In June 2017 I tasked myself with the challenge of making my own diary for 2018. I slowly worked on a bullet journal gathering inspiration from Pinterest and youTube. I wanted to share a few of my favourite pages as well as things I have included in my bullet journal to hopefully inspire you with yours or encourage you to try one out!

This post doesn't have much text as I wanted it to be sort of like a visual flip through, so enjoy😊

I have included a few cover pages, a sneak peak at how I've set up the days and a few extra logs I have incorporated.

One of my new year resolutions is to practice self love more and really focus on my own wellbeing. I've searched through a few self love challenges over the past two months but none were perfect, so I have created my own. It is 31 days long so you can apply it to any month you wish, or you can pick and choose a few of my suggestions and try do them daily.

I have attached a link to the PDF for your reference. You will be able to view it here on my blog or go into it to be able to save it and print it if you wish to do so.


Please let me know if you are doing my challenge in the comments below or even on my Instagram!

P.S.
In terms of meditation and yoga here are my recommendations:

• inscape (APP)
• Yogawithadriene
• BohoBeautiful

Before this stunning highlighting eyeshadow palette disappears forever I wanted to do a post about it. Tarte are known for their beautiful packaging and buttery smooth shadows and this palette does not disappoint in neither department.

The Rainforest of the Sea volume III palette encompasses 8 gorgeous shades. One of the eight is a perfect matte transition shade that pairs well with every luster/shimmery shade. Before jumping into swatches of each shade here is an overview of the palette.

Now for a shade by shade breakdown.

Escape

nude pink luster

Tiki

matte beige

Heat Wave

pink luster

Malibu

plum bronze

Rays

peachy copper

Compass

champagne

Jewel

copper

Treasure

pearlescent

My thoughts:

I will keep this short and sweet because my all time favourite palette is the Tartelette in Bloom, so of course I also love this palette.

I find these are best applied with the finger and gently buffed out with a fluffy brush. This method helps achieve a nice strobed look to the eyelids. They can be packed on with a flat shader brush and setting spray if you prefer a more intense look. I love that a versatile matte shade (tiki) was included because it allows you to only use the one palette if you want. I could easily take this travelling and create multiple looks from it.

The shadows last all day on me without a primer, if you have oily eyelids you may need a primer (I'm just dry skinned). Lastly, the shimmery shades within this palette are way better than those in the tartelette in bloom palette. I don't find those to be half as pigmented and buttery as these. So before this is no longer available I recommend you pick it up for yourself! There is also a volume II so if you're not into the highlighting shades that may be a better match for you.

Ahh summer, the time of year I dread because it's too hot to wear makeup but at the same time I want coverage. During summer nights when I have a party or am going out there are a few changes to my makeup routine that occur so I thought I'd share. Especially if you have scarring, redness, acne or dry skin.

Base
Full coverage foundations are a thing of the past in the warmer weather. The heat + my already dry skin is not a great combination with thicker foundations, they tend to look cakey. I opt for something with light-medium coverage like the EX1 Invisiwear foundation. Since it has a natural matte finish on my skin I like to apply it with a sponge. If you have acne or scarring you may think lighter coverage and a sponge isn't going to do anything for your skin but trust me it works. The purpose of the foundation is to even out your general skin tone.

To cover the redness, cue heavy duty concealer - Hynt DUET Perfecting concealer. If your skin isn't too bad and you only have a few red spots to cover then you could just use this product and be done with it. However, for me to achieve a lightweight yet full coverage appearance the thin layer of foundation plus concealer helps me to achieve that. This concealer has a natural, healthy finish which I love, but if you have oily skin or sweat then I'd recommend you set it with powder. For this routine I don't use powder because my base holds up without it.

In terms of bronzer, blush and highlight I use a mixture of products depending on my outfit or the look I am going for. Today's look incorporated Milani baked blush in Bellissimo Bronze as blush/bronzer and Urban Decay Naked Flushed trio in Naked (highlight shade only).

Eyes
Keeping the eyes basic and opting for a bold or glossy lip is my go-to for a night out in Summer. For brows: NYX Eyebrow Cake Powder, this is literally all I ever use year round. Also, if you know me you could guess the eyeshadow. It is the Tarte Tartlette in bloom palette. I gravitate towards the bottom two rows rather than the cool tones. In particular - flower child, smarty pants, sweet heart and rebel. Mascara is Urban Decay Perversion.

Lips
I wanted to include a few options here because like I said, I either go for a gloss or a bold (red or pink) lip.

