Brands Against Animal Testing

This is a picture of my gorgeous English Springer Spaniel, Charlie. He is 12 years old and one of my favourite things in the whole world. I am using him as the picture for this blog post as I couldn't bare to type 'animal testing' into google images as I've seen pictures before of frightened, mistreated animals covered in cosmetics before and it upsets me. It's very easy to remain ignorant to things like this and carry on using brands that test their products on animals- I'm not completely innocent of it myself. Are you a pet owner? My Charlie has never done anything remotely close to harming me so it's horrible to think that humans would harm animals like Charlie. I am really passionate about the environment, animals and all that kind of stuff so try my best to support the against animals testing campaign as much as I can. I do this by buying majority of my products from brands that campaign against animal testing. Here are a few of my favourites...

First of The Body Shop. The Body Shop have lots of values that make them a great brand one of them being that they do not test one animals. In fact they have started a campaign to ban animal testing for cosmetics and over 1 million body shop customers have signed it which is meant that the word is quickly spreading around the world and actions are already taking place. After 20 years of campaigning the sale and import of animal tested products was banned in Europe which is amazing! However in other countries this has not happened so it's very important to keep awareness up. Also The Body Shop products are great quality, and one of my favourite places to shop.

Lush is also one of my favourite brands that are against animal testing. Like Body Shop they also campaign against animal testing. They have now put they're against animal testing logo on their bags as a way to advertise it (and it looks super cute). They have created a way of testing their products using a cell-culture testing company called XCellR8 which uses cruelty-free testing solutions which you can read more about here.
Liz Earle also do not test on animals (can I get a hallelujah!?) and are certified under the Humane Cosmetic Standard by Cruelty Free International (BUAV). Instead they test on human volunteers which is a lot more ethical as unlike animals, these humans choose that they would like to part. They also do not use any ingredients of animal origin (except beeswax and manuka honey). This is great news to me as I love their Cleanse and Polish. 
Michael Todd True Organics also do not test on animals because (and I quote from they're website) "they're just too darn cute" and I feel like I don't have to say anything more about Michael Todd because that quote should be enough!
As a single person I can't stop animal testing but by supporting these brands I feel like I'm doing my bit in the fight against animal testing. If you'd like to join the campaign visit the Cruelty-Free International website here.

What are your thoughts on animal testing?

*This is not a sponsored post, just one that I'm passionate about*

♥

Lemon Drizzle Cupcakes

Every now and then we're all allowed a treat and these lemon drizzle cupcakes are definitely that. They're yummy! 

Ingredients:

300g caster sugar

200g butter

Juice of 3 lemons

3 eggs

250g self raising flour

1/2 tea spoon baking powder

Icing sugar

1.Preheat the oven to 160C (fan/gas 3) and line a muffin case tin with your cup cake cases.

2. Mix 250g of caster sugar and 200g of butter together until light and creamy. Tip! If your butters not at room temperature or is difficult to mix, put it in the microwave for 10 seconds and it's a lot easier to mix.

3. Add the eggs and mix before sieving and folding in all the flour.

4. Squeeze 2 lemons (making sure you remove the pips) and mix into the mixture.

5. Spoon the mixture into your cases and cook for 30 mins (until you can put a knife in and it comes out clear).

6. Leave to cool whilst you mix the juice of your last lemon and 50g of caster sugar.

7. Whilst your cupcakes are still warm make 4 small holes (using a skewer) in the cake and pour a small amount of your sugar/lemon juice on top of your cake making sure to get some in the holes!

8. Leave your cakes to fully cool down and using the left over sugar/lemon juice add some icing sugar to make lemon icing (I guess with my measurements for this).

9. Drizzle on the icing and enjoy!

I would love to know if you make these, tweet me a picture @daisyspage or tag me on instagram @daisyslittleblog.

♥

Bronzer For Pale Girls

When your pale, make up can be hard! I understand that it must be difficult for most skin tones to find foundations/bronzer/blush to match them but for us pale girls, we fall victim to most shades looking orange. For a very long time I avoided bronzer for this reason, but now it's one of my favourite steps of my make up routine (and one I rarely miss!). 

