Cheeky Summer Superdrug Splurge

Good afternoon my lovelies! The weather today is absolute poop so I find myself sat here typing away enjoying a coffee and some banana bread looking for some homely comforts. What could be more comforting then drooling over a recent cheeky Superdrug splurge? A couple of weeks ago I was having a girly shopping day in Lewes with my Mum. It was a gorgeous and warm sunny day, we had coffee and luck out, had our hair cuts and did a little bit of cheeky shopping, oops.

It has been a while since I last found myself spending hours and hours scanning endless make-up and beauty counters in Boots and Superdrug. I have been very well reserved recently I'm actually quite proud of myself. Judging by the size of my make-up collection I really don't need any more make-up however, that isn't part of the English Dictionary in my books and I personally believe that you can never have too much make-up.

There have been a lot and I mean a lot of new releases recently that I have had my eye on and have wanted to have a nosy at. There were so many more products that I could easily have picked up and indulged on however I am trying to be careful with money at the moment. My Mum did have to help restrain me though; it was a two person job. Since leaving school and working my will power has 100% decreased.

For fellow make-up addicts, junkies and lovers I thought I would share what beautiful new products I found that I thought would be gorgeous for Spring and Summer.

Make-Up Bag By Zoella Beauty

I use my make-up bag 6/7 times a week and after a while they can start to look a little on the grubby side which is of course natural. Personally I am all for good personal hygiene. I have had my eye on this gorgeous pale pink make-up bag for a while now but I could find myself resisting no more. At least I actually have an excuse that I do need a new make-up bag now. I love the gorgeous combination of the pale pink and rose fold dots. This screams summer to me and very fitting for my new summer make-up goodies. I also love the quote on the bag of 'Just Say Yes' as this is something I would personally like to do more of to new opportunities that may arise. I guess fear of the unknown is a sucker for me creating anxiety although recently I believe I am getting better at throwing caution to the wind and saying yes to new opportunities and adventures which is a good thing in my book.

I know that this make-up bag will be well used and loved over Summer. You can pick your own bag up for £8.00. A must have for your new make-up goodies and treats.

Bronze and Sculpt Contour Kit By MUA 

Contouring may possibly be my favourite part of applying make-up. I think it's because I find it fascinating and intriguing as to how you can really change the shape and appearance of your face by applying two different shades of powder. It boggles my mind. I guess it's the little things. MUA is a new brand to me. I first discovered the brand when I received an eyeshadow palette in a glossy box one month which I have loved, cherished and used ever since. The eyeshadows are really pigmented, blend able and creamy yet MUA is a really cheap and affordable make-up brand. It is therefore the perfect brand for those of you watching the pennies as I know I am. The gorgeous gold packaging caught my eye as I glanced past the stand and seeing as I had such success with the eyeshadows I thought I would give the contouring kit ago. I mean how could you miss this little beauty it's absolutely stunning. I love the gold packaging. Hidden inside is a gorgeous golden shimmery highlighter and tucked underneath the highlighter is the gorgeous matte brown bronzer. I think both shades will look gorgeous alongside a golden tan.

I picked this fellow up in the shade Light/Medium yet there are others available. I am a sucker for bronzers and have tried many yet I have a couple of firm favourites including Hoola by Benefit and the Soap and Glory Solar powder however I do have high hopes for this one and it will be a welcome addition to my gorgeous collection. I love the fact at how compact it is yet you have a really decent size bronzer and highlighter. This will make it the perfect addition to your make-up bag as it is small and compact for on the go usage. What will make you fall in love with it even more and is another tick box well and truly ticked is the fact that it also contains a really good mirror. Boom. I cannot think of any negatives to this little baby. The product itself is also super pigmented there are literally no downsides here. Alongside the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer and the Rimmel Stay Matte Powder this could be another drugstore beauty favourite that stands it's ground for years and years to come. I highly recommend that you grab one especially as it is only £5.00 - yes £5.00.