Here are a few of my go-to lip products for a summer night:

• Nudestix Cream Lip + Cheek pencil in Love
• Colourpop Ultra Matte lip in Succulent which is no longer available so here are a few alternatives: Chi Chi & Creeper
• NYX Butter Gloss in eclair - these are not sticky at all!!
• NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Istanbul mixed with Milan (this is shown in my selfie)

I am trying to make it a habit to write up more foundation/base product reviews. Especially because I feel like my skin is on the more difficult side to cover, I feel like it would be more helpful for you all. I'm including wear test photos as well as how well the foundation covers my acne and scarring. So, let's get into my thoughts on the 3INA 3 in 1 foundation.

Before I jump into my thoughts I wanted to include the blurb that is on the box. I'd also like to add that this foundation is paraben free, cruelty free and vegan! On the 3INA website this foundation is one of their best sellers.

Ingredients, (for those whom are wondering):

AQUA (WATER), CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, DIPROPYLENE GLYCOL, CETYL PEG/PPG-10/1 DIMETHICONE, ETHYLHEXYL METHOXYCINNAMATE, DISTEARDIMONIUM HECTORITE, SODIUM CHLORIDE, MICA, DIMETHICONE, POLYGLYCERYL-4 ISOSTEARATE, PHENOXYETHANOL, SODIUM DEHYDROACETATE, POLYMETHYL METHACRYLATE, METHICONE, SILICA, MAGNESIUM ALUMINUM SILICATE, DISODIUM EDTA, BENZOPHENONE-3, DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER, ASCORBIC , ACID, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, TALC, VACCINIUM MYRTILLUS FRUIT EXTRACT, SACCHARUM OFFICINARUM EXTRACT (SACCHARUM OFFICINARUM (SUGAR CANE) EXTRACT), SIGESBECKIA ORIENTALIS EXTRACT, RABDOSIA RUBESCENS EXTRACT, CITRUS AURANTIUM DULCIS FRUIT EXTRACT (CITRUS AURANTIUM DULCIS (ORANGE) FRUIT EXTRACT), CITRUS LIMON FRUIT EXTRACT (CITRUS LIMON (LEMON) FRUIT EXTRACT), BHT, ACER SACCHARUM EXTRACT (ACER SACCHARUM (SUGAR MAPLE) EXTRACT). +/- (MAY CONTAIN): CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77491 (IRON OXIDES), CI 77891 (TITANIUM DIOXIDE).

This is one pump onto my finger. The formula is on the thicker side but don't let this fool you into thinking it feels heavy on the skin.

Now for the fun part: my thoughts and experience.
I applied this foundation at 10:20AM. It gave off a natural finish with medium coverage, when built up to two layers. If you skin is clearer than mine then this foundation could appear to give a fuller coverage.

When the foundation is initially applied to the skin it feels slightly tacky but once it dries this feeling goes away and you do not need to set it with powder. Especially if your skin is on the drier side like mine. Although my skin is dry, it did not emphasise dry patches and it didn't settle too badly into any fine lines (only settled in the eyelid/under eye region).

Once the foundation set I applied cream products to my skin, since that is my new obsession! They all applied well and didn't take off the foundation in any way. The cream products I applied were: Mecca highlight balm, Nudestix matte colour in Bondi Bae and Naughty n Spice.

In terms of the next two updates, there isn't much of a difference between the photos. The 3INA foundation gave my skin a healthy appearance and still did not cling to dryness nor settle in my smile lines. I actually slept in the car for over an hour while wearing this foundation and it didn't even wear off or become patchy.

At the 9/10 hour mark is when you can notice the foundation breaking down. You can tell by the photo that the coverage has decreased and more redness is peaking through than earlier in the day. I normally don't wear foundation this long so this doesn't bother me too much. On the bright side, at this point it still had not clung to my dry patches and barely creased in my smile lines, only slightly.

Overall, for the price I was impressed by this foundation. I do want to test the waterproof claims so I am planning on wearing on wearing it when I go swimming with the dolphins next weekend. I will update you all via my Instagram on how it performs.

I'd recommend this foundation to be worn during the day time as it does contain SPF. If you have dry skin it will sit nicely over it and if you have acne or redness you will need a concealer on the areas you need extra coverage. I would also suggest a 7 hour wear time for this foundation to ensure it stays looking fresh and doesn't break down or wear off in areas. For the price it is a great foundation to check out and try if you can!

This will be my last update on my skin for this year but it is (hopefully) the beginning of clearer skin in 2018! Over January there won't be any updates as I go away for the month and I will continue to implement what I share with you today. In February I will include pictures of where my skin is at and what I've noticed has helped the most.