First off lets talk about the product itself, you want to find one that's quite light that doesn't have orange undertones. Great bronzer's for pale skin are Bourjois Delice De Powdre Bronzing Powder 51 this one looks bright but when blended right can look lovely and natural, plus it smells like chocolate..need I go on? Loreal's Glam Bronze 00, The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder 01 Light Matte and Seventeen Instant Glow Bronzing Powder Light are also great. (These are just the ones I have tried and tested, there's loads more out there)

The most important thing to remember when applying bronzer is to blend it. I used to ignore this tip and have seen pictures of myself where it looks like someone's drawn on me with orange highlighter (not a good look). So to avoid this, I lightly swirl my brush, tapping off any excess from the brush before applying to my cheek bones and take it up to my temples then on my neck. I tend to tap my bronzer on to avoid taking off any concealer. I then take a different brush (usually the Mac kabuki brush 182 that I have just used to apply my foundation) and blend it out further. Using a different brush to blend is key to getting it too look natural and not too florescent! 

Hope this helps you fellow pale girls!

What are your favourite bronzers?

♥

Glowing Skin Smoothie | The Acne Diaries

As you can read here, I've been enjoying making a smoothie every day because they are very delicious and very good for you.

This smoothie recipe is one specifically tailored to be great for the skin as it contains lots of vitamin C rich fruits. The recipe is...

1 apple

1 small satsuma

1 large handful of spinach

1 large handful of frozen mango

1/4 cup of water (or squeezed lemon juice)

1 kiwi 

The reason vitamin C is important for the skin is because its an antioxidant that slows down the rate of free radical damage which cause dryness, fine lines and wrinkles. It is also key to the production of collagen, a protein the aids in the growth of cells and blood vessels which gives skin its firmness and strength. Vitamin C also helps the skin repair itself. *science lesson over*

This smoothie also has lots of other vitamins and minerals that are you good for your skin such as iron, vitamin K and copper.

I have noticed a big difference in my skin since drinking one these smoothies every day. So go drink your way to healthy skin!

p.s. I forgot to mention that this smoothie also tastes delicious (the main reason I like making it every day)

♥

Everyday Spring Makeup Look

So spring is finally here! (How many times have you heard that recently?) and I always take spring as an opportunity to change switch up my routines, including my make up. I have really been enjoying this natural looking, fresh spring make up look for every day.

First off my foundation routine which includes my bareMinerals foundation and concealer. As I am still battling with acne scars I need a base that give me flawless application, natural looking and last all day, read about my foundation routine in my How To Cover Up Acne Scars post using bareMinerals Original Foundation. 

Next up bronzer and blush, which are my favourite steps. I like to keep my bronzer very natural and the best way to do this is to find one that suits your skin tone and BLEND it well. I have been enjoying Bourjois Delice de Poudre Bronzing Powder in the shade 51 and I use this to contour my cheek bones, on my temples and my neck which (once blended) gives my a lovely natural bronzed look. I then take my Sleek Blush in Rose Gold and lightly dust on the apples of my cheeks which gives a natural flush of rosey pink to the cheeks with a little bit of shimmer - perfect for spring.

Next up eyes, I don't wear eye shadow on an everyday basis. So to define my eyes I like to draw a line close to my lash line using a pencil liner I am currently using one from The Body Shop in the colour black. I then take my new favourite mascara Maybelline's Lash sensational.

For lips again I like to keep it fairly natural, I am loving Tanya Burr's Lip gloss in the colour I found nemo (Tanya wins the award for the product with the cutest name!) its a gorgeous coral colour with a glossy natural finish.

What products do you include in your spring make up routine?

♥

How To Get Strong Healthy Nails

Since treating myself to quite a few gel manicures over Christmas my nails are definitely feeling the consequences. Before gel nails I had very healthy nails that where very strong and could grow very long however now they are incredibly weak and visibly unhealthy. So here is guide and product recommendation to getting strong, long, healthy nails.

Firstly I like to cut my nails right back, to get rid of much of the old unhealthy nail as I can. I then like to file them into the shape I like so that they grow nicely into this shape. I then use a nail varnish remover (any old one will do) and a buffing quad to get rid of any old stubborn product and smooth the surface of my nails. 

Next up is dealing with the cuticles.. I use a cuticle pusher backer tool..you know what I mean right? to gently push back my cuticles towards my finger. I then take a cuticle oil, I am currently using Sinful Nails Cuticle Oil and swipe it across all my cuticle bed and gentle massage it in. 