Rimmel Lipsticks

Top Clockwise: Latino, Spin All Spring, Vintage Pink, Pink Rules

Moisture Renew Lipsticks By Rimmel 

Vintage Pink and Latino 

Rimmel have recently increased their range of the moisture renew lipsticks by introducing a sheer and shine range. Seeing the new lipsticks I also had a nosy at some of the lipsticks from the original collection. I could of quite happily brought ten but I restrained myself to two. Something which I don't feel guilty for although the quantity did then double but what can you do? I have always loved Rimmel lipsticks. I just had a nosy at my collection where I found twelve all from different ranges including the Classic Kate Moss range, the matte Kate Moss Range, the Rita Ora lip crayons and now of course the moisture renew range. Sometimes I struggle to find lipsticks that are wearable against my dark red lips although these lipsticks are incredibly pigmented. I think they might be the most pigmented lipsticks that I own allowing me a greater variation of colours to chose from. This of course made the decision a lot more tricky. The lipsticks are also really moisturising and they aren't drying. Of course they also have really good colour pay off which lasts a long time on your lips. I also love the sleek packaging with the purple case. I think it makes the lipsticks quite modern and sophisticated. The lipsticks also smell and taste amazing which shouldn't be an important factor but it is still an added bonus in my books. I highly recommend that you spend a long time swatting these lipsticks as they are well worth the pocket money. They are also really affordable at only £6.49 each which I think is really good considering they are of a A* quality.

Vintage Pink 180
I think of this to be a more sophisticated lip colour. It isn't your bright fuchsia or barbie doll pink put it that way. It is a luxurious dark mauve with almost purple undertones yet it actually appears more berry toned on the lips. I feel it really compliments my dark lips. This would be perfect for a subtle lip colour perhaps for work or an evening do. It isn't what I consider a classic Spring or Summer shade, perhaps more wintery but I know I will still wear this throughout the entire year.

Latino 200
I have had my eye on this shade for years and years now; right back to when the original collection was first introduced. Typical Ellie but this is another berry tone shade with shimmer running through it. It is a brighter and more pinker colour then Vintage Pink. It is the perfect bright Summer berry shade for me and I already know that this will become a staple and all time favourite for me. The shimmer also adds that added bit of shine to it making your lips appear super glossy without lipgloss. I think yet again this shade really suits my natural lip colour and I think it may be my favourite out of the four colours.

Sheer and Shine Lipstick By Rimmel 

Pink Rules and Spin All Spring

I was originally drawn to the Rimmel lipstick counter because of the new Sheer and Shine lipsticks. There are six in the collection of which I picked up two. They are the same price to the lipsticks in the original range except they are in a pale baby pink case. Again I also love the packaging of these and I love the fact that they are of a different colour case making the lipsticks distinctive from the classics. They just look really fun and summery in my make-up bag and collection. Right up my street. The lipsticks appear as really bright and bold colours yet they are sheer lipsticks allowing you to build up coverage to the desired amount of colour. They also have a different scent to the original collection that reminds me of pink grapefruit. Being Summer I don't know if it is supposed to be or not but let me know what you recon.

Pink Rules 300
Pink Rules appears to be a bright fuchsia with red tones towards it. However, as the lipsticks are of a sheer formula it actually swatches as a more sheer berry pink. It doesn't appear as bright on the lips. This makes more wearable for me personally as I'm not a total fan of bright lip colours as I'm not sure that they suit me. I find a bright sheer lipstick more subtle for that added hint of colour without being too in your face if you know what I mean. This will be perfect for Summer when my wardrobe tends to be a lot more colourful.

Spin All Spring 600
This is a gorgeous coral orange with shimmer running through it. I usually avoid orange lipsticks as I don't think that they compliment my skin tone however the fact that this lipstick is sheer makes it a lot more wearable for me. I just find the subtle hint really refreshing on the lips providing that extra subtle hint of colour. Yet again these lipsticks are really moisturising and are incredibly shinny. I can see these becoming the ultimate summer essentials and new best friends.

