REVIEW: Benefit products

I've been a fan of Benefit for years and have developed quite a collection of their products. I really like the packaging and fun names and I love how you can buy mini versions of the makeup as well. The mini versions are a great way of trying out new products and are fab for popping in your handbag so you can top up your make up on the go!

Here are four Benefit products I have picked out to review: 

1. The Porefessional primer (£24.50 full size): I got the mini version of this primer for Christmas. I like it - it does what it says on the tin - minimizes the appearance of pores, making skin look and feel soft and smooth. My foundation glided on smoothly after using the product and I didn't need to reapply my makeup throughout the day. However I personally like a primer which helps to adjust skin tone as well, which this primer didn't do. I have issues with redness in my skin, therefore, unless I'm having a clear skin day, I'll continue to use my fave Smashbox primer, which I reviewed back in August. Rating: 3/5 - the primer makes my skin smoother and prepped for foundation but I personally need something that adjusts skin tone too.

2. Posietint lip & cheek tint (£24.50 full size): I love the fact that this is a 2-in-1 product, which can be used on your lips and cheeks. The colour is a nice light pink, which brightens up cheeks and lips. I like using the colour on my lips, it gives them a hint of colour, which looks quite natural and the colour lasts for a long time. However, I'm not a fan of using the product on my cheeks as I find it quite difficult to apply so I end up looking too flushed and a bit blotchy. Rating 3/5 - I like the idea of a 2-in-1 product but it's difficult to apply to cheeks. I think I'll stick to powder blusher from now on.

3. High beam complexion enhancer (£19.50 full size): I love this product, it's possibly my favourite from the Benefit collection and it's the best highlighter I've ever used. I often find that some highlighters settle in to lines and pores and make them stand out even more, and some highlighters don't seem to do much at all! This highlighter, however, does everything I want it to do. The brush makes it easy to apply - simply dot on to cheek and brow bones and blend by patting with your fingers. The product sits on skin, rather than sinking into skin and mixing with foundation. It makes my eyes look brighter, emphasises my cheek bones and glistens when it catches the light. I love it.  Rating 5/5 - The best highlighter I've used, I will be buying the full sized product!

4. They're real! mascara (£19.50 full size): Another fantastic product by Benefit. The mascara makes my eyelashes look longer and thicker, giving them the 'fake eyelash effect,' while the brush separates eyelashes and banishes clunks. The only problem I have with this mascara is that it smudges under my eyes and I have to keep wiping it off through the day. Rating 4/5 - My eyelashes look fantastic but having to check for smudges is annoying.

Which Benefit product shall I try next? Let me know in the comments below. 

Take a dip: 9 tips for a successful swim

My biggest aim for this year is to keep up with swimming by going at least two times a week. So far this has been easy to achieve as I really enjoy going for a swim. I find it really relaxing and it clears my mind from stress. Not only does it make me feel better but it's starting to make me look better too. After just over a month of going swimming regularly my thighs and arms feel a lot firmer and I can tell that my posture has improved. 

There are so many health benefits from swimming. It burns calories and builds muscle and it works out your entire body. An article I read in Women's Health magazine said that a steady swim burns around 500 calories an hour, while a vigorous effort can shed almost 700. Swimming can also reduce the risk of having a stroke, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Additionally, swimming is an easy sport to keep up and keeping it up on holiday never feels like a chore. After all, there's no greater feeling than jumping in to a cold pool after being out in the hot sun. Open water swimming gives you a great sense of freedom and there are so many beautiful locations you can go to swim (for example the lovely beach in Santa Margherita, Italy pictured in this post).

With all these benefits, it's difficult to find a reason not to swim!

Here are my tips on how to have a successful swim.

1. Don't eat an hour before swimming and keep drinking to a minimum. There's nothing worse than getting a stitch after just a few lengths of swimming. To avoid getting a stitch try not to eat anything an hour before you swim and keep drinking to a minimum. I normally go swimming at midday so I eat my breakfast in the morning and don't eat anything again until after swimming. This gives me a two hour gap of no food before my swim. I normally feel like having a drink before I get in the pool but limit myself to just a few sips to avoid a stitchy situation (lol). If you do get a stitch however, swim to the side of the pool and stretch out your muscle until the pain goes.

2. Make sure you have a comfortable, well fitting swimming costume. A swimming costume that fits well will not only make you feel much more comfortable but it will make you look better as well - pick a costume that fits smoothly, something that doesn't press too tightly on the skin but that isn't baggy either. A good fitting costume means you are less likely to need to adjust yourself once you're in the water so you can glide through without the worry of it becoming out of place. I wear an all in one black swimming costume as I feel sportier in a swimming costume than a bikini and I don't have to worry about bikini straps coming undone.

3. Protect your hair. Chlorine is not good for your hair. It dries it out and can make dyed hair discoloured. The best way to prevent hair from being damaged is by wearing a swim hat. Alternatively, tie your hair up in a bun to keep it our of your face and prevent it from getting wet. Always wash your hair after swimming and if you're going to make swimming a regular thing, use a conditioning hair mask once or twice a week to give it a deep, hydrating treatment. (I'm yet to find one I really like but will keep you posted when I find one!)

4. Wear goggles and a nose peg. You have to be prepared to get water in your face when you go for a swim. If you don't like getting water in your eyes I advise that you wear goggles. Getting water up your nose is another swimming struggle and it makes it difficult to breath when you're in the pool. Nose pegs are an easy way to get around this. They may look silly but other swimmers will wish they had one when they get a nose full of water and you're breathing easily!

