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Fiixii

March 6, 2016 lifestyle•personal

Comfort Zones

missguided mesh flocked bodysuit flatlay

We start off in warm comfort. Safe and protected, with those who have promised to love and look after us, to provide for us, shielding us from danger too great for our tiny infant selves. As we grow and learn, we do so in (mainly) safe environments, with those who teach us quick to help, correct, encourage. We form opinions, we create dialogue in a safe and comfortable environment.

With age comes questions, expectations, realities we’d rather not face and some decisions we’d rather not make. We develop a space, secure and cosy, that we’re comfortable in. Four metaphorical walls that protect us, tell us that we’re safe and that anything that falls in this area we can do. A zone of things that we are sure of. A zone of comfort.

They are necessary for us to create, a benchmark for our assessment of new experiences, a sanctuary to return to, an area where you know the rules to the game and most of the players. They’re reliable, familiar.

But sometimes it is necessary to step outside of them.

missguided mesh flocked bodysuit flatlay

Comfort zones, for all their safety and reliability, can be incredibly restrictive. In perceived safety, there is very little risk or need to adapt or grow or learn; the challenge has to be sought out, and why would you seek out an unknown? In this reluctance the ability to adjust to change is lost, almost, and the ease of turning away from the challenge, back to the security of mentally constructed walls is far more appealing.

Little instances that challenge us are good, for these walls of soft, padded comfort and security that we put up when something we’re unsure of comes knocking. Often, we forget that these walls are fairly malleable; we can mold them around experiences we’ve had, elastic runs through them to partially accommodate the new thing, try it out, snap back if we don’t like it. They’re a protectorate, but they can be flexible with their borders, sometimes even expand to include experiences we found successful.

Stepping outside of your comfort zone can be the smallest of things. For me, recently (and the inspiration for this post) I bought a bodysuit from missguided as a treat (to me, from me) for my first paycheck. The work the paycheck was for was also a massive step outside my comfort zone, but also something I wasn’t really given much choice about. The bodysuit was a choice, a conscious act that challenged my perceptions of myself. I posted on instagram, captioning that I was unsure whether I’d keep it or not, since it’s so far out of my comfort zone – clothes wise – would I even wear it? Everyone was supportive in saying that it should be for keepsies. So it is.

It also got me thinking about how academically I’m entirely and consistently out of my comfort zone this year. The dissertation is a constant unknown, a constant, low-key stress in the background, unless it’s a focus when it’s a very obvious thing. It’s something that’s challenging me daily, sometimes overwhelmingly so that a lot of the time right now I just want to sleep. Sleep and ignore everything. But as each supervision comes and passes, and I get a little bit more of it green ticked as good to go, it becomes marginally more manageable. Marginally more comfortable.

On a larger scale, stepping outside your comfort zone, whether it be the you, specific you reading this right now, or the larger collective, can help influence, or even bring about a direct change in our societies. By fighting for something, or lending a voice of support for something you believe in, it helps highlight areas that need amending.

It happens a lot in blogging, too, these marginal steps in and out of comfort zones with the covering of topics in an effort to educate and remove stigma. And as a reader too, it’s interesting to make marginal adjustments to the malleable walls of our comfort zones so that we can be educated on issues that we may not have been aware of. Afterall, education is one of the great uses of the internet.

Comfort zones are fabulous, in knowing when to say no to things (because saying yes all the time is sometimes as dangerous as avoiding all the change), in knowing how to assess the way to handle things, and in knowing when to pull back – but putting yourself outside of yours, and then expanding those walls to fit and suit and accommodate is also necessary. Whether it be buying clothing that you’re not exactly sure of, or fighting to change the way society sees things.

