As I mentioned in my last post (link just here) I picked up this little beauty of a blusher and I've used it a few times so I thought I'd do a review for you all!


This is a gorgeous shade if you have pale skin like me but I feel like it's one of those shades that will suit everyone because it's very glitter based. I was actually quite worried when I realised how glittery it was but there is a lot of pigmentation behind it so when applied it's more of a gentle shimmer. The pigmentation is really good and little goes a long way with this because much more than a couple of swirls with your brush makes you look a litttllleee bit like a clown (just to pre-warn everyone thinking of getting it!!) The colour itself is a gorgeous deep pink/mauve that looks really natural on.

Despite being a mauve based shade, it has got very rose gold undertones to it which are mainly because of the shimmer running through it. The rose gold side to it makes it look very glowy on the skin and it adds quite a lot of depth to your make up. I tend to find that once I've done my base, my face tends to look quite flat and has no depth and this has completely revolutionised my make up!


I love how long wearing this product is as well. I often read that after a couple of hours some drugstore blushers tend to fade into the rest of your make up but I can definitely see why this is the price it is because it's such a good quality product!

The packaging of this beauty is as gorgeous as the product itself! It comes in a box with a brush (which I was surprised at how good it was!) and a little mirror in the lid so although it is quite bulky, makes it perfect for travelling. It's also pretty sturdy packaging because I've read on some blogs that some cardboard type packagaing breaks quite easily but this doesn't seem as though it's going to break anytime soon.


So, this retails at £24.50 and I picked it up at a Benefit store but it's also available from all bigger Boots stores. If you want to pick it up on Boots online click here and if you want to buy straight from the Benefit website click here.

So, I hope you all enjoyed this review, let me know if you recommend any Benefit products down in the comments and I will see you all again very soon,

Love Lou
xxxx

If you don't follow me on instagram, you won't know that last weekend I went down to Windsor and on one day we took a trip into London for a little bit lot of shopping. I feel like I haven't done a haul for quite a long time so I'm back with another one!






The first thing I picked up, I actually got from the Benefit store in Windsor. For a long time people have been recommending Rockateur to me so I finally caved and picked it up. The packaging on it is completely gorgeous and the blusher itself is a deep pink-mauve with quite heavy glitter running through it. I was a little bit worried when I noticed how heavy the glitter was in it, but it doesn't transfer like it is in the pan; it's more of a subtle shimmer. Like I said, I got mine from the Benefit store but there is loads of other places you can get it from. (Retails at £24.50)

To go with that I picked up the Real Techniques blush brush from Boots for £9.99. I am such a huge fan of Real Techniques because they're such high quality brushes but are still drugstore prices!




The next thing I picked up was the Botanics hot cloth cleanser. I've heard a few people saying this was a really god dupe for the Emma Hardie cleansing balm so I'm really excited to try it out! It's also 97% organic and suitable for all skin types. This normally retails at £8.99 but it's currently a 1/3 off on all Botanics products so I definitely recommend popping over and seeing what they've got! (Also, sorry these photos are so dark, I'm not quite sure why!)


My local Topshop isn't great so I normally discount it when going shopping, but we popped in and I picked up this gorgeous crew neck long sleeve tee which is pink with yellow and black stripes. Pink is a colour that I never really think suits me, but this paired with black jeans really suits me! I wouldn't say it's cropped but it does cut off just above your hip which I know some people don't like so I thought I'd add that in. I picked this up from the petite section but they do it in the regular range and tall range (not 100% sure about tall so don't quote me on it!!). They also do it in navy with red stripe if darker tees float your boat.


I've saved the best two things for last! Because of course, what's a London shopping trip without a trip to Lush Oxford Street am I right?!?! I picked up Sherbet Dip and Bewitched because they were the two I kept seeing pop up on my Instagram feed and I couldn't not get them could I?! You will all be pretty bored of me banging on about my slightly unhealthy Lush obsession but their products are just too good!

So that's all from me today, let me know what you've picked up recently in the comments and I will see you all again very soon,

Love Lou
xxxx

Links:
Rockateur
Blush Brush
Hot Cloth Cleanser
Topshop Crew Neck Tee
Bewitched Bubble Bar
Sherbet Dip Bath Bomb

If you've followed my blog for a while, you will now I'm a huge fan of Tanya Burr and her baking book Tanya Bakes. So today I'm back with her recipe for pop tarts, I just know you're gonna love it!

Ingredients (Makes 6):
250g plain flour
2 tablespoons golden caster sugar
1 teaspoon salt
200g cold butter
1 egg
1 tablespoon milk

1/2 jar (225g) strawberry jam
1 tablespoon cornflour

200g icing sugar
pink food colouring
sugar strands
ready made strawberry sauce (optional)

Preheat the oven to 180 C/350 Fan/Gas Mark 4. Line two baking trays with greaseproof paper.

To make the dough, mix the flour, sugar and salt in a bowl, then rub in the butter with your fingertips to a breadcrumb consistency. Mix in the egg and a tablespoon of milk until a dough forms - add a little more milk if it looks too dry.

Heat the jam and cornflour over a low heat until it's loosened. Set aside to cool slightly.

Roll out the dough to 3mm thick. Cut the dough into 8cm X 14cm rectangles - you should get at least 12 rectangles.

To assemble, lay out six rectangles on the baking trays. Add a teaspoon or two of the jam filling to each square, leaving a 1cm border around the edge. Brush the edge with egg and lay the remaining pastry over the top. Use a fork to press down around the edges, then poke a hole in the top of each one. Brush each tart with egg and bake for 20-25 minutes until golden. Transfer to a wire to cool.

To decorate, combine the icing sugar, food colouring and a little water into a bowl until you have a think icing.

Spread a layer of icing over each tart and sprinkle with the sugar strands. Drizzle with strawberry sauce, if desired.

So, let me know if you recreate this recipe! Thank you all so much for reading, I hope you all enjoyed this post and I will see you very soon,

Love Lou
xxxx

*Disclaimer - This recipe is not my own and all ownership foes to the original author*

So, you've all probably noticed my major absence on all of my social media, including on here. I took a little step back on here because things got a little hectic so I didn't want to be putting up posts that didn't have my full attention.

Things have settled back down again now so I will be back with my first "normal" post again on Friday but I wanted to take this opportunity to talk to you about my instagram.

Since the new instagram algorithm I have been very frustrated with instagram and I often go days without posting. So, a couple of weeks ago I decided to start posting more and more to try and make sure my posts were seen. My account grew massively but I felt as though my content just wasn't good enough. I felt as though I was just churning out these posts but I wasn't happy with them as I was with my slightly older posts.

Then, when I went on my break, I made the decision to start instagram again but I really didn't want to loose all of those lovely followers I had gained and neither did I want to let go to those old posts that I loved so much. Yesterday, I posted a three post barrier to create a definitive line between the older posts that grew my blog and those that I really want to connect with. I am really going to make sure I completely love the posts before I post them.

I love following you all back and seeing your own blogs that you work so hard on, so make sure you leave your instagram handles in the comments.

I feel as though this post has been one long ramble but I will be back on Friday without a slightly less rambley (is that a word?!?). Thank you all so much for sticking with me and I will see you very soon,

Love Lou
xxxx