&Other Stories Haul- Brocade Aegean Eyeshadow and Caddage Pink Blush

Hi My Lovelies,
So, I popped into &Other Stories which is a sister store to H&M and COS. I was around Regent Street in London for a little meeting and I decided it was a good time to wander around and do some window shopping to see what the January sales was offering. &Other Stories is one beautiful store with a very welcoming set up. Now, I wish I took some pictures but I was busy admiring the décor and all the lovely items for sale. They sell almost everything you can think of and more including clothing, beauty items, makeup, skin care, jewellery, accessories, bags, lingerie, just name it. Think of them like a high end H&M store with more class.. I ended up picking up two makeup items on sale: Brocade Aegean and Caddage Pink. The names are really interesting and very different. The Brocade Aegean sounds Grecian...









Brocade Aegean- Eye Shadow Quad
This is a lovely bright eye shadow quad which stood out amongst all the items on sale. To be honest, bright colours are not the kind of eye shadow colours I reach for often but I was drawn to this one because it held a few of my favourite colours. The colours you get are Purple, Blue, Yellow and Green. Of course, that's the simplest descriptions of the colours I could think of because many could describe the yellow as a bright/neon yellow (if there's anything like that tho) but I am a bit rubbish with describing colours so I think using the bare names of the colours are just fine. Although, it looks really bright and OTT, it is actually wearable. I find that the opposite eye shadow colours complement each other and actually look good when worn with and over each other. They are not very pigmented as expected but I would say they are okay for a non-high end eyeshadow especially when worn with a primer. It would be a little flat without an eye primer but I have been loving this so far. The normal RRP was £12 but they were having 70% off (how amazing!!) so I got it for £3.60 which I think is a massive bargain.







Caddage Pink Blush
I instantly fell in love with this blush because I knew it would be perfect for my skin tone.Silly me, when I first saw the name, I thought it said Cabbage Pink at first and I was like (:-o). I would describe it as a rich dusty brownish-pink which kind of reminds me of Sleek's Sahara blush. I think this is a really versatile colour because it will look flattering on many complexions. Unlike the eye shadow quad, the Caddage Pink blush is very pigmented and you really need a light hand with this if you don't want to end up looking too made up. This has been my go-to blush ever since i purchased it and I think the inscription on it says it all: "Go girl, seek happy nights to happy days"..hahaha it sounds so cheesy but I love it. The retail price for this was £10 but I got it for £3.00 as they also had 70% off...:-)



I like my little haul of &Other Stories but I doubt if I would have bought any of the items if it was full price..Ok, maybe the blush if I was feeling a little rich. In total, I only spent £6.60 which I think is really amazing given the quality of the products. If you don't have time to pop into their store here in London, you can shop online on the &Other Stories website and I still spy some sales bargain left.  Have you shopped in &Other Stories? See you in my next post...x

Pull and Bear Haul- Rings

Hi Me Lovelies,
I doubt if I have ever had a jewellery haul over here which is surprising as I love Jewellery and Accessories and I actually sold them for a little while back in the days. Who knows I may relaunch it soon!! Anyway, I popped over to Pull and Bear stores one lazy day in Oxford Street London during the sales. For some strange reason, I just assumed nothing will interest me in there and I thought it was going to be expensive. I was pleasantly surprised because their non-sale and sale items were actually affordable and of excellent quality. They kind of reminded me of Zara and I have no idea why.



As usual, I was drawn to the sales section which is my favourite section hands down. They had some really nice pieces but I didn't really see anything I needed until I spied these rings. I think they are definitely my style. I am not a huge fan of wearing rings especially heavy ones because I feel they weigh my fingers down (I know it's weird and I don't like bracelets either) but these rings are very light and the designs are just perfect for me. I like rings with simple, clean designs that have abstract themes to them and I think these rings just ticked all the boxes for me with an exception to the skull one which I am not a huge fan of. It looks more gothic or rock 'n' roll which is not my style really. I like to shop for rings in stores like Whistles, Urban Outfitters and now Pull and Bear because I love the style of rings they churn out.

