Fleur De Force

Fragrance Friday: Soap & Glory Original Pink

2012-02-10T17:04:00.000Z

I’vebeen obsessing over Soap & Glory recently (incase you hadn’t noticed!) Ithink it’s fair to say they are my current favourite high street brand, everytime I go into a Boots I find it hard to avoid perusing their collection!

Oneof the reasons why I love it so much is due to the way it smells (delicious!)If any of you have tried their iconic Hand Food hand cream you’ll know the scentI’m talking about.

Soap& Glory call it ‘Original Pink’ and I wasn’t aware they’d actually madetheir signature scent into a perfume until I clapped eyes on it last week. Ofcourse, I snapped it up (the 3 for 2 offer didn’t help!)

Itcomes in a round chrome bottle with the signature Soap & Glory pinklettering and a ring pull with a brown ribbon attached instead of a lid.

It’sactually one of the only S&G products that doesn’t have fantasticpackaging… it doesn’t feel great quality but for the pricetag of £15.83 for50ml you can’t really complain!

Thescent is divine (but I already knew that!) A citrus base with notes ofbergamot, summer rose, peach, strawberry, jasmine, patchouli, amber and musk. Idon’t normally fall for citrus scents but I absolutely love this one.

Thestaying power isn’t fantastic but I wasn’t expecting it to be for the price.This is a great all year round scent which I’m sure will fast become a stapleof my perfume collection.

Rave: NARS Cactus Flower

2012-02-10T16:53:00.000Z

I’vehad my eyes on Cactus Flower from NARS for such a long time (it must be about ayear now.) I finally caved in and bought it whilst perusing the NARS counter inLiberty’s a few weeks ago.

It’sa super bright orange-red with a strong gold shimmer that is simply stunning tolook at, but I imagine scares many people off at first glance.

Assoon as you swatch it, you can see that it’s a lot more wearable than it looksin the pan, giving you a very natural, fresh look with something of a ‘glow’(thanks to the shimmer!) You can build it up to achieve an intense red, but itis easy to apply a sheer layer for everyday.

Theconsistency is very much a cream-to-powder formula, so despite being a cream,it can actually feel a tiny bit drying on the skin if you’re prone to drynessbut overall… it’s simply stunning.

Left: Blended, Right: Unblended

Asalways from NARS, the packaging is divine. Yes, it’s gets a little dirtylooking after it’s been hanging around in your makeup bag for a while but Istill love it.

I’mso happy I finally caved in to this one! I can imagine this will become one ofmy make up staples of 2012.

Lush Review: Leap Frog!

2012-02-08T19:25:00.002Z

I'm somewhat of a recent Lush convert, but since being lured in by their Christmas bath bombs this year, I've become somewhat of a fanatic. I know a lot of you feel the same way, so I thought it might be a good idea to do a mini review of all the products I try!

First up is ‘Leap Frog’ (Previously ‘Frog Prince’ - renamed for the Leap year) which is limited edition around Valentines day.

This little green frog is on the small side for bath bombs, but fizzes away nicely, leaving your bath a bright luminous green. The red lips are more of a buttery consistency so they don’t dissolve very easily into the water unless you stir it up.

As it’s a valentine’s special, there is also a little (rather creey!) note inside that says ‘Prince Rob was made to Kiss you’ – A cute idea but rather bizarre!

The scent is more of a ‘perfume’ scent than most lush products, with jasmine, sandalwood and rose. It smells a little sophisticated and it is nice and relaxing.

Overall, I really like this bath bomb but it definitely wasn’t as moisturizing on the skin as some of Lush’s others. It’s on the cheaper end of the spectrum at £2.75 (most of them are over £3) but I think I’d rather stick to some of my old favourites in the future… I’d definitely buy another of these next year around V Day, but it’s not one that I’ll be stocking up on.

Valentine's Gifts for Girls!

2012-02-06T13:49:00.001Z

With Valentine’s day fast approaching I’ve been getting emails left right and center letting me know about all the limited edition, special production, all singing, all dancing, heart-shaped, cotton-candy-pink Valentine’s gifts!

I’m therefore here to make the man in your life’s job a little easier when it comes to V Day this year. So without further ado… here are my top picks for Valentine’s gifts. (Listen up boys!)

Firstly for the candles. I’m a huge candle fan and there’s no better way to add a little atmosphere to your evening than with a few delicately scented candles.

As usual, Jo Malone will get you the most brownie points… their “Red Roses” travel candle is perfect for the occasion, and more affordable than their full size ones at £22

A cheekier choice would be one of Earthly Body’s Edible (yes, edible!) massage oil candles. They come in a variety of fruity flavours and once the wax has melted you can use them as a warm massage oil (even if you don’t want to use them as a massage oil, these smell amazing!) £12.95 each.

Keeping on the oil theme, bath oils also make a great indulgent treat for your loved one. My all time favourites come from Aromatherapy Associates, and their sampler sets make fabulous gifts. Their Ultimate Bath & Shower Oil collection contains samples of their 9 best selling oils (enough for about 40 baths) for £49.

One piece of jewellery that has caught my eye this year is the rose gold edition of Zoe & Morgan’s ‘Love’ ring, which is £85 and exclusive to new online retailer ‘Then & Now’ I know the boyfriend would definitely be in my good books if this accompanied my Valentine’s card this year!

I also adore this pink heart friendship bracelet from Mulberry. I think it makes a perfect little love token, and at £60 it won’t break the bank either (considering it’s Mulberry, I thought this was quite a steal!)

If you want to get extra kissable lips this Valentine’s day (or give the gift of kissable lips!), I’d thoroughly recommend getting your mitts on Soap & Glory’s brand new ‘A Great Kisser’ lip balms.

These half-gloss, half-balm formulas come in three delicious flavours. I’ve got Juicy Peach, which is a pale coral colour that’s so tasty it’s tempting to eat it straight out of the pot! It also comes in a brighter pink shade ‘Chocolate Cherry’ and a clear ‘Sweet Coconut’. They are only £5 so make a perfect little gift or even just a treat for yourself.

If you’re a Vaseline fan you’ll probably already have clapped eyes on their huge tin sets. They bring them out around Christmas time, but for Valentine’s they’ve made a pretty pink one… perfect to keep this frosty winter weather from chapping your lips! (£5, available from Superdrug & Morrisons)

Last but not least, I’m absolutely loving these cute gold foil nail wraps with little black hearts from Nail Rock (£6.95 from Topshop) I feel like they are one brand who just keep getting better and better so I can’t wait to see what else they come out with in 2012!

I hope that’s given you all a few ideas to get you in the mood for love next week, whatever you’re up to!

This week I have an Earthly Body edible candle, a Vaseline lip tin and a Nail Rock set to give away as a Valentine's treat for one lucky follower. All you have to do is head over to my Website, and enter a comment!

Thank You!

2012-02-03T15:47:00.001Z

I would like to just step back for a second and take the time to extend a huge thank you to each and every one of you who is reading this.

Whether you are a long-time follower, a new convert or even if this is the first time you've found yourself on one of my sites... I have to say that my life really wouldn't be the same without you all.

This week I won the Marie Claire award for 'Best Beauty Blog' and it really put the cherry on top of a fantastic year for me.

I started FleurDeForce almost two and a half years ago now, and since then I've been lucky enough to gain a huge number of loyal viewers, readers and followers across my sites (there are quite a few now!).

This is more than I could have ever hoped for and every time you read, watch, comment on, or share any of my content, it puts a smile on my face and helps to make my day just that extra little bit special.

I really hope you all continue to support my sites into 2012 and beyond. I've got some really exciting things planned this year and as long as you're still there, I'm still blogging, vlogging and tweeting!

So until next time... Thank you! Thank you all :)

Fleur x

Fragrance Friday: Spicebomb!

2012-02-03T14:49:00.001Z

I know there has been a lot of Viktor & Rolf action on my blog over the last few months, but I just couldn't resist posting about their latest release: Spicebomb (this is the last one for a while... I promise!)

I smelt it for the first time this morning and I'm totally hooked.

Spicebomb is the male version of their ever-popular Flowerbomb and it smells absolutely incredible. It's unlike any other fragrance I've tried before... A spicy, woody, oriental fragrance that is somehow slightly gourmand (at least that's how it smells to me!)

With notes of bergamot, pink pepper, cinnamon, vetiver, red pepper and tabacco, you can understand why it seems to appeal to both sexes, and is being widely recognised as a uni-sex scent.

It's the sweetest male fragrance I've ever smelt, and somehow I think it's almost more appropriate for women to wear. I would certainly be more inclined to buy this for myself (or a female friend) than for my boyfriend. It's sexy and intriguing, but the kind of scent you want to steal from him to wear yourself, rather than smell him wearing.

The packaging has seen some scrutiny online since it's unveiling but to be honest, I really like it. I wouldn't expect anything else but a grenade-shaped bottle when the women's version of the scent is a grenade. The one criticism I would give is that the clip around the neck of the bottle is plastic. If it had been metal I think the packaging would have seemed much higher quality as a whole.

I would thoroughly recommend trying this if you get the chance. It might be something of a love-hate scent, but it is undeniably unusual!

Spicebomb is available now from Harrods (perfect timing for Valentine's Day!), and will be released nationwide from 7th March. Available in 50ml and 90ml EDT, priced at £45 and £60 respectively.

Rave: Giorgio Armani Spring 2012 Eye Pencils

2012-01-31T08:00:00.000Z

I thought I'd share one of my latest obsessions with you all today…

It comes in the form of an eye pencil from the new Giorgio Armani Spring Collection, and guess what? It's rose gold! I can't seem to get enough of rose gold recently. I seem to be wearing it more and more... on my nails, jewellery and now eyes!

These pencils are the gel-type formula that goes on like a dream, stays smudge-able for 30 seconds then stays put all day. The pigmentation is lovely too. I also have the antique gold colour which is just as beautiful. They are lovely to use in the inner corner of your eye to catch the light.

Above: Giorgio Armani Eye Pencil in No.4 Antique Gold and No.5 Copper (or rose gold as I like to call it!)

£18 each, available now.

Review: Clarins Skin Illusion Foundation

2012-01-30T22:32:00.001Z

I had never tried a Clarins foundation before, so when I was recommended to use their Skin Illusion formulation, I was half excited, half apprehensive.

The packaging is lovely: Heavy glass with a gold cap and a hygiene-conscious pump. The formulation is very thick compared to my normal choice in foundation. It’s somewhere in between a liquid and a crème. It applies quite thickly, which made me think that I wouldn’t like it at first but the finish is surprisingly natural (hence the name!). It has a medium, buildable coverage that leaves you looking flawless yet fresh with a slightly dewy finish.

This formula is designed for normal to dry skins so if you get oily, I’d steer clear. If you have drier skin, like a fairly high level of coverage but don’t want to look too caked in makeup or too matte, then this would be a great choice for you. It also comes with SPF 10 which is great basic everyday protection.

Personally, it provides a little more coverage than I like for everyday wear, but I love this for going out or if I’m on camera. If you’d like to see me wearing this foundation on camera, click HERE.

A lot of reviews online rave about it’s lightweight feel, but this is one aspect on which I would be inclined to disagree. This isn’t a heavy foundation by any means, but I can certainly feel that I’m wearing it. If you’re looking for a more lightweight foundation for everyday wear, then I would recommend going for Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua.

It’s on the more reasonable end of the high end market price-wise at £24, but you can get it for £21 with free delivery HERE.

Nailed: Butter London Tart with a Heart

2012-01-28T19:54:00.002Z

I’ve been wanting to try Butter London nail polishes for a long time now, so was over the moon when my friend Ingrid gave me three lovely shades as a belated Christmas gift!

The shade I was most excited to try was ‘Tart with a Heart’. Aside from having a super adorable name, this sheer nude glitter mix is really unusual and (as always with my favourite polishes) has a hint of holographic!

The consistency is a little ‘paste-y’ (if that even makes sense?!) Butter’s polishes are ‘3 Free’ containing no formaldehyde, toluene and DPB so that might be why, but anything missing potentially harmful chemicals is a bonus in my book!

The colour payoff is very sheer, making it the perfect polish for layering on top of your favourite nude, or metallic shade.

I paired it with Designer… de Better from the new OPI Muppets collection: a beautiful rose gold metallic that matches the tones perfectly. I also think this shade would look great over a more basic nail colour so that the pretty glitter stands out a little more. I think Tart with a Heart is a great way to wear glitter without it being OTT and I know I’ll get a lot of use out of this polish.

Butter London polishes are available from Ulta in the US, and online in the UK at butterlondon.com for $14 and £12 respectively.

Fragrance Friday: L.I.L.Y by Stella McCartney

2012-01-27T20:02:00.000Z

Stella McCartney’s latest fragrance L.I.L.Y had it’s worldwide launch in Selfridges yesterday. I absolutely love the thought behind the fragrance, created to represent Spring.

The packaging is very unique: an oval bottle held inside a metal square with an angular, mixed metal cap. I especially love the name, which was taken from Paul McCartney’s nickname for his late wife Linda… L.I.L.Y stands for “Linda I Love You”

The heart note is Lily of the Valley (hence the name is so fitting) with a subtle hint of Truffle and a warm base of Oak Moss. It sounds lovely, warm and light.

I am a fan of Stella McCartney’s Original fragrance ‘Stella’ (especially the ‘Sheer’ version) and I wanted to like this fragrance so badly, but I just don’t. To me it’s an overpowering floral that smells of grannies and dries down to a nauseatingly floral concoction that seems to betray the sentiment behind the marketing.

If you like florals you might like this, but for me? It’s far too overpowering.

Oh, and the staying power is pretty good (on this occasion, not good thing!)

L.I.L.Y Eau de Parfum is available now, in 30ml, 50ml and 75ml sizes.

Meadham Kirchhoff's Nail Rock at Topshop!

