Easter Cookie Dough Pizza Recipe

Hey guys! So I have a different type of post for you today; a recipe! I love baking and have done from a very young age, so I'm really happy to be including another one of my hobbies on my blog. This recipe is really yummy and is a great treat for any celebration. You can simply adjust the toppings to make it perfect for Christmas, birthdays, sleepovers or anything really! I also really like that it only requires basic ingredients so I can make it whenever I have a craving for something sweet. So here goes...

1) Preheat your oven to 180 degrees.

2) In a bowl, cream together 125g of butter, 100g of castor sugar and 100g of light brown muscovado sugar. You can do this by hand, or with an electric mixer.

3) Crack 1 egg into the bowl and mix well.

4) Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla essence or extract and stir it in.

5) Sift 150g of plain flour into the bowl, then fold it in. Don't be too vigorous or you will over beat the mixture and it won't rise.

6) Stir in 75g of chocolate chips and your cookie dough mixture is complete!

7) Transfer the mixture to a circular tin, and bake for 20 minutes until lovely and golden. It should look quite done on the outside, but don't worry, it will be lovely and gooey inside!

8) Once the cookie dough has cooled slightly, you can begin to decorate it. I began by putting a ring of nutella around the edge to imitate the tomato sauce. This adds a nice bit of flavour without the sickliness that covering the entire cookie would give. (excuse the hole in mine, I managed to stick my oven glove in it whilst taking it out the oven haha)

9) Now you can make some buttercream to be the 'cheese' of the pizza. You can buy some frosting and colour it yellow if you like, but I prefer the taste of homemade buttercream. I totally made up the quantities as I went along, adding more butter or more icing sugar to get the flavour that I wanted. I then added a bit of milk to give the right consistency.

10) Next, cover your cookie dough with the buttercream or frosting. You want to leave a little bit of nutella showing around the edges to give the most realistic finish.

11) Finally, add your chosen decorations to your pizza. I chose to use silver balls and some micro eggs to decorate mine. Micro eggs are basically a smaller version of mini eggs that are a great size for baking. I bought mine from Tesco.

And there we have it; your very own cookie dough pizza! You can eat this as soon as you've finished if you still want it to be slightly warm, but my family actually think it tastes better the day after baking when all the flavours are more distinct. 

I really hope you enjoyed reading, and are inspired to make your own! Be sure to tag me in photos on Instagram of your own creations, and leave me a comment below if you'd like to see more recipes.

emma x

Superdrug Mud Mask Review

Hey guys, so today I have a review for you, with the product in question being these two Superdrug Mud Masks. I have had these for about a month now so I feel I have tried and tested them both enough to gain what I believe to be a reliable opinion.

The two masks that I purchased are the detoxifying mask, which has the addition to dead sea mud to the formula, and the purifying mask, which has the addition of witch hazel. Both these masks are aimed at oily skin which suits my skin type, but there are also ones for dry skins available so there is one suited to everyone. The masks are available from Superdrug at a price of £2.59 for each (and are often on offer at £3.49 for two) making them incredibly reasonably priced, and giving you the perfect excuse to try out more than one. I really like the packaging of these masks as they are bright and colourful, clearly state their use and give you information about the key ingredient that they use. The product is also very easy to squeeze out of the tube as it is not too thick or too thin.

Now onto the product itself. To be perfectly honest, I haven't noticed much difference between the two masks, other than one is slightly darker than the other! However, that doesn't mean that they don't work because boy are these beauties good! After use my skin feels significantly less oily, and stays that way for the next couple of days which is absolutely amazing! They don't make my skin feel at all dry, just lovely and soft AND since using these face masks, I haven't had a single spot! They really give my skin a good deep clean and leave it feeling generally much nicer than it did before application.

The masks apply really nice and smoothly with the formula being thin enough that you can easily spread it around your face, but thick enough that you can apply a good thick layer. You have to wait for the masks to dry before removal, which I really like, as the drying sensation makes it feel as though the mask really is getting deep into my pores and cleaning them out. I use these masks twice a week; at the weekend I use the detoxifying mask over my entire face, and for a midweek top-up I use the purifying mask, but only on my t-zone as this is where my skin is the most prone to blemishes.

Overall, I really recommend these face masks as they are super cheap and are easily the best mud masks I've ever tried!

As an end note, I would like to apologise for posting this a few days late again. I'm currently studying for my GCSEs so I find it hard to stick to a schedule, but I do really love writing my blog so for the next few months I'm not going to bother with a posting schedule. This will take the pressure off me to post regularly, but means that I will still be able to continue doing what I love when I have some free time. I hope you will stay with me, and after my GCSE exams I will have a super long summer where I will hopefully be able to post at least twice a week so we can both look forward to that!

My Current Soap and Glory Collection

Hello again guys! I'm really sorry this post is a day late but I had a crazy busy week so I couldn't write the post ahead of time, and then I had last minute plans at the weekend so I never had time to post. Hopefully this post is worth waiting for though!

I know my Soap and Glory collection isn't the biggest you've ever seen but I always try to use up old products before buying new ones. I have had other Soap and Glory products in the past but these are the ones that I've repurchased as I love them and use them regularly.