And No...I don't wear them all at the same time; just did for picture purposes :-))

My favourite pair

This pack of 4 rings cost £1.99 as their sales price which I think is a mahoosive bargain. The set contains a silver plated twisted loop rings, a gold plated circular ring, a silver plated inscription ring (I think it says love on it) and of course the skull shaped ring in brass.  I wished they had other designs but this was the only one left at the time. I am really surprised at how well these rings have held up; they have not faded or changed colour and I am really impressed with their quality. They also had some amazing neck pieces which looked like my style but I didn't really want to spend any more as it was unplanned purchase. I am pretty sure they still have some sales on the Pull and Bear Website if you want have a nosey peek...go on, you know you want to.. :-)). I will see you in my next post...x

The Weekend Post #1: All Black Everything

Hi My Lovelies,

I just thought to write something different for a change and I hope I can keep up with this. In fact, I will try not to jinx it. I am hoping to share a nice post every weekend and see how it goes. It will also provide a little break from all the beauty posts..a big toast to many more of these...Here, goes a few things, all black as you may have noticed, that tickle my fancy..

Denman Brush

I have been hearing about the Denman brushes for ages but I never got around to buying it because my relaxed hair, at the time, was very fine in texture and I had no tangles . Since going natural, my hair texture has changed and it has a few tangles every now and then. I chose the one with soft bristles because my hair is quite soft and my scalp is also tender. I definitely recommend this if you have a tangle-prone mane or if you have natural kinky hair.

L'Oreal Super Liner Black Lacquer Eye Liner

I may have already featured this already but this is one of my favourite eye liners that ever liveth...:-). It has a felt tip which lets is glide easily across my eyelids for a smooth application and a nice cat flick at the end. I have been using this for brand for years now and I love it.

Nikon Cool Pix Compact Camera
This was my first digital camera as a gift from the BF so it holds a sentimental place in my heart and I really love it. It is responsible for 60% of the photos on this blog; the rest of my cameras are my iPhone 5 and my Bridge Camera FujiFilm. I love compact cameras like this because they are so portable and I can whip them out for lovely blog photos.

iPad Mini and Logitech Keyboard
This is one of my bestest birthday gift from the BF on my most recent birthday in January. I have always wanted to get an iPad but when I got my iPhone last year, I knew I definitely needed the iPad. Apple and I are slowly building a loving relationship howbeit an expensive one if I must say. Together with the Logitech Keyboard, they are both the perfect device for blogging on the go.

Zara Wallet

Another new purchase which I am heads over heels in love with. I adore all leather goods from Zara despite how expensive they could be sometimes but their recent sales have surprised me with their relatively low prices and this was one of their offerings. It's so gorgeous and very compact plus it matches really well with my Zara Office City bag already reviewed here.

I hope you have enjoyed this post and if you love Photography as much as I do, pop over to MP Photography by Mark Prime. He is good friend of mine and his pictures are absolutely amazing. Here is his Facebook Page if you want to have a look see and his website is here too.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Photography-by-markprime/463616237076544

It's a relatively new page but he has already uploaded a lot of beautiful shots which would definitely blow your mind. That's pretty much all  for the début weekend post and I will see you in more posts for the week..toodles..xx

Korres Jasmine Gift Set Review (Body Butter, Shower Gel and Lip Butter)

Hi My Lovelies,
I hope your week has been going well so far. Yes, I am unapologetically back with another review of yet another gift I received from my lovely colleague at work. I am not sure how she does it but she always seems to know what I have been dying to try without me even mentioning it. When she gave me this, I was really shocked and very, very pleased. She is such a sweet heart. There's me all going emosh..(emotional) on you all...sorry!! Okay, back to the review..



The Brand-Korres
As mentioned earlier, I only recently came across Korres from some beauty blogs and my interest was piqued because all the reviews I read were really positive and most of all, almost all the ingredients used in the Korres range are natural. This set has a 92.5% natural content which I think is very impressive. Korres is a Greek brand which was founded in 1996 by George Korres who has a solid background in Pharmacy and Homoeopathy. He decided to branch out to create a skin care line which was made from predominantly natural ingredients. Armed with his knowledge of the pharmacy and pharmacology world Voila!! Korres was born and has been waxing strong since then with various products ranging from skin care, hair care, body care, etc. If you want more juicy details of the history of Korres, check out their story here on the Korres Website.



