Cosmic Bronze Eyeshadow Quad by Fleur de Force

When it was announced Fleur was releasing a makeup range I was really excited - she was the first beauty blogger I started following and I always turn to her when I'm looking for a review of a product as I find she's almost always right and has brilliant taste in makeup. I knew her makeup line would be special, because I couldn't imagine her releasing something she wasn't 100% happy with. It's taken me a little while to get my hands on her products, but better late than never!

Top 5 Healthy Christmas Recipes

As a massive foodie I love Christmas! I'm a huge believer in balance but even over the Christmas period I like to remain a bit healthier - because I absolutely love this lifestyle, love the food I eat, it makes me feel so much better than eating refined, sugary foods and the flavours of healthy plant-based foods tend to be so much more delicious and wonderful. It can be tricky to stick to a healthy diet over the festive period - with selection boxes everywhere you go, candied everything, mouth-watering desserts and an array of canapés but these top 5 healthy Christmas recipes are bound to keep your sweet-cravings at bay, your tummy satisfied and your tastebuds tantalised.
 *Remember though, there's no harm in the odd Cadburys celebration chocolate or M&S Mince Pie!*

--- I also thought this would be a great time to tell you that I've started a health blog! Dedicated to delicious plant-based recipes, tips & tricks to stay feeling happy and healthy, exercise advice and lots of other things like that! Head on over to Www.NourishingAmelia.com to check it out!----


1. Mince Pies by Madeleine Shaw
I love a good mince pie, and this is my first Christmas being dairy and gluten free so I was a little worried about how I'd cope without my warm mince pie! I found this recipe from Madeleine on a blog and it's perfect. Sweet, delicate, wonderful perfect and you won't feel sluggish or guilty after eating this Christmas treat. Note - if you don't have time to make your own filling Meridian do a brilliant pre-made vegan and refined sugar free mince pie filling.

Figgy Pudding Candle

I do love a good candle all year round, but there's something especially lovely about them at Christmas. The scents can make you finally instantly festive and the glow of the candle wick burning is comforting & soothing. Every year there's such an array of different candles with so many scents to choose from, I personally love the spicy Christmas scents, or the sweet cinnamony ones as they make me feel the most festive.
The only thing is candles can be very expensive and if you go for a cheaper option they're often not as good quality, the smell is weak or it doesn't last long. Every year I try to hunt down a bargain option with not much luck, but this year I've found one and it's totally dreamy.

The Figgy Pudding Candle by Sainsburys (£4) is one of the nicest smelling Christmas candles I've ever got a whiff of - it's sweet but not sickly with notes of vanilla, fig and cinnamon.
The candle burns really nicely and the aroma is so wonderfully festive and warming. I love that the scent isn't overpowering though as I find some candles are far too intense and end up giving me a headache!
Figgy pudding is encased in a sweet little white pot that has 'Warmest Christmas Wishes' written on the front and a little red & white stripped bow tied around it. It'd make a lovely Christmas gift!

For the bargain price of £4 for a multi-wick that smells this delicious you just have to go and pick one up before they sell out! 

What's your favourite Christmas candle?

x

Pick Of The Christmas Novelty Jumpers

Christmas is the time of year we get to be tacky and no-one cares. Out come the ridiculous amount of sparkles, the OTT makeup and the novelty Christmas jumpers.
We wouldn't dare wear anything like this at every other time of the year but somehow Christmas makes us all want to put on crazy coloured knitwear with imposing patterns.

I've gone through several different clothing sites eyeing up all the brilliantly striking jumpers and thought I'd share with you my top picks! Bring on the knits!

First up we have the Reindeer Christmas Jumper from Boohoo (£15) - how cute is the little reindeer on the front! I also think the price is great - I personally wouldn't want to spend much on a jumper I'm only going to wear at Christmas.
Next is the Snowman jumper from House Of Fraser (£29.50). This one is a bit more understated but super cute with snowmen all over it!
Then there's the #Crackers jumper from Marks & Spencer (£29.50) which I honestly just want because it's got a roll neck and I love all things with a high neck at the moment! Love the festive red colour too, and the funny hash-tag.
Last but not least is the ASOS Christmas jumper with Embellished Snowflakes (£26.50). This is the prettiest of the 4, and the one you could get away with wearing throughout winter. I think the white knit with the gold snowflakes make it look really festive.

Have you got a Christmas jumper yet?

Which is your favourite

from my picks?

x

L'Oreal Pais Super Liner Perfect Slim

I love a liquid liner all year around, but there's something about the festive season that makes me reach for the liner pen even more - nothing quite beats the cat-eye flick and a red lip!

I'm quite a fuss-pot when it comes to eyeliners, they have to be the right intense black colour, the perfect size and they must be long lasting. I've always gone with the Soap & Glory option which is brilliant, but after hearing rave reviews about the L'Oreal Paris Super Liner I thought I'd give it a go to see how it compared.

