New Look Jeans: Review!

So i have been buying my jeans from New Look for about 2 years now, and it's safe to say i love them! I've tried jeans from shops such as select however i find these ride down easily and go baggy in the wash. I also tried internationale (when they were still open) and had the same problem as with the select jeans.

My first pair of New Look jeans came from the 915 range when it was still fairly new and i instantly fell in love, this was at a time when i only wore flared or baggy jeans which my mum brought and it was amazing to be able to have my own jeans which i chose that were also fashionable and comfortable. Since then I've always been loyal to New Looks jeans and this has been exemplified every time i try another brand of jeans as i find myself going back to new looks jeans.

As I've grown up, skinny jeans have come into fashion and i think one of the best qualities of New Looks jeans is that they are super soft whilst still being tight and showing off your legs, they also don't loose their shape in the wash (common in other jeans of a similar price). The price is amazing, seen as their cheaper jeans are only £20, meaning you can afford a few pairs to switch and choose!

I usually go for their high waisted, super skinny jeans, in black. I absolutely love these and they have been so good at not fading and being very durable. I wear mine at least one day a week and they've kept their colour and lasted for about 6 months before i have to replace them which is pretty good for something i wear day in, day out and move about lots in. I've also found high waisted to be great as you don't have to wear them to emphasize the waist or as the statement piece of the outfit, but they do eliminate the need for a belt as I find they hug your figure and sit very comfortably on your hips (also great for keeping that bit warmer in winter).

They have definitely become my holy grail clothing item and take pride of place in my wardrobe as something that can be worn with pretty much every jumper or t-shirt that I own and something that shows off my figure whilst allowing me to cover up and keep warm. It's also my optimum time to utilize them as i don't have a uniform at the minute, this makes it even better as i always enjoy the way they are comfy and casual yet make you look like you put a lot of effort it.

I would definitely recommend checking their jeans out and definitely try them on in store so you can choose the pair that best suits you! I love my skinny jeans and New Look jeans are definitely some of thee best I know of. I hope this review was helpful and let me know if you find any jeans that you fall in love with!

Benefit: They're real! Review

Naturally, i was super exited to try this product after reading lots of positive reviews and seeing how amazing some of the results looked. My usual mascara in the Bourjois Paris Volume Glamour ultra black, so i assumed the benefit mascara would match the results of this one if not be better.

When it arrived (i order online) my initial reaction was pleased. The packaging looked awesome and the product looked good. The mascara brush is also good looking, and reassuring that it'd be good at it's job.

However, when i did try the product i was thoroughly disappointed. Applying it gave the same affect as a cheap drugstore brand. It made my eye lashes black however they weren't even slightly voluminous and they didn't appear much different to how they look without make up. They were also quite clumpy and some of my eyelashes were very stuck together, this made it very challenging to remove the mascara afterwards.

So, overall, this product may appear very effective and luxurious, but in my experience i would have been better off buying a cheaper, shops own brand that would of given the same effect. I have always loved benefits products and so had high expectations however the look it gave me was worse than what i expected, by far. I would not recommend buying this and would suggest investing your money in another brand to try. My regular mascara is better and gives me even, spaced out lashes which look very natural yet lengthened.

Vaseline- Queen Bee review

So, i brought this product on a whim, and it being £3.99 was a push considering it was a gamble. After purchasing it, i kept it for a few months before using it. Once i opened it, i was so happy with the product! It smelt great and was very smooth on the lips. You don't need alot for it to be super moisturizing and it glided across my lips. It also lasted a good few hours before it was completely absorbed into my lips. I was so happy with the overall product and i would definitely use it again! The texture was similar to coconut oil but didn't melt so easily and it actually moisturized my lips unlike othr products which promise false results. I would definitely recommend this product!