2012-01-26T13:26:00.000Z

Last year I blogged about the fabulous nails at the Meadham Kirchhoff SS12 show. The uber kitsch (with a naughty twist) nail designs from nail rock adorned the models' nails, and were presented to guests, but were not available to buy… until now!

Nail Rock have decided to put the cutesy design into production. You'll be able to get your hands on them in select Topshop stores from 8th Feb, for £8 a set. (Just watch out for the rouge vagina design in there!)

If you haven't used Nail Rock before, they design awesome nail wraps that (with proper care) will stay on your nails for up to 10 days. Perfect for a special occasion, or to glam-up your manicure. I personally like using these Meadham Kirchhoff designs individually, wearing just one cutesy design at a time.

I have a sample pack of these to give away this week, so if you'd like to get your hands on them before they hit the shops then all you need to is head over to my website.

Review: Maybelline Color Tattoo Crème Eyeshadows

2012-01-25T19:23:00.000Z

There has been a sea of fantastic reviews about the new Maybelline Color Tattoo Crème eyeshadows… but are the drugstore alternative to your much-loved MAC paint pots worth the hype?

I was lucky enough to be given three of the shades as a gift from my lovely friend Allison (aka Amarixe) on my recent trip to the states and I have to say, I’m really rather impressed!

The three shades I have are ‘Tough as Taupe’ (35) a deep, matte taupe, ‘Pomegranate Punk’ (30) a deep metallic burgundy and ‘Bad to the Bronze’ (25) a light, golden bronze.

They come in almost identical packaging to Benefit’s creaseless crème shadow/liners and are very similar in consistency to them, and to the MAC paint pots. They all have the similar, slightly greasy but blend-able texture at first, which quickly dries down to a solid colour base.

They claim to be smudge and crease free, and (as the name suggests) last for 24 hours. I don’t know about 24 hours (I for one like to wash my face at least twice in that period of time!) but they certainly do stay!

In my opinion, these shadows are closely comparable to both the MAC and Benefit alternatives, not only in terms of colour pay-off and blendability, but also staying power and non-creasing. I like to wear these both as a base for eyeshadow, and on their own (for more lazy days!)

Left-right: Benefit Sippin'n'Dippin', MAC Rubenesque, Maybelline Bad to the Bronze, Tough as Taupe and Pomegranate Punk.

They really are extraordinary when it comes to high street crème shadows, which from my past experience are normally awful!

There are 10 shades in the range, 6 of which are lovely everyday colours, three are beautiful bright shades (I especially love the vibrant peacock/teal shade) and then there is one rather standout, hideous orange shade which I personally, would never wear. If you’d like to see swatches of all the shades, Allison has some great photos and a review of the full line on her blog if you want to take a look (a big thanks to her for letting me use the picture above!)

Overall I’m very, very impressed with these shadows. They are understandably hard to get your hands on in the US (they seem to be sold out everywhere!) I’m not sure when they land in the UK but I would thoroughly recommend checking them out when you get the chance. They are around $6 in the US so I’d expect them to be about £6 over here… definitely a bargain!

Mini Review: Jo Malone Vitamin E Moisturising Day Creme

2012-01-24T14:00:00.000Z

I’ve been a fan of Jo Malone’s Vitamin E collection for a few years now. Although it’s extortionately expensive, the classic vitamin E gel has been a lifesaver for my irritable dry skin on a number of occasions, and the multi-purpose gel is also great for cuticles, elbows, knees and toes!

I therefore had high hopes for the latest addition to the collection, The moisturising day crème with SPF 15. The crème is very rich in consistency, even a little greasy at application, but once absorbed, it leaves your skin feeling silky, smooth and soft to the touch.

I am very cautious about what I use on my skin these days as I’ve experienced first hand the side effects of switching up my skin care products too often, but this luxurious crème worked wonders on my post long-haul flight skin. It’s definitely not one for those with oily skin, but if you suffer from dry skin, especially during the winter months, this could be a great choice for you.

I was also very happy to see that it has SPF 15. I’m not a fan of using two products for moisturisation and sun protection, and while SPF 15 might not be high enough for those of you in warmer climes, it’s perfect for everyday protection in the UK.

It doesn’t come cheap, at £50 for 50ml, but it’s Jo Malone so I wouldn’t expect anything else and as usual with the brand, the price tag is justified by the quality of the product… fabulous.

Revlon Lip Butters: Worth the Hype?

2012-01-20T09:02:00.000Z

For those of you based in the US, I’m a little late on the bandwagon here, but during my recent trip to LA, I managed to get my mitts on a selection of the new Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters. They’ve caused quite a stir online, and prove rather hard to track down in drugstores too, as many of the shades are continually sold out.

I thought I’d take a few snaps of the colours I’ve got and give my two penny’s worth in a little review so you all know what to expect when they hit the UK shores from March 14th.

Firstly, I love the packaging. There have been mixed feelings about the colour-coordinated, sheer plastic lipstick tubes online, but I’m a big fan. I think they are cute and fun, but still a little chic with the Chanel-esque quilted effect that Revlon are so fond of replicating. They also have clear caps, so you can see the product through the top, a great feature if you have a lot of lipstick and want to be able to see what’s what!

I have five of the 20 shades (from left) Cupcake, Strawberry Shortcake, Peach Parfait, Berry Smoothie and Lollipop.

The consistency is quite unique. They feel like a smooth balm to apply, but the pigmentation is that of a sheer lipstick. Having said that, some of the shades are more pigmented than others, some more akin to a standard lipstick, which is pretty impressive when you consider the super hydrating gel/balm like formulation.

A lot of the shades also have subtle shimmer in them which I wasn't expecting (Peach Parfait especially - it reminds me of a lipstick version of NARS' famous Orgasm blush)

Considering they contain mango, shea and coconut butter, I was expecting them to taste a little better, but surprisingly they aren’t particularly scented at all.

The staying power isn’t outstanding, but then again I don’t think you would expect it to be considering the formulation. The shade selection is fantastic, ranging from uber-pale pinks and lilacs, to darker browns and reds. My favourite shades are without a doubt Berry Smoothie and Lollipop (the latter having absolutely amazing colour payoff!)

The two minor downsides I have experienced with these are the fact that they tend to squish a little if you’re not careful (as the product is so soft, but comes in a lipstick packaging) and that the twist-up mechanism can tend to be a little temperamental (i.e. not twist down) This isn’t too much of a problem as you can carefully push the product back down, and it usually isn’t a consistent fault.

Overall, these are definitely worth the hype in my book. I would 100% recommend checking them out when they hit the high street in March. I would think they’ll be around the £6 mark (they are around $7 in the US) so they won’t break the bank either!

If you want more info on the Lip Butters, I’d recommend checking out my friend Ingrid (aka MisGlamorazzi)’s more in depth review on her YouTube channel

Viktor & Rolf Do Fairy Tales

2012-01-19T21:03:00.001Z

I’m a big fan of Viktor & Rolf for both their unique designs and their famous fragrances. I’m also a big fan of fairy tales (so much so that my 21^st birthday party was actually ‘fairy tale’ themed… complete with sparkly dresses, cupcakes and fairy lights!) So what could be better news to my ears than that of a fairy tale book written by the Dutch designers themselves?!

The collection of 12 original fairy tales is beautifully illustrated in black and pink and it’s not just for kids. The book would make a lovely gift for any girl who ‘has everything’ and a welcome addition to the most fashionable coffee tables… die hard Viktor & Rolf fans will catch the numerous references to their past catwalk shows.

Viktor & Rolf Fairy Tales is available now, priced at £10.13 from Amazon. I have a copy to give away to one lucky reader this week, so if you’d like to be in with a chance of winning it, then be sure to head over to my website for all the info!

Nailed: Orly Oh Cabana Boy!

2012-01-04T17:07:00.000Z

I know it's shockingly out of season, but I just can't stay away from fluro pinks for more than a few months... it makes me sad!

Which is why I've been sporting Orly's Oh Cabana Boy all this week. It's a brighter than bright, highlighter-worthy pink with blue undertones and a hint of blue micro shimmer.

If I could be a colour? This would be it.

The application is quite sheer, but three thin coats do the trick, and it is great on the non-chip front too! It lasts about 4 days without a chip on my nails.

It's been a shamefully long time (almost three weeks *slap on the wrist*) since my last giveaway, so I've bought an extra little bottle of this to send out to one of you lovely girls this week!

If you'd like to win, all you have to do is head over to my website (click here!)

Review: Burberry Sheer Foundation

2012-01-01T19:44:00.001Z

I haven’t tried much of the Burberry makeup line, but I have been really impressed with the few bits and pieces I’ve swatched over the past few months and am kind of surprised that it hasn’t seen more hype in the blogging world this year. A bottle of their foundation arrived on my doorstep just before Christmas and needless to say, I was excited to try it out.

The first thing you notice is the stunning packaging. It is literally the most beautiful foundation bottle I’ve ever seen (and I’ve seen a lot) The quality matches the design too. Burberry haven’t skipped any corners with their makeup line, and it really shows.

As for the product itself, it’s very thick in consistency, somewhere in between a crème and a gel formula. It applies smoothly onto the skin and leaves you with a very natural, velvety finish and leaves your skin feeling nicely moisturised. It’s very similar to MAC’s Studio Sculpt in consistency, but I much prefer the finish it gives. It’s not matte, not quite dewy, but almost luminous. It makes your skin look healthy and plumped.

It gives a great level of medium coverage (I only need a spot of concealer on any problem areas to create a flawless finish) yet it’s not too much for everyday wear, and you can layer it for the evenings. I’m a little baffled as to where the conjured up the idea of calling it a ‘sheer’ foundation because it’s just not. If you want to see what the foundation looks like on, check out my latest few YouTube videos (I've been wearing it since Christmas)

The staying power is about average. If you have oily skin you’ll certainly need to powder it, and to top up your powder throughout the day. As with MAC’s Studio Sculpt, it seems to be an ‘all skintypes’ foundation, however I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone with either extremely dry, or extremely oily skin as I think there are better options for problem skins out there.

It comes in 9 shades, which are definitely skewed towards very pale skins. Normally my skin tone is within the first 3-4 palest shades but in this I’m wearing No. 5 (and I’m at my palest!) so it doesn’t seem to cater for everyone. Another point to mention is that it is quite strongly perfumed. For some this may be a pro, for others a con but personally I love the scent.

The one real downside (as ususal!) is the price. £35. Ouch.

Although it’s expensive, I have to say you can see where your money is going. As much as I adore Chanel’s Vitalumiere Aqua foundation, the packaging is rather disappointing for it’s £32 price tag.

Yes, the Burberry makeup collection is expensive, but I wouldn’t really expect anything else from them, and the product really is lovely. I’d recommend this to girls who prefer to have just one or two really gorgeous foundations in their makeup bags and are looking for one that is versatile enough to use day or night.

Shopping The Sales!

2011-12-27T11:52:00.001Z

So the sales have started and as usual, I've been incessantly browsing the online stores for the best deals and discounts up for grabs this season. I've actually yet to purchase anything as I'm *meant to be saving for my trip to LA next week but of course, I'm a total shopping addict, so can't resist a good browse! I thought I'd share my favourite sale picks with you all.

*please note 'meant' to be, and actually managing to resist sale purchases are two very different things and there will no doubt be a haul video coming up on my You Tube channel very soon!

Get your wallets at the ready...

My first port of call when it comes to the sales are of course the high end designers. I especially cannot resist looking at handbags in the sale.

The best offerings from Mulberry this year (in my humble opinion) are the Oversized Tilly in Winter White Cotton Tweed and the Oversized Taylor Satchel in 'Red Onion'. Both are 40% off, and if I hadn't just made a major handbag purchase I would be sorely tempted by both of these!

Mulberry Oversized Tilly in Winter White Cotton Tweed £525 (Previously £875) at Mulberry.com

Mulberry Oversized Taylor Satchel in Red Onion £570 (Previously £950) at Mulberry.com

I also clapped eyes on this cute Marc by Marc Jacobs cross-body/clutch bag. I have the same style bag in turquoise and I use it so much in the summer months. Inside they are like a wallet so perfect for carrying everything you need on a night out without having to tow your whole wallet around with you.

Jane Disco Bag £135 (Previously £225) at Harvey Nichols

If you're looking for a similar thing on a lighter budget, I also spotted this cute little evening bag in Topshop a few weeks ago, so was pleased to see it was in the sale for only £12! (it's real leather too... bargain!)

Metallic Leather Cross Body Bag £12 (Previously £28) at Topshop

Another bag that I've had my eyes on for a very long time has also hit the sales. The DVF Elaine Bag in Burgundy is as gorgeous as it is practical, and it's now 30% off.

Diane Von Furstenberg Elaine bag in Burgundy £338 (Previously £483) at Matches

Moving on to my second favourite type of sale shopping... shoes!

I clapped eyes on these in the Matches sale, but I think but the time this goes live they may have already sold out (must be faster next time!) I'm guessing you'll be able to detect a trend in my taste at the moment... purple and burgundy seem to be calling out to me. These gorgeous suede Vicky boots by Christian Louboutin are 50% off at Matches. I can dream.

Vicky Booty in Burgundy by Christian Louboutin £317 (Previously 635) at Matches

Back down to earth in both budget and stature, these ankle boots from New Look are also tempting me.

Leather Buckled Ankle Boots £30 (Previously £54.99) at New Look

If you're looking for some shoes to ring in the New Year then you could be in luck with these super sparkly numbers from Topshop. I love the idea of glitter shoes but rarely find ones that I would actually wear. These are definitely an exception.

Glisten Glitter Points £40 (Previously £65) from Topshop

As for clothing, I haven't spotted too much over the past few days, but one item that I do have my eyes on is this gorgeous (Burgundy again!) duffel coat from Topshop. It's cute yet chic at the same time, and it's even better than half price!

Metal Clasped Hooded Coat £40 (Previously £85) from Topshop

Last but not least, I have of course been on the lookout for what beauty bargains are to be had! My first port of call when it comes to Christmas sales beauty is always Laura Mercier gift sets. I'm totally obsessed with her Bath & Body range and you can always grab a bargain in the sales, if they aren't already sold out that is! This year the only ones I managed to find online were at Harrods - move fast if you want one girls!

