New In: Lisa Blur Cosmetics

I have wanted to try some new makeup for a while but I haven't been interested enough however when this package from Lisa Blur arrived, I was super excited! I have tried a new makeup brand for what seems like ages so I starting using the products as soon as they were delivered.

Lisa Blur cosmetics are so simply packaged in plain black and white boxes an the product packaging is the same but I love it! The products are designed to be longwearing, comfortable and easy to apply as well as being hypoallergenic.

*Lisa Blur Hi Def Foundation (£25, 20ml - C2 Warm Yellow)

I chose what appeared to be one of the lightest shades on the website and it is an amazing match for my skin. The yellow undertones are fantastic for counteracting the redness in my skin caused by eczema. I have used it with a foundation buffing brush and a sponge, I prefer using a sponge as I do have dry skin. The foundation has light to medium coverage, depending on your application method and how much you use - it covers most of the redness, pores, dark circles and minor blemishes that I need covering.

The foundation applies beautifully with a damp sponge, it leaves my skin looking natural, it's not very noticeable on the skin even with powder. It doesn't highlight dryness or fine line which is fantastic and it wear well throughout the day. I'd definitely recommend this foundation if you have dry to normal skin or even slightly oily as long as you set it. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

*Lisa Blur Dual Powder (£17.50, C2 Warm Yellow)

I've recently finished yet another Essence Fixing powder so I wanted to give a new powder a go; this powder can used as a setting powder or as a powder foundation. I use it to set my t-zone which need setting and a very small amount over the rest of my face. The powder claims medium to full coverage silky smooth application, soft finish and a formula that won't settle into fine lines.

The powder comes in what feels like a really sturdy compact which is great as I tend to drop mine and end up shattering the powder or breaking the lid. It also comes with a sponge but I've been using a fluffy brush. I find that the powder can highlight dryness sometimes but when used lightly it is great for setting my makeup and prolonging the freshness of my makeup. Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5.

*Lisa Blur Ultra Satin Lipstick (£11 - Right On)

I have so many lipsticks that are such similar shades that any non-beauty blogger or beauty lover would think was excessive so I chose a shade that I would usually go for - a glittery deep purple! The shade can be used lightly as an almost shimmery purple stain or it can be built up for a deep, rich purple with a visible pink shimmer and shine. I think such a vibrant, colourful shade is perfect for spring especially when used lightly - it seems to make my complexion brighter!

Despite the glitter in the lipstick, it's still relatively smooth and creamy on the lips, the pigmentation is great, application is very quick and easy and it feels fairly lightweight on the lips too. The longevity isn't amazing as it transfers easily but it's pretty while it lasts! Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5.

Have you tried any makeup from Lisa Blur? What do you think of these products? Purple lips for spring - yes or no? 

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My Blogging Essentials ft. Askborg

I have been blogging for almost five years, my little blog is five May and yes, there will be a big blog birthday giveaway to celebrate! Over that time, I have learnt so much not just about blogging and writing but photography, SEO, networking and emailing with PRs and having to know new terms (keywords, domain authority, page authority and the guidelines associated with blogging were all new to me) as well as trying out so many products that I might not have if I didn't have a blog.

I've come to the conclusion that there are some blogging essentials that I need on a daily basis as well as items that make blogging that bit easier (as it definitely isn't!). I think the items I've mentioned will be a perfect starter kit (remember those old days of Youtube when makeup starter kit videos were a thing?) for new bloggers.

Charging Cable 

Ok, this first one is pretty basic and it is an item that everyone with an iPhone or iPad needs - a good and reliable charging cable. I have gone through so many official apple and...*cough* not so official 'apple' charging cables and every single one breaks on me within a few months but this one feels so durable. Mine always break at the ends because of the wire twisting but this *Askborg ChargeTube with Lightening Connector (£9.99) is made of braided nylon and the ends feel really stiff so they won't twist and break. I've been using this charging cable for the past couple of weeks and it's perfect; it's one of those basic items that you just need and it works so well.

iMac/iPhone

Another pretty basic item but both are so essential for me, my iMac which I blog and edit photos on and my iPhone where all of the social media promoting, editing and scrolling happens, far too much scrolling. My iMac is just perfect for blogging because of the massive screen, easy to use apps and it's super reliable as we've had this one for about eight or nine years.

