blogmas #7: The Christmas Tag

I wanted today's blogmas post to be super festive, and what better way to do that than to do the Christmas Tag! I've seen a few version of this floating around but I chose to do this one from Makeup Savvy (link here). At the bottom I've included the questions so you can easily copy & paste them onto your own blog if you want to do the tag!

1. What is your favourite Christmas Movie/s?
Elf! It's funny every time and I just can't get enough of it; I watch it at least 5 times every Christmas. For a Christmas lover I actually haven't seen that many festive films so this years I'm hoping to make up for it and watch loads.

2. Do you open your presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?
In my family we spread them throughout Christmas Day. When my parents wake up we open our main presents, and then we have a couple every few hours throughout the day. My parents also like to save one presents each for me and my brother for Boxing Day so that Christmas can go on a bit longer ahaah.

3. Do you have a favourite Christmas memory?
I don't remember a specific Christmas, but when I was younger I used to love going into my parents room early on Christmas morning and watching all the limited edition Christmas cartoons that used to be on TV. Then we would all go down together, check that Father Christmas had eaten his mince pie, and that Rudolph had eaten his carrot, and then excitedly open our presents!

4. Favourite festive food?
I'm not really a massive fan of most Christmas foods; I don't hate them, but I certainly don't love them. However, Terry's Chocolate Oranges are a huge favourite of mine. Although they're not strictly a festive food, I go a bit crazy with them over the festive period, and I especially love the variety boxes with the different types of segment!

5. Favourite Christmas gift?
It sounds very cliche, but when I look back at previous Christmas' I find it very hard to remember what I actually received as gifts. I don't know that it's my favourite gift, but I do recall once getting a Disney CD and spending the entire day playing it on repeat and absolutely loving life, so at the time that present was a firm favourite of mine.

6. Favourite Christmas scent?
This seems to change every year for me as I'm constantly trying new scents and loving them more than my previous favourite, but at the moment it's anything cranberry scented. I'm currently loving the Cranberry Ice Yankee Candle and The Body Shop's Frosted Cranberry Shower Gel. We also have a really nice smelling diffuser in our bathroom, I don't know what the scent is, but it basically just smells of Christmas haha.

7. Do you have any Christmas Eve traditions?
We used to go to church in the evening but we've stopped that now. For the last few years, one of my friends has come round and we've done lots of Christmassy baking which always leaves the house smelling amazing! We basically spend the day being super festive and getting hyped for Christmas the next day.

8. What tops your tree?
We have a very traditional looking angel that I'm not overly keen on but my parents like it so there's not a lot I can do about it! Our entire tree is actually pretty crazy, which no matching baubles, and all sorts of random decorations. I prefer a nice traditional tree, with a nice colour scheme and evenly spaced decorations, and of course plenty of glitter and sparkle.

9. As a kid what was the one (crazy, wild, extravagant) gift you always asked for but never received?
A puppy! Every year since I was about 5 it's been at the very top of my wishlist, and it still is now! I just love dogs and want one so badly but my parents don't want a pet running around the house. As soon as I move out, I'm sure there will be a new fluffy addition to the family.

10. What's the best part about Christmas for you?
Definitely the build up to Christmas. I love everything about it, including the lovely decorations, late night shopping, the growing excitement, choosing presents for my friends and family, seeing people I haven't seen for ages and festive baking! I just love it all and am 100% one of those people that looks forward to Christmas all year round.

Hope you've enjoyed this tag! If you also do the tag make sure to let me know as I'd love to read your answers!

emma x

1. What is your favourite Christmas Movie/s?
2. Do you open your presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?
3. Do you have a favourite Christmas memory?
4. Favourite festive food?
5. Favourite Christmas gift?
6. Favourite Christmas scent?
7. Do you have any Christmas Eve traditions?
8. What tops your tree?
9. As a kid what was the one (crazy, wild, extravagant) gift you always asked for but never received?
10. What's the best part about Christmas for you?

blogmas #6: The Perfect Hot Chocolate

Winter aka the season of daily hot chocolates in front of the telly. Okay so maybe not every day as I am trying to watch my weight, but every now and then I like to have a good hot chocolate at the end a cold, winters day.

This hot chocolate might not be the most photogenic as it isn't topped with whipped cream, marshmallows or any other decorations, but this drink just needs to be appreciated in its purest form hahah.

I prefer a milky hot chocolate to one made with water, so the first thing I do is heat the milk in the microwave. I only fill the mug two thirds of the way to leave room for the powder, and I heat it for 1 minute and 20 seconds as I've found that it's the perfect length of time.

Next I add 2 heaped teaspoon of Whittards Caramel Hot Chocolate and mix that in. I really like this hot chocolate as it's really luxurious and basically just all round amazing! Then comes the secret ingredient, Hazelnut Syrup! I picked up mine in Sainsbury's down the coffee aisle, but I'm sure most supermarkets stock it. I use 4 teaspoons of this and hey presto, you have the world's best hot chocolate! Of course, you can now add whipped cream if you're in need of a real treat, but generally I just leave mine as it is.

What's your favourite brand of hot chocolate?

emma x

A Mini Makeup Haul

This is my second post of the day for all you lucky people, and this time around I have a little haul. I've been trying to stay more restrained leading up to Christmas, so there's only a few items, but I thought I should share them with you.

Boots recently had one of their 3 for 2 mix and match across all makeup brands, so of course I had to take advantage of this. I needed a new foundation for the winter months, now that I'm paler. I chose the Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundation Nude (£7.99) because I loved the Match Perefection, but wanted something slightly higher coverage this time around. I did decide to get the medium coverage nude one rather than the full coverage original as my skin is actually behaving itself at the moment (touch wood).

The next product I decided to get on the deal was this L'oreal Matte Bronzer (£7.99). It's less orange toned than some so I thought it was be good for contouring, but I have found that it still isn't grey toned enough so I may have to save up for Benefit's Hoola as I can't find any grey toned bronzers in the drugstore. However, this is still good for bronzing up my skin, and because it's matte, it still looks really natural.

The final product I got in this deal was the Maybelline Under Eye Concealer (£7.99), which silly old me forgot to photograph. It has a very unique applicator but so far I've been loving it. It has quite a thin consistency but it still has good coverage. I like to have a different concealer for my under eyes to my blemishes as it is much more hygienic so this is great for me.

