M&S Book of Beauty Advent Calendar: Review

Those of you who follow the Depreciation Society Blog will know that last year I did a blog post reviewing the No.7 Advent Calendar. If you want to read that you can find it here. Just like last year, my grandma kindly got me this calendar for my birthday, along with the Maybelline one (my review of which will be coming soon!). Again, this is not an ad, just my honest opinions on the products incase any of you are considering purchasing them! The calendar looks beautiful, which is an excellent start I always think, and it has easy to open boxes instead of the traditional holes so I'm pleased with it from the go. It's also 25 days which is a huge bonus!

Day 1: Citrus Verbena Shower Gel from L'Occitane. I was very happy with this product. It is travel size, so I can take it with me when I got to Paris in January, and it smells amazingly lemony. Plus, L'Occitane are a very high quality brand. If you want to buy the full size version of this product, it will cost you £16 which is very expensive for a shower gel. For that reason, I will give this an 8/10.

Day 2: Time-Filler Eyes Absolute Eye Correction Cream by Filorga. I am only 20 years old, so I'm really not the best person to judge how effective this product is. However, I can say this is another top quality brand and I think for the appropriate age range this would be a great advent gift. It's again only a small sample size, so I can tell you that a very small amount will cover a large area of skin. If you want to buy this product, it will set you back £40, which is again on the more expensive side. Like I said, I'm not really equipped to judge this so I won't give it a rating out of 10, I would consider reading more reviews if you would like to buy it!

Day 3: Ageless Throat and Décolletage Cream by Prai. Again this product is out of my area of expertise so I would say the same as yesterday and recommend reading more reviews about this. However, I can say that I adore the packaging! The recommended retail price for this item is £19.99 so it is more affordable than some of the other items in this calendar.

Day 4: Eyeko Lash Alert Mascara. I think this mascara tube is really cool! The mascara itself is fab too, no clumps, a jet black colour and a great brush shape for easy application. The only problem is it takes a while to dry, so it's easy to smudge. This mascara costs £19, so it is on the expensive side but I believe it is worth that. 9/10.

Day 5: Shay & Blue Black Tulip Natural Spray Fragrance. Oh my goodness, this smells amazing! I want a full size bottle! 10/10. It's £30 for a full size bottle, or £16 for this sample size and it is definitely worth that.

Day 6: Philip Kingsley Elasticizer, Pomegranate & Cassis. This pre-shampoo conditioner smells so good, but I was skeptical when I first opened this. I have very thick hair so I tend to run away from 'volumising' products. It also takes 10-20 minutes to take effect which is a long time I think. However, when I tried it I was pleasantly surprised. It did make my hair more manageable, and not enormous. If you want to buy this it will cost you £18.50, which is expensive for a conditioner and the effects weren't great enough to make it worth it in my opinion. 7/10.

Day 7: Skyn Iceland Berry Lip Fix With Wintered Red Algae. This product is amazing! It makes my lips feel so much better, and it's not sticky like most lip balms. It also smells good. It costs £12 so again its expensive, but the tube is larger than most lip balms so it would probably lasts longer. 9/10.

Day 8: Leighton Denny High Performance Nail Colour in Be My Berry. I've had Leighton Denny nail polishes before and I think they are excellent quality. I like that this is a full sized product as well. This colour is beautiful and super Christmassy and I will be wearing it for the entire season. If you want to buy this it will cost you £12 so it is more expensive than some other products, but you can tell the difference in quality. 9.5/10.

Day 9: REN V-Cense Revitalising Night Cream. As you may have seen in some of my previous blog posts, I don't really use night cream unless they are specifically for moisturising because I don't feel I benefit from it so I would recommend reading more reviews if you're considering purchasing this product. However, I can tell you that it costs £36 so it would be a pricey choice!

Day 10: Percy & Reed Perfectly Perfecting Wonder Overnight Recovery. I am very confused by this product. On the one hand, it is designed to moisturise dry hair, which is something I need in my life. However,  you have to put this in overnight and sleeping with sticky creamed hair isn't fun, and I needed half of the tube for just one use. I'm also not convinced it really made a difference to my hair. This costs £20 if you want to try it for yourself. 5/10.

