Monday 8 December 2014

Gift Guide: L'Occitane Arlesienne Collection!







Hey Beauty Lovers! This Christmas L'Occitane has launched a new collection for those who like all things feminine, available from 1st November 2014. Arlesienne is a gorgeously scented line that was inspired by a mythical woman from the town of Arles in South France. She was the essence of beauty and was captured in Van Gough, Picasso and Bizet's paintings. This scent is distinctly feminine with its combination of three precious flowers: a fiery saffron flower, a majestic rose, and playful violet. I would describe the scent as floral, sexy and fresh with a hint of comforting warmth. 

LOVE

Monday 1 December 2014

Gift Guide: Redken All Soft Gift Set



Hey Beauts! After taking a bit of a blogging break I am now officially back. Had a pretty busy summer and autumn, sorting out personal matters... Moving out of my old shoe-box apartment in Hampstead was a big thing. Sometimes it's hard to let go of the old, but then you realise when old goes new comes. Soon after my then boyfriend got on one knee and popped the question. We are now engaged, just in time for Christmas! So it's been very exciting six months of my life. Love does happen in the end, you just got to keep believing in it. And now I am ready to come back to full-time beauty blogging.


So I decided what would be a better time to get back into things than Christmas! I picked up this Redken All Soft Gift Set from my Trevor Sorbie salon in good old Hampstead, where I still go to get my hair done. I was just going to get the shamp & condi, but they had these lovely gift sets which also includes a mascara, who can say no to that?! Redken All Soft is my personal favourite range, it makes the hair look beautifully soft and at the same time gives it a nice volume. Not to mention the absolutely divine apricot scent!


LOVE

Wednesday 11 June 2014

Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration Face SPF 30!



Hey Beauty Lovers! Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration Face SPF 30 Protective Sun Lotion - is a mouthful to pronounce yet makes a neat bottle to keep in your beach bag this summer! I have been swayed by Hawaiian Tropic sun protective products this year, have never tried them before and now I am absolutely loving just about everything about them: texture, skincare properties, scent and price! What's great about this facial Protective Sun Lotion is that it keeps your skin moisturised but it's oil free and feels very light on the skin, it's also great as a make-up primer. Another plus point is that it's very water resistant, which means you won't need to reapply it as often. The delicious coconut scent makes you want to find the nearest beach and just relax!

LOVE

Tuesday 10 June 2014

L'Oreal Wave Creating Spray!



Hey Beauty Lovers! The new L'Oreal Wave Creating Spray is a heat protective spray, which activates waves on straight hair when it comes in contact with heat. It is perfect for that bohemian relaxed beach wave hair. Wave Creating Spray adds a texture to the hair without that crunchy feel that some salt sprays can do. For best results spray the product on damp hair and blow-dry half way, then create two or more topknots and blow-dry further and as a final step finish blow-drying the hair while scrunching the waves upwards. It's he quickest way of creating beach wave hair without a curling tong. I find the hair looks even better the night after it's slept on, gives you that sexy Brigitte Bardot bed-hair.


LOVE

Monday 9 June 2014

Moroccanoil Treatment Review!



Hey Beauty Lovers! Moroccanoil Treatment is probably the most talked about and loved haircare amongst all beauty and hair professionals. Moroccanoil Treatment is an Argan oil that deeply nourishes and hydrates hair, while replenishing lost proteins for strength. It's also rich in fatty acids and omega-3 oils for that beautiful natural healthy and shiny hair. Can be used on damp hair and dry hair, when applying it concentrate on mid-length and especially the ends and remember a few drops go a long way! The scent of Moroccanoil hair products is very rich and luxurious. It's hard to pick up what exactly the scent is, but I think there is jasmine and rose amongst other notes, whatever it is it leaves the hair smell luscious.


LOVE

Friday 6 June 2014

Hawaiian Tropic Shimmer Effect SPF 25!



Hey Beauty Lovers! I have never been the one for shimmer when it comes to body products, however I have been converted by Hawaiian Tropic Shimmer Effect Protective Sun Lotion 25 SPF. The more tan you get the more flattering it looks, the bronze shimmer highlights the fresh tan and gives you that bronze goddess skin. The sunshine makes the sheen looks gorgeous, while leaving skin hydrated even after exposure to the sun. Hawaiian Tropic delicious coconut scent makes the sun protective lotion application so much more fun!


LOVE

Thursday 5 June 2014

SkinCeuticals Clarifying Clay Masque!





