Making Your Style Truly Personal

Photo by: Denise Benson Photography

By definition, style is personal. Even if you emulate others and pick up tips here and there, no-one is going to have exactly the same dress sense or outfit as you. However, when we talk about making your style personal, we mean finding the clothes that celebrate you as you are. 

Know your body

There’s no such thing as a personal sense of style that doesn’t take into account who you are as a person. Getting to know the strengths of your body type, be your apple, pear, hourglass, or otherwise, and dressing to your strengths, such as finding good plus size outfits, is a must. So, too, is finding a palette to go with your skin, hair, eyes, lips and more. Your sense of style should help your brand of beauty shine through, bright and proud.

Pull some inspiration together

Personal doesn’t have to mean entirely original all of the time. Worry too much about looking original and you’re going to have a hard time finding outfits that make sense. So, how do you manage a personal look while still taking inspiration from others? It’s all about mixing and matching and building a sense of aesthetic. One of the easiest ways to do that right now is by pinning outfits and images you love on Pinterest. You can browse images on the site or simply pin whatever images you come across on the internet, helping you build a library of style inspiration you can look at whenever it’s time to go shopping.

Put your own twist on it

However, if you want to go original, there’s absolutely nothing stopping you. Customizing and creating your own looks has become more and more accessible thanks to a range of online services that will make clothes to your specifications. You can go the classic route of monograms and using your own name, but with custom t shirt printing, you can use any phrases, mottos, or designs that you want, as well. Have an icon you’d love to have on a shirt? Or a personal affirmation or motto you want to flash around? Why not go for it?

Give it your signature

You want to mix and match and get free with your style. Wearing the same thing over and over can be tiring, there’s no denying that. However, that’s not to say that you can use a little cross-reference between outfits. Find a signature accessory that can work with a range of outfits and scenes, from formal to casual to professional. It can help give every outfit (or at least a lot of them) a little extra “you” factor. Just make sure you choose an accessory (or accessories) versatile enough to work in that role.

Finding your personal style can help you feel so much more confident in what you wear, how it suits you, and how others see you. It’s a great way to leave a little mark of personality through nothing but the visuals and allows you to express yourself in the way that suits you best.

11 Style Hacks For Glasses Wearers

Wearing glasses can be a great way to increase your style points - but not only that, it’s a necessity for some. If you wear glasses, for whatever reason, then take a look at the following 11 style hacks that can help you to rock them like never before. 

1. Use Eyeshadow Primer To Stop Your Glasses From Slipping

Nobody likes their glasses slipping down their nose, ruining their look. To combat this, use an eyeshadow primer on your nose so that the little pads have something to stick to. Like magic, they won’t slip down anymore! You can also carry a powder with you just to top up your nose during the day, as the rubber pads can leave slight marks sometimes. 

2. Stop Fogging

Another annoying part of wearing glasses: fogging! Don’t worry - there’s a hack for this too. All you need to do is rub soap on the lenses, then use a cloth to wipe off. You’ll be amazed that your glasses no longer fog up and you can wear them whenever you need to, in just about any environment. 

3. Narrow Down Your Choices By Trying On Glasses Online

If you haven’t yet chosen your glasses but you’re looking for a way to select the best pair, you will find the greatest selection online. Most people prefer to go and buy their glasses in person as they can try them on, and you can’t do that online - right? Wrong! New technology means you can browse glasses online, upload a straight forward, clear picture of your face, and then try them on. This will give you an even better idea of which glasses suit you so you can pick the best pair and get the best deal. This year, silhouette eyeglasses are very popular, but you should narrow it down further by going for a style you feel you’ll want to wear for a long time. Cat eye glasses are cool, but will you still want to wear them in a few months? 

4. Don’t Wear As Much Makeup 

If you love makeup, you need to find the right balance with glasses. Start by looking to see where your glasses sit when you’re wearing them properly. You can save time and money this way by avoiding applying as much makeup in this area. It’s also worth noting that eyeliner tends to look a lot better than eyeshadow, so see if you can get some nice colored liners and practice your cat eyes and any other cool editorial shapes that you might want to wear. 