Lastly, I bought this an Essie nail polish in the shade Toggle to the Top. I have had my eye on this for a while but at £8 I just couldn't justify it. Low and behold, I am browsing in TK Maxx and find it on sale for £3.99! Of course, at this price I just had to pick it up, and so far I am impressed. It is perfectly opaque in two coats, dries relatively quickly, and lasts well on the nails. The only negative is that it is very difficult to remove, but then that applies to all glitter polishes.

And that's it! I'm quite proud of myself because there's a lot on my wishlist at the moment but hopefully after Christmas I'll have a bit of money to spend on a few new beauty products.

emma x

blogmas #5: New Years Resolution Review

Today I will be looking back at the resolutions I made at the start of the year. I know the year hasn't quite finished yet, but it's close enough, and let's be honest, most of our regular schedules go out the window during the run up to Christmas.

1) Lose 10 Pounds - Well this is an interesting one to start with haha. I did actually manage to achieve this within the first few months of 2014, however unfortunately I have since put it back on. I did feel much more confident with my body when I was a bit lighter though, so I would like to lose it again and hopefully keep it off this time.

2) Drink a Glass of Water Everyday - This resolution has actually been a huge success. To begin with, I drank a glass of water with dinner every day, and eventually I actually grew to like it better, so now I drink it regularly as my usual drink and often have multiple glasses in a day.

3) Go to the Gym Once a Week - This failed miserably and lasted all of two weeks so lets quickly move on.

4) Do the 7 Minute Workout Everyday - I did manage to keep this going for a couple of months, but doing it everyday just became too much, especially when I was away from home.

5) Improve my Posture - I have been working on my posture and it has improved but it is something that will take a long time to fully correct, so I'm going to keep working on it into the new year.

6) Do a Blog Post Once a Week - To start with this didn't go too well, but from August I have been posting twice a week, and for blogmas I am posting daily, so I think I have made up for the bad start towards the end of the year.

7) Post on Instagram Twice a Week - I actually quit my themed instagram account a few months ago, so clearly I didn't achieve this one. However, if you do want to follow me, I still have my personal account @emmajolliffe.

8) Write down One Good Memory Everyday - I did do this for a couple of months and it did help me to be a lot more positive. I have since stopped writing it down, but I do like to spend a bit of time reflecting as the end of every day, and think about all the things that made me happy, and it's been working really well, so I'm hoping to continue this into the new year.

9) Get a Job - A big success here; I got my job at the end of August as a receptionist at a local Sports and Recreational Centre. So far I'm really enjoying it and am enjoying having a better of extra money to spend.

So overall, some resolutions went well and others didn't but I'm happy with what I've achieved this year, and am really looking forward to 2015.

emma x

blogmas #4: A Gift Guide for Guys

Buying gifts for the men in your life, be they boyfriends, dads, friends or brothers, is always a struggle. To help with this issue I've compiled a few ideas for what I'll be buying them this Christmas.

1) Jack Wills Duo (£12 - Boots) - This set includes a body wash and a deodorant, and is great for teenage boys that you don't know what to buy. It is a fairly universal gift so is suitable for people you don't know so well.

2) 'Evil Plans and Stuff' Notebook (£6 - Amazon) - This is the perfect gift for an older men as it is funny but also useful. Any funny notebook is a winner, but this is the best one I could find online. I would suggest looking in the department stores if you're looking for any smaller joke presents.

3) Topman Body Spray Trio (£10 - Boots) - A good value set here as you get three well sized ddeodorants. This is great for younger teenagers who are just getting into using products like this, and the brand makes is more attractive to boys just getting into Topman.

4) Whisky Selection Pack (£12 - Boots) - The perfect present for a dad or grandad here, and a great way for them to try out some new brands of alcohol. This is a very sophisticated gift that is reasonably priced too.

5) Remote Control Range Rover (£30 - Debenhams) - What guy doesn't love a nice new toy to play with at Christmas? No matter what their age, the males in your life will still love to receive a remote control car. It doesn't have to be this one, but the fact that it's a Range Rover makes it even better in my opinion.

6) No7 Hydrating Shave Kit (£18 - Boots) - Another good one for teenage boys here as many of them are just starting to shave regularly. This set includes everything they need to ease into this process and the high end packaging will make them feel very grown up too!

7) Blue Woolen Scarf - I love a scarf on a guy, and if you to do, this is the perfect gift for a partner. This particular one is very pricey at £42 but there are much more affordable versions available on the highstreet. I really like giving people clothing as I find that it's much more personal than other presents.

I hope this post helped if you were stuck for ideas, and I'll see you again tomorrow for blogmas #5.

emma x

blogmas #3: Party Perfect Brows

Okay so making an eyebrow tips post into a Christmas one may be pushing it a bit, but I have been waiting to do this post for ages, and everyone needs good brows for the party season, right?

1) Fill your eyebrows in before plucking them - This way it is much easier to pluck them to the shape that you want and avoid overplucking. It then makes it much quicker to fill them in because your brows already have the shape that you're aiming for.

2) Try a variety of products - Different things work for different people so be willing to try new ones. I've tried gels, pencils and powders, and although I've found some amazing products, I'm still not entirely happy with my brow routine, so next on my list of things to try is the Makeup Revolution Liquid Brow Tint, and the Tarte Brow Mousse.

3) Define that arch - Poker straight brows can give you an angry expression, so lift your arch a little to make you look happier and frame your face better. Don't go over the top and try and give yourself something you don't have, but a little extra around the arch can make all the difference.

4) Use concealer under your brows - Adding a touch of concealer once you're done gives your brows a really clean, sharp finish. It's best to use a really small concealer brush for this for added precision. Using a pale concealer can also act as a bit of a highlight to further enhance your brows and brighten your complexion a little.

5) Check the finished product in different mirrors around the house - In my bedroom mirror my brows can look totally on point but then I go in the bathroom and you can't even see that I've tamed them. I recommend doing them in one mirror, and then going to another to touch them up, to ensure you look picture perfect in all lighting.

My final tip is to embrace what you have! Be confident, rock those brows and enjoy the paarrtaayyy!

emma x

blogmas #2: A Gift Set Guide

This posts was so fun to make and I gained so much inspiration for items that I can add to my own Christmas list, and ones that I can buy for my friends and family. All of these are beauty based but there is a range of prices ranges and types of product. 