Thank you for reading this blog post my lovelies. I would love to know if you have tried any of the products or any cheeky products that you have picked up recently. All this talk of Summer seems to have brought the sun out which pleases me immensely. I am now debating baking a gingerbread cake this afternoon. Enjoy the rest of your Wednesday my lovelies.

XXX

Stocking Up On Bath Bombs

Top - Down: Butterball, Blackberry, Think Pink, Honey Bee, Fizzbanger 

Good morning my lovelies and a Happy Sunday to you all! Yesterday I had a lovely shopping day with my Mother although it was also a little cheeky with lot's and lot's of spontaneous purchases - slaps wrist. I love going shopping with my Mum and spending some quality mother and daughter time together. We always make it into a fun day by spoiling ourselves and treating ourselves to coffee and lunch out. Clothes, shoes, lingerie, chocolates, beauty products and candles were all purchased including a gorgeous summer pineapple phone case. I can well and truly say that the Summer wardrobe is now at the ready and I am now waiting for the Summer weather. Knowing my luck that amazing week that we had last week was probably a one off but thats sods law for you there.

Whilst going crazy in town the amazing and very distinctive hint of Lush hit us and neither of us could say no to that. I looked at my bath bomb box (yes I am sad and have a box, no actually two boxes dedicated to Lush bath booms) and noticed that there was only one bomb remaining. It was the fluffy egg from the Easter collection that I highly enjoyed last night. Although I think of bath bombs as a more Autumnal and Winter pamper treat I still like to treat myself to an indulgent pamper night once a week; including a face pack, nail TLC and a Lush bath bomb. I would do this more often if I had the time during the week but work always seems to get in the way.

I have recently been working my way through limited edition Lush products such as from the Christmas, Mothers Day and Easter collections. I haven't actually used many products from the original core collection recently. Shock horror but there are actually some bombs from the originally collection that I haven't ever tried. As much as I was tempted to stock up on all the favourites such as Twilight I resisted and restrained myself. Feeling spontaneous I picked up bath bombs that aren't new to the collection yet I have never tested these before. I thought I would write a mini haul post for all of you fellow Lush fanatics.

Butterball
If you're a lover of all things sweet then you will love this little acorn. It has a gorgeous vanilla and cocoa scent to it which I personally love. I am a sucker for sweet scents at the moment and this bomb is right up my street. If you're a fan of bright colours, glitter and fizzing then this isn't the bomb for you. For me it is a very comforting, soothing and some what indulgent bomb. It is packed full of cocoa butter that will melt and dissolve into your bath water which leaves your skin super soft afterwards. Honestly it will feel softer then a baby's bot. Pre-warning you will want to give your bath a little wipe down afterwards as when that butter dries it is a nightmare to clean. I don't think of this as your typical Summer bath treat. For summer I tend to think of more fresh fruity and floral scents however if you are in need for a bit of TLC then I would recommend that you give this one a try. It will nourish and repair your skin as well as your mind, mood and body. I love the Butterbear bath bomb from the Christmas range which is based on the original butterball. Basically same bomb, different shape. It isn't the biggest bomb in the whole wide world and it will only cost you £2.65 however it is an essential to have in your collection for times of need.

Blackberry
My logic here was I love blackberries so I'm sure a blackberry bath bomb will be amazing. I believe this bomb will go a gorgeous and rich deep purple shade whilst releasing bergamot oils that are calming and uplifting and essential for releasing any stress. I personally wouldn't smell this bomb and say 'wow blackberries' however I find it quite musky and relaxing. Scent wise it reminds me of the scent you get when you walk into a spa that has lit incense and essential oils. This is a larger bomb and will cost you £3.35 however I think it will be perfect after a stressful day.

