Michelle of Troy

I’m back again. This time with a photo diary from my trip to Murcia, Spain.

Murcia is a beautiful city, founded by the moors, located in south-eastern Spain. The city is rich in culture, history and perfectly marries years of heritage with modern day chic. It also has some of the best tapas I've ever had!

I spent a week in Murcia and it was the perfect place to unwind, reflect and recuperate. I caught up on some reading, topped up my tan, ate, drank and ate some more. It was wonderful! I would love to go back and explore more of Cartagena.

Anyway, enough from me! Scroll down to see photos of this beautiful place.

I love skincare just as much as I makeup. I believe it is important to have a clean canvas before you begin applying paint, so I take pride of caring for my skin. One of the ways I do that is with regular face masks.

I first tried this face mask 5/6 years ago when I was living in the French Alps and my skin was suffering from the harsh weather. It's incredibly hydrating, leaves your skin feeling amazing, and best of all it's super easy to make! All you need is three ingredients, avocado, Greek yoghurt and honey. Oh and a sprinkle of magic!

Keep reading to find out how you can make this mask too!

What you’ll need:
¼ Avocado (Top tip: blanch your avocado before cutting it up so the mask stays green for longer)
3tbsp Greek yoghurt
1tbsp honey
An empty container with a lid

Firstly, I always blanch my avocado before chopping it up for the mask. How does one do that you ask? Listen up:

Bring a saucepan of water to the boil
Gently place the avocado in and leave it for 15 seconds
Remove it using a slotted spoon and place it into a blow of ice cold water
Now it’s ready to be turned into face food!

Method:

Using a fork, mash up the avocado until it’s as smooth as possible. It should look something like the photo below.

Add the mashed avocado to the honey. Then add the Greek yoghurt and mix!

Viola, there you have it! M’s magic mask.

You can either use it right away or store it in the fridge ready to be used later. This mask can be kept for 3/4 days.

You skin will thank you! :)

Hello! It’s me again, your favourite inconsistent blogger, haha ;). But all of that is about to change! We’re approaching the final stretch of 2019 and after a somewhat intentional social media hiatus, I’m back and vowing to do better (if I don’t, I give you permission to call me out!). And in that vein I’ve not just come here to reintroduce myself, but to share a review of a new restaurant I recently visited.

The Granary Square Brasserie is a branch of the Ivy chain which may come as no surprise to anyone who has already visited. From the interior, to the food and even the cocktail menu, this place has all the components synonymous with all other Ivy Collection restaurants. If you’ve never been to an Ivy Collection restaurant (I’ll be surprised, there are so many), just think sophistication, relaxed luxury with a sprinkle of glamour. The Granary Square Brasserie is no exception, with its colourful yet classic vintage elegance; it’s the perfect place to go if you’re looking for a casual yet polished dining experience.

Much like the other Ivy Collection restaurants, the Brasserie menu features a selection of British classics with a dash of pan-Asian dishes here and a sprinkle of Italian there. As well as breakfast, brunch and dinner menus, the Brasserie also has separate vegan and vegetarian menus, ensuring everyone is catered for. The dishes are kept simple, but well executed, which I love!

I had a portion the truffle arancini to start, and honest I could have had two more. The arancini was delicious, crispy on the outside, soft, moist, just beautiful on the inside. I washed it down with a few glasses of champagne. My one suggestion would be to add more truffle but I’d put truffle on everything if I could so maybe don’t listen to me? Anyway, if you haven’t tried it, go and tell them Michelle sent you.

My main was the rib-eye on the bone, medium of course, accompanied with truffle & parmesan chips – basically a posh steak and chips! This is kind of hard to get wrong, so I was happy. For dessert I went for the Chocolate Bombe and, after hearing the table beside me raving about the cocktails I decided to try one. I opted for the British Royale which had just two ingredients, sloe gin and sparkling wine, both things I love! Haha.

I definitely recommend checking out the Granary Square Brasserie. It is a great eatery with impressive décor and an extensive menu that caters to all without breaking the bank. You can be certain you won’t leave the Brasserie feeling hungry.

Hello darlings, I hope you’re enjoying the festive season! With the cold COLD weather we’ve been experiencing lately, I thought I’d share the beauty products I've been using to ensured my skin hasn’t suffered this frosty season! Continue reading to find out how I keep my skin hydrated, radiant and dark circles at bay.

My skin
Skin type: Combination.
Goals: Hydration, improve texture and radiance, reduce the appearance of black circles.

