Lush Cosmetics Haul: Toothy Tabs, Bubble Bars & a Face Mask

I’m not usually one to splurge on skincare and pampering products, however when I found myself feeling more than a little poorly last week, I couldn’t resist treating myself to some new Lush Cosmetics goodies. If there’s something I’m guilty off, it’s deciding that I need to lend myself a little extra TLC whenever I’m bound by even the mildest ailment.

A duvet tucked around me and a green tea in hand, I ordered a few goodies and couldn’t wait for them to arrive. Here’s what I ordered online plus I’ve got two other treats to show you that I picked up in store a few weeks ago!

(from l-r, top to bottom: Lush Mask of Magnaminty, Lush Mask of Magnaminty, Lush Tea Tree Toner Tab, Lush King of Skin Body Butter, Lush Atomic Toothy Tabs, Lush Golden Egg Bath Bomb Melt, Lush The Comforter Bubble Bar, Lush Snow Angel Bath Bomb Melt, Lush Luxury Lush Pud Bath Bomb)

• I had to pick up the Lush Mask of Magnaminty after reading Dream & Dazzle’s review on it – I’m so excited to try this mask, especially because it smells so peppermint-y and healthy
• At only £1 each, I couldn’t resist grabbing one of the Lush Toner Tabs – the infused tea tree that’s released through the steam will do wonders for my skin
• Speaking of skin, I picked up one of the Lush King of Skin body butters after watching Tanya Burr declare it a Holy Grail product – it’s super soft and smooth and smells absolutely divine
• A little risque I’ll admit, the Lush Atomic Toothy Tabs were definitely a spontaneous buy but live up to their expectations. I’m intrigued to see if they’ll whiten my teeth too, as one of the core ingredients is baking soda
• Totally frivolous but pretty nonetheless, I opted for the Lush Golden Egg Bath Bomb Melt as my first novelty purchase; the bath melt would make the perfect surprise gift for a friend
• A Lush icon, I added The Comforter to my basket too! This is potentially the best-smelling bubble bar in the world – simply crumble a piece off and soak in skin-smoothing bubble bath
• One of two Christmas sale items, I picked up the Lush Snow Angel Bath Bomb Melt for no reason other than it’s beautiful; I’ve wanted to try this for ages now!
• The new spin on Lush’s classic, the Luxury Lush Pud Bath Bomb was only £1 in the sale and couldn’t be missed. It’s an unusual take on the Christmas dessert but turns your bath into actual colour heaven

That’s everything that I bought in this Lush haul – what do you think of my picks? I’m definitely going to do a proper Lush skincare haul next month too as I think the Mask of Magnaminty will be a definite new favourite.

March 2015 Favourites: Top 10 Skincare & Beauty Products for Spring

Despite there being an anti-climatic eclipse yesterday, Friday 20th March also marked the official start of Spring 2015 – a time to embrace the warmer weather, enjoy the lighter evenings and begin our countdown to summer. And, as we all know, with a new season comes new favourites; our wardrobes get revamped and our make-up routines are turned on their heads.

I’ve been loving experimenting with new skincare and beauty products this month and have picked my top 10 that’ll continue with me throughout spring.

•  The holy grail of all beauty products, Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream Skin Protectant is a favourite all year round but particularly perfect for Spring; protecting your skin from both the colder weather and the sunshine, this 2-in-1 is essential for the current climate transition
• Designed to leave a matte finish on normal to combination skin, the silky smooth Nuxe Creme Prodigieuse Anti-Fatigue Moisturizing Cream offers protection from shine in the warmer weather
• For flawless Kim Kardashian-esque concealer that brightens and beautifies, look no further than the MAC Prep & Prime Highlighter in Light Boost
• My holy grail primer, the Estée Lauder Matte Perfecting Primer will keep your foundation in place all day with a silky smooth finish
• Spring screams for pretty nude lipsticks and this Illamasqua Glamore Lipstick in Minx offers the perfect rosey ‘your lips but better’ look
• The ultimate base coat, Sally Hansen Nail Rehab offers incredible shine and the perfect pick-me-up for chipped, winter-damaged nails
• For night out nails, swap your winter berry for bright spring red with Ciaté London Nail Polish in Mistress
• Indulge in the warmer weather and dust MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Global Glow on to your cheeks and temples for a sun-kissed look
• Blend your base seamlessly with the Zoeva 102 Silk Finish Brush and achieve flawless foundation ready for spring
• If you’re changing your style during the day, the Invisibobble Traceless Hair Ring will be your new BFF; leaving zero kinks and offering serious comfort, I can’t recommend these enough!