Naturopath/Supplements
If you don't follow me on instagram then you may not know that I have started seeing a Naturopath that specialises in women's hormones. The reason for this was because in my last update the doctor suspected I have PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome). I went to see the new naturopath and showed her all my results, discussed my symptoms and my whole experience with puberty, periods, acne etc and she was able to confirm I do in fact have PCOS. She told me not to worry too much about the label as I am not a "typical" case. In the sense that I don't struggle with obesity, have excess hair or hair loss nor do I experience amenorrhea (I have the complete opposite).

The naturopath is treating my personal symptoms to fix my reproductive system and hormones. We created goals, with the key one being clearer skin. Other goals included shorter periods, regular periods, prevention of ovarian cysts and eventually fertility. Since my acne is a result of PCOS/hormone imbalance she prescribed me to take a few supplements. Please don't go out and purchase these yourself, I will put a * next to the ones you will need to seek advice from your healthcare provider/naturopath for as they are personalised to me and my symptoms. If you think you have PCOS or any other hormonal issues I advise you speak to a professional so you can best deal with your symptoms and make sure what you're putting in your body will actually benefit you.

She directed me to take a shot of a herb mixture* she made up twice a day after eating. The only ingredient I am aware of and can taste is liquorice. When I see her again she will revise the mixture and alter it. The purpose of the herb mix is to help balance my hormones. Unlike typical PCOS sufferers, who tend to have higher testosterone but in my case I suffer with androgen and estrogen imbalances which result in me having acne. The aim is to balance these two hormones out prior to my period to prevent break outs. She will give me another mixture at my next appointment to balance my hormones during the second half of my cycle which will focus on shortening my periods. Hopefully this all makes sense, but basically the herb mixture is to internally work on my hormones.

I also take a zinc supplement* and vitamin A* to help my skin at a less deeper level I suppose. These supplements only deal with the issues skin deep although I do take them in liquid/tablet form. Both of these supplements help with clearing up acne but you'll definitely need to seek expert advice with these! When I attempted taking zinc myself and chose my own dose I ender up throwing up every single time I took it so it is very important to see a health care professional to recommend a dosage and make sure it is safe for you and your body. In terms of vitamin A, you cannot get pregnant when taking it, so again seek advice. There are different dosages of vitamin A so if you think it will be beneficial to your skin make sure you ask to figure out which one is best for you and at what dose is safe.

Now for a supplement that is 100% safe for you to go out and purchase yourself is evening primrose oil. It helps relieve PMS symptoms as well as promote healthy skin. If you suspect a hormonal imbalance and want to try out something yourself then I'd recommend these tablets.

Diet
I am still sticking to a meat free diet (occasionally eat fish in sushi, so I can't label myself as vegetarian). Lately I have been focusing on my green vegetables, healthy fats and protein. The naturopath looked over my diet and said it was perfect. Based off my endless amounts of blood test results she said it is evident my body is thriving off plant based protein sources, which was great news for me. Also berries and nuts aid hormonal imbalances/improving skin issues.

One diet suggestion she made was to have ground flaxseed rather than the normal state of the seed. The purpose of this is because ground flaxseed contains plant estrogen, I forgot what the naturopath actually said but it was something along the lines of it better balancing my hormones as it combines to excess hormones and when I go to the toilet it removes them from my body. Not 100% which hormone she said but I guess it also makes sense since my estrogen levels were a concern.

Mental health/Exercise
I have made it a habit to meditate nearly every morning or night. I notice doing a 10-30 minute mediation really clears my mind and puts me at ease.

As for exercise, I am really pushing myself to do some sort of physical activity 4 times a week. The gym was a fail for me because of weight issues but maybe in the new year I will attempt to go back, since my weight is more stable now. I have been walking 3x a week, plan to start swimming once a week and yoga once or twice.

Skincare/Makeup
I am continuing with the minimal makeup theme that I've mentioned in other skin diaries. On the days I am not working or have a party I don't wear makeup at all. On the three or four days of the week that I do apply makeup it is either the Hynt beauty concealer, a CC cream or mineral powder foundation.

As for skincare, I don't really have a set regime. However, these are the three main products I use daily. A few Nourish London products - Kale 3D cleanse and their radiance firming facial oil. As well as the Beenigma face cream, which works wonders when my skin is dehydrated or has flaky dry patches.

