Benefit Roller Lash Mascara Review

Hey there!
So I have been seeing reviews of this mascara literally everywhere, and it's been getting some fairly positive reviews!

So when I realised I was running out of mascara (and that's a serious emergency for someone with blonde eyelashes), I decided to pay the Benefit counter a little visit. 

I was feeling a little sceptical about it at first because I usually don't go for over-publicised makeup items as I feel like usually they tend to be overrated. Plus, over the years I've found a number of favourites that I just keep coming back to time and time again.

But I decided to be brave and branch out a little

So here is my review of the Benefit Roller Lash Mascara.

The mascara is relatively pricy at ‎‎‎£19.50 in the UK, however it corresponds with regular benefit prices. For a good quality mascara that will last you quite a long time it is a fairly reasonable price.

The mascara claims to be able to replace eyelash curlers by giving your eyelashes a visible lift, whilst curling them and visually opening the eyes. 

The wand is quite a small one, with a slight curve and silicone bristles. This is the main reason I was unsure about the mascara - I tend to prefer thicker brushes with bristles. But hey, I'm all about trying new things lately. The curve seemed to be perfect for the effect the mascara claimed to offer - lift and curl. 

So here is a demonstration of the mascara on my lashes. I naturally do not have very thick or long lashes so the mascara makes a fairly visible difference. 

This is the result of applying 2 coats of mascara. I feel like it does curl them a fair amount, whilst giving them some thickness and lift. 

I do wish it separated the lashes a little better, but since that's not one of the claims Benefit makes for it I can't blame them. Just a personal criticism. 

For everyday wear, it is dramatic enough to wear on its own without eyeliner, but paired with nice eye-makeup it would make a great evening look as well. 

I will definitely continue using the mascara, and see if it wins my heart over completely. For now though, I do think it is money well spent as it does what it promises you and seems to stay on for a long period of time (which is very important if your lifestyle is anything like mine and involves being out and about most of the day). 

What do you think? Does it do what the package promises? Will you be buying the mascara any time soon too? 

Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time, 

Sofia xx

Piccolino Restaurant Review | Leeds

Hey There!

I feel like I need to post a bit of an update since recently I've had quite a lot going on.

Between choosing a new house for next year (as well as housemates), my mum coming to visit me, and general university stress I've been super busy lately!

So one of the highlights of the past week or so was my mum coming to see me for a couple of days to spend her birthday with me, which has been really lovely!

My mum and I are really close and I thought I'd do something nice for her to make sure she has a lovely birthday.

So on Monday I decided to take her out for a nice meal at an Italian restaurant called Piccolino.

It is part of chain called Individual Restaurants, which operate around the UK. 

I had been there once before and absolutely loved it, which made me want to come back and then share this with others!

Upon arriving there, we were greeted by a maitre who offered to take our coats and then showed us to our table. It was a Monday evening so the place was quite empty, allowing us to have a quiet dinner. 

We ordered a bottle of rosé prosecco to celebrate the occasion, and it was a nice addition to the overall sophisticated ambiance of our dining experience. 

We were given complimentary olives and some delicious fresh bread with olive oil to dip it into. It was hard to resist eating it all, but we had to make room for the actual food. 

We order a starter to share, and although we were tempted to try everything on the menu, we settled for a simplistic, but yet delicious dish of melon wrapped in prosciutto. 

It was light and refreshing, and whilst it is a simple dish it is nevertheless an Italian staple.

Next, we were brought our main course dishes. I decided to try the Risotto con Zucca - risotto with butternut squash and parma ham, garnished with crispy prosciutto and gorgonzola cheese. My mum chose another delicious dish - the Ravioli al Granchio. Handmade ravioli, stuffed with hand-picked crab, served with olive oil, garlic and chilli. I had to try a bit of hers just because of how decadent it sounded, and I was equally impressed with both dishes. 

The ravioli were large and had a fantastic dough-to-crabmeat ratio, where you could really distinguish the flavour of the decadent meat. The fact that it was served without an overpowering dressing was perfect. 

The risotto was smooth and creamy, yet still al dente as it should be. The butternut squash added to the creaminess, whilst the parma ham gave it a subtle smoky taste, perfectly accompanying the kick that the gorgonzola provided. 

Both dishes were served hot, flavours smoothly melting together to create a beautiful concoction. We opted for small portions, which were enough to fill us both up considering we had the starter as well. 

After we had finished our meal, we were given the desert menu and there were a lot of things that tempted me, such as the molten chocolate cake served with caramel ice cream, and the passionfruit cheesecake. 

However, before I could make my mind up, they brought out a large plate with a sparkler, some chocolate truffles and a chocolate writing saying "Happy Birthday Maria!" It was such a lovely touch and put a huge smile on my mum's face, which truly wrapped up our wonderful evening. 

I will definitely be coming back there for another special treat, especially since the price to quality ratio is very reasonable and you get what you pay for. The staff were very polite and friendly, and we never felt rushed or neglected. 

I hope you've enjoyed this restaurant review, as I'm hoping to be writing a lot more of these in the future!

Until Next Time, 

Sofia xx