The end of 2017 is basically here, how that happened I'm not quite sure, so it's time to share my top products from the year. I originally wanted to share a favourite from each beauty category, however that would be a very very long post, so instead I'm going to tell you all about the bits that have really stood out to me throughout 2016...

Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel: I think I'm on my fourth or fifth bottle of this stuff, so I had to give it a mention as it still remains my favourite cleanser ever. If you're looking for a cleanser which is going to brighten the skin, that smells nice, and that will remove any excess makeup, this is it! I think this will always be in my bathroom cupboard.

Foreo Luna Play: I'm so surprised that I have stuck to using this every night. Normally with these skin gadgets I use them for a couple of weeks then I just forget about them, this however, I've been using for the past few months and I adore it. The silicone is very gentle on the skin, but it still leaves my face feeling so so soft and radiant. This little one is perfect for travelling, and I'm considering buying the bigger version in the new year.

This Works Energy Bank Skin Glow: Mid-way through the year I had a massive skincare switch-up. I picked up loads of new products to test out and this one stood out to me the most. It's a daytime serum which adds glow to face as well as having a ton of skincare benefits. It's basically a dewy primer which is amazing for your skin, my dream product! On no makeup days this is also a must have.

Fresh Rose Face Mask: I got a sample of this in August when I was in NYC and I'm so happy I tried it because it has quickly become my favourite mask ever! Yes that's right, my favourite mask ever! I neeed to go to the Fresh store in London ASAP to repurchase this because I need to back in my life. For a mask, it does a bit of everything. The rose makes it super hydrating and toning, it has cucumber extract which soothes the skin, and rich green tea to brighten.

L'Oreal Nude Cushion Foundation: Cushion foundations have been everywhere this year, and I love this L'Oreal one! It's the easiest foundation to apply day-to-day, it's very dewy and the coverage is buildable. It's definitely been my most worn foundation this year, purely because it's so quick to blend and always looks good. It's also very travel friendly, and great for touch ups. 

MAC Pro Longerwear Concealer: This was one of the first concealers I ever tried many many years ago and I never repurchased it again until this year. I've fallen in love with it all over again. The coverage is quite high, but my under eyes definitely don't mind that. It has a very long wearing formula, as the name would suggest, and if you're on the hunt for a fuller coverage concealer this one comes highly recommended. 

Becca Champagne Pop Highlighter: This is fairly recent addition to my collection, but I still want to give it a mention. It's a beautiful golden, champagne shimmery shade which is very pigmented and looks so stunning on the high points of the face. I always reach for this over my other highlighters, I love it! 

Benefit Gimme Brow: I think I may have mentioned this in last years favourites, but I still love it and use it every single time I do my brows. I'll use this to set my brows in place if I've used a pencil or powder beforehand, or I'll just use it on it's own to subtly  define. It's such a great tinted brow gel. 

By Terry Ombre Black Star in Bronze Moon: I am so so obsessed with this. It's a beautiful bronze cream shadow stick which lasts all day on the lids. My favourite way to wear this is on it's on with loads of mascara to give me that Olsen twin smokey eye. It's not too light, or too dark, so it's perfect on the lids and it gives such a nice amount of definition to the eyes. If you invest in one eyeshadow in 2017, make it this one. 

MAC Syrup Lipstick: MAC lipsticks will always be some of my favourites, their nude/everyday shades are like no other and their formulas are all beautiful. Syrup has become one of my favourites, and as I picked it up earlier in the year I had to include it. It's a lustre finish, so it's quite sheer but super moisturising and adds a nice shine to the lips. The shade is a mauvy pinky purple, but as it's very buildable it's a lovely everyday shade. 
& Other Stories Fig Fiction Body Oil: I love to use body oils over creams and lotions. I feel they're a lot more luxurious and they're also nicer to apply post shave as they don't irritate my skin. These ones from & Other Stories are fab as they come in spray bottle so they're so easy to apply and you don't get oil everywhere. Their scent selection is also lovely. This fig scent is very fresh and subtle, it's lovely in the evenings. 

Aveda Volumising Hair Tonic: I've tried loads of Aveda products this year and this one is such a gem. My hair is super limp and lifeless so I always love to try out products which claim to add volume. This one really doesn't weigh my hair down, it smells great, and it adds a nice lift to my roots. 

Jo Malone Sweet Almond and Macaroon Candle: I think with scents, it's very easy to establish which ones you love as you don't have to trial them for a few weeks. This is a slight cheat as I have only recently got this candle, buuuut I have been smelling every time I go past my local Jo Malone counter, so that's justified right. If you love sweet scents, this is the ultimate candle. Jo Malone don't really do sweeter scents, so I definitely think this is worth the splurge. It's very almond-y, but not too much like marzipan, I'm just so obsessed. 

2016 Favourites: Stand Out Products.


The end of 2017 is basically here, how that happened I'm not quite sure, so it's time to share my top products from the year. I originally wanted to share a favourite from each beauty category, however that would be a very very long post, so instead I'm going to tell you all about the bits that have really stood out to me throughout 2016...

Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel: I think I'm on my fourth or fifth bottle of this stuff, so I had to give it a mention as it still remains my favourite cleanser ever. If you're looking for a cleanser which is going to brighten the skin, that smells nice, and that will remove any excess makeup, this is it! I think this will always be in my bathroom cupboard.

Foreo Luna Play: I'm so surprised that I have stuck to using this every night. Normally with these skin gadgets I use them for a couple of weeks then I just forget about them, this however, I've been using for the past few months and I adore it. The silicone is very gentle on the skin, but it still leaves my face feeling so so soft and radiant. This little one is perfect for travelling, and I'm considering buying the bigger version in the new year.

This Works Energy Bank Skin Glow: Mid-way through the year I had a massive skincare switch-up. I picked up loads of new products to test out and this one stood out to me the most. It's a daytime serum which adds glow to face as well as having a ton of skincare benefits. It's basically a dewy primer which is amazing for your skin, my dream product! On no makeup days this is also a must have.

Fresh Rose Face Mask: I got a sample of this in August when I was in NYC and I'm so happy I tried it because it has quickly become my favourite mask ever! Yes that's right, my favourite mask ever! I neeed to go to the Fresh store in London ASAP to repurchase this because I need to back in my life. For a mask, it does a bit of everything. The rose makes it super hydrating and toning, it has cucumber extract which soothes the skin, and rich green tea to brighten.

L'Oreal Nude Cushion Foundation: Cushion foundations have been everywhere this year, and I love this L'Oreal one! It's the easiest foundation to apply day-to-day, it's very dewy and the coverage is buildable. It's definitely been my most worn foundation this year, purely because it's so quick to blend and always looks good. It's also very travel friendly, and great for touch ups. 

MAC Pro Longerwear Concealer: This was one of the first concealers I ever tried many many years ago and I never repurchased it again until this year. I've fallen in love with it all over again. The coverage is quite high, but my under eyes definitely don't mind that. It has a very long wearing formula, as the name would suggest, and if you're on the hunt for a fuller coverage concealer this one comes highly recommended. 

Becca Champagne Pop Highlighter: This is fairly recent addition to my collection, but I still want to give it a mention. It's a beautiful golden, champagne shimmery shade which is very pigmented and looks so stunning on the high points of the face. I always reach for this over my other highlighters, I love it! 

Benefit Gimme Brow: I think I may have mentioned this in last years favourites, but I still love it and use it every single time I do my brows. I'll use this to set my brows in place if I've used a pencil or powder beforehand, or I'll just use it on it's own to subtly  define. It's such a great tinted brow gel. 

By Terry Ombre Black Star in Bronze Moon: I am so so obsessed with this. It's a beautiful bronze cream shadow stick which lasts all day on the lids. My favourite way to wear this is on it's on with loads of mascara to give me that Olsen twin smokey eye. It's not too light, or too dark, so it's perfect on the lids and it gives such a nice amount of definition to the eyes. If you invest in one eyeshadow in 2017, make it this one. 

MAC Syrup Lipstick: MAC lipsticks will always be some of my favourites, their nude/everyday shades are like no other and their formulas are all beautiful. Syrup has become one of my favourites, and as I picked it up earlier in the year I had to include it. It's a lustre finish, so it's quite sheer but super moisturising and adds a nice shine to the lips. The shade is a mauvy pinky purple, but as it's very buildable it's a lovely everyday shade. 
& Other Stories Fig Fiction Body Oil: I love to use body oils over creams and lotions. I feel they're a lot more luxurious and they're also nicer to apply post shave as they don't irritate my skin. These ones from & Other Stories are fab as they come in spray bottle so they're so easy to apply and you don't get oil everywhere. Their scent selection is also lovely. This fig scent is very fresh and subtle, it's lovely in the evenings. 

Aveda Volumising Hair Tonic: I've tried loads of Aveda products this year and this one is such a gem. My hair is super limp and lifeless so I always love to try out products which claim to add volume. This one really doesn't weigh my hair down, it smells great, and it adds a nice lift to my roots. 

Jo Malone Sweet Almond and Macaroon Candle: I think with scents, it's very easy to establish which ones you love as you don't have to trial them for a few weeks. This is a slight cheat as I have only recently got this candle, buuuut I have been smelling every time I go past my local Jo Malone counter, so that's justified right. If you love sweet scents, this is the ultimate candle. Jo Malone don't really do sweeter scents, so I definitely think this is worth the splurge. It's very almond-y, but not too much like marzipan, I'm just so obsessed. 
Friday, December 30, 2016
I love getting ready for New Year's Eve, spending ages having a nice pamper and doing my makeup, it's such a glamorous time. I could have done a post on everything I love to slap on my face when seeing in the new year, but we could be here forever, so I just want to share my top five essentials for a classic New Year's Eve gathering...

Charlotte Tilbury Film Star Bronze and Glow: I love this for the party season. The bronzer is a lovely medium toned brown shade which defines the cheekbones beautifully. I apply this with a fluffy bronzer brush and follow the contours of my face, so under the cheekbones, down the sides of my nose, and the jawline. This also contains a beautiful golden highlight, a party essential. It's super buttery, easy to blend and looks gorgeous on the tops of the cheekbones.