And finally apply a nail strengthener (before I do this I like to wash my hands just to get any debris off). My absolute favourite and one I would highly recommend is Rimmel London Nail Nurse Rescue which is a clear nail treatment polish that claims to leave you with stronger, longer and more resilient nails after the 14 days (and believe me it really does do all these things) it recommends applying one coat on the first day of treatment then a second coat the following day then after a week removing it after 7 days and repeating the process. I follow these guidelines and occasionally add a few more coats depending on how bad my nails are. As well as doing this as a one of treatment I also like to wear it as clear coat when I'm not wearing nail polish (as it leaves a pretty shine) or use it as a base coat as it stops other polishes turning your nails slightly yellow. It's a great affordable product that I really do recommend, it's saved my nails!

Your nails are now good to go, to leave natural or apply your favourite nail polish too either way they are left feeling and looking much healthier than before.

What are your favourite nail polishes?

♥

Maybelline Lash Sensational Lash Multiplying Mascara | Review

I love mascara's, if I only had to wear one product (besides foundation lol!) it would be mascara. I'm constantly changing up which mascara I use but think I have found my drug store favourite...Maybelline's Lash Sensational.

In my opinion the name does it total justice. I love the way this makes my lashes look, both volumised and long. You can apply one or two layers for a perfect every day or layer it up for a false lash effect.

It has a plastic applicator, which are my favourite ones. The brush is very similar to L'oreal's Butterfly Effect which was a favourite of mine for a long time.

My favourite thing about this mascara is that is stays put all day. I sadly fall victim too the back smudges under my eye after only a few hours of applying make up, I don't know how but I always seem to be rocking the mascara on my face rather than on my lashes look - but not with this mascara (thank god - panda eyes is not the most flattering look haha) this one doesn't budge all day! 

My second favourite thing about this mascara is the price, it's only £5.99!! A bargain and better than a few high end mascara's I have tried. I really do recommend this purse friendly mascara. I think it's one I will be using for a long time.

Have you tried it? 

♥

A Week Away..

I recently took a week off and went away with my family to South Devon, one of my favourite places to go. (The pictures above are taken from Salcombe (left) a lovely little town with lovely harbour and the other two are from a reservoir in Dartmoor with some amazing views. Both a must if your in the area).

We've been visiting Devon since I was a tiny baby so its become and sort of second home for us, we try and go at least once a year. So for me Devon is a place full of happy memories. When I'm down there my stress and anxiety levels go down to almost 0, its somewhere I can go and feel content and happy. Maybe this is because I'm surrounded by beautiful countryside and beaches, maybe its because of all the happy memories that me and my family have created there but I know that when I'm down there I can relax and appreciate life without anxiety.

It was a lovely week away, filled with country/beach walks, pub lunches and cosy nights in in-front of an open fire. Sounds bliss huh?

I think its so important to have a place where you can go and feel you stress and worries blow away in the wind as I mentioned in my previous post 5 simple ways to instantly improve your life. Somewhere that makes you happy, where you can be yourself, whether its 200 miles away (as Devon is for me) or a field down the road from your house. Every so often its good to get away from normal life and take a breather.

Do you have a place that's special to you? 

♥

How To Cover Up Acne Scars | The Acne Diaries

Once you've got rid of your acne, your likely to get rid of scars. You might be thinking (as I did) I don't care about scars I just want to get rid of these spots! Well unfortunatley scarring can be just as, if not more difficult to get rid of than acne and, as I found, really difficult to cover! However I finally feel I have found a foundation routine that covers my scars...

Prime

Priming is an important step when trying to conceal your acne scars, it increases the longevity of your foundation keeping you flawless for much longer. There are lots of different primers out there but if you are trying to conceal acne scars I recommend a smoothing primer as some acne scars can be dipped making your skin look bumpy and uneven, a smoothing primer will help you skin texture look more even. I am currently using The Body Shop Drops of Youth Wonder Blur which I am really enjoying, it keeps my foundation on for longer and does smooth my skin a little too, read the blog post I did about it here.

Conceal #1

This is the first step to creating flawless foundation. I use this step to cover the redness of my scarring. I am currently using bareMinerals Correcting Concealer SPF 20 which is a creamy concealer with medium to high coverage that work reasonably well at taking the redness out away the redness. If your looking for a very high coverage concealer then I recommend the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer. However the reason I like this concealer is that it has added skin care benefits as it contains lemon peel extract, a botanical brightener that work to visibly brighten skin and reduce the appearance of dark spots and discolourations over time. Whether this actually is true or not I am yet to find out as I have not been using this concealer that long however I like the idea that my concealer can help reduce my acne scars. 

