Staying positive | stylenua

Hey everyone,

Today’s post won’t be about clothes or hair or makeup or anything like that. Instead, I wanted to delve into something I feel is important to everyone, regardless of their interests or opinions. Positivity is something many people have in their lives so wholly that they don’t even acknowledge it fully. But for a large number of people, this natural positivity is difficult to maintain.  Getting stuck in a low mood can last for weeks, so making a conscious effort to deflect that low mood is a must to keep yourself sociable and productive. I was recently given some great advice about how to push through the low moods I experience and how to reflect on what I’m feeling during them, which I thought I’d share with you all.

Number one: fake it ‘til you make it. This phrase has been stretched so much that a lot of people are sick of hearing it, but I’ve always felt a strange comfort in it. There’s something weirdly effective about building a fake persona of confidence, and I know it sounds deceptive, but if you truly want to be at the level of confidence you show using this persona then I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it.

The next thing is pushing yourself. This applies to anyone, really. We should always be attempting to push ourselves beyond what we feel comfort in. For me, this means pushing myself to work on my blog, my youtube channel, my creative writing, learning languages, or even just being sociable. It’s so easy to just stay at home and not make plans with friends or sit watching the same tv show over and over again, but to really get the most out of life, new experiences and meeting new people are vital. This change doesn’t have to be grand and daring either, baby steps are also important so as not to overwhelm yourself.

Something more along the lines of my blog content is to dress up. My mother has always said, even if you feel rotten, put on something that will make you feel nice or fancy or sophisticated, even if all you’re doing is laundry or writing emails. Don’t spend your whole day in your pyjamas, get dressed up, put on makeup or perfume or style your hair, and you’ll at least feel like you look good.

The final piece of advice I received was to talk it out. Whether you talk to a friend, a family member, one of your mutuals on tumblr, your journal, or your pets, getting the emotions out of your head and into the air or on paper is so cathartic and can be really effective for taking some strain from your mind. Don’t be afraid to say that you’re feeling low either, there’s no shame in not feeling happy 24/7.

I hope that in sharing this advice, you can reach out to someone or be aware of how a loved one is feeling. However, if you or a loved one has prolonged feelings of low moods for extended periods of time, please contact a doctor or a depression hotline as you may need a professional opinion. Also, thank you to the wonderful people in my life who gave me this advice.

Much love,

Jess.

Book Haul | stylenua

Hey everyone,

It’s currently around halfway through the semester of uni for me, so I’ve just handed in all my assignments and I finally have time to read books for leisure again! Over the past few weeks I have been buying books for myself as incentive to keep working on assignments and I want to share these with you, and let you know what I’m looking forward to in reading them.

1. Anna and the French Kiss series
   Book one: Anna and the French Kiss
   Book two: Lola and the Boy Next Door

2. Everything I Never Told You
   (Thank you to my sister for buying this for me!)
   
   
3. Madame Bovary Second hand copies of books are my favourites. This cost me £1.50!
   
4. 
   The Mortal Instruments series
   I’m so late reading these books but I’m now halfway through and loving them.
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. How to be a Woman
   With a title like that, it’s no surprise I’m excited to read this book.
   
   
   
   
6. Reasons to Stay Alive
   This book has come highly recommended to me and it seems so down-to-earth
   that I look forward to reading it.
   
   
   

And that's all the books I've bought recently! Let me know what books you are reading/ want to read, and hopefully I have introduced some books you haven’t yet heard of.

Happy reading,

Jess.

twitter | facebook | instagram | pinterest

Back to blogging, back to uni | stylenua

Hey everyone, It’s been a while, hasn’t it? I feel as though I should have been blogging all the way through the summer because I technically have more time, but I ended up working so much that I hardly had time at all. Now that I’ve settled back into uni, though, I wanted to get back into blogging. I have a few nice posts planned for the next month or so, such as a desk series post and a chat about my personal style changes, etc., but I wanted to let you know that I haven’t forgotten about this little blog of mine! If you want to keep really up to date with me and what I’m loving, hating and talking about, then you can follow me on Instagram as I post there most often, or Twitter, where I sometimes post witty things but mostly fangirl or complain. Talk to you all very soon! Jess xx

July favourites | stylenua

Hey everyone,

I hope you’re having a great day. Since it’s the end of the month I thought I’d share with you what I’ve been loving throughout July.

