Review | MUA Power Pout

I really love lip products, and one that delivers shine, colour and moisture all-in-one must be praised. These lip crayons have a permanent space in my make-up collection! Other brands have expensive versions, but these are an amazing cheaper alternative.

Here I have 'Broken Hearted' a light raspberry pink, and 'Crazy In Love' a darker berry colour, the only two I own, but they come in 6 different shades which can be found here.

The crayon shape makes it easy to apply, filling in and lining your lips perfectly. The product glides on with no tugging, giving immediate moisture and providing a very glossy lip colour. Even after a couple of hours, the moisture lasts. However I found they sometimes, but only sometimes, they can settle in lip lines.

one coat applied

one coat applied

Once applied they have a minty smell- a bit like carmex- and you can feel a pleasant tingly feeling on your lips for a little while. Go for one coat for a sheer colour and two for a more intense one. Some time after you've applied them, I find that they develop into a darker, more intense colour. They lasted on my lips for a good 6 hours-ish even after eating and drinking.

Be careful though- they do melt in hot temperatures- like I discovered last summer in 40°C heat...... but this is due to the oils, butters and waxes it contains.

Ingredients: Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Polyethylene, Diisostearyl Malate, Beeswax, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Isononyl Isononanoate, Octyldodecanol, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Fragrance CI 77019, CI 77891, CI 15850, CI15850:1, CI 45410, CI77492, CI 77499 

The shades are very wearable- yet I do wish they'd get a wider range of colours, maybe darker ones.
Prise-wise they are a steal at just £3 from Superdrug, even though often they have offers so you can get them for even cheaper! As they compare very well to their higher-end alternatives this is a must for any lip crayons fans, so what are you waiting for?

D.I.Y. | My favourite face masks

I find that the best way to recharge a parched winter complexion is by using face masks. Sometimes I buy them, but other times when I can't be bothered to leave the house to buy them, probably because of the weather, (ugh, I hate the rain) I make them myself. The great thing about this is that you can tailor them to your own needs and use the things you find lying around in the kitchen.

Chocolate face mask: Ingredients- 1 tbsp cocoa powder, 1 tbsp spoon honey, 1 tbsp natural yoghurt.
I love this as it smells lovely-its like desert, but for the face! Chocolate facials can be hard to find ready made so this is is a hidden gem for many. Mix everything together and apply avoiding the eye area. Leave it on for 20 minutes. This can help fight free radicals and tightens skin, while also giving it colour.

Fruit face masks: Ingredients- ½ fruit, 1 tsp natural yoghurt, 1 tsp honey  
All fruits contain vitamins and are good at tightening the skin. Some are even tailored to benefit different skin types.              
Peach-Softens skin and for all types and ages.                                         
Melon- Soften and refreshes. For all skin types and to calm the skin.
Apple- For oily skin and to illuminate the skin and to fade scars.
Strawberry- For oily or mixed skin and also to give colour to it.     
Pear-For mixed skin.                    
Plums- Purifies the skin and tightens pores.
Kiwi- The seeds gently exfoliate and is used for oily skin.  
Pineapple- For mixed and oily skin.                                                          

Lemon and honey mask: Ingredients-1tsp honey, lemon juice 

Mix together so it becomes a paste and massage onto skin. Let it dry a bit so it becomes less sticky (about 5 minutes) and then wash off. The lemon improves skin tone while the honey hydrates. My favourite quick fix.

Oatmeal facial: Ingredients- 1 tbsp natural yoghurt, 1tbsp oatmeal.
Oatmeal is well known for being able to fade acne scars, and the yoghurt hydrates the skin. Mix and apply a thick layer to the skin, then wait for 25 minutes to remove it. Excellent for treating irritated skin, pimples and more.

One of my favourite things to do is apply them while in the bath- the heat will steam open pores, allowing it to sink more deeply into your skin. After removing them also splash your face with cold water to close your pores.

What do you swear by to treat your skin?

Christmas in Naples

How does it manage to be so sunny in full winter?

Have you all had a nice Christmas? I can tell you I have, as I went to spent it and New Year's with my family in Naples. If there is something I love about that place, it has to be the chaotic markets, the food and the beautiful landscapes which are framed by the persistent sunshine.

this seagull was just demanding to be photographed

Especially in the festive period the narrow streets are bursting of tourists exploring the market and shops, hunting for something special to take back with them. Pasta, Neapolitan playing cards, or different ornaments, they really have anything to suit everyone taste. The markets are also bursting with stalls that sell different books for a total steal.

