10 TOP BEAUTY TIPS

I'm no expert but, I spend a lot of time reading shitty little beauty posts, A LOT. These are the top things I've picked up...

1) Always comb your brows before colouring them in. (I couldn't think of the word, shading? penciling?)

2) 2 Eye drops put into mascara and concealer will renew them.

3) Nail varnish remover in nail varnish will return it from gloopy crispy hell.

4) Only using make-up wipes to remove make-up is like cleaning your fanny with a tissue.

5) Wash all brushes often. My method is here: http://jasminlouisey.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/how-i-clean-my-make-up-brushes-this.html

6) Shave with baby oil. Trust me, try it and you'll never look back.

7) Orange lipstick under concealer will banish eye bags.

8) Not brushing your hair will given you sexy, beachy hair. No blow dryer either.

9) Exfoliate and moisturise and hydrate often. Moisturise every day, especially your face. Water is the key to success, 2 litres a day.

10) Make-up setting spray, primer, eyelash prep and toner are all myths. They're nice smelling products with appealing names made my rich companies to make you spend £££. They might be nice but you don't need them.

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LOVING YOURSELF

Nothing bothers me more than knowing I've grown up in a country the demonises a person for loving themselves. If I like my hair one day or my contour is good, hell, if I just think I look good and I tell people, I'm big-headed, self centred, love myself, have my head up my ass. No. I'm happy with myself, I've woken up and given myself credit for something. There is nothing wrong with that.

I started going to the gym everyday when I was 16. I'd march to school with my 4 kilo gym bag, haul it round the corridor then mosey on over to the gym, spend 40 minutes on the treadmill or cross trainer, burning 400 calories which was probably double the calories I'd eaten that day. Spend 15 minutes doing weights and 15 minutes working on my core then go to the sauna for 20 minutes before showering and walking home to the only meal I'd eat that day. I weighed about 10 stone 4 lbs and it was always my goal to weigh 10 stone, at one point I wanted to weigh 9.11, just so I was in the 9 stone bracket. It was a numbers game. I had the 10 stone goal up until one month ago when I weighed 11 stone 3 lbs. All my clothes fit me again but I looked awful naked, I was out of proportion and I was always thinking, just that extra bit off and I would look better. No matter how much I lost, I didn't feel like I looker better. I stopped going to the gym and ate what I wanted. I went up to 12.5, that figure made me angry at myself but, I looked better naked, I fit into less of my clothes but I felt better about myself. I removed the pressure of always having to go to the gym and I let myself look in the mirror and be happy. I'm so much happier knowing I can have muffin or some bread and I care so much less about what I look like. I still have moments when I want to look like Khloe Kardashian but that's so much healthier than wanting be be under weight.

A year ago, someone advised me to go home, look in the mirror, really look and see what you thought. I was really hard on myself and I cried really hard. I sat there for an hour and cried and hated on myself and then I decided, I was going to be the person to big myself up and love myself. In fact, I would guarantee it. Loving yourself is okay. Not being obsessed with weight is okay. It's good.

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I'M BACK

After a lengthy break, I'm finally ready for more posting. I was photographer-less through December as I wasn't at uni and some family problems hit me pretty hard and I wasn't in the place to plan outfits or set aside time to take photos.

Those family things are still there and they will be for a long time but now, they feel, normal and I'm excited to be making new content for you. I'm going to try and post 3/4 times a week and write more rather than just posting photos of clothes.

UPDATE:
I graduate this year (shit). I'm now the fashion editor at Eight Magazine and their second issue comes out in a couple of weeks, I'm bias but it's totally worth a read: http://www.eightmagazine.co.uk

I've finally got my Instagram to a level I am happy with, here it is: https://www.instagram.com


LOVE XO

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EI8HT

This week, the very first issue of Ei8ht Magazine was published online. It includes an interview with fashion designer, Caterina Schmitt and myself. Last Friday I was asked if I want to become fashion editor of the magazine. I am so happy and grateful for this and owe it to this blog and therefore you for getting me there.

It is my pleasure to share the magazine with you, which you can read here:

http://www.eightmagazine.co.uk/magazine

Enjoy xo

https://www.facebook.com/eightmag

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THE MOVE

There’s no doubt that there were many discussions about London Fashion Week’s move from Somerset House to the Brewer Street Car. It was risky choice and not one that I fully understand. The general consensus from photographers, onlookers and bloggers was that they didn’t like it. Brewer Street Car Park is located right in the centre of Soho and on a mildly busy road, the traffic was at a stand still for most of Monday and Tuesday and the park was still in use for the public. There is no other way to describe it other than chaotic.

