Thinking of Quitting The Cigarettes In 2017? Here's 6 Ways Smoking Can Ruin Your Looks


Although I think fewer people in my generation do it (perhaps because the health risks were drilled into us from birth), a whopping 19% of adults in the UK still smoke. That's 1 in 5 people puffing on cigarettes despite their repercussions being common knowledge. Although this figure seems surprising, it's actually a step in the right direction; the number of adults who smoke in the UK has halved since 1974, perhaps encouraged by health campaigns and numerous smoking bans. Still, the highly addictive nicotine which can be found in cigarettes keeps people coming back to them, despite being aware of the damage they can do to your health. If you're thinking of giving up cigarettes as part of your New Year's resolution, perhaps the longer-term impact that smoking can have on your health and beauty is something to consider...




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The Best Savoury Snack: Cheddar and Bacon Pastry Straws


I have always posted a lot of recipes on this site; most of them sharing my love for baking. Cakes, brownies, biscuits and desserts...they all reflect my sweet-tooth! Apart from a couple of Slimming World recipes, I have never shared any savoury snacks on my blog. Well, this is about to change! This cheesy bacon recipe is just absolute heaven; a concoction by Lorraine Pascale who is my baking idol (sorry, Mary Berry!). My mum used to make these when I lived at home and we all used to go crazy over them- these pastry snacks are so addictive and moreish (although not so good for the waistline I must admit!). Ready to eat in about an hour, these are a fab, quick snack idea if you are having 'party food' dinners over Christmas; you can boast about how you made them yourself and the flavours will win over your guests! I have made a few tweaks to the recipe which you will find below or you can check out the original recipe here.




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Setting Trichotillomania Goals: Does It Work?


I've been there far too many times; pulling out all of my eyelashes in a splurge and then promising myself I won't do it again, setting an upcoming special occasion as a target to have all of my eyelashes back for. And more times than not, I let myself down again. We all set goals in life; whether it's career goals or more personal ones, having something set in our minds to work towards drives us forward and supposedly motivates us in achieving whatever it is that we want to achieve. With trichotillomania, this would work in theory. But after over a decade of continually setting myself targets only for me to 'fail myself', I have to ask, is it worth it? Should we keep setting these goals for ourselves, or is it only adding to the pressure and making the situation worse?





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Shop Savvy: Best Ways To Try New Make-Up On A Budget


For the past few years, I have continuously wrestled with my passion for beauty and being stuck on a student budget. As (I'm sure) many of you have experienced, my eye for new lipsticks says 'yes' but my bank balance always hits back with a resounding 'NO'. Sometimes, of course, you have to give in and "treat yo'self", but this isn't something I can get away with doing very often. As the festive season dawns upon us and most of our pay packets are getting frittered away on Christmas gifts (when it could be being used to buy the latest MAC collection), it might be worth checking out these thrifty ways you can get your guilt-free beauty fix without having to splash out too much cash.






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False Eyelashes For Trichotillomania: Favourites, Application & Top Tips


Since I started openly writing about trichotillomania on here, one of the most frequent questions I get asked is how to apply false lashes to bald lids. So many of you fellow trich sufferers want to know how to cover up evidence of baldness around the eye area but struggle to get the perfect eyeliner technique or to get those pesky falsies to stay. Now, I'm not an expert by any means (I'm constantly picking up new ideas and advice from other beauty bloggers and hair loss sufferers) but, having had the disorder for 19 years, have had quite a long time to experiment with the best make-up tricks to cover up those gaps. My go-to disguise is a natural set of false eyelashes, but how do you get them to stay with no hairs underneath? Well, here are my top tips...




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Christmas Is Coming! Insanely Cute Beauty Stocking Filler Ideas For Under £15


It's the first day of December! Christmas is now officially upon us as we open the first window of our advent calendars and start putting up our Christmas trees. If you haven't done so already, it's time to turn your attention to Christmas shopping. Whether you are buying for family, friends or within a Secret Santa set-up, we all know that when you end up doing the maths, we always spend far too much on presents. This year, I have decided to move house just before Christmas, meaning that all of my present-buying budget has gone into a deposit- YAY! As a result, this Christmas is going to be 'toned-done' (as much as I can), so this post serves as a way to show that you can get incredibly cute Christmas gifts on a budget.