I’m not entirely sure this makes a lot of sense tbh, but I felt now was a good time to write about it, since I’m clearly very removed from comfort with dissi stuff right now. Anyone else ever had recurring dreams/nightmares that they don’t hand theirs in??? Or is that just me…

♥

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  1. Tamzin Swann says

    March 6, 2016 at 9:43 pm

    I love this. I rarely step out my comfort zone and wish I could. I loved that body suit though, it looks lush on xxTamz | http://www.throughneweyesx.com

    Reply
  2. Jessie-Ann Lewis says

    March 7, 2016 at 8:51 am

    I have started to step outside of my comfort zone more lately and it's quite terrifying! But also quite invigorating. You rock that body suit girl! It's really gorgeous! xxJessie | allthingsbeautiful-x

    Reply
  3. Christy Jane says

    March 7, 2016 at 5:48 pm

    This is a great post! It's very scary going out of your comfort zone but once accomplishing what you were fearing, it gets a lot easier each time 🙂 I'm going to be out of my comfort zone this friday! wish me luck! LoveChristyJane xhttp://christyjaneparker.blogspot.co.uk/

    Reply
  4. Martha Edwards says

    March 7, 2016 at 9:21 pm

    This is such an important post, and so well written. I often feel like I haven't strayed from my comfort zone enough, but since becoming aware of that, I've pushed myself to do it more often, and I think it's so good for the mind xMartha Jane | http://www.marthajanemusic.com

    Reply
  5. Areeba says

    March 8, 2016 at 8:39 am

    Stepping out of the comfort zone is the biggest favor I've done to myself and I never regret it. It's scary + exciting at the same time. I LOVE this post! And you're toally going to rock it!xo,Not Your Type Blog

    Reply
  6. Anonymous says

    March 8, 2016 at 6:59 pm

    This was such a great read. I think it's really, really important to step outside your comfort zone. When I was sixteen, I moved to London and I was absolutely terrified for the first few months because honestly, all I really wanted was to stay at home with my Mum and Dad – I've always been super close to them. But I eventually realised that I couldn't live life obsessively worrying about my parents and us missing each other. Guilt and fear prevent even the simplest of changes in some lives but in the end if you learn to power through that first step, you get insane amounts of happiness about it! And everything becomes easier. But anyway, I really enjoyed reading your writing 🙂 x

    Reply
  7. aimee cottle says

    March 10, 2016 at 9:30 pm

    Love this post. I'm definitely guilty of not stepping out of my comfort zone enough! x http://www.aimeeraindropwrites.co.uk x

    Reply
  8. Olivia Emily says

    March 13, 2016 at 9:50 pm

    This is an amazing post – you have a really beautiful writing style <3I feel like I've been holding myself back in my comfort zone recently, so thank you for making me think about it <3(PS glad the beautiful bodysuit is for keepsies, it's goregous and you deserve it)xxhttp://oliviaemily.com

    Reply
  9. misspittypat Xx says

    March 23, 2016 at 10:47 am

    I constantly have to push really hard to get outside my comfort zone, but it's so difficult to do. I'm at a stage where I just plunge in now though, and I see where you are coming from with the bodysuit thing, a little change like that can put you in the right frame of mind to tackle bigger changes or try even scarier things.

    Reply
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fiixii

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Fii 🐶 style inspo & kbeauty
#협찬 Using the right sunscreen for your skin ty #협찬 Using the right sunscreen for your skin type is *drum roll* actually very important -- and I'm not just talking about SPF levels for different skin tones. 

Choosing the right sunscreen helps to avoid irritation, breakouts, and makes you more likely to apply it regularly, which gives your skin the best chance at avoiding things like melanoma (skin cancer) and premature aging. 

Determining your skin type >>
For me, finding my skin type was super easy. S E N S I T I V E. I'm horrifically eczema prone (have a whole series on my blog about this), and lean towards a routine that is simple but hydrating, staying away from too many actives. It's the reason I take forever to put up skincare reviews, because I have to check for reactions, or develop contact dermatitis from different ingredients. 

BUT - that's not all. See, I lean towards Sensitive-dry, which is why my skin care, and my sun care, focuses more on hydrating products. 

What determines your skin type? How much oil (sebum) your skin produces daily. 

Dry >> 
Does your skin feel tight? Less elastic?  Does it become rough or flaky easily? Dehydrated? Not a lot of shine in your T-zone? Then your skin type is probably dry. 