                                        London Fashion Week’s previous venue, Somerset House.

The courtyard at Somerset House was the most ideal location for networking, street photography and interviews. There was no risk of being run over and you could happily walk around and not get in anyone’s way and photographers got a chance to capture celebrities and industry specialists as they entered the venue. It was picturesque and home to the British Fashion Council (BFC), which parents London Fashion Week (LFW). It seems as though this is the perfect location for one of fashion’s biggest events, so, why the big move?! It could be that the BFC felt that Fashion Week needed changing up a little, that people were getting bored of Somerset House and they were draw to the lights of Soho....

READ THE REST OF MY ARTICLE HERE: http://www.eightmagazine.co.uk/post/130325765425/the-move

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[ BEING VEGAN ]

I decided about a month ago to become... vegan. It was mostly a health choice because diets just don't work with me and I wanted to lose some weight so that my clothes would fit properly again. I figured if I told myself that I could have a muffin or a brownie but chose not to because of what was in it then I wouldn't have them. Plus I would be cutting about a lot of calories and fat from not eating meat and milk and cheese. There is also a lot of people saying that eating a vegan diet makes them less tired which is a problem I've always had - I used to have a nap at least once a day regardless of what I was doing. 

These 2 videos really made the decision for me:

Beyond carnism and toward rational, authentic food choices | Melanie Joy | TEDxMünchen

5 BENEFITS OF BEING VEGAN | AFTER ONE YEAR

SO what has happened after a month? Well, I don't have to nap anymore and I rarely lay in, I don't dread my alarm going off at 7.30. My hair has grown and my nails are stronger. I've lost a stone and I generally feel happier and healthier. I think it's true that we are told we have to eat as much meat as we do. Even if I hadn't decided to be vegan, after watching the TED Talks video, I would have cut out some of the meat I eat. I also cook more. You have to be so much more inventive what what you make to avoid plain salad and steamed veg and that's fun! 

There is one thing that I miss and that's scrambled eggs. But, because I'm telling myself I can have them if I want them bad enough, I don't want them. 

The hidden horrors of carnism and the animal industry are awful but sometimes they are rammed down our throats and that's not what I'm trying to do. There are so many benefits to a non-violent lifestyle that it's worth thinking about what you're actually eating in a 'normal' diet. Plus Almond Milk tastes so much better than Cow's milk.  

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WHY I AM A FEMINIST

'Feminist: the person who believes in the social,

political and economic equality of the sexes.' - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie 

I studied English Literature at A-Level; even though studying feminist poets and writers is part of the national curriculum, the definition of a feminist wasn't made totally clear to me. At age 17 I thought feminists were a bunch of man-hating hippies, at least that was the impression I got from Carol-Anne Duffy (Sorry sister, I was young). As I got older and started going to clubs and pubs, it became clear that men and women aren't treated the same in society. The political inequality is slightly obvious to me, just 182 members of the house of Lords are women, leaving 597 to be men. I can't actually comprehend the pay gaps between men and women: women working full time in the UK in 2012 earned 14.9% less than men. What is that about?! 

BUT, everyone has a tipping point and for me, it's the social argument. It's indecent of me to walk around the centre of Plymouth without a top on but perfectly fine for Kevin down the road. As a woman, if I don't shave my legs or armpits, it's disgusting and manly and lazy. If a man shaves anywhere but his face, he's either gay or a cyclist. Men think it's totally acceptable to touch young women and girls' bums/boobs/vagina/____ (insert body part here) without invitation or request. The amount of times I've had to tell men that I don't want them touching, that they just assaulted me, the amount of times I've had a panic attack and wanted to leave a club because someone has violated me is quite frankly fucking ridiculous. 

In a fairly recent student questionnaire, one girl answered 'I don't know any girl at university that hasn't been touched or groped without her consent'. Wow, just wow. 

Then, THEN, there's the men. New fathers are entitled to just two weeks paternity leave. 2 WEEKS!! That's 26 weeks less than women. Male suicide rates are 3-5 times higher than female rates. Not many people know that for every three victims of partner abuse, two will be female and one will be male. And male victims of rape: 'Men can find this kind of attack difficult to deal with because this is widely, but wrongly, thought of as a crime that only affects women'. I saw a video by Lauren Southern on why she was not a feminist. She says that 3rd wave feminism doesn't fight for both sexes making feminism, not a fight for equality. My answer to that is there is no reason that YOU can't be that feminist. 

