Isle Of Wolf Natural Perfumed Candle - Cinnamon Spice - A Review For My Pure*

If I was to take you on a tour around my house, you'd notice several things, cat hair, beauty products and candles. It's safe to say that I'm a bit of candle fan - there are candles everywhere, the lounge, the kitchen, the bathroom and of course in the bedrooms. As well as fragrancing the home (essential with 4 cats!) I find candle light incredible relaxing, and watching a flickering flame as anyone who has ever practised any form of meditation or yoga will know, is one of the best things for clearing your head when it's full of rubbish.

I have a brand of candles in my home that I swear by but recently I've started to think outside of the box and try some other brands. As I've mentioned before there are lots and lots of new items on natural beauty site My Pure and to my delight I noticed a new brand of candles, Isle Of Wolf.

Isle of Wolf are a Latvian brand based near the shores of the Baltic Sea, From their authentic manor house,Vilksala, this family run firm has revived the traditional craft of candle making. All of their candles are made from 100% plant waxes and are scented with only pure essential oils. The soy wax that they use is free from genetic modification and the wicks are lead free to produce a cleaner, safer burn.

There are currently 8 fragrance to choose from but with the cold weather and dark nights still upon us I went for the warming sound Isle Of Wolf Natural Perfume Candle in Cinnamon Spice.

The 190ml candle comes in a off white and gold box and this particular one comes in a sturdy dark, glass votive holder. On the base of the votive holder is an attached, heat and scratch proof coaster.

Inside the glass holder, the candle is creamy white in colour, and feels smooth to the touch. The candle size is 190ml and the brand claims that this candle will burn for around 40 hours.

The minute you open the box the fragrance hits you. Cinnamon Spice contains a combination of cinnamon, cardamon, clove and orange. The scent is a funny one to describe, unlike a lot of cinnamon candles on the market it doesn't smell like out and out cinnamon. Instead this candle has more of rounded, spicy, woody, citrus scent. Mummy Lou wasn't a huge fan of the scent, she's more of a pure cinnamon stick scent lover but I found it quite warming and comforting.

In the past I haven't always been the biggest fan of soy candles as I've often found them to be too smokey and dirty, but slowly but surely I'm coming around. This candle has a very clean, even burn, the flame is very steady and after burning it for around 5 hours I'm still yet to see any soot residue in the votive holder or anywhere else in the surrounding area

I have to say the scent throw from this candle wasn't enough to fill my large open plan, 70's style lounge. Given the size of the candle and the size of the room I was probably asking too much, but use it say in a smaller room, or in the bathroom or like I did on my bedside table, and you'll get a pleasant and acceptable level of fragrance.

Several things really impressed me about this candle - first of all the packaging - it looks expensive - think those boutique and posh fragrance company candles and you're about there. This is the type of candle that you would see in a home deco magazine and it's something that you would be proud to display in your home. 

I also love the attached heat and scratch proof coaster. I usually burn my candles or either a glass or a marble surface but if you have wood furniture or you want to extra cautious you need to find a coaster - not in this case though because your coaster is built it. I think that this is a fabulous idea and I think that more candle companies should follow Isle Of Wolf's lead.

The final thing that I love about this candle is the burn, this candle has a really, really clean burn, you don't seem to get any smoking or excess sooting. Okay the fragrance throw means that this candle is only suitable for intimate fragrancing but what your getting is pure fragrance, with no added fumes or smoke.

These candles aren't cheap but for a gift or for a dressing table, or for anyone who is interested in home style and decor this candle could be a one to try, and I'll definitely consider trying some of the other fragrances in the future. Isle Of Wolf Natural Perfumed Candle - Cinnamon Spice 190ml normally retails at £20 from My Pure but it's currently on special offer at £18. Are you a scented candle fan? 

(*Sample)

British Lion Eggs And An Easy Spanish Omelette / Tortilla Recipe*

I've talked about my love on eggs on numerous occasions but they really are a mainstay in my kitchen. Looking back on all the recipes that I've ever posted on LouLouLand, a good half of them make use of at least one egg. From main courses, to breakfast dishes, cakes and puddings, I use eggs in an awful lot of dishes.

Source

As I mentioned in a previous post I don't just buy any old eggs, because I care about my health, and animal welfare, my eggs either come courtesy of my uncles hens or if I do buy them in the supermarket or greengrocer I make sure that they are British Lion Eggs and that they possess the British Lion Mark of quality and assurance.