1) Nars Lip Pencil Set (£32 - Space NK) - This is clearly quite an expensive set, however it does offer great value for money. You get a wide range of shades, and although the pencils aren't full size, they are only a tiny bit smaller. Considering you couldn't even get two full size pencils for this price, it is a truly amazing offer, and the pencils are amazing quality so you know that they're worth spending your money on.

2) Aromatherapy Bath Oil Mini Collection (£35 - Space NK) - A very sophisticated option here, perfect for slightly older women that still love to indulge in a lovely relaxing bath. You don't get loads of product for your money here, but you do get to try 10 different oils, and the beautiful packaging proves to the receiver that it is a high end present.

3) Benefit Sweet Tintations (£20) - If I didn't already have so many lip products, I would definitely be purchasing this. For your money you get 2 full size lip products, and 2 medium sized tints, which is incredible value. The lip balms usually cost £14.50 each so you can easily see why this set has already been such a great seller this year. The lip and cheek tints are plenty big enough; I actually think that the full size ones are too big, and I know friends who have had them dry up before they finished them because they contain so much product.

4) Smashbox Primer Set (£13) - A slightly cheaper option here, but a great one for someone who wants to try out some higher end primers. Smashbox are well known for their amazing primers so this set is sure to be a hit with whoever you give it to, and the price means that someone who doesn't normally have the opportunity to buy try more expensive products can afford to give them a go.

5) Essie Nail Varnish Duo Kit (£12.99 - Boots) - This set is great for any nail lover as you get two full size Essie polishes. Although there is only one colour option available, the set includes Tart Deco which is one of Essie's most popular shades, so is sure to be a hit with whoever you gift this to. Of course, if you buy it for 3 people, you can take advantage of the Boots 3 for 2 offer, and it becomes even better value.

6) No7 Complete Cleansing Kit and Brush (£25 - Boots) - I am pretty sure that I'm going to end up buying this for myself at some point because I just can't get over the price point. The vast majority of cleansing brushes cost in excess of £100, but for just £25 you get a brush and two full size No7 products. This is a great choice for someone who wants to try a cleansing brush, but doesn't want to pay too much without knowing if it will benefit them significantly.

7) Benefit Beauty Bonbons Set (£40 - Boots) - A very expensive set here, but one that I think is totally worth it for someone special. You get a full size Hoola Bronzer and High Beam, which alone covers the cost of the set. Then you also get a mini They're Real Mascara and Porefessional Primer, another 2 of their best selling products, as well as a mini Hoola Lipgloss, all packaged beautifully in a little house.

8) No7 Skincare Collection (£16) - This is a really well priced set and the products are suitable for any skin type, making it very universal. You get 4 medium sized products, a muslin cloth and a headband. This is an ideal present for someone that you don't know what to buy because everyone takes care of their skin, whether they wear makeup or not.

Have you found any amazing sets this year? Let me know in the comments.

emma x

The Tuesday Review: Benefit Dandelion Box Blush

I've had this product for a good few months now, having kindly received it as a gift on my birthday, back in the summer. At first I was quite unimpressed with how little it showed up on my tanned skin, and ended up rarely using it, other than occassionally as a subtle highlight as it was so pale compared to my skin. Fast forward a few months, and my skin is a good few shades lighter and I can finally see why people give so much love to this product.

I have to say, I'm really not a fan of the scent of this powder, to me it smells very grannyish, but to be honest the scent of a product really doesn't have an overall effect on whether I like it or not. As with all of Benefit's boxed powders, the packaging isn't the most practical thing in the world, but I am impressed with the brush that it comes with. I don't keep it in the box as I find that it tends to chip bits off the powder, and I actually use the brush for a different product: bronzer. I find that its the perfect shaped brush to contour with, but more about that in a later post.

The blush itself is a pale pink colour with a hint of shimmer, and isn't overly pigmented. It gives you a really fresh and alive look when applied to pale skin, and helps to brighten up your complexion. You can never go over the top with this, and you don't have to be too precise with your application as it is quite sheer and looks good as a highlight. In fact, Benefit actually suggest applying a small amount over your whole face as a brightening finishing powder. I am yet to try this but I can imagine it will work very well for me as I have yellow toned skin so this should help to neutralise it a little.

As for wear time, I find that this does last me through most of the day, and when it does fade, the shimmer remains so my skin still looks lovely and glowing. Having tested the wear time in the colder months, I actually wouldn't consider trying to carry on using this in the summer as my skin needs something super long lasting to keep it in place throughout its oiler moments, however it is absolutely perfect for a light flush of colour in autumn and winter.

emma x

blogmas #1: An Introduction

I wanted to do something special on my blog this Christmas as it is my favourite time of year and I am super excited! I don't have too much going on college or work wise over the month of December, so I decided I should have time to blog EVERY day up until Christmas! This will be a big step up for me from my twice a week posts, and because I want the posts to be more up to date, I won't be able to write them weeks in advance, so it's going to be a manic blogging month for me but I'm so excited!

Many of the posts won't be as long as my current ones, but I'm going to try and make them more lifestyle related and personal based so that you can get to know me better. As many of the posts as possible will be Christmas related to share the festive spirit on my blog.

I'm going to try and do my Tuesday and Friday posts as well so that there is still some beauty posts going up, but I'm not sure how long that will last hahah. 

I think that's all there is to know, let me know in the comments if you're doing blogmas/vlogmas!

emma x

The Beauty Blogger Tag

So I have a tag post for you guys today, which I'm really excited about as I love writing these and I feel like it helps my readers to get to know me better. I was tagged by the lovely Bethany over at Beauty By Bethany (link here) to do the Beauty Blogger Tag so thank you Bethany!

1. Is your hair naturally curly or straight?
Normally dead straight but it can go a bit wavy overnight.

2. What is your natural hair colour?
I was born blonde, but my hair went a mousy brown colour when I was about 6. When I got to 15 it started getting even darker so it's now naturally a mid brown colour.

3. Do you dye it yourself or go to a salon?
I dye my hair lighter myself using the L'oreal Casting Sunkiss Jelly. It's only a very weak bleach and I just use it on the ends of my hair to give a slight dip dye effect, as well as adding in a few highlights.