Other products I use every now and again include:
Palmer's micro fine exfoliating facial scrub: Roughly once to twice a week to remove any dead skin build up.
Dr Bronner's peppermint liquid soap: Once I use up the Nourish London cleanser I will use this daily. Every time I use it I find it leaves my skin feeling very clean. It doesn't dry out my dry skin like you'd think a "soap" would but I do follow up with a thicker moisturiser whenever I do use it. It removes makeup as well so it will replace my next product when that is done too.
Palmer's Ultra Gentle Facial Cleansing oil: this product is always in these updates. Like I just mentioned, I will phase this out and trial the soap as I've heard good things.

Anyway, to finish off the post I will include images of how my skin is looking. In terms of my menstrual cycle I am almost at what should be my ovulation time, assuming my cycle is on track. I've started getting a lot of break outs along my jaw line and cheeks, which is the usual for me. As for my forehead, nose and chin those areas are clear.

Since it is my birthday week as I am writing this post I wanted something simple to write up yet helpful. I know I have done other how to's relating to photography: flatlay tips & tricks and how to take the perfect flatlay, but this post goes more into detail with the editing of photos.

It is no secret that to achieve the perfect white backdrop it not only comes down to good lighting but also a little tweaking via photoshop (or any editor your prefer). Over the time that I have had my Instagram, I've received multiple messages on how I actually edit my photos so here it is:

1. Take the photo
2. Launch photoshop and open the image you want to edit.

OPTIONAL: If the photo doesn't have an all white background already, paint around the edges with white. If your background is fine then skip this!

3. Adjust the brightness/contrast slightly to ensure colours don't alter too much.

4. Adjust the exposure to achieve an all over white backdrop.

5. This could be optional once again depending on how white your background got from the above steps. This is dependent on lighting. In this case there was still a difference between the white tones so I used paint to make it seamless.
6. Add the watermark and you're done!

I edit my photos using the desktop photoshop as all my pictures are taken with my Nikon D5100. The same steps could be applied to photo editing apps such as VSCO, photoshop app etc. I hope this was helpful and happy editing!

First of all, can I just say, life is so much better when you're officially on Uni holidays! Secondly, this week's post is all about natural alternatives in the body department. During my efforts to enter the "green" side when it comes to beauty I've also had to consider fake tan, exfoliators, moisturisers, perfume and of course, deodorant.

Making the switch to natural alternatives can be a little overwhelming, I mean you may not expect to see as many options as there are on the market. With the help of my blogpost, guides and your own research I am sure you will find the perfect product for you, without having to compromise on what "mainstream" products offer.

Fake Tan
Whether you prefer a gradual natural glow or the intense "I've been out in the sun/on vacation" bronze there are various organic options. My personal favourite and one I have a review on is the Uni Organics Forever Tan (gradual). This is perfect for anyone at any age, however, I do think it would suit pale, light-medium complexions best.

In terms of instant or fake tan that is ideal for a night out here are a two options that I am planning on trying myself:

• Eco Tan Cacao Firming Mousse - this one has amazing reviews and has won awards!
• Uni Organics Ultimate Tan Self Tanning Cream - unlike the gradual one I have tried this one develops over night. If you aren't a fan of a mousse I'd recommend this as a cream would be more hydrating on the skin.

NourishedLife offer a guide to the perfect organic tan on their site here. They mention other products that I did not include above.

Exfoliators

I'm not that into body exfoliators as I'd prefer a creamy cleanser paired with a sponge or dry brush. But there is one I have and currently use that works well. It is by Kopari Beauty, all their products are coconut oil based which is awesome! Since coconut oil is the main ingredient it really helps to hydrate the body while removing dead skin or old tan. The product I am talking about is their Coconut Crush Scrub, and yes I have the old packaging because it takes me a while to use body care up.

There is one other scrub I know of (thanks to Shaaanxo) and would like to try next. It is another sugar based scrub by the brand Soda & Co. Shannon constantly raves about it and based off reviews I have read others seem to say good things. With either option I am sure you can't go wrong, although this one is cheaper!

Moisturiser

Like I said above, I take forever to use up body care so I am still going through my Body Shop Almond, Milk & Honey body lotion. After a lot of research I've decided not to include the Body Shop in this as they are not as "clean" as some other options. In saying this if you are starting out and wanted to purchase something in store, The Body Shop could be a good place to start.

