Beauty | #ProjectBareAll

Earlier this week I came across Megan from Thumbelina Lillie and her project #ProjectBareAll on Twitter.  What a lovely idea and way to embrace natural beauty. I felt inspired to get involved. So, here it is. As Megan pointed out her in post - we are all the same and we shouldn't be afraid to put it out there. It's silly when I think about it now but I wouldn't leave the house to go to the corner shop without any makeup on.

Every since I was a teenager my skin was dry and spotty. Around the same time, I got into wearing makeup to cover up. When I look back I cringe at the amount I caked on my face. Yes, I'd slap a thick layer of foundation that was 2 shades too darker on every morning on my way to school and never thought about blending it into my neck.  I was young and clueless to say the least but that's acceptable.

Throughout the high school years, my skin's acne was mild but apparent in my head. I started to wear it more and more. It went to an all girls school so there was no boys to impress. I was never teased and bullied for the way my skin looked. It was my own lack of self esteem and confidence that contributed. To this day, I'm still not sure where that came from, but my teenage years were difficult and lots of things in my life negatively impacted on my confidence as a young adult. Applying makeup and changing the way I look gave me a since of control over something. Without it, I felt weird and lacked that feel good factor for my au natural look. I just didn't like the way I looked without it.       

Now, I'm in my mid twenties. Much has changed: I know what shades of foundation suit me, and how to apply it well! I'm a grown up now. My skin hasn't changed. All those people who told me that I'd grow out of acne - you lied! I still break out regularly. With my full time job, I work with young teenage students who honestly have better skin than me. The pressure I put on myself to look good in front my students is silly really. But, as a role model to them, I want to look the part. It's the expectation I've put on myself. Therefore, I must change the way I view myself inside out.

"Dig deep into that fabulous mind and pull out all the positive things you love about yourself" - That's something I need to say to myself on days when I feel like I'm having an 'ugly day' (see even there I'm being negative). I know that the key to changing a mindset is all about positive behaviour. There is no overnight cure though I am willing to slowly change how I view the inside.  It's important to note that we all look different and should embrace our uniqueness. However, physiological we all work the same. Some of us have more freckles than others, more moles, and regular breakouts them some.

There is more in life to be thankful for, and that's my health. If I feel healthy, then I will look healthier. That's not just about being physically healthy, but also about being mentally strong. The emotional impact of being negative all the time plays a huge part. We will always moan about something that we do not like about ourselves. Wearing makeup should feel like a choice, not an everyday necessity

You might be reading this post thinking well there's some people that are naturally beautiful without make up and some who definitely need it. I would challenge that way of thinking and ask you to consider that perception very carefully. I must have some confidence somewhere to post this in the first place so that's something for me to hold onto.

Please check out Megan's post and her fabulous blog! Show us your an natural selfie and use the hashtag #ProjectBareAll .Go and follow her on Twitter!

Beauty | Shopping with Offers and Discounts!


My guilty conscientious has a part to play for the inspiration behind writing this post. At some point, most of us have been impulsive and splurged when we should not, bought the same shade nail polish in 3 different bands, or broke out the credit card because I WANT it.  Damn that inner voice! Blogging does have some impact on my beauty expenditure because (and my justification is) I'd like to review it for my website. To do that, I need to be savvy in the way I shop.

Online Vouchers & Discounts
Researching online also has its benefits to finding the best beauty deals. VoucherCloud and Voucher Codes are great if you're looking for money off and free delivery codes. Not only do they cover beauty and beauty, but they also cover restaurants and electronics. So if you've shopped until you've dropped in need a pit stop lunch, use their apps for deals. These can help you stay on budget.

Loyalty Cards & Coupons
My purse is full of loyalty cards from various beauty companies such as Boots, Super Drug and The Body Shop. The 'Advanage Card' from Boots is probably my most used and abused loyalty card. You earn points from spending, then you can spend the point on products marked with an asterisk *. In addition, they post out coupons to utilise the amount of points in each transaction instore or online.