Rimmel London Brow This Way Gel

I have been absolutely loving this product as an alternative to an eyebrow pencil. I was originally using an eyebrow pencil but found it was leaving my eyebrows very bulky and fake looking. I then decided on a whim to purchase this product just to try it out. Initially i used a mix of this with an eyebrow pencil in order to give a smooth line and a bit of a bulkier fill. I found this was much more subtle than my pencil and it left a more natural pencil. Eventually i worked up to just using the gel. This meant my brows looked very natural however it allowed me to fill in the gaps where my eyebrow hair is sparse. This gave me a more desired look as i was left with a more natural look overall and my eyebrows didn't stand out too much that my face was overloaded with brows. I would definitely recommend this product for the girl who wants a natural look with effortless application. I use the lightest colour which is Blonde as i am naturally fair haired. This is also good as the colour isn't as dark. It looks great and i love it.

Vegan BBQ!

I had a BBQ yesterday with three of my friends. One of which is vegetarian and the other vegan. Because of this we had to organize foods which we all could eat and enjoy. It also became a very healthy BBQ as all our ingredients were fresh and natural. It turned out to be a very yummy and i enjoyed it alot more than i expected. I didn't even miss the absence of meat. We started with some sweet potato burgers which taste lovely off the BBQ and very very juicy. They tasted abit like onion bhaji but this was good. We also made vegetable skewers using pepper, onion, courgette and tomato. They were interesting, especially once off the BBQ. The veg was very crispy and it fell apart in your mouth. It was the first time i'd had them and i enjoyed them.

To accompany our mains we made a very artistic salad consisting of lettuce, tomato and cucumber. It was displayed beautifully and was surprisingly filling. I chopped the lettuce into strips and the cucumber into round slices. The tomatoes were quartered. 

As a sort of pudding dish we used watermelon, apricot and strawberries to create a mini fruit salad. It was the first time i'd tried an apricot. Initially i didn't think i'd like it but it was lovely and sweet and juicy and it was very enjoyable. I also thought all the fruit complimented each other and left a sweet taste in my mouth. I felt like i'd eaten unhealthy foods as it was so sweet however didn't feel guilty as i knew i'd only eaten fruit and veg. 

As a drink we had lemonade with fresh lemon slices. I poured it over ice. After letting it cool in the fridge for a while it was very tangy and fresh, i think it made the summery feel of the BBQ even better and it was a great choice for an accompanying drink. 

Overall it was a very enjoyable night with good food and good company. I would definitely eat vegan again and it was much more filling than expected. I didn't even think about the fact that there was no meat. For such a little amount of food once split it was surprising how far it went and also how nice it tasted. My opinion on veganism has definitely changed however i don't think i could change my ways forever. 

New purchases!

Yesterday i went shopping and managed to pick up some new clothes for an absolute bargain! First i found this Dorothy Perkins dress for only £2.  Following that i found a skirt from boohoo.com which only cost £4! I love the pattern on both of these pieces of clothing, the flowery design appeals to me, especially on the red skirt as it makes it that much bolder.

The button down detail on the red skirt makes it super cute and i think this would go very well with a plain vest top. I also think the dress is ideal for either work or an evening event as you can dress it up or down as desired.

After i found these i went to Matalan where they're having a sale. I managed to get a sports bralet for only £3 however i haven't been able to take a photo of this yet. I also managed to get a sporty yoga top which was only £7, an absolute bargain compared to some sporting tops on the market. It's also nice and loose meaning that when i'm exercising i can stay cool. It is also very comfortable and the way it flows makes it perfect for an exercise top for me.

I also got a beautiful blue and white pattern top with a lace trim on the bottom. It is very dainty and bright so it is perfect for summer! It is also flows nicely which makes it that much more pretty. I love the design and the pattern and i also love the fact that the lace i sewn on the outside of the top as to give a more rustic look. This was an absolute steal for only £3!

Finally i got a steal with a stripy 3/4 length sleeve blazer! It is beautiful and well fitted and i absolutely love i!! It was only £10 so that makes it even more amazing especially as it frames the body so well and is much more comfy than the traditional blazer. I fell in love with it and had to ave it, i will definitely utilize it in the winter and pair it with jeans, a vest top and a long chain chunky necklace. 

All in all it was a very good day for clothes and all the clothes i got were very comfortable and also i got a variety of items. This means i have more variety in my wardrobe and i have also catered for different seasons and events. I'm very happy with a very successful shopping trip!

