My Perfect Night In...

Everyone needs a nice chilled pamper night once in a while! I thought I would share with you a couple of things that I like to do to make me feel really nice and relaxed.

Setting the mood...

To make sure you can relax, you need to create a nice peaceful environment. Everyone has their own preferences, but I personally always like to listen to music. My current music obsession is the new Christmas ep by Ariana Grande, yes I know its not Christmas anymore, but trust me - it is incredible! Ariana released a couple of shorter songs for her ep entitled "Christmas and Chill". There are six songs on the Cd, each with a different vibe, some relaxing, some upbeat - all easy to sing along too! My favourite song from the album is "Winter Things", it is such a happy song with a really nice melody.

Another music pick for me is Justin Bieber's new album, Purpose. I think his music has matured quite a lot and he has gained a lot of new fans from his new music. I really like "Love Yourself" as it is a nice mellow song that is easy to sing along with, but be warned, it will get stuck in your head! I also really like "I'll Show You".

I like burning a candle to make my room smell nice and make me feel relaxed. I am currently burning "Cosy by the Fire" by Yankee Candle. It is a winter candle with the scent of spices.

Relaxing your body...

When I am having a pamper night, I like to have a soak in the bath with some of my favourite Lush products. Of course, the hardest decision is whether to choose a bath bomb or bubble bar, or both! My 'go-to' Lush product is the Comforter Bubble Bar, it smells of summer fruits and creates a pink bubbly bath, perfect for a girly night! I have recently received lots of Lush bath products for Christmas so I now have a harder choice! Baths relax your muscles, making you feel tired and content.

Skincare is another important aspect of a pamper routine, you may choose to use a face mask, however I have recently discovered Liz Earle Skincare and I am already seeing the difference! Using the Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser will clean and rejuvenate your skin better than many other brands. It is a high end product making it quite expensive, however, if you are prone to skin breakouts or are just looking for a product that will make your skin feel nicer, then I 100% recommend Liz Earle.

Chilling Out...

Once you have relaxed your body and completed your skin care routine, its time just to chill out and do whatever you want! I like to scroll through instagram and catch up on YouTube. I also love to make a yummy hot chocolate, getting into comfy pyjamas and binge watch my favourite tv show *cough* Dance Moms *cough* ;)

I hope this gave you a couple of ideas of what to do for your own pamper routine.

Ellie xxx

MaxFactor Counter Relaunch...

On Saturday 31^st October, I was invited to my local Boots store to write a blog about the brand new Maxfactor counter and some of their upcoming products.

When I arrived, the counter was set up with black balloons, roses, chocolate and bucks fizz – it looked very pretty! Across the front of the counter, there was a red ribbon tied in a bow, this was later going to be cut to re-open the counter. The counter followed the MaxFactor colours of black and gold, but was interlinked with the bright colours from the makeup itself.

MaxFactor are bringing in lots of new products, one of which is the Velvet Volume False Lash Effect Mascara. I really love the packaging for this, as it is very simple but eye-catching and appealing. It continues with the MaxFactor colours making it link with the rest of the company. The applicator is quite small, with short strands, I find this applies the product really well. It leaves you with a nice set of lashes without clumping them together. It definitely achieves the false lash effect!

MaxFactor are more of a high end company meaning their products are little bit more expensive in comparison to other drugstore makeup brands. However, I do believe that you are getting a high quality product for this price. If you are willing to pay a little bit extra for a product, you will get a lot more in return.

Another product MaxFactor are launching, are Marilyn Monroe lipsticks. There are going to be 4 different lipsticks in this collection, one of which is a copy of an exact lipstick found in Marilyn Monroe’s makeup bag. I think this is a really nice concept and I feel that they are going to be very popular. Red lipstick goes well with a nude eyeshadow and winged eyeliner, it is also perfect for the winter season. Make sure you get your hands on one of these lipsticks – coming soon!

I would definitely recommend checking out a MaxFactor counter near you as they have a wide range of amazing products, with lots of new products coming in soon! If you would like to see some of there other products, head over to my youtube channel where I talk about some of my favourites.

I would like to say a massive thank you to Boots for having me, and to Jade, the MaxFactor Counter Manager, for inviting me. I think the counter is incredible and you have done a great job! :)

Here are some extra photos from the counter:

 

Ellie xxx

Favourite Autumn Eye-shadow Palette...

Recently, I have been loving adding eye-shadow to my daily make-up routine. Since it is now Autumn, I have been experimenting with more browns and golds to create a more subtle look.

My current "go too" eye-shadow palette is the Revlon Colourstay in 555 Moonlit, this retails at £8.99. The price is quite high, but you do get a really good quality product. What I really love about this palette is that it has 16 hour coverage, this means it doesn't slide off your face halfway through the day. Although it does have long lasting coverage, I would still recommend priming your eye before applying.