Laura Mercier Body Souffle Sampler £22 (Previously £50) from Harrods

Laura Mercier Warm Roasted Chesnuts Candle £17.50 (Previously £35) from Harrods

On the subject of candles... It's not a 'real' sale but feelunique.com have various discounts across whole brands at the moment, and there is currently 15% off my all time favourite candle, Miller Harris' L'Air de Rien (and the rest of the Miller Harris range). Mine is almost finished so I may have to treat myself to a new one of these.

Miller Harris L'Air de Rien Candle £33.15 (Previously £39) from FeelUnique

There is a rather fabulous sale over at SpaceNK too, with a large selection of their makeup brushes and gift sets on sale. My favourite is this cute Kabuki brush, currently half price.

SpaceNK Kabuki Brush £9 (Previously £18) from SpaceNK

The last item I've clapped my eyes on is this gorgeous nail set from Illamasqua. There are three lovely winter nail colours and a base coat. I'm particularly taken with the iridescent blue shade 'Prism'. Currently £10 off.

Illamasqua White Christmas Nail Varnish Quad £29 (Previously £39) at Selfridges

That's it for my guide to shopping the sales... happy shopping ladies! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! Fx

The Ultimate Hair Mask?

2011-12-22T11:43:00.002Z

I have to admit I’m fussy with my hair care. Not only is my scalp exceptionally sensitive, it also has a tendency to get very dry in the winter, and my colour treated hair needs a conditioner that works overtime!

I was sent Geilly Green’s Nourish Mask a few weeks back, and while I had never heard of the boutique salon brand before, I was instantly impressed by the luxurious packaging and design. This is something you would want to see in your bathroom!

The product itself is really thick and looks a little grainy in the pot but smells nice, and a little goes a long way so you only need a small amount. I’ve been using it once or twice a week as an intensive mask and it honestly works wonders. My hair feels soft and shiny, but strong, thick and lustrous.

I’m always extra critical on products that I’ve been sent, as I haven’t made the investment to purchase them myself, so I do have to flag up the one downfall of this product… the price. It retails for £29.99. Ouch!

This is an absolutely fabulous product in every other way. It works wonders for my hair and has certainly secured a spot in my hair care routine for the moment, but would I repurchase it? Maybe…

If it had a price tag of £15 or less, I would definitely add this to my routine on a more permanent basis, but spending £30 on a single hair care treatment is a little lavish don’t you think?

It's (Almost) Here! Chanel Perfection Lumiere

2011-12-15T20:44:00.000Z

So the promo pictures have been shooting around cyber space for a few months now, but it’s official… The new Chanel foundation is on it’s way to the UK!

Perfection Lumiere is the replacement for Pro Lumiere. I have to say I’ll be sad to see Pro Lumiere go as I’m a huge fan, but I’m seriously excited to see what the new formulation has to offer, and whether it lives up to my makeup bag staple Vitalumiere Aqua.

It boasts an invisible, light texture that will stay put for 15 hours. It’s a semi-matte texture that Chanel claim will be suitable for all skin types, being both moisturizing and mattifying at the same time.

It also comes in a range of 23 shades, an impressive number for Chanel so when it says it’s suitable for all skin types, it’s also suitable for all skin tones too!

Perfection Lumiere is even more expensive than it’s predecessors at £36 but I’ll be first in the queue to pick one up on January 13^th when it finally hits the shops!

Lip Lust: MAC Cremesheen Glass in Deelight

2011-12-10T12:49:00.001Z

I haven't done a 'Lip Lust' post in a couple of weeks because I've been simply hooked on one product. I thought MAC's Creemesheen Glass in Deelight was limited edition as I got it in a travel set earlier in the year, but a lovely subscriber informed me that it's not so I thought I'd share my current lip obsession with you all!

It's the perfect nude gloss in my opinion. It's got lovely payoff, it's smooth and creamy (not sticky), it tastes lovely and stay on for ages. If I'm honest I don't use the rest of my MAC lipglosses as much as i should, but this is a constant staple in my everyday makeup bag. I did my sister-in-laws makeup for her wedding back in September, and she chose to wear this.

In my opinion, lipglosses don't get much better than this! They are more expensive than most at £16 but it's one of the few lipglosses I know that I'll finish and repurchase time and time again.

I have a fresh tube of Deelight to give away to one of you lovelies this week! If you'd like to be in with a chance of getting your hands on it, all you have to do is head over to my website and enter a comment!

My Current Obsession: Bobbi Brown Dual Ended Eye Liners

2011-12-07T07:21:00.001Z

Once again I must apologise for my absence this week. I've been absolutely rushed off my feet in the run up to my trip to Florence and intended to get the blog posts I have planned for this week written on the plane... but I came down with a yucky stomach bug so that trashed those plans!

But it's better late than never, so today I want to share with you an amazing discovery I made over the weekend in the form of the limited edition Bobbi Brown Dual Ended Eye Liners from the Christmas 'Party Collection' At first glance these liners look like nothing groundbreaking... but when swatched, it's clear to see they are simply fabulous!

The pigmentation is fantastic and the colours are beautiful. They are a super smooth gel formula. Once they're on... they don't budge (I had these swatches on my hand all day and they didn't even fade after a lot of rubbing and smudging!)

They are available in three pairings: Jet & Chrome, Chocolate & Bronze and Caviar & Gold. All of the shades are beautiful but I must say the Gold liner lets the collection down a little, with poorer pigmentation, it was the only one that faded throughout the day. The Chrome shade is the real gem of the collection, a perfectly opaque and creamy metallic silver that is easy to work with and adds an instant 'wow' factor to any eye look.

I was lucky enough to get my mitts on both the Jet & Chrome and Chocolate & Bronze duos, but when I paid a visit to my local Bobbi counter this weekend to swatch the shades all together, they had all sold out of all three - so move fast if you want them!

I'm totally obsessed with mine and going to be wearing them all through the party season!

They are £17 each and available at Bobbi Brown counters now...

Review: bareMinerals Night Treatment (+Giveaway!)

2011-12-02T07:00:00.000Z

I'd heard a few things about the bareMinerals night treatment here and there. It wasn't something I was really excited to try... in fact I thought it sounded downright odd: A foundation-like treatment that you put on overnight? Seemed like a sure-fire way to breakout if you ask me... but there was a little part of me that was excited to try it... it's something new at least!

And I can't tell you how glad I am that I took the plunge.

The treatment is very much like bareMinerals' regular foundations. I'd even say it has slightly more coverage. It's quite a heavy tinted powder that you buff into your skin as the last step of your nighttime routine.

Going to bed with 'perfect skin' always seems a little odd but I swear, this product has changed my skin for the better... much better!

I've never had really bad skin, so I can't say how it would perform for the acne-prone amongst you, but for my slightly temperamental complexion (prone to dry patches and the occasional breakout) it has worked wonders!

before

after

I apply it 2-3 times a week before I go to bed. I've been using it for the last 6 weeks or so and it's just made my skin so much more naturally radiant. It's helped to diminish a lot of the redness in my skin (especially on my cheeks) and overall, I really can't say enough good things about this strange little treatment!

It's an odd one, but a good one! It comes in four shades (clear, light, medium and tan, the shade I have is light) so caters for most skin tones.

It's quite pricey at £38, but I've got one to give away this week (in clear), so if you'd like to be in with a chance of trying this out yourself, head over to my website to enter!

Nailed: Neutral on Neutral

2011-12-01T07:00:00.000Z

I tried something new today. A bit of a different twist on the neutral/nude reverse french manicures that have been cropping up left right and centre for the last few months...

Ciate's lovely Cream Tea, a brown-taupe with a tiny hint of silver shimmer tipped with my current favourite Nubar Gem, a lilac-taupe with fine holographic glitter.

A sophisticated way to wear holo don't you think? And only wearing a touch of it makes removing it so much easier!

Review: Rimmel Scandal'Eyes Mascara

2011-11-30T16:53:00.001Z

Sorry for the lack of posts this week girls! I don't know where the first half of the week went... madness! But I'm back in blogging action today with a review of Rimmel's New Scandal'Eyes Mascara.

I was a big fan of Rimmel's last mascara release 'Day 2 Night', so when I saw they had released a new one I thought it would be well worth a try. I was wrong.

The mascara comes in a chunky orange tube. I quite like orange, so don't find this too offensive but if you like your makeup to look sleek and sophisticated you'll definitely find the packaging obnoxious. The brush is HUGE, which makes it a little tricky to apply. Some mascaras with huge brushes are fabulous and well worth the effort it takes to apply them without getting mascara on your eyelids, but when it comes to this one? It's just not worth the hassle.

It gives you average volume, average length, and it's a pain to apply. Not really a winner.

I wouldn't have been quite so critical of this mascara had it not been claiming to 'take your lashes to the next level', leave them 'shaped, plumed and exaggerated to perfection' with 'scadalous eye-opening volume'.

Just compare the results to my L'Oreal Luminizer Million Lashes...

Time to up your game Rimmel!

Rimmel Scandal'Eyes Mascara is out now, priced at £6.99. Would love to know if anyone else has tried this?

Fragrance Friday: Limited Edition Flowerbomb!

2011-11-25T08:10:00.000Z

The lovely ladies at Viktor & Rolf sent me one of the new limited edition Flowerbomb perfumes that have been released just in time for Christmas…

The 50ml Eau de Parfum bottle houses the original Flowerbomb scent in a gorgeous metallic bottle with multi-coloured ribbons. I’m so in love with it!

If you haven’t tried Flowerbomb before it’s an addictively sweet floral fragrance. It’s not your traditional ‘floral’ scent. It seems much younger and more modern, but I think it’s something women of any age could wear. With notes of Tea, Jasmine, Bergamont, Patchouli, Freesia, Orchid and Centiflora Rose, it’s a relative bouquet of sweet, floral loveliness! It’s not cheap at £76 but it’s certainly the prettiest bottle I’ve seen… ever!

I’ve already got a bottle of Flowerbomb, so this week (as sad as it makes me!) I’m going to be giving this gorgeous bottle away… the perfect Christmas gift for someone special in your life, or even a little treat for yourself!

If you head over to my website, you'll find all the info you need to be in with a chance of winning!

Lip Lust: Revlon Crystal Lilac

2011-11-24T07:00:00.000Z

I’ve had my eyes on this colour for a few months now and Superdrug’s 3 for 2 offer pushed me over the edge to buy it. I absolutely adore the packaging, it’s such fantastic quality for a drugstore brand, they are chanel-esque in their size and shape, and also with the quilted design.

I’m always attracted to this kind of slightly iridescent lilac shade.

When I finally got round to trying it, I must admit I was a little disappointed! When I swatched it on my hand, it seemed a lot more pigmented than when I actually put it on my lips…

If you haven’t tried the Colourburst lipglosses before, they are definitely a love/hate kind of product due to both the formulation and the taste. A lot of people don’t like the taste, but I actually quite like it! It kind of tastes like rice to me (if you’ve tried these please let me know what you think in the comments… it’s a funny one!) The formulation is ever so slightly grainy too, which I’m not such a fan of.

Overall, this was a bit of a disappointment to me as I’d been wanting to buy it for such a long time. It’s one that I’ll use up, but not a favourite!

The Revlon Colourburst lipglosses are £7.99 and available from Boots and Superdrug in the UK.

Nailed: GOSH Nail Glitter!

2011-11-23T07:00:00.000Z

I haven’t seen or heard much about the GOSH nail glitters. In fact I hadn’t heard of them at all before I spotted them in Superdrug the other day. After a bit of research online, I think they must have been out for a few months but have so far managed to escape my attention!

These little pots of super-fine glitter drew me in because (as you all know!) I’m a complete glitter bug. The idea of using lose glitter to adorn the nails seems a little messy to me, but I wanted to try it as I’m always up for something new when it comes to nails.

The shade I chose was ‘Ruby Red’ which is actually more of a deep pink. It was a hard decision as there are 8 different shades, all of which are gorgeous but I think this was the most ‘me’.

The process of application is actually very simple…

You apply a clear coat of polish to the nails, dip the nail into the glitter pot, make sure the glitter covers the whole nail, carefully remove it from the pot, then wipe off any excess.

The result is gorgeous. It’s a matte glitter finish unlike conventional glitter nail polish. You can’t put a top-coat over it without turning your nails into a gloopy mess, so the glitter itself has quite a limited staying power (a couple of days before it develops some substantial ‘bald’ patches!) but it’s definitely a gorgeous look for a special occasion.

I think I’m more likely to use this again in nail art designs, or for the tips of my nails as the effect on the whole nail seems to be a little more hassle than it’s worth.

They are £3.99, so won’t break the bank and are fun to have a play with. I’m quite disappointed that they don’t have a true red shade for Christmas time, but definitely keep your eyes open for a video tutorial featuring these glitters soon! I think it could be really fun to play around with mixing different glitters on the same nail!

Review: L'Oreal Million Lashes Luminizer

2011-11-22T07:00:00.000Z

I'm not sure how, but I seem to have avoided trying L'Oreal Million Lashes despite the fantastic reviews online, it's just not something I've thought of buying. Until now. I was in Superdrug the other day and of course I'm a huge sucker for their current '3 for 2' offer on all of their cosmetics. While perusing the beauty displays looking for makeup (that I don't need by any stretch of the imagination!) I spotted L'Oreal's latest addition to their Million Lashes range... the Luminizer.

These mascaras are designed to accentuate the colour of your eyes. They come in three shades: plum for hazel eyes, blue for blue eyes and green for green eyes. My eyes are about smack in the middle of being Hazel and Green, but I decided to go for the green shade, not really knowing what to expect (my previous experiences with coloured mascara have not been positive in the slightest!)