Super Drug also have a fantastic points reward system with their 'Beauty Card'. The point system works similarly to the Advantage Card. If you are a student then you should take note of the extra 10% off with a NUS card!

The Body Shop also have a rewards card called 'Love Your Body' Card where you receive 10% off all purchases for a year. You have to pay £5 for the card. You also receive free gifts, a special birthday present, invites to even offers and discounts, and previews of new products. It's worth it if you regularly shop there.

Again, The 'Debenhams Beauty Club' Card allows you to collect points and exchange them for rewards on Beauty, Fragrance and Beauty Electricals either instore or online. Other benefits include free makeovers and skin consultations, free delivery online, free gifts, and exclusive special offers.

The N.Dulge card from Space NK in also worth having if you enjoy your higher end brands. You get £5 off for every 100 points earned. You earn 1 point for every £1 spent in store. There are also get exclusive invitations, product previews and "birthday treats".

There are many, many more available. I even have one for Toni&Guy, Costa Coffee and Starbuckes!

Shopping Around
Martin Lewis's Money Saving Expert is a fantastic place to keep up to date with the latest deals. The information and advice available on this website is great. I have recently found some steals on there thanks for a colleague at work. You can also sign up to a regular newsletter that I would recommend putting your details down for.

Local grocery stores such Asda and Tescos (in the UK) are also hidden treasures for having deals on high street brands such as Rimmel and Maybelline. So if you're out doing the food shop and need some new makeup -  why wait until you're going into town when I can pop into your local store (which is probably closer) and pick up your favourite brands.

Sign up to newsletters online and take advantage of the special offers they send you. Most companies will send you exclusive deals like an extra 10- 20% off selective items or even sale items that have already been heavily reduced. If you dislike Spam, make a separate email account that's just for this purpose - one for business - one for personal. Makes sense!   

Cash Back Websites
This is the most recent discovery of mine. Cashback websites are great for earning money back on purchases. You have to shop online to get these cash backs but they all add up in the end.Top Cashback and Quido are two of the most popular sites which I use. It works by receiving a fixed percentage back on purchases. For example, if you spent £50 at Tesco who offered 5% cash back, you would earn £2.50. Now that's not exactly ground breaking but it would all add up and some extra savings for that expensive makeup palette. There are also certain banks with current accounts that are offering cash back on spending too! The savings can be deposited straight into your bank account or exchanged for vouchers.

Disclaimer: I have not been sponsored to feature the above companies in this post. All who are mentioned are the ones I enjoy using.

Let me know how you get on. Tweet me @Ragerwager and follow me on Bloglovin: http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/8599775

Beauty | Confessions of a Blogger TAG



Today, I have really enjoyed reading up on the ‘Confessions of a Blogger’ TAG. Although I have not been tagged personally, I think it’s a good TAG for followers/readers to get to know you more, and gain insight into you as a blogger.
10 Questions…

When did you first start blogging and why?
My first online blogging experience actually started on Tumblr in 2011 under the name ‘Beauty Critique’. Later on, I discovered that someone else had a blog under that name so I decided to shut it down. There was something about the platform that I did not like for blogging. I moved my blog to Blogger in October 2012. Then, I changed the name to Rager Wager Beauty Blog (combining my nickname and blog focus together) making it more personalised for me.

Starting the blog was something that I had debated to myself for a long time (not many people know this). I built up the confidence to start on Tumblr after watching so many of my favourite Youtuber’s online develop their knowledge and network of friends. I’ve always been interested in beauty products and the industry. As a teenager, I was told that it wouldn’t pay as a future career and my ‘talents’ would be better spent in supporting people. Nonetheless, it’s better late than never!            

