My Insomnia Tips

Being at a university has its pros and cons. One major downside for me personally is lack of sleep, whether that's because I am up pulling an all-nighter trying to hit those deadlines or have that dreading stomach feeling where it keeps you awake with worry. I suffer quite a bit with insomnia and it tends to flare up a lot more when I worry or have a lot on my mind.

I am no way an expert, but I do have some tips that help with insomnia for me personally and hopefully with you. Insomnia isn't anything an illness, but lack of sleep can have a huge effect on your everyday life. It can be such a problematic, stressful experience to have that has a lot to do with your brain that makes it difficult for you to get to sleep. If you are like me and stress out a lot with work, exams, deadlines etc it can be hard to get rid of those thoughts and go to sleep with ease. 

The signs of insomnia are:

• Difficulty falling asleep 
• Waking up during the night 
• Waking up early in the morning 
• Feeling irritable and tired and finding it difficult to function during the day

My Story.

I suffered from insomnia badly when I had my GCSEs and sometimes even at A level. I started getting insomnia really bad when I was up working on Art deadlines at 11-12 at night. This wasn't the best of nights, but we've all been there, right?

When going through my GCSEs I had a lot of exams in the same week some were even the day after I just sat one. So my stress levels were really high and I struggled a lot with sleeping - down to nerves, anxiety that sort of stuff! 

I used to stress myself out so much when I was in bed the night before an exam. I'd sit in bed thinking of how my exam will go, this leads me into staying awake, which lead me into imagining getting no sleep and fallen asleep in an exam - failing. So this panicked me and I would end up crying and wake my mam up (what a selfish child I was).

Sometimes it helped just to know someone else was awake, but once I went and told my mam she would always say something like 'get a drink' or 'read a book' which weren't the best ideas, but were comforting for me to actually get some sleep. Unsure how but sometimes you need reassurance at the weirdest of times.

Anyway, 's my insomnia got bad at times I was snappy (typical teenager) with lack of sleep so I travelled to my doctors to see what they would recommend.

Obviously, with it being insomnia the isn't a lot a doctor can advise other than leaflets and talks. I read through the leaflet they gave me and honestly it didn't help at all. When you are young I find problems like this just get pushed under the carpet.

These are the things I did find helpful though through time: 

• Getting into a routine of bedtime around 10-11pm
• Listen to music with an eye mask on
• Spray lavender scents on your pillow
• Stop doing work at 9 the latest
• Take your mind off work by watching tv, talking to a friend etc
• Green tea helped calm me

Surprisingly I grew out of insomnia once my exams were over with, once it hit A level and I got it again I just realised to be calm about it all and relax. Don't think about your exams, be relaxed and just think of something exciting like your holiday abroad or Christmas etc when trying to get to sleep.

I obviously still at times get sleepless nights off stress etc but the only thing I can recommend is NOT TO THINK ABOUT WHATEVER IS STRESSING YOU OUT. I know it is hard to get rid of that thought but if you do that you'd be surprised as to how simple getting to sleep can be.

What helps you get a good sleep??

<3

Topshop Lipsticks

A few years ago Topshop came out with a make-up line which was mostly online, but now my local store sells the products, which has made me so happy. Products such as nail varnishes, lipsticks, glosses, brushes, blushers, eyeliners and highlighters. I believe they have much more of a range nowadays, but back when I bought my first lipstick their makeup line was very limited.

After seeing a couple of reviews on Youtube about these dainty lipsticks I figured to give them a try and as you can see I now own 5 so I think that says it all.

1. Innocent

Innocent is a pastel type of purple so almost like lilac but, when applied on the lips looks more like a pastel pink/purple rather than just purple. My friend was wearing this lipstick when we were out and I had to ask where it was from as it was a lovely colour - like natural colour, not too in your face and not too plain. It just gives the right amount of colour, I don't think this is to everyone's taste in shade but it is something to look into. It is build-able but to be honest building on a pastel purple isn't always a nice colour it looks nice with just a little bit applied.

2. Macaroon

Macaroon was one of those colours you either love or hate I am a big sucker for pink lips so when I saw this I thought 'oh it's going to be too pink' but I swatched it on my hand in the Topshop store and it looked lovely, not too in your face at all!

The name reminds me of macaroon's as in the little deserts you can eat, so the name sounded tasty. The colour when you open the lipstick looks orangey/pink and when you apply it to your lips comes out exactly like a pinky orange, it is a lovely summery colour. I would wear this more in Summer than winter but it is a lovely colour - again buildable too.

3. Ohh Lala

Ohh la la (I think it is spelt) is a straight-up orange lipstick, not that I am a fan of wearing orange lips I purchased this years ago it was my first ever one I got so, at the time I obviously didn't pay much attention to what I was purchasing I just wanted to grab one. It is a nice colour and I have worn it once or twice but I don't think it suits my complexion very well. Nonetheless, if you are after an orange lipstick that is not too in your face but has a decent amount of cover on your lips then I recommend this.

4. Brighton Rock

This has such a dainty name as do all their names, but this one for me is my all time favourite Topshop lipstick. I love everything about this lipstick it is a vibrant pink not luminous pink but I kind of pink you'd want to wear that makes your lips noticeable. I wear this colour a lot on nice occasions, it tends to be my lipstick to wear on a night out as it suits my skin really well.  I do recommend this lipstick if you are like me and love pink lips! the coverage is brilliant - it is tough to remove though!

5. Pillow Talk

Not last but least Pillow Talk, I got this lipstick for my mam when I was in London's Topshop but I like to steal it from time to time. Anyway's this is a gorgeous, light pink shade, on your lips, it does have to be buildable as it is really fair colour. But once you have put enough cover on you will see how pretty the colour is. I like to wear this for a day to day wear, so when I go shopping or even just to uni I like something not too noticeable but you know the is something on your lips (if that makes any sense!) I do recommend this lipstick to people who suit light pink lips as I don't think this will be to everyone's taste as it doesn't suit everyone's skin tone unfortunately!

I do recommend you check out Topshop's range of lipsticks I think they are between £10 - £15 but if you are a student you can get discount!

I love everything about these lipsticks, the packaging they come in is really cute as is the container they are in.

Have you tried Topshop Makeup before??

Origins GinZing Eyecream Review

Having seen loads of reviews about this little miracle worker: Origins Ginzing eye-cream, I thought it was about time I put my student loan to good use. I mean, who needs books to study right??...oops.

I am only 21, but after reading so many articles about starting wrinkle creams and eye creams when you're young to reduce your chances of having them early on, I just have to jump on board.

Every evening before I go to sleep I like to pop a tiny amount of this under my eyes using my index finger, I lightly dab it into my under eyes. One thing for sure that I have noticed is how moisturised under my eyes feel. My concealer blends in so nicely and doesn't clump up under my skin.

I have also noticed this works amazing when I am feeling run down, unfortunately when I am ill I don't look a million dollars. I look like death. So applying this under my eyes definitely helps reduce the appearance of dark circles. It's not a miracle worker, I mean please send me your tips on reducing dark circles. But, it does definitely help make a difference and I hope in the future it helps postpone fine lines and wrinkles.

What eye cream do you use??