You can still wear shadow, of course, but you should avoid applying it past the top line of your glasses. 

5. Brighten Up Your Undereyes

Glasses can throw shade under your eyes, and this could make you look tired even if you’re not. If you are, well, it’s really going to make it look worse. To combat this, you just need a concealer that is a shade lighter than your foundation. Simply apply, almost in a triangle shape, and blend out. This will suitably brighten your under eyes and stop your glasses from ‘throwing shade’. You might also want to use a primer under your eyes. If you do already have bags and some creases, an under eye primer can be the perfect base to concealer and help your makeup to look clear and perfect. 

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Your eyes will be the center of attention for all of the right reasons! 

6. Add Drama To Your Look With Thicker Frames

If you’re looking for a way to add interest to your look and want to create some va-va-voom, then go for thicker frames. Thicker frames always add drama, especially if there is some color in them. They will be a lot more noticeable than other types of glasses, so make sure you’re brave enough to wear them before you buy them. 

7. Practice Perfectly Defining Your Brows

One thing you really want to get right when wearing glasses, is perfectly defining your eyebrows. You don’t need a perfect ‘Instagram’ brow, where everything is dark, faded at the front, and sculpted with concealer to within an inch of its life - unless you want to, of course. You can simply brush through your brows, use a pencil to fill in the gaps gently, and then use a brow mascara to brush your hairs upward and give that messy, catwalk type of look to your brows. 

As people will be drawn more to your eye area, your brows will be way more noticeable. Make sure you have your technique down! 

8. Wear A Bold Lip

If you don’t want to waste your time doing a full eye makeup look when it’s pretty much going to be obscured by your glasses, you can try wearing a bold lip instead. Bright red is great, but don’t be afraid to think outside of the box. Bright orange could be a very modern take on this dramatic makeup look, or even a shade of purple. It can be scary wearing bold lipstick for the first time, especially since it’s so easy to make it look messy. Here are some tips to help you:

• Always line your lips with a super sharp pencil. The pencil must be sharp to create crisp lines and stop your lipstick from bleeding. Don’t be too heavy handed! 

• The way you draw around your lips matters. If you draw from the top down, you tend to get a more rounded look. If you draw from the corners up, it’ll look straighter. You need to find a way to do this that suits you. 

• The liner should be the same shade or a shade or two darker than your lipstick. If you really want to go for a 90’s look with a completely different colored liner then you can, but it’s a bit outdated. 

• There are liners of various consistencies, so find one of a softer consistency if you’re just getting started.

• Use a lip brush to apply the first layer of your bold lipstick, rather than applying it straight from the tube. It’ll be way smoother. 

• You can then blot and add another coat of lipstick with your lip brush. 

• If you have gone outside of the lines, you can use a brush with a little concealer to neaten it up. Make sure it looks good both mouth relaxed and smiling. 

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9. Curl Your Lashes

Curling your lashes will make sure they don’t brush your frames and ensure your eyes look big and open! Of course, remember to apply a light mascara afterwards, and ensure this is dry before wearing your glasses. 

10. Choose Your Outfit Accordingly

Wearing bold frames? Let them do the talking by wearing a neutral outfit. If your glasses are quite retro, then make sure your own style matches that - cat eye specs call for a really sassy, 60s or 70s outfit. Search thrift stores to help find something awesome! 

11. Apply Your Makeup The Easy Way

You’ve got lots of tips but how do you apply makeup if you can’t see all that well. Using a magnifying mirror will be a huge help, but you could also keep an old pair of glasses and make it so you can easily pop the lenses out to do your makeup, wearing one lense at a time (this works best with plastic frames). Remember, it’s best to go in with a light hand as you can always add more later on when you view the finished result wearing your glasses.

Thanks for reading!