Have you had any past online presence?
Before my blog, I had very little presence online regarding blogging and such. In late teens, I was always a late bloomer to social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, and even Google+. Occasionally, I would Google myself to see what my ‘Digital Footprint’ looked like. It used to freak my out when I see searches related to me. I was very much into MSN Messenger for quite some time. How times have changed, eh! That said, even now I’ve chosen not to join some social networking sites. In my full time job, I see the negativities all the time – mainly cyber bullying. But now, I am learning to embrace that having an online presence isn’t such a bad thing, as long as it isn’t abused.

When did you become serious about your blog?
To be honest, only within the last year or so have I thought about making something out of it. Blogging is just a hobby for me that I enjoy. Recently, I have begun tracking my readers and where my audience is coming from as it’s fascinating. Reflecting back, before coming across people on YouTube, I didn’t even know that blogs like this existed. I felt quite ignorant in that respect. However, as I have progressed with blogging, so has the use of social media. I have even noticed beauty bloggers such as Fleur de Force and Tanya Blurr being featured more in national UK and international magazines.

What was your first blog post?
On Tumblr I vaguely remember starting my blog with something like an introduction or welcome post. Looking back, I should have just started it with a product review or a post to engaged bloggers from the start.
On Blogger, my first blog was on the September 2012 Glossy Box. In fact, watching videos on YouTube about beauty reviews is what first introduced me to the concept on Beauty Boxes. Then I watched reviews on them, and wanted to review them myself online.

What have been your biggest challenges blogging?
With all hobbies, you need to be able to find the time to schedule it in. Just like going to the gym, or planning an exercise routine, I found it difficult at first to prioritize when to blog and what on.  Having a full time job means that I am fully dedicated and tied up during the day. So, I have started using a small notebook to write things down when I have the time, or if something pops into my head. My memory for thing is shocking so this method works well for me.  

Blogging is not just about writing posts, reviewing products, fitting it around your day; it’s also about networking with others. Therefore, I use my diary to schedule in online chats and opportunities for networking. For example, on Twitter, there are #bbloggerchats that go live on Wednesdays and Sunday evenings. Mainly on a Sunday, I try to take part in these so I arrange my Sunday evenings around this.

What is the most rewarding thing about blogging?
I love interacting with fellow beauty bloggers but also the wider blogging community. On Twitter, I enjoy tweeting and following other bloggers and commenting on their views. Being a blogger, I know it’s such a good feeling when someone uses their time to take an interest in something you’re doing. And, vice versa. Although I’m not blogging to gain followers, it’s rewarding to see that the interest of my blog continues to grow.

What is the most discouraging thing about blogging?
There isn’t much that has discouraged me about blogging. However, it really ‘grinds me gears’ when people stereotype you have the amount of followers you have. I know that my bank on followers is small, but the number of people accessing and reaching my blog is in the thousands. It’s something that I do not like shout out about as this is just a hobby after all. Obviously, I am not native to enough to think that people would not make judgements on my blog and my opinions. However, it is exactly what this blog is about and I would rather than then to be thought less of because of the quantity of followers over quality of posts. You need thick skin and guts to do something like this. It takes strength and motivation to see through the trolls, but also take into account some feedback.

What is your last inspiration or motivation?
My motivation comes from reading other bloggers all around the world. I have been inspired by other bloggers to write this post (even though I haven’t been tagged to do so) because I enjoy writing them. Every time I read I post, I automatically start thinking about my thoughts and responses, and think I should write that down quickly. Following Beauty Bloggers on YouTube was my first spark of inspiration which still stands today. I admire the resilience and envy their creatively to pursue their hobbies into full time careers.  

What is your current goal as a blogger?
Perhaps in the next couple of months, I would like to extend my presence on social media and move onto YouTube. Something that like for me needs guts, and spontaneity. I have already started looking into the things. Currently, I am in the process on gather equipment, which does not come cheaply, but it’ll be worth it in the end (hopefully).

I hope you have enjoyed reading this post, and getting to know more about me. I will continue to read these tags as they’re interesting! If you decided to do this post, please let me know in the comments below!  I’d love to read them!

