My Monthly Favourites - December 2014

Hi guys. I cannot quite believe that this will be my last monthly favourites post of 2014! 2015 is just two days away and I cannot wait to continue blogging and improving my content as we go into the New Year. December has been a month of new discoveries products wise and have been waiting all month to share my recent finds with you all. Let's get started!

Lush Snow Fairy Shower Gel
First up is the infamous Snow Fairy shower gel from Lush, which has now sadly been discontinued until Christmas comes around again next year. During 2014, I became an absolute Lush fanatic and so I knew that I had to ask for this shower gel for Christmas as it is a Lush cult classic! So far, I am absolutely loving it. Not only does it smell as sweet as can be, but it also lathers up really nicely. A little definitely goes a long way with this one, so this 250g bottle should last me a long time! Plus, who can resist the sparkle running through it? I know I can't!

Kiko Luscious Punk Lip Liner in 01 - £9.00
Next up is another gift that I received for Christmas from my friend Laura. This Luscious Punk lip liner came as part of a set with a matching lipstick. I had never tried anything from Kiko before but this duo has got me well and truly hooked! The shade of this lip liner is so natural and pretty, I have been wearing it every day since Christmas! The formula is creamy and long lasting, qualities which are two big winners in my books! I definitely think that in the coming year, I will be buying some more Kiko products because I am throughly impressed with this liner.

Real Techniques Setting Brush - £8.99
Next up is something that I bought myself as a little treat at the start of December, Real Techniques' setting brush. I wanted to buy myself a brush that would make setting my under eye concealer a breeze and this one has done just that! It's the perfect size to get into every small area of your face, whether it be for your eye area or somewhere else - such as around your nose or chin. It's the most excellent brush for pinpointing powder to a particular area and I couldn't be happier with this purchase!

The Country Candle Company Romance Candle - £8.50
I came across this candle whilst out shopping with my Mum in a kitsch little homeware store in my local town. What first drew me into the display was the cute polka dot tins but what really surprised me was the quality and the scent of the candle itself. I cannot quite put my finger on the scent of the 'Romance' candle but to me it is a musky floral smell with a hint of vanilla in there too. It smells so gorgeous and I have been burning it non-stop ever since!

Soap & Glory Whipped Clean Shower Butter - £7.00
Last but certainly not least is this Whipped Clean shower butter from Soap & Glory. This product was included in S&G's exclusive Boots Christmas gift set that me and Mum have decided to share (see full review here.) Out of all of the items included in the box, this one has got to be one of my favourites. Similar to the way that any other in-shower body moisturiser works, you simply apply it and rinse it off. It leaves your skin feeling really soft and well nourished after each and every shower, which is sometimes a much better option that having to apply body butters in the cold after your shower (we've all been there!) This product can also be used to shave with which means that its a great 2-in-1 product. Plus, I just cannot resist its pistachio, almond and sweet vanilla scent -it's almost good enough to eat!

So, those are my top five favourites for of December! I hope that you've enjoyed reading about my new discoveries and most used products of this month. Have you ever used these products before? What do you think of them? As always, please let me know by leaving a comment below. This is my last post of 2014 so I hope that all of my followers have a wonderful New Years whatever you are doing to celebrate and I will see you back here in January. Thank you!

What I Got For Christmas 2014

Hi guys, I hope that you all had a lovely Christmas with your loved ones! It seems like 'What I Got For Christmas' posts are extremely popular amongst the beauty blogger community, so today I thought that I would jump on the bandwagon and show you all the gifts that I received from my friends and family this year. As always, I feel incredibly lucky and privileged for all of the presents that I have received and I have been thoroughly spoilt. I am a very lucky girl! So, without any further rambling, lets begin.

One of the main presents from my parents this year was the Naked 2 palette, also accompanied by the Real Techniques eye starter set. I am typically a liquid liner girl but I have been wanting to get into using more eyeshadow and changing up my look, so I am incredibly happy that I received these two gifts! I cannot wait to start using them and create the perfect smokey eye! On top of this, my parents also bought me my second ever lipstick from MAC in the shade 'Plumful,' which I have been eyeing up for quite a while.

I also received some more gorgeous beauty bits from my friend Sarah that I am beyond happy with! She bought me a MAC eyeshadow in 'Joy & Laughter,' a Clinique lid smoothie and a Bobbi Brown tinted eye brightener.

