Sunday 29 June 2014

• GUEST POST // Ginger Hannah // Gluten Free Oat and Raisin Cookies •

Hello my little beauty loving baked delights!

This is a slightly different blog for me, I normally do make up tips, tricks and finds, but today I fancied cookies so I thought what better to blog about, everyone loves a cookie right! Those of you who don't know me (which will be most of you) can find me at www.gingerhannah.wordpress.com - cheeky little promo there, but anyways back to the cookies!

I discovered a few months ago that I have a wheat intolerance meaning that things like cookies or a slice of cake were off limits to me, now I normally eat very healthily but the minute I realised I couldn't eat those things, made me want them even more! I've been experimenting with gluten free baking and also ways to make bakes as healthy as possible so here we go:

You will need:

•  75g rolled oats
•  3-4 tablespoons desiccated coconut
•  3 tablespoons agave nectar
•  2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil or sunflower oil
•  a good handful of any dried fruit or seeds you fancy (I used raisins and cranberries)
•  cinnamon to taste

Method:

Now this is where I give you a complex strategy recipe with lots of cookery word in it but why would I when these cookies are sooooo easy!

Step 1: Put all the ingredients into a bowl and mix (see I could have stopped there but step 1 felt like I was cheating).
Step 2: Split into individual portions and put on a lined baking tray.
Step 3: Bake at 190 for 10 minutes or until golden on top.

Step 4: Eat them (all of them) knowing you won't have an allergic reaction or put on 25 stone because these marvellous bakes contain no added sugar, that's right nada!!! The only sugar in these bad boys is from the dried fruit.

Agave Nectar is one of my favourite baking ingredients. This is a staple for healthy baking! It contains no fats and only natural plant sugars making these baked treats nothing to feel guilty about!

I would have put in a picture of me enjoying my cookies, but it is possible (maybe probable) that I wolfed them own while they were still warm!

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do, and head on over to my blog for some beauty, fashion and who knows maybe another bake sometime in the near future!

All my love,

Ginger Hannah xoxo

If you would like to guest post on Daniela Scribbles, drop me an email - dannidiraimo@gmail.com
or tweet me @ddiraimo92
Make sure to check out Hannah's blog - Ginger Hannah - and tell her I said hi!
Daniela xo
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Sunday 22 June 2014

• June Birchbox #3 // review •

Receiving a Beauty Blender gives me yet another reason to love Birchbox (not that I need another reason...)

I never would have tried some of the products in this box so it's definitely an exciting one this month. Everything in this box is new to me so I can't wait to try everything! This month's theme was based on the World Cup so the products are from across the globe and I love the little Birchbox flip flop key ring. As always, there's a mix of skincare and make up and if you want to see what I received in last month's box, you can click here. So let's kick this off (tehe) with the star of the show!

Like most beauty bloggers, I've heard so much about this and I've wanted it for so so long but could never quite justify £26 for a sponge when I could purchase the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge for £5.99 (which is amazing by the way - I reviewed it here!) so receiving this was brilliant. I'm so shocked that Birchbox have included this in a box as it's obviously expensive, but I'm so glad that I now have the cult product in my collection! This sponge just makes my skin look flawless and my foundation so natural - after dampening, I just dab it onto my skin to blend the foundation in. It works much the same as the Real Techniques sponge but with a few differences, and I'm planning a comparison post soon so I can go more into detail there.
Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentre // £12.99 (full size)

I've heard so much about this brand and I'm so excited to try it out. I'm quite finicky with my skincare and I have a good thing going at the moment so I haven't yet used this, but when my current moisturiser (La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo+) runs out then I'll definitely give this a go. Hopefully it sits well under make up as thats a must for me when it comes to skincare.
Naobay Body Radiance Lotion // £14 (full size)

This beautiful body lotion smells so fresh and has a citrus scent to it. It has quite a thick consistency so it's really moisturising but it sinks into the skin so quickly. The true test for me is applying moisturiser straight after shaving my legs - if it stings, it's a no-go as it obviously contains far too many chemicals and I can't be doing with stinging legs, but if it doesn't sting then I'm happy to use it all over my body as it's proved itself to be gentle enough. This lotion passed the test and I'm happily using it every single day.

I'm always happy to add to my nail polish collection so this product was always going to go down well with me! I probably own something similar but I don't care, I know that OPI nail varnishes are amazing quality so I can't wait to try this. It's a bright pink with shimmers running through it but unfortunately I don't know the name of it - I've linked the Birchbox site so you can purchase it from there if you want to.