What do you think of my current skincare and beauty favourites? What are your beauty must-haves at the moment? Let me know!

The Hottest New Spring Shoes & Accessories for Under £20!

As we’re constantly surrounded by our favourite high street stores releasing new collections full of lustworthy style staples, it can be hard to resist treating ourselves to a closet full of new clothes each month. Luckily (for my bank balance), I’ve discovered that simply updating your accessories can feel like an instant wardrobe refresh. A brand new bag, pair of pretty pumps or a silky scarf can quickly revamp your entire outfit and add some much-needed spring to your step.

If you’re after some new season style inspiration, discover my coveted collection of the hottest shoes and accessories out there right now – all for under £20:

• Feminine and flattering, these gorgeous Lolita Sunglasses, £16 from Topshop will add a hint of luxe leopard-print to your look
• Store your camera and its accessories in this beautiful Forever 21 faux leather 2-in-1 Crossbody Camera Bag, £18.50
• Add this pretty American Apparel Small Hair Bow, £9 in mint to your hair for a youthful yet chic outfit update
• If you’re lusting after a new purse, this Monki Miracle Textured Purse, £8 is an absolute style steal in its luxe faux-leather construction
• A simple skinny belt can transform a pair of jeans and this Accessorize Iris Belt Triple Pack, £8 gives you three Parisian-inspired styles for the price of one
• Chic and elegant, a simple Wool Fedora, £14.99 can update your entire look in an instant – I love this premium quality H&M version
• Warehouse’s Multi-Row Bracelet Pack, £10 is a spring style essential and features beautiful, golden designs for some much-needed sparkle
• A pair of bright flats will update your dark winter outfits in seconds – these Topshop Vibrant Ballet Pumps, £16 offer the perfect style pick-me-up in a vibrant peach tone
• Swap your woolly tartan scarf for a silky spring variety like this beautiful Oriental Trailing Printed Scarf, £15 from Oasis
• Pool sliders are back in a big way this year, and these Black Slip ‘N Slide Flats, £10.99 from cool kids Lamoda are a sartorial steal at under £11!
• Another Warehouse accessory, this golden Leaf Detail Alice Band, £12 is the perfect embellishment for your long locks
• With the sports-luxe fashion revival in full swing, add a drawstring bag like this Topshop Quilted Bag, £12 to your everyday attire – it’s perfect for the gym!

What do you think of my picks? Is there anything here or elsewhere that you’re lusting after at the moment?

Friday Night Baking: Tanya Burr’s Triple Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Although a Friday evening is usually reserved for a well-deserved glass of red wine and a gossip with the girls, I couldn’t help succumbing to the temptation of a little baking. Whilst I can’t decide if my Tanya Burr mega-fan status surpasses my love of triple chocolate chip cookies, I can definitely say that both together create what I can only refer to as the stuff of dreams. So, as you can only imagine, the chance to indulge myself with a little reading, baking and cookie-devouring was clearly not an opportunity to be missed.

If you haven’t already bought Tanya Burr’s book Love, Tanya, I wholeheartedly recommend that you do – even if it’s just for the baking section! If you don’t want to buy the book, however, the recipe can be found on her blog here. This recipe is extremely easy to follow, too!

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The ingredients you’ll need for Tanya’s recipe are as follows:

200g butter
300g caster sugar
1 large egg
275g self-raising flour
75g cocoa powder
A little dash of milk
A large bar of white, milk and dark chocolate
3 Daim bars

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I don’t actually include the Daim bars, as you can see from my photos. I’ve recreated this recipe twice now, and the first time I used Dairy Milk chocolate buttons instead. The second time (as above), I used organic dark chocolate. I like both but as I have a sweeter tooth, the former is probably my favourite.

As aforementioned, the recipe is very easy to follow, however there’s a couple of tips I picked up from my attempts:

• Grease your baking trays with butter before layering on greaseproof paper
• Don’t expect the butter and caster sugar to smooth easily – leave the butter at room temperature for a few hours before beginning
• You’re more likely to find you’re left with a ‘fluffy’ mixture, as opposed to a smooth one
• Add the milk but you’ll only need half a teaspoon

I actually adore this recipe and I’m so impressed with Tanya’s baking skills – the cookies are absolutely divine and my sister and I had so much fun baking these delicious weekend treats. (I shouldn’t have cheat days twice-weekly but how can I not with cookies that taste this good?)

I hope you enjoyed looking at something a bit different on my blog today. Let me know if you’ve tried any amazing cookie recipes recently too!