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Recipe: Delicious (And Healthy) Banana Bread


According to science, your tastebuds change and regenerate every 7 years. I used to hate banana flavoured things, turning my nose up at the thought of banana muffins and the like. However, my taste has recently changed and I've started experimenting with different recipes for banana bread, having suddenly realised how amazing it is. Taking after my Dad, a nice loaf of banana bread has quickly climbed the ranks of my favourite bake. There's nothing better than cutting a slice whilst it's still warm from the oven and slathering some butter across it. Butter, sugar and more butter is how it usually goes. However, when you're trying to watch what you eat, this isn't necessarily the best option. I wanted the same comforting indulgence of banana bread without having the guilty feeling afterwards, so concocted this healthier alternative. Although it's still 230 calories per serving, it contains ingredients that are generally better for you whilst still retaining that sweet taste.





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My Current Winter Handbag Essentials


I've never really done the whole 'monthly empties' or 'handbag must-haves' before on this blog, but that's usually because nothing tends to change that frequently in my routine. I have an army of trusted products that I always have to hand which may change, say, every season. Although light face mists and boring-but-necessary deodorants sit in my handbag during summer, when the colder months come swooping in my beauty routine does get a bit of a shake-up. Although the core perfumes and balms remain, a few products get adapted to my skin's winter needs. Heavy duty lip saviours and products that keep my skin hydrated help banish the dryness which can often seep in during chillier times, so as my handbag products get their seasonal shake-up, I thought I'd share what I'm turning to on a daily basis. 




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Budget-But-Brilliant Alternatives to Beauty Advent Calendars


As we creep towards the end of November, the Christmas music is already playing in stores, present-buying is underway and people are starting to snap up their advent calendars ahead of the 1st December. Beauty advent calendars seem to be bigger than ever this year, with seemingly every brand under the sun launching their own windowed treats for you to indulge yourself in. Whilst technically you do end up 'saving money' due to the amount of products inside, with most calendars starting at £40 (minimum!), it does seem like an extortionate price for sample-sized products- half of which we probably won't use/ don't want. What happened to the good old few quid choccie ones, eh?! If your budget can't quite stretch to these calendars, here are a few options which will give you a bit of indulgence each day of December whilst saving a few pennies to spend on Christmas gifts.




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Seven Seas Perfect Seven: Can Taking Supplements Really Make Your Hair Grow Faster?


After a lengthy 19 year battle with trichotillomania, I am convinced that I have permanently damaged my hair. The lashes and eyebrows that now eventually grow through are weak, brittle and fall out so easily. Dermotillomania has made my nails flimsy and thin- causing them to break as soon as they get past a certain length- and scabbing and scarring around my cuticles is a regular sight. Throughout these years, I've experimented with so many different treatments to help ease these symptoms; eyelash and eyebrow serums, nail strengthening formulas, intensely nourishing creams and even using beauty products to act as a barrier whilst my hair and nails try to grow. One thing I haven't turned to in all this time is supplements. Seven Seas' range of vitamins claim to help these symptoms from the inside, so for the first time, I'm going to be putting them to the test.




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3 Relaxing Oils To Pop In Your Bath This Winter


Now that I have a non-student flat to live in, I am definitely taking advantage of being able to use a (nice, clean) bath. It's something I have missed dearly since starting university; having long, de-stressing baths were something that would be a 'treat' whenever I popped home to visit family instead! As the colder nights draw in and people start getting snuffly with illness, running a nice hot bath can be an amazing way to sooth the flu aches and help you unwind in the evening. Although bath bombs can be a fun addition, I have recently been using a few drops of these lovely bath oils alongside some basic bubble bath (I can't have a bath without bubbles!). The added aromatherapy element has been proven to not only please your nostrils but the oils help to nourish your skin and ameliorate your mental well-being through ultimate relaxation. If this isn't a reason to start using some aromatherapy oils in your bath, I don't know what is! Here are a few of my favourites to suit your different needs...




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Step Away From The Screen! Easing Tired Eyes With Optrex Warming Eye Masks


Our jobs, hobbies and down-time; there’s usually one thing that links all of these nowadays and that is looking at some form of screen. I know that staring at a computer screen all day for my job, blogging on my laptop when I get in and then watching a bit of TV for relaxation is really taking its toll on my eyes. It’s incredible to think just how important screen-based technology is to us nowadays- we are permanently glued to our smartphones in an attempt to be constantly connected. Strain on your eyes and headaches come as an unfortunate side effect, but Optrex have launched these specialised warming eye masks to not only relieve tired eyes, but provide you with ten minutes of relaxation away from your most-loved device.