This colour! Birchbox couldn't have matched me better if they'd tried. It's such a 'me' colour and I go for anything peachy/orangey around this time of year. It's such a stunning shade and the formula is so creamy. It is sheer but it's also build-able, so you can go for a sheer peach or a brighter orange, depending on your preference. The lipstick smells lovely which is a bonus and I really like the packaging. I'm looking forward to wearing more of this over the summer!

If this Birchbox hasn't made you want to subscribe then I don't know what will...and if you are subscribed, were you happy with what you received in this months box?
Daniela xo
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Saturday 14 June 2014

• My skin story & my experience with Roaccutane •

This post is going to be an informal kind of chit-chat where I talk to you about my experiences with the acne-fighting medication Roaccutane. 

But let me begin by giving you a little background on my skin. I use to have severe acne from the age of about 12-16. It's as if my acne appeared over night and it covered my face for pretty much the whole of the four years. Now I wont get the violins out, as that part of my life is over, but it was pretty terrible. I tried so many different things to get rid of my acne but to no avail and it really began to get me down. When I was 14, I started the pill to control my hormones - that didn't work. I went for facials where the therapist would massage my skin and put lots of expensive products on it - that didn't work. I finally went to see a specialist dermatologist, referred to by my GP, and was immediately put on a course of Roaccutane for 9 months, and that finally worked. So it's safe to say that I've tried my fair share of harsh chemicals and crazy strategies in the hope of getting clear skin.

I was warned before the medication that my skin, eyes and lips would get dry, and they definitely weren't kidding. I had to seriously moisturise my skin on my face and body, and my lips were constantly dry and sore. In my eyes, this was a victory as it meant that my spots were drying up so I was chuffed to feel this happen! I was also warned that my moods would change and they did; I would be teary one minute and right as rain the next, so it was a bit of a whirlwind. There are also other side effects that should be seriously looked into before going on the medication (as you would with any other prescription) and I read and checked these thoroughly before use - my dermatologist was so lovely and helpful and he talked through any worries that me or my mum had (and there were a few!) so always make sure you're looking into the side effects of any medication, no matter how badly you want it! In terms of how effective the medication was, I remember taking 2 a day and then reducing down to 1 in the later months but I saw a stark improvement in my skin after 4 months. After 9 months, my skin was clear and I only had a few spots left and I was absolutely over the moon. I wasn't yet at the stage where I could leave the house without make up but I certainly wasn't caking it on in a bid to cover millions of angry blemishes.

When I was on the medication I kept my skin care routine very minimal and I was very consistent throughout the whole 9 months. I used the Simple cleansing wipes to remove my make up, another of the Simple cleansing wipes to actually cleanse my skin and then I used Bio-oil straight after that. I checked this all through with the dermatologist and he told me that this was a great combination as a toner would only strip my skin further and cause it to become even more dry. I took my make up off as soon as I got home from school and I tried not to wear any at weekends. My diet didn't change and it didn't need to - I've always been a healthy eater, and I can't remember drinking more water than I do now/did before-hand. Basically, Roaccutane does most of the work for you if you're generally a healthy person and wan't to invest a little time and effort in your skin care.
My skin now - scars on my left cheek but spot-free.

Fortunately, I haven't had acne since then - at the age of 22, I get the occasional break out which is usually around my chin, but I can deal with that. What I'm left with now are scars on my left cheek which aren't pretty but it's miles better than what I looked like 7-8 years ago. I will quickly say here that the decision to go on Roaccutane was not spurred by any kind of bullying, I was never criticised by anyone for having bad skin (perhaps because I used to plaster on Maybelline Dream Matte Mouse...) and it was totally my own decision to go on the medication. It just got to the point where I was repulsed every time I looked in the mirror and that's when I realised I really wanted things to change.
Nothing a little make up can't fix... :)
(Review for the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation here)

Whatever you look like, whatever you do and however hard you try, you will always find something you don't like about yourself. Basically, I'm not saying that since I don't have acne anymore I'm completely happy with the way I look. But then again, are any of us? I've learnt over the years to deal with the little things about my body that niggle me, but then I've also realised that I will always still find something to improve on! You just can't keep up with treatment after treatment and you have to love what you're born with. I'll be honest, I hate my bottom (it is fricken large to the point of being laughable) and I've always been self-conscious of it, but that doesn't mean I would get a bum reduction - it just means that I know how to work with it, by wearing clothes that suit my shape and by trying to tone it. So yes, I would recommend Roaccutane as it really did sort my skin out, but only if you're medically able to - always be honest with your doctor. I would also recommend taking compliments from friends, family and other loved ones, as it's so easy these days to just focus on the negative and not realise the good bits, of which I am sure there are many.