Foundation

This step creates an even base for our make up, blending the concealer we have already applied and adding more coverage. I am currently using bareMinerals Original Foundation SPF 15 as it works really well at evening out my skin tone and creating a natural, yet pretty high coverage base, check out my blog post where I talk about it in more detail here. Use a foundation that you like and that you can build into a good coverage.

Powder

This is a pretty important step as using powder sets your foundation keeping it in place for much longer. You can use a translucent powder such as Rimmel's Stay Matte which is great for setting your foundation and taking away any shine if you have oily skin. Or you can use this step to add further coverage such as Revlon's Photo Ready Pressed Powder which is one of my favourite powders to use as it helps create an 'airbrush' finish. 

Conceal #2

Your face should be looking pretty flawless right now but somehow theres always a few scars that manage to shine there way through the make up. So this step is to deal with them annoying little blitters! I again use my bareMinerals Original Foundation with a flat concealer brush to tap the product over the scars. With this step you need to use a concealer that will blend easily otherwise it can look cakey. Using your foundation with a concealer brush is a good way to get the extra coverage yet it will blend easily into your foundation (as its the same product!) You can then apply a little extra powder to set the concealer however I often don't.

What are some of your favourite concealers?

♥

Smoothies

I have been pretty obsessed with making smoothies recently. They taste SO good but more importantly are really good for you. Packing 3-5 different fruits/vegetables into one glass means your getting a yummy snack that provides you with at least one of your 5 a day and lots of vitamins and other good stuff! 

I like to buy a load of fresh/frozen fruit, chop it all up and put it into a big tub which I put in the freezer (as it keeps it fresher for longer) then whenever I want a smoothie just grab a hand full of whatever I've got in my tub and blitz it up (you will need to use the ice setting on your blender if your using frozen fruit).

You can use whatever fruit you have in your fruit bowl but my favourite combination at the moment is:

• 1 apple

• a handful of pineapple

• 2 handfuls of mango

• a handful of spinach 

• a few blueberries 

• a big glug of coconut water

Both spinach and coconut water are great to have in smoothies as they don't taste much so don't spoil the taste but have lots of vitamins and minerals in. Spinach is in it's best form when blitzed in a smoothie (apparently?).

Try having one smoothie a day and your skin and energy levels will thank you for it, mine certainly have. 

What's your favourite fruit smoothie combo? 

♥

5 Simple Ways To Instantly Improve Your Life

Lets face it, we all have days where we just want to give up. The days look grey and dreary and you question what your missing in your life? Here are 5 things I like to do when I hit that wall...

De-clutter

De clutter somewhere that you spend a lot of time. Be it your desk and work, your make-up table, your bedroom even the apps on your phone. Throw away everything that you don't use anymore/can't remember why you bought it. De cluttering physically helps you de-clutter mentally.

Take days out

No I don't mean phone into work sick and spend all day watching movies, eating junk food and feeling guilty at the fact that you have phoned into work and spent the day watching movies and eating junk food. I mean every so often when you've got a day off take yourself somewhere where you feel happy. Whenever I feel over stressed or anxious I know that means GET ME TO A BEACH and whether rain or shine, that weekend I will drive to my favourite and spend some time walking around in the fresh air whilst listening to the waves and reboot so I'm ready to go back to every day life.

Change something about yourself

This could be as simple as the colour of nail varnish your wearing. Changing something in your daily routine that usually is the same no matter how simple adds a burst of excitement into your life. I recently had my hair chopped short and it really does make you feel different.

Drink more water

The cheapest, easiest beauty/feel good treatment there is. Drinking more water makes you feel less lethargic, wakens you up and does wonders for your skin. I like to take a water bottle with me where ever I go so that I'm never dehydrated.

Surround yourself with good company

Whether it be your best friend, family or even your pet, spending time with people you love really does improve your mood. Distract yourself with conversation and create memories that make you smile.

♥

The Body Shop's Drops Of Youth WonderBlur | Review

I have never really used a primer, mostly because I'm too lazy to add another step in my already busy skin/make-up routine.

However I have recently switched over to mineral make up, which always works best with a primer. I have used it without a primer and it just doesn't look as flawless or last very long at all. 

Whenever I'm looking for a new product I always look first in The Body Shop, because most of their products are brilliant, and stumbled across wonder blur. 

