They Call Me Cait

Hi, my name is Katie and yes, I have a skin condition...

What is it you ask? I suffer from a genetic condition called Keratosis Pilaris, more commonly known as, "Chicken Skin." Sounds wonderful, I know.

Growing up, like most, I never knew what Keratosis Pilaris (KP) was, or that I even had it. For years, I presumed my dry, bumpy skin was unexplainable and something to be ashamed of. It wasn't until one day, when an old friend questioned what the bumps she could see peeping through from underneath my trouser leg were, that I took it upon myself to investigate further.

Affecting between 30-50% of adults and 50-80% of teenagers, KP is a genetic skin condition that causes dry, rough skin characterised by tiny red bumps usually located on the upper arms and legs. It occurs as a result of a build up of keratin, the protein protecting the skin. This excess keratin traps the hair follicle in the pore causing hard plugs to form, also known as hyperkeratinization.

Although it is incurable and will never fully go away, it can be maintained over time.

Here are my top tips for keeping KP at bay.

Exfoliate

Exfoliation is key when it comes to KP.
Method 1: Using a pair of exfoliating gloves alongside a gentle body scrub, softly exfoliate your body, working in circles whilst in the shower.
Method 2: Use a body brush to dry brush your skin on affected areas.

Rotate between methods two or three times per week, avoiding aggressive scrubbing as this can cause irritation.

Moisturise

To keep your skin as smooth as possible, moisturise twice a day.
Invest in a cream containing urea, a compound that treats dryness and itching.
My go to product is "Akérat Body cream" by Avène (€20.99).
Creams containing lactic acid also work wonders for KP.

Avene Akerat Body Care Cream

Sensitive Skin Cleaning

Treat your skin as though it were a babies when showering. Stick to natural soap products without fragrances and avoid using water that is too hot as this can be drying. Aloe Vera is cooling should your skin feel hot following a shower.

If you find any KP treatments are irritating your skin, stop immediately.

Living with a skin condition can be difficult. It affects you both mentally and physically. Everything from hormones to the food you eat can impact its appearance. After hiding mine for years, I have finally learned to love and embrace my skin for what it is. I really hope you can do the same, whatever the condition.

Stay gorgeous,
Katie x

Shopping and style have been a major part of my life for as long as I can remember.

From pairing crazy purple tights with colourful stripy tops as a child to my favourite dungarees and funky shoes, I have never been one to abide by the rules.

Over the years, I have spent countless hours discovering my own personal style which, I will admit has been a challenge.

Like many, I've thrown money at clothes never to be worn, kept for that "you'd never know" day.

I've broken down and cried over not being able to find the pieces I desperately want in my size.

I've even gone as far as mismatching outfits in the hopes of standing out.

Each bringing me to where I am today...

I have decided (not as a New Years resolution because we all know how long they last) to make a lifestyle change, focused on my style and shopping habits.

Hands up, how many of you are guilty of picking up that top, it is a complete steal, you know you will NEVER wear it but it's half price and just far too good to leave down?

Yeah... Me too...

It's time to make a change.
Who's with me?

Step1: WARDROBE MAKEOVER!
Sounds daunting but I promise you it's fun.

Having blitzed through my clothes, getting rid of almost everything I no longer wear, I feel I am ready to take this step in my fashion journey.
From now on I am only going to purchase items I really and truly believe will be positive additions to my wardrobe.

Step 2: CHOSE YOUR STYLE PATH
Here's where you get to experiment...
Pinterest is key.

I plan on sticking to statement pieces to be paired with minimalistic items.
No more buying for the sake of it.
Saving every penny I don't spend on "bargains" to invest in items I really want to add to my wardrobe.
(1461 Dr Martens please)

Step 3: BE YOURSELF
Fashion has no rules

Most importantly of all, stick to your gut when you feel an outfit idea will look good.
Never be afraid to express yourself. despite what others may think.

Shops are my playground, where my mind can run wild with imagination.
Every piece that catches my eye, I instantly think of different ways I could wear and pull it off.

Sticking to this adjustment will be difficult but I am excited to give it a go. I cannot wait to see how my sense of fashion develops over the coming year.

Here's to a stylish 2018.

Stay gorgeous,
Katie x

It's 2018 and social media influencers are everywhere.

Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, even our televisions, bloggers are the celebrities of the moment. Maintaining the status as a high profile influencer definitely has its rewards however, life online doesn't go without challenge.

This brings me onto the reason why I am writing this post...

As followings grow, so do levels of responsibility.

The Irish blogging scene has come under fire for their levels of photoshopping and editing of images. This follows the establishment of an Instagram page calling out the influencers, comparing photographs from their past, prior to fame with recent posts.