Oily >>
Do you get really shiny during the day? (Especially in your t-zone) Do you suffer from (manageable*) breakouts, blackheads and/or whiteheads? Then your skin type is probably oily. 

Normal >> 
Is your skin neither oily throughout the day, and doesn't feel dry, or tight, or often irritated? Your pores aren't too noticeable, and you rarely have breakouts? Then your skin is probably normal! Lucky you :) 

Combination >>
Are you oily in your t-zone (forehead, nose, chin) and dry or normal skin on your cheeks? Then you have combination skin <3. It's a little harder to care for, because you're often trying to battle with contrasting products 
(my tip: you're gonna want a sunscreen that's suitable for 'all skin types' ;))

So, now you know more about skin types, scroll through for my picks for each, and my current favourite sun screen <3 

Let me know your skin type AND your current sun screen in the comments below, and don't forget to #applysunscreenaddprotection <3
벛꽃 🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

📍 @seoulism_official 

☁️ ☀️ ☁️ ☀️ 
#벛꽃🌸 #seoulkorea #seoultravel #서울벚꽃 #잠실 #visitseoul
#협찬 Q: what’s the most important skincare s #협찬  Q: what’s the most important skincare step?
Fii’s answer: SUNSCREEN!!!!!!!!!!!! 

This is a question i get asked quite a bit, and my answer has been the same for ages. The step in my skincare I absolutely never skip is: sunscreen. 

So I’m really excited to be taking part in @wishtrend ‘s #ASAPchallenge: #applysunscreenaddprotection 😊 This challenge is to help build the habit of applying sunscreen DAILY for 5 weeks. It takes 28 days to form a habit.. so let’s do this together ^^ 

There are some great perks for wishtrend users for taking part with me too! For everyone who posts content during this challenge, you get 1,000 wishtrend points and 3 promo codes to pick up your favourite wishtrend products 😊 And!! we get to protect our skin from sun damage and early signs of aging 😚

what do you say? 
Also what’s your ‘never skip’ skincare step? 

☁️ ☀️ ☁️ ☀️ 
#wishtrend #koreansunscreen #sunscreen #spf #nurilounge #선케어 #kbeautyroutine #kbeautyblogger
월요팅 💪🏻 감사합니당 @jssa0_1 📷 월요팅 💪🏻 

감사합니당 @jssa0_1 📷 

⛅️ ☁️ ⛅️ 

#whatfiiwore #seoulfashionweek #styleinspiration #y2kaesthetic #softaesthetic #서울패션위크 #스타일 #여자스트릿패션 #외국인모델
lol but ghostly 

감사합니다 @_inho.w 

☁️ ⛅️ 
#서울패션위크 #외국인모델 #촬영문의dm #seoulfashionweek #whatfiiwore #styleinspo
when will my prince return from war 🙃🥲

☁️ ☁️ ⛅️ 🌧️ 
#한복스냅 #한복대여 #한복드레스 #한복촬영 #외국인모델 #seoultravel #seoulkorea #hanbokkorea #hanbokdress #hanbokrental #공가는여우 #패션위크 #촬영문의dm #촬영모델 #whatfiiwore #princesscore #princessaesthetic
hands up if you like cafes! 🙌🏻 hands up if y hands up if you like cafes! 🙌🏻 hands up if you like cafes with cute mascots 🙌🏻🤭🤭🤭 

then i have a cafe recommendation for you~~ 

this cute (deceptively large) place is @for_tourists_dotori_garden by Anguk station, and i had a great afternoon enjoying the atmosphere with great company and great baked goods and i’m not at all noting the aesthetics for my own future cafe 🤭

꿀팁 - if you search 분좋카 on instagram then you’ll find a bunch of very aesthetic cafes around seoul that all have a great atmosphere (분•위기 좋•은 카•페 = 분좋카) ❤️❤️ 

