Garnier Moisture Bomb Tissue Mask

So I am officially on my Christmas break from work, and I couldn't think of a better way to spend my first day off than curled up on the sofa with a hot chocolate, my favourite Christmas films and to indulge in a little pampering! 

I have wanted to try the Garnier Moisture Bomb Tissue Mask ever since it was released, and couldn't resist popping it in my basket when I noticed it was on offer in Boots. 

It claims that it is a "super-hydrating revitalising mask containing pomegranate extract, hyaluronic acid and plant serum, which intensely rehydrates skin, leaves skin looking smoother and your complexion more radiant after just 15 minutes." It sounded like it meant business to me, which is just what my skin needs after the cold, winter months have taken their toll.

It took some getting used to as it is extremely wet and cold! But after three or four minutes it actually felt really relaxing. I definitely recommend applying in your bathroom so you can dry your hands. It is not as messy as clay face masks so I can't really complain. It has a really mild fragrance which is lovely, and the time just ran away with me. Wearing it didn't annoy me like I thought it would. 

After 15 minutes, I was amazed with the results. My skin felt almost brand new, so so fresh and really radiant. I've been so tired lately and my face has really shown it, but the results with this little gem were almost instantaneous. 

I prefer this to clay, which is my usual mask of choice. I hate how clay cracks and I hate having to really scrub at my face to get it off. I don't have any fine lines yet so I can't comment on how the mask has worked on those, but I do have a nice little glow ready for my week of Christmas partying and so overall, I'm really impressed and will be repurchasing. 

You can pick up a Moisture Bomb Tissue Mask now in Boots for just 99p! 

♥ 

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Iceland

Apologies for the lack of posts again over the past few weeks... I have been in the process of something BIG which I still need to keep under wraps until it is all confirmed... but I have also been settling back into work life after returning from my holiday to Iceland with my best friend.

Seeing the Northern Lights was one of the first things on my bucket list, and as I started doing a little research and staring in awe at the amazing photos on Instagram, I couldn't help but book a holiday.

We went for five days in total and it was honestly the holiday of a lifetime. As a country, it is the most magical natural beauty ever and I still cannot believe that it is only a three hour flight from London because it seems worlds apart.

We visited the Golden Circle on Monday morning, and after all that walking we couldn't resist a relaxing session in the Fontana Wellness spa. The hot springs were around 40 degrees and the view of the mountains was breathtaking while we lazed around in bikinis with cocktails. In the evening after a quick bite to eat, we booked a boat trip with Special Tours and managed to see the Northern Lights for well over an hour. It was honestly one of the most amazing things I've ever seen and I just couldn't prepare myself for it... it was also RIDICULOUSLY freezing on the boat even in a ski suit, but so so worth it.

The Golden Circle is a popular tourist route in Iceland to see sights of natural beauty - our first stop was Pingvellir National Park

Our second stop was the geothermal area in Haukadalur to see the geysers Geysir and Strokkur. I have some great videos of the water explosions!

Our third and final stop on the Golden Circle tour was the Gullfoss waterfall

The view of the Northern Lights from our boat

On Tuesday we had a few hours in the infamous Blue Lagoon, which was even better than I expected. The option of natural mud masks and body scrubs and the heat from the water creates the most amazing atmosphere, and the swim up bar just sets it off to a tee. When I got back in the changing room I panicked that my tongue and mouth was blue and that I was having a reaction to the Lagoon that was turning me into a smurf... before I realised I had several blue raspberry slush puppies whilst swimming. Typical Shannon moment.

Blue Lagoon with my chica

On the Wednesday we booked an Ice Glacier Hike which was IN-TENSE. It was a two hour hike with clampons and ice picks and it was exhausting but so rewarding. The views were incredible and I managed to drink from the small stream flowing where the glacier was melting. Even if I did then fall in said stream and spent the rest of the trip shivering. We met some really nice people and the ice was so beautiful up close. And you have never appreciated a hot chocolate with cream until you have been that cold!

Looking like full on wilderness explorers hiking through the glaciers as well as on top of them!

Iceland is as expensive as people say. Eating out was fairly pricey as is alcohol, and souvenirs more expensive than anywhere else I have visited. But it is honestly an experience like no other and worth every single penny. I was gutted to come home and would visit again in a heartbeat.

If you are thinking of visiting Iceland and would like recommendations of which tour providers I would recommend or trips you shouldn't miss, please comment below. But for now, feel free to just enviously scroll through all of my beautiful holiday photos... You can also find more on my Instagram. 

As always, my social media links are below. I would really appreciate follows/likes, and will of course return the favour if you comment below!

♥ 

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Sleek Matte Me Lipstick - Birthday Suit

I purchased this when the Kylie Jenner lip kits were first released and sold like hot cakes. Several of my favourite bloggers recommended this as a good dupe, and it has been a firm favourite of mine ever since.

This liquid lipstick has a matte finish and thick consistency, so you only really need to apply one coat and I never bother applying a lip liner. It is a really smooth product and dries almost instantly, so it is great if you are in a rush. I find that it has a fairly strong lasting power, although once I start drinking or eating it does go slightly darker in places. I am usually scared to try matte lip products as I suffer with really dry lips, but this doesn't dry them out at all. 

