Recently i have discovered a new found love for liquid lipstick. Im not the type of person who has ever been fond of wearing lipstick, as i have quite small lips and lip products have… More
Skinny Christmas Hot Chocolate
Its that time of year again, where food and drink gets 10x more tastier and my waist gets 10 inches wider. One of my favourite things to drink during the winter is hot chocolate, with marshmallows and lots and lots of cream. This year, i decided to try and make a slightly healthier version of the ever so scrumptious warm drink. Im not saying we all need to be healthier over christmas, but for anyone who doesn’t want to add any unwanted lbs to the scale, here is a delicious festive hot chocolate that you can enjoy without feeling guilty!
YOU WILL NEED:
- Options Hot Chocolate ( I picked 3 festive flavours that you can choose from for your desired taste; Mint, Orange and Salted Caramel.)
- Marshmallows
- Anchor Whipped Cream ‘Light’
- A mug
- Hot water
Hot chocolate is all about the taste (obviously), so this year i have opted for 3 flavours that suit the festive season. I chose mint, orange and salted caramel as each of these flavours have a gorgeous taste. These hot chocolates only contain 39 calories per sachet, which is amazing! Especially if you use water instead of milk. By choosing a different flavour of hot chocolate, it turns the normal warm beverage into a festive one that you can enjoy throughout christmas! Im sure you all know how to make a mug of hot chocolate, but heres how i make mine, just incase you are interested.
- I chose to make a Mint Chocolate hot chocolate, as i LOVE the peppermint hot chocolates from Starbucks so i thought i may aswell try to recreate my own healthier version. I poured the sachet into my mug and boiled the kettle.
- Next, i simply poured the hot water into my mug and filled it to the top, then stirred. And there you have it, a super easy and quick but also healthier peppermint hot chocolate!
- To add extra taste, i sprayed some light whipped cream onto the top of my drink.
- I then added 3 little marshmallows on the top, as nothing tastes better than marshmallows dipped into hot chocolate!
- And finally, i enjoyed my drink with some Terry’s chocolate orange cookies (recipe coming soon!), which i know aren’t the healthiest, but theres nothing wrong with a little treat!
I hope you enjoyed this small post, and let me know if you try this hot chocolate and what you think of it!
How To Feel Festive
I haven’t posted anything on my blog in nearly 2 WEEKS! Whaaaat! I have had so many ideas for new blog posts but i haven’t seemed to be able to put photos and words together lately, whoops! But i am back, and this week i thought i would write a post about the festive season, as we are only 12 days away from the best day of the year… CHRISTMAS. For anyone who can’t seem to get into the festive spirit, or who simply has no interest in anything christmas related at all, then hopefully this post will give you a little glimpse of inspiration to feel a little more festive this year!
As an 18 year old teenager, i know that sometimes christmas isn’t as exciting to me as it is to everyone else. When December starts, i get SO excited for the festive season. But, 5 days into the month, I’m bored of it already. However, i find doing these little things each year helps me to feel christmassy right up until the actual day. So, here are 3 super simple steps to make you feel festive this year.
- DECORATE!
When i say ‘decorate’, i don’t mean the christmas tree and your front room. I mean decorate EVERYWHERE! Especially the place you spend the most time in, which for me, is my room. I find that decorating my room each year to my acquired festive taste, gets me super excited for christmas! Not only can i make my room look super cute and christmassy, but giving your space a festive change can make it feel so much more cosy and inviting!
This year i went for a simple red and white duvet cover, bringing in all the festive colours. I purchased everything on my bed from ASDA. As my room is mostly white, i incorporated the festive pillows that also match the style of my bedroom, so that everything blends together nicely and doesn’t look ‘too much’.
George Home Reindeer Duvet Set: £16
You cannot decorate a room without a christmas tree! I bought this tiny little tree from Dunelm Mill, for… £5! YES, i paid £5 for this christmas tree AND it comes with lights! That is bloody amazing if you ask me. I feel like by adding a small christmas tree into your bedroom, it makes the room feel so festive and also super cosy. I also decorated the tree with gold baubles, to make it look more homely and also match my bedroom.
Like i said previously, all of the bedding i bought was from ASDA. I LOVE these pillows because they match the interior of my room whilst also bringing in a festive vibe.