The palette has four different shades, one creamy white and three variations of brown, this is really good for blending and creating so many different looks. 

Overall, I would definitely recommend this product and other Revlon eye-shadows, you get a really good quality product, that is easy to blend and stays on your face for a long time.

Ellie x 

Real Techniques Core Collection Review

Make up brushes are swiftly becoming my new favourite thing to buy and collect, and a brand that I have always fancied buying from are Real Techniques.

I recently brought the Core Collection by Real Techniques as I saw them on offer in boots for £10.99, due to the 50% discount, I couldn't resist! In the Core Collection pack, you get a Buffing Brush, Pointed Foundation Brush, Small Detail Brush and a Contour Brush. The 4 brushes also come in a nice black case for easy transportation, this can also be bent into a stand for display. I think this is such a good idea as it stops your brushes getting ruined when travelling.

The brushes are super soft on your skin and apply make up really well, leaving no streak marks and giving you a flawless finish. 

Buffing Brush

This brush is by far my favourite from the set! I use it too blend my foundation or concealer as it buffs the liquid into you skin and doesn't make you feel like you are caked in make up. It is extremely soft and works so well.

Pointed Foundation Brush

The Core Collection gives you two different brush options for your foundation or concealer, the pointed foundation brush or the buffing brush. I personally prefer to use the buffing brush, however this one works just as well!

Small Detail Brush

This brush is quite versatile as you can use it to help conceal hard to reach areas or you can use it too apply lipstick with more precision. You could even use it for eye-shadow if you wanted too!

Contour Brush

This is another one of my favourites as again, it is so soft on your skin. It picks up the product well and blends out any strong pigmented products to create your preferred colour.

The Core Collection retails at £20.99

Ellie xx

Back to School Cosmetic Essentials

So, it is that time of the year that we all dread - going back to school! As much as we don't like it, it is something we all have to do. So I thought I would make your school year easier by telling you some of my back to school cosmetic essentials to keep in your school bag. I know most schools don't allow makeup, therefore, these bits are more skincare related.

1. Lipbalms

Lipbalms are so important to keep your lips moisturised and soft during the day throughout the whole year. The most important season for lipbalms is Winter, this is because as the colder weather draws in, your lips and skin really start to suffer. Your lips can get really dry and chapped during the Winter which can make them very painful. The lipbalms I recommend are BabyLips by Maybelline which are £2.99 - £3.49 in Superdrug, Vaseline Lipbalms which are £1.99 in Superdrug, or Eos Lipbalms which are £7.00 in Topshop. I really like BabyLips, as you can get a range of products some of which are tinted so you get a hint of colour without the feel of wearing a lipstick.

2. Hand Cream

It is incredibly important to look after your hands, especially when you are in school and are writing all day. Using hand cream, revitalises your hands, making them feel incredibly soft and well looked after. I love the Soap and Glory Hand Food, this comes in a 50ml tube or a 125ml tube, it smells so fresh and leaves your skin feeling really nice! I would advise not putting the hand cream on immediately before you start writing though, as this can lead to some handwriting issues (I learn from my mistakes). Soap and Glory Hand Food is reasonably priced in Boots with the mini priced at £2.50, and the larger tube priced at £5.50. They are easy to store in your bag, ready for whenever you need them.

3. Hand Sanitizer

For me, hand sanitizer is a necessity, it travels everywhere with me. You never know what might happen at school, it is always a good thing to keep a hand sanitizer ready in your bag. I personally love the Pocket Bac's from Bath and Body Works, they smell incredible and the scent lasts for a long time on your skin. Unfortunately, we don't have Bath and Body Works in the Uk, but we do have some good alternatives to the Pocket Bac's. I really love getting hand sanitizer from The Body Shop as they come in so many different fruity scents which all smell amazing. They cost £2.50 for a reasonable sized bottle that will last you a long time, definitely well worth it!

4. Tissues

I don't really need to explain this one do I? Getting a small pack of tissues to keep in your school bag is a very good idea, if you don't need one, you can guarantee that someone else will!

5. Body Spray/Deodorant

Deodorant is important during school for P.E, but body spray is important to give yourself a little lift and keeps you smelling good throughout the day. There are so many different body sprays out there to choose from, it depends on how much you want to pay for one. I usually go for either Charlie or Impulse sprays as they are usually around the £1 mark in most stores. However, if you want something a bit more expensive, then I also love the Victoria Secret body sprays, these are £9.18 and they come in a range of scents which are all either fruity or floral based. They last for a long time and are perfect to take to and from school.

Although I have listed some shops that sell these products, the majority of these products can be found on Amazon or Ebay.com

Ellie xxx

Current Fragrance Obsessions...

I love to try new fragrances and wear certain scents depending on my mood or the season. Here are some of my current fragrance obsessions...

