Soap & Glory Smoothie Star Body Buttercream

For those of you who have been following my blog for sometime will know that I have a huge weakness for moisturisers and body butters. I've said this before and will say it again, moisturising my skin with a luxurious body butter has to be one of my favourite parts of getting ready. I find it such an indulgent treat and nothing beats the feeling of rubbing a heavenly body butter over your skin to give it some much needed hydration and moisture.

When it comes to choosing the right Body Butter, Soap & Glory have always stood out for me as their body butters are amazing and stand out way above the rest - I don't think I've ever tried a bad one! As Soap & Glory have quite the selection of body butters to choose from I usually tend to stick with my fvourites such as Sugar Crush and the Righteous Butter. However I decided to branch out a little and try something different based on recommendations from other beauty bloggers. I thought it was about time I tried their Smoothie Star Body Buttercream and oh my gosh its absolutely incredible and I'd even go as far to say this is the best body butter I have ever used in my life, and coming from me that is quite the statement!

The Smoothie Star Body Buttercream is a thick but lightly whipped moisturiser that contains five intensive oils that will make the driest of skin super silky soft. This moisturiser has a mixture of coconut oil, almond oil, pistachio oil, shea butter and cocoa butter all infused together that will make your skin incredibly soft. This moisturiser is such a dream to apply, although its really rich and thick in texture, it skins into the skin so quickly and leaves your skin feeling instantly hydrated and nourished. If your someone who suffers from dry skin, you will love the benefits from using the Smoothie Star Body Buttercream, it really makes such a difference after one use and you skin feels amazing all day.

Not only is the actual body butter wonderful, but the scent is to die for, it has to be the most delicious smelling body butter I've ever smelt, it actually makes me want to eat it. The sweet vanilla fragrance gives this body butter the smell of cake mix, and although its really sweet smelling, it's not too sickly or overpowering. I find that the pistachio and almond oils used make this body butter smell a little more sophisticated, which makes the sweet smell not as rich. One thing that I always want from a body butter, is for the smell to really transfer onto my skin and I love how this body butter really leaves my skin smelling yummy hours after application - I'm forever getting people tell me I smell really sweet whenever I wear this. With the smell being so sweet, it makes it the perfect body butter for this time of year, I think it may be a little too much in the summer months when its really hot and sticky. However using this after a relaxing bubble bath on a cold winters evening is perfect - I sit on the sofa in my pajamas after using this and am just surrounded by sweet smelling smells - its heavenly.

I cannot fault this body butter in anyway and I can see this becoming a holy grail moisturiser for me, it really is that fabulous. If I've still not convinced you that you need to try the Smoothie Star Body Buttercream, I urge to you take a sneaky smell of it on your next visit to Boots - I promise you that you will want to take it home.

I would love to know if you've tried this body butter from Soap & Glory and if you rate it as much as I do. Be sure to let me know in the comments below.

Lots of Love

The Best of 2013 - Goals For 2014

Seeing as it's the new year I thought I would get a post up that gave myself and my readers the chance to reflect on 2013 and get thinking about 2014. Looking back at all my pictures (all of these were from Intsagram @sunshinesprkle) I think I've had a pretty good year. There were a lot of fun moments in 2013 and in the space of a year I feel like I achieved a lot, got a lot closer to those around me, made some wonderful new friends and smiled and laughed my way though the year. 

I always like the idea of making new years resolutions, however I am with the large number of people who struggle to stick at any one of the resolutions that I make, by February there usually forgotten. So this year I've decided not to set myself a list of all the ways that I want to live my life differently in order to better it. Instead I've decided to set myself some goals that I really want to aim for and achieve. I feel really positive about 2014 and feel/know that I need to work really hard in order to achieve all the things that I want. I know that last year although it had its ups and downs was a goodun! However, I feel that sometimes my judgement and mind was slightly clouded and I wasn't able to get all the things done that I would like to. Having said this a lot changed for me in the last few months of 2013 and I feel the happiest I've ever been and am ready to have a bloomin brilliant this year... Seeing as I love to share bits of my life with you guys I thought I would share with you some of the goals I've set for myself this year

1. Maintain and keep fit - Last year I opened up a new door and started on a little fitness journey which I documented on my blog. Over the last six months I saw such a difference in my body, my mood and my overall well being and I really want to keep this up. This year I'm planning to take things up a few levels in the terms of what I can achieve with my overall fitness - So be sure to stay tuned for a few more fitness related posts.

