How to actually stick to New Year's resolutions

So I try not to set concrete resolutions every year. I always say I'm going to 'try' and do something, because I can be such a fickle person, and lose interest in things very quickly!

I heard about this idea, where you don't set a bunch of resolutions to do all year, but you think of 12, and then do one monthly. I thought this was brilliant, one because I think a month is a good amount of time to set yourself to try something out, and by giving yourself an end date you're more likely to see it through until the end of the month.

I'm not 100% sure what my resolutions will be throughout the year, but my January resolution is going to be:

Put your phone away when you're around other people

I am so guilty of being with my boyfriend, my friends, and my family, and being on my phone. I've been on the receiving end of it, and it is one of those things that does annoy me, particularly when you're trying to talk to someone and they're straight up blanking you because they're doing something on their phone. I feel like I can't really say anything though, because I do it too! But for one month, I'm going to put my phone away in social situations. I really hope that I learn something from this months resolution, and that it kinda sticks with me somewhat throughout the year. Only time will tell!

Do you believe in resolutions? If so, have you got any? If not, what do you think of monthly resolutions instead?

Workouts at Home

Who has the time/money/motivation for the gym? Quite a lot of people actually who like to put us all to shame....BUT if you're a lazy person, who hates working out in front of others, is cheap and feels like you have no time to go the gym, then this post is for you!

I do all my exercise at home. I follow a bunch of youtube accounts/blogs that are dedicated to exercise and keeping fit! The beauty is that you can do this in the comfort of your own living room, you don't have to worry about what you're wearing, you can plan your workouts on how much time you have to spare, and you don't have to worry about actually getting up and going to the gym!

I thought as there will be quite a few of you who will want to try and lose weight or be healthier in the new year, that i would do a post about all the youtube accounts and blogs that i follow to try and keep myself in shape

DISCLAIMER - I am not a fitness guru by anyone's standards! I just like to do little things now and again, it makes me feel better about having a monstrous curry one night if i do a good workout the day after. ANYWAY, let's dive in....

Yoga With Adrienne
You probably have heard of YWA, if you haven't then GO, NOW, YOGA. Seriously even if you are a complete and utter beginner, Adrienne has got your back. There are a bunch of beginner videos, foundations of yoga videos which break down the moves for you, and simple gentle practices that can help you ease into it. I would especially recommend doing the 30 days of yoga challenge, i am currently doing the second 30 days of yogacamp which is amazing and so so rewarding. I promise you will feel 100% better and different for incorporating a bit of yoga into your life, even if it's a tiny bit here and there.

Blogilates

Cassis is crazy. I mean that in the best way possible! She will absolutely kick your ass, and still be so perky and smiling! I'll be there dripping with sweat, red like a beetroot, and she's there grinning like a cheshire cat, looking perfect and fit. Regardless of how much of a fitness goddess she is, she also runs the best fitness youtube channel/blog called Blogilates. The thing i love about Blogilates, is that if you sign up to the newsletter, you get monthly workout calendars and different challenges throughout the year, which are completely free! Cassie creates playlists on her youtube channel for the different days, which i love because i can just do whatever day that i'm on without worrying that I've missed out.

Fit Sugar

This is a blog that you've probably heard of, it covers pretty much everything that you'd like to read about regarding fitness, health, and wellbeing. I don't read it religiously, but i do like to have a quick neb from time to time. I like to mix up my routines, so sometimes it's fun to throw in something different that I've seen on fit sugar.

Tone it up

I envy these girls so much it's ridiculous! Karena and Katrina are gorgeoussssss, so healthy and fit. They run a blog, and youtube channel, but they also do a lot of workout DVD's that you can buy, and also things like nutrition plans, etc. to keep you in shape all year round. I like to do the various videos on their youtube channel, depending on what mood i'm in and what body part i want to work. If you are a little more serious about your fitness, then i'm sure that their nutrition plans and DVD's are worth buying! They're just a bit more on the pricey side, if what you're looking for is a cheap and easy way to workout.

If you're trying to do little things here and there to try and better yourself, then try doing a few workout videos every couple of days. I promise if you keep it up, you'll definitely see a difference and feel so much better in yourself.