From my brother, I asked for a whole lot of Lush products this year! I asked for some of my all time favourites (The Comforter and Buffy Body Butter,) as well as some more festive items that I am yet to try. I am really excited to use the Luxury Lush Pud as I've seen how multi-coloured it turns your bath water and I am also so pleased that I am finally the owner of Snow Fairy, it smells soooo sweet and delicious!

Another amazing gift that I received from my parents is this gorgeous bra and knicker set from Boux Avenue! I absolutely love the colour and design of this underwear and I feel so lucky because Boux Avenue are such a luxurious brand. The set was packaged up so nicely and there were even white petals hidden inside the box! I've never really spent that much money on lingerie in the past, so this is a real treat for me! 

My boyfriend got me a lovely array of gits this year! Firstly, he bought me The Fault In Our Stars and the final 90210 box set which was missing from my DVD collection. Plus, a huge box of Munchies that I can indulge in whilst watching all of my new discs. As well as this, he also got me a few Lush bits that all smell absolutely amazing, as he knows how much of a Lush addict I am. However, the most amazing gift of all is the most gorgeous feather necklace from Pandora! I was incredibly shocked when I opened it up as I have never been bought expensive jewellery before. This necklace is so special to me and it's something that I can keep forever!

As you can see, my parents thoroughly treated me this year, as I also received a new bottle of my favourite perfume - Reb'l Fleur by Rihanna. As well as this, they also got me these adorable Minnie Mouse fleece pyjamas. They are the most comfortable & cosy PJ's ever and they're so soft that even more dog loves to lie on them!

Last but not least, my friend Laura got me these two lovely presents. First up are these cute penguin slipper socks. They are really comfy and I just love the adorable slogan on them! As well as this she also got me this really cool lip set from Kiko, which is a brand that I've never tried before. The set include a matching pinky nude lipstick and lip liner. They are the perfect every day colour and are super long lasting!

Overall, I am so happy with each and every present that I received from my friends, family and boyfriend this year. I know that I am incredibly lucky to get such wonderful gifts and I cannot wait to start using them all. I hope you all liked reading my 'What I Got For Christmas' post. If you have done a post like this yourself, please send me a link to it because I would love to see what all of my followers got too! Thank you for reading and again, I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas!

Christmas Peppermint Hot Chocolate Recipe

Hi guys. I'm sure you all know that feeling of having guests turn up at your house last minute around Christmas time and it's often hard to know what to give them upon their arrival. So today, I thought that I would show you this super simple yet impressive peppermint hot chocolate recipe! I originally got this recipe from the BBC Good Food website here but I have adapted it ever so slightly to make it even more minty and delicious. Let's get started!

To make six servings of this yummy drink, you will need:

200g of plain chocolate
600ml of milk
150ml of single or double cream
6 candy canes
1/2 a teaspoon of peppermint essence
A can of whipped cream
Cocoa powder (for dusting)

1. Break up your chocolate and add into a pan along with the milk and peppermint essence. Gently heat the mixture until all of the chocolate has melted. Continue to heat the mixture until the milk starts to steam.

2. Then, remove the pan from the heat and incorporate the cream into the mixture. Pour your mixture into each cup.

3. Add some whipped cream on top, pop on your candy can and sprinkle a little bit of cocoa powder on top for decoration.

And voila, a tasty and warming peppermint hot chocolate within a couple of minutes! This drink will be bound to impress your guests upon arrival, even though the recipe is so quick and easy to make! Do you like the look of this minty drink? What will you be serving to your guests over the festive period? Please let me know by leaving a comment below.  Also, this will now be my last post until a few days after Christmas Day, so I hope that all of my lovely followers have a lovely Christmas and get lots of wonderful gifts this year! Thank you :)

Lush's Twilight Bath Bomb

Hi guys. Last Wednesday, I received one of my first Christmas presents from my good friend Lucy at our annual festive girls night. As part of my gift, she bought me Lush's Twilight bath bomb. As I'm sure that all of you are aware by now, I have become the worlds biggest Lush fanatic ever since I started using their products after being gifted with some products last Christmas! I had tried Twilight once before and I loved it, so I was extremely happy to receive another one!

