Naughty But Nice Treat

On Sunday afternoon, my friend Laura & I decided to venture into our local town Cheltenham, to do a spot of shopping.  Once we had finished trudging round we decided to pop into a cafe for a drink.

We usually go to Costa, but thought we would go to Patisserie Valerie for a change.  We have both been there before & never leave disappointed.  I had also heard they had expanded their range of gluten free products & since I can't eat gluten, I thought I'd definitely give these a try!

We sat down & once settled, ordered our drinks & 'naughty treats' from the friendly waitress. 

To drink, my friend ordered a Strawberry Breeze smoothie & I ordered a Soya Mocha.  To eat, Laura ordered a Black Forest Gateau (looked delicious!!) & I ordered the gluten free Flapjack.

I had surveyed the fairly generous list of gluten free products, but (& probably because it was a Sunday) all that was left was the flapjacks & ginger biscuits.

Unfortunately, I am not supposed to eat cow's milk & the flapjack did contain milk, but I was so hungry that I thought it was worth the risk!! 

Our drinks & cakes arrived shortly afterwards & we were both thoroughly pleased.  Laura's strawberry breeze was very thick & tasted very juicy - packed full of fresh strawberries & bananas.  Her gateau was very rich but delicious.  My Mocha was perfectly frothy & my flapjack really did hit the spot!

 

If you haven't visited Patisserie Valerie before, you definitely should - more patisseries are popping up everywhere. It has a fairly extensive menu & not just for cakes.  They also do other food including very extravagant looking breakfasts!
It is also worth noting that they do made to order cakes for special occasions.

Our visit to Patisserie Valerie was definitely the perfect ending to a sunday afternoon!

 

What's your favourite cafe?  And if you have been to Patisserie Valerie before, whats your favourite on the menu? - I'd love to know!

Bee x

My February Favourites!

It really doesn't seem that long ago I was sorting out my January favourites - time does fly! But, today is the 1st of March so as another month has disappeared I better share with you my February must-haves! 

Keeping My Eyes Bright...

So, I've been using this for quite a while...the Caffeine Eye Roll on by Garnier.  I have been using this morning & night.  I find it really refreshing in the morning as it really does wake my eyes up!  And at night time it soothes my tired peepers ready for bed time.
The rollerball is metal which feels really cold & soothing.  It is very easy to apply & particularly great when you are in a rush in a morning (no sticky fingers from creams & gels!).
While I don't think it has totally rid me of my dark shadows but it definitely has reduced the puffiness under my eyes.
I guess due to the fact it is so inexpensive it won't work miracles but it does do enough to refresh, hydrate & reduce the appearance of tired eyes.


The Cleanest Skin Ever...

In all my years of trying to find something that will take all my makeup off, I think I've finally found it!  It's another product from Garnier to make my favourites in February!  It's the micellar water for combination & sensitive skin.
I've mentioned my love for this cleansing water & others before (here) & since that post I've not changed my mind.  I think I've repurchased this product about 5 or 6 times!  It takes off my makeup well - I use about 4 cotton pads to remove it all.  It feels very refreshing on my skin & doesn't sting my eyes.  I have a lovely clean feeling afterwards!
It comes in a 400ml bottle (& it also comes in a handy travel/trial size too!)& is really good value for money - It seems to always be on offer, which is a bonus too!
I think this will be a 2016 favourite - not just for February!


Clean & Shiny Hair...

So, I recently received in a beauty box a clarifying shampoo by Kebelo.  I have heard quite a lot about clarifying shampoos & thought could they really do that much? 
They can!
From the first use I couldn't believe how shiny my hair managed to look.  Now, my hair has had it's fair share of problems & it's also coloured.  So, this shampoo was perfect for me to use to give it a real detox (you use it once or twice a month) - exfoliating & rejuvenating it & gently giving my locks a purified shiny result.
I only had a small sample size but it's still going strong.  I maybe purchasing the full size when this runs out!


Keeping Cosy...