If you already use these accounts, or use any others that are just as good let me know! Let's have a healthy start to the year!

The No-Mascara Mascara

Ahh Benefit, you never fail to impress. The latest edition in the They’re Real! range is the They’re Real Mascara Primer which boasts to give a natural look to eyelashes, increase length, volume, separation and curl. You can get the sample size for free with Elle magazine at the moment, which is worth picking up for £4.10!

This is a product that, as you will see from my pictures below, you can wear on its own, or as a base to then add your mascara. The primer is a brown colour which gives the natural look, and the brush is the same as the original They're Real mascara brush, which if you have used before, you will know is fantastic.

The primer itself is brilliant, I have been wearing this to work all week just on its own, and then topping up with mascara afterwards if I'm going out for the evening. This works as it doesn't feel dry and crunchy on your eyelashes once you've had it on for a while, it manages to stay quite soft on your eyes for quite a long time, ready to be topped up. It says on the box that 91% of people said that it is soft enough to layer on mascara 6 hours later, which is a pretty good indication to go on.

I ran out of my beloved They're Real mascara, so the mascara that I have used in the above picture is the Seventeen Dolled Up mascara, which is actually quite a good budget dupe. I have to say that the primer works wonders with mascara for plumping up the lashes. I can definitely see a difference with the volume and separation.

Overall, I would definitely pick this up. I'm not 100% sure how much this product will be when it hits the shops, but as all Benefit products are, I would guess it will be fairly expensive. However, for the versatility of the product, I would say it is definitely worth trying out. If you're unsure, it's at least worth grabbing the sample size in Elle magazine to try it out before you buy. As I said before, this can be used every day, for a natural look, or to prime a bolder look, I am really impressed with this, as I am with all Benefit products

What do you think of this latest offering by Benefit? Are you a fan of Benefit products? Let me know your favourites

Make your own PSL

I turn into your basic white girl when Autumn comes around. I love me my PSL's. I practically squealed when i saw the sign in the Starbucks window. I decided that I would try and make own seeing as the closest Starbucks to me is a 30 minute drive away!

First off, you need pumpkin pie spice, now this is very hard to get hold of in the UK. You can buy this online, or you can make some yourself which I chose to do. Basically all you have to do is throw a load of spices together, easy as pie (lol).

Pumpkin Pie Spice
- 3 tablespoons of cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons of ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons of ground nutmeg
- 1 1/2 teaspoons of ground allspice
- 1 1/2 teaspoons of ground cloves

You can get all of the above ingredients from Tesco or other supermarkets.

Once you have made your pumpkin pie spice, you need to heat up your milk either in a little pan or in the microwave. As you heat up your milk, add as much pumpkin pie spice as you like, I go for half a teaspoon as it is quite strong! then I like to add some vanilla essence (or vanilla coffee syrup, either will work) to make it a bit sweeter.

Then add half brewed coffee to your cup, and half  of your milk, also as much sugar as you like to sweeten it up. I like to have it in my big Starbucks mug for added affect ;)

There you have it! How to make your own PSL. Let me know how you like this easy recipe :)

Soap & Glory - One Heck of a Blot Range

You may have seen this little collection sneak up on the Soap and Glory stands at Boots. I did originally want to re-purchase the One Heck of a Blot powder, which is a staple for us shiny gals,  but when I saw the range and a 3 for 2 label, I could not resist.

I thought I would review the primer and foundation individually with the use of other products, and then altogether using them all. I use the powder daily, as I think it is the best blotting powder out there. This product on its own is fantastic and will reduce oiliness as well as giving you a perfect finish over make up. If you go for one thing in this range I would recommend this.

Obviously everyone has different skin types and different routines when it comes to touching up their make up. I personally have combination skin, but throughout the day I do get very oily and shiny around my T zone and on my cheeks.

Primer

The primer is thick in consistency and quite tacky. It is still quite smooth on the skin giving a nice even base for make up application. I have used this with my Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Foundation, and have found that I stay shiny free for about 4 hours.  This for me is pretty good, as it normally only takes me a couple of hours to be reaching for my powder! I have to say also when I do feel my face becoming oily, it's not as bad as it usually is with a normal primer/foundation. It manages to reduce the oiliness of my skin throughout the day very well.