Priced at £16 it claims to smooth skin texture by reducing the appearance or large pores and fine lines. For me, it does all these things. The first thing I noticed when applying this product is how soft my skin was. When I tried it on my hand in the shop the area I applied it to was so soft and it does the same on my face. I have a lot acne scars some of which have dipped so I need a primer that smooths skin texture, I have to tell you know that it's not a miracle worker but it does stop my foundation sinking into my pores and fines lines I have around my chin and also prevents laughter lines! It really does increase the longevity of my foundation. Also it's non-comedogenic so suitable for sensitive/acne prone skin. 

This paired with my bareMinerals original foundation is my new favourite make up routine that leaves me with natural, 'my skin but better' foundation that lasts all day.

Which primers do you like? Have you tried Wonderblur? 

♥

bareMinerals Original Foundation SPF 15 | Review

I've always been intrigued by bareMinerals and its promises of flawless, natural foundation and skin improving ingredients, it sounds like another false advertising campaign, right?

So after watching lots and lots of YouTube videos I decided to bit the bullet and give this foundation a try and I think it's fair to say I have not been left disappointed *get ready for an excitable rant*

Oh wow do I love this foundation. It leaves my skin looking so natural whilst still covering all my acne scars. I am not used to using powder foundations and do think this takes a little bit of practise but once you find a way to make it work for you it looks amazing. I like to use my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush and to really buff it in. Bareminerals NEEDS to be buffed, in a way it sort of activates it, the more you buff the more coverage you get. Its coverage can be anything from light-full as its very buildable, applying it in thin layers is the best way to build up the coverage. Once applying a powder, just to set it, I then take a flat concealer brush and tap on the foundation over any blemishes/scars that it hasn't already covered and this helps to achieve a real flawless look.
Another thing I really love about this foundation is that it lasts all day, in fact it looks better throughout the day! I don't know how it does it but unlike other foundations which can loose their coverage throughout the day bareminerals seems to look even more flawless as the day goes on. For example, the other day I applied the foundation around 10 AM and spent the day out in the cold walking around a gorgeous reservoir, I then went straight out for dinner (without any touch ups) and by the time I got home at 10 PM the make up looked pretty much the same as it did when I put it on, maybe a little shiny but no where near as bad as other foundations would have looked. It also doesn't sink in to my laughter lines like other foundations do, keeping my face looking natural and not patchy.
The main thing I love about this foundation is the way it makes my skin look and feel. I love the 'no make up/my skin but better look' and this foundation gives me that. It's so light weight that it feels like you aren't wearing any make up at all and at the end of the day once removing my make up with my Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish my skin doesn't look read and sensitive as it does when using a foundation with lots of chemicals in it. I truly believe that (slowly but surely) this foundation is improving the condition of my skin and being someone that has suffered from acne breaking/scarring for a very long time now I really am grateful for that.

Have you tried it?

♥ 

Soap and Glory's Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Stick | Review

I love glossy lips and these lip crayon's by Soap and Glory have become my go to every day lip products, I love them!
What's good about them? They are a quick easy way to get a sweep of colour, shine and slightly fuller lips. These gloss crayons contain Soap and Glory's famous lip plumping formula without the uncomfortable tingling feeling that you get with the other Sexy Mother Pucker products.
The colours are lovely, not a huge range of colours but 5 staple colours. My favourite every day shade is Nudist. It's a lovely nude colour with slightly brown undertones that gives you a 'my lips but better look'. Also the gloss lasts a lot longer than some of my other lip glosses so that's an added bonus! They are also super moisturising so great for use in the colder months where chapped lips can make your lip stick look awful.
Despite all these good traits of them I do have a favourite...the smell!! Oh wow, they smell gorgeous, like Cadbury's mini eggs, yummy, making them quite addictive to apply.
These lip crayons are a bargain at only £8 and in my opinion totally worth the money.

Have you tried them?

♥

10 Places I'd Love To Visit

Travelling is a BIG to do on my bucket list and something that I've not yet done a lot off. The world we live in is an amazing place with some stunning landmarks. Here are my top 10 places that I'd like to travel too...

1. Ireland

Ever since I saw P.S. I Love You I've always wanted to visit Ireland. It's a beautiful country with breathtaking country side views a gorgeous little beach coves. Plus the Irish accent is b-e-a-utiful!

2. Thailand

Thailand's an amazing country so full of culture and so different to England. My main reason for wanting to go to Thailand is my love of Elephants, I'd love to go to an elephant sanctuary and see Asian Elephants!