Origins Rose Retexturizing Face Mask: After consuming the entire Tesco Christmas isle, it's fair to say my skin is not looking it's best, so a good mask is key! I love Origins skin care and they always have some great masks to chose from. This rose one smells amazing and does such a good job at rejuvenating the skin. It hydrates, plumps and helps to get rid of any dead skin cells, it leaves my skin glowing!

Charlotte Tilbury Dolce Vita Eye Quad: A good eye shadow palette is also an essential to me, and I tend to go for something which has a bit of shimmer. This CT palette is perfect for that, the bottom left shade is a gorgeous bronze packed full of glitter, it look stunning on the eyes. The quality of these shadows are great, they blend really well together and stay put all night.

Urban Decay Backtalk Comfort Matte Lipstick: I love a festive red, but when Christmas passes I go for something a little more understated and easier to wear. I love the Urban Decay shade, it's a gorgeous nude-y brown, and it compliments any kind of look. Nude doesn't always mean boring, this shade adds a little something to the lips without being too in your face.

Bumble and Bumble Thickening Hairspray: I can't forget about the hair, I don't do too much to mine, but if I curl it and little hairspray never hurt! This is a great one as it's adds a bit of texture to the hair as well as making your style last all night long! I wouldn't use this in the roots, but I love it though the ends of my hair to give it that lived-in look.

New Year's Eve: 5 Must Haves.

I love getting ready for New Year's Eve, spending ages having a nice pamper and doing my makeup, it's such a glamorous time. I could have done a post on everything I love to slap on my face when seeing in the new year, but we could be here forever, so I just want to share my top five essentials for a classic New Year's Eve gathering...

Charlotte Tilbury Film Star Bronze and Glow: I love this for the party season. The bronzer is a lovely medium toned brown shade which defines the cheekbones beautifully. I apply this with a fluffy bronzer brush and follow the contours of my face, so under the cheekbones, down the sides of my nose, and the jawline. This also contains a beautiful golden highlight, a party essential. It's super buttery, easy to blend and looks gorgeous on the tops of the cheekbones.

Origins Rose Retexturizing Face Mask: After consuming the entire Tesco Christmas isle, it's fair to say my skin is not looking it's best, so a good mask is key! I love Origins skin care and they always have some great masks to chose from. This rose one smells amazing and does such a good job at rejuvenating the skin. It hydrates, plumps and helps to get rid of any dead skin cells, it leaves my skin glowing!

Charlotte Tilbury Dolce Vita Eye Quad: A good eye shadow palette is also an essential to me, and I tend to go for something which has a bit of shimmer. This CT palette is perfect for that, the bottom left shade is a gorgeous bronze packed full of glitter, it look stunning on the eyes. The quality of these shadows are great, they blend really well together and stay put all night.

Urban Decay Backtalk Comfort Matte Lipstick: I love a festive red, but when Christmas passes I go for something a little more understated and easier to wear. I love the Urban Decay shade, it's a gorgeous nude-y brown, and it compliments any kind of look. Nude doesn't always mean boring, this shade adds a little something to the lips without being too in your face.

Bumble and Bumble Thickening Hairspray: I can't forget about the hair, I don't do too much to mine, but if I curl it and little hairspray never hurt! This is a great one as it's adds a bit of texture to the hair as well as making your style last all night long! I wouldn't use this in the roots, but I love it though the ends of my hair to give it that lived-in look.
Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Wrapping presents is something I never look forward to when it comes to Christmas...I'm a horrible wrapper, but I am determined to get better, or at least disguise the fact I can't wrap a present to save my life. If you're like me, here are a few tips to get you through...

Vary your decorations
I find that if I use the same paper with the same bows and gift tags, I get bored super quickly and just want to stop after about three presents. Variety is great in all aspects of life, it keeps things interesting and you can treat each present like another little wrapping project. 


Experiment
I never thought to use little baubles or bits off the Christmas Tree (sorry dad) to help wrap, but I absolutely love how it turned out, very Pinterest! I love these baubles from Paperchase as they have loads of different coloured stars held inside, so they will go with loads of different wrapping papers. I also wanted to use string as appose to normal ribbon, as it's a lot more student friendly money wise, and it goes perfectly with the paper I chose. 


Choose a wrapping theme
I do this every year and it just helps when mixing and matching your paper and ribbons. This year I wanted to go for a slightly rustic theme, so brown paper with simple patterns, string, then some complimentary gift tags and other little bits. I wanted to keep the colours simple, with white, gold and red, then of course the baubles add the perfect pop of colour. 

Pick your presents wisely
I know that buying gifts is already a daunting task, so picking out certain gifts which are easy to wrap  doesn't leave you much to chose from. If you find you do have some awkward little jars, bottles or anything like that, think about making a little hamper with them instead of wrapping them all separately. For my boyfriends parents I picked them up some mini jams - with a hard to wrap spoon attached to the side - and some chocolates. I decided to pick up a cute little Christmas box, line it with tissue paper and lay everything inside. So don't feel like you have to wrap everything. 


Don't rush
Easier said then done I know. I was lucky that I did most of my Christmas shopping in November so I had loads of time to make sure I wrapped them with care and didn't rush. I find whenever I leave myself one evening to wrap everything, nothing ever goes right. The paper rips, I run out of gift tags, etc etc. Even if it's just the week before Christmas and you wrap a few presents a night, it will a lot more relaxing and a less daunting task. 