MATALAN

Get ready with me! Festival Wear

So today i attended a local festival which had lots of artists performing folk style music. It had a very relaxed vibe and the singers were all very talented. I decided to go for a festival style outfit that would keep me cool as it was a hot day, so here's my routine for getting ready:

8:00am- Wake up and get breakfast, have a wash and choose my outfit.

Today i wore a white lacy detailed top from debenhams, a floral skirt from new look, boots from primark and a cardigan from H&M.

8:30am- Get dressed and begin make up routine.

8:45am- Make up!

For this look i used L'oreal Paris infallible matte foundation, i mixed it with a sport treatment gel, cucumber gel and Johnsons SPF15 face cream. By mixing these i keep my skin moisturized and clear whilst giving natural, even coverage. I use a small blob of each gel and foundation and then two blobs worth of face cream. I massage this into my skin. Whilst it soaks in i brush my teeth. After this i apply my MUA face powder with a large powder brush. Then i go to eyebrows. I comb them with an eyebrow comb and then apply Rimmel Londons eyebrow gel before combing my eyebrows through again to make sure the product is distributed evenly. For eyes i used sellotape between the corner of my eye and edge of eyebrow to create a neat line (to use when applying eyeliner flick). I then applied 3 colors from a pallet i have from Avon. Then i used my collection 2000 gel liner to flick a neat line out from my eye. After this i work my mascara brush through my lashes to fan out my lashes and give even coverage. To finish off the look i apply my J2O lip balm and my face is good to go after i use my Avon make up setting spray.

9:15am- I brush my hair through and split my hair into 4 sections. I curl each section using my curler then allow them to drop out so i get a natural lose curl to my hair. This is also effective as it suits people in a hurry and means my hair isn't getting as damaged as if i'd gone through in smaller sections. I use a small amount of No7 hairspray to keep my hair abit more tame.

9:30am- Good to go!

This routine is fantastic as it only takes an hour and a half before i'm out the door meaning i don't have to wake up super early in order to get ready. It also works great for when i'm in a rush as i know how long it'll take me to get ready. When i have bigger events such as a party of wedding i tend to turn the day into a pamper session where i take my time making everything perfect but for a day when your exited and just wnt to get out the door this is ideal! I also think my outfit complimented the event and i dressed appropriately for the weather.

Having a dance at the festival :P

Collection 2000 vs Eyeko London

I decided to do a comparison between two of my eyeliners; collection 2000 lasting colour gel eyeliner and Eyeko London skinny liquid eyeliner.

The collection 2000 i have had for quite a while and for some time it was my daily liner. This liner is fantastic as the colour is very bold and dark meaning the line stands out and brings the eye to life. It has a brush included and i find this brush to be good at creating precision lines. The only downfall of this product is that after a whole day without makeup setting spray it can create some smudging, but other than this i'd definitely recommend this product.

Eyeko is very convenient as it is already like a felt tip pen so it is easy to glide onto the eyes and you don't have to faf about with it. It leaves a neat line with a delicate point, however the colour isn't as dramatic as the collection 2000. It is also prone to rubbing off after a full day, however this may be due to the skin around my eyes being quite oily.

As the more expensive product, you'd expect Eyeko to e the best quality product. To begin with it worked marvelously and the line was very easy to draw on. It did quickly lose its colour though and after only a few weeks it was very faint. The collection 2000 however it dramatic every time and the pot lasts for ages! I know there is a difference between gel and liquid however with previous products I've found liquid to be better so i believe it is just this brand. My recommendation would be to save abit of money and invest in a gel liner as opposed to a liquid as they last so much longer and give a much more definite finish which doesn't smudge off during the day (I've found liquids have a tendency to do this). The collection 2000 is only £4.99 making it even more appealing. In my personal experience i would always use a gel eyeliner now.

Eyeko London

Collection 2000 Gel

Homemade Popcorn

As it's summer, I've been feeling very healthy and decided as a good snack I'd make popcorn. I use a popcorn making machine and popcorn seeds. A small handful makes a large bowl. The popcorn is plain and i occasionally add butter and flavoring however i find it can taste just as yummy plain if you want a quick to make, filling snack. This is also a much cheaper alternative to buying popcorn in a bag as the seeds go a long way and are cheaply available. It also has less calories meaning it is a healthy snack too! I'd definitely recommend you try making your own; here is the popcorn maker i use (I've had it for quite a few years and it has lasted well).

