Last Minute Christmas Glift Idea: Massive Gingerbread Man

With only a few more sleeps till Christmas many people may have been forgotten about in the Christmas shopping spree. There's nothing more embarrassing than receiving a present from somebody when you've only got a card in return, to solve your dilemma I've got an easy present idea that can be made last minute without having the face the mad busy shopping centres on Christmas eve!

I don't think you'll find anyone who dons't love gingerbread at Christmas time so why not bake them a massive family sized man to share? I've made these for the past few years in addition to family and friends' presents and I think it's a great idea that shows you've made an effort , you could also personalise your gingerbread man to make it even more original

To make 3 of these gingerbread men you will need....

INGREDIENTS

350g plain flour
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
100g butter
175g soft brown sugar
1 egg
4 tbsp golden syrup

METHOD-

-Pre heat the oven to 180'C/ gas mark 5
-Mix together the flour, spices and bicarbonate of soda
-Rub in the butter until it looks like breadcrumbs
-Add the sugar
-In a separate bowl mix together the egg and golden syrup then add to the dry ingredients
-Mix together until it forms a dough. Tip out onto a clean, floured surface and knead till smooth
-Cut the dough into three pieces and roll each one out to roughly 5mm deep
-Place the rolled dough onto your baking sheet and cut out your gingerbread man shape using a knife
-Bake in a pre heated oven for about 15 minutes or until lightly brown around the edges

Decorating your gingerbread 

After letting your men cool down for at least 15-20 minutes, it's time to start decorating. You will need some sort of icing, a piping bag or icing pen would work however I used plain icing sugar mixed with a little water to create my own icing. I then used m&m's as the gingerbread men's eyes and buttons although you could use any other sweets, maybe chose the persons favourite sweets that you're giving this present to!

I hope you've found this last minute present idea helpful and you have fun decorating your gingerbread men! Have a great Christmas

Easy Christmas Party Makeup

The party season is finally here and i've put together a makeup look that is super easy and quick to achieve yet doesn't require a ton of products. I've gone very glittery on the eyes and there's also a classic red lip which could be adapted to your preferred look. I hope you enjoy the holidays and have fun :)

Prep

Skin preparation before makeup is essential for achieving that flawless look, I recommend using a good hydrating moisturiser, eye cream and possibly a primer. I've chosen the Nivea soft face, body &hands cream as I find it's a great all-rounder and works on all different skin types. I personally use an eye cream as I find my eye lids get dry however I'd recommend everyone to use one as using a normal moisturiser around your eyes can cause irritation.

I chose to use the Max Factor Face finity primer as it helps keep my foundation in place and also aids me when applying it, if you want to hear more about this product, click here to read my full review of it. 

Base 

MAC Studio fix fluid foundation is a great pick for parties as it gives a very full coverage and looks good on photos, however if you're after a cheaper alternative L'oreal True Match foundation is a very good option which has similar factors to the MAC foundation. Again for powders I have two options and I chose the MAC Prep & Prime Transparent Finishing powder which a fantastic product that disappears on the skin whilst combating shine, then my second option is the Rimmel Stay Matte powder which sets and mattifies my foundation without looking cakey. I like to use the Rimmel Wake me Up concealer to cover up any blemishes and also to shape my brows to give them a sharp finish

Brows

Eyebrows always make a face look complete and I love using these two eye shadows from my MAC pallet in the shades Charcoal Brown and Brun to give myself a nice sharp and defined brow. Once I'm happy with the shape I like to set the powder with a clear mascara which is essential for a party to ensure your brows stay in place! 

Eyes

The eye look that I've created looks very impressive however I've only used one eye shadow which is the Maybelline 24hr Colour Tattoo in the colour On & on Bronze. I applied the colour all over the eye lid with a flat brush then simply blended it out with a soft brush. I think using an eye liner really makes your eyes stand out and appear bolder so I decided to use the Mayelline master precise liner which is a great affordable product. To achieve big, voluminous lashes I used both Maybelline The Falsies and the Soap&Glory Thick and Fast mascara however if you have the time and effort, false lashes would be a great addition to this look