Day 11: NUXE Luxurious Body Cream. Again this is an anti-aging product so I'm not equipped to review it! It's £45 if you want to try it though. 

Day 12:  Pixi Rose Toni. This smells absolutely gorgeous. It's refreshing and feels lovely on your face. It's only £10 for a 100ml bottle, or £18 for 250ml, so one of the more affordable products in the calendar too. 9/10.

Day 13: The Hero Project Hyasoft Instant Moisture Boost. This stuff is brilliant! It works so quickly, it's light and not sticky at all. The tube is small, but a little bit goes a long way with this. It's £19 if you'd like to try it. 8.5/10.

Day 14: Leighton Denny Mini Crystal Nail File. I bit my nails up until the middle of this month, so I may not be the best person to judge this. However, I have never been a fan of crystal nail files. Even when I have managed to grow my nails out before, I have found them too difficult to use. It's also £12.50, which is expensive for a nail file. If you like crystal nail files though, this is a perfectly good one! Just not my taste. 4/10.

Day 15: Studio 10 Lip Perfecting Balm Gloss. I was very excited about this product when I first saw it! I think it's a beautiful colour and it really suits me. It's a little sticky but not too bad, and it looks so cute and pretty natural. It's £20 and as I don't wear lipgloss that often I wouldn't spend that much on one, but if it's a product you use a lot this one is definitely worth that. 8.5/10.

Day 16: Diego Dalla Palma Eye Pencil in shade 01. This is a lovely black eyeliner. It gives good, sharp and precise line and doesn't smudge. It's also not too tricky to remove. It's £14.50 and I think it's better quality than other eye pencils of a similar price range. 9/10.

Day 17: Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream. Another product I'm sadly no help with! It's £16 if you would like to try it.

Day 18: M&S Formula Absolute Ultimate Sleep Cream. This smells great and feels lightweight, but sadly that is where the positives ended for me. I literally noticed no difference to my skin after using this, if anything it was drier. This costs £22, and it's not worth purchasing for that in my opinion. 3/10

Day 19: Autograph Blusher Brush. I like this Brush because it's a better size than most blusher brushes. It covers your cheek but not your entire face. I would like it to be a little softer but other than that it's great. It costs £8 which is reasonable. 9/10.

Day 20: Living Proof 5-In-1 Styling Treatment. This costs £24. To be honest, I'm not sure what the five effects this is meant to have are, but I noticed none. It was sticky and didn't smell great and I think it is very expensive for no visible changes. 1/10

Day 21: This Works In Transit Camera Close-Up Mask, Moisturiser and Primer in One. This smells like roses and it's lovely. It works well as a moisturiser or a mask but it's too heavy for a primer in my opinion. It costs £27 and I've used cheaper masks and moisturisers that work just as well. 7/10.

Day 22: Still Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner in Lionfish. This is really easy to apply and the colour is really pretty and subtle. It gives a precise line rather than being too thick, and seems to withstand smudging really well. This costs £16, so it is pricey for an eyeliner but I think it's worth it. 9.5/10.

Day 23: Autograph Luminosity Luxe Multi Bronzer. I like this! It's shimmery, golden and beautiful. It's pigmented enough to be visible, but subtle enough that pale people like me don't look like they've had a bodged fake tan. It's £12.50 so affordable too. 8.5/10.

Day 24: L'Occitane Immortelle Divine Cream advanced anti-aging skincare. Sadly not qualified to judge this either. It costs £78 so it is very pricey though.

Day 25: This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray. This product costs £18, and I do think it is worth that. It smells lovely and my Fitbit showed that there was an increase in deep sleep in my sleeping pattern when using it. Sadly it didn't help me get to sleep quicker, but I still felt more refreshed in the morning. 8/10.

Overall, I was super happy with this calendar and the quality of the products in it. It has been great to try some new things and get some new favourites. Hope you all had a great Christmas and have a fab new year!

How to Treat Yourself on a Budget

This time of year is all about giving, but it can be tempting to gift yourself a few bits and pieces as well. When money is tight, this can be difficult so I thought I'd share a few tips I've picked up!