Now onto the actual natural/organic options:

• Soda & Co. have made the cut again. This time with their Pink Lemonade natural Body Lotion, solely because it sounds like it smells AMAZING!
• 100% Pure Vanilla Nourishing Body Cream - this comes in other scents as well (blood orange or lavender)
• Something different to a cream or lotion is a body oil. I know everyone is crazy about bio oil but that actually isn't as good as you think. It has preservatives so I discovered a much more cleaner alternative that will still help with stretch marks and scars. The Uspa Revitalising Dry Body Oil.

You have probably noticed that I have linked NourishedLife quite a bit throughout this post, that is because it is one of my favourite sites when I am buying anything natural or organic. They have such a wide range of brands and products and most of them are reviewed so its super helpful.

Perfume

I have decided to include this because it is the hardest category for me while I make the switch. For some reason I find it difficult to come across natural/organic perfume options. I challenged myself to research because there are options out there, I just have a specific scent I like so I haven't tried any. Here are links to multiple options for you to browse, especially because perfume is so personal and everyone has their own preferences.

• Nourished Life perfumes - endless options + reviews
• One Seed - when reading other blogger's reviews this was one brand that constantly came up. Their perfume bottles look elegant and they even have men fragrance options which is great!

Deodorant

One category that may be forgotten when making the switch but very necessary. I have used natural deodorants my whole life so I personally can't compare a "mainstream" option with a natural one but the fact that I've never felt the need to use one is a good sign.

First things first, antiperspirant and deodorant are not the same. Antiperspirants cause inflammatory reactions around the sweat ducts which cause them to expand and then shrink. This results in reducing sweat as it cannot get to the surface. You can conduct your own further research on why antiperspirants are bad for you as I just want to focus on alternative.

In contrast to antiperspirant there is deodorants which neutralise body odour and allows the skin to breathe.

My personal favourite deodorant that I have tried is actually a paste by Woohoo Body. I can use it on a hot day and not worry about my sweat smelling at all, plus I actually enjoy the application. I understand a paste may not be for everyone, especially if you're used to a roll on or spray so I will include a guide for your own reference. The Best Natural Deodorant (2017) guide offers a range of brands and reviews. It goes into detail about key ingredients, their top picks as well as a transfer test to see if the mentioned deodorants left residue on clothes. By reading through this guide you will be able to pick out the best deodorant for you or least have a few options to try and see how they work.

Like perfume, deodorant is based off preferences plus trial and error.

Hopefully my natural alternatives post was helpful. If so, please let me know because I'd love to do more. I'm working on beauty ones (makeup/skincare) but if there is any specific products you like me to discuss then comment below or on my Instagram.

I am horrible with committing to monthly beauty favourites because I tend to stick to products for longer periods of time and don't switch things up monthly. So I am here today to share my current beauty favourites with you all.

Lip balm

Eco Lips Mongo Kiss - Vanilla Honey
Dry lips? Desperately need moisture back into your lips? Look no further than this JUMBO (literally) lip balm! It's certified organic so you know its made with 100% safe ingredients. Also, it comes in a variety of scents, but I love vanilla honey most. I use it every night before bed and its so so moisturising.

Face Mask

Sukin Purifying Facial Masque
I am a massive lover of clay masks however having to mix them with water or the dreaded drying feeling afterwards tends to put me off. In winter I need to steer clear of those clay masks and have replaced them with this one by Sukin. I've actually been using it since January and still have quite a bit left. It really helps to clear out my skin and leaves it feeling soft. Unlike your typical clay masks it's not drying whatsoever.

(I wrote this before it turned into Spring but I still use it!!)

Face wash

Nourish London Kale 3D Cleanse
First of all kale is one of my favourite vegetables, so when it is in a cleanser I already love it. The face wash claims to lift impurities and detoxify skin. I enjoy using it as a second cleanse in my routine as I find it removes any left over makeup or even sunscreen residue.

It is not drying whatsoever and the colour changing aspect makes it a lot of fun to use.

Eyeshadow

Too Faced Natural Eyes
If you follow me on Instagram you would know Tartelette in Bloom was my obsession but I hit pan on a few shades so I'm trying not to use it as much 😂 Instead I have gone back to one of my first favourites - Natural Eyes by Too Faced. On the daily I mix nudie and heaven all over my eyelid and in the crease. It is the perfect shade and blends easily. This is a great "first" eye shadow palette because I feel like it has everything you will ever need.

Mascara

Urban Decay Perversion
Since going cruelty free no mascara I tried gave me what I was after. I was in mecca one day and near the registers were mini items so of course I gave in. My lashes are pretty long and I am after length over volume. This mascara can make my lashes look fake if I pack it on or I can apply it lightly, brush it out with a comb and my lashes look super natural. The brush can get a little messy because it is larger than what I'm used to but I'd definitely purchase the full size!

