Festive Degustabox Review + £5 off Discount Code!

Hey beaut's!

I have a subscription box review for you all today but it's a subscription box with a difference.... it contains yummy food and drink, so say hello to Degustabox*. Degustabox works very much like how beauty subscription boxes work, for £12.99 a month (postage included within the £12.99 price) you will receive 10 to 15 surprise food/drink products, many that are completely new to the market! So if your a bit of a foodie like myself and you love subscription boxes your going to love this beaut's!
The shortlist for this months box is:
- NICK'S Coconut Bar £1.45
- Weetabix On The Go Kids £2.99
- Reese's Peanut Butter Snowman £3.00
- Amy's Kitchen Organic Chunky Tomato & Vegetable Soup £1.80
- Emily Veg Crisps Sweet Potato Sticks £1.00
- Jules Destrooper Almond & Belgian Chocolate Thins
- Tabasco Red Pepper Sauce £2.00
- Kallo Organic Vegetable Stock Cubes 
- The Bees Knees Non Alcoholic Sparkling Wine £1.89
- Jack Daniel's Whisky Cola + Light Cola
- Mallow & Marsh Cranberry Marshmallows
Overall I think this months box has a great variety of yummy treats to try, theres everything from Christmas chocolate, warming soups, alcohol for a festive tipple, crisps to snack on, stock cubes to help with festive dinners plus so much more.

If you like the look and sound of Degustabox you can grab your first box for just £7.99 with the code 039DB HERE.

nopin

Mince Pie Cupcake Recipe - It's Affordable Too!

Hey beaut's!

Arhhh behold the mince pie cupcake, this was a completely new recipe for me and I had no idea if that festive stuff we call mincemeat would work well in a cupcake but being the cupcake lover that I am I just had to give it a go and wow....it honestly tastes like Christmas in a cupcake! I got all my ingredients from Aldi*, which I would really recommend doing because it's soooo much more affordable, I'm talking half the price of other supermarkets, I literally wont get my baking ingredients from anywhere else now.
What You Will Need For The Cupcakes
125g self raising flour
2 tsp mixed spice 
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp bicarbonate of soda
65g caster sugar
60 light soft brown sugar
75g mince meat or brandy mince meat (Aldi sell both)
3 tbsp raisins/currants
140g butter
2 large eggs
1.5 tbsp milk

What You Will Need For The Buttercream
150g soft butter
300g icing sugar
1/4 tsp orange extract/juice of an orange (optional)
1/4 tsp vanilla extract (optional)

How To - Cupcakes
* Pre-heat your oven to gas mark 4 /180 and line a muffin tin with your cupcake cases.
* In a large mixing bowl, throw in your butter and whip it up for a minute or two until it's fluffy and whippy then whack in the rest of your cupcake ingredients and mix with an electric whizzer until well combined, this is such an easy 'throw it all in' recipe!
*Once your mixture is smooth pop a heaped tablespoon of the cupcake batter into each cupcake case and bake in the oven for around 15 minutes or until the top of the cupcakes are springy to the touch, then transfer onto a wire rack to cool.
How To - Buttercream
* In a large bowl, beat the butter until it becomes super whippy, then start adding the icing sugar slowly to avoid the dreaded icing sugar cloud and mix until combined. Depending on what flavour buttercream your after will depend on what extract you pop in, orange extract or juice from an orange works really well with these cupcakes and makes it even more seasonal if that's even possible, however if you want to keep things simple then just pop in some vanilla!
* Pipe or spoon the icing on top of the cupcakes and decorate how you wish, I sprinkled over some little gold star sprinkles to add a festive touch, and voila!
I honestly cant believe how well mincemeat works mixed within cupcake batter, it adds such a festive taste and feel to the cupcakes but their still super light and fluffy, they where gorgeous even if I do say so myself!

nopin

Magnitone Blend Up Makeup Blending Brush - Christmas Gift Idea

Hey beaut's!

