Breaking the Blues

Hi everyone, todays post is all about breaking the blues. We all have those days were we can be a bit moody or fed up, and just want to curl up in bed watching Netflix (mainly Ru Paul's Drag Race) for the rest of the day. These are some of the ways that I get away from the blues and have a great day! 

Have a pamper

I feel like everyone suggests this, but it is important! If I've had a few days being in a rut, then a good pamper night makes sure I can break this cycle. I'll normally paint my nails, dye my eyebrows and pop some fake tan on. After this I feel so confident and ready to wake up the next day ready for the world! 

Make an action plan

I am a massive advocate for writing lists, I have a list for everything. If I have a list then I know I'll have a productive day, because I know there's stuff to be done! It basically stops me from sitting around doing nothing all day. 

Talk to your favourite people

Whilst I'm at uni I'll often get the blues because I miss my favourite people from home. So normally I'll ring my mum, my boyfriend or message my friends. It definitely cheers me up!

Get off your phone

Sometimes, if I am in a rut, then scrolling through social media constantly just doesn't help. I find that if I force myself off my phone and get on with something productive then I feel so much better. 

Get out the house and break routine

If I'm in a bad mood, then I find that going for a walk or going to a little coffee shop is such a nice escape. If you're like me and a university student, then you may be a bit too familiar with the 4 walls of your bedroom, so escaping them, even just for a couple of hours, is so refreshing. 

I hope you like this post, and please let me know if you have any tips for me! 

Jasmine xx

How I relax

Hi everyone! Todays post is all about relaxing and unwinding. Sometimes, after a stressful week you just need to do everything you can you relax a bit. Hopefully this post gives you some ideas on how to unwind too! 

Light a candle

If I about to unwind and try to relax, the first step is to always light a candle. It makes my room feel super cosy, and I think is quite cosy!

Take your makeup up

I find that if I take my makeup off I instantly feel more relax, and ready to lay back and chill out! It makes me think that I'm all done with my day and ready to put my feet up.

Read your favourite book

I'm currently trying to read all of the Harry Potter books. I'm on the very end of the 5th book now and find reading it so relaxing. Reading in bed with a cup of tea by my side is just perfect! 

Have a bath (or shower)

I know most people prefer baths to relax, so if thats what you like then get a bath bomb and relax that way. Personally, I prefer a shower, sounds super strange but when I was younger I'd sit down in the shower all the time, so now if I'm stressed or anything I sit in the shower, and use it as my thinking time. Strange, I know...

Watch something you love to watch

For me, I love watching youtube videos or Friends to relax. Basically, I like watching things that I don't have to think about too much, that way I can just unwind. 

A good cup of tea

I have already mentioned this briefing, but a cup of tea for me is just the best thing. If I need to relax and just take a minute to myself, a cup of tea is perfect. Maybe some biscuits if I fancy them. 

Hope you've liked this post, this is the best way that I unwind and relax, let me know how you best relax too!

Jasmine xx

Travel Bucketlist

Hi everyone, todays post is my travel bucket list. Looking through Pinterest and Instagram I see so many travel posts and it gives me serious wanderlust. So here are the places that I want to visit most! (All these pictures I have gotten from online). 

Rome

Venice

Amsterdam


Paris


China


I never used to be that fussed about travelling, but after seeing so many beautiful travel pictures I just want to go visit everywhere! There are so many beautiful cities in Europe that I'd love to go to, even if just for the weekend. I really like museums, trying all the local food and just exploring all the little side roads. Hopefully in the future I'll be posting my own pictures from these cities.

Please let me know where you'd like to visit, or tell me any places you have visited and would recommend!

Jasmine x

Newest Beauty Buys

Hi everyone, today's post is some beauty products that I've bought recently. They're not new releases, but some of them are new to me, so I'll give you a first impression of the products and recommend ones I like to you.

MAC Strobe Cream

I got sold this in MAC as a glowy primer. I wouldn't call it a primer that keeps makeup on for ages, but it feels nice and moisturising and makes my skin glowy. I think I'm going to try mixing it into my foundation to give my base a more dewy look. I decided to get the travel size as I wanted to test it out before getting the full size.

The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2%
I featured this in a recent skincare routine, but so far I'm really enjoying using it. I see a noticeable difference in my blemishes, and it leaves my skin feeling as though it's just had a treatment. The Ordinary are a 'no fuss' brand and so it's really affordable, great value for money.