The mascara itself is essentially an almost-black forest green base, with a slight green glimmer to it... very pretty indeed. The brush is large and plastic, with fine bristles. It seems to catch a little excess on the tip which needs to be wiped off before use.

The effect of the mascara is fantastic. It's seriously volumising, yet defines the lashes just the right amount while adding a serious amount of length. I am so impressed by this mascara I honestly can't believe I haven't tried it sooner!

L'oreal Million Lashes Luminizer (Green Eyes):

Normal Mascara:

As for the 'luminizing' effect, I'm not so sure. On the one hand, it is very subtle, which is definitely a good thing when it comes to coloured mascara. On the other hand, I'm not sure if it really 'luminizes' the colour of my eyes... maybe a little? What do you think? I think it makes them look a slightly deeper shade of green.

As it's L'Oreal... it's not the cheapest mascara on the high street at £11.29 but in my opinion it's well worth it! (And the Superdrug 3 for 2 offer is still on!)

Mini Avon Haul!

2011-11-21T07:00:00.000Z

After posting about my Avon Glazewear lipstick in Coral Bliss last week, I couldn't resist placing an order for some more, however the swatches on the website are absolutely awful (They all look the same!) so I decided to simply order the whole line.

This sounds rather extravagant but considering there are only five colours in the line, and the lipsticks are on sale for just £3 each, I thought I might as well!

Left-right: Coral Bliss, Sunset, Apricot, Nectar, Peach Silk

So if any of you are thinking of purchasing one of these lipsticks... this post might help (as it actually has decent swatches!)

Left-right: Coral Bliss, Sunset, Apricot, Nectar, Peach Silk

The colours are quite sheer and glossy compared to traditional lipstick. I'd say they are the perfect halfway point between lipstick and gloss, and the packaging is so chic and pretty in a slim rose gold tube. There isn't the best range in colours, but my personal favourites are Coral Bliss, Sunset and Peach Silk. Nectar is a bit of a 'nothing' colour, and Apricot is a little more brown than I would normally go for, so I gave it to my mum (who loves it!)

Coral Bliss

Sunset

Apricot

Nectar

Peach Silk

The more I use these, the more convinced I am that they are some of the best quality, great value for money lip products out there... love them!

On a side note, it seems to me that the names are are totally mismatched to the colours? 'Sunset' is more coral than 'Coral Bliss', 'Apricot' is not an apricot shade at all and would be more akin to the name 'Sunset'... very confusing!

Since buying these, the price has been increased to £3.50, but I still think they are fab.

What do you think girls? Will you be ordering any of these? Any favourites?

Westfield Wonderland: Harpar's Bazaar 'One Night Only' Event!

2011-11-20T07:00:00.000Z

My sister and I headed down to the HarpersBazaar ‘One Night Only’ Event at Westfield Shepherds Bush on Thursday and itwas so fabulous I thought I should share a few pictures with you all!

The exclusive event saw the designer end ofWestfield’s ‘The Village’ transformed into a relative winter wonderland offashion, beauty, music and glamour for the evening.

The event was free to attend, but you hadto register online for your chance to be allocated one of the 3000 ticketsavailable to enter the area and be treated to free cocktails, champagne,canapés, exclusive discounts in the shops and entertainment from some of theUK’s best up and coming music acts including Blue Robinson, Spark and SamBeaton.

We were treated to a tour of House ofFraser’s newly updated beauty hall, which is now home to new Guerlain,Shiseido, Aveda, Espa, La Prairie and (most excitingly!) NARS counters.

The Shiseido Magic Makeup Mirror was alsothere for the evening. I posted about this ages ago on my blog, but this is thefirst time I’ve seen the mirror in person and I can honestly say it’sfantastic!

The sales assistant gave my makeup-a-phobesister a virtual makeover...

I also got a lovely hand massage from theEspa team at the ‘backstage beauty’ station, where the Hersheson’s blow dry barwere offering 25% off their services for the evening and Armani makeup artistswere giving out gorgeous makeovers for free!

We were gutted to miss out on the chance toput a bauble on the charity tree. For £5 you could add a bauble to the tree andget a goody bag worth £65 in exchange! Understandably, these disappeared prettyquickly but I absolutely loved the idea… such a festive way to raise money fora good cause!

We both had such a fabulous time, I’lldefinitely be putting my name on the list if they do this again next year! It’ssuch a lovely way to get some of your Christmas shopping done early whilehaving a lovely girly evening out… It left me feeling so festive, I can’tbelieve it’s still November… Roll on December 25^th!

For information on more exclusive eventscoming up at Westfield, check out their website.

Three of The Best... Christmas Candles

2011-11-19T07:00:00.000Z

I am a self-confessed candle junkie in Winter. As soon as the weather starts to turn a bit colder, the candles come out. You can guarantee there will be a candle burning in my house every single day from November-January, mainly because I just can't get enough of Christmas scents.

Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Pumpkin, Vanilla. I'm a complete sucker for anything that smells like festive baked goods so as you'd expect, I have tried a fair few Christmas candles in my time.

Here are my top three for the festive season.

Number one is the daddy of all Christmas candles. It's big, it's red and it has Santa on the front...

Yankee Candle's 'Christmas Eve' will get you in the festive mood in no time. With sugared plum, candied fruits and a dash of 'warm hearth' (whatever that is meant to smell like!?) this will fill your whole house with it's delicious scent in a few minutes. Make sure you buy the large size though, I find the smaller (or even medium) jars have hardly any scent payoff compared to the big ones. They have about 110-150 hours burn time too, so expect this to last you all season! (RRP £18.99 for the large jar, available from Clinton Cards. You can get them a little cheaper online)

Second up is my all time favourite autumnal candle from Slatkin & Co. 'Leaves' is a ridiculous name but it smells like winter embodied.

Cinnamon, mulled cider, mandarin and red apple combine to create the most heavenly scent. Everyone asks what this is when I burn it in my kitchen. It's meant to be one of their autumn candles I think, but it takes me all through winter and beyond. It has the strongest scent payoff I've ever experienced from a candle. I simply love it, which is why it's ever so frustrating that it's not available in the UK. And mine just ran out. I'm going to be stocking up on my next visit to the US! ($19.50 for the large size, available from Bath & Body Works in store and online)

Last but not least, for those of you who prefer a more sophisticated looking candle, The White Company's Signature Candle in 'Winter' is also divine.

This one is more obviously 'Christmas' to me. It has more of a strong scent of clove combined with cinnamon and dried orange. It's more expensive for less product, at £20 but if you're looking for a gift, this is a great choice! (£20 in stores and online)

Another candle that deserves an honourable mention in this post is Yankee Candle's 'Winter Wonderland'.

If you aren't such a fan of the spicy, cinnamon-based scents and prefer to go down the fresh/minty/pine route, then this is also lovely. It's white too, so a little more subtle than some of Yankee's other Christmas options. (RRP £18.99 for the large jar, available from Clinton Cards. You can get them a little cheaper online)

I'm feeling all festive now! What is your favourite candle to burn at Christmas time?

Fragrance Friday: Valentino Valentina

2011-11-18T07:00:00.000Z

I've been drying to try the latest fragrance from Valentino ever since I caught a glimpse of the gorgeous bottle a few months ago. Since then it's always slipped my mind to sample 'Valentina' every time I've been passing through a perfume hall, but this week I finally remembered and went over to have a look (and smell!)

There is no denying the packaging is stunning. It's ultra feminine, with something rather elegant about it (I think its the shape of the bottle neck?) while still managing to keep a hint of fun girlishness with the pretty flowers that adorn the front. I think these are made out of some kind of ceramic. From the pictures, I was expecting leather.

The scent itself is much like the bottle. Feminine and elegant, but nothing too 'out there' or wild. It's a 'floriental' as the fragrance buffs like to call it... a floral oriental that I adored upon first spray, despised after two minutes, and came to rather like once it finally settled into the skin after about twenty minutes. It's quite a nicely balanced fragrance, with notes of bergamot, white truffle, orange blossom, tuberose, jasmine, strawberry and quite a distinctive base of amber and cedar softened with a little vanilla.

Overall, it's a fragrance that I can't quite put my finger on. Part of me wants to love it, the other thinks it just isn't really 'me'. This is definitely more of a classically feminine, softly sophisticated scent and would make a great choice for those kind of people. I however, like to go for extremes... fruity, sweet, spicy etc. and somehow 'Valentina' is not quite extreme enough for my liking. I think this could be a good choice for my mum this Christmas though...

Valentina is available now, from £40 for 30ml Eau de Parfum. ( On a side note, the 30ml bottle actually only comes with two little flowers on the front, not three. A bit disappointing considering the price in my opinion!)

I'd love to know what you all think about the scent? Have you tried it yet?

How To: Firework Nails

2011-11-17T07:00:00.000Z

I created this look a couple of week ago when I was painting my nails late at night, with fireworks in mind. I can honestly say I've never had so many questions about my nails, both in person and in comments when I showed them in a video.

Despite lots of you requesting a tutorial, creating this look is just so easy, it really didn't justify a video tutorial, but to satisfy those of you who were asking about it...

It's the combination of three nail polishes: Zoya Gem, 2True Mysterious Turquoise (Shade 3) and Barry M Once Upon a Time (210), and you can recreate it in three easy steps.

1. Paint on one coat of Zoya Gem (or any deep purple)

2. Paint 1/3 - 1/2 of the nail with small, uneven strokes using 2True Mysterious Turquoise (or any shimmery blue-green shade). This doesn't have to be neat - the more uneven, the better!

3. Finish off with a thick coat of Barry M's Once Upon a Time (make sure you shake it before you apply to disperse the glitter properly!)

...and it's as easy as that! This look really reminds me of fireworks, and the dark colours are great for winter. I'm going to be wearing lots of different variations on this look over winter!

What do you think?

Review: No.7 BB Cream

2011-11-16T07:00:00.000Z

I've never really 'gotten' the whole BB Cream hype. I've tried a few over the past year or so and I have to say I haven't tried a single one that's impressed me. It's not the concept I'm opposed to. By all accounts anything that claims to be a tinted moisturiser (with better coverage), offer proper UV protection, and be good for your skin should be a winner in my books, but for some reason they all just feel like a greasy mess to me!

I went to a No.7 preview the other day and low and behold, they are also jumping on the BB Cream band-wagon! I was really pleased to see that unlike a lot of other brands, they have actually tried to account for different skin types, rather than sticking to a 'one type fits all' product (It's still 'one shade fits all' though, don't even get me started on that!). The three variants are for normal/oily skin, normal/dry skin and dry to very dry skin.

Seeing as I get dry skin this time of year, I opted for the Dry/Very Dry variety to try out. And I have to say I found it to be equally as disappointing as all the other BB's I've tried before. The texture is slightly greasy and thick. The shade is a little on the grey side unless you like the Corpse Bride look, it doesn't provide any more coverage than a very average tinted moisturiser, and it doesn't feel nice on the skin (again, slightly greasy!)

I love the fact that they've included 5 star UVA sun protection, but for me, the product just doesn't deliver. What's more, it's going to be £15... A little on the steep side I think!

The No.7 BB creams are due in stores on January 25th 2012, but I'd advise you to save your pennies and wait for their upcoming Spring collection designed by the lovely Lisa Eldridge... hint, hint... It's fab!

What do you guys think of BB Creams?

Nailed: Nubar Petunia Sparkle

2011-11-15T07:00:00.000Z

Ok so this is my second Nubar nail post in a row, but I'm just loving their polishes at the moment!

Petunia Sparkle is a relative glitter ball of a nail polish from the aptly named 'sparkles' collection. It's a really dense, but really fine, dazzling pink glitter that has an almost matte finish.

It kind of reminds me of the glitter Christmas decorations that you see... but pink!

It's opaque in two coats and the finish is stunning, but it's doesn't have amazing staying power and chips at the very tips quite quickly, but it's so gorgeous, I really don't care.

I've got my eyes on Fire Sparkle next, the red shade from the same collection. I think it would be more than perfect for Christmas! You can get Nubar Sparkles collection from feelunique.com for £7.25 delivered.

Do You Believe in Magic?

2011-11-13T21:22:00.001Z

I've been using this blush every single day for the last two weeks so I thought it was about time I shared it with you all...

Pixi have an adorable little shop just off Carnaby Street in London and when I popped in a few weeks ago, this was the first product to catch my eye... The 'All-Over Magic' powder.

The shade I chose was 'Rose Radiance'. The cute pixie design is made up of five different shimmery colours.

The powder is actually sold as a multi-pupose product that you can use on the eyes, as a blush or highlighter, but I've only really used it as a blush. The colours mix together to make a gorgeous vibrant pink.

It bears more than a slight resemblance to Benefit's Sugarbomb, with the exception not only of the bright pink pixie, but of the price tag too! It's £14, which compared to the £23.50 Sugarbomb, seems quite a snip!

The pigmentation is lovely and it has just the right amount of shimmer. It won't leave you looking like a glitter ball, just positively radiant (which is why I've become totally addicted to it!)

The one downside is the packaging. I love the unusual pale green shade that is Pixi's signature colour, but it has a matte rubberised finish so it shows up every single fingerprint and smudge of makeup.

The two other shades available are really different to this one...

I'm not sure about the look of the bronze 'Bare Radiance' (I'm not a huge fan of shimmery bronzers) but the pale 'Brightening Radiance' looks like it would make a gorgeous highlighter, so I may have to pick one up next time I'm passing!

The All-Over Magic powders are available now online HERE and in store (I also believe Rose Radiance and Bare Radiance are available in larger Boots stores)

Lip Lust: Rouge d'Armani Pink 521

2011-11-10T11:10:00.000Z

I haven't tried a whole lot of Georgio Armani makeup, but I'm absolutely loving their Rouge d'Armani Lipstick in Pink 521 right now. I think it's the perfect daytime pink... not too bright, not to boring, a pretty rosy pink.

The packaging is stunning, which is always a draw-in for me. It has quite a powerful magnetic closure and I love the embossed 'GA' on the side of the bullet too.