Know your wrapping strengths
For me, I'm pants and the actual wrapping part. I always have too much paper or too little and it looks crap when I don't add any extra bits. If you're the same, then go all out on the decorations, ribbons and gift tags to detract from the bad wrapping. Trust me it works! If you find you're not good at finding ribbon, gift tags ect that you like or you think will good nice together, but your wrapping is above average, get a really fun wrapping paper with loads of colours and prints and then stick to one colour for everything else. 


That's A Wrap.


Wrapping presents is something I never look forward to when it comes to Christmas...I'm a horrible wrapper, but I am determined to get better, or at least disguise the fact I can't wrap a present to save my life. If you're like me, here are a few tips to get you through...

Vary your decorations
I find that if I use the same paper with the same bows and gift tags, I get bored super quickly and just want to stop after about three presents. Variety is great in all aspects of life, it keeps things interesting and you can treat each present like another little wrapping project. 


Experiment
I never thought to use little baubles or bits off the Christmas Tree (sorry dad) to help wrap, but I absolutely love how it turned out, very Pinterest! I love these baubles from Paperchase as they have loads of different coloured stars held inside, so they will go with loads of different wrapping papers. I also wanted to use string as appose to normal ribbon, as it's a lot more student friendly money wise, and it goes perfectly with the paper I chose. 


Choose a wrapping theme
I do this every year and it just helps when mixing and matching your paper and ribbons. This year I wanted to go for a slightly rustic theme, so brown paper with simple patterns, string, then some complimentary gift tags and other little bits. I wanted to keep the colours simple, with white, gold and red, then of course the baubles add the perfect pop of colour. 

Pick your presents wisely
I know that buying gifts is already a daunting task, so picking out certain gifts which are easy to wrap  doesn't leave you much to chose from. If you find you do have some awkward little jars, bottles or anything like that, think about making a little hamper with them instead of wrapping them all separately. For my boyfriends parents I picked them up some mini jams - with a hard to wrap spoon attached to the side - and some chocolates. I decided to pick up a cute little Christmas box, line it with tissue paper and lay everything inside. So don't feel like you have to wrap everything. 


Don't rush
Easier said then done I know. I was lucky that I did most of my Christmas shopping in November so I had loads of time to make sure I wrapped them with care and didn't rush. I find whenever I leave myself one evening to wrap everything, nothing ever goes right. The paper rips, I run out of gift tags, etc etc. Even if it's just the week before Christmas and you wrap a few presents a night, it will a lot more relaxing and a less daunting task. 

Know your wrapping strengths
For me, I'm pants and the actual wrapping part. I always have too much paper or too little and it looks crap when I don't add any extra bits. If you're the same, then go all out on the decorations, ribbons and gift tags to detract from the bad wrapping. Trust me it works! If you find you're not good at finding ribbon, gift tags ect that you like or you think will good nice together, but your wrapping is above average, get a really fun wrapping paper with loads of colours and prints and then stick to one colour for everything else. 


Friday, December 23, 2016
I loove to have dewy, glowing skin when it comes to getting ready for a party. I find it's so easy to look flat and caked in makeup when you layer on the powder to make sure your foundation lasts all night, so it's nice to use a few more glow inducing products along the way. I adore highlighters, that is no secret, so I really go all out around Christmas...

This Works Energy Bank Skin Glow Serum: For me, getting the glow starts with the skincare. In the morning I use a range of products which will brighten and add life back into my dull skin, and this is one of my favourites. From the get-go I knew I would love this. It's a gorgeous golden, pearly shade and a very lightweight consistency, giving your skin a natural glow from within. Even on a no makeup day your skin will still look fab!

Charlotte Tilbury Wonder Glow: I'm definitely all about the golden shades this year, you will be able to see that trend as the post goes on. Primers are my favourite way to add glow to the skin. You can mix them in with your foundation or use them before, and this one from CT works well whichever way you choose. I find this more subtle than the next one I'm going to share, but I love it for an everyday glow.

Becca Backlight Priming Filter: This is such a fab one for a night out. It's very dewy and gives off slightly more glow than the previous one. Becca are known for their amazing highlighters, so this one didn't disappoint. It's, again, a golden tone and looks so beautiful on the skin.

Becca Champagne Pop Highlighter: This is where the hardcore glow comes into play...I adore this highlighter when I want something that is really going to show up and make me look like a lighthouse. It's so pigmented and the beautiful golden shimmers shine amazingly on the tops of the cheekbones. This is such a party essential for me.

TOPSHOP Glow Cream Highlighter: If you're not a fan of powder products, this highlighter from TOPSHOP is lovely and also really affordable. I find that applying this with my fingers is the best way so I don't move too much of my foundation underneath. It blends into the skin really well, as all cream products do, and looks more natural than some powder highlighters on the market.

Benefit Watts Up: This is my all time favourite cream highlighter, it's a gorgeous champagne gold shade, it blends so well, and I'm always happy with my skin after using this. The stick format makes its really easy to apply, although I don't blend it in with the funny little sponge on the other end, I tend to use a small face brush. The colour is so perfect and I find I can wear it during the day, and then build it for the evenings. 