Korres Jasmine Gift Set
The Korres Jasmine Gift Set has an outer plastic-like bag packaging which has a purple background which I quite fancy. The set contains the Korres Jasmine Body Butter, Jasmine Shower Gel and the ever famous Jasmine Lip Butter. The overall packaging of the individual products has a vintage feel to it which I really like because it is so different to many other products I have. With the exception of the Korres Jasmine Lip Butter which is pink, the shower gel and body butter have a greyish green vintage background  which also reminds me the Tropical Rain Forest (not that I have been there!). It also has some inscriptions around the packaging with English and Greek translations which is very handy. They all smell luxuriously of Jasmine which is a scent/fragrance. It just smells really clean, fresh and refreshing<-----I have been  using this word a lot lately :-)



The Korres Jasmine Body Butter
Korres describe it as a smoothing and moisturising cream for all over the body which is also ideal for dry elbows, heels and knees and I quite agree especially with the dry winter weather now here in the UK. It contains Jasmine and Quince Extract which gives it its characteristic jasmine scent in addition to other oils such as Sunflower, Almond and Avocado Oil which all lend it its moisturising property with Shea Butter. One of the properties which endears it to my heart is the fact that it is non-greasy although it is a rich moisturiser as expected from a body butter.



The Korres Jasmine Shower Gel
This is also one of my favourite shower gel together with my Body Shop Atlas Mountain Rose one (reviewed here). It lathers really well and it is effective for a good, refreshing wash. The scent does not linger for too long but that's absolutely fine because the body butter reinforces the fragrance which I find lasts longer if I apply it while my body is still damp.





The Korres Jasmine Lip Butter
I had to save my favourite for last. Just look at the packaging; it's gorgeous and it would look beautiful anywhere be it on your dresser, bathroom, handbag or makeup bag, it's just beautiful. It also has a slight jasmine scent which is not too overpowering. Its moisturising properties are out of this world. It makes my lips so soft and I have been using this ever since I got it and it has saved my lips form being chapped and cracked by the weather conditions here in London. You only need very little for it to work its magic.



Where can you buy this?
I have spied a couple of them in Oliver Bonas, Look Fantastic and of course the Korres Website where they have a better contact list for all their stockists. Most the stockists are actually having some offers and discounts so this is a really good time to try the Korres brand. I will be stocking up on some new products which I have spied on their website.



Verdict
How can I not love this? It's a beautiful gift set which contains products that has definitely endeared the Korres brand to my  heart. I love the holistic approach the brand takes in ensuring that all their products not only beautify the skin but they also nourish the skin..I hope you have enjoyed this post and I will see you in my next post...xx

Body Shop Atlas Mountain Rose Voyage Gift Set Review

Hi My Lovelies,
I should have warned you all that this month was going to be full of reviews of many gifts I received during Christmas and my Birthday so apologies if it all seems so repetitive but I thought since the sales are still on, there is a high chance of picking up these products at a much cheaper rate. Most of the gifts I received on my birthday and Christmas all comprised of either Beauty, Skincare and/or Makeup. I received this gorgeous Body Shop Atlas Mountain Rose Voyage Set from my flat mate who also gave me the Jo Malone Pomegranate Perfume (review here). I promise not to ramble on so let's dive straight in..





The Body Shop Voyage Set
I instantly fell in love with this set because it came in the most interesting packaging I have come across in a long time and you all know I am a sucker for lovely packaging. It comes in this pink lunch box-esque contraption which has a latch that opens up to reveal its contents. It contains The Body Shop Atlas Mountain Rose Shower Gel (250 ml), The Atlas Mountain Rose Body Lotion (250 ml), The Atlas Mountain Rose Perfume (EDT 50 ml) and a teeny weeny Pink Body Sponge. It has to be one of the cutest gifts I have received in a long while. The packaging takes me back to my childhood where I am pretty sure I remember my Mum buying me a similar lunch box with the same kind of latch..Deja Vu!!



