What caught my eye...

All images from weheartit.com

MAC review: Shy Shine lipstick & Mix and Switch eye shadow duo.

Last week, on the day of her final year meal, my house mate decided she didn't like her dress and had nothing to wear, cue emergency shopping trip! Not only did we find the perfect dress (thank you, Reiss) but we also couldn't resist a pop into the CCO (cosmetic company outlet) store and left with some MAC goodies as well. My friend picked up a gorgeous highlighter, lipgloss and cream eye liner pot, where as I was slightly more restrictive and chose just a lipstick and eye shadow. 

The lipstick I chose was 'Shy Shine' and I think this actually a limited addition, Asia exclusive (that's what I can gather from the internet anyway) but as I managed to find it I am sure you might be able to also.  It is a lustre finish in a  gorgeous peachy-pinky nude, with a very slight shimmer running through it. It is the perfect nude colour for me as normally I end up looking quite washed out! As per usual with MAC lipsticks it has gorgeous scent and feels nice and smooth on the lips. It does slightly cling to dry patches, so it's a good idea to make sure lips are buffed and primed beforehand. It lasts around the 2 hour mark, but you can throw this on without a mirror so touch ups are easy!

The eye shadow I picked up was the mineralize Mix and Switch duo. This consists of a very warm shimmery rust-orange colour, and a shimmery beige. These shadows look great together and on their own and last amazingly well on me, with no creasing! I am not normally one to go for orangey-y tones on my eyes but I actually really like the way it looks and thinks it brings out the green tones on my eyes. I don't know why but  I reckon it would look lovely on blue eyes also! In this picture I have the lightest colour washed over my lid with the darker softly through my crease, though these can be built up to achieve a much more dramatic effect.

MAC make up is pretty expensive but I know I will get so much use out of these products that it is definitely worth it, of course it helps that they were bought at a discount price!

EDIT: So I popped into MAC and had a chat with the assistant and we found that Nikki viva glam 5 is a very near match!

Soon-to-Graduate

Heya, just to let you all know that as I finish my final year of university in less than 2 weeks things are going to be a bit quiet, be back soon!! x

What to do with... Avocados!

So health and dieting has been a bit of a theme on my blog lately, so today is no exception as I show you what I have been doing with the awesome superfood, avocados! Not only is avocado extremely good for your insides, boosting your cardiovascular health with its vitamin e and containing mix of potassium, b-vitamins and folic acid to name a few, but it also helps you look great on the outside! (deary me, I sound like that yoghurt advert with Gok Wan!) this is because of their high levels of mono-saturated fat helps to plump and rejuvenate skin. Avocados are pretty high in calories (more than a mars bar!) yet they can still help you lose weight. This is because the good fats in this mean green machine have been proven to be used as energy as opposed to stored as fat, this energy is released slowly so that we feel full and satisfied, rather than reaching for that cheeky packet of crisps or McVities biscuit! There are so many more benefits to this gnarly looking fruit, but now that you know a few let's move on to the important bit, what to do with them!

This is what they look like when ripe!^^

I am going to mention that I did do a recipe which I did not photograph, it was chicken thighs stuffed with avocado. For this I mashed the avocado with salt, some chilli flakes and lime and stuffed it under the skin of the thighs, backed and served with cous cous!

Avocado and Halloumi open toasted sandwich

This was one of my favourite recipes, probably because I adore halloumi! to start with I mashed an avocado with some lime juice and salt and pepper (this is pretty much my standard additions when doing anything with avocado, you can experiment to find your own!) I then spread this mixture on some toast, topped with some ready made salad and some fried Halloumi cheese, simples! The avocado really adds a certain je-ne-sais-quoi to what would otherwise be quite a dry dish, and really you can change the toppings around to suit what you like!

Loaded Avocado skins

Loaded potato skins is a staple in my student diet, when you are trying to be healthy though it can all get a bit too carb-y and cheesy. Enter the avocado! by doing the exact same thing, mashing avocado with tuna (and salt, pepper and lime of course!) I sometimes add onions too, before stuffing back into the skins and topping with a bit of cheese, you get a filling and satisfying lunch without the carb-y bloat or guilt!