Benefit Bene Balm
This is a repurchase because I love this lip balm a lot! It leaves my skin feeling really smooth and hydrated and the light red tint is perfect, a typical 'your lips but better' shade. It's really low maintenance, no need for a lip liner, and can be applied really easily.

Mac Prep + Prime Fix+ Spray
I had always wanted to try this product as I see so many people using it. I've used it before makeup and after makeup. When I use it before my makeup, it leaves my skin feeling really fresh and hydrated. However, I haven't noticed much difference in my makeup, even when I use it as a setting spray too. I haven't used it many times yet, so hopefully I'll notice more of a difference soon.

Mac Studio Fix Fluid
I was in need of a new foundation and thought I'd try this one. I went into Mac and asked for the highest coverage foundation and told them that I'm normally the palest shade, to which they said I wasn't. I wouldn't actually call this foundation full coverage, maybe a medium coverage. It does look like on the skin and seems to last pretty well throughout the day, but I'd prefer more coverage. I was colour tested and given NW13, which I think is the second to lightest shade. I think the paler shade would've been better though, as I am so fair, but with a bit of bronzer down my neck it works okay, 

How to save money

Hi everyone, todays post is all about how to save money. Students, from what I know, can be notoriously bad with money, with so many people with only £10 left of their overdraft and spending it all on a jagerbomb. But as a student myself, I personally think I'm pretty good with saving money. I manage to save money every week and live happily on the budget I set myself, without having to live on beans on toast and pasta! So here are my top tips for saving money...

1. Take a packed lunch and your own drinks

In my first year of uni I would buy a Starbucks hot chocolate and a cup of tea for like £3 or more, when I had plenty of tea, hot chocolate sachets and a flask sitting in my cupboard at home. If you do this a few days a week, that's probably £10 a week just on hot drinks you could get for free at home. If you buy lunch, like a meal deal for example, thats probably £4 ish a time. If you just take your own, you could save so much money! All the money you'd normally use for lunch and drinks, put it aside and save. 

2. Get a savings account

Knowing that you have a savings account is a pretty good incentive to save money. Personally I have a Help to Buy ISA, which is a good choice if you're saving money for a deposit on a house/ mortgage. Some saving accounts may offer you perks if you put in a certain amount each month. 

3. Set a budget

Knowing exactly how much money you have to spend is so important. Work out how much things like rent, bills and direct debits will cost, then see how much you have left. Just make sure your stick to your budget.

4. Open a pay as you go card

This tip is perfect for people that can't stick to a budget. I put my weekly budget into one each week, then only use this card to buy things. I've tried both 'monzo' and 'revolut' and they're both great pay as you go cards. You can find them on the App Store on your phone. If you don't know what a pay as you go card is, it's basically a debit card that you top up with money. 

5. Do you actually need it?

There are so many things on my Wishlist that I'd love to buy, but I stop myself and think, do I actually need this. For example, I have at least 5 pairs of black jeans, and the other day I saw another pair and nearly bought them, but stopped myself, because I could save that £40 for something far more important! 

Hope this post has been helpful, if you have any money saving tips then please let me know by commenting them!

Jasmine xx

My skincare routine and favourites

Hi everyone, today's post is my skincare routine and other favourite skin products. I've never had any bad acne or anything, but I am pretty blemish prone. My skin has gotten so much better recently, and I think it's been down to the products I've been using. So here is my skincare routine and favourites...

Garnier - Micellar Cleansing Water

This is my staple, I use it everyday and love it. I have used both the combination and original version and they both work great. I use it to take my makeup off, and use it so cleanse my skin when I don't have makeup on and need a quick fix. I won't talk too much about it, as I think most people have used this now and everyone loves it! 

Soap and Glory - Face Soap and Clarity 3-in-1 Daily Vitamin C Facial Wash

I use this stuff in the shower to wash and cleanse my face. The Yuzu complex in the face wash leaves my face feeling super fresh and completely clean. It also works well to remove my makeup. It's also only £8 so really affordable! 

Pixi - Glow Tonic

If you haven't yet tried this out then you have to! This is my favourite skin care product ever, and I'm pretty sure this is the product that has done wonders for my skin! It is a 5% glycolic acid exfoliating toner, and has worked so well to clean up my skin. This is probably my 6th bottle (at least, maybe more), and it is completely worth the money. 

