February Favourites

Hi everyone, today's post is my February favourites. I love reading what peoples favourite products have been, so I thought I'd share mine with you. I'll be honest, this month I haven't actually tried that many new things, but since I haven't posted a monthly favourites in a while I thought I'd write it anyway!

1. Sí by Giorgio Armani

I love this fragrance so much, it's the eau de toilette which is slightly lighter than the original and perfect for just an everyday scent. It's quite sweet but nothing too sickly, and the bottle is just beautiful!

2. Thick and Fast HD Mascara High Definition Collagen Coat by Soap and Glory

I constantly re-purchase this mascara as it's probably my all time favourite. It gives your lashes loads of volume, so I use a steady hand and that way it gives a really fluttery look and makes your lashes look fuller. Personally, I prefer to use a mascara with a super small wand for my bottom lashes, so I only use this for my top lashes.

3. Superstay 24H foundation by Maybelline

I have this foundation in the shade 05 light beige which is perfect on me. Don't be fooled by the shade name, when I compared this shade to 010 Ivory, it was much lighter. This foundation is pretty full coverage which I love, and I find a little goes a long way, so I use a maximum of a pump and a half.

4. Crushed Jewel cream eyeshadow by Barry M

I bought this eye shadow on a bit of a whim as I'd never seen to before or heard about it. This one is in the shade '3 Cloud Nine' and the best way I can explain the colour is mainly a metallic bronze but almost copper. I normally will put on a tiny bit and then blend it out, as it's super pigmented, so for an everyday look it's better sheered out. Barry M have loads of different shades so will have to pick some more up!

5. Ultra HD Gel Lip Colour by Revlon

I originally bought this shade, '710 Dessert' to wear to my mums wedding back in October, but after the wedding I lost it and only just found it at the end of January. This shade is a 'your lips but better' shade. It feels really moisturising and comfortable with a bit of a sheen, but nothing too glossy. This is my perfect everyday lipstick and is a regular in my handbag.

6. Highlighting Palette in '032 Solstice' by Sleek Makeup

I am a lover of The Balm Mary Lou Manizer, but when I don't want a golden highlight then I'll use this palette. For such an affordable palette it is so pigmented and looks beautiful! Unlike some highlights, it blends nicely into the skin and doesn't like like just a strip of shimmer on your face. I don't use the brush it comes with, but it is nice to have it as apart of the palette.

7. Naked Heat palette by Urban Decay

I've saved the best for last...After lusting over the palette since the day it was released, I got bought this amazing palette from my Auntie for Christmas. My favourite colours to use on my eyes are reds, oranges and golds, so this palette is perfect. There are so many looks that can be created with it, my personal favourite is when I take a pink eyeshadow as a crease colour and then use the palette for my lid, lower lash line, inner corner and transition shade. If you are a lover of warm eye shadows and haven't already got this, then treat yourself to it, you won't be disappointed!

Thank you for reading, please let me know your favourite products this month!

Jasmine x

     

My 'Go-To' Fragrances

Hi everyone, today's post is my go-to fragrances. When I was younger for some reason I tried to rebel against most girly things my mum liked, which is pretty odd when compared to what I'm like now. I would refuse to wear any makeup and would never let my mum paint my nails, but one thing I would always love is perfume. My mum used to work in the offices of a department store and would always bring home perfume for me to try, and so when I was 15 I got a job on the makeup and fragrance department of the store, and so I got to try a lot of new perfumes!

I like quite sweet and floral fragrances, but more mature ones rather than the sickly sweet ones. I do sometimes like fresh fragrances for everyday too.

These are just some of my favourite fragrances that I will grab for most often!

One of my most loved fragrances is the Georgio Armani Sí perfume. I used to wear this everyday when I worked on the fragrance counter at the department store. It's quite a 'grown up' screen, if you know what I mean, but it quite sweet as well. 

The Lady Million fragrance by Paco Rabanne is also a favourite. It quite fresh and sweet and a slightly more 'grown up' scent. 

The Daisy perfume by Marc Jacobs is gorgeous. I have both the Eau de Perfume and Eau de Toilette and love them both, but this Eau de Toilette is a lovely light floral scent which is perfect for everyday. 