As well as enforcing high standards of animal welfare, and farm to fork traceability, eggs that are stamped with the British Lion Mark, come from birds that have been injected against salmonella. Over the years eggs have had some bad publicity - some of it warranted, some if not so much, but since the introduction of the British Lion scheme in 1998, the risk of salmonella has virtually been eradicated in eggs that bear the British Lion Mark. Runny Eggs and pregnancy used to be a no, no, and you wouldn't dare eat a runny egg if you were a child, or if you were sick or elderly but thanks to the scheme things have changed,

From simple, comfort food such as a soft boiled egg and toast soldiers to more exotic dishes like Nigella Lawson's Eggs In Purgatory, you really can't beat a bit of runny egg, or to be honest any other type of egg,

When I started to think about this post and the recipe I wanted to include with it, the most obvious one to do would have been Nigella's Eggs In Purgatory.but since it's already such a well known and well loved recipe I decided to do something else instead.

One of my ways of cooking eggs has to be in an omelette, or a tortilla. From a super quick slightly runny, cheese omelette, to a crust less vegetable quiches, they are quick, easy, cheap and filling. To make a good omelette you need a good pan and practise but something that's a lot easier to make is a traditional Spanish omelette or tortilla. This is a much more set version of an omelette crammed full of potatoes and onions that can be sliced like a cake and served in several different ways. So definitely not a runny egg dish but this is my easy, tried and tested recipe, I can't guarantee the authenticity but it's very filling and very tasty.

Easy Spanish Omelette / Tortilla 

1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

1 Tablespoon Butter

500g New Potatoes or Small Potatoes Preferably Charlotte's

2 Medium Onions

1 Pepper Preferably Red

8 Eggs 

Salt And Pepper

1. Cut your potatoes into 1 cm thick slices - Don't be too precious about the size but you want them to be roughly the same thickness. I'm using Charlotte potatoes here which keep their shape and have an almost a waxy texture.

Steam or boil the potatoes for about 10 minutes or so till there just soft. Don't over cook them, you want them to keep their shape. Then drain well and set aside.

2. Put the oil and the butter into the a large, non stick saute or deep frying pan and heat gently until the butter is melted. The butter gives a nice flavour and the oil stops it burning  but using just olive oil is probably more authentic.

3. Cut your onions into half moons, and cut your pepper into cubes. The red pepper adds colour but you can use what you have, this one was a real miss match and was yellow, red and green!

Put your pepper and onion into the pan and cook over a medium heat till softened.

4. Then add your potatoes and carefully mix them in and try and avoid breaking them up too much. Cook for another 5 or so minutes.

5. Crack your eggs into a bowl or a jug - Yes I know it's a lot of eggs but you do need them all trust me x 

Season with salt and pepper and beat your eggs.

6. Make a little well in your pan and add some of your eggs, stir gently, 

add a little bit more and stir gently, what your trying to do is coat the bottom of the pan.

Once you've done that even out the surface of your vegetables and pour the remaining egg mix in the pan and cook over a medium heat for at least 10 minutes.

7. Whatever you do don't panic it might seem as though it will never set but it will. Don't be tempted to turn up the heat or you'll burn your base. Gradually it will start to set - you can't too well in this picture but the base has set and the top of the tortilla is starting to set going from the outside in.

8. You might still have a layer of runny egg on the top but don't worry. Pop your pan under a medium grill 

and cook for a few minutes until it's set and starting to brown. Insert a knife or a skewer into the omelette and if it comes out clean or relatively dry it's done.

9. Leave it to cool in the pan for a little while then turn it out onto a plate.

Then cut into wedges and eat :) 

You can serve this warm or cold, so it's great with a salad and you could even have wedges as part of a packed lunch or a picnic. It's keeps well overnight in the fridge but I wouldn't advise you reheat it. This recipe is very filling and would easily serve 4 people or even more depending on how thick you cut the slices.

This is just a really basic tortilla / Spanish omelette recipe. The potatoes are an essential as they create the firmness but other than that you could add whatever you like, for example herbs, chorizo, and any type of vegetable providing it isn't too wet. You could also quite easily use leftover boiled new potatoes and vegetables.

This recipe is just one meal that you can make with the humble egg, they're nutritious, affordable, versatile and they taste great.

(*This Post Was Written On Behalf Of British Lion Eggs - A Form Of Compensation Was Provided)

An Introduction To Make Up Revolution Pro Brushes

It's hard to believe that Make Up Revolution have been filling our budget make up fantasies for less than a year but ti's true. The brand have came on leaps and bounds since their launch, and now produce an ever expanding range of eye, lip and face products, as well as skincare items and now make up brushes!

If you're a follower of their instagram page and you've ever read some of the comments on their posts you'll know that what people really wanted to see from the brand was brushes. Well they listened, and after a sneaky peek in some of their Christmas sets, at the end of January they released their range of Pro Brushes.

