MY BEST ME.

This post is promoted by Colgate.

As women, we all want to feel our best and be the best versions of ourselves – And that journey looks differently for all of us.Today I want to share with you the tips and tricks and the ride I’ve been on with forging a path to greater confidence within both my personal and professional life.First things first.

A Beauty Product:

When it comes to the world of beauty we can all take a big sigh and say ‘oh its so materialistic’ but if makeup or cosmetics make you feel good, heck don’t let nobody tell you different.

I started this blog and my YouTube channel because it made me feel happy that there were so many young women sharing their tips for how to do makeup and beauty on a budget. It got me excited. I wanted to be a part of it.

I’d definitely be lying if I didn’t say my appearance makes me feel better about myself. When I’m not looking after myself I don’t feel great - but the positive swing on that, is that it’s totally within my grasp to take control of – I can make myself feel good.

I don’t have a huge amount of disposable income, so when it comes to my beauty regime I keep it affordable but effective. I think in a world so heavily focused on our appearances it can be really difficult not to let yourself get sucked in to the hype of high priced cosmetics; but it’s really important to remember you don't have to do that, you don’t have to ‘keep up’, in order to feel good. Nor am I saying that you shouldn’t just be comfortable in the skin you’re in, I can totally go to the shops without brushing my hair or putting any makeup on. But there are definitely elements of the beauty industry that give me such confidence within myself, I don’t mind if it seems a little on the materialistic side.

Like, when I was younger, I had braces - as most teenagers do; and my biggest regret was not wearing my retainer to keep them straight once I’d had the braces removed. It’s made me more self-conscious about my smile; and so one staple for me in my beauty routine is always a teeth whitening toothpaste. If my teeth are healthy and looking their best, it makes me feel like I can wear a smile confidently - and being on camera pretty much all the time, that’s pretty important to me. I’m a busy bee, and so I don’t always have time to offer hours to my beauty routine - so finding a toothpaste that cleans my teeth (properly, may I add) and also helps keep them white is an absolute winner - killing two birds with one stone. Colgate Expert White is my favourite one yet - it’s leaves my teeth squeaky clean, it tastes amazing and my teeth are pearly white. There’s nothing quite like a confident smile, is there?

Clothing:

This may sound like a strange one, but for me, it’s so true. There’s nothing quite like getting dressed in the morning and feeling confident in what I’m wearing. It’s like when you get a new hair cut you love and you strut down the street like you’re stepping straight off a movie set. It’s exactly the same for me and my love for clothes. You can wake up every day and be whoever you want to be. How amazing is it that we live in a world where we can all wear our personalities literally on our sleeves? I mean, imagine if we all wore the same clothing? Turned up to our week wearing the same sack. How would we tell everyones distinct personalities apart on first impression?

Being able to reinvent myself through fashion makes me feel great. I love the power it gives us all individually and it’s contributed a huge amount to helping me feel confident. And I mean, it’s no easy feat - it’s taken me years to work out what clothes make me feel good; but boy has it been fun to experiment on the way.

A Person:

As true as the statement ‘the only person I can rely on is myself’ is, you don’t get to be your true best self without the support of others. The first person that springs to my mind when I talk about gaining confidence within myself has to be Alex. On my 25th birthday, almost 2 years ago, she changed my life. I’d let my personality be trampled down by others and was left feeling shy, irreplaceable and worthless. I bit the bullet and did a body confidence shoot with her, which unashamedly is the best decision I’ve made in my adult life. It involved me getting my kit off for the camera and was both petrifying and liberating.

As a child I was bullied; called anorexic and a boy because I didn’t look like the other girls, and that’s haunted me all the way to my twenties. But Alex completely turned that around. She gave me the ability to see myself in a way I hadn’t before - In a way that said ‘Actually, Megs, you’re not too bad’. Not only did she help shape my confidence for my late twenties, but she’s also one of the best friends I’ve made. Surrounding yourself with people who are positive and make you feel good about yourself are 100% a key ingredient to a happier, more confident and fulfilled life. Thank you Alex, for showing me that. I love you.

Me, Myself and I:

I wouldn’t be the individual I am without the people that surround me, but I think when reflecting on our journeys it’s always important to remember that you got yourself there, too. We live in a world where it’s an attractive quality to be self-depreciating - and I don’t think that’s all bad - but I whole-heartedly believe that we should live in a world where being brave enough to give yourself a pat on the back should be celebrated, too.

And all of the above have contributed to helping me do that (almost) on the daily. They’ve all helped me feel like my best me. And allowing myself to believe that I’m capable is a huge factor as to why I now do my blog full-time. I believe that true confidence comes from within, a genuine self-acceptance that you can do whatever you want to - and getting yourself to that point, is one of the best things - it’s priceless.

Don't just look your best, be your best, with Colgate Expert White.I’d love to know what makes you feel confident.What makes you feel like your best self?

Photography by Alexandra Cameron.