Beauty | The New Boots App

It’s here! Finally, Boots have launched their new app this month. I am very excited to see that they have developed a beautiful brand spanking app that enhances the experience of using their advantage card. Along with sending out the termly vouchers through the post, you can now access more fantastic offers through the app. Boots has been very good at sending offers that are very much personalised towards my spending. Now, everyone can keep up to date with ‘Offers just for me’ and ‘Best Offers at Boots’. 

 
At a click of button you can also shop through the app which is pretty easy to navigate. I have not noticed any glitches with it yet! The app also displays the total balance of points you have gained. This is fantastic for me as I always struggled to know exactly how many points I had without searching through the bags for the receipts or using the very slow point’s machines in store. I like the ‘News and Events’ section that’s aimed at keeping you fully informed about new products available – as if I needed any further encouragement!
After spending my Saturday morning browsing through the app I would recommend downloading it now! I’ve made some cheeky little purchases already and it’s easy to see how quickly you can build up points through the offers! Are you going to download the app? Download it here. Let me know how you get on!
 


Beauty | Weekly Beauty Favourites 4&5

 

Payday happened. Yay! That wonderful feeling, not , when you see lot of pennies credited your account and then disappear in the next. Booooo! Anyway, winge over! Last week was so busy that I didn't get time to post my weekly favourites. Therefore, as I have been enjoying the same products this week, I decided to cheat and combined both. Here's my thoughts on my weekly favourites.

Within the beauty blogging sites on the interwebz there has been great hype over this product since its launch last year. Since discovering how great the Mac Studio Fix Foundation has for my skin I barely ventured out to use a different brand. I picked up the Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation from my local supermarket for it has on offer for £6! I choice the shade 'True Ivory'. I have been pleasantly surprised by this foundation. At first, it looks like a shimmery gloppy spluge on the back on my hand. However, once buffed into my skin it has left a lovely radiant looking glow.

Generally speaking, I only needed to use 1 - 1 1/2 pumps of foundation to build up medium coverage. Its not bad for a high street foundation. It's great if you're looking for that healthy glow on a budget. It lasts on my face for around 6/ 7 hours which is usually enough for me. Good for normal/ combination skin. Unfortunately, it would not be replacing my love for Mac foundations. However, it is a great second favourite to have up here.

The Schwarzkopf Essence Ultime Diamond Color Illuminating Oil  has been sat in my styling draw for a couple of weeks and I enjoy reaching for it every time I need a de-fizz. I apply one pumps worth of product to freshly washed, damp hair. Rub the product between finger tips and comb through mid lengths to tip. After styling, I noticed less frizz and hair was smoother. I liked the fruity tropical smell. Compared to higher end hair oils on the market such as Morrocan Oil (TM), this product does not do that bad. For me, it does not give me that "diamond shine" Schwarzkopt are proclaiming. However,  it's light enough not to weigh hair down or make the roots look oily after a day of using it. With 1 drop of this my hair is manageable, soft and fizz free!

This summer I have been enjoying pastel shades . I picked the Models Own Nail Polish in the shade Utopia. It's a very, very, very light pinkish colour. Realistically, you only need one coat of this bad boy as the consistancy is thick enough. Though just for good luck I did apply a second coat. It lasted on my nails for around a week before it looked well and truely chipped. Good effort!

Lastly, I have been using the Sleek Makeup PoutPolish with SPF15 in shade Raspberry Rhapsody. This was sent in my Glossy box months ago. It appears that I use lip products at a snails pace and always end up throwing them away. The Pout Polishes are creamy conditioning lip balms that keep lips moist and protected from dryness. Great pigmentation which offers bright, bold colouring on the lips though it was stain. Some people like this but others dont.  It's a very good dup for the MAC Tinted Lip Conditioner for half the price tag!

Hope you liked my weekly favourites!!! What have you been enjoying at the moment. I would love to hear from you!
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