Back in the old days of the Nokia 3510 and the wonder that is Snake, I never really used my phone and I'm known by my friends and family for never answering or having my phone on me but all of that changed when I received my iPhone 5C as a present a couple of years ago and now I can't be without it. I use the various photo editing and social media apps on my iPhone and I use it to take part in the #lbloggers (7pm on Wed/Sun), #bbloggers (8pm on Wed/Sun) and #TheGirlGang (6pm on Mon) chats on Twitter.

Blog Props

There's one aspect of blogging that I'm always trying to improve and that is my photography. I am never 100% happy with my photos, don't get me wrong some are gorgeous (if I do say so myself) but I always want to make them look better. One thing I never used in the first couple of years of blogging were props but now I always use them. My favourite blog photo props including: books, blankets, towels/fluffy jumpers, candles, fairylights and of course flowers. I like props that looks right with the products, I've seen some photos with props that look odd with the product but I think you can never go wrong with fluffy blankets, candles , fairylights or flowers.

Canon 750D

Cameras for blogging have been the topic of numerous blogger debates and chats and here's my view of it: you need a descent camera to get the best photos you can and also to progress, develop and work with brands, in my opinion. I can't imagine using my iPhone for my blog photos! I bought my Canon 750D last year with money I'd earned just from blogging which was a fantastic milestone for me and I now couldn't live without - it's by far the best camera I've ever used. Before I had the Sony DSc H200, the Nikon L110  and the Nikon L120, which are pretty good and I'd recommend them all but I adore my Canon 750D! Just look at my photos now compared to two years or even three years ago to see the massive difference in quality, sharpness and clarity.

Notebooks

Another basic, inexpensive and definitely essential item, notebooks and stationery! I have far too many notebooks but I do use them constantly along with memo pads and to do lists that I use to keep track of items I'm expecting in the post, tasks that I have to do and notes, blog ideas or recipes. I always have at least two notebooks/pads on the go!

Storage

The penultimate essential is one that isn't really discussed or thought of but it's so important! I use various storage boxes, drawers and crates to store blogging items - I have drawers next to my desk for general office/iMac items, stationery, blog prizes (yes, I do have a blog prize drawer) and for items that I need to post about in the next week. I also have a box filled with items I need to photograph which helps me to stay organised, especially around christmas when I'm lucky enough to receive small mountains of products and gifts. Additionally I have a canvas bag that I use for cardboard and paper recycling which is one of the many unglamorous aspects of blogging. SO. MUCH. RECYCLING.

Numbers/Excel 

Last but not least, another organising tool that has been helping me organise my blogging schedule - Numbers which is the Apple/iMac version of Excel. Spreadsheets are so useful to plan out and organise blog posts; I usually plan a month or so ahead and it lets me see if I have space to post about new products or if my schedule is too full.

What are your blogging essentials? Do you use any of the products that I do? 

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Swimwear Spring Summer Trends

Images from ukswimwear

Finding the perfect fit, choosing a pattern or look that is flattering for your figure, and of course keeping on trend with any clothing or accessories can be difficult but especially when it comes to swimwear. But for 2017, we think this job has gotten a little easier, and it’s all thanks to the designers themselves. Luxury swimwear in 2017 is some of the most varied and interesting in the medium’s history and the world class designers like Gottex and Roidal are all contributing to this wonderful tapestry of creativity. So let’s take a look at some of the most interesting new trends of the swimwear world, from our favourite luxury designers.

 Geometrics 

A big theme is geometric and artificial patterns this year. Gottex’s new collection, for example, contains a geometric element in about half of their swimsuits and bikinis. This can be a set of stripes or spots, or something man made like a mosaic pattern. But for many designers working in 2017, it is all about creating something stunning, creative and original. That is why Gottex’s new range is an amazing line up for this trend. Erratic lines, explosive motifs and a can of cyberpunk aesthetic that takes your outfits to the next level.

Painted Natural World 

We estimate that the natural world has never been absent from a swimwear collection. This means it is a perennial favourite, but it is also about time for a new and refreshing makeover. This makeover has taken the form of painting and an imitation of various schools of art. Mostly water colours, oil paintings or interior decor are the inspiration of this change, making florals look like a tapestry or a mural. It’s one of the most exciting new trends in the world of swimwear fashion. Check out the Roidal Flor Romantica for a great example of this.