Different musicians entertain in the piazza while you can sit and enjoy some nice food in the restaurants close-by. The cakes are sooo heavenly and you have to eat the pizza there too, as Naples is the home of it. 

mmmmmmm.........pizza

However I also love all the art they sell there as its full of rich colours, and many street artists are fantastic. Too bad I couldn't fit a print in my luggage, or I would have bought a couple!

Last shopping of the year......

After all that time spent shopping for the last presents for other people,I went shopping for myself. With all the family reunions I will have to attend i guess this will be the last shopping spree of this year.......making me very sad as there are lots of great offers and sales around. The last place I visited? Primark. And here is what I bought:

The first item that caught my eye was a grey jumper with a cut-out floral stitched detail collar. It was so warm and soft as it contained 4% angora. This cost £14 - the most expensive thing I bought.

The second item was a lace skater dress in a dark berry shade, with three quarter length transparent sleeves. The material is soft and doesn't itch at all, I'm probably going to wear it on Christmas day! This cost me £10.

 The next thing was a nice A-line leather mini-skirt with zip details. It was love at first sight with this; the quilted detail is so reminiscent of Chanel handbags and I'd been wanting a leather skirt for ages! It was also £10.

 The last section of the store I visited was the accessories, I seriously cannot leave Primark without going there! Every time I need to pick-up something so I bought these pearl earrings, 5 different sizes, for £1. Bargain.

I just love Primark.

All The Small Things

There are so many things we do during the festive season, but maybe because of families and friends, school and/or work, or general procrastination, you never have enough time to add all the little details you would want to add to things.  This year I have tried to try different things for Christmas, here's my list:

Be more creative
I usually wrap things up with the usual wrapping paper every year, so this time I decided to be different. I decided to give one of my friends a memorable Christmas present by wrapping it up in Iron Man comics. Obviously photocopied and not real. Anyway she loved it.

Then I had bought a present for a friend but later walked into another shop and found a scarf I knew she would absolutely love. What did I do? I gave her both presents, using the scarf to wrap the first one up.     2-in-1.

Embellish
I love the festive sparkle. I have tried to embellish dull looking blouses with some sort of beads or lace or pretty material. I like to vary the beads in size,so different focus points can be given to the piece of clothing.

Statement jewellery is so now and can really refresh your wardrobe, so I made my own necklace to wear with my favourite warm winter jumpers. And yes, I do love pearls. 

Tree decorations 

I am really trying hard to get in with the Christmas spirit this year so I made a couple of decorations to put on the tree.........

How d'you like them?

D.I.Y. | Cinnamon And Chocolate Festive Lip Scrub

With the weather turning colder our lips may be becoming chapped and dry, and I know that just using lipbalm won't solve it. The only way I can make my lips nice and soft this season is using lip scrubs.You only need oils and sugar for a home made one and they are so easy to make. Really.

Since it's nearly Christmas one of my favourite festive flavours has to be cinnamon (hmmmmm the smell) I had the great idea to mix it with another a flavour I love-chocolate-and the final result was quite impressive.

Here's how to:

You need 1tsp caster sugar and a little less than 1tsp of whatever oil you want- I chose olive. Then add 1/2tsp cinnamon and 1/2tsp cocoa powder. Mix it all up and voilà.

 And did I mention cinnamon is also good for making lips look plumper? It also smells good and tastes sooo chocolatey I'm sure you'll love it- I know I do!

Inspiration from London

Doing a GCSE in Art I am on the search for constant inspiration to move my project on and to complete my book. Last week I went to visit the Saatchi and National Gallery,walking from one to another (Chelsea-Trafalgar Square!) embracing the cold British winter weather on the way. By the time I got to the National Gallery it was getting dark so I decided to take some touristy photos too :)

The artwork in both places was beautiful. The Saatchi now has the body language exhibition,some of my favourite were:

Makiko Kudo had an obvious anime influence to his artwork which showcased different seasons

Denis Tarasov wanted to remember those died in the war with his photography

This was just creepy. It's by Eddie Martinez and I think he took some inspiration from Ronald McDonald for that clown.

This old lady wasn't part of the exhibition but I loved her. The detail and the way she is portrayed as a wool ball is just so amusing.

The National gallery had paintings by some of the greatest artists in the world, like Michelangelo and Caravaggio and allowed you to see something that you wouldn't be able to see everyday.

I suggest you go and visit both galleries if you have a chance as they have something to suit everyone.