Firstly I have the Calm One Calm All Bubble Bath. I love this as it has the traditional Soap and Glory smell and it bubbles up really well. I find this great for midweek baths as it smells amazing but at the weekend I prefer Lush products for a real pampering session as they have many more benefits for your skin.

Next is the Hand Food Hand Cream which I love as it is so nourishing. I have been using this every day for the last couple of winters to stop my hands getting dry. I slather (what a horrible sounding word ahaha) this all over my hands before going to bed to give it plenty of time to sink in and do its magic. This is such an effective hand cream, and again it has that lovely traditional Soap and Glory scent.

I'm currently using the Scrub of Your Life Body Scrub which is one of their only ones in a squeezy tube. I have tried other scrubs by the brand and haven't found much difference between them other than their smells so I tend to stick to this one as I find the tube much easier to use than the tubs, but its all down to personal preference. I love Soap and Glory scrubs because I find them abrasive enough that I can feel them working but they don't feel rough on my skin. Again, the scrub that I use has the traditional scent because that's my favourite, but the brand do a scrub in basically every smell so I'm sure you can find one to suit you.

Next up is the Whipped Clean Buttercream Wash which is a product I like to use during my weekly pamper sessions. Essentially its a shower gel but it comes out the tube looking more like a body butter and contains many super nourishing ingredients. After using this you really wouldn't need to apply a body lotion, but of course a rich body butter is a pamper evening essential so I can't resist! For once this product has a different smell; a lovely sweet pistachio scent that smells as rich as it feels!

The final product in my collection is the Righteous Butter Body Butter, which has the traditional scent. I simply love Soap and Glory body butters as they have a gorgeous whipped texture that feels really light, yet they are super moisturising. I also love how quickly this product absorbs and how soft it leaves my skin feeling. This product was a love from first use for me, and I still find it just as beautiful to use!

Hope you enjoyed reading,

Emma xx

Evening Skincare Routine

Hello again! Three posts in one week - you lucky ladies! Today's post is my evening skincare routine to go with my morning one earlier in the week, so let's get started.

First, I use Johnson's Gentle Eye Makeup Remover to take off my eye makeup gently and effectively (I forgot to put this is the picture whoops). I've talked about this product in a few of my other posts so have a look through them if you want more info about it.

Next I use face wipes to take off my face makeup. I'm currently using Nivea ones but I would recommend the Simple ones as I find them much more effective. Lots of people don't like face wipes as they have quite a lot of chemicals in them, but I've never had any problems with them and I wash my face after anyway so it gets rid of anything left on my skin. I find that wipes are a great quick and easy way to take off the worst of my face make up.

The next thing I do is use a face scrub to make sure that my face is really cleansed, fresh and free from makeup. I'm currently using the Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Daily Scrub and I'm really enjoying it. It smells super fresh with just makes me feel really clean, and the exfoliating particles really prove to me that it's doing its job of ridding my skin of all the nasties that have built up during the day.

I then go in with my No7 Soft and Soothed Toner to ensure that there is absolutely nothing left on my face. This makes my skin super soft and is a really luxurious part of my routine. After this I use my Clearasil Ultra Overnight Lotion which not only moisturises my skin to keep it lovely and soft, but also helps to fight spots too.

Lastly I apply my Boots Skin Clear Rapid Action Spot Gel to any spots that I have or can feel coming. This is the best spot gel I've found and I love it. I like to use it at night because I can apply a big round blob, leave it to dry and get to work overnight, and then peel what's left off in the morning, with the blemish being significantly smaller than it was the night before.

And that's all there is to it! I really hope you enjoyed this post and let me know in the comments what you would like to see me write about next month.

What's in my Bag

Hey guys! So today I'm back with a what's in my bag post. This is what's generally in my handbag when I go out, which is usually to go shopping haha. I don't like to carry around too much so I clear out my bag fairly often, but this is what's in there at the moment. My bag is from Primark and was £9 if anyone's interested.

First of all I have my phone, which is always good to carry around in case I need to contact anyone while I'm out, and it's also good for keeping me entertained on long journeys. I have the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini.

Next I have my purse which I always carry round, regardless of where I'm going as you never know when you'll need emergency money! As well as cash I also store my loyalty cards, points cards and vouchers as I do love a good bargain!

Tissues are always good to carry around and a recent addition to my bag is wet wipes. Whenever me and my friends go to Boots, we always come out with our hands covered in swatches and just stand there awkwardly not knowing what to do, so these are super useful and I have now become the official wet wipe supplier!

Makeup wise, I normally only carry round a lip balm and my lip colour of the day. This ensures that I always have soft lips, and the colour looks good. Sometimes I carry a powder too but I never end up using it so recently I've stopped bothering. To go with this I carry a small compact mirror for touch-ups on the go.

I also carry tic-tacs because you always need to have fresh breath! Lots of people use gum but I prefer mints as you don't have the go through the awkward process of getting rid of it. 

Lastly, I always have a pen on me, which always seems to come in handy for something.