 Hybrid Designs 

This is easily the biggest new trend in fashion, whether it is swimwear or otherwise. Designs that have been created from a mixture of two or sometimes three different schools of design are some of the most interesting new numbers you can get your hands on. For example, imagine a design that contains an oriental ceramics pattern on the bottom, an arabesque tile arrangement like the interior of a Moroccan palace, and a big floral centre piece all together. Sounds hectic and impossible? Not so! It exists already. It is hard to blend these different lineages of design together, but if you have a master designer at work, the results can be fascinating. To see the collection we mentioned above, take a look at the Gottex Le Jardin range

For all the latest fashions and styles in the swimwear world, check out www.ukswimwear.com. A whole website filled with the latest swimsuits from fashion houses across the globe!

*This is a collaborative and sponsored post with ukswimwear

What do you think of these styles? Will you checking out ukswimwear? 

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An Introduction To Audiobooks

Last year I set myself the goal of reading 30 books, before then I only read maybe five or so each year but I exceeded my reading goal massively by reading 79 books last year. However, while it can be great to read a physical book or an e-book, I have wondered about audiobooks for years! For some reason I felt as though audiobooks were a reading cheat or that I wouldn't be able to concentrate as much compared to reading a book.

BookBeat

When the opportunity came up to work with BookBeat, an audiobook subscription service created in Sweden in 2015, I had to apply. BookBeat offers subscribers thousands of audiobooks to choose from which vary from all kinds of fiction to non-fiction as well as classics and newer releases. As of last month they have expanded their market to the UK and I have been lucky enough to receive a free subscription. If you wanted to subscribe then it's £14.90 per month and there isn't a limited on how many audiobooks you can listen to but you can get a ONE MONTH free trial using this link (it's not an affiliate link) rather than the normal two week free trial.

Signing up to BookBeat is so easy, the website and app are so easy to navigate and it's easy to find books you want to read. On the app there a great feature where you can save certain audiobooks to a list, I do this with the audiobooks I want to read and you can also download the audiobooks too so you can listen to them when you don't have access to wifi which is amazing and perfect for travelling.

I find that of the fiction and non-fiction audiobooks I've listened to so far, I can concentrate as much as I can when reading a book but it also means that the time I spend baking, cooking, tidying up taking and editing photos can be used to listen to an audiobook around the house on my iPhone - audiobooks count towards my reading goal on GoodReads too which is great as I'm a little behind on my reading goal of 80 books this year.

Audiobooks I've Listened To So Far

So far I am on my fourth audiobook, I have finished two fiction audiobooks, one non-fiction and I'm currently listening to Victorians Undone by Kathryn Hughes which is a non-fiction audiobook (and I'm loving it). I would have finished more but we've been busy redecorating recently and getting ready for a new kitchen which should be started today. You can rate audiobooks on the app too and I've given the three I've finished all four stars out of five.

I find that so far I am liking non-fiction audiobooks more than fiction but I have just started so that might change. One series that I definitely want to read more from is the History In An Hour by Harper Collins which focuses on one historical figures or events - I've listen to the one on Stalin and I have a few more saved in my list to listen to including one about Mussolini, Charles Dickens, JFK and about the Russian Revolution.

Overall

I am loving audiobooks on BookBeat so far, especially the non-fiction I've listened to. I love how the app is laid out, it's easy to find what I want and discover audiobooks I didn't know existed and I love that I can listen to an audiobook while doing other things and it still counts towards my GoodReads reading goal! My only criticism so far is that Stephen Fry can't narrate every single audiobook...

Do you listen to audiobooks? Have you tried BookBeat? Will you be using the one month free trial? 

*gifted

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Skin Yoga Skincare

I am a big fan of natural skincare and bodycare, I am always more drawn to natural products! I have so many brands and product favourites that are more natural such as Antipodes, Dr Botanicals, Lush and Tisserand so when I get the opportunity to try more natural products, I am excited!

Skin Yoga is a 100% natural skincare brand that is fragrance, preservative and paraben free as well as cruelty free and vegan friendly. It is founded by three sisters and all of the products are made in India using natural ingredients.

I received a couple of minis sizes to try out and they came beautifully packaged as they both came in little wooden boxes! How adorable is the packaging and I know I am going to re-use the boxes again - I'm going to try and plant a succulent in each one!

*Skin Yoga Almond Orange Face Scrub (£15.92, full size) 

The bottles for each product are adorable too as they are little glass bottles with a cork stopper! The ingredients for this face scrub include: almond meal, dried orange peel, chickpea flour and organic turmeric, that's it! It is a grainy scrub that is a little messy but it does work well as a gentle exfoliator on my t-zone which is where I need the most help in terms of exfoliating.