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6 Simple Ways To Boost Your Confidence


Confidence is something I have never had much of. Being naturally quite shy, coupled with my experience of trichotillomania, meant that I have always done everything I can to deflect any attention away from myself. However, with time, my confidence has grown so much. University brought me out of my shell and my acceptance of my hair loss has taught me to not feel as self-conscious of how I look. Although for some it comes with time and age, there are some smaller day-to-day things I do that help boost my confidence just a little; enough to give that feel-good, sassy, I-can-take-on-the-world feeling.





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TINT LDN Celebrates Best Single Friends For Life Day: WIN A Teeth Whitening Set For You AND Your Bestie!


We are all familiar with 14th February- a day infamously dedicated to the celebration of love, romance and couples. But one day that you may not be aware of is National Singles Day- a Chinese phenomenon that will be celebrating its 8th year on 11th November. Teeth whitening maestros, TINT LDN, are fully embracing this championing of singledom by throwing their own BSFFL day (that's Best Single Friends For Life) on the 11th of this month. As such, I've got two of their teeth whitening sets to give away for you to try out along with your bestie to make the day even sweeter!





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Ancient Egyptian Skincare: L'Or Des Pharaons' Innovative GOLD Anti-Aging Face Mist


All you have to do is browse online or peruse your local Boots to find that anti-aging products are two-a-penny. It's one of the most in-demand elements of the beauty industry, with innovative products being churned out and released faster than I can chomp down a bar of Milka (OK, maybe not that fast). Dutch brand The Health Factory have created a face mist with a surprising ingredient; gold. It may sound luxurious, but this added element actually has incredibly skin care functions that even Ancient Egyptians reaped the benefits of. Taking heed from the Pharaoh's use of the precious metal, the brand have created this face mist using a combination of modern technology and ancient wisdom. As a beauty enthusiast and ex-history student, this is right up my street!




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My Favourite Gentle Eye Make-up Removers (That Are Great For Trichotillomania Sufferers)


Pulling your own hair out sucks. What sucks even more is the horrible red, sore irritation you feel around your eyes after a spree and, well, just generally. Constantly picking around your eyelid and leaving your eyes exposed isn't the best for your eye health, leaving your peepers open to infections, soreness and getting things in your eye (which can often scratch and irritate further!). With our eyes already being delicate organs, this added strain means that we need to take extra good care of them. Wearing eye make-up can often be a great way of covering damage and boosting confidence, but when it gets to the end of the day, the products you use to remove the beauty products are ever-more important. Here are a few of my favourite, gentle eye make-up removers that I have found amazing at wiping away the eyeliner whilst minimising irritation on sensitive eyes.





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Fuss-Free Nails: KISS ImPress Press-On Manicure


Recently, a (what I think was slightly dodgy) gel manicure completely damaged my nails. On top of my permanent dermatillomania damage, this beauty treatment left my nails dry, damaged and literally crumbling. I've never had it before when my nails split right down the middle- and I'm not talking just the tip! My thumb nails have been agony recently where pretty much half the nail has come off (GROSS ALERT) and whilst I have let them to heal naturally for a little while, I really want a quick-fix in covering up the ugly mess that has been left. When they grew back to a very short but normal length, I gave these KISS Press-On nails a whirl to help make my hands look pretty once again.



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Choc On Choc: The Ultimate Personalised Gift Destination For Chocolate Lovers


When it comes to finding the perfect edible gift, my only two real options have only ever been baking or Thorntons personalised chocolates. I can remember first discovering popping into the local Thorntons shop in High Wycombe and finding out that you can personalise your chocolate gifts. The icing writing on chocolate figurines or blocks was the pinnacle of personalised gift shopping, but after years of it being around (and the chocolate not even tasting that great), I think it's time that some alternative gift inspiration came to light. Whilst looking for presents for my chocolate-loving boyfriend, I came across Choc On Choc; a chocolatier website that offers personal gifts with a unique twist.




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A First Glimpse: The Body Shop's NEW Christmas Range


It feels very strange writing this post in October, but seeing as most brands showcase their Christmas launches in the middle of summer, I guess this post isn't quite as early as it could have been! As many of you may have noticed, Halloween and Bonfire Night haven't even passed yet and the Christmas cards are already being stocked in stores! In fact, I think they've been out for at least the past month or so...doesn't it seem to come around faster each year?! Although festive gifts may be the last thing on your list at the moment, if you're anything like me, you might be starting to plan and budget for this year's Christmas presents. Each year, the Body Shop infamously bring out a new range of festive scents to accompany their regular favourites, along with cute gift-sized samples and box-wrapped sets to give to loved ones. As the 25th December creeps back around, here is a first glimpse at what the Body Shop have to offer this year.




