The Body Shop goodie bag

I went into my local town centre yesterday and guess what- the Body Shop store was getting reopened and they were giving goodie bags away to the first customers! They also gave a £3 off voucher which I used to buy the Almond body butter with, but everything else was completely free. It was handed to me in a lovely reusable bag which I am sure I will find many uses for.

Refining bath lily- Beautiful and big so assures you will get a rich lather, while gently exfoliating your skin - a must buy! This is also stronger than cheaper versions other shops sell, so I am really looking forward to using it.

Coconut body butter- This is the smaller version of the usual bigger product, but obviously just as good. The smell of coconut is not too overpowering, and as soon as the product comes in contact with the skin it melts, leaving no sticky residue. Great for dry skin.

Strawberry shower gel-This is a 60 ml version of the original, which is soap free so suitable for sensitive skin. Again the smell isn't overpowering, and strawberry oil in it will keep your skin nice and moisturised.

Vitamin E Cream Cleanser- This best seller cream cleanser is suitable for all skin types and even removes eye make-up. The vitamin E and Shea butter in it softens and moistures your complexion, leaving you with a healthy glow.

Pink grapefruit body scrub- I think this has either a love it or hate it scent, but personally I love the sharp zingy smell that leaves me feeling energised and ready to face the day. The scrub itself works well, containing pink grapefruit oil, which leaves even your elbows and knees soft.

Almond body butter- This is the only product I bought and paid it £2, as they gave me a £3 off voucher which could be used on any product. I have never picked this type up before but I was pleasantly surprised by the sublime smell. This one contains sweet almond oil and is more suitable for dry skin as it does leave a bit of an oily residue, but also leaves your skin feeling very hydrated.

Overall these are the perfect size for someone to take on holiday with them, so will definitely be using them this summer!
So I spent £2 that day and got this many products..............not bad, huh?

xxx

Longer, luscious hair in 7 easy steps!

A few changes to your lifestyle could totally change the look of your hair - who knew? If you want loner, lustrous locks keep reading!

1- Watch the products you use!
Some shampoos contain such harsh chemicals that can remove the natural oils in your hair and scalp, leaving them dry and brittle. This could cause damage in the long term as the hair would grow much thinner. Beaware of Sodium lauryl sulfate, a substance found in many shampoos but also in dish soap, it is very harsh on your scalp!

2-Use treatments
Applying warmed coconut oil to your hair for 5-10 minutes makes a great hair mask. It will need to be washed out a few times, but the results will be shiny, healthy hair- promised! Do it a couple of times every month, and there will be a significant growth spurt in you hair.

3-Regular trims
Approximately cut an inch every few months,to get rid of split and dry ends. Some say it is the secret to what makes it look so healthy, so it's worth to give it a try!

4-Use less heat
Always favour drying your hair naturally rather than using hair dryers and straighteners as they can make hair fragile and create split ends.

5-Food
Growing hair is caused by the amount of blood flow that reaches the roots, so can be controlled by what we eat. Vitamins, minerals and water can all favour hair growth, so be sure to get plenty of them!

6- Scalp massage
Lastly, you can also stimulate the follicles by giving yourself a massage on a regular basis. Afterwards use cold water which helps close pores and prevent breakage.

Hope these tips are helpful!

xx

How-to: Eyebrows

Eyebrows are so important for your whole face, even slightly changing the shape of them can affect your facial expression! A good eyebrow can be achieved in very simple steps- draw on the outline and pluck.

A- The beginning of the eyebrow in line with the outside of your nostril

B-Your eyebrow should end at at diagonal point from the outer corner of your eye.

C-The arch will begin upwards from the outer edge of your iris.

D-Where the arch ends, upwards from the end of your eye.

First I dot the points on, them join them up making sure I am satisfied with the shape. Then you start plucking but make sure you go along with your natural line- its that shape for a reason!

When you have done with the plucking moisturise your eyebrows preferably with a soothing lotion like Aloe Vera.

Just be careful not to pluck too much, thick brows are in after all!

xx

Good foods to give you a boost

With Summer soon arriving and many of us having to sit through exams in the next few weeks, this is not the ideal situation to be in. Its normal that we feel tired and in need of a break. Are you guilty of eating too many unhealthy treats to keep you going throughout the day? I know I am! So here is a list of my favourite yummy foods that are also good for your health and energy levels. Enjoy!

Natural yoghurt- Contains lots of calcium and healthy bacteria to support your immune system. Is also fat burning so is good eaten daily.

Nuts- Have many nutrients and healthy fats which keep your skin, hair and nails looking good. A fistful contributes to your 5-a-day and will keep you full until you next meal, as it is full of protein and fibre.

Oats- My favourite breakfast must be porridge! They are low fat and offer slow release energy which keep you feeling full until lunch time. Check out my previous post on them!