Please share your experiences with acne or Roaccutane in the comments below.
I was a little nervous about putting this post out there so... go easy with me!
Daniela x
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Friday 6 June 2014

• Beauty haul & mini reviews •

I won't even try to excuse this - I just went shopping in Superdrug & The Body Shop. And I had a darn good time doing so.

I bought these products just over 2 weeks ago and I wanted to try them all before writing this post so I could review them for you. I find these sorts of posts really useful so a combo of a haul and mini reviews seemed like the right thing to do! I popped into The Body Shop first because of the 30% off deal they had one day but the majority of the haul is a Superdrug one. I love everything in this haul apart from one product which was meh, so a pretty successful trip I'd say.
This is a repurchase for me as I purchased it for the first time a few months ago in this haul and I'm absolutely loving it. It's the first micellar water I've tried so I can't compare it to the Bioderma or L'oreal versions, but this works perfectly at removing my make up and giving my skin a good clean. It removes even the thickest of foundations, waterproof mascara and it removes it so effectively that you don't have to keep going over the same spot on your face. It doesn't dry my skin out or leave any type of layer on my skin after use and it makes me feel squeaky clean. Lately I've been having a few late nights and I haven't been double cleansing, and this does the job with just one cleanse - there's no make up on the cotton pad after I've toned, which is incredible. The only downside to this product is that it claims to have 200 uses and it definitely doesn't as I'm about half way through my other bottle and I don't even use it every night.

I can't say this really does much in terms of moisturising my under eye but it definitely did cool the area. It doesn't smell of anything which is nice, it's a clear gel and the consistency is just like jelly. I received this as a free gift with my purchase and it costs £7, but I wouldn't purchase this. It just doesn't really do a great deal and I feel like it's important to take care of your under eye no matter what age you are, so it's a bit of a dud in my opinion. I honestly think that my current eye cream, which is Vaseline, is so great and I've been using it for years - it moisturises my under eye which makes applying make up in the morning so easy, so I can't see myself straying from this any time soon.

I really like this; it's so effective at removing stubborn make up and it smells gorgeous. It's super gentle which is what my skin needs at the moment and the oil is exactly as described, really silky and soft on the skin. I enjoy using oils on my face to remove make up as my first cleanse, and in the Winter I always use raw coconut oil, so this product is definitely welcome in my Summer skincare routine as coconut oil is a bit heavy for my skin at the moment. I just take a few pumps and massage it into my skin and around my eyes, including lash and brow area, then rinse my face with cold water. It turns into a milky consistency and you just keep rinsing until all of your make up is removed and the water runs clear. My skin feels so moisturised and clean afterwards, it's such a gorgeous product and I really recommend it.
Can we just firstly talk about how cute the tweezers and mini brushes are? LOVE! Now onto the important bits, the brow wax and brow powder. I need to start by saying that I have very dark eyebrows which are almost black and I struggle to find brow products that match my eyebrow shade, so this review will be based on the product instead of the colouring. The wax is a really firm consistency which I haven't experience before and it's really pigmented. It works wonders at holding my brows in place all day and it provides a good layer of colour, whilst keeping the look quite natural. The brow powder is nice too, the same colour as the wax, but as you can imagine doesn't look as natural as the wax does. It too is very pigmented and is a really quick way of filling in brows - it's so easy and doesn't take much effort at all. Theres a rather large mirror which is perfect and the packaging seems very sturdy for a drugstore product. My only wish is that it came in a darker shade - for now, I'll have to stick with my Rimmel Eye Brow Pencil, but I'll use this kit on occasions where I don't have a lot of time.
This is a massive dupe for one of my high end lipsticks (post coming very soon!) so as soon as I opened it I was excited to find a back up for when my other lipstick runs out. It's a gorgeous peachy-nude colour and the formula is a sheen finish - so so creamy, pigmented and smooth. It's a really nice day-time nude as it doesn't wash out my complexion and is just a tad darker than a true nude, so it looks like I've made a little more effort with my make up. It doesn't wear off or go patchy and honestly the longevity of the product is great. I'm super impressed and I can't believe this is a drugstore product as it really performs like a higher-end lipstick! I don't own much Sleek in my collection and I'm really excited to try out some more of the lip products as the quality is amazing.
I've been loving a cat eye recently and I've been really into felt tip liners. From a total gel-liner gal, I've gone completely the opposite way and I feel like I get the best and most precise flick with one of these thin-nibbed pens. The Superliner in particular is so so thin (hence the name) and it makes it so easy to control your liner with minimal mistakes. The colour is jet black and dries to a semi-matte finish, the formula itself is very pigmented and you only need one swipe for it to go on super dark. The lasting power is amazing as it hasn't worn off in the slightest after hours and hours of wear, and I just think this will be a product that I keep on repurchasing.