George Home Red Snowflake Cushion: £5
George Home Glisten Cushion: £7
George Home White Faux Fur Cushion: £7
The last thing i did to decorate my bedroom, was add some fairy lights. One of the biggest steps to making any room feel festive, is by adding fairy lights! They make my room feel so much warmer and also look so pretty. I may even keep them up all year long! I decided to wrap these fairy lights that i bought from Primark around my mirror, as they really stand out in my bedroom.
2. Candles
Candles are one of the most important parts of christmas. In order to feel festive, you must have festive scents all around your house! Plus, candles make any area look cosy and warm, whilst providing you with beautiful smells that get you excited for the christmas season.
My personal favourite christmas candles are both Yankee Candles. ‘Christmas Eve’ smells like christmas in a jar, I’m not exaggerating. It has a sweet yet sharp cinnamon type scent. Whenever i light this candle it automatically makes me feel 10x more festive, and who doesn’t love a candle that has Santa and his reindeers on the front of it?! My other favourite christmas candle is ‘Winter Glow’, this smells a lot more fresh, but also has a musky undertone. Its not as festive as the Christmas Eve candle, but it definitely makes my room smell like a winter forest.
Yankee Candle: ‘Christmas Eve’ £17.99
Yankee Candle: ‘Winter Glow’ £17.99
3. Christmas Films & Music
The next step to feeling festive, is by watching christmas films and listening to christmas music. There is no better way to experience christmas spirit than by watching Elf with a cup of hot chocolate, or jammin’ to Mariah Carey and singing your heart out.
If you’re reaaally stuck on what Christmas films to watch this year, then here are my top 5 favourites that will make you feel super festive:
I assure you, after watching one of these films, you will feel like Buddy the Elf.
And, if you are unsure as to what Christmas songs you should listen to, heres a few that really get me into the spirit.
‘Golden Glow’ Eye Makeup
Ive recently started using eyeshadow a lot more as part of my daily makeup routine, so in todays post i thought i would share with you my favourite winter ‘golden glow’ eyeshadow. I use the Naked 2 Palette to achieve this look, and i personally LOVE it! I think this makeup suits the colder weather as it brings a warmth to my eyes and a slight shimmer, by adding a bit of glitter to an eye can make it look so much prettier.
I only used 4 shades to create this look: Foxy, YDK, Chopper and Snakebite. I added a bit of depth to a natural shimmer eye makeup look, making it look slightly smokier but also keeping it subtle and perfect for any daytime or evening event.
I absolutely adore these shades in this palette, and Chopper is definitely my favourite. The pigments are so strong, and each colour has a different tone of gold which makes my eyes POP. YDK is a darker shade of gold, with a slight copper tone. Whereas Chopper is a more rose gold/pink shade. Then Snakebite is a brassy gold tone, which helps bring together the whole look.
To achieve this natural, yet smokey golden glow, i use 4 steps. Firstly i take the shade ‘Foxy’ and cover my whole eye lid as a start base for the rest of the pigments. Then i take YDK and apply that throughout my crease to give more depth to my eye. Next i cover the middle of my eyelid with ‘Chopper’ to create a golden tone that mixes well with my crease. I then blend both of these golden shades together so that my eye has depth and shimmer. Finally, i take ‘Snakebite’ and apply this to the outer corner of my eye to smoke out the look a little bit. Sometimes i also take a darker colour, such as ‘Half baked’ to give my eye a darker golden tone on the outer corners and create a smokier look.
So, thats it! My simple golden glow eye makeup look, let me know if you like this eye makeup or if you recreate it in the coming weeks, i know this will definitely be my Christmas day eye shadow!
Winter Favourites
Today I’m going to be sharing my winter favourites with you. Winter is definitely my favourite season, and I’ve been loving using these products during the past month. I don’t particularly love the weather during winter, but i am obsessed with the festivities that winter brings. The products i have been loving vary from beauty, to hair, to anything i use in my everyday life. So, lets get started with my monthly winter favourites!
Yankee Candle ‘Winter Glow’: £10.99
One of the biggest things I’ve been loving this month, and will continue to love throughout winter, is candles! Especially this one, as it has such a light scent but is also slightly sharp. Its hard to describe how this candle smells, so imagine cotton mixed with a small sprinkling of gingerbread. This candle is in my favourites because it makes any room feel so warm, and smell super fresh and cosy. I also love the packaging, as it isn’t like the usual Yankee Candles with the huge lids, instead it has a flat top lid making it look a lot prettier (in my opinion).
