How To Enjoy Your Own Company

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For some reason, we do not often spend time with ourselves. You may have binge watched your favourite show for half the day but have you ever spent nearly as much time in a public place? I grew up thinking it was odd to go to the movies by yourself or to book a table for one at your favourite restaurant. We seem to forget that we don’t need a person by our sides to be able to have a good time. 

There is often a stigma attached to being alone. For some reason it is seen as socially unacceptable to do things by yourself. As soon as we see someone by themselves, we sort of assume something is wrong, something they’ve done to repel other people. 

“That guy is eating alone, that’s so sad.” 

“Oh, that woman is at the movies alone, I feel bad for her.”

Why is it always presumed that people don’t want to be doing things alone? This type of thought can lead us to believe that we cannot go somewhere unless someone is with us & when no one is available we would rather not attend than go alone. 

#1: YOUR PERSPECTIVE IS TRULY YOUR OWN 

Whether you are single or not, there is a unique value in taking time to see your own reaction to things completely unfiltered by any social expectations of friend groups or relationships. Often you are able to notice more details & take more in when you are alone because there is no one pulling your attention elsewhere. 

#2: BREAKING PATTERNS OF RELIANCE

We are all so rooted in spending time with people that sometimes, when no one is available, it can feel like a loss to be alone. Instead we should recognise our individual strengths & appreciate one on one time with ourselves. It also teaches us to be comfortable with who we are. In this day in age it’s easy to miss out on fully knowing our own thoughts & habits. 

#3: MAKING ROOM FOR CREATIVITY

Group brainstorming is great but there’s also time for quiet, personal reflection. Clearing out distractions & allowing time to reflect is a great way to tap into your creativity. Going out to events & doing it alone can help you focus on all those creative energies. 

#4: BEING ALONE WITH YOUR MIND IS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS FOR YOUR SOUL 

Use your alone time as a change to clear out your cluttered mind & just get back in touch with yourself. Taking a little ‘me’ time gives you an opportunity to get away from distractions for long enough to reflect on your relationships & the course of your life so that you can determine what changes, if any, you might want to make. Once you start becoming more comfortable with being alone, doing activities by yourself can actually be enjoyable. It takes a degree of confidence & initiative to do things solo, of which you should be incredibly proud of. 

If you want to do something, why should the idea of doing it alone be enough to stop you?

Keep an eye out for a couple of posts the relate back to enjoying your own company. They’ll be ‘Five Reasons You Should Spend More Time With Yourself’ & ‘Eight Things To Do Alone For A Change’. 

B x

Is There A Right Way To Apply Blush?!

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Is there really a right way to apply your blush? Back when I first started learning about makeup & how to apply it, I remember all I would ever read or hear was the you were to apply your blush on the apples of your cheeks.

However, over the many years of been wearing makeup, I've found that this isn't always flattering on most face shapes. And to be honest, I feel like with anything in life, not just with makeup, there is no 'one size fits all' situation. We should take a more personalised approach when it comes to our blush placement or the placement of any makeup product really. Really it just comes down to personal preference.

Personally, I feel the traditional apple of the cheek blush can lead to the face appearing longer than it actually is. I don't know if this is just me & my personal face shape or if this is something other people experience & have noticed too. Having your face appear longer & more dragged down than what it actually is, is the complete opposite from what we want from our blush placement & application. Essentially, we want an uplifted & radiant look from our blush application.

So where do I like to apply my blush? One of my top tips would be to blend upwards rather than downwards. Make the first point of contact on your face the lowest point you would like your blush to go & then softly blend upwards. However, be careful because too much buffing can move your foundation which then can lead to a blotchy effect.

I spent some time & did some research on how to apply blush products to a variety of different face shapes. I wanted to add some tips that might be helpful for some of you & because I'm not a professional makeup artist I didn't want to just give you any old tips for the sake of it. It's important to remember that there are no specific rules when it comes to makeup & makeup application, these are just tips that I thought some of you might find useful. Take them or leave them, that's totally up to you.

IF YOUR FACE SHAPE IS ROUND > Round face girls can add structure by starting your colour just above the apple & blend upwards towards the cheek bone. This placement will detract attention from the lower cheek area which is generally the roundest part of the face & helps lift & sculpt features.

IF YOUR FACE SHAPE IS SQUARE > To flatter the jawline, apply your blush in a linear sweep. This will help create the impression of a narrower jaw. However, be careful not to start the colour to close to your nose.

IF YOUR FACE SHAPE IS OVAL > Out of all the face shapes, the symmetry of an oval face is best suited to pull off the traditional apple of the cheek method. However, always remember to blend upwards rather than in a circular spot on the cheek - this can look doll like & unnatural. Remember no one naturally blushes in a perfect circle after all!

B x