HOW TO: Make Cake Pops!

It looks like August is the month for birthdays (in my family anyway) which means lots of birthday cake! For my sister's 30th, she threw a big birthday bash earlier in the month, and I made these sponge pop cakes for everybody to tuck into! I'm not 100% sure if this counts as a 'recipe', as the majority of ingredients are the same as any other cake! I guess I could just a call this a list of instructions? Enjoy, x 

First step, bake a sponge cake - you can use a plain sponge recipe (4oz casting sugar, butter, flour, 2 eggs and some baking powder), but I used a basic sponge mix from the supermarket which needed just 1x egg and 1 or 2 spoonfuls of water - a lot easier & probably a lot cheaper if you do not have the ingredients at home already (which I didn't)! Once the mixture has been made, spoon it into a greased container and cook into the sponge is bouncy and golden!

Step 2 - Once cooled, break up the cake with your hands until it looks like crumble; then add in a couple of tablespoons of ready-made icing mixture (enough to make the sponge stick together, without it being too wet). Grab a small handful of the mixture and roll it into 10-12 suitably small 'cake ball' sizes.

Step 3 - Poke a cake pop stick into the ready-made icing and then into each individual 'cake ball'. Once completed, freeze all cake pops for 15 minutes. This is just to ensure that all sticks are firmly set in the cake pops!

Step 4 - As the pop-sticks are freezing, melt the cooking chocolate for icing. I melted the chocolate in a glass bowl over some very warm water (not boiling) but you can also microwave it! DO NOT ADD WATER TO YOUR CHOCOLATE AS IT MELTS... (I learnt the hard way) This will make the chocolate separate and unusable. 

Step 5 - Once your chocolate has melted, dip each cake pop into a glass of melted chocolate - be careful when moving the stick around - too much swirling cake make the stick become loose. Now apply any sprinkles / decorative extras that you have on top of the melted chocolate. 

Step 6 - leave to dry by placing the sticks into a cake pop stand, and if you don't have one of these then a colander should be just as good. Once set, place the pops in a clear wrapper and tie up with ribbon to make the treats look extra special!

Wa la, you're done!! You should have 10-12 identical and tasty cake pops that have a moist sponge and are covered in chocolate :) Would I make these again? I received a lot of compliments after my first batch, which is always nice, and yes my cake pops looked very cool! I made a coffee, and double chocolate flavour, so you can mess around with the ingredients, but I probably wouldn't make these again as its A LOT of work & money!! Fairy cakes are just as cool & probably go further! 

Have you made cake pops before? Maybe you have a different recipe that you'd like to share? If so please feel free to add a comment. Alternatively, if you have an idea for another blog post id love to hear about it below.

Thanks for reading,

Yvette Marie xo

 

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Review: Collection - Long Lasting Lipstick

5/6 Lips - Collection have just released a new line of long-lasting lipstick in 6 Matte & 16 gloss moisture boosting shades. The magazine brand Company have conducted an online quiz, where you can find out what colour sums you up best, plus you'll also read a little description of what kind of personality you have (whether this is accurate or not, I'm not 100% sure!) Link is here: http://www.company.co.uk/beauty/what-lipstick-shade-is-right-for-you-quiz. My result 'Kylie (Jenner) Purple'...AKA 'Mulberry Burst', so off to Boots I went. I really hope you like this review, I love writing fun & simple posts like this the most! Enjoy, x 

*photo provided from Company*

I love everything about this lipstick!! EVERYTHING. I popped until Boots after work very briefly...I always try to leave ASAP; If I don't, my visit usually results in spending a ridiculous amount of time just pondering and admiring all cosmetics, when I really don't have the time or budget for that kind of shopping! Once I grabbed Mulberry Burst, I couldn't help but notice the amazing shades available. I wanted them all! There are some seriously nice colours out there, and the texture feels great too. I just can't believe they're on sale for just £2.99... This product is such good value for money!

Mulberry Burst is a lovely deep rosy purple colour, not too dark, but at the same time it's not bright enough to be tacky and tasteless. This colour looks matte, but at the same time it's so moisturising!! You can literally see tiny tiny spots where the moisture has risen to the surface. One thing that I would say before purchasing (and this is the ONLY flaw)... the colour swatches online do not represent the shade accurately, so definitely check out this product in store :)

Does this last? Well Collection haven't promised '24 hour wear' so it's hard to know what they consider 'Long-lasting' - this definitely lasts for a good few hours, which I think is a reasonable amount of time. If you're a few hours in to an evening or night out, you've probably top up your lipstick at least once by this point!

Want to know what colour will suit you? Then take the test from Company, and comment below. I'd love to hear what different kind of styles are out there!.. Alternatively, if you have any suggestions or ideas for future blog posts, I'd love to hear them!

Thanks for reading,

Yvette Marie xo

 

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Lush Write Up: My Favourite Face Masks

Just thought I'd write a quick post about why these two facemasks from Lush are my favourite! I'm a big big fan of Lush, I love the company's ethics (no animal testing & all natural ingredients ), I love the service I receive every time I'm in store, even if I'm not in Bristol, and lastly, I love the concept of each and every product! I hope you like this post just as much as I like using these two masks, enjoy x

Mask of Magnaminty - Firstly, this is made from 100% natural ingredients (free from BAD chemicals). Secondly, the ingredients used in Lush products are only purchased from suppliers who do not test on animals! This mask can do all sorts of things, but I mostly use it to help prevent breakouts. It keeps my skin calm and clear. As well as peppermint oil, (I mentioned this product in 'My Skincare Routine' post) this mask also contains Honey which is great as an antiseptic and moisturiser. The mask also acts as an exfoliator because it contains aduki beans and evening primrose seeds - so it works on my blackheads too. I've mentioned before that Lush products can be a little bit expensive (which is true) - this is £5.50 for just 125g, however, Mask of Magnaminty is the only mask from Lush which is self-preserving which means you don't have to try and finish a whole tub in 1 month - you have 4!

