Simple Protecting Light Moisturiser

I bought this moisturiser on a whim as (a) it was better than half price in Superdrug and (b) what with the weather in England finally cheering up a bit, I decided I need something with an SPF.

usually £6.99 in Boots or Superdrug

This is perfect! It doesn't feel greasy like sun cream can and doesn't leave my skin looking horrible and shiny.

It's also very hydrating . I suffer from extreme dryness on both cheeks and around the jawline, which can sometimes make any make-up I'm wearing look cakey (never a good look!), but this moisturiser combats the issue well;  after applying, my skin always feels super-soft.

Simple really are great at formulating products for sensitive skin. This moisturiser hasn't brought me out in a single spot, so, if  you're skin is prone to the odd blemish like mine is, it should be grand.

For a high-street skincare brand, Simple have really hit the nail on the head - their prices don't break the bank yet their products are simply (get it?) superb.

I have nothing bad to say about this moisturiser! It's inexpensive, contains lots of skin-loving ingredients (no harsh chemicals!) and the bottle should last me ages!

I hope you enjoyed this review! Let me know in the comments below if you like the brand Simple as much as I do and what your favourite product of theirs is!

Lucy x

 

Real Techniques' Core Collection

After reading about three million reviews online and hearing only great things about these brushes, I couldn't wait to get my hands on a set. So, a few days ago, whilst out shopping, I spotted them in Gordon's Chemist and, Gran, who I'm visiting at the moment, kindly said she's buy them for me.

Left to right - contour brush, pointed foundation brush, detailer brush & buffing brush

First off, I'd like to mention how ultra-soft these brushes are; I have very sensitive skin and these do not upset it at all. Also, all four brushes look so professional and are great quality; you certainly get what you pay for (£21.99). Another plus is that the set comes with a handy case that, when folded in half, becomes a stand.

My favourite of the lot is the buffing brush which effortlessly blends liquid foundation for a flawless finish. The contour brush is great too and fits perfectly in the hollows of my cheeks.

The pointed foundation brush is just the right size for concealing those dreaded black bags; the bristles are densely packed yet very flexible. I haven't yet used the detailer brush, the tiny one, but I imagine it would be useful when applying bold lip colours.

In conclusion, I'd highly recommend the Core Collection as all the bushes have a purpose and are of the best quality possible. I have not yet tried to wash them, however, reviews I've read have said they don't shed and hold their shape impeccably. As a high street brand, Real Techniques are hard to beat, so well done Sam and Nic!

Hope you all had a great Easter and are enjoying the nice weather!

Lucy x

 

Easter Chocolate Cornflake Cakes

Hello everyone! Today, Granny and I did some baking and one of the things we made were 12 yummy chocolate cornflake cakes, perfect for sharing with the family this Easter. So, if you're a fan of an indulgent chocolate treat, read on...

 Ingredients:

For the cakes

• 225g chocolate (milk, white or dark)
• 50g butter
• 1tbsp  golden syrup
• 75g cornflakes

For decoration

• Mini eggs

Equipment:

• 12 paper cases
• 12-hole muffin tin
• Wooden spoon
• Bowl
• Saucepan

Method:

1.  Firstly, break up the chocolate and dice the butter, placing it in a bowl before adding a heaped spoonful of golden syrup.
2. Then, half-fill a saucepan with boiling water and place the bowl with the chocolate, butter and golden syrup in it over the water. Over a low heat, combine all three ingredients together, stirring it gently every so often.
3. Once the mixture is smooth and glossy, remove from the heat and pour in the cornflakes.
4. With a large wooden spoon, coat all the cornflakes in chocolate.
5. Now, line a muffin tin with 12 paper cases and spoon cornflakes into them.
6. Pop two or three mini eggs on the top and cover them in cling film before putting them in the fridge to set for at least an hour.
7. Lastly, offer them around to your friends and family (who'd say no to one of these?!), but make sure there's enough left for you as, believe me, you wouldn't want to miss out on one of these little beauties!

In case I don't post tomorrow, I hope you all have a fab Easter! Please let me know if you'd like to see more recipe posts in the future; I love writing them just as much as I love eating what I've baked!

Lucy x

'Step Into Spring' Make-Up Look

Hello everyone! Although you may not believe it considering the awful weather, we are already a whole week into British Springtime, so I thought I'd do  a 'Step Into Spring' make-up look using products just from the drugstore! Here is the finished look and how I created it:

1. After I'd cleansed and moisturised, I massaged my Bourjois Happy Light Illuminating Serum Primer into my face and neck. Not only does this ensure my make-up lasts all day, it also smooths and hydrates.
2. Next, I concealed my black bags with the Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer, which, in my opinion, is a must-have beauty product as it brightens the under-eye area.
3. Then, I went in with my Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream in the shade 031 Ivory, a light-coverage foundation that is specially formulated to dial down redness.
4. After that, I moved onto eyes. Here I simply slicked on the Maybelline Big Eyes Mascara and dabbed a tiny bit of pale, shimmery eyeshadow (from the the W7 In The Buff palette) into the inner corners of my eyes to make my eyes appear brighter and more awake.
5. Then, I attempted to contour with the L'Oreal Glam Bronze, a completely matte bronzer that I have owned for yonks.
6. I also added a touch of cream highlighter down the bridge of my nose and along my cheekbones.
7. Penultimatey, I took my Sleek Blush in the shade Rose Gold (review coming soon!) and applied it to the apples of my cheeks, sweeping upwards and outwards in large circular motions. To do this, I used the Real Techniques Blush Brush.
8. And last of all, I added a hint of colour to my lips with my No.7 High Shine Lip Crayon, which I totally adore!