The Party Glow.

I loove to have dewy, glowing skin when it comes to getting ready for a party. I find it's so easy to look flat and caked in makeup when you layer on the powder to make sure your foundation lasts all night, so it's nice to use a few more glow inducing products along the way. I adore highlighters, that is no secret, so I really go all out around Christmas...

This Works Energy Bank Skin Glow Serum: For me, getting the glow starts with the skincare. In the morning I use a range of products which will brighten and add life back into my dull skin, and this is one of my favourites. From the get-go I knew I would love this. It's a gorgeous golden, pearly shade and a very lightweight consistency, giving your skin a natural glow from within. Even on a no makeup day your skin will still look fab!

Charlotte Tilbury Wonder Glow: I'm definitely all about the golden shades this year, you will be able to see that trend as the post goes on. Primers are my favourite way to add glow to the skin. You can mix them in with your foundation or use them before, and this one from CT works well whichever way you choose. I find this more subtle than the next one I'm going to share, but I love it for an everyday glow.

Becca Backlight Priming Filter: This is such a fab one for a night out. It's very dewy and gives off slightly more glow than the previous one. Becca are known for their amazing highlighters, so this one didn't disappoint. It's, again, a golden tone and looks so beautiful on the skin.

Becca Champagne Pop Highlighter: This is where the hardcore glow comes into play...I adore this highlighter when I want something that is really going to show up and make me look like a lighthouse. It's so pigmented and the beautiful golden shimmers shine amazingly on the tops of the cheekbones. This is such a party essential for me.

TOPSHOP Glow Cream Highlighter: If you're not a fan of powder products, this highlighter from TOPSHOP is lovely and also really affordable. I find that applying this with my fingers is the best way so I don't move too much of my foundation underneath. It blends into the skin really well, as all cream products do, and looks more natural than some powder highlighters on the market.

Benefit Watts Up: This is my all time favourite cream highlighter, it's a gorgeous champagne gold shade, it blends so well, and I'm always happy with my skin after using this. The stick format makes its really easy to apply, although I don't blend it in with the funny little sponge on the other end, I tend to use a small face brush. The colour is so perfect and I find I can wear it during the day, and then build it for the evenings. 

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

    



Baking and buying presents are two things I love to do around the festive period, and the former is definitely something I wish I did more of. I wanted to round up a few recipes I've seen and am dying to try out, so hopefully this will inspire you to get in the kitchen too this Christmas...




  
This seems like such a fun recipe to try! I love to dress
  up my hot chocolates so I'm super happy I found this
  recipe on Sugar and Charm's blog. I can imagine
  making these in the evening and being snuggled up
  watching a festive film. 

  You actually don't need as much ingredients as I would have thought to make marshmallows, so I would definitely recommend trying out this one for yourselves too! 


_______________________________________________________________________________





Any excuse to make up some cookies and I'm there! These ones look absolutely lovely so I had to feature them for you today. 

I think making these alongside some really fun and festive themed sugar cookies would keep everybody happy over Christmas. They look like the perfect sophisticated treat at the end of the day. I'm really excited to give these a go! 


________________________________________________________________________________________






  If your vegan, or want something slightly more healthy
       to indulge in Christmas morning then this is the
          recipe for you. I love gingerbread so I feel I need to give this one a go this year! 

    You can also switch up the vegan ingredients for things
   you may already have in your cupboard so it's a super
     versatile option, and I love to play around with
   toppings when it comes to french toast. 

_________________________________________________________________________________________


 


This is another gingerbread recipe and one you can also 
enjoy in the mornings, or if you're like me, any time of day! 
I'm going to have a crack at this sometime during the week 
so I can have a festive breakfast in the run up to Christmas. 

Granola is a fab thing to have around as it's such an easy 
and filling breakfast. 

________________________________________________________________________________________






      I love chocolate and orange, the combination is so nice a festive in my opinion. When Anna uploaded this recipe I was in heaven, and that was just after reading the title! 

  You can never go wrong with a good festive cookie and I can't wait to try these.





_________________________________________________________________________________________

Festive Recipes To Try This Christmas.


    



Baking and buying presents are two things I love to do around the festive period, and the former is definitely something I wish I did more of. I wanted to round up a few recipes I've seen and am dying to try out, so hopefully this will inspire you to get in the kitchen too this Christmas...




  
This seems like such a fun recipe to try! I love to dress
  up my hot chocolates so I'm super happy I found this
  recipe on Sugar and Charm's blog. I can imagine
  making these in the evening and being snuggled up
  watching a festive film. 

  You actually don't need as much ingredients as I would have thought to make marshmallows, so I would definitely recommend trying out this one for yourselves too! 


_______________________________________________________________________________





Any excuse to make up some cookies and I'm there! These ones look absolutely lovely so I had to feature them for you today. 

I think making these alongside some really fun and festive themed sugar cookies would keep everybody happy over Christmas. They look like the perfect sophisticated treat at the end of the day. I'm really excited to give these a go! 