1. Victoria Secret Fragrance Mist £8.96

I adore the Victoria Secret fragrances, as they are so long lasting on your skin, and you get a lot of product for your money. There is a huge range of scents to choose from, all with floral or fruity fragrance notes. I have tried a range of the mists, but my current favourite is 'Pure Seduction'. This one is very sweet as it is enriched with red plum and freesia - I love it! The packaging is a big winner as the bottles are either pink or blue with a floral backdrop, the bottle also holds 250ml of the fragrance, so is definitely well worth the price!

2. Paris - Yves Saint Laurent 50ml = £52

My next fragrance is more of a high end product, it is Paris perfume by Yves Saint Laurent. This is probably my favourite perfume ever! The scent is quite sweet with a hint of musk, it lasts on your skin the whole day without the need to top it up. The packaging is very simple, a round glass bottle with a black and candy red top. It is quite small so can be taken on holiday, but it is slightly too big if you wanted to carry it in your handbag. Again, it is a high end perfume so is quite expensive, but if you are looking for something of high quality and long lasting, this is the perfume for you!

3. Cherry Blossom - The Library of Fragrance £15 or 2 for £25

I have talked about The Library of Fragrance multiple times now as it is swiftly becoming one of my favourite perfume brands. However, as much as I like all the scents I was given, Cherry Blossom stands out as a clear favourite. I love the smell of Cherry Blossom in a lot of things, so to wear it as a scent, is perfect! The scent reminds me of summer, so when I wear it, it makes me very happy. It is one of the stronger scents out of the four I was given,  but you do need to top it up throughout the day to freshen the scent. Although, this is not much of a problem as the packaging is so slim and small, it is very easy to carry around in your handbag for whenever you need it!

4. Daisy - Marc Jacobs 75ml = £56

My final fragrance obsession is Daisy by Marc Jacobs, another high end product. This perfume will always be one of my favourites as I love the scent so much! It smells very sweet and floral, perfect for summer! The packaging is also the prettiest thing ever! In fact, it is what I love most about all the Marc Jacobs perfumes! The bottle itself is very simple, with not much going on, but the bottle top is where it stands out. The lid is a gold sphere with big colourful flowers all over it, very eye-catching! However, you can't really carry it around in your handbag during the day. 

 Ellie xxx

Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer Review

During the summer months, I don't tend to wear as much makeup as I don't want my face to feel cakey when it is hot. Therefore, foundation is a big 'no no'. Instead, I go for something a bit lighter and use concealer instead.

Over the past couple of months, I have been loving the Wake Me Up concealer by Rimmel London. It is a full coverage concealer that also brightens your under eye circles and revitalises your face. The product is so easy to blend, with no streak marks, giving you a flawless finish every time. The applicator for the concealer is a sponge head, similar to a lipgloss, allowing you to only use the correct amount and not wasting product. What I really love about this concealer, is how moisturising it feels on your face, it does not leave your skin dry or sore. If you add powder on top of the concealer, the product will stay on your face for a long time, without sliding off.

The concealer is £5.49 in Superdrug which I think is slightly expensive but for the quality of the product, it is definitely worth the price! Pair this with the Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation, and your face will definitely be looking flawless!

Ellie xxx

July Favourites

I wanted to share with you a couple of things that I have been loving in the month of July.

1. Paris - Yves Saint Laurent

This is one of my all time favourite perfumes! It lasts on the skin all day without the need to top up, this is perfect for those long summer days! It smells quite sweet with a hint of musk. I also really love the packaging as it is quite simple but looks good. However, the packaging can cause a bit of a problem when transporting.

2. Watch - Aeropostale

I love wearing watches as I feel like they can add a lot too your outfit and are perfect for all occasions. I got this watch in Aeropostale in America, I love it because it is light blue with a floral design making it super pretty for summer. This has made my July favourites due to the simplicity of the design, the watch is elasticated making it really easy to take on and off without the hassle of doing up the buckle.

3. Pocket Bac - Bath and Body Works

I love using these hand sanitizers from Bath and Body works as they make your hands smell amazing while keeping them clean! The scent also lasts a long time for a cleaner and fresher feel. The packaging is really simple and small making them easy to carry around in your handbag for daily use. I would definitely recommend!

4. Paper Towns - John Green

I read this book while I was holiday as I had some spare time to relax - I couldn't put it down! The storyline is so gripping and interesting making you uncertain about what will happen next. I love the mix of humour and adventure in the book, with a little sprinkle of romance on the side. John Green is an amazing author and if you haven't read any of his books, you really need too!

5. She's Kinda Hot - 5 Seconds of Summer

5 Seconds of Summer released a new song in July called She's Kinda Hot, and it has become my new obsession! It is typical 5sos material, lots of guitars and drums, but the lyrics and beat are super catchy! I am in love.

