Chocolate Chip Muffins

Hi Everyone!

I decided to make some muffins today! I love muffins but they aren't really something that I make all that often as I have never really found a recipe that I was happy with until now! This recipe is so easy and makes a delicious batch of muffins!

INGREDIENTS:

250g Plain Flour

100g Caster Sugar

3 tsp Baking Powder

1/2 tsp Salt

175ml Milk

75ml Vegetable Oil

1 Egg

125g Chocolate Chips

3 tbsp Caster Sugar

2 tbsp Soft Brown Sugar

METHOD:

1. Pre heat oven to 200C/ Gas Mark 6 and place 12 muffin cases into a muffin tray.

2. In a large bowl combine the flour, baking powder, salt, 100g caster sugar and chocolate chips together mixing well.

3. In a separate bowl mix the milk, oil and egg together, blending well.

4. Add the dry ingredients into the wet all at once and stir together until the dry ingredients are moistened (the batter will be a little lumpy).

5. Divide the mixture up between the muffin cases and sprinkle with the caster and brown sugars.

6. Bake for 20-25 until golden brown in colour. Insert a skewer into the centre of one muffin to check that they are thoroughly baked.

7. Allow to cool in the tray for 5 minutes before removing and allowing to cool thoroughly on a wire rack.

These muffins are so tasty and an ideal size! They are much lighter than those bought from a shop and don't seem to stick to the back of your throat like many shop bought ones seem to either!

I found this recipe on All Recipes

Maz x

Nails Inc Topping Lane Sprinkles - Review & Swatch

Hi Everyone!

I have been looking forward to the new Nails Inc Sprinkle nail polishes since I saw a press release about them a few months ago so was so excited when I saw that they are now available to buy! The Sprinkle nail polishes come in 4 different pastel shades named after various different streets in London. I went for Topping Lane which is described as a 'Pink with cerise, silver and purple sparkles'.

 

I began by applying 2 coats of OPI Original Nail Envy as my base followed by 2 coats of Topping Lane. The polish applies fairly evenly and is almost opaque after the first coat. I finished off by applying a layer of Seche Vite Top Coat.

I love this polish! It's so cute and summery! I love the solid colour base that the polish has, many glitter polishes have sheer bases so have to be layered over a solid colour so this is great.

You can purchase the Nails Inc Sprinkle nail polishes from Nails Inc for £11

Maz x

Zoya Kimber Nail Polish - Review & Swatches

Hi Everyone!

Today I applied one of the new nail polishes from Zoya's Surf collection for Spring/ Summer 2012. Kimber is described as a 'Coral - red with a warm orange - gold shimmer' with a metallic finish.

I began by applying 2 coats of OPI Matte Nail Envy as my base followed by 2 coats of Kimber. The polish is almost opaque after the first coat and fully opaque after the second. It applies smoothly and evenly and dries quickly. I finished off with a coat of Seche Vite top coat.

 

This polish is gorgeous and a love the fiery hot coral - red shade and golden shimmer for summer! The polish is also pretty long wearing too and stayed on my nails for quite a few days without chipping.

Have you tried any of the polishes from the Surf collection? If so, let me know your recommendations/ opinions in the comments section below.

You can purchase Zoya Kimber from Beauty Chamber for £9.75

Maz x

Dior 5 Couleurs Designer All in One Artistry Palette - Review & Swatch

Hi Everyone!

I had quite a few points built up on my Debenhams Beauty Card so I thought that I'd treat myself to a high end beauty purchase! I have always looked at the Dior eyeshadow palettes and wanted to give them a try so I picked out the '5 Couleurs Artistry Palette in Green Design' which features 4 powder eyeshadows and a gel-based liner.

As you can see from the pictures above the packaging is beautiful and very expensive looking! The palette is glossy and clips shut and comes with 2 small applicators plus a decent sized mirror on the inside of the lid. It also includes a guide on how to apply the shadows.

I am really loving the colour green at the moment which is what drew me to this palette. The lower, left hand shadow is a flesh toned shade that is designed to be used all over the lid and crease as a base shadow and it works well for this. The centre shade is the lid colour and the upper, left shade is the darker, crease colour. The top right shadow is a shimmery shade that is designed to be patted on the centre of the lid to give the look more of a sparkle and to open the eyes. The final, lower, right hand shade is a dark, green gel-based liner which would also make a good all over base to help the shadows stick in my opinion.

