What I Got for Christmas 2016

These are some of my favourite videos to watch because I'm super nosey sooooo I thought I'd compile a little post of some of the things I received.

Bath and Body

• L'Occitane Minis (from Christmas Cracker)
• Lush So White Bath Bomb
• Spiced Earl Grey Hand cream 

Makeup 

• Mary-Lou Manizer from theBalm
• CT Colour Chameleon in Amber Haze

Fooooood

• Chocolate Orange
• T2 Turkish Apple Sugar Tisane

Clothes

• Topshop Bambi Socks
• Peter Alexander PJ's (set and silk shorts)
• Frankie Magazine
• VS Underwear
• Papinelle PJ shorts

Tech

• MacBook Pro with TouchBar

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas

Firstly, I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and if you don't celebrate, I hope you've had a wonderful holiday and festive season.

Today is my usual day to upload but I really just wanted to spend the day with friends and family and couldn't really think of what to post. Sooo, I thought I'd just leave it at Merry Christmas, and I'll see you on Wednesday for a What I Got for Christmas post.

Hope you're having a lovely day! xx

December Beauty Box | #LFXMAS

My December beauty box has finally arrived! And just before Christmas too!! If possible, this box was even better than the last, and I'm so excited to continue getting my subscription in 2017.

What's inside?

I've never owned anything by Illamasqua before so I was super excited to see their Hydra Veil Primer was included in the box. I've heard such great things about this primer and its got quite a big price tag so it makes this box even more worth it!

Another product I'd heard lots about but have never tried is the Phillip Kingsley Elasticizer. The size is 40ml so really decent for a sample and would be perfect for travel. The Elasticizer is meant to be used as a pre-shampoo treatment that leaves your hair looking bouncy and voluminous.

This months box also includes the Balance Me Pure Skin Face Wash. I've never heard or tried anything from Balance Me. The face wash is enriched with Frankincense Oil it claims to reduce the appearance of blemishes so I'm excited to use it this festive season.

I love a good bath bomb so I was super excited to receive the Hibiscus and Acai Berry Tea from Bubble T.  My go to for bath products is usually from Lush but I've been looking at the Bubble T site and they have so many amazing looking products so I am excited to use this one.

I've never heard of a skin care product that contains caviar but I'm also super excited to try the Skin Republic Caviar and CoQ10 Face Mask. Caviar is extremely rich is vitamins which helps moisturise the skin and leaves it radiant and revitalised. It's also a sheet masks so you don't have to worry about actually smearing caviar on your face haha.

Last item in the box is the Mellow Cosmetics lipstick in the colour Madness. It's a gorgeous matte red shade and is of course perfect for the Christmas season.

If you're interested in your own subscription, check out your options here!

Stocking Filler Ideas

Stuck for last minute stocking filler ideas? I've made a list of gifts that I think would be perfect as small secret Santa gifts or as little stocking fillers. I've also names specific products but you could easily switch these up for another brand or type of product to tailor it exactly for the person you have in mind.

You definitely can't go wrong with a candle as a stocking filler - they are suitable for whatever gender and you can pick the scent to match the persons likes and personality. I've gone for this Fresh Pine candle which smells exactly like a Christmas tree it is insane! And I think this is perfect for any Christmas lover. This is a small size candle so it was around the $20 mark, but you could also go for something a little more expensive from Jo Malone or Diptyque if you wanted to make your stocking a little more luxurious. 

Everyone needs shower gel right? Again another little stocking filler that would be suitable for most people. I've gone for this Coconut one from The Body Shop which smells sooooo good. Again you could switch it up with something else from Lush or Soap & Glory depending on who you are buying for. You could also check out the drugstore as well - I know my brother uses the Lynx shower gel which is really affordable as well so that could be a male alternative. 

Sticking with the bath theme, I've gone for this super cute Bath Brew which is essentially a giant tea bag for your bath. There are many different scents of tea bags you could get and I just think this idea is so novel and cute. I think it would be perfect for a tea lover or just anyone who enjoys a nice, relaxing bath in general. Again, you could also go for practically any bath bomb or melt from Lush depending on who you're buying for. 

As a continuation on from the bath brew, why not pop in a face mask or eye mask so that the receiver can truly pamper themselves! Sephora does really amazing and affordable face masks but you could also go for a proper tube/bottle from The Body Shop, Origins or even a fresh one from Lush. 

Another cute little idea is a tin of tea which would be perfect for a tea lover. I've gone for this Christmassy flavour from Dilmah but you could also look into getting something from T2 as they also have the most amazing flavour combinations.