C L O T H E S

Something I never thought I would wear was collared shirts. I hated them in school and I never thought they were particularly stylish until recently, and I have been wearing the ones I have as much as possible, as well as eyeing up more in various shops, such as asos and H&M. I just make sure I pair the shirt with something more casual so I don’t look too much like a business professional.

M A K E U P

Because I’ve been wearing minimal makeup recently, the only thing I’ve actually concentrated on is my eyebrows. And while I really need to get them threaded and tinted, I’ve been surviving with the Superdrug B. defined eyebrow kit. It’s my current favourite out of my entire makeup collections too.

H A I R

As some of you may have seen, I dyed my hair pink a few weeks ago. To get this pastel colour I used Bleach London’s hair colour in the big pink and diluted it with conditioner. The dye’s colour looked really alarming while it was on my hair but when I washed it out, it was a nice pastel shade that has of course faded even more from washing.

M U S I C

With the departure of Lin Manuel Miranda from the musical Hamilton, I’ve been listening to the original broadway cast soundtrack almost non stop. Aside from that, however, I have been getting back into some of The Smiths’ music. It’s wonderful for relaxed evenings.

B O O K S

I’m once again attempting to read The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, which I honestly want to finish but never seem to. I’ve also been reading Carol Ann Duffy’s The World’s Wife, which contains some of my new favourite poems. I highly recommend both.

That’s about everything I’ve been enjoying this month, which doesn’t seem like a lot but has certainly felt like a lot to me!

Much love,

Jess xx

My daily makeup | stylenua

Hey everyone,

So this morning before I went to work, I decided to film a little video of my daily makeup. I know I have done a video on my channel before for an everyday makeup routine, but it has changed quite a bit since then, mostly because I don’t like a lot of product on my skin and don’t like a high maintenance makeup routine.

The products I used in this look are:

• Maybelline Brow Drama in medium brown
• B. Defined eyebrow kit (Superdrug) in dark
• New York Colour 7” pencil liner in black
• Rimmel London Wonder’full argan oil mascara in black
• Wet n’ Wild Megaslicks Balm Stain in Caffeine Fix

I don’t use any foundation or concealer as my skin has been quite clear recently. However, if I have a breakout, I will usually use the Bare Minerals original foundation to cover it.

I hope you all have a wonderful day!

Much love,

Jess xx

Travel style tips | stylenua

Hey everyone,

Something I have experienced quite a lot is travelling, whether it be from one parent’s house to another, to visit friends in different towns, or to travel home from university. It can be extremely difficult to look stylish while carrying luggage or any bags to and fro.

The main thing I try to keep to is not bringing too much with me. I am a known over-packer, but I do try my best to only bring the bare minimum. If I have to bring a bigger suitcase or bag with me to fit what I want to bring, I will, but I usually try to only have a backpack and a handbag with me. If you are taking public transport to travel, like I do most of the time, then you may prefer a wheeled suitcase over a backpack, but both backpacks and suitcases can be found in beautiful designs from Penneys to TK Maxx to Urban Outfitters and beyond.

The next thing I’ve learned over a number of journeys is that layers are important but you don’t have to overcompensate. Of course you should bring a jacket or a raincoat if the weather isn’t clear, but be aware that the bus/ coach/ train you are travelling on may not have air conditioning or heating, depending on the weather. As I live in Ireland, the weather can be quite unpredictable but you can guarantee that rain is never far away. The majority of the year, we do experience colder weather too, so layers can be really helpful here. Just be sure not to wear too many unless you have room to store them away once you take them off. A blouse or t-shirt under a jumper or blazer is a perfect layering method for travelling, and if you’re still cold, you can always use a scarf to both change up your outfit and keep you warm.

There’s definitely something comforting about a pair of shoes you can walk all day in and not have sore feet. Flat or low-heeled shoes are by far the best for travelling because the journey will be stressful enough without pain in every step you take. My favourite shoes for travelling are my black ankle boots or any pair of runners/trainers I have, like my black Nike roshe ones. I sincerely applaud anyone who can wear heels while travelling long distances, as it’s something I’ve never been able to do. Comfort should always come first!