There are plenty of 'isms' and 'ics' in this world - racism, homophobic, agism, ablism but, it's arguable that sexism is still the most widely accepted. The 'who is the superior sex?!' argument happens every single day, so does sexual assault and rape and in my opinion, none of those things are okay. 

Nathaniel and I often discuss whether it is worse being a black male or a white female and that should not be a relevant topic of conversation in 2015. When we started watching Suits on Netflix, he commented on how good it was that a black female was represented in a high position in the firm. I cannot wait for the day that is the norm. 

LINKS 

http://www.mankind.org.uk/pdfs/30%20Key%20Facts%20-%20Male%20Victims%20(April%202015).pdf

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third-wave_feminism

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNErQFmOwq0 - Lauren Southern's video

http://blog.ted.com/beyonce-samples-chimamanda-ngozi-adichies-tedx-message-on-surprise-album/ - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's speech on feminism feat. her speech that is featured in Beyonce's song, Flawless (and that greatest video you will ever watch).

http://everydaysexism.com/

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HOW I CLEAN MY MAKE-UP BRUSHES (THIS MIGHT CHANGE YOUR LIFE)

Cleaning my make-up brushes was the bane of my life until I discovered this method. It's so quick and rewarding that I actually enjoy cleaning them now!

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

Dirty Brushes

Anti-bacterial spray/liquid 

Something that smells nice e.g. shower gel

*THE SECRET WEAPON* An IKEA pot stand

Yes, that's right, an IKEA pot stand. Here we go...

  

First, whack in plug in and turn on the hot tap. You want really hot water so it might be worth getting a silicone oven glove too to protect yourself from the heat. You only need a little bit of water. For example, if you're using a flat sink, place the pot hot mat in the bottom and fill the sink until the water reaches half way up the bristles of your brush.

Use a couple of squirts of your anti-bacterial spray in the water. Not too much because you'll need to change the water in a couple of brushes time.

Secondly, is the fun part, spray some of the anti-bacterial spray on the brush and a little squeeze of your something that smells nice. This will kill any nasties in you brushes and make all the left over make up come out really easily.

Now, dip you brush in the water and swizzle it on the grooves of the mat. Press down and get a little rough because you want to get up to the top of the bristles. Don't leave the top of the bristle part of the brush in the water for too long as it might melt the glue and cause the bristles to come out.

Keep going until the soap running out of the brush is clear/soap coloured and then wash out the soap. This should be your results...

The brush the is a little orange is admittedly a little old and could do with a refresh and I could have spent a little more time swizzling.

Leave your brushes to dry flat or bristles facing down so that the water doesn't run down and make problems with the glue and the bristles fall out.

Don't forget to clean the sink after, mine was left with an orange tinge once I was finished. Happy Cleaning!

IKEA PRODUCTS
SILICONE GLOVE: http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/40186633/
SILICONE HOT POT MAT: http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/50175276/ (When I'm not using this for cleaning brushes, I rest my straighteners or curlers on it after I've used them to protect the surface)

FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/jascoles/

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ANXIETY AND FIRST ON THE DANCE FLOOR

I've been reluctant to write about my anxiety through fear of it looking like I'm looking for attention or ending up being treated differently but after one friday night I think it's time. I think I was always an attention loving child, when I was 10, my brother bought me a top from Tammy that read 'I'm not attention seeker attention finds me' which says it all really but only from my family and friends. Last October, I recognised there was something a little strange about my thought process, I was scared of getting on the bus, walking downstairs - in case I fell over, meeting new people, going out with new friends. I constantly thought people were judging me and thought I was wearing the wrong thing or 'too dressed up for uni'. I started getting panic attacks and I drank was too much to get over this wall that social anxiety made. So, I told someone, I got help which was daunting and every week I drove home from my group 'therapy' sessions in tears because I was facing something hard and realising I was someone I didn't actually want to be. Then I decided to be that person. I signed up for a course in photoshop and one in dress making. I didn't force myself to do it, I think that can back fire, I wanted to do it. I wanted to be happy and confident and so far, I think I'm doing pretty well. I woke up and told myself I could be whoever I wanted and that maybe it wouldn't be as bad as I thought and brought myself back down to earth. And finally, I'm almost there. I still trip myself up sometimes and have times when I think I'm not okay but I am.