Brushes/Tools

A while ago I did a post dedicated to the new ecoTools brushes and yes I still adore them. I use the big powder brush daily for powder, bronzer and blush. It is so soft and I just want it on my face all day long. Their eye brushes are just as good, if not better than their OG ones back in the day. They make blending eyeshadow a dream and don't irritate my eyes (a common issue I have if the brush bristles are too harsh).

Last but not least is their sponge. This sponge converted me from applying foundation with a brush to a sponge. I used to despise sponges because they absorbed the coverage I needed to cover my scarring but not this one. It is honestly magical in the way it applies my foundation. It doesn't even soak up liquidy foundations that you think it would. I need to go purchase 10 of these because I'm too lazy to wash the one I have but at the same time I want to use it every time I apply makeup.

Comment your faves below or let me know over on the gram!

A few people have asked me how to best conceal birthmarks, redness, dark circles etc so I thought I'd put together a simple post to explain it. Although I am not a makeup artist I have dealt with most of these issues myself, so I do know a thing or two based off my own experience.

First things first, understanding the basic colour wheel:

The above image describes what each colour would generally be used for. Usually the colour opposite to the shade you are trying to "correct" is what you will use. For example, with redness you'd use a green concealer.

In this post I will address what I think are, the three main concerns people want to colour correct. Redness, dark circles and dull skin tones.

Redness/Acne

• Yellow or Green concealer
• Spot conceal
• Apply before foundation/normal shade concealer

Personally for redness I reach for a yellow toned concealer, despite what the above image states you should use. As I am on the fairer side I find a yellow concealer is a lot more forgiving and works just as well. If you have a deeper skin tone I recommend using a green toned concealer.

Dark circles

• Peach toned concealer
• It can be applied after foundation
• Follow with normal concealing and powder

My favourite corrector to use for my undereyes is the NYX Dark circle concealer.

Dull Skin Tone

If you are suffering from a dull complexion try a lavender or purple toned concealer/primer.

If you do not want to purchase colour correcting concealers or sticks you can opt for a primer. A number of brands make these such as Becca and NYX.

That brings me to the end of my post. Hopefully it was helpful and you're now able to colour correct anything you skin throws at you!

Tonight's post is inspired by Instagram making life difficult. I have seen a lot of people (myself included) notice a drop in engagement with their posts and a few others are paying to hopefully bring in new followers, likes, comments etc. Personally @thedailycatchup is a hobby. I don't want it to become a job or anything big, so likes and followers are just a bonus. However, I will admit getting under 100 likes is a little annoying because it takes time to take capture and then edit photos for the gram. I am sure many other agree that there is a lot of behind the scenes that go on. I feel like paid posts or having to join like/comment threads can take away the fun of things.

I have tested both a like thread and paying for an Instagram promotion purely to compare whether it is even worth paying for, in case you are someone considering it.This was only a one off thing for me so hopefully me doing this and reviewing it can be beneficial for others. Straight up I am going to be completely honest. I believe (based off my experience and stats) that joining a like or comment thread boosts your photos exposure way more than paying Instagram!

I promoted my post from yesterday for $1 which claimed I would reach 220-770 people. The promotion lasted 24 hours. I will attach a few screenshots of my stats over the 24 hour period.

This was the amount of likes I had when the promotion had just begun:

This was an update of my stats in the morning from the paid promotion:

Stats from the afternoon:

Currently how many likes my post has (not from the promotion at all!) and stats:

Overall, even though I have three hours remaining, paying to "promote" my post did next to nothing. It didn't reach the amount of people Instagram claimed it would. 220 people was their minimum and I didn't even reach that. Like I said, I won't be doing this again, it was purely for experimental purposes but I am pretty annoyed it didn't even gain me one extra like lol. If you are thinking to pay I wouldn't recommend it based off my experience. I suggest you join facebook groups to engage in like/comment threads and boost your posts exposure that way.

Instagram is definitely greedy and unfortunately it doesn't look like they're going to do anything about this engagement issue which is disappointing.

First things first, sorry for being absent from my blog once again. Life has been throwing a lot at me this year and I really had to figure out my priorities, which unfortunately meant blogging and Instagram got a little neglected.