My last point is less to do with style, but more to do with what I keep in my handbag to be prepared for many situations while travelling. My must haves in case of emergency are: a tester tub from lush with a supply of their Dream Cream moisturiser, lip balm (I use The little Cherry Red tube from Superdrug), a handbag sized perfume like this one, headphones, chewing gum or mints, a little notebook, and my phone charger. You never know when you’ll need any of these, and if you want to guard against any possible wardrobe malfunctions, a packet of wipes and a sewing kit would come in very handy too.

I hope this has helped you in your travel style or travel organisation, it certainly helped mine. Until next time my friends,

Much love,

Jess | stylenua

Work tips + what I've learned from my job | stylenua

Hey everyone,

Today I wanted to talk about jobs and working. For many of you, this will be a familiar topic but for some, you're in your first job or looking for work. I'm currently in my first job, working in retail, and I wanted to share some things I have noticed and learned along the way.

The first thing is to act confident. You don't have to actually feel confident, just portray it to whoever you come in contact with at work. This is especially important in sales jobs and hospitality. You don't want people to try to take advantage of your shyness or lack of confidence in your work, so fake that confidence until it actually comes, which it will, with time.

Secondly, don't be afraid to ask questions. There is absolutely nothing wrong with asking someone in your workplace for help or advice, in fact it's much better than trying to manage yourself if you have difficulty with a task. The best way to improve in a job is to listen to colleagues' advice and learn from them. That said, though, another way to learn is to make mistakes. We all make them, because we are human, but as long as you only make a mistake once, there's nothing wrong with it.

The third thing I have learned is how to interact with the customers where I work. They are looking for a particular attitude and product and so I need to work with that and help them to get the most from my interaction with them. Whether you're working in a clothing store or a corner shop, your customers expect a certain type of sales assistant. The same goes for working in cafes or restaurants, your customer expects a certain type of interaction. It may take a while to figure it out, but when you do, it's worth it, as customers feel instantly more comfortable, which makes your job easier too.

And lastly, you may be working in a place where you're bored or unsatisfied, but try to do something in work every day that you can be proud of. A sense of accomplishment is the best thing to feel, especially after a long day's work. I'll leave you with a piece of advice given to me when I started working: never sit still, always find something to do, and you won't be bored.

Much love,

Jess | stylenua

twitter | facebook | tumblr | instagram | spotify

Updated skincare routine | stylenua

Hey everyone,

As you all know, I have had many issues with my skin in the past, but my acne is clearing up gradually at the moment and I would like to share with you the products I use on a daily and weekly basis. I have been using some of these products for a while now, and have only recently tried others but all seem to be working well with my skin. None of these products are high maintenance or extremely expensive either, because I haven’t the time or money for that.

As a cleanser, I go between two: the Lush ‘Angels on Bare Skin’ cleanser, and the Sukin oil-balancing gel cleanser with bamboo and charcoal. Both cleansers are brilliant for sensitive skin like mine, and I have had very little trouble with this Lush cleanser, compared to my experience with Lush’s ‘Herbalism’ cleanser which was too harsh on my skin. I try to use the gel cleanser as much as possible throughout the week, and always in the mornings. The Lush cleanser is better for night time cleansing as it gives a more exfoliating cleanse than the gel. I would usually use the Lush cleanser three nights a week, or two if my skin is feeling extra sensitive.

I don’t use a toner, but I do use a coconut water face mist from Organik Botanik. It has lavender extract in it, too, which I think is an important part of my skincare routine. I spray this on my face after cleansing just to hydrate my skin a little more.

I then follow with Superdrug’s vitamin E serum, which I have been using for months now. It doesn’t irritate my skin at all and doesn’t have a fragrance that’s too strong either. I use this morning and night, although I used to only use serum at night.

I then use Superdrug’s Simply Pure sensitive skin moisturiser, another product I’ve been using for a few months. I like this moisturiser as it’s light enough not to get greasy but can still keep my skin from tightening and getting dry.

Aside from these daily products I have been trying to use more face masks. I have the Superdrug Aloe Vera clay mask and various sheet masks which I use around once a week, and then I have gel under eye patches which I am trying to use twice a week.

I should also add that I haven’t been using any face makeup, no foundation, tinted moisturiser, bb cream, concealer, or powder. The only makeup I have been using is eyebrow powder and gel, eyeliner, mascara, and lip crayons. This has also helped my skin to clear up immensely. If you do want to continue wearing face makeup, however, make sure your products are in date and your brushes are clean, and always take off your makeup before you go to bed, no matter how late it is. Your skin will thank you!