The texture is nice and balmy, with a velvet-like finish. The colour is also slightly metallic, which can be a total disaster, but I think this colour totally pulls it off.

Armani's Rouge D'armani lipsticks aren't easy on the wallet at £23, but the quality of the product and the packaging is wonderful. I think this colour is limited edition, but they have a huge range, I'd thoroughly recommend have a look next time you pass a counter!

I think it helps to brighten up my neutral winter wardrobe! What's your favourite colour to brighten up these dull winter days?

October Empties

2011-11-09T11:24:00.000Z

I know I do 'Favourites' videos every month, but I was thinking the other day that perhaps a more true testament of a great product is one that you finish, right? Maybe not...

Here are the products that I said goodbye to this month...

1. Laura Mercier Creme de Pistache Body Wash. This wash the product I was most sorry to see the end of... It's so delicious and luxurious to use, but comes with a price tag to match at £29. I bought this as part of a gift set in Selfridges sale this summer so it's not something I'll be re-purchasing unless I find it discounted again. (£29 from House of Fraser)

2. Macadamia Deep Repair Masque. This has been in my shower for months and months, mainly because I don't like it enough to use it a lot, but I don't dislike it enough to take it out of my shower. I used it once every few weeks or so just for the sake of using it up. I definitely wouldn't buy this again. (£18.50 from Feelunique.com)

3. Johnson's Gentle Eye Make-up Removal Pads. One of my skin care staples, I probably get through one of these every month. They take your make up off perfectly, without having to rub and don't leave an oily residue. Perfect and cheap as chips at £3.15 from Boots.

4. Kleenex Eye Make-up Removal Wipes. I was sent these to try and to be honest, I don't think they are amazing. I used them up when I ran out of the Johnson's ones, and definitely wouldn't buy them over Johnson's. The texture of the wipes is hard to explain (I want to say they create a lot of friction, but are still soft and smooth?!) but I feel like these pull at my eyes an unnecessary amount. (£2.99 from Superdrug)

5. Eucerin Dry Skin Shampoo. Another staple in my everyday routine. This shampoo has saved my scalp from all kinds of trouble. It's unscented, un-coloured, and is one of the only shampoos that doesn't leave my scalp super sore and irritated... A must have for any sensitive scalps out there! (£8.73 from Boots)

6. Moroccan Oil. This mini bottle was my first bottle of Moroccan Oil, and it got me totally hooked on hair oils. Since then I've discovered ones that I prefer, but I still used this every now and again as it is such a handy size for your handbag. There was a 'big' bottle in the Goody Bag I was given at the Cosmo Blog Awards a couple of weeks ago though, so I think I'll keep this little bottle and refill it for handbag emergencies, and stick to my Shu Uemura Essence Absolue at home! (£12.85 from HQHair)

7. Joico K Pak Intense Hydrator. I feel like I talk about this product way too much, but it's just wonderful. It works wonders from my dry, colour-treated hair, and smells lovely to boot. This is my third bottle in a row (which is saying something for me... I usually don't stick to one conditioner for more than two weeks!) I've already bought a replacement! (£11.90 from Feelunique.com)

My Winter Skin Saviours

2011-11-08T10:54:00.000Z

As the nights draw in and the weather gets colder and colder, it wreaks havoc on my skin. I'm sure a lot of you are in the same boat so I thought I'd share some of my saviour products that help me keep the dry patches away.

First up (and I'm going to make it brief cos I've been raving about this for a good few weeks now!) is Melvita's Rose Extraordinary Water. It's half way between a toner and a serum, and really helps to give my skin that little extra boost of moisture that it needs, leaving it supple and soft. (£12, from Melvita)

Second is another fabulous product from Melvita: their Apicosma Nourishing Body Balm. The formulation of this really unique and lovely. It's ultra light for a balm, and surprisingly non-greasy. It is almost like a super light, condensed body butter (if that even makes sense?!) It's not quickly absorbed into the skin, but if you can take the time to massage it in, it will leave your skin feeling ultra-nourished. I've been using this for the past month or so and am absolutely in love with it. It smells delicious too... quite fruity (even though it's based on honey) and almost smells like apricot to me. (£20, from Melvita)

One of the most common places to suffer from dry skin in the winter is your hands, and I've found Burt's Bees' Beeswax & Banana Hand Cream to be the best solution. It's super thick and super greasy, so if you hate greasy hand cream (like I do!) then this is best applied at night. It smells simply divine (just like banana milkshake!) and you'll wake up with baby-soft mitts! (£8.50 from Feelunique.com)

Clockwise from top: Melvita Apicosma Body Balm, Burt's Bees Hand Cream, Carmex Moisture Plus, Elizabeth Arden 8hr Lip Protectant, Jo Malone Vitamin E Gel, Melvita Extraordinary Water

Jo Malone's Vitamin E Gel is a product that has been a staple winter skin saviour of mine for four years now. It's a very strange gel-oil consistency. It is greasy, it doesn't smell nice, and it's really expensive... but it works and lasts forever. A tiny bit goes a very long way and it works wonders on elbows, knees, heels, noses... wherever you need it! I also love to use this as an intense facial moisturiser at night. It leaves you with a scary-looking greasy face, but your cheeks with be as smooth as a baby's when you wake up! This is great if you suffer from very dry patches and want a quick fix. (£62 from Jo Malone)

Moving on to lip products... Elizabeth Arden's 8 Hour Lip Protectant has been a recent discovery of mine, but one that I now can't live without! It's incredible for dry, chapped lips but also works fantastically well as a base for lipstick. I like to wear darker colours in the winter, and combined with dry lips, that can often be a disaster combination! This helps to smooth everything out, and I swear it makes my lips look a little plumper too... could just be my imagination though! (£16.15 from Feelunique.com)

Last but not least is 'Moisture Plus' the new tinted lip balm from Carmex. I've used carmex for ages and it's fantastic for dry lips, so I was really excited to see they had launched a tinted version. It's perfect if you're on the go and comes in Pink (above), Peach and Clear. (£4.49 from Boots)

Hope this helps some of you who also suffer from dry skin in the winter... and I'd love to hear about any of your recommendations!

Lip Lust: Avon Glazewear Silky Shine

2011-11-07T23:10:00.000Z

Whenever I think of Avon, I automatically link it to middle age, unsophisticated packaging and poor pigmentation. I've tried a few things from them in the past and have liked a couple (SuperShock Mascara and a few of their lipsticks come to mind) but my latest dabble into the world of Avon has really changed my opinion...

They sent me one of their 'Glazewear Silky Shine' lipsticks to try in the shade Coral Bliss. I have to admit, I was instantly taken in by the packaging, it's sleek, metal and more importantly... rose gold!

As the name suggests, the formulation is that of a gloss-lipstick hybrid. It's just the right amount of sticky, so stays on for hours and hours (I'm not exaggerating... I wore it all day on Friday and only had to reapply once) but doesn't feel like you've got gloop on your lips (a la Lancome Juicy Tubes!) It leaves your lips feeling nicely moisturised too, which is a must in this winter weather.

The colour is a gorgeous pink with a hint of coral (the name confuses me a little as it's definitely more pink than coral in my eyes!) and a tiny glimpse of gold shimmer.

The perfect everyday shade. It tastes lovely, fruity and sweet (actually kind of like passion fruit!) and whats more?! It's currently on sale on the Avon website for £3! Yes THREE pounds... such a bargain!

I'm definitely going to order a few more of these, they are such amazing quality for such a low price. The swatches on the website are awful though, so it's gonna be a blind guess I think!

My Shiny New Website & Online Shop!

2011-11-05T08:56:00.000Z

Hello lovely ladies!

So if you haven't already heard via my YouTube channel or Twitter... My new website and online shop launched last night!

I've been working on this for the last few months and I'm so excited to finally share it all with you! All of my blog posts are going to be posted on there as well as on here (don't worry, the blogspot's not going!) But there is going to be even more exclusive content and a giveaway every single week on FleurDeForce.com, so don't miss out!

The first week's giveaway is for a course of six professional IPL hair removal treatments at the No+Vello salon in Soho worth over £230! If you don't live in or around London, there are also four runner up prizes that can be sent anywhere in the world, sound good?! Click here for all the info.

The aspect I've worked the hardest on has been the online shop and it would be wonderful to hear what you all think! It's starting small (but perfectly formed!) with eight wrap bracelets (which I'm totally obsessed with) They are so easy and comfortable to wear, and look gorgeous with almost any outfit... I hope you guys love them as much as I do!

Click on the bracelets to find out more info...

I can't wait to hear what you all think so if you have the time to head over and have a look, enter a giveaway or leave me a comment it would make my day!

Fx

Nailed: Nubar Gem

2011-11-05T08:27:00.000Z

More holographic beautiful-ness for you all today my lovelies! After seeing an amazing post about Nubar polishes over at JustNiceThings last week, I knew I had to get my hands on 'Gem', from their Prisms collection.

It's the most gorgeous lilac-taupe shade with a great amount of holographic shimmer to it. I think it's such a fantastic middle ground between sophisticated and fun... It's actually really hard to take a good picture of so it's even more gorgeous in real life!

I've actually tried out a few of the other polishes from the 'Prisms' collection last year and while they were pretty, they didn't have half as much holographic glitter in them, so if you like your holo, then chose carefully from this collection!

I got mine at feelunique.com for £8.05 including delivery.
Disclaimer: I bought this

Fragrance Friday: Madonna to Release Debut Fragrance!

2011-11-04T11:31:00.004Z

I don't normally post two 'Fragrance Friday' posts in one day but I just got wind of some very exciting news in the world of celebrity fragrances... The one and only queen of pop, Madonna, has just announced that she will be releasing her debut fragrance next year.

'Truth or Dare by Madonna' will debut in Macy's throughout the USA in April 2012, followed by worldwide release in May. It is described as a 'signature floral fragrance' with a unique blend of narcotic florals balanced with addictive woods and vanilla.

Truth or Dare by Madonna

"timeless, yet contemporary, simultaneously dark and light"

The bottle is very striking, I can't wait to try it! It will be available in 75ml, 50ml and 30ml Eau de Parfum (UK prices TBC but I think it will be from about £35)
Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored.

Fragrance Friday: Vera Wang Princess Night

2011-11-04T09:00:00.000Z

Exciting news for any Vera Wang fans out there... Another new edition of the sensationally popular 'Princess' fragrance is due to launch in January.

Vera Wang 'Princess Night' is a glamourous take on the original fragrance. The signature heart shaped bottle has been encrusted with black and purple glitter and the crown on top changed to silver instead of gold.

The original 'Princess'

The scent itself is described as 'Floral Exotic Woody' and has been adjusted slightly to reveal more exotic notes of watermelon, berries, jasmine petals, orange blossom and passion rose, while the strong sugary base notes of vanilla and musk still come through to remind you of the original. It's super sweet (as expected).

Overall, if you're a fan of the original, you'll love this. If you already own the original, you don't need this... but you'll definitely want it!

EDT from £34 for 30ml, Available from January 2011.
Disclaimer: I got the chance to preview this at a press event.

Win Your Chance to Star Alongside Cheryl Cole!

2011-11-03T07:34:00.000Z

Exciting news ladies! L'Oreal are running a competition on their Facebook page giving three lucky girls the chance to star in the new L'Oreal Casting Creme advert with Cheryl Cole!

They are looking for one brunette, one blonde and one redhead to co-star in the ad. All you have to do is upload your picture to their Facebook page before 27th November. All the entries will then be entered into a public vote from 28th November - 4th December. The most popular entrants will be called into a casting day of makeovers with L'Oreals top hair stylists and makeup artists and I'm really excited to announce that I will be on the judging panel for the blondes!

The three lucky winners will get to star in the new TV ad with Cheryl in January. If you'd like to enter, check out L'Oreal's Facebook page here (full terms and conditions are listed on there, but you must be 16 to enter)
Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored

Three of The Best... Bath Oils

2011-11-02T18:30:00.000Z

I'm a total bath addict, especially in the winter months, but I have only recently become a bath oil convert. I was always a bit of a bubble bath lover, but recently my eyes have been opened to the super-relaxing potential of bath oils.

I thought I'd share with you my top three...

First up is Aromatherapy Associates Deep Relax bath and shower oil.

Aromatherapy Associates' most famous, multi-award winning, 25 year old bath oil really is worth the hype. With Sandalwood, Vetivert and Camomile, it is so soothing and relaxing. While a bottle is expensive at £37 for 55ml, one capful is more than enough, so it will last you a very long time. I'm just finishing off my bottle after 6 months or so (and about 25 baths!)

Another favourite of mine is Jo Malone's Pomegranate Noir.

Much more of a fruity scent (if you couldn't tell by the name!) this one is great if you really feel like indulging. It's not as potent as the Aromatherapy Associates, but it's rich and delicious and you get a lot more for your money (£38 for 250ml)

Finally, one of my favourite ways to try out new bath oils is by buying miniature collections.

It means you can effectively try before you buy the more expensive bottles and I've been loving Neom's mini bath and shower oil set. It's got five miniature 5ml bottles, each enough for about two baths and including 'Real Luxury', 'Restore', 'Tranquility', 'Refresh' and 'Complete Bliss' all for £15.

Disclaimer: I bought the AA & Jo Malone, the Neom was a press sample.

Watch Out Benefit... Soap & Glory Cosmetics are Here!

2011-11-01T08:00:00.001Z

Im sure you'll all have heard of, seen or tried Soap & Glory products in the past?

Well they've branched into makeup and I can honestly say I haven't been this excited about a makeup launch in a very long time.

They gave me the chance to try out some of the new products this month and I have to say I was really impressed by the line as a whole. The products themselves are great quality, housed in cute (also great quality) packaging, but for a reasonable price (prices vary from £5 for a basic pencil eyeliner to £11 for the foundation and blushes).

It's fair to say they've taken a good amount of inspiration from the 50's, and perhaps a little from their more upmarket competitor brand Benefit.