Blush, contour and highlight
To add some definition and colour into my face I decided to contour and highlight using the Sleek Contour kit which has recently become an staple in my makeup bag as the colours are fantastic and it comes in a really handy compact with a mirror which is great for touch ups on the go! I think that having a nice flush of colour on the cheeks looks nice on photographs and one blush that I always reach for is MAC Blushbaby as it's very pigmented yet looks natural on most skin types

Lips

Finally onto lips I used a lip balm to hydrate them before applying any products, then using MAC Cherry lip liner I carefully lined my lips to give a guide and also to ensure the lipstick lasts longer. I chose to use the Rimmel Kate Moss 107 lipstick which is a deep red however I also love MAC Russian Red which is a more classic red and would also be great for parties. As an added extra I decided to apply Tanya Burr Lip gloss in Vampie Kiss which is very pigmented and glossy to make my lips look fuller

And there we have it! My finished Christmas party make-up look which I think would look great on everyone and is very easy to achieve with little time and effort. I hope you've enjoyed this post and that you all have a fabulous Christmas and a great new year :) 

My Winter Essentials

Winter, or just the time leading up to Christmas is my absolute favourite time of the year. I love the changing environment, the dark nights and not forgetting the Starbucks Christmas drinks that always put a smile on my face!

I decided to put together my winter essentials which basically involves all the things I love using/wearing/eating/drinking at this festive time of year, and this is what I came up with...

Dark Lipstick
I always find myself reaching for darker lipsticks this time of year and it definitely feels more acceptable ! I actually wrote a blog post ALL about my favourite lipsticks for autumn/winter however my absolute top 4 picks are ;MAC Rebel- a more daring deep purple/pink colour that will last literally all day, MAC Russian Red- the perfect classic matte red, perfect for Christmas parties! Rimmel Kate Moss 107- a must have for all makeup obsessives, similar to MAC Rebel but more wearable for the less confident and finally a newbie to my lipstick collection, MAC Cyber which is definitely for the more confident people as this is a deep strong puple/black.

Boots 
My feet always have to be super cosy and warm this time of year, I have two firm favourite pairs which I've had for a few years now and I always go back to them no matter what. I'll get the first one over with quick as I know they're not the most popular however I simply cannot resit slipping on my trusty UGGS that make my feet feel like they're wrapped in blankets- I know they're not the most stylish but comfort comes first right?! Secondly, my more 'fashionable' pair of shoes are a pair of black heeled ankle boots which I surprisingly got from a charity shop years ago and haven't stopped wearing them since! They are extremely comfortable and I love that they have a small heel that gives me a little extra height without being unbearable to walk in

Nails 
Glitter is a must at Christmas and I love using glitter polish on my nails to give some added sparkle, this one from Rimmel (002 Ruby Crush) looks great sweeped over a plain coat of red polish.
Another favourite nail polish is Essie, Big Spender which is a beautiful deep purple/pink which I love wearing this time of year. Speaking of nails, this year I am lucky enough to have a Ciate nail polish 'mini mani' advent calender which means I will get a mini nail polish every day leading up to Christmas and as I'm writing this on 1st December I have already opened door number one and inside was this beautiful polish in Snow Globe :) If you're like me and sometimes don't have time (or simply don't want to wait around for your nails to dry!) then these stick on false nails from Elegant Touch would be perfect for you, I have the special edition Christmas House Of Holland ones and I can't wait to wear them closer to the big day!

Candles 
There's something super cosy and warming about burning a candle in winter and I love doing so to get me into the festive spirit. Yankee Candle is a brand that has so many different scents to choose from and I particularity love their christmas range, my favourites from the festive range are Christmas Cookie which smells exactly like biscuits cooking in the oven and I also love Christmas Eve which gives off a beautiful scent of sugar and plum

Starbucks/ Costa Christmas Drinks
People who know me personally will know that I am ALWAYS in coffee shops (not such a fabulous habit!) and when the christmas drink ranges arrives, my addiction gets worse:S I love all the different flavours and having a warm drink on an early frosty morning makes all the difference (especially when there is a reindeer printed onto your takeaway cup!)

