January Favourites 2014 | Beauty

January 2014, what a perfect time to start my first ever monthly favourites post! Here are a selection of the beauty products i've been loving this month.

Products featured: Simple Clear Skin Oil Balancing Moisturiser 75ml, Rimmel London BB Cream SPF 25 (Light) 30ml, Rimmel London Wake Me Up Concealer 7ml (010 Ivory), e.l.f. Studio Blush (Candid Coral), Classic Carmex Moisturising Lip Balm 7.5g, Rimmel London Scandaleyes Retro Glam Mascara 12ml

Face

• Rimmel London BB Cream SPF 25 (Light) 30ml - This is the first BB cream I have tried so I can't really compare it to others, but it now seems to be my 'go-to' face cover-up! I normally wear this on days where I don't want a heavy, full coverage (my normal foundation is Estee Lauder Double Wear). Right now this product works for me but if I purchase any other BB creams in the future I will be sure to let you know if I change my mind!

• Simple Clear Skin Oil Balancing Moisturiser 75ml - I have a constant battle between having dry and oily skin (yay for combination skin...) and I have tried countless moisturisers trying to over come this. Simple are a brand that I go back to again and again and when I saw they had this product I just had to try it. I have noticed my skin looks less oily, however I still have the same dry patch on my nose... I may have to get some stronger moisturiser for that stubborn dry area. However I think this is a great product and I love wearing it as a base before I put my makeup on. It has a perfect blend of active ingredients and Zinc PCA to eliminate shine and maintain moisture levels. I am absolutely loving this at the moment and it doesn't break the bank either! Definitely worth a purchase if you suffer from shine.

• Rimmel London Wake Me Up Concealer (010 Ivory) 7ml - My past concealers have mostly been sticks not liquid. However I found that with my combination skin it would look dry and flaky. So, recently I got this concealer as I had heard good things about the 'Wake Me Up' range and it hasn't disappointed! For me this gives an excellent coverage and is probably one of the best concealers i've used!

• e.l.f. Studio Blush (Candid Coral) -  This product was featured on my recent e.l.f. haul (here). I think this is such a lovely colour and I will definitely be purchasing more of their blushes. 

Eyes

• Rimmel London Scandaleyes Retro Glam Mascara 12ml - I'm all about big, voluminous eyelashes so I picked up this mascara as it claims to do just that! I can say it is my current favourite mascara and makes my eyes pop! It has a thick, wavy brush to give that 'fullness'. 

Lips

• Classic Carmex Moisturising Lip Balm 7.5g - This is hands down one of my favourite lip balms, however I am prone to keep losing them as they're only tiny but I keep repurchasing it's that good! I love the tingly feel it has on your lips and I quite enjoy the smell of them... Perfect for if you have dry, chapped lips. Definitely a must have for me!

• Sleek True Colour Matte Lipstick (Vamp 786) - I am absolutely in love with this colour! Perfect for the winter months. I normally wear this when I go out as it is quite a dark colour. Recently I have bought the 'Sleek Lipliner' in 'Ruby' to team with this lipstick to hopefully give me a full and longer lasting wear out of it. 

Would you like to see more monthly favourites? Let me know!

What beauty products have you been loving this month? 

If you've done a blog post on it, leave the link in the comments below and i'll check it out! 

Tape By Steven Camden | Review + GIVEAWAY!

|| Tape by Steven Camden* || 

Product Details
Title: Tape
Author: Steven Camden
Release Date: 30th January 2014

Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
Pages: 352

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Ages: Teen (12+)

Source: Received from publisher for review

Purchase Links: Amazon | Waterstones

Record a voice and it lasts forever…

In 1993, Ryan records a diary on an old tape. He talks about his mother’s death, about his dreams, about his love for a new girl at school who doesn’t even know he exists.

In 2013, Ameliah moves in with her grandmother after her parents die. There, she finds a tape in the spare room. A tape with a boy’s voice on it – a voice she can’t quite hear, but which seems to be speaking to her.

Ryan and Ameliah are connected by more than just a tape.

This is their story.

| My thoughts |

The story has two narrators - Ryan and Ameliah. I feel that the teen audience (or our previous teen self) can really relate to some characteristics shown by them both and also the scenarios they are faced with. It explores the difficult situations of growing up and also touches on more sensitive topics (such as family and death).