Yves Saint Laurent: Black Opium Perfume £87
This perfume is my favourite perfume ever ever ever. I know its slightly expensive, but aren’t all perfumes? Ive had this one since July and I’ve been using it everyday since then, and i LOVE it. Plus, this perfume lasts a really long time. The scent of is so feminine and classy. Its not too sweet, but not too musky either. I prefer more floral sweet smelling perfumes, so if you do to, then you should definitely consider buying Black Opium. Like i said, i use it every single day. When i run out i will for sure be purchasing another bottle and i think this perfume will be the one scent that will last me up until my 60s. Theres not much else to say, as this perfume is just so perfect for me and its smells amazing. Also, can we talk about how beautiful the bottle is?! Black glitter, with pink liquid and a silver top. Ah, i love it!
Zoella: ‘Hungry Hands’ Hand Cream £5
My next favourite for this month is Zoella’s hand cream. This stuff smells incredible! Its so cheap, but the bottle is pretty big and i can see this lasting me for quite a long time. It smells exactly like gingerbread and cinnamon, which is why I’ve been loving it this winter as it reminds me so much of christmas! Its so moisturising as well, which is perfect for the colder months.
Z Mug: Anthropologie £7.99
I bought this mug a few months ago, just because i wanted to own something with my initial on. I use it every single day (don’t worry i do wash it) and its my favourite mug ever! Its in my favourites because during winter i like to drink a lot more tea and hot chocolate, and this mug is so perfect for that. Not only is it super adorable, its also really big and holds a lot of drink inside it! I also love the Z and the shape of the mug all together, i think its so unique and definitely something i want to keep for a very long time.
Toni & Guy: Glamour Serum Drops £7.50
My next favourite for this month is a hair product. As I’ve mentioned in a previous post, I’ve recently dyed by hair from brown to blonde. This product has worked wonders on maintaining the quality of my hair, and keeping it looking glossy and healthy. I use this serum everyday on the ends of my hair, and it keeps my frizziness at bay and always makes all of my hair stay in one place which i think is amazing! I am loving this product, especially during winter as the weather is colder and windier, which makes my hair uncontrollable! But this serum helps to keep it looking somewhat presentable.
Sleek: Cream Contour Kit £10.99
I don’t remember when or where i bought this product, but all i know is in the past few weeks i have recently discovered this contour palette buried beneath all of my other makeup products, and i have fallen in LOVE! I have been using this product nearly everyday, and it completes my make up look. As you can probably tell, i only use the darker contour colours as i already have cream concealers that i love to use. But these contour colours are amazing, they give so much warmth and depth to my face, whilst defining my cheekbones. The product blends out so easily, and gives such a natural look. I will definitely be using the kit throughout the winter, and into next year as i am absolutely obsessed with it!
Mario Badescu: Acne Facial Cleanser £14
I’ve been using this face wash for a few months now, and i really really like it. For me, it works wonders! I have very sensitive and blemish prone skin so i am always very careful with skin products and usually stick to Dermalogica as its the only product i know that can clear my skin. But, this acne facial cleanser is honestly amazing! Ive had many breakouts over the last month, and this face wash clears any spots or blemishes away so quickly. Its also so soothing on my skin and doesn’t cause irritation, which is quite rare for me. I’ve been loving this product over the month of November, and it is definitely a winter essential for my skincare.
Everyday Makeup Routine
I LOVE makeup, I am in no way a makeup artist, but there is something i really enjoy about being able to transform my face. I thought i would do a post today showing you my everyday makeup look! I don’t wear makeup every single day, but on the days i do, i like to keep it relatively simple. I usually opt for a brown, slightly copper toned eye, with a nude lip. Im going to take you step by step through my everyday make up routine for anyone who wants to recreate this look, so i hope you enjoy!
Face
- I always start off my makeup by using the Mens Nivea Post Shave Balm as a primer, and let me tell you, this stuff works wonders! Its like a glue for foundation, and keeps my make up on aaall day long.
- I then apply the Maybelline Fit Me foundation in the shade ‘230’, i absolutely adore this foundation as it gives me a complete matte finish and super full coverage.