Now, onto clothes! 
I thought I would include this in my monthly favourites because, well, it has been almost surgically attached to me this month!  It's a lovely & very snuggly scarf from those bargains giants that are Primark!
It's huge, blanket-like, burgundy & very cosy & seems to go with everything!  And it's all the tiny price of £5.00!
It also comes in 3 other colours - cream, pale pink & black.  I may just have to see if I can grab the black one soon before they sell out.  I mean, you can never have too many scarves can you?!


It's Iconic...

Well, what more can I say?  I bet you could guess what my last favourite was this month?!  Yep, Makeup Revolution's Iconic 3. (see my review here)
Out of all the palettes I own, it's my real 'go to' for shadows - easy & very wearable.  And very affordable too - I definitely recommend it!


So, that's my favourites this month! What are yours?

Bee x

The Palette You Just Can't Give Up...

My mum once said to me that you should never go back to an ex.  It never works out.  It maybe 'comfortable' to be with that same person but it will all end in tears.

Now, what's this got to do with makeup??

Well, I've used a certain palette for a while now.  I loved it.  I went through most of the colours & then I got a bit bored & put it to one side.  I thought I would try out some new ones; like a kid in a sweet shop, trying out all the varieties out there is always exciting!

Then, after a few weeks, the looks I was trying out seemed a bit stale. So, of course, back to my old palette I went; like a faithful puppy, it was awaiting my return!

And, I'm so glad I did.  You see, it's perfect.  What's it's name?  Iconic 3 by Makeup Revolution.  

As I say, I've used it for quite some time now & the quality is so good, that I've barely made a dent.  No wonder people say it's the perfect dupe for Urban Decay's Naked 3!

The shadows are soft & perfectly pigmented but without fallout - which is great for me!  Especially when I'm in a rush!  You don't want shadow flying everywhere!

The pricepoint is great too at only £4.00 compared to it's 'big sister' at around £38.00!

It's packaging is on the cheap side & very basic, I must admit but you really want to dive straight into the colours & not faff around with packaging.  I also wouldn't bother with the appicator though.  I would just use your favourite brush to apply the shadows.

The palette contains 12 shadows - a mix of shimmery & matte.  I particularly love the warm pinky bronzey tones which compliment my green eyes well.

I do think on the whole these Makeup Revolution palettes are great especially if you are starting out in makeup as they have so many colours to experiment with & you definitely don't lose out if some shades don't suit you as they are so cheap compared to their more expensive counterparts.

But, back to the Iconic 3. It has so many shades that will work for any look - should it be a daytime look or something more dramatic for night time.  The colours are all very wearable.

So, what was I saying about that ex that you shouldn't go back to?  Yep, it may feel comfortable but it won't work out; you know why it didn't in the first place.  Well, thankfully in the makeup world, if you find a palette comfortable & faithful, then why not take it back, should you get bored??

This palette is dependable & with perfect colours for every look necessary.  The Iconic 3 will always be the reliable sort you just can't give up.  It will never let you down!

It's the perfect love story!

So, what makeup do you always go back to? I'd love to know!

Bee x

Discovering Kiko...

Quite a while ago, I was watching one of the many beauty channels on YouTube which I'm subscribed to & the lady on there was raving about 'Kiko' & how great the quality & price point was.  I was fascinated!
After watching that video, the name 'Kiko' kept cropping up in magazines & other beauty channels - it was drawing me in!  I needed to get Kiko in my life!
But...life gets in the way & as I thought I could only order online, I kept forgetting to have a look!  Then, not that long ago, I was on a trip to London.  Pushing through a busy crowd of shoppers, I suddenly looked up & there, straight in front of me was Kiko!  That was it. I had to go in!
It was a tiny shop crammed full of makeup & shoppers!  I now know why Kiko is popular!

Kiko was established in 1997 & it's full name is actually Kiko Milano & as it is an Italian brand, it is at the forefront of beauty trends.  Having finally looked up it's website, it says there that their vision is "Be what you want to be" & that really sums them up!   Great quality products & a great price too. Oh, & they don't test on animals either!

So, here's what I purchased.....

3 Lipsticks
1 Eyeshadow
Eye Primer

The Lipsticks....