Pai Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil

Winter is the season I really amp it up with my skincare. I like to give my skin that extra boost and little bit of help to fight off the cold weather and give it a little extra lovin'.
I was doing some researching into new products to try and saw a lot of people saying how important an oil is and how much it can make a difference to the appearance of your skin, me being the skincare fiend I am decided to purchase an oil to add into my routine.
Pai is a brand I'd wanted to try for a while, having heard lots of brilliant reviews about their products and knowing they're all organic and vegan made me instantly interested in seeing what they had to offer. I took a look at their website and saw they had a Rosehip oil, and I instantly made a purchase.

Life: Staying Positive

I've had more downs than ups during the last couple of months, and staying positive has been quite a challenge. I've been suffering with a hip injury since the beginning of September, which has steadily worsened, resulting in being signed off work and missing out on fun days with friends. I've been having various tests and scans and seen quite a few doctors now, but nothing's given me any answers.
Understandably this has left me feeling down and negative, just as a was getting somewhere with my life I've been knocked back. I'd started driving lessons, was starting to feel fit and healthy after a tough time getting over coeliac symptoms, and was enjoying learning more and more about yoga and fitness but that's all been put on hold.

 I have a history of depression & anxiety, it wasn't until I discovered yoga and the power of a healthy diet that I started to feel more in control, more confident and happier within myself. Yoga and exercise is the way I deal with this part of me, it helps me stay balanced, so not being able to be active has put me to the test. I started off feeling lost, very alone, scared and extremely down but I'm starting to practise other methods which are helping me stay grounded, keep in control of how I'm feeling and stop me going out of my mind!

Beauty Handbag Saviours

Us girls all have those few products we can't leave the house without, right? Mine change quite frequently but I always carry a few handbag saviours around with me, as well as at least 6 lipsticks (oops!).

Pyjamas & Tea

A hot cup of tea and cosy pyjamas is a match made in heaven. I'm a self confessed tea-oholic and drink at least 3 cups a day all year round, but the colder months make that mug of comfort all the more enjoyable, especially when I get to sip on it whilst wearing the softest pyjamas ever.

I love all tea but I drink green and white teas the most, sometimes they're plain and sometimes I mix it up a bit and go for flavoured tea, daring I know. I've got three firm favourites at the moment and they're so delicious and wonderful I thought it'd be a crime not to share them with you. It'd also be a crime not to share with you one of the best pairs of pyjamas I've ever owned (honestly, think about the softest thing you've ever felt and they're better than that).

Christmas Gift Guide - For Her

I love buying Christmas presents for other people, and actually get far more joy going out and choosing gifts for people I care about and seeing them happy when they open them than receiving presents myself. Although it's something I always look forward to it can be easy to get stuck in a rut and not know what to get someone, so I thought I'd give you a little helping hand!
I've complied a list of gift ideas, ranging from major bargains and stocking fillers to more luxury and pricey gifts for a lucky recipient. Whether you find something in this post ideal for a loved one or not I hope it gives you so inspiration, maybe you see something you can add to your own Christmas wish
 list!

Christmas Gift Guide - For Him

Men are definitely harder to buy for than women, fact. Every year I struggle with it, and I know my friends and family do as well. Hopefully this gift guide gives you some inspiration on what to buy your Dad, brother, boyfriend, husband, guy friend, Uncle, Granddad, etc.

Under £10

1. Green & Blacks Dark Miniature Collection (£5.50). Great for chocolate lovers, this collection of mini chocolates contains 6 different flavours from Green & Blacks.
2. World's Hottest Chilli Powders Set (£6). Perfect for a spice fan, this box contains some of the hottest chilli powders tested. It also comes with fun fact cards.
3. New Look Dark Grey Knitted Scarf (£8.99). Nice knitwear is always a safe bet, this scarf looks so cosy and stylish.
4. Grow Your Own Beer Kit (£9.95). A fun gift for a beer lover...see if they can keep it alive!
5. Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey Fudge Tin (£9). Delicious fudge flavoured with Tennessee's finest honey-flavoured whiskey, all incased in a nice tin.

November Favourites 2015

We all say it every month, but November really seems to have flown by so fast I don't quite know what's happened. We're now into December, which is a little crazy, the last month of the 2015 and lots of exciting things to look forward to (eeeeekkk Christmas!).
November's been quite a strange month for me, I've been backwards and forwards to doctors and hospitals with a hip injury and have been off work so I haven't had all that much time for shopping and discovering new products. That being said there have been a few things that have stood out as favourites this month.

All year around I'm normally a reds nail varnish girl; bright red in warmer months and berry toned reds in colder months, however I've been used a gorgeous grey colour on my nails during most of November and totally loving it. Essie's Chinchilly nail polish (£7.99) is a gorgeous grey with hints of purple in it, with the perfect balance between being cool and warm. The neutral tone manages to look classy yet edgy at the same time, meaning it goes well with any outfit or suits any occasion.