4. How often do you wash your hair?
At least 4 times a week. My hair is very thin so it gets greasy quickly.

5. Do you wear the same hairstyle everyday or change it?
I tend to wear my hair the same for weeks on end, and then discover a new style and constantly wear my hair in that way instead.

6. Do you do your own mani/pedi or go to a salon?
I do my own. I've been painting my nails on a weekly basis for a couple of years now so I can do a mean manicure haha.

7. How often do you change your nail polish?
Normally I paint my nails every Saturday evening (I love a good regular schedule ahah) but sometimes I'll also redo them on Wednesday if they're looking a bit rough or I'm going out Friday or Saturday night.

8. Do you polish your toes in the winter too, or just in the summer?
I only do them in the summer as no one sees my toes in the winter, but to be honest I'm so lazy when it comes to painting my toe nails so I leave it on over a month before I change it, even in the summer.

9. How long does it take you to put on your makeup?
It depends whether I'm doing a full makeup routine or not. For college normally about 10 - 15 minutes, 15 - 20 at the weekends, and for a night out, anything up to 45 minutes really.

10. What do you do first - face or eyes?
I do my foundation first, then my eye makeup, and then my concealer and other face products so that any fall out from my eye makeup is covered over.

11. Do you 'collect' makeup or just buy it as you need it?
I did go through a stage of collecting a ridiculous amount of makeup, but now I'm more restrained and try to only buy what I need. However, if a new launch really catches my eye, or a product keeps popping up on other people's blogs, sometimes I just have to give in to temptation.

12. How often do you wear false lashes?
Very rarely; I wore them for prom and I think I've worn them to a couple of parties. I need to get a new pair actually, mine are pretty wrecked.

13. Do you wear a full face of makeup every day?
For college yes, but I won't go all out on my eye makeup.

14. Do you wear makeup when you're home alone (or with family)?
If I'm not going out at the weekend I won't put any on; I need to give my skin a bit of a break. If I'm going out with my family I will though.

15. Will you leave the house without makeup?
It sounds bad, but not really. I just look so dead without any makeup.

16. How many high end products do you have?
I have 2 MAC products, 2 from Urban Decay, 1 from Benefit and a few Benefit samples. Not loads but I'm so happy with the ones I have.

17. How often do you wash your makeup brushes?
I am so so bad at this! I literally only wash them every few months which is absolutely awful. I'm going to try to start doing them every month and work from there.

18. Do you plan your OOTD the night before or when you're getting dressed?
Usually I'll plan while I'm having my breakfast and washing in the morning, unless it is for something important.

19. How often do you change your bag?
I usually get a new handbag every 6 months as I like to swap as the seasons change. In terms of school bag, I generally get a new one at the start of each school year. I try to make them last longer but the straps always seem to break because of how much I have to carry.

20. What time do you get up and go to sleep?
My college timetable is all over the place, so it really depends when I have lessons, but I usually get up between 7:30 and 8:30. I'm really bad at lying in so even at the weekends I'm up by 9. I normally go to bed at 9:30, spend an hour or so on my iPod and then go to sleep.

21. How often and when do you work out?
I play badminton at county standard so I have regular physical training for that twice a week, as well as playing more casually twice a week. I also have free gym membership as I work at a gym so I try and make use of that at least once a week.

22. Left handed or right handed?
#leftiesforthewin

23. How tall are you?
5'10; I'm a bit of a giant.

24. Do you speak a foreign language?
I learnt German at GCSE but I'm certainly not fluent.

25. How many pets do you have?
None :(. I am desperate for a dog and have been for years now. I also really like cats but getting a dog will be my first priority when I move out!

26. How often are you on Blogger?
I use Bloglovin to read blog posts so I'm on that a couple of times a day. I use Blogger to write my posts so I'm on that a few times during to week to draft, check, edit and schedule posts.

27. Do you read the comments posted on blogs?
I'll read them if I'm looking at blog posts on my laptop but if I'm just on my phone I don't bother as it can be quite hard to scroll through them.

28. Do you keep a list of products to try as you see other blog posts?
I have a massive list of all the products I want, and then a much smaller list of ones that I 'need', and then usually a list of 4/5 essentials to buy the next time I'm out.

29. How did you come up with your blog name?
At the time I created my blog, I wore bows in my hair every day so that's where that bit came from. I still love bows now but I rarely wear them. And the beauty bit obviously comes from my love of makeup. The name 'bowsandbeauty' was already taken but I had fallen in love with it so I just put an 'x' on the end.

30. What kind of camera do you use for photographs?
I use my iPod touch camera. I did use my digital came for a couple of posts once but surprisingly the pictures weren't as higher quality so I've just stuck with my iPod. I am saving up for an DSLR so hopefully I'll be able to use that in a couple of months.

31. How often do you clean your house?
I live with my parents and my mum stays at home so she does most of the cleaning, but I tidy my room basically every day. I'm obsessed with tidiness.

32. What is your favourite colour?
Here's a new one for you: pastel turquoise. Kind of a mix between mint green and pastel blue, but not really. The closest I could find on Google was this picture of a nail varnish from thepastelaholic.com

33. What's your favourite beauty/fashion magazine?
There isn't really any magazines around that fit what I want from a magazine. If I really need one I usually go for Glamour but I'm not a massive fan.

34. Do you swear?
In all honesty, who doesn't?

35. What are you doing for the rest of the day?
I have training in a bit and then I'm having a quick shower so I'm ready in time for I'm A Celebrity.

And there we have it! I hope you enjoyed reading this post and I tag Anna (link here) Cristy (link here) and Georgia (link here) to do it next. Have fun girlies!

emma x

The Tuesday Review: Rimmel Kate Moss 107 Lipstick

A month or so ago I finally jumped on the bandwagon and bought one of the most raved about lipsticks EVER. I'm one of those people that refuses to follow the hype about products but then a few months later I decide that maybe I should try it ahah. A deep red lipstick is pretty much essential in Autumn and Winter and I didn't have one so I thought that I should try the Rimmel Kate Moss 107 as everyone seems to love it so much.

The bright red packaging is great because I can easily find it in my collection, and the lid clicks really firmly shut which I like because I'm always scared that the lid of my lipstick is going to come off in my bag. As you probably already know, 107 is a deep red, berry colour that works on most skin tones. I have slightly tanned pale skin and it looks amazing on me if I do say so myself. It really compliments my skin and somehow makes it look clearer.