3. Next, i put the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind concealer, in the shade ‘light’, under my eyes in a triangular shape, and on the high points of my face (nose, cupids bow, chin, forehead). Ive been using this concealer for YEARS and its the best one everrrr to cover under eye bags, but also highlight the face.
4. Whenever i have any spots i always conceal them using the Nars Creamy Concealer in ‘vanilla’. Again this stuff is amazing, and has great coverage.
5. Once I’ve concealed my face and hidden any blemishes, i move onto contouring using my Sleek Contour Kit. I love this palette so so much, i only use it for the darker contour shades but it is so creamy and blends so easily with my beauty blender. I take the lighter shade on the left, and blend that onto my forehead and below my jaw to give me abit of bronze. Then using the darker shade i define my cheekbones by drawing a line from my ear where my cheek bones are. This gives the perfect definition.
6. After I’ve applied all the cream based products onto my face, i move onto powders. I use the Rimmel Stay Matte powder in ‘transparent’ all over my face, to get rid of any shine, as i personally like a matte finish.
7. Then i take my Hoola Bronzer and apply this where i put the cream contour, to give my face more definition and try to make myself look like i have some sort of cheekbone! If you’ve never tried Hoola by Benefit i definitely recommend it as the shade is so warm and matte, it looks so pretty.
8. For blusher i use the Benefit Rockatuer, this blush is the most gorgeous blush I’ve ever used. It has a slight sparkle to it, which mixes perfectly with the peach and rose pigments.
9. Next up, is HIGHLIGHTER. I love highlighter, its my favourite makeup product! Because of this, i often use 2 highlighters as i can’t choose between both of them. These are the Mac ‘Soft & Gentle’ highlighter, and The Balm’s, Mary-Lou Manizer. I apply the Mac highlight above my cheek bones for a warmer glow, and the Mary-Lou on my nose and cupids bow for a lighter highlight.
Eyebrows
10. For my eyebrows i use 3 products. I start by using the spooly brush, from Benefits Precisely My Brow Pencil, to brush through my eyebrows. (As the shade of the pencil it too dark for me).
11. I then use Soap and Glory’s Brow Archery in ‘medium brown’, to fill in my eyebrows. I use the crayon pencil to lightly fill in the start of my eyebrow as the crayon is quite light so doesn’t give a harsh overdrawn look. I then take the felt tip type of brush at the other end of the product to lightly fill in my arch and the rest of my eyebrows, using light brush strokes.
12. Once I’ve filled in my eyebrows i set them using Gimme Brow by Benefit.
Eyes
13. I love a brown/copper eye look during the winter, as it gives abit of warmth to my eyes. Also because i have quite big blue eyes, using warmer colours makes the blue stand out more which i love. I use the Naked 2 Palette to do my eyeshadow. Taking ‘Snakebite’, i define my crease. I then take ‘Chopper’ to go over my lid towards the edge of my eye. Then i take ‘Bootycall’ and put that in the inner corner of my eye to make them look brighter. On occasion, i will also take my Mac highlighter and put it in the middle of my eye to make them look bigger and more awake!
14. My favourite go-to mascara is the Too Faced Better Than Sex. This mascara makes my eyelashes look so thick and long which i loooove. As i currently have eyelash extensions i don’t often use this mascara, but i will sometimes apply it for added depth. When i don’t have eyelashes, i ALWAYS do winged eyeliner with this mascara, and it makes my eyes look so much bigger!
Lips
15. The last stage of my everyday makeup routine is my lips. I always wear these 2 Mac lip products. I start by lining my lips with this lip liner in the shade ‘Spice‘. I then apply my fav Mac lipstick in the shade ‘Velvet Teddy‘. These 2 colours go so nicely together and can be worn with any make up look.
SO, that is my completed makeup look that i do about 5 times a week! I hope you enjoyed, and let me know if you use any of the same products as me, or what your everyday makeup looks like!
X
5 Gift Ideas for Him // Under £10
I recently posted a gift ideas for ‘her’, so i thought why not post a gift ideas for him, to help anyone who is struggling to buy the perfect present for their partner, brother, dad or friend. I have found 5 gifts that i think are perfect to buy for men this Christmas, and they are all under £10! So, if you’re finding it tricky shopping for your family or friends, here are a few ideas that will hopefully inspire or help you to buy the best gift this Christmas!