New - Dove DermaSpa

I can't remember the last time I used a product from Dove. They're just not a brand I think to turn to for skincare/bodycare, but when they approached me to see if I wanted to try some products from their new DermaSpa range I was excited to give them a go.
Dove, in partnership with leading skin and beauty experts, have created it's most scientifically-advanced body care products ever, with industry leading technology resulting from 10 years of skincare research and the involvement of 280 scientists the Dove DermaSpa range was born.

I was sent a few products from the range, and I've picked my favourite 3 to share with you.
The two products I got the best results from were hand creams, I know...I know...I don't normally like hand creams so this goes to show how good the Dove ones are.

The one I've been using every night for a restorative treatment is the DermaSpa Intensive hand cream (£4.99), which is designed to instantly soothe and restore very dry skin. This is a richer formulation out of the two, so I use it once I've got into bed and am ready to sleep; I rub it well into my hands and let it work it's magic overnight. It's non-greasy but quite heavy, and I find it works wonders at helping any dryness to vanish. If you have sensitive skin I think this would be ideal for you as it isn't scented and feels soothing.

Yes To Carrots Daily Facial Moisturiser

I'm not loyal to any daily moisturiser, I jump between different brands constantly and never seem to find one that wows me.

I've recently been hearing a lot about the 'Yes To..' brand, and knowing that they use natural ingredients made me even more interested in them. I was drawn to the 'Yes To Carrots', purely because I know how wonderful carrots are for the skin and whenever I eat them I feel really good, so a skincare product that contains these orange sticks of amazingness cannot be a bad thing! I purchased the Yes To Carrots Facial Moisturiser (£9.99) and have been using it for a few weeks now, so I thought I'd let you know my thoughts on it.

Halloween Bath Time

During the warmer months I'm definitely a shower over baths type girl, however as soon as the winter winter creeps up on us I instantly crave baths. I find them so comforting, relaxing and uplifting when it's cold, rainy and dark outside. My go-to bath products are always Lush, I love to use their bubble bars, bath bombs, bath melts, everything is amazing and there's so much choice...I'm also a huge fan of the brand itself and respect them massively for the work they do trying to fight animal testing. 

Lush are always bringing out limited edition products to fit the season, and I got my hands on the Sparkly Pumpkin bubble bar!

Night Time Skincare Routine

I've never felt entirely happy with my skincare routine, especially my PM one. I've never felt like it was doing much for my skin, and some steps I was taking seemed pointless. It's taken me quite a while to find products that really work for me, but I think my current routine might be a winner.

I'll start by saying I have normal to dry skin, that's quite sensitive. I luckily don't tend to get many breakouts (touch wood), but I feel like my skin needs a bit of help with evening complexion.
Also, I haven't included any face masks in this post as I tend to change them up a lot and don't have a stand-out favourite (recommendations welcome!), so this is just my typical every day evening skincare routine!

Estée Lauder Double Wear Brush-On Glow BB Highlighter

I'm all about trying to keep that healthy, glowing look in my skin at the moment. We're well into Autumn, and Winter is rapidly creeping up on us which means my skin is starting to suffer. Keeping on top of my skincare routine helps dramatically, but sometimes I feel like I need miracle makeup products to really awaken my complexion and banish any signs of dullness.
The Estée Lauder Double Wear Brush-On Glow BB Highlighter (£24.50) (longest name ever..) has been my go-to makeup product over the last month.

It's All About That Base

I'm all about that base....(refrains from singing Meghan Trainer.....).
Perfecting your base makes a huge difference to your makeup end result, and I love making sure I'm confident with how my skin looks. Over the years I've collected a few holy-grail base products, ones I know I'll continue to repurchase and have become staples in my day-to-day makeup routine.

Primer isn't something I use every day, simply because I don't need it and sometimes I feel it can clog up my pores. But a product I do use, which isn't marketed as a primer but I find helps to prime my skin and prolong the wear of my foundation, is the Elemis Pro-Illuminating Flash Balm. It's a relatively recent find for me, but it's quickly become a firm favourite for it's brightening, skin perfecting qualities. I'll be posting a full review soon.

Autumn Berries

Autumn is my favourite season. I love the crisp, fresh air, the cold but not unbearably freezing weather, the leaves turning beautiful browns and reds, conkers, Autumn fashion and of course Autumn cosmetics.
As soon as the season comes around I get so excited to whip out the berry lipsticks, nail varnish and when I'm feel adventurous the berry toned eyeshadows (think MAC Cranberry....*swoon*).

Berry lipsticks are my favourite. I'm a huge lover of a smokey eye and nude lip, but something about a berry toned lips makes me so happy. I instantly feel put together, confident and a lot more seasonal. I have a few lipsticks in this category, but I've whittled it down to 1 high end and 1 drugstore favourite.

Top Tips For Healthy, Shiny Hair

Rewind about a two years and you'd see I didn't have the best conditioned hair. It felt constantly dry, not very nourished, it was frizzy and dull. Fast forward to now and you'd see I have very healthy hair, that grows quickly, is shiny, healthy and very rarely feels dry. I've made a few tweaks to my lifestyle that have caused my hair health to improve, and I completely swear by them. If you're having issues with dry or lacklustre hair maybe try these things out.