________________________________________________________________________________________






  If your vegan, or want something slightly more healthy
       to indulge in Christmas morning then this is the
          recipe for you. I love gingerbread so I feel I need to give this one a go this year! 

    You can also switch up the vegan ingredients for things
   you may already have in your cupboard so it's a super
     versatile option, and I love to play around with
   toppings when it comes to french toast. 

_________________________________________________________________________________________


 


This is another gingerbread recipe and one you can also 
enjoy in the mornings, or if you're like me, any time of day! 
I'm going to have a crack at this sometime during the week 
so I can have a festive breakfast in the run up to Christmas. 

Granola is a fab thing to have around as it's such an easy 
and filling breakfast. 

________________________________________________________________________________________






      I love chocolate and orange, the combination is so nice a festive in my opinion. When Anna uploaded this recipe I was in heaven, and that was just after reading the title! 

  You can never go wrong with a good festive cookie and I can't wait to try these.





_________________________________________________________________________________________
Monday, December 19, 2016

I feel like everybody works twice as hard in the run up to Christmas! You want to make sure you have all your work done so you can relax and enjoy yourself, and maybe you've been taking all the overtime you can get to earn some extra cash for the festive period. Either way, everyone is tired these days. My eyes tend to look very puffy and dark, so they need an extra helping to appear more awake. The first thing I do in the mornings is my skincare routine, so I always make sure I have these two products to hand...

Liz Earle Eye Bright Soothing Eye Lotion: This is a lovely one to get those peepers feeling refreshed. I like to soak some of this onto a couple of cotton pads and just hold them over my eyes to let the product sink in. If their looking extra puffy, I'll hold keep them on there for 40-50 seconds, but on a normal day 20 is fine. This a great lotion to help brighten and sooth the eyes. If you have sensitive skin this would be a great one for you as it is very gentle. Liz Earle is by far one of my favourite skincare brands so it's no surprise I adore this!

Kiehl's Super Multi-Corrective Eye-Opening Serum: I'm not a fan of heavy eye creams in the mornings, I find they take far too long to sink in and my makeup doesn't sit as well on top. This one from Kiehl's is a serum, so it's a lot more lightweight under the eyes. I love the formula of this, it's a pearlescent cream so it really helps to brighten under the eyes and lift the area. This is also one which has many anti-aging properties, I'm not at that stage quite yet, but I still use it and find it fab for firming. If you're looking for a new eye cream to use in the mornings, this comes highly recommended.


Two For Tired Eyes.


I feel like everybody works twice as hard in the run up to Christmas! You want to make sure you have all your work done so you can relax and enjoy yourself, and maybe you've been taking all the overtime you can get to earn some extra cash for the festive period. Either way, everyone is tired these days. My eyes tend to look very puffy and dark, so they need an extra helping to appear more awake. The first thing I do in the mornings is my skincare routine, so I always make sure I have these two products to hand...

Liz Earle Eye Bright Soothing Eye Lotion: This is a lovely one to get those peepers feeling refreshed. I like to soak some of this onto a couple of cotton pads and just hold them over my eyes to let the product sink in. If their looking extra puffy, I'll hold keep them on there for 40-50 seconds, but on a normal day 20 is fine. This a great lotion to help brighten and sooth the eyes. If you have sensitive skin this would be a great one for you as it is very gentle. Liz Earle is by far one of my favourite skincare brands so it's no surprise I adore this!

Kiehl's Super Multi-Corrective Eye-Opening Serum: I'm not a fan of heavy eye creams in the mornings, I find they take far too long to sink in and my makeup doesn't sit as well on top. This one from Kiehl's is a serum, so it's a lot more lightweight under the eyes. I love the formula of this, it's a pearlescent cream so it really helps to brighten under the eyes and lift the area. This is also one which has many anti-aging properties, I'm not at that stage quite yet, but I still use it and find it fab for firming. If you're looking for a new eye cream to use in the mornings, this comes highly recommended.


Thursday, December 15, 2016

It's the most wonderful time of the yeaaar...yes, it's December 13th and I think that officially counts as Christmas right? Festive parties are one of my favourite things about this time of year. I love dressing up and perfecting my smokey eye and red lip, and I know so many of you out there will either be having work parties, or drinks with family and friends. I have collated a few products I love to use around the festive season...

Tarte Amazonian Clay Foundation: This is my all time favourite higher coverage foundation. Everything from the formula, to the lasting power is just spot on. It's medium coverage and be layered really well if you wanted to build the coverage. It's very blendable and looks like velvet on the skin, it's not super matte, but it's not dewy, a perfect in-between. I always reach for this when I want my skin to look flawless.

Becca Champagne Pop Highlighter: This is so so beautiful and one which is such a party essential for me. I love highlighters and this one really is one of loveliest, most shiny ones I own. Becca highlighters are very buttery, well pigmented and look stunning on the skin, this one in particular is very festive appropriate. It's a gorgeous golden champagne shade, so the name sums it up perfectly, it pairs great with a golden smokey eye and red lip!

By Terry Ombre Black Star in Bronze Moon: If you don't want to fuss around with a smokey eye, this cream stick eyeshadow from By Terry is the way to go! It's so easy to blend, last ages, and give the eyes a lovely amount of colour and definition. I love the shade bronze moon, it's a gorgeous golden bronze, perfect for Christmas!

