Daily Makeup Routine

I have always loved doing my makeup and recently when my cousins came to visit,I had so much fun showing them what products I use every day and how I do my makeup.  I remember when I was about 16 and I was watching endless Youtube videos and reading so many blogs about makeup and which products people liked to use and how they did their makeup on a daily basis.  So, as a follow on from my blog post about my Current Favourite Makeup Products, I thought I would share with you my daily makeup routine. 

I do want to point out that I am in no way a makeup professional and this is just how I like to do it with the products I like and what works best for me. 

I am going to chat about what products I use and what I use to apply them here and If you would like to watch how I put on my makeup, head on over to my blog @sweetpea97.blog and check it out! 

Before I do my makeup, I wash my face and moisturise (I will chat more about this in a future blog post).  I always find this helps my makeup apply better and stay on longer. 

When doing my makeup I like to start with the base as I find if I get the base right the rest just seems to follow suit. 

First off I use the collection lasting perfection concealer in the shade fair to cover my under eye bags and any spots. I swear by this concealer and have used it for as long as I can remember! It has such good coverage and is a bargin price!  I use my Beaty blender from Real Techniques to blend this in. 

                                                                   Superdrug = £4.19

Next I go in with the RIMMEL Lasting Finish foundation in the shade 200 soft beige.  I have used this foundation for years as I feel it sits well on my skin and blends perfectly to give a natural look.  I have switched between using a damp beauty blender and a brush to blend this in but at the moment I like to use the Real Techniques expert face brush.

    

                                            Superdrug = £8.99

As I feel a bit more insecure about my under eyes, I like to go back in with the collection lasting perfection concealer to brighten this area further. 

To set this all, I use the Rimmel stay matte powder in the shade translucent.  I find this sets my foundation and concealer really well and doesn’t make it look cakey. 

                                            Superdrug = £3.99

I then continue with my base and move onto bronzer which has been my favourite thing to apply this summer to give my face a bit more and look more alive! I current use two: HOOLA bronzer and NARS Laguna.  I find they are both easy to apply with the HOOLA being more pigmented so I try to use a bit at a time and build.  I like to use the HOOLA to add the initial colour to my face but I do blend it out a fair bit as I find it does have more warmer tones and can make me look orange if I don’t.  I then add the NARS Laguna to make me more alive but not look so orange as it has more cooler undertones to it. 

John Lewis = £27.00

NARS Cosmetics = £31.00

Once this is blended I like to define my cheek bones with the Sleek contour kit and an urban decay contour brush.  I try to use cooler tones as I have quite pale skin and this is perfect! 

                                            Boots = £5.00

I then move on to blusher and I am currently loving NARS orgasm as although very pigmented, when applied a little bit at a time gives your cheeks a lovely rosy glow with the hint of gold in it. 

                                                                  John Lewis = £25.00

To finish my face I use the Sleek highlighter palette.  Sadly they don’t have the one I use so I couldn’t show a picture, but they are very pretty shimmery shades and creamy so easy to apply with your finger. 

I then move on to brows and use Benefit Full Proof Brow Powder in the shade medium with a real techniques angled brush. It is great for getting that ombré affect and the colours are very pigmented so last all day. 

                                                               Boots = £22.50

To set my brows I use the gimme brow which again I have used forever and often just wear this on its own too! 

                                                Boots = £22.50 

Mascara is definitely my favourite makeup as I feel it completes my look and I love how it opens up my eyes.  I have tried a few different brands both high end and high street and am currently living Benefit Roller Lash.  It is not too clumpy and is easy to apply with a great applicator. 

                                        Benefit Cosmetics = £22.50

I then finish with a bit of lipgloss and ta da, makeup complete!

I hope you enjoyed this post and the video over on my Instagram, if you could give this post a like and comment your favourite daily makeup products that would be great!  

The New Normal

The UK is coming out of lockdown and things are quite different as we enter a new normal. With safety and the public's health being a big priority we are seeing a lot of changes to daily life in order to keep us safe.  The latest change is the new rule making face covering mandatory when in public places like shops. 

When I first heard this rule I wasn't sure how to feel, I had worn a disposable face mask a few weeks ago when going to the doctors and if i'm being honest I didn't like it.  It made me more aware of my breathing, made me feel a little claustrophobic and it was so big it nearly covered my eyes making it hard to see.  But, with the new rule in place I ordered myself a few different masks and wore them around the house to get use to it.  Although it is not the normal we are used to, wearing them around the house defiantly helped and I feel more comfortable wearing one.  

So, if you are a bit nervous about wearing a mask here are some tips: 

• Get ones that reflect you - There are so many places out there selling masks, so you don't just have to get a boring one.  You can get lots of cute prints and colours to match every outfit or you can make you own! 