The following night, I couldn't resist popping this pink beauty into my bath! One of my favourite things about this bath bomb is the colour that it turns my bath water. As Twilight begins to fizz, it releases swirls of pastel pink and blue which eventually then turns into the most gorgeous lilac colour (purple is my favourite colour, hence why I love this product so much!) Plus, the bomb also contains tiny particles of glitter that make your bath water look magical. 

Aside from that, Twilight's scent is absolutely divine. The blend of lavender and ylang ylang make for a super relaxing bath after a long and tiring day. In the past, I had never been the biggest fan of lavender as it is quite potent, but this scent is really subtle and soothing. On Lush's website, they claim that Twilight can help aid a good nights sleep. I'm not sure if the product itself improved my slumber that night but the bath itself really did help me rewind after what was quite a stressful day.

Overall, Twilight is a gorgeous little bath bomb and I highly recommend it to anybody who likes to pamper themselves and unwind after a long day! Lush products are a great way to treat your loved ones this Christmas, so if you still haven't completed your Christmas shopping, maybe a bath bomb or two would be a great stocking filler! 

A Christmas Lip & Nail Combo

Hi guys. The other day, I picked up a few new products from Boots in order to update my make-up collection for the festive period. I was seriously lacking both a long-lasting and reliable red lip, as well as a cute metallic and glittery nail polish. So, I picked up these two absolute beauties!

After trying the shade 'Frambourjoise' from Bourjois' Rouge Edition Velvet (£8.99) range when it was first released, I had been meaning to pick up another shade for quite some time. So, this time I have opted for the shade 'Personne Ne Rouge' which is a classic, vivid red colour. The main reason that I love this particular product is that even though it gives a matte finish, it does not dry out my lips too much unlike other brands do. Plus, the formulation of this liquid lipstick is so lightweight that it barely feels like I am wearing anything at all! The fact that this product is a long-lasting stain also means that it is perfect for this time of year, where you tend to be out eating, drinking and partying the night away! Most of the time, I do not have to reapply this product at all so it is perfect for creating a fuss-free yet glamorous make-up look for around Christmas time.

To go with my red lip, I wanted to buy a glitzy and metallic nail polish to go alongside it. I do not wear glitter nail varnishes that often but of course, Christmas is the perfect time to do so. You can never have too much sparkle at this time of year. So, I picked up Sally Hansen's Complete Salon Manicure (£6.99) in 'Shoot To The Moon,' which is strangely not available on the Boots website but it is definitely available in store! I have owned a few Sally Hansen polished in the past and I have loved all of them. They go on evenly, dry relatively fast and the flat, wide brush makes application an absolute breeze. This striking silver shade is perfect for this time of year which has a lovely metallic finish with fine particles of glitter running through it, so you get the best of both worlds in that respect!

I think that these two product combined make the perfect lip & nail combo for this time of year. What do you guys think? What make-up you will be wearing over the festive period? Please let me know by leaving a comment below!

Soap & Glory's 'The Next Big Thing' Exclusive Gift Set

As I'm sure that all of you are aware by now, Soap & Glory released an amazing exclusive Christmas gift set in Boots on Friday morning. 'The Next Big Thing' gift set designed by Hattie Stewart contains a whopping ten full-size Soap & Glory products for you to get your mitts on (or your friends and family if you do intend on buying it for somebody else!) With the contents of the box costing over £76 if you were to buy them all individually, this £29 gift set is the bargain of the century! Of course, this offer only lasts until the 18th of December though, so you will have to go and grab one as fast as you can before the price is raised to £60 after this introductory period.

Yesterday, my Mum kindly picked up this gorgeous gift set for us to share - what an amazing early Christmas present! So, today I thought that I would share with you all exactly which products are inside the gift set!

The 10 items included in 'The Next Big Thing' are: Heel Genius Foot Cream, Butter Yourself Moisture Lotion, Whipped Clean Shower Butter, Orangeasm Body Wash, Hand Dream Hand Cream, Sexy Mother Pucker Lip Lacquer in Charm Offensive, Off Your Face Wipes, Thick & Fast Mascara and finally the Sugar Crush Body Scrub. All ten if these items are classic Soap & Glory products that are such high quality and smell incredible!

I was really happy when I saw that my all time favorite product, the Sugar Crush body scrub, was included in this set. Not only do I love it's brown sugar and lime scent but it does such a great job of exfoliating your skin without being too rough or abrasive. Another one of the products that I cannot wait to try out is the Orangeasm body wash. I am lover anything fruity and citrus-y when it comes to body products, so I'm looking forward to putting this one to the test! 