When your trying to buy a Christmas gift for that makeup loving guy or gal in your life it can be quite tricky because you don't know if your going to buy them makeup or beauty items that they already own, but something which is always a winner in my opinion is makeup tools/brushes, we always need a supply of those don't we beaut's! One makeup tool that really caught my eye and had me very intrigued was the Magnitone Blend Up Makeup Blending Brush, and after trying it I really cant recommend it enough for a Christmas prezzie!
The Magnitone Blend Up* is a Vibra-Sonic™ Makeup brush, it flawlessly blends powder and liquid makeup like a professional makeup artist by moving across the skin over 250 times a second to give the softest looking, most natural, airbrushed effect, which is healthier for the skin and leaves it free from clumping, clogged pores, edge-lines and streaks. 
Now although the Blend Up is super easy to use, I'm not going to lie this does take a big of getting used to when you first start using it, however once you get to grips with how it feels you will notice just how quickly your makeup goes on and wow it looks so, so flawless! I like to use the Blend Up brush mainly for my liquid foundation application but I've also used it for powder, blush and bronzer too, all I do is dot my foundation around my face as usual I then blend the brush over my face for a few seconds and voila, I kind of hold and use it just like I would a buffing brush and the head of the brush and the bristles are very much like a buffing brush actually with the added bonus of 2 speed movement and vibration he he. Talking of the bristles...their super soft and feel very high quality, their also covered with Biomaster antibacterial protection to help prevent cross-contamination and unwanted breakouts.
The Blend Up brush is available in white or black, I opted for the black version because I love it's sleek design and rose gold accents, it's very me although I do love the white version too. The Blend Up brush also comes with a USB charger which fully chargers the brush within 2 hours which is pretty good, and theres also two other brush heads that you can buy separately and swap between if you wish.

Overall I think this is a such a genious idea and maybe something you wouldn't think of buying yourself that's why I think it's such an epic Christmas prezzie idea. I certainly love mine and use it everyday to apply my foundation now, it's amazing how natural it makes the foundation look on the skin, my skin still looks and feels like skin but the coverage is there without any caking, it's fab!

You can find the Magnitone Blend Up Makeup Blending Brush*  for £70.00 HERE.

nopin

Burt's Bees Stocking Fillers!

Hey beaut's!

Can you believe Christmas is about a month away now, it's crazy how quick the time is going, I really want it to slow down so I can live all things festive for longer, does anyone else feel like that? Anyway today I have a couple of super cute gifts from Burt's Bees which I think would make the most amazing stocking fillers or secret Santa goodies!
First up is the Burt's Bees Kissable Colour Gift Set* (£11.99), this little set includes three stunning warm shades of Lip Shimmer in Peony, Fig and Rhubarb which are all enriched with Shea Butter, Vitamin E and antioxidant rich fruit oils which moisturise and naturally soften lips. What I love about the lip shimmers is that they give your lips and lovely tint of colour, it honestly makes your lips so juicy and plump looking!
The next stocking stuffer I have is the Burt's Bees Trio Tin Gift Set* (£9.99), this set is a lip balm lovers perfect gift because it contains three of Burt's Bees 100% natural lip balms in a variety of yummy scents, theres everything from Beeswax with Peppermint, Honey and my personal favourite out of the three Coconut and Pear, mmm it's so lush! You really cant go wrong with Burt's Bees lip balms, I've raved about them loads of my blog before because their just so nourishing on the lips and the fact you get three in this set means you can have a lip balm on you at all times, your handbag, makeup bag and even your desk at work!
Lastly but in no means least is the Burt's Bees Mistletoe Kiss Gift Set* (£9.99), this one is so adorable because it hangs like a little beauty bauble, oh I love! Inside this cutie you will find a Pomegranate Lip Balm, Lip Shimmer in Peony and a Tinted Lip Balm in Hibiscus. All three are enriched with Shea Butter, Vitamin E and fruit oils to moisturise the driest of lips and add a pop of luminescent colour.