If you are a regular reader of my skin diaries you would know I've been suffering from hormonal acne for years (8 to be exact) and it is still a constant battle. If you'd like to catch up, here are all my previous skin diaries. A quick summary of my health situation so this can all make sense, after all health and the appearance of your skin is connected. 8 years ago I started experiencing a lot of hormonal issues such as pain, nausea and of course, bad skin. This has continued up until present day. Fast forwarding to July last year (I may have mentioned this in previous skin diaries so I'm sorry if it's repetitive) a cyst was found on my right ovary. I knew because my period literally went missing for a few months, I had terrible pain and my skin was a nightmare. The solution was the pill and it was all and well while I was on it. The cyst went, I gained some weight, my boobs went up three sizes and most importantly my skin cleared completely. I decided to get off it because I'm someone who hates medication and I did not want to rely on a pill to balance my hormones. Assuming the cyst was a one off thing I got off the pill and focused on natural alternatives. Like cutting out dairy and sugar etc.

In January this year my weight literally dropped off. I think I lost a total of 12kg and I was already on the skinny side so it was not good. I didn't reach out to doctors at the time, instead I saw a naturopath but I didn't really openly admit my weight loss. It really affected my mood and I had no idea why the weight went away (so did my boobs, back to an A cup for me). Additionally, my skin broke out like crazy, it was like I went backwards. I went to a doctor and asked for a hormone blood test, I was rejected and told "I'm too young to have any hormonal issues that need checking" so that was that. The naturopath helped me to start balancing my hormones but as you'd notice in previous skin diaries it wasn't as big of a success as i'd hoped. I know natural alternatives take a while but deep down I knew something was wrong with my hormones. Around June/July when I noticed I was really struggling to put weight back on (my weight just kept dropping despite me ensuring I was eating around 2,300 calories) I went to the doctors because my wrists began to hurt. I was advised to take calcium & vitamin D tablets as well as alter my diet. Altering my diet helped me gain weight, roughly 2kg within a month, which was a lot better than it going down. I then saw another doctor because my naturopath wanted me to check my thyroid. I ended up getting a blood test and found my thyroid was hyperactive. That somewhat explained why my weight was dropping however when I had a one month check up my thyroid was back to normal and the doctor wanted me to have more tests because there wasn't much of an improvement with my weight, periods being regular or my skin. He had a feeling there was something off with my reproductive system. He requested an ultra sound as a check up because I had a cyst in the past, so I went to do that. During my ultra sound I discovered I had another cyst (which made total sense because my skin was badly breaking out at the time) as well as being told I have a mild case of polycystic ovary syndrome. The doctor had to clarify through a blood test but when I found out that this was most likely the issue I had all these years I was so relieved but also disheartened. I knew my hormones were imbalanced and I knew the symptoms weren't for nothing so I was glad to finally have a name to what was going on with my body. However, another curve ball. For some reason my blood test results didn't line up with my symptoms or what was seen on my ovaries so I'll need to go to the hospital to do further tests to see if it is polycystic ovaries or some other issue. Although I most likely do have the condition.

Anyway, that's an update on my health this year. It was necessary to explain because it is why my skin is the way it is as well as the reason for my absence. Of course the pill is the immediate response to the condition however it can't actually ever be cured so I thought, what's the point of a "bandaid" fix when I can try to eliminate or at least lessen the symptoms naturally. I've seen a dietitian but wasn't happy so now I will try a nutritionist where my naturopath was located. I will include that experience in my next update. Hopefully now that I pretty much know the cause of my acne I can achieve clearer skin.

I don't really have much of a skin "update" for you all but I do have the reason behind it all so I thought it was important to dedicate a post to. Like I said above I will update on the diet in the next skin diaries but for skin care and beauty this is what I'm using.

Skincare

• Palmer's Cocoa Butter Gentle Facial Cleansing Oil - the same as my other skin diaries! Although I do want to purchase the face halo and remove makeup with that.
• Nourish Skincare Kale 3D cleanse - I love kale, when I saw it was in a cleanser I immediately knew I'd love it. It is a colour changing cleanser (goes from silver to green when you mix it with water and use on your face) that is super gentle. It lifts impurities and detoxifies the skin. I prefer it over the previous cleanser I was using and am trying to use it 2x daily. I am guilty of only washing my face once a day, in the mornings I like to use warm water but I see more improvements when I use this cleanser twice.
• Nourish Skincare Radiance Firming Facial oil - I replaced rosehip oil and my sukin moisturiser with this oil. It is very lightweight and doesn't clog my pores. I've really enjoyed using it especially in the mornings under mineral makeup because it helps hydrate my skin. I did purchase another facial oil to use after this one so I look forward to seeing which one I prefer. I'll definitely update in my next post.
• Tea tree oil - I've been using this to spot treat any cystic acne I get and it works wonders but new pimples love to pop up so its a constant battle lol. 