• Wear them round the house first - I found by doing this I could get used to the feeling of wearing a mask so it doesn't feel as claustrophobic anymore. Just make sure you wash it before then wearing it in public. 

• Get one that fits you - When wearing a disposable mask at the doctors a few weeks ago, it was so big it made it more uncomfortable.  So, if you have a slightly small head like I do, you can either make your own or I would recommend trying a children's one.  I found these are much smaller but still cover my mouth and nose meaning it is protective and I can see too! 

• Don't worry about what people think - Now this is a mandatory rule, everyone will be wearing one so you won't be the only one.  We are all in this together!

I thought I would share with you some of the masks I have bought to wear: 

•  This one is from Boohoo and it is a super cute rainbow one!

• This one is also from boohoo and is a tie dye affect with pink, green, blue and white making it great for any outfit. 

• This one os actually a children's mask from GAP.  You can see it is a lot smaller than the other two which is more comfortable as it doesn't cover the bottom of my eyes.  This one was from a pack of three, however I gave the other two to my sister as she is like me and has a small head! This one is my favourite as it is blue and white with a tie dye/ cloud affect. 

To keep them all in one place I have simply put a command strip on the inside of my wardrobe door and they all hang nicely there.

I hope you found this weeks blog post helpful, especially if you are feeling anxious about wearing a mask. I would love to see some of the ones you will be wearing! 

Sunday sweet treat!

I have always loved baking since I was a little girl, especially getting to lick the bowl afterwards! My favourite things to make are cupcakes and what started off as simple vanilla sponge with icing and sprinkles on top has soon progressed. 

Over the passed few weeks I have been testing out different flavours and thanks to having much more time to spend making them, I have been braver with the decor too.  So, this week I thought I would share with you how I made my biscoff cupcakes - which is now my all time favourite flavour! 

INGREDIENTS  
Cupcakes 

• 110g caster sugar
• 110g self raising flour 
• 50g unsalted butter 
• 75g lotus biscoff spread
• 3 medium eggs 

Icing 

• 150g icing sugar 
• 100g lotus biscoff spread 
• 100g unsalted butter 

STEP 1 - Pre heat your oven and line you cupcake tray with cases 

STEP 2 - Mix together the butter, sugar and biscoff spread into a bowl untill smooth. 

STEP 3 - Add in the eggs 

STEP 4 - Fold in the flour until completely mixed. I find it easier to add in a little bit at a               time. 

STEP 5 - Place the mixture as evenly as possible into the cupcake cases and place in the oven for 10-15 minutes. 

Whilst in the cakes are in the oven, you can make the icing. 

STEP 6 - Mix together the butter, icing sugar and biscoff spread.  Depending on how strong you would like the flavour, you can add less biscoff spread if you want to! 

STEP 7 - When the cakes are ready take them out of the oven to cool. 

STEP 8 - Time to decorate! I attempted to pipe the icing and then sprinkled crushed biscoss biscuits over the top and finished with a whole biscuit. 

ENJOY!! 

Current favourite nail polish colours!

Last Week I spoke about how due to the current situation, I now have a lot more time on my hands to do things I love but often don't have time for.  One of those things is painting my nails, especially now I have had time to get a sun tan haha! 

I have always loved getting my nails done or doing them myself to save a bit of money and over the past few weeks I have found it relaxing and also a good way to take my mind off things. So, I thought I would share with you some colours I have been loving! 

For a good 5+ years I have used Barry M nail polish as I find they have a good array of colours and the brush is great for applying with a just a few strokes.  Depending on the colour depends on how many coats you need, but I have found 2 coats does the job just fine! 

1. Cotton - This is by far my all time favourite colour nail polish to wear all year round.  I just think it is a great colour that will go with any outfit and now I have a nice tan, it looks even better as it stands out!  

2. Damson - This blue is a great colour to brighten the day and really did cheer me up during these uncertain times.  I started with this shade on my fingers and have also tried it on my toes and it looked equally as good!

3. Berry Sorbet - This one os again another colour that looks amazing with a tan!  It is a great summery colour that I think comes out a lot brighter than it may look in the bottle, especially after the second coat! 

4. Kiss me quick - I must admit, I was a bit sceptical as to whether this was true or not but I was pleasantly surprised at how quick it dried!  The colour is gorgeous both with a tan and without and similar to the shade cotton, I found this colour worked great with all outfits.  

I would love to know what shades of nail polish you are loving right now, make sure you leave a comment below! 

This week has been crazy for all as we have seen our world flipped upside down and normality go out the window.  If you have seen my Instagram, some of you will know I really struggled with this the last few weeks hence why I have not posted much this month.  I wanted to stay in bed, cry and shut the the word out until this whole thing went away and I felt really low.  This week, I made a change to my routine and as a result, my mood changed for the better.  So, I thought I would share some tips and ways I have used to get myself out of the dark place during this crazy time in the hope that it will help some of you who may be feeling the same. 

