I was lucky enough to be invited to the opening of the Selfie Factory Pop-Up at Shoreditch last weekend. Armed with my trusty Canon 600D, EOSM10 and iPhone, I dragged my friend to come along as my last minute photographer.
We braved the cold London streets till we found the place, brightly lit in contrast to the faint street lights. As we entered, we were welcomed to a world of excitement all for that perfect selfie.
Different areas of the places were installations to create fun selfies you'll never find anywhere else. They encouraged us to play with the props from the donut wall to a giant teddy bear. Each 'room' was fit with a certain vibe, perfect for the aesthetic.
I spent way longer than I should in each room, at least 10 minutes, going back and forth to perfect the perfect pose. Playing around with camera settings and angles, and I wasn't alone. Plenty of people around me did the same. I was not the exception, I was the norm.
That being said, there are a few things I would have done differently, given the chance. So I have some tips when you do go!
TIPS FOR THE SELFIE FACTORY
- | Visit during the day. You'll get much better natural lighting than dim ceiling lights.
- | Bring spare clothes - wear something you can easily change out of, and slip into another. This way, you can vary your shots and looks in a session!
- | Equipment doesn't matter. Sometimes, all you need is your phone and a friend you trust (with a lot of patience)
- Play around with shots. Go online and find some cool poses for the installations.
The Selfie Factory is opened now until November 20th!
Have you ever been to The Selfie Factory?
Personally, my friend and I agreed it's a fantastic first date activity, Cute, romantic and plenty of selfies for days. You can find more information on their Facebook or Instagram.
But first, lemme take a selfie.
After all, I am a narcissistic millennial, obsessed with social media by documenting every aspect of my life. The current state of my face included. As such, I have taken many selfies in my life, from an old 3rd Generation iPod to my current iPhone 6Plus, encased by Lumee. In my honest opinion, I think I've learned a few things.
Here are some tips on how to take the perfect selfie!
FIND YOUR ANGLES
Most of us are not born with symmetrical faces but we can fake it. By changing your posture through minute movements, it can help make your jawline sharper and face slimmer.
I know many people have a prefered side, a running joke among bloggers is the side we stand. if you look at my Instagram, you'll notice I usually tilt my jaw to the right or show the left side of my face. It's my go-to angle. If you look closely at other Instagrammers, you'll find similarities between their poses.
RAISE YOUR PHONE HIGHLike the last tip, it's all about angles. Keeping your phone up high and pointing the camera downwards, elongates your face and gives the illusion of bigger eyes. I do this with all my selfies like this or this.
Make sure your phone is far from your face as possible. Bringing it too close enlarges the centre of your face due to the camera's lens, making your nose look wider than it actually is.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF NATURAL LIGHT
My favourite time to take photos is in the early morning when the sun has risen but no one else, or mid-afternoon when the light is bright. Lighting is important when taking photos so you won't have any grainy quality and easier to edit (if you want to)
If I am taking a photo in a dimly lit area or at night, I use Lumee. This one is their LuMee Duo Marble Case. The case features two warm LED lights, which give off a nice cast on the skin and fill any shadows. Did I mention they are also rechargeable and dimmable?
USE PROPS
To make a selfie more fun and interesting, use props!
Easy as grabbing a milkshake or a boyfriend, but I find milkshakes much more affordable and taste better. It incorporates some fun into a selfie. Play with poses, find new ways to use products into shots, and overall, have some fun!
TAKE MULTIPLE SHOTS
Take. All. The. Shots.
Take three hundred shots to get the perfect one. Where the sun hits your skin just right, and your jawline cuts and your milkshake isn't half empty. Selfies aren't a science nor an art, they are a fun way to capture your look then and now. Taking multiple shots helps your mini-photoshoot come to life.
what are your tips for a perfect selfie?
with love,
*Partnered with Nakturnal
Primark has a makeup collection.
I pass it every single time I'm in a Primark, always tempted to purchase but never do. Until today. When I stormed into my local Primark and found their latest Nudes Collection. The cashier looked impressed, and perhaps even shocked, with my bag.
So it begs the question, how is Primark makeup?
So it begs the question, how is Primark makeup?
While I wish I could have purchased everything instore, I only got a handful from each section. Hopefully, enough of a range to encapsule the whole collection.
Primark Nudes Collection launched in February 2018, packaged in neutrals with a focus on natural brown and pink hues. Certain products remind me of KKW Beauty and Milk Makeup. You can definitely tell their collection is lower cost version of those expensive 'natural & nude' brands.
HIGHLIGHTERS & BLUSH & CONTOUR
NUDES HIGHLIGHT & CONTOUR KIT :
This kit is most reminiscent of KKW Beauty Sticks. It came with a Highlighter Duo Stick, a Contour Duo Stick, Brow Highlighter and a double-ended brush and sponge.
The Highlighter Duo Stick was not universal. One end was too dark for me. The other end matched my exact skin tone with some shimmer. The Contour Duo Stick was surprising. I used both ends on my skin because it ended up blending lighter than I expected. Applies dark, but blends most colour away.
In this collection, I prefer the brush since it blended the contour evenly and feels soft against the skin, blending well.
NUDES HIGHLIGHTER STICK :
It looks like an almost exact dupe for Milk Makeup. It swatched beautiful, a light nude with a pink glittery sheen. However, it clung to the skin, making it difficult to blend out.
NUDES BODY SHIMMER DUST :
Perhaps my favourite, simply because it surprised me. An off-white shimmery loose powder. If pressed, I'd use it as my everyday highlight but if applied on darker skin, it would wash them out.