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REVIEW: Kimberley Walsh False Eyelashes For Eylure


Having suffered from trichotillomania for nearly all of my life, I have had my fair share of encounters with false lashes. Since I started wearing make-up, I've flirted with many a different brand and tried out more styles than I would care to admit. Initially, they may be a faff to apply, but once you get the knack they can be the perfect cover-up for hair loss. The sense of joy when you find that perfect pair which makes you look like you actually have lashes is incredible. When Kimberley Walsh announced that she was releasing a new style with false lash giants Eylure, I was so excited to see what it would be like. After getting a preview glimpse on Instagram, I knew they would be amazing for trichotillomania.




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BFRB Awareness Week: What Does It Actually Mean?


In support of BFRB awareness week, I thought I'd go into the more medical side of things for once and give an insight into the category in which trichotillomania is placed. BFRB stands for 'body-focused repetitive behaviours' and broadly covers all disorders which display these characteristics. Rather than mild habits or 'tics' (such as picking your nails every now and then), these disorders focus on touching the body and/or hair in ways which are incredibly damaging; they have more extreme consequences than the mannerisms which people are most used to seeing. Rather than just being habits, there is a deeply complex emotional root in these BFRBs which needs treating in some way. The emotional trauma and physical damage these disorders can cause make them something dangerous to undermine and hurtful to minimise the severity of.
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Why Soap & Glory's Archery Pencil Is The Best Brow Product For Trichotillomania


I have quite a collection of brow products. Since I started pulling my eyebrows out, aged around 16/17, I have been looking for ways to cover the baldness up. As you can imagine, this includes the purchase of many a brow product in hope that it does the job and masks my disorder as well as it possibly can. Although I had my eyebrows tattooed in January this year (you can read about my life-changing experience with Sian Dellar here), my pulling has caused the semi-permanent make-up to fade quite quickly and as a result I need a little bit of extra help from brow products. Whilst I have had flings with other brow pencils and powders, Soap & Glory's Archery brow pencil has remained at number 1 position in my 'brow charts'. Here's why...





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Blossoming Gifts: The Inexpensive, High Quality Flower Delivery Service I've Been Waiting For


I have always been incredibly close to my Mum and Nan. When I moved away from home to sunny Brighton four years ago, I really missed them. I missed being able to see them whenever I wanted, and I missed being able to treat them to little gifts every now and then. When you live away from home, picking up little presents is fine until you realise the cost of postage is probably more than the gift's worth, and ordering bouquets online seem extortionate if you're used to picking up a bunch from the local florist on the way to visiting family. Treats like these become limited and only reserved for birthdays when (as a student) I could only afford to 'splash out' a bit; it becomes very expensive to send a little present 'just because'. When Blossoming Gifts got in touch, I thought they were going to be another one of these flower delivery services who charge £40+ to deliver a bouquet to your loved ones. A quick browse on their site told me I was so wrong; I think I've just found the online florists I've been waiting for all this time.



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Timeless Scent, Organic Formula: Meet Dr Botanical's New Moroccan Rose Range


Whether you love it or hate it, there's no doubting that rose is a classic fragrance. Conjuring images of romance, elegance and quintessential English-ness, rose is one of those scents that can be both delicate and overpowering if not used sparingly. There's a good reason this flower has been used for centuries within fragrance; not only does the scent of roses awaken those feminine, minimalist sentiments, but the ingredient itself bears highly potent benefits for skincare. It seems as though many brands are capitalising on the benefits of Moroccan Rose at the moment, and Dr Botanicals is one to join the club. Their new Moroccan Rose range combines this classic, simple ingredient with a passion for cruelty-free and organic skincare. Sounds like a winner in my books!





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My Personal Experiences With Therapy For Trichotillomania


Although I've written about different therapies which are available to help trichotillomania, I thought this post would give a (hopefully) useful insight into my personal experiences with them; which ones worked, which parts of each therapy I liked, and which ones were just plain rubbish. If you don't through the NHS (most therapies have to be paid for privately), exploring your options can get quite pricey; I hope this post can help point any sufferers in the right direction or at least help making therapy-based decisions a little clearer before jumping into something. These aren't necessarily a cure (there is no known cure for the disorder), but they can help make life that little bit easier and strengthen your ability to reflect upon the disorder, your behaviour and how you manage life with trichotillomania.