The formula is slightly drying so a good lip balm underneath is required, but it isn't so bad that my lips take days to recover. The colour is very opaque so the bullet will last me forever. I find that this is a great colour for the evenings, and during the day I will sometimes press the lipstick onto my lips to leave a sheer tint. This gives my lips an autumnal berry tone without being too out there.

Overall this is a great lipstick for this time of year, day and night, and although the formula is quite dry, I find this preferable to it smudging and having a short wear time.

emma x

Delicious and Easy Lemon Drizzle Cake Recipe

I haven't done a recipe post in a while so I decided I would take some pictures when doing my latest bake so I could share it with you. The pictures aren't of the highest quality because it was getting dark, and to be honest the cake does look a bit boring, but this recipe is all about the taste! It is so lemony, zesty and tangy, perfect for all you citrus lovers!

1) Preheat the oven to fan 160, and grease line a loaf tin.

2) Sift 175g of self-raising flour and 1 teaspoon of baking powder into a large glass bowl.

3) Add 175g of margarine, 175g of castor sugar, 3 egg and 4 tablespoons of milk to the dry ingredients.

4) Beat until smooth with a mixer to ensure that all the ingredients are fully combined. It should lighten slightly in colour; this shows that it is properly mixed.

5) Add the rind of two lemons and mix in lightly with a wooden spoon,

6) Spoon the mixture into the prepared loaf tin, and hollow out the centre. Bake in the preheated oven for 55 minutes.

7) As soon as the cake comes out of the oven, turn it on to a wire rack to cool.

8) Use a skewer to make lots of holes all over the top of the cake. Push it in and then twist to make sure the holes are big enough.

9) Wait for the cake to cool fully then heat together the juice of one lemon and 60g of castor sugar in a saucepan. Only a low heat is needed.

10) Spoon the drizzle over the cake. It will sink into the holes so it spreads through the cake. Some of the drizzle will run through so ensure the wire rack is on a surface that can easily be wiped clean.

11) Leave the lemon drizzle to settle into the cake and then transfer it to your chosen serving plate.

12) Enjoy your cake!

emma x

The Tuesday Review: Clearasil Superfruits Face Scrub

As I mentioned in a previous post, I have recently started using a new face scrub and this is it. I hadn't used anything from Clearasil in a while so I thought it would be good to see how things had moved on and give this ago.

Firstly, who doesn't love the girly pink packaging! The scrub itself is even pale pink which makes me very happy hahah. It comes out the tube very thick so I like to mix it in my hands with a bit of water first to make it easier to spread over my face. One of the things I love about this product is that it has just the right abrasiveness, the bits of scrub aren't so small that they don't do anything, but they aren't so big that it would make the scrub unsuitable for daily use. It lathers up very slightly which I personally like because I feel as if my face has been thoroughly washed when a product foams up.

The scent of this is fresh and fruity, but isn't very strong so don't be put off if you don't like the smell of raspberry and cranberry (although I personally love it). Just before starting to use this, I had a few breakouts, but this cleared them up in no time, and has helped to reduce scarring from previous spots.Ultimately, it has made my skin a lot clearer and has somewhat helped to control oil throughout the day too.

emma x

My Christmas Beauty Wishlist

So November arrived and with it came the excitement of Christmas! I for one am already super excited for all the beautiful decorations, cosy nights in and Christmas movies, not to mention all the new beauty releases! Today I'm going to be sharing some of the beauty items on my wishlist this year. For some of you it may seem ridiculously early to be doing this, but on the other hand I know that some of you will be starting your Christmas shopping already and therefore are in need of some inspiration.

1) Zoeva Makeup Brushes - I found it very hard to pick which ones I wanted the most, but I decided upon ones that I didn't have anything similar to at the moment. I chose the Brow Line Brush (322), Luxe Soft Crease Brush (221) and Concealer Buffer Brush (142). These are all quite high up on my list as I am in urgent need of makeup brushes; I currently only have one for foundation, one for powders, and one eyeshadow brush.

2) Rimmel Brow This Way Powder - I really want a brow powder as I think they are the best way to achieve really defined brows. I currently use a matte shade from the Naked 2 palette, but it isn't very convenient to take the whole palette away with me just for the brow colour. I thought it would be best to try a brow powder from the drugstore before splurging on a more expensive one, and this is the one that caught my eye due to its compact packaing.

3) Tresemme 32mm Curling Wand - Since my hair has started to get longer, my current wand, which has a much thinner barrel, isn't really suitable as I need a wider one. I don't curl my hair all that often so didn't want a curler that was too expensive so I picked out this one which can be found for £15-20. This will be great for creating big bouncy curls will hopefully help to add volume to my hair too.

4) Soap and Glory The Righteous Butter - As I have mentioned many times before, this is my all time favourite body butter! My current tub is running out so I put it on my Christmas list as I don't tend to buy bath products for myself. 

5) Ciate Nail Polish in Snow Globe - I saw a mini bottle of this as part of a set in TK Maxx and fell in love. It's a beautiful 'holographic flitter' top coat and looks stunning over pale coloured polishes for a wintery look. 

6) Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual - I have wanted this for so long but can never bring myself to actually buy it, so hopefully someone else will be kind enough to buy it for me. For some reason I have never been able to justify it when there is so much advice available for free on the internet, but I think this will be great for reading on winter days, when I don't want to be using technology all day. This has so many great reviews so I can't wait to see what all the hype is about.

7) Next Just Pink Perfume - This was my first ever perfume back when I was about 10 and it still remains my perfume of choice even now. It is the perfect mix of fruity and floral and basically just smells amazing! I'm very proud of myself that my favourite perfume is actually really cheap (£14), rather than a super expensive designer brand haha. My bottle has tragically just run out but I'm hoping I can survive until Christmas without it, although I do have a travel sized bottle stashed away for emergencies.

8) Zoe Sugg Girl Online - Not strictly a beauty item, but let's be honest, it's what Zoella's known for isn't it! I'm sure this will be on many people's wishlists this Christmas, if they haven't already bought it, and I am no different! I absolutely adore Zoe and have watched every single one of her videos so I can't wait to read this. 

9) The Body Shop Instablur Primer - My Benefit Porefessional Primer sample has finally run out after lasting a good 3 months, so before purchasing the full size bottle I wanted to try out a cheaper alternative. This one is quite reasonably priced, especially with The Body Shop's regular 40% off codes, and has some real rave reviews so I thought it would be a good one to try.

