Category Archives: beauty

Relax and Unwind with Aromatherapy Associates

11th November 2015
As Winter well and truly draws in I think my blog is going to step back slightly from the constant personal style and take a more lifestyle approach. I hope nobody has any complaints about that but these days lighting just isn’t conducive to outfit photos and whilst in previous years I could live with that these days I seem to be a bit more fussy about the standard of what I post on this site in terms of photographs (not that you’d notice at times!). Anyway, I digress, on to the main topic of this post…

Rest & Relaxation!

Something I’m not especially brilliant at. I’m at my best when I’m busy, or so I think. It has come back to bite me on the bum more times than I care to remember though and I’m trying to be a bit more self-aware and make sure I take some time out just to be.

Enter Aromatherapy Associates who very kindly came to my aid and sent over a couple of their best-selling bath and shower oils. I’ll preface this review by saying I don’t think I could justify spending these kind of prices on a product for myself, but perhaps I should are these are a serious dose of luxury and exactly what my down time has been missing.

Of the two oils I received my favourite was the Inner Strength variety (£45). A blend specifically designed to nurture your own inner strength it combines clary sage, frankincense and cardamon.

A capful of this in your bath, or smoothed over your body in the shower is the perfect starting point to balancing emotions and calming down a busy mind. A busy mind is my worst enemy and I really did find that the heady scent of this slow things down nicely and left me feeling ready to tackle whatever came next in the day. It might sound impossible and I myself was a sceptic but if you’re in need of some inner strength for yourself then this really is an excellent starting point.

The other oil that came my way was Revive Morning (£45) which is the perfect boost to the beginning of the day. The key ingredients in this magic potion are: sweet orange and pink grapefruit to invigorate you after a good night’s sleep. You’ll also find rosemary, juniper berry, pine and coconut oil to leave every part of you in tip top condition. I tend to use this in the shower rather than a bath as I associate bath time with winding down and getting ready to sleep. It’s a really lovely and luxurious way to start the day and with 20+ uses per bottle not actually as expensive as first appears.

Have you ever used aromatherapy to give yourself a boost? I’d love to know your winning blends or if there are any other Aromatherapy Associates products I simply need to own.

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The Neutral Palette with Beauties Factory

07th November 2015
Once upon a time I had a “more is more” approach to makeup and plastered my face (eyes especially) with the brightest colours I could find. These days I take a much tamer approach, call it getting old but I much prefer a more polished approach- the majority of my eyeshadows these days are of a golden or bronze hue and a swish of coloured liner is as adventurous as it gets.

I was recently sent an eyeshadow palette from Beauties Factory* which promised to deliver every shade of nude I could possibly be missing. I was a little sceptical though, at £12.49 for 28 shades I wasn’t sure how good it would be and whether it’d end up sit gathering dust like so many palettes have done before it.

My fears about this palette were largely un-founded. Inside a matte black case lies 28 shades of nude, 13 with some shimmer and 15 matte. Some of the colours look a little chalky in the palette but applied with a careful hand and a bit of blending the overall effect is comparable with brands that cost a fair amount more. As with any product that offers such a large selection of shades there are a couple in there that I probably won’t touch but I’ve reached for this set pretty much every day since it has arrived and would recommend it as a good value addition to any kit.

You can get yours online here…I’m really intrigued by some of the other products on offer, largely the blusher palette so please do let me know if you’ve tried it as I might have to make a sneaky purchase.

Has your go-to makeup look changed as you’ve got older or is it just me?

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I Love…Christmas

04th November 2015
I’m not usually one to give, or ask for toiletries as a Christmas gift. I don’t know why that is- force of habit I suppose and assuming that like me, everyone else has overflowing cupboards of products they will never get around to using.

There are some brands I’ll make exception for though because they do gifting exceedingly well. I Love… is one of these brands as I’m yet to have a product from them that I haven’t enjoyed hugely or wouldn’t want to receive as a gift myself. I was recently sent some of the products from this year’s Christmas gifting range and couldn’t wait to share what’s on offer as part of my ongoing quest to provide gift inspiration (it’s a hard life!).