 My Popcorn Maker

New Look Handbag Review

For 5 months now i have been using a New Look handbag. I have noticed how well they wear and the one i am about to replace (See pink bag below) is still in very good condition, the only wear shown is on the handles. I have loved having this bag as it is quite sturdy so holds it's shape. It is also alot bigger than it looks meaning i can fit lots of stuff in there. I paid around £20 for each of my new look bags making them an absolute bargain! The latest one i  brought (blue one below) is now only £9.50, so i would definitely recommend making this purchase! (New Look Blue Bag) They're just so brilliant and novel, they're the perfect size to not get in the way and hold everything you may need. I have definitely become a big fan of their bags and will continue to purchase my bags from them! I especially love how bright and bold the colors are and they don't fade! I'd definitely recommend checking out their range as they have so many different styles so there's normally something to suit everyone. They're also very versatile as they have two sets of handles so you can wear it over your shoulder or carry on your arm.

My current bag

My new bag

Benefit Thrrrob Review

I received this as a Christmas present 2 years ago, and have had it as one of my main make- up products ever since. I like using this in the winter as it brightens up the skin and gives off a subtle glow. The benefits range of blushers are available for usually around £30. Though this is quite expensive, it is worth it if you want to splash out on a good quality blush. I also find the colors are able to brighten up most skin complexions which makes it a very versatile product.

To try it against another product i went to the bottom of the drugstore make-us and brought a MUA blusher which cost £1 (i brought the shade candyfloss). This blusher gave the same amount of colour and blended just as well. It did however feel thicker on my face and i believe it would show up differently on different skin tones meaning its not made to suit everyone. I started to use this as an everyday blush as it is good for adding a swipe of colour and it is inexpensive so you don't have to be sparing with it.

I would recommend benefits blushers for special occasions and if you want your skin to glow all the time. It is also light so feels more luxurious on your skin; however considering MUA was so much cheaper it still performed fairly well in comparison. I would recommend both of these blushers, MUA for someone on a budget and benefit for someone who likes to splash out on their make-up. To be completely honest, there isn't too much difference between the products so i'd suggest trying MUA first as if you find it works for you you've found a make-up product for a great price.

J20 Lip Balm Review

This summer I've been using this daily as a means to keep my lips super moisturized. Although it doesn't contain SPF, it is very nourishing. It also has a hint of colour which means it allows your lips to pop with minimal effort. It is also super easy to touch up on the go as you don't have to be too precise with it.

Before finding this product i was using Baby Lips, but this was actually drying my lips out and although at first it was working wonders my lips began to dry out to a point where they started cracking if i wasn't constantly applying it.

So i was very pleased to find the J20 Lip Balm as it meant i no longer had to be constantly applying lip balm just to keep my lips moisturized. By using it over time my lips have stayed very soft and this is especially beneficial seen as it's summer. It also means my make up routine is quicker. This product is great for girls on the go or who want to look good but not take their time. To make this product even better, i was able to find it in a pound land meaning it was very very affordable and i can top up easily with lots of flavors whenever i want!

L'oreal Paris Infallible Matte Foundation Review

I have been using this foundation now for about 3 months and i have fallen in love with it! I used to use Maybelline Dream Satin Liquid and although this had good coverage, it left my already oily face looking very shiny. I found the Infallible Matte whilst shopping and decided to try it as i'd seen it advertised. At first i thought it'd leave a very definite Matte finish however it blended well into my skin and gave it a very natural, even coverage. It wasn't too cakey on my skin which is also good. I particularly like mixing it with a little of my face moisturizer as this allows me to apply SPF to my skin and also allows the foundation to glide on more easily.  It lasts all day, especially when i set it with powder. I would definitely recommend this foundation and i would also suggest you try mixing it with a moisturizer as it gives you the full benefits of the foundation while allowing you to personalize how you moisturize your skin. This method is also ideal for me as i don't suffer with skin problems (aside from my face being oily) so it gives me the delicate coverage i desire. It is also very affordable as it is only £7.99, making it an ideal buy for a drugstore foundation.