The outside and inside of the book are graphically and visually appealing, especially to the younger audience. Ryan and Ameliah's perspective are easily identifiable in the book making it easy for the reader to follow where they are. I think the way Ameliahs story is in present tense and Ryans is in past works very well with the story line but I found myself warming more towards Ryan because of this. Another thing that I wasn't so sure on was the way the speech was written as the author uses hyphens instead of speech marks. At first I was confused as to if they were thoughts.
Example:
Ryan looked at him
- What?
- Ask me who'll hear
Ryan shrugged his shoulders

However, this book will keep you guessing to the very end with twists and turns! 

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks to HarperCollins Children's Books, one lucky reader will win a copy of Tape by Steven Camden!

Competition is open worldwide

Rules:

• This is open to my blog readers only! Make sure you're following my blog via GFC or Bloglovin' (I will be checking!)
• Extra entry for following my Twitter
• Extra entry for liking my Facebook page

The winner will be contacted straight after the giveaway has ended. They will have 2 days to claim their prize or I reserve the right to choose another winner.

Book will be shipped directly from publisher.

If the winner is international, the book may take longer to arrive

I hope you've enjoyed my first book review and hopefully I will have more giveaways in the future!

e.l.f. Cosmetic Haul | Review

For those of you who don't know about e.l.f., they are a a brand with 'high quality items at low, affordable prices'. I've heard about this brand for a while, but never got round to ordering anything until now. Luckily I was able to get quite a big discount off my items (nearly 50%!) after someone posted a code on Facebook. If you sign up to their newsletter they sometimes send promotions too!

Contouring Blush & Bronzer Cream - St. Lucia

The first thing I ordered was the contouring blush & bronzer cream in St. Lucia priced at £3.75. I'm not sure why I ordered the cream, as I was ideally looking for a powder (that'll teach me for purchasing on a whim!). They do in fact have the contouring set in a powder.

The contour colours are very creamy and pigmented. A little will go a long way with this product and I found it easy to blend. However, this product is probably a little too dark for my skin so next time I would see if there is a lighter colour.

Studio Contour Brush

I also purchased a Studio contour brush, this was priced at £3.75.

For the price I think this brush is amazing. I would even compare it to my higher priced brushes. It does its job well and has soft bristles. I will definitely be purchasing more of their brushes.

Studio Matte Lip Colour - Coral

I've heard quite a few good reviews about their matte lip colour, so I got the Studio matte lip colour in Coral which was £3.75.

The end colour of the stick looks a lot pinker than the actual product and the stick looks darker... This shade is lighter than my natural lip colour. It looks a lot darker on the pictures than it is on the lips. I would probably wear this when I wear toned down make-up. It has a nice matte finish and I will be buying more of these in different colours.

Studio Blush - Candid Coral

I've been looking for a new blush so I purchased the Studio blush in Candid Coral after reading about it in another bloggers review! This was £3.75.
This blush has quite a bit of shimmer in it. I really like the colour though and think it compliments my skin tone well.

Studio Lip Primer & Plumper

I've never really tried a lip primer or plumper before, so this caught my eye on their website. It is the Studio lip primer & plumper which was £3.75.

If you don't like cinnamon, this product will not be for you. The plumper has a very distinct cinnamon smell. It tingles your lips very slightly but I can't say I felt them getting plumper.. I was slightly disappointed with the primer as I don't think it blended well with the matte lip colour and had to wipe most of it off. It sort of looks like a concealer and has quite a thick consistency. I will probably only use this for the plumper.

Studio Makeup Mist & Set

Lastly, I ordered the Studio makeup mist & set as usually I normally spritz a bit of hairspray (anyone else do this? haha) to keep the makeup in place, but obviously this isn't meant for your face and the results can make your face feel a bit stiff. This was also £3.75.
This spray comes out quite powerful, so make sure you spray it quite far away or your face will be drenched. It sort of reminds me of one of those cooling sprays as it leaves a watery sheen over your face for a few minutes. I suppose this is healthier for my skin than the hairspray, so I will be giving this another try. I can't say I saw any changes in how my makeup looked, but being alcohol free I will be using it as a mist before application.

Altogether my order would have come to £22.50, but I got it for £12.50 with free delivery! - Bargain! I would recommend this brand if you are looking for a cheap alternative, and because it's so cheap it's good to experiment with. 