Eggy avocado on toast

This recipe will not only give you goodness from the avocado but also from the eggs, a real satisfying meal! Much like the first recipe I mashed the avocado with salt, pepper and lime juice  and once again spread on toast. I then made a well in the middle and carefully cracked my egg, I baked until the egg was cooked to my liking, topped with a bit of cheese (I can't help myself) and stuck under the grill until melted.

And so there you have it! that is how I have been eating my avocados lately, what do you think? Would you like more posts like this, with different foods or the same?

Bargain find: Essie's cuticle oil + first impressions.

How pleased was I when I spotted Essie's infamous apricot cuticle oil for £2.99 in TK Maxx! I spotted some really great brands in my local store, including Neom and Japonesque, so would definitely check yours out! I whipped this out to give my cuticles a much needed treat as soon as I got home. Let me tell you, utter Smell-gasm, this stuff is so gorgeous (apricot scented if you haven't already guessed) that I just want to smother my body in it and smell of sweet fruity goodness all day long. The bottle and brush is like that of a nail varnish and it feels very luxurious when rubbing it in. It's actually really quick and easy so along with the divine smell, applying it 2 times a day will be a doddle! Hopefully this will work as good as it smells, but I would definitely pick one up if you spot for this bargain-ous price.

Wheatgrass powder review; an easy way to get your vitamins and minerals?

 As you all know, I am currently on a journey to lose some weight. Alongside that though, I also want to be healthier and ensure I am getting everything that I should in my diet. When I had to opportunity to try Geco's Organic Wheatgrass Powder I grabbed it with both hands, it seemed like such an easy way to boost my daily intake of vitamins and minerals. A quick google of wheatgrass benefits bought me to this site, which lists 50 unbelievable reasons to start drinking wheatgrass, from improved digestion to treating skin diseases!

When the sample arrived I thought the paper packaging fitted in really well with organic-ness of the product and there was some interesting information on the back as well as suggested usage, in a smoothie. I happily gathered together some smoothie ingredients ready to tests it out and voila, I broke my smoothie maker! to the point where there was bits of plastic in my drink so I couldn't even taste it. Not to be disheartened though I decided to just mix some in with my squash instead, and you know what, it worked! You could certainly taste it, but it wasn't all that bad. What I tend to do is have what I like to call a 'power cup' in the morning where I will just drink it as quickly as possible and follow with my trusty morning coffee which soon takes the taste away (be careful with the amounts as it can sometimes taste a bit too 'powdery'. I have since attempted a smoothie again and I will say that it's a much nicer way of taking it as you can't taste it at all really. I should probably point out that it does turn whatever you put it in a lovely shade of hulk-green.  I have also found this website which is full of yummy looking food recipes for wheatgrass powder! I cannot wait to try them as it is just another easy way if reaping the benefits. 

whilst doing some research online I came across this NHS website which de-bunks some wheatgrass myths. For example showing that lb for lb its nutrient levels is equivalent to that of veggies such as spinach and broccoli, as opposed to some more radical claims. It also states that the tests done on the benefits of wheatgrass have not been thorough or conclusive enough. The dieticians verdict is that it is not better than other fruit ad veggies in terms of nutrition but does contribute towards your 5 a day. Which is good enough for me because lets face it, I would much rather have a banana and strawberry smoothie which some wheatgrass powder for breakfast as opposed to a bowl of broccoli!

I love that this is just a super simple and easy way to boost your intake of vitamins and minerals, and I always feel better in myself and a lot brighter when I have been taking it, I don't feel sluggish and have more energy. It is so easy to introduce this into your diet so there is no harm in trying. And can I just say, nothing makes you feel healthier than drinking something green.

p.s I have had this powder for a couple of weeks, there may be still be benefits or even problems I have yet to see, so will keep this post updated!!