Summer Snacks

I've really started to enjoy fruit this summer and have been buying lots to incorporate into my diet. Today i had a bowl of strawberries, melon and apple. I love the way it makes me feel energized and ensures i keep my hydration up as fruit is very juicy. I also like the fact that fruit has natural sugar so it tastes sweet meaning you can enjoy it as a better treat alternative to foods such as chocolate. 

Foam Hair Rollers

I have always been in two minds about using these, mainly because it is so easy to turn your curlers on and curl you hair that way.Whenever I've used these in the past i end up with perm like hair that is frizzy at the ends. However for some reason i feel compelled to purchase these again and again a few months after i throw some out. 

I decided to look on the internet to see if there were any ways to make these work for my hair. I was watching some Youtube videos and came across a tip which suggested rolling the rollers together. At first i thought it wouldn't really make any difference but decided to try it seen as it couldn't make my hair any worse than usual. 

After sleeping with the rollers in overnight i was very apprehensive about taking them out. But the results were good. It left a subtle loose curl in my hair which was what i'd wanted to achieve. I don't know how this would work in other peoples hair but i was glad it had worked well for me as i have quite soft thin hair meaning it makes it hard to hold in a style, but this lasted all day. I also didn't have to use any hairspray to keep the results. 

This is how i twisted my rollers together (right).

Overall i was very happy with this method of curling hair. 

These are the rollers i brought; they're good as they were very cheap and actually work!

Ebay Rollers

ROMWE review

I had been debating buying from Romwe after reading many online reviews, mostly negative. I had browsed their website and loved the look of most of their products especially as they were reasonable prices. I weighed up the positive and negative reviews and decided to place an order. I purchased 2 pairs of shorts, a t-shirt and 3 necklaces from Romwe. 

The main issue for many of Romwe's customers was the shipping time. On the website it says that shipping takes 10-12 days (express is 2 days quicker). Many of the negative reviews i read said that it took over a month for some parcels to arrive. However, my experience with regards to shipping was positive and the parcel arrived in 7 days (I didn't pay for express shipping). 

The t-shirt i ordered was the Banana Print Loose T-Shirt; this product was exactly like the picture and was good quality. It fitted well and the bananas aren't fading in the wash (so far).

The necklaces were fine too. I really like the Purple Gemstone Silver Hollow Moon Necklace, my only criticism would be that the chain is fairly short so it fits more like a choker. The Camera Shaped Diamante Blue Necklace looks the same as the online photograph and i actually liked it more once it had arrived, i especially like the fact it has such a long chain as it means it's easy to put on when you need to quickly add something interesting to an outfit. One necklace i wasn't so pleased with was the Gold Round Star Chain Necklace as it fell apart the first time i went to put it on. It was quite easy to fix but i was disappointed that it broke so quickly. 

Finally the shorts.  I was most exited to receive the shorts as i needed some new ones. I picked ones that were a bit quirky and when the arrived they looked just as they did online however they were way too small. I had purposely ordered large as i know that Chinese sizes differ however i'm a UK size 10 and these should of been equivalent to a UK 12, but i couldn't get them past my thighs they were so little. I ended up widening one pair and they have come out well however i shouldn't of needed to make them bigger in the first place. I have yet to expand the other pair (The second pair are adjustable waist however they still don't fit me).

• Strawberry Embroidered Cuffed Denim Shorts

• Drawstring Cuffed Flower Print Blue Denim Shorts

Overall, my Romwe experience was fairly positive as the shipping was very quick and i received some nice pieces of jewelry and clothing. The shorts however did let down the delivery for me, especially as they are so pretty and i can't wear them. I decided not to return them as you have to pay for return postage and i figured it'd be less hassle to fix the shorts myself. If you are considering ordering from Romwe i would double check what your ordering and make sure that the sizes match up to your size in your country. Romwe are good for accessories that are cheaply available and i would definitely recommend them for t-shirts as they are super comfy and the print on mine was very vibrant. Just be careful with what sizes you order. 

Here is the web address for any of you interested; Romwe Website