Before we get into this, I want to say, I have nothing against using filters or blurring out the odd lump and bump.

My issue is with the lies within...

Lies, drawn from insecurities of influencers, filtering into the troubles of their huge followings.

I for one do not condone the public embarassment of any human being, be it social media stars with thousands of followers or your everyday Mary and John going about their daily business.

I do however, completely understand the public's interest in outing these celebrities for changing their appearance online.

In a world where mental health is so prevalent and body image is of huge concern, it is not easy to watch the people we look up to constantly be so "perfect."

We grow up online, surrounded by those we aspire to be.

To be lied to and sold false information, that hurts... It hits hard, deep within.

The feeling of not achieving the fitness goals or perfect skin, hair and makeup we are sold day in and day out on our news feeds is sickening.

That's the thing though... Photoshop, surgery, even glam teams, they are not reality!

Influencers need to start taking the mentality of their followers into account before posting these unrealistic images for the world to see.

As a response to this movement by the public, Irelands high profile bloggers have decided to start an anti bullying campaign with a "plan."

I am totally for this however, if these influencers would just stay true to themselves, there would be no need for it at all.

Stop with the photoshop, be honest about surgery... At the end of the day, who really cares?

Bullying is wrong, no matter what the cause or how worthwhile you feel it may be.

To quote Rosie Connolly...

"Stop and think before you join in on any bullying forums, threads or pages... What else could you do with that time to make YOUR life better, instead of hating someone else's."

Stay gorgeous,

Katie x

So, here we are... Another year over and a new one just begun.

2017 was, well, fairly meh if I'm honest. Not a lot happened and even though there were some lovely moments, I honestly couldn't be happier to see the back of it.

Now, I know what you're all thinking... Yet another one of these "New Year, New Me" posts, written on the 1st to be abandoned by the 21st.

Sure, there is a strong possibility that may happen but I promise you, I am going to try harder than ever to make 2018 a year of fun and friendship, filled with opportunities and many happy memories.

To kick off 2018, I have decided to throw myself into fitness. Cliché, I know but seriously, having spent my summer in the gym, I have discovered a genuine love for working out and healthy living. Not just aesthetically but mentally. Lucky enough to receive gym membership for Christmas, I have made a promise to myself, to try my very best to make the most of it. I'm even considering documenting my journey along the way in the hopes of keeping myself motivated. I feel excited to start the year (one day late) with a fresh slate, for who knows what the future may hold...

As for this blog, given that I am almost half way through my Journalism course, writing and building a portfolio is becoming increasingly important. Although I love nothing more than pouring whatever words come to my head out and into this blog, sometimes I find it very difficult to come up with ideas. This, if I'm honest can be very disheartening and does make me wonder if I will ever make it in a world where fresh material is constantly being created.

I will not let this stop me though...
I am determined to make 2018 the year of putting my head down, writing posts I hope you will all want to read and share with others.

With those being my two main goals, I have many other small aims for the year ahead.

I want to explore music, go to gigs and discover artists, new and old.
I hope to become more positive and confident in myself.
I would love to travel and see some of our beautiful world.
I will not let anybody stop me from wearing what I want for fashion is my favourite form of self expression.

Thank you 2107 for all you have taught me.
Here's to 2018, I can't wait to see what you have in store for us.

Katie x

Not Just Your Everyday MUA

Lucy Fitzgibbon (17) a.k.a. LucyFitz is far from being your everyday teenage girl.

With almost 40,000 followers on social media, Lucy is set to be Ireland’s next big thing in the world of makeup and beauty blogging.

It all began in her bedroom back in Askeaton, County Limerick during Christmas 2015.

Having initially set up an Instagram page where she could generate content from her latest makeup creations, Fitz describes how “it all snowballed from there.”

Three weeks into the establishment of “LucyFitzMakeup,” to her surprise, people began messaging for makeup appointments.

Fitz knew from the start she did not want to be an MUA (makeup artist) as she believes “makeup artists are very replaceable.”

Following on today’s social media trend of every second person being an MUA, Lucy has not limited herself in this regard.

Instead, Lucy is determined to focus on her blog in the hopes of someday bringing out her own line of products.

Admittedly this will be tough for the young blogger given she is currently balancing her studies in preparation for the Leaving Cert alongside her budding beauty career.

Lucy, like many others has been subject to negativity both online and within the beauty community.

“People don’t take me that seriously due to my age,” Fitz explains despite trying to use it to her advantage as proof of how motivated she is.

