Latest news with #SichuanPepper
Scottish Sun
14-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- Scottish Sun
I felt peer pressured into getting lip filler until I discovered a £5 buy that's just as good
PUCKER UP I felt peer pressured into getting lip filler until I discovered a £5 buy that's just as good Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) I NEVER really paid much attention to my pout - in fact I'd always thought it was quite nice. That is, until lip fillers became a thing and a juicy pout was catapulted into trend fame thanks to the likes of the Kardashian-Jenner clan circa 2014. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 Ever since the Kardashian-Jenner brood appeared on the scene, I've felt pressured to get lip filler Credit: Getty 7 Like millions across the world, I've considered getting my lips bigger with filler - but there are affordable, needle-free alternatives on the high street Credit: supplied/kate kulniece Suddenly, as an impressionable teenager, I started closely analysing my lips - which compared to everything I was seeing on Instagram appeared flat and teeny. Years have gone by - and while I'm all for embracing and rocking your natural self, I still occasionally catch myself longing for slightly more volume; especially as quite a few people of my friends have had lip fillers. And it seems that I'm not the only one - as a whopping 24% of people want to alter their lips via fillers, a recent poll revealed. Lip fillers - commonly made of hyaluronic acid - may appear like a relatively quick and easy solution. But in reality, they can also go horribly wrong. Lip plumping glosses, on the other hand, are typically pain-free, much less expensive, and can create that little extra oomph you're after, working almost instantly. But can any actually match up to the plumping powers of lip filler? On the quest to achieve a juicier pout without needles and forking out a fortune, I tested out five high-street plumping lip glosses - one of which cost just £4.99. Barry M That's Swell XXL Lip Gloss 7 The formula boasts Sichuan Pepper and Ginger that help achieve that temporary plump look Credit: supplied/kate kulniece At a mere £6.99, Barry M That's Swell XXL Lip Gloss is certainly a significantly cheaper alternative to lip filler - which will set you back around £200 per session. The 100% vegan and cruelty-free formula - a mega win for me - is formulated with Sichuan Pepper and Ginger that help achieve that temporary plump look. Out of all the six shades available at my local Superdrug, I chose Honeyed Hue, which is perfect for a soft glam day-to-day look. I'm so obsessed with filler that my huge lips touch my nose - trolls can't understand what I'm saying, but I don't care While there was slight burning sensation - as expected with all lip plumping glosses - it wasn't unbearable and the tingling stopped in less than five minutes. Although I certainly did not end up looking like Kylie Jenner with her mega defined pout, I quite liked the subtle results. However, while my lips felt moisturised and not sticky the effect didn't last too long - but for the wallet-friendly price, you really can't complain. Pout of control rating: 3/5 L'Oréal Paris Plump Ambition Lip Oil 7 The skin-like colour is excellent, the product doesn't dry out and the gloss is stunning - but isn't sticky or tacky Credit: supplied/kate kulniece Enriched with hyaluronic acid and available in nine gorgeous shades with a glass like shine finish, it's easy to see why this L'Oréal Paris Plump Ambition Lip Oil has won close to five stars online. Priced at £11.99, the pout must-have is essentially a 3-in-1 - it has colour, helps with hydration and plumps your lips, albeit subtly. As expected, my pout tingled but it didn't have that nasty burning feel which makes you desperate to rub it off instantly. The skin-like colour is excellent, the product doesn't dry out and the gloss is stunning - but isn't sticky or tacky. As if that wasn't convincing enough, beauty buffs have also dubbed it a dupe for the viral Dior Lip Glow Oil - which sells for an eye-watering £33. Pout of control rating: 4/5 Revolution Shimmer Bomb Glimmer Nude 7 I felt like the silver and light purple shimmer made my lips look almost dead Credit: supplied/kate kulniece At just £5.99 - which is pretty much the same price as your favourite iced matcha this summer - the Revolution Shimmer Bomb Glimmer Nude is one of the cheapest options I stumbled across. But while dozens of people online have been loving this lippy, I simply couldn't see the hype. Yes, my lips did have the illusion of bigger slightly more plump - but the effect lasted less than ten minutes. So unless you're willing to reapply it several times throughout the day, I'd probably give this one a miss. Perhaps this was my fault for picking the wrong shade - but I also felt like the silver and light purple shimmer made my lips look almost dead or frozen. Pout of control rating: 2/5 Max Factor 2000 Calorie Lip Glaze 7 Not only was the tingling sensation barely noticeable but the gloss also has a gorgeous vanilla scent - but nothing too sickly Credit: supplied/kate