The CK One Gold by Calvin Klein is quite different to most of my fragrances. It is quite inexpensive which makes it perfect for an everyday scent, and is by far the most fresh scented perfume I own, which makes a nice change to my sweet scents. 

One fragrance that you may not have heard of it the JLo Miami Glow Perfume. This fragrance is actually discontinued but you can still by it on Amazon and websites such a Fragrance Direct. Back when this perfume wasn't discontinued, before I was even a teenager, my mum and her best friend would wear this perfume and it just reminds me of them when I was younger! It's pretty sweet but not too sickly.

Hope you've liked this post! Let me know what other posts you'd like to read!

Jasmine x

When to give your makeup the chuck | Makeup Expiration Dates

Hey everyone, if you're anything like me, then you're a bit of a makeup hoarder. I just collect my makeup and never seem to bin them, but the other day I did have a clear out of all the old products. It's important to do this because otherwise the products won't work to the best of their abilities and the product will collect bacteria. So here is a rough guide on when to bin old makeup products, and signs that your makeup is too old to use!

Mascara - 2-3 months - clumpy, smells weird, spreads bacteria

Liquid foundation and concealer - 6-12 months - separate layers or lightened - keep out of sunlight as uv rays destroy preservation

Lip stick - 2 years - dry

Lip gloss - 1 year - extra sticky

Nail polish - 1-2 years - gloopy or won't mix when shaken

Powder, eyeshadow, blush - 2 years - more dry and flaky

Fragrances - 8-10 years - smell different and lighter colour - keep in cool dry places

Lotion - change in scent or colour

Hope this post was helpful!

Jasmine x

Healthy(ish) Flapjack Recipe

Hi everyone, todays post is a healthy(ish) flapjack recipe. I took a basic flapjack recipe and just altered it to be a tad healthier and it has turned out great. If you're not too fussed on the health aspect of this recipe, you could add chocolate chips too!

Ingredients;

3 cups of oats (I just used basic porridge oats)

1 cup of milk (I used soya milk)

1/2 cup of honey 

1/2 cup of walnuts

1/2 cup of cashews

1/2 cup of pecans

1/4 cup of brown sugar

Little bit of desiccated coconut to go on top

Can I also just point out how adorable these cat measurement cups are!

1. First I preheated the oven to gas mark 5. 

2. I chopped up all the nuts and mixed all the ingredients together. I then put the mixture into a baking tray lined with baking paper and flattened the mixture out. I then sprinkled the desiccated coconut on the top.

3. I then put the tray in the oven for 20 minutes, but make sure you check them every now and then, because I did cook this in the oven at university and the oven is a bit dodgy compared to other ovens.

4. I then waited for it to cool and then cut it into 10 bars.

Hope you liked this recipe, and if you make them then please let me know or send me a picture of them on Instagram!

Jasmine x

My University Experience So Far

Hey everyone, I thought I'd write a little blogpost on my university experience so far. This might be interesting for those of you trying to decide whether or not to go to university or maybe if you're already at university and just wandering how over people are finding university.

Personally the homesickness kicked in very early in the first and second week, but since then I've been absolutely fine and settled in really well.

Before I carry on with all the great things about university, I guess I had better get the bad thongs out of the way. So before coming to university I'll admit I wasn't the tidiest, in fact my mum was pretty sure I'd be the messiest person at university, but university has turned me into a bit of a clean freak. As much as this could be seen as a good thing, the only reason this has happened is because the kitchen is normally always a disgusting and messy. People leave there stuff anywhere, leave their rubbish lying around for days or until someone tidies for them and don't wash up for days so there are dirty plates everywhere. Also, one flatmate decided to cut her toenails in the kitchen and leave all the clippings everywhere... I know, its disgusting. This is something I'm still trying to deal, and I'm just hoping people are tidier next term.

When living with strangers its inevitable that there will be arguments, and trust me we've had a lot. We're all making more effort now to get along but there have been many house meetings to try and sort things out.