1. Think carefully about your purchases. Don't impulse buy. How much use will you get out of this item? For how long will it make you happy? For example, I recently bought some Doc Martens that I wear regularly and will last me a lifetime, however I did not buy another Christmas jumper this year as I already have one and you can only wear it for a short period each year.
2. Prioritise. If you want a couple of things, choose one to buy now and wait until next pay day for the other. Or just buy the one that you prefer and leave the other.
3. Wait for good discounts! My Doc Martens were 20% off at the time, and things regularly go in the sale. If it's not a necessary purchase it can wait until you get a better deal.
4. Ask for things you want for Christmas rather than just saying 'I don't mind what I get!'. That way, gifts for you are easier and you get things you want rather than just another bath set. (I'm not knocking a bath set, I love them. Just that if you want something ask for it!).
5. See if you can spread the cost. I don't personally do this, as I prefer to save but many of my friends use Klarna (not an ad, just an example) and things like that to make shopping easier.
6. Do your finances/budgeting properly so that if you buy something expensive you don't run out of money! I know this is boring but this is important. For tips on this you can read my blog post about it here.
7. Keep the receipt! If you feel guilty about buying something or change your mind, take it back.
8. Do some research. You may find this item cheaper elsewhere.

Christmas Date Ideas

I love Christmas, it's my favourite time of the year. Food, family, friends and fun is what it's all about, but it can be a perfect time for romance too. Some of my favourite kinds of dates are Christmas ones, so I thought I'd share them with you! Even if they are a bit cliché, these can be good fun.

• Build a gingerbread house! Fun and delicious. I recommend a kit with pre-baked panels, but if you're feeling brave then you can bake it yourself. Whatever you do it's a chance to do something creative and it doesn't cost too much either!

• Go ice skating. I always put this on my date suggestions, because it's so much fun and it's really romantic. An outdoor rink is especially fun at this time of year, and combining it with a hot chocolate or a mulled wine makes a perfect evening.

• Go to a Christmas Market. Preferably a German one. Eat good food, look at the beautiful gifts and other crafts on sale and take part in fun activities like ice skating and carousels.

• Make handmade Christmas gifts. I'm hoping to do a blog post on ideas for this next year!

• Do a Christmas movie marathon. Cuddling up under a blanket with hot chocolate, gingerbread, mince pies and a cheesy rom com. What could be better?

• Do some Christmas themed baking. Christmas cupcakes, cookies, gingerbread men, cinnamon buns. Anything goes, just make it festive! This one was for my birthday, but with some green icing and some sprinkles it could easily be made to look like a tree.

• Go and see some Christmas lights. You can go to a proper display if you want to spend a little more money, or just wander to your local town for a cheaper option.

• Decorate a Christmas tree together. This works best if you don't have a perfectionist in the relationship haha.

Quick, Cheap and Easy Recipes

I have titled this post 'student cooking' but in fact it is great for anyone who is short on time and/or money, and is fed up of ready meals and frozen food. I have been living in uni accommodation and therefore cooking for myself for just over a year now so I have come up with a few delicious meals that don't break the bank, and can be cooked in less than half an hour.

Pasta Bake:

You could add more vegetables or perhaps some bacon to mix this up, if you wanted to.

Ingredients:

• 2 chicken breasts.
• Tomato sauce (approximately half a jar, but add more if your mix isn't well coated).
• Cheddar cheese (to taste).
• 1 pepper.
• Pasta (to taste).

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.
2. Boil the pasta, and fry the chicken.
3. Mix the chicken, the pepper and the tomato sauce into the pasta.
4. Pour the mixture into a dish, top with cheese and put in the oven for 20 minutes.
5. Enjoy!

Spag Bol:

Obviously you can add more ingredients to make this fancier, or use a pre bought sauce to make it even quicker, but this is super healthy and delicious too.

Ingredients:

• 250g mince meat.
• 1 tin of chopped tomatoes.
• 1tsp tomato puree.
• Onion.
• 200ml beef stock.
• Spaghetti.
• Seasoning (oregano is my favourite).
• Choice veg.