Christmas Fairisle Beanie Hat: £10
Hats are the perfect gift for a man this winter. With the cold weather and festivities, there is nothing better than a beanie to keep you warm, especially one with a Christmas pattern to really get into the festive spirit. I love this gift idea, as this hat is super cool and the colour will suit anyone.
This is a perfect gift for any impractical jokers in the family. Any man would love to receive a funny game to entertain the family on christmas morning, so why not whack a basketball hoop onto your head and get everyone to throw basketballs into the net? A humourous but also very fun gift to receive.
Socks are also a great present to receive, and they are even better when they suit the festive season with a funky pattern. These socks come in a pack of 4 different designs, suiting any man. Plus, the packaging of these socks is super smart, making it look like you put a lot of effort into choosing these cool socks.
This is another joker gift, but it can also be fun for all of the family. I have seen these face mats all over the place in the last few months, and I’m sure any dad, husband or friend will really enjoy joking around with different facial expressions attached to them during the holiday season! So this is definitely a top pick if you want to gift someone with a fun and entertaining present this year.
Bulldog Protective Moisturiser SPF15: £9
The last gift is something affordable and suitable for all men, a moisturiser! Everyone needs to moisturise, so a moisturiser specifically aimed at men to protect their skin is the perfect gift! Its also the best stocking filler as it is a small gift, but very thoughtful.
5 Gift Ideas for Her // Under £10
Christmas is soon approaching! With only 5 weeks left i thought that this week i would upload some gift ideas, to help anyone who is struggling to buy the perfect gift for their loved ones! I have bundled together a range of 5 gifts for women, all from ASOS, that are under £10! SO if you’re finding it tricky shopping for your family or friends, then this post will give you a few inspirations or ideas to help you buy the BEST Christmas presents, at an affordable price!
Loungeable Cuff & Pom Textured Sock: £10
One of the easiest presents to buy someone this year, is SLIPPERS! Every girl loves slippers, especially in the freezing cold weather. These slipper socks are a perfect gift as they are super warm but also very stylish. Also, they are only £10, which means you could add a little extra gift on the side (maybe some chocolate), and it would look like you really put a lot of effort and thought into that person.
Capri Blue Velvet Moss And Jasmine Candle: £8
Most women absolutely love candles, i know the best gift i will receive from a friend is CANDLES! No matter what scent, candles can be used throughout the year and make the perfect present. This candle also looks super cute in its tin, the pattern gives a slight festive vibe, although its not actually a christmas candle, so can be used all year round!
You can never go wrong with gifting a woman nail polish. This super cute set will be the perfect gift for anyone in the family. The festive colours and gorgeous packaging will look great underneath the christmas tree and plus, who doesn’t love Ciate nail polish?!
Paperchase Christmas Handwarmers: £8
I LOVE this gift idea. Not only are these hand warmers the cutest thing ive ever seen, but they are also the perfect present! Not many people think to buy hand warmers as a gift, but these little mini bears will make any woman smile on christmas day!
St Tropez Luxe Oil 50ml Cracker: £10
The last gift idea is fake tan! Most woman love to fake tan so whats better than to receive a top quality tan product wrapped up in a christmas cracker?! The product and packaging are amazing, and will make the best gift for your girlfriend, friend or sister.
Haircare
Recently i have dyed my hair blonde, in a balayage style, and with new hair colours comes new hair products! So because i have recently purchased some new hair products and my hair routine has changed quite abit since being brunette, i thought i would share with you the new products i use for my blonde hair.
I start off my hair routine by using the Toni & Guy Illuminate Blonde Shampoo. This shampoo helps lock in the colour, whilst also making my hair super shiny, and it smells so lovely and fresh! It really helps to enhance the vibrancy of my hair, keeping it soft and protecting it from damage.
After shampooing, i go in with conditioner. I have been using the S Factor Serious Conditioner for about 2 years now and it is my FAV! First off, it smells incredible, and i mean INCREDIBLE! This pot has also lasted me the longest time, as a small bit goes a really long way. I only condition the ends of my hair as these get the driest, and this conditioner helps to keep split ends at bay, and lock in moisture.