And there we have it. Let me know in the comments what's on your wishlist and if you'd like to see another, non-beauty, related wishlist.

emma x

The Tuesday Review: Herbal Essences Bee Strong Hair Mask

My hair is super soft, like unstyablely soft, but it is also dehydrated and weak so I needed a mask that was nourishing and would make my hair stronger, without making it softer that it already is. Insert the Herbal Essences Bee Strong Mask.

It may seem like every product I feature on my blog I am in love with, however this is because if I'm unimpressed with a product I tend to get rid of it and move on to something better before it can cause too much damage; only the best is good enough for me! Also, I tend to do my research before buying a product so I never end up buying many products that I don't like, therefore if you're on a budget, I would really recommend reading a few different reviews of a product before taking the plunge.

Back to what we're here for and on with the review of this hair mask. Firstly, the packaging is a large tub, meaning you get plenty of product, and the only thing I don't like about it is that the yellow colour really doesn't match my bathroom, but hey, I can look past that.

This mask smells AMAZING! It smells like honey, but also has a typical shampoo smell so that your hair is still left smelling fresh. The scent does actually linger as well so your hair is left smelling wonderful until you next wash it.

The mask itself is lovely and smooth and glides over your hair really easily. I actually use this over my hair to give it all a moisture boost as it doesn't leave my roots greasy in the slightest. If I'm in a rush I'll leave it on for 5 minutes or so while I shave in the shower, but if I have longer I will leave it in for a good half an hour to an hour while I have a nice bath. When I wash it out my hair is left feeling soft, but not too silky and slippery.

After blow drying, this mask makes my hair feel thicker because the strengthening qualities help to widen each hair strand. Since using this for the last few months, I have noticed less hair breakage which my hair was previously very prone to because the strands are so thin.

Overall I am highly impressed with this hair mask considering its price point, and I will be trying more from the brand. What other herbal essences products would you recommend?

emma x

Product Empties #3

As I mentioned in my last empties post, I have been using up a lot of products recently, hence why there's another empties post so soon after the last one. I've been loving using up all the products though as it always gives me a sense of satisfaction, and it helps to clear out my cupboards. Also, it means I can move on to using the new products I've bought that I've been waiting to use. Here's what I've used up this time:

All of this post's hair products are actually styling products so I thought I'd start with them. First up is the Toni and Guy Casual Salt Spray, which I actually did a review about here, so I won't go on about it too much, but basically it's a really good salt spray for adding texture and wave, so much so that I've already bought another bottle. Next is the L'oreal Texture Spray which I also mentioned recently in my drugstore favourites and fine hair tips, tricks and products. This is just a great product for adding volume to limp and lifeless hair without the damage of backcomb. Lastly in this section I have the Schwarzkopf Heat Defence Spray. I only bought this because I was in desperate need of one so asked my mum to pick up whatever one she found in Tescos. It was actually pretty good and did it's job of protecting my hair from heat damage, however I have since picked up a bit more of an advanced one that is more suited to my hair type and helps to add volume.

The next section is skincare and I'm pretty sure I actually mentioned all these products in my morning and evening skincare routines so I won't go on about them for too long. The first thing is a Neutrogena Visibly Clear Pink Grapefruit Face Scrub. I really enjoyed using this because of the fresh scent and how soft it left my skin, however I felt that it wasn't quite abrasive enough for my needs so I have replaced it with a different scrub (which I will be sure to feature soon). Then there is the No7 Soft and Soothed Toner which I have been using for years and just love. With the No7 Vouchers it comes out really cheap, and it just leaves my skin feeling so refreshed and clean. I will continue to repurchase this over and over again. The Clean and Clear Dual Action Moisturiser was just what I was looking for when i purchased it; an all in one product that can be used day and night without breaking me out. I have since moved on to more specialised products, however this is great for someone younger who is just building their first skincare routine. Finally, the Clean and Clear Deep Cleansing Lotion is ideal for people who cherish their sleep and want to have an extra few minutes in bed in the morning. It's a quick, easy and fuss-free way of cleansing your face and I have already repurchased this.

The last couple of products, as usual, didn't fit into any category. The first of these is the Gillette Satin Care Pure and Delicate Shaving Gel. I really like this as it makes a really rich and thick foam, and is only very weakly scented with a lovely fresh aloe vera scent. I find it much easier to shave using a foam because I can see which parts I have been over already, so it is less likely that I miss any patches. To finish, I have yet another Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer. I just really enjoy using this as it has great coverage, is easy to blend, and is one of the cheapest concealers on the market. I have actually bought a different concealer to try this time (which you will already know if you read my last post), however if it disappoints me I will come straight back to this one.

The end! Hopefully I won't be using up many more products over the next few months as this month proved very costly with all the products that needed replacing hahah. Until next time...

emma x

The Tuesday Review: Maybelline Fit Me Concealer

Last month I used up yet another Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer, and decided it was about time I tried a new one. I had been using the Collection one for a couple of years, without even considering other options so I was excited to see what else was out there. The Maybelline concealer caught my eye with its sleek packaging and fairly large shade selection for a drugstore brand.

The packaging is plastic, though it does have the appearance of glass, and has minimal text, making it look more sophisticated. It has a doe foot applicator, which I really like, however, the suction of the applicator seems to lead to a lot of concealer getting stuck around the screw part of the tube. I'm not sure why this is, but it is resulting in a fair amount of wastage which is quite frustrating.

I have the shade 20, which is a yellow toned mid nude kind of shade. I bought it when I was more tanned, so it is getting a bit dark for me now, but it fits my skin perfectly when I have a bit of fake tan on, especially since my skin is naturally very yellow. Compared to the Collection concealer, this is very runny, however it still offers great coverage. The thinner texture makes it easy to blend, but it does mean you have to work in thin layers, otherwise it won't set.

This is definitely more of a blemish concealer, rather than an under eye one because it isn't very brightening, however I do plan on getting a lighter colour for when I'm not so tanned, which may work as an under eye concealer when I have fake tan on as it will be lighter than my skin tone.

Have you tried this concealer before? What did you think of it?

emma x

ps. I made a twitter account, and would love it if you could follow me @bowsandbeautyx . There will be regular updates and previews to new posts, as well as personal tweets so you can get to know me better.