The colour is a really nice nude colour, with brown rather than pink undertones and is perfect for the winter months. I absolutely love the shade's name 'Birthday Suit' and it makes me wish even more than usual that I could have a job at a cosmetics company naming products (especially nail polishes!) 

I like the simple packaging and think it looks rather high-end and sleek (just like the brand name would suggest!)

You can pick this up here for a bargainous £4.99 and I can promise you, you won't regret it!

♥ 

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Make Up Revolution Fixing Spray

Let's face it girls. When we've put a lot of effort into making our faces look good, we want it to stay that way. Commuting into Central London and the temperamental weather at the moment can mean that by midday, my make up is sliding down my face.

And this is where I introduce this little gem - Make Up Revolution's Pro Fix Fixing Spray. Make Up Revolution claim that "Our formula will protect your makeup against heat and humidity, cold and windy conditions, and however your skin reacts this will help your make up stay perfect for up to 8 hours"

I apply my make up as normal and then spray this all over my face. It feels like a light mist and isn't scented. I have been majorly impressed with the results, and have found that my make up is still in tact for up to 12 hours afterwards, despite my combination/oily skin. On average I now reapply concealer and lipstick once during the day, which is a huge improvement on the many touch ups I had to make before I purchased this spray.

I'm not a huge fan of the yellow gold on the bottle, but I'm always more lenient on drug store companies with their packaging because the prices of the products are so low. This retails at a £5 in Superdrug for a 100ml bottle and I have found that it lasts a really long time - making it an absolute steal.

I would really recommend purchasing this. My make up bag is incomplete without it now, and my friends constantly steal this when we are getting ready to go out - the true test of any good product!

Do you love the Make Up Revolution Fixing Spray? Are there any other I should be using?

If you are enjoying my blog, please follow my social media accounts - links below!

♥ 

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Lee Stafford Original Dry Shampoo

And I am back! I have just had a look and my last blog post was six months ago now - I honestly don't know where the time has gone. Life has been really hectic as of late and I think part of it was I lost all confidence in blogging. Just lately while browsing blogs/vlogs, I realised that I was overthinking it and trying to reproduce what I thought was popular because I was scared of putting myself out there on the internet. I've realised now that there's no point doing it unless you're yourself, and even if nobody reads it, if I enjoy sharing it then it is a worthwhile past time. 

I wanted to come back with a review of a product I have been absolutely loving at the moment - Lee Stafford's Original Dry Shampoo.

In the past I've never been a fan of dry shampoo as a product. It never worked for me and I felt that my hair was just far too greasy and resorted to washing it every day. When I went to the Clothes Show in December I purchased a Lee Stafford goody bag, and have to say as much as I loved the contents I wasn't overly phased about this. 

Now I have long hair, washing it was becoming a chore and so I thought I would give this a whirl. I was over the moon with the results and can't live without this product now.

The powder is finer than other brands I've tried and it doesn't make my hair feel weighed down or dry. I usually have quite flat hair and this adds so much volume. It doesn't have a nasty smell like others I've tried (even the ones that claim to smell nice make me feel sick!) and it makes my hair look freshly washed. I'm so glad I am washing my hair less now and have noticed less is falling out as a result.

I am a fan of the metallic and bright pink packaging, although the writing has always bugged me on Lee Stafford as I am slightly OCD! I do prefer the Cath Kidston style floral themes to some of the Batiste packaging. But for me, haircare packaging isn't really as important as make up packaging so it doesn't deter me from loving this little gem at all. 

At £4.99 for 200ml, it is on average slightly more expensive than Batiste but I think it is so so worth it. A little goes a long way, where as when I've tried others I feel like I use half a can. Also, Lee Stafford is always on 3 for 2 at Boots and so it can work out to be an absolute steal.

 I would definitely recommend you adding this to your basket next time you are in Boots.

What are your favourite hair care products? 

As I've been away from the blogging world for a while, what kind of posts should/shouldn't I be doing?

♥ 

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Skincare Secrets with Farfetch

Recently I was contacted by the luxury fashion website Farfetch, who asked me to share with you my ultimate skin care secrets. As a girl who has been obsessed with trying every skincare product under the sun since my early teens when I suffered with terrible breakouts, I was delighted to take part! Here are my top 5 skincare secrets – I have tried to avoid any products I’ve seen featured on a lot of blogs, because if they’re everywhere on the internet, are they really a secret?

1) VASELINE | A well-known saviour for your lips, I like to rub Vaseline over my eyelids, under my eyes and lightly coat my eyelashes. In the morning I wash it off and my eyes look brighter, more hydrated, and the Vaseline has a hair conditioner-type effect on my lashes. In terms of beauty products, I prefer gels, particularly in a roll-on pen. I find they really cool the eye area and reduce those puffy tired eyes right down. If you are on a budget, the Simple Eye Roll on Gel is brilliant.

