Tuesday 28 July 2015

Winter Beauty Essentials


I am one of those people with extremely sensitive and dry skin and practically anything can irritate and cause red patches or rashes. During winter this unfortunately, like for most people, gets extremely worse. It gets to a point where my legs can easily look like crocodile skin, my face gets really tight, my hair becomes brittle and the sides of my mouth burst.
I have finally discovered a few products that have absolutely transformed my beauty regime in winter and I cannot recommend these products more.


Vaseline Body Cream



I always use a body butter from The Body Shop as a normal moisturizer but my body was still constantly dry. I was in the supermarket when I discovered this gem. It didn't look like much but promised to solve my skin problems so I gave it a try. Not only does it moisturize your skin, it contains micro-droplets Petroleum Jelly which then coats your skin preventing more moisture to be lost. Even with this property it does not make your skin feel oily or sticky; it seeps right into the skin. Whenever someone complains to me about dry skin I always tell them about this product because it is one of the best products available as well as the most affordable! 


 Creighton's Bath and Shower Cream



This shower cream is perfect for something soothing for the skin. I love using it with a sponge all over my entire body. The product comes in many different scents but I just felt that the Vanilla was perfect for winter! The scent is really strong when you are using it in the shower, I just wish the scent lasted on your skin afterwards.


Elvive OIL Mask Balm



My hair has always been dry because I bleached my ends but during the colder months my hair became brittle and more visibly damaged than ever before. I am a sucker for new hair products especially hair masks so I gave this one a try. When I opened the tub I fell instantly in love, even if the product wasn't good the scent was great enough to persuade me to use it. It has the most beautiful cinnamon chai smell that always convinces me to reach for it! Beside the smell, it is such a good product. It conditions my hair so much leaving it extremely soft and silky. I use it about once a week instead of conditioner along with the oil afterwards from the same range. I am honestly in love with this product!


Clarins Orange Scrub



Using a scrub was always my favourite part of my skin regime even though I knew how harsh it was on my skin. I could often feel how my old scrubs would scrub away the healthy skin as well so I actually removed it all together from my regime. I then started using this scrub after a long night out with heavy make up just to ensure that all the make up was removed about once every two weeks. I then incorporated it into my skin regime once a week because it made my skin so radiant. It is so gentle on the skin because the beads are so small and they are not coarse at all. I can feel how it clears my face of dead skin cells especially around my nose area every time I use it.


Elizabeth Arden Sensitive skin Toner



I never really used toners because I felt my skin was to young and sensitive for the products available. My skin would always burn after using it! This toner, however, has changed my skin completely! It does not dry my skin out at all. I know it's the product I have been missing. Where a spot would usually leave a mark for a couple of days it now is completely reduced after a day or two. I think this is an absolutely gorgeous product.


Clinique Moisture Surge Intense Moisturizer



I am always skeptical when it comes to buying moisturizers because I hate it when my skin feel sticky but along with that I had extremely dry skin and needed to find something ASAP. Though it is very pricey this moisturizer lasts you months because it is very spreadable because it is just that good of a product. I have absolutely nothing negative to say about it. It honestly saved my skin.


Clarins Rose Water Lip Balm



My lips go absolutely crazy in any sort of change in climate so in the cold month my lips are dry and flaky (absolutely horrible for lipstick!). When I use this product, however, I can feel a big difference. My lips are instantly soothed. I carry this in my handbag with me wherever I go because it is honestly something that has helped me this winter. I love using it just before I apply my make up so that when I apply my lipstick my lips are smooth and the lipstick just sits nicely and isn't flaky. I think everyone should have one of these handy! 


MAC Strobe Cream



I bought this only because I had run out of my previous Illuminator but I then found out what an incredible Illuminating Moisturizer it is! I now use it as a primer under my foundation and I then mix the excess in with my foundation and it just gives such a flawless dewy finish that I love. I always found that foundation dries out my skin even the ones for dry skin and since using the Strobe Cream I find that my foundation feels and looks twenty times nicer on my skin!


Comment below which products you love in Winter!