1) Get out of bed, showered and dressed - I have found if I force myself to get out of bed and get dressed I feel so much better already as I feel fresh and ready to start the day. Don't get me wrong, I am not setting an alarm and am still having a lyin, but I am not staying in bed all day. 

2) Go out for your daily exercise - The government have said we are allowed out of our houses once a day so why not make the most of it to get some fresh air! You can go for a run, cycle or walk as long as you follow the social distancing rules it is completely up to you.  I have found by getting myself to do this, it gives me something to do to a) pass time haha, b) have a chance to get out of the house and c) get some fresh air and time to clear my head.  I have loved looking at all the rainbows and artwork in people's windows, it puts a smile on my face each time I spot a new one and reminds me things will turn around and we are all in this together. 

3) Do the things you felt you never had time for - This week I actually read a book, in a week! It was so nice to be able to sit and binge read a book as this is something I love doing but only get the chance when away on holiday and it felt so nice.  So, do those things you have wanted to do for ages but said you were always too busy. Make a cake, finish that scrap book and read that book! 

4) Stay in touch with loved ones - Just because we are in lockdown and can't go and see friends and family doesn't mean you can't still speak to them. We are very fortunate that there are SO many ways we can talk to eachother nowadays from social media, texting and phone calls to facetime and zoom calls!  So, you can still chat to people, catch up, play games and give each other recommendations on stuff to do . 

5) Make a list - sometimes making a list helps me feel better as I work my way through it and tick tasks off.  Even my grandma has found doing this and really breaking it down has helped cheer her up as she gets bits done.  You can put it one big task such as get up and ready for the day or if you want you can break it down such as get out of bed, shower, get dressed and eat breakfast. By doing this can be good start point to help you get out of that dark place. 

I hope you have found this useful.  If you have any tips on how to keep positive in this crazy time, please let me know! 

Stay safe, stay home.

Why exercise?

As a child I was always very active, with PE and playtime at school, dancing after school and a trampoline in the garden, I was always on the go!  However, during my teens I became unwell with Glandular Fever and pretty much stopped exercising all together as I was so tired and extremely stressed with GCSES.  However, as I have gotten older and better, I saw more and more of my friends joining the gym and getting active. 

Whilst at university, I joined the cheerleading team and this was the first step in getting back into exercise.  I couldn't believe the differences it made to my life.  This sounds a bit dramatic, but honestly I felt so good! Although tough at times, the feeling after cheerleading training was unreal! I felt fitter, healthier, more confident and generally happier.  

Another change I felt within myself when doing cheerleading at university was that it was a way to forget about the stress of deadlines, assignments and exams.  Now I have finished university and have swapped assignments for actual work deadlines and changed cheerleading to the gym, I still find that after exercising I feel great and I feel as though all the stress and anxiety goes away.  Getting out and exercising is a good way to keep busy and meet people and is like a hobby!  

I personally have decided to go to the gym more to reduce stress, to become fitter/ healthier, get a peachy bum and as I am doing a physical challenge in October (more of this in a future blog post). But there are lots of motives as to why people want to get more exercise such as weight loss.

According to the NHS, research has shown that regular exercise can improve self-esteem, reduce stress and reduce the risk of developing long-term (chronic) health conditions. 

When I say exercise, I don't mean you have to religiously go to the gym everyday for 4 hours.  I mean, you can go all out if you want too haha! But even little changes like parking further away from the shop can make all the difference.  I said in my new years resolutions that I wanted to exercise more, and I would say I have done this so far.  I don't necessarily go to the gym everyday day, one week I didn't go at all.  But, I am defiantly going a lot more regularly than I used to, especially if I feel myself getting stressed at work and the feeling I get afterwards is amazing!

There are so many different ways you can exercise too, you can go to the gym, go to classes, walk the dog, go running, swimming, cycling, join a club like boxing or dancing the list is endless! 

So, if you are looking for something new to do this month that will improve your health both physically and mentally as well as give you the opportunity to meet new people, I would recommend getting more exercise! 

2019 Rewind

2019 is over and a new decade has begun! 

With it being the start of a new year, I thought the best way to catch you up on the last 3 months would be with a look back over the past year. 

2019 went WAY to fast and looking back on it now, I feel 2019 has been a real turning point in my life. I have had a lot of laughs, tears and learnt a lot of hard lessons. Some of these I want to remember, others I want to forget. But whether they are good or bad memories, I feel I want to document them and share my experiences on this space in the hope that they will help others going through the same thing and maybe one day I can look back and laugh! So, grab a cuppa and a biscuit as I have a feeling this could be a long one...

