HOW TO: One Sided Dutch Braid

Yesterday i uploaded a hair tutorial on how to achieve a one sided dutch braid, this is such a simple but effective hair style as it looks like you've put in the effort but it only takes 5 minutes and is perfect for getting your hair out of your face for work or school! 

The things you will need:

Tangle Teezer/Hair Brush

Bobby Pin

Hair Spray

Curling Wand 

Hair Clip 

Teaser/Backcombing Brush

Click the video link below to see how i achieved it! x

How To Contour & Highlight Using Drugstore Products

My recent upload onto my YouTube Channel was a "How To" video about contouring and highlighting using drugstore products, which is my absolute favourite thing to do when using makeup! I have found a way to do it that suits me so well now and i get amazing results from it, it's easy to do whether you're a beginner or a pro (if you're pro you probably won't be taking advice from me haha) and i show you step by step what products I'm using, brushes I'm applying products with and how to apply it. I will link the video below i'd love for you to go and check it out!  

Product Review: Revolution 'Give Them Nightmares' Exclusive Palette

As it was halloween Saturday i decided to try out the Revolution 'give them nightmares' 18 exclusive eyeshadow palette. I just had to pick this up in Superdrug when i saw the amazing colours on the back of the packaging and then noticed it was only £4! Absolute bargain! 

I don't really have any shades like these in my makeup collection as i'm quite safe with my makeup looks and tend to stick to neutral shades so i had so much fun creating new looks with this! 

I love that you get a range of matte shades to shimmery shades, some more so than others but overall they are all very pigmented and have amazing colour pay off with little fallout which is everything you want in an eye shadow. I love the fact that there is some lighter shades included in there too and the matte white is so handy for highlighting and creating a contrast. 

The palette is so affordable and was just perfect for halloween and this time of year, it comes with a free little eyeshadow brush and i would really recommend this palette for someone starting out in makeup trying to grow their collection or wanting to experiment with darker shades and colours but without having to invest a lot of money!

I also would just like to add that the black and rose gold packaging for this is a dream and the palette feels like a splurge luxury item but for £4 you get a whole lot for your money, i LOVE it! 

How to get beautiful sleek waves!

Lately i've been trying to make a little more effort with my hair styles because, it's normally the thing that i will leave until last in the morning and then not be bothered to do anything with so i end up scraping it up into a ponytail or a high bun.. Admit it, we're all guilty of this sometimes, i salute you if you really make an effort with your hair everyday! I decided to pick up my Remington silk curling wand and try to create some sleek looking wavy curls just to add a bit more texture and interest to my hair. 

I absolutely love the result i had, i used my Miaflora Aragn Oil before styling my hair. I use just 2 drops and rub that into my hands then run my fingers through the ends of my hair, staying away from the roots as this can result in making your hair greasy which no one wants! I then go onto brushing this through with a tangle teezer and separating my parting slightly off centre. I always find it easier to tie one half of my hair with a hair band just to get it out of the way and then curling one side then going onto the other. I used my curling wand at 180 degrees as i wanted it to be a temperature that wasn't going to be too much heat on my hair and wrapped my sections of hair round for about 10 minutes then gently letting the curl out. I find it best to leave all the curls as they fall out then once i've finished curling my whole head i gently brush through again with my tangle teezer to create these gentle, soft, glossy waves that blend and flow together. I think this hair style would look amazing with a bright red lip and a LBD! Even maybe for a prom with a few bits clipped up or a braid running through it. 

I filmed a tutorial of this look so if you'd rather watch it i will link it below, have fun creating!

Gluten Free Halloween Cupcakes

Gluten free Halloween Cupcakes!

So, it's been a while.. life got a little hectic but i'm back! As most of you probably know i am in fact a celiac, which means gluten is my enemy! But i'm not one to let things defeat and control me so over the past few years i have taught myself to cook the things i love using gluten free ingredients and d'you know what.. it's just as good if not better!

So here is my recipe for these scrummy halloween cupcakes, including a butter cream icing and salted caramel crunch. I filmed a video over on my channel of the recipe so if you're more of a watcher than a reader i will link it below.. although beware, there were a few fails! eek

Ingredients for cupcakes -
2 large eggs
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
2 cups buttercream frosting, white *optional
1 1/4 cups flour
6 drop food colouring, orange
8 drop food colouring, black
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup milk

Ingredients for buttercream frosting - 
3 1/2 cups Icing Sugar
1 cup Unsalted Butter