Thursday 16 July 2015

Oreo Cupcakes

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So today is my sister's 24th birthday and since I'm the one that bakes the most I was in charge of her birthday cake.
I decided to go for cupcakes because they are just a lot easier and quicker than a big cake.
I am absolutely obsessed with Oreos and when I was at the supermarket a couple of days ago I saw mini Oreos and I just knew they were destined to be cupcake toppings!

I got my recipe from the following website:

http://uktv.co.uk/food/recipe/aid/657083

Ingredients:

For the cupcakes:


  6 Oreo biscuits
115 g unsalted butter, softened
115 g caster sugar
½ tsp vanilla extract
100 g self-raising flour
20 g cocoa powder
2 large eggs beaten
1 tsp milk

For the frosting:

50 g butter, softened
80 g cream cheese, cold
175 g icing sugar
6 Oreo biscuits

To decorate:

11 mini Oreo biscuits

Method:


1. For the cupcakes: preheat oven to 180C/160 fan/gas 4. Line a muffin tin with 11 paper muffin cases. Separate the Oreos and place half into the bottom of each case, with any cream filling facing upwards. 

2. Cream together the softened butter and caster sugar, along with the vanilla extract, until pale and fluffy. 

3. Sift in the flour and cocoa powder. Add the two beaten eggs and mix well, taking care to stop once all of the dry ingredients are incorporated. Add the milk and beat briefly to combine. 

4. Divide the mixture evenly between the cupcake cases. Bake for 22-25 minutes

5. For the frosting: place the six large Oreos into a food processor and whizz into crumbs. Alternatively, place the cookies into a plastic food bag and smash with a rolling pin. Set aside. 

6. Rub the softened butter into the icing sugar using the back of a wooden spoon. Do the same with the cream cheese. 

7. Once the icing sugar has been incorporated, whisk with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.

8. Gently fold the Oreo crumbs into the frosting, being careful not to over mix. If the frosting is a little runny at this stage, place in the fridge to chill for 15 minutes

9. To decorate: cover each cupcake with the frosting and finish with a mini Oreo. 



These were my Oreo Cupcakes:






Comment below whether you have ever made Oreo Cupcakes or what is your favourite Cupcake flavour??



Tuesday 14 July 2015

Live The Life You Want to Live

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" Get out from your house

from your cave, from your car

from the place you feel safe

from the place that you are.

Get out and go running,

go funning, go wild,

get out from your head and get growing,

Dear child."


~ Dallas Clayton

I spent most my life trying to please the people I love thinking I have to live my life for them.
I studied a degree for a year and a half thinking it's the right thing to do because it was expected of me.
The more someone asked me whether I was enjoying it or whether I can actually see myself doing that job in the future the more I realised just how unhappy I actually was. I just kept on thinking "don't worry, everyone hates it at first" but sub-consciously I knew how unhappy I have become.
Don't get me wrong; I wasn't failing my subjects or missing home too much, I was just incredibly unhappy academically.
If it was up to me I would love to carry on living in Stellenbosch because some of my favourite people and places are there.
The more I carried on convincing myself and others I was happy, the more anxiety and panic attacks I was having. It got to the point where the people close to me realised what was going on.
It occured to me that I cannot carry on like that because it is essentially my life and no one else is living it for me.

Since making the decision to 'drop-out' I have become a completely different person. I am so excited for my future now.
I haven't had any panic attacks for more than a month and I feel great.
I have decided to spent the next six months to do some soul-searching and live out my passion (which is why I have started this blog) and see whether I can create something from that.

It is really easy to feel pressured when you are deciding your future because it's a huge step to take when you are only seventeen. You feel like you need to listen to everyone around you but the only person that knows you well enough to know what makes you happy is you!
Take advice and research careers but the final decision is yours.
Be happy.
If you are happy in yourself and in what you do you will be able to make a success out of it (hard-work obviously essential).

Stay in touch with this blog to find out what I have been up to, my favourite beauty-products, hauls and anything fun.

Leave a comment below and tell me whether you have had a similar experience or are currently deciding about majors!