Much love,

Jess, stylenua

facebook | twitter | tumblr | instagram | spotify

June favourites '16 | stylenua

Hey everyone,

It’s the beginning of a new month so I have decided to reflect on what I tried and loved during the month of June. I hope you find something of interest from this little collection of things, enjoy!

C L O T H E S

This month I wore a lot of t-shirts and jeans, so I practically lived in Penney’s/ Primark v-neck t-shirts from their ‘Cedarwood Estate’ line. My personal favourite colours are white, grey, black and pale blue. I also bought a new pair of ankle boots at the start of the month, and although they aren’t chelsea boots (my all time favourite), they are still brilliant and so reliable. Check out TK Maxx for some great prices on shoes at the moment.

M A K E U P

I haven’t worn a lot of makeup this month, as my skin is improving and I want to keep it clear. I did, however, buy a Wet ‘n Wild Megaslicks Balm Stain in the shade Caffeine Fix and later in the shade Red-dy or Not. I would highly recommend these lip stains, I constantly have one in my handbag and I haven’t used any of my lipsticks since buying them! They may not last as long as a longwear lipstick, but with a crayon shape and smooth formula, they are so much easier to apply.

H A I R

As some of you may know, my hair is bleached pretty much to the maximum and I have no intention of going back to my natural colour yet, so I have needed to keep my hair as soft and healthy as I possibly can. The good thing about the bleach I use is that I get a free hair mask with it, and that is the Bleach London Reincarnation mask that is included in the Bleach London Total Bleach kit. If you’re in need of a hair mask that smells good and leaves your hair as soft as you’ve ever felt it, then look no further than the reincarnation mask.

M U S I C

This month has been a month of listening to amazing albums, including Views by Drake, Dangerous Woman by Ariana Grande, and Lemonade by Beyonce. I’ve also been loving Spotify’s pop playlists and chart lists as I put them on at work and the upbeat vein of the current charting songs makes for a more positive day at work, too!

B O O K S

I’ve recently discovered the brilliance of the Kindle app on Android, and have been buying books on it to read as I travel or spend long periods of time away from my bookshelf. My recommendation for a good series on Kindle is the All For The Game series by Nora Sakavic, starting with The Foxhole Court, which you can get free on the Kindle store. And if you enjoy the first book, the second and third are only 99p each.

That’s everything I’ve been loving during the month of June, I hope you enjoyed today’s post and leave me a comment with your favourite thing from June!

Much love,

Jess | stylenua

facebook | twitter | tumblr | instagram | spotify

Top five eczema/ psoriasis/ dry skin tips | stylenua

Hey everyone,

I’m sure most of you know that I have, for most of my life, had eczema. Scientifically, it’s known as atopic dermatitis, but I personally refer to it as a pain in the ass. In saying that, however, I have discovered some ways to calm down my eczema that have proven very effective (I have it on my hands, I need something that works). These tips may also help with psoriasis, and could help if you develop a rash or extremely dry skin but you may not need to use them to the same extent.

1. Emollients are your friend, like, your best friend - This stuff is better than any whole body moisturiser you will ever use.I had already had eczema for years before I started using emollients, and I don’t know how I survived until that moment. Having used one prescription cream after another, I wanted something gentle but effective and I got just that. I first used a brand called Epaderm, and I now use a brand called Elave, but both are wonderful. But just a disclaimer, there is a particular smell that emollient creams give off that isn’t necessarily unpleasant, but won’t smell like your favourite strawberries and cream moisturiser.
2. Don’t shower every day - or wash your hands an excess amount, either. I know it sounds gross and you could never imagine not showering every day but look, your skin gets dried out with all the water it comes into contact with, and for someone with eczema, this is twice as bad as we cannot retain moisture in our skin. If you can’t bear the thought of not showering every day, though, make sure you are moisturising properly and showering at a mild temperature, as water that is too hot can dry out the skin even more.
3. Too much coffee, alcohol or fizzy drinks makes for a rough time - unfortunately, some of the best things in life come with a price, and these drinks are included in that for people with eczema. Coffee naturally dehydrates, and so do alcohol and fizzy drinks, so your skin is not being hydrated from the inside, and cannot hydrate itself by retaining moisture. That means you’re going to have a flare up that will be pretty painful and won’t die down until you are re-hydrated naturally. In terms of keeping on top of flare ups, everything in moderation. Don’t feel like you have to cut these things out of your life, but go easy on them if you don’t want horrible, itchy patches popping up. And this leads me to my next tip,
4. Drink lots of water - but not too much either. The best thing I ever did was download a water tracking app. I set myself a daily amount and tried to hit as close as possible to that, which kept my eczema pretty calm and also helped my acne and how tired I was feeling. Don’t underestimate water, it’s pretty damn powerful.
5. Don’t be afraid to try natural remedies - I personally hated all the creams given to me by doctors, so much so that I stopped using them entirely and started researching natural aids for eczema. Some worked well, some didn’t, but at least I knew what I was putting on my skin wasn’t a weird combination of chemicals. My natural recommendations are aloe vera, coconut oil and bee propolis. If you’re trying to use natural products to clear up eczema, I suggest doing lots of reading, experimenting on your skin (expect to react badly, you don’t know what your skin likes until you try everything), and if all else fails on the extremely natural route, try Lush’s Dream Cream, my skin’s second favourite after aloe vera.

