone has their own perceptions on what defines toxicity. Just like people have their good and bad sides, so does the blogging community. On the whole, I adore it because it is full of supportive, engaging and quirky personalities and it is such a pleasure to read all about them.

   Unfortunately however, there is a whole other ugly side to it and I am now going to reveal it to you based on my own experiences.

Why every blogger needs Blogosphere Magazine

   As a blogger who is always on the lookout for inspiration, advice and more content to read, subscribing to Blogosphere Magazine is the best thing I've ever done.

   Read on to find out how Blogosphere can help you to better your blog...

Review: Brushing with BlanX

   Before BlanX very kindly sent me their new PRO range, it had been a while since I last used whitening products on my teeth as they have grown very sensitive over the years. My dentist advised me to stick with brands like Sensodyne and Colgate.

   However, I have been using this toothpaste for the last month and my sensitivity still has not come back!

The Boathouse in Bohortha

   In June, myself and my parents fancied a mini getaway to somewhere tranquil by the sea so that we could forget about the stress of everyday life and bury our faces in books.

   After hours of aimless searching on the internet, I finally checked Airbnb and came across this beautiful blue boathouse in Bohortha. It was remote, small but snug and the hosts allowed pets so my dog - Spit - could come along too!

Pretty in pink at Peggy Porschen's

   Having seen this picturesque pink parlour all over my Instagram feed for well over a year, I knew a visit to this place was long overdue. With the promise of pretty cupcakes and the perfect floral backdrop, how could I delay it any further?

   Let us find out if it lived up to the hype...

Review: Skinkissed facial serum

   If you have oily or combination skin like myself then this multi-purpose facial serum is the product for you. I am particularly prone to oily skin in the T-zone area (forehead, nose and chin) so, when Skinkissed were kind enough to send me this serum to review, it was an absolute godsend.

Instantly improve your instagram with these smart tricks

   Bored of your own Instagram profile? Not seeing enough engagement with your posts? Just two months ago, I felt exactly the same but, since then, I have completely changed up my content and noticed a huge difference in my growth! 

The next wave of influencers is coming

   It seems only yesterday when it was 2009 and you could find me huddled with my friends around a small screen with tears of laughter streaming down our faces as we watched YouTube videos from The Annoying Orange.

   The internet has certainly come a long way since then! Over the years, we watched hilarious YouTubers come to prominence such as Smosh, Fred and MisterEpicMann but then emerged the first wave of influencers: people like Zoella, Tanya Burr and Sprinkle of Glitter (now rebranded as Louise Pentland) began to take the fancy of the public. But this was only the beginning. 

Why I won't read your blog

   Now and again, I love having a good binge read of other people's blogs. I return to a few select favourites and scroll through my feeds to discover new bloggers and check out their posts.

   On many occasions, I have spent all of a good five seconds on blogs before clicking the exit window. This might sound very bad but did you know that, on average, it takes all of five seconds for your audience to lose interest? That's how fast you have to be to grab their attention!

   In this post, I am going to describe what causes me to swiftly navigate away from your page or even clicking on your link in the first place!

My worst characteristics

   You probably think this is going to be a negative post. To an extent, yes. But this week's post is more about acceptance. We all have aspects of our physicality and personality that we dislike.

   However, what I have come to learn is that the traits we hate are not necessarily disliked by those around us. I would even go as far to say that what we would define as our worst traits are often loved the most by others because they are an integral part of what characterises us.

Summer goals for my blog

   I am a firm believer that setting small and manageable goals is essential for life, particularly when it comes to my blog. It's the small victories of achieving them that allows me to plough on through the hard work needed to build a successful blog!

   This is the first time I've written a post like this but I think it is important to share your goals with other bloggers and readers so people know exactly where you want to go with your content. This allows for the provision of constructive feedback.

Breakfast at Élan Café

   Élan - situated in both Park Lane and Brompton Road - is renowned for its awe-inspiring floral decor and intricately prepared dishes from avocado toast to assortments of cakes and sweet treats

   I ventured there a few weeks ago with my best friend, Sav, and we were stunned by the sheer beauty of the place. All we knew - at this point - was that it was incredibly hyped up on social media by various bloggers and food enthusiasts but did it live up to these built-up expectations?

The floral decor blew me away; it was the first thing I noticed when I entered the café.

My second year at university

   It took me several attempts to write this post. The first few drafts were angry, pessimistic and dripped with regret. I talked a lot about the dwindling of both my mental and physical health, increased university stress and my consistent desire to drop out despite spending most of my life wanting this. 

   But then I remembered one very important thing: I'm still here.