All three of these little gifts will certainly keep your pout looking nourished and on point over Christmas and into the new year, and their ideal little extras in a stocking or if your doing secret Santa at work or with your friends this year these little gifts are perfect and really wont break the bank.

You can find all the Burt's Bees gift sets HERE and their 3 for 2 at the moment as well, result!

nopin

Pixi Best Of Bright Kit Reviewed!

Hey beaut's!

Over the past year or so I've really got into Pixi as a brand and their skincare has gone down an absolute treat with me so far however.... theres still a few Pixi skincare goodies I've be longing to try and their Best Of Bright Kit is not only a great way to try out more products without committing to the full size but also it would make the most amazing Christmas present! 
Pixi's Best Of Bright Kit* contains three of Pixi’s best-loved ‘Glow’ products, and I mean who doesn't love glowing skin, I know I do! Staring is this set is the Pixi Glow Mud Cleanser (15ml), the cult classic Glow Tonic (30ml) and the Pixi Glow Mud Mask (15ml), all of which are discovery-sized!
This sets aim is to reveal your best skin in three easy steps by cleansing, exfoliating and treating so lets start with cleansing and the Glow Mud Cleanser, this little beauty contains clay and glycolic to remove dead skin cells, detoxify pores and to draw out impurities to reveal radiant and brighter skin. Then theres the ridiculously popular Glow Tonic, this stuff has been raved about for years and I have no idea why I've waiting so long to try it, containing glycolic acid it gently exfoliates the skin removing dead skin cells and leaves the skin instantly looking brighter! The set is then made complete by the Glow Mud Mask, this is a 15-minute facial in a tube and I love it, it's the perfect way to restore luminosity to lacklustre or winter-ravaged skin and works wonders on congested, dull looking skin. 
This trio together really does make my skin look and feel amazing, I cant stress enough how much brighter, fresher and healthier my skin now looks after finishing all three of these deluxe samples, and I've already got a full size bottle of the Glow Tonic on the go, it lush stuff!

If your after a  ‘party season’ treat to yourself or if your looking for a Christmas gift for a skincare or beauty lover then I really cant recommend the Pixi Best Of Bright Kit enough, I think all ages can benefit from this set too so it really is a versatile gift!

You can find the Pixi Best Of Bright Kit for £20.00 HERE.

nopin

Soap & Glory Glitz And Make Up Gift Set - Black Friday Deal REVEALED!

Hey beaut's!

 Black Friday seems to be bigger and better than ever in the UK now, in fact it's been going on already in some shops and on certain websites which has really been helping me slash the Christmas shopping bill I tell ya, anyway today I thought I'd share with you a mega deal by one of my favourite brands that you really wont want to miss - you can thank me later my loves!
SPOILER ALERT....Soap & Glory's Glitz And Make Up Gift Set* which is currently £50.00 online and instore at Boots is going to be reduced to just £23.50!!! Yup that's right, I did say just £23.50 for one day only, that's better than half price and the actual contents is worth a whopping £55.00 so this is an incredible offer that us Soap & Glory fans and makeup lovers alike will absolutely love!
The set itself contains eight of Soap & Glory's makeup favourites including some absolute cult products that have really made and name for their selves in the makeup world, theres literally three of my holy grail products within this set too so I'm really happy that this set has stocked me up with some of my faves and potential new faves!
Here's the contents run down....
Lid Stuff Eye Shadow Palette - This gorgeous mini palette contains six shades, four of which are metallic and two matte, it's so easy to use and super pretty!
Archery Brow Sculpting Crayon & Setting Gel In Brown & Out - A two in one brow product with a twist up pencil at one end and the setting gel at the other, I literally cant wait to try this as I've heard such good things!
Love At First Blush Multi-Shade Blushing Powder - A gorgeous pinky blush that adds the most beautiful glow to the cheek bones.
Supercat Liquid Black Eyeliner Pen - One of the best liquid liners that's out there, this is a holy grail of mine and I already have five in my stash that's how addicted I am to this liner, it's so easy to apply because of it's felt tip style and lasts really well.
Thick & Fast High Definition Collagen Coat Mascara In Black - A fabulous mascara that makes my lashes appear longer, super defined and adds a nice curve and flutter effect, I've re-purchased this one loads!
Spectaculips Matte-Allic In Gold Dusk - This is a metallic matte liquid lipstick which I think would work fabulously in the centre of a red lip, it has the most beautiful golden sheen to it!
Sexy Mother Pucker Lip Gloss In Candy Queen - An absolute classic - the Sexy Mother Pucker glosses not only add some glossy colour to your pout but it really plumps them up too.
Crazy Sexy Kohl Twist Up Eyeliner Smoulder - Amazing kohl liner which stays put like an absolute dream and is so inky black, this is another holy grail of mine.
So why not have a PINK Friday and grab this set beaut's, it's only going to be £23.50 for one day only so I can see this selling fast so you might want to set your alarms for this one! I think this set would be perfect gift for anyone new to Soap & Glory as they get to try a variety of the makeup that Soap & Glory has to offer, and if your buying for a fan then your basically keeping them well stocked up on all of their Soap & Glory favourites. 