The line consists of 9, super affordable face and eye brushes which range from £1.50 - £3 each. Despite the low price point these brushes are all made of soft, animal friendly synthetic fibres. They have quite a classic, expensive appearance and they remind me a little bit of the elf Studio brushes. Each brush has a black metal ferrule and a black handle which features the brand name and brush number embossed in gold. Each individual brush also comes in it's own plastic wallet for travel or storage.

Although I have lots and lots of make up brushes already I couldn't resist dipping my toe into the water and on launch day I tried to be restrained and ordered 4 brushes to try

Make Up Revolution Pro F103 Stippling Brush

One of my favourite types of face brush is the stippling brush and although I already have quite a few in my collection from all price points, I couldn't resist picking up another one.

Like the majority of them that I have this one has a flat top,and it has the look of a duo fibre brush with the black and white synthetic hairs.

Coming complete with a plastic brush head cover, this one isn't quite as dense or firm as some of them I own but the fibres are super soft.

Make Up Revolution are marketing this brush as a foundation brush, and whilst I think it it would be good for more prescise application around the eyes, nose and mouth I actually prefer a much bigger brush to apply my foundation. Instead I've been using this mainly with both powder and cream blushers. I also love brushes like this for applying my Chanel Bronze Universal in the summer so I think it's a brush that I will get a lot of use out of all year round. The Make Up Revolution Pro F103 Stippling Brush retails at £3

Make Up Revolution Pro E101 Eyeshadow Brush

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Ah eyeshadow brushes I have so many yet when I come to get one they're all dirty. I've said it before but I'm very much a use it once and wash it girl, so another eyeshadow brush never comes in wrong.

This is a basic eyeshadow brush, suitable for both cream and powder eyeshadows. It has rounded, slightly tapered black hairs and it is tiny!

It's a full size brush but the brush head on this is very small, I don't have a lot of lid space and even I needed to double and triple dip to cover my eyelid. For me it's small size, and firm bristles mean that for me this probably more of a detail brush. It would be excellent for applying a small amount of colour to the crease or for more detailed work, or even for smudging out liner. It 's a good brush but for me though it's just not big enough to use over the whole lid. This brush retails at £1.95

Make Up Revolution Pro E102 Eyeshadow Contour Brush

Another eyeshadow brush and this time it's the Eyeshadow Contour Brush. Again made of black fibres this brush features an angled.flat top head.

Unlike the last brush, this one is the perfect size. The angle of the brush fits the contours of the eye perfectly, and this brush is great for applying either a singular colour to the eye or for blending out shades or crease work. It doesn't feel quite as dense as the previous brush but the fibres are soft and it's firm enough to the job perfectly. This brush is also £1.95.

Make Up Revolution E103 Eyeshadow Blending Brush

Out of the 3 eyeshadow brushes that I got this is probably my favourite. It's the archetypal fluffy blending brush, but unlike a lot of them on the market the density and texture of this are spot on.

The black bristles are exactly right, it isn't too fluffy, it's evenly formed with very few splayed hairs, and it's solid enough to blend shadows evenly and without too much pressure. 

I particularly liked using this brush with cream shadows, but thinking outside the box I think this brush would also be good for popping a bit of powder under the eyes and even for buffing in a bit of concealer. It's a really versatile brush and I'm not surprised that it's currently sold out on the Make Up Revolution website. Again it's just £1.95 and it's the sort of brush you would use again and again.

My first dabble into Make Up Revolution's Pro Brush has been largely positive. I do have the odd quirk here and there but I can't argue with the quality. All of the brushes feel nice and soft on the skin and they wash like a dream, in fact in two washes I haven't lost a single hair from any of my brushes. 

I also love the fact that they're synthetic, not only does that mean that they're animal friendly but it also means that the brushes are more versatile and that you can use them with both liquids and powders, without damaging either your products or the brush fibres.

At the moment I think the brushes are just available from the Make Up Revolution website but If you're on a budget and you're looking for some new face and eye brushes I think the Make Up Revolution Pro Brushes are definitely worth a try. 

The individual brush prices are excellent but if your buying for a teen or someone who is relatively new to make up then you can also buy a kit, the Full Pro Brush Collection which contains all 9 brushes for £20 or you could buy a face collection, the Full Pro Face Collection which contains all 5 face brushes for just £14. I really hope that this is just the beginning and that we'll hopefully see some more brushes and accessories from the brand in the future. 

Have you tried any of the Make Up Revolution Pro Brushes yet? 