Oatifix - I love this face mask for completely different reasons than those stated above, but I think it's a great idea to have different products that alternate in order to save money and see the full effects of a company's products! This mask leaves my skin feeling super soft, firm, moisturised and really improves my complexion, plus it smells absolutely amazing! The texture is a little bit weird, because it's really thick & lumpy it can be quite hard to apply all over (without patches), and it's hard to wash off for the exact same reasons! If I could afford to use this all the time I would but with a retail at £6.50 for 75g, it's not really justifiable, especially as you only have 1 month of use.

Have you tried a Lush facemask? If so, what did you think? Do you have a favourite? Leave your comments in the box below, or, alternatively, if you have any suggestions / ideas for future blog posts, I'd love to hear about them!!

Thanks for reading,

Yvette Marie xo

 

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Tutorial: How To Make Your Own Lip Scrub

Last week I posted a review of Lip Glams Original Balm to kick start my 6x lips special - I can't say enough how important it is to take care of your lips, so I thought this would be the perfect time to blog about an awesome lip care product :) As everyone knows I'm a big fan of saving money and having a go at some DIY items, so below, I've listed some ingredients that you will need to make your own Sugar Lip Scrub! Just 2 items are required, and they should all already (hopefully) be in your cupboards! Enjoy x

Ingredients:

- 1 TBSP of brown or white sugar (I prefer brown)

- A dash of honey or olive oil (Just enough to make the sugary mixture stick together)

- A teeny tiny drop of vanilla (Optional - makes it smell yummy)

- Food colouring (Optional -makes it look fun and colourful)

Now mix together all of the ingredients! This should leave the mixture with a perfect consistency, and it's as simple as that! I've read online that some people crush the sugar down to make an even smaller grain, but this is obviously down to individual taste.

Apply the scrub onto your lips once a week (twice at the very most). If you have any dead skin then this will definitely help! Once the dead skin has loosened (if this applies to you), leave the scrub on for another minute and then wipe off the mixture with a damp cloth. Apply lip balm after use, and your lips should now be super smooth!

If this one isn't for you, then have a look around online as there are hundreds of recipes available (experimenting with different flavours & ingredients), but hopefully, at the very least, I've provided you with some inspiration!

Please feel free to comment if you found this tutorial helpful...Maybe you've tried to make your own lip scrub and have a fun recipe that others can try!?

Thanks for reading,

Yvette Marie xo

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Turtorial: Homemade Face Masks

Hi everyone, last week I mentioned in my skincare routine post that I use Mask of Magnaminty from Lush; And whilst I do love this product, it can be a tad on the expensive side so below I've listed 3 of my favourite homemade facemask recipes! If you're on a budget, this is a great idea and so cost effective! Have a dig around in the kitchen cupboards, and enjoy x

1. Oatmeal Facial Mask -

Combine a TBSP of finely grounded oatmeal with a TBSP of plain yoghurt, and then add a small drop of honey into the mixture. Once all ingredients have been added, apply a thin layer to your face and leave to set for 10-15 minutes. Finally, rinse with warm water. This should give you a quick pick-me-up and leave your skin not only looking better, but also feeling it!! Apply moisturiser after for the best results!

2. Honey, Cinnamon and Nutmeg Face Mask -

 First, mix together 1 TSP of cinnamon and 1 TSP of nutmeg. Now add 2 drops of honey, and you're ready to go! Ingredients can obviously be adjusted to suit, but I find this combination works best. I usually leave this facemask on for 15 minutes, however, at the first sign of irritation wash off! What are the benefits of this face mask? Honey acts as a natural antioxidant, soothes skin and fights acne caused by microbes! Nutmeg reduces redness and inflammation caused by acne, and cinnamon can plump the skin by bringing oxygen and blood to the service. Cinnamon also unclogs and opens the pores by removing excess oil from the skin's surface. This mask is great for lightening blemishes, and reducing the appearance of scars. Although cinnamon is great, it can also cause major irritation and even an allergic reaction on the skin, so I would advise doing a patch test beforehand.

3. Ice Cube Facial Massage -

Ok so this isn't exactly a face mask, but I guess it can be described as a facial?! I recently read about a routine that I wanted to share with you, and now that it's the beginning of summer, this is the perfect time of year to try it out! Simply wrap ice cubes in a paper towel and massage your face in a circular motion for 1-2 minutes just before bed. Although this doesn't sound very pleasant, ice has a long list of benefits and can do wonders for your skin! Here is a list of just some; Minimise pores, control oil production, smooth complexion by easing the appearance of wrinkles, fight acne, promote blood circulation and help heal blemishes. There are plenty of ingredients that you can also include to suit your skin type too:

Dry Skin? Add Mint 

Oily Skin? Try adding sage

Wear make-up every day? I do! Include a TSP of olive oil to the water before freezing. The oil will nourish and smooth your skin.

Top Tips -

- Always wash your face, and remove any make-up before applying face masks to receive the best results!
-  Some ingredients mentioned may cause irritation, so always do a small test patch before applying it onto your face.
- If big oats aren't for you, grind them down so the mixture is a lot finer.

- When adding honey, run the spoon under a hot tap beforehand. It makes it a lot easier to pick up and drop off the liquid.
- Place a strainer in your sink to catch the oats when they've washed off.

Please feel free to comment if you found this tutorial helpful, or if you have any suggestions for future blog posts!

Thanks for reading,

Yvette Marie xo

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