Foundation
The foundation is unlike any that I have used before. It is a liquid to powder foundation with a very bizarre consistency. There are only four shades which isn't great, but as this is a new range I'm assuming they want to test the waters before they bring out any more. I obviously went for the lightest shade which is fair enough, the shade is actually called fair enough! you can't beat Soap and Glory for their clever play on words. A word of warning! If you have dry skin/patches, I imagine that this would cling to them quite badly. This managed to keep me oily free for about 5 hours which is pretty good! It does however tend to look a bit patchy though as the day goes on. Overall it is a good foundation that gives a good flawless base, and does a great job at reducing oiliness.

Primer/Foundation Combo
Together, these products are a fierce attack on shine, keeping me oil free for around 5/6 hours. The thing i do find though is that this does get quite patchy and if you're not careful, it can look very cakey if you put a generous amount of foundation on in the first instance and then topping up with powder.

Overall i would say that this is a very unique range that is definitely worth trying. I love the primer and the powder, the foundation is definitely worth trying but its not the best I've ever used. If you've tried Soap and Glory products before, you'll know that they're a fantastic brand and always bring out worthwhile products. Also as a side note, the packaging is beautiful!

What do you think of Soap and Glory products? Have you tried anything in this range? What's your favourite?

Maybelline Creamy Mattes

Who doesn't go crazy over a matte lipstick? I very rarely go for anything other than matte to be honest with you, i think that they just look classic and gorgeous. When i saw the new creamy matte range from Maybelline, i had to grab some. I've been a big fan of their lipsticks in the past, and thought these would be no exception.

I picked up two shades, a gorgeous rosy red (siren in scarlett) and a deep plum (divine in wine). The darker shade is definitely my favourite. It's a great bold colour that gives me a 90's vibe. The red colour is also amazing, it gives a nice red lip without being too in your face. 

As for the lipstick itself, they are just as creamy as they claim to be. Amazingly soft on the lips and feel very moisturising. The only thing i would say is that they don't last on the lips for that long a time, but the colour payoff is excellent and they are lovely and pigmented.  

Have you tried these lipsticks? What do you think to them? Do you have a favourite? 

Skincare Shelf

I thought that i'd share my current skincare routine, as this payday i bought a few different products to try, and they've been absolutely brilliant.

I tend to buy a bunch of new skincare bits every couple of months so i might make this a regular post that i update every once in a while.

In the mornings, my skincare routine is quite boring. I like to wash off all of the products that i've used the night before first off, to do this i normally go for a gel cleanser. I picked up the Garnier PureActive Anti-Perfection Cleansing Gel because i've been really impressed by their skincare bits recently, and also let's be honest, it was really cheap! I genuinely think i have this to thank for my sudden change in skin. My face feels incredibly clear, i haven't had any blemishes or breakouts since i've been using it. The product is suited for 'oily skin prone to imperfections' and boasts to 'eliminate impurities and shine, and tighten pores'. I definitely agree with everything that this gel claims to do, if you do have problem skin then i think that this could work wonders for you. It also gives a nice (but not painful!) tingle to the skin when you use it, which really wakes you up in the morning!

In addition to picking up the cleansing gel, i also picked up the Garnier PureActive Micellar Cleansing Water. I've already sampled and been a fan of the normal Micellar Cleansing Water that Garnier do, but this one purifies your skin a bit more i would say. It gives you more of a deeper cleanse than the normal version.

Lastly, i have been using the Olay Essentials Beauty Fluid as a moisturiser in the morning and evenings. First off, this smells beautiful! I think it's like a rosey scent, that's what it reminds me of anyway! It's lightweight, non-greasy, and can be used on normal, dry or combination skin. This has been leaving my skin feeling so incredibly soft and has sorted out my annoying dry patch under my eye! (which i thought only Clinque moisturiser could do, thank god i found a cheaper alternative!)

That's it for my skincare shelf this month, i prefer to use high street stuff when it comes to every day skin products. I do splash out now and again on a really great treat product, but all of my reviews will mainly be high street, as that's what i can generally afford!

I hope you enjoyed a peek at my skincare shelf and thank you so much for reading!