Lucy feels very lucky to have an “army of people” behind her when negative comments are passed as loyal followers are key to staying positive when surrounded by online hate.

“I feel like my followers are all organic, I’ve grown them from me and not other people’s shoutouts,” she says proudly.

With a strong belief that nobody is perfect, Fitz alludes to the fact that her followers like her for being down to earth and relatable, creating a platform allowing her fans to remain loyal whilst being interactive.

Unlike most popular beauty bloggers, Fitz does not maintain a so called “perfect image,” openly removing her makeup in front of thousands in the hopes of relating to those who follow her.

Speaking about her recent experience following a free press trip to London, Lucy wants her followers to understand, “it’s not all as it appears to be,” describing the industry as “awful.”

Already, at the age of 17, the blogger has had to ask herself, “do I really want to get myself into this?”

Rather than focusing on the downside, Lucy has thrown herself into her work, concentrating on her brand and upcoming event, “Lucy Fitz Here and Now.”

“I want to talk about things I haven’t talked about before and show a side people don’t know about me.”

Although growth of her platform has been gradual, Lucy is “excited to see how far it will go,” and is curious if it will keep progressing as she grows older.

With hopes and dreams of studying physics and astronomy, Lucy is looking forward to the future as she really does not know what is in store for her.

“I hope by the time the Leaving Cert comes around that I’ll be able to retire I’ll be so famous,” she jokes.

Katie x

Today marks the day John Lewis' 2017 Christmas advert officially sees its release.

For those of you who don't already know, John Lewis is a chain of high-end department stores in the UK famous for not only their beautiful products but also their annual Christmas advertisements. Given the day that is in it, I figured why not look back on what have been some of mine and hopefully your favourite stories from the past few years.

To kick off, the advert that caught everybody's attention, shooting the company into the spotlight,

2013's "The Bare and the Hair"

Next up, one of my absolute favourites.

A real heart warmer,

2015's "Man on the Moon"

A love story that would melt even the coldest of hearts,
2012's "The Journey"

Another favourite of mine, this story brings a tear to my eye and I'm sure its not just me,
2014's "Monty the Penguin"

John Lewis did a great job with 2011's ad, perfectly summing up what the countdown to Christmas and the anticipation of that all important day is really like for both young and old.

An adorable portrayal of the Christmas Day excitement and yet another favourite of mine,
2016's "Buster the Boxer"

A little bit of a let down and somewhat confusing with the story line, this year's advert is causing a bit of a stir on social media.
Last but not least, 2017's brand new John Lewis advertisement, "Moz the Monster."
Like it or not, you decide.

Katie x

1980's, 1990's, 2007 and now 10 years later, having come and gone in and out of fashion, the famous full fringe is well and truly back with a bang. Coming in a variety of styles, celebrities such as Ariana Grande, Bella Hadid, Dakota Johnson and even Kylie Jenner are bringing the once forgotten trend back to life.

Having had a fringe myself for a while now, here are my top tips on how to rock what I believe to be the next big thing coming into 2018.

To begin, there is a good chance your first fringe will not turn out exactly how you wish, mine certainly didn't! Don't let this put you off though, do your research, find a style that you really love and allow the fringe to grow and fit your face. I promise you that with a little trial and error, you will eventually be left with the fringe of your dreams.

August 2016

August 2017

Should you commit to this hairstyle, I do warn you, it can be quite a nuisance depending on the style and how fussy you are. Unfortunately, Irish weather and bangs are not what you would call best friends. For me, having a full, block fringe, I find the wind completely destroys the look as it splits and blows it everywhere. Should you find yourself in this situation, my top tip for you is to carry a comb in your purse or bag. A quick brush through and you will be back to normal. For those of you who opt for a more chopped fringe, this should not be of much bother to you.

blonde hair GIF

Ok so here's the downside to having a fringe, even the best hairdressers mess up. Not every time thankfully but once in a blue moon you will be left less than impressed. Whether it be a crooked fringe or you end up looking like Haku from Spirited Away, just go with it, hair grows back in no time.

Speaking of hair growth, tired of the fringe already? Decided its just not for you? Well then, the side swoop is your new best friend. You always have the option to turn your fringe into a side fringe be it three days or three weeks old. I do this a lot when I'm out or in the gym as a fringe against your forehead can be quite uncomfortable when you sweat. No matter how good it looks, there is no better feeling than sweeping a fringe off your face for that extra breath of fresh air. Change up your look or simply grow it out into side bangs, you decide.

Still not sure if you want to make the chop? Do what I did and give it a trial run. Here are some links to tutorials on how to DIY your bangs.

Stay gorgeous,

Katie x

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