SWATCHES SHOWN ON NW20 SKIN:

As you can see, the liner shade, the main lid colour and crease colours are all really nicely pigmented and the other two shadows are much more subtle. The quality of these shadows is good and all 5 colours work well together, it's also really versatile as day and evening looks can easily be created using it. This palette is very expensive but is great as  a treat and brilliant for travelling. The green colour also look amazing on brown eyes!

You can purchase this palette from Debenhams for £40
Maz x

OPI Thanks a Windmillion - Review & Swatches

Hi Everyone!

I have really been loving the colour green recently and have had my eye on OPI's Thanks a Windmillion ever since Lauren Conrad posted a photo of her wearing it recently on her website. This polish is from the recent Holland collection and is a gorgeous pistachio colour.

I began by applying 2 coats of OPI Matte Nail Envy as my base followed by 2 coats of Thanks a Windmillion. This polish has a gorgeous creme consistency and is super smooth and easy to apply. It's fully opaque after the first coat too and dries pretty quickly. I finished off with a coat of Seche Vite.

I am so in love with this colour! It's perfect for any time of the year and is bang on trend too.

You can purchase this polish from Lena White here in the UK for £11
Maz x

Top Spring/ Summer Nail Polishes

Hi Everyone!

I thought that it would be fun to write a post about my pick of nail polishes for this Spring and Summer, as I did last year (click here to read that post). I went with brights and pastels, so let's get started!

(In no particular order)

1. Essie Van D'Go: This is the perfect peachy shade and was in my pick of polishes for last year. Click here to read my full review

2. Essie She's Picture Perfect: Beautiful lilac shade with an iridescent sheen.

3. Essie Borrowed and Blue: Pale, pastel blue. Click here to read my review.

4. Essie Mint Candy Apple: Gorgeous pastel mint shade.

5. OPI Do You Lilac It? This polish also featured in last year's pick of Spring and Summer nail polishes. It is a perfect lilac shade and is one of my all time favourites from OPI.

6. Nails Inc Portobello: This is a bright, neon orange shade. Click here to read my full review.

7. China Glaze Wicked Style: Bright, watermelon pink shade from the Electropop collection for 2012.

8. Nails Inc Baker Street: This is a bright blue shade that became a bestseller for  Nails Inc after it was seen on Beyonce. Click here to read my review.

9. Zoya Kimber: This is a coral-red shade with a golden shimmer and is from the 2012 Surf collection.

10. Essie Pansy: This is one of my all time favourite polishes and was featured on last year's list. It is a hot pink shade. Click here to read my full review of this polish.

11. OPI Flashbulb Fuchsia: This is a really sophisticated pink shade. Click here to read my full review.

12. Orly Passion Fruit: This is a bright, almost neon matte pink shade.

SWATCHES:

(L to R) Van D'Go, She's Picture Perfect, Borrowed and Blue, Mint Candy Apple, Do You Lilac It?

(L to R) Portobello, Wicked Style, Baker Street, Kimber, Pansy, Flashbulb Fuchsia, Passion Fruit

I hope that you enjoyed reading this post! Please feel free to share your favourite nail polishes for Spring and Summer with me in the comments section below!

Maz x

Free Nails Inc Nail Polish with In Style Magazine

Hi Everyone!

This is just a quick post to let you know that there is a free Nails Inc nail polish with the June 2012 issue of UK In Style magazine. There is a choice of 3 polishes, 2 of which are pink shades and the one that I chose which is called In Style Bluebell.

Bluebell is a beautiful lilac-blue shade that is fully opaque after one coat and is a perfect colour for spring!

The magazine is on sale now for £3.80
Maz x

Nails Inc Portobello Nail Polish - Review & Swatch

Hi Everyone!

Today I decided to apply a bright nail polish so I went for Nails Inc Portobello which is a neon orange colour that is bang on trend for Spring 2012.

I began by applying 2 coats of OPI Matte Nail Envy as my base coat followed by 3 coats of Portobello. The polish applies smoothly and evenly and dries quickly to a matte finish. The polish is fairly sheer, as with most neon polishes so there is some visible nail line but it's not all that noticable unless you are really close. I finished off with applying 1 coat of OPI Top Coat.

This colour is so bright! It's perfect for the warmer weather and also makes your skin looked more tanned!

You can purchase this polish from Nails Inc for £11

Maz x

MAC Lightscapade Mineralize Skinfinish - Review & Swatch

Hi Everyone!

I love MAC's Mineralize Skinfinishes and only a couple are in the permanent line. Lighscapade is one that appears in the odd collection here and there and I have had my eye on it for a while so was really pleased when it was recently released as part of the 'Reel Sexy' collection.