Garnier Moisture Bomb Sheet Masks

Anyone that knows me, knows I LOVE face masks. Be it a sheet mask, a clay mask, a homemade mask – any excuse to sit and do nothing for 20 minutes, sign me up! So when I saw a selection of Garnier masks in Boots, I knew I had to try them out. I bought the Pomegranate, Green Tea, Sakura and Lavender sheet masks. What I love about these masks is how hydrating they are. They have now become a staple in my skincare routine; I use them weekly to give my skin the glowing boost it needs.

Key ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid

Price: £2.99

– TOP TIP: put your mask in the fridge for 10 minutes before using it for a cool masking experience!

Nip+Fab Bee Sting Fix Cream Deluxe

The more Nip +Fab products I use the more I fall in love with them! I’m yet to use anything from them that I dislike. The Bee Sting Fix Cream is a super hydrating non-greasy cream that doesn’t feel heavy on the skin. If you’re someone like me who prefers lightweight moisturisers, then this is for you. I have recommended this cream to anyone who would listen and haven’t had any complaints!

Key ingredients: Bee venom, Hyaluronic acid, Shea butter, Vitamin e
Price: £19.95

– On days my skin needs extra moisture, I follow with Vitamin E oil.

Nip+Fab Bee Sting Fix Eye

I have been using this little gem here for the past couple of months and I have noticed the circles around my eyes have become noticeably brighter. Like the face cream this is a rich and super hydrating without feeling heavy on the skin.

Key ingredients: Bee venom, Cocoa butter, Shea butter, Tegocosmo
Price: £14.95

Nip+Fab Glycolic Scrub

This was the first product I purchased from Nip+Fab and I haven’t looked back since. I love this scrub because I can see an improvement to my skin as soon as I’ve rinsed it off. It leaves my skin looking brighter and feeling incredibly soft. The Nip+Fab Glycolic scrub is a great micro exfoliator that is not harsh on my skin. I cannot recommend it enough.

Key ingredients: 3% Glycolic acid, Salicylic acid
Price: £9.95

Nip+Fab Glycolic Fix Cleanser

This is glycolic cleanser is one of my favourites. I use it every other day to give my skin a proper clean, it gently exfoliates, detoxifies and cleanses. My pores are clean; my skin is softer and more radiant after using it. What I love most about this product is that it does not dry my skin out.

Key ingredients: 2% Glycolic acid, Olive Oil
Price: £7.95

Nip+Fab Glycolic Fix Liquid Glow

I use this, a couple of times a week, after cleansing, to brighten my complexion and maintain my skins smooth texture. This liquid exfoliator contains 6% pure glycolic acid so I wouldn’t recommend using it more than a couple of times a week.

Key ingredients: 6% Glycolic acid, Salicylic acid, Allantoin
Price: £19.95

Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Eye

If you’re looking for a night time eye cream that hydrates, reduces dark circles and puffiness then look no further. I’ve been using this for over a year now and I’ve seen a noticeable difference in my dark circles. This is has quickly become one of my favourite beauty products, and I love that a little goes such a long way.

Key ingredients: Squalane, Lavender Essential Oil, Evening Primrose Oil
Price: £26

If you end up using any or all of these products, let me know your thoughts and how they're working for you in the comments below! #SkincareWithM

Until next time,

I’ve never been particularly interested in visiting the United States, aside from Vegas. So when my friends suggested going to celebrate their birthdays in Miami, I agreed. Though I didn’t really have expectations of what it was going to be like. I was more excited about the prospect of getting out of the country, travelling with friends and soaking up some sun, more than I was the destination I would arrive at. Before going I did speak to a few people, looked at photos online and was given some recommendations, so there were places I was beginning to looking forward to visiting.

Miami is known for its boat parties, beach parties and wild clubs. It is where people from all over come to play, and after spending 7 days there, I can see why. Between the sun, fun, South Beach, Wynwood, the Design District and all the beautiful people, I had an absolutely blast. I will certainly be back. I think Miami is one of those places you go for the sunshine and blue skies, but stay for the culture, beautiful food and vibrant street art.

I have to say my week spent in Miami was one of the best weeks I’ve had all year and it was certainly made by the people I went with. I laughed a lot, ate even more and drank even more still. I’m all for travelling alone, I love it! But if you’re planning on visiting Miami, go with people you can have fun with, you’ll enjoy yourself that much more.

Nikki Beach