Money can be an issue. I was lucky enough to work lots over summer so have savings but for most of my house mates their motto is "out it on the overdraft". As long as you're careful with money you'll be fine, one of my house mates had far more money than me yet he still ended up with no overdraft left by the end of term, so you just need to budget well.

Now the good things... I love the independence I have from living away from home and being able to do whatever I want. I actually quite enjoy doing my own food shopping and looking after myself. Although sometimes having my mum at uni would be helpful just to force me to go into my seminars rather than sleep. My course overall is great and other than one module I'm really enjoying it. So far all my assessments have been coursework which has been great too. I live in Bath now and I love it here. Over Christmas its been hectic because of tourists visiting the Christmas markets, but its such a beautiful place to live. The nightlife is also pretty good, but most nights we go to the Student Union bar instead.

If you're at university then let me know what its been like for you so far!
Thanks for reading!

Jasmine xx

Current ASOS Wish List

Hi everyone, I haven't written a blog post in quite a while mainly due to my exams and now I'm working full time. I do really want to get back into blogging, especially as I'll be (hopefully) going to university in September and would love to write some university posts. If anyone would like to do any collaborations or would like to give me any blog post ideas, please let me know in the comments! Enough of me blabbering on, here is my current ASOS wish list;

From left to right;

1. ASOS T-Shirt With Sequin Sleeve - £20.00 

2. ASOS Denim Shirt in Washed Black - £20.00

3. ASOS Crinkle Oversize Blouse - £25.00 

4. ASOS Jumper With Pug Elbow Patch - £22.00 

5. ASOS Jumper in Mesh Stripe - £32.00

6. ASOS Wrap Front Pleat Peplum Top - £30.00 

Hoped you've liked this little post. If there are any other shops you'd like me to do a wish list for, then please let me know!

Jasmine x

Top 5 Favourite Candles

Hi everyone, todays post is most top 5 favourite candles. It's just a little post because I am pretty hopeless at describing scents, but all 5 are very sweet, so if you prefer musky scents, these may not be for you. Give them a smell when you're next shopping, especially Yankee Candle's 'Pink Sands' because it's my all time favourite! They'd also make great presents for any candle lover.

Yankee Candle - 'Sweet Apple'
Lily Flame - 'Party Time'
Yankee Candle - 'Pink Sands'
Yankee Candle - 'Margarita Time'
Yankee Candle - 'Wild Passion Fruit'

'Wild Passion Fruit' was the first ever Yankee Candle I bought, and when I had it in the small jar, it was such a lovely strong scent that fills a room amazingly!

Thanks for reading
Jasmine x

Best Bold Brow Products - Brow Routine

With the hype around bold brows just not fading, I've tried to find the perfect brow products. Although I love bold brows, I love them to look natural too, so I try to make them look naturally full and shaped. This can be difficult with my brows as my hair may be naturally brown, but my brows are naturally blonde. These are the products that I love to get my perfect brows;

After brushing through my eyebrows with a spoolie, I use the Benefit 'gimme brow' in the shade 'medium/deep', to add colour to my brows and set the shape.

Next I fill in my eyebrows with the Natural Collection (Boots) eyeshadow in 'Crushed Walnut'. I only do this lightly just to add more colour, and fill in anywhere looking a little sparse.

I then use the Soap&Glory 'Archery Brow Tint & Precision Shaping Pencil' in the shade 'Brownie Points' to add shape to my brows. This is my favourite brow product as it means I can shape my brows perfectly, and is so much better to any brow pencils that I've tried before! I use the crayon end to make a faint outline on the top of my brows, and use the felt tip end to draw hair like lines wherever I need them.

Next I use the L.A. Girl 'PRO.conceal' concealer in the colour 'porcelain' to go around my brows in-order to clean up the edges, which make my brows stand out more. I blend this in with a small flat eyeshadow brush. I then use my Benefit 'High Beam' highlighter underneath my brow bone, so it looks like my eyebrows have more of an arch.

Finally, I use my Maybelline 'Brow Drama' in 'medium brown', to set my eyebrows, and I find this product makes my brows look more natural. 

If you have any favourite brow products please write them in the comments below, I love trying out new ones!

Jasmine x