After I’ve washed my hair, i use the Toni & Guy Serum Drops. I usually rub about 2 drops into the ends of my hair to prevent them from frizzing, and to keep my hair looking silky and soft. I love this product as it doesn’t make my hair look oily or greasy, but instead tames any fly aways and makes my hair look salon smooth.
As i use ALOT of heat on my hair, every single day. I protect my hair using the Toni & Guy Heat Protection Mist. I spray this onto my wet hair before blow drying and straightening, so that i don’t damage my hair by applying heat. This is another great product and really stops my hair from developing split ends from its exposure to all my styling tools. And again, it also smells amazing! All of these products make my hair smell like I’ve come from a salon, which is why i love them so much.
Finally, the last product i use once my hair is dry, is the Lee Stafford Dehumidifier. This is basically like a hairspray, but for FRIZZ! I spray this on my hair before i go out and it literally stops my hair from frizzing up from the wind, it is incredible! SO if you’re like me, and have super frizzy and curly hair, this is the perfect product to tame your frizziness.
What’s in my bag?
Ive seen a lot of people doing this type of thing lately, on youtube and on blogs, so i thought id show you what is in my bag! I don’t often use a bag when I’m out and about, as i only really bring my purse with me. However, when i do bring my bag with me, if I’m going out for the day, this is pretty much what’s inside… plus 20 old receipts and chewing gum wrappers, but i’ll pretend i keep my bag suuuper clean for the purposes of this post.
The bag i use is the one pictured above. I bought it from Urban Outfitters a few months ago and i absolutely love it, i believe it was roughly around the £60 mark. Its not too small, but its also not big either. The size is perfect for me as i don’t often carry a lot of things so it fits everything i need. It has a long silver chain so it can be worn either across the body, or on one shoulder, i like to switch it up. Im not a huge bag person, so when i buy a bag i usually stick with it for about a year or so before i get a new one. And this bag seems to be doing quite nicely!
Purse: Carvela Kurt Geiger
The one thing i ALWAYS have in my bag, is my purse. My purse if from ASOS, but the original brand is Kurt Geiger. Im in LOVE with this purse. It fits cash, cards and coins in it but is so sleek and small as well.
Sunglasses
Sunglasses are another must have in my bag, as i never know whether the sun is going to pop out. The tortoise shell shape looks great with anything I’m wearing and the pattern makes any outfit look classy, i adore them.
Phone & Headphones
These items are absolute necessities, i must always have my phone on me anytime, anywhere. And headphones, well, you never know when you might want to block out the world and listen to your fav songs!
In my bag i also keep a smaller bag, this bag has the more boring things inside that are necessary on a day to day basis. The marble pattern bag itself is from primark, and holds basically everything inside it.
Extra Chewing Gum
You always need gum with you, ALWAYS.
Nurofen
I always make sure i have nurofen on me, as i tend to get a lot of headaches, so it really comes in handy!
Palmers Cocoa Butter Lip Balm
Now that its winter, and the days are much colder, my lips really need some TLC. I try to make sure i have lip balm in my bag, so that if my lips are getting chapped i can moisturise them and carry on with my day. I especially love this lip balm, as it smells AMAZING and really helps to hydrate my lips!
Hand Sanitiser: Bath and Body Works
Hand sanitiser is also a must in the colder months. The one i carry around with me is the pocket size from bath and body works, in the scent ‘Pumpkin Cranberry Cider’, which smells exactly like spiced cranberries and reminds me so much of christmas.
Hairbands
Everyone with long hair knows that you can’t go anywhere without hairbands! I have naturally curly hair so i HAVE to carry hairbands with me incase it rains, otherwise i turn into a complete frizzball.
The last things i like to keep inside my bag are make up bits.
Nars Concealer: Vanilla
This concealer has saved my life, literally. Its coverage is A-M-A-ZING. I always take a concealer with me in my bag just incase a blemish appears or i need to touch up my make-up, and this concealer is perfect.
A Spooly
Because i have eyelash extensions at the moment, i take this spooly with me incase any of my eyelashes need to be tamed.
Mac Lipstick ‘Velvet Teddy’
This is my all time favourite lipstick, so i also take it in my bag. The shade goes with absolutely any outfit or make up look, so its perfect for everyday use.
What are your necessities that you always have to take with you in your bag? Thanks for reading!
Zoe Mollie 