2) JOHNSON’S BABY POWDER | You are never too old for this little gem. I like to use this post-shower. It has a calming effect on my skin and takes away the shine from my legs. I also love the smell – so relaxing if you shower before bed like me. This is great if you are rushing and don’t have time to rub a thicker body butter in, but want that silky smooth skin. Tights also always seem to make my legs itch a lot as well, so this is great to pat on before hand too.

3) COCONUT OIL | For a more intensive body moisturiser, I love coconut oil.  You can find this in most stores which sell toiletries and beauty products these days, but I actually buy mine from the supermarket down the aisle with all the oils. A huge tub can cost as little as £1.50 and it is 100% pure coconut oil so it is the real deal. A tiny amount goes a long way and leaves my skin feeling so soft for days! This is also great to massage into your cuticles to promote nail growth or to use as a hydrating/restoring hair mask.

4) THE THREE STEP RULE | I always try to stick to the three step rule, no matter how tired I am or how much of a rush I am in. The three steps are 1) cleanse 2) tone and 3) moisturise. At the moment I am really loving the Boots Botanics All Bright Hydrating Range. At the moment I currently have the foaming face wash, the cleansing toner and the hydrating Day and Night creams. If you currently just use a make up wipe at the end of the day, I would urge you to think again! It is surprising how much dirt toner picks up, even after a make up wipe and using face wash. The day cream is more brightening and a lighter consistency, whereas the night cream is much thicker and soaks in beautifully throughout the night. Establishing a good facial skincare routine in your teens/early twenties is one of the best ways to prevent ageing!

5) MAKE UP FREE DAY | This is a difficult secret to admit given my make up obsession, but I try to have a make-up free day at least once a week. If it’s a day when you have no plans or you’re literally only popping up the road to the shop for five minutes, I would definitely recommend braving the bare face. I think my skin really appreciates the chance to breath and unfortunately make up can take its toll on your pores. It is also a good opportunity to clean your make up brushes. I try to clean mine once a week/fortnight to prevent bacteria building up and therefore preventing break outs. I also think make up application is improved if you clean your brushes regularly too – added bonus!

What are your skincare secrets? Any skincare products that I should be buying right now? 

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♥

Byrons Burger Review

Everyone who knows me knows that I love a good burger. And they don't come much better than Byron Hamburgers. Me and my new boyfriend went to the Canary Wharf London branch last weekend and it was the perfect date. We both ordered the Double Bacon Cheeseburger, and for dessert I had the Banoffee Sundae and Ollie ordered the Oreo Cheesecake.

The food is absolutely incredible and really high quality (of course I had a spoonful of Ollie's pudding so I can honestly be the judge of all of it and not because I'm a pig) and the interior of the restaurant is very cool and has a kind of shabby chic feel to it. I have been to three Byron branches in London and I have to say the staff are always incredibly friendly. The bill came to about £60 including alcoholic drinks which I think is pretty reasonable for the quality of the food, and it was such a lovely evening.

If you are ever in London you should definitely check out Byrons. I have a huge appetite but trust me when I tell you I couldn't have managed another bite.

Can you recommend any burger restaurants for me to try next?

♥

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Mini Egg Cookies

Hi everyone! It has been months since I last sat down to blog. I've missed it a lot, and I'm hoping now I've settled into my new home in London and my new job, I'll be able to make the time I need to get back to it.

I hope you've had a lovely Easter. I was truly spoilt and have enjoyed being back in Lincolnshire with family. This year I baked Mini Egg cookies to dish out to my loved ones, as every year we all moan we get far too many eggs! This is the perfect recipe to use up the millions of bags of mini eggs you received, or if your sweet tooth can't face another chocolate egg.

Ingredients:

100g butter (I always use Stork)

200g self-raising flour

100g light brown sugar

1 medium egg

1 bag mini eggs

Method:

1. Preheat your oven to Gas Mark 4 / 180c and line a baking tray with greaseproof paper.

2. Mix all the ingredients - minus the mini eggs - in a bowl using an electric whisk until just combined.

3. Scatter a little flour on your hands to stop the dough sticking to them too much, and knead and pat into a huge ball.

3. Crush the mini eggs. I preferred laying them out on surface and pressing my rolling pin into them as opposed to the old 'stick them in a bag and whack them for ages'. This way, the eggs kind of split in two as opposed to tiny crumbs, so they are prettier and you can actually taste the eggs.

4. Add the crushed mini eggs to the dough handful by handful, each time folding and kneading the dough so the mini eggs are spread consistently throughout the dough.

5. Pull off chunks of dough and roll into golf ball sized pieces. Place on the lined baking tray - leaving space between them - and pat slightly, but leave as balls. They will spread out as they cook.

6. Cook for around 10-13 minutes or until slightly golden. Don't open the door while they are cooking. When you pull them out of the oven, leave them on the tray for a few minutes to cool. The cookies will still feel kind of soft but don't worry - they harden once they've been out of the oven a while. After a few minutes, use a spatula to remove them from the baking tray to cool on a cooling rack properly.

Best served warm from the oven when they are all gooey like Millie's cookies. To dish them out to friends and family, wrap them in clear cellophane and tie with a coloured ribbon to make the perfect gift!

Happy Easter! Have you got any Easter recipes you would recommend?

♥

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