2019

Wednesday 11 December 2019

FOOD || SPICED ORANGE HOT CHOCOLATE RECIPE (AD)


*This post is sponsored and includes a gifted product.

I'm probably the biggest fan of chocolate and spice at the same time haha. I can't go a day without having something sweet as a treat, but I also have to have some sort of spice in my meals too so I thought why not combine the two? So I came up with my own little twist on a regular orange hot chocolate which I hope you will love as much as I do.

You will need:
Hot chocolate powder
Orange zest or essence
Ground cinnamon (I use Schwartz)
Milk of your choice

Method:

1. Measure out a mug (or two if you are treating someone else) of milk and pour it into a pan. Heat up the milk on slow heat and gently bring to boil.

2. While the milk is heating up, grate a tablespoon worth of orange zest (around half an orange) and add into the pan. You can add half a teaspoon of orange essence into the milk instead if you don't have any fresh oranges available.

3. Add 3 heaped teaspoons of the hot chocolate powder and half a teaspoon of cinnamon into the boiling milk and turn down the heat.


4. Stir the mixture constantly until it is fully heated. I like my hot chocolate very hot to warm up in winter so I usually keep it on the heat for 5 minutes after boiling.

5. Pour half the drink into your favourite mug and add any extras you desire. I usually add a generous helping of whipped cream and marshmallows with orange zest and cinnamon sprinkled on top.

Tip: If you are using fresh orange zest and don't like pulp-like texture then make sure you strain the mixture through a sieve before serving to ensure your hot drink is smooth.



This is my favourite hot drink to have during Winter. I find that it warms me up from the very first sip I take, but it's also quite filling so makes a great dessert or breakfast for all chocolate lovers.

As this post is a collaboration with Schwartz, I wanted to clarify that I buy all of my seasonings from this brand anyway. I believe that Schwartz offers the best quality and variety of herbs and spices on the market. You can purchase the Schwartz Ground Cinnamon spice that I have used in my recipe here.

*This post is sponsored and includes a gifted product, however, all my opinions are genuine and my own. This post does not include affiliate links.

What is your favourite Wintery drink? Have you ever made a spiced orange hot chocolate? Let me know if you're going to try my recipe!

Lots of love,
Maya xo

Friday 29 November 2019

BLOGMAS 2019 || GIFT GUIDE FOR MEN

Every year I struggle with finding what to get for my partner, my dad and my brother for Christmas (and birthdays). I always want it to be a thoughtful yet practical present that they will like, and nothing rubbish they will open and force a smile at.

This year I have put together a modern gift guide for the men in your life based on their interests and different budgets. I have decided to go for 5 different interests: gamer, sports fan, animal lover, musician and outgoer. I know that I can pick at least one item from every list for my boyfriend, dad AND brother and they are all different ages starting from 11. If I can find something for my loved ones, then I'm sure you can too!


1. GIFTS FOR A GAMER:

- The newest Xbox/PlayStation console
- Nintendo Switch
- Personalised controller - Scuf or ControllerModz
- T-shirt of their favourite character from a game


2. GIFTS FOR A MUSIC LOVER:

- Favourite band t-shirt
- An instrument
- Tickets to see their favourite singer/band
- A microphone and audio set


3. GIFTS FOR A SPORTS FAN:

- Men's tracksuit set
- Trainers
- Tickets to see their favourite sports club
- Favourite sports club t-shirt


4. GIFTS FOR ANIMAL LOVERS:

- An online animal adoption (to help save endangered species)
- Donating money to an animal shelter in their name
- Possibly adopt a pet from a shelter (if they can really look after it)
- A onesie representing their favourite animal


5. GIFTS FOR OUTGOERS:

- Cinema gift card
- Restaurant gift card
- A weekend away
- An escape room experience


Is there anything else you'd add to this list? I hope it helps with finding the best gift for the men in your life!

*This post is sponsored but all opinions are honest and my own.

Lots of love,
Maya xo

Sunday 6 October 2019

REVIEW || LANCOME HYPNOSE MASCARA & LANCOME BONUS TIME - IS THIS THE ONLY TIME YOU SHOULD PURCHASE LANCOME PRODUCTS?

United Kingdom


Lancôme is one of the most known and loved high-end beauty brands out there and there is a good reason for it. They sell their Hypnose mascara every 15 seconds across Europe and you can’t blame people for stocking up on this beauty.

I don’t want to give too much away from this review just yet so carry on reading for my opinion on this mascara and whether it’s worth your money.



The packaging:
I believe that the brand is known for its very luxurious and sleek packaging and this product does not disappoint. The mascara handle is narrow on the tip making it easy to grip and manoeuvre for the most precise application. I like holding the mascara by the tip to add on extra volume after applying the first coat.
The wand is quite thick with a lot of bristles for more precise application. The bristles are quite short which allows the wand to get very close to the lash line for a ‘false-lash with liner’ effect.

The formula:
The formula of the Hypnose mascara is different to most I’ve tried before as it applies absolutely beautifully from the first use up until the last, meaning that even when it dries out it still works just as well as it did the very first time I used it. The product doesn't feel sticky, it feels more smooth and creamy to touch (yes, I have touched the actual mascara to check the texture).

The longevity:
I have currently been using the travel size version of it which I received as a part of the free gift with purchase, and I must say it has lasted me nearly two months! I was told that a full-size mascara should be replenished every 8-10 weeks because of the hygiene reasons and best effect but it can usually last me around 4 months with daily use so I tend to pick up two every time they’re on gift! The product itself lasts all day/night long on my lashes and doesn't seem to wear off at all. Having very fair blonde lashes I find some mascaras difficult to cover my full lashes as no products ever seem to reach the roots of my lashes, but this mascara is definitely the best one I have tried so far that gently combs over my natural lash and defines my eyes without clumping.