Have you tried any e.l.f. products? 

100% Natural Banana Pancakes - Gluten Free, Low Calorie, Flourless | Recipe

So I came across this delicious recipe by Cassie from Blogilates and I just had to share it with you!

Natural Banana Pancakes
*I apologize that they look burnt, I am a terrible cook... but I try*

This is probably one of the easiest recipes i've come across and so easy to make! It only consists of two* ingredients that you will most probably have in your house! It is made out of 100% natural ingredients, low calorie and also gluten free!

Ingredients:

• 1 ripe banana 
• 2 whole eggs

*if you want to experiment with taste add a bit of cinnamon

*if you want to experiment with texture, for extra fluffiness add a bit of baking soda/powder

That's it!

1. First mash the banana in a bowl and then add the two eggs, then mush it all together! 
2. Next, spray your pan with some oil (extra virgin oil, pan spray, coconut oil etc.) on a low to medium heat.
3. Scoop some of the batter on to the pan and give it about 20-30 seconds, then flip over and do the same on the other side and it's done!

(If you're a visual learner, check out her instructional video of how to make them here).

This is such a simple recipe and takes no time at all! It's also great to experiment with. It is perfect for an alternative breakfast or a snack!

I've seen some people post that theirs came out 'eggy' or like an 'omelette', but I think that could be avoided by adding a little more banana! Personally, I have never had a problem like this with this recipe.

I hope you give this a try! I think they are delicious.

Max Factor - Glossfinity Nail Polish | Review

Max Factor Glossfinity - Candy Rose (50)

For those of you who checked out my first ever haul, I bought the Max Factor Glossfinity nail polish. This was £5.99, however drug stores such as Superdrug have these on the 3 for 2 offer.

This product claims to keep your nails looking glossy for up to 7 days and is currently available in 26 shades.

I've had this nail polish on now for 7 days and I can safely say there is still some 'gloss' there. Usually with normal nail polishes the shininess tends to fade. I can tell that over the week the gloss has diminished (around day 4-5) but it is still looking glossy compared to other nail polishes I have used.

Also i've noticed they are less chipped than normal! (I don't know if that's to do with the nail polish itself or because i've been less 'hands-on' this week...). I applied two coats of this nail polish (without any top coat) and I barely have any chips! So I am quite impressed with that. I'm sure the nails would be close to perfection if I applied a top coat. I will be sure to try it out! Out of habit I always apply two coats of nail polish, however it is quite pigmented so I think one coat would even be enough.

Altogether I would probably definitely recommend this product. It gives you a high quality finish for a fraction of the price you'd pay at a salon. 

Have you tried out the Glossfinity range by Max Factor?

Monday Motivation | Quote Of The Day

Taken from Pinterest

Hands up if you're guilty of over-thinking? I know I am, especially at night.

However, this year I have taken it upon myself to just stop thinking about things as much as I should. Looking back I have noticed there was no need for me to over-think things. About 90% of the stuff I was over-thinking never happened anyway! Even in the little time I have tried to stop doing this I feel much better. Before it felt like a negative weight looming over me filling my head with unnecessary things. 

Over-thinking can cause damage to so many things such as friendships and relationships and can often convince us something is happening or they are doing things behind your back when they're not. Our mind is a sponge and absorbs almost everything it encounters be it something that happened today or something you remember from years ago. 

Taking charge of what goes into your head is the first step, however that isn't a cue for ignorance. What I mean is positive thoughts, stories, memories, pictures etc. Try and change the over-thinking to optimism. 

Miss Selfridge - New In | Top Picks/Wishlist

Miss Selfridge is probably one of my favourite high street stores and they've just sent me an email with their 'New In'! Here are my top picks/wishlist:

1. Stripe sleeve jacket  £35 / 2. Floral print playsuit £39 / 3. Sassy heart blue £39 / 4. Printed aline mini skirt £20 / 5. Black stretch trousers £38 / 6. Mint sock with lace trim £3.50 / 7. Striped texture t-shirt £27 / 8. Pretty blue ultra soft £36

I know they are probably one of the more expensive high street stores, but don't forget they offer student discount!

Do any of you shop at Miss Selfridge?

*Sorry for another fashion top picks/wishlist! I'm in the process of doing some more posts but thought i'd post this in the meantime. Stay tuned!