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

Get to know me tag!

Hey there!

So I thought I haven't written a blog post in while because of all my university deadlines.

And since I'm still terribly busy most of the time, I thought I could do a fun 25 questions tag thing in which I can hopefully tell you guys a little bit about myself. 

Here it is:

1: Do you have any pets ?
Sadly, no. Since I am at university we aren't allowed to keep pets in the house, but hopefully one day I'll be able to get a puppy!

2: Name three things that are physically close to you?
My phone, a cup of hot chocolate and a Yankee candle

3: What’s the weather like right now ?
Terrible! It's really rainy and cold outside so I'm having a nice night in.

4: Do you drive ? If so, have you crashed?
I do! I managed to finally get my driver's license in January, and thankfully haven't crashed yet.

5: What time did you wake up this morning ?
Around 11, I thought I'd allow myself to have a nice lie in this morning

6: When was the last time you showered ?
This morning :)

7: What was the last movie that you saw ?
I have been mainly watching TV shows recently, so the last film I saw was "50 Shades of Grey"
(click link to read my review of it!)

8: What does you last text message say?
"No worries" to my housemate.. not too exciting

9: What is your ringtone ?
The classic iPhone ringtone, although my phone is always on vibrate

10: Have you ever been to a different country?
Yes I have, and I used to travel quite a lot when I was younger, hopefully soon I can start travelling more again!

11: Do you like sushi?
LOVE sushi. Genuinely one of my favourite foods.

12: Where do you buy your groceries?
I'm a poor student so I order most of my stuff off ASDA, but I do try to buy fruit and vegetables from the local market.

13: Have you ever taken any medication to help you fall asleep faster?
I have, mainly to fight jetlag or when I'm feeling very anxious about something.
Question 14: How many siblings do you have ?
None :) I'm an only child

15: Do you have a desktop computer or a laptop?
Laptop

16: How old will you be turning on your next birthday?
20, which terrifies me! I do not feel that age

17: Do you wear contacts or glasses ?
Neither, I am very lucky to have perfect vision

18: Do you colour your hair ?
No, my hair is naturally very blonde and whilst I've considered dying it a different colour I don't have the guts to do it

19: Tell me something you are planing to do today
Work on my French presentation and cook myself a yummy dinner

20: When was the last time you cried?
Sometime this week, it was a very emotional Vampire Diaries episode.

21: What is your perfect pizza topping?
Ham and mushrooms and a LOT of cheese

22: Which do you prefer, hamburger or cheeseburger ?
Cheeseburger, is that even a question?

23: Have you ever had an all-nighter ?
A few times

24: What is your eye colour ?
I'd say hazel, although loads of people think they're brown

25: Can you taste the difference between Pepsi and Coke?
Yes. Pepsi tastes like deceit.

Until Next Time, 

Sofia xx

5 Morning Habits to Motivate You For The Day

Hey There!
We all have those days where we wake up and just don't have the desire to do anything that day. I get it - I go through that at least once a week. And sure, we all deserve to have a lazy Sunday once in while where we can spend the day in our PJ's, eat Ben and Jerry's and watch embarrassing amounts of Netflix. And you shouldn't feel guilty about that - we've all been there. 

But what about the rest of the time? 

How can we motivate ourselves to be productive on days where nothing seems to be working in our favour? 

I've recently been working on ways to start the day off on a positive, energetic note and come up with a few useful techniques. Now, these may not work for everyone, but they've worked for me, so why not give it a try?  

1. Make a list of things you want to accomplish the night before.

Keep this list short and relatively simple, and don't forget to include some things to look forward to, whether it is meet up with a friend for coffee, or have a nice hot bath with a bath bomb from Lush. I like to decorate mine with some pretty drawings and leave it by my bed so I can look at it as soon as I wake up. This will keep you on schedule and motivate you to get more done. 

2.  Keep a glass of water by your bed. 

A cold refreshing drink in the morning will provide you with energy as well as helping you rehydrate yourself before you even get out of bed. For me, I feel like this really helps me wake up faster and get my mind focused on getting on with the rest of my morning ritual. 

3. Spend the first few minute lying in bed without checking your phone or laptop. 

I've been there - reaching for my phone to check for any messages, Facebook notifications and Instagram updates before I've even fully opened my eyes. Try to stop yourself from doing that and spend a few minutes just thinking about what the day will bring you. Allow yourself to wake up properly and think about the simple things before diving head first into the whirlpool of social media. You have all day to do that - treasure those simple morning moments. 

4. Think of 5 reasons to be happy that day. 

This sounds super cheesy, I'm aware. But it really works. I've been doing this for a week or so and this really puts me in a better mood. Rather than thinking of all the deadlines I have to meet, the dreaded gym session I have to drag myself to, I like to think of all the things that make me happy. It can be absolutely anything - that warm bowl of porridge I will be having for breakfast, or the fact that it's finally sunny outside, or perhaps writing a new blogpost. (That was one of mine this morning)

5. Take a few moments to stretch once you're out of bed. 

Whilst a couple of nice thoughts can get your mind going in the morning, the way to get the body working is a nice quick stretch. During the night, our bodies can get all stiff, especially if you haven't slept right. It only takes a couple of minutes to reawaken our muscles.

I hope that these tips can help some of you, and make those mornings less "ugh" and more "yay"!

What are some of your morning rituals that help you get on with the day? Let me know down in the comments!

Until Next Time, 

Sofia xx

50 Shades of Red | Finding The Perfect Red Lipstick

Hey There!

So today I thought I'd write a post on finding the perfect red lipstick. 

Finding the perfect shade can be difficult, especially considering how many options there are out there: the blood red, the cherry red, the burgundy, the matte, the glossy...

But a red lipstick can really enhance your makeup look and add a pop of colour when you need it. This is especially relevant in the winter months where amongst the darkness and the greyness of the surroundings all you really want is that splash of colour. 

Now, I am very pale in the winter months, and that's when I wear my red lipstick the most. I feel like it contrasts well with the white slate that is my skin. 

In the summer, I tend to go for lighter colours and more natural looks. But if I do feel like spicing up the look a little bit, a bright red is my best friend.

So below I will show you some of my all-time favourite shades. 

1. MAC's matte lipstick "Diva"

Ok, so this one is an absolute winner for me. I spent the longest time searching for a dark red lipstick colour that is matte, stays on well and doesn't smudge. Diva does all of those things and looks great with a light eye-makeup and a natural contouring. 

2. NYX Jumbo Lip Pencil in No. 704 "Flamboyant Red"

This one makes the list mainly because of its colour payoff and its easy application. It is a bright glossy colour, but it does smudge quite easily. 

3. Lancome Colour Lip Fever in No. 120 "Red en Vogue" 

This is one of my oldest red lipsticks, and I still absolutely love it! The colour is rich, a very "true" red. It looks amazing paired with with a neutral eye makeup and a peachy blush. 

4. NYX Round Case Lipstick in No. 545 "Hero" 

This one is a little bit different to the rest of the lipsticks in this post. It is more of a berry red, rather than a true red, and I came across it when I was trying to find the perfect dark red colour (See MAC Diva above). Although this wasn't quite the colour I expected judging by the packaging, I grew to love it!

So there it is - my top 4 red lipsticks!

Hope you guys enjoyed this post and that it helped some of you discover your perfect shade!

Let me know your top picks in the comments!

Until next time,

Sofia xx