You can buy the Soap & Glory Glitz And Make Up Gift Set HERE.


nopin

The Ultimate Christmas Gift - Prestige Christmas Hamper Reviewed!

Hey beaut's!

Hands up who's started their Christmas shopping....I finally have! I do find it quite difficult to know what to get everyone for Christmas thought but one thing that I've found to be an absolute winner is a Christmas hamper! No matter what a Christmas hamper can suit everyone, in fact I think they make the perfect family gift because everyone can tuck in!
Prestige Hampers have absolutely loads of hampers to choose from, whether you want a mix of everything festive, just a cheese hamper, a chocolate hamper, vegan, dairy free and even gluten free they literally have a hamper that anyone and everyone can enjoy which I think is bloody amazing! I went for the Traditional Gift Basket* (£69.99) because it's packed to the brim with a great selection of festive food and drink, I'm talking everything from wine to have with your Christmas dinner to Christmas cake and even Christmas pud! All of the yummy treats come beautifully arranged inside an elegant hand woven wicker basket complete with a Prestige Hampers tag. The basket itself is really well made and I'll definitely be using it again that's for sure, whether it's for picnics or storage purposes! 
All of the items included within the hamper are....
Water Stop Station Chardonnay 75cl
Water Stop Station Shiraz 75cl
Red Velvet Crunch Biscuits 150g
English Breakfast Tea 40g
Milk, White and Dark Chocolate Classics 120g
Shortbread Festive Shapes 60g
Matthew Walker Classic Christmas Pudding 100g
Iced Fruit Cake 400g
Dark Chocolate Bar 60g
Mackays Christmas Marmalade 113g
Mackays Christmas Preserve 113g
Tomato, Basil and Mozzarella Yorkshire Crisps 100g
Handmade Smoked Oatcakes 125g
As you can see theres such a great selection of sweet and savoury items within this basket and I literally cant want to tuck into everything nearer to Christmas! The Christmas cake look particularly lovely and I'm a huge fan of Walkers shortbread so they wont be lasting long, theres also a couple of lovely looking marmalade's and preserves perfect for... wait for it.... festive toast in the mornings he he! 

You can find the Prestige Hampers Traditional Gift Basket for £69.99 HERE, where you will also be able to fill out message card and select the delivery date you would like. You can also get the hamper sent directly to the person your gifting it to if you like which is a nice option to have!

nopin

ADEXE Freerunner Petite Berries Watch!

Hey beaut's!