Dealing With Fine Hair: Tips, Tricks & Products

I've had fine hair since the day I was born, I still do and I probably always will. Not only is my hair limp and lifeless, it is also overly soft and slippery, making it a real pain to style, and almost impossible for updos. However, over the years I have used lots of different techniques to deal with this, some worked, some didn't, and today I'm going to share with you what I find to be the best ways of making your unstyleable hair styleable.

The first thing I would recommend is doing the reverse wash. If you haven't heard of this before, it's where you use conditioner and then shampoo. I like to focus the conditioner on the ends of my hair, and the shampoo on the roots and the hair just above my neck. Doing this gives my hair a bit more grip, whilst still keeping it in good condition.

My next tip is to always blow dry your hair upside down. This gives it more volume and body, making it easier to style. Try not to go to bed with damp hair, because if you lie on it, it will dry very flat and lifeless.

Don't skimp on the texturising products. Salt spray, volume spray, backcomb powder and dry shampoo are all going to be your best friend. On a day to day basis I usually just go for my L'oreal Volume Spray, with the addition of sea salt spray if I'm going for wavy hair, however if I want to wear my hair up, I will go all out on the hair products in order to keep the style in place.

If you want to wear your hair straight, straighten it. Don't think that straightening your hair will make it even limper. If you straighten your hair, it will make people trick people into thinking that it's meant to be dead straight, rather than that your hair is lifeless. Also, it can make you look more put together.

Don't go overboard on the eyebrows. If your hair's thin, chances are your eyebrows are going to be too. Therefore if you fill them is too bushily, it will look unatural, so try to shape and define your brows, without making them too bold.

My final tip is a bit controversial, but something I like to do is lightly bleach my hair. I use the L'oreal Sun Kiss Jelly, which is a very weak bleach that gradually lightens your hair after 5 or so uses. I use this once every two weeks, just to dry out my hair a tiny bit to make it less soft. I don't use it often enough to actually damage my hair, and it is only a  very weak bleach (as you can see, my hair hasn't exactly gone bleach blonde), but it just helps to make my hair a bit more managable. I also enjoy experimenting with where I apply it. At the moment I've gone for a slight ombre, with more lighter bits at the front to help frame my face. As I said, controversial, but it works for me.

Lastly, I just want to say that whatever your hair type, enjoy and embrace it. I hope you enjoyed this post, and saw something that you want to try out.

emma x

The Tuesday Review: Tresemme Hairspray

I actually came across this hairspray back in the summer when I went on holiday (take me back!), and was looking for a travel size one to take away with me. This was the chosen one and I have since bought a full size version as I loved it so much.

The packaging is very sleek with a black can and silver and purple accents. There were various sizes available and I bought the biggest 500ml one because it was the best value for money, however next time I think I would purchase the next size down. The bottle is just so huge and heavy that it is quite hard to manoeuvre around my head, strange as it sounds.

One of the things I like the most about this hairspray is that it has such a fine mist, meaning it doesn't weigh your hair down because of the size of the droplets. This gives it even better hold. I bought the 4th strength one as against the strongest hold because I wanted my hair to still have a bit of flow and movement to it, and that is exactly what this does. When I curl my hair, using this ensures that the curls stay all stay, but it still allows them to move, making the style look more natural and relaxed.

There's not a lot more to say about this because essentially it is just a hairspray, however I do really like it and the scent isn't too offensive either.

emma x

Hair Styling: Bits and Bobbles

First off, who likes the title of this post? I was very proud of it haha. Today I will be sharing with you my favourite hair styling tools, what I do with them, and why I like them.

The first thing I want to talk about is scrunchies. I like to use these at night or in the bath to get my hair out the way. I prefer these to hair bands as they are less damaging to the hair so are suitable for sleeping as they stop your hair from getting damaged from moving while you sleep.

The next item is hair bands. I always buy these from Primark as you get loads for just £1, and it includes a mixture of thinner and thicker ones. I also like these as they don't have any metal, which again makes them less damaging. I use these for playing sport and when I want to wear my hair up all day as they hold the style well.

Hair grips are an essential for every one and I like to buy the ones from Primark because they're so cheap. We all know that hair grips disappear to some sort of hair grip heaven, so you may as well buy the cheapest ones. I also love how well these ones match the colour of my hair, and they're the perfect size.

Decorated hair grips were something that I used to use basically every day a couple of years ago, and although I don't use them as frequently now, I still use them on occasion. When I'm wearing my hair up during the day I will sometimes use one to add a bit of interest, but most of the time I use them to pin back my fringe/front section of my hair. This keeps it out of my face, meaning I can work without constantly moving my hair out the way.

Next is my bun ring which I like to use to bulk up my bun a bit. My hair is very thin so putting this around my it gives the illusion that my bun is bigger. It also adds interest, and I really liked it in the summer as it made my hair look more summery.

Lastly, is these mini hair clips that I've mentioned on my blog before. I like to use these to clip back the front section of my hair to keep it out my face, and I personally have to use the small ones because my hair is so fine, but other people will probably need to use normal sized ones.

I hope you enjoyed this post and saw some new hair pieces that you want to try.

emma x

The Tuesday Review: Nivea Night Cream

Hey guys! Today's review is another skincare review. The reason for this is that I previously only had one moisturiser, but when it ran out I decided to replace it with an SPF one for the daytime and a richer one for the nighttime. I reviewed my daytime moisturiser here, and today I will be reviewing my night cream: the regenerating night cream by Nivea, which is targeted at normal/combination skin. For reference, my skin is oily around my t-zone, but normal everywhere else, with no dry patches.

Starting with the packaging, I really like that this comes in a glass pot as it makes it seem more highend and luxurious. However, it does make is unsuitable for travel, and the actual pot doesn't have much information on it, so you may need to keep the outer packaging if you want the ingredient list and other details about the cream.

The formula itself is very thick so it does feel quite heavy on the face, but you leave it on overnight so by the morning it has all sunk in and your skin feels lovely and soft. Although it is thick, it's not at all oily, so my skin didn't get overwhelmed by it. I actually feel that by giving my skin a moisture boost, it doesn't create as much oil. I think that although my skin fits the target audience for this product, it would be suitable for all skin types as it is moisturising enough for dryer skin, but it isn't an oily formula, so oily skinned people would get on well with it too.