Merry Christmas xx

Gift Wrapping Ideas

MegSays recently tweeted about wrapping paper which sparked this idea to create a little gift wrapping ideas/inspiration post as I get wayyyy too excited about gift wrapping!

What you need:

• An assortment of wrapping paper - try and stick to a colour scheme, I've gone for brown, red and white with a touch of green
• String of different thickness and colours
• Twine - this a classic and goes with pretty much anything
• A festive stamp - I got mine from a craft shop and I think it is the cutest thing ever!
• Other decorative bits like doilies, baubles - you could even use pine cones, cinnamon sticks, holly, pine cuttings - the possibilities are endless!

A little behind the scenes of my wrapping session - my naughty little pup also loves 'helping' wrap gifts!!

Dining Table Festive Touches

How to make your dining table look festive:

• Place a wreath in the centre - I jazzed mine up with some cute mini baubles 
• Add some fairy lights - my favourites are these twinkle copper lights
• Make your table festive with some gold placemats
• Decorate the table with tree ornaments and decorations - I went for copper stars 
• Wrap your napkins with festive wire ribbon
• Use monogrammed gingerbread cookies instead of name cards
• Light some candles
• And don't forget Christmas Crackers!

Jo Malone Fragrance Combining

Top of my wish list for my birthday this year was Jo Malone London's Mimosa & Cardamon fragrance. As it happens, I made this so well known that both my family and my friends got me a bottle of the perfume! Whilst I know I could've kept both as the smaller bottle is handy for travelling, I'd heard about the art of Fragrance Combining and I was keen to try another one of their fragrances. 

Fragrance CombiningTM is a way to alter scents, tailoring them to your own personal taste by layering the different perfumes. On the Jo Malone website, you can select your favourite fragrance and see what other fragrances you can layer it with. I popped on their website where they had two options: make the scent warmer by layering with Wood Sage & Sea Salt or fresher with the English Pear & Freesia. As you can see from the photos, I ended up getting neither of these. The lady at the store was more than happy to layer perfumes for me and let me smell them and I completely fell in love with Peony & Blush Suede. It really shows that the possibilities are endless! 

I would totally recommend going into the store and smelling the combinations yourself. I was completely set on getting the English Pear & Freesia (which, btw, I still think is so beautiful and on my wish list for another time), but changed my mind when I actually went in store. The lady also kindly gave me a whole bunch of the mini samples including the Wood Sage & Sea Salt and English Pear & Freesia which are perfect for your handbag and also means that I can layer with those if I feel like it. 

Have you tried any Jo Malone fragrances?

November Beauty Box | #LFSPARKLE

I received my first Look Fantastic Beaty Box last month of my 12 month subscription! I was really pleasantly surprised and I think that I'm going to do a breakdown of all the products each month. 

What's inside?

I've been needing a new hair oil as mine has run out so I was super happy to receive the L'Oréal Professional Mythic Oil. It is infused with Avocado and Grape Seed Oil so it leaves your hair feeling super nourished and helps tame any frizz. 

I'd never heard of the brand Monu so was also excited to receive their Recovery Balm. I've been using this in the mornings and evenings after cleansing and I've noticed that my skin has become much more even and balanced. It comes out looking like a cream however as the name suggests, it feels balmy on the skin - not sticky but leaves you feeling really hydrated. It's packed with Rose Essential Oil, Evening Primrose Oil, peptides and Blackcurrant Seed Oil - all natural ingredients to help calm, reduce redness and leave your skin hydrated. Also really love the smell of this - reminds me of Christmas for some reason?

Also super happy to receive the Look Good Feel Better Angled Blending Brush as obviously this is a full size item and things like this make the box feel even more worth it. It is super soft and is really good to blend out your eyeshadow. Also love the whole ethos behind Look Good Feel Better and I will definitely be trying out some more of their brushes. 

The Model Co Blush Cheek Powder is a gorgeous peach blush shade with specks of gold throughout and I'd imagine this would look good on any skin tone. 

The Sebastian Professional Volupt Spray adds volume to your hair without making it look greasy, stiff or feeling sticky. Excited to use this one more during the festive party season. 

I was looking forward to using the Bloom and Blossom Revitalising Foot and Leg Spray as I can get really sore limbs (especially this month). It smells divine and really does help soothe and revitalise tired legs. Only thing that is disappointing is that the pump is broken or maybe just poorly made so it is a bit hard to spray. 

Overall, I'm super impressed with this months Beauty Box and I am excited to receive them every month!

If you're interested in your own subscription, check out the options here

Top 3 Christmas Candles

It's finally December!!! And while I'm ngl that I've already been burning these candles, I do feel know that it's acceptable to talk about them haha. SO without further ado, here are my top 3 Christmas candle picks for this festive season.