The world can be a cruel place, if you let it. There's a high level of sass in my personality; I don't let people piss me off because I know how I want to be treated. A massive part of my anxiety is being scared of people and they're reactions, particularly men (sorry boys). Don't ask why, I don't know but I just remember there being a pivotal point when I wasn't going to let boys touch my bum in a club and I didn't. I like to think I have this look that I shoot at them and they know they've gone too far.

Which brings me to last friday night, me and one of my best friends decided that if no one was going to go make the first move to the dance floor then we would. I didn't feel like people were watching but I knew they were and I didn't care and it wasn't the alcohol, I actually didn't care. That's what inspired me to write this, I'm amazed at how far I've come (excuse the cliche), I wasted so much of my time thinking 'it was just me' but its not, you can do and be anything you want. What other people think doesn't ever matter if you're doing something that you're happy doing. Social Anxiety was part of me growing up and deciding on the kind of person I want to become, it's not a bad thing or an evil thing, it's a part of me and I wanted to do this to show anyone who feels the same (one more cliche) that if I can do it anyone can.

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HOW TO GET GIRLS IN 2015

Social media has made relationships way to difficult. I'm in a relationship where you can't just drop everything and go and see the person you love. It's not a long distance relationship, it's a short distance relationship. However, I know a lot of people that do the distance thing, long or short and you can absolutely argue that social media and technology has made these relationships a great deal easier by giving you the opportunity to never be out of touch with anyone. 60 years ago, pre Facebook, there wasn't this ease. Relationships were based on something else, people meant forever. You couldn't log onto Tinder and find a companion 10 minutes down the road who sells himself to you with 4 (specially selected) photos. Three of which are of a group of friends so you have no idea which he is and the other is a mysterious topless shot which cuts off his head. Then, you glance down to read the bio, 'my girlfriend is shit in bed so I wanna bust nuts behind her back'. *Actual Tinder profile*. Thanks Gary, I'll be sliding left on this occasion. What happened to romance, courting and meeting people organically?!

Sure, you go back 60 years and there's not this 'great' movement of feminism and female empowerment but has that much really changed? How many female politicians can you name? And males? What about entrepreneurs? The ratio of males to female dragons in The Den or Undercover Boss? In the grand scheme of where we should be in 2015, almost 100 years after women were granted the right to vote, this is baby steps.

So what does the female movement have to do with getting a girl in 2015? Ask the guy that groped me on the train or the one that thought his hand belonged between my legs in a night club. Then ask yourself how much had actually changed or if it's just got worse? Is that how people are won over in the 21st century and what the fuck makes them think that's okay?!

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Uni Room #2

This year a uni, I wanted my room to have an Eastern feel about my room. Some things I bought at my sisters in August.

Lantern and Buddha - Wilkinsons  

Lantern - Ikea

Draws and Frame - Wilkinsons 

I have a world map with stickers of everywhere I have been.

I made a double hanging wardrobe with my clothes rail 

from last year.

Canopy - Ikea 

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My Wishlist

My list of things to buy if money is ever no object.

I've loved thigh high boots ever since I saw Anne Hathaway wear them in Devil Wears Prada
These are Kurt Geiger Woodstock boots.
They're £220 down to £79
It's so tempting, so so tempting 

I couldn't decide if Nars Sheer Matte counted as I know I'll buy it when my current foundation runs out
I need matte because my face does shine on its own
£30.50

Again, doesn't really count but I don't really need any more brushes
Then again, you can never have enough brushes
£23

Mac Morange Lipstick
Because I want it
£15

Mac Opulash Mascara
This claims to do everything I need it to
£14 

Mac face and body
£21.50

Finally, the most expensive and the most beautiful
Shopwasteland Jumpsuit for the grand price of £100.83
I have promised myslef the next time I need a 'going out' outfit I will go to
Shopwasteland and pay for the postage
Unfortunately there are no big nights out lined up 

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Future Living

I love day dreaming about where I'm going to live in the future and then going to find the photos of someone who has done something similar. I really want to live in a huge studio apartment at some point, I really hope that doesn't mean emigrating to America! My ideas here came from a house that was for sale at home and a cheekily saved the photos off the right move website...

I also find A LOT of inspiration in bloggers and vloggers in pretty much everything. All these ideas came from blogger and vlogger, Claire Marshall. Her apartment looks AMAZING. Gimme Gimme Gimme. Her Pinterest Here: http://www.pinterest.com/sayheyclaire/

And finally...

I think the top photo is from tumblr, I follow a ton of blogs about houses and this one actually looks like my hairdressers - without the bed. The bottom photo is good old google, I have loads of these saved, I love fairy lights!

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