2. Last year was another year where I saw my little blog go from strength to strength, and this year I really want to continue and work at my blog so it will grow just that little more. It's crazy how much of my life is now fitted around my blog, but its something that I really love doing, am so passionate about and one of those best life changing decisions that I've ever made. This year I really want to focus on getting to know my readers and other bloggers. After two years of blogging, I've still not really been to any blogger events nor have I really gotten to meet any of you, so this is something that I would love to incorporate into my blog and my life this year.

3. And finally my last goal is probably the biggest goal of them all and one that will most definitely be the hardest to achieve, which is to buy a house. I know that this is not going to be easy as securing mortgages and finding the right place is not easy these days. But I feel that it's something that I'm ready for and with a lot of hard work, some help and a little bit of luck I'm feeling pretty confident that its something I can achieve.

So there we have it ladies, a little reflection of last year and my goals for this year. I would love to know what resolutions or goals you have set yourself this year, be sure to let me know in the comments below. Also I would like to wish you all a happy new year and I really hope 2014 brings you everything that you have your heart set on.

Lots of Love

Beauty Blogger Secret Santa

I know Christmas all seams a little behind us, especially with the new year starting - However I was so busy I didn't have a chance to blog about the Beauty Blogger Secret Santa that I decided to take part in. I was among quite a few other beauty bloggers that took part in a Secret Santa Challenge that Gemma (Miss Makeup Magpie) and Laura (Tease Flutter Pout) organised. I was so excited to be taking part as I thought it was such a lovely thing to do at Christmas, especially seeing as it was to buy beauty goodies for a fellow beauty enthusiast. I don't know about anyone else, but my favourite kind of shopping has to be shopping for beauty products.

My little box arrived a few days before Christmas and I decided to wait until Christmas morning to open up my little silver box that I just knew was going to be filled with some Christmas Sparkle. I have to admit, I was so tempted to open it before the big day, but I'm so pleased I waited as it just added a lot more excitement to my morning. At the time of opening my little box, I had no clue whatsoever as to who the sender was, but I know know it was Kate who's over at Pretty Little Us blog who sent me the best Secret Santa gift that any beauty blogger could ever ask for. Before continuing any further with this post I would like to say the BIGGEST thank you to Kate as her gift was just so amazing and so generous.

As you can see from the pictures Kate gifted me three miniature Yankee Candles, all of them being deliciously Christmas scented. All I could smell when I opened the box was a mixture of these candles, Sugared Apple, Christmas Cupcake and Salted Caramel. Oh my gosh ladies I wish I could transfer the smell of these candles straight though the computer screen so you could all take a whiff, they smell incredible and the Salted Caramel has to be my favourite - It smells so good that it actually has my mouth watering for something caramel every time that I smell it? Should that be worrying that a candle can have that effect on me?

The Yankee Candles where the first thing that I unwrapped, which I have to say got me pretty excited as I never ever think to treat myself to posh candles. However, when I opened the next little prezzie I was actually so shocked and taken back by Kate's thoughtfulness and generosity - As you can see from the pictures there is no need to explain or express my amount of excitement. All I can say is Kate is truly the best Christmas Angel EVER by treating me to not only a Mac Lipstick but one which is from the RiRi Hearts Holiday Collection - WOW, need I say anymore! The shade Kate picked out for me is Pleasure Bomb which has a matte finish and is this gorgeous bright fuchsia shade - And you all know how much I love a pink lip. Pleasure Bomb looks even more gorgeous on than what it does looking at it, and it maybe sad, but I've looked at this little beauty of a lipstick quite a lot! I mean just look at it, its beautiful :) I wont go into too much detail about how amazing this lipstick is as I'm planning on dedicating a whole blog post to it very soon, but so far I am loving it and it's been my go too lipstick since Christmas Day.