MAC describe Lightscapade as a 'Soft candlelit beige with multidimensional shimmer'. This powder is beautiful and makes the most amazing highlight shade. The powder is smooth and glides onto your skin really well and provides a subtle, flattering glow to your cheekbones. Lightscapade isn't too shimmery either which I have often found is the case with MAC's Mineralize Skinfinishes.

SWATCH SHOWN ON NW20 SKIN:

As you can see from the picture above, this powder is really subtle on my skin tone but works as an amazing highlighter. My most used powder highlighter is NARS Albatross and this is similar but much warmer.

Have you purchased anything from the Reel Sexy collection? If so, let me know in the comments section below!

You can purchase Lightscapade from MAC for £ 21.50
Maz x

Beauty Awards 2012

Hi Everyone!

Last year I was inspired to write a post about my favourite beauty products after reading the Sunday Times Beauty Awards. The Times have once again announced their winners in their 06 May issue so it is time for mine again (as with last year I have added a few categories of my own!)

So without further a do...

BEST FOUNDATION:

Sunday Times 2012 Winner: Clinque Repairwear Laser Focus All Smooth Makeup

My 2011 Winner: L'Oreal True Match

My 2012 Winner: L'Oreal True Match - I have to go with True Match for the second year in a row! I have tried several other foundations this year but always end up coming back to this!

My 2012 Runner Up: Make-up Forever HD

BEST CONCEALER:

My 2011 Winner: Bobbi Brown Corrector and Concealer.

My 2012 Winner: Bobbi Brown Corrector and Concealer - Once again, no change from last year! I love this product!

My 2012 Runner Up: Smashbox HD Liquid Concealer

BEST POWDER:

My 2011 Winner: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural

My 2012 Winner: MAC Blot Powder - I tried this powder out for the first time this year and it works amazingly well on any oily areas of my skin.

My 2012 Runner Up: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural

BEST BLUSH:

My 2011 Winner: MAC

My 2012 Winner: MAC - I can't see MAC ever being moved from this category in my opinion! Their choice of colours and finishes are far and away better than any one elses!

My 2012 Runner Up: Benefit

BEST MASCARA:

Sunday Times 2012 Winner: Max Factor False Lash Effect

My 2011 Winner: L'Oreal Telescopic

My 2012 Winner: Benefit Their Real! - even though this is a very expensive mascara it does a really good job, the formula is great and the wand shape is brilliant!

My 2012 Runner Up: L'Oreal Telescopic

BEST LIPSTICK:

Sunday Times 2012 Winner: Chanel Rouge Coco Shine

My 2011 Winner: MAC

My 2012 Winner: MAC - This is another category where MAC wins every time, hands down for me!

My 2012 Runner Up: Revlon (for their lip butters!)

BEST EYESHADOW:

My 2011 Winner: MAC

My 2012 Winner: MAC - For their amazing colour choices!

My 2012 Runner Up: Inglot - This was a tough one for me between Inglot and Urban Decay but the incredible colour pay-off and value for money just swung it in Inglot's favour!

BEST MOISTURISER:

Sunday Times 2012 Winner: Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Gel

My 2011 Winner: Olay Double Action Nourishing and Regenerating Night Cream

My 2012 Winner: Olay Double Action Nourishing and Regenerating Night Cream - I still haven't found a cream that I like more than this and have repurchased time and time again!

My 2012 Runner Up: E45

BEST CLEANSER:

Sunday Times 2012 Winner: Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser

My 2011 Winner: Johnson and Johnson Clean and Clear Exfoliating Daily Wash

My 2012 Winner: St Ives Apricot Scrub

My 2012 Runner Up: Superdrug Tea Tree Facial Wash

BEST SKINCARE BRAND:

Sunday Times 2012 Winner: Clinique

My 2011 Winner: Johnson and Johnson

My 2012 Winner: Kiehl's - I have always loved their hand cream but also tried one of their eye creams this year and loved that too!

My 2012 Runner Up: E45

BEST BODY PRODUCT:

Sunday Times 2012 Winner: Palmer's Cocoa Butter Lotion

My 2011 Winner: E45

My 2012 Winner: E45 - For the second year running, I couldn't live without this lotion!

My 2012 Runner Up: Body Shop Body Butters

BEST BATH PRODUCT:

My 2011 Winner: Lush Bubble Bars

My 2012 Winner: Lush Bubble Bars - To be honest, I have not tried too many new bath products over the last year but I always have a stash of these in!