Glasshouse | White Christmas - cedar leaf and fruity clove
This candle, like the name suggests, adds a cold climate feel too the festive celebrations here in Australia. The fragrance is delightfully complex and strong with notes of cedar leaf, fruity clove, eucalyptus and pine, without being too overpowering or overly musky. I believe Glasshouse releases around 3 limited edition Christmas scents, this being one, and all come in beautifully decorated glass jars. This one is white with what looks like frosted glass snowflakes - and when it burns the light shines through it beautifully.

The Aromatherapy Company | Smith & Co Tin Candle - Sugar Apple

The Sugar Apple scent is slightly less traditional but nonetheless reminds me of the festive season for some reason. I think because it reminds me a bit of apple pie. The candle is an essential blend of sugar apple so it smells exactly that, again without being sickly sweet. It comes in this adorable, vintage-inspired tin which I love as it can be reused once the candle has been burnt. The Smith & Co range also had loads of other candles which I am dying to try out!

Mozi | Spiced Cookie Dough with aromatic notes of nutmeg and raisin

This one is good enough too eat - it smells just like a freshly baked batch of Christmas cookies. There's a slight sweetness which comes from the raisins, however it is not sickly sweet in the slightest. And can we just talk about the packaging? Like all Mozi candles it is absolutely beautiful. It's in a gorgeous copper (which was a pain to photograph, but beautiful none the less) and the box, I couldn't help but photograph it too! I love Mozi's box designs - this one features a really cute woodland scene and gorgeous copper foil writing. This is a really difficult choice to make, but I think I'm going to have to say this is my absolute favourite out of the three.


Are you a candle lover? What are your favourite Christmas candles?

Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm Review

This product has reached holy grail status in my skincare routine and one that I'll repurchase again any again despite its rather hefty price tag. It's actually such a dream to use - apply a small amount to already wet skin and it breaks down make up soooo well and is safe to use on the eyes as well.

The cleansing balm itself contains moringa seed extract, wild sea fennel and vitamin E to minimize the appearance of pores. Orange, neroli and mandarin extract to rejuvenate and revitalize and jasmine, cedar wood and rose to help rehydrate and recondition dry or dull skin. It also claims to be very calming on sensitive skin too.

It leavings my skin feeling oh so smooth, supple and clean -not stripped of everything clean but refreshing clean. One thing I love especially is the fact that it comes with its own face cloth which is a normal towel on one side and muslin cloth on the other.

I also really love the smell of the cleanser, it's really fresh, natural and subtle. It can also be used as a mask if you pop some on for 10 minutes and then rinse it if as usual. The packaging, which I believe is a new design, also looks very luxurious but unfortunately after taking this photo I dropped it. Thankfully the glass didn't break but there's now a dent in the lid :(

It is expensive but a little goes a long way. If I'm ever having friends over and they need a make up remover / cleanser I will force them to use it just so I can see their reaction to having such fresh, soft skin!!

Since using this cleanser, I have noticed a difference in the overall appearance of my skin - it looks a lot less patchy. As someone with combination skin, it has definitely balanced it out and my skin looks and feels a lot more hydrated and healthy. And as it is so gentle I think it would be suitable for most, if not all skin types. My friend has super sensitive skin (she normally uses olive oil as a cleanser) but when she was over and used it, it didn't irritate her skin and she loved how this left her face feeling.

Are there any other Emma Hardie products you would recommend? Recommendations are welcome!! xxx

Apple Crumble Loaf Cake | Baking

So originally, the plan was to bake the Apple Crumble Cupcakes that Zoella recently featured on her blog and YouTube channel. I had some granny smith apples in the pantry, so I thought I was all set. However, when it came to making the actual cake, I realised I'd had the last egg for brekkie. FAIL!

I'd already started cooking the apples, and had been thinking about this cake so I decided to hop on the internet and search through a few recipes. In the end, I ended up using this Italian Apple Cake recipe (which is originally vegan) as inspiration and also the crumble from Zoe's recipe to create this loaf cake! (N.B - because I used Zoe's recipe, the overall recipe is not vegan as it does contain butter)

Apple Crumble Loaf Cake

Ingredients:

Cake
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup canola oil
1/4 water
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbs white or apple cider vinegar
2 large green apples

Crumble
1/4 cup caster sugar
30 grams butter, chilled
1/3 cup self-raising flour
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

Method:
First, you'll need to preheat your oven to 180C/350F and grease a loaf tin.

Then start making the apple mixture. Peel, core and chop the apples into small cubes. Put them in a saucepan and add enough water so that they are covered. Let these simmer for 5-7 minutes till they are soft, drain the water and then set aside to cool.