Blueberries- Famous for making you 'clever' they are considered to be a super food with a high level of antioxidants. This supports your immune system as it fights all the free-radicals which want to attack your body.

Green tea- Used traditionally in Chinese medicine to treat anything from headaches to depression, this is also considered to be a super food by many. It speeds up metabolism and is anti-inflammatory.

Dark chocolate- Low in sugar so is much better than milk and white chocolates. Likewise to other foods listed above, it is high in antioxidants and releases endorphins, which are good for your brain and heart. Vitamins and minerals can also still found, improving your general health.

Lastly, even if this is not food, it is still extremely important....

Laughing- Known as the best medicine as it releases endorphins, relaxing the whole body. Good for your general health as it lowers stress, depression and heart problems. Did you know that laughing for only 10 minutes a day can boost your metabolism for a whole 12 hours?

Also remember to drink lots of water and sleep well, giving you plenty of time to complete tasks.

Good luck x

D.I.Y. How to wash Make up Brushes?

Apologies for not posting last week! I had to revise for some exams I hated (ugh, physics) and so I didn't have much time to post :(

However this week I'd like to show you how to do something essential for your make-up routine - my method for washing brushes! Cleaning them helps extend their life and is incredibly important as they can harbour dirt and bacteria. That's not very nice for your skin, is it?

I used to just wash mine in a bowl of soapy water but as it used to bit a bit drying, I recently discovered another method which really gets them looking soft, shiny and new.

You will need: 
Soap (shampoo, dish soap.....anything you want )
Olive Oil (to condition the brushes as they will have been stripped of moisture from the soap)
Bowl

1. Add 1 part oil to 1 1/2 parts soap in a bowl.

2. Take your first brush and swirl it around in the mixture, you should see the mixture changing colour as the make-up is coming off it!

3. Rinse under cold water until the water you squeeze out is clear.

4. Leave to dry flat or facing down on paper towels or the water may get trapped inside and create a loss of hair, damaging the brush. Make sure they are fully shaped and leave them overnight.

How often should you wash them? It depends on your usage but I'd say anything from every week to every month!

How do you wash your make-up brushes? Comment below! xx

Banana and Chocolate Oat Cookies

After Easter the abundance of Easter eggs in my house was just getting too much, so I had to find a way to use up all the chocolate. 

What did I do? 

I found a very simple egg-free, wheat-free and banana-full recipe which is so quick it hardly requires any weighing.

Here it is:

3 ripe bananas

100g melted butter

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 large handfuls of porridge oats

handful almonds, ground or chopped

2 handfuls of dried fruit

a pinch of cinnamon

100g chocolate, chopped into little bits

Makes about 25

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees, and line a baking sheet with greaseproof paper.

2. In a mixing bowl mash the bananas, add the melted butter and the vanilla, giving everything a good mix.

3. Fold in the rest of the ingredients.

4. Space out the cookies on the baking sheet so there is enough space for them to expand. Roughly the size should be about 2 tsp each. 

5. Bake for 30 minutes, until golden. 

They are best enjoyed when warm!

xxx

Spring Make-up Buys

First Superdrug with the buy 1 get one half price on Rimmel, them boots with their 3 for 2's - how could I resist?

Both of these are first buys and I have been loving them. The crystal clear vinyl lip gloss can be a bit sticky but does dry and leave behind a glossy shine that lasts. The foundation is light coverage and easily blended, leaving behind a dewy look. A definite pro must be that even if it contains SPF18 it doesn't leave much of a white cast in flash photography!

This has always been one of my favourite concealers as it can hide all sorts of imperfections even when used alone. It lasts for ages, but due to its consistency can settle into fine lines so make sure to use powder on top! The only con must be the amount of shades, there are only 4 in this range.

Collection's lasting colour lipsticks only cost me £2.99 each, but last so much longer than higher end lipsticks I have bought before! Their consistency is not to dry, making it easy to apply on lips. I bought a deep red colour and a more pinky nude for everyday use.

First buy for both of these with the first being a lip liner, and the second being an eye liner. I have found that the nude pink shade of the lip liner is much darker than my natural lip colour, but the long wear and consistency of it totally make-up for it. I love to buy from MUA so when I saw they had a white eye liner for £1 I just had to give it a go. It's great to use on the waterline to make you look more awake, or in the inner corner to give the illusion of bigger eyes. Plus, it also comes with a pencil sharper in the lid!

I buy this time and time again as nothing quite matches up to it. Its jet black colour and 3 end-felt tip make it so easy to create the perfect flick, you won't be able to live without it! It doesn't smudge during the day and even lasts under the rain. Unlike many felt tips, this doesn't dry out after a couple of months.

Have you got any great make-up you can't live without? Comment below!! 

xx