Overall I would really recommend this night cream, and I think that for just £4 it is an amazing product, especially considering the price of high end night cream, which can often be more than £40.

emma x

5 Drugstore Favourites

So today I wanted to share with you my favourite products from the drugstore; the ones that I repurchase over and over again, and the ones that I believe are better than more expensive, higher end options.

The first product is the L'oreal Studio Line Volume Texture Spray. This is a product that I use every single day to add some volume and texture into my limp and lifeless hair. It smells amazing and has good hold, meaning I don't have to follow it up with hairspray. Using this means that I don't have to add as much backcomb to my hair, meaning it benefits my hair as backcombing is very damaging.

The next product is the Soap and Glory Righteous Butter which I have raved about on my blog many times before. I love everything about this product; from the smell, to the formula, to the packaging. It looks great in my bathroom cupboard and you get an amazing amount of product for your money. The scent lingers enough that you smell good, but it doesn't overpower your perfume. I love how quickly this sinks into your skin compared to most other products of its type, and it can be applied when your skin is still slightly damp without sitting on the surface of your skin for ages. Oh, and most importantly, it is deeply nourishing and moisturising too!

Onto the Rimmel Stay Matte Powder which is a universally loved product by almost all makeup wearers. People are starting to move on to other options now, but at one point, this was the only powder that anyone used. Nothing compares to it. It is mattifying, without leaving your skin looking dead, it lasts a good 4 hours before you need touch ups, it doesn't break you out, and the shades are perfect colour matches for any skin colour. People of any skin type can use this powder without problems, and the cheap as chips price means that you can use as much as you like without feeling guilty.

My next favourite isn't actually available in the likes of Boots and Superdrug, but at £4 The Body Shop Shower Gel certainly fits into the drugstore category. I normally only pay £2.40 per bottle because I always stock up when I have a 40% off voucher. I love these shower gels because they lather up really well and give my skin a good clean. They don't leave any residue, but a slight fruity scent does remain on the skin. In the winter I like to use the Cranberry one from their Christmas collection, and in the summer I prefer the Raspberry one from their harvest collection. There is a scent for everyone and you would be silly not to try these out.

Last up is the Rimmel Kate Moss Lipsticks, which I am absolutley in love with! The colour range is lovely, there isn't loads to choose from, but all the colours available are ones that I would wear. The formula of these is amazing; they glide onto the lips really easily but they are quite solid, meaning they stay on the lips for longer. The colour pay off is really good, you only need a couple of coats for full opacity. There is a shade for everyone available and I can't wait to pick up more.

What are your drugstore favourites? Or do you prefer high end products?

emma x

The Tuesday Review: MAC Paint Pot

I know I have mentioned this product a fair few times in my most recent posts, but I thought that it needed a dedicated post being as I love it so much. On the MAC website these cost £15.50 but I actually got this in an outlet for £10.50. Originally I wanted to get the shade 'Barely Branded' but when I saw that I could save £5 by getting this shade ('Let's Skate') instead, I decided that it was definitely worth it as the colours are so similar.

I have only tried one other cream eyeshadow, and that was a Maybelline Colour Tattoo, which I really wasn't very impressed with if I'm honest. Therefore I was a bit worried that I wasn't going to like this either, but boy was I wrong, so I really want to stress that if you tried a cream eyeshadow and didn't enjoy it, you shouldn't be put off trying other brands. The formula of this is really smooth and blendable. It is very soft, making it easy to apply and blend over your eye. It sets quickly meaning it won't smudge when you move on to the next stage of your makeup, but you still have plenty of time to work with it.

I love that the shade is so wearable and perfect for days when you don't have much time to spend doing your makeup. A quick swipe of this and you're good to go, but it can also be used in smokier looks as a base or highlight. The icy colour and shimmer makes it perfect for wintery looks, in fact, for some reason the shade really reminds me of the film Frozen, so I would love to use it for an Elsa inspired look!

Overall I would definitely recommend giving these a try as I have fallen head over heels in love with the one I have and am desperate to buy another shade, I just can't choose which one!

emma x

Everyday College Makeup

Today I thought I'd share with you my everyday makeup that I wear to college. I think that makeup routines are proof of what products bloggers and YouTubers really like as they love them enough to use them on a daily basis. Therefore rather than tell you what I think of each product, I'll just let you know now that I love all these products and think that all of them are worth purchasing. So, without further ado, on with the routine...

I begin with my base, and the first step for me is foundation. I will sometimes wear primer but as it's getting colder now, my skin isn't as oily so I don't feel that I need it. For foundation I use a full pump of L'oreal True Match and half a pump of Rimmel Match Perfection. I really like this combination because it gives lovely blendable medium coverage, and the shades I have give the perfect colour match for my skin. I use the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush to blend it in. I then use the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer under my eyes and on any blemishes. I then set with the Rimmel Stay Matte Powder using the Real Techniques Blusher Brush. I will then use the same brush to add a bit of contour and colour to my face using a 17 Bronzer. I don't use blush that often because I have quite naturally flushed cheeks so the colour shows through my foundation.

Next I move onto my eyes and begin by blending MAC's Paint Pot in 'Let's Skate' over my lids to add a subtle shimmer and hint of colour. Then I use my Eyeko Liquid Eyeliner Pen to add a thin line and small flick to my eyelids. At the moment I'm really loving pen liners and the control that they give you, and I find them the best type of eyeliner to use for neat flicks. Whilst my eyeliner is drying I do my brows, starting by filling them in lightly using the Topshop Brow Pencil in Blonde. I use this to fill in any gaps, enhance my arch, and extend the tail of my brows. I then set them in place using the Rimmel Brow This Way Gel in Medium Brown.

Now that my eyeliner has dried I can curl my lashes without smudging it. For this I just use my Primark Eyelash Curlers which were only £1! Next I apply my Bourjois Volume 1 Seconde Mascara to add lots of volume, length and drama to my lashes. The only thing left now is lips; first I use my trusty Nivea Repair and Protect Lip Balm, and then I add my lip colour of choice, Generally, I will use the Revlon Colourburst Laquer Balm in Demure for a nude lip or the Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick in 05 if I want a brighter pink colour.

And that's all there is to it! Be sure to leave links in the comments to your blog if you've done an everyday makeup routine as I would love to take a look!

emma x