Glittery Eye-shadow 
If you cant experiment with make-up around Christmas then when can you? I love adding an extra sparkle to my eyes by using glittery/shimmery/metallic eye-shadow and two of my favourite products are MAC Mineralize Eye-shadow in the colour Smutty Green which is a stunning dark green (extremely) glittery shade and I also love the Maybelline 24hr Colour Tattoo in the shade On and On Bronze which is a cream shadow that I love using as either a base or simply on it's own to give a dark bronzed look instantly

Lush Baths 
If you didn't already know, Lush is a shop that are famous for their amazing bath bombs and various bath products and I love visiting this time of year because they have a great Christmas range. The bath bombs will turn your bath into a crazy colourful, bubbly heaven and the one's that I love using include the Candy Mountain bubble bar, Luxury Lush Pud bath bomb, Butterbear bath bomb

I could go on and on telling you why I love this time of year however I would be here literally all day so I'm going to stop here! What are your autumn/ winter essentials? Leave a comment below if you can think of anything that I've not mentioned :)

Max Factor Skin Luminizer Foundation & Facefinity Primer REVIEW

Max Factor is a brand that I've never properly explored before, although recently I've heard some great things about their products so I picked up the Skin Luminizer foundation and the Facefinity primer to see what all the fuss was about

Skin Luminizer Foundation 

Naturally, I was drawn to this new foundation from just its name ‘Skin Luminizer’ as I'm always on a hunt for a dewy foundation to try out. My skin type changes throughout the year but recently I've been suffering with dry patches so I've been after a good moisturising foundation- this one seemed perfect. The foundation contains Vitamins B3 and E to nourish the skins natural moisture balance.First off, I love the packaging, it’s small but still manages to contain the usual 30ml like most other foundations and you can also see the white swirls in the bottle which show the subtle shimmers. The foundation contains light reflecting particles to give the face a healthy glow

The Skin Luminizer will give you a medium coverage however it is very easily buildable, I usually apply two thin layers to give myself a flawless finish however if you have redness or blemishes you could easily apply more. I have the shade 40 Light Ivory which is the lightest option and it is a more pink-undertone colour. There are only 6 different shades to choose from which I think is disappointing as I can see some people finding it difficult to find their perfect match. With the name ‘Skin Luminizer’ you would expect the finish to be extremely dewy however I find it to give a great glow without being shiny and you can easily tone it down by using a mattifying finishing powder

My main ‘con’ with this product is that throughout the day I found the foundation to appear patchy in certain areas (especially on my dry patches) so I wouldn't say it’s a great long lasting, ‘looking great all day long’ foundation

Overall I don’t think that this is a bad foundation at all, it gives a lovely finish and feels very moisturising on the skin when applied. I think that anyone with normal-combination skin would get on very well with this however if you have dry skin then be wary or be sure to use a good moisturiser beforehand.

Facefinity Primer 

 Now onto the Facefinity primer which I picked up after recently hearing Tanya Burr rave about it in her October Favourites video and she completely sold it to me! This primer is designed simply to pro long the wear of your foundation /makeup and it also contains micro correctors to deal with excess oil

I love the packaging of this, many primers come in squeezy, cheap tubes but I think that Facefinity looks very stylish and more expensive than it is. The glass bottle contains 30ml of product which is the amount you usually get in a foundation bottle and considering you only need a pump or two of this primer each time, it is very good value for your money and should last you a long time. The formula is lightweight and silky that appears like a white cream however when applied to the skin it doesn't leave a cast and blends in effortlessly which makes it suitable for all skin types and colours. SPF is important to me so I was pleased to see that this primer contained an SPF 20 which will protect the skin from everyday life. I've not used this whilst having photos taken however I wouldn't worry about flash black due to the SPF as primers sit underneath your foundation so it should be fine

Overall I am very impressed with this primer and it has definitely stepped up and above my expectations. I think that this is an overall great primer for everyone, no matter what your skin type or colour and I can see myself (personally as an aspiring makeup artist) finding this product very useful on all different skin types

I hope you've found these reviews useful and maybe I've persuaded you to give either of these products a go (don’t forget, it’s 3 for 2 right now on cosmetics in Boots!)  : ) 

My MAC Eye Shadow Collection

MAC are well known for their great eye shadows and I absolutely love them- the pigmentation and quality is amazing and there is a massive range of colours to choose from.