Another product that caught my eye was the Whipped Clean shower butter as I had never heard of it or seen it before! It is essentially a moisturiser that you can use whilst you are in the shower (similar to Nivea's In-Shower Body Moisturiser.) Plus, it also doubles up as a product that you can shave your legs with too. I used this product yesterday because I was really intrigued by it and the results were amazing! My skin felt silky smooth and the gorgeous pistachio, almond and vanilla scent lingered on my skin for hours. As you can see, the set also contains some of Soap & Glory's most infamous products; Heel Genius and The Righteous Butter which makes this kit even more appealing! 

Overall, if ten brilliant full-sized S&G products for well over half price do not tickle your fancy - then I'm not sure what will! Whether you do decide to buy this present for yourself or for a loved one, you will not be left disappointed!

A Festive Night Out Outfit

Hi guys. Today I thought that I would show you a little outfit collage that I have put together for you. I came across this gorgeous cut-out velvet dress from Topshop the other day and I just knew that I had to feature it on my blog! Of course, you could style this dress in many different ways but I thought that this would be a cute look for a festive night out. The look I have created is rather simple with understated black and gold accessories, so that the focus is all on the dress. Whether you're attending a Christmas party or meeting friends for drinks, you're bound to turn heads in this burgundy number!

Topshop Cut-Out Velvet Skater Dress - £48.00
As soon as I saw this dress on the website, I immediately loved it. Not only is it the perfect colour for this time of year but the cut-out design makes it ever so slightly sexy too. Velvet, of course, is another great trend in the winter months too so this dress is an absolute winner in my eyes! Unfortunately, this dress is an online exclusive so you will not be able to try it on in a store before you purchase it but it is beautiful nonetheless!

New Look Black Zip Detail Textured Clutch - £12.99
One thing that I love about the design of this clutch bag is although it is rather simple, it has some lovely detailing on it. It features two faux leather fabrics that create a little bit of interest, as well as the gold chain and clasp too. I also love the fact that this clutch has a matching chain strap attached to it as well, which means that you do not always have to carry the clutch and you can have it on your shoulder instead.

River Island Black Teardrop Repeat Woven Necklace - £12.00
Although the dress itself is quite bold, it is still a block colour and so I thought that a statement necklace would finish off the look quite well. To coincide with the clutch bag, I chose this black and gold teardrop necklace from River Island. This necklace really caught my eye as it has woven detailing throughout the design that make it rather unique.

New Look Black Mid Heel Chelsea Boots - £24.99
Last but not least, I wanted to complete the look by adding a simple pair of black ankle boots from New Look. I think that these boots are the perfect height for a laid back party or an outing with friends because they will still be super comfy to walk around in. I definitely think that these boots are worth investing in because they are so versatile and are a key piece to any winter wardrobe!

So, I hope that you all like this festive outfit that I have put together! This ensemble would also look amazing with a pair of tights to keep your legs warm in the cold weather and a cute coat or jacket too. Which piece is your favourite? What accessories would you use to style this dress? Please let me know by leaving a little comment below. Thank you for reading!

A Stocking Filler From The Body Shop

Hi guys. I am a huge fan of stockings at Christmas time as I think that they are really exciting to both create and open! They are a great way to give lots of little gifts to your friends and family without breaking the bank too. Plus, you can really personalise a stocking to suit the person that you are buying for as well. Today, I wanted to tell you all about these super affordable stocking fillers from The Body Shop. 

The Body Shop's 'treat boxes' are a bargain at just £6 and they come in four variations, so there will definitely be a scent that each of your loved ones will enjoy. In each treat box, you get a 60ml shower gel or cream, some form of matching body lotion and a mini body loofah. The four scents available in the treat box range are shea, coconut, strawberry and mango. 

Here is what you will find in each set:

Shea - shea shower cream, shea body whip & a taupe mini loofah
Coconut - coconut shower cream, coconut body milk & a cream mini loofah
Strawberry - strawberry shower gel, strawberry body puree & a red mini loofah
Mango - mango shower gel, mango body whip & an orange mini loofah

Not only would these sets be great within a stocking but they would also make a great regular present as well, especially if you are on a tight budget or have a lot of people to buy for. Overall, I think that you cannot go wrong with this gift because not only are they nicely packaged but the products smell amazing and are a great quality too! What do you think of these stocking fillers? Would you like to receive one as a present yourself? Please let me know by leaving a comment below! 