Vanity Planet Aira Facial Steamer Review

I did receive this product for free - all opinions are my own.

Hey guys! I just have to let you know about my skincare journey and share my facial steamer with you.

So if you’ve been following me on the ‘gram, you already know what’s up. I started taking my skincare seriously around the end of December. My motto is – “I’m too old to be crusty, period.” I don’t wear makeup often but I love a good beat. I want to look and feel as confident as I do with makeup without it.

So I’ve heard a few ladies in my skincare group raving about facial steamers and I recently enjoyed my first facial and steam was incorporated so I knew it had to be good. I went on the hunt and did a lot research before settling.

Benefits of Facial Steaming

Do you ever feel like you just can’t get your face clean? Clogged pores? Dehydrated skin? If so, facial steaming is just right for you.

I have combination/oily skin and I’ve seen the steamer work wonders for product application. I use 1-2x a week.

My top 4 reasons to steam

-          Opens pores to allow better product absorption

-          Its soothing, I always feel relaxed afterwards

-          Hydration! Even oily skin needs to be hydrated

-          Releases acne causing bacteria

"Freshly cleaned pores are better able to absorb skin creams with active ingredients such as retinol based-products or prescription creams from your dermatologist…" Dr. Arash Akhavan, MD, FAAD

How to Use Aira Facial Steamer

This steamer is not only aesthetically pleasing but compact. It comes in two colors: Rose Gold and Beige. It also includes three essential oil baskets to create a full spa-like experience. The water tank is easily accessible from the back. Fill with distilled water only and enjoy! The steamer takes 30-45 seconds to heat up and the nozzle can move to direct your steam.

My cleansing routine

1.       Pre-cleanse with a balm

2.       Steam (15 minutes)

3.       Cleanse

4.       Serum

5.       Moisturizer

6.       Lip Balm

Be sure to check out the Aira Facial Steamer by Vanity Planet and if you order by February 29, 2020 you can use my code: FREELY_NATXAERA to receive 40% off.

First Impressions Derma E Skincare

I was gifted these items in exchange for my review but all opinions are my own.

I have been dying to try Derma E for a while now and I just wasn’t sure if I was ready to take the plunge since I have so many other skincare products. My goal is to finish what I have and then move on BUT that doesn’t always work.

Derma E send me their Vitamin C Bright Eye Hydro Gel Patches, Ultra Hydrating Alkaline Gel Booster and the Hydrating Day Cream.  I was instantly impressed, for starters, I’m a sucker for packaging. I love it when a package is clear and straight to the point without all of the fluff.

Derma E is a GMO free, Cruelty free, 100% Vegan, Gluten free, Soy free and recyclable product. I feel like they’ve covered all of the bases as to why you would be hesitant in purchasing.

So far, I’ve been trying out these products for roughly a week and I can’t wait to see the results to come.

Vitamin C Bright Eye Hydro Gel Patches

I was jumping out of my skin to try these. I have dark under eyes, partly due to lack of sleep and hydration. So, I wasn’t sure what these would do for me BUT I stand corrected. They have a luxe feel to them, they are gold with sparkles. My under eyes looked a little brighter and plump after the first use. I find these to be perfect after a long day and pair it with a good hydration routine; your eyes will look amazing!

Ultra Hydrating Alkaline Gel Booster

This serum had me curious because it’s intended to be hydrating and I have oily/combination skin so I didn’t know what to expect but to my surprise, it left me with a glow. Once it dried my skin did not feel oily. I will say if you have dry skin this one is for you. I will keep this in rotation for the winter

Hydrating Day Cream

This cream is a little thick, I will say if you have dry skin this will be PERFECT for you but for someone like me that tends to be on the oily side it was okay. One thing I can say is that it didn’t give a super greasy feel but I felt like something was on my skin.

Derma E is a great brand to try if you’re looking for a new line. They have something for everyone and their prices won’t break the bank. If you check them out, let me know what you get!