The Smart Lipstick in 917 'Mauve Pink' -
I absolutely love this lipstick.  It's a gorgeous colour (think your lips but better) with a wonderful rich moisturising texture so it will never dry out your lips.  The matte black packaging is really sleek & the price is only £3.90.  Bargain!

Crystal Sheer Lipstick in 413 'Persian Pink' -
I wanted a new 'girly pink' lippie & so I went for this.  It's a really sheer (but glossy) finish - hence the name! - & I love the funky silver & lilac packaging.  You push the top down to release the product.  Very cool!
It was £6.90, but I've just looked on their website & it's currently down to only £2.00! Wow! I want some more!

Luscious Cream Lipstick in 503 'Hot Cocoa' -
This is a really creamy lipstick, again with the funky packaging but in just plain silver.  The colour payoff is great.  I'd wanted a more darker browner tone as I always seem to play it safe with similar colours, so I chose 'Hot Cocoa'.  A lovely creamy colour which reminds me of hot chocolates!
And again, this has been reduced to only £2.00 from £6.90. (Get on the website now - go! go!)

Onto the Eyeshadow....

Infinity Eyeshadow in 243 -
A gorgeous pigmented burgundy colour.  I'm yet to use this (I have lots of shadows!) but I can't wait!  Again, a reasonable price.  The only downside is, having looked on the website, it seems to be no longer available (although I've found one very similar on there).  However, there are tonnes of other gorgeous colours to try.

Final Product....

I needed an eye primer.  I had been applying my eyeshadows straight onto my lid after applying my base (foundation, concealer & powder) - partly down to laziness, but I was fed up of my shadows not lasting or creasing.  So, primer it was!
I came across Kiko's eye base primer.  And it does what says!  It definitely makes your eye shadow last longer & it really does make a difference to the colour of your shadows.  It really enhances them.
Top tip! - Only use a tiny amount.  A little really does go a long way.  So, for £6.90, it's great.  It will last me forever!

Recently, I received a beauty box & to my surprise, inside was a mascara by....you guessed it...Kiko!  It's their Extra Sculpt Volume mascara in Black.  Again, funky packaging & the brush looks cool too & very thick.  I'm yet to try it out but judging by their other efforts I'm sure I won't be disappointed.

I took a shopping trip to Birmingham the other day & came across a new Kiko store there.  They are cropping up everywhere!

Have you caught the Kiko bug yet? It's really contagious & will definitely take hold!

Bee x

My current hair saviours!

My hair, like I'm sure with many other ladies, is the bane of my life!
I've been colouring my hair for many years.  It's naturally light brown (at least I think it is - I've not seen it since I was about 14!).  It's been nearly every shade of blonde I can think of, but I've always sort out the best products to protect it from the various chemicals which have been used on it.
In recent years my naturally thick & wavy hair has lost a lot of volume.  I discovered recently that it is down to a health issue & now, finally it is being rectified & is slowly improving.

So, in the meantime I thought I would share with you 2 hair saviours that have really helped me.
They are;
Garnier Ultimate Blends - The Sleek Protector Oil

&

L'Oreal Paris Elnett Satin Heat Styling Spray - Volume 3 Days

So, here's the low down.....

After I've shampoo'd & conditioned my hair, I apply my Garnier oil to the mid lengths (from ear height!) & ends of my hair.  I use 2 pumps of this. 
The Garnier oil contains pure coconut oil.  Now, we all know how amazing coconut oil is, don't we?  It's useful for EVERYTHING!
This hair oil, not only smells divine but is lovely to apply & makes my hair a lot smoother as it tends to get rather frizzy!
It has many uses too.  It claims to smooth your hair for 72 hours (although I don't think I've left it that long before I've washed my hair again!) & it contains a heat protector for upto 230c protection.  As well as applying it to wet hair (like me) before you style, you can use it before you wash as a pre-nourisher & also after styling to just tame any fly-aways.  Basically, you can use it any time!
It comes in a 150ml bottle & I've had this for ages as you only need a small amount, so it's definitely value for money.

