BALM BALM are one of my favourite brands, I have been using there stuff for a couple of years now so I thought it's about time I start sharing what i use and my thoughts on a couple products.

My latest additions and what I want to review today is the Little Miracle Rosehip Serum and the Hibiscus Face Mask.

Also it is worth mentioning that BALM BALM products are all organic, vegan and cruelty free!

Little Miracle Rosehip Serum:

I have been using this stuff as part of my night time regime, I have to admit it is a little weird putting oil on to the face. 

I have oily skin naturally so I try and avoid this sort of thing at all costs but as this oil is so light it's not what you expect, it's such a pamper feeling applying the oil and it smells amazing, perfect for bedtime.

You can use this with a moisturiser as well the instructions state, I have tried both and prefer it on it's own to be honest as it feels lighter and I hate feeling caked in products before going to bed.

My skin the following morning is great too, it's like your skin absorbs all the goodness from the oil and you wake up with glowy skin.

Hibiscus Face Mask:

This has to be the most amazing smelling face mask I have ever used ever! It is also easily the most effective face mask I've ever used too. It's a lovely 2 in 1 exfoliating mask, I think that's why it is so effective because it's pretty much a face scrub too! 

The mask itself is a powder, a pot of powder and all you do is mix it with water. 

How I do this probably isn't the best, I use the mask when I'm in the bath, so I pour some powder into one hand and then get a little water from the bath and mix in my hands and then scrub my face and leave it for 10 minutes or longer.

When it's dried up and use my bath water wet hands to wet the mask again and use as a face scrub. 

My face just feels so clean and clear after this, and I can definitely see an improvement in my skin already only after a couple of uses!

Overall I loved both products featured in this post along with a few others I have tried in the past such as the Frankincense Deep Cleansing Balm, that stuff is god send!

If you're interested in any of these items check out their website below.

http://balmbalm.com

So this is probably the most exciting delivery I've ever received, also the box was a hell of a lot bigger than I anticipated!!

I'm obsessed with subscription boxes as it is, I've been subscribed to a few in the past and it really is the best day ever when they arrive.

The contents of the Variety and Ultimate subscription boxes change each month so that you can try different products.

This is my first "food" box and as a vegan it doesn't really get any better than this! 

The box I've managed to get my hands on is the Ultimate Box which includes 10-13 treats.

The Other Options Are:

Variety Box

Gluten Free Box

Selection Box

All Seasons Lifestyle Box

Health Kick Box

Savoury Box

Chocoholic Box

Snack Favourites

Starter Box

10p from every subscription box sold is donated to vegan outreach and animal sanctuaries each month, this month the charity is Hugletts Wood Farm Animal Sanctuary.

This Month's Ultimate Box Included:

Perkier Peanut & Quinoa Bar

Fudge Kitchen Vanilla Fudge Bite

Sweet Nothings Fruit & Nut Flapjack

Eat Real White Cheddar Quinoa Puffs

Liberty Loves Raw Chocolate Tart

Loving Earth Lemon Chocolate Bar

Essy & Bella Dairy-Free Milk Chocolate Bar

The Smarter Tea Sample Teas

Chikas Chilli & Lime Cashew Nuts

Raven Coconut Milk Bar

I received the box yesterday and I've already stuffed most of these items haha! My favourite has to be the Quinoa Puffs though and all the chocolate was epic... I also liked the teas... I just love it all, it's heaven in a box for me!

Find Out More and Get Your Own Box Here:

https://vegantuckbox.co.uk

I've also got a code for 20% off! Enter “blog20” at checkout to receive 20% off your first subscription box.

Vegan Tuck Box is, and will always be, 100% vegan.

 *free sample but opinions are my own

Don't you just love trying new beauty products, I can't help feel super pampered and relaxed just by experiencing something as small as trying a new face moisturiser and soap!

The products are from a company called PHB Ethical Beauty who sell a wide range of  natural, vegan and cruelty free beauty products, I have been using a selection of their products for a little while now and figured it's time to start reviewing these lovely products and spread the word of cruelty free beauty!

For this review post I will looking at the Brightening Moisturiser with Argan & Immortelle and the Peppermint & Blackseed Natural Handmade Soap.

Brightening Moisturiser with Argan & Immortelle:

I'd read a little about this product before trying it and after reading some of the comments I had to give it a go, I have used the moisturisers before but the one I'd used previously was the Balancing Moisturiser with Organic Lavender and Tamanu.

As soon as I used this stuff I was in love, I spent the whole day without make up on because it just felt good and my skin looked clear and healthy...it doesn't normally! I've literally used it everyday this week even stopped wearing foundation to work because my skin looks fine without after using this stuff! 