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Choose Your Side: Pamper Beauty Routine vs Efficient Skin-care



It’s a fact of life: people are busier and our days appear to be getting shorter than ever before. Do you ever get that feeling that all you ever do is wake up, work, eat, sleep and repeat?  As modern lives become increasingly jam-packed with globalised work opportunities and inter-connected down-time through social media, it seems that no-one ever switches off. With city pollution levels, tiredness and stress inevitably having an impact on our skin and general well-being, our ‘on-the-go’ lifestyles seem to have split the beauty world in two. One option is the take a moment in the evening to pause and use a refined skin-care routine as an excuse for a pamper. The other is to make skin-care as efficient and fuss-free as possible, aided by innovative products such as Hellenia’s ProDerma powders. 




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A Great Budget Buy: Maybelline 'The Blushed Nudes' Eyeshadow Palette


I've never really been one for experimenting with eyeshadow. In fact, I very rarely wear it. Others rave about the latest Urban Decay palette, whilst I'd rather fan-girl over false lashes or an incredible cleansing balm. Eyeshadow has just never been my thing. I bought this Maybelline 'The Blushed Nudes' palette as part of an offer in Superdrug (I had bought one thing and would get this half price), so thought 'why not?'. I thought it'd be another neutral palette that I didn't need, but it's turned out to be one of my favourites that I am now turning to almost daily. How about that for a turn-around?!





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Healthy Brownie Recipe (Satisfy Those Sweet Cravings!)


If there's one thing this site definitely isn't lacking, it's brownie recipes. They are hands down my favourite thing to bake. Big cakes are wonderful and flashy for special occasions, but when it comes to having easy baked goods at hand for a snack-sized treat, in my opinion, brownies are the best at satisfying those cravings. The down side is that they aren't exactly the healthiest snack to grab when you're feeling peckish. For the past month or so, I've been experimenting with different brownie recipes (mainly with added protein for my gym-loving boyfriend), but this recipe is probably the best that I've tried so far. I think they're probably as healthy as brownies are going to get, and are filled with good ingredients.




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Short Eyelashes? Sample-Sized Mascaras Could Be The Answer


Losing my eyelashes and eyebrows to trichotillomania at the age of 3 years old has meant that I don't know what it's like to apply make-up with lashes and brows; using beauty products to cover up the damage is all I've ever known. Therefore, I want to share any random tips and tricks I've learnt in my 7 or so years of applying make-up, in hope that it will not only help someone else, but also create an open space for other hair loss sufferers to share their nuggets of wisdom. Of course, today's post doesn't strictly apply to hair loss- many people naturally have short, stubby lashes. One thing I've found which helps loads in making the most of these little hairs is using a sample-sized mascara. Here's why...




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Pamper Time! 3 Versatile Face Masks For All Your Skin-Care Needs


Since I was little, I've always associated face masks with the small pouches you can get in Boots and Superdrug. They were affordable and accessible and pretty much made up the bulk of my face mask repertoire. Fast forward a decade and I've now got quite the collection of face masks, using it as an excuse for a mid-week, post-work pamper to help me unwind and de-stress before going to bed. I now see face masks as not only having a practical use in providing targeted and concentrated skincare, but also as benefiting your mental state too. From texture, scent, ingredients and effect, these three more upmarket face masks are some of my favourites to incorporate into my skincare routine.




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New Lancome Grandiose Eyeliner: Interesting Concept But Probably Not Worth The Money


When it comes to high-end beauty, I usually take a lot of time to research and deliberate over the numerous fancy products on offer. Being a student and never having tons of (if any at all) disposable income has meant that I usually turn to the high-street for any impulse beauty buys and indulgent latest-trend splurges. Although I have bought a few high-end items that I've come to view as 'holy grail' products (most of them Clarins), I carefully pondered over the spend for a while, despite them being courtesy of a birthday gift voucher and not even my 'hard earned cash', so to speak. I'm overly cautious, but after being recommended the new Lancome Grandiose Eyeliner, I gave in to my usual wary purchasing habits and used left-over vouchers to treat myself to this innovative new launch. I wanted to love this- I really did-, but unfortunately it's one of those products that has left me feeling a bit 'meh'.