I hope that this helps some of you who may be suffering at the moment, especially during the summer months when the air gets warmer. Just remember not to scratch!

Much love,

Jess | stylenua

facebook | twitter | tumblr | instagram | spotify

TV Shows to binge-watch this summer | stylenua

Hey everyone,

I know it’s been a while, but I hope things are well with every one of you. As it’s already summer for most, and just the beginning of summer for some, I thought I’d provide you with some new and popular TV shows to binge watch during the summer break. Some of these are my personal favourite shows, and others have come highly recommended from friends.

1. Mr. Robot - this show by Amazon has blown me away with its quality of acting, writing and overall power. Following the life of a cyber-security engineer who is recruited to join a group of hacktivists who want to take down a major corporation, this show has gone to places I never expected it to and has provided an incredible story arc in its first season. It has been renewed for a second season, and is available to stream on Amazon. Perfect if you like: Fight Club, A Clockwork Orange, Blade Runner, American Psycho.
2. Sense8 - Netflix aired this science-fiction show in June of 2015. Created and directed by the Wachowski’s, directors of The Matrix, the show centres around eight people from various places around the world, and from various backgrounds, sexualities and religions who are all connected, and the reasons and dangers behind that connection. It has also been renewed for a second season and season one is currently streaming on Netflix. Perfect if you like: The Matrix, Orphan Black, Marvel’s Jessica Jones, Heroes, Lucy.
3. Orphan Black - if you haven’t already heard about this amazing show with an Emmy award nominated lead actress, then I’m about to brighten up your life. This thrilling show throws you right into the action of a young woman who discovers she is a clone and she, along with her fellow clones, is being hunted. This four seasons strong show has made me laugh, cry, shout, and question capitalist corporations all while being empowering to women, lgbt people, and keeping all of its fans on their toes. Perfect if you like: Lost Girl, The 100, Never Let Me Go, Penny Dreadful, How To Get Away With Murder.
4. Orange is the New Black - many -people know and love this Netflix show that released its fourth season on June 17th last, but if you have yet to succumb to the pressure of watching it, now would be a great time to give in (mostly because there are so many spoilers on the internet upon the release of the new season). This show is described as comedy-drama, and while the central focus is on main character Piper Chapman’s adjustment to life in a women’s prison, you will soon find yourself more involved in the lives of all the supporting characters, including Pennsatucky, Suzanne ‘crazy eyes’, Sophia, Red, Nicki, and Daya and Aleida Diaz. Perfect if you like: Scandal, Prison Break, Girls, The L Word, Weeds.
5. Wynonna Earp - this is the one tv show I have not watched from this list, but it is on my own binge watch list. Only released in early 2016, this Canadian TV show has gained a cult following and follows the main character Wynonna Earp as she, her sister and their friend battle to repeat history in her hometown, against supernatural criminals called Revenants. Full of action, emotion and good writing, this series looks like it will go far. Perfect if you like: Supernatural, The Vampire Diaries, Penny Dreadful, Person of Interest, Being Human.

Hopefully you’ll find at least one of these shows to fulfill your binge-watch cravings. I will definitely be glued to my laptop screen watching and rewatching all of these shows for my entire summer break! Let me know what you think of any of these shows or if you have any other recommendations,

Much love,

Jess | stylenua

facebook | twitter | tumblr | instagram | spotify