kulniece Currently slashed from £9.99 to a more affordable £7.49, this Max Factor 2000 Calorie Lip Glaze seems to have become a massive hit amongst hundreds of beauty buffs online. With more than a dozen different shades, from more neutral colours to vibrant picks, there's something for everyone. As someone who doesn't like bright lippies on my face, I opted for Pink Fizz which has a lovely subtle shine to it, without excessive glitter. With just one swipe of moisturising gloss, my pout was instantly transformed with a full shine, plump effect and maximum comfort without the dreaded stickiness. Not only was the tingling sensation barely noticeable but the gloss also has a gorgeous vanilla scent - but nothing too sickly. Out of all the picks, this lippy also delivered results that lasted the longest and I didn't have to rummage through my purse to reapply it every ten minutes. Pout of control rating: 5/5 Collection Gloss Me Up Juicy Infusion Lip Gloss 7 This product gave me a lovely shine and extra volume without the painful tingling sensation Credit: supplied/kate kulniece A juicy and hydrated pout with no painful injections and for just £4.99? Yes, please. This is exactly what Collection Gloss Me Up Juicy Infusion Lip Gloss is all about - and if you love packaging that takes you right back to Y2K, then this is definitely the one for you. The lip gloss - which makes you feel like you're munching on juicy strawberries - has a small applicator that makes it easier to apply the product without making a huge mess. The best part? There was no tingling sensation - it felt like a basic lip gloss to give your pout some extra shine. The only downside is the lack of colour options - online, shoppers can find a mere three picks: clear, a slightly pink and red. Pout of control rating: 5/5
The Irish Sun
14-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Irish Sun
I felt peer pressured into getting lip filler until I discovered a £5 buy that's just as good
I NEVER really paid much attention to my pout - in fact I'd always thought it was quite nice. That is, until 7 Ever since the Kardashian-Jenner brood appeared on the scene, I've felt pressured to get lip filler Credit: Getty 7 Like millions across the world, I've considered getting my lips bigger with filler - but there are affordable, needle-free alternatives on the high street Credit: supplied/kate kulniece Suddenly, as Years have gone by - and while I'm all for embracing and rocking your natural self, I still occasionally catch myself longing for slightly more volume; especially as quite a few people of my friends have had And it seems that I'm not the only one - as a whopping 24% of people want to alter their lips via fillers, Lip fillers - commonly made of read more on beauty Lip plumping glosses, on the other hand, are typically pain-free, much less expensive, and can create that little extra oomph you're after, working almost instantly. But can any actually match up to the plumping powers of lip filler? On the quest to achieve a juicier pout without needles and forking out a fortune, I tested out five high-street plumping lip glosses - one of which cost just £4.99. Barry M That's Swell XXL Lip Gloss 7 The formula boasts Sichuan Pepper and Ginger that help achieve that temporary plump look Credit: supplied/kate kulniece At a mere £6.99, Most read in Fabulous The 100% vegan and cruelty-free formula - a mega win for me - is formulated with Sichuan Pepper and Ginger that help achieve that temporary plump look. Out of all the six shades available at my local I'm so obsessed with filler that my huge lips touch my nose - trolls can't understand what I'm saying, but I don't care While there was slight burning sensation - as expected with all lip plumping glosses - it wasn't unbearable and the tingling stopped in less than five minutes. Although I certainly did not end up looking like Kylie Jenner with her mega defined pout, I quite liked the subtle results. However, while my lips felt moisturised and not sticky the effect didn't last too long - but for the wallet-friendly price, you really can't complain. Pout of control rating : 3/5 L'Oréal Paris Plump Ambition Lip Oil 7 The skin-like colour is excellent, the product doesn't dry out and the gloss is stunning - but isn't sticky or tacky Credit: supplied/kate kulniece Enriched with hyaluronic acid and available in nine gorgeous shades with a glass like shine finish, it's easy to see why this Priced at £11.99, the pout must-have is essentially a 3-in-1 - it has colour, helps with hydration and plumps your lips, albeit subtly. As expected, my pout tingled but it didn't have that nasty burning feel which makes you desperate to rub it off instantly. The skin-like colour is excellent, the product doesn't dry out and the gloss is stunning - but isn't sticky or tacky. As if that wasn't convincing enough, beauty buffs have also dubbed it a Pout of control rating : 4/5 Revolution Shimmer Bomb Glimmer Nude 7 I felt like the silver and light purple shimmer made my lips look almost dead Credit: supplied/kate kulniece At just £5.99 - which is pretty much the same price as your favourite iced matcha this