The collection contains a large variety of different products, with a small but very carefully selected range of colours. I say this as a very (very!) good thing. Most 'affordable' makeup lines have about 10 shades of everything, the majority of which you would never wear. Soap & Glory have broken from this trend and have carefully selected shades so that they are (almost!) all wonderful. Sound good? Keep reading.

There are a few disappointments... The 'Thick and Fast' mascara wasn't as good as I'd hoped (It's very dry, with a huge awkward brush) and the lipstick shades, while lovely colours, are more suited to older tastes I think (my mum loved them all!). But the average products are far outnumbered by the great ones and one product really shone out to me...

My favourite item from the range is without a doubt the 'Lid Stuff' eyeshadow quad in What's Nude. I've been wearing these colours every day since I got them three weeks ago.

The texture is absolutely amazing. Soft, highly pigmented and easily blendable. These shadows could knock the socks off most high end alternatives and they're only £10.

The packaging is cute and sturdy. I'd definitely recommend checking this out next time you're in Boots!

Disclaimer: Press sample

Fragrance Friday: Pixi ‘Fig’

2011-10-28T09:00:00.000+01:00

This week’sfragrance is a bit of a departure from my usual choices. I went for a peruse inPixi’s Carnaby Street boutique this week and whilst I was there, theircollection of three fragrances caught my eye. I never knew they sold scentsbefore, and to be honest I’ve never been particularly taken with any beauty brandfragrances, but I instantly fell in love with Pixi’s ‘Fig’.

I’m not sure ifit’s because I love eating figs themselves, but something about the fig scentsmells so clean and fresh, and Pixi have managed to add a little extrasomething into the mix. It still manages to smell like a ‘real’ perfume, butretains that fresh fruit smell. It’s not sweet, but it’s simply delicious. Onfirst spray it almost smells a little like cut grass… so fresh and unusal. It’s also most definitely asummer scent, but I love it so much I really don’t care! I’m going to bewearing this all winter I think! The bottle is so plain and simple, I think it's quite chic.

The staying powerisn’t the best (considering it’s an Eau de Parfum) but it will give you a goodfew hours of wear.

Pixi also have twoother fragrances in the collection, each created for the founder Petra’ssisters. I’m not a huge fan of the other two (Rose and Mimosa) but I love the thought that has obviously gone intocreating the collection for her family…so sweet!

Pixi Fig is onlyavailable in 30ml Eau de Parfum, £24 in store and online. (It’s also availablein an oil roll on for some reason it doesn’t smell as good to me!)

Holographic Nails

2011-10-27T16:35:00.000+01:00

Ok, so I willreadily admit that I’m utterly obsessed with nail polish, but particularly sowith anything glittery and most of all with anything holographic. Holograhicpolishes used to be quite hard to come by but are slowly trickling into theshops more and more.

I thought I’d showyou four of my favourite holo polishes. Surprisingly enough, they’re actuallyall rather different.

The first isperhaps the hardest to get your hands on… GOSH’s Holographic is the only‘solid’ holographic polish I own. There are a few on the market (Swedish brandThe Make Up Store make a similar one I believe).

Two coats

It leaves a simplystunning effect on the nails but you’ll be lucky to get it to last more than 24hours without chipping, even with the best topcoat. Great for a night out, butinfuriating if you don’t want to have to repaint daily. I believe this polishis now discontinued, but there are usually a few on eBay.

Second up is Orly’sShine on Crazy Diamond.

Two coats over OPI Ridge Filler

More of a topcoat, the tiny glitter particles in thispolish go on very sheer, but you can layer it up for a more striking effect. Ilove this if you’re looking for a more subtle way of wearing holo! I got mineonline at feelunique.com for about £8.

One of the morerecent additions to my holo collection is Barry M’s 244 ‘Hologram Hexograms’. I’m notactually sure if this is new, or just not stocked in your average Superdrug asI had never seen it before spotting it last week on Topshop Oxford Circus.

Three coats

It’smore if a confetti, with huge hexagonal glitter chunks. Again, the glitterapplies very sheerly but you can build it up. I love this one for parties… Itwould be a perfect choice for New Year’s Eve! (£2.99 available online and in some stores)

Last but not least,the most recent addition to my collection, and my favourite of all the holoscomes in the form of Pop Beauty’s Aquatic Glitz.

Two coats

On a recent trip tothe Pixi boutique in Carnaby Street (Pop is Pixi’s sister-brand) I spottedPop’s selection of glitter polishes and was totally blown away. They have a fewvariations on this fine holo glitter polish, a slightly pink one, a golden oneand this blue-green variation.

It’s the only hologlitter that I’ve found which applies almost opaquely in just two coats. ButI’ll let the pictures do the talking…

Beautiful I’m sureyou’ll agree! These are only £6.50 too so if you’re in London I’d recommendtaking a peek (you can also order them online at PopBeauty.co.uk) I’m so in love withthis, the pink version is next on my wish list!

That’s enoughholographic awesomeness for one day I think… would love to hear any of yourrecommendations for more holographic polishes to add to my collection though!
Disclaimer: Gosh was a gift, I bought Orly & Barry M and Pop was a PR sample.

Nailed: Matte Peridot

2011-10-26T09:00:00.000+01:00

Continuing my obsession with matte nails for Autumn... I tried my Rimmel Pro matte top coat on top of Chanel Peridot the other day, and just look at the effect!

Peridot was a bit of a disappointment for me. I do love the shade, but it just doesn't look as pretty on the nails as it does in the bottle (check out my original nail of the day post here). Putting a matte topcoat over it however, seems to transform it into something quite special...

The gold tones really come out and it has an almost velvet finish... so beautiful.

It's not easy to get the finish perfect due to the combination of my poor condition nails, the thin Chanel polish and unforgiving matte topcoat, but I found OPI's Ridge Filler to help immensely.

I'm absolutely loving this look for Autumn.

Win Tickets to See KATY PERRY Live in Birmingham... TOMORROW

2011-10-25T14:33:00.000+01:00

Hello lovelies!

I have a bit of a last minute giveaway for you all! I'm hoping you won't mind as it's a truly fabulous one...

The lovely people at GHD have given me two VIP tickets to see Katy Perry live in concert at the NIA in Birmingham tomorrow evening (Wednesday 26th October)! All you have to do to win is head over to my Twitter page, follow me (if you aren't already!) and retweet these contest details by 6pm this evening!

Every person who retweets will be entered to win the pair of tickets, chosen at random.

The winner will be met at the venue by a member of the GHD team for a quick pampering session from the GHD pros before taking their VIP seats to watch the show!

Many thanks to the lovely people at GHD for the tickets! If you'd like to see more pictures of their lovely spokesmodel in action check out their website.

THE SMALL PRINT:
Please make sure you are available to attend before entering.
Retweets will only be counted once per Twitter account.
There will be one winner, who will receive the pair of tickets.
The Winner will be announced via Twitter shortly after 6pm this evening, full details will follow via email.
The tickets are CANNOT be resold.

New Makeup Line from LOOK Magazine: Best Bits & Swatches

2011-10-25T09:00:00.000+01:00

Weekly fashion and beauty magazine LOOK have launched their very own cosmetics line. It is currently only available in one store (Westfield, Stratford) but is very soon to be rolling out in to Superdrug stores across the UK. I was given the chance to test out the line this week and thought I'd share some first impressions with you all...

The line is quite large, with prices ranging from £4 to £18, including everything from basic mascaras, blushes, lipsticks, nail polishes and single eyeshadows to more unusual large eyeshadow trios and lipstick/lipgloss duos. The packaging is quite minimalistic and plain, but very large and chunky. If I'm honest, I don't like the packaging. It just feels bit cheap really, and while I'm a fan of the retro print designs that adorn the outer cardboard boxes, I don't like the plastic casing of most of the products, the cursive writing that is plastered on it, or the names of the products themselves.

The product range itself is very hit and miss. There are some real gems, which include the nail polishes (especially the gemstone 'sequin effect' and the super bright 'Neon' pink). They aren't the cheapest, at £5 each, but the quality seems good and there are some really cute colours.

The 'Make Me Blush' Blushes and 'Holiday Glow' Bronzers (Both £8) are also a real star product within the line.

They come in an array of different colours, the above two being my favourites (Rosy a shimmery, rosy pink, and Ibiza a light golden bronze).

They are nice, smooth powders (not chalky like some cheaper powder products) and the shades are very flattering.

left-right: Ibiza, Rosy

I was also particularly taken in by the 'La Luxe' Triple Hit baked eyeshadow trio (£7.50).

The payoff is good for a baked eyeshadow and I'm totally in love with the taupey/lilac shade on the left. I'm a sucker for colours like these, especially for the winter months.

Last but not least, my final pick from the line has to be the 'Toffee Cup' lipstick. The packaging is very similar to Burberry's; square casing with a magnetic closure.

The shade is a lovely, creamy nude. I do think these are a little on the steep side at £7, but they are much better quality than a lot of their high street counterparts.

Overall, there are definitely a few gems in this collection, but I have to say that they are in and amongst some shockers too! There are a few lip shades that I wouldn't wear for love nor money (think fluorescent bright pinks and purples!) and some rather questionable looking eyeshadow shades. In a way, I don't think the shades in this line have been as carefully thought out as they should have been, instead just providing an array of bright colours to catch your attention, but end up looking (but not actually being) cheap.

I'd recommend having a LOOK (pun totally intended) when this hits a store near you, but definitely proceed with caution!
Disclaimer: PR Samples

My All Time Favourite Conditioner Goes PINK!

2011-10-24T12:07:00.001+01:00

A little add-on to my Breast Cancer Awareness Month product favourites...

I just went onto feelunique.com to top up on a few bits and pieces and noticed that my all time favourite conditioning treatment from Joico (The Intense Hydrator) has gone PINK for breast cancer awareness too! (with £1 from every sale going to charity)

This is honestly the best hair treatment I've ever used. I actually use it as my conditioner every time I wash my hair (even though it's meant to be a treatment) It makes your hair so soft and silky, I would highly recommend it to anyone who has dry or damaged hair.

I've stocked up on this while it's 'pink' (it's also a bit cheaper on feelunique.com at £11.90 including delivery compared to the £13.95 RRP)
Disclaimer: I bought this

Chanel Christmas Collection 2011 (+Swatches!)

2011-10-21T19:58:00.000+01:00

You may have already seen the stunning promo image for this years Christmas Collection from Chanel? As soon as I layed eyes on the collection I knew it was a special one.

I'm not usually taken in by Christmas collections too much but this year Chanel have really hit the nail on the head in my opinion, and I think any beauty (or Chanel!) addict would be thrilled to find any of the 13 products in their Christmas Stocking!

The entire collection:

The lovely ladies at Chanel were kind enough to give me a couple of my favourite products from the collection to show you all, so without further ado... The stand out product from the line that everyone's talking (and blogging about!) is the Lumiere Sculptee highlighting powder (£46).

The powder comes in the classic Chanel compact with a tapered brush (on a side note, this is genuinely the best quality brush I've ever seen in a compact and a vast improvement from the Chanel compact brushes I've had in the past).

The intricate design carved into the powder was apparently inspired by a belt buckle worn my Coco Chanel in the 1930's. It reminds me of Aztec design and it's simply stunning in the pan.

I'm a sucker for almost any beautiful or gimmicky product like this, so I am pleased to say that the powder itself is actually a lovely product. It's quite chalky (Which you can see in the picture above), and because it's such a pale shade, I wouldn't recommend it to those with a medium or dark skintone. If you are pale however, it looks simply gorgeous on the skin, leaving a subtle, golden sheen.

Above: Upon application, Below: After Blending

I'm very hard to please with highlighters. I hate glitter on the cheeks, and am very wary of shimmer in general but this is very subtle and gives your complexion a very natural looking glow.

My second pick from the collection has got to be the Rouge Allure Lipstick in Famous (£24). I'm normally terrified of red lipsticks and tend to go for pinks so this is the perfect red for me. It's a bright and vibrant cherry hue with subtle fuschia shimmer, giving it an almost-pink look on the lips.

For me this actually outshines the Lumiere Sculptee. It is the clear gem of the collection and is simply perfect for the Christmas party season.

Wearing both products... (excuse the crazy hair! Just on the way to the hairdressers!)

The Chanel Christmas Collection will be on counters 4th November. Anything from this collection going on your Christmas list?

Fragrance Friday: Gilly Hicks Point Piper

2011-10-21T10:36:00.001+01:00

If you haven't yet discovered the Gilly Hicks store in Westfield London (White City), I'd highly recommend it. The womens-only sister brand to Abercrombie & Fitch stocks mainly underwear and lounge wear and I love it because the quality is akin to the Abercrombie clothing, without the ridiculous prices. I've shopped there quite frequently since it opened last year, but have only just discovered another side to the store... their fragrances.

I'm a huge fan of Abercrombie's signature mens fragrance Fierce, but haven't fallen for any of the women's fragrances from any brands under the Abercrombie umbrella, until now...

Gilly Hick's newest fragrance launch is 'Point Piper'. The first thing I noticed was the gorgeous bottle. It's actually very similar to the Elie Saab bottle (which I also love). It looks very neat and clean but feels very heavy and luxurious at the same time.

The scent itself is extremely fruity, but not overly 'immature'. It feels a little more grownup than your typicaly fruity scents, but remains fun and youthful with notes of pear, mandarin and guava flower. This is exactly the kind of scent I am drawn to and it's secured a firm place on my Christmas wish list this year! The Eau de Parfum only comes in 50ml and is priced at £38, available in Gilly Hicks in store and online. There is currently only one store in the UK (Westfield London, White City) but their second store in Cardiff is opening in December.
Disclaimer: I don't own this (yet!)

Eyeko Goes High End

2011-10-18T20:34:00.002+01:00

You may have heard about Eyeko's recent, rather drastic rebranding?

If not... the cutesy anime look has gone out the window, along with almost all of their product line. Eyeko decided to 'grow up' and put the emphasis on the 'Eye' in Eyeko, their first launch being in the form of a 'mascara wardrobe'.