The Atlas Mountain Rose Shower Gel
It smells amazing and the scent really lingers on even after your shower is over. It lathers really well just like al the other Body Shop shower gels so you really need just a little. Just as the name implies, it smells like Roses but it's not to overpowering because it also contains a blend of Musk accords which gives it its distinct fragrance.



The Atlas Mountain Rose Body Lotion
Similar to the shower gel, it also has a rich fragrance of Roses with a blend of Musk Accords topped off with Brazil Nut Oil, Shea Butter and Sesame Seed Oil. It feels moisturising and it leaves a nice fragrance on your skin especially if you just had a shower with the shower gel. It kind of reinforces the fragrance which I really like.



The Atlas Mountain Rose Eau de Toilette
Although it's just an EDT, I have to say the scent really lingers better than most EDTs I have tried in the past. It is definitely longer lasting than the popular Body Shop Mists and I like the slim bottle it comes in which makes it really easy for me to convert it to a handbag perfume. It is a 50 ml perfume but it does not feel that way because of the slim nature of the bottle which is really handy. Just like the other products in the scent, it also has a mix of Roses, Musk and a Woody Accents which makes this fragrance one of my current favourites.



The Teeny Weeny Body Shop Sponge
Can we just take a moment to appreciate how cute this sponge is? I know it looks rather small in the picture but make no mistakes/assumptions about how effective it is. I feel smaller sponges, like this, force you to attend to every single part of your body in a more targeted fashion. I don't use this everyday because I don't want to make my big trusty sponge jealous but I sneak this with me whenever I travel as it fits nicely in my travel pouch....shhhhh don't tell my big sponge!!



Verdict
I don't  think I need to say I like it because I am pretty sure it's quite obvious. I am not sure if they still sell this in The Body Shop but I think it will make a superb gift for any lady who likes anything beauty or skin care. I hope you have enjoyed this mini review and let me know what your favourite Body Shop Gift set is?..see you in my next post...x

Soap and Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub Review

Hi My Lovelies,
I told you guys I was on a roll with these blog posts. I secretly wish I could post everyday but I need to work which is what pays the bills so I can only post when I am free. I received some goodies from Soap and Glory from my lovely friend on my birthday and the contents include The Soap and Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub and the Heel Genius Foot Cream and I was really pleased. I will be reviewing in the Foot Cream in a separate post. I have actually never tried a Body Scrub*gasps in shock*..I know, I know but that's because my skin is silky smooth (I kid, I kid!!). I just never thought of using it. I have used a facial scrub on my face in the past but i quit because it was too abrasive. Now, I only use micro beads facial scrubs as other scrubs are too much for my skin. I digress, again. Let's just dive in...



The Soap and Glory Brand  

Soap and Glory was founded by Marcia Kilgore, a celebrity facialist who has performed thousands of facials on celebrities including Madonna, Demi Moore, Cameron Diaz to mention a few. The brand has a range of products ranging from skincare, body care and makeup. They are well known for the fun names they choose for their products and the witty clever packaging they use and this has worked for them because most of their products always catch my eyes while perusing Boots or Super Drug stores here in the UK.

Sugar Crush Body Scrub

As stated earlier,I am quite new to the whole body scrub business but I really like the Soap and Glory Sugar Crush Scrub and I think it's important to have a good experience because I can now venture deeper into the lovely world of body scrubs. It comes in a 300 ml tub which looks really nice in bath/shower. I kind of like the name as well; Sugar Crush because it reminds me of my favourite game on my iPhone which is the ever addictive Candy Crush Saga..:-). I also like the pink packaging as it's not a very girlie pink but a warm pink that I think is agreeable with many people.

Ingredients

I believe most scrubs should have granules which act as the physical exfoliators and the Soap and Glory Sugar Crush uses Smashed Brown Sugar as its main exfoliant and it does not feel too abrasive to the skin. It is also enriched with Sweet Lime, Almond Oil and Macadamia Grains. I actually feel hungry having listed all these ingredients above and I have the same experience when I use it. It smells absolutely delicious..so delicious you may actually want to eat it.