BEST LIP CARE:

My 2011 Winner: Vaseline Lip Therapy

My 2012 Winner: EOS Lip Balm

My 2012 Runner Up: Vaseline Lip Therapy

BEST NAIL POLISH:

Sunday Times 2012 Winner: Nails Inc

My 2011 Winner: OPI

My 2012 Winner: OPI - This is a very close category for me this year but I have to stick with OPI for their amazing colour choice and collections!

My 2012 Runner Up: China Glaze - This was a close call between China Glaze and Essie but I think CG just has the edge this year!

BEST CLASSIC WOMAN'S FRAGRANCE:

Sunday Times 2012 Winner: Chanel No 5

My 2011 Winner: Chanel No 5

My 2012 Winner: Chanel Chance - I think we can probably now call this a classic! It's once of those fragrances that I go back to time and time again and can never be without!

My 2012 Runner Up: Chanel No 5

BEST WOMAN'S FRAGRANCE:

Sunday Times 2012 Winner: Miss Dior

My 2011 Winner: Vera Wang Princess

My 2012 Winner: Vera Wang Preppy Princess - A gorgeous, lighter version of the original!

My 2012 Runner Up: Vera Wang Lovestruck

You can read my 2011 Beauty Awards post by clicking here

Click here to read the Sunday Times article.

I hope that you have enjoyed reading about my favourite products, please feel free to share yours in the comments section below!
Maz x

Nails Inc Baker Street Nail Polish - Review & Swatch

Hi Everyone!

I decided to go for a bright blue nail polish today and what better than the colour that Beyonce wore after the birth of her baby? This polish is, of course, Nails Inc Baker Street which is from their catwalk trends collection and was a bestseller during March 2012. Bake Street is a stunning cobalt blue colour.

I began by applying 2 coats of OPI Original Nail Envy as my base followed by 2 coats of Baker Street. This polish has quite a thick consistency and was fully opaque after the first coat. It applied really smoothly and evenly and dried pretty quickly too. I then finished off with a coat of OPI Top Coat.

This polish is gorgeous and perfect for Spring/ Summer! I love it!

I would also like to say congratulations to Nails Inc for winning the Best Nail Varnish category in the Sunday Times Beauty Awards 2012 (more on that in an upcoming post).

You can purchase Baker Street from Nails Inc for £11
Maz x

MAC Salute! Lipstick - Review & Swatch

Hi Everyone!

MAC has just released it's Hey Sailor! collection here in the UK and I picked up one of the 4 lipsticks in the colour Salute! which is described as  "neutral peach" and has an amplified finish.

Hey Sailor! packaging

Firstly I have to say that I love the nautical packaging on this collection! The lipstick tube has a really nice glossy finish as opposed to the usual MAC lipstick packaging.

SWATCH SHOWN ON NW20 SKIN:

As you can see from the picture above this is quite an orangey toned neutral colour. The lipstick is very pigmented as with all of MAC's Amplified finishes. I have found that the lipstick looks better if I use my finger to blend it in. It also looks great with a golden lipgloss over the top such as Stila's Kitten.

I have a few peachy nude lipsticks in my collection so here are some swatches for comparison:

(L to R) MAC Salute! Sleek Barely There, MAC Ravishing, MAC Shy Girl, Revlon Peach Parfait

You can purchase the new Hey Sailor! collection from MAC for £14

Please let me know in the comments section below if you have purchased anything from the collection and what you think of it!

Maz x

Chocolate & Ginger Cupcakes

Hi Everyone!

I have been busy making cupcakes today and decided to make some ginger and chocolate ones. I love the flavour of ginger and using use it in biscuits so I wanted a change! Here's how I made them:

INGREDIENTS:

110g Butter

110g Caster Sugar

2 Medium Eggs

75g Self Raising Flour

2 tsp Ground Ginger

2-3 Drops Vanilla Extract

For the Icing:

75g Softened Butter

175g Icing Sugar

3 tbsp Cocoa Powder

METHOD:

1. Pre heat the oven to 180C/ 350F/ Gas Mark 4 and place 12 cupcake cases in a cupcake tray.

2. Cream the butter and sugar together in a large bowl until light and fluffy then add the eggs one at a time followed by the vanilla extract.

3. Fold in the sifted flour along with the ginger and divide the mixture up between the 12 cases.

4. Bake for 15-20 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool fully.

5. To make the icing, sift the icing sugar into a bowl and whisk with the butter. Then stir in the cocoa powder until the mixture is smooth. Pipe or spoon the frosting on top of the cakes and decorate as desired.

These cupcakes are really simple and easy to make and the sponge smells delicious when its baking!

I found this recipe on the Dr Oetker website.

Maz x