Thank you so much Kate for these wonderful Secret Santa gifts, I honestly couldn't have asked for a better Secret Santa, everything that was picked out was just perfect and I love everything. I would also like to thank Gemma and Laura as they did such a fabulous job at running and organising this Secret Santa, from what I gather everything ran so smoothly and it was a huge success! I would love to know if any of you ladies have taken part in any Secret Santa's over the holidays and would love to know how they turned out? Be sure to let me know in the comments below.

Lots of Love

#AccessALLASOS

Hi guys, first of all I want to say a BIG Happy New Year to you all and I really hope you all had an amazing Christmas too. I have to apologise for the absence in my blog over the last week or so, I know its not been that long but it really does feel like ages since I last got a post up. The last two weeks have just been manic and I've not stopped working (anyone else working in retail and feel drained from working non stop and being rushed off your feet?) So work has been the main reason that I've not been around, but now January is here things will finally go back to normal for me which means finally taking the time to sit down and work on some posts. Today I have something so exciting to share with you all, so exciting that when I found out myself I was actually did a little jump for joy - No joke.

Last week, a few days after Christmas the postman knocked at my door and delivered a parcel that was addressed to me which had been nicely concealed in packaging that gave me no clues whatsoever to the contents that were inside. Like I said I had been so busy, and I was completely baffled by this parcel as I knew that I hadn't ordered anything nor was I expecting anything to come though the door. Once I opened my parcel, rather quickly, I found this boxed which contained a personalised letter and a few goodies which had all been perfectly placed in this black box. I couldn't believe it when I read that the package was from ASOS and I had been chosen to join the Access All ASOS group and become an ASOS Insider! Seriously, Oh My Gosh guys, I still can't quite believe that I was one of the lucky ones to join the group.

I decided to apply to become an ASOS insider way back when the first lot of Insiders where chosen, which was around October time I believe. With so many people applying I honestly thought I had no chance of being chosen and popped the thought to the back of my mind, which was probably why I was so shocked when I received this parcel though the door. For those of you who are completely baffled about what I'm going on about, Access All ASOS is a programme run by ASOS where they allow all the ASOS Insiders to be in the know about everything ASOS first. This will include knowing about new collections and releases first, being invited to events (maybe even the ASOS HQ itself) and of course receive the odd freebie or discount or too.

From the minute I heard about Access All ASOS, I just knew it was going to be a fabulous programme - One, because it's ASOS and there have been many occasions where I've blown my wages on their fabulous ranges of clothing and of course beauty bits and bobs AND two there was just so much buzz and excitement about the whole thing from people wanting to join or those lucky ones who had already been accepted. My thoughts about being an insider where confirmed when I received my little ASOS box the other day - Inside was a personalised letter to me and gifts which had been selected based on what I had written in my application form. ASOS now know that I'm mad about pink lipstick and as a little surprise they included this strawberry pink glossy lip balm inside my box, which was such a lovely touch.

I cannot wait to find out what ASOS has in store for us Insiders this year and I feel extremely lucky to have been chosen, so a huge thank you to ASOS. I can't wait to get involved, meet and get to know my fellow insiders, so if you are one be sure to let me know. If your thinking about becoming an ASOS insider too and want to apply ASOS are still taking in applications all the way to the end of January, just click this link here and be sure to make your application stand out.

Thanks once again ASOS and I look forward to sharing with you all what kind of things I'll be getting up too being apart of Access All ASOS.