1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Method - 

1. Place rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F (176°C).
2. Place cupcake liners in a pan large enough to hold 12 cupcakes.
3. In a medium-sized bowl, stir together flour, salt, and baking powder. Mix well.
4. In a large bowl, beat together sugar and eggs with an electric mixer on medium speed. Mix for about one minute.
5. To sugar and egg mixture, use a spoon to gently stir in oil, milk, and vanilla.
6. Add the dry flour ingredients to the wet ingredients and beat with an electric mixer for one minute at medium speed.
7. Divide batter into two equal portions, pouring them into two separate bowls. Into one half of the batter mix the orange food coloring and beat well. Into the second half mix the black food coloring and beat well.
8. Using large spoons - such as tablespoons or soup spoons - start layering the colored batters into the cupcake cups until they are 2/3 full. Take a butter knife and gently swirl the colors together a tiny bit. Don't mix them too much, or you will just end up with gray cupcakes! They key is to just create a few swirls within the batter so that they look interested when you bites into them.
9. Place pan in oven on center rack. Bake for about 22 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
10. Cool on a rack for five minute before removing cupcakes from pan. Allow cupcakes to cool completely on rack before frosting.
11. Beat butter using an electric mix for at least 4 minutes before adding the icing sugar to beat for a further 2 minutes, add vanilla extract.
12. Pipe on buttercream frosting. Decorate with Halloween decorations of your choice.
13. Top with Dr Oetker Salted Caramel Crunch (optional).
14. ENJOY!

YouTube Update

Little fish in a huge ocean

After briefly telling you all yesterday that i had started a YouTube Channel i thought i'd talk a little more in depth about it and update you. So today is my third day and i have just uploaded my third video, pretty good going i think! Even though i only have a mere following of 3 subscribers (one being my boyfriend) i am loving it, to be completely honest with you even if i never reached over 10 subs (which i am expecting) i don't think i'd stop because i really love the process and creativity of being able to film something and share it with the universe on the interwebs ( technical term.. right?;) )

I have a passion for the creativity and it makes me so happy to be able to work on these "little videos" and i hope it can also make someone else happy, you never know! It has also massively helped my confidence, i am in fact a very shy person as i have mentioned in one of my earlier posts but for some reason, talking to a camera is different.. and WEIRD but its so much fun, there's no restrictions! (apart from the obvious) 

Anyway, i will continue to make these videos and, being the "little fish in the big ocean" i would love a little help along my way so if this is anyones thing i would love you to check my channel out, i will link it below :) Thank you loves <3 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOI_kjuyWizxxHZy8z9Awyw/videos

Morning skin care routine

My morning skin care routine

I will openly admit that i used to think make-up wipes and a £3 moisturiser were enough to basically be my whole skin care routine..

some of you reading may be thinking "what's wrong with that, that's all i do too" well don't fret! there's nothing wrong with that if it suits you but if you're thinking of changing things up a little then i'm here to help you out.

Having learnt a lot since the make-up wipe days, people have opened my eyes to how much better my skin would be if i actually paid a little more money and spent a bit more time in the mornings (and evenings) on properly removing my make-up and taking care of my skin a little more. As i will explain a little later in my blog, i am quite health conscious and having conquered bad skin through clean eating, drinking water and exercising i have also now found my all time favourite products which i only discovered a few months ago.. 

LOW AND BEHOLD

Neal's Yard Remedies Organic! 

Step 1. The first product that i will use to remove any remains of yesterdays mascara, eyeliner, eyeshadow and whatever else i may have on my eyes (hopefully nothing) is the NYRO eye make-up remover using any type of soft cotton wool pad. 

Step 2. If i have not completely removed any of the day before's foundation or powder then i will quickly go in with my 'rejuvenating frankincense refining cleanser'. Gently massage onto dry skin then using a muslin cloth, in circular motions simply remove the cleanser using warm water. (This product is amazing for anti - ageing but i simply use it as i love the smell!)

Step 3. I will then move on to running a bowl (sink) of warm water, not too hot! damping my face and then using 1 pump in circular motions all over my face and neck then rinsing off. 

Step 4. After dabbing my face dry with a soft towel i will then move on to toning.. something i always used to skip! Just grab yourself a cotton wool pad, cover it in toner and then once again in circular motions going upwards smooth over your face. 

Step 5. My favourite part!! once my skin is all cleansed, fresh and smelling lovely i will finally move onto moisturising, this is my all time 'go to' moisturiser, the rose smell is absolutely amazing and it leaves my skin feeling plump and revitalised. I have also found that after using this moisturiser my makeup and especially my foundation will go on so much easier and smoother giving an all over flawless effect! 

This skincare routine is perfect for someone who has normal/combination skin like me.

Hope you have all enjoyed being nosey and snooping at my skin care routine, maybe i will upload a night time routine too soon! 

I would love to hear your feedback, thanks for taking the time to stop by!

Love,