Hope you enjoyed this drugstore make-up look post; I'd love to know what look you're going for this season!

Lucy x

Bourjois' 123 Perfect CC Cream

Hello everyone! Last weekend, I picked up the Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream for just under the £10 mark. For those of you who do not know, CC generally stands for "colour correct", meaning that it addresses issues such as redness and those unsightly black bags. 

 This product provides you with light to medium coverage that looks very natural on the skin, perfect for day-to-day wear. I'd say it is fairly suitable for all skin types as it is neither matte nor dewy, however I do find that it sometimes clings to my dry patches (no one would ever notice though unless they were looking very closely!).

With this CC cream, I find that a little goes a long way. For the best results, squeeze a pea-sized amount out onto the back of your hand and dab a bit onto your forehead, nose, cheeks and chin. Then, with a make-up sponge/beauty blender, simply blend the product upwards and outwards in small circular motions.

When it comes to drugstore CC creams, lots of them look cheap and tacky, however, Bourjois has done an incredibly good job at packaging theirs to look very upmarket. The product lasts all day and feels comfortable on the skin. It comes in four different shades: Ivory, Light Beige, Beige and Bronze. 

Overall, I am really happy with this purchase and would definitely recommend it to anyone who, like me, is new to the world of make-up and just wants something that provides good coverage and gives a natural-looking finish. Let me know if you enjoyed this sort of post and whether or not you'd like to see more product reviews in the future! 

Lucy x

Recipe: Lemony Cupcakes

If you're from the UK, you'll know that it's Red Nose Day tomorrow, so yesterday afternoon, I decided I'd bake some cupcakes. If I'm totally honest with you, I'm not really a cupcake person, but, boy, these were good!

In case you're thinking "how are these anything to do with Red Nose Day?", I'll explain. The icing was supposed to be red but unfortunately we didn't have much food dye left, so they're orange instead! But, never to worry! Anyway, for those of you who fancy baking these amazing fairy cakes, here's the recipe:

Ingredients:

For the cupcakes

• 115g butter (diced)
• 115g caster sugar
• 115g self-raising flour
• 2 eggs
• 1 lemon (the zest and juice)

For the buttercream icing

• 150g butter (diced)
• 300g icing sugar
• 2tbsp lemon juice
• Food colouring (optional)

For decoration

• 12 Maltesers

Method:

1. First of all, preheat the oven to 180˚C and line a 12-hole muffin tin with paper cases.
2. Then, place the butter, caster sugar, eggs, lemon juice and the lemon zest into a large mixing bowl before sifting in the flour, incorporating air by lifting the sieve quite high.
3. Now, using a handheld mixer, whisk together all the ingredients until the mixture is light and creamy.
4. Divide the mixture evenly between the twelve muffin cases.
5. Bake in the oven for 18-20 minutes or until well-risen, golden brown and a skewer inserted into the centre of a cake comes out clean. With oven gloves, remove the muffin tin from the oven and carefully transfer the cupcakes to a wire rack where they can cool.
6. Meanwhile, prepare the buttercream icing. Simply combine the butter, icing sugar and lemon juice using a hand-held mixer on it's lowest setting (you don't want the icing sugar to go everywhere!).
7. Once the cakes have cooled completely, spoon the buttercream into a piping bag and swirl on the buttercream for an artistic finish. Or, alternatively, you can just dollop some icing straight onto the cake and use the back of a spoon to spread it evenly across the surface.
8. Top each cupcake with a Malteser and you're done! Ta-dah!

I hope this recipe has inspired you to put on your apron and get baking for Comic Relief!

Lucy x

February Beauty Favourites

Hello everyone! It's the beginning of another month (where has February gone?), so it's time for another Favourites post. Here are some beauty products I've been loving recently...

 KIKO Velvet Touch Creamy Stick Blush RRP £7.90

It's a known fact that I own way to many blushers, but when I saw this one, I couldn't resist the temptation. I love this product; it applies like a dream and gives my cheeks a subtle glow. This is perfect for school as it's quite natural-looking and doesn't make me look overly made-up. I have it in the shade Coral Rose, which, I think, is perfect for spring.

The Body Shop Born Lippy Passionberry Lip Balm RRP £2.00

I LOVE this lip balm! It smells gorgeous, looks amazing and is so glossy! It's an absolute must-have in any girl's collection!

LUSH Bubblegum Lip Scrub RRP £5.50

I bought this late November and never really got round to using it until quite recently. It works wonders on my chapped lips and makes them feel really soft. I absolutely adore the taste of this as well. It's so good!

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser RRP £15.50

This cleanser is my #1 skincare staple! I use this on a daily basis and ever since I began using this a while ago, I have seen a real difference in my skin; although I sometimes get the odd spot, my skin is much clearer than it was. It removes every scrap of make-up off your face, too! To read a detailed review of Liz Earle's Cleanse and Polish, click the link below!

http://littlemissblogtastic.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/liz-earles-cleanse-polish-hot-cloth.html

Real Techniques Blush Brush RRP £8.49

I'd heard a lot about Real Techniques and how utterly amazing their products were, so, giving into the hype, I ordered their blush brush from Amazon. It's amazingly soft and picks up just the right amount of blusher/bronzer/powder.

What have you been loving recently? Let me know in the comments below! (Hey, that rhymes!)

Lucy x