NUDES CONTOUR PALETTE :
Consists of two highlighters, a contour, and blush. An overall okay palette, their highlighters (Polar and Pure) aren't blinding. Instead, they give a subtle glow to the skin. The contour (Reveal) looked dark on the pan but once applied, blended to a warm bronze shade. I think the winner is their blush (Exposed) that gave a nice pink flush.
EYES
NUDES MATTE EYE CREAM in WHIPPED :
I applied the Matte Eye Cream as a base for the eyeshadow palette. What I assumed would be off-white looked grey against my skin. It was creamy but once blended, dried down to a matte finish. I wouldn't reccommended it since the grey cast was prominent.
I applied the Matte Eye Cream as a base for the eyeshadow palette. What I assumed would be off-white looked grey against my skin. It was creamy but once blended, dried down to a matte finish. I wouldn't reccommended it since the grey cast was prominent.
NUDES EYESHADOW COLLECTION PALETTE :
This looks like it came from a child's toy makeup collection with cheap, breakable packaging. That said, I am dumbfounded by their eyeshadows. They consist of 28 shades for £8, making it 28p per shade. And the strangest part?
They're actually good.
I used different shades from the palette, each time impressed with the colour pay off and how it blended together. And for 28p a shade, what a steal.
This looks like it came from a child's toy makeup collection with cheap, breakable packaging. That said, I am dumbfounded by their eyeshadows. They consist of 28 shades for £8, making it 28p per shade. And the strangest part?
They're actually good.
I used different shades from the palette, each time impressed with the colour pay off and how it blended together. And for 28p a shade, what a steal.
LIPS
NUDES MATTE & GLOSS LIP COLLECTION :
Their Matte & Gloss Lip Collection consists of two glosses and mattes. The mattes and glosses were pigmented, with one swipe enough for the full efect. While the mattes did dry down, they didn't dry out my lips which impressed me. The glosses were fine on their own, but I prefered them as toppers to other lipsticks.
NUDES HIGH SHINE LIP GLOSS in MESMERIZE :
A £2 product feeling like a £6. Their lip liner and gloss reminded me of NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream, with their smell and application. Though High Shine Lip Gloss is (obviously) a gloss. It pulled pinker than I assumed from the packaging. It still applied smoothly and wore on for some time.
SUBSCRIBE TO BASH HARRY
Overall, I am impressed with this collection.
Their eyeshadows and lipsticks, being the most note-worthy. For the price, they work much better than what I expected. As for their highlighters and contours, I prefered their pressed powders since their cream kits aren't universal.
If you're still learning makeup and looking for some quality products in your Primark, pick up the Nudes. They get a thumbs up from me.
Have you ever tried Primark Makeup?
What do you think?
(*) Receieved eGiftCard from Primark PR
On February 2nd, Benefit Cosmetics launched their BADgal BANG! Mascara.
And it released with an appropriate bang. The biggest launch in Benefit's history. After its array of girly astronauts, spaceships and rockets, the mascara is hyped up to be out of this world. Quite literally, using 'aero particles' from space. At least, that's what Benefit claims.
So is it really worth it?
Outside, the weather is 3°C.
After scouring the Internet, I had found The Perfect Winter Coat (and more!)
sunglasses: Accessorize | shawl: (DIY) | coat: ASOS
shirt: H&M | jeans: Superdry | shoes: FentyxPuma
I chose ASOS Slim Boyfriend Coat during Boxing Day when many pieces were marked down on sale. Then £41, now £26.
It was the perfect coat for my everyday wear, fitting in my almost all-black wardrobe perfectly. With its slim fit and wide pockets, It has become the coat I use often. At least, compared to my well-loved but bold pastel pink skater coat and an unsightly oversized Boy Medium's Windbreaker.
What I love most about my new coat is how easy it is to style up or down, since it blends into my wardrobe. I matched it with my H&M Cropped Hoodie and SuperDry High Waisted Skinny Jeans. One of my go-to outfits to look somewhat trendy at Uni.
Which one is your perfect coat?
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The winds are shaking and winter is in full effect.
In my second year spent in the cold season, I thought I would splurge on a new but affordable coat. One that wasn't bought on a whim from Gap Kids. I wanted a coat that was versatile, sleek and minimalist.
In my second year spent in the cold season, I thought I would splurge on a new but affordable coat. One that wasn't bought on a whim from Gap Kids. I wanted a coat that was versatile, sleek and minimalist.
After scouring the Internet, I had found The Perfect Winter Coat (and more!)
sunglasses: Accessorize | shawl: (DIY) | coat: ASOS
shirt: H&M | jeans: Superdry | shoes: FentyxPuma
It was the perfect coat for my everyday wear, fitting in my almost all-black wardrobe perfectly. With its slim fit and wide pockets, It has become the coat I use often. At least, compared to my well-loved but bold pastel pink skater coat and an unsightly oversized Boy Medium's Windbreaker.
What I love most about my new coat is how easy it is to style up or down, since it blends into my wardrobe. I matched it with my H&M Cropped Hoodie and SuperDry High Waisted Skinny Jeans. One of my go-to outfits to look somewhat trendy at Uni.
While searching for my coat, I came across some other affordable pieces that caught my eye. To my surprise, there were all under £50! While they are different looks from the typical black I bought, it would certainly brighten any wardrobe.
Personally, I think the faux fur trend is growing on me.
with love,
I don't think I'm a poet.
An occasionally poetic writer maybe, but hardly a poet. I can't construct poems on a whim, written with such depth for the world to see. No, I write prose like I write in my non-existent diary. Floral, emotional and probably fictional.
But somehow, in 2017, I auditioned for the University of Exeter Team for UniSlam 2018. And I got it. Here's a snippet of the adventure.
have you ever been to a poetry slam?
with love,
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