📌 dotori garden // 도토리가든 
🗺️ 서울 종로구 계동길 19-8 1층

☁️ ⛅️ ☁️ ⛅️ 
#2023GlobalSeoulMate #2023GSM #VisitSeoul #SeoulYouniverse #Seoul #Korea #SeoulTourismOrganization #2023글로벌서울메이트 #서울관광재단 #서울 #분좋카 #분좋카추천 #seoulcafe #서울카페
changing room mirror selfies and a tiny headed bea changing room mirror selfies and a tiny headed bear. 🐻 

(yay for no winter coat weather) 

☁️ ⛅️ ☁️ 

#패션룩 #whatfiiwore #패션코디 #패션모델 #패션스램 #룩스타그램 #룩북모델 #룩스타 #룩스타스램 #옷스타그램 #옷스타그램일상 #옷스타그램daily #패션블로거 #촬영문의 #데일리룩 #데일리룩코디 #외국인모델 #stylehunters #stylefiles #ig_korea #fashionkorea #stylebloggers
{ #ad #협찬 #gifted } Vegan skincare is on the r { #ad #협찬 #gifted }
Vegan skincare is on the rise, and I received these beautiful Vegan Lip Butters from @melixirskincare_kr ❤️
Melixir is vegan, sustainable, and cruelty free, that has a range of products that are great for sensitive skin like mine :) 

I’m absolutely loving the easy wearability of “04 Dewy Rose”, and the agave infused formula is great for my lips (guess who doesn’t drink enough water…). 

“05 Red Velvet” is a buildable red, that isn’t too harsh or bright for those days you want a little colour, but don’t want to faff about with lip liners ❤️

📌 you can find melixir products at Amazon (worldwide), or if you’re in Korea, Olive Young and Melixir’s website ❤️

What’s your favourite lip product these days? 

☁️ ⛅️ ☁️ 

#melixir_veganskincare #melixir #멜릭서 #veganskincare #veganlipbutter #crueltyfreeskincare #veganproducts #스킨케어 #skincarereview #beautyreview #koreanskincare #kbeautyreview #kbeautyroutine #kbeautyblogger
👸 👑 (hanbok from @palace.fox - my #1 rec f 👸 👑 

(hanbok from @palace.fox - my #1 rec for hanbok rental ❤️) 

☁️ ☁️ ☁️ 
#한복대여 #한복드레스 #한복스타그램 #한복스냅 #whatfiiwore #hanbokkorea #hanbokdress #hanbokrental #palacefox #데일리원피스 #경복궁한복대여 #visitseoul #스타일 #여성한복 #visitkorea #princessaesthetic #princesscore #princesscoreaesthetic #softgirlaesthetic #softgirlstyle #궁가는여우
we went blonde 💅👸 ☁️ ☁️ ⛅️ # we went blonde 💅👸 

☁️ ☁️ ⛅️ 

#whatfiiwore
#협찬 #광고 skincare for glowing skin when yo #협찬 #광고  skincare for glowing skin when you don’t have time for extensive routines? i’m loving the @klairs.global fundamental line :) 

named because it’s formulated to take care of your skin’s fundamental needs, this is a great line to reach for when you’re busy, or just need something simple to satisfy your skin. 

cream: 
the fundamental water gel cream is super light weight for easy absorption into the skin. it’s packed with green tea for vitamin e, antioxidants and calming, which with the way my eczema has been recently i def need.

mist: 
the fundamental ampule mist os a great product to have to top up when your skin is feeling dry, or as layered with 7 skins. it’s got so many nutrients to make your skin feel refreshed and hydrated. 

eye cream
i’m always a bit hmm over eye creams that don’t have actives (like retinol or derivatives) but i’ve been reading about the benefits of using peptides for the under-eye area specifically and i’m not saying the results are magic, but i’ve seen an improvement when i’ve been using peptide formulated products in that area. so. jury is still out but i’m not mad. 
#the formula of this cream is also super thick and creamy so it feels really nourishing 😇🫶 

overall it’s been a great experience so far, and it’s definitely made me remember why i liked klairs products way back when i started blogging ❤️

products courtesy of @wishtrend via @nurilounge.official ❤️❤️

#skincare #kbeauty #kskincare #skincarereels #veganbeauty #veganskincare #dearklairs #스킨케어 #dearklairs #klairs #skincare #kbeauty #kbrand #nurilounge #mynurilounge
✨ fiicore ✨ the princess / abandoned castle ✨ fiicore ✨ 

the princess / abandoned castle vibes are strong here

⛅️ ☁️ clouds

#reels #reelstrend #reelstrends #coreaesthetic #princesscore #princesscoreaesthetic #softgirlaesthetic #softgirl
things i carry on the daily: 💼 @marhen.j kai things i carry on the daily: 

