October is Eczemaawarenessmonth

Some people know some don’t

But I suffer from an autoimmune disease, this means that my body attacks itself.

An autoimmune disease means that the own immune system sees the body's own substances as foreign. The result is that the immune system defends itself against the body's own substances with certain antibodies. These antibodies ensure that the immune system is activated to erroneously clean up these body parts. This is visible with me in the form of eczema

I don’t know who needs to hear this but please.. Love the body your in, embrace your skin!As someone who has always dealt with eczema, allergies etc. I struggled alot with insecurity and self-acceptance self-love and embracing my skin.

Don't hide away because you don't look like what you see on social media every daily, It's not even real..

i know it can be tough sometimes, but don't give up

Your skin does not define you nor your worth 💜

As I was getting ready to go to a wedding reception I had the idea of blogging about my make up routine. Suffering with eczema is hard when it comes to applying make up and I know I am not alone when wanting the perfect foundation. I haven't posted a blog for a while and after another severe flare up of Erythroderma Eczema I have only been using the Epaderm ointment I am prescribed therefore have no "products I use" blog to post so this one will do :)

I don't suffer with alot of eczema on my face now, only dry patches across my temples which is now covered by bangs/fringe. My face along with my neck used to be one of the worst areas affected as a child but as I have grown up my eczema has shifted around alot and has calmed down on my face and neck.

I have two different types of make up that I use depending on the occasion. I have a full face of Estee Lauder for special occasions and then your supermarket branded products for your more casual, everyday look.

For the look shown in the photo above I started with a fresh face and applied a little Epaderm Ointment which is my current ointment cream that I use to control my eczema. I then use the 'Instant Glow CC Cream' followed by a slight brushing of 'No.7 Bronzing Beads' using a fluffy blusher brush. I then use the 'Freedom Contour Kit' to contour and highlight my face. For an added glow I simply use a white shimmer eyeshadow on my cheek bones, tip of my nose and cupids bow/upper lip line. I then do my eyebrows. I have naturally bushy eyebrows so brush then in place before using the 'NYX Eyebrow Pencil' and secure them with a clear brow gel. I then apply my Mascara which for this look I used 'NYX Doll Eye' Mascara in Black. I didn't apply any eyeliner or eyeshadows for this look, however I can never go without wearing a bold coloured lip, so last I applied the 'Sleek Matte' lipstick in 'Cherry'.

You will find all the products I use listed below. I like to experiment with different brands and colours and have no set routine on how and what I apply. My face is a blank canvas in which I like to create a different piece of art every time...

Products: NYX Cosmetics: - Stay Matte but Not Flat Foundation - Natural - Wonder Contour Stick - Medium/Tan - Eyebrow Pencil - Medium Brown - Doll Eye Mascara - Black - Vivid Brights Liquid Eyeliner - Saphire - Lip Smacking Fun Lipstick - Power

Bodyshop: - Honey Bronze Shimmer Body oil - Instant Glow CC cream - Peachy Glow - Pencil Eyeliner - Navy - Matte Lipstick - Plum

Estee Lauder: - Advanced Night Repair - Illuminator Primer - Double Wear Foundation - Warm Creme - Bronze Goddess - Light - Highlight & Blush - Plush Petal - Eyeshadow Pallet - Defiant Nude - Double Wear Mascara - Black - Lipstick - Pure Colour Love

Brushes & Blenders: - Real Techniques Beauty Blender - Studio London - Primark Unicorn brushes set - Natural brushes set

In regards to Highlighters, Eyeshadows and Lipsticks I use a variety of different brands depending on the colours and look I like to go for on that day. Brands being Barry M, MUA, Freedom, Sleek and the odd MAC product.

I am yet to find a Superdrug store that is stocked up on the new Revolution Foundation and Concelor sticks so that I can test these out too.

Any recommendations as to what products work best for dry/eczema prone skin, whether that may be creams, cosmetics or washes that I may not of tried? I'd love to hear about them!

Once last thing..  I was a Guest Blogger on 'Our Eczema Story' last week. Below is the link to my blog. Please follow their Social Media platforms, there you will find hope. Thank you to Our Eczema Story for featuring me on their blog and for their support.

This is the shit. ⭐️🐝💛

I have been debating showing my face in the “blogging world” for sometime now and have kept putting it on hold but “to be more positive” and “to make something of myself” are two things I put on my New Years Resolution list for 2018 alongside all the things I failed to do in 2017 ;)

I should first introduce myself. I am Shelley-Marie Sumner, 26 and am currently a Sports and Performing Arts Coach at a local primary school. I also hold a Degree in Drama and Performance from the University of Wolverhampton (2009).

3 interesting facts about me:

In April 2014 I was crowned Miss Black Country 2014/15 and competed in the finals of Miss England placing 21st out of 60 Miss England Finalists.

I have been dancing, singing and acting since the small age of 3.

I have jumped out of a plane at 10,000 feet completing a Tandem Skydive raising just over £1,400 for the British Heart Foundation in memory of my friend Justin.

My passions are Musical Theatre, Music, Fashion and of course Disney!

I am fairly new to the blogging scene so please go easy on me, but I am sure I will get better. Each blog shall be different, one may be on what I am up to lately, things I love, my ambitions and maybe the odd musical and Disney post ;)However, there is one thing that I will be blogging about a lot and that is my skin condition Eczema. I have had Eczema since I was a few months old and have suffered severely with it since. I am hoping that blogging about it will help me to not only reach out to other sufferers but to cope with it myself too... That blog is for another day.

So there is a bit about myself and what I am here for, let’s see if I can stick to blogging and making this into the start something good, maybe even big?

Happy New Year!