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The Ultimate Spot-Buster: Skyn Iceland Anti-Blemish Gel


Don't I just love to cover the most glamourous topics on this site: first hair loss and now spots! Regardless of the ideas of 'beauty' which surround them, for most, spots are just one of those every day realities which we all suffer from. We may not like them, but that won't stop them springing up the night before an occasion! Although since my teenage years I've been using the same old tried-and-tested tea tree spot gel that my mum uses, after using this Skyn anti-blemish gel my old favourite seems incredibly slow and almost useless at reducing the size of those nasty pimples. You may not swoon at how pretty your purchase is, but this spot-buster will be the most useful and efficient beauty product you'll buy in a long time.




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What It Feels Like To Pull Your Own Hair Out


This title might be shocking to some of you, but to others, it's a totally normal part of everyday life. Those with trichotillomania suffer with compulsive urges to pull their own hair out. Each sufferer has their own trigger, routine, their own story. Each person suffers in a different way, but there are general trends which we all have in common. One of these is the feeling that pulling out our own hair leaves us with. This post will hopefully clear things up to those who do not have the disorder or do not know much about it, whilst offering a little bit of familiar comfort to those who do. So, here's what it actually feels like, from someone who's been doing it for nineteen years!




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Bye to Dry Hair! Reasons Why You Should Be Using A Hair Oil


If there's one thing you might think you shouldn't be slathering onto your mane, it's oils. We are often quick to associate oils with greasiness; thick formulas that'll leave you looking like you haven't washed your hair in weeks. But this is far from the case. Hair oils are often packed full of vitamins and fatty acids which can do the world of good for your barnet. Since bleaching my hair back in January as part of an ombre/balayage look, my hair has suffered the consequences. We are always told to keep you hair nourished by using regular hair masks, and this is all well and true. What we are rarely told is that using an oil can not only boost that hydration and protect damage hair, but that certain oils can also boost hair growth.



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A Budget-Yet-Beautiful Holiday At The Malpas Hotel In Northern Cyprus


Holidays can be expensive. I for one am incredibly fussy when it comes to hotels, others are picky about location. Not only does finding the perfect holiday become an endless chore of scouring dozens of holiday websites to compare deals and conduct research, but as you narrow down what you want from your break, the price can often start to hike up and fall out of your budget. Eventually, we found our perfect budget holiday with Cyprus Paradise through a site called Travel Zoo (a great place to find some amazing deals...you just have to do a lot of sifting!). As the name suggests, we ended up spending one beautiful half-board week in the relaxing Malpas Hotel, situated in Kyrenia, North Cyprus...and all for £350 each!




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Chocolate Cheesecake Cupcakes Recipe (From Hanny's Bakery)


I haven't posted a recipe in a while, but, trust me, this one is totally worth the wait. Technically, it isn't a recipe of my own, rather that of my wonderful baker friend, Hannah. Hannah and I started our friendship at work and we quickly bonded over our love of cake (amongst other things). As you know, I love baking, but Hannah is next level. Her creations are utterly stunning; her attention to detail whilst baking and decorating is second to none, and a skill which I can only dream of ever having! She's so good, my manager asked her to make her wedding cake for her! The highlights of our working day were always made by Han bringing her latest baking concoction into the staff room; from strawberry daquiri cupcakes to gooey brownies, each bake never fails to wow us. When I left this workplace a month or so ago, Hannah kindly baked me these chocolate cheesecake cupcakes as a leaving gift. A mixture of the Hummingbird Bakery 'black bottom cheesecake cupcakes' recipe and Hannah's own adaptions, this recipe is perfect for any sweet-toothed chocolate lovers! I think the name and photos speak for themselves really!




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Lacking In The Lash Department? These Kiy-oshi Serums Will Be A Lifesaver (Plus WIN A Pair To Try For Yourself!)


If there's one thing I always recommend to anyone who talks to me about trichotillomania or hair-loss in general, it's a good eyelash serum. Once a little-known beauty product, these conditioning serums are starting to get a lot more accessible. Whether you are urging your lashes to grow back through faster, or just trying to reinforce your existing lashes after mascara or false-lash damage, conditioning your lashes is just as important as conditioning the hair on your head or applying moisturiser to your skin. Your eyelashes and eyebrows aren't exempt from the same potential damage, and investing in a good serum such as this Kiy-oshi duo is a great way to ensure you keep your lashes looking their best.





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Hidden Gem: A Purse-Friendly Pamper At The Shed, Hove


When I saw a review of The Shed on Facebook, I instantly knew I had to book an appointment there. We all know the importance of taking some time out, but often spas and beauty treatments can be a bit on the pricey side. I might dream of having a lovely manicure, but my budget tells me to stay at home with a cup of tea and paint my nails myself. I had never heard of The Shed before stumbling across it online, but after a bit of research and seeing how amazing their prices were, I realised this could be a game-changer in my pamper-time. With treatments as cheap as £10, this little hidden gem is somewhere you MUST check out if you're in or around Brighton.





