Oreo Chocolate Cookies!

I love baking cakes, so I thought I'd branch out and make some cookies!

I saw a recipe for chocolate cookies on Tanya Burr's blog and thought they looked amazing! But I made little changes to make them more my own. Firstly I used less caster sugar than Tanya said, I used 250g rather than the suggested 300g and even then the cookies were incredibly sweet….so I'd recommend using a little less. People are far too obsessed with sugar!
I also used more than a 'little dash' of milk because I wanted to make sure they weren't dry.
Lastly instead of Daim bars I used an Oreo chocolate bar broken up, along with the plain chocolate and a bit of white chocolate too.

The recipe creates enough mixture for 10 large cookies. They're very yummy and I do want to make them again, but with less sugar and perhaps less cocoa powder so they're not so sickly sweet!

Dear Santa……..

It's almost December, which means it's almost Christmas…my favourite time of year! Yipee!
As it's almost that time again I thought I'd do a post on my Christmas whishlist, but before I start I just want to share a few DISCLAIMERS - 1. I know there's quite a few expensive things on this list, and by no means do I expect even one of the things mentioned, it's just a kind of dream wish list. 2. Christmas isn't about presents, I know, but it's nice to give and receive in a non greedy way. And this is just a fun post to do!

• Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette - this is something I've wanted for SO long now, it's beautiful.
• One Direction This Is Us DVD - yes, I'm a 1D fan and proud of it.
• Alpha H Liquid Gold - I'm a bit obsessed with skincare and I've heard amazing things about this.
• Slipper boots - the ones in the photo are from Next.
• Christmas pyjama bottoms - those fleece ones from Primark look amazing!
• Urban Outfitters watch
• Mac painpot in Painterly - I need a good eyeshadow base and this is meant to be brilliant.
• Origins Mask Marvels - I've wanted to try all these mask for a while, they're in a bargain set for Christmas! Selling out fast though!
• Coffee syrups - yummy.
• New perfume? I've just ran out of my favourite which is Tommy Hilfiger Loud.
• Yankee Candle - I desperately want a Winter candle and the Christmas Eve one sounds incredible - there's 25% OFF with the link I included!The other one that sounds amazing is Christmas Cookie, but that one may be too sweet, also 25% off on the website linked!
• Moroccan oil - I just want nice soft hair please.
• Ring Set from NewLook or any ring set with more thing and plain rings.
• Necklace from Topshop

Other things I'd love are a Mac lipstick, new clothes because I'm in desperate need of winter jumpers and things, and a Nars blush. But I'll stop there because I could go on forever, I'm constantly seeing new things I wish I could purchase!

What's on your Christmas wish list?

x

L'Oreal True Match Blush in Rosewood | REVIEW

I was recently in Boots and they had a 3 for 2 deal on…that's just asking for money to be spent!
One of the things I looked for was an Autumn blush, and I came across this one by L'Oreal in the colour Rosewood.

Rosewood is a gorgeous dark pinky brown with a slight shimmer running through it…so slight I'd call it a sheen rather than a shimmer. In the pan the colour looks very strong and I was almost worried about how dark it would be on my pale skin but I went for it.
When this blush is applied it looks nowhere near as dark as in the pan, because it's quite sheer. If you want a really bold colour you'd have to use a heavy hand and go back in a few times.

I do like the packaging of this, although it is plastic it doesn't feel cheap or flimsy and the blush itself is in a metal pan inside, which flips up and underneath is a mirror and a little brush…which to be honest I will never use, it's very scratchy and just no where near as good as proper brushes like Real Techniques. I don't like that the pan isn't fixed down though, so if you turned it upside down or something when it was open the brush would fall out from underneath.

I tried to get a swatch of this but it was so sheer you couldn't really see, the camera wasn't picking it up. You'll just have to take my word for it that this blush is really gorgeous, I love the shade for a subtle bit of colour during this season.
L'Oreal True Match Blush in Rosewood retails for £7.69 here, and Boots still have their 3 for 2 on!

Have you tried this blush?

What's your 'go to' everyday blush for Autumn/Winter?

x

How To Make Your Lipstick Last Longer

I'm a big lipstick lover, but something that can really annoy me about lipsticks is having to touch them up when they start to fade…especially the bolder colours! But I have come across a few ways to make your lipstick stay put much longer.

What You Will Need 
- A toothbrush, preferably an old one so you don't ruin the bristles
- A lip balm
- A concealer or foundation
- A lip liner
- A lipstick
- Face powder
- Powder brush
- Tissue

1. The first step is to exfoliate your lips. You can use lip scrubs such as the one from Lush, but to save money just get an old toothbrush, damp it with some water, and scrub at your lips to remove any dead skin.

2. Use a lip balm to moisturise your lips to prep them for lipstick. I'm using the Nivea essentials lip salve. I do this before doing my makeup, then after I've finished everything but lips I wipe away any excess lip balm.

3. Blot some concealer or foundation (trust me) onto your lips. It will act as a primer for your lipstick. Make sure you blend it in.

4. Use a lipliner similar to the colour of your lipstick of choice to outline your lips. Make sure to blend it softly so there's no definite line once you apply lipstick. This lip liner is Rimmel's lasting finish 1000 kisses lip liner in 061 Wine.

5. Apply your lipstick! I used Kate Moss for Rimmel in 107.

6.  Place a layer of tissue over your lips, and use a brush to apply some loose or pressed powder onto your lips through the tissue. The tissue helps to make sure only a very thin layer of powder goes on, but it's enough to set the lipstick in place. 

7. If you need to add a bit more colour after using the powder go in with another layer of lipstick. 

BONUS TIP -

If you're using a bright lip colour and you're worried about it getting onto your teeth then put your finger in your mouth, make an 0 shape with your mouth, then slide your finger out of your mouth.

Any lipstick that was on the inside of your mouth, and bound to get into your teeth, has now been removed and is on your finger.

The Budget Buy Brow Kit

Brow's are such an important part of a beauty and makeup routine. Whether you believe it or not brows make such a difference to your face, shaping and shading can help balance your facial features, frame the eyes, and if you're a little bit older they can even give you a more youthful look if done correctly.
The problem is eyebrow kits can be expensive, but I have found a brilliant kit that's so affordable!
Welcome, Fashionista Brow Kit.

I've been using this brow kit for a year now, so that's why it may look a little messy but you can see I use it daily! And I still haven't hit pan. Win!

In this kit, which is a brilliant size for popping into your makeup bag (it's a bit bigger than the palm of my hand) contains 3 brown shades - a very dark one, a medium one and a light almost orangey brown. There is also a wax to set any powder into place. As well as that you get a little double ended brush which I don't use whilst doing my makeup but is fine for on the go touchups, and also a little pair of tweezers which too are good quality. And of course that all important mirror, which is a great size.
The powders themselves are well pigmented, not chalky, don't give any fall out and stay in place on my brows all day even without the wax. I tend to use the medium brown, sometimes I mix in a bit of the darker one too and the colour is great.
I think unless you have black eyebrows or very fair hairs then everyone could make this work for them, whether it's by using a shade on it's on or mixing them.

This kit is £7 from Superdrug, or currently £3.50 HERE!