January 2015 Favourites

I know it's nearly the end of February but I've just got round to uploading my January Favourites video. Slapped wrists I know, but I thought you might like to watch it x 

Product Mentioned 

Collection / Collection 2000 Colour Match Foundation - Ivory 1 

Make Up Revolution I♥MAKEUP  Naked Chocolate Eyeshadow Palette 

(You can read my review here x )

Leighton Denny Crystal Nail File

(My holy grail nail file ! You can read a full review and product rave here)

Elemis Pro Radiance Hand And Nail Cream

*Skin Blossom Therapeutic Bath Soak

(I've reviewed this product too - check my review out here x)

Prada Candy Florale Eau De Toilette 

I've already reviewed the majority of the products in this video for you but if you would like to see a review of either the hand cream or the the foundation then leave me a comment and let me know x 

No reviews of the Prada Candy Florale  though lol if you watch this video you'll know that describing fragrance isn't my strong point ha ha. Fragrance is such a personal thing and it so hard to describe a scent in the majority of cases unless you're an expert but I know I like it and that''s the main thing! 

I'm a bit of a fragrance junkie though so I'm thinking of doing an updated perfume collection video x Don''t worry though I will do my research this time round haha x Let me know if that is something that you would like to watch and of course don't forget to subscribe to my You Tube channel for more inane ramblings x 

Thanks for reading and watching and I'll see you tomorrow with a review xx

(*Sample) 

Product Rave - Max Factor Creme Puff Blush - 15 Seductive Pink

I never used to be a blusher girl but the older I get the more I love it -  gimme all the blusher! Saying that though I probably already own all the blusher! One of these days I'll get round to sorting out my bronzer, blusher and highlighter draw but in the meantime I'll just keep adding to it!

One of my most recent blusher purchases and one that's been talked about a lot in the blogosphere is Max Factor's Creme Puff Blush in 15 Seductive Pink.

I'm a huge, huge fan of baked blushers and this one is no exception. Baked blushers start out as creams which are baked till they dry out and set. Unlike a traditional powder blusher baked blushers retain some of that originally creaminess so they never feel dry or powdery on the skin.

Another thing I love about baked blushers is the fact that you very rarely get a flat or singular colour. Seductive Pink contains a combination of shimmery pinks, peaches and corals. 

 This blusher has a soft, silky feel and the pigmentation as you can see from this swatch is excellent.

A little bit goes a very long way but it blends like a dream, giving the cheeks a really healthy flush, with just a hint of iridescence.

From the moment that I bought it, this has been one of my go to blushers, it suits my skin tone perfectly, it's easy to apply and it wears well, Thanks to my extensive blush and highlighter collection I can't see myself buying any of the other shades but if they're all as good as this one I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them and if your a blusher fan like me you need Seductive Pink in your life!

Max Factor Creme Puff Blush comes in 6 shades and retails at around £8.99 from various retailers including Boots and Superdrug. Have you tried any of the Max Factor Creme Puff Blushers yet? Let me know if you have, I'd love to hear your thoughts x 

Essence Colour & Go Sparkle Sand Effect Nail Polish - 182 Hello Rosy*

After another unscheduled break I'm back and raring to go with a nails of the day post. My nails and hands aren't amazing at the moment thanks to the winter weather and a fight with a cheese knife but I really wanted to show you this polish before it's too late.

Too late I hear you cry? Well unfortunately Essence appear to be discontinuing quite a few products and this polish Essence Colour & Go Sparkle Sand Effect Nail Polish in 182 Hello Rosy, is just one item that's saying goodbye.

The Colour & Go line is famous for it almost ergonomically designed mini 8ml bottles. Their polishes have a short but wide brush which I love. With careful application you can paint the majority of your nails in just one stroke.

The line offers a huge variety of shades as well as a few different textures of polish. Unfortunately it seems as though it's the majority of the textures that are being discontinued. Hello Rosy is one of their Sparkle Sand Effect Nail Polishes. Replicated in many higher end brands this polish has an almost gritty texture. It's a cross between a coral and a bright blush pink, and it's crammed full of textures matte and glitter particles.

It took two coats to completely cover my white tips but this polish dried incredibly fast. The polish feels quite rough to the touch and it has an almost semi matte finish. There isn't a great deal of shine to it but you can see the twinkling specks of dark pink glitter.

The rough finish definitely isn't for everyone but it does mean that the polish wears incredibly well. If you wanted to use a top coat to smooth it out and add a bit of shine for another look I guess you could but it kind of defeats the object.

I have to say I'm not keen on the rough, textured feel of this polish but if I was going to be doing a lot with my hands and I wanted a polish that would last this could be a one to go for. If you want to get your hands on this shade you better move fast according the Essence EU website it's only on sale till the end of March -Hello Rosy has already disappeared from the Wilko website but they do have a couple of different Sparkle Sand Effects online and you never know what you might find in store. If you aren't a fan of textured polishes then it's still worth having a look at the Essence Colour & Go line. There is a huge variety of shades to choose from and they retail at just £1.60 each, they are available in their own independent stores, and in Wilko stores and online x 

(*Sample)