LUSH Space Girl Bath Bomb

On several fairly-recent  trips into Lush, Space Girl has caught my eye over and over, so I finally decided to buy it as I simply couldn't resist any longer. Not only does it look out-of-this-world (Space Girl, get it?), it smelt like sweeties - yum!

When I dropped it into the bath, there were reds and lilacs, but, as it settled it turned a deep purple. It made the water feel very silky and after I'd hopped out, my skin felt amazingly soft! My mind and body also felt refreshed and uplifted (I think this was due to the grapefruit and bergamot oil!). The price is fab too - £2.35!

For those of you who aren't a fan of glittery baths, don't worry as, once diluted, the glitter is barely visible and does not stick to the tub!

Something else to bare in mind is that it contains almond essential oil, so, unfortunately, may not be suitable for people with nut allergies.

I have nothing bad to say about this bath bomb as everything about is utterly brill! I enjoyed using it so much that I may buy it for my friend who's birthday is coming up very soon!

If you have any recommendations as to what I should pick up next time I'm in Lush, let me know in the comments section as I love trying new things!

Until next time,

Lucy x

Benefit Rockin' Rose Gold Lip & Cheek Kit

Hello everyone! A couple of weeks ago, Mum bought a Benefit lip & cheek kit for us to share and I have been loving it ever since! The set comes with samples of four popular products: the Benetint lip & cheek stain, High Beam liquid highlighter, Rockateur blusher and Rockateur lip gloss. Today I shall be touching on all of them, so, let's get started...

£25.50 from Debenhams & Boots

All though I love all the products, my favourite has to be the blusher as it gives my cheeks such a lovely flush.  When the sample runs out, I shall definitely be repurchasing it !

My second favourite item is surprisingly the lip gloss. Unlike most, this gloss isn't sticky in the slightest, hence why I love it so much. It gives a beautiful, silky nude-pink finish that I find lasts 2-3 hours. Also, the sample tube is the perfect size to throw in your handbag for touch-ups throughout the day!

This liquid highlighter is brilliant at accentuating my cheek bones. I think this is my mum's favourite item out of the four as it gives her a youthful glow when mixed with her foundation. It's also works well on my dry skin because it doesn't cling to flaky patches like powder ones do.

The lip & cheek stain is quite fiddly to apply but once on, it looks lovely and natural.

I hope you enjoyed this post!

Until next time,

Lucy x

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April Beauty Favourites

Hello everyone! Another month is in the bag, so I'm back again with another Monthly Favourites and because I didn't do one last month, I decided to roll both my March and April favourites into one big post. So, without further ado, let's delve right in...

Zoella Make-Up Bag RRP £8.00

Naturally, when Zoella released her own beauty range, I was dying to get my hands on all the products it had to offer, however, that would have cost a fortune, so, instead, I went for my favourite item, which was the Guinea Pig make-up bag.  Ever since I bought this, I've been loving it! The design is gorgeous and it is so unbelievably spacious; I can fit absolutely everything  I need inside. It's water-proof and easy to wipe down if it gets grubby. I love, love, love the rose gold zip too!

Real Techniques Buffing Brush (from Core Collection) RRP £21.99

Although I like all the brushes from the Core Collection, my favourite is most definitely the buffing brush because it gives such a flawless finish. The bristles are super-soft and the quality is fab.

Kiko Crystal Sheer Lipstick RRP £6.90

I bought this lipstick in the shade 408, which is a brilliant red. I don't wear it very often, but when I do, I feel extremely glamorous! It can be layered for a more dramatic look or worn sheer on a day-to-day basis. The packaging is amazing and looks like a high-end product, rather than a high street one. The only problems I have with it is that it doesn't last very long and smudges quite easily. Other than that though, it's a good product and I'd recommend it to anyone who is looking for a sheer red lipstick.

Dirty Works Rose & Glow Moisture Mask RRP £5.00

Dirty Works is a brand that's incredibly similar to Soap & Glory. Both companies' packaging looks almost identical (retro and girly) and they both sell fairly similar products, however, Dirty Works is a slightly cheaper.  Anyway, I decided to try out their Moisture Mask as it claimed to "rescue dehydrated skin" and "boost radiance"! Since purchasing this, I have used it two or three times and afterwards, my skin has always looked so healthy. I am pleased with this product and cannot wait to try more by Dirty Works.

Simple Protecting Light Moisturiser RRP £6.99

This was a recent spur-of-the-moment purchase and I really like it. It's lightweight as the name would suggest and has an SPF of 15, so is perfect for the summer months. To read more about this moisturiser, click this link:    https://lucyslifeandbeautyblog.wordpress.com/2015/04/25/simple-protecting-light-mousuriser/

 Thanks so much reading! Let me know in the comment section what beauty-related things you've been loving recently!

Until next time,

Lucy x

Healthy Eating Tips

Hello everyone! For the past couple of weeks, I've been mindful as to what I fuel my body with, so today I shall be sharing my top tips on how to eat healthily ...

1. Never skip breakfast. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day because it kick-starts your metabolism. It's important to have something nutritious like a smoothie or a bowl of granola with wholegrain yogurt and raspberries because foods like these release energy slowly.

2. Don't eat out of boredom. When you're bored, it's tempting to reach for the unhealthy snacks, but when you do, ask yourself, "Am I actually hungry?". If the answer is "no", then don't eat it for the sake of it. However, if the answer is "yes, I am hungry," read #3...

3. Make healthy swaps. For instance, rather than a chocolate bar, have an apple instead. It's better for you and will keep you filled up for longer.

5. Eat slowly. We're all guilty of sometimes inhaling our food and not taking time to enjoy every mouthful, so, to slow yourself down, place your knife and fork down between every mouthful and take a sip of water.

6. Stop when your full. It's not necessary to eat everything on your plate, so don't feel you have to.

7. Treat yourself. Yes, it's best to avoid foods high in fat and sugar, but cutting them out entirely is never going to work in the long run, so allow yourself something naughty every so often.

I hope these tips are of use to you and  that you enjoyed this 'Health & Fitness' post!

Until next time,

Lucy x

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