3. Canada

The landscape in Canada looks breathtaking. I'd love to see a mountain range and the Rocky Mountains would be a pretty cool one to see.

4. Paris

Paris is a beautiful city with so many famous landmarks. I have actually been to Paris before on a school trip but it was years ago and I didn't get to see all I wanted to see. I'd love to see the Eiffel Tower at night, the love lock bridge but more importantly Disneyland Paris!!

5. Australia

My main reason for wanting to visit Australia is because I have family living out there that I hardly ever get too see. But it would also be an amazing place to visit because of the beaches and the wildlife. I'd love to go to The Great Barrier Reef and see all the little fishies! 

6. Greece

I don't have a lot of reasoning as to why I want to visit Greece except that it looks like a beautiful country, would be a lovely place to visit with my family as a summer holiday.

7. Scotland

Scotland for me is only a train ride away and is home to rolling hills of country side, ancient castle ruins and running streams. I love the country side so for me Scotland is a must.

8. The Maldives

For obvious reasons? Imagine lying on a sun lounger, a cocktail in hand with this as your view? Yes please!

9.  Alaska

Similarly to Canada Alaska has some breathtaking views and somewhere where not a lot of people think to visit, I'd love to stand on the edge of that reservoir breathing in the fresh air looking at the incredible view.

10. America

Road trip anyone? Me and my sister have always dreamed about road-triping around America, there's so many amazing cities to visit, its hard to choose just one to mention!

Where would you most like to visit?

♥

You Are What You Eat? | The Acne Diaries

Whilst suffering with acne and having no luck with any acne-fighting products, I decided to do some research into the route cause of acne and ways to fight it starting from the inside out. Whilst there have been no actually proven studies that there is a link between what you eat and acne I can't help but thinking that it is - if all you eat is greasy fatty food then surely that's going to reflect in your skin?

Eating healthy has many benefits to your body and this reflects in your skin. I have made a few alterations to my diet and have seen great results!

Firstly cutting out dairy. This wasn't difficult for me as I don't eat a lot of dairy except for milk in tea and on cereal and yoghurt but after reading about the effects dairy can have on your body and your skin it made sense to cut dairy out of my diet. In a nutshell milk and dairy products contain growth hormones and inflammatory substances that can clog your pores and cause acne. There are some great dairy alternatives to milk out there, I now use Alpro Unsweetened Almond Milk which as well as containing no dairy has lots of healthy plant based ingredients and in my opinion tastes better too! 

Cutting down on sugar and salt - the reasons for this is obvious and although we all hate to hear it, does make a difference. Although having a sugary treat every often won't do to much damage!

Eating more fruits and vegetables - again the reasons for this is obvious but trying to eat the recommended 5 day is important to getting vital vitamins and minerals that will benefit your health and show in your skin. Smoothies are a great way at getting lots of fruit portions all at once however its best to make your own as some supermarket bought smoothies have added sugar in.

Taking fish oil supplements also help reduce acne. I have been taking them for a few months now and have seen the benefits. This is because it increases your omega-3 in take which, again in a nut shell, reduces inflammation, helps balance hormone production and and slows down skin cell over production keeping your pores clear! 
One of my new years resolutions this year has been to drink more water and since doing this I have noticed a big difference! During our busy lives we often forget to keep ourselves hydrated and its not till you make a concious effort to drink more water that you realise what a difference it makes.My breakouts have reduced and my acne scars seem to be slowly fading. I also love drinking green tea as it's got other health benefits too.
These are just a few dietary changes that I have made and have seen great results in my skin. This is just a brief explanation of foods that can effect your acne for more information check out Clear Skin Forever's blog. This is were I read up on how to get rid of my acne by getting to the route of the cause. Obviously eating healthy has a heap load of other benefits and once you start its kind of addictive, there's loads of tasty healthy options out there!

Hope this helps!

♥

A Healthy Little Treat

I'm trying to be a lot healthier, but am missing the sweet treats that I used to love. So I have been trying to make unhealthy snacks into healthy treats! After having a very green salad for lunch I fancied something sweet so decided to make some yummy pancakes using plain flour, 1 egg and almond milk (when making pancakes I tend to guess with measurements until it looks like pancake mix). Once cooked I topped it with Nutella (which is still a tiny bit naughty but is a lot healthier than melted chocolate as its mainly just hazelnuts) and blueberries, yum!