If you were familiar with the old Eyeko, I'm sure the mascara will look familiar? That's because it's a re-vamped version of their bestselling 'Big Eyes' mascara.

Eyeko's old 'Big Eyes' Mascara

Now, I was never a huge fan of 'Big Eyes', I always found it a little wet for my liking and it tended to slick all of my lashes together as a result.

The mascara is now available with three different brushes: The Skinny Brush (for length) the Curvy Brush (for curl) and the Fat Brush (for volume). All come with a rather gimmicky 'Eyeko Sheild' (for any music buffs out there... it's a plectrum!) to help sheild your eyelids from unwanted mascara.

Skinny Brush, Curvy Brush, Fat Brush

The results given by the different brushes is shown below...

Without Mascara

Skinny Brush

Curvy Brush

Fat Brush

Firstly, I was happy to find that the formulation of the mascara has definitely improved. It's much less 'wet' and more of a standard mascara consistency. The application with the Skinny Brush wasn't easy due to the lack of bristles to help separate the lashes, but the Curvy Brush and Fat Brush were pleasant to apply.

Results-wise, I wasn't impressed with how the Skinny Brush made my lashes look, but the others were surprisingly good in comparison. I was especially impressed with the way the Curvy Brush made my lashes look. The staying power seems to be good, with very little smudging throughout the day. All in all, I'd give the Skinny Brush 4/10, the Fat Brush 6/10 and the Curvy Brush 7/10... Not bad!

Now for the blow. During Eyeko's 'revamp' they have had somewhat of a price jump... from £8.50 to £15. Yes, FIFTEEN pounds! Almost double the price. The mascara is good, but I just can't see myself paying this much for it. I think there are plenty of high street mascaras that perform better for a much lower price, and if I felt like splashing out on a product, I would expect higher quality packaging than this. Sorry Eyeko... I'm not convinced.

The Mascara Wardrobe is being sold exclusively in Harvey Nichols Beauty Hall, and on the Eyeko website.

Disclaimer: Press sample

Nailed: Revlon Facets of Fuchsia

2011-10-17T11:05:00.001+01:00

One of the most recent additions to my polish collection, I'm totally in love with Revlon's Facets of Fuchsia at the moment...

It's a semi-sheer black gel polish with a mixture of small and chunky fuchsia glitter.

The formulation is quite sheer at first, but I find most gel/glitter polishes to be like this. Two thick coats gives the effect shown in the photos. It's an almost perfect dupe for Deborah Lippmann's Bad Romance, which I don't actually own, but there are some great swatches online (click here if you want to check it out via alllaqueredup.com)

Just when I thought it couldn't get any better, I tried it out with a matte top coat... I'm really loving matte nails for Autumn this year, and this is a great way to wear them. A matte finish can make some polishes look a little flat, but the mixed glitter creates the illusion of depth and I think it looks stunning!

Revlon Facets of Fuschia is available now, £6.49.
Disclaimer: I bought this (and the top coat!)

Nanoblur: Worth The Hype?

2011-10-15T09:33:00.001+01:00

You may have heard about the latest anti-wrinke craze to hit the UK... Nanoblur claims to knock 10 years off in 40 seconds.

With a claim like that, supported by very impressive looking 'before and after' photos and a surprisingly low price tag of £19.99, I was determined to put it to the test...

The formulation of the product is similar to a silicone based primer, and it does contain silicones. The idea behind Nanoblur is that it contains minute light-scattering particles that effectively 'blur' out imperfections in the skin. It is a cosmetic treatment and doesn't claim to have long term anti-wrinkle improvement or prevention properties. You are instructed to apply it over foundation (if you wear foundation).

To put the product to the test, I asked my mum to step in as guinea pig. She's an skincare obsessive so, while a little reluctant to have her wrinkles scrutinised by the world... she couldn't resist the prospect of looking 10 years younger in 40 seconds.

Before After

I think '10 years younger' might be a little optimistic!

Having said that, there is a noticeable improvement in her skin tone and appearance of larger pores (especially on the forehead). Wrinkle-wise, it doesn't seem to make a difference to the deeper ones, but a lot of the finer lines appear diminished (forehead again, and a little around the eyes). It also has a mattifying effect on the skin.

Overall, it's most definitely not going to make you look 10 years younger, but it does make your skin look lovely. It's not Poly-filler, so won't fill in the deepest wrinkles, but it will give you better results than the majority of high end products out there, and with that... I'm very impressed.

I think this would be a great product for those of you who are concerned with large pores and/or the early signs of ageing as it does seem to diminish fine lines, uneven skin tone and visible pores.

Nanoblur is available now from Boots, £19.99 for 30ml.
*Disclaimer: Press sample.

Fragrance Friday: Forbidden Euphoria

2011-10-14T18:32:00.000+01:00

I've been meaning to try the latest release from Calvin Klein all month, so when I passed it in Boots this week I did an about-turn a had a little test...

Calvin Klein fragrances are a tricky one for me. They all seem to be overtly 'safe' scents... never offensive or unusual, always pleasant, classic and difficult not to like. While Euphoria is one of their more 'complex' scents, it's safe to say that it's little sister 'Forbidden Euphoria' doesn't break the mould.

If you've smelt the original Euphoria, you'll know it as a light fruity-floral with a subtle (slightly complex) woody base. Forbidden Euphoria is quite different from the original, the emphasis being taken from the floral side of things to seriously fruity.

It's a sweet, fresh scent with powerful top notes of Mandarin, Passion Flower and Raspberry. It dries down to reveal a slightly more sophisticated heart of florals (Peony, Tiger Orchid and Jasmine) and a hint of the subtle base from the original Euphoria with Cashmere Woods, Patchouli and Musk.

It really reminded me of another fragrance and, although it took me a while to work it out, I came to the conclusion that it smells very similar to Katy Perry's Purr. The plus side being that this bottle is actually rather lovely, especially when compared to Katy Perry's tacky jewelled-eye cat!

The staying power of the fragrance is surprisingly good. It's an Eau de Parfum and lingered on my wrist for a good 6 hours after I tried it.

Overall, it's nothing to shout from the rooftops about, but it's a nice fragrance and (as with most CK fragrances) would make a safe choice for a gift this Christmas. Available now, prices start at £33 for 30ml.
Disclaimer:I don't own this

Nailed: Deborah Lippmann Brick House

2011-10-13T15:43:00.000+01:00

Reds and oranges aren't normally shades I go for when it comes to nails, but something about Deborah Lippmann's Brick House has got me totally hooked.

I absolutely love this slightly metallic burnt red shade... it's almost a rust hue.

It is a bit of a mare to apply, as most metallic polishes seem to be. It's tricky to get a perfect finish, but if you use a good base coat (like OPI's Ridge Filler) you should be able to get a smooth opaque finish in two coats.

This is going to be one of my shade staples for the Autumn months. Available from House of Fraser, £14.

On a bit of a side note, Deborah Lippmann's polishes are all named after songs and this makes me love the colour even more...!

Disclaimer: Press Sample

Quick Shop Stop...

2011-10-13T15:09:00.000+01:00

I popped into Boots (and then Superdrug) yesterday to pick up a few essentials, and of course, I managed to get rather way-layed in the beauty section... more specifically, my eye caught on various sparkly nail polishes (such a magpie!)

The Essentials

Eucerin dry skin shampoo (the only thing I use on my sensitive scalp now - it's amazing!)
Hawaiian Spa Foamburst shower gel (bit of a throwback to the early naughties!)
Collection 2000 Lasting Finish concealer
Sally Hansen Insta-Dri top coat

The Polishes

Revlon 'Facets of Fuscia (Almost an exact dupe for Deborah Lippmann's Bad Romance)
Accessorize Molten Copper
NYC Lights-Camera-Glitter
Miss Sporty Black
Barry M Tangerine (for Halloween of course!)

Expect lots of NOTD posts coming your way soon!
Disclaimer: I bought these

Calling All Bloggers!

2011-10-12T20:26:00.002+01:00

If you have just started a blog and are looking for advice on how to nurture it's growth, or if you are already an established blogger and feel the need to start optimising your potential, then listen up!

Handpicked Media are holding an event just for you... 'Handpicked Media Gets Social' is a one day event dedicated to everything social media. It is being held on Monday 21st November at the Royal Institute of British Architects in London and sponsored by Shu Uemura, Kiehls and Biotherm amongst others (Click here for the full list of sponsors).

The day is designed to offer you some of the best advice on encouraging the growth of your blog and how best to engage and form relationships with brands, coming from industry professionals and bloggers alike. You can see the full schedule here, with highlights including Rebecca Miskin from Hearst discussing the future of print in an online world, Jane Cunningham (aka BritishBeautyBlogger) putting forward her 'rules of engagement' for PRs and Bloggers and a session with Garry Davis focused on improving your blog traffic.

There will also be two blogger panel sessions discussing anything and everything you want to know about the blogging world: one for Fashion blogging and the other for Beauty. I'm very excited (and flattered!) to be taking part in the latter, along with the lovely Jen Riley from ABeautyJunkieinLondon, Emma from TheBeautyButton and Lee Kynaston aka 'TheGroomingGuru'.

The event is open to bloggers and agencies alike, so the day will also be the perfect opportunity to meet and get to know fellow bloggers, and network with brands.

If you'd like to attend, you can purchase tickets here (priced at £75 per person). I do however, have two tickets to giveaway to any budding bloggers out there. All you need to do to be in with a chance of winning is to leave a comment on this post telling me why you'd like to attend, and include a link to your blog. I will pick the winners based on their answers and blog content, and will announce them on the 20th October.

Entry closes on 19th October midnight GMT. One comment per blog entry please. Please ensure you are free to attend on the 21st November before you enter! (it's in the daytime). Image: graur codrin / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Lip Lust: Max Factor Bewitching Coral

2011-10-11T11:33:00.000+01:00

I don't normally fall for brights, but something about Max Factor's Bewitching Coral makes it so easy to wear.

It's one of Max Factor's new Colour Elixir lipsticks and the formulation is so lovely (think MAC Cremesheen, but lighter). It feels really moisturising on the lips and has amazing staying power. The packaging reminds me of the Estee Lauder Pure Colour lipsticks, but these are a lot more affordable, at £7.99 each.

I've been reaching for this a lot recently when I feel like wearing a bright, but don't feel comfortable with a red or fuschia (perfect for a lipstick 'wimp' like me!)
Disclaimer: Press Sample

Moment of Mouse Madness?

2011-10-10T10:16:00.001+01:00

I can't decide if I'm going a little mad, but I saw these in Selfridges last week and have since been unable to stop g-oogling them online...

The original Marc Jacobs mouse pumps were super cute, but these are fierce little rodents! What do you think girls? yay or nay?
Disclaimer: I don't own these

Fragrance Friday: Angel Eau de Toilette

2011-10-07T16:33:00.000+01:00

Theirry Mugler's Angel is like Marmite. You either love it or hate it. I loved it, and wore it religiously when I was a teenager, but something about the uber-sweet, instantly recognisable gormand scent became a little sickly over the years. I still like the smell, but wouldn't wear it today.

I was therefore intrigued to hear that Thierry Mugler has released a new version of the classic scent 'Angel Eau de Toilette'. The fragrance re-tweeking comes complete with a new bottle design and new face, the latter being Eva Mendes (who joined the brand this summer to replace Naomi Watts.)

The bottle is in the shape of a comet, still featuring Thierry Mugler's signature multi-faceted star. I have to admit, I prefer the plain star shaped bottle of the Eau de Parfum, but I much prefer the newly-tweaked fragrance.

If you're expecting something distinctly different to the original, you're going to be disappointed. This version is very similar, at first spray I thought they hadn't changed a thing, but it dries down to a slightly more subtle variant on the original.

The patchouli and vanilla notes aren't as overpowering and they've added a few interesting notes into the mix too, including praline and pink peppercorn. The result is a slightly lighter, smoother and easier to wear take on the original Angel EDP.

It still has great staying power (despite being Eau de Toilette) and you still only need one or two sprays... it's powerful stuff! Not cheap at £46 for 40ml, but the bottle is refillable.

A must try if you used to (or still do!) love Angel EDP. Available now.

*I'm trying to get a bit more of a schedule going for my blog, so I've decided to designate fridays to fragrance... if that's alright with you of course?*
Disclaimer: I don't own this

Wedding Belles!

2011-10-06T10:47:00.001+01:00

This post has been a long time in themaking...

My brother got married almost a month ago, on September 10th, and I was given the (rather scary!) responsibility of doing the makeup. I thought you might be interested to seewhat I used on the day, and of course some of the pictures of the beautiful bride and her bridesmaids (myself included!)

When I laid the products out on the floorto take this picture it actually looked like a lot of products, but the lookswe went for on the day were very natural, classic ‘bridal’ looks.

Firstly, for the bride…

Left-right, Top-bottom: RMK Primer, GeorgioArmani Fluid Sheer in Pale Shimmering Rose, Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua in B30,Sonia Kashuk Hidden Agenda Concealer Palette, Bare Minerals Original MineralVeil, Urban Decay Eyelash Curlers, Sleek Contour Kit in Light (I only used thecontour shade), Stila Kitten Highlighting duo, MAC blush in Desert Rose, UrbanDecay Primer Potion, MAC Brow Set, Smashbox Brow Tech in Brunette, Bobbi BrownGel Eyeliner in Espresso Ink, NARS Eyeshadow in Ashes to Ashes, MAC Eyesahdowsin Orb, Naked Lunch, Omega and Embark, Estee Lauder Crystal Baby Lipstick, MACCreamsheen Glass in Deelight, YSL Touche Eclat (2), YSL Effet Faux Cils Mascarain black, Estee Lauder Sumptuous waterproof mascara in black (for the bottomlashes!), Skindinavia setting spray for Oily skin, A selection of brushes fromMAC, Royal & Langnickel Sigma, Smashbox and BH Cosmetics.