I absolutely love ADEXE watches, I have one of their Sistine rose gold watches which has practically lived on my wrist ever since I got it but recently ADEXE have launched some brand new styles and colour ways and they look drop dead gorgeous - just in time for Christmas too! 
This time around I opted for the Freerunner Petite Berries Watch* and isn't she the cutest, this particular style caught my eye because not only does it look elegant  because of its petite style but I love the berry coloured face, it gives me such autumnal/winter vibes and the rose gold strap and accents are just everything in my opinion! The watch itself is has a hand-made mesh band with an easily adjustable open spring bar so you can get the perfect fit for you, I love this because theres nothing worse than having to get links taken out or punching extra holes in a strap is there! The watch face is made out of  hand-polished  stainless steel is well proportioned, it's also quite lightweight but still robust and well made, and the numbers are clear and easy to read. The watch also comes with a 2-3 year battery life which I think is pretty epic and activates once you take a tiny stopper out of the mechanism which adjusts the time so you get the most battery life out of your watch as possible! All of the ADEXE watches come with a pair of pre-set extra straps in black or brown too which I think is such a nice added bonus!
Overall I'm so in love with my new ADEXE baby...I mean watch! It looks stunning, it feels so well made and luxurious, it's comfortable and more importantly it keeps me on time for work (lol), it also looks super cute in the background of Instagram pictures - oh it's all about the gram isn't it he he. Seriously though if your looking for a new watch or want to gift someone a watch this Christmas I cant recommend ADEXE enough, they have some seriously stunning pieces on their website and even the men's watches are pretty fit!
You can find the ADEXE Freerunner Petite Berries Watch for £109.00 HERE, theres also some other colour variations of this same style of watch too. You can also grab yourself 15% discount off of the ADEXE website with my code HAYSPARKLE15, happy Christmas shopping beaut's! 

nopin

Yankee Candle QVC Bundle Offer

Hey beauts'!

QVC have the most AMAZING deal featuring Yankee Candle! As I've said many times on my blog I'm literally a crazy candle lady and an absolute Yankee Candle addict so I just had to share this amazing offer with you today! If you love your Yankee Candle's as much as I do then I'd get in their quick as I can see this offer selling out fast as it's such a bargain at just £56.00, yup I did just say £56.00!
The Yankee Candle QVC Bundle* consists of two large jars, two medium jars and one small jar, that's 480 hours of burn time, wowza!!!! The bundle is then completed with five complimentary 'make your own' Yankee Candle gift boxes so you can easily give the Yankee Candles out as gifts if you so wish. Theres eight of Yankee Candle's favourite scents to choose from in this bundle such as....

* All Is Bright - A blend of sparkling citrus scents drifting on warm musk.
* The Perfect Tree - This is your perfect tree-balsam and fir-scented with festive snowy branches.
* Black Cherry - The absolutely delicious sweetness of rich, ripe black cherries.
* Christmas Eve - Traditional holiday scents of a warm hearth, sugared plums and candid fruits.
* Lemon Lavender - Clean and inviting, a powdery fresh blend of tangy lemon citrus and sweet lavender flowers.
* Peony - The rich scent of springs most coveted bloom - the peony - entices with notes of bright sweetness. 
* Black Coconut - Sunset in paradise, rich coconut, cedarwood and island blossoms promise an evening of luxurious tranquillity.
* Midnight Jasmine - A seductively lush perfume of water jasmine, sweet honeysuckle, neroli and mandarin blossom! 
With Christmas fast approaching I opted for the festive scent All Is Bright, this one is super fresh opening up with top notes of Grapefruit and Orange, middle notes of Red Currant and base notes of Sweet Musk. It's kind of that Christmas citrus scent which makes me thinks of clementines but without being spiked with cloves he he, it's lovely though and one I think most would enjoy because it isn't sickly sweet or heavy and overpowering! 

As I said before this bundle is just £56.00 plus £5.95 for P&P, you can find the bundle HERE, happy shopping beaut's!

nopin