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Hever Castle: A Fun, Historical Summer Day Trip


Despite having graduated from my history degree last year, my fascination with the people of the past will never leave me. Thinking about what the folk back then wore, what their day to day lives were, how they felt and where they had walked sparked something in my imagination that I have always held on to; throughout my childhood, I've always been obsessed with history. It's a huge passion of mine, and so can think of nothing better than spending my spare time on historical excursions. It could be some people's idea of hell but, for me, wandering around the grounds of a majestic castle picturing the people who worked and lived there feeds my desire to learn and indulges my imagination. Recently, Stewart (my boyfriend) and I visited Hever Castle in Edenbridge, Kent. As an end of exams treat, we picked this location as a place that would offer us plenty to do, beautiful things to see, and infinite things to learn. Turns out, it's a great summer day out for people of all ages!



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Primark False Nails: Great Quality For A Quid


Since I was introduced to Elegant Touch nails by one of my friends, my obsession with false nails has somewhat been sparked. As I've mentioned recently, the product which has a reputation of damaging your nails has actually helped to cover up some self-induced dermotillomania damage and boost my confidence in the process. I'm very self conscious about my nails and cuticles, having compulsively picked at them for ages without thinking about the consequences (you can roughly see my odd thumb nail shape in the photos below). False nails have become a life-saver in disguising this, but I can't keep forking out for fancier branded nails. As a lover of cheap-and-cheerful Primark, I thought I'd try out there huge range of false nails to see what you really get for the £1 cost.




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Why Having My Eyebrows Tattooed Has Made My Trichotillomania Worse


You might know that earlier this year, I was lucky enough to have my eyebrows tattooed by the wonderful Sian Deller. It was one of the best beauty experiences of my life (if not the best), and have not regretted it since. After deliberating for ages and weighing up the pros and cons about a thousand times, the opportunity presented itself in January and I took the plunge. I haven’t looked back. Although I love every single thing about them, I did want to write this post just to open the discussion with other trichotillomania sufferers who have had their eyebrows tattooed or are thinking about getting them done. Since having them tattooed, my hair pulling has been severely aggravated. I pick and pull at my eyebrows so much more than I did before and am aware that it has happened to a few other trichsters as well. So, is it still worth getting your eyebrows tattooed?




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Blend Better! Pamper Therapy's Innovative Beauty Sponge That Rivals The Classics


You only have to watch a few beauty tutorials online to find that most make-up fanatics out there use the infamous Beauty Blender to create their flawless looks. Make-up sponges are nothing new, being used throughout history to help women perfect their foundation. The twentieth-century, particularly the 1930s onwards, saw the use of small triangular makeup sponges to help apply makeup, and the little sponges have been developing ever since. What was previously designed for one-time use (as per the bags of 20 sponges you could pick up in Boots) has evolved into a spectacular make-up applicator that has become far more technical than you would think. We are now familiar with little 'egg' or 'teardrop' shaped sponges that have been designed to perfectly buff our foundation, concealer and contour into our skin. Whilst many might stick with favourites from RealTechniques and the original Beauty Blender, Pamper Therapy have created a sponge which might rival both.





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Ardell Natural False Eyelashes: The High Hopes That Just Didn’t Deliver



Having trichotillomania has sent me on a life-long quest to find the perfect pair of false eyelashes which can cover up my baldness effectively whilst remaining natural enough for me to pass the lashes off as my own. I’ve tried many a pair of false eyelashes in my short time, exploring different brands and styles to try and discover that ultimate trich saviour. One hugely popular brand that I have tried before but wasn’t overwhelmed by is Ardell; their professional, full sets of lashes have become favourites amongst beauty enthusiasts. It’s a brand I really want to love, so I gave them a second chance and bought these ‘naturals’ to try out. They look the part in the packet, but unfortunately, the high hopes I had for this style just didn’t deliver.



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Is Blogging The Most Stressful Hobby?