Think Pink
This is an obvious one for me. As you all know I am an absolute sucker for sweet scents so there are no surprises here that I was instantly drawn to this little gem. I also love the gorgeous vibrant pink and candy flowers which screams summer in a bath bomb to me. Yet again this bath bomb is packed with sweet vanilla alongside calming and relaxing lavender which also provides a slight floral scent making it a bit less sweet then the well known stable Snow Fairy Lush scent. I also quite like the fact that this bath bomb isn't the generic bath bomb shape, theres Lush pushing the boundaries for you all there. This bomb will cost you £2.65 and I could easily see myself returning and buying another three or four of these as I think it will be up there as a new favourite. High hopes for you.

Honey Bee
I would describe this bath bomb as another more summery treat. I adore honey. In fact I pretty much have honey every single day with my breakfast and I also love to bake with it. I haven't tried this bomb before but it has been screaming out to me for a few weeks now every time I have walked past Lush and seen the gorgeous bee display in the window. I believe this will turn your bath water a gorgeous pastel yellow shade which is perfect for summer. The bath bomb contains honey and aloe vera which are both cleansing and soothing whilst the rhassoul mud helps to moisturise your skin. This sounds like the ultimate summer bath treat to me. It is a giant bath bomb costing you £3.50 but I cannot wait to try it.

Fizzbanger
I think this is going to be a spectacular bath bomb. I love how vibrant it is; you cannot miss it. I think this will be a statement bath bomb that will change colour and release popping candy. For some reason I think this one will be perfect for Autumn around fireworks night. It has a gorgeous sweet apple and cinnamon scent towards it which I think to be a classic Autumn scent. However, I'm never going to say no to that scent as yet again it is another sweet and sickly scent that is right up my street. I love the combination of the sweet crisp apple (which reminds me of Snow White from the Christmas range) alongside the spicy cinnamon. Apple pie anyone? This is another big bath bomb and very satisfying to hold. This one will also cost you £3.50 but I think it will be well worth your money and another personal favourite in the making.

I hope you enjoyed reading this blog post my lovelies. No new releases I'm afraid but I am an ultimate Lush fanatic and I love reading blog posts on Lush products. I can't help myself I think I'm addicted to Lush. As soon as I visit a store that's it and money is spent, spent spent. I would love to know what your personal favourites from Lush are. I can't wait to give these a try and add them to my repertoire. Have a gorgeous Sunday my lovelies.

XXX

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread (GF)

Hello my lovelies and a Happy Summers Sunday to you all. Summer seems to be officially here which makes me so happy and what a way to celebrate with a spot o baking. For me personally, baking is a way to relax and de-stress; it is very therapeutic. I have recently increased my work hours and finding my self with spare time is a rarity at the moment. However, I find myself with a free Sunday morning so the obvious solution is to bake. When I glanced over at the fruit bowl this morning and caught sight of a couple of over ripe bananas the obvious solution for me is banana bread. I personally love banana bread and I haven't made any this year and it is very quick and easy to make. My excitement further grew by finding a pack of un-opened chocolate chips in the cupboard. I can officially say that the jigsaw puzzle is now complete. I have already posted a blog post with a recipe for a Banana, Fudge and White Chocolate Loaf Cake which you can see by clicking here.  That was a personal favourite of mine; banana, fudge and white chocolate are my favourite flavour combinations at the moment and who could resist the amazing and ultimate flavour combination in cake form? I thought I would try something a bit different this time by making the banana bread gluten free. I find that gluten free cakes are a lot lighter and are also more moist myself.

I love banana bread and it can be enjoyed in so many different ways. You can really make it your own whether you add chocolate, nuts, dried fruit, spices or the whole cherbang. Next time I have left over bananas I might add some pecan nuts. I love experimenting with new flavour combinations. Once you have a basic banana bread recipe the world is your oyster.