A healthy mix of make up and skincare in there for you all! I hope these product reviews helped and I really enjoyed buying them all, testing them out and then giving you my honest opinion about each of them. I think these types of posts are more useful than just hauling them as it's all good and well showing you what I bought, but if they're duds, you might end up wasting your money which isn't good!

Have you tried any of these products?
What have you been buying recently?
Daniela
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Sunday 1 June 2014

• May lusting // June wish list •

• May lusting // June wish list •
How on earth are we in June already? I've been looking forward to this month for so long - I finish my PGCE and become a qualified teacher, and I'm treating myself to a DSLR (Canon 700d maybe?) to celebrate! To think that we're 6 months into 2014 is just scary though, I can't believe how fast this year is going. Actually, I just can't believe how fast life is going! A new job means a full-time income for the first time in my life which excites me, so my lustings for the month are mostly high-end. If you missed my April lustings, you can catch up on the post here.

1. MAC Pro Sculpting Cream
Currently £18 from MAC, click here to be directed to the site.
I much prefer cream products to powder products, especially when it comes to highlighting and contouring (benefit watts up - the love of my life!) and the shade range of the MAC Pro Sculpting Cream is just amazing. I'm currently using the Bourjois Bronzing Primer and loving it, but to me it's more of a bronzer than a contour. I've done some research and found that the shades in the sculpting cream are sort of greyish, so perfect for contouring, which is exactly what I'm looking for. I'm loving the contour look at the moment so I'm enjoying experimenting with different products to achieve the desired effect.

2. MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquer in Reckless and Kooky
Currently £3 from Superdrug, click here to be directed to the site.
MUA have done it again; they've blown me away with the quality of their products. The amount of times I've gone into Boots and swatched the velvet lip lacquers is ridiculous, but unfortunately Superdrug never seems to stock Reckless (deep, classic red) and Kooky (deep, dark purple) which are the two colours I'm really interested in. I'm going to have to make an order for these products as they just look stunning - matte, but creamy, and so incredibly pigmented. I need to get my hands on them!

3. Topshop MOTO Bleach Acid Wash Mom Jeans
Currently £40 from Topshop, click here to be directed to the site.
I spent the whole of Thursday trying on every single pair of Mom jeans in my local Topshop, but it was so difficult to find a size that fits me at the waist but are short enough to be ankle grazers. I'm determined to find a pair that fits me and I'm certainly not giving up, because they'd look perfect on a dress-down day with a slouchy t-shirt and some Birkenstocks. My mum couldn't believe that these were coming back in fashion and I'm so glad they are because they're so so gorgeous.

4. Chanel Rouge Coco Shine Hydrating Sheer Lipshine in 'Boy'
Currently £25 from Boots, click here to be directed to the site.
All you need to do is search 'Chanel lipstick boy' in Google and you'll know why it's on my lust list...it's a gorgeous sheer peachy-pink colour which is my go-to at the minute. It's glossy without being sticky, leaving a beautiful shine and it's so moisturising. This shade would be perfect for summer as it's a (forgive me) 'my lips but better' shade - so cliche, I know, but it really is. Go search for it!

5. Philip Kingsley One More Day Dry Shampoo 200ml
Currently £13.50 from Lookfantastic.com, click here to be directed to the site.
I received a sample of this in my May Birchbox and fell in love with it straight away! Dry shampoo is my life-saver and I use it every day in between washes, so I'm always up for trying new brands and formulas. I'm so impressed with my sample because it doesn't leave a white cast in my hair and it smells amazing. As soon as I've run out, I'll be buying myself the full size.

6. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette
Currently £56 from Space NK, click here to be directed to the site.
When this palette was temporarily discontinued I was gutted, which made me realise how much I wanted it. You've probably heard/read the hype around the ambient lighting powders and, although I've never tested or swatched them myself, I feel like I can trust other people's opinions, especially as I haven't read a bad thing about them. The powders are setting powders with a luminous finish, creating the illusion of a 'lit from within' glow, as if you're being lit up by light. The palette includes 'Incandescent Light' a pearl highlighter, 'Dim Light' a natural beige powder and 'Radiant Light' a warm golden-beige powder. It's an excuse to try out 3 gorgeous powders from the ambient lighting range.

I'm so excited to add these to my wish list and will definitely be
prioritising them as they're all such stunning products.
Have you tried any of these products?
Daniela
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