Fashion & Beauty Haul: Boots, The Body Shop & Primark

Hello everyone! The weekend before last, I was in town and went a little crazy buying everything in sight, so I thought I'd share what I bought...

Batiste Dry Shampoo RRP £2.99

I have tried a few different brands of dry shampoo, but have always come back to Batiste as it's inexpensive and works wonders on my second-day hair!

Carex Complete Cola Bottles Handwash RRP £1.85

The moment I saw this I knew I just had to have it! It smells absolutely gorgeous and I know this sounds bizarre, but every time I go to the bathroom, I actually look forward to washing my hands with it.

Colgate Plax Antibacterial Mouthwash RRP £3.45

This is another repurchase as this is one of the very few mouthwashes I actually like; most burn my mouth but this doesn't! It makes my breath smell lovely and fresh too!

Riemann P20 Once a Day Sun Protection RRP £24.99

So, this stuff is pricey but it is honestly the best sun-cream I've ever tried (yes, this is yet again another repurchase). It's waterproof, comes with a spray applicator, lasts all day and has a high SPF! What could be better?

Original Source Lemon & Tea Tree Shower Gel RRP £2.30

I'm yet to use this because our current shower gel is still going strong, but I cannot wait to crack it open as it smells divine!

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water Mini Format RRP 1.99

I've heard a lot of beauty bloggers rave  about this micellar water, so decided to try it for myself. And in just the space of a week, it has become a staple in my skincare routine! It removes make-up (even stubborn mascara!), deeply cleanses the skin and has even made my skin clearer-looking! I shall definitely be stocking up next time I'm in Boots!

St Ives Gentle Apricot Scrub RRP £4.19

I've used this twice since I bought it and both times, it has left my skin feeling super soft. I actually do feel it does as it promises!

The Body Shop Aloe Skin Essentials RRP £7.50

Originally, I'd gone in to The Body Shop to purchase the Aloe Soothing Day Cream, but simply could not bring myself to give £11.00 for a 50ml tub. Instead, I decided to buy the Aloe Skin Essentials Starter Kit which comes with the mini calming cleanser, calming toner, soothing day cream and soothing night cream.

Primark 'Gym Bunny' Canvas Bag RRP £1.50

For less £1.50, this was a steal and I love it! It's a perfect PE bag and I love the hot pink graphics and handle.

I hope you liked my first ever haul post!

Until next time,

Lucy x

Nigella Lawson's Gluten Free Brownies

Hello everyone! Today I'm back with another recipe post, but this time it's a sweet treat... gluten free brownies! Here's the recipe:

Ingredients:

• 225g of dark chocolate
• 225g of butter, diced
• 2oog of caster sugar
• 2tsp of vanilla extract
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 150g of ground almonds
• 100g of chopped walnuts

Method:

1. First of all, pre-heat the oven to 170˚C.

2. Then, melt the chocolate and butter in a pan over a low heat, frequently stirring until smooth

3. Once both ingredients have melted, remove the pan from the heat and add the vanilla extract, the sugar, the ground almonds, the chopped walnuts and the beaten eggs. Then, give the mixture a thorough stir until everything is combined. Don't panic if it's all lumpy as this is how it's meant to look at this stage!

4. After that, line a 24cm sqaure baking tray with tin foil and pour in the mixture.

5. Pop it in the oven for 25-30 minutes, which is time enough for the brownies to form a soft crust, giving way to a gooey core (yum!).

6. Let the brownies cool for 10-15 minutes, then turn them over onto a wire rack.

7. Finally, chop into 16 squares and serve them alone or with a dusting of icing sugar and a raspberry on top! Voilà!

These brownies are truly delicious and I shall definitely be baking these again very soon! What's more, they take no time at all and create very little washing up!

Lucy x

My Breakfast Smoothie Recipe

Hello everyone! I was having trouble thinking up a blog post for this week, but, whilst drinking my smoothie this morning, I had a sudden stroke of inspiration... I'd chat you guys through its making process! So, here's my quick and easy recipe...

Five inexpensive ingredients are needed to make this deliciously healthy smoothie and they are:

• 2 tbsp of porridge oats
• a ripe banana
• a big squeeze of honey
• 1 tbsp of frozen blueberries
• 500ml of milk

The first thing I do is pop the porridge oats and banana into my blender. (In case you are wondering, I have a Breville Blend-Active and it's simply fantastic as it takes up little space in the cupboard and creates little mess too!) Then, in go the frozen blueberries, followed by the honey and, finally, the milk.  I blitz the ingredient for about two minutes, or until it's pale and frothy! Then, I pour into a cup and drink it straight away!

The Health Benefits of Bananas

1.  Bananas help build strong bones by increasing calcium absorption.
2. Due to high levels of potassium, bananas help with learning by making you more alert.
3. High in antioxidants, bananas provide protection from free radicals.
4. Eating a banana between meals helps stabilize your blood sugar levels, so you don't feel tempted to snack on unhealthy foods!

I hope you enjoyed this quick recipe post! What ingredients make up your favourite smoothie? I'd love to know, so feel free to leave me a comment!

Until next time,

Lucy x