The Overall Verdict:
Obviously, if you are reading this review then you are already considering whether to purchase the Hypnose mascara or not. Let me make this decision a lot easier for you - BUY IT. Try it out, if you don't like it or feel like it's not doing anything for you then return it back to the retailer, but I promise you that you will not be disappointed with this product. £25 might seem like a lot to spend on a mascara but this can last you up to 6 months which will only make it £4.30ish a month which will actually save you a lot of money as you don't need many coats of the product for the desired effect, but you might go through one drugstore mascara a month which will cost you £10-£12 a month.





Lancome Bonus Time - Gift with Purchase
To be honest with you, I didn't even know what 'gift with purchase' was until I started working in the beauty industry. I always assumed that high-end makeup brands never offered any samples or gifts, so I stayed within my budget and continued to purchase drugstore branded makeup. After finding out about the bonus time I was in shock because you could actually receive nearly £200 worth of free gift just by picking up your favourite products! I know I will most likely only purchase Lancome products when they have bonus time unless I run out of my beloved Hypnose mascara then I will just have to buy it anyway, but I know it's worth every penny!

I usually buy my makeup from House of Fraser in Nottingham as I want to support my friends and their businesses in the store. I believe that Lancome has bonus time twice a year - once in March and once in September. This year was the first year I bought enough Lancome items in one transaction to qualify for the free gift with my purchase. In March I bought two sets of the Hypnose mascara as I know how much I love the product and as the third item I bought the Honey Foaming Cleanser which melts makeup away (it's great).

As a free gift, I received:
- full-size Micellar water £23.50
- full-size Rose Sugar scrub £30
- travel size Hypnose mascara £8
- travel size Genifique serum £11
- sample size Teint Idole Ultra Wear foundation £5.50
- travel size La Vie Est Belle perfume £7
- travel size Absolue day cream £39
- travel size Absolue night cream £45
- travel size lipstick £10

More recently, in September, I purchased a Monsieur Big mascara set, Gel Eclat cleansing gel, and Creme Mousse foaming face wash. This time I already knew that I really liked the honey cleanser and thankfully it was a part of the free gift this time around so I thought I'd try something else.

As a free gift, I received:
- full-size Honey Foaming Cleanser £24
- full-size Hydra Zen Jelly mask £31
- travel size Hypnose mascara £8
- travel size Genifique serum £11
- sample size Teint Idole Ultra Wear foundation £5.50
- travel size Hydra Zen day cream £12
- travel size Hydra Zen night cream £13
- travel size comforting toner £8.50

I really hope that this post has helped you decide if Hypnose if the best mascara for you, I absolutely love it and I can't imagine myself replacing it with any other mascara, but I cannot wait to try the Monsieur Big mascara as this is my Mum's favourite.

Have you tried any of the products mentioned above? Would you recommend any other Lancome items for me to try for my next purchase?

Lots of love,
Maya xo

Wednesday 10 April 2019

REVIEW || KERASTASE ELIXIR ULTIMATE OLEO-COMPLEXE 6 SHAMPOO & BALM


Kerastase is one of those brands who not a lot people speak about as they are on the pricey side of hair care products, but I can never resist buying new products to try out and see whether they are actually worth their high price tag. Now, these two retail between £20-£30 which seems ridiculous for a shampoo and an oil balm, as I usually go for products like VO5 which only cost around a quid and do a great job.


The balm has a weird consistency, it's like the Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream but dry? It makes my hair feel matted, but at least I get to wash out the product soon after applying it. I have used it several times but I'm not the biggest fan of it. The texture is odd and I don't think it does anything for my hair -I have definitely tried better products. I also don't see the point in using a hair treatment on dry hair? Not sure if it's just me, but isn't a treatment supposed to be used on clean hair?


The shampoo, on the other hand, is quite nice and smells great. I wouldn't say it's the best I have tried before but it does make my hair super shiny and soft - something that most shampoos can achieve.
Overall, as you can see I don't have much to say about these products as I don't think they're very good. You can find much better alternatives from other brands like Aveda or Matrix.

What was the most you have ever spent on hair products? Would you say it was worth your money?

Lots of love,
Maya xo

Friday 1 February 2019

GIVEAWAY || DRY JANUARY & VEGANUARY GIVEAWAY - WIN A MAC LIPSTICK AND LIP LINER OF YOUR OWN CHOICE


As a massive thank you to those who have participated in either dry January or Veganuary (or both) and give you a chance to win a Mac lipstick and lipliner of your choice. I have cut alcohol from my diet for over a year now and I couldn't feel better. I'm also trying to eat a lot less meat and dairy and when I eat a plant-based meal I feel 10 times better, so my main goal is to become vegan by the end of this year!

The rules of the giveaway are as follows:
- you must over the age of 16 or have parental consent to enter.
- if you unfollow/undo an action you will lose your entry.
- you must use a valid email address for me to contact you if you're a winner.
- if you show any negativity/hate towards myself or anyone participating you will be disqualified.
- Have fun! This giveaway is open to everyone & is international.

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS NOW ENDED.


Good luck to everyone! I wish you all the best! ❤️

*This giveaway is not associated with MAC and the prize will be funded with my own money.

Lots of love,
Maya xo
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