5. Find a comfortable speed/rhythm and stick with it. Once you find a speed you are comfortable with stick with it. Trying to swim as fast as you can will only make you want to rest more and may increase your chance of pulling a muscle. Once you get into a particular rhythm it is easier to relax, clear your mind and enjoy your surroundings.

6. Build up your distance slowly. Gradually increase the number of lengths you swim. The first few times I went swimming I could just about manage 40 lengths - it was a struggle and my arms and legs ached for days after! However after a couple of weeks the 40 lengths got much easier so I increased to 46 lengths (which is the equivalent of a mile in my local pool). I'm aiming to build up my distance to 50 lengths in the next few weeks. Swimming in this way makes you realise how much you've achieved and it's a great feeling once you hit your next mile stone.

7. Make sure you bring a bottle of water. All that swimming may make you feel thirsty. (I always find myself needing to down a bottle of water after a swim anyway!) Make sure you drink plenty of water after swimming to keep hydrated as you don't notice how much you sweat when you're in the pool.

8. Stretch. Stretching after a swim is important to try and reduce the likelihood of painful muscles the next day. I find that doing a few stretches in the shower really helps me unwind and calms my body down after an intense swim.

9. Bring loose fitting clothes to change in to. Getting changed after swimming is one of the biggest challenges of the sport. Wet changing room floors and damp skin make it difficult to slide clothes on easily. I advise wearing loose fitting trousers and a loose jumper, something that slides on and off easily and doesn't cling to skin. Shoes which are easy to slide on and off are advisable too.

Do you have any swimming tips? Let me know!

30 status updates you are likely to see this month

Another year, another load of new year social media updates. You know what I mean, the same old statuses people decide to post every year - "new year new me" - yep, we've all heard that one before.

We're almost a week in to the new year and I've already seen my fair share of these annual posts. And with most people going back to work today and getting back in to their routines, I'm sure we will be seeing plenty more in the days to come - particularly with everyone starting their diets and stopping smoking at around this time. 

Here are 30 status updates I think we are likely to see on social media this month. 

1. New year new me 
2. 2015 is going to be my best year yet, so much to look forward to.
3. I'm fed up of seeing all these new year statuses
4. I've got the January blues, what even is January? I'm sooo ready for Summer.
5. Why can't it be Christmas again?
6. Still eating my Christmas chocolate
7. This has got to be the longest month ever
8. I've already broken my Dry January
9. 2014 was such a good year, thank you to all the people I met on the way, let's make 2015 just as good!
10. Weekends are so boring without alcohol #dryjanuary
11. So excited to start my diet and join the gym, I ate way too much over Christmas
12. Already given up on my diet
13. New year's resolution - stop smoking, eat healthy and exercise. 
14. Anyone know if the e-cigs actually help you stop smoking?
15. Please don't talk to me today, I haven't had a cigarette for a week so I cannot be held responsible for my actions. 
16. Is it the weekend yet?
17. So happy to have left 2014 behind #bringon2015
18. Are the sales still on?
19. Looking forward to a fresh start this year. 
20. Getting ready to hit the gym, I WILL get a hot summer body
21. Has anyone tried the 5:2 diet? Does it work?
22. Omg just made a delicious smoothie, eating healthy is soooo easy and way more fun than I thought!
23. It was so difficult getting out of bed this morning.
24. It feels so strange writing 2015, I keep writing 2014 lol.
25. I don't want to go back to work tomorrow.
26. This year I'm going to get rid of all the negative people in my life, 2014 was too much drama.
27. Shit, I graduate this year. 
28. I've just joined the gym, looking forward to my first training session tomorrow.
29. I'm going to run a marathon this year.
30. Going out and drinking mocktails tonight #dryjanuary #whoneedsalcohol

Do you have any more suggestions? Let me know!

What I hope to achieve this year

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Happy new year everyone!

Thought I'd jump on the bandwagon with my first post of 2015 with a list of things I would like to achieve this year. Warning: it is a very predictable list. 

1. Get in shape. Since I now have a full time job and no coursework/extra work to be doing out of working hours I have no excuse as to why I can't squeeze in a couple of hours of exercise a week. I started going swimming once/twice a week at the end of 2014 and hope to continue doing this as I have already seen an improvement on my stamina. The muscles in my arms have definitely become stronger as well - although I am yet to see a change in my body shape! Once I get used to being back in the exercise routine I might join the gym and try out some classes. 

2. Eat healthier. I already have a fairly healthy diet but I know there are a few things I could improve on. I definitely don't eat enough fruit and vegetables so I'm going to try and add more into my life. I'm going to start substituting the packet of crisps and chocolate biscuit I take to work every day for fruit - I already know this isn't likely going to last but at least the thought is there.

3. Move out of my parent's house. As much as I love a fridge full of food, someone to do my washing for me and a cooked meal every day, I would like to get a place of my own. Being in your twenties and living with your parent's doesn't exactly scream success... I best start saving some money!

4. Blog more. This one is probably easier said than done as I struggle to take the time out to blog. I would love to be able to post something every day but I know for a fact this would only be possible if it was my full time job.

5. Learn new recipes. I love cooking and baking so I'm going to learn some new recipes this year and become a top chef.

6. Travel. I love exploring new places so I hope I get to visit somewhere new this year. I really want to visit: Berlin, Paris, Florence, LA. I'd also love to give skiing another go and go back to New York.