A closer look at some of the shades...

Left-right: NARS Ashes to Ashes, MAC Orb, Naked Lunch, Omega & Embark, Bobbi Brown Espresso Ink, MAC Desert Rose, STILA Kitten Highlighter, Estee Lauder Crystal Baby, MAC Deelight.

The Bride (didn't she look beautiful?!) I know this picture is in black and white, but it was just so pretty...

For the Bridesmaids…

Left-Right, Top-Bottom: Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua in various shades,Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel, Benefit Sugarbomb, BareMinerals Original mineralveil, Skindinavia setting spray (various formulations), Urban Decay PrimerPotion in Sin, Urban Decay Eyelash Curlers, Georgio Armani Eyes to Kill IntenseSilk eyeshadows in Khaki Pulse (6) and Rock Sand (9), Georgio Armani Eyes toKill Mascara, Georgio Armani Smooth Silk eyeliner in Black, MAC Carboneyeshadow, Chanel Rouge Coco Shine Lipstick in Boy, A selection of brushes fromMAC, Royal & Langnickel Sigma, Smashbox and BH Cosmetics.

A closer look...

Clockwise from left: Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel, Benefit Sugarbomb, Urban Decay Primer Potion in Sin, Armani Eyes to Kill Intense in 9 and 6, MAC Carbon, Chanel Boy

Left-right: Urban Decay primer potion in Sin, Armani Eyes to Kill Intense Silk eyeshadows in 9 and 6, Bobbi Brown Espresso Ink Gel Eyeliner, Benefit Sugarbomb, Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel, Chanel Boy.

My cheeky nephew, Spike!

The happy couple...

We all had such a fabulous day, and I don't think I've ever seen the bride and groom look so happy!

There is one thing I hate about weddings though... They seem to go so quickly! I never wanted the day to end and it went by in a flash!

Disclaimer: I bought most of the products shown, some were press samples

Lip Lust: NARS Pago Pago

2011-10-05T11:42:00.002+01:00

This post is the first in a new series of 'Lip Lust', showing you my favourite lipsticks of the moment... (I'm going to try and post weekly but I'm awful at schedules so we'll see how it goes!)

First up is NARS' Pago Pago from the new A/W 2011 collection. A beautiful flesh tone shade with subtle glitter. I love the scent of NARS lipsticks... very distinctive, yet subtle.

The glitter in this makes the formulation a little drier than usual so I recommend using a lip balm underneath.

The perfect no fuss everyday shade with a bit of a twist... LOVE it.
*Press Sample

Tired Feet?

2011-10-01T08:12:00.000+01:00

I had the chance to take a sneaky peek at anew line of body products being launched by Berkeley Square Cosmetics this week. The line is inspired by the royal ballet, and the packaging adornedwith the beautiful Royal Ballet dancer Olivia Cowley.

One particular product from the line stoodout to me and I thought I should share it with you all (especially any fellowhigh heel lovers out there!)

The line has been designed with the balletdancers in mind, and therefore to help keep their skin in tip-top form while itis being put through the most rigorous of physical challenges. They’vetherefore blended Arnica, a natural remedy used on bruises and to help healmuscles, into their Hand & Foot Cream and I think it’s a brilliant idea!

The cream is totally non-greasy and smellslovely. I’ll definitely be using this on my sore tootsies next time I’m out andabout in heels all day.

The Berkeley Square Royal Ballet collectionis available now, priced from £12-£18. Check www.bsquare.co.ukfor stockists.

Think Pink! for Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2011

2011-09-30T10:00:00.000+01:00

With October (and Breast Cancer Awareness Month) soon upon us, I thought I'd show you my selection of the best 'pink' products on sale to raise money for Breast Cancer Care this year.

If you're not familiar with Breast Cancer Awareness month... it's a whole month of fundraising and helping to raise awareness for breast cancer charities. Lots of brands make limited edition 'pink' products for the month with proceeds going to the cause. Some of them are treats, but there are also a lot of everyday products that have 'gone pink' for this great cause so keep your eyes peeled when you're next topping up on essentials!

My top picks this year include...

Estee Lauders Pure Shine lipstick in Lavish Pink and this cute little mini makeup bag will be on sale for £18.50 this month, with £5 from every purchase donated. It's a gorgeous shimmery pink, available at all Estee Lauder counters.

A staple in many of your bathrooms I'm sure... Palmer's original Cocoa Butter Formula (250ml) has gone pink for the occasion, with 30p of the £3.67 RRP being donated.

Aveda's Hand Relief hand cream. They've bumped up the size to 150ml and adorned the tube with the pink ribbon. £2 of the £17.50 RRP will go to the charity.

The classic Cherry Chapstick has had a pink makeover, with 20p from the £2.49 duo pack going to charity.

My personal favourite from the lineup... £5 from every sale of Jo Malone's new Red Roses hand and body wash will go straight to charity (RRP £30).

The perfect present for any October birthdays, Elemis 'Think Pink' Beauty Kit contains 30ml of their cult Pro-Collagen Marine Cream, 15 ml Pro-Collagen Lifting Neck & Bust Treatment, 50ml Nourishing Shower Cream, all packaged in a cute pink cube bag. The kit will set you back £29.99, with proceeds going towards Elemis' guaranteed £10,000 donation to the cause.

One of my must-have hair tools, the Tangle Teezer, is also donating to the charity, with £1.54 from the sale of every £10.20 pink version of the brush going straight to charity.

Perhaps the most generous donation of all comes from QVC, who are donating all their proceeds from the sale of two limited edition 'pink' products this year:

The OPI Perfect Pink Collection (£18.93)

The Bare Escentuals 'In The Pink' set (£21.75)

If you fancy something non-beauty related, Elizabeth Arden's pink ribbon pin is even more gorgeous this year, with one tiny blue stone on the ribbon representing the 1% of men who are diagnosed with breast cancer. It's £10 and all of the proceeds go to the cause. Available at Estee Lauder counters.

It's also worth keeping your eyes open during your weekly grocery shop this month! Many everyday items have gone pink for this great case including...

(All with various donations to BCC throughout the month of October)

I hope you'll all be purchasing pink this month and 'doing your bit' for breast cancer awareness! There are so many pink products on sale this month, I couldn't include them all but keep your eyes peeled!

The One that Couldn't Get Away...

2011-09-28T07:09:00.000+01:00

I generally avoided anything 'London Fashion Week' on my blog this season.

As the #LFW hashtag overloaded my Twitter feed and trend reports dominated inbox last week, I thought you guys might feel a little overloaded too, so I made an effort to post about non-fashion-week-related nonsense. There was however, one email so cute, I had to post about it (even if it is a week late!). So here it is... my one and only LFW post:

These cute-as-a-button nail wraps from Nail Rock were exclusively designed for the Meadham Kirchhoff show.

They adorned the nails of the models and were given to front row guests.

I'm not really a huge fan of nail wraps anymore, I think they were a little 'overdone' but it's amazing to see something new and I'm hoping this style of cutesy nail art is going to be an upcoming nail trend next spring/summer and a sign of things to come in the nail wrap world (I don't know about you, but I'm so bored of zebra stripes and checkers now!)

On a side note, there was one odd ball in the pack...

Is it just me or...? Nope, that's a fanny.

Note to Nail Rock: you need to put these into production!

Freebie Alert: Ojon Swapsies!

2011-09-27T07:00:00.000+01:00

For one day only, Ojon are giving you the chance to swap an empty bottle of your old shampoo or conditioner for a set of full-size (250ml) Ojon Damage Reverse shampoo and conditioner, worth £41.50!

All you have to do is take your empty bottle (it doesn't matter what size it is, or what brand!) into any John Lewis store that stocks Ojon products this Thursday 29th September.

I haven't tried the line yet so can't comment on it's performance, but I'll definitely be heading down to my local John Lewis on Thursday!

Free products are limited to one set per customer, while stocks last. For a full list of John Lewis stores that stock Ojon, click here.

It's Here! Urban Decay Book of Shadows Volume IV: Swatched.

2011-09-26T16:56:00.001+01:00

After all of the online anticipation leaking over from it's recent launch in the States... the Urban Decay Book of Shadows Vol. IV finally launches in the UK this week and I managed to get my mitts on one to show you ahead of it hitting the shops this Saturday.

The latest Book of Shadows is bigger and better than any of it's predecessors. Vol. IV brings you into the virtual dimension of beauty, allowing you to scan unique QR codes on your smart phone to access 5 different makeup tutorials based around the 16 eyeshadows, liquid eyeliner, mascara and primer potion that make up the kit.

It comes with a mini portable speaker and audio cable to plug into your phone, and a special cradle to hold your phone next to the built in mirror, allowing you to create the 5 looks even more easily!

I have to say I'm totally taken by this show of gadgetry. I love the novelty value of this palette, but if you're not interested in the gimmicky side of things... as expected from Urban Decay, the makeup doesn't disappoint either.

Ten of the sixteen shades are totally new and exclusive to the Book of Shadows Vol. IV, two previously only available in other limited edition palettes and four classic shades from the permanent collection.

New Shades: HiJack, Missionary, Bender, Crystal, Lost, Blue Bus, Gravity, Bust, Midnight Rodeo, Zephyr
Previously Limited Edition Shades: Cobra, Skimp
Permanent Collection: Baked, Sin, Midnight Cowgirl, Gunmetal

There is a lovely selection of brights vs. neutrals (Urban Decay are often guilty of doing either/or!).

Most of the eyeshadows have lovely pigmentation and texture, as you'd expect from Urban Decay. Bust, Missionary, Hijack and Lost (all of which are new to this palette!) being the stand out shades for me.

Left to right: Blue Bus, Gunmetal, Cobra, Baked, Bender, Gravity, Lost, Hijack

Left to right: Midnight Cowgirl, Sin, Midnight Rodeo, Crystal, Bust Missionary, Skimp, Zephyr

Two of the new shades didn't meet my high expectations of Urban Decay eyeshadows though... Blue Bus and Crystal both look beautiful in the pan but are really quite sheer upon application. The texture of Crystal also leaves a lot to be desired. It's very hard in the pan and difficult to work with.

The permanent shades included are some of my all time favourites from Urban Decay. I use Sin and Baked on a regular basis in my other palettes, so they make a welcome addition to this one.

As for the rest of the goodies? It's good to see a little change with the inclusion of a 24/7 liquid liner instead of the usual 24/7 pencil liners.

The mini mascara and primer potion make a lovely addition to the kit, especially if you're travelling.

Overall, I'm seriously impressed by this palette.

Yes, the tutorials are a gimmick... Yes, the Naked palette is better for everyday... but in my opinion it's the best mixture of day to nightime shades we've seen in a Book of Shadows yet, and it's fun! At £46 It's a bit more pricey than its predecessors, but definitely one to add to your Christmas lists! I'm pretty sure any girl would be happy to find this in her stocking.

The Urban Decay Book of Shadows Vol. IV will be available in Debenhams and House of Fraser stores from the 1st October priced at £46, or buy it online HERE (with free delivery).
*Press Sample

Jimmy Choo Mk.2

2011-09-25T11:54:00.002+01:00

When Jimmy Choo launched their first fragrance, simply entitled 'Eau de Parfum' last year, it received rave reviews from just about everyone... except me. Something about the scent was just a little too sickly-sweet for my liking, but since most people seemed to love it, I thought you might like to hear that they are now launching a limited edition, intensified version of the scent: Jimmy Choo 'Parfum' which will be available in stores next week.

The bottle is a stunning semi-metal creation, and the perfume is a deep amber shade instead of the original baby pink. The new version is a more intense adaptation of the original. Keeping the same notes of tiger orchid, pear nectar, orange, toffee and patchouli but with a 20 per cent concentration of pure perfume, it will smell stronger and last longer.

If you're a fan of the original I'm sure you'll have your eyes on this. Until you see the price tag... This 40ml bad boy will set you back £98.

A little steep? I think so.

Bottega Veneta Eau de Parfum

2011-09-23T10:00:00.000+01:00

I got the chance to try Bottega Veneta's highly anticipated debut fragrance today, and I hated it. When you first spray it the scent is harsh, somewhat obnoxious to the senses and it made me instantly wrinkle my nose...

Once it settled however, it transforms into a smooth, chic and sophisticated scent that has all the makings of a classic. What started as a harsh affront to the senses mellows into a leathery yet subtly floral concoction with a slight peppery hint to it. It's warm, spicy and the perfect choice for winter.

It's one of those perfumes that you can't stop smelling it once you spray it on your wrist. It's simply intriguing.

The bottle design is very simple and classic, with a tiny band of leather running around the neck of the bottle. Beautiful.

The ad campaign with Nina d'Urso is equally as chic.

Bottega Veneta collaborated with photographer Bruce Weber to create the ad campaign and the below videos to accompany it... simply beautiful (although I must admit that the second did make my eyes go funny!)

Available in Eau de Parfum only, starting at £42 for 30ml. It is available now. I'd thoroughly recommend trying this out next time you venture into a perfume hall.

100% Pure

2011-09-22T10:00:00.000+01:00

When I heard about 100% Pure, a makeup line made with 100% natural ingredients and formulated with fruit and vegtable pigments, I loved the idea but was hugley sceptical about the performance of the products.

They sent me a few products to try out recently and I was blown away by the quality of them!
The eyeshadows are particularly impressive: buttery smooth with lovely pigmentation. Fig is my favourite shade, a gorgeous grey-brown with purple/gold micro shimmer.

The packaging is nice and sturdy. I especially like the purple metal packaging of the bronzer and the mirror in the lid, although the colour is a little orange for me...

L-r: Bronzer in Brown Sugar, Eyeshadows in Flax Seed, Fig and Cocoa Plum.

The line isn't cheap with eyeshadows at £12 and the bronzer at £21, but they're a great choice for any eco-warriors out there, or if you're concerned about putting so many chemicals on your skin. Check out the rest of the line at www.100percentpure.co.uk.
*Press Sample