The Ordinary - Salicylic Acid 2% Solution

This solution works well to combat blemishes, and it is marketed for blemish-prone skin. It's really affordable, no gimmick product and works well if you don't want to splash out on a super expensive acid solution. You need barely any of it, and is good value! 

Clinique - All about eyes rich

This is a really lovely thick eye cream, and makes my eyes feel really hydrated and awake. It's quite pricey, but you need barely any of it, and so it lasts for ages. Clinique often do offers on their skincare, so keep an eye out for that!

Clinique - Moisture Surge

Another one of my holy grail products that I can't live without. This is a super hydrating product that leaves my skin feeling soft and plump. Like the glow tonic, I've re-bought this a lot, this is probably my 5th tub. It is my go-to moisturiser and my skincare routine wouldn't be the same without it! 

Hope you've liked this post, let me know your skincare recommendations so I can try some new things too! 

Jasmine xx

Harry Potter Tag

Hi everyone, I've mentioned before that I love Harry Potter. Like, I really love it. When I first got together with my boyfriend, he told me he had never seen Harry Potter, so like any Harry Potter fan would, I forced him to watch them all, and he must've liked it at least a bit because he then booked the Harry Potter Studio tour for my birthday! I don't actually remember a time when I haven't liked Harry Potter, but at the same time I also don't remember when I first got introduced to it. Any, if you love Harry Potter like me, then please answer these questions too and let me know so I can have a read! 

What house are you in?

I've done the Pottermore test probably 4 times, and each time I've been sorted into either Gryffindor or Hufflepuff. So my character maybe is somewhere in the middle, but I personally think I'm slightly more of a Hufflepuff so I go with that, and I always side with the underdog, which in Hogwarts is definitely Hufflepuff (or Ravenclaw). 

What is your patronus?

May patronus is a Weasel, but I don't really know what that means of what it says about me, so if you know, please tell me!

What is your wand?

According to Pottermore, my wand is an Acacia wood, Phoenix feather core, 13 1/4 inches in length and quite bendy and flexible. Apparently the Acacia wood is quite sensitive and will only normally work for its owner, though is ofter under-rated. The Phoenix core is the rarest core, use their own initiative and picky when it comes to their owners. The length of the want is somewhat long compared to average. 

What would your boggart be?

Like Ron, I hate spiders, so him crying over his fear of spiders is quite relatable. 

What position would you play in Quiddich?

I defiantly couldn't be a seeker, in fact I'm the most un-sporty person ever, so I'd probably be awful at any position! 

Would you be a pure-blood, half-blood or muggle born?

Hufflepuffs are happy to include anyone, so its difficult to say really! I think I'd be half-blood, but who knows.

What job would you want to leave after leaving Hogwarts?

I think I'd want to be an auror, or at least something within the ministry of magic. 

Which of the Deathly Hallows would you choose?

Definitely the invisibility cloak, the resurrection cloak and the elder wand just don't really appeal to me. 

Favourite book?

Definitely the Goblet of Fire. There's so much amazing stories and details in the book that make it so much better than the film. All the extra stories add so much to the book!

Least favourite book?

I think the Philosophers Stone is my least favourite, not because it's bad, but because it's the most child-like. Obviously all the books are meant for children, but where in this book Harry is so young, the whole book is more child-like. What I love is that throughout the series the story line gets so much darker and more mature. 

Favourite film?

My favourite film is either the Prisoner of Azkaban or the Half-Blooded Prince. I'm not sure why, but those are the 2 films I'd always choose to watch.

Least favourite film?

The Goblet of Fire is my least favourite. Maybe it's because the book is so good that the film can't match it, but it's never been on my top favourites. I still like the film though, it's still pretty good! 

Favourite character?

I think Neville would be my favourite. At the beginning he's kind of like any other extra character, but by the end his character grows so much. I do also love Hermione of course and Professor Snape.

Least favourite/ most hated character?

I can't say I hate any character because all the character's have some sort of value, but probably Lucious Malfoy. He's great in the story line, but a nasty character.

Thank you for reading! Hope you love Harry Potter as much as I do and choose to do this Tag yourself! 

Jasmine xx