How to organise your life

Hi everyone, todays post is some organisation tips. Something that I am quite proud of is my organisation skills, because I have a plan and am always able to meet deadlines. Particularly if you're a student, trying to keep on top of things can be difficult, but hopefully these tips help.

Write lists - and lots of them

I talk about lists all the time, and so do most other bloggers, but they really are helpful. I write down everything I want to get done for the day, even the smallest of tests, and it's such a satisfying feeling finishing the day with everything ticked out. I try to be realistic with what I have to do, because there's not point planning to get a massive task done if you know it'll take way longer to do.

Use a planner

I have used a planner religiously for 2 years now, which doesn't sound like long, but it's made the biggest difference. In my planner I write uni deadlines down, meetings, my lists and anything else I need to remember. I much prefer to have a physical diary that I can highlight and write in than one on my phone. If you want a really pretty planner, I always find great ones in TKMaxx and Home Sense. 

Have a clean space

If my bedroom or work space is untidy then I feel so disorganised and unproductive. If you know where everything is and keep everything uncluttered, then you will feel so much more organised and ready to get stuff done. 

Leave nothing to last minute

I have never been someone to leave things to last minute, in fact, I get worried if the deadline is approaching and I haven't done it. If you get everything done nice and early you'll feel so on top of things and organised. 

Have a routine

I have tried to get myself into a routine of getting things done. The way I do it is to make sure I get all my uni work done in the week, and then can write blog posts and go to work at the weekends. This way I'm never overwhelmed by things I have to do and know I'll never fall behind with work. 

Hope this post has been helpful! 

Jasmine xx

Quick and easy everyday makeup

Hi everyone, today's post is my quick everyday makeup routine. I'm not going to go into detail on all the products as a lot of them have been featured in other blog post, and I love and recommend all these products!

Face Products

Maybelline - Superstay 24hr foundation
I've featured this in a recent favourites post. Click here to read that post.

Revolution - conceal and define concealer
I've written a review on this concealer, but spoiler if you haven't read it already, it's amazing!

MAC - studio careblend pressed powder
My first ever Mac face product. Really light feeling, and mattes my makeup down well.

Benefit - Hoola bronzer
My first benefit product, been using it for nearly 4 years and couldn't live without it!

Soap and Glory - Love at first blush
I lovely natural pinky colour, tiniest bit of shimmer.

The Balm - Mary Lou Manizer
my go-to highlighter! Stays on for ages and look lovely!

Eyebrow products

Benefit - Goof proof brow pencil
I just think that all Benefit brow products are amazing, if you haven't already, definitely try some.

Eye Products

Urban Decay - Naked Basics palette
The perfect palette when you just need to do a quick look. The lightest shade, 'Venus' is perfect for the inner corner.

Benefit - They're real mascara
One of my favourite mascaras, find it more lengthening than anything, which is good because I really don't like clumpy mascara. 

Lip Products

Revlon - Ultra HD lip colour in 'Desert'
This is also featured in my February favourites. 

Hope you've liked this short post, I have written about most of these products before on my blog, but if you want to know anymore then ask in the comments or suggest some blog posts! 

Jasmine xx

How to have the best night sleep

Hi everyone, I'm writing today all about getting a better night sleep. I'm normally a pretty good sleeper, but sometimes I do need a bit of a helping hand, especially living in a uni house full of noisy boys! 

Put that phone down

Sometimes you just need to stop scrolling and put the phone away. Instead of staring at my phone, I much prefer reading a book. It really relaxes me, and puts me in the mood to sleep. My personal favourite is Harry Potter, because I'm a major Harry Potter geek! 

Write stuff down so you don't have to think about it

Sometimes there's times when you want to sleep but just keep thinking about things you need to do. At times like this I like to write these thoughts down. This way, I am able to push it out my head and deal with it when I wake up the next day. 

Pop in some earplugs 

As I've already said, I live in a uni house with 2 unbelievably loud boys, 1 of which will never be quiet even after the 10th time of asking. This is why I wear earplugs every night whilst I'm at uni. I find that foam earplugs do nothing, so I wear silicone earplugs and can't hear anything at all. They help me sleep through any drunken-antics going on downstairs, and I'll even use them when I need to focus on uni work.

