It's the end of the month.....it's JANUARY FAVOURITES TIME!

Wow! It's the end of January & we've really settled into 2016.....& with that, I thought I would let you know what things I've been enjoying in this new year & new month.....

A new scent...

Now, we all love a Yankee candle, don't we? They have such an amazing range of scents.  I can't resist smelling every single one when I enter a store selling these.  So, recently I just had to treat myself to a new one!
It may be a festive fragrance but I think 'Snowflake Cookie' can be burned at any time of the year.  With it's vanilla sugary scent, I find it really comforting.  The only problem I find is, it can sometimes make you feel hungry! I'm burning it right now as I type this.  I'm glad I purchased the large size, so this irresistable fragrance will be filling my living room for some time....
Right, off to grab a biscuit.....!!

Smart technology at your fingertips...

Fancy some clothing with 'smart technology'? Well, I think I've found it! No, it's not a top that makes you invisible! It's touch screen gloves from Primark! And whats even better, they only cost me £1!
Oh & yes, they work.
Theres no sign of the weather getting much warmer at the moment & as I've said before in another post (Get Happy!), I suffer from dry hands, so I do like to keep them warm, but I am slightly addicted to my iPhone! Gloves & iPhones don't always mix! But now, Primark have come up with something that works for both!
And I love them. 
They have special stitching on your thumb & index finger on both gloves & work perfectly when using a touch screen.
And I love them so much that I have 2 pairs! One in black & one in burgundy!

 

A true match...

So, this month I've been wearing the lovely 'L'oreal Paris True Match' foundation.  I've found it to be really easy to blend & feels lovely on my skin.
I'm pretty pale & originally thought I would need 'Rose Ivory' thinking I was a bit of an english rose type tone, but soon realised even that was a bit pale for me & that really I have slight yellow undertones to my skin (& no, it's not jaundice!), so I thought I'd pick up the 'golden ivory' to warm me up a bit but without being too dark & it really did work!
It evened out my skintone & made me look less 'corpse like' & more 'alive'!
I may try out their matching powder next & see how that applies.  Always up for trying something new!

Tools of the trade...

Well, these had to be in my favourites, didn't they?  If you have never tried any of the 'Real Techniques' brushes before, then you really should!  They are great value for money & your makeup looks 10 times better than if you applied with anything else.
With my foundation, I had always used my fingers, but since trying 'Real Techniques' I have used their brushes - their 'Foundation', 'Expert Face' & 'Stippling' all do amazing jobs & vary the look depending on how much coverage you want.
I could talk for ages on the virtues of their brushes but I won't.  I'm challenging you to purchase any one of their range & you can see for yourself.  I promise you, you won't be disappointed!

A man from Memphis...

So, I must admit, I'm a bit of a fan of a certain guy called Elvis.  I've grown up with his music - mainly through the influence of my mum!
I remember one day, when I was a child, my mum sat me down to watch a film with her called 'Blue Hawaii'.  It was her favourite.  It starred a man with a slick black quiff, high cheekbones & a beautiful smile.  He intrigued me. 
And then I heard him sing.
And the rest is history.
So, this month it will come of no surprise, that my last favourite is 'If I can Dream: Elvis Presley with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra'.
As I've heard many an Elvis track, I didn't think it would be that different. 
But it was.
It's classic Elvis but with a brand new orchestral accompaniment.  It makes the songs sound fresh & new....as if they were just recorded yesterday.
And I'm sure it will win new fans around the world.
It's definitely worth a listen, tracks in particular 'If I Can Dream' & 'Burning Love'.
It's enough to make a King proud....

 

So, thats what I've enjoyed this month....
How about you?

Bee x

Get Happy!

So, recently I was gifted a few things from a dear friend of mine.  She is obsessed with a certain brand & wanted me to be too! The name is 'Happy Jackson'.  They sell everything from nail files to greeting cards....from lunch boxes to clothing.  They all   have quirky slogans (some make you laugh out loud!) & the quality of the products are great.  

One of the items worth a mention is the hand cream (75ml).  It's made of Shea butter to replenish & revive dry skin.  It has the funky slogan 'Hello Hands!  Let me hear you say yeah! - that grabs your attention! Now, I have the world's driest hands & these really soothe them & it also smells divine, which is a bonus too! 

Items from 'Happy Jackson' start from about £1, so you can't really go wrong....

Have a browse on their website & see what you think! 

Bee x 

DELICIOUS ALCHEMY GLUTEN & DAIRY FREE PURELY OATY FRUITY MUESLI

I've been gluten & dairy free since October 2014.  I was previously diagnosed with gluten & cows milk intolerance about 10 years ago & was very strict with my diet for several years but like many people, I let my diet lapse, fooling myself that I was well.  It wasn't until more & more symptoms were occurring that I realised my diet & with the approval of my doctor (always consult your GP before embarking on a diet change) needed a severe overhaul.  So, here I am today, avoiding all wheat, gluten & dairy (cows milk only as I can eat sheep & goats milk) & feeling a lot better! And since my diet is a bit restrictive, I'm always on the look out for new products.