Use/Texture/Application

As advised by Soap and Glory on the tub, I use this in the shower at least 3 times a week and I have been loving it. I wet my body a little so it's damp and takes well to the scrub and I gently massage this usually starting from my feet which looks a bit dodgy now with the dry weather. I leave it on for some time while I attend to other parts of my body then I rinse off. It smells amazing and leaves a slight scent to my body after use (of course, this disappears after a while, how sad because i quite like the scent). It has a slight granular texture but it's not abrasive and I believe it is fine for people with sensitive skin although you are advised not to use it on open skin/cuts/wounds, etc.. which is really common sense anyway.

Verdict

I like it. A Lot. It leaves  my feet really smoother than when I was not using it. No matter how much moisturiser or foot cream I use, the skin on my feet still looks/feels dry and different to other parts of my body. It has not completely changed but the scrub has helped to improve the appearance and feel of the skin around it. I would definitely repurchase if this finishes. I hope you enjoyed this lil' post and let me know if you have tried any Soap and Glory products and which is your favourite?...xx

Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir Perfume Review

Hi My Lovelies,
I hope you all had a fab weekend. There was a time towards the end of last year, precisely in December, when i was on the last dregs of all my perfumes and I didn't want to buy new ones because 1.) Christmas was around the corner and I knew I may get a perfume as a gift and 2.) My birthday is in January which means there is a large chance of receiving perfumes. Anyway, it turned out I didn't really have to wait that long as my lovely flatmate gave me this Jo Malone Pomegranate and Noir Perfume as an early gift in addition to my birthday gift which she gave me on actual birthday (I am so spoiled!!). I was really, really pleased because I have always wanted to try the Jo Malone Range especially the perfumes but you all know they are quite pricey. I mean 30 ml costs £39 and 100ml costs a whopping £78. Damn!!. Now you can imagine how pleased I was to get this.

Jo Malone Brand

The Jo Malone Brand is one that does not need much introduction because it is well known. It is a quintessential British Brand which is renowned for its luxury goods which range from fragrances to candles and other luxury lifestyle products. Jo Malone, the founder (obviously), began her career as a facialist and rose quickly, with hard work, to become one of London's most sought-after skin care therapists. This is my first Jo Malone product and I am more than impressed because it lives up to all the hype and more.

Product- Jo Malone Pomengranate and Noir Cologne

I really like the name although it is quite a long one and i can't seem to say Pomegranate correctly for some unknown reason. I was wondering why it is called a cologne as i always associate cologne with men but after using it, I understood why. It comes off as a strong fragrance which is not very girly in fact i believe it can be unisex (just my humble opinion) although I don't see the bf venturing near this. It is a bold and strong fragrance for a confident, classy lady.

What Jo Malone says 

The Jo Malone website describes this fragrance, also christened "Pom Noir" if it's a mouthful, as a dark and enigmatic fragrance which has a combination of Ruby-rich juices of Pomegranate, Raspberry and Plum spiked with pink pepper laced with Casablanca Lily and Spicy Woods to accompany the warm sensuality of a daring red dress...oooh la la!!

Packaging

I really like the clean and classy packaging. No frills or thrills, just straight talking class and I absolutely love it. Although I am all for sweet and girly packaging, I think the simple packaging oozes class, sophistication and elegance. The glass bottle feels very sturdy and expensive. From what I have seen on the website and Jo Malone counters in store, almost all the bottles have similar packaging. The lid fits the bottle really securely.

Notes

I am not the best at describing scents so I am going to go off what I read on the website for the accurate description of the notes of this fragrance. Top notes are Raspberry, Pomegranate, Plum, Rhuburb and Watermelon. Middle/Heart notes consist of Lily-of-the-valley, Jasmine, Rose, Pink Pepper, Clove, Olibanum, Guaiac wood. Base notes include Virginia cedar, Patchouli, Musk and Amber.

Verdict

I love this perfume because it is really different from all the other fragrances which i own. I agree this is not a scent for everyone because it quite a strong one but i am drawn to it because of its unique blend of exotic scents and ingredients. It's definitely not a daily perfume or one i wear during the day. I reserve this for outings and nights out (hahaha, I am laughing at myself because I hardly go on any nights out especially with this winter) but I have worn it for the few night outs I have ventured. I even wore this for a classy work event and I think it worked out well. I hope you enjoyed this mini review and see you in my next post. Have you tried any products from the Jo Malone Brand?...x

Dr Organic Vitamin E Moisturising Cream

Hi My Lovelies,
I hope everyone has had a nice weekend so far. I am hoping you must have read my previous review of the Dr Organic Vitamin E Oil which is reviewed here.  This is the much awaited sequel. so, I will just jump right into it.