Have a routine

My top tips for creating a sleep routine is to try and fall asleep at the same time, try and get a solid 8 hours sleep, and wake up at roughly the same time. I feel like my body clock has adjusted to my routine and now I wake up at the same time regardless of setting an alarm. I'm also pretty prone to migraines and headaches, and sounds strange, but if I sleep for too long I get a headache for the whole day. This is why I get 8 hours sleep and no more than that!

Sleepy scents

Lavender sleep products seem to have gotten even more popular recently. I personally love the Sleepy body lotion by Lush, it smells and feels amazing! I am yet to try their sleep spray but that'll definitely be my next purchase from them.

Clean your sheets often

There is no better feeling than getting into a nice clean and fresh bed. I feel like I relax so much easier and get more comfortable. 

Stop working early

If you work from home or are a student you may be tempted to stay up late trying to catch up on work, but this'll mean its far more difficult to fall asleep. You're mind will still be working overdrive and hasn't had time to relax. Stop work early, have some down time and enjoy a good night sleep! 

Jasmine xx

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

     

Revolution Conceal and Define Concealer | Worth the hype?

Hi everyone, today's post is a review of the hyped up Conceal and Define Concealer by Revolution. After seeing so many people talk about it I was so desperate to try it, and for £4 you can't go wrong! I bought mine from Superdrug, as other websites I tried to buy it from were all sold out.

If you didn't know this about me, I am pretty pale, like I normally would walk up to a makeup counter and ask for the palest shade and it's perfect. That's why I got the shade C1, which is the lightest shade. On my skin, it is the perfect shade, the issue is finding a pale enough foundation to match, but for highlighting under my eyes it's perfect. Hopefully Revolution comes out with a range of foundation to match the concealer, because then I may find the perfect shade my pale skin!

I've heard that it's comparable to the Tarte Shape Tape Concealer, but unfortunately I haven't tried it! It's quite full coverage, or at least full coverage for under my eyes, but for covering spots I personally prefer the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer.

The consistency of the concealer is pretty thick, but it doesn't feel thick on your eyes, you can barely feel it there! I haven't noticed any creasing under my eyes, which I would normally get from most other concealers, so if you often get creasing, then give this concealer a go.

The concealer seems to wear pretty well, and I don't see myself having to reapply throughout the day. I do set my entire face with powder, but I never reapply powder throughout the day.

The packaging is so lovely, especially considering it is only £4. The shade range is also really good, going from pretty pale to pretty dark.

If you haven't already tried it, I definitely recommend giving it a go! Now the hype has died down a little, there seems to be more of the concealer shades in stores, so you should be able to get your hand on it!

Thanks for reading, and if you have any other concealer recommendations then let me know!

Jasmine xx

Long Distance Relationship at University

Hi everyone, today's post is all about having a long distance relationship at university. I know that maybe not all of you will be interested in this, but personally this is something I'd find helpful and interesting to read. 

(P.s. Please excuse the awful picture of me! All my nice pictures are at home and I'm at uni!)

So me and Ben haven't been together that long compared to most couples. W've been together just under 8 months, but it's been the best 8 months ever. I'm not ages away from home, its just under a 2 hour drive, but for a home-bird like me it's too far! Ben is also a chef so he works crazy hours and never has weekends off! But so far, despite missing each other loads, its working out well. So here are some tips and some ways we've made a long-distance relationship work;

1. FaceTime whenever you can! Phoning each other is great but face timing is better!

2. Try and make time for each other wherever possible. Obviously this may not be possible if you live in different countries, but going to meet one another, even if you don't see each other that long, is worth it. Ben's driven up later after work one night, had a day with me and then left super early the next morning to get to work. And sometimes I'll come home on a weekend just to see him for a couple hours once he finished work. 

3. Don't get angry if they can't visit you one day. Long distance relationships is bad enough, but having arguments about it too makes it worse. Just accept that they may not be able to visit you all the time, and see each other when you can. 

4. When you do see each other, make a fuss of each other! Go out on dates, cook with each other, movie nights, whatever it is that you can enjoy together!

If you have any tips for long distance relationships then please let me know in the comments! 

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