Beauty Bargains!

Beauty bargains, a controversial topic i know! and as i'm sure any of you who are beauty fanatics will know some are really worth it and some just aren't. Yes that lipstick might be only 3 quid, but thats 3 pounds wasted if its a rubbish formula or you don't really like the colour so it rots at the bottom of your makeup bag, and 3 pounds more that you could have put towards an amazing one...sigh mac, ahhhh yummy. However there ARE amazing offers that really are worth it like the regular Boots 3 for 2 on everything, or the everlasting No7 vouchers handed out by the till ladies.
The other day i heard someone saying that they were embarrassed to use coupons or things at the tills which personally i think is sad, theres no need what so ever to be embarrassed about saving money - we all do it to a certain degree! What would be much worse is missing out on that last promotional price mascara!
So, what i'm trying to say in a very round and about waffly way is that whilst theres no point in a bargain you don't actually really want, when you could have put that money towards something you will use and value, theres no shame in bagging a bargain, no one apart from the till (or self service machine if you really want) has to know!
Some little tips for good beauty bargains i know of (and these are just a few) are to look out for the Boots 3for2 which includes nearly everything! Also i don't know about anywhere else but my local savers often has lots of Rimmel make up all for under a fiver (a bit cheaper than Superdrug and Boots), also BarryM nail polish is often on some kind of deal if you buy more than one, and the other day i picked up a Benefit magazine (for free off the counter) and its got two free vouchers to have your makeup done at the counter, wowee!
so all in all you get the drift, beauty doesn't have to be mega pricey, and cost isn't everything!
Let me know in the comments if any of you have found some great deals!
bye for now! x x x

Statement Wall Decoration...

After redecorating my bedroom recently, I decided I wanted to decorate my walls with something other than the usual pictures, and have something more me! So when I spotted this jewellery hook in Next, I thought it seemed a good idea. You can get these kinds of hooks all over the place, and they are a really nice way to make a statement in your room on the cheap, by using the jewellery you already have! If you don't want the expense of a ready made hook ornament, you could just get some basic hooks from a DIY store, screw them in all over the wall and hang your favourite necklaces from it! A great cheap way to liven up a boring bedroom wall, whilst showing off your jewellery collection! Enjoy x

Topshop Cream Blush

Okay, so the Topshop cream blush is quite a well-liked raved about product online in the bloggingy youtubey world and I have been wanting one for ages and today I finaaalllllyyy got one, yay!
The packaging is quite cute, the standard Topshop white with black polka dots but nothing too special and I can see it getting covered in foundation/ other makeup dirt in my makeup bag.

Unfortunately my webcam does not take a good photo so I will link it on the Topshop website below if you would like to see....

http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=1&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33057&storeId=12556&productId=2256969&langId=-1&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=208568&parent_categoryId=208495&pageSize=20

I bought the colour "head over heels" which is a really lovely corally pink colour, it definitely does have orange tones in it but is nowhere near as orange as it appears in the top 2 photos on the Topshop website- even they don't have amazing lighting clearly! This colour will be really nice for spring and summer i think so hurry up warm weather!

It is a cream blush but when applied turns to powder which is something I've not found in any other blusher (high street or otherwise) but i really like so if anyone knows any other brands with this formula please comment below!

For six quid I think this is really reasonable although we will have to see how long it lasts! I'm hoping a long time as because its very pigmented you really don't need to use much to get a light healthy glow which is what I like.

Has anyone tried this or knows a better high street blush? Comment if you do!

Bye bye for now! x x x

MUA Undressed Eyeshadow Palette Review

Hey!
I recently purchased the MUA Undressed eyeshadow palette after hearing that it was a good dupe for the Urban Decay Naked palette; something I've always wanted but at £36 could never bring myself to buy! However at £3 (reduced from £4 in Superdrug), the MUA palette was definitely something I had to try!

There are 12 colours, ranging from neutrals and golds to greys and blacks, in both shimmers and mattes, making it the perfect day to night palette with a choice of lots of different looks to create, making it very versatile with the choice of a nude or a smokey eye; it means it is also great for travelling if you only want to take one palette but still want options. The colours are quite pigmented, but from pictures I have seen, I don't think they are as pigmented as Urban Decay Naked; however, you get what you pay for, and in this case I think it is still a great alternative, and amazing value for money. The colours are really blend-able, and you even get a step by step guide on the back on how to create some looks and what colours go well together, which I thought was a really nice touch for people like me who need all the help they can get when it comes to eyeshadow application!

I would definitely recommend this palette as I think it us a great make up bag staple to have, and the quality is amazing for the price you pay!

If you have any questions please leave a comment!
Bye for now x

Peanut, Fudge and Chocolate Chip Cookies

When I saw these cookies on the TV, I instantly new they would be right up my street! The combination of chocolate, fudge and nuts is to die for, so I have tweaked the recipe slightly to make it even tastier (more chocolaty)  and have decided to share it! Enjoy...

Ingredients - makes about 12 cookies
100g of unsalted butter
100g of light muscovado sugar
1 tbsp. of golden syrup
100g of milk chocolate chips
50g of fudge pieces
80g of salted peanuts - chopped roughly
A large bar of white chocolate

Method

1. Beat the butter and sugar with an electric whisk or wooden spoon until creamy.
2. Add the golden syrup and mix until fully combined.
3. Sift and fold in the flour.
4. Add the milk chocolate chips, the fudge pieces and the salted peanuts and fold them in too.
5. Now form the mixture into about 12 golf ball sized balls, place onto a baking tray fairly far apart to allow for them to spread in the oven, and gently flatten with a fork or the palm of your hand.
6. Bake for around 10-12 minutes, or until slightly golden in a preheated oven at 170 degrees Celsius.
7. Remove from the oven and place on a wire cooling rack to cool.
8. Finally, as a finishing touch, melt the white chocolate and dip half of each cookie into it to coat it and allow the chocolate to cool and set.

I hope you enjoy the cookies, if you have any questions don't forget to comment!
Bye for now! x

Welcome!!

Hi, welcome to vanilla velvet! We are starting this blog as we have been inspired by other bloggers such as, the famous Louise from Sprinkle of Glitter and Zoe from Zoella, both of who we are huge fans! As beauty addicts we hope to share with you similar beauty and lifestyle tips but on a lower budget scale. Our posts will range from reviews of our favourite products to our best recipes, as we also love to bake. We are extremely grateful to anyone who reads, enjoys or subscribes to our blog, so if you have/ know of a good one please let us know! We'll be back with a new post soon, bye for now!