💼 @marhen.j  kai bag in urban black 
beauty products 
@romandyou waterfit cushion 
@keepintouch_makeup jelly lip plumper in bloody wine 
@espoir_makeup water splash cica tone up sun cream 

ipad cover is from @from.pick 

not pictured: work badge -,-, lip balm, assorted receipts 😅

🐰 🐰 🐰 🐰 
#stylereels #whatsinmybag #whatsinmybagtoday #marhenj #마르헨제이 #스타일링 #가방스타그램 #패션블로거 #패션블로그 #패션스타그램 #fashionstyle #fashionreels #fashionreelscreator #fashionstylereels
새해 복 많이 바드세용~ 🐰 happy lunar 새해 복 많이 바드세용~ 
🐰 
happy lunar new year from me and the floof and the personal growth we’ve been doing so far this month ☺️😊😌

🐰 🐰 🐰 
#corgisofinstagram #웰시코기 #웰코 #웰시코기그램 #corgistagram #corgisrule #corgigram #corgipost #코기러브
i don’t do these challenges but this was one cut i don’t do these challenges but this was one cute 

☁️ #reelschallenge
#kawaikutegomen #고멘챌린지 #릴스댄스 #릴스챌린지
pov: you’re cafe hopping in seoul ❤️ tell pov: you’re cafe hopping in seoul ❤️ 

tell me a place and a time and i’ll come to hang out ❤️🥰 

📍 cafe seongbukro/ @seongbukro 
it’s beautiful~~~ 

☁️ ☁️ ☁️ 
#cafetour #cafétour #seoulcafe #seoulcafehopping #whatfiiwore 
#서울카페 #서울카페추천 #카페릴스 #retroaesthetic
finally got a silky wrap skirt and it makes me fee finally got a silky wrap skirt and it makes me feel like i’m about to go to barre again 🩰 

skirt @dollsattitude 

☁️ ⛅️ ☁️ 

 #whatfiiwore #패션그램 #패션코디 #패션스램 #룩스타그램 #옷스타그램일상 #옷스타 #패션블로그 #패션블로거 #오오티디 #데일리룩 #옷스타그램 #cottagecoreaeathetic #softgirlstyle #fashionkorea #옷스타그램daily #wearingtoday #ootdpost #outfitblog #outfitidea #todayiwore #mystylediary #mylooktoday #discoverunder7k #dollsattitude
2022 was uh… a year (if u saw me trying to pos 2022 was uh… a year 

(if u saw me trying to post this already, no u didn’t 😂😂🤡🤡🤡🤡) 

☁️ ⛅️ ⛅️ ☁️ 
#2022년 #2023 #2022roundup
when ur as excited for coffee as u are for christm when ur as excited for coffee as u are for christmas and also music show broadcasts bc i am that girl now 😌😌😌😌😌 u only live once and all ✌️ 
merry holidays i hope ur day is merry and bright ⛄️ 

☁️ ⛅️ ⛅️ 🌧️ 

#크리스마스 #크리스마스코디 #whatfiiwore #성북동카페 #데일리코디 #데일리룩코디 #일상옷 #패션그램 #패션코디 #패션스램 #룩스타그램 #옷스타그램일상 #옷스타 #패션블로그 #패션블로거 #오오티디 #데일리룩 #옷스타그램 #stylehunters #fashionkorea #옷스타그램daily #whattowear #유튜버  #wearingtoday #ootdpost  #atinyselcaday #에이티니
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