When I started this blog in 2012, it was a creative outlet for me and something to focus my mind on over the summer. I'm not one to do 'nothing' with my time off; I get ants in my pants and need to constantly be doing something productive. Creating this blog was a way of satisfying my need to constantly be on the go. I love writing, and I have developed a passion for photography through having this blog, and also find the process of discussing trichotillomania rather therapeutic. Blogging is a hobby, but a hobby that also helps me personally (and hopefully helps others too)- and that's why I love it so much. However, as more and more sites become sleeker, more professional and more commerically-minded, there seems to be a pressure to 'keep up with the Jones'. As your site grows, you might become involved with brands and PRs, and as other sites grow, you might look to them and start questioning your own success. Either way, blogging has evolved into far more than just the hobby it used to be; it's become a competitive commercial world which is perhaps just another source of pressure and stress.




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NEW! Benefit's Must-Have Goof Proof Brow Pencil (Free With ELLE!)


If there's one thing I can never have too much of, it's brow products. (And Golden Retrievers, obviously). Although recently having my eyebrows tattooed has eased the stress of creating perfect brows from scratch every morning, I still use a plethora of products over the tattoo to keep them looking as good as possible. Once hidden underneath foundation, my brow shade goes a little to light for my liking, so I usually use a trusty brow pencil to just quickly bolden up the colour. Despite being a bit set in my ways when it comes to brow products (I have my favourites and very much stick to them), when I saw Elle magazine giving away a little Goof Proof brow pencil with a purchase of this month's magazine, I couldn't resist indulging in change.




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Katherine Daniels Cosmetics: Skincare Has Never Been So Simple


I know I harp on a lot about my dry skin flare-ups on here, but it is one of my biggest beauty woes and I feel as though I'm forever on a quest to find 'holy grail' skincare products for it! I first came across Katherine Daniels Cosmetics at the Professional Beauty Show in London (to which I went with the incredible Gweni from gbeauty.co.uk) and, whilst they offer salon treatments, it was their range of skincare products which intrigued me. The British skincare experts have used their knowledge from these treatments to create products which have specific skincare woes in mind; their step-by-step product guides for each skin concern breaks everything down into easy, digestible chunks to really help you look after your skin well at home. Now there's no excuse not to look after your skin properly!




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DinkiBelle: The Long-Wearing Nail Wraps You Need This Summer


As you might be able to tell from my Instagram, I'm getting very into doing my nails at the moment. When I started this site, it was actually supposed to be a place dedicated to nail art and the like, but it quickly developed into a much different being. I lost patience with nail art (something I developed a love for back in a school summer holiday), and found I just didn't have the time to faff around with tape and dotting tools. Whilst false nails are a great alternative, the glue can often damage your nails. Nail wraps, however, bring you wonderful nail art without having to dedicate 2 hours to the cause. What's more, these DinkiBelle nail wraps have to be the best ones I've ever tried; incredibly easy to apply, beautiful designs and astonishingly long-wearing.



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From Daytime to Evening with NYX Lipsticks


Greetings, people of the internet. Just a quick post today as I'm in the middle of my law exams (uurrrrggghhh), but in four days time they will all be over (yaaaaay)! I recently left my job in retail to start my career within the world of law, and as a little leaving gift my colleague, Hannah (who is just the most amazing human being in the world- I post a lot of photos of her baking skills on my Instagram) bought me a collection of goodies, including these beautiful NYX lipsticks. We clearly spend too much time together, as she knows me well enough to pick out the most perfect shades- I couldn't have chosen better myself! These are great little lipsticks which can take you from day to night with ease without breaking the bank. No wonder so many people are raving about them!




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How Face Oils Saved My Skin


I've written quite a lot on this blog about products I've tried and tested to help with my dry skin flare-ups. My dry skin isn't really bad, but it's enough to make my skin look flaky and not let foundation sit right. For no make-up days, it is manageable, but I rarely have one of those; wearing a touch of foundation or concealer just makes me feel better about myself (and covers my blotchiness). Seeing foundation clinging to any dry patches and emphasising the flakiness- no matter how much you look after your skin prior to application- is so frustrating and disheartening. In the few years I've been having these break-outs, there's one thing which I've found really helps...face oils.




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7 Ways To Treat Trichotillomania (And Make Your Life A Little Easier)


The tiniest amount of research online will enlighten you to the sad fact that, currently, there is no cure for trichotillomania. It may be disheartening to think that the cycle of pulling will seemingly never end, and, trust me, I've torn myself up over the idea of being stuck with this horrid disorder for life. However, hope is not all lost. Despite there being no magic wand you can wave and make those urges to pull instantly disappear, there are numerous ways to help control those feelings. Many people have wonderful success stories of going pull-free, so don't think that it's totally unachievable. So, if you're looking for potential ways to treat, stop and control trichotillomania, this post is for you.




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