summer - the But while dozens of people online have been loving this lippy, I simply couldn't see the hype. Yes, my lips did have the illusion of bigger slightly more plump - but the effect lasted less than ten minutes. So unless you're willing to reapply it several times throughout the day, I'd probably give this one a miss. Perhaps this was my fault for picking the wrong shade - but I also felt like the silver and light purple shimmer made my lips look almost dead or frozen. Pout of control rating : 2/5 Max Factor 2000 Calorie Lip Glaze 7 Not only was the tingling sensation barely noticeable but the gloss also has a gorgeous vanilla scent - but nothing too sickly Credit: supplied/kate kulniece Currently slashed from £9.99 to a more affordable £7.49, this With more than a dozen different shades, from more neutral colours to vibrant picks, there's something for everyone. As someone who doesn't like bright lippies on my face, I opted for Pink Fizz which has a lovely subtle shine to it, without excessive glitter. With just one swipe of moisturising gloss, my pout was instantly transformed with a full shine, plump effect and maximum comfort without the dreaded stickiness. Not only was the tingling sensation barely noticeable but the gloss also has a gorgeous Out of all the picks, this lippy also delivered results that lasted the longest and I didn't have to rummage through my purse to reapply it every ten minutes. Pout of control rating : 5/5 Collection Gloss Me Up Juicy Infusion Lip Gloss 7 This product gave me a lovely shine and extra volume without the painful tingling sensation Credit: supplied/kate kulniece A juicy and hydrated pout with no painful injections and for just £4.99? Yes, please. This is exactly what The lip gloss - which makes you feel like you're munching on juicy strawberries - has a small applicator that makes it easier to apply the product without making a huge mess. The best part? There was no tingling sensation - it felt like a basic lip gloss to give your pout some extra shine. The only downside is the lack of colour options - online, shoppers can find a mere three picks: clear, a slightly pink and red. Pout of control rating : 5/5
The Independent
12-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
Give salt-and-pepper pork chops a crunchy coating without the deep frying
The salt-and-pepper treatment is a Cantonese technique that can be applied to give almost any meat, seafood or tofu a crunchy exterior and tongue-tingling flavor. The protein typically is deep-fried, but in this recipe from our cookbook ' Milk Street 365: The All-Purpose Cookbook for Every Day of the Year,' we opt to pan-fry pork that we first dust in cornstarch seasoned generously with Sichuan pepper, black pepper and cayenne. The starch granules swell when they come in contact with moisture released by the pork as it cooks; as the water evaporates, the starch settles into a rigid, locked network, creating a crunchy coating. In a classic salt-and-pepper dish, chilies and garlic are quickly fried and tossed with the cooked protein for big, bold, in-your-face flavors. We, however, finish the pork with a fresh, punchy, uncooked mix of sliced scallions, chopped cilantro, minced chilies, rice vinegar and grated ginger. The easiest way to grind the tongue-tingling Sichuan peppercorns for this recipe is in an electric spice grinder. Don't use thick-cut or bone-in pork chops for this recipe. Look for boneless pork loin chops that are ¼ to ½ inch thick. They sometimes are called pork cutlets. Serve with steamed jasmine rice. Salt-and-Pepper Pork Chops with Spicy Scallions Start to finish: 45 minutes Servings: 4 Ingredients: 1 bunch scallions, thinly sliced 1 cup lightly packed fresh cilantro, roughly chopped 1 Fresno or jalapeño chili, stemmed, seeded and minced 2 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar 1 tablespoon finely grated fresh ginger Kosher salt and ground black pepper 3 tablespoons cornstarch 1 tablespoon Sichuan peppercorns, finely ground ½ to 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper ½ teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder 8 boneless (about 1½ pounds) thin-cut pork loin chops/cutlets (¼ to ½ inch thick), patted dry ⅓ cup grapeseed or other neutral oil Directions: In a medium bowl, toss together the scallions, cilantro, chili, vinegar, ginger and ¼ teaspoon salt; set aside. In a wide, shallow dish, mix together the cornstarch, Sichuan pepper, cayenne pepper, five-spice, 2 teaspoons black pepper and 1 teaspoon salt. Dredge the cutlets in the cornstarch mixture, turning to coat both sides and pressing so the mixture adheres, then transfer to a large plate, stacking or shingling as needed. In a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high, heat the oil until barely smoking. Add half of the cutlets and cook until browned on the bottoms, 2 to 3 minutes. Using tongs, flip the cutlets and cook until golden brown on the second sides, about 1 minute. Transfer to a platter and tent with foil. Cook the remaining cutlets in the same way, using the oil remaining in the skillet. Spoon the scallion-cilantro mixture onto the chops and serve.
