Louise Kaitlin

Lipsticks, Lipgloss, Lip balm, Liquid Lippy, Matte Lippy... there's so many to choose from. So where do we start? Well, nude for me is the best way (not sure that sounded as good as it did in my head) but you can't go wrong with a nude colour.

Here are my top 5 nude lipsticks from the drugstore (aka Superdrug and Boots):

1. Nyx Soft Matte Lip Cream in the shade "Abu Dhabi" (Cost: £6) - love love love this lip colour. Its a muted nude, with an orange and brown undertone. The creamy formula dries matte on the lips and lasts for hours. Nyx have a wide range of colours ranging from reds to pinks to purples and nudes. Head to boots and check them out, I highly highly recommend.

2. Maybelline Lipstick in the shade "630 Velvet Beige" (Cost: £6.99) - this lippy has a sheen finish, not glossy nor matte but rather a moisturising creamy feel. This colour as a little deeper and of a purple undertone compared to the Nyx lip cream. Again, I really love this one for an everyday look when I don't want a matte finish.

3. MUA Velvet Lip Lacquer in the shade "Tranquillity" - (Cost: £3) - this comes in the form of a liquid lipstick. The colour is a little more peachy than it appears in the tube. Nevertheless, the lipstick applies wet to start with and within seconds starts to dry fully into a matte finish. The one critique I would have of this lipstick is how dry it really does set, it almost flakes and sinks into the lines on your lips. But you can't complain seeing as how cheap this really was.

4. L'oreal Exclusive Collection Lipstick in the shade "JLOs Nude" (Cost: £7) - This is the most expensive one out of my top 5 picks. However, the quality and colour of this lippy is my all time fave. The colour is a really light natural nude, perfect for everyday. The finish of the lipstick is a light sheen, very moisturising on the lips. Perfect perfect p e r f e c t!!!!!

5. Tanya Burr Liquid Lip in the shade "Martha Moo" (Cost: £5.99) - This one is the brightest shade, probably not a true nude colour but nevertheless I really wanted to include it in this post. Again, as a liquid lipstick it is applies quire runny onto the lips but dries into a gorgeous matte deep pink shade. Unlike the MUA liquid lipstick, this one does not dry flaky or clingy to the lips. It leaves a matte finish without the drying element which to me sounds like the perfect matte finish.

Overall what can I say? There's such a massive range of nude lipsticks in the drugstore, each of which come with different applications and different finishes. All you have to do is find the right one for you!

Leave a comment to your favourite lipstick brand as i'm intrigued to find a new fave lippy!

Love From,

Lou X

I still cannot believe I took one of these pills everyday for 4 whole years...

This quote has become such a significant part of my life.

2017 has been a strange year for me, so many ups but also so many downs.

I've accomplished so much this year but I've also struggled more than ever, both physically and mentally.

This year, I have made it half way through my degree, quit my job, strengthened my friendships and most importantly i've become happier. But don't get me wrong there have been so many negative moments in 2017, so many hard times but guess what? I made it through and so have you.

This post was very impromptu but I wanted to share with you guys, how I managed to kick anxiety in the ass and start to re-build my life. Some of you may have read my previous post, around this time last year about understanding and admitting to social anxiety. With my first year at university and living in halls being a nightmare, and making the massive decision to move home and travel to and fro university. At first I had initial regret and was extremely hard on myself because I missed so much by living at home, but as time went on I learned to accept my decisions and make the best out of every situation. 2017 has definitely been the year where I've learnt to let go and live, stop worrying about little things and just be free. This is something i've definitely come along way with but I'm still learning (just like you).

Moral of this post, is to show you that YOU CAN DO IT. Stop worrying and enjoy life, as cliche as it sounds, life really is too short and unpredictable. Let go and try it, you never know you may like it ;)

Let's make 2018 another year full of happiness and joy, spread love and positivity. Leave the negative, horrid thoughts behind.

Happy New Year my lovelies.