Lots of Love

Lush Goodies | Snow Fairy

It's the last weekend before Christmas and although I'm pretty much working the entire holiday (yep that's right I only get to enjoy Christmas day off) I am still feeling ever so festive and am not going to let a lot of shifts at work dampen my Christmas mood. One thing that I love about Christmas is all the gift sets and limited edition products that come out. As much as it's nice to receive these gifts it's always a nice treat to be able to treat yourself to one too - Hello Boots 3 for 2 right? One gift set that seams to work its way into my beauty stash each year is the Lush Snow Fairy gift box. My little sister always treats me to one every year for my birthday and its become a little tradition for us to swap lush goodies around this time of year as an extra little treat. The Snow Fairy gift set is a fabulous goodie box which is sure to get you in the festive mood and prep and prime you for any festive parties that you may have lined up. I thought I would get this post up for you all so you can take a sneak peek as to whats contained in this pretty pink lush box.

Lush Snow Fairy Shower Gel 

Snow Fairy has to be one of those Christmas products that lush fans and beauty bloggers need to have during this time of year, as it's a limited edition Christmas product of theirs so many people seam to stock up and I can see why. I am amongst those fans who adore the Snow Fairy Range and this shower gel in particular is a favourite of mine. The Snow Fairy scent is just deliciously sweet and has that yummy candy smell to it, if it wasn't a soap then I would say it smells good enough to eat. I love showering with this stuff and the pretty pink glitter which is packed inside the shower gel makes using this a treat. Not only is it a pink product, smells like candy and is full of glitter (three things which I love) this shower gel always leaves my skin feeling silky soft and smooth and lathers up nicely, which makes it the perfect shower gel... I love it!

Angels Delight Soap

The perfect soap to go with snow Fairy is the Lush Angels Delight Soap, and I love how Lush have molded the soap into this pretty star shape for the Snow Fairy gift Box. Angels Delight soap has a pretty similar smell to snow fairy, expect to my nose it has a few more fruity scents to it along side that sweetie smell. Once again this soap is packed with finely milled glitter which gives it a sparkly look and up close you can see little snowflakes that are in the soap which makes this the perfect Christmas pamper treat. I love using this whilst I'm in the bath, not only does it make my skin feel lush but it also smells up the whole bathroom with its sweet fruity scent.

Shimmy Shimmy Glitter Bar

Out of all three products contained in this gift box, the Lush Shimmy Shimmy Glitter Bar has to be my favourite! Why? Because its packed with so much glitter that your skin looks like you are part of the Edward Cullen family. This is the perfect product for this time of year as it just makes your skin glow and the sparkle left on your skin from using this, is perfect for those festive days and party nights. Although this is packed with glitter, its not too over the top and your not going to leave your house looking like a disco ball, but there is enough glitter there which adds a nice lift to the skin and makes it look like you've made that extra effort for Christmas. I love the way that the glitter reflects in certain lights, and although I say the glitter is not too over the top, there is enough there that people will take notice and be dying to know how you've got your skin looking so sparkly. The Shimmy Shimmy Glitter Bar is one of Lush's massage bars, so its packed with cocoa and shea butter, so the bar starts to melt pretty quickly as soon as it's in your fingers. This bar not only gives your skin a sparkle glow, but it feels so nourishing and hydrating on your skin making it the perfect product to use this time of year - Goodbye dry skin! I really recommend that everyone who loves glitter to get treat yourself to this product so you can sparkle on Christmas day, trust me you wont regret it.

So that's everything contained in my Snow Fairy gift box, I think the treats are fabulous and would make the perfect little stocking filler for anyone who loves beauty products, Lush or Snow Fairy. I would love to know what your favourite products from Lush are and if your as much of a Snow Fairy fan as I am.