And that's everything! Sometimes I will also put a small bottle of water in my bag if I know it will be a while before I go to a restaurant to eat and drink, but generally I find it too much effort to carry. Lazy I know. I hope you enjoyed this short little post, and remember to check out my others if you haven't already.

Morning Skincare Routine

Hey guys, so today I'm back with another post; my morning skincare routine. I apologise for not posting for a couple of weeks but I was overloaded with school work and literally didn't have a moment to spare. It's half term now though, so I plan on posting a few times this week to make up for it, and hopefully you'll enjoy them more because I will have had the time to put more effort into them. But for now, on with today's post!...

Now, for some this may seem a fairly short routine, but obviously having to get ready in time to catch the bus leaves me fairly short of time. For me this is sufficient to leave me with soft, clear skin so I do not feel that I need to add more products when I have more time, however you may need to add in or swap up the products depending on your skin type.

The first product I use is the Johnson's Gentle Eye Makeup Remover. Although I remove my makeup very well at night, I always find it's best to start with a completely fresh face in the morning. I don't need much of this so I just put a little bit on a cotton bud and rub it around my eye area, focusing on my eyelashes as mascara applies best to lashes that are completely free of any makeup.

Next I take the Clean and Clear Deep Cleansing Lotion on a cotton pad and wipe it all over my face and neck. This makes sure that any dirt and oil that my skin collects overnight is effectively removed, getting rid of the bacteria that cause spots. This product is great for me because it's so quick to use but it still works really well.

Then I moisturise my skin using the Clean and Clear Dual Action Moisturiser. This is great for oily skin because it is oil free, so it isn't greasy, yet it really moisturises my skin, meaning it doesn't need to produce as much oil. Another thing I love about this product is that it absorbs super quickly, so I don't waste time waiting for it to sink in before I apply my makeup.

Lastly, I use a tiny bit of Boots Cucumber Eye Gel to reduce puffiness around my eye area, making me look more awake, and making it easier to apply under eye concealer. For £1 this is an insanely good product as it starts working instantly and is incredibly effective.

And that concludes my everyday morning skincare routine! I hope you enjoyed this post and found some products that you might like to try for yourself. Let me in the comments what skincare products you use as I love discovering new products.

Superdrug Haul

Hey guys, so earlier this week I went for a little trip into town and happened to buy quite a lot in Superdrug, partly because lots of my products have been running out at once, and partly because I simply haven't had anything new to try for a while. Normally Boots is my favourite drugstore but some of the products I needed can only be picked up in Superdrug so I decided just to buy everything there and be done with. I have been using these products for about a week now so I will give a short overview of my thoughts so far.

Haircare

L'Oreal Supersize Dry Texturising Spray - So far I've been really enjoying using this product, it makes my hair so volumised, almost as if it's backcombed but without the damage it does to your hair.

Fudge Urban Iced Raspberry and Vanilla Hairspray - This is my all time favourite hairspray. You can read a bit more about my opinions on this product here. 

Herbal Essences Balance Me Clarifying Shampoo - I have rather oily hair (a bit gross I know but I thought I should be honest with you), and this shampoo has done wonders for it. It stops my hair from getting weighed down, and gets rid of some the the shine that I have all over my hair even when I've just washed it. 

Herbal Essences Bee Strong Strengthening Intensive Mask - I was in need of a new mask to nourish my hair on pamper nights and actually only chose this one because of the smell; believe me when I say this smells amazing. Although this isn't the best mask I have ever tried, it is definitely more nourishing than a normal conditioner and doesn't weigh my hair down.

Makeup

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder - I know everyone loves this powder but I just have to agree. I mattifies well but still looks natural, lasts all day and matches my skin tone so well.

Maybelline The Falsies Mascara - I bought the waterproof version of this as I always find they last better and have not been disappointed. This gives me really luxurious, volumised lashes and lengthens them at the same time. The only problem is that it does tend to make my lashes stick together a bit, so I use a thin layer of another mascara first to separate them out and then follow up with this.

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer - Another product loved by everyone, especially me! Find out more about my love for this product here.

Maybelline Dream Pure BB Cream - I previously used the Dream Fresh version of this (the pink packaging), but I am totally converted. This gives more of a medium coverage, mattifies the skin, isn't so orange toned and lasts much longer on the skin.

Skincare

Clean and Clear Deep Cleansing Lotion - So far I have found this really effective. I can instantly feel it working and cleaning my skin. The only downside is the smell as it is scented quite strongly of tea tree but at least that's evidence of the goodness it contains.

Clean and Clear Dual Action Oil Free Moisturiser - This is a product I fell in love with from the first use. Unlike many other oil free moisturisers, it still does an amazing job of nourishing my skin and making it super soft and smooth. It dries quickly and doesn't leave my skin sticky at all.

Johnson's Gentle Eye Makeup Remover - This has been a strong favourite of mine for a long time and I would recommend it to everyone as it is so gentle yet incredibly effective. Read more about it here.

And that concludes today's post. I hope you enjoyed it and I'll see you in my next post. Please feel free to leave me a comment on your opinions on these products, or any suggestions for what I should buy or post about next.