Lou xxx

How on Earth are we in June already? I feel as though the New Year has sped by in the blink of an eye. Quick changing seasons means my everyday makeup routine has been all over the place, with new products surfacing that I never thought I would ever come to use. Today's post is simply that... my everyday makeup routine that is appropriate for this hot sunny weather we are having (ps, as I'm writing this it's currently 32C outside).

Around a year ago, I wrote a blog posted titled 'Organisation Tips for Blogging' and to this day it is still one of my most viewed and commented blog post. As we approach 2017, I think I need to take a leaf out of my own book and organise my blogging life. If you're like me and find it hard to fit in some time to write a blog post, then maybe these tips will motivate you to reorganise and plan your blogging life.

A notebook for me is the best way of motivating myself to plan out new and interesting blog posts in detail so when it comes to the time of writing, I know exactly what I'm writing and including. A visually interesting to look at notebook always helps me stay motivated and the one included in these images is the Zoella 'Once Upon a Time' notebook which can be brought from Superdrug. It was £14 and was the best purchase I've made for a notebook. Within the lined pages there are inspirational quotes which help me keep going through those bloggers block moments.

Similarly, a diary of some kind is always helpful to keep up to date with when you're going to post, in terms of both times and dates. Having a diary also allows me to see if I'm posting too many of one type of blog post too often such as too many beauty/makeup posts next to each other. I use the same diary for blogging as I do for my university assignments and lecture dates and times, as I find having everything in one place is best for me.

Lastly, it's the 21st century and everyone under the age of 20 has some kind of mobile device with them. So why not use your phone to set reminders/make notes on the go? Its easy and I'm guessing you always have your phone in your hand, just like I do? (haha). Make use of this and download apps for notes and blogging, its so simple yet so obvious.

I hope i've inspired or given you fellow bloggers or busy bee's like me to keep organised and prepared for 2017.

lou xx

Hello Everyone! Long time no speak and all, how's everyone doing? I hope you're all well. A lot has changed for me over the past few months, I've sat my exams and guess what? I got into university! I am studying Early Childhood Education Studies at my first choice University. Although I was excited to come and emerge myself into the lifestyle of a university student, it hasn't come without its ups and downs. As I'm writing this I'm currently wishing I was at home (yes it's got that bad).

Living in halls, is quite possibly the biggest and most difficult thing I've ever had to do... EVER! I was never really one for wanting to live in halls, but my mum told me I had to give it a try before I can make a judgement on it. So that's what I've done. I moved in on Sunday 18th September (2016) at around 10am, the day had only just started but I had already been an emotional wreck the night before and all morning before I left the house. We did the usual playing tetris with the car to fit all the bags and boxes in, which we did! We took the 40 minute journey (roughly), where I picked up my keys and headed down to the accommodation to unload my stuff (at this point I was feeling physically sick, and shaking). Long story short, I unloaded and unpacked and my mum said she was leaving, this is where I became truly upset, I burst out crying uncontrollably (like a toddler does). I couldn't bring myself to accept that I wasn't going to be living at home anymore:(

Anyway, the days went on and since Sunday, I have been on the phone to my mum every night crying about how much I want to come home. Living in halls is just not for me, I want to study for a degree but I don't want to live here! It has nothing to do with my flat mates (so if you're reading 'hello' it has nothing to do with you, you're all so so so lovely), its to do with my personality and suffering with social anxiety. I'm trying to fit in but its hard when the first week is freshers which involves clubbing and partying which is another thing I HATE. I've made some lovely friends on my course and just around the uni and I am very thankful for that.

Needless to say, i'm not entirely sure what this blog post was or what it was for, but I needed time to fill and somewhere to express my feelings. I'm hoping that if you're reading this and are currently at university and are feeling just like me, then this may help in you knowing you're not alone! Or if you're reading this in 2020, then 'hey' from the past, you're not alone either!

If you are struggling with the decision to go to university or you're at university and aren't enjoying yourself, then please do feel free to message me via my instagram @hiyaimlouu as I'm happy to help in the best way I can. I'll keep you all up to date with how my life is going but for now i'm off to burn some toast like a typical university student, goodbyeeeeeee! xxx


*photos are not my own, full ownership goes to the rightful owner*