Finally, I use my L'Oreal Paris Elnett Satin Heat Styling Spray.  I have the one for volume. 
After running through my mid lengths & ends with the oil, I give my hair a generous spray all over with this.  So, I'm definitely making sure I have plenty of heat protection before I blow dry my hair (& occasionally I straighten my hair too).
This volume formula claims to give you a voluminious style for up to 3 days.  It definitely gives me volume for the first day but depending on the weather etc.,  my hair can lose volume on the second day.  I wouldn't have volume for the third day, as despite always colouring my hair (I have foils), it would be too greasy to get any volume!
The spray comes in a 170ml spray bottle & like the oil, it lasts me ages - even though I do give my hair a very generous spray!  Again, it's great value for money & pretty much does the job I'm after! (I've tried other heat protector sprays but always repurchase this!)   

So, these are my 2 hair saviours to keep my hair looking pretty good & keeping it healthy.....
What are your hair saviours?

Bee x

A 'Pop' of Colour!

Yesterday, I was freezing.  The wind was giving everything a battering including my face!  And what takes the brunt of it, is my lips!  They get extremely dry at this time of year & its a constant battle to keep them moisturised.  It's hard to make lipstick look good with flakey skin!  So, I think Clinique have been thinking about me!

Last year,  they released their 'Pop Lip Colour & Primer' Lipstick & since then I've been hooked!  They have about 24 shades in their collection & all the colours look amazing!

The colours I have are -
Nude Pop
Beige Pop
Cherry Pop

They contain lots of moisturising ingredients including Shea Butter, so you know you are constantly keeping your lips soft & supple against the elements.  They claim to keep your lips moisturised for 8 hours & I must admit they are longwearing & comfortable. 

'Nude Pop' (which was the first one I purchased) has a lovely pink tone to it which blends perfectly with my natural lip colour.
'Beige Pop' is a slightly lighter shade with a 1960's look to it, but very wearable.
The final shade was actually a sample shade from a magazine I bought!  I really wanted to try out a red, so when I came across this, I had to get it!  'Cherry Pop' has a good colour payoff - as have the other shades.

All in all these lipsticks are so comfortable & perfect for my dry lips.  And I adore the colours - I'm sure I will soon be trying the others in the collection!

The packaging is classic Clinique.  The lipstick is 100% fragrance free & the bullet is easy to apply.

These lipsticks are definitely perfect during these cold harsh winter months to protect your lips - but I will be wearing them all year round!

I have noticed that Clinique have also recently released their 'Sweet Pots' - A sugar scrub & lip balm (the packaging looks amazing for starters!) - I may just have to try these out too!

So, what are your favourite lip products?  I'd love to know!

Bee x

My Wheat & Dairy Free Chocolate Sponge Cake

As I've mentioned before, I can't eat wheat or cows milk (believe me, I'd love to, but it doesn't love me!) & there aren't always many sweet treats I can have, so I decided to make something myself!
So, here it is. I'm sharing a secret with you....my chocolate cake recipe & it really is as delicious as it looks!

You will need....

2 x 8" deep Cake Tins
3 x Eggs
5oz Gluten Free Self Raising Flour
1oz Cocoa Powder
1 1/2 teaspoons Gluten Free Baking Powder
6oz Caster Sugar
6oz Dairy Free Spread

Sieve the flour, cocoa powder & baking powder together. Then mix the rest of the ingredients & divide the mixture into the tins (make sure the tins are greased with dairy free spread & line with greaseproof paper) & bake for 20-25 minutes on 170c Fan

For the buttercream....
You will need....
3oz  Dairy Free Spread
7oz Icing Sugar
2oz Cocoa Powder
1tbl Soya Milk

Beat the dairy free spread & sieved icing sugar & sieved cocoa powder together.  Then gradually add the soya milk.  Then spread on one of the sponge cakes & place the other spong cake on top.  Afterward spread the remaining buttercream on the top.  Add whatever decorations you like or leave plain.

Then the final & most important thing....
Scoff & enjoy!

What do you like to bake?  Let me know....

Bee x