So, in my local supermarket recently I came across a gluten & dairy free muesli.  It's brightly coloured packaging called out to me, with its 'purely oaty fruity' labelling & 'gluten free magic' slogan. It is by a company with the funky name 'Delicious Alchemy'. It claimed it was 'fruity, oaty, crunchy & yummy' & yes, it was! I mixed it with my regular almond milk & it didn't disappoint! It's really tasty - it's made up of gluten free oats, raisins, sultanas, cranberries, dates, rice flakes & seeds.  It filled me up for hours - just what you need to keep you going in a morning! 

And after writing about that....I'm hungry now! 

What do you like to eat for breakfast? Let me know! 

Bee x 

A Clean Sweep.....

So, I have a confession to make. I have in the past, been a regular user of makeup wipes! I know, I know, you are gasping in horror! Yes, I know they are not the best for your skin, but you must admit there are better ones out there these days. Anyway, it's a new year, so I have been good & started to really look after my skin. After all, in my day job, I'm all about skincare, so yes, I should really practise what I preach! So, back to the task in hand.....I recently received a 'Look Fantastic' Beauty Box (purchased by myself - they are terrific value for money) & in it was the 'Darphin Paris' Azahar Cleansing Water. In recent times, the all new Micellar cleansing waters are really taking the beauty industry by storm, with their amazing 'magnet' like technology & many beauty companies creating their own version. I had already tried a few brands, one in particular which stands out to me, which is the 'Garnier' Micellar Cleansing Water. So, I thought I would give the Darphin one a whirl. And like the Garnier one, I wasn't disappointed. 

As I have been a skin wipe user, I really like something that takes my makeup off quickly at night. I'm not one for lots of cleansers & getting drenched in water (& the bathroom) just before bed & so the Micellar water really is the perfect option for me. I wear full face makeup regularly - concealer, foundation, powder etc.... (Oh & not forgetting my signature very black eyeliner!! - the more the better!) so I need something that takes EVERYTHING off! The Darphin water is for eyes & lips, as well as the face so it was perfect. It is for all skin types even sensitive skin. I also noticed it was great around my eyes. I'm a contact lens wearer with very sensitive eyes & this actually didn't make my eyes sting like some products can. It had a lovely fresh smell & took about 4 large cotton pads to take off all my makeup. I received a 50ml sample in my beauty box, the full size is 200ml. It's £25 for the full size product, which maybe pricey for some budgets, but it is definitely worth the money if you have very sensitive skin, as it is very gentle & will not strip your skin. 

So, Micellar waters are now a regular part of my skincare regime....what's yours? Is there something new that I need to know about? Let me know! 

Bee x 

MAKEUP REVOLUTION HIGHLIGHTER

I must admit, I'm obsessed with highlighters! Anything that makes my cheekbones stick out is always a winner with me! 

Now, if you haven't heard of Makeup Revolution, where have you been? I've tried various palettes (which I'm sure I will share with you!) & I've never been disappointed.  The quality is excellent & such great value.  How do they make them so cheap?! 

Anyway, back to my latest purchase....

I had bought their 'Radiance' highlighter palette which (correct me if I'm wrong!) is a perfect dupe for the 'Hourglass' Ambient Light highlighting palette & I've already hit pan in one of the colours, but I wanted to try another of their offerings.  So, I went for the 'Vivid Baked' highlighter in 'Golden Lights' & again, not disappointed. In fact, this highlighter & probably because it's baked is even more pigmented. 

The quality of the packaging is great with 7.5g of product.  The colour is very pretty & suits my pale complexion, giving it a subtle brightness.  And, as I've said before, since it is so pigmented, you really don't need to apply much to your brush. (Unless you want a major 'strobing' effect of course!!) 

It's only £3 (amazing!) & comes in 2 other colours - 'Peach Lights' & 'Pink Lights'.....hmmm....I may just have to go for the peach next.....how about you? 

Bee x 

 

 

This is me, Mabel's Beauty Bee....

Hi, 
& welcome to Mabel's Beauty Bee! I've finally taken the plunge & joined the blogging world! 
In my real life I'm a mobile beauty therapist, running my business for the last 10 years & along the way I've picked up a tip or two, which I would love to share with you! (That rhymes!)
My passion for all things beauty will be found across the 'pages' of this blog along with other things too - I'm also keen to share my tips & recipes for all things gluten & dairy free - as one of those 'awkward people' who can't eat wheat or cows milk, life doesn't have to be that hard! 
Anyway, I think that's all you need to know about me....for now....
So, are we sitting comfortably? The journey is just about to begin....

Bee x

Ps.... This blog is dedicated to Mabel. One of life's beautiful people....& it was a pleasure to be her granddaughter.