The first product out of the box was the Big Barrel of Love available at Superdrug. This gorgeously girly tin is packed full of treats and the first thing that hits you is the amazing smell! The barrel contains 500ml Cherry Almond Bath, 200ml Cherry Almond Butter, 100ml Cherry Almond Spritzer, 75ml Raspberry & Blackberry Hand Lotion and each item is more delicious than the last. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the Cherry Almond scent but it’s really delicious, incredibly hard to explain but it’s not going to turn you in to a walking Bakewell tart which was my immediate concern. This has an RRP of £20 and would make a lovely gift for a special friend.
The next item would make a perfect stocking filler or secret santa gift. The Lots of Bubbles festive edition set features 6 miniature bottles of bubble bath and shower creme in flavours that include chocolate and oranges, iced cookie and sugared cranberries. This would be great to give as is, or if making up stockings for friends and family splitting between them. At £6 this is excellent value and something I will very much enjoy using between now and the big day!
Which of these scents do you think you’d like the most?

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Four beauty tips that will make you the belle of the ball this Christmas*

22nd October 2015
With the festive season fast approaching, now’s the time to start getting yourself in party mode. To ensure you’re the belle of the ball this Christmas, here are four easy to follow beauty tips that should help you turn heads for all the right reasons.
1) Forget the LBD and go bold with colour

The LBD may be a fashion staple at this time of year, but rather than going back to black this winter, why not add a splash of colour with an altogether bolder choice? Vibrant hues like reds, pinks, greens and purples can work perfectly, and for a playful look, choose a peplum dress. With their pleated strips at the waist, these outfits create striking silhouettes, making them perfect for Christmas parties. White is also bang on trend right now, and to recreate the red carpet look, go head to toe with a shift dress, jewellery and heels in this classic colour.

2) Enhance your look with shape defining lingerie

Don’t just focus on your outerwear. To shine in your ensemble, consider using shape defining lingerie as well. There are a whole range of options to choose from, including elegant waist cinchers and corsets that can help to give you the ultimate hourglass figure. If you’re not sure which style of lingerie to go for, you can search online for inspiration. Sites like Tights and More showcase a range of different options that are designed to give you curves in all the right places. As well as helping you to look fab, these sexy underwear combinations can give you a big confidence boost.

3) Try out a textured hairstyle

Forget straighteners and pristine hairstyles this festive season. To really wow, think about mixing things up with a more textured look. If your locks are bob-length, consider creating defined waves that frame your face. You can achieve this style by blow drying your hair across your face and applying some polishing wax to give added definition and shape. If your hair is longer, take inspiration from Taylor Swift. The singer has been showcasing the classic ‘70s feathery, flyaway shoulder-length layers originally sported by the likes of Farrah Fawcett.  For added drama, apply a volumising mist to your roots before blow drying and use a round brush to smooth your tresses in different directions.  

4) Add some shimmer to your makeup

Another tip is to bring some extra glamour to your makeup by using glittering powder on the inner corners of your eyes and across your cheekbones. If you have darker skin, look out for highlighters with golden tones, but if your complexion is pale, you may be better off opting for pink-based powders instead.

Remember, a little prep goes a long when it comes to looking good for the party season but don’t leave it to the last minute to get ready. From booking your hair and nail appointments to adding outfits to your ‘I-need-this-in-my-life’ Pinterest board, there’s plenty you can do now to ensure that you stun at all Christmas bashes in your calendar this year.

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Curl Friends

14th October 2015
As a naturally curly haired girl I go through phases of wearing my hair straight and embracing my natural texture. I’ve tended to go more for the straight look lately, finding my waves hard to tame and struggling to find the right products to prevent frizz and fly-aways. Thankfully Umberto Gianni came to my rescue and sent over some products from their Curl Friends range.
I’ve used some of the Curl Friends range before with great success, they just suit my hair so well and help keep my waves frizz free and controlled between washes. The create a curl scrunching jelly* is a long term favourite of mine (and just so happens to be a best seller) and I’ve found that pairing it with the Ultimate Curls Nourishing Oil* creates a killer double act for healthy, shiny hair. I took both of these products away with me and even the 30 degree heat couldn’t create it’s usual havoc with my locks- to me this is the ultimate testament to a products success.

Mousse is a hit and miss product for me, I often find I end up with crunchy and sticky hair that doesn’t feel nice at all. The Shapely Curls Defining Mousse* is one of the few mousses that don’t have this effect and it’s been a constant repurchase for me since I first discovered it.

The team at Umberto Gianni are encouraging curly haired girls to take to social media and share their #GetYourCurlsOut selfie to celebrate natural, beautiful looking curls. You can be rest assured you’ll see mine pop up on my Instagram in the very near future and I’d love to see yours too, I’ll be stalking the hash tag for certain. Get uploading and leave your social media handles in the comments so I can get some major hair envy and inspiration!
The Umberto Gianni curl friends range is available to buy from Boots.com and in Boots stores and is well worth stocking up on- especially when it’s on offer. Let me know if there are any other wonder products that you’d recommend.

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