Hey Beauty Lovers! As far as a clay facial goes this one gets top points! SkinCeuticals Clarifying Clay Masque has deep purifying properties without that super drying and pulling of the skin, which clay masques are renowned for. This clay masque however feels very gentle on the skin while lifting impurities and declogging pores leaving the skin look polished and clear. I have an oily/combo skin type that is also acne prone, and generally clay facials tend to break me out as they pull all the impurities to the surface, however I have no break-outs to report after this clay masque! 

Natural earth clay is combined with a hydroxy acid, together they work on exfoliating the skin and balancing the oils. A large almond size is enough to cover the face and neck thinly, leave it to dry for 10-15 minutes then gently wash off with a face cloth and warm water. This clay facial masque was designed for all skin types and can be used up to two times a week.


LOVE

Wednesday 4 June 2014

Minute Make-Up: Bright Lip!




Hey Beauty Lovers! Sometimes a gal only has a minute to go, which makes it a little challenging when it comes to beauty, however a bright lipstick can easily save the day! Make sure you have a good base to start with, use a light to medium coverage foundation and quickly conceal any imperfections - any bright lipstick will pull the red [spots, fresh acne scars] on your skin, making them stand out more. The aim is a flawless dewy/glowy fresh looking skin. 

A little trick when going for a nothing-on-the-eye look + bright lip combo is to inject a touch of a similar lip colour tone on the cheeks. So if your lip colour has a warm-tone go for a warm-tone blush, vice versa if it's a blue-tone pink lip colour go with a cool-tone pink blush. In this case I'm wearing one of my top fave bright Topshop Lipstick shades, which is Infrared [orange red] - combined with bareMinerals Ready Blush in The One [warm peachy pink].

LOVE

Tuesday 3 June 2014

Moroccanoil Restorative Hair Mask



Hey Beauty Lovers! Lately I have been on a Moroccanoil kick. There is just something about Moroccanoil haircare that makes hair look so pretty, the way it falls, the shape it takes. Restorative Hair Mask is a deep treatment that hydrates hair making it look healthy and shiny. Just apply it for a few minutes on mid-lengths and tips avoiding the roots as with any hydrating mask and then rinse off.

LOVE

Monday 2 June 2014

Cosmetics a la Carte Fresh & Clear Cleanser



Hey Beauty Lovers! Cosmetics a la Carte Fresh & Clear Cleanser is enriched with Vitamin C, which lifts impurities and unclogs pores leaving skin looking clear and super smooth. It's a creamy cleanser with tiny grains that have exfoliating properties. After massaging the cleanser into the skin I love to wash it off with a muslin cloth for further exfoliation, which leaves skin feeling fresh and looking bright!

LOVE

Friday 30 May 2014

Too Faced Chocolate Bar: Amaretto Look





Hey Beauty Lovers! Still pretty obsessed with the Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette. This is the only eyeshadow palette I have been using for weeks non stop - going through all of the eyeshadows, which is a pretty rare case. I have found a combo that I particularly enjoy wearing if I'm going for a vampy copper smokey eye. MAC Paint Pot in Constructivist makes a great base for the Amaretto eyeshadow shade from this palette.


LOVE

Thursday 29 May 2014

On-Trend: Crossed Nail Art!





Nails Inc Gel Effect Polish in Downtown + BarryM Matte Nail Polish in Espresso


Hey Beauty Lovers! Here is a quick way to bring an edge to your pink tips. Crosses never go out of style and they are easy to create, either go for a multiple design or just a singular cross. The crosses don't need to be perfect as they are dotted on in an easy manner. You can use a fine dotting tool or an artist's brush. To create this look I applied two coats of Nails Inc Gel Effect Polish in Downtown and then dotted the crosses on using BarryM Matte Nail Polish in Espresso. Espresso dries matte so you can leave it like that or if you prefer glossy finish go over with a topcoat. 

LOVE

Wednesday 28 May 2014

L'Oreal Hot & Smooth Hot Curl Spray!



Hey Beauty Lovers! L'Oreal Hot Curl Spray is the perfect hair styling product that creates natural easy wave on straight hair. It's a heat protecting spray combined with curl definition and anti frizz control. The way I like to use it is simply spraying it over damp hair and scrunching the hair slightly while quickly blow-drying it. The natural beachy wave stays a good few days. Equally it can be used with curling tongs for extra curl definition.