Ingredients

125g unsalted butter
120g caster sugar
3 eggs
2 ripe bananas peeled and mashed
225g Gluten Free plain flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp xanthan gum
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
100g milk chocolate chips

Method

1) Grease and line a 2lb loaf tin and preheat your oven to 180°C/ 160°Fan/ Gas mark 4

2) Beat your butter and sugar together until pale, light and fluffy. You could do this with an electric whisk but I find the old fashioned method of a wooden spoon more satisfying and a great way to release any tension

3) Whisk your eggs together and add half of the eggs to your cake batter followed by half of the flour which you should sift into the bowl. Fold the ingredients together followed by the remaining eggs and flour once fully incorporated

4) Add your mashed banana, baking powder, xanthan gum, vanilla extract and cinnamon and fold into the cake batter

5) Finally stir in your chocolate chips, it is essential to test a couple first

6) Pour your cake batter into the loaf tin and bake for 50 - 60 minutes until golden brown and a skewer is clean after being inserted into the centre of the cake. If you think the top of the cake is cooking too quick and looking a dark brown before the cake is cooked you could cover the cake with foil to stop it from burning

7) Once cooked leave your cake to cool in the tin for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire wrack to cool completely. Once the cake has cooled you can slice the loaf and enjoy!

I hope you enjoyed reading this blog post my lovelies. I won't lie to you but banana bread is a personal favourite of mine. I love the beautiful banana flavour which goes so amazingly with the melted milk chocolate. The cake is so moist and it also keeps for a really long time. Perfect for the cake tin to crack out in times of need of comfort or a pick-me-up. I would love to know in the comments if you tried this recipe or what your favourite flavour combinations are to add to your banana bread. I hope you all enjoy the rest of this amazing Summer's Sunday.

XXX

April Favourites 2016

Good morning my lovelies and a Happy Sunday and May Day to you all. This month has totally flown by for me I honestly don't know where it has gone. I feel I have failed slightly on the blogging side of life but I have been a little busy bee at work. It wouldn't be the first of the month without a classic favourites post.

Cocoa Body Butter By The Body Shop
As you all know I love The Body Shop. Not a day goes by where I don't use at least one of their products. Skincare, bath and body, home and makeup they have it covered with an amazing range of products to chose from. Over April I have been enjoying using the Cocoa body butter. I used to love the scent when I was younger but I don't know if I overdosed or my choice of scents changed but I kind of went off the scent and only just used it again recently. I am now a huge fan of sickly sweet and sugary scents which I used to avoid. The butter itself is so moisturising and perfect for anyone that suffers from dry skin. I love the scent and my skin is always left feeling silky smooth afterwards and smelling of chocolate and vanilla - yum!

Gradual Tan Body Lotion By Garnier
Moisturising my skin is something that I am ashamed to admit that I am guilty of not doing regularly enough. When I'm busy during the week and getting back late I find my self slipping into naughty habits. However, I have found myself getting into a good routine of moisturising my legs using the gradual tan lotion everyday. Spring is the awkward transition stage when more flesh is exposed that has been hibernating under cosy jumpers and pyjama bottoms for months and hasn't seen sunlight for nearly half a year. To make the transition a little less painful I find a little helping hand for the pale legs is required. I have been alternating between using this and a gradual tan lotion by Dove which is my holy grail. Feeling spontaneous I have been trying the new Garnier gradual tan lotion of which I have been pleasantly surprised. What I love about both lotions is that they don't have the horrible fake tan smell. Instead this one has a fresh and fruity apricot smell which I love. The lotion absorbs instantly which is perfect for if you're pushed for time as you're not left standing in your bedroom naked for half an hour waiting for your body to finish absorbing the moisturiser. I have also noticed a quick change with my legs looking a little more golden. It's perfect as they don't look obviously tanned yet they've just got that base before they're exposed to sunlight again. A 2 in 1 product for me as a really efficient and smooth moisturiser along with a gradual tan that is instant to use, perfect.