Eating healthy is important but it shouldn't be a chore! Making simple little changes like using almond milk instead of cows milk and Nutella instead of milk chocolate. Accompanied with some green tea in my favourite mug and this was the perfect afternoon treat!

What healthy snacks do you enjoy?

♥

A LUSH Bath

I love a good bath, there's nothing better than after a long day outside in the cold than getting in a lovely warm bath. I love using LUSH products in my bath to make them a little more exciting as it always make them smell and look amazing!

Tonight I decided to use two products in my bath.. 

The first is the Twilight Bath Bomb which I love because 1. I love stars, 2. it smells like lavender so is a perfect bed time scent and 3. because when you put it in your bath it looks amazing, like the sky at twilight (get it?) it froths and fizzes and turns your bath pink and blue with random spots of yellow, its so pretty!

The second product I used was the Brightside Bubble Bar. I love having bubbles in the bath and LUSH bubble bars always create good bubbles, not ones small ones that disappear really quickly. This one is a large one so you can get at least 2 baths out of it, which is great because its always sad when you buy something and can only get one use out of it. This one also smells amazing, its triple orange-scented which is one of my favourite scents. It also made my skin super soft!

For Christmas I got this set from LUSH - The Great Balls Of Bicarb which is 5 bath bombs in a funky looking tube!

I loved having this and used it up pretty quickly but it was really nice getting to test out different products. My favourite was Dragon's Egg and Honey Bee both of which smelt amazing. Dragon's Egg was the prettiest out of them all, it contained popping candy and swirling sparkles and smelt like lemon sherbet so looked amazing! Honey Bee didn't look as pretty as it turned my bath water yellow (so kind of looks like you've had an accident in the bath) but smells so good. It contains honey, aloe vera and rhassoul mud so made my skin super soft!

What are your favourite LUSH products?

♥

8 Reasons To Still Love Disney In Your 20's

Growing up, Disney was a massive part of my childhood. I loved all of the films and had all of them on video tape (remember those bad boys!) and all the dressing up outfits! My favourite, although hard to pick, I always said was The Little Mermaid I don't have any reasons as to why it just was! Being in my 20's I'm not embarrassed to admit that Disney is still a big part of my life. I love putting a Disney classic on whilst snuggled in my PJ's and I'm no stranger to a stroll around the Disney store. So here are 8 reasons as to why I still love Disney...

1. Who doesn't love a good sing-a-long?

My personal favourite thing about disney...the songs are soo good! Whenever I'm feeling a bit down I know that a sing song will make me feel better. No one can deny that they can't resist singing the next line to The Circle Of Life - it makes you feel good. Everyone loves Disney songs and they're lying if they say they don't, do I have to mention that Let It Go is STILL in the charts?

2. They teach us the importance of love.

No Disney film is complete without a love story right? No matter how un-realistic their representation of love is, Disney taught us not only to love other people but also to love yourself. Even if it makes you feel sad about your single status Disney taught us that love can happen to anyone at any time.

3. It can bring back fond memories.

Because we relate Disney so much with our childhood, watching the same Disney films can bring back happy memories. When I'm sad I like to watch Alice In Wonderland because in high school we did a performance of Alice in Wonderland so watching the film takes me back to a very happy time of my live. Sometimes it's nice to slow down and remember happy times from the past, it helps clear your mind to deal with the present.

4. They help us understand the importance of family.

"A man should never neglect his family for business" - Walt Disney. One thing that I love about Disney is that they are family films and you can sit and watch them with anyone in your family, no matter what their age.

5. They can make you feel every emotion possible.

You want to laugh? You watch Robin Williams as the genie in Aladdin. You feeling angry? Let's talk about when Gaston sent Belle's dad of to the  asylum. You want to cry? Remember when Simba's dad died.

6. They give us a sense of adventure.

What's a Disney film without an adventure? If watching Up doesn't tickle your travelling taste buds then not much else will.

7. They remind us to believe in magic.

The world can be a pretty stressful place sometimes and its easy to get lost. Sometimes it's nice to think that there is magic and happiness in the world.

8. They inspire us to follow our dreams.

Disney teaches us to follow our dreams, whether it be love or adventure. Did Hercules give up on his dream to become a God? Did Rapunzel give up her on her dream to see the lights? Did Ariel give up on her dream of marrying prince Eric? No, and neither should you.

 ♥