LOVE

Tuesday 27 May 2014

ByTerry CC Lumi-Serum Review!



Hey Beauty Lovers! ByTerry Cellularose Brightening CC Lumi-Serum is a CC [colour control] serum, which penetrates epidermis with hydrating and corrective properties. This CC serum is a beautifying skincare, a very lux one at that. The Soft-Focus Micro-Spheres defuse light, which helps to blur imperfections such as enlarged pores, giving you that flawless base with a youthful radiance. As one expects from ByTerry skincare it is packed with amazing ingredients: the rejuvenating formula in enriched with White Roses Native Cells, combined with cell renewing Brightening Agent and anti-free radical Vitamin E. It makes a beautiful foundation primer and if you love rose scented skincare you will be undoubtedly addicted to this serum!

LOVE 

Monday 26 May 2014

Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Shampoo & Conditioner!



Hey Beauty Lovers! My current choice of shampoo and conditioner are these two. Moroccanoil is a high end haircare range moistly known for their Moroccanoil Treatment, which is a nourishing and deeply hydrating oil and it's also one of their ultimate best-sellers. Hence why most good hair salons stock their products. On the first trial of the Moisture Repair Shampoo & Conditioner I knew I was hooked. Without an additional hair mask my hair felt like it had an intense hydrating salon treatment. Hair felt and looked super smooth, healthy and shiny, but at the same time it kept a nice shape and looked super pretty. So I'm definitely on it!

LOVE

Friday 23 May 2014

L'Occitane Jenipapo Shower Oil & Body Lotion!



Hey Beauty Lovers! Last week I have featured the new L'Occitane Made In Brazil collection, so if you haven't seen it yet click here! This Jenipapo duo is my choice of shower gel and body lotion for this summer! This Shower Oil has a luxurious texture, when it comes in contact with water the oil transforms into a milky foamy solution that is super moisturising and helps to keep the skin soft and nourished especially when exposed to the sun during summer. To inject more moisture into the skin it has matching Body Lotion, which also has hydrating properties. The Jenipapo scent is incredibly super addictive, it's a delicious concoction of water melon and pina colada - making it the perfect summer scent!!


LOVE

Thursday 22 May 2014

Trevor Sorbie Salon: Getting Highlights Done!







Hey Beauty Lovers! It's been almost five months since I had my highlights done and so I booked in the appointment earlier today, usually I go every 3-5 months depending on how the colour is holding up. I've been getting them done for years at my local Trevor Sorbie salon in Hampstead by Travis who is an amazing colourist! I tend to have long gaps between getting highlights done, firstly it's not as damaging as bleaching your hair every couple of months and secondly I love the look of dark roots. When the highlights are done well the transition from light to dark doesn't look harsh and it becomes a completely different look adding a bit of an edge. For my length of hair the whole thing including a blow-dry  takes almost four hours.

LOVE

Wednesday 21 May 2014

On-Trend: Matte Nails with Polkadots Nailart!







Nails Inc Latex Effect in Camden Passage + Essie in Blanc


Hey Beauty Lovers! It's been a while since I did some nailart looks, so here is a simple way of adding an accent to basic nude nails. As a base colour I went for the new Nails Inc Latex Effect nailpolish in Camden Passage, applying two coats - make sure the second is generous for a smooth finish. Then using a fine artist's brush I have created little dots with Essie Blanc. Glossy white over matte nude makes a chic combo!


LOVE

Tuesday 20 May 2014

Nails Inc Latex Effect in Camden Passage!







Hey Beauty Lovers! As mentioned the other week I have enjoyed wearing the new Nails Inc Latex Effect nailpolish! I have already featured the shade Bermondsey Street, if you'd like to see swatches click here! Camden Passage is a super chic nude, which dries to a smooth matte texture that is reminiscent of latex. It's a fresh concept and I love the finish!


LOVE

Monday 19 May 2014

Too Faced Chocolate Bar Look #2: Plum Smokey Eye!







Hey Beauty Lovers! After featuring the Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette last week I have been dipping my eyeshadow brush into it quite a lot trying out different looks. Here is a metallic plum smokey eye that I have created by applying the shade Amaretto all over the eyelid as well taking it under the lower lashes, blending it together with a black kohl eyeliner. That is pretty much the only eyeshadow I am wearing on the lid, and as a highlighter I applied White Chocolate on the brow-bone. It's a very simply but sophisticated and chic way of wearing a smokey eye. I absolutely adore the texture of these eyeshadows, they are incredibly smooth and super bendable!