Colour Rush Lip Crayon In Give Me A Cuddle By Rimmel
This isn't a new product for me, instead it's a classic that I have rediscovered again recently. Throughout Spring I have been enjoying wearing a peachy pink lip colour. It's brighter, very Spring like, fun and colourful. Perviously I had been sticking to my darker berry shades throughout Autumn and Winter so as soon as the sun is out, any excuse for some pastel colours. I have been really into pastels in general this past month, not just in terms of lipstick. Whether it's lip colour, nails or clothes I have been obsessed with pale pastels. It just makes me think of Spring and Easter. What can I say pastel colours make me smile. I have been particularly enjoying pairing this colour with an Essie nail polish that I mentioned in my last favourites post called Lovie Dovie which is a gorgeous pastel barbie doll pink shade. The two pair very nicely together, I can highly recommend the combination. They're like two little peas in a pod. The formulation of the lip crayon is lovely and soft whilst being very moisturising yet it also has really good colour pay off. I would describe it as a lip balm, lipstick and a lipgloss all in one. I won't lie but I also love the vanilla sweet scent that it has which makes it even better in my eyes as I am a sucker for vanilla.

High Beam Crayon Highlighter By Benefit 
I personally love a spontaneous treat splurge, I mean who doesn't? I don't tend to ever treat myself to high end make-up very often as I normally see it as a treat to request these beautiful little creations as a gift for my Birthday or Christmas when you're being poked for gift ideas by relatives. I've had my eye on the Benefit High Beam highlighter crayon for quite some time now and I had also read many a positive review on beauty blogs. So on one day off I had a wave of spontaneity consume me and I took the splurge and picked one up; and I haven't looked back since. I am planning on writing a full review of the crayon on a separate and dedicated blog post so I'll treat you all to a quick summary. The crayon is really smooth and creamy and really easy to blend. It is a gorgeous iridescent oyster cream pink shade which I find really suits my skin tone for highlighting. The crayon is almost matte with a beautiful silver shimmer yet it appears matte on the skin so you don't appear glittery. I have been using the crayon specifically under my eyebrow to highlight my brow bone which I find helps to widen and brighten any tired looking eyeballs. I don't know why by I find the word eyeball a really cringy word. It's nice to have a specific eye-highlighter-product-thingy as supposed to using eyeshadows. I may also start experimenting and using the crayon around my eyes as a highlighter in the inner corner to help combat those resistant dark circles that I seem to be prone to. What a successful spontaneous splurge; maybe I should have these more often who knows.

What's Nude Eyeshadow Quad By Soap And Glory 
Similar to the lip crayon this isn't a new purchase in my make-up collection, instead it is the return of a golden oldy, a classic if you like. It has featured in many a favourites post before. I am a sucker for nude and pink eyeshadows as I find that they compliment my green eyes by emphasising and opposing the colour. I just adore this beautiful little quad. A- it is small and compact and takes up very little space in your make-up bag. B- it is from Soap an Glory which is one of my favourite highstreet make-up brands which I find to be of tip top quality. C- the eyeshadow quad contains four beautiful, creamy and blendable shades that are all really wearable for everyday use. I have got into a little routine recently of using this beautiful quad almost everyday in my working weekday make-up routine. The quad contains a gorgeous matte highlighter, a creamy pink matte nude, a matte dark brown and a dark brown with a hint of shimmer. The perfect eyeshadow cocktail combination. The shades blend together really easily producing the perfect nude eye. Perfect for quick, easy and effortless eye make-up that using your contouring skills can make you appear to have spend hours creating when really it was a little two minute job. D- the quirky pack even comments on how they haven't bothered providing a cheap sponge brush which I find painful to use. I wouldn't recommend these for contouring with. It is just the perfect eyeshadow quad that is cheap and affordable yet of tip top quality.

Thank you for reading this blog post my lovelies. I would love to know what products you have all been enjoying to use over April. I hope you enjoy your bank holiday three day weekend you lucky sausages.

XXX