In a large bowl, whisk together all the dry ingredients. Create a well and add all in all the wet ingredients. Mix with a large spoon until all ingredients are combined, being careful not to overmix. The batter will be very, very thick - almost like a cookie dough - don't worry as the apples will release moisture as the cakes bake. Now carefully fold in the cooled apple mix.

Spoon the mixture into the greased baking tin, using a spatula to pat it evenly into the tin.

It's not ready to go in the over just yet...

Next make the crumble topping!
In a large bowl, rub together the butter, flour, cinnamon, and vanilla until nice and crumbly, then stir in the sugar. Then sprinkle this crumble on top on the cake batter.

Bake for 40 to 45 minutes - testing with a spatula to make sure it is cooked through. The crumble should be lovely and golden on top.

Once cooled, run a knife around the edges to loosen the cake, and gently unmold and voila!

I really enjoy experimenting in the kitchen and I love love love this little cake that I came up with. Try the recipe and be sure to let me know what you think! You may even like to put your own little spin on it :)

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Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation Review

I'd heard a lot of hype around this product so when I was in London last Christmas, I couldn't help but pick this up. There's been mixed reviews around this product, however I couldn't love it more! I don't find it too heavy at all and yes, it does have a hefty price tag, but it feels so luxurious and the packaging, like all CT products is LUSH. It's encased in frosted glass with CT's signature rose gold lid and is soo gorgeous. 

The Magic Foundation comes in 15 different shades, all accompanied with photos of of models which I found extremely helpful when picking out my shade. I went for Shade 11 which is described as "a deep bronze for deep to dark skin tones with warm golden undertones". Initially, my thoughts were that the product would be too orange, and it does appear that when you first apply it however somehow when you buff it into the skin, it gives you such a flawless, airbrushed finish. 

The foundation is also SPF 15 which is a big plus in my books. I normally moisturise with the Simple  Kind To Skin SPF 30 anyway, but its nice to know I'm protected if I've missed any spots or if I change up my skincare. 

My favourite way too apply the foundation is using my hands. You can use a sponge or brush but I feel they don't work the product into the skin as well as the warmth from my fingers can. I have combination skin so I love how it's moisturising yet long-lasting and gives me a demi-matte finish with a natural glow. I use half a pump for my whole face and set my t-zone with my Rimmel Stay Matte Powder of Mac Studio Fix and it doesn't leave me with an oily forehead by the end of the day. I'd say if you had more oily skin, it would be good to get a sample and test it out or even to do that regardless of your skin type as it is an expensive foundation and you want to make sure that it works for you. 

I also received a sample of the Wonderglow Primer and I can honestly say its just as amazing. It smells divine and glides on really easily. I love how it makes my skin glow and gives me a really dewy finish when worn under makeup. I have a feeling this will be making its way onto my Christmas wishlist this year...

Let me know if you have tried anything from Charlotte Tilbury!

Salted Nutella Cookie | Baking

Last night, I randomly felt like baking something, specifically cookies. Conveniently enough, my copy of Tanya Bakes arrived so I flicked through and found this recipe! Believe me, it was a hard decision, as I saw so many other delicious baked treats. I wanted cookies though, so this is what I tried.

I love love love Nutella, and salted caramel is amaze soooo I knew I was going to love these. Plus, they're super easy if you have a KitchenAid or a Thermomix (which is what I used)

Salted Nutella Cookies

Ingredients:
200g unsalted, softened butter
300g caster sugar
1 large egg
325g self-raising flour
1 tsp of sea salt
200g Nutella

Method:
First, you'll need to preheat your over to 180C/350F and line two baking tray with grease proof paper. I ended up needing 3 as I was worried the cookies would spread too much - this ended up working super well.
Mix together the butter and sugar until it becomes creamy and fluffy. Then add the egg and mix again. Gradually add the flour and once you've got a lovely dough, add the Nutella!
Mix the Nutella through slowly with a spoon or spatula till you get a gorgeous marble effect - I ended up kinda stabbing the Nutella into the mixture, which seemed to work haha.
Divide the dough into large balls - should be around 12. They will spread and become huge in the oven, so make sure you leave enough space between them. As I had 3 trays I did 4 on each tray.
Sprinkle the sea salt on top and then pop them in the oven for 12 minutes.
When they come out they'll still be super gooey but don't pop them back in!!! Leave them to cool for a bit and they'll harden a bit. What results is a chewy middle with crunchy edges - deeelish!!



These were super sweet (I may reduce the sugar next time??) but soooo yummy. And bonus - they were soo quick to make. I think the longest time spent was me watching the oven and waiting for the time to go off!

Let me know if you try these out too!