LOVE

Saturday 17 May 2014

Spring/Summer 2014 Scents at Yardley!



Hey Beauty Lovers! The essence of spring and summer is the scent. Fresh and uplifting florals tend to linger beautifully on sun-kissed skin. If you are a fashionista that likes to mix up vintage with contemporary you might really like the super affordable Yardley Jade fragrance, inspired by the 60s and iconic fashion models of that era like Twiggy and Jean Shrimpton. Jade encapsulates modern green floral bouquet notes:

         Top: Fruity, aromatic green notes of peach, bergamot and galbanum.
        Heart: An airy floral bouquet of rose, jasmine, ylang-ylang and orris.
Base: Delicately wrapped up in patchouli, sandalwood and moss.

Also new for spring 2014, Yardley has launched the floral Bath & Body Collection in three refreshing scents. In each of the scents you get a Moisturising Body Wash, Hydrating and Enriching Body Lotion and Nourishing Hand & Nail Cream:

Uplifting Daisy - A dewy fresh green fragrance opening with a burst of fresh green leaves and apple, with a heart of hyacinth and white rose, enhanced with warm base notes of sandalwood and musk. Energising Peony - A modern fruity floral fragrance with top notes of fresh green leaves, complemented at its heart by a combination of peony flower, red currant, geranium and heliotrope with undertones of warm amber. Invigorating Blue Orchid - An exotic scent opening with a mix of fresh juicy fruits: mango, orange and red currant with a floral, sensual heart blending water lily, bluebell and vanilla orchid, with warm woody base notes of cedarwoods, mahogany and tonka bean.


LOVE

Friday 16 May 2014

Nails Inc Latex Effect in Bermondsey Street!







Hey Beauty Lovers! Being a true nailpolish junkie I am super excited about this new launch! Nials Inc have taken the inspiration from the pastel blues at Peter Pilotto, dusky pinks at Burberry, hot pinks at Victoria Beckham, and of course the trending nude nails from the SS14 runway shows - creating this new Nails Inc Latex Effect range in four shades. Camden Passage [nude], Portobello Road [petal pink], Bermondsey Street [aqua], and Shoreditch High Street [hot pink]. Latex Effect dries to a smooth rubberised matte finish. You will have to work really fast with this nailpolish range because it dries über quick. My fave shade from this range has to be Bermondsey Street, which is a super cute teal!


LOVE

Thursday 15 May 2014

L'Occitane Made In Brazil Summer 2014 Collection!

 



 



 L'Occitane Skincare Room in Covent Garden






Hey Beauty Lovers! This summer L'Occitane is taking us to Brazil!! Made In Brazil collection encapsulates the beauty of Brazilian nature focusing on the beautifully fragrant water lilies from the Amazon river and the exotic jenipapo fruit tree from The Cerrado region. Vitoria Regia Day Flower and Vitoria Regia Night Flower fragrance scent are derived from the same flower known in Brazil as 'Queen of the Waters'. Its beautiful scent transforms from day to night, in the morning it opens with a fresh green floral scent and in the evening the scent developed into a more intense powdery green before the flower dies off.

The Jenipapo line has protective and moisturising properties, it's about suncare and fragranced products for face and body. The scent of the jenipapo flower has green, floral and fruity notes. The scent of the Jenipapo range is completed with the delicious addition of citrus, water melon and pina colada!! It is a super addictive summer scent! Made In Brazil Collection is already available at the L'Occitane store in Covent Garden, and everywhere else in June 2014!

LOVE

Wednesday 14 May 2014

Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette!













Hey Beauty Lovers! Too Faced always come out with fun eyeshadow palettes and this time it's all about chocolate! If you are chocoholic you will absolutely love the Too Faced Chocolate Bar, the palette looks like a chocolate bar [obviously] and the eyeshadows smell like chocolate! The eyeshadows are really beautiful, it's a nice mix of mattes and metallics. Most of the eyeshadows are warm toned chocolaty browns but there are also a couple of purples.

To create the eyeshadow look that I'm wearing: Apply MAC Paint Pot in Nubile as a base. Then all over apply Salted Caramel [matte soft brown] from the palette, also taking it under the lower lash-line. For extra dimension blend Semi-Sweet [matte brown] through the socket and again under the lower lash-line blending the two shades together. Champagne Truffle is a gorgeous pinky metallic highlight, it looks beautiful on the brow-bone.

LOVE