Makeup

I have made the conscious effort to use more natural ingredient makeup on a daily basis. I have a natural/organic cosmetics series coming soon including reviews and favourites so I won't go into detail but I'll list a few i've been using.

• Lily Lolo Mineral Foundation spf 15
• Physician's Formula Organicwear CC Cream
• Scout Cosmetics Organic Healthy Glow Fluid Foundation

Here are some photos of where my skin is at lately + comparison from last skin diaries:

July (previous skin diaries) - Pictures were taken roughly a week or so before my period. Possibly closer to ovulation time which is always when my skin is at it's worst.

(These photos were taken indoors and the next images were taken outdoors in natural sunlight. Natural outdoor lighting does make my skin appear "clearer" whereas indoor lighting tends to make it look worse, so keep that in mind. I will try to remember to attach some indoor lighting photos again for a more accurate comparison.)

20th September - Taken a few days prior to my period (I forgot to take photos at ovulation time when my skin completely broke out). A couple of hormonal breakouts along jaw, cheek and temple although at this point mostly were starting to clear up.

6th October: my 11 day period finally ended and this is how my skin is looking.

In my next update I will discuss my diet in more detail, especially the changes I've made over the past two or so months. I just want to have an appointment with the nutritionist to get more advice so I have more to share with you all. Have a lovely day/night!

The last week of uni is over and now I just have two weeks of placement. I can finally get back into regular blogging!! 

This weeks post is a foundation review. Foundations are one of my favourite makeup products to try out because I feel like my skin is very difficult to work with, so when one works I know it's good! If you didn't know I have dry, acne prone, sensitive and scarred skin. I like my foundation to look natural but still cover well enough for me to feel confident. Does the SCOUT foundation live up to my standards? Read on to find out.

SCOUT Cosmetics claims the foundation to be soothing and moisturising with a light fragrance. It is perfect for all skin types and leaves skin fresh, radiant even toned.

Before jumping into the pro's and con's of the foundation I will include a few images I took on the day I wore it for 10+ hours.

Before and after of SCOUT Cosmetics Luminous Finish Foundation

Close up of SCOUT foundation

How I wear the foundation:

I apply the foundation with a brush to get more coverage and I do not use primer. To prep my skin I rely on whatever moisturiser I am using at the time. In the above photos I am not wearing a primer either.

You may notice that in the second image of just the foundation applied to my skin it doesn't cling well and leaves a weird patch. I have no idea why that happens but once I applied powder it fixed.

Pros

• Doesn't need to be set. Especially if you have dry skin it won't leave a weird sticky feeling so you can easily get away without applying any powder.
• Medium coverage and buildable.
• Doesn't settle into pores. Even without a primer it sits fairly nicely on my skin, despite my scars. If you do have deep pores or scars a pore filling primer can diffuse this.
• Lasts hours and hours. I can easily wear this all day long without worrying about it or touching up. This could be because I have a dryer skin type, but it isn't overly "luminous" (unlike the name claims) so I could see it working with oily skin too.
• Natural finish. Although it does get more "luminous" over time.
• Lightweight and undetectable.
• Organic/natural. A liquid foundation that is actually good for you!
• Doesn't crease in fine lines. Nor does it settle in my smile lines.
• Quite affordable for a natural foundation, similar to Mecca prices.

Cons

• Can ever so slightly cling to dry patches. This could be avoided by wearing a hydrating primer, I just don't bother on a regular basis.
• Sometimes sits funny/patchy on my skin but again that could just be my skin at the time or a lack of primer.
• Not a very luminous finish, its more natural matte in my opinion. It does get more of a glow the longer you wear it, like I mentioned above.

Overall I do really like this foundation. I feel comfortable wearing it on more of a daily basis because I know it isn't made from chemicals but still covers my skin. The only major downfall for me was that it can be patchy but when I tried it again with a primer this problem didn't occur. I'd definitely recommend this if you're after a new liquid foundation. 

Also, it doesn't claim anywhere that it has SPF and I didn't notice any major flashback, only slightly. For me this is more of a day time foundation, rather than night. You could also sheer out the coverage if you were to apply it with a sponge.

Disclaimer - This product was sent to me to test out for myself. The review was my idea and all opinions are 100% honest and based off my own experience. I only work with companies I would personally support or purchase from myself and generally use products for an extended period of time before writing a review. For more information click here - disclaimer