Method:

1. In a frying pan, brown the mince meat before adding the onions and browning them too.
2. Put all of the ingredients except the spaghetti and seasoning in to a large pot, and simmer over a low heat on the hob.
3. For best results, leave simmering for around 40 minutes until the mixture has thickened. However it can be eaten sooner if you're in a hurry.
4. Cook the spaghetti, season and enjoy!

Pesto and Mozzarella Toast:

The fancier alternative to a toastie.

Ingredients:

• Sourdough (or any other choice loaf).
• Mozzarella.
• 1tsp pesto.
• Optional other toppings (I like chicken breast and basil).

Method:

1. Slice the sourdough and toast one side under the grill.
2. Spread a thin layer of pesto on the untoasted side and place mozzarella on top.
3. Add any additional toppings.
4. Place under the grill again until ready to serve.
5. Sprinkle with basil.

Egg Fried Pasta:

This recipe is honestly the easiest ever, and it's pretty good for you. It also works well with rice or noodles.

Ingredients:

• Pasta.
• 1 or 2 eggs.
• Seasoning.

Method:

1. Cook the pasta, rice or noodles.
2. Pour a little light olive oil into a pan. Add the pasta and the eggs.
3. Stir until the eggs are cooked.
4. Season to taste.

Porridge:

I know this may sound like an obvious thing, but honestly it's so easy and so filling! Not to mention delicious.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup of porridge oats.
• 1 cup of milk.
• Toppings.

Method:

• Put the milk and oats into a bowl and microwave for 4 minutes (this can be done on the hob but the microwave is quicker).
• Top as desired. My favourite is raspberries and golden syrup!

Salmon and Rice Salad:

You can make this really simple like I have, or add multiple vegetables for a larger, more complex dish.

Ingredients:

• 1 salmon fillet.
• Mange tout (to taste).
• Rice (1 portion).

Method:

1. Coat the salmon in a little melted butter or olive oil and cook for 15-20 mins at 180 degrees.
2. Cook the rice (I use boil in the bag but do what suits you best!).
3. Boil the mange tout for around 2 mins.
4. Stir together in a bowl!

Nachos:

I usually make these with chicken and vegetables, but chilli or salsa work well too.

Ingredients:

• Lightly salted tortilla chips.
• Half a red pepper.
• 2 chicken breasts.
• Grated cheddar cheese.
• Sweetcorn.
• Salsa.

Method:

1. Dice the chicken and then fry it so it is cooked through, but not yet brown on the outside.
2. In a pyrex dish (or other deep, oven safe tray) start to assemble the nachos. Create a layer of tortilla chips. Then add a layer of slices of pepper, chicken pieces and sweetcorn. Coat with a layer of grated cheese and salsa.
3. Repeat until the dish is full.
4. Pop into the oven at 180 for 20 minutes.

Prawn Curry:

This is a favourite of mine and my boyfriend's.

Ingredients:

• 200g prawns.
• 2 tbsp curry paste.
• 1 tin chopped tomatoes.
• 1 clove of garlic.
• Rice.
• Fresh coriander.

Method:

1. Fry the prawns in oil from the curry paste.
2. Add the curry paste, tomatoes and garlic.
3. Bring to boil and then simmer for around 5 minutes.
4. Cook the rice.
5. Add the coriander and serve.

A Colourful Smokey Eye

I've been experimenting with some bolder eye makeup recently and this look was one of my favourites! It's fun but also a little more subtle than the other looks I tried so it's more wearable. *Disclaimer: I am not advertising any of the products I used, I just like them!*

Step 1:

Draw a little triangle on the inside of your eye as pictured. I used the Collection Fast Stroke Eyeliner for this.

Step two: 

Blend a purple eyeshadow onto the lower lid, and the bottom half of the top lid. I used the shade 'Darkheart' from the Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette. Also colour the little triangle in in turquoise. I used the Sephora Colour Block Liner in 'Beachwalk' to do this.

Step 3:

Complete the line of your eyeliner, adding a wing. I again used the Collection Fast Stroke Eyeliner for this.

Step 4:

Using a turquoise kohl eyeliner, draw a line along the top of your eyelid and the wing of your eyeliner. I used the Lottie AM to PM in shade 'Mermaid' for this. Then simply add mascara and you're done!