From what I remember 2019 started with the goal of becoming fitter and healthier to gain that summer body ready for my girls holiday! Looking back, I like to say I achieved this. I was able to enjoy nights out, eat what I wanted but managed to keep up the gym routine and even got into swimming. However, as soon as the girls holiday was over, so was my gym days haha! At least I know I can do it, all I need is a goal. 

One amazing thing I did in 2019 was go to Valencia with my university course to see Las Fallas Festival. I can honestly say I have never seen anything like it! The statues built by the locals were incredible and to see them burn was crazy, not to mention the huge firework display that was unlike anything I had ever seen before. With gorgeous food and sangria at every corner, I would defiantly recommend going to the festival if you can.

2019 came with various family events too. My baby cousin had her christening which was good fun as we sang "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands" and made paper boats! One of my other cousins (who people say is like my twin) was diagnosed with Usher's Syndrome. My family and I got to see the Spice Girls and we went to Winter Wonderland dragging my mum and auntie on the best roller coaster ever! 

As I said earlier, 2019 also came with lots of nights out - it was the year of 21st birthdays, work parties and with it being the final year of uni, I made the most of student nights and student prices and finished it with a trip to Ibiza! 

2019 was the year when I learnt a lot about friendship and how it is not always plain sailing. However, I did shock myself in 2019 and decided enough was enough and I took those who were not true friends out of my life. Although a very hard thing to do and came with many tears, looking back now I am so glad I did this as it took a lot of negativity out of my life. 

2019 was the year I finished university and graduated with a First Class Honours in Events Management. It was a day I will never forget and I can honestly say it was one of the best days of my life so far. I know this may sound a bit dramatic to some, but university was a big step in my life, I moved from home, tried things i never had before and put in a lot of hard work to get this far! Standing on that stage in front of friends and family was all worth it! 

I also reached another mile stone in my life by starting my first job as an Events Coordinator in a hotel! 

So, as you can see a lot has changed for me in the past year and I wouldn't have changed a thing. I have accomplished a lot, learnt a great deal and can't believe all of this has happened in one year (You may be able to tell by the number of exclamation marks I have used haha). I am excited to see what 2020 has in store.... bring it on! 

With it being such nice weather across the UK I decided to join my sister on a trip to the farm with the little boy she nannies. She found one in the New Forest called Longdown Farm, where you can actually feed the animals - awesome I know! I don't know who was more excited, me or little Oscar haha!

When we arrived we got our tickets which were rather cheap at just under £10 and free entry for little ones, so great for a day out on a student budget.

I wasn't really sure what to expect which sounds silly but I haven't been to a farm since I was a little girl, i've only ever really been to the zoo! But OMG it was amazing! They had so many farm animals from cows, pigs and horses and donkeys to chicks and guinea pigs. 

The first animals we saw were the cows and their calves and they were so cute! They had lovely big eyes and looked so soft. We were lucky enough to be there as they were being fed and even got to give them a bottle! 

We then saw the pigs and their piglets who were so tiny and I must admit I fell in love and wanted to take one home. We also saw the donkey and a huge horse who was a gorgeous chestnut brown colour. 

Next on the list to see was the baby goats who were also due a feed when we saw them. They were full of energy and defiantly ready for a bottle. The farmers told us that unlike the cows who stayed in their paddock whilst we fed them, the goats would be let put and come to us. So the bolt was lifted and out they came very excited and gulping the milk down. I loved it so much I did it twice!

We then ventured round to the chicken pens where we got to look and see if they had laid any eggs, sadly we only found one but hey better than nothing! Next up was the petting area where we got to hold chicks and guinea pigs - adorable!

Overall it was an amazing day and I think I fell in love with every animal and wanted to take it home haha. Well, thats all from me and my crazy adventures for now! 

Easter Treats

This week, I thought I would share with you a simple sweet Easter treat - chocolate nests! I don’t know about any of you but I used to love making these as a child and haven’t had one in ages! They are quick to make and only need a few ingredients so cheap too. I bought chocolate bars and mini eggs, however you could use left-over chocolate eggs and mini eggs you may have been given for Easter. I will warn you though, they are very tasty and you can’t have just one!

Ingredients: cornflakes, chocolate, mini eggs

Step 1 - Bring a pan of water to the boil

Step 2 - Line you cupcake tray with cases whilst waiting for the water to boil

Step 3 - Place a bowl on top of the boiling water and break the chocolate into it

Step 4 - As the chocolate melts stir until smooth

Step 5 - Take bowl off the pan (turn off the heat) and add cornflake cakes - Note: add a little bit at a time

Step 6 - Stir the cornflakes into the chocolate

Step 7 - Once all cornflakes have been covered, place a spoonful into each cupcake case

Step 8 - Place mini eggs of the top

Step 9 - Place in the fridge to cool

Step 10 - ENJOY!

I hope you enjoyed this blog post and give these a go!