Ellie xxx

The Library of Fragrance

I was lucky enough to have been sent some perfumes by The Library of Fragrance to test out and review. I personally love wearing different fragrances whether that be in a body spray form or a perfume, I also enjoy trying out new scents and brands to find one that I really love. So when The Library of Fragrance got in touch - I just couldn't resist!

I got sent 4 fragrances; Cherry Blossom, Daisy, Rain and Grass. I got sent these fragrances as the Director of the company, Clare, thought they would suit me best and that I would like them.

 I have split up my review into key topics as I find it easier to get straight to the point and to make sure I don't miss anything out!

My first topic is packaging! I think packaging can make or break a product, it can either entice you to buy, or make you choose something else. I think this is especially true with perfumes as you are more likely to display the bottles on your dressing table at home. The Library of Fragrance definitely entices you in with their packaging! The bottle itself is rectangular and slim, making it easy to carry around in your handbag! The label on the front of the bottle is clear and easy to read, getting straight to the point with all the information you need to know as a customer. It is very cute and simple, proving that sometimes less is more!

My second topic, probably most important, the scent! All the scents that I got given, all smell exactly as they are supposed too, for example, when I smelt the Daisy perfume, it smelt identical to the Daisies that grow in my garden. Some of the scents last longer on your skin compared to others so you might have to top up throughout the day to make the scent stronger. However, I don't think that this is necessarily a bad thing as most people top up their fragrances during the day anyway. There is such a vast range of fragrances to choose from, varying from the typical perfume scents such as Cherry Blossom and Coconut to the more unusual such as Baby Powder and Apple Pie. You can get some of your favourite everyday smells such as Mountain Air in your own personal bottle of happiness. I am very intrigued as too what Thunderstorm smells like so I might have to go and buy one! All the perfumes are single scents which gives you the opportunity to wear more than one fragrance at a time, I think this idea is very unique and gives you the chance to express yourself in a way you usually couldn't with any other perfume. I have worn all of my perfumes as single scents but I probably would not wear Grass again on its own as I find it a bit too strong. I have also tried layering my fragrances together and one of my favourites is too layer Cherry Blossom, Daisy and Rain together as it is very sweet, fruity and floral - the perfect representation of summer!

I really like the idea behind The Library of Fragrance and how they aim to connect everyday smells to a special memory which in turn makes you a lot happier when wearing the perfume. One of my favourite everyday smells is freshly cut grass, it makes me think of summer. Combine that with rain, and it makes me think about my many camping trips with my family, when English weather was being its normal self and raining, ruining the camping but adding extra fun!

The perfumes are sold in Boots stores across the Uk at £15 each or 2 for £25, or you can view their full range on their website: http://thelibraryoffragrance.com/collections/all

I highly recommend this product, as the fragrances are perfect for any occasion. There are so many fragrances to choose from, you will certainly find one best suited for you!

Ellie xx

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water Review

I've seen so many people rave about the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water, and I can honestly say that I love it! 

I'm one of those people that has to buy make up remover wipes every couple of weeks as I am constantly running out, so this is a lifesaver. Although the bottle was expensive, it worked out cheaper in the long run.

What I really love about this product is that it does the job well. I find that sometimes when I remove my makeup with normal make up remover wipes, I still feel like I have product on. My face still feels clogged up and dirty. With this, my face feels clean and fresh. It easily removes makeup without you having to scrub your face.

 The product itself is scent free and very kind to skin. If, like me, you have sensitive skin and are worried about the water irritating your face - don't be! The product is very soothing and does not leave your face red or blotchy. 

Ellie xxx

Chocolate Chip & Cinnamon Cookies

Another firm favourite of mine are these delicious chocolate chip and cinnamon cookies, best served straight from the oven when the melted chocolate perfectly combines with the crunchy cinnamon.

For this recipe you will need:

• 225g/8oz Butter
• 140g/5oz Caster Sugar
• 1 Egg Yolk
• 280g/10oz Plain Flour
• 100g Chocolate Chips  

For the cinnamon coating:

• Caster Sugar
• Ground Cinnamon
  

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 190c/375f/Gas Mark 5
2. Line 2 large baking trays with Greaseproof paper
3. Place the butter and sugar together in a bowl and beat until light and fluffy
   
4. Separate the egg and beat in one egg yolk to your butter and sugar mixture
5. Add the flour into the mixture bit by bit, making sure that it's thoroughly combined
6. Then add the chocolate chips and mix in
   
7. Next you want to make the cinnamon coating, to do this, carefully mix together the sugar and cinnamon on a shallow dish or plate. Then roll out small balls of the cookie mixture and roll them in the cinnamon to fully coat the outside.
   
8. Place them on the baking trays and bake in a preheated oven for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.
   
9. Leave on a wire rack to cool
10. Enjoy your yummy cookies!

If you want to see the recipe in video form, be sure to head over to my youtube channel!

Ellie xxx