The Dr Organic Brand
I have always seen the Dr Organic brand in Holland and Barrett which is where I bought this oil. I know the brand mainly for their Manuka Honey which always looks enticing but somehow I never bothered buying it. Dr Organic is a skincare brand which prides itself in producing organic products to the highest and purest quality they can muster which is music to my organic product loving ears.

Packaging
I quite like the packaging given the price. It comes in a glass jar which feels quite expensive and sturdy which is good. It's not very heavy but it does fit in well in my travel makeup bag when i am travelling so that is very good in my books. It does have an outer packaging but it's not really important to keep it.


Formula/Ingredients
Dr Organic describes it as an intensive, emollient moisturising cream and i absolutely agree with them. Its major (or star) ingredient is Organic Vitamin E predominantly in a moisturising formula. It also contains Aloe Vera, Shea Butter, Panthenol, Cocoa Butter, Wheat Germ Oil, Bergamot Oil and Sweet Almond Oil which are all naturally derived emollients and antioxidant. It is super hydrating, rich in texture and very moisturising. I can't really say it has a particular scent or fragrance but it does not smell bad. According to the Dr Organic website, this cream is suitable for scars, stretch marks, ageing skin and dry skin but it is can be used for many more uses and in my case, it has been superb during the winter season fir hydrating my skin and keeping my acne and acne scars under control.

Texture
I am not going to lie to you; this cream does really come off really thick and truly, a little goes a long way. Although it has a thick consistency, it does not feel greasy when applied. I am sure many people will prefer not to use this for their face and i understand why given its consistency. However,  I use it on my face only at night and ocassionally in the morning. It really sinks into my skin fast so the thick consistency is only for a short while as my skin readily absorbs it.

Application
As stated earlier, i use this only at night and ocassionally during the day if i feel my skin feels a little dry which is really rare. I apply this straight after the Vitamin E Oil (reviewed here). When I first started using it, it felt a little heavy straight after i applied it but it got absorbed within a short time so it was fine. These days, i don't even notice how heavy it feels on my skin. If you have dry skin, i think this cream will be suitable for you especially during the winter or drier seasons. If you are combination to oily skin like me, you may want to test run it for a couple of nights to see how you fare but i am pretty sure you will enjoy it.



Results
Every time I use this cream at night, I always wake up to really soft skin which has been really refreshing this winter season. I really like this cream and using it together with the Vitamin E Oil has brought really significant improvements to my skin which has been visible to the boyfriend and my close friends. It is definitely not a quick fix as i stated in my precious review of the Oil, it took me a little more than a month to see significant differences in fading away of Post Acne Scars and Blemishes. In terms of skin texture and softness, I saw significant differences overnight and a massive improvement within a week of using this cream. I have not broken out at all using this and that was my biggest fear instead it has helped clear my ocassional Acne and i have not broken out at all except for a few naughty hormonal fellas which were very short lived.



Cost
Again, I got this from Holland and Barret for £7.39 but i got it together with the Vitamin E Oil and they had an offer of buy one get one half price like they always do which is  massive bargain seeing that i still have a good quantity of this cream left as i use only very,very little every night.

Verdict
I really love the Vitamin E Organic Cream range from Dr Organic and it has really changed my skin with some other changes which i have made with my skin care. It's definitely worth a try regardless of what kind of skin you have. I can imagine that ladies with very dry skin or dry skin will like this and if you have oily skin, it's still worth a try because it will help balance out hydration and moisture levels.



That's it folks. I hope you have enjoyed this review like the previous ones. I am sorry i have been a little erratic with my blog post but you know sometimes life gets in the way and i have had a few things going on but i will be back with a grind soon. I have taken tonnes of pictures so that's always a good sign to watch out for more posts. Thanks for sticking by me and see you in my next post..toodles..x