Friday 31 January 2014

The Hunt Is On.. Rimmel Stay Matte

Im always on the hunt for the perfect base, i don't have a run to product in foundation and i normally have about 5 on the go that i like to swap and change between. So while browsing in boots the other day i picked up this Rimmel Stay Matte foundation. I like the idea of my face being quite matte on a night out as the lights and heat make your face glow within a matter of hours.


Rimmel stay matte is advertised as a liquid mousse foundation. I like the packaging all though its quite hard to get the right amount out, sometimes you don't get enough then try to get more and then get way to much. As you can see in the picture above it is quite thick in texture and i have paired it next to a normal liquid foundation so you can see the difference.
It feels quite nice as your applying to the skin lightweight and not to cakey and it defiantly makes you face have that matte look.
As for staying power i wasn't that impressed, i used this on a night out and had to reapply powder throughout the night and just generally to work and don't think it lasts long at all. It makes the skin look dry and patchy in areas after about 3 hours even when you don't suffer with dry skin (my skin is combination with oily t zone)
I remember when i used to buy dream matt mousse as a teenager (was the in thing back then) and it did the same thing back then on my skin so it might be just my skin that mousse type foundations don't get on with.

So i think i can check this foundation on my list of what not to use, do you have any foundations that you love and wouldn't use anything else? let me no the hunt is still on.





Sunday 26 January 2014

No7 Beautiful Skin - Hot Cloth Cleanser

I love using a hot cloth cleanser, i love the way it feels on your face and my all time favourite is Liz Earl cleanse and polish which i no a lot of beauty bloggers also rave about.
Well i had come to the end of my bottle which is very sad and where i live we don't have a Liz Earl counter booo :( so i had planned to order another offline but last sunday i went for a mooch round boots (as you do) and came along this No7 hot cloth cleanser which was only £9.95 and i had a £5 off voucher which made it only £4.95 so i just had to get it and try it out BARGIN ALERT!!!




So for anyone who's not familiar with a hot cloth cleanser you put some on your face then use your fingers to circulate it round your face all round and over you eyes and end up looking like a panda from your mascara ha then you put a muslim cloth in hot water and gently remove the cleanser from your face which will cleanse and remove your make up at the same time. Genius.

First thing i noticed on opening this is how big the bottle was 200ml is quite big and all for the bargain price of £4.95 i couldn't believe it. I like its a pump bottle then you can manage how much you need easily. I also like the way its see through ask you no when your about to run out and can make sure your prepared to have some more.



As you can see from the picture one pump gives you quite a lot of product and its defiantly enough to use on your whole face. In texture it feels really hydrating maybe a little bit oily in fact.
its really easy to make just the one pump spread all over your face and removes eye make up so easy. Leaves the skin feeling so refreshed.

I recon this is a great alternative to Liz Earls Cleanse and Polish and i will be using it all up before deciding whether repurchase or go back to my lovely faithful cleanse and polish. Also the price tag is a lot friendlier and with a No7 voucher its even better my advice is get a voucher and go and grab one now!




Wednesday 22 January 2014

Slimming world Recipe #1


Sticky 5 Spice Gammon


As I said the other day this year I'm trying to get fit and healthy and i have joined slimming world this year and have found that some of the recipes are absolutely amazing and i don't even feel like I'm on a diet half the time, i had my second weigh in yesterday and lost 2 pounds so that 6 all together nearly  half a stone YAYY! so I'm going to share with you my favourite ones. This week is sticky 5 spice gammon which is so so tasty.


This recipe serves 4 and the whole recipe is 4 syns which when you share it out between 4 of you its only 1 syn which is perfect when your allowed up to 15 a day.

Ingredients2 tsp Chinese 5-Spice powder
4 x 175g gammon steak cut into bite-sized pieces (remove all the fat first)
Frylite or other syn-free cooking spray
2 red chillies, deseeded and finely sliced
Finely grated zest and juice of an orange
1 level tbsp of runny honey
100 ml of chicken stock
2 tbsp dark soy sauce
Egg noodles to serve





Most of the time I'm only making this for me and my mum so i half the ingredients and leave the chillis out as mum doesn't like spicy things. Boring i know. 






Method
1 – Cook the noodles according to packet instructions


2 – Sprinkle the 5-spice powder over the gammon pieces.
3 – Put a few sprays of frylite into a wok or large frying pan.
4 – Cook the gammon over a high heat for around 2-3 minutes until the edges are slighty browned.


5 – Add the soy sauce, honey, red chillies, orange zest and juice and stock and simmer for 4-5 minutes or until the sauce becomes sticky and the gammon is glazed and golden (with slightly burned edges if you like that sort of thing).




6 – Serve straight away with cooked egg noodles, and any pan juices poured over.









I can't even describe how amazing this tastes, i would easily eat this like 3 times a week.
Ive got a feeling this week for slimming world is going to be tough, even though I'm going to bokwa (post coming soon) and body attack. Tonight i am going for my friends birthday meal at a gorgeous Italian which is cheese and carb galore. One of my friends going is also on slimming world so were hoping to help each other make sensible choices when eating. Wish me luck!!! haha.


Have you got any slimming world recipes to share?

Monday 20 January 2014

Miss Dior

Since about the middle of last year I've had a thing about perfumes, it all started when i went to Bulgaria in june and had a browse round the airport and picked up a couple as we all know duty free is a must when going on holiday.
I always have to save not just spending money for a holiday but spending money for the airport.

Ive had my eye on Diors "Miss Dior" for quite a while but it comes with a hefty price tag which i just couldn't justify to myself, every time i went to the airport id save enough money get there and decide to buy 2 perfumes instead of just 1 for the same price.

So i was opening my christmas presents and could not believe it when i opened a bottle from my auntie and uncle. I was completely stunned and couldn't thank them enough.




I love the packaging it comes with simple yet so cute. The bow on the lid is such a cute touch.
On the back of the box it says "Captivating Egyptian jasmine draped around Indonesian Patchouli. The elegance of a sensual floral Chypre." I am rubbish at describing smells but i would say its a really grown up smell and it deffianantly lasts along time. If I've put it on in the morning then i still get people by the end of the day asking me what I'm wearing.
Its fast becoming my favourite perfume.

Did you get any nice perfumes for christmas I'm going on holiday in april so another airport splurge is happening would love to know some recommendation to get?


Sunday 19 January 2014

IM RUBBISH!!!

I haven't blogged in 6 months in far to longggggg. Sometimes life just gets away with me, I've had work, holidays, weekends away, more work then christmas.
i know its no excuse but i promise this year I'm going to try and blog maybe not everyday but at least twice a week..

Even though were only 19 days into the new year i feel my life turning a new corner, i have joined slimming world thanks to my mums amazing achievements last year in it, she's lost so far 3 stone 8 pounds and looks absolutely amazing and as i have some weight to shift i thought it was the ideal place to start.

Ive only had 1 weigh in so far but i lost 4 pounds and was very very happy. Since joining I've cooked the most I've propably cooked in my entire life so i will be sharing some of the yummy recipes I've been enjoying!

Of course I'm still totally addicted to makeup but am trying to curb the spending as much as i can, i say that even though i managed splurging a lot in boots today!! OPPS but i just HAD to try the maybeline "baby skin instant pore eraser" as I'm a masssssssive fan of Benefits "the porefessional" and it has been rumoured to be a great dupe for it. More on that when I've put it to the test!.

I also have a MAC masterclass coming up on the 11th of feb in London which i am majorly looking forward to. I am going with a colleague from work not sure what to expect as it was only £29 from wowcher but i recon it should still be a great day out if any of you have been on one of these courses id love to know how it is and what to expect?.