Charlotte Tilbury Dolce Vita Eye Quad: This is my perfect palette for the festive season, the colour combinations are stunning and look amazing together. You get a base colour, a rusty burgundy, a bronze shimmer and a dark brown, I honestly don't think I will be wearing anything else on my eyes, I can't get enough of this! The shimmery bronze shade is perfect for parties as it catches the light beautifully and adds a nice sheen to your smokey eye. The quality of these shadows are also great, they blend really well and are very buttery to apply.

Dior Lash Primer: This is another essential for me when it comes to picking out my party makeup arsenal. A good lash primer can make all the difference to your eye look, they make your lashes to 10 times longer and so much thicker, and paired with your favourite mascara, you will look like you're wearing fake lashes. If you don't already have one of these in your collection I would highly recommend getting one!

Red Cherry 415 lashes*: I'm not normally one to wear false lashes, but when the occasion is right, I will do my best to apply them! I love the ones from Red Cherry, they are very wispy and are super easy to apply. These particular ones are quite long so I do like to trim them a bit so they're more natural, but I love them!

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lip Liner: I don't always like to rock a red lip over Christmas, especially when there's going to be a huge meal involved, so a nude lip liner is a staple! This one from Charlotte Tilbury is the perfect natural pink shade and works amazing under any nude lipstick I own. I love to apply this all over the lips, as well as perfecting the shape, so that my lipsticks lasts longer.

Charlotte Tilbury Bitch Perfect Lipstick: To go along with the lip liner, a good nude lip is an essential. I love the formula of this one, it's matte, so last forever, and is so creamy and looks great paired with a smokey eye. It's a lovely pinky nude shade I think lots of people will be able to wear.

Kat Von D Everlasting Lipstick in Outlaw: You can never go wrong with a festive red lip and I adore this one from Kat. Her liquid lipsticks are super long-lasting and non drying, they feel like velvet on the lips! This shade is gorgeous, the perfect cherry red tone which also makes your teeth look that little bit whiter, amazing!

Christmas Party Makeup.


It's the most wonderful time of the yeaaar...yes, it's December 13th and I think that officially counts as Christmas right? Festive parties are one of my favourite things about this time of year. I love dressing up and perfecting my smokey eye and red lip, and I know so many of you out there will either be having work parties, or drinks with family and friends. I have collated a few products I love to use around the festive season...

Tarte Amazonian Clay Foundation: This is my all time favourite higher coverage foundation. Everything from the formula, to the lasting power is just spot on. It's medium coverage and be layered really well if you wanted to build the coverage. It's very blendable and looks like velvet on the skin, it's not super matte, but it's not dewy, a perfect in-between. I always reach for this when I want my skin to look flawless.

Becca Champagne Pop Highlighter: This is so so beautiful and one which is such a party essential for me. I love highlighters and this one really is one of loveliest, most shiny ones I own. Becca highlighters are very buttery, well pigmented and look stunning on the skin, this one in particular is very festive appropriate. It's a gorgeous golden champagne shade, so the name sums it up perfectly, it pairs great with a golden smokey eye and red lip!

By Terry Ombre Black Star in Bronze Moon: If you don't want to fuss around with a smokey eye, this cream stick eyeshadow from By Terry is the way to go! It's so easy to blend, last ages, and give the eyes a lovely amount of colour and definition. I love the shade bronze moon, it's a gorgeous golden bronze, perfect for Christmas!

Charlotte Tilbury Dolce Vita Eye Quad: This is my perfect palette for the festive season, the colour combinations are stunning and look amazing together. You get a base colour, a rusty burgundy, a bronze shimmer and a dark brown, I honestly don't think I will be wearing anything else on my eyes, I can't get enough of this! The shimmery bronze shade is perfect for parties as it catches the light beautifully and adds a nice sheen to your smokey eye. The quality of these shadows are also great, they blend really well and are very buttery to apply.

Dior Lash Primer: This is another essential for me when it comes to picking out my party makeup arsenal. A good lash primer can make all the difference to your eye look, they make your lashes to 10 times longer and so much thicker, and paired with your favourite mascara, you will look like you're wearing fake lashes. If you don't already have one of these in your collection I would highly recommend getting one!

Red Cherry 415 lashes*: I'm not normally one to wear false lashes, but when the occasion is right, I will do my best to apply them! I love the ones from Red Cherry, they are very wispy and are super easy to apply. These particular ones are quite long so I do like to trim them a bit so they're more natural, but I love them!

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lip Liner: I don't always like to rock a red lip over Christmas, especially when there's going to be a huge meal involved, so a nude lip liner is a staple! This one from Charlotte Tilbury is the perfect natural pink shade and works amazing under any nude lipstick I own. I love to apply this all over the lips, as well as perfecting the shape, so that my lipsticks lasts longer.

Charlotte Tilbury Bitch Perfect Lipstick: To go along with the lip liner, a good nude lip is an essential. I love the formula of this one, it's matte, so last forever, and is so creamy and looks great paired with a smokey eye. It's a lovely pinky nude shade I think lots of people will be able to wear.

