The Cheap & Easy Way To Clean Your Makeup Sponge

I have a love/hate relationship with my Real Techniques makeup sponge. Yes, it works like a dream- but cleaning it? Not fun. In addition, it looks like it requires a wash after only a few uses. 

I have however found an effective way of saying goodbye to the majority of those pesky foundation stains using ingredients you will almost definitely have in your kitchen. Yes, it's a boring task, but these babies harbour bacteria as well as looking ugly when you leave them unwashed. Whilst I've found this method to be seriously good, I must add that so many people find certain foundations simply stain these sponges permanently (I'm looking at you, Revlon Colourstay.) Nevertheless, I believe that this will at least budge the worst of it.

You will need:

- A tablespoon of olive oil

-A tablespoon of washing up liquid

-A running tap

-A bit of patience 

Let's get started!

I like to add the oil and soap onto a plate and ensure I have a clean towel at hand for when the sponge is clean. Don't use all the mixture to start with, but coat the sponge in it and then the work can begin. 

Think of the method as 'pushing' the product out of the sponge. Once a lot of it has come out (your sink will start to get a bit gross) then you can run the sponge under the water and begin again. It usually takes me at least three rounds of serious massaging to get the sponge looking clean. You will know it's actually clean when you squeeze it and the liquid wrung out is clear. 

I honestly don't believe anyone who says they can get their sponge looking brand new after prolonged use, but trust me when I say that it's very possible that you can get it looking pretty darn clean. This method also ensures that any bacteria inside is washed out- and that's a lot more important than the look of it!

Til next time xo

DIY No-Sew Headband & #MOTD

I was so excited when I found out that these headbands were super simple to make at home. I absolutely love them! Keep reading for instructions & makeup deets!

1. Find an old t-shirt (check out the Halloween blood spattered one I picked out!) and cut the bottom off. The thicker you want the headband, the higher on the t-shirt you should start. Cut across in a straight line so that you're left with a circle of material. 
2. Twist the material so that you have an 'infinity' shape.
3. Fold the two sections of the infinity to meet and there you have it!

It's that easy! I can't wait to make more...some brights and patterns would brighten up any outfit but I reckon a plain grey is a super stylish and versatile starting point if you're thinking of making one. 

On my face today: This brown smokey wing is my new go-to look. Also...a shout-out to the wonderful Real Techniques Sculpting Brush (my contour is forever thankful.)

Foundation: Rimmel Lasting Finish Nude

Concealer: L.A Girl Pro Conceal

Bronzer: MUA Shade 1

Contour: Hoola Bronzer

Brows: MUA Pro Brow Kit

Blusher: From the Revolution Hot Spice Palette

Lipstick: Revolution The One

Shadow: Revlon Colorstay Adventurous plus Maybelline Colour Tattoo in On and On Bronze

Mascara: Benefit Bad Gal Lash

And my earrings are from Accessorise

Til next time! xo

Recipe: Chocolate Guinness Cake

This cake is one of my favourites: Nigella's recipe and one of my mum's classics. You don't even have to like the drink to enjoy it (you can't really taste it...it just gives the sponge a deeper flavour.) Trust me, this is the moistest, spongiest cake you will ever try! I myself love Guinness (if you've been to Ireland then you'll know that the Guinness over there is infinitely better) so I thought I would share this recipe. Here's one I made earlier!

For the cake you'll need:
250 ml Guinness
250 grams unsalted butter
75 grams cocoa powder
400 grams caster sugar
142 ml sour cream
2 large eggs
275 grams plain flour
2 ½ teaspoons bicarbonate of soda (or use self raising and leave out the bicarb)

• Preheat the oven to gas mark 4/180°C/350ºF, and butter and line a 23cm / 9 inch springform tin.
• Pour the Guinness into a large wide saucepan, add the butter - in spoons or slices - and heat until the butter's melted, at which time you should whisk in the cocoa and sugar. Beat the sour cream with the eggs and vanilla and then pour into the brown, buttery, beery pan and finally whisk in the flour and bicarb.
• Pour the cake batter into the greased and lined tin and bake for 45 minutes to an hour. Leave to cool completely in the tin on a cooling rack.

the uncooked mixture also tastes like heaven

Now on to the cream cheese icing... (it doesn't taste of cream cheese- promise!)

For the icing you'll need:

300 grams cream cheese

150 grams icing sugar

125 ml double cream (or whipping cream)

• When the cake's cold, sit it on a flat platter or cake stand and get on with the icing. Lightly whip the cream cheese until smooth, sieve over the icing sugar and then beat them both together.

• Add the cream and beat again until it makes a spreadable consistency. Ice the top of the black cake so that it resembles the frothy top of the famous pint.

There you have it! I decided to add some chocolate shavings...spur of the moment baking decisions, eh.

This cake is seriously delicious. Let me know if you've tried it!

Valentine's Day Rocky Road

Happy Valentine's Day for yesterday everyone! I hope everyone had a sweet day. I personally don't think much of the over-commercialised element of it all, but hey, it means we can make cute food. 

Rocky road is the easiest thing to make. Here's the very simple recipe I used:

125g butter

200g chocolate (dark/milk/a mixture)

3 tablespoons of golden syrup

A dozen crushed rich tea biscuits 

Two handfuls of mini marshmallows 

A sprinkling of coco pops

Melt the butter, chocolate and syrup in a large pan, adding each part in small pieces. Add the crushed biscuits, marshmallows and coco pops, stir well and pour the mixture into a lined baking tray. Leave in the fridge to set for at least three hours. 

The jelly beans are from The Treat Kitchen in Nottingham. They were actually a birthday gift from my boyfriend but seeing as this rocky road is mainly for him then it's like the circle of life etc...putting them to (cute) use instead of eating them all myself. They have so many sweets in store and it's just a nice little shop in general. If you're in Nottingham you should check it out. 

So there you have it. Perhaps the easiest treat to make, ever. Have a lovely day!