It is a really lovely face scrub, it has a pleasant subtle scent and it doesn't irritate my skin at all. I have used it a couple of times now as I only use face scrubs once a week and I really like it although I'm not wowed by it and as it's a sample size, I can only get three uses out of it. Overall rating: ★★★☆☆, 3/5.

*Skin Yoga Sandalwood Saffron Face Mask (£21.96, full size) 

As with the previous product, this one is 100% natural and it has a grainy texture - due to the dry, grainy nature of the product, I didn't really know how it would work as a mask but when combined with a small amount of water, it adheres well and it means that a little goes a long way; even so I can only get two uses out of it.

I just used it on my t-zone as it's the area of my skin that needs the most exfoliating and deep cleansing as it's always congested *gross, sorry*. The mask smells nice, it is gentle and doesn't irritate my skin but I find it doesn't do much else. Sure, my skin is smoother using the scrub and mask but it's not massively impressing me and the price is a little high in my opinion; however I do still like both products and the packaging is gorgeous. Overall rating: ★★★☆☆, 3/5.

What are your favourite natural skincare products or brands? Have you tried anything from Skin Yoga? 

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Vegan Carrot Cake Waffles

Today is International Carrot Day...yes, it is a thing! It gives me an excuse to try out a recipe I've wanted to try for a while, vegan carrot cake waffles. I love carrot cake and I also love Belgian waffles so this recipe is perfect for me and I've topped then with a couple of my favourites including maple syrup, strawberries and vegan salted caramel ice cream!

I've wanted a waffle maker for years so when the lovely people at Jocca got in touch, I had to choose their adorable mint green waffle maker. Jocca is a homeware and small appliance store based in Spain but they ship worldwide - they offer free UK shipping on orders over £40. Also if you sign up to their newsletter you can get £10 off your first order! Check out their twitter for offers!

I have the *Jocca Turquoise Waffle Maker (£17) which comes with a UK plug and it is suitable for UK/European voltages. It's one of the cheapest waffle makers I've seen and I adore the mint green colour as well as how simple it is to use. If you follow me on Instagram (@ofbeautyand) then you will get sneak peeks of my blogger mail, upcoming posts and recipes as I make them.

This recipe is suitable for vegans and if you use gluten free flour then it will be gluten free too. The recipe makes three waffles but you could double it to make more. I adapted a recipe from The Crunchy Chronicles so you could use their original recipe.

Ingredients:

- 1/2 and 1/4 cup of plain white flour
- 2 - 4 tablespoons of cinnamon (you could also add ground ginger too)
- 1 teaspoon of baking powder
- 1/2 cup of oat milk (you could use cashew or almond milk instead)
- 4 - 6 teaspoons of maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons of olive oil
- 1 pinch of table salt
- 1/2 cup of grated carrot (approx. half of a medium sized carrot)

- Vegan Ice cream (optional)
- Fruit, nuts, vegan chocolate toppings (optional)

The recipe for me and this amazing and super easy to use Jocca waffle maker are fantastic. They only take about ten to fifteen minutes to make which is great and perfect for a quick dessert or a indulgently sugary and sweet American style breakfast. Here are the steps to make these gorgeous carrot cake waffles:

Step One

In a large bowl measure out and combine the dry ingredients - the white flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt then mix.

Step Two

Measure the wet ingredients - the maple syrup, olive oil, oat milk and grated carrot then add to the dry ingredients and mix well.

Step Three

Plug in and spray olive oil onto the plates of your waffle maker. My Jocca waffle maker heats up really quickly, the waffles don't stick at all and it cooks them quickly and evenly.

Step Four

When the waffle maker is heated up, add in half a large ladle full of batter into each side of the waffle maker and leave for about five minutes or until it's cooked, slightly crisp on the outside and until it easily comes away from the plates.

That's it! All you have to do is stack then on your plate, add you fruit, maple syrup, ice cream, chocolate or other topping of your choice and enjoy. They are definitely best eaten hot so only add the ice cream at the very last minute.

I love the sweet carrot cake waffles as they not only taste amazing but they are 100% vegan, they're so quick to make and the waffle maker is just perfect. For me the waffles are also really filling and not too unhealthy either. This is the first waffle maker I've tried and I couldn't be happier with it as it looks so cute, it is very easy to use and the waffles don't get stuck to the plates - it does take a couple of practice waffles to get the hang of how much batter to use and how long to cook them for; I always need to leave them in for longer. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

What do you think of these waffles? Have you heard of or bought from Jocca? 

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