Lots of Love

Top Winter Berry Shades

Swatches L'Oreal 'Juliet' | Rimmel '107' | L'Oreal 'Feeric Fuchsia' | Revlon 'Raspberry Pie' | Revlon 'Cherries In The Snow'

Being the lipstick lover that I am, I really love how this time of year allows us to be a little more daring with our choices of lipstick. Nothing says hello Christmas like a beautiful deep berry red shade on the lips. When I think of Christmas I always imagine bright pillar box red shades as a first choice of lipstick, but having said this I feel that I don't really suit red lipstick. I find fuchsia's and dark berry shades much more flattering on for me and as a result I've built up quite the collection of these gorgeous berry toned lipsticks. Today I thought I would give you ladies a little run down of my top five winter berry shades and why I love to wear these shades this time of year...

L'Oreal Glam Shine Stain Splash | Juliet

I've been a big fan of these lip stains from L'Oreal, not only do they look glossy on but once these are on your lips they simply wont budge and you have a gorgeous colour payout on your lips for the entire day. Sometimes dark shades on your lips can be a little messy and there is always the fear of a red lipstick smudging whilst on. However this gloss/stain will not budge at all. Juliet is a bright berry red with a hint of orange running though it; Once on it appears quite a dark red on your lips and its that perfect Christmas red. I wore this non stop when I picked it up at the beginning of the year and if you would like to see what it looks like on the lips you can find my review and swatches here.

Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Moss | 107

How could I have a top five winter berry lip shades and not include the infamous Kate Moss lipstick in the shade 107. I have to say this lipstick is a fairly new edition in my collection, I was really late on the bandwagon in picking one up - But it didn't take me long at all to fall head over heels in love with this lippie. This lipstick has to be one of the darkest that I own, admittedly it does look a little too dark for me in its casing but once on the shade looks gorgeous and is really wearable. I would describe this shade of red as a bit of a vampy one and it does have that really dark red wine look to it - which is perfect for this time of year. I love wearing in this in the daytime with minimal makeup elsewhere and slightly rosy cheeks from the cold and the wind - it really makes this lipstick the vocal point of your makeup look.

L'Oreal Color Riche | Feeric Fuchsia 

I picked this lipstick up as a freebie as one of L'Oreal promotions last year and I appologise in advance as I do believe that this shade is limited edition - But I love it so much that I couldn't ignore it. For me, this is the perfect Christmas Shade, not only is it a deep dark berry toned fuchsia shade, but it's also packed with tiny finely milled pink glitter. The glitter is so small that you can feel it at all on your lips, and in fairness you can't really see it once its on your lips - However the glitter finish does make this lipstick look quite glossy on, even though the lipstick does have more of a matte finish. I love how creamy and smooth this lipstick feels on and it always makes me feel so festive when wearing it.

Revlon Lip Butter | Raspberry Pie

In the summer I feel that I reach for the Revlon lip butters ever such a lot and during the winter months they take a bit of a backseat - all apart from Raspberry Pie. Raspberry Pie is a rich and pigmented raspberry colour that just looks divine once applied. It has that super glossy, high shine finish and creamy texture that we're all familiar with when it comes to these Lipbutter's. I am still a huge fan of this product and its finish,  especially with how glossy it looks once on. I'll always find myself reaching for this if my lips are feeling a little bit dry because of the cold, but I'm still wanting to wear a dark berry red on my lips too.

Revlon | Cherries In The Snow

If you love bright pinks all year round, but are looking for a shade that is just that little bit darker for winter then 'Cherries In The Snow' is the perfect addition to your lipstick collection. This lipstick is a really bold and vibrant fuchsia pink that has a gorgeous creamy finish to it. I love wearing this on those days where I'm really wanting to brighten my look up. If your not a fan of the pillar box red lipstick shade then this is a perfect alternative. Even the name of this lipstick suggests that it's the perfect wintery shade - I love it.

So there we have it, my top five Winter berry shades. I am a little bit addicted to wearing these lip colours at the moment and am always looking for more shades to add to my collection. I would love to know what your perfect go to winter lip is, be sure to let me know in the comments below.

Lots of Love