Tanya Burr's 'Girls Night Out' Lashes

Hi guys. Today I wanted to write a little review about these gorgeous 'Girls Night Out' lashes from Tanya Burr's new collection. I have been a huge fan of using lashes ever since I initially wore them for my Year 11 prom back in 2010 (god, time flies!) As a girl with short and fine lashes, fake ones are an essential for me on a night out or else my eyes will have barely any definition. Over the past year or so, I have been wearing Ardell's demi wispie lashes, which I absolutely love. However, I still like to try out other brands from time to time and as these lashes looked quite similar to the demi wispies anyway, I just had to give them a whirl!

The main thing that I love about these lashes is how lengthening and fluttery they are and the fact that the outer corners wing out really opens up the eye area. These types of lashes are often my favourite as they really suit my preferred make-up look, which tends to be a cat-eye using liquid liner paired with a bold lip! If you would like to see how these lashes look, I recently featured them in my 'A Soft & Smokey Eye Look' blog post at the end of November.

If the 'Girls Night Out' lashes do not tickle your fancy, Tanya also has five other sets of lashes in her range that you may prefer; Bambi Eyes, Date Night, Everyday Flutter, Pretty Lady and a set of individual lashes. All of Tanya's eyelashes cost £5.49 and can be purchased from Superdrug (both online & in store) and Feel Unique. The range is really fantastic and you can definitely create a bunch of different looks with them! There really is a pair of lashes for everybody in my opinion.

Overall, I'm not quite sure if they have over-taken my love for my Ardell lashes quite yet but 'Girls Night Out' are a great pair of wispy and fluttery lashes that can be used for lots of different occasions and make-up looks. They add drama to your eyes without looking too over the top, which is exactly what I look for in a set of fake eyelashes!

What do you think about the 'Girls Night Out' lashes? Have you tried any of Tanya's false lash collection? Please let me know by leaving a comment below!

Make Your Own Christmas Pamper Pack

Ever since I became addicted to all things beauty, every year my Mum has made me a little pamper kit for Christmas and I think that it's such a sweet idea! Filling up a cute make-up bag with lots of beauty related goodies is a great way to treat the ladies in your life. From lip glosses to bath bombs, the possibilities are endless when creating pamper packs for your friends and family. The great thing about this gift idea is that you can easily personalise each kit that you create depending on who you are making it for and what their likes & dislikes are. Today I have compiled a small list of both make up bags and some products to put inside them, just to give you all a few ideas! As always with Christmas blog posts, I have tried to include a variation of products all with different price points - which means there will definitely be some suggestions for you, regardless of your budget. So without any further ado, here is my list of make-up bags and girly goodies to give you some gifting inspiration!

Make-Up Bags (as seen above)

Miss Selfridge Gold Slogan Make-Up Bag - £12.00

ASOS Leopard Cat Ears Make-Up Bag - £10.00

Topshop Croc Embossed Suede Make-Up Bag - £15.00

River Island Light Blue Quilted Make-Up Bag - £10.00

Ted Baker Opulent Bloom Make-Up Bag - £27.00

Beauty Bits

Balmi Blackcurrant Lip Balm - £5.00

Essie Luxe Effects Nail Polish in Jazzy Jubilant - £7.99

Zoella Fizz Bar - £5.00

YSL Couture Eyeshadow Palette in Ballets Russes - £39.50

Soap & Glory It's Butter To Give - £6.00

The Body Shop Glazed Apple Bath Jelly - £10.00

As well as the products that I have mentioned above, here are some addition ideas as to what you could include in your pamper packs; face masks, lipstick/lip gloss, make-up brushes, nail art stickers, false eyelashes, shower gel, massage oil and candles. 

Overall, it's clear to see that there are no limitations when it comes to making your own pamper pack. There are lots of great things that you can include in them regardless of how big or small your budget it is! I hope that my post has given you a little bit of inspiration of what to buy for your loved ones this festive season. Are you planning on making a bag up for someone? Which products mentioned do you like the look of? Please let me know by leaving a comment below :)