Kat Von D Everlasting Lipstick in Outlaw: You can never go wrong with a festive red lip and I adore this one from Kat. Her liquid lipsticks are super long-lasting and non drying, they feel like velvet on the lips! This shade is gorgeous, the perfect cherry red tone which also makes your teeth look that little bit whiter, amazing!

Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Concealers are the one thing I will forever invest in. My under-eyes are always dark and puffy whether I get 3 hours sleep or 10, so covering them up is a must. Having tried out a lot of different ones, both high-end and low-end, I really wanted to share with you a few which I believe are worth every penny...

Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer: This is one I have repurchased a few times and never fails me. It's a really nice creamy formula which is hydrating and long-wearing. This has been super raved about and for good reason, it covers really well, without looking cakey and dry. It's a great all round concealer so if you're looking to invest in just one, this is the one I would choose. The applicator makes it really easy to apply and it's super blendable too.

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer: This is a bit more heavy duty than the Urban Decay one, it's great for concealing around the face. It's very long wearing as the name would suggest, but I don't find it looks too heavy on the skin. I have this is a couple of shades lighter than my skin so I can use it to brighten under the eyes. If you suffer with dark circles, this will be a great one to pick up! The only thing that annoys me with this is the pump, a little goes such a long way and I feel it always disperses too much product.

Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit: This is another high-coverage option for those of you who want to correct those blue tones under the eyes. This handy kit comes with a concealer and a powder which both perform beautifully together. This is the only concealer I get on with which is in a pan. It's a fairly tacky consistency, but I actually love that as it stays put all day. This is also great for for pin point concealing as it's very full coverage. If I'm having a notoriously bad under-eye day I can always rely on this.

Charlotte Tilbury Mini Miracle Eye Wand: I do love a good two-in-one product, so it's no surprise I get on with this. If you're looking for a light weight concealer which is going to correct under the eyes and help to brighten, this is great. It comes with pearlescent eye cream on one end, which hydrates and plumps, and a salmony corrector shade to conceal. This is great for those of you who don't wear a lot of makeup, but still want to correct under the eyes.

Bobbi Brown Intensive Skin Corrector: Bobbi Brown nail it when it comes to concealers, so yes, this is the second one I'm loving. This is a great light-weight corrector option, perfect to layer underneath another concealer. This is very hydrating and sits beautifully under the eyes. The peachy tone really helps to offset the purple/blue tones you may get under the eyes.

What concealers are you loving at the moment? 

5 Concealers Worth Every Penny.

Concealers are the one thing I will forever invest in. My under-eyes are always dark and puffy whether I get 3 hours sleep or 10, so covering them up is a must. Having tried out a lot of different ones, both high-end and low-end, I really wanted to share with you a few which I believe are worth every penny...

Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer: This is one I have repurchased a few times and never fails me. It's a really nice creamy formula which is hydrating and long-wearing. This has been super raved about and for good reason, it covers really well, without looking cakey and dry. It's a great all round concealer so if you're looking to invest in just one, this is the one I would choose. The applicator makes it really easy to apply and it's super blendable too.

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer: This is a bit more heavy duty than the Urban Decay one, it's great for concealing around the face. It's very long wearing as the name would suggest, but I don't find it looks too heavy on the skin. I have this is a couple of shades lighter than my skin so I can use it to brighten under the eyes. If you suffer with dark circles, this will be a great one to pick up! The only thing that annoys me with this is the pump, a little goes such a long way and I feel it always disperses too much product.

Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit: This is another high-coverage option for those of you who want to correct those blue tones under the eyes. This handy kit comes with a concealer and a powder which both perform beautifully together. This is the only concealer I get on with which is in a pan. It's a fairly tacky consistency, but I actually love that as it stays put all day. This is also great for for pin point concealing as it's very full coverage. If I'm having a notoriously bad under-eye day I can always rely on this.

Charlotte Tilbury Mini Miracle Eye Wand: I do love a good two-in-one product, so it's no surprise I get on with this. If you're looking for a light weight concealer which is going to correct under the eyes and help to brighten, this is great. It comes with pearlescent eye cream on one end, which hydrates and plumps, and a salmony corrector shade to conceal. This is great for those of you who don't wear a lot of makeup, but still want to correct under the eyes.

Bobbi Brown Intensive Skin Corrector: Bobbi Brown nail it when it comes to concealers, so yes, this is the second one I'm loving. This is a great light-weight corrector option, perfect to layer underneath another concealer. This is very hydrating and sits beautifully under the eyes. The peachy tone really helps to offset the purple/blue tones you may get under the eyes.

What concealers are you loving at the moment? 
Wednesday, December 07, 2016

With all the gift guides floating around the internet, I really want to do a little post about the things that I've popped on my Christmas wish-list this year. This is a bit of inspiration just in case you're not sure what you may like and you have people messaging you 24/7 asking you want you what...We're all in the same boat...



What's On My Christmas List 2016.


With all the gift guides floating around the internet, I really want to do a little post about the things that I've popped on my Christmas wish-list this year. This is a bit of inspiration just in case you're not sure what you may like and you have people messaging you 24/7 asking you want you what...We're all in the same boat...



Saturday, December 03, 2016