The moisturiser itself isn't too heavy and smells amazing, I'm literally sniffing the pot as I type this.

Peppermint & Blackseed Natural Handmade Soap:

The second item is a soap, this may seems a simple and boring item to review but I can't emphasise just how much I love handmade soaps... Using bars of soap like this in the morning puts me in such a good mood, a tiny little pamper with a nice bar of soap can go a long if you ask me!

This soap being peppermint is extra special though, not only do I smell gorgeous, I'm moisturised from the natural oils and i'm also tingling... My skin feels amazing afterwards.

I can't wait to try more of these soaps!

With my delivery I also received 2 free samples, one was a face wash which I really liked and will look into further when my current one runs out and the other was some anti blemish treatment gel, I have used this a couple of times on my back and it does seem to get to action pretty quickly.

Overall I loved all the products featured in this post but also all of the items I have bought in the past and tried such as the shampoo and conditioners, the eye gel and many more other bits and bobs.

If you're interested in any of these items check out their website below.

www.phbethicalbeauty.co.uk

I've been doing some Saturday baking and just had to share this recipe as the cakes are so yummy.

You can't go wrong with cupcakes, they're yummy, cute, fun and super easy to make. This recipe is also vegan so you can stuff your face knowing that no animals were harmed in the making!!

This recipe makes 12 cupcakes with a little mix left over to eat if you so desire...I always do!

Ingredients:

Cakes

1 cup non-dairy milk

1 tsp apple cider vinegar

1/2 cup vegan butter (such as Vitalite)

1 cup granulated sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 and a 1/2 cups of plain flour

1 and a 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

Frosting

Rainbow sprinkles

1/2 cup vegan butter

3 cups of icing sugar

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Drop of non-dairy milk

Instructions:

Firstly preheat the oven on to about 200oC.

In a measuring cup put the non-dairy milk and add vinegar, put it to the side to curdle.

Add butter to a mixing bowl and cream with a mixer. Then add sugar and vanilla and beat until fluffy.

Sift flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt over butter/sugar mixture.

Add the milk/vinegar.

 Mix together until until no large lumps remain.

Divide evenly among cupcake holders, filling up about 3/4 of the cases. 

Bake on 200oC 20-25 minutes.

Let cool completely. In the meantime, prepare frosting.

Either clean the mixing bowl or get a clean on and lightly beat the butter.

Add vanilla and mix

Add powdered sugar and continue mixing until thick and creamy. 

Put a drop of non dairy milk in if you would like the icing thinner but the thicker the better if you ask me.

Once cooled, frost cupcakes and top with sprinkles. 

  

Sunday morning me and a friend checked out the South West Vegan Festival in Bristol, I was supposed to be at another event that day but it had got cancelled so I think it was fate to ensure I attended this instead.

First of all let me say I am glad I got there early, it got pretty busy! I didn't think something like this would be so packed... Not necessarily a bad thing as it shows a lot of interest in veganism.

I was also shocked by how may stalls there were, I was worried we would get there and see about 5 stands and that was it but there was loads!! Apparently over 100 stalls so yeah we were there a couple of hours!

The place has 3 halls and they were filled with food, beauty products, memberships, merchandise, information stalls and a few others. 

I was mainly interested in getting my hands on some cheese! Which I did, I got myself some Original Classic Cashew Brie from Raw food Rosie’s which I've already used a couple of times and can confirm is yummy!

I also grabbed some medium chilli marinade from Zims Tribe, I haven't used this yet but I tried it on the day with some tortillas and it was lush! Tasted so good, can't wait to use this stuff!

My favourite purchase has to be the wasabi pumpkin seeds though from Pepo Papa! Life changing purchase if you ask me haha! Ate the whole lot pretty quickly!

Another thing I picked up was a bath bomb, it sure where this one was from but it was lovely!

The whole event is organised by Farplace Animal Rescue who are a UK animal rescue who help specialist cases like FIV+ cats and have helped many such cases in need from across the UK. All the profits from the festival will directly help animals.

 Overall I really enjoyed this event and wish there was more of the same locally, hopefully another one will come up with how much interest this one had! Maybe a summer one?!

  

"The West Country's Biggest Wedding Fayre Event with over 100 of the regions finest wedding creatives on hand to offer you inspiration and guidance as you plan your perfect day."

Let me start by saying I'm not married, engaged to, planning to get married anytime soon or going to a wedding haha!! I just went for the free cake samples.

Only kidding, the real reason I attended is because a friend of mine has set up her own photography business and wanted to take some pictures for her portfolio - Check her site out by clicking HERE.

So to be honest I don't have anything else to say other than it was a good day out if you are planning a wedding this sort of event is great for ideas, I did manage to get some picture of my own which I wanted to share.