I seem to have collected quite a few eye shadows from MAC so I thought I’d write a post all about them and tell you which ones are my favourites.

 These shadows are not the cheapest on the market however I do believe that you are paying for the quality which you definitely receive, I am also slowly attempting to build up my kit as an aspiring make-up artist (I am currently studying hair& media make-up in college) so this may be why I own slightly more make-up than your average teenage girl. I also currently own a MAC pro student card which gives me a small discount so I was recently very lucky and managed to add a few new colours to my eye shadow palette so thought this post would be a great way of letting you know what I think about them all.

Naked Lunch – Minimal pink with shimmer
This is a beautiful champagne pink colour with a nice icy shimmer. I would say this is a must –have for me as I find myself using it all the time as either a base or a slight highlight above the brow bone, my favourite combination is Naked Lunch applied all over the base then Satin Taupe blended through the crease- it’s my go to easy eye look which always gets plenty of compliments!

Carbon – Intense black
I've only recently got my hands on this shadow after wanting it for so long but always being distracted by more exciting colours however I picked it up the other week and I am so glad I did because it has been so useful! It’s a strong matte black that I'm sure everyone would find a use for one day; I especially like to use it as a relaxed eye liner if I don’t want to go for a neat liquid line.

Fresh Water – Bright summer blue
Fresh Water is probably one of the brightest shadows I own but I absolutely love it! It’s extremely well pigmented and leaves a beautiful shimmery/almost metallic icy blue on the eyes. I've only recently got this one but I can imagine it looking great against a deep skin tone and brown eyes or it could also be used as an eye liner to add a small amount of colour to any look.

Red Brick – Orange red
This one seems scary and I am slightly scared however I've heard so many fantastic make-up artists like Tanya Burr rave about this eye shadow and I've always been intrigued as to what looks I could create with it. It seems to be the perfect autumn colour and I think it would look great along with brown and bronze colours.

Cranberry- Red- plum with pink shimmer
I think Cranberry would be the perfect eye shadow for someone who likes colour but isn't brave enough to go for something like Red Brick or Fresh Water. This shadow will compliment many different skin tones- it will make light eyes pop but it will also warm up darker skin tones whilst adding a sparkle.

Shroom- Soft beige with shimmer
A newbie and a very popular one for me! I find this isn't too shimmery so it’s perfect as a highlight on the brow bone or pressed into the inner corner to open up the eyes. Shroom could also easily double up as a face highlight on the tops of cheekbones, down the nose or on the cupids bow.

Embark- Intense redish- brown
A gorgeous dark brown with purple undertones that works perfectly to achieve a smoky eye. Like all MAC shadows, the pigmentation is great and it pays off just as you see it in the pan. This is a matte formula which is great for people who don’t like shimmery eyes.

Satin Taupe- Taupe with silver shimmer
If I had to pick one eye shadow to use for the rest of my life it would probably be this one (yes, I love it that much!!!) – As I said before, Satin Taupe paired with Naked Lunch gives me my perfect eye and I couldn't recommend the two enough.  This is a wonderful colour for everyone to have in their collection and it works for both day and night so is very versatile.

Brun- Muted blackish-brown
Another new one that I received in my college kit and haven’t properly tested out yet however it seems to be a great crease colour for darker eyes and would also be great for filling in darker brows.

Charcoal Brown- Muted taupe brown
I use this colour almost every day to fill in my brows and I love it, it’s the perfect brow colour for anyone with medium brown- brown hair depending on how natural you like your eyebrows to be. Charcoal brown also looks lovely blended through the crease along with other shades to create a natural smoky eye.

----------------------------------That’s all the MAC eye shadows that I own right now, I hope you've found this post useful if you’re stuck with which one to buy next. Are there any missing colours here that you think I would love? Let me know in the comments and you may be able to persuade me! :) 

My Top 5 Autumn & Winter Lipstick Picks

We’re now officially in autumn which is my favourite season so I thought I’d share with you my top 5 lipstick picks for autumn and winter as I love experimenting with vampy looks during the colder months and these lipsticks are great for adding a pop to your makeup.

MAC, Russian Red

You may have guessed Russian Red would pop up somewhere in this post as I'm constantly saying how much I love it and it’s also a very well known & popular MAC lipstick that many people own. The lipstick has a matte formula however it’s not drying on the lips at all. If I'm after a classic red this is the one I always reach for, I find it very flattering and I always feel confident when wearing it. This lipstick gives anyone that old effortless Hollywood look, lasts a long time and suits all skin types.

MAC, Rebel

This is my top pick when I'm after a long lasting colour as I find it always lasts the longest out of all of my lipsticks. Many people may be put off by the colour in the stick of the lipstick as it looks very dark, however once applied to the lips it creates a beautiful deep, pink toned purple that isn't too OTT! Overall I absolutely love MAC lipsticks, the quality is fantastic and there is a massive range to choose from so you will always be able to find the perfect one for you.

Rimmel Kate Moss, 107

This is a very hyped lipstick in the blogging community and I completely get the hype! The colour is similar to MAC Rebel so if you’re after something slightly cheaper, this is a great alternative. I would say 107 is a more plum and pink toned dark burgundy so if you think that would suit you better, you should go for this one. The formula is slightly drying on my lips however the colour stays put for a long time. I think that this lipstick is amazing; I find the quality nearly as good as MAC but it comes without the heavy price tag so it’s great if you’re looking for something more affordable.

Avon Temptress

I've had this next lipstick in my collection for a while but have never reached for it as I've always been put off by its colour in the stick although when applied to the lips it bleeds a deep pink toned purple- again very similar to MAC Rebel however this one is much darker. I would say this lipstick would look great on darker skin tones and would also be something fun to experiment with over Halloween. I love the formula of this lipstick as I find it very creamy on the lips and is surprisingly easy to apply.

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet, Hot Pepper

Finally I have a new discovery from Bourjois, this is one of their new (ish?) long lasting matte lipsticks that apply like a lipgloss. I've seen a few different brands selling lipsticks like this and I have been intrigued to see how they perform- I definitely wasn't disappointed with this one! This is probably the brightest lipstick I'm mentioning today and it may be more suited to spring/ summer however I couldn't help myself from mentioning it as I love it so much! It glides on smoothly and feels very creamy on the lips, once applied the colour almost magically turns matte and lasts all day long- what more could you ask for?!

So there you have my 5 top lipstick picks for autumn and winter, I hope you enjoyed reading this post from me and maybe I have temped you to go out and buy one of these beauties above to add to your collection ! :) 

Nivea Skincare Discovery- Deal Of The Week

Hello everyone! I am very sorry for my lack of posts recently however I have been very busy and am still adjusting to starting college but now I'm back and ready with lots of exciting upcoming posts.

I had a spare afternoon in town the other day so I decided to have a wonder around Boots to see if I could find any good offers or something new that I hadn't tried out before. Nivea currently have a 2 for £5 offer on selected facial skincare so I decided to have a look and I was pleasantly surprised to see that I could pick up a primer and a moisturiser on this offer when they were both originally £4.99 (roughly) each.  I got the Nivea daily essentials rich moisturising day cream and the Nivea daily essentials express hydration primer which are both for dry & sensitive skin and both 50ml.

The moisturising day cream claims to intensively moisturise and nourish the skin with natural almond oil. I really liked using this moisturiser as it feels very thick when you apply it however it quickly sinks into the skin leaving you with a super soft and hydrated feeling. Many moisturisers suited for dry skin tend to be very heavy and take time to skin into the skin however I found this one acted very fast but still did a great job. Another thing I love about this moisturiser is that it has an SPF meaning it will help protect your skin from the sun; some people may think SPF is not necessary as we are approaching winter although you’re face is the most exposed part of your body to the sunlight and you should be cautious all year round to protect your skin.

Now onto the primer which is the product I am most impressed about- I didn't know that Nivea sold primers in their skincare range so I was very interested to see how it performed. You may already know from my previous posts that I love the Rimmel Fix & Perfect pro primer which is roughly £6 however I do find that it runs out quickly and you don’t get enough product for your money.  I am very impressed so far with the Nivea express hydration primer and may even prefer it to my trusty Rimmel one, the formula is very creamy and blends well into the skin. I have found a little goes a long way with this product so I can see the tub lasting me a long time which is great. Performance wise this primer works well, my makeup seems to last most of the day and products apply nicely ontop.

Overall I am very impressed with these skincare products from Nivea and I will definitely be re- purchasing them both again even without the offer as they have really stood out to me as a great little find.

I hope you enjoyed this post and I will speak to you soon :) 

Back To School/ College Makeup Tutorial

It’s that time of year again when schools start back or you may just be heading back to work after a short break. I thought I’d show you a nice, fresh and subtle makeup look that anyone can pull off and would be perfect for school, college or work.

I understand that many high school students are not allowed to wear makeup so this look may not be suitable however it would still be a great look to wear day-to day or you could possibly adapt my look to make it acceptable for your school rules.  

I am starting college in a few weeks so this is the makeup I will probably wear as it’s very easy to achieve, quick and fresh.

Before I started, I ensured my skin was properly prepped and I moisturised my face with The Body Shop Vitamin E moisturiser, it doesn't matter what skin type you have, all skin needs to maintain moisture. Keeping your skin hydrated is essential and it will make your makeup application a lot easier and the final result will look better.  

Many people skip primers in their makeup routine as they can be expensive although the Fix & Perfect Pro from Rimmel is a great affordable option that works with all skin types. I love this primer and I always find myself going back to it when I've run out. Primers should be used after moisturising and before make up, they ensure that your makeup stays in place for a longer time and also help your makeup application a lot smoother.

Rimmel Wake me Up foundation is my favourite foundation right now as it gives me a radiant glow and blends into my skin effortlessly. Everyone has their own preferences so you should go for a foundation that you know suits your skin and is a good colour match- you want to feel relaxed at school without worrying about your makeup so you should choose something you know works for you. I used the Real Techniques Buffing brush to blend in my foundation as it gives a very flawless finish quickly.

Back to school means early mornings so you may want to use a concealer under your eyes to make your face appear more awake, I used the Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer as it’s not too thick and wont crease as the eye area is very delicate so you don’t want anything too heavy. To blend this in you could either use your fingers, or I used a small stippling brush from Primark which I find is the perfect shape for getting under the eye.

Collection Lasting Perfection concealer is a great affordable product if you have any spots or blemishes that you want to cover up as it gives high coverage which lasts all day.

For my eyebrows I like to start by brushing through them with a brow comb to ensure there is no product in them and that the hairs are all going in the right direction. I then used the Collection Work the Colour eyebrow kit and took the lightest shade in the pallet and used it to fill in my brows with a small angled brush. You should use a matte shadow that matches your natural hair colour, I like this pallet as it has 3 different shades for different hair colours. I then took Charcoal Brown eye shadow from MAC and used it to add more colour and definition to my brows however this step could be skipped. Finally for my eyebrows, I took this clear mascara from Miss Sporty and lightly sweeped the brush through my brows to keep them in place.

Next I like to go back to my face and add a little more colour and glow, you may not have time to do these few steps but that doesn't matter as they are not essential. MAC Cream colour base in the shade Pearl is a cream highlighter which I like to apply onto the top of my cheekbones, down my nose and above my lips to add some extra glow in all the right places. I applied the product with my fingers then blended it in with a Real Techniques Contour brush.

Using the Real Techniques Blush Brush and my Chanel blush in Jersey Peche I added a subtle flush of colour to the apples of my cheeks.

We are just coming out of the summer so you may want to still have a bronzed and glowly look so I would recommend going for a matte, natural bronzer like this one from The Body Shop. I used the same brush that I used for my blush and sweeped some bronzer across my cheeks and lightly all over my face.

I used my favourite mascara which is the Benefit They’re Real mascara to achieve big, voluminous lashes which will last me all day long.

Lip sticks/ glosses are not essential for me so for this look I just used a lip blam to hydrate my lips and I would make sure I keep it with me to top up during the day.

Finally you may want to add some powder to your face to keep the shine away; I like to apply powder to my T-zone so I can still achieve a natural glow but in the right places. Rimmel Stay Matte powder is a great and affordable product that keeps the shine at bay!

